It seems hard to believe that it’s now just over a year, since I launched this blog. In that time, the blog has developed a great community of readers, who regularly contribute comments, feedback and suggestions. This reader input, has helped shape the direction of the blog and been of immeasurable value to me.
Interestingly, over the past few weeks, the blog has started to gain recognition from organisations outside our reader community.
Two new developments in particular have really taken my breath away. Firstly, Advertising Age ranked this blog high enough to be included in their prestigious AdAge Power 150 list. As a reader of Advertising Age for more than 20 years, this recognition means a great deal to me.
Then earlier this week, it was brought to my attention that technorati has also listed Jim’s Marketing blog, in their list of the top 100 small business blogs!
Content AND reader engagement
Although I have tried to provide as much genuinely valuable material here as possible, the reason the blog has started getting noticed outside of the blogs community, is because of the blogs community! No matter how hard I try to make the blog of value, without YOU being so proactive in the way you have recommended and shared this blog with your friends, NOTHING would have happened.
The encouragement and feedback you have given me over this first year has been of massively more value to me than you can possibly imagine.
I am not going to name names, because the list would be just too long.
For example, it would include the name of every one of you, who has commented. The current comment count is just under 4,000. It would include those of you, who share this blog with your friends on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter etc. It would include those of you, who have linked to this blog. It would include everyone who has subscribed to the blog’s RSS feed and those, who have tweeted with me or called me for a chat; after finding my phone number (01427 891274) on the contact page.
You know who you are, so:
THANK YOU!
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Congratulations on building a worthwhile blog and a fostering community in just under a year! Ridiculously impressive, really.
I’m hoping that this blog does well in its next year and sees more growth than before.
Also…I really hate the word “firstly.” It sounds like an adverb with nothing to modify…
Firstly, thanks for the kind words.
Secondly, I could not resist using the word firstly again
I dislike the word ‘hate’ myself. Usually used like a sledgehammer, to crack a nut.
Thanks Corey.
Hate is indeed a strong word…but we teenagers are passionate people. =P
I like the metaphor. It brings to mind a hilarious cartoon sequence.
Congrats, Jim.
Isn’t it amazing the power that smart, useful content has when combined with old-fashioned individual perseverance?
As one who recently had the pleasure of discovering you, I say keep up the great work!
L.
That’s extremely kind of you Laura. I was reading your blog earlier – small world eh?
Can’t believe it’s been a year!!! Time flies so quickly, but well done Jim. A great blog with loads of useful content.
Looking forward to the next 12 months now!
Thanks Stuart. You’re right, the year has gone by REALLY fast.
Congratulations Jim! I’ve only recently discovered you as well, but enjoy your posts and look forward to more insights.
Congratulations on your first year! It’s a bumpy ride, but you seem to have rolled through pretty smoothly. Great job, and good luck!
Congrats on getting the recognition. I would like to get a similar ranking on my blog. Who know time will tell.
Thanks Richard
Great job and congrats! A year goes by fast, doesn’t it?
I subscribed to your feed the first time I visited. That’s pretty rare for me!
Nice work.