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The podcasts I record for I'd Rather Be Writing cover the latest trends in technical communication. I interview tech writing luminaries around the world as well as record STC presentations and other audio content. You can subscribe to podcast specific feeds using the subscription information below.
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Converting Readers from Casual Subscribers to Devoted Followers
May 21st, 2009 | Posted in Blogging, Podcasts 7 Comments »
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Length: 14 min.
At the STC Summit, I ran into someone from Australia who follows my wife’s blog fairly regularly and had even brought gifts for her and the kids. It made me reflect on blog subscribers, and how you convert readers from being occasional readers to devoted fans.
In this podcast, Kirsty Taylor talks about what she finds appealing about Seagull Fountain (my wife’s blog) and other blogs she follows. Kirsty explains that, for her, blogs become powerful when they speak to her heart, make her reflect, and reveal authentically from the blogger’s life in an appropriate way. We also talk about transparency, authenticity, the use of pseudonyms, the portrayal of reality, and the importance of making personal connections.
Tags: authenticity, followers, transparency
Interesting. IDK about some guy buying your wife gifts though…
Kyle, thanks for the comment. By the way, I saw from your email address that you’re at RJ. I used to work there.
Yeah, people talk about you sometimes.
It’s interesting to hear you say that. I looked for some RJ folks at the STC Summit this year, but didn’t see any. By the way, I think RJ gave me a great foundation for technical writing. You really have some top-notch leaders there, and it’s great sitting in the same location (rather than being spread out across the company). I feel very fortunate to have started with the team I did at RJ. I especially miss Adrienne.
Ahhh. (Why do other Australian/British accents always make people sound so much smarter than Americans?)
I shall listen to this whenever I feel discouraged or ungrateful. Thanks for your kind words, Kirsty, and I hope we get to meet in person someday!!
(And sorry, Dick, honey. I’ll try to keep my feelings about your directional impairment to myself from now on.
[...] can get a sense of who she is and why I think she’s fabulous (and revel in that accent!) by listening to Dick’s podcast with [...]
That does make sense. Only devoted followers can help you blog become really popular.