As we wind down on the Engagement Series, I have to admit that I’m filled with a solid mixture of nostalgia and gratitude. I mean, let’s face facts here. Did I know you when I wrote post #1? Statistically speaking, the chances are good I did not!
I’ve learned a lot and (I think) I’ve grown a lot this year and over the duration of this series, so I thought I would use this time to tell you about the experiences and people who helped me get here. I share this information in the hopes that you will be able to enjoy the same benefits as I have!
Chats
Many of the people I’ve met I met because I tried out Twitter chats. Among my faves are:
1. #tweetdiner: Saturday nights at 9 PM EST (ok, I’m biased on that one)
2. #blogchat: Sunday nights at 9 PM EST
3. #mmchat: Monday nights at 8 PM EST
4. #leadershipchat: Tuesday nights at 8 PM EST
5. #custserv: Tuesday nights at 9 PM EST
6. #bizforum: Wednesday nights at 8 PM EST
7. #imcchat: every other Wednesday night at 8 PM EST
8. #b2bchat: Thursday nights at 8 PM EST
Blog Communities
One of the greatest ways to meet people is running into them in comment sections. You know you probably have similar interests since you’re at the same site, and you also get more than 140 characters, which is nice. Here are some of my favorite bloggy communities (other than y’all here, of course!):
9. Chris Brogan’s blog: I’ve met great people just because we all commented on Chris’s posts. That’s how I met folks like Rufus and Raul!
10. Mark Schaefer’s blog: Mark has such a great vibe on his site. Folks like Davina Brewer and Jay Baer often hang out over there.
11. Geoff Livingston’s blog: Reading comments from guys like Matt Ridings makes me feel a bit like an intellectual neanderthal, I fully admit. Geoff writes smart posts and his community responds in kind!
12. Danny Brown’s blog: In one comment thread on Danny’s site, you can find yourself nodding emphatically, arguing emphatically, and laughing your butt off. Now that’s fun!
13. Ingrid Abboud’s blog: Griddy-poo, as I’ve come to call her, has built a stellar community, in part because she pays tribute to those who comment a lot on her posts. She’s got a lot of great ideas there!
14. Gini Dietrich’s blog: It’s always fun to see who Gini is holding forth with on her site. Her exchanges with great folks like Nancy Davis make it cozy over there.
15. Jay Baer’s blog: Like Geoff Livingston, Jay’s commenters sometimes put my brain to shame, but they can also make me snort milk outta my nose (sometimes both at the same time, which is a very complex emotion). Jay’s interactions with folks over there really help seal the community together.
Favorite “other stuff” for engagement
Not everything is about straight-laced social media platforms. I also highly recommend looking into some of the following:
16. Tuning in to Kitchen Table Talks on Tuesday afternoons at 2 PM EST with Joe Sorge and Chris Brogan (it’s tied to Kitchen Table Companies). They always bring great guests on and they are growing a smart, fun community around the show.
17. The #usguys stream: You’ve heard a lot about #usguys on this blog and elsewhere, but the community (because that’s what it is) has become an invaluable part of my online existence. You can stop in at any time.
18. Facebook pages: I really enjoy interacting with people on Facebook pages. The conversation is usually streamlined around specific subjects, and it’s a great way to meet new people. I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know people who have popped by the Tweetdiner Facebook page, for example.
19. Forum websites: I have really enjoyed experiences I’ve had on forum sites like Third Tribe and Kitchen Table Companies. Yes, you have to pay for a membership, but I may never have gotten to talk to folks like Susan Giurleo or Jim Raffel if I hadn’t popped my head into some of these communities.
20. The People
I’ve mentioned a lot of people here today and in the past, but right at this juncture, it’s fitting to point out that I wouldn’t be here without YOU! That’s right, you! Whether you silently read or comment everyday, you help me stay on track here on ye olde blog. I never could have guessed I’d get so many subscribers – ever. I never could have predicted that I could bring such great people here to my site or to other places in the online world.
You – you rock. And I’m forever grateful that I get to engage with you.
How have you worked on your engagement in the online world? Who or what did I miss?
Hey, let’s talk about it…and engage 🙂
This is post #91 in the Engagement Series. Thank you for reading!!
Image by Benjamin Earwicker. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/bjearwicke