In this post Frank Warren from PostSecret answers my question – ‘when was the Tipping Point of your blog?’
My story might be a little different because my blog is dependant upon anonymous users mailing me silly, sexual or shocking secrets on postcards.
The tipping point for my project/blog came when I stopped passing out the postcards I had used to seed the project – and secrets continued to arrive in my mailbox. Somehow the idea of PostSecret spread virally in the real world and strangers began to buy and make their own postcards and mail them in from around the world.
Today, I get about 1,000 postcards a week. The project has a life of it’s own and I don’t think I could quit even if I wanted to. . .which is a good thing, because like most successful bloggers, I am passionate about my blog and continue to be fascinated by the soulful secrets that find their way to me.
The tipping point for my blog started when I launched the first edition of Bloghology. It is a collection of bloggers and their masterpieces like an Anthology. Participation is completely free and open to all bloggers.
It would be great to hear about more big tipping points Darren.
I love PostSecret, there’s something very passionate about it. But I think the biggest lesson that Frank gives here is that after time, marketing takes on a mind of its own if you begin to work it right from the beginning (passing out post cards to post cards just being sent). Great insight!
PostSecret is a great idea – people love to be anonymous and they love to blab extreme stuff – at the same time.
My blog just plain tipped over, but thats because my passion and skillset are better suited to non blog, content rich sites. I’m having a heluva good time breaking all the “non-blog-site” rules with my blog though.
At the risk of being churlish, I’d quite like to know how Frank defends publishing recognisable photos of people who have clearly not given a release – such as those of ex-boyfriends etc.
In most countries that is illegal.
Matt
I love postsecret.. The idea behind it is great and it will never die!
Post secret is one of those fantastic ideas that if it catches on, it catches on. I think it has mass appeal, and the ability to reach a huge audience. Everyone has a secret and everyone loves juicy gossip. It wins on so many levels.
It’s one of those “I wish I’d thought of that” ideas!
I’ve been reading PostSecret for quite awhile. I’m hoping that one day I will be brave enough to mail him one of my secrets.
At my university, one of my fellow art students has sort of taken Warren’s idea, but he used a confessional box attached to a huge announcement window and called it “Confessions”. It stands alone out on campus and you place your secrets in the box and then he picks one to display. The latest one was “I cheated on my wife when I was in France.”
I love reading other peoples secrets. It reminds you that everyone is human.
I’m speechless after reading PostSecret’s web-site and facebook. Especially the picture about the person who everyone believes is dead after 9/11.
I need to find a tipping point for my blog.
Frank, it is such a great idea…simple and unique…and also the one that can probably grab anyone’s fascination…
I love your idea for marketing!! 5 stars, man…