Blogging Dojo
OK – before I dip into the details, check this vid from Rockvertising for some sublime blogging tips (HT to Darren Rowse for helping me to discover it)
This blog – and my previous one – is every bit as much about sharing other folks ideas as is as about my own thoughts.
Through a recent time of woodshedding I’ve stumbled upon a number of key influencers who I want to credit, thank and acknowledge here…and pass on the good stuff to you.
So, this is my Blogging Dojo…
First up, I have to say a huge thanks to @stephenhendry , @Lard of LardDesigns for some hands on help. @cdhinton of Geek-Speak for general geekery & feedback, JD for constant long term encouragement and putting me under pressure by declaring me a Kingdom blogger to watch for 2010!
My Wordpress Theme is Standard Theme from the guys that also bring you 8Bit. I’m a WP newbie, and I’m pretty pleased with Standard Theme.
Who is in the Blogging Dojo…and why?
Right from the off you have to understand that some of the folks I recommend on this Blogging Dojo are not here because we know each other or they’ve asked or even agreed to be here. I’m sincerely hoping each name will see their inclusion as an affirmation that they are doing a great job.
They are here because I think they are blogging voices worth listening to. They’ve found a niche and explored it to the point where their wisdom and expertise is worth paying attention to.
Their ideas have grabbed me enough for me to want to recommend them to anyone who reads johnnylaird.
(This is a living & breathing page! You can expect additions and new content on a regular basis)
So, the current Blogging Dojo line up:
Freelance Advisor is a great site – particularly if you are in the UK – for resources if you’ve ever made the move from the corporate office to the Small Office Home Office
In my experience Mike Cliffe-Jones is one of the bloggers making a living from it who is most extravagantly willing to share what he knows about blogging with his readers. He scores high with me because he engages in dialog freely, and will comment on your blog as well as your own, which to me seems to be the thoroughly decent thing to do. I think it helps in terms of connectively and authenticity that online relationships already exist with other buddies like Chris at Geek-Speak
Darren Rowse, for me, is the granddaddy of all the bloggers. You don’t have to take my word for it. Almost anyone who takes their blogging remotely seriously will know who Darren is, and what he’s achieved with his Problogger empire. On top of that, he’s a dude who is generous with what he knows. This guy is the blogging Yoda, and Problogger is a hub for all the other bloggers who know what they are talking about. Darren sets the bar!
I became aware of Robb through the Problogger site. He scores high for me because he’s a top line blogger who genuinely interacts with his readers – in much the same way as Mike Cliffe-Jones at Mike’s Life.
There are a ton of good resources on his site, which deserve kudos because they are also pretty elegant.
Glen Allsopp is staggeringly young whizz kid blogging at ViperChill , who I found through an article in The Guardian entitled “The escapees travelling the world while working online”
The title was enough to grab me, and I’m glad it did. I guess what draws me to Glen’s site is its sheer audacity and fearlessness. It’s probably a little more focussed on bringing in the cash than I am comfortable with, but this old Silverback is quite willing to listen to lessons from a young gun like Glen
Watch this space for more on the Blogging Dojo…
