One Forward, Two Back
Ever get that feeling? The one where one day you are knocked back a few steps and then the next day you feel like you are making up ground, but realize you still have a long way to go just to get where you were? Today was nothing like that.
Today Randy and I had a meeting with a really smart guy. A guy that has been in marketing for over twelve years and really “gets” what we are doing. It was refreshing to talk to someone and hear the words, “You don’t need to sell me on the idea. It’s brilliant”. I needed something like that today. After the week I have had it was cool to hear a seasoned veteran tell us that we were on the right track.
I’m still trying to figure out if today’s meeting was a step forward or not, but it feels like it might have been. At the very least I don’t feel like I am on a different planet for having some of the ideas that I have. And after the week that I have had, I will take it as a win. I will take it as, someone else has validated what I am doing and doesn’t write it off as “just blogging”. Someone who has dominated the industry working with some of the heaviest hitters, and looking me in the eye and saying “you’re on the right track, just keep going”.
Link Loved
It’s the beginning of the month and that means that it’s time again for “Link Loved”. The time where were celebrate those that are sending the most people to our blogs. Now for all of you people out there that will inevitably say, “to me it’s not about traffic and I think this is a lame thing”, I say…. neat. Then don’t play. I think it’s cool to focus on something other than ourselves a few times a month and this is one of them. So for those of you that know how, figure out who your top five referring blogs are, that is the five blogs that sent you the most traffic this month and write a post explaining their blog to people and sending people their way. Make sense? We’ve done this once before and it seemed to work well, so here goes.
1: ThisIsKristin: I think Kristin’s blog will always be somewhere on my list but I think it’s cool that she is number one this month. We were just talking yesterday about how cool it is that blogging has become something else that we do “together”. By that I mean, here in this world it is simply an extension of who we already are. People know that we go together and it’s neat to be able to talk about geek stuff with my wife and have a fun connection that way. I’m sure most of you have already, but if not, make sure to go to Kristin’s blog. She’s always got something cool to say.
2: The Bloggess: This lady is funny. Ever since Kristin showed me this blog a few months back, I have followed it. It’s become something that we talk about probably more than any other blog in our real life. Not to mention I am very aware of my sentence spacing now. I think it’s funny that her blog keeps showing up in Christian circles and I’m sure deep down she really likes her new audience. Okay maybe she doesn’t but I think it’s fun to pretend she does. If you haven’t go there and laugh at things you never thought you would.
3: Visual Coma: Randy just moved out there two weeks ago and hasn’t stopped working on different things since he’s been here. Quite literally everything that I am able to do online is because of something Randy has figured out how to do. It’s been really cool working with him more and hopefully later this month we will be able to focus on some things even more. Randy’s blog is one of the most entertaining things I have seen if not for the spelling alone. We have been friends since we were in second grade and very little has changed since then. Check out Randy’s blog and hop in on some of the conversation there. It’s a pretty cool place.
4: Ragamuffin Soul: Carlos was number one last month, but hasn’t talked about me at all this month so he’s slipped to number four. See, that’s what you get Carlos. Ragamuffin Soul is one of those blogs that leaves me scratching my head thinking, “how does he have time to do all of that?”. Carlos has done some really cool things recently using time lapse video stuff, which I tried and screwed up and just got annoyed. There’s always something new and cool on his blog and even if it’s something that you have seen before the seven hundred comments that he gets makes it worth reading through. One of these days we’ll get Carlos to participate in some of the things going on here like Positive Post Tuesday or even Link Loved. And one of these days he will realize that I specifically call him out on purpose.
5: A Simple Journey: I haven’t seen Brian for a while because it seems like he has been out of the country more than he has been home for the past year. Brian is my next door neighbor and works for Compassion International helping artists communicate the mission behind Compassion to their audience. Because Brian travels so much his blog is always full of cool photos, travel stories and hotel tips. Brian and his wife are also in the process of adopting from Ethiopia, so it’s cool to watch that process unfold through his writing. I don’t know if I have ever met someone so dedicated to their job as Brian is and it’s awesome to read about everything that he is passionate about. Check out Brian’s blog and say hey.
So, that’ it. These are the five blogs that have sent me the most traffic this month. I think it’s amazing to see such a diverse group of people here in this community and I hope that you all go check their blogs out and get involved there. Now it’s your turn. What five blogs are creating your community?
Ready? Go.
My Little Bunny
So some of you may have noticed my little bunny that has popped up here and there. Well today since I have nothing really to blog about and it’s a weekend anyway, I wanted to point out that now up in my address bar I have my little bunny sitting up there too. Randy figured it out and made it work.
We are currently hanging out at a very loud, busy cafe’ trying to get some work done and I think my brain is being over stimulated. It was quiet here when we got here but the lunch rush has shown up and it’s kind of freaking me out.
In other news, check out Mr. Wickham and his two posts in one day. He has said, with his own mouth, “it’s time to step it up with the blogging”, so expect some more awesomeness from him. Not to mention a pretty rad announcement on Monday.
You will also note that below this post is another button directing you all to today’s 40 Day Fast post. Make sure you take the time to click that and check out the two posts today. I love how two very different parts of the world are represented today, Paris and India. It really shows the point of this whole thing and how far it can reach.
Have a great Saturday.
FeeBand Dot Com
Alright folks. I know it’s been a while, but we need your help again. Late last night we launched Fee’s new site and we need your help getting the word out. It starts here and I know a lot of you already are linking to the guys, but if you aren’t make sure to start sending people their way. Randy spent a lot of time and energy on this one over the past few weeks and I think it’s something pretty cool and different for the guys.
So head over there and say hi and don’t forget to link back. Thanks for helping get the word out.
Dear Christian Music Industry
Dear everyone in the Christian Music Industry who has told me they don’t need or want a blog,
How are you today?
I know we have had lots of talk, and lots of going back and forth about how you don’t need or want a blog. You don’t see the value and I can understand where you are coming from if you don’t understand it, but I continue to respectfully declare that you’re wrong. There have been a few of the “forward thinkers” that have jumped on the blogging train, but most of you have decided to stick to your MySpace and Facebook accounts.
After all it’s silly to think that we should evolve in online marketing and the like. I mean, who does that?! There aren’t really any other bands doing that right? What other band would create an entire website on a blog based platform and be doing things like “behavioral targeting” and stuff?
Well ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you who would do all that fancy stuff. A band who feels like they could use a blog to benefit their career. A little band called Weezer.
On June 3rd, Weezer joined the likes of MercyMe, FEE, Natalie Grant, and Phil Wickham by launching a blog based website focussing on fan interaction, comments, and even a YouTube link. Wow, look how innovative and revolutionary Weezer has become. If only we had someone that could have told us this was coming we could have stayed ahead of the curve.
Anyway, thanks for your time everyone in the Christian Music Industry who has told me they don’t need or want a blog. I will be talking to you soon.
your friend,
brody.
I’m Big In The Amazon
The Bloggess thinks I am awesome, a good blogger, clever, easily offended, a “super popular Christian guy”.
I’ll take it.
The New MercyMe
Last night we launched a new version of MercyMe’s Blog. These guys have really become sort of the poster guys for what an artists blog should be and we wanted to really step up the features on the blog and cater it to what they want to do. A couple things worth noting that should be fun for the future. There is the “Your Pics” section where fans can upload their own pictures of them with the band, or shots they took from shows they were at. We have a brand new MercyMeTV in the works, and a new feature where folks can add themselves to MercyMe’s blogroll. Also, Bart announced a couple days ago that they will be doing a “By Request Only” video section, where people can request songs and the band will make a video of them covering that song. Lots of interaction and lots of what an artist’s blog should be.
Randy really stepped up his game on this one. It amazes me every time we start thinking of things, Randy somehow makes them all happen. So, if you haven’t, check out the new blog, link to it and go get some link love.
*Part of Creative Choas*
Coffee On The East Side
I spent the afternoon at a coffee shop in East Nashville talking to Derek Webb about a million different things. Mostly consisting of the future of the music industry, the need for an online presence, blogging, things that are free, and things that are stolen. Not in that order. Derek and I had met several times before, but never had the chance to sit and actually communicate about things that are obviously important to us.
Almost eight years ago now, Kristin and I were married and for our first dance as a married couple we danced to one of Derek’s songs called “Somewhere North”. I have been a massive fan of his music for as long as I can remember paying attention to music so it was great to be able to hang out as peers and discuss things together. And at least I don’t remember saying anything stupid. I think I might have cussed a few times, but it was on accident.
I feel like a lot of the things that I believe about the music industry and what Derek believes are very similar. It’s not like we are the only two people thinking this stuff but it’s fun to hash out ideas with someone and know that they aren’t going to take those ideas and stab you in the back with them later. I like talking to people like that and there aren’t many. I also like being a person that can hear ideas and know that I would never use those ideas to do any stabbing myself.
Anyway. It’s still up in the air whether Derek will hop on the blog-wagon, but if (and when) he does, you can bet to hear about it.
Hope everyone had a great Sunday.
Who Would It Be?
If you could choose five artists that you would want to be blogging, who would they be? And when I say blogging, I mean regularly, actively, participating in a blogging community. Who would you want to hear from the most? More specifically, who do you think I should talk to next about blogging?
Ready? Go.
