Between the Lines Blog was born on 21, August 2003 nine years ago as a unofficial underground experiment by me, an Autodesk employee. It grew in popularity and soon several Autodesk bloggers were jumping in the blogging waters finally with our supportive management that realized the value of transparency, and connecting with our customers and community and in our own words in addition to other methods we communicate information such as PR and Marketing. This blog has also inspired several non-Autodesk CAD related blogs starting in the new social media that was blogging. I like to say blogging is a conversation and just as I would speak to someone sitting down at a table face to face. This is who I am, an open book.

The goal was a way to answer questions and provide the latest information in one place rather than in multiple discussion group and email threads over and over. To help educate and share items about Autodesk technology, Autodesk products, and definitely some fun, humor, and personal mixed in.

Most blogs based on statistics fade or go dormant after the very first year as it can take a great deal of commitment just like a baby to care an feed (without dirty diapers) but here Between the Lines blog hit nine years today.

Since 2003, millions of unique readers, over 20,000 subscribers a day,from over 140 countries have been here with a reader every minute stopping by to read something whether by web browser, mobile device, or RSS feeds and email subscriptions. There have been over 4000 comments and 2500 posts. There hasn’t been a blog’cation in all those years as I still update it whether I am on vacation or traveling to remote corners of the world like Northern Kenya 10 miles from the Ethiopian border this June in a tent and several years ago blogging from the Amazon Jungle of Brazil. It has become one of my passions that I truly enjoy but admit at times it can be difficult and time consuming.

Having people read the blog is what drives me to keep going, so thank you all so very much.

I am very thankful for having a great company management that allows their employees to reach out in any way to customers and people without any real barriers other than a couple common sense ones. They totally get it, and support and encourage engagement outside the corporate walls.

I am looking forward to a great big celebration on the 10th birthday of the blog this time next year!

Continuing a tradition over the years my good friend and architect from down under Bill Adams created a cake or cakes this time in celebration of this blogs birthday!
http://blads.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/happy-birthday-between-lines.html"

Archives of all blog posts back to August 2003 including the very first post: http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/archives.html

Thank You!
Shaan Hurley
Autodesk, Inc..
Technologist in the Office of the CTO

“Never forget the social in social media. Be a person not a promotion”

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