SXSW, Twitter and the End of Copyblogger

by Brian Clark

SXSW Interactive

Just a quick note to let you know I’ll be making my annual pilgrimage to Austin for SXSW. I won’t be presenting (work, ugh), but I would love to meet some of the people I’ve gotten to know online. So, if you’re going, make sure to look for me.

I’ve got a bunch of stuff to get done before I head down there, so sorry for the lack of content. I’ll get some stuff out in the next couple of days. Things may be sparse while I’m gone, unless some guest posts come in (hint, hint).

SXSW Interactive

But the real threat to Copyblogger as an ongoing publication is not the copious amounts of alcohol that tend to be consumed at SXSW, it’s Twitter. Yep, I finally “get” Twitter, and unfortunately, it’s highly addictive.

I generally like to just lurk and reply to people. It’s very conversational, which is the part I didn’t get before.

So, if you’re on Twitter, you can follow me if you’d like. If you’re not on Twitter, it really is pretty cool… but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

And if I don’t learn to temper the Twitter addiction, it may well be the end of Copyblogger. Who can write when they’d rather be Tweeting?

P.S. I really would like to see some killer guest posts. I think having some fun for a bit is exactly what I need.

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{ 3 trackbacks }

Regular Geek » Is Twitter killing blogs?
March 6, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Three Ways to Maximize Your Twitter Time for Networking, Marketing and Fun | Copyblogger
March 26, 2008 at 11:13 am
What’s With the Twitter Craze? - Amidst a tangled web
April 21, 2008 at 2:07 pm

{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Alvin March 4, 2008 at 2:42 pm

Hey, enjoy the break. You deserve it. I’ve recently “discovered” the utility of Twitter as well. You can follow me at http://twitter.com/wyliemac.

2 Alvin March 4, 2008 at 2:43 pm

In fact, I was alerted to your new post via Twitter!

3 Mike Tekula March 4, 2008 at 2:45 pm

I haven’t been bit by the Twitter bug just yet myself…but you’ve encouraged me to give it a closer look. Let’s hope I won’t be cursing your name for this.

4 Joanna Young March 4, 2008 at 3:08 pm

I’m looking forward to the conversation :-)

Have you bought up copytweeting?

Joanna

5 James Chartrand - Men with Pens March 4, 2008 at 3:10 pm

Ahh, a call to action. I’ll sharpen my pen for you, since I won’t be Twittering. Best to stay away from addictive things like that ;)

6 Troy March 4, 2008 at 4:18 pm

I am sure that Twitter is amazing, but so fare I’ve managed to avoid being sucked into it. What with commenting and following other blogs, writing my own content, redesigning, and having a life I’m just not sure that there is room for it. How some can follow a number of social networks faithfully is beyond me :) .

7 Amy Derby March 4, 2008 at 5:47 pm

I’ll admit, I was sucked in by the title of this post. I’m glad to see your blog’s demise will only be at the hands of travel and Twitter addictions. ;-)

Signed,
the happy lurker with addictive personality, staying far far away from Twitter

8 Daniel McGonagle @ http://danielmcgonagle March 4, 2008 at 6:36 pm

Hi, you mentioned Guest Bloggers while you’re away…

Do you accept submissions or is that by invite only?

Here is a long, ugly link to something I’d like to see on CopyBlogger.

http://www.danielmcgonagle.name/internet-marketing/footprint-in-cyberspace-are-you-following-bad-advice-from-marketing-gurus

Thanks in advance for considering it,

Dan

P.S. Have some alcohol for me :)

9 Rachel Keslensky March 4, 2008 at 7:41 pm

Just tell me where to submit the guest post. ;)

Twitter is fun, but it’s no blog-killer.

10 Valeria Maltoni March 4, 2008 at 8:27 pm

Brian,

The values of Twitter to me has been tremendous – it’s like speed-blogging and allowing me to meet people quickly. I was speaking at a MIMA event last night in Minneapolis and several people I met on Twitter were in attendance. We talked in 140 characters : )

11 Ryan Imel March 4, 2008 at 10:34 pm

I’ll see if I can’t send something your way. It’s been a while, and would be fun to prepare something for CopyBlogger again.

I’m following you on Twitter.

Oh, and scary headline. :)

12 shawn smith March 4, 2008 at 11:05 pm

talk about a headline that made me click – end of copyblogger? Ha. have fun in Austin

13 Mark March 4, 2008 at 11:08 pm

Hey Brian, if you’re addicted to Twitter and this really IS the end of Copyblogger, I have an eminently useful business proposition for you:

I’ll write all the blog posts for Copyblogger from now on and let you have all the income from the sale of ads.

We must not let Copyblogger die. Not now, and not ever!

I await your decision.

-Mark

14 Brian Clark March 4, 2008 at 11:12 pm

Heh, well, assuming you all remember my warnings about being someone else’s user generated content and not developing your own website, I figured everyone knew this post was tongue in cheek.

But I have been wanting to goof off a lot lately, which tells me I need some time off. Thanks to all of you for being so cool about it.

15 John Hoff March 4, 2008 at 11:24 pm

Thanks for all the invaluable content and resources you’ve provided me, Brian. I hope you have a great break and come back with a bang! I’ll definitely stick around and keep sending people your way.

But something about hearing Brian’s “lurking” around somewhere that just doesn’t sound right ;)

16 alex harris March 5, 2008 at 1:27 am

Hopefully we will run into each other. Enjoy your stuff.

Lets connect:
http://twitter.com/alexdesigns

17 James 'Make Money Online' Mann March 5, 2008 at 7:28 am

I am glad you are getting into Twitter. I have also, but probably not as much as I should.

We all need a break now and then, for me it’s fly fishing. When we finally get rid of all this snow and cold and of course when fishing season opens, my mind seems to get re-focused but not on work. :)

Enjoy your time away.

18 Xander Becket March 5, 2008 at 9:45 am

Haha, I just signed up for twitter but immediately stopped using it.

Why? I’m young and I use facebook. I already have my network established, and twitter struck me as a glorified facebook status message.

But I’m glad you oldies are having so much fun :-)

19 Cindy Szponder March 5, 2008 at 10:16 am

Hmm. Keep hearing about Twitter and have added you to follow, but have yet to “get it.” I’m already so busy, though, maybe it’s good I’m still in the dark.

20 Mary Sledd March 5, 2008 at 10:37 am

Howdy

Great to hear you will be at SXSW! We (www.do512.com) are taking over one of the bars on Friday night to celebrate! Please email me if you’d like details and to be added to the guest list.

Mary

21 Jack Humphrey March 5, 2008 at 10:58 am

I really think your readers should vote whether to let you out of your writing duties here. I say it’s OK this time, but please ask us before you plan trips as it might not be convenient for us to go without and we’ll have to let you know.

22 Steven Bradley March 5, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Funny Brian. I saw your tweets yesterday about the demise of CopyBlogger. I know how you feel. I only “got” Twitter about a month or so ago and it’s been highly addictive.

Very useful as a communications and networking tool as well.

23 Dave Conrey March 5, 2008 at 11:45 pm

I’m with you on the Twitter tip, Brian. I just recently “got it” myself. Still not using it as much as I probably could/should, but getting there, and yes, it can be addictive. Just ask Michael Martine.

24 Jim Klee March 10, 2008 at 1:44 pm

I have to agree with Xander – Facebook status has more utility to me than Twitter, as my network there can follow my changes, and vice versa.

I don’t know enough people using Twitter to make it worth it. Guess I’m out of the loop.

25 WebDiggin March 15, 2008 at 2:27 pm

But the beauty of Twitter is in its brevity. 140 characters or whatever it is? It’s a snapshot of life. I like it. I wish we had known about it when we were backpacking around the world (http://whattheduck.ca)

Great catchy title. I would have skipped on the Twitter part, SXSW didn’t pull me in, but the death of CopyBlogger? Yeah, that was a nice hook.

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