I'm more invested in this blog's name today because I just registered tech-ronin.com for a year at ImperialRegistrar.com for $9.95. A small price to pay, me thinks. Since I'm a *Plus* TypePad user, I should - pretty soon now - be able to use the tech-ronin.com domain name even though my blog will still be served by Six Apart (makers of TypePad).
My tech ronin blog is very personal, but it's also important from a business-career-free agent standpoint. As companies and other organizations operate virtually, downsize, hire and fire more frequently and dramatically increase their use of freelancers, contractors and temps, we all are now free agents or in business for ourselves. The line between work and play is harder and harder to find.
I'm hoping that you can see that now that ALL of us are free agents, there doesn't have to be a stigma associated with being a commercial blog. Blatant, boring, biased, bragging commerciality is the last thing I want for this blog. At the same time, I trade in good information, perspective, insight and authentic voice. I'm thrilled to give away value, to connect, to communicate, to engage in conversation. And, I also intend that, in doing so, I'll get a lot out of it. See What I love about blogging for details.
I don't aspire to become a professional blogger - supporting my blog efforts with ads and contributions. I like being a committed amateur. I'm operating on the assumption that blogging is marketing a la personal branding just as doing an ezine is marketing. So even though blogging is personal and even sacred to me when it's good, it's a sort of career or business asset to manage as well.
Right now, I give myself all sorts of room to express myself, wander around, just follow what fascinates me. I'm a beginning web writer and I'm seeing what works for me. I love it that it's almost a rule that blogs are more appealing when they are personal first and practical second. How cool is that? Who knew that marketing of any kind could be this fun?