Business blogging tips and news for professional bloggers

March 31, 2007 UPDATE: SOAP is currently closed.  The program has been a success so far and more than 110 bloggers have exchanged free blogging tips.  If you'd like to participate in the next version of SOAP, please let me know (email myfirstname at knowmoremedia dot com)!

Ahem ... an idea has come to me.  (Cue dangerous music.)

Theatrical Version:

Fill out the one-minute SOAP questionnaire to enroll in a free blogging tips exchange program called the Scratch One Another Program (or SOAP for short).  Together we will storm the castle and 100 bloggers will soap each other up and scratch each other's backs by March 31, 2007.  It's free and all you have to do to get free blogging advice is give some free advice to another blogger that I will assign to you.

Extended Version:

"Scratch others as you would have others scratch you." - Soapiticus 3:16
"As you SOAP, so shall you also be SOAPED." 2 Soapers 12:3

My friends and fellow bloggers, the time has come for us all ... to pass the SOAP.

Not that soap.  No, not that SOAP either.  No, definitely not that one!

I'm talking about the SOAP you never knew you always needed.

That's right: the Scratch One Another Program for bloggers.  SOAP for short.

"I have some questions," you say.  Ah, yes.  Fire away.

What is SOAP?  I already told you.

Yeah, but what is it really?  And what's this about scratching?  Okay.  SOAP is a simple blog improvement program whereby bloggers review each others' blogs and give each other free blogging tips.  In other words, we scratch each other's backs.  Scratch One Another.  Program.  SOAP.

What's in it for me?  You get soaped and scratched.  Er, you get free blogging advice from other bloggers.

What do I have to do?  Just fill out the SOAP questionnaire.  I will assign you another blogger who needs some SOAP and a good blog back-scratchin'.  You scratch their back by giving them blogging tips to help their blog prosper.  In the meantime, I will assign someone else to come along and give you and your blog a good scrubbing as well.  As a bonus, I will personally give you whatever blog tips I can muster.  So in the end, you soap once, but you get soaped twice.

What if I don't want to do any soaping or scratching or whatever?  That's okay.  You could just get a good free blog soaping and back scratching out of this.  You don't have to help other bloggers if you don't want to.  Of course then the SOAP falls apart and somebody gets neglected and everybody's sad and it's all your fault.  You don't want that to happen, do you?  (Guilt trip, guilt trip!)

Fine then.  What if I want to scratch multiple blogger backs?  Well, if you're asking if there's any money in this, then yes!  Just kidding - no money.  But I would be thrilled, and would every blogger you help.  After all, the more you scratch, the more you can be scratched.  Plus, you get the honorary title of Super Soaper or Super Scratcher (whichever you prefer).  You've earned it.

So this is all free, right?  Yes.  Free as a bird.

How long will SOAP last?  As long as there are bloggers who want help each other.

I need structure.  Can you give me a timeframe and goals?  Sure.  100 bloggers will soap each other up and scratch each other's backs by March 31, 2007.  So let it be written ... so let it be done.  Why not?

Can I blog about this?  Permission granted - you're so kind to ask!  The more people you tell about SOAP, the more likely you are to be soaped.  Tell your friends, tell your neighbors.  Tell anyone who likes mutual soaping and scratching.

How do I join the SOAP program?  Again, just fill out the questionnaire.  Confused?  Email me (Easton Ellsworth) at myfirstname at knowmoremedia dot com or leave a comment below.  I'll get you started right away.

Wait - isn't "SOAP program" redundant?  Yeah.  Sticklers should probably just call it SOAP or soap, as in "I've decided to pass the SOAP" or "I spent most of my afternoon soaping up So-And-So.  After that I went grocery shopping and watched some TV."  (I know ...)  Or you could say "SOA program" if you simply hate redundancy (or if you just can't stand unnecessary repetition, or things being reiterated over and over without reason).  You could even coin a nifty phrase like, "Well, pass the soap and scratch my back!"

Just out of curiosity - what prompted this SOAP thing anyway?  Long story short - hectic week, lack of personal hygiene, an intense desire to incite some good in this crazy world, and a burst of early-morning inspiration.  Spin that however you like.

Ready ... Set ... Pass the SOAP and Scratch One Another!