Category: personal

Posted on

My Life Is A Twitter

I’ve spent the last few months playing with Twitter, and while some of my experience has been painful (not due in any part to Twitter itself), I’ve learned quite a bit about the people I follow and the general workings of this new communication medium. (Des’ Podcast on Twitter)

For those of you who aren’t twittering yet, Twitter is much like a group instant messaging platform that allows users to stay current on each others’ status and the resulting status updates are archived by user.

Twitter Screenshot

There are any number of mashups using twitter (TwitterBuzz and Twitterholic), 10 that I’ve seen in the last week, and people are almost smothering this thing to death with hype love. I’ve also seen quite a few people who don’t like the service, but it seems to be their main complaint is that it is a waste of their time.

Love
I don’t do the level of reporting on Twitter that heavy users do, like Scoble, Hsien or Nick, but I do a fair amount of twittering daily. Lately, this and my recent travel schedule has been to the detriment of my blogging, but I’m trying to get my habit under control.

I’ve had to up my monthly text messaging to the most Verizon will allow at 5K per month, and I’m going to have to buy an extra battery for my Treo (won’t make it 24 hours anymore), but the constant news stream from colleagues and from news agencies like CNN and Techmeme, is great, and I don’t see myself falling out of love with Twitter anytime soon.

Hate
The most frequent complaint I see that I also share is the fact that Twitter is limited to 140 characters. It’s difficult to write anything of value within that limitation, so probably a third of my twitters are so long as to force me to twitter it in two messages. However, this is a small price to pay for instant information transfer.

And, while I’ve seen several dozen more complaints, mostly due to system overload and IMs not working, by and large, most users are happy with the service. Sphere, one of my favorite blog search engines (my 2005 interview with Sphere CEO Tony Conrad), reports that almost 2500 posts have been found relating to the messaging service Twitter. Likely Twitter is already on the short list of ‘to buys’ for the big three internet giants. If it is not, it should be…

Follow Robyn on Twitter

Posted on

Why Do I Blog?

I got tagged by Char, a good friend and fellow Virginian, and I have to explain why I blog. This should be eye-opening for me.

1. For a release
When I work with clients or when I am cooking dinner, all these great ideas and commentary on advertising campaigns run through my head. I used to bore my poor family with them, but now I can actually share them with people who are interested in the subject.

2. For community
I probably get more out of the networking and friendships I have made as a blogger, than anything else I get from blogging. I didn’t blog *for* community in the beginning, but the community is now my #1 concern when I blog.

3. For help
I’ve, on numerous occassions, received direct help on my blogs. I have had CSS help, widget help, marketing help and just general mental help (grin) from some great people who read my blogs.

4. For fun
Some of the aspects of the blogosphere are pure fun. Watching your numbers rise, getting a big head when you’re mentioned on a big blog, being asked for advice, etc. When you are the kind of person who is constantly down on yourself, these little ego boosts are a perfect way to get through a rough day.

5. For money
I’d be lying if I didn’t mention this. While the collaboration and fun is a large part of why I am blogging, and is certainly why I started blogging in late 2004, the money is what keeps me involved. Between a decent affiliate advertising income and a good consulting business on the side, blogging (and the collaborative web in general) is responsible for my income, so I am not likely to stop in the forseeable future.

So, there you go. I’m blogging for my own benefit mostly, but I’m enjoying the collaboration as well. Thanks Char for tagging me!

Posted on

Blogger Meetup At Steelhead Brewery, Tuesday Jan 30th

Jeremiah Owyang has been kind enough to organize a blogger meetup next week so that I can meet some people face-to-face when I get to San Fran next week. Martin has offered up his car, Jay offered up his spare room (as long as I’m not crazy, he says), and several other people (PR flacks, bloggers, podcasters and videobloggers) have been kind enough to extend an invite to this Southern gal as well.

Please sign up for the event if you can make it. I’d love to meet you all. If you can’t make the event but want to meet up, send me an email and I’ll send you my cell number and the hotel I’m staying at. I’ll be in San Fran the 28th through the 31st.

Posted on

Gerald Ford Dead

In a perfectly humorous way, SNL once poked fun at Tom Brokaw and Gerald Ford with a silly skit about Ford’s death. For a man who never took himself too seriously, it’s a fitting way to remember his nature. I’ve long been a Ford fan, so I hope you’ll enjoy this hilarious skit from 1996.

Posted on

How Do I Get Marketing/Consulting Gigs?

I forget to market myself

A common question I am asked is how I get marketing/PR work. I mean, I really only have 3 years of a history degree, not a full Bachelors in Marketing. Also, I have no agency experience, except as a consultant. In fact, I’ve never been *employed* by any PR firm in the 10 years I’ve been in the business. And, I took several years off to have my four beautiful children.

But, after being asked last week why I don’t take time to market myself I realized that by blogging, taking part in the conversation, and forum usage, I’m actually marketing myself to the point that I can’t take on any new business until April of next year without hiring additional staff. In fact, I actually posted my resume on Monster, Dice and on this blog for a time. I had to take it off the blog because social media is so new to people that I was getting ridiculous requests to 1-game Digg 2-set up fake blogs and 3-do stuff that I really am not capable of doing (like website design, flash and the like). It’s still up at the other sites, and I recently snagged a great marketing gig because of that.

I think the main reason I end up with so much work is Continue reading “How Do I Get Marketing/Consulting Gigs?”

Posted on

James Kim Is Dead

The body of James Kim, cNet editor, blogger, podcaster, former TechTV onair personality and husband/father/son, was found today by searchers. James had left various items along his trail, it seems to show rescuers where he was, but when they found him it was too late. He had traveled very far, as he was determined to find a way to save his wife and 2 young daughters.

I’m so sorry for the family that this is the way it turned out. I understand totally why he left. He was watching his family die and felt like he had to do something. I’d have probably done the same thing. Remember, he stayed put for a week. There comes a point when you have to leave, unfortunately, it didn’t end as we had all hoped.

James Kim with daughter

Kati and the girls are doing well, but I know they must be absolutely broken right now. My prayers are with the family. This is just heartbreaking.

Posted on

Family of James Kim Found

His wife and 2 children were found alive earlier today, but James Kim, cNet blogger and Audio Editor, left 2 days ago to go for help.

The word is that the families hired a helicopter and that hired copter’ saw a woman waving an umbrella next to a car. The family were airlifted to a hospital. More information will be available at the press conference and a fairly extensive post from cNet is here. cNet will stream the press conference live, so stay tuned to see what else they’ve found and the condition of the family.

Posted on

CNet’s James Kim and Family Are Reported Missing

The blogosphere will unite, I’m sure, in an effort to find James Kim and his adorable family.

James Kim, Editor at cNet, and his family

It appears they were expected home on Sunday but were last seen by a motel clerk, in or around Portland, Oregon on Saturday at 5:45pm. They were traveling from Seattle to San Fran, and were driving a 2005 Saab Station Wagon with the license plates, “DOESF”. Please keep your eyes peeled for the Kim family. I surely do hope and pray they are found well.

We’ll have more information as we get it. If you have any information as to the Kim family’s whereabouts, please contact the SFPD at 415-558-5508 during normal business hours, and 415-553-1071 after hours.

Official missing’s person report here.

Posted on

Tagged For A Photo Op

I was tagged earlier today, so here you go. Here’s my immediate pic (that’s part of the rules, an immediate picture) and my tagged people follows the pic. 🙂

By the way, I look this way because it’s been a long day and I am beat. However, I am looking forward to gaming this weekend so I’m happy. 🙂

a quick pic of me

I’m tagging:

Justin, Wendy, Brianne, Char and Karen

Here are the rules:
Take a photo of yourself… RIGHT NOW… and post it on your blog. Then invite/tag (ping) the next 4 bloggers that you want to see “as is” ;)Then tell us WHY you look that way (in your photo), and say something about the person that ‘tagged’ you with this Meme!