Help me build a new blogger toolbox

As fresh faces leap into the blogging waters faster than we can count them, it occurred to me that it's in everyone's best interest (and just good manners) to offer a helping hand to the neophytes.  We're helping clients launch blogs on a regular basis and for many of them, these is new territory.

But I need your help.  Someone helped you...now it's our turn!

I'm going to compile a master list/separate blogroll of blog sites that a new blogger should visit, explore and study.  Here are my thoughts on how this might work.  (Think of this as an evolution of the z-list)

1) Anyone who is interested, create a post listing a few blog sites (and maybe give a word or two as to how you'd categorize them) that:

• Are chock full of practical tips
• Act as a living lab on how to write compelling blog posts
• Demonstrate how to build a community
• Teach marketing tools
• Are welcome wagons - bloggers who spotlight newbies

2) If you want, use the photo above as the graphic - great, gotta love consistency

3) Link back to this post, so I can find yours and add it to the master list

4) If you think its of value to your readers -- why not grab the list before yours and just top it off with your new additions

5) Encourage your readers to do #1-4

Okay, I'll kick off the list with these...

New Bloggers Toolbox

Converstations (chock full of practical tips)
CK's blog (compelling blog post examples)
Viral Garden  (demonstrate how to build a community)
Lonely Marketer (teach marketing tools)
Successful & Outstanding Blogs (bloggers who spotlight newbies)

This is not a "if you're tagged, jump in" sort of thing.  If you know of some great resources...jump in.  If you got named -- please, by all means jump in too!

Comments

[linkerjpatrick]

Thanks for starting this off. I just made a toolbox post of my own on my companies blog.

http://www.spinningsilkmultimedia.com/eqiuping-your-blogging-toolbox/

[CK]

Great idea ;-). I'll give some thought to this so I can contribute some tips and blogs...thanks for always looking out for others, Drew. You Rock.

[Lewis Green]

Drew,

I can't trackback to you. For some reason, even though I am a Typepad used, I can't trackback to other Typepad accounts. Typepad has been troubleshooting this for a month. Anyway, I am returning to my blog to post something right now.

[Drew McLellan]

Linker (do your friends call you Link ;-})

Thanks for jumping on board...your suggestions are excellent ones. I can't wait to see the finished list.

Drew

[Drew McLellan]

CK --

Take your time. We're all about quality on this one! As always, thanks for helping.

Drew

[Drew McLellan]

Lewis,

Bummer about the trackback problems. No worries, though. The link you created will serve the same purpose!

If you want to grab the code for my initial five, feel free to include that in your post.

Thanks for jumping on board!

Drew

[Patrick Schaber]

Hey Drew,
Wow, great idea! You're a genius with things like this. I'll think about it and get a post up soon. Thanks for including me in your list!

-Pat

[Patrick Schaber]

Drew,
I was just thinking - maybe this should be the t-list for "toolbox" list?

-Pat

[Carolyn Manning]

Drew, you can certainly count me in. As with CK and Patrick, I, too, will be giving it some serious thought; quality rather than quantity.

I didn't see any time frame, though. Do you have a deadline in mind, or are you playing it by ear for now?

[Steve Woodruff]

Drew,

I know you share my hope that BrandingWire (www.brandingwire.com) will become, quite literally, a living lab in how to write compelling posts - in this case, compelling posts from multiple authors on a single topic. As part of a toolkit, it should provide the value of viewing multiple creative perspectives on one challenge.

[Becky Carroll]

Great idea, Drew. When I started blogging, there were definitely certain blogs that helped me understand how to get going. Lately, I have also been advising many of my colleagues on how to start a blog (not yet an officially-offered service!), and I have a few resources for that as well. I will think on this and create a blog post in the next day or so with my lists.

[Drew McLellan]

Thanks everyone for jumping on board with this. Please pass the word....and let's help the newbies!

Drew

[رضا]

Finished ?

[Drew McLellan]

I'll be gathering up the toolbox suggestions over the next week or so and building a new directory/page. So...keep your eyes peeled and if you want to add to the toolbox, please do.

Just make sure you link back to this post, so I am sure to find your post.

Thanks,

Drew

[Robyn McMaster]

Hi Drew, Guess I worked at turtle speed on this one. I've put a Newbie Blogging Toolbox together at
http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com/2007/07/newbie-blogging-toolbox.html

[Drew McLellan]

Robyn,

Never too late to this party! Thanks for adding your thoughts.

I'm going to begin gathering all the suggestions so I can build the master list!

Drew

[Saul]

Thanks for all the great tips and marketing tools. Good luck on your Bloggers Choice Award. Hey, by thew way, have you checked out the upcoming Postiecon Conference (www.postiecon.com)? It may be something that you would find really interesting.

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[Malliobiana]

The more good blogs that arrive, especially those with useful tips, the better off we are, despite the watering down of the net. I notice many older blogs that haven't been updated for sometime - yet they still have prominent listings. There should be a date-related sorting process to help filter out the old and new.

[Drew McLellan]

Malliobiana,

I think over time, if a blog hasn't been updated, its rankings will fall. It just takes a few months for the search engine spiders and ranking sites like technorati to catch up.

Drew

[Drew McLellan]

Hey "Brick,"

So if its not for current news -- what is it that keep you coming back to your local paper? How does it add value for you?

Drew

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