My slow but sure comeback
My absence from the online community I hold dear is slowly coming to an end. My sometimes self induced and mostly work induced hiatus has allowed many of my projects and plans to suffer. I am slowly but surely reversing that trend.
I’ve spent the past two weeks taking inventory of my online assets, something I would suggest everyone do at least once a year. Just like spring cleaning the house, your online space can get cluttered. This was a long and sometimes confusing process due to the number of sites, services and assets I involve myself with. In fact it is still on going. The goal is to streamline my online presence into a circular path where each node feeds the next. My various interests should not be separate entities but a series of pieces that flow into each other to create a complete picture of who I am, what I’m looking for, and what I can provide for you.
The initial plan is to rebrand and redesign this site, create a professional photography services site, publish a social media resume page (more on that in a future post), and a new daily photoblog. These are assets that I will own the domain and be 100% responsible for the content and functionality. Then there are other sites I utilize like Facebook, LinkedIn, SmugMug and Twitter where I have limited control over my content and very little in the functionality side. Last year I did not do much to integrate my sites and these services other than reposting blog articles. To be truly successful online you must find the recipe that uses all of these ingredients in healthy balanced portions. I’m pulling my chair up to the buffet and loading my plate with what I believe will sustain me best.
Here’s my plans for the upcoming months:
- I’m working with a talented graphics artist now to create new logos. My plan is to have similar branding across all of my work whenever I can.
- Once the logos are complete I will start work on redesigning this site, removing the User 40.0 moniker and creating new content. I expect this to be completed and launched in late February.
- Tonight I’ve launched a new photoblog named Marc-a-Day. If you can’t get enough of me here then go check it out and get some of me everyday. This is not me taking a photo a day, I’ve failed too many times at that, but I will post a new, hopefully interesting, image a day.
- Two more sites will soon to follow, a new photography service offering along with an expanded social resume site. I currently have a domain at marcbentonresume.com with a small social profile but I plan to expand this to include more of my professional background and also include a video or two on it.
- Photoblogging DC was both a success and failure. Success as I was able to talk a number of truly talented photographers to contribute and our daily visits were steadily growing. The failure was in the way the site was designed. It was dependent on one person to format and publish the posts, something that eventually I was unable to keep up with. I hope by the Spring to bring this site back with a better design where our contributors will have more functionality in the system.
- Sherri and I plan to organize more photowalks through this site and the Photowalk DC Facebook group. Look for a late-February event announced soon.
We’ve recently kicked off a new decade. Its time to let go of the baggage of the past and start anew. I hope we all enjoy the trip together.
Media/Bloggers tables
Anthony Pappas: Brand Building 101
Bloggers Blogging
