Comments on: Stop Whining, Switch Up Your Network

By: Adam Lasnik

Adam Lasnik — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:22:53 +0000

I still very much enjoy attending (and sometimes speaking at) Search Engine conferences, and I completely agree with your sentiments here, Lisa!

I love to chat with non-geeks (meaning non-Googlers, non-SEOs, even non-Webmasters) about blogs, search, web sites, etc. The perspectives are often refreshing, sometimes surprising, and the takeaways are substantial and useful.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:43:35 +0000

You’re right, Kim, not everyone can afford to drop $1500 on a conference ticket, however, there are plenty of opportunities to find people outside your niche that are completely free. Like heading over to MeetUp and finding closely related subject areas. Or maybe joining a group that’s not really related at all. I know you and Li Evans have those PA-based SEO meetups, you can send personal invitations to thought leaders outside the SEO sphere to come join and share their experiences and stories. Branching out takes effort, not money.
And I definitely agree that spending time in other forums is healthy for the mind. It’s a good reminder that Google’s latest update probably isn’t as important as we’d like to think it is. At least not to the “normal people”.

By: Kim Krause Berg

Kim Krause Berg — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:38:06 +0000

I agree with the idea of "branching out". However, not everyone can do that by traveling to conferences. Not every company sends their people and not every sole proprietor can afford the expense or time away from their business.

I like to spend time in other forums, other social networks and places unrelated to work industries because of what you talk about. It's real healthy to get outside the walls and see what other folks are doing and talking about.