Community Blogging the Metblogs Way Dylan Wilbanks seattle.metblogs.com April 28, 2007

Metblogs: The Basics Started in 2003 (blogging.la) by Sean Bonner Expanded to other cities; Seattle added in 2004 54 cities, 5 continents, 700+ bloggers City captains Unpaid (though there are goal-based rewards)

Started in 2003 (blogging.la) by Sean Bonner

Expanded to other cities; Seattle added in 2004

54 cities, 5 continents, 700+ bloggers

City captains

Unpaid (though there are goal-based rewards)

How A Metblog Is Formed Person has interest in forming local Metblog They start blogging (soft launch) and recruit new bloggers Who recruit new bloggers, and so on, and so on Once there’s critical mass, public launch

Person has interest in forming local Metblog

They start blogging (soft launch) and recruit new bloggers

Who recruit new bloggers, and so on, and so on

Once there’s critical mass, public launch

Seattle Metblogs 15 writers right now (8-10 normally) Age range from 20 to mid-40s (median ~28) ~50% live in Cap Hill/Eastlake/Madison Park Strive to be Seattle-centric – global memes only discussed if there’s a Seattle connection Still have our own blogs

15 writers right now (8-10 normally)

Age range from 20 to mid-40s (median ~28)

~50% live in Cap Hill/Eastlake/Madison Park

Strive to be Seattle-centric – global memes only discussed if there’s a Seattle connection

Still have our own blogs

We fall into roles We write about what we know and love Zee: Movies Samantha: Art Ryan: Sports Kristen: Politics and culture Dylan: Ranting But we don’t have defined roles

We write about what we know and love

Zee: Movies

Samantha: Art

Ryan: Sports

Kristen: Politics and culture

Dylan: Ranting

But we don’t have defined roles

What does the community look like? (Please tell us. We’d love to know.)

How do we know we even have a community? Because people are willing to take the time to say how much they hate us.

Discussion topics

YOYOW (You own your own words) But…with group blogs, is that still true? Ownership questions Mean Kids

But…with group blogs, is that still true?

Ownership questions

Mean Kids

Blogs != Forums Blogs are primarily two-way: Blogger writes about a topic, readers respond. Forums are multi-way: Readers write, writers read, everyone responds. Horses for courses

Blogs are primarily two-way: Blogger writes about a topic, readers respond.

Forums are multi-way: Readers write, writers read, everyone responds.

Horses for courses

Group blogs mean the group must interact with each other. Seattle MB writers interact: Physically Meetups (second Thursday, all invited) Tastings (coffee, chocolate, etc.) As writers Online story meetings Commenting on each other’s posts

Seattle MB writers interact:

Physically

Meetups (second Thursday, all invited)

Tastings (coffee, chocolate, etc.)

As writers

Online story meetings

Commenting on each other’s posts

How does a group blog build a good online community? Good ideas Good writing Good readers Good feedback Good interaction Good connections -> community So good community starts with good writing and ends with connections

Good ideas

Good writing

Good readers

Good feedback

Good interaction

Good connections -> community

So good community starts with good writing and ends with connections

Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. -- E.M. Forster, Howard’s End

Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer.

-- E.M. Forster, Howard’s End

Links and Contacts Seattle Metblogs – http://seattle.metblogs.com Metblogs – http://metblogs.com Dylan Wilbanks – http://clientandserver.com [email_address] Twitter: wnalyd

Seattle Metblogs – http://seattle.metblogs.com

Metblogs – http://metblogs.com

Dylan Wilbanks – http://clientandserver.com

[email_address]

Twitter: wnalyd