Sunday, March 01, 2009

Time for an ideas meeting

As an editor, I had to attend my share of stultifying meetings. Anything with the word "analysis" or "budget" or "strategic" in the title would usually fall into that category. But we had fun meetings too. The whole editorial staff would gather, ostensibly to generate ideas for articles and columns for the magazine/website. Really, we would spend a couple of hours complaining about our kids/husbands/friends/hair/thighs. The ideas were simply a byproduct of the bitch session.

Wouldn't it be great if we could all get together and have a blog ideas meeting? At my fitness site, I have a list of ideas a mile long, because I have a particular topic to target. Here, the wide-open space overwhelms me.

Back when I had to come up with a batch of ideas to present at a meeting, I'd start by thinking I had nothing. But then I'd force myself to sit down and brainstorm and sooner or later I'd have something written down, enough to get me in the door of the meeting.

I don't like to think of this blog as a job. It's not (and in fact I am so tired of reading about marketing yourself, the business of blogging, blahdeblahblah--even though I know that I really need to do all that on my fitness site if I am ever to earn a living wage from it). But I still think I might have to summon myself to an offsite ideas meeting to liven up this place a bit. I might even treat myself to doughnuts to make sure I arrive on time.

P.S. The other good meetings were coverline meetings. You know, where we came up with new, creative ways to promise to solve problems with 5 steps or 11 tips or 49 steals and deals. Numbers sell, baby!

P.P.S. Most of the blog-as-brand posts have been very good. They just always give me a case of the (self-imposed) "shoulds."

6 comments:

Lady M said...

The #s really do - my most commented post at Silicon Valley Moms was the 10 "things I never thought I'd say."

Maybe we could set up virtual brainstorming meeting over twitter.

Patois42 said...

Lady M has a fabulous idea. I'll bring the donuts! (Um, wait, that won't work for your fitness site, will it?)

Heather said...

I'll be there for the meeting! ;)

Jennifer (ponderosa) said...

If you're going to brainstorm via twitter, you need to post your twitter steam on your blog. There's a widget for that I think.

Pleeeeeeease : )

I've got an idea for you: 10 New & Creative Topics for Blog Posts. (HA! I crack myself up.)

Kate said...

All time favorite corporate term: scope creep.

I love brainstorm sessions when I'm brainstorming about things I like. I'm sort of doing that in my own world now with the other sites since they need to be a little more bread than butter coming soon. Harder part is actually writing a whole post about it that is actually readable.

Kirsetin Morello said...

I love those meetings! In my experience, the ideas are always better when discussed over a nice bottle of wine. Top Ten Ways Wine Improves Life. I think you're onto something here, Mayberry.