"When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'." Groucho Marx
I do enjoy the way you express your thoughts through audio blogging. I really had fun listening on the things you’ve shared it really helps me to be more inspired in terms of blogging. I know that even other people might not want how and what I write still the best way to express your thought is on your unique way you dont need to please everybody with the things you do. It is there choice to like or not to like the things you write as a blog and it is there choice also if they are going to be happy on the things you’ve shared.
The freedom to express yourself any way you choose is one of the great things about having your own blog. It can be a very daunting people for some people, but most people find that if the are willing to open themselves up to others the connections are very rewarding.
Is it a new way to make blog post in audio format I have experienced for visual based video post but I first time see the audio post on your blog.Keep it up for your new and unique invention in blogging world.
Well said sir; everybody has to find what works for them.
Whereas comments might not be currency, it does provide a platform for some feedback. I guess you could do the same somewhat just by lurking at other places w/ no blog; but I have enjoyed the writing part.
I will never tell anyone I’m a guru with a straight face.
Crazy week; I’m starting from scratch instead of trying to catch up. Hope your weekend has gone well.
Like a red-headed step child. Fortunately it was for charity AND on a par 3 course, but man does he have an ugly hitch. Derrick Brooks from the Bucs was there as well and it wasn’t much prettier.
Wow, what a great voice! I agree with Mark, you should do more audio blogs. You’re a natural and your voice is very easy to listen to.
Your point of view is very refreshing. I agree that comments aren’t currency, but as I blogger, I enjoy the process more when I’m getting comments. I’ve been at this a year and it was pretty lonely in the beginning when my comment count was goose egg.
I agree with you, if you’re going to stick with blogging, you have to enjoy the process, which means being yourself. I have written some controversial posts, going against the grain in the tech community, and I’ve praised some tech so much that people wondered if I was being paid off (no, I wish tech companies cared what I thought enough to bribe me but they really don’t). One thing I’ve never worried about is whether readers would agree with me.
I suspect you’re the same way, Jack. You go against the grain and you are literally using your own voice. That’s why your posts are so refreshing and engaging for the readers.
I hope this ensures you will be around for many decades to come, Jack!
Thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it. I got lucky in the voice department, it is one of those areas that we don’t have much control in.
It is fun going against the grain. Sometimes I’ll take a position and argue for the side I disagree with. It is kind of stimulating.
But more importantly the blogosphere is filled with too many people who are afraid to share what they really think/feel.
People seem to forget that you can disagree with someone else yet still be civil. I am certainly not perfect in that area, but I think it makes a big difference.
I wish you the same. I like your reviews because they are clearly your thoughts and opinions. They aren’t as sterile as so many others I see.
First time listening to your audio posts…. really, who doesn’t like chocolate?
I do read what social media experts have to say but not to learn WHAT to blog about, but how to throw it out there so as to form a sense of community.
I will blog irrespective of comments, that is true. I write for the sake of writing, I write because I love it, I write because it is my therapy and I won’t let no one not coming and listening not wanting to read my posts stop any of that!
I blog for me first and for others later. We need to set our priorities and keep blogging! ๐
The audio and the comments are great! I like hearing all of the perspectives. I don’t struggle with posting too often on my blog (3x’s a week) but posting too often on Twitter. That is my weakness!
I don’t know that there is a pace for posting that is necessarily wrong or misguided.
So much of it is subjective and based upon your goals. There are tips and techniques that you can use to improve your productivity and or make life easier.
But I have big issues with people who claim that they know the only way to blog.
Jack, Wow, Love it! I’ve said, thought and written close to your thoughts in this blog. I agree that there is more than one way to do everything. It’s not only blogging it’s the social media experts that tell you there is only one way to post on FB or tweet on twitter. How boring would it be if we all did exactly what the social media experts had us do.
I was very kind to many people who walk around calling themselves experts.
Most of them haven’t demonstrated that they know anything other than how to collect a bunch of praise from people who don’t know better.
I find it irritating to read post after post of “you are the smartest, greatest person around.”
If you dig through the comments you find that many of them are presented by new bloggers who haven’t been around long enough to know much of anything.
It is like listening to first graders praise the math skills of a third grader. You can’t really tell if the third grader really knows anything. The only thing you know for certain is that because of age they have more experience with the basics.
Hi! I’m not Jack and I’m thankful LOL I liked this Jack! As Mark said, you have a great voice and manner for this. Sometimes I like to listen or watch blogs so I can multi-task. In other words, do mundane things that would otherwise be boring without something to listen to or watch at the same time. So I do vote for audio blogs! I didn’t realize you had done any before!
I’m doing it my way. I’m nothing if not stubborn. I see ways that could go “faster” but they’re not MY way and I’m remaining true to that.
๐
Lori
Yes, you are so right when you say that we are all different individuals and none of us are really obliged to one another to visit or read each other blogs or posts if we don’t really wish to.
And yes, we should blog or write about our passion and when we, and what we want to. I guess its only then that we are true to ourselves and to our readers.
I pushed the button because it was different. I could just sit back, listen and relax for one time instead of putting on my glasses to read.
I like your comment on understanding why one blogs and what we consider success to be. I constantly remind myself that my success is when I write something and actually push publish. I like if someone actually reads it but I’m trying not to focus on it too much. I gotta write for me. Thanks for your post!
Loved “hearing” what you have to say. Nice way to mix it up. I like the “comments don’t equal currency” insight. I need to guard against falling into that mentality, as I often run into people who quote posts they found meaningful but who never comment. Does the impact of the message count less because their impression wasn’t counted by an analytics tool? I think the main thing to remember–it’s not about us!
Ok. Truth. I listened to the first 2 minutes but the kids are noisy and I don’t like people listening in on what I am doing online. That’s why I don’t usually do or watch video blogs or audio blogs. I like to read! That’s me.
I do agree that social media experts are… interesting. They may know how to get numbers up, but that’s not why most of us blog. We are here for the interaction and relationships. THAT SAID, I cannot imagine getting no comments. Comments kinda sorta ARE currency. The only currency (aside from paid posts) that bloggers get. Even the “good job” ones matter because it means that someone took the time to hit “comment” in this super-fast internet world.
I get it. Sometimes my children sneak up behind me and listen/watch to the videos. It makes me crazy when they do it because I hate having people looking over my shoulder.
On a sort of side note the audio/video is interesting to me because you can’t edit it the way you can the written word. Ok, you can but that is far more work than I want to put in and I prefer to be more natural.
Anyhoo, I agree that it is nice to get comments. Even though I don’t view them as currency I appreciate the feedback.
What drove this post was my irritation with the prevalence and proliferation of posts that feed this “there is only one way to do this” claptrap.
If people ask I always tell them that it is worth understanding why they blog and what they consider success to be.
Some people might define success by the number of comments they receive, by pageviews or by how much money they make.
I also repeat that this should be fun.
Circling back to comments I think that it is important to engage and interact but some bloggers don’t do a very good job of that.
I don’t know if it is because they can’t keep up with their comments or if there is another reason.
I just know that in some cases I have seen it go to their heads and I find that disappointing.
Lately I have been getting slammed by spam so I changed my settings so that people would have to leave a few more words than “good comment” or “great post.”
In concept I don’t think of those things as being bad, but when they are used for spamming…
I disagree. Good comments mean people are engaged. And if you get 100 great comments, you can be sure you are doing something right.
If you don’t get meaningful comments, you are definitely doing something wrong. I’ve never received bogus comments like “thank you” or good job”, and it would be an indicator I’m doing something wrong if I did.
I am a huge fam of @KristemLambTX. You and I will have to agree to disagree but I still say you are super saturating your readers. I’m one button push from unsubscribing. Three times a week is plenty or even once a day. But multiple posts in one day is overwhelming.
Would you like your neighbor to come knocking at your door 3 times a day? Unless he or she is totally hot, I would not. Especially when I feel pressure to spend time with that person.
So agreed, there are a lot of blowhards who talk about social media like they are experts, but Kristen really gets it. If you haven’t read her stuff, give it a chance.
Fun to hear your voice, but I might have deleted it if it had been the 3rd post of the day.
I don’t get it. Why don’t you just schedule out and auto post? I’m working on something to pay the bills and I’ve got a guest post to cross-pollinate, bring new readers, and so I can have time to work on my book. I love to write, but I don’t feel like I have to hit PUBLISH every time.
Now, are you going to do a guest post for me or not Mr Productivity? How about trying something new?
I like it when people disagree and spell it out because that means that they are engaged.
I don’t run around touting myself as an expert on blogging or social media but after 8 years of this I am confident that I have learned a few things.
I know blogs that are generating income but receive few comments.
I don’t consider “good post” or “thank you” to always be “bad comments.” Sometimes readers don’t want to repeat what others have said but do want you to know that they appreciate your time. When it comes from a place of gratitude and honesty I am happy to receive it. If they are just trying to drum up traffic that is different.
When I talk about comments not being currency it is usually in reference to them being used as a way to measure success. I think that is far too simplistic. It doesn’t delve into why the person is blogging.
I don’t expect everyone to keep up with my posts. It would be great if they did but it is not going to happen.
Everyone has a choice to follow or not follow. If they find value and enjoy my posts they hang out and if they don’t well they don’t hang around anyhow.
If scheduling out works for you that is great but it is not how I operate.
For what it is worth you don’t see all that I write because I don’t hit publish every time. The reason that I am still here after 8 years is because I have fun.
I will have your guest post to you soon. You told me that it is not going to run until the end of May so I didn’t think you needed it immediately, but I will have it to you soon.
I really don’t view comments as currency. Blogging is a funny thing.
When I look at my posts there are some that I think are fantastic. I consider them to be the best written, funniest, most honest and yet they receive no comments or relatively few compared to others that receive a ton.
The only people that last in blogging are those who get paid or are having fun.
Most of us don’t get paid so we need to have fun. When you find out what makes it fun it really is a blast. That is a general comment, not directed at you personally.
This was cool. I’ve never experienced an audio blog before. The greatest thing I took from this was that some readers will like what I offer and some won’t. One of the things I like most about blogging is saying…”because I can…” I don’t have an editor telling me I’m wrong or I shouldn’t do it that way. (I’ve had an editor before and my scars still show.)
I always appreciate veteran bloggers like you sharing the wisdom of your experiences to newbies like me. Many thanks! I dig your style.
I like people, tall or short. It’s personality that turns me on.
And I like blogs, be they news blogs or highly personal ones driven by obsession. They’re all doing it right.
More power to you, Jack.
Personality is something that is missing from too many blogs. If I can’t find evidence of its existence I tend not to hang out.
Always good to see you John.
Abigail,
Consider hooking up with Yomar Lopez (@yogizilla), I’d love a weekly podcast show with you two kicking it up. I’d pay a dollar a show.
Ela
A dollar a show isn’t bad. If Yomar and I can get another 999,999 people to pay the same we’ll be on to something.
Got to dream big. ๐
I do enjoy the way you express your thoughts through audio blogging. I really had fun listening on the things you’ve shared it really helps me to be more inspired in terms of blogging. I know that even other people might not want how and what I write still the best way to express your thought is on your unique way you dont need to please everybody with the things you do. It is there choice to like or not to like the things you write as a blog and it is there choice also if they are going to be happy on the things you’ve shared.
Hi Mhelgie,
Have fun and enjoy it and good things will come from that experience.
The freedom to express yourself any way you choose is one of the great things about having your own blog. It can be a very daunting people for some people, but most people find that if the are willing to open themselves up to others the connections are very rewarding.
Hey Jack,
Is it a new way to make blog post in audio format I have experienced for visual based video post but I first time see the audio post on your blog.Keep it up for your new and unique invention in blogging world.
Well said sir; everybody has to find what works for them.
Whereas comments might not be currency, it does provide a platform for some feedback. I guess you could do the same somewhat just by lurking at other places w/ no blog; but I have enjoyed the writing part.
I will never tell anyone I’m a guru with a straight face.
Crazy week; I’m starting from scratch instead of trying to catch up. Hope your weekend has gone well.
Real feedback is good and valuable. I appreciate it. Hell I appreciate almost every comment.
But if you want to measure the success of a blog you need to do more than look at the comments. That is just one of those lines I draw in the sand.
As for being a guru, well Mr. Dorman you could get a robe, some sandals and sit on a mountain somewhere. Try it, you might like it.
So I want to know, did you beat Barkley?
Like a red-headed step child. Fortunately it was for charity AND on a par 3 course, but man does he have an ugly hitch. Derrick Brooks from the Bucs was there as well and it wasn’t much prettier.
We had fun though.
Nice. Any time you can beat a pro athlete at some sport I am all for it.
Certainly would be more impressive if you did it in the sport they played, but either way is cool in my book.
Hi Jack,
Wow, what a great voice! I agree with Mark, you should do more audio blogs. You’re a natural and your voice is very easy to listen to.
Your point of view is very refreshing. I agree that comments aren’t currency, but as I blogger, I enjoy the process more when I’m getting comments. I’ve been at this a year and it was pretty lonely in the beginning when my comment count was goose egg.
I agree with you, if you’re going to stick with blogging, you have to enjoy the process, which means being yourself. I have written some controversial posts, going against the grain in the tech community, and I’ve praised some tech so much that people wondered if I was being paid off (no, I wish tech companies cared what I thought enough to bribe me but they really don’t). One thing I’ve never worried about is whether readers would agree with me.
I suspect you’re the same way, Jack. You go against the grain and you are literally using your own voice. That’s why your posts are so refreshing and engaging for the readers.
I hope this ensures you will be around for many decades to come, Jack!
How cool was that Jack ๐
It is awesome and much appreciated.
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it. I got lucky in the voice department, it is one of those areas that we don’t have much control in.
It is fun going against the grain. Sometimes I’ll take a position and argue for the side I disagree with. It is kind of stimulating.
But more importantly the blogosphere is filled with too many people who are afraid to share what they really think/feel.
People seem to forget that you can disagree with someone else yet still be civil. I am certainly not perfect in that area, but I think it makes a big difference.
I wish you the same. I like your reviews because they are clearly your thoughts and opinions. They aren’t as sterile as so many others I see.
Hey Jack,
First time listening to your audio posts…. really, who doesn’t like chocolate?
I do read what social media experts have to say but not to learn WHAT to blog about, but how to throw it out there so as to form a sense of community.
I will blog irrespective of comments, that is true. I write for the sake of writing, I write because I love it, I write because it is my therapy and I won’t let no one not coming and listening not wanting to read my posts stop any of that!
I blog for me first and for others later. We need to set our priorities and keep blogging! ๐
Hi Hajra,
My son and one of his friends don’t like chocolate. I should add that I didn’t like it until I was about 7 or 8, at least that is what my mom says.
I love what you say about writing because you love it. It comes through in your writing.
When you blog first for yourself and then for others you end up with more interesting posts.
The audio and the comments are great! I like hearing all of the perspectives. I don’t struggle with posting too often on my blog (3x’s a week) but posting too often on Twitter. That is my weakness!
Hi Kelley,
I don’t know that there is a pace for posting that is necessarily wrong or misguided.
So much of it is subjective and based upon your goals. There are tips and techniques that you can use to improve your productivity and or make life easier.
But I have big issues with people who claim that they know the only way to blog.
Jack, Wow, Love it! I’ve said, thought and written close to your thoughts in this blog. I agree that there is more than one way to do everything. It’s not only blogging it’s the social media experts that tell you there is only one way to post on FB or tweet on twitter. How boring would it be if we all did exactly what the social media experts had us do.
Hi Mike,
I was very kind to many people who walk around calling themselves experts.
Most of them haven’t demonstrated that they know anything other than how to collect a bunch of praise from people who don’t know better.
I find it irritating to read post after post of “you are the smartest, greatest person around.”
If you dig through the comments you find that many of them are presented by new bloggers who haven’t been around long enough to know much of anything.
It is like listening to first graders praise the math skills of a third grader. You can’t really tell if the third grader really knows anything. The only thing you know for certain is that because of age they have more experience with the basics.
Great title! So very, very true…
Hi Hook,
Yep, I like to think so. ๐
Jack, I’m a newcomer to your blog, and find it refreshing in an “I’m-not-a-guru” sorta way. Good to hear your voice today…
Hello Elaine,
Welcome to the blog. I don’t like listening or reading the posts of most “experts” because they usually aren’t.
There is a low barrier to entry so anyone with a computer and an internet connection can start blogging and call themselves whatever they want.
Hi! I’m not Jack and I’m thankful LOL I liked this Jack! As Mark said, you have a great voice and manner for this. Sometimes I like to listen or watch blogs so I can multi-task. In other words, do mundane things that would otherwise be boring without something to listen to or watch at the same time. So I do vote for audio blogs! I didn’t realize you had done any before!
I’m doing it my way. I’m nothing if not stubborn. I see ways that could go “faster” but they’re not MY way and I’m remaining true to that.
๐
Lori
Hi Lori,
Good to see you. Thank you, one of these days maybe I can turn my voice into something special, might be fun to do radio.
Anyhoo, it has long been clear to me that you are doing things the way that you like to do them and it is clearly effective. I think that is great.
Loved the audio Jack!
Yes, you are so right when you say that we are all different individuals and none of us are really obliged to one another to visit or read each other blogs or posts if we don’t really wish to.
And yes, we should blog or write about our passion and when we, and what we want to. I guess its only then that we are true to ourselves and to our readers.
Thanks for sharing ๐
Hi Harleena,
Good to see you. I stumble across posts where bloggers complain about blogging being hard and it makes me wonder why they are doing it.
If this is not something that you need to do for business there is no reason to do it unless you enjoy it.
And even if it is for business you really should try to find a way to make it fun. It makes a significant difference.
I pushed the button because it was different. I could just sit back, listen and relax for one time instead of putting on my glasses to read.
I like your comment on understanding why one blogs and what we consider success to be. I constantly remind myself that my success is when I write something and actually push publish. I like if someone actually reads it but I’m trying not to focus on it too much. I gotta write for me. Thanks for your post!
Hi Gina,
When you write for yourself good things happen. When you do that it makes it much easier for your personality and passion to shine through.
That benefits both you and your readers.
Loved “hearing” what you have to say. Nice way to mix it up. I like the “comments don’t equal currency” insight. I need to guard against falling into that mentality, as I often run into people who quote posts they found meaningful but who never comment. Does the impact of the message count less because their impression wasn’t counted by an analytics tool? I think the main thing to remember–it’s not about us!
Good luck with your deadlines today!
Hi Mimi,
I really am a strong advocate of bloggers taking the time to understand why they blog and what they hope to accomplish.
It really is an easy and effective way that people can use to help figure out what makes them happy in blogging.
Hey Jack – you have a solid bloggers ‘audio voice,’ you should use it more often.
I wouldn’t say having blog comments is good or bad – because the best way to blog is your way…
Whatever works for you, do it, be happy and share your words with the world.
If you’re getting the results you desire and you have a huge bundle of excitement and satisfaction within, by all means – do it your way!
If you’re not, then do something different.
There’s a choice in all of this stuff for all involved. I recommend to blog for YOU first and others secondly.
The one thing that’s going to be affected most by this exercise in creating content is the person creating it – the source!
Then the others who will only stay tuned for more if you’re enriching their life through your passion and work.
The rest don’t matter; there’s a subscribe button and an unsubscribe button – so people have a choice to keep up with you or not. To each his own.
Waiting for the next audio by you – I liked it!
Hi Mark,
Thank you. I used to do a lot of audio posts but I sort of fell out of the habit. I think I’ll do more to try to mix it up a bit.
We’re in agreement on all counts here. I am a firm believer in building our community around us.
My method takes a bit longer but I think that it creates a stronger, more dedicated community.
But as you said the important thing is to have fun and enjoy doing this, otherwise what is the point.
Ok. Truth. I listened to the first 2 minutes but the kids are noisy and I don’t like people listening in on what I am doing online. That’s why I don’t usually do or watch video blogs or audio blogs. I like to read! That’s me.
I do agree that social media experts are… interesting. They may know how to get numbers up, but that’s not why most of us blog. We are here for the interaction and relationships. THAT SAID, I cannot imagine getting no comments. Comments kinda sorta ARE currency. The only currency (aside from paid posts) that bloggers get. Even the “good job” ones matter because it means that someone took the time to hit “comment” in this super-fast internet world.
Hi Tracey,
I get it. Sometimes my children sneak up behind me and listen/watch to the videos. It makes me crazy when they do it because I hate having people looking over my shoulder.
On a sort of side note the audio/video is interesting to me because you can’t edit it the way you can the written word. Ok, you can but that is far more work than I want to put in and I prefer to be more natural.
Anyhoo, I agree that it is nice to get comments. Even though I don’t view them as currency I appreciate the feedback.
What drove this post was my irritation with the prevalence and proliferation of posts that feed this “there is only one way to do this” claptrap.
If people ask I always tell them that it is worth understanding why they blog and what they consider success to be.
Some people might define success by the number of comments they receive, by pageviews or by how much money they make.
I also repeat that this should be fun.
Circling back to comments I think that it is important to engage and interact but some bloggers don’t do a very good job of that.
I don’t know if it is because they can’t keep up with their comments or if there is another reason.
I just know that in some cases I have seen it go to their heads and I find that disappointing.
Lately I have been getting slammed by spam so I changed my settings so that people would have to leave a few more words than “good comment” or “great post.”
In concept I don’t think of those things as being bad, but when they are used for spamming…
*KristenLambTX*
Stupid fat finger syndrome.
I disagree. Good comments mean people are engaged. And if you get 100 great comments, you can be sure you are doing something right.
If you don’t get meaningful comments, you are definitely doing something wrong. I’ve never received bogus comments like “thank you” or good job”, and it would be an indicator I’m doing something wrong if I did.
I am a huge fam of @KristemLambTX. You and I will have to agree to disagree but I still say you are super saturating your readers. I’m one button push from unsubscribing. Three times a week is plenty or even once a day. But multiple posts in one day is overwhelming.
Would you like your neighbor to come knocking at your door 3 times a day? Unless he or she is totally hot, I would not. Especially when I feel pressure to spend time with that person.
So agreed, there are a lot of blowhards who talk about social media like they are experts, but Kristen really gets it. If you haven’t read her stuff, give it a chance.
Fun to hear your voice, but I might have deleted it if it had been the 3rd post of the day.
I don’t get it. Why don’t you just schedule out and auto post? I’m working on something to pay the bills and I’ve got a guest post to cross-pollinate, bring new readers, and so I can have time to work on my book. I love to write, but I don’t feel like I have to hit PUBLISH every time.
Now, are you going to do a guest post for me or not Mr Productivity? How about trying something new?
Hi Renee,
I like it when people disagree and spell it out because that means that they are engaged.
I don’t run around touting myself as an expert on blogging or social media but after 8 years of this I am confident that I have learned a few things.
I know blogs that are generating income but receive few comments.
I don’t consider “good post” or “thank you” to always be “bad comments.” Sometimes readers don’t want to repeat what others have said but do want you to know that they appreciate your time. When it comes from a place of gratitude and honesty I am happy to receive it. If they are just trying to drum up traffic that is different.
When I talk about comments not being currency it is usually in reference to them being used as a way to measure success. I think that is far too simplistic. It doesn’t delve into why the person is blogging.
I don’t expect everyone to keep up with my posts. It would be great if they did but it is not going to happen.
Everyone has a choice to follow or not follow. If they find value and enjoy my posts they hang out and if they don’t well they don’t hang around anyhow.
If scheduling out works for you that is great but it is not how I operate.
For what it is worth you don’t see all that I write because I don’t hit publish every time. The reason that I am still here after 8 years is because I have fun.
I will have your guest post to you soon. You told me that it is not going to run until the end of May so I didn’t think you needed it immediately, but I will have it to you soon.
Very interesting, I’ve never come across an audio blog.
I like what you say about the comments not being currency–that makes me feel more optimistic.
Hi Dina,
I really don’t view comments as currency. Blogging is a funny thing.
When I look at my posts there are some that I think are fantastic. I consider them to be the best written, funniest, most honest and yet they receive no comments or relatively few compared to others that receive a ton.
The only people that last in blogging are those who get paid or are having fun.
Most of us don’t get paid so we need to have fun. When you find out what makes it fun it really is a blast. That is a general comment, not directed at you personally.
This was cool. I’ve never experienced an audio blog before. The greatest thing I took from this was that some readers will like what I offer and some won’t. One of the things I like most about blogging is saying…”because I can…” I don’t have an editor telling me I’m wrong or I shouldn’t do it that way. (I’ve had an editor before and my scars still show.)
I always appreciate veteran bloggers like you sharing the wisdom of your experiences to newbies like me. Many thanks! I dig your style.
Hi Jen,
I like the “because I can” aspect of blogging too. If you write with passion and personality and do this because you want to good things happen.
Most importantly you need to find whatever style makes it fun for you and then do that.
I am a big fan of building your community around you. When you let your personality shine through it makes it easy for you to develop friendships.
It is a lot like real life in many ways. Not everyone will like you but those who do will be happy to hang out with you.