by Guest Blogger, Lena West

The mistake most people make is they think of blogging as just marketing. Ok, it is that but, it's other stuff, too. It's community building.  You've probably heard me say before that blogging helps you build a fabric of conversation around your brand...but and, blogging does something else, too...it creates community. A way to connect. A way to share.

There is no better example than my post of last week. I went to my blogging community (you) and asked for help - and you gave it in spades!

And, thanks to one *very* generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous,  I have a 60/60/60 session to give away. The first one to email my assistant Kim, gets it: kcarson at xynomedia dot com.

I'm also continuing the 60/60/60 for a little while longer to continue the fundraising effort. So, if you didn't jump on it last week, now's your chance.

A special shout to our fearless leader, Yvonne DiVita, Shirley Frazier and Susan L. Reid (your post bought tears to my eyes), who used their blogs and mailing lists to support the effort.  I'm sure there were others but, hey, we're in the middle of a flood in NY. :) Seriously, if I excluded anyone, please charge it to my head and not to my heart.

Thanks to YOU (yes, YOU), my friend has staved off her mortgage company. She's in a feasible agreement with them AND she's working with a financial planner.  Whoooo hooo!!!

What a great thing to celebrate!  However, this would not have been possible without relationships.  You see, the blogosphere really is all about relationships.  Not marketing AT people. Not selling AT them. But, talking WITH them. Experiencing WITH them. Giving of yourself, your time and your expertise.  And, being there when they need you. Would any of you had helped me if I hadn't been posting to this blog every Monday? No. Or, if you hadn't heard directly from Yvonne? Nope.

Yvonne puts it way better than I ever could: "This is a way to remind folks that we're all in this together".

Mmm humm.