Microblogging and Lifestreaming
In the last year the Internet has seen a huge spike in the growing interest for lifestreaming and microblogging.
From one new website launch to another, there is no shortage of services to help us broadcast both our on and offline life to the entire world — or at least those who choose to share our world with.
For bloggers, getting ourselves involved with many of these services could prove to bring on traffic spikes, human interest, and brand recognition.
After all, both are really about getting your name out there. And with every service out there offering some type of feed for what we’re doing, lifestreaming and microblogging is just getting easier.
If you’re not up to the trends, let me briefly catch you up. According to Word Spy:
lifestreaming n. An online record of a person’s daily activities, either via direct video feed or via aggregating the person’s online content such as blog posts, social network updates, and online photos. [ Source ]
microblogging pp. Posting short thoughts and ideas to a personal blog, particularly by using instant messaging software or a cell phone. [ Source ]
Easy enough we can see how both can go hand in hand. And just letting your mind roam, perhaps you can see the possibilities that either have to help you promote your blog, brand, and self.
To tell you the truth, this is an area that I hadn’t been fully up to speed on. Even though I am microblogging and lifestreaming, I never put it all together to connect myself from one site to another across the web. And while it is incredibly easy to do, it isn’t something that I have done.
When Jon Phillips showed off his new personal lifestreaming site via Twitter, I was hooked. And with his own fabulous tutorial on how he created his lifestreaming site, I decided this was finally the right thing for me to do with my domain name, Katy In Las Vegas.
As a side note, I chose to use Katy In Las Vegas because this is the registration name I use at almost every site out there.
So, now we’ve got a little background to it and know I have done it. But, is it right for you and why should you do it?
Brand
How many times can one blogger possibly talk about brand, right? But seriously this is yet another way to brand yourself so why not bring it up?
ProBlogger, Darren Rowse recently wrote a post talking about the way Google sees you. I think this is quite relevant for lifestreaming and microblogging as paying attention to how Google sees your brand will help encourage you to put your own brand out there more.
If 5 bloggers are talking about you, perhaps you should consider talking about yourself 10 times. Who doesn’t want to rank well for their own name? Until a recent guest post I did I ranked #1 at Google for Katy Castro. However, now my guest post is ranking #1 but it is still something about me in a positive light to which I’m happy about.
By creating a hub for myself, I’ve added just another thing for Google to pick up as it relates to Katy Castro, I’m Blogging That, and my online life. Having more out there will help to establish my reputation, brand, and my name.
Promotion
If you’re spending time Stumbling a lot of posts on a particular subject, would you want people to come to you with new posts on that subject? I would!
By putting information out there about the content that you read, the posts and blogs that you’re interested in the world and fellow bloggers begin to get a taste for your interests. This may also tell them about what you enjoy blogging about and what holds your interest on the web. When that is the case, you’ve opened yourself up for other networking possibilities.
In addition to displaying your interest, your helping to promote other bloggers by streaming your social media activity and showing their posts on a wide variety of sites. There’s not a single person I’d overlook for networking with when I realize they’re broadcasting my posts for me!
Creativity
While Twitter may ask you “What are you doing?” not everyone answers that question. Sure you can and of course you could come up with something quite interesting to say for what you’re doing. But that’s not at all what people do with Twitter.
Copyblogger recently held a Twitter writing contest which was a great display of the many creative things people can do with just 140 characters.
By writing short excerpts about your life, thoughts, and mood, you can quickly improve your creative writing and thinking. Wouldn’t that make you a better blogger?
Conclusion
Putting yourself out there with both lifestreaming and microblogging gives you no shortage of the possibilities that you can do to promote yourself and others. And just as the sky is the limit for you, there are no shortage of lifestreaming websites that are ready to help you get yourself (and others) out there.
Your Thoughts
Are you lifestreaming and microblogging? Have you seen any traffic or personal benefits to putting yourself out there and do you find that you are more liberal with what you say online or conservative? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!
| 2.5 |
June 4th, 2008 at 1:00 am
You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I’ve spent most of my time here just lurking and reading, but today for some reason I just felt compelled to say this.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:35 am
I look here again and again in different times by and am pleased about the interesting and well written contributions. Cordial thanks and many greetings from the center of Germany.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
[...] The Benefits of Lifestreaming and Microblogging for Bloggers | I’m Blogging That! - “For bloggers, getting ourselves involved with many of these services (Lifestreaming) could prove to bring on traffic spikes, human interest, and brand recognition.” [...]
June 5th, 2008 at 12:36 am
@Eric: I appreciate it that you took the time to not only speak up but give such a nice compliment as well. Thank you. I hope that you’ll again feel compelled to come out of the shadows and comment again. :o)
@Bernhard: Thank you for your nice compliment as well. I’m very much pleased to see that at least in your case, I’m accomplishing my blogging goals by being interesting and helpful.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Hey Katy-
Just found this from @corvida (shegeeks.com) on Twitter. To answer your questions: yes, I am both micro-blogging and lifestreaming and yes, I’m seeing more traffic. I don’t believe it’s because of those activities per sé, though they have made it easier for me to build up a base and get connected.
What contributes to one’s growth is different for everyone; however, I believe there is a common thread: we have a focused goal; that is, we know what we’re doing and where we’re going, and we persistently pursue it. The details as to how we pursue it is based on unique personality.
In terms of liberal vs. conservative with my voice… depends. I’m a moderate ;-) I don’t want to be vocal and opinionated, but also don’t want to be drab… unfortunately, it seems American sensationalism is spilling over into this global environment.
Nice blog, btw, good tips. Filed your feed in “How to be a Better Blogger” :-)
June 5th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Thanks for a bit of clarification. I’ve only seen one blog so far that had the lifestream on , and I had no idea what it was for.
Honestly it just looked like the sidebar clutter you see when bloggers attach their Twitter conversations to the blog.
I can see some uses now and may look into it a little further :)
June 7th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
@Chris: Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment to my blog! 95% of the reason I enjoy mircroblogging and lifestreaming is because of the connection. It’s a quick and easy way to stay in touch with those you’re interested in.
I love that you said you’re moderate. I would have assessed myself the same way until Obama won the nomination. LOL! Then I couldn’t help but to throw mini parties all over my microblogging space.
@Dennis: I have to agree that when lifestreaming and microblogging is placed on the sidebar it can become just clutter. From my memory, I can see one case where it didn’t feel like clutter and that was on DoshDosh. It’s all in the way it’s placed and styled. Usually makes all the difference. :o)
June 27th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I find that the more lifestreaming and microblogging I do, the bolder and more confident I become AND the more fun I have with it. I have already met some prospective VA clients on Twitter which is truly a benefit I didn’t think would come out of it.
I use ping.fm and FriendFeed and as a result I have definitely seen an increase in my site visits.
My advice to anyone new to this is just to exercise caution and judgement in what you post to Twitter, etc, as what you say is visible to multitudes of people.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Taryn: I agree with you but I’d like to add that I also begin to feel more creative, especially when using Twitter. What can I say in 140 characters that will capture attention and make me stand out. It’s not always easy but the challenge sparks a great deal of creativity for me.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I have taken to the same Twitter philosophy. I have resolved to only say things that can educate, help and interest my network. If, as a result, they use my services, that is a benefit. But I’m still learning from my network and I like to give back. I started out on Twitter with the usual “having dinner than watching a movie” type of stuff but now I don’t do that. I may get a personal Twitter one day but for now it is about my career and soaking in knowledge, like your blog!
June 29th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
@Taryn Merrick: Honestly, I say anything I feel on Twitter. Creativity, no matter how hard I try just doesn’t come to me in 140 characters. So if I’m just writing, that’s the kind of post I make to Twitter (if I remember). LOL!
July 4th, 2008 at 12:44 am
[...] bookmarking, social media, social networking, microblogging, lifestreaming… everywhere you look the blogosphere is telling you that you have to get out [...]
July 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
[...] talking about Ping.fm as if it is the new social media darling and no doubt a good way to organize lifestreaming sites in a single [...]