VisualsSpeak blog

The 31 day challenge continues. I wrote a reflection post on BlogCascadia the other day. Another aspect of this process I have noticed, is the group is starting to teach each other at new levels. The interaction is deepening.

Day 7: Create a posting schedule for the next week

This sounds easy. However, I have numerous lists of ideas scattered around on different yellow legal pads. I even have one on a scrap of paper in my purse. I have another on Zoho writer. Let me see, then there is the blogme tag on my Google bookmarks and the starred posts on Google Reader. Firefox bookmarks on my office computer, Safari bookmarks on my office computer, Firefox at home, Safari at home, Internet Explorer at home. Yikes!

I keep thinking I am going to find the ultimate organizing solution, so I keep trying new things I hear about. In the offline world, I do this by shopping for the ultimate organizing container/shelf/system when I am overwhelmed. Ten years ago, I moved across the US, and had a garage sale before I left. I remember looking out the window and realizing almost everything I was selling was an organizing device of some kind. This is not a new issue in my life!

I thought I was signing up to become a better blogger. Seems the insights are reaching a bit deeper than that.

Day 8: Comment on a blog you’ve never commented on

I’ve been trying not only to comment on new blogs, but to try to write more meaningful comments. Rather than just saying ‘great post’, I’m trying to add something to what is being said, or offer a suggestion. It’s not always easy, and I have noticed it is really easy to be misinterpreted. The receiver doesn’t have context for what I am thinking. It’s somewhat like email, the same possibilities for misinterpretation exist. It feels conversational, but the communication needs to be a bit clearer than that.

I am also conscious of how often I use idioms or refer to sayings used in the US. It can be really easy to think others who speak English, speak the same kind of English. Not so.

Cammie came up with some great suggestions for tools to help us track the various comments we are making. I ‘m trying c0.mment. I have it loaded onto my office computer. I just posted a comment from my home computer. Guess I have another detail to work out.

Day 9: Attempt to get organized

The task for today had something to do with advertising. Since I don’t have any, I got to pick another task. I couldn’t avoid the organizing issue any longer.

First attempt. Create a Google homepage. I managed to get my google bookmarks, delicious, and gmail on one page. I made another tab with weather, a game, google calendar, and google news. One tab has blue surrounds, one has green. Did I do that? I still have all my blogs on Google Reader. Not sure how to deal with the too many different bookmarks lists.

Alex to the rescue! Not only did she hear my struggle, she came up with a solution and made a screencast about Netvibes. I posted late before going to bed, the screencast was waiting for me in the morning. Now I want to acknowledge that Michele has been suggesting Netvibes, and I thought perhaps I should check it out. It was seeing the neat organized desktop with COLORS that got me.

I now have a multi-tabbed Netvibes page, complete with blogs, weather, mail, news and more. I even have Twitter and Facebook on there, even though I don’t know what to do with them yet. Sue has connected to me, so I’m sure I’ll learn. I still have the multiple bookmarks issue, but I have a tab for bookmarks and I am at least starting to get them in one place. Maybe Michele will write a transform your life with Netvibes post? She has one for transforming your organization.

Day 10: Clean up your sidebar

I try to keep my sidebars clean, and being the blogs are fairly new, I haven’t had the opportunity to fill them up yet. Still I am considering moving links to anther static page. I haven’t been listing many great resources simply because I don’t want all the visual noise, so I think the separate page may be a good option.

I am evaluating all the widgets. I know my customers aren’t big bloggers, so I’ve tried to add things like email a post, and click comments to try to make it easier. So far, they email me or tell me they like the blog when they see me. So, I’ll give things a bit more time and take the extras down if they don’t get used regularly.

Here are the other people who are participating in the 31 Day Blogging Challenge:
Michele Martin, Alex Miller, Brent Mackinnon, Cammy Bean, Frances McLean, Kate Foy, Kate Quinn , Laura Whitehead, Nancy Riffer, Smoke Free Wisconsin , Sue Waters , Eklavya, Tim Davies