HighTalk turns four years old this month. Hooray? I’ve been a blogger for six years with HighTalk my primary blog. Why do I do it? I’m not really sure. I started because, as a former journalist, I missed writing. But blogging isn’t the same kind of writing as journalism. Or fiction writing. Or poetry. Or […]
Read moreThe Great Relief That Comes When You Quit Blogging
…and the guilt. ..and the feeling of failure. But above all the wonderful sensation of FREEDOM. Of getting your life back. Blogging can feel like a great hunger that constantly needs to be nourished. There’s a sense of panic when you haven’t posted in a long time. But when you stop? Ahhhh… And then, […]
Read moreGoing “Live” Increases Engagement & Reaches More People
There’s energy in going “live.” Fierce energy. Ask anyone who has been to a live sporting event or a concert. There’s an electricity that comes from knowing you’re watching events unfold in real-time. This works not only for attending live events, but also watching them. The live energy can be felt while watching the Oscars […]
Read more23 Signs That You’ve Become a Blogger
Here is what happens to you when you become a blogger: You age prematurely Deep-seeded anxiety grows every day you don’t post something new Everything becomes a metaphor for blogging Your breath gets bad – and then the headaches start You learn to repeat yourself in creative ways WordPress and SEO become obsessions You steal […]
Read moreIn Search of Blog Content
A blog is like a gigantic hole. Sometimes the gigantic hole seems to be on par with the size of the Grand Canyon. Other times the gigantic hole seems more manageable like, for example, the size of an open grave. Just kidding… Blogging is hard work. It is endless. Deadlines loom all the time – […]
Read moreBlogs Are the Zombies of Social Media
Dead Again. That should be the standing headline for blogging. Because it’s been dead so many times, I’ve lost count. Thankfully, bloggers are like zombies – dead, but somehow still walking around (or in this case still posting). While it is true that blogging has lost ground – and continues to lose ground – to […]
Read moreBad Blogging: A Guide
Every blogger – at some point – is guilty of bad blogging. Blogging is fast – Internet fast. And that means making mistakes. It means errors in judgement. It means writing and publishing on a whim. It means writing without an editor (or a proofreader). In means writing without a net. And that’s dangerous. Not […]
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Is Extreme Economics Infecting Social Media?
In her fascinating book “The Watchman’s Rattle,” Rebecca Costa talks about a super meme known as “extreme economics.” For those unfamiliar with the concept of memes (rhythms with “seems”) they are units of cultural transmission or imitation and like real genes they compete for survival, some winning and others dying out. They also evolve with […]
Read moreBrands Should Not Pay Bloggers
If bloggers want to make money with their blogs they should sell advertising – or charge readers for their content. But they should not expect brands to pay them for writing or producing content. This is an issue that has been around for years – and it never seems to go away. Yet it’s my […]
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January 25, 2013 


Does Commenting Add Any Value?
Do you read comments? For me the answer is: It depends. I often read the comments on my favorite blogs. The comments on blogs generally add value. Often there are debates breaking out around the issues the blogger has explored in his/her post. I like reading how people are reacting to the content and the […]
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