Hey there. So, notice anything different? After what seems like a long journey (longer for some, eh, Lisa?), I’m really pleased to be able to unveil the new design here at DannyBrown.me. Built from scratch on the core WordPress platform, design has been handled by Lisa Kalandjian of SceneStealer Graphics. It’s a bit of a change for me, since it’s the first time I’ve used a fully customized design as opposed to building from a premium framework (I’ve used everything…

When people think of reactions from blogs, they normally think of negative reviews or inspiring stories. Comments aren’t usually high up on the list of monitoring and watching what’s being said online. Yet they should be, as a recent post by David Henderson and the subsequent conversation in the comments section show. I won’t go too much into the actual blog post or the comments, as they’re both recommended reads and will give you a far clearer view of who…

…over at John Haydon’s blog today and tomorrow. After having my blog hijacked by the mysterious Jack Tweet, I’ve finally managed to get around his firewall and take back control. While I give the blog a thorough search for any hidden clownware, I’ll be looking after John’s blog while he’s at the SobCON event over in Chicago. Feel free to drop on by and say hello.

The death of the blogger came as a surprise. Sure, people had seen a decline for a while, but still – everyone felt the shock that happens when faced with death, slow or sudden. Death does that to you. But this death – this death was worse than most. This was the death of a blogger. The whole community felt it. Questions were asked – if it can happen to him then it can happen to me. Suddenly, the one…

They’re a privilege, not a right. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t mean that in an elitist or dictator-type way. After all, comments are the passengers to the bus driver that is the blog author. They’re what makes the trip so enjoyable. Yet it’s still at the discretion of the bus driver whether it’s a private journey or an open one. Which is why you’ll see some blogs requiring you to register before commenting; some with no comment options…

Image by magia3e via Flickr Should I have a blog? It’s one of the questions I’m asked most frequently when I sit down with a new client to discuss their online presence. They’ve seen other blogs – personal and professional – and they’re wondering if they should be part of the party. The answer isn’t always what they expect. Are you ready to blog? Okay, so I cheat and ask another question instead of giving them an immediate answer –…

Blogging offers a great voice for both the author and reader, and encourages interaction that can take the original post higher than its starting point. Yet for all the great bloggers already writing, there are potentially just as many that are not. We could be missing out on some of the best content around because of this. So will you join the conversation if you aren’t already?

For bloggers, paid or sponsored blogging is becoming more widespread as brands recognize the value of major league bloggers and their audience. Get the right review and it could mean a spike in sales. Yet does paid or sponsored blogging take away the authority of the blogger in question? Or can a blog post still be transparent and honest even if it’s paid for?

Blog carnivals are a wonderful way to take readers on a trip through undiscovered and underrated blogs. Centered around a central theme, they offer a host of similar yet also different blogs to read, all under one roof. Join me for the Social Media Goes Gonzo blog carnival early next year – will you be part of it?

The Canadian Blog Awards is an annual event on the Canadian Blogosphere in which Canadian Bloggers and Blog Readers vote to decide which blog is the best – either overall or within a category. I’m honoured to say I’ve been nominated for two categories.