08 May 2012

Guess it's over: a Blog Off post

Every two weeks, the blogosphere comes alive when bloggers of all stripes weigh in on the same topic. After a great run, the Blog Off as it exists now will end of this week. The topic is essentially wrapping things up and saying goodbye. Here's my take:

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The Blog Off has been winding down for the last six months or so and those of us who put this thing together every two weeks have been facing that incrementally. After the last post, my partner in crime Dog Walk Blog and I were discussing what to write about today.

For the last six months, he and I have had a "next topic" conversation every two weeks and I'd start each one with the suggestion that we place a "For Sale by Owner" banner ad on the Let's Blog Off landing page. I was only partially kidding.


Like everybody else on the internet, we'd hoped to have this thing make some money somehow. Despite our shrewd minds and marketing acumen, we never did figure out a way for this thing to pay for itself. Putting this together every two weeks took a lot of energy and time and for the last few months it's become clear that the Blog Off was turning into a time and energy black hole.

We're busy men, but so is everybody. When we started this thing we were both established internet presences. Our goal was to help people expand their audiences and in that regard I think we succeeded. It was a singular thrill to watch as the Blog Off participants went from the circle of our online friends and expanded to include new bloggers all over the world.

My goal over the course of this program was to reach out across borders and it was an amazing thing to see participating posts come in from places like Venezuela,Canada, Portugal, Scotland and Italy. Even though the Blog Off is winding down, our connections around the world mark a really interesting path forward. Not just for us as internet people but for people as a whole.

It's been a great ride to read other peoples' perspectives on subjects like art and autumn and I hope we provided a forum where people could flesh out their internet personae. It's one thing to be an architect, but when an architect writes about the topic of home or the legacy he or she inherited, it provided a window into the soul of that architect. I'm using architect as an example only. Our participants have ranged from architects to teachers to waitresses and everybody's perspective has always been welcome.

I guess this means that I have to start blogging again.




15 comments:

  1. A very sincere thank you to both you and Rufus for this experience. It has been such a delight even in the struggles of writing. I have met great people and learned a bit about myself in the process. I look forward to the next brainstorm!

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  2. I would add my thanks as well. I have learned a lot during this last year and I owe a debt of gratitude to Let's Blog Off for the opportunity to participate.

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  3. Third... thanks Paul & everyone else for the great time & platform you provided. Best of luck to all

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  4. It's been a great experience. Thank you for the opportunity.

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  5. @Paul,

    I hope you recognize the amazing accomplishment -- bringing people and continents together in voice, song and blog. I'm full of cliche' today, "Thanks for the memories".

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  6. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to see this end. I have enjoyed it immensely. There were times when my initial thought was, “stupid topic,” but I somehow found a way to make it work anyway. And learned a lot, I think, in the process of writing on a subject so very far away from my own comfort zone. Of course, if this ends with you doing more blogging, Paul, it will not be all bad at all!

    I gotta say, though, that reading so many different viewpoints on the same subject was always a treat. There were times when I’d write my blog and think, “Man, I nailed it.” Then I’d read what others had to say and find myself thinking, “Wow, I wasn’t even close!” But that’s what made it so much fun.

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  7. Thank you so much for investing the time you have to LetsBlogOff. I'm going to miss it and the great and often challenging topics presented. It's been a lot of fun and a great learning experience. I look forward to seeing what comes next!

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  8. Thank you so much for doing this, for giving the time and energy and care it took. It's been a thought-provoking, entertaining delight.

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  9. whoa! shows you how much I have been around. and this is the first I heard of LBO's end. A sincere thank you you guys for setting up and running. so cool how it brought folks from far corners to discuss the nitty gritty. It certainly did offer its share of good times, great memories ... for many I'm sure. happy trails ... ~jb

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  10. I, too, am sorry to see this end. I know I have been absent lately, but I have so enjoyed the creativity and camaraderie that Let's Blog Off generated.

    If you keep blogging, I'll keep reading. ;-)

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  11. You got the conversation started, Paul and Rufus! Can't wait to see what you do next.

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  12. Though I never participated, sorry to see Blog Off end as it was always a delight to read.
    -Brenda-

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  13. Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow - As our Beloved Shakespeare said.. This was a brilliant Accomplishment that brought joy to many people around the Globe. I always admired your wit and range of topics. Looking forward to your next Brilliant Idea!!! Congrats on an Outstanding Job.. You are truly a Remarkable Creative Genius... :)

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  14. Thanks Brenda, without the Blog Off to keep me writing this blog, I'm going to have to return to my old writer ways around here.

    Juliet: Thank you!

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