Warmest Greetings,

The Extreme Human Power Behind Blogs Is Not For Sale  

:: Thursday, February 23, 2006 ::

For a moment today, I caught a glimpse into the true power of blogs and why these magical creatures we've woven into the Web will always reach a place within us that money-driven blogs can never hope to find.

It went like this.

I was scoping my Bloglines feeds and Search Brains, one of my haunts, displayed a simple title called "Love Your Children". It had no keyword for search or engines or SEO, and yet I connected to the post title instantly because I am a mother.

The link took me to a blog called Ongoing. I've seen it before in my travels. The blog author led off Love Your Child with "Because, like Elena, they might be gone tomorrow."

Who is Elena?

I don't know, but I'm a mother. I know what it feels like to lay awake at night, wide eyed, with anxiety about my kids. Like Arielle, who is learning how to drive. Her best friend drove the family car into their house, nearly totaling the car and causing major damage to the house. I'm scared to let my kid out of our driveway.

Who is Elena?

One click from one blog link to another and I came to read the story of a a six year old girl who died with no warning. Her heartbroken father writes about his daughter in Dear Elena. Her mother's name is also Kim. I don't know them.

But, I know them.

I read about the loss of their daughter. I couldn't breathe. I've never lost a child, but it's my worst... I mean, my honest to God most terribly worst fear. I don't even know how anyone could get me to face another day if I were lose one of my own.

I read about Elena and cried.

There's a child who died and I grieved because her story was told in a simple blog entry. It was linked to by a blog written by a man who was touched by the story written by a father. How human of this.

How incredibly amazing that we've invented another way to reach out and tell each other that we can offer love or support and we never have to admit to anyone who we are or who we touch with our words.

No ads. No pitch. Just writing from the heart to express feelings for the sole emotional release of it.

I bet more people will remember the Elena post more than any corporate business ad generating blog ever could hope to achieve.

:: posted by Kim Krause Berg on 2/23/2006 04:51:00 PM

:: Today's Post Permalink | Back to the BLOG Home
:: Website Evaluations
:: Email this Post  
:.................................

Feed Bin

Learn how to make RSS Feed Buttons

Highly Recommended!
(Read review)
Search Engine Marketing Kit, by Dan Thies

• User Centered Design
• Usability Industry Research
• Increase Website Conversions
• Starter Ecommerce Checklist

Crooked sunglasses

My artistic friends love this picture.

 • About Kim Krause Berg
 • Bio
 • My Articles
 • Expanding on Usability - Interview
 • Wish List

Recent Posts

There is No Reason For Web Site Usability. None. Nada.

Jakob Nielsen Strikes Again on a Usability Practice and He's Right

It's Budget Monday with a Gmail Surprise

What a High Rankings Search Engine Marketing Seminar is Really Like

First Visit to Las Vegas

Why Wimps Are Best

$2000 For a Search Engine Thrill Ride and Low Conversions?

I'm Too Sexy for My (Ego) Blog

Morae Customers Can Reminisce and Win Prizes

The Value of Content in Search Engine Rank

 •Football

 •What The User Experience Community Thinks

 • $2000 For a Search Engine Thrill Ride and Low Conversions?

 • My Favorite Blog Posts

Monthly Archives

It's That Book Again

Conversions Topic is New York Times Best Seller (Seriously)

Kim is a Member of the Usability Professionals Association

"This report exceeded my expectations. After reading it a few times, I went through and highlighted those parts of your actionable advice that I want to implement right away... I ended up highlighting most of the report. Stellar job. I won't hesitate to recommend you to one of my own clients." -- Andy Hagans of AndyHagans.com

"I have implemented the most obvious changes and I suppose the fact that we've seen an immediate increase in sales/conversions is no coincidence. I'd highly recommend your service to anyone running a serious web based business." -- Steve Clay, Plumeriabay.com

"As soon as we get our hands on one of her usability studies, my clients and I have a better understanding of what needs to be done with their sites to make them the best they can be from their site visitors' perspective."
-- Jill Whalen, HighRankings.com

"This is an exemplary piece of work." -- Rand Fishkin, SEOMoz.org

View more Testimonials | Clients
Learn about Website improvement services.