How the “Clap Sisters” Online Burn Book Highlights the Problem with Anonymity Online

Image of laptop with fire burning from being over-used

Editor’s note: I was shocked when I stumbled on a post about an anonymous group who started a site that is basically an online “burn book.” I reached out to Brittany to tell the story here on the NMX blog, and I’m so excited she agreed! Since then, the Twitter account for the group has … [Read more]

12 Types of Blog Posts You Need to Stop Writing

news

“Add more content!” That seems to be the battle cry these days. Keeping your blog as updated as possible does make sense. Although some argue that quality matters less than quantity, while this is true, I can say without a doubt through my own experiences, that if you have more content, you’re going to get … [Read more]

Bloggers, Are You So Focused On “What Works” That You Forget “What’s Right”?

what works vs whats right

Like all bloggers, I can sometimes get a little wrapped up in stats. I love looking at my traffic, doing split testing, and trying out new techniques. One of the reasons I enjoy attending NMX (previously BlogWorld) is learning new ways to get traffic, how to create content that engages readers, and build a brand … [Read more]

Online Trolls, Toxic Disinhibition, and How We can Change the Internet

Internet Troll

This is the story of how Leo Traynor met a Internet troll, and how we can use this as a launching pad to change the Internet. It’s a story every blogger – no, every Internet user – needs to hear, understand, and take action upon. As he outlined on his blog, Leo decided to leave … [Read more]

Why Bad Bloggers are Sometimes Successful

success and failure

It can be hard to see “bad” bloggers become successful. We follow the rules. We monitor our stats and strategically plan our content calendar and engage our community via social media. We write long, from-the-heart posts that are education, inspirational, and grammatically perfect. We spend thousands of dollars on domain names and themes and plugins … [Read more]

Content Creators: Stop Using the Term “IRL”

Today, I wanted to share a video with you that I think is extremely important. It comes from TEDxVictoria and is a talk by Alexandra Samuel, the Director of the Social + Interactive Media Centre at Emily Carr University and the co-founder and principal of Social Signal. Every day, I see people using the phrase … [Read more]

Does Your Blog Just Tell People What They Want to Hear? A Honest Look at Social Success

Are You Telling People What They Want to Hear

Oh, the ripples a single blog post can make. It’s been a long time since a post about social media got people as worked up as Cathryn Sloane’s “Why Every Social Media Manager Should Be Under 25” at NextGen Journal. I’ve read dozens of blog post responses to her, and as of writing this post, … [Read more]

Are Your Actions Aligned with Your Online Goals?

Are Your Actions Aligned With Your Online Goals

It seems like every day, I’m confronted with something else I “should” be doing online. Sometimes, the advice is even contradicting. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good advice, but what it does mean is that I need to wade through the river of choices and determine what is best for me and my content. You’re … [Read more]

Working in Social Media at 27: Yes, I Am Over The Hill

generations

I’m 27 years old, and that’s me pictured at right pouting. Why? Because according to Cathryn Sloane, I am too old to be a social media manager. In her post yesterday, “Why Every Social Media Manager Should Be Under 25,” Cathryn writes, “You might argue that everyone, regardless of age, was along for the ride, … [Read more]

What is an Internet Troll? The Answer Might Surprise You

What is an Internet Troll

What is a troll? It seems like a simple question, and one that those of us online wouldn’t even give a second thought before answering. “In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the … [Read more]