Are you ready to put social media to work and successfully integrate it into your organization? Join over 900 forward-thinking professionals and business owners who are rolling up their sleeves to get social media working for them. Over 34 hands-on, in-depth workshops will be taught by Top National Social Media Experts like Brian Solis, Mack Collier, Jason Falls, Joy Kennelly, and many more. Walk away with all the critical, new Internet marketing and communication skills and strategies necessary to apply the power of social media to your business immediately!

Bring your laptop to each session and experience hands-on demonstrations and interaction with all our instructors as they share step-by-step exercises and real-world case studies. You will learn key concepts on integrating social media, online public relations, website design and function, search engine optimization, email, mobile and video marketing, and more. Everything you need to know to survive and thrive in today’s business environment!

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Beyond Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn: Introducing, Combining, and Leveraging New Opportunities to Boost Your Brand: Presented by Joy A. Kennelly

You’re aware of (and probably use) many of the new media opportunities out there to promote your message and brand; but did you know that there are literally hundreds more platforms out there that could be highly effective for your particular business and promotional efforts?  Imagine how much more effective your marketing could be just by using a few more of the opportunities out there; then envision the entirely new dimensions of success you could achieve by leveraging them together toward an exponentially supercharged result!  Attend this session and dramatically expand your awareness and knowledge of the online promotional opportunities available today and what they can do for you!

You’ll learn: how to search engine optimize your press releases to make them appear higher in Google rankings; how to promote your efforts using over 100 online calendars and other great online marketing channels; how to coordinate and leverage your efforts across multiple platforms (including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Meetup, etc.) and gain the biggest possible promotional push and more!

Who Attends · Communications Professionals · Advertising Professionals · Marketing Professionals · Public Relations Professionals · Employee Communication Directors · Human Resource Professionals · Community Managers · Knowledge Managers · Customer Service & CRM Professionals · Business Managers

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Optimization Summits With Joy Kennelly Thursday, September 16, 2010 8:00 AM - Friday, September 17, 2010 6:15 PM (Central Time) Sheraton (214) 922-8000 400 North Olive Street Dallas, Texas 75201 United States Map and Directions FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL: Phone: 727 784 9469, Email: info@optimizationsummits.com, THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE WITH A COMPLETE LIST OF WORKSHOPS: Optimization Summits PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS: Note: To pay by credit card please register online, select the “Will Call With Payment Information” option and either call or fax your credit card information to: Telephone: 727.784.9469 • Fax: 727.784.7978 -or- Make your check payable and remit to: Multifamilypro 3013 Regal Oaks Blvd. Palm Harbor, FL 34684

1) Post at consistent intervals.  For myself I post every Thursday.  Determine what frequency & time works best for both you and for your audience, implement a schedule and stick with it.

2) Develop a cycle for your e-newsletter and send it consistently.  Consider an rss-feed e-newsletter.  About 6 months ago I switched to an rss-feed driven newsletter using MailChimp, and now I never miss an e-newsletter, or send them out late.  This may not be the most dynamic way to share your content, but it is extremely practical and still allows for weekly tinkering and adjustments to content and layout.  FYI: This is not an affiliate link, and MailChimp does offer both free & paid plans.

3) Add a text link in each post that encourages readers to sign up.  I’ve started to include the following text (with appropriate links) at the end of each blog post, and I’ve seen dramatic improvement in sign up for both my e-newsletter and rss feed: “Like what you’re reading?  Have you signed up for my weekly e-newsletter yet or are you following my blog’s rss feed?”  I’m doing this in addition to the graphic prompts that are included as part of my blog, and I’m finding that I’m getting more clicks/sign ups from the text links.

4) Respond to comments in a timely fashion.  Keep the conversation going.  Does the commenter’s expertise mesh with yours?  Review the blog of the person who commented and see if you can return the favor by commenting on one of his/her posts.

5) Continue to circulate your older posts via your existing social media outlets like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.

6) Write posts that reference other’s in your social network.  These types of posts will generate more traffic than any others.  I recently wrote a post titled “My Definitive Short List of the best Nonprofit Blogs and Consultants.”  I listed some of my very best contacts that I’d developed over the course of the last few years.  Those listed helped to circulate the post to their followers.  The day after I posted this, I had one of the highest traffic days ever on my blog.  Who are the experts that influence you/your industry?  Have you taken the time to share this information as a blog post?

7) Exchange blog posts.  Nothing has made a larger impact on the traffic to my blog than exchanging blog posts.  You’ll be introducing your blog to a whole new set of potential followers.  When you include a link back to your own blog, this also works as a link building strategy which helps with organic search.  Seek out partners with complementary products or services so you can be sure that your guest post will resonate with your new audience.

8 ) If you’re struggling with having time to do posts, keep your posts shorter, or consider breaking longer posts into a 2-part or 3-part series.  Comments & questions from the earlier posts can influence the direction of the later posts that continue the topic.  In addition to saving you time, this also help to keep your readers more engaged.

In his new book, Linchpin, Seth Godin talks about the importance of “shipping” which is essentially getting your product out on time even if it’s not perfect.  The same applies with blog posts.  You can always find an excuse to delay or skip a scheduled blog post, but if you commit to it, you will get it done.  You still have the option to go back and add more content or edit it, but you owe it to your audience to stick to your schedule.  Keep your posts short so that you’re not overwhelmed, and this will give you more time to share guest posts on other blogs and respond to comments on your own blog.

What methods have worked for you?  Please share in the comments section below, and if you found this post helpful, please retweet!

I ran my first contest back in December of 2009 and a second one in January. The first contest I gave away a free seat to one of my upcoming PR 2.0 bootcamps. I was pleasantly surprised with the number of participants. I figured since that went well, all my contests would run as smoothly.

Boy, was I wrong. The second contest I gave away a free book, Napoleon Hill’s classic Think and Grow Rich. I promoted it on social media, I emailed people about it, and I talked about it with clients. I was shocked when only four people participated, yet 204 people saw the post.

Unsure what went wrong, I decided to seek out bloggers who’ve run contests and see what had worked for them and what hadn’t. I wanted to find out if certain types of contests fare better than others, if the time of year had something to do with it, and if a successful contest was dependent on something I wasn’t aware of?

The first of many interviews I’ve conducted was with wedding photographer, Chris Leary, owner of Weddings by Chris Leary Photography based in New York City. Chris is currently running his second wedding-photography contest on his blog—giving away up to eight hours of free wedding photography to a lucky couple who wins his blog essay contest.

Here is the interview with Chris Leary:

Describe your first blog contest.

In January 2009, I held an essay contest called “The Power of Giving,” where all entrants were required to submit an essay on their love for each other and to play off the theme of something old, new, borrowed, and blue. Much like my current contest, the winner won eight hours of photography by two separate photographers, limited travel, online proofs, a signed print, and a copy of all the images on a disc. The intention was to give back, to donate my services and my passion for wedding photography, and to have a contest that was a positive experience for all . . . and for me.

What did you learn from this experience?

The first blog contest I ran, I relied on my blog readership, which was very small and wasn’t sufficient in getting the word out. I only made a general announcement on my blog where—according to the stats—I had a readership of about 500 people. Not a single entry came to me in the first two weeks of the four-week contest. No one even emailed me with questions or to ask if this was for real.

I kept wondering why people weren’t taking advantage of such an incredible opportunity—a prize worth about $3,000.

At that point, I realized that a readership of 500 people is way too little to have any impact and I needed to do more to get the word out. When I decided to promote on Craigslist, my blog traffic went up slightly, but nothing that would be considered viral.

Fortunately, one person who saw it advertised on Craigslist also reposted it on an online bridal forum, which really helped. In the end, I received a fair number of entries, about 50, but I thought a contest like this would generate three times that.

How heavily do you think the prize plays a role in contest popularity and participation?

I think the bigger the better for prizes. My winning prize is worth about $3,000—most of it equates to my time, but I do pay my second photographer his normal rate. There is definitely a demand for wedding photography, and people continue to get married despite what is happening to the economy. People may put their lives on hold, but it is only for a very short time; people will eventually move their lives forward. The prize has great value, not only in the quality of the services, but I’m also in demand because I can only do one wedding on any given date.

I also think the winning prize needs to have no strings attached. In my case, I have no expectations from the winning couple.

What components do you believe are essential in running a popular blog contest?

In my case, timing has played an important factor. The recession makes my contest easy to promote because many couples are looking to save money where they can in their wedding budgets. Having a contest that awards photography is an easy way for couples to save money. There is no risk to me; it’s only my time. It does require flexibility for the couple.

I also think a minimum of four weeks for a contest is mandatory—especially with a larger prize. You need time for the word to get out so everyone knows about this fantastic opportunity.

What is the biggest mistake bloggers can make when hosting a contest?

Not promoting. Not updating their blog to let the audience know what’s going on. You need to create a buzz. Make your readers feel as if they are missing out on a fantastic opportunity. I’d also suggest you hire a PR consultant to help strategize and get the word out. The success of a contest is in the sheer number of people who see it, share it, and participate.

You’re currently running a second blog contest. What are you doing differently this time around?

As in the previous year, the prize remains the same, and the contestants are required to write an essay or send in a video essay. Since I strongly value creativity and having fun, I ask the couples to share their own creativity and to just have fun with this contest.

Unlike 2009, this year I have implemented the use of Facebook and Twitter. I’ve also reached out to other bloggers, especially wedding bloggers who write about saving money on wedding expenses.

In light of the disappointment some of the contestants expressed last year, I decided to give everyone who participates, but doesn’t win, a discount on my wedding or portrait services.

Check out Chris Leary’s current blog contest.

What do you think makes a successful blog contest?

What do I mean by that?  Well, if you’ve got a blog looking for an audience, you’re already in trouble.  In fact, what you need is an audience looking for a blog, just as Ziegfield had an audience looking for a good show, long before he ever booked his top talent.

The People Factor

Last week, I started reviewing the 5 P’s of Marketing and their relevance in the blogosphere with Price and Place.  The truth is that the P’s are somewhat outdated, but the ideas behind them are not.  Take the P that stands for People.  People, fortunately, are never outdated.  They just change where they are and what they want. A marketer’s job is to figure it out and give them – just as the great showman of yesteryear would have – what they want.

In the blogosphere, or new realms of social media, we don’t talk about People anymore – just relationships.  But guess what?  Relationships are about people!  But the fallacy of social media is the myth that you can start a blog as lonely person and suddenly develop these budding relationships around the world. That, my friends, is the thinking of a social stalker, not a social media marketer.

Yes, it’s true, along the way, you’ll meet some new people, friend some names behind faces you’ve never seen, and become familiar with new names you didn’t know before.  But, just as any Facebook mom (my new name for Soccer moms) knows — social media friends start with real ones.

The Popularity Contest

If you check out the people on LinkedIn with hundreds of friends, one of a few things tend to be true:

• They are LIONS, or a new term for social slut.  They have announced to the world that they are a free friend with no strings attached to anyone who cares to link up. LION stands for LinkedIn Open Network and is an Open House invitation for anyone to join the party. You know the old Grocho Marx routine about the club that lets just about anyone in?  Well, this is it.
• They genuinely have hundreds of friends.  The odds are, if you dig deep enough, they have been on a board or two in their lifetime, and agreed to affiliate with anyone who is a member of their association.  The key here is that they first went out into the world and joined something, did something, and contributed.
• They genuinely have thousands of followers. These people are basically famous. Again, they’ve done something, contributed something and physically put themselves out there before they attempted to link up with the world.

People First, Audience Second

It’s the rare bird that goes on the blogosphere and gains audience without first having created a following or network first – in the real world. Seth Godin just has to sneeze now and the world will provide a handkerchief, but it wasn’t always that way. He first had to write a book and do speeches.

Ironically, book publishers are going the other way, as demonstrated by a presentation done by Shiv Singh on SlideShare.  Singh, author of Social Media Marketing for Dummies, notes that book publishers want you to prove you have an audience before you ask them to publish a book for you.  And, he notes, your proof of an audience is, in some cases, having a popular blog.

But, how do you first build that blog audience?  It starts the old fashioned way – one person at a time.  The most successful bloggers I will argue (without any research to back me up) are those who start blogging after they have a following. They announce to their fans that they will be in cyberspace, they let everyone who is already attached to them talk about them.  They basically, like Fanny Brice, work the room.

The moral of the story – never stop talking about your blog to anyone and everyone who is even mildly interested in you as a person.  Here’s just a few ideas:

• In a casual conversation, say “as I wrote in my blog…”
• Write about people in your blog (perhaps not by name) and then send the post to them to show them how you’ve been inspired by them
• Ask people to review your blog to give you feedback
• Give a speech about your blog topic and make sure to reference your blog
• Agree to write a column for an association or group newsletter, and if not in the body copy then in your bio line, mention the blog

People who are interested in who you are, or what you have to say will read your blog.  Others may find you through SEO and other search techniques, but your core audience – the fans that every rock star counts on to show up for a concert – will be those people who have some sort of relationship with you before you ever enter the blogosphere. I’m willing to bet the house on it.