new channels for my blog
I had been working on refining the main topics around which I want to generate conversation via my blog, long before I moved to the Blog@Case platform. Most recently, I have focused mostly on writing about spirituality and politics, my students and teaching, Cleveland and Northeast Ohio events and people, and my research and writing.
In honor of my 167th post in this blog, I am revising my index page. I thought about waiting till my 200th post, since I only posted to note my 100th post back in January, but I decided not to wait. My revision to my index page will allow you, my readers, to subscribe only to a subset of my entries, if you wish. It is also motivated by my desire to be more intentional about how I am using my blog to develop and strengthen my relationships with my various stakeholders. Check it out!
Keep reading if you want to find out about the new categories of entries...
My students may only want to read entries in the category called "Learning Management, Teaching Students" (and they will only be required to do so in the semesters when I am teaching MGMT 250.)
Both students and academic colleagues may be interested in entries that include my commentary "On the Working World". I will write here about the social change that is occurring in our workplaces around the world, as women enter the workforce and strive to redefine their public roles so that their leadership is taken seriously, and their private roles so that they can share the work of holding community spaces, raising children, and making peace.
My colleagues may only want to read my thoughts about "Relational Dynamics of Organizational and Social Change". I will write here about my own research, and about the organizations and movements that are working towards transformative cooperation, whether to combat poverty, or to promote literacy and liberty, or to discover together new organizational forms organized around sustainable capitalism as a value system.
My friends in the community may only want to read entries under the "NEO Town and Gown" label. I will write about efforts to create partnerships between colleges, universities, and local governments, thorughout the Northeast Ohio region. I will also write about my efforts to build a nonprofit in partnership with other groups in NorthEast Ohio under this tag. Finally, I may occasionally comment on what is going on in the politics of the university or of the city (or of their interrelationships).
It's possible that only my parents will want to read the "Personal, Political, and Powerful" entries, which will be about family events, my political commentary, and my spiritual explorations. Anyone else who would like to read is welcome to do so as well!
My last, catchall category will be "General Commentary". These will often be posts that connect with other bloggers' thoughts on feminism, capitalism, environmentalism, and other major issues of our time. Here is also where you can read my thinking about current events.
If you want to subscribe to only one or two categories of entries, please go to my main page, click on the (RSS) linknext to the category you like, and then use your "Subscribe with Bloglines" link in your bookmarks to add that feed to your Bloglines. (And if you have no idea what I just said, email me, and I'll show you the coolness that is Bloglines, and explain how I can skim entries from my top 12 favorite reads in the blogosphere in 2-5 minutes per day!)
Oh, and if you have read this far, please leave a comment, even if you have commented here before, so I know who is still reading my blog! Please? Just a quick one?
I'm sad about having 167 entries and only 133 comments. Any tips on generating more comments in response to my entries would be welcome.
Comments
I'm reading. I'll probably continue reading through Planet Case and pick and choose which entries I read in detail from there.
I like how you added a link at the top that goes to entries about yourself instead of one static entry. I've been meaning to write some kind of entry in my Case blog explaining who I am, but now that I'm about to graduate, it seems a bit futile. All the same, if I'm going to keep posting there, it would probably be best to add that. Better late than never.
As for how to increase commenting, I have to admit that that is something with which I have struggled throughout my years of blogging. I really don't know how to increase things other than to focus on writing good content and hope that the word gets out. It seems like the word is starting to get out for you, though. Congratulations!
Sandy,
I'm reading. I would be more likely to comment if you responded to comments.
8-)
Tina
Hi Tina, I'm never sure whether to do that! But I guess you are giving me a clue -- thank you! I'll try to respond more promptly.
And Nicole -- thanks for letting me know that you like the "about myself" category! I've been getting the word out about my posts by participating in carnivals, which I do think has helped increase my traffic, even if the comments are not yet at the same level. I think it'll all come in time.
Raises hand for tally count.
Hi Jeremy, are you a night owl? I've got my end-of-semester insomnia. -Sandy
Huh? "Night Owl?" It's only 3:50am.
;)
Some things I do to encourage comments:
1) Cover a controversial topic. Somebody always has something to say about those.
2) Present an intentionally biased argument. Who wants to comment on something neutral?
3) Present a good argument with an intentional inaccuracy or misrepresentation. People will jump all over it.
4) Reply to and acknowledge all commentors. Nobody wants to feel ignored.
5) Wire blog entries in response to others' blog entries. It fosters discussion.
6) Regularly comment on other's blogs. It can initiate a relationship and encourage them to comment on your blog.
7) Write in a tone that encourages conversation.
The 7th one is the hardest for me to do. Sometimes I just want to say something and don't care about the comments.
Aaron, those are great tips! As a professor, I don't feel that I can engage in 2 or 3 (at least not on purpose) because I want to model careful, balanced thinking for my students. But I can definitely do more of 1, 4, 6, and 7. Especially 4. I tend to read a lot of blogs, but not leave many comments -- and yet I know that when I do comment, people click through on my blog link and come to read what I have written here.
Jeremy, you crack me up! "only" 3:50! As I have told my students, I tend to go to bed between 8 and 9, and get up between 4 and 5, but I suspect that's not how your rhythms work...