I think retweeting is also interesting because you can get a sense of what people find as valuable. If something gets retweeted again and again, obviously the audience sees value in it. That can help you as you decide what to tweet, even what to blog about. (You can see the retweet stream by using http://search.twitter.com/ and typing in the original twitter name or a keyword.)

One more point (sorry I’m way over 140 characters): I think the 140-character limit is a good discipline. It’s kind of like writing a haiku (although, obviously, not as difficult) because you have to fit what you want to say into a given structure and still make it understandable.

I don’t believe blogs should be prosaic, or thorough academically researched essays. The voice of the writer should be clear and unique. The information shouldn’t be recycled truisms one can anywhere on the web.

The blogs I find useful contain some insights, which should be interesting - whether I agree with them or not. The issue isn’t ‘creativity’ but the kind of storytelling that brings people back for more.

But I firmly believe that it’s quality content that will convert visitors into subscribers, and you have to offer something that your audience is willing to pay for in order to convert your readers into dollars and cents. (whether the thing they’re willing to pay for is offered by your advertisers, and you get paid by them, or yourself, and you’re making profit directly, is a question of secondary importance).

Easier said than done, though, but one thing is sure: throwing a couple of AdSense stripes here and there will not be enough to shake the world.

Tom: thanks for the comment and thanks for popping in.

Yan