I had to smile when I saw that Claire was going to be offering help with online identity management – because I figure I could do with some of that myself just now as I establish my new identity as part of the Blog Angel Team.
Once Claire and I had agreed the fundamentals of the way we’d work together, with me doing some blogging here to help keep things up to date plus some surfing and researching to find out what you’re up to and the kind of things that it would be useful to share – well that immediately threw up some questions about how to establish my new identity – and some practicalities that I’m still working out how to crack.
What we were looking for was a way of being transparent about who was doing the writing (that’s me!) at the same time as creating a visual (and digital) connection back to the Business Blog Angel site (rather than my own blogs). And we need that connection to work both when I’m here (writing or talking in the comment box) or when I’m visiting other sites.
A new e-mail address was the easy part (it’s joanna@businessblogangel.com).
Finding a new avatar was the fun part (here she is – only problem is I’m starting to prefer her to my ‘real’ photo.)
But then there’s the whole business of getting set up with MyBlogLog and similar services. MyBlogLog is a great tool once you’re set up but less than totally easy to get going – especially now they’re merging accounts there with your Yahoo account. (I don’t know about you but I have so many different Yahoo identities I’ve lost track). So now I’ve managed to set myself up with a new “BlogAngel Team” identity – and you might see me flying around visiting your blog from time to time – but locked myself out of my own account (Grr!)
Claire also suggested I set up with Blogcatalog which I’d heard about but not used up to now. I’ve managed to set up my profile there but not yet to link back to Business Blog Angel. I’m waiting to hear from them how to set up a co-authoring system. I’m surprised it’s not easier – I’m sure there must be lots of people out there who are working together on a blog and want to be able to surf in a way that shows it.
Meantime I’ve been developing my new persona by adding Claire’s blog roll of clients to my feed reader – so I can keep up with what you’re doing – but hopefully without overloading my brain (as I already read a lot of feeds… )
I’ve also been thinking about the best way to start writing here with my new ‘voice’. Well for me the easiest way is just to blog about what I’ve been doing and what I’ve learned from it – so that’s what I’ve done.
I’m really looking forward to writing here – to learn more about blogging and social media, to get to know more of you, not to mention working with the bundle of energy and creativity that is your blog angel Claire.
I’ll probably be posting here about once a week – but we’re on the suck it and see stage just now, not to mention the teething problems with the online identity management – of which no doubt more later. Blogrush is on the list of future topics to write about so let me know if you’ve any experience (good or bad) you’d want me to mention and share – likewise if there are other thing you’d like us to talk about just let me or Claire know.
Joanna Young is the latest recruit to the Blog Angel Team. Here's a picture of the 'real' her. She’ll be
writing here on all things business blogging on a weekly basis (ish).
She also writes at Confident Writing (frequently!) and Coaching Wizardry (as the muse strikes). She’s hoping to find a happier medium between the two here.
