I Triple Dog Dare You…

In lieu of the  oncoming Festivus and all other associated merry-making, I’m posting a top ten 2009 Triple Dog Dare You List for Social Media.  

Let this list inspire and invigorate you toward prodigious social media endeavors in the New Year, aligned with transparency, honesty and value.

Top Ten “Triple Dog Dare You List” for Social Media:

1. Let your blog power your message, your expertise and your willingness to share them freely to benefit others.

2. Don’t take part in petty blog flame wars.

3. Raise your blog visibility by registering it with Technorati. And give readers of your blog the opportunity to Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit and Deli.ico.us your posts.

4. For pete’s sake (and all the rest of us) join the blog fracas! Read other blogs, subscribe to their feeds and take value in highlighting their wonderful content as well as yours.

5. Stop asking what a blog can do for you and ask “What can I do on this blog for my readers?”

6. Use more images, vid posts and humor in your blog. Even Bill Gates likes a good chuckle now and then so don’t be so staid. And while you’re at it, start Twittering too.

7. Occasionally share a personal story. (No, not the one about the Red Rider BB Gun you did not get as a child. And , not the one about what your mother-in-law does after she gets overnogged at Christmas.) Instead, share a personal insight about your work method or focus, or your own story about your overcoming a challenge.

8. Post to your blog on a regular schedule and use more tags and categories for each post.

9. Participate in a blog carnival.

10. Write a mission statement for your blog. You’d be surprised how writing a mission statement helps empower your content and what you will deliver to your readers.

P.S. (Go to YouTube and see the real Triple Dog Dare here.)

From my favorite movie “A Christmas Story”:

Flick: Are you kidding? Stick my tongue to that stupid pole? That’s dumb!
Schwartz: That’s ’cause you know it’ll stick!
Flick: You’re full of it!
Schwartz: Oh yeah?
Flick: Yeah!
Schwartz: Well I double-DOG-dare ya!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] NOW it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a “triple dare ya”? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare.
Schwartz: I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!