Confessions of an A-Lister

The Media Orchard has a thoughtful aggregation about all the comments showing hostility against A-listers, including some comments about me and reaction to my recent McDonald's postings. Media Orchard suggests that we so-called A-listers are a bit clubby and want to continue running the ever-expanding blogosphere show.

Media Orchard warns us to stop provoking anger,a piece of advice that I'll decline to follow.  I try to provoke thought and I have a long history of making people angry in the process  I'm not convinced that is such a bad thing.

The first time I heard myself called an A-lister was less than 60 days ago. My first instinct was to demand a recount, but still I felt myself puff up a bit with some artificial sense of achievement.  Two years ago my ranking was approximately 1.1 millionth on Technorati. When I started to collaborate on a book with Scoble, I was ranked in the low 20,000s. 

To write the book, I became immersed in blogging. I posted often and with passion. I joined other conversatios, leaving comments and linking from the Naked Convcersations blog on anything I saw on the subect of business and blogs.

I worked hard, not to be boosted onto some artificial list, but understand Robert's genius for blogging and to find useful and interesting examples of blogs applicable to business of all sizes. I interviewed nearly 200 people for the book and worked for over six months at a pace of about 18 hours daily, seven days weekly. I began the project as little more than a reporter on the blogging and ended up convinced that something transformational and imprtant was happening and it was going to change business communications.

I produced a lot of blogs and people for the most part seemed to appreciate the effort, s more people came to the blog, and I started getting asked to speak from time to time and have been interviewed by some press and podcasters. So oe da someone called me an A-Lister and it surprised me but it felt sort of good.  Not central to who I am, but it felt good.

I write today in the same voice I used 2 years ago, when there were 1.1 million bloggers better followed than me. Then I was called passionate. These days mre people are lisening to me and fr that, my same thoughts and words are being called arrogant. Go figure.

And here comes the confession: I like being called an A-Lister. I'm proud of it. I know the term is ultimately unimportant and that my time to hold this title is limited, but it's a kick right now. I worked real hard and now I'm getting some public strokes and life may not be this good tomorrow.

One many f you should consider is that each A-Lister may have meteric rankings, but in terms of the blogosphere's growth rate, we are each less influential every day. Every day more people in the blogosphere may read Robert Scoble.  But every day a smaller percentage of the total blogosphere reads him because it is growing faster than he possibly could.

And the really good news for some of you is that some day in the future, like Scoble and Doc and David and the rest, we will all be yesterday's news.

A-Listers are being called clicky.  I can see why. I hang out where bloggers hang out, and that means I know a good number prominent bloggers some of whom are prominent.  In general, we like each other.  We share common interests, values and beliefs about the blogosphere and its importance.  Other than that, you cannot get us--as a group--to agree on very much of anything. We are not a club. We do not set an agenda and we are almost universally open sorce in terms of interaction with other bloggers we admire whether they have one link or one million.

My advice to anyone is that if you don't like an A-Lister, then don't read him or her.  If enough people follow your lead, peple you don't like won't be A-Listers anymore and some list publisher will identify you as an emerging influencer.  My advise is to read and start conversations with the bloggers you like and appreciate and just ignore everyone else. Talk about what you want to talk about.  Pick subjects that you care about and attract others who are passionate on the same subject.

As for me, I am really digging this ride. I happen to have been on enough rides in my life to know this one will end.  Someday--sooner than I like--I will become "so yesterday." But that is as it should be.  You always have to make room for fresh blood and new ideas.

For those of you who will take our place, my cheap advice is you'd better develop a thick skin. If some calls you an A-Lister one day, someone else will be drawing a target on your back.

Comments

[scott]

It speaks well of you that you're willing to engage Kate and others, Shel. Reaching out to broader circles of bloggers is the key to tackling the persistent charges of clubbiness that dog some high-profile bloggers (imho).

[Kami Huyse]

This post is a tough one from me becuase both Scott (Idea Grove) and Shel Israel reached out to me early in the game when I started bloggin last November.

I don't think Shel merits the criticism about clubbiness that Scott gave him in his post. There are others, for sure, that are so far up there that I can't imagine reaching them, but Shel isn't one of them. (I have his back too Scott)

Shel, with his podcasts that are like free professional development, and his willingness to talk to the people that leave comments in his posts, has been a major force in developing the PR Blogging space. This is just my opinion, but I know he made me feel welcome when I just had one post and no traffic, much less links.

As for his confession that he likes being an A-lister and that he worked hard for it, I think this qualifies him as an nomination for Scott's annual, "Top 10 Moments in Public Honesty," honoring public figures for their refreshing candor in their interactions with the public.

[scott]

I respect your opinion and Shel's, Kami. Shel has certainly never tried to pull rank with me, and it's gratifying to know that he's been of help to you. As I said, I was gratified that he took the time to respond directly to Kate in a previous post. This kind of response is ultimately what will defuse the charges of clubbiness among bloggers. In the same way that Shel helped you, Jeremy Pepper was helpful to me when I started, and that kind of outreach stays with people and builds fans -- rather than just subscribers.

[Brian Oberkirch]

Another data point: on Shel's card, one of his titles is 'Nice Guy.' True dat.

[John Furrier]

You are an A-lister... keep it up.. Lets podcast

[david]

What is this A-List of which you all speak?

[Jeremiah Owyang]

Brian

Yes Shel is a nice guy...I remember meeting him just a few months ago, and he self-described being a 'c-lister' yup he's come up, glad to see it.

David
Heh, and for the record, there is not definitive categorization of what an A-lister is. It's a term used for 'popular' --ya know like in high school

Regardless, Shel is still a fine blogger, has great insight and is a nice guy.

[Graeme Thickins]

Shel, you very much deserve the "A"! Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing you next week at Demo and blogging from there. I'm bigtime pumped about it. Hey, this is better than the Super Bowl in my book....

yeeowwww!!!
Graeme

[Kami Huyse]

Actually, sometimes the blogosphere reminds me a little of high school.

[steven e. streight the sigfile blooger vaspers the grate(ful)]

Shel is the quintesstial business blogger living what he preaches.

You're supposed to preach Transparency and Passion, but not be too revelatory or aggressive, so they hypnotically hope, transfixed by their little narcissus pond of unportrayed envy gushings.

At least you speak plainly of your creed and crushings. I use robo-poetics to insinuate the truth more obliquely, so diplo/blogo combative that I am.

"Affirmations make us feel happy and that's okay. Bitter complaints against smiling are to be endured hatefully and sent on their way." my best advice today

So now you are supposed to say, "Gee. I don't like being called successful"??? No way.

Shrapnel Embedded Sharp Tongued Smart Blogging is the ONLY Blogging