You know, I have been a real fan of Typepad. When I decided to switch from WordPress and hosting my own server to using Typepad, I took some time to research the different blog systems, investigate their benefits and features … and one of the things that I liked about Typepad was that it was HASSLE FREE. It just worked. I didn’t need to work on the system or manage it. I didn’t have to back it up. And it came with plenty of ready-made functions and widgets.
But over the last couple of weeks I have been experiencing a great deal of frustration with the Typepad platform. This time, however, it is not just about MY blog, it is about the blogs of OTHERS. You see, my interest in blogging is mostly about conversation and about learning, so as soon as I cannot comment on other blogs I feel like I am being excommunicated. When I cannot PARTICIPATE in the discussions flowing in, around and through the online communities, I feel DISCONNECTED.
So eventhough I cannot comment on many blogs, here are my thoughts on some of the interesting conversations circulating at the moment:
- Branding for the brave — During this great podcast, Drew talks about branding being for the brave. He also reminds us that you don’t necessarily BUILD a brand online, but that you use the Internet to COMMUNICATE your brand. This podcast takes a little time to get going, but is one of the best podcasts that I have heard (as it should be with Drew McLellan, John Moore, Valeria Maltoni, Mike Wagner, Mike Sansone and David Koopmans all firing on all cylinders).
- Split personalities — More insight from Valeria which effectively turns into a “5 Reasons for Blogging” type post. Valeria draws out the way that many of us blog as a way to intellectually and creatively stretch ourselves, eventhough this may not be part of our “work”. It many ways, blogging is like studying — but you learn by doing and participating.
- Read the label first — It is one thing to read a label but quite another to comprehend it. Sharon has an interesting post on job titles and it made me smile — I remember trying to explain first job at IBM to my family — they couldn’t imagine it. Ever since that time, my job titles have been a series of non-signifying words, reminiscent of that Far Side cartoon, “What you say, What dogs hear”.
- Less is more — Mark asks us to look long and hard at our creative briefing approaches and remember what it is that we are really there for.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that you’re still experiencing commenting woes. I saw that Paul at Hee-Haw was referring to TypePad as only “typepad” in subtle protest until this problem is fixed. I thought that was quite clever, so that’s what I think everyone should do. They’re all lower case in my book from now on! That should show ’em! 🙂
About the job titles–my brother has explained to me a million times what he does for a living (he works for one of those big computer companies), and I still have no idea what his job is.
“What you say, What dogs hear” is a perfect way to describe the confusion with non-descriptive job titles!
Houston, we have a problem. Mine is with Google Homepage. And now I need to retype all my information when I leave comments on typepad blogs.
Thank you for the kind words. I think if we approach conversations around branding and business with the same gusto and love with which we process personal information, we may indeed make a better contribution.
Nice to see that you enjoyed the podcast. It did take a while to get going, I agree. Something to do with the fact that you can’t see each other.The next platform should be video. BlogtalkVideo.Not sure if they’d want to foot the bandwidth bill though… Cheers, David
I’ve missed “hearing” your voice throughout the blogosphere. I hope typepad gets the problem fixed soon.
What I enjoyed about the podcast was hearing the nuances that each of us brought to the conversation. Some coming at it from a sales-driven POV and others from the customer experience. Regardless of the specifics, I loved the passion I heard in everyone’s voices.
It was like being with kindred spirits!
Drew