OK .... this is really exciting for me. And one of the main reasons for my absenteeism from blogging.

I've just bagged a large Ethnographic Research study from a client based in the US.  Two ethnographers and research consultants in the US (both have their own blogs too), with whom i have been exchanging conversations - Steve Portigal and Clynton Taylor independently forwarded to me an advertisement the client had put up on a Yahoo Group, looking for social science researchers for a project in India. And asked me to write to them if i was interested. 

I did.  And got the project. 

Thanks Steve, thanks Clynton ! The only bitch is i will have to spend a lot of time in Delhi in the midst of summer - where temperatures can be in the oppressive mid-40's (centigrade). 

This is the second project i have got as a result of joining social networks and of blogging.  Both projects are very different from the run-of-the-mill qualitative research studies we are accustomed to doing here, and there's going to be huge amounts of learning.  And have given me the opportunity to work on projects with researchers in different continents, with different approaches - thats pretty awesome too.

Also, between the two, a good sum of money from December to February ............ a very, very good sum, especially when converted into indian rupees.  And still counting!

What's interesting is, the initial connections were made with Clynton and Steve, through Ryze.  I met up with Clynton when in the Bay Area - and we had a good meeting.  And a wonderful time at a bloggers dinner too. Steve - next time for sure.

This time round, it wasn't the fact that i was first on a Google search for "qualitative researchers India", as was the case in the first project i landed.   This time, in my first letter to the Client, i sent them a short ppt presentation on my company, and a link to my blog - urging them to read it and pointing to relevant categories, as they are better reflections of my thoughts and current preoccupations.   And of the person they would be hiring.  Which is very important in the field of qualitative research and ethnography, as these fields tend to be researcher driven, as opposed to 'colder' corporate names and credentials.

Yes ! 

Blogging can pay.

Would love to hear your stories about how your blog has helped you bag a job, or a contract or projects, that you might not have got (or even heard about) otherwise.