It's summer and the procrastination is easy
Friday, July 9, 2010 at 06:33AM The topic of procrastination has held some fascination for me. See:
- How we spend our days
- Productive procrastination
- I will conquer my procrastination problem. You just wait!
Jeri Hurd in her insightful post, Blogging as Avoidance Behavior, writes:
It occurred to me a moment ago that the hours and hours I've spent on the blog the past few days is actually procrastination--my excuse for NOT working on packing up the house for the big move.
OK, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I've just added "Check my Twitter stuff" to check my e-mail and check my RSS reader to my list-of-things-to-do-before-I-get-to-the-hard-work. Just what I needed.
But why I thought of Jeri's post again was Seth Godin's report this morning:
A good preacher ought to be able to get 70% of the people who showed up on Sunday to make a donation.
A teeny bop rock group might convert 20% of concert goers to buy a shirt or souvenir.
A great street magician can get 10% of the people who watch his show to throw a dollar in the hat.
Direct marketers used to shoot for 2% conversion from a good list, but now, that's a long shot.
A blogger might convert 2% of readers to buy a book. (I'm aghast at this).
And a twitter user with a lot of fans will be lucky to get one out of a thousand to click a link and buy something. (.1%)
and concludes
If all you're doing is increasing the number of digital spectators to your work, you're unlikely to earn the conversion you deserve.
Most of write to persuade (to convert, if you will). Once again I am challenged to ask myself where and how my writing may have the most impact - in a magazine or journal, in a book, on this blog or in Twitter feeds?
I'm not selling products, but I am selling ideas. Aren't you? How is your time best spent converting the great unwashed?
Reader Comments (8)
Godin's numbers are so interesting. He himself sells loads of books through a diversified platform of blog postings,speaking engagements, marketing consultations, forum sites (Squidoo)... I've almost given up on Twitter as you have long ago. Doug Johnson would be a nobody (to me) without your blog. It's a powerful venue I suspect for thousands to enjoy your interesting perspectives.
I just have to add that reading your Blog and also Jeri Hurds is the way I'm procrastinating this morning. Now as to if either of you are 'converting' me... well it's a little like 'preaching to the choir' I'm already converted but reading your blogs does help to inform and motivate me and most of all keeps me on the right path here in beautiful northwest Iowa.
Thanks to you both.
Doug, I swear, you are doing great things for my blog traffic lately! : ) As usual, you've taken some bit of blather I tossed off, and turned it into something thoughtful. (That came out wrong...not that what I said was thoughtful, but that you took it 100 steps further than I would have/could have.)
ANYWAY
1) Your procrastination non-picture is brilliant.
2) As Pati said, I don't think it's an either/or. One informs the other, and they serve different purposes. If I can develop the religious analogy above: Books are revivals...they heighten the emotions, convert the unwashed, establish the groundwork. Blogs are the weekly attendance or sermons, feeding the flame to keep it going. I don't know what Twitter is. I haven't totally drunk the Kool-Aid on that one yet. I guess I don't see it as a venue so much for me to spout off, as to gather resources, ideas...which means someone else has to be spouting off.
Interestingly, given this topic, I have been thinking lately I need to write a book, probably on documentary-making, as a way to raise my cred as I work to start giving more workshops. That's probably completely the WRONG reason to be writing a book, but I do think I have something to add in that area. It's not completely my ego! : ) So I guess I think blogging can only take you so far.
Pati: Thank you for the kind words!
You're not selling anything, you're sharing. Not a subtle difference, no matter how the hucksters pretend otherwise.
My very tiny piece of the cloud is spent banging around thoughts with folks who have similar interests but contrasting approaches--a good day snooping around is almost as good as a shared conversation at the local Chat'n'Chew, and a bit easier on the gut.
Really, what are we on this good Earth for anyway? Even when you pretend to be procrastinating, you're subtly sowing your ideas. (Or maybe you're a better propagandist than I realized....)
As always, I always enjoy your words. Reason enough for me (and much as any other mammal)--I never shy from joy.
I'll finish this post later...
You are speaking my language. Man, summer is tough to get new things going!
Hi Doug,
I'm taking a break from the beach in Hawaii, and it's funny how I actually procrastinate from relaxing. I've posted a blog entry, checked my facebook a few times, updated some emails. Gosh, I'm finding all kinds of things to do to keep from relaxing.
When I get home, the process will be reversed. I have six grades levels of curriculum to convert to critical challenges prior to starting the school year in September. Watch me procrastinate then. My lawn will never have looked so good, and I will be an expert PS3 gamer.
Cheers, this Mai Tai's for you.
Todd
LOVE, Love, Love that poster!!!
Says it so succinctly!!! :)