I have been traversing on the Internet for a little over a decade now. Throughout the years I have had a number of personal blogs on various blogging platforms that have come and gone. I have never taken any of these blogs seriously, nor have I updated with any frequency, because it was just that, a personal blog for the occasional journal thought and pictures from family outings. I decided earlier this year that I have no use for a personal blog anymore. My substitute is a private Twitter and Picasa account serving as a repository for all things personal.
The start of something:
In June of this year, I put my domain name online and started a blog. This was, and is going to be my creative outlet, a way for me to use a megaphone to broadcast my voice in the biggest stadium of them all, the Internet. My blog is about how I use social media, the technologies behind social media and how business and individuals can benefit from them. While some of my posts have been off subject, most of them have been about social content aggregation, more specifically FriendFeed. It’s no surprise to anyone reading this blog how much I love and support FriendFeed and it’s community. This blog has also provided me an outlet for my social media experiments, epiphanies, explorations and allowing me to “pay it forward ” on a virtual global scale.
Through FriendFeed, I have networked and made numerous new meaningful connections and relationships. FriendFeed has provided me a platform for my own personal growth, and the growth of others as well.
I guess by the definition of this post, I would be considered a blogger.I don’t have a background in Journalism, and don’t claim or consider myself to be a professional blogger. I’m just an average Joe who writes a few times a month about my thoughts on how we use social media. I consider the people who do this day in and day out to be the “real bloggers”. People like Sarah Perez, Steven Hodson, Svetlana Gladkova, Duncan Riley, Mark “Rizzn” Hopkins are the definition of professional blogger. The individuals I mentioned are just a handful of the people in the industry that I respect tremendously and that inspire me.
Then there is Louis Gray. It’s quite clear the admiration and respect I, and many others have for him. This man is taking on an iconic status, and is in a league of his own. Louis has blazed trails for himself and many others, including myself. Louis is the type of person that does onto others as others do onto him. Louis repeatedly gives the little person a chance to shine. He is not one to steal the spotlight. Louis was one of the first people I started to follow and get to know on FriendFeed. He was the core inspiration for me starting to blog. A turning point for me was when Louis gave my blog a notable mention in a thread titled, “Five Blogs For June on Your Summer Reading List.” This was, in a way my 15 minutes of fame. It was totally unexpected, and it caught me off guard. I was never prepared, at least in my mind, to be catapulted into the spotlight. Looking back, I see it as sign. Since then things in my life have not been the same. Louis has given me the ball, now it’s my turn to run with it as far as I can. Hopefully I can score a touchdown. Louis has also exposed me to countless new friends and networking opportunities. While I never met Louis in person, I look forward to the occasion sometime in the future. So to Louis, I say thank you very much for all that you have done for me, I’m truly grateful.
State of the Blog: 06/01/2008 – 10/01/2008
- Total posts published to date, including this post: 50
- Total comments to date: 275
- FeedBurner subscribers: 188
- MyBlogLog Members: 27
- Twitter Followers:183
- FriendFeed Followers:611
Report: michaelfruchter.com Report Name:Pageviews Graph Date Range: 06/01/2008 - 10/01/2008
- 6/2008 28,288
- 7/2008 35,864
- 8/2008 42,127
- 9/2008 63,706
Most Popular Posts:
- 20 people you should follow on FriendFeed – Pageviews 3,904
- 10 people you should follow on Friendfeed - Pageviews 3,177
- My A,B,C’s of FriendFeed - Pageviews 3,177
- Paying it forward on FriendFeed - Pageviews 2,319
- 10 tools for listening in social media. – Pageviews 2,130
In closing:
I’m very optimistic about the future. I now have more of a clear head, and for the first time, focus. This blog will continue to be my outlet, and hopefully my road for new beginnings. I would also like to say thank you to everyone who has commented and subscribed to this blog. I would also like to say thank you to everyone who has ever shared, bookmarked or Twittered any of my posts. You are the reason why I continue to do this. Reflecting back on the last 120 days has really put a lot of things into perspective for me. It’s been a fast and wild learning experience. One that I have learned from and continue to do so.
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Yah Mike! Great post!@
Thanks Mike, looking forward to your continued contributions.
Great! I've always enjoyed reading your posts..ever since I signed up for FriendFeed. We're in the process of moving so I haven't been able to keep up with FF the way I usually do. Will have a lot of catching up to do once we're settled in Saint John, New Brunswick
Good luck, Mike. We're all rooting for you. And I definitely agree about your sentiments regarding LG. While we both respect the aforementioned bloggers, he is DEFINITELY in a league of his own!
Mike, while thumbing through feeds on the iPhone and trying to convince Sarah to sleep, I came across your post this evening, and was astounded. I'm so pleased you're having such great traction with the site, and I'm glad I was able to help in some small way. I hope we do get to meet in person. Your upbeat attitude and omnipresence on FriendFeed are much appreciated. You are way too nice to me.
Yah Mike! Great post!@
Thanks Mike, looking forward to your continued contributions.
Great! I've always enjoyed reading your posts..ever since I signed up for FriendFeed. We're in the process of moving so I haven't been able to keep up with FF the way I usually do. Will have a lot of catching up to do once we're settled in Saint John, New Brunswick
Good luck, Mike. We're all rooting for you. And I definitely agree about your sentiments regarding LG. He is DEFINITELY in a league of his own!
Great job so far Mike! It's been a pleasure reading your stuff and I'm looking forward to your future thoughts on social networking and social media
Mike, while thumbing through feeds on the iPhone and trying to convince Sarah to sleep, I came across your post this evening, and was astounded. I'm so pleased you're having such great traction with the site, and I'm glad I was able to help in some small way. I hope we do get to meet in person. Your upbeat attitude and omnipresence on FriendFeed are much appreciated. You are way too nice to me.
Congratulations on your success to date!
I had a nice sentimental comment written on my iPhone while I was commuting into work, but my iPhone crapped out on me. I think I wrote something along the lines of…
Congrats on your success so far Mike. You have a bright future in the space and I look forward to following you through it.
Great job so far Mike! It's been a pleasure reading you stuff and looking forward to your future thoughts on social networking and social media
Congratulations on your success to date!
I had a nice sentimental comment written on my iPhone while I was commuting into work, but my iPhone crapped out on me. I think I wrote something along the lines of…
Congrats on your success so far Mike. You have a bright future in the space and I look forward to following you through it.
Mike,
I just discovered your site yesterday and will have to go through your friendfeed posts. I have tried and tried to use friendfeed more but it just hasn't been for me so far.
Like you, I've had many blogs through the years but they have mostly been casual things – links to funny sites, a site for my daughter. My current blog was started about the same time as yours and I have taken it a lot more seriously. And it's been amazing to meet interesting people, build a community and interact. Though it's been a lot more work than I originally anticipated.
I'm glad the Social Media Marketing project introduced us to each other.
Mike,
I just discovered your site yesterday and will have to go through your friendfeed posts. I have tried and tried to use friendfeed more but it just hasn't been for me so far.
Like you, I've had many blogs through the years but they have mostly been casual things – links to funny sites, a site for my daughter. My current blog was started about the same time as yours and I have taken it a lot more seriously. And it's been amazing to meet interesting people, build a community and interact. Though it's been a lot more work than I originally anticipated.
I'm glad the Social Media Marketing project introduced us to each other.
Kim,
Thanks for the great comment. If you ever need some pointers on FriendFeed please let me know. I would be glad to show you the “in and outs” of FF. Keep up the great work on your blog. I do agree, it's a lot of work, but the community, interaction and engagement makes it all worth while
Stay in touch!
Justin,
Thank you. You know if I ever get to Cali, I will be taking you, Mona and Louis Gray out for dinner. Keep up the great work with your photography. You have a great gift my friend. I'm waiting to see your photography on the cover of a major magazine soon. It will happen!
Great post, Mike. Like a lot of people around here, I discovered you through Friendfeed. And enjoy your thoughts and your participation on FF – even if my own is not so consistent. Anyway, I look forward to reading your state of the blog at 100 posts, 200, 1000, etc.
Mike – I truly look forward to the day we all get together for dinner. Thanks for the props, I'll do what I can get in with a magazine
Kim,
Thanks for the great comment. If you ever need some pointers on FriendFeed please let me know. I would be glad to show you the “in and outs” of FF. Keep up the great work on your blog. I do agree, it's a lot of work, but the community, interaction and engagement makes it all worth while
Stay in touch!
Justin,
Thank you. You know if I ever get to Cali, I will be taking you, Mona and Louis Gray out for dinner. Keep up the great work with your photography. You have a great gift my friend. I'm waiting to see your photography on the cover a major magazine soon. It will happen!
Great post, Mike. Like a lot of people around here, I discovered you through Friendfeed. And enjoy your thoughts and your participation on FF – even if my own is not so consistent. Anyway, I look forward to reading your state of the blog at 100 posts, 200, 1000, etc.
Mike – I truly look forward to the day we all get together for dinner. Thanks for the props, I'll do what I can get in with a magazine
“Louis is the type of person that does onto others as others do onto him. ” I think you mean “unto”, Mike, LOL! – a Z lister
“Louis is the type of person that does onto others as others do onto him. ” I think you mean “unto”, Mike, LOL! – a Z lister
Good one, I loved reading it.
Robert