Dave Pancost

Seems to me that Seth Godin's new Brand Convo aggregator has an answer . . . to group convos?? - Shari Weiss

It can be a challenge, but a fun one. FriendFeed is a big help. So is BackType, and don't underestimate referral logs. - Louis Gray

You can't keep up, Dave. "Real-time" search and tracking tools looking out for URLs and keywords might get you close, but there will always be some conversation somewhere on some bulletin board or in email or via IM, or somebody will post a quote/snippet without proper attribution or links, or somebody will mark-up your post in diigo or some other tool that doesn't have an API, or there'll be some conversation in a language you don't speak.... - Ken Sheppardson

Things will "leak". Ideas will spread. Good ideas will spread and mutate such that everyone will eventually forget who had the idea initially, and the conversation--although related to the original idea or post--will become unrecognizable. I'm starting to think all you can really do is put stuff out there and listen to people whose opinions you care about. Trying to keep up with all the "conversations" is futile. - Ken Sheppardson

Ken, you are right. Trying to keep up with all the conversations is near impossible if you have a big enough presence. Interestingly, some people may resent you participating everywhere. It makes sense to do your best effort and participate where it makes sense and be willing to listen, but it is not about control any more, and I love that. - Louis Gray

Louis, I appreciate your comment to Ken. Especially your point about some folks resenting our attempt to participate everywhere in the conversation. The most important point you make, though, is the willingness to listen. It's here, in my opinion, that trying to "keep up" with where the conversation is important. It is true that one can't keep up with everywhere the conversation takes... more... - Dave Pancost

Mind if I join in this conversation?...(pun intended...). I also echo Ken's sentiment that the "conversation" will always occur in more places that one can know or possibly follow. The important thing is to initiate the conversation: Like an old infomercial use to say..."set it, and forget it"...once the conversation is spun, is out of your hands...just try to spin off an interesting one...if at all possible... - Ciro