Collaboration is a wonderful tool. Go read this account of how a gifted musician can make a concert a collaborative experience. (I’m one of the people who will be proud to say “I knew Pamela when…”) I don’t need to make those points again; I couldn’t do better.
That kind of collaboration has a number of benefits.
The pressure to create, to produce, to say something new… if you’re the only content producer it can be overwhelming. When other people are involved, they spark new conversations, bring new energy and make exciting new possibilities. So bring in your readers!
Your readers will like you more, trust you more, and appreciate you more. They know they’re not just a number to you, they’re a valuable part of the community.
How do you start the collaboration?
I’ve been thinking for awhile about ways I could do this. I write and welcome guest posts (if you want to guest post, let me know!), and I have a number of small to large projects brewing with some of you.
New inspiration struck last night at 2am as I lay awake cursing my sinuses and blowing my nose, and unlike many of my late-night genius ideas (which I either forget or realise are completely ridiculous come morning) this one is kinda interesting, I think. (I hope!)
Short Thought
You inspire me with your opinions and thoughts. I want to encourage that, give you a chance to be seen, and build something together.
The idea: A question is asked. (I asked the first one, but I’d like people to take turns!) Each participant responds with a one-to-two sentence answer, either by video (very much preferable) or with text and an image. I stitch all of them together into a video that includes your name and website address, which we can each publish and distribute as we like.
Here’s the example, with only my answers, of course:
Are you interested? Here’s what to do:
- If you have a webcam, video camera, or any other recording device and you are brave enough to use it (please please yes), record a short answer to the question “What does the internet need?”. Don’t add the subtitle with your name and website address, I’ll do that.
- Otherwise, find an appropriate background image (nice and big) and email it to me with your text version. (If you’re a Photoshop whiz, feel free to DIY. I’m using Rockwell font because I like it, but do it however you like!)
- If it’s small enough you can email it to me, if you’re on Gmail I have a shared folder set up (tell me your email address and I will add you to it), if you’re on Skype you can send it to me, otherwise there’s a squillion file uploaders like YouSendIt that you can use.
Your five-minute mission, should you choose to accept it…
If this idea appeals to you, do it. (You’ve got three days, then I’ll release the final version.) If not? Spend five minutes coming up with a collaboration project for your website.
Are you on board? Tell me in the comments!