Welcome to Week #3 of our 52 Weeks of Blog Community project. And, this week, it’s all about GENEROSITY and TRUST.
Generosity, because this week, I’d like to encourage you to Support a Blogger in the best possible way.
You see, just yesterday, I was talking to a friend about blogging and the online community in general. She said she loves what the web offers, but she asked me why people actually post all these free resources and information on blogs and websites. She kept asking, “What do people get out of it?”
That’s when we started talking about the Giving Web. How wonderfully generous people are to offer open source software, to write free instructions, to collate useful information, to give free advice and tips… all on the web. Yes, some people ask for donations. Some hope that you’ll click on an ad or two, or buy from their affiliate links. Some simply ask to be bookmarked, visited again, or commented on.
Whatever it may be that they’re hoping for, they mostly rely on folks to support their efforts in some way. And, even if they don’t get the support from everyone, they’re encouraged enough to keep on going based on a few people. They trust that out of hundreds or thousands of folks… someone will leave a comment, give a donation, or offer support in some other way.
So, this week, I urge you to Support some of your favourite bloggers. If you can give more of your time and other resources to more than one or two, then that’s great. If not, then don’t worry about it. There’ll be other days…
You can support a blogger by:
1) Clicking on an ad that interests you (turn off ‘ad blindness’ for a short time?)
2) Buying from their affiliate link (Amazon, clickbank, etc)
3) Leaving a comment (especially if you’ve never left one before)
4) Sending a small donation (you never know what a $1 can do!)
5) Supporting their charity or one of their projects, etc.
I’m sure you can think of other ways!
Now, on TRUST… Well, I won’t ask you to tell me who you supported and in what way. If you wish to join this week’s task, simply leave a comment and let me know that you’re off to do it in the spirit of this community project. If you’d rather not leave a comment, that’s okay too.
But, if you do leave a comment, at least one or two (or all) of these can happen: a) I will add you to next week’s round-up; b) I will send some support to YOU in some way; c) other people who’re part of this project might choose to support you too; and d) you get another chance at winning this month’s prize: a Flickr Pro account OR a Picnik Pro account.
Now, for last week’s participants…
- Kari, who wrote Violate This Moron II (and linked to 52WoC).
- Nenette, who linked to Kari via a fun meme.
- Jami of BionicBeauty also linked to Nenette via another interesting meme.
- Jen Hill, wrote a special on The Bionic Beautyâ„¢ blog: Achieve Powerful Beauty!â„¢ - linking to Jami.
- Special props to our only guy in the project - Tris Hussey. He wrote a very creative post on link loving - and linked to Jen’s MythBusterBeauty blog. Yay.
- Deb Ng also joined the project for the first time. But, unfortunately, I can’t find her link. So, Deb, if you’re reading this, just let me know where I can find it.
- The fabulous Christina also joined for the first time. Again, I’m lost on the link.
- And, then there’s Nicola… whoe created a very pink post, in honour of Christina. And, now I owe her a dedicated post. Coming soon.
So, there you go. Thanks so much to all Week #2 participants.
Looking forward to all the amazing things you’ll do this Week #3. This task (and the comments for this post) ends on Monday, 4th of Feb 2008.
{ 6 comments }
Kari 01.30.08 at 12:02 am
Looks like I’m going to need to do some more exploring!
Shai Coggins reply on January 30th, 2008:
Hi, Kari - Thanks. Just have fun with it!
Jami 01.30.08 at 12:12 am
I’m in. This one sounds interesting and is very open for creativity. I love it, Shai! (And the new template is much nicer, the more I looked at the code of the other one…whew! Love this look though, great job!)
Jami
aka Bionic Beauty
Shai Coggins reply on January 30th, 2008:
Oh, Jami. Thank you! Really, really appreciate your help with looking at the other theme’s code. Your last email helped me to decide to go have a look at a different theme. And that was a good thing. I *love* this theme now. Again, thanks so much!
Jen Hill 01.30.08 at 2:44 am
That was great fun Shai, and I am a believer when it comes to sharing the link love.
When you consider that there are over 100 million blogs and considerable numbers of people online, there is plenty of audience for all of us. Networking via linking is the best way to share great information and help each other in our pursuits.
Count me in for next week. Many thanks!
Shai Coggins reply on January 31st, 2008:
Jen: You’re absolutely right! There’s definitely more than enough readers for everyone.
And really, no matter how ‘greedy’ or ’self-centred’ our society may have become, the web has shown a more generous, kind-hearted side of people in general. Yes, there’s a nasty side to it all too, but for the most part, I’m amazed at the giving, loving nature of folks. Hence, this week’s task. 
Anyway, glad you’re having fun with this project. I am too!
I know you’ll do great supporting a blogger (or more?) of your choice. Thanks again for your playing!
Nicola 01.30.08 at 3:47 am
I’m in! And I have just the thing in mind…..
Shai Coggins reply on January 31st, 2008:
Yay! And, it sounds like a great plan you’ve got.
iHanna 01.30.08 at 9:32 pm
I don’t have a job so I often feel sad that I can’t buy more of peoples handmade stuff that I adore, though instead I link to a lot of people all the time from my blog and hope they’ll get new readers - plus I comment as much as I can when ever I see something that inspires me!
Your project is so great, hope to join more.
Shai Coggins reply on January 31st, 2008:
Hello, iHanna! Glad to meet you. I can imagine the torture of buying folks’ handmade stuff and all. I get tortured all the time.
Anyway, it’s great that you link and comment a lot. It will definitely help support the bloggers that you like and admire. I know it’s always very encouraging to find folks who give some link and comment loving.
Thanks for joining the project. And, I look forward to more of your participation in the coming weeks.
Edie 01.31.08 at 6:30 am
I must admit I’m not great about leaving comments; mostly because I seem to get there late and only want to reiterate what others have said. So today I left a comment at Needle and Thread, http://www.needlenthread.com/2008/01/needlework-doldrums.html
and even tho there was some repeating, I also mentioned a couple other things to get out of the needlework doldrums (the suggestions would work for just about any kind of doldrum, not just needlework).
I’m also happy to see iHanna here too! I read her blog on a regular basis.
I’m looking forward to seeing this project of Shai’s grow; what a cool thing to do!
Shai Coggins reply on January 31st, 2008:
Hi, Edie. And thank you for taking the time to leave a comment here - and joining the project.
I think a lot of us do suffer from some kind of comment timidity. That’s part of the reason I launched this project. I want to encourage folks to find different ways to be engaged in the blogging community. I DO believe wholeheartedly that the more we give back to the community, the more we are enriched in our lives.
So yeah… kudos on leaving a comment on the needle and thread blog (and leaving a link here, as a way to support the blogger of your choice).
I hope you’ll continue to join us in this project in the coming weeks.
Thanks again.
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