Show Me the Blog - Day 2 (afternoon)

Morning notes at http://pscherry.blogspot.com/2011/10/show-me-blog-day-2-morning.html

Instant Blogging w/ sKIDmarks

• This lady was FUNNY
• @robynsworld: 
• Instant Blogging Rule #1: Design a single-minded page layout. Make it obvious to visitors that they know what you are about
• Natural eye flow when someone visit your blog is a Z pattern
• Create content that gets people talking
• Take the emotion out of negativity against you.  Use facts
• Create a work space conductive to creativity and fresh ideas 
• Don't be afraid to adjust until you find your sweet spot
• Laugh at yourself, and be personal

Listening to @OffEatenPathSTL at #SMBSTL - talking about the top tips for food blogging

• Be consistent when blogging #SMBSTL - pick a schedule and stick to it
• Don't be embarrassed, but ask permission before taking pictures of anything but the food
• Don't be a SNOB.  Use real world conversational words
• Be engaging, by being yourself & asking questions
• Think outside the box
• Did a Vegan challenge & Spicy challenge
• Learn your voice.  Don't try to be someone you are not
• If you take free stuff, then there may be doubt of if your review was influenced by that
• Take a lot of pictures
• Never use a flash w/ dim lighting
• It make take 50 to get 1
• Try everything
• Have LOTS of fun

Men vs Women in the blogging and social media scene

• Great @stlwomeninmedia session with @daniellesmyname @joshkocurek
• There were 4 men in a room full of women
• The current business world still is mostly men and not women
• If you have built up credibility in an industry that is typically for the other 'sex', then it doesn't matter what sex you are.
• Social media is typically under the PR department.  Which has been a "pink" profession typically.
• Marketing uses "sex sells" all the time
• @showmeblogstl: Panelist @joshkocurek says sports is a traditional gender type of realm, but ladies are now getting their sports on!
• @compostqueen: Male and female lines are blurring in social media. If you write good content people won't care if about the sex of the author.
• @blondishnet: A lot of bloggers are turning to including vlogging. I am too.

They had some contest drawings before the last session.  I have been eating ice cream by @getfrostbite, and won a free pint.  My wife will be happy.

Building and Maintaining Relationships with Brands by @robynsworld

• The Robin way of doing things
• Brands (and you are one) should not broadcast only.  They should interact in the media of choice, not just tell you to call a phone number.
• @crazycoolcrafty: Watch what the brand is doing. Keep an eye on them (stalk them!!) Are they broadcasting only or do they interact?
• @blondishnet: 
• Sometimes when you have blogged for a long time & have great traffic, brands will approach you. VistaPrint did with me.
• "If I gave up blogging because of no comments when I started blogging, I would have given up in 2003. Persevere!"
• Don't sell, just make them a friend by building the relationship
• @bellebutters: I have a 3R rule for social networking: rapport, relativity, relatable. @RobynsWorld emphasized this!
• @daniellesmyname Tweeted the following
• 'gush abt brands before you even have a relationship'.  Be an advocate. they'll notice
• I think social media #ROI can be EASIER to measure than traditional ads. what's the ROI on that commercial? that billboard? flyer?
• And yes, offline influence is influence. Include that in your pitch to a company
• Some people hate to admit it but numbers do count. It measures your sphere of influence
• @jplovescotton: If you want to get monetized, maybe do a little for free but don't let it take too much time, effort. Can cut them off
• @nickgilham: Want to learn how to stay in your lane? Check out this ebook by @TheCubicleChick #SMBSTL http://ow.ly/75M9u 
• Disclosure at the bottom of every review

Great event, and lots of good ideas

Show Me the Blog - Day 2 (morning)

Hotel Lumiere has been a fantastic host so far.

Ms. @daniellesmyname started the day with the following Tweets: 

• Men have tweeted an average of 698 times - women 1542. http://bit.ly/MenVsWomen
• Men have an average of 643 followers on twitter whereas women have 1717.

See my Day 1 blog at: http://pscherry.blogspot.com/2011/10/show-me-blog-day-1.html

Sat next to Debbie today: http://www.thriftyandfrugalbydebbie.com/

@CupCakeProject talked about her start

• Readers and fans are two different types of people
• Practice the craft while no one is watching
• Writing for a blog is different than writing a technical manual
• Taking pictures requires practice
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Monetizing doesn't work until you already have the readers
• "If I can change the name, the lyrics, and the songs, we might just have something" - Quote about Lady Gaga before she was a hit!
• Google Analytics and Clicky give stats for her blog
• @ShowMeBlogSTL: You have to see your self as a person who will succeed
• @robynsworld: most popular post for @cupcakeproject is Easter Cupcakes Baked in Real Egg Shells
• Use Pintrest as a way to see images that help promote your blog
• @SippyCupMom: On Facebook, call fans a community! Let them feel involved! 
• @melisasource: Do teasers on FB /Twitter pages about your upcoming blog posts and get them involved(asking opinions)-@mzgapeachy is GREAT at this!
• BlogChat on Twitter on Sunday nights can be very helpful
• @jplovescotton: Question of do you have a hand on a cupcake & one hand on the keyboard? Love that

Afternoon notes can be found at  http://pscherry.blogspot.com/2011/10/show-me-blog-day-2-afternoon.html

Show Me the Blog Day 1 - After Lunch

If you want to read the information from the 1st half of the day.  Go to http://pscherry.blogspot.com/2011/10/show-me-blog-day-1.html

Gus Wagner from @RocketGroup presented first

• Communication w/ elected officials.  Amazing how many people have talked with Governors and National senators/reps face to face in this room
• Over 1/2 a million elected officials across the USA (including judges, school boards, etc)
• Staff members are the ones keeping in touch, and reading the messages.
• chances are increasing that your elected officials are active on twitter or facebook
• What is #AstroNetTurfRoots mean?
• Use social media to create REAL 
• Missouri & social media
• 2.74mil Facebook accounts
• 12,753 Twitter accounts
• @techlh: Missouri is 42% below the national average in twitter usage WOW
• Identify the person speaking, even if you have multiple people tweeting
• Empower the people you bring together.  Give them something to do
• Use the tools to COMMUNICATE and EDUCATE the people who REGULATE our lives.
• @robynsworld: are you unsure who is using the social media accounts for your elected official? ASK them! Also interact w/them

Finding the Networking Value by Lakesha Brown of XD Web Solutions

• It's not just being online, but in WHO YOU KNOW
• Why network?  To Be:
• Better Known
• Better Connected
• Better Equipped
• Don't just yell or broadcast to people.  Be sure to interact & listen
• Multiple tweets from @glamkitten88, who summarized this session VERY well:
• No one wants to be THAT guy - the guy who broadcasts and shouts messages.
• 80% engaging content - be relevant online.  20% talking about yourself.  Interact with and engage others more than anything else.
• Social media is not a strategy or a tactic - It's a channel
• Share your content and others' content.  Always.  Spread the love! #smbstl (This includes RT'ing.) 
• Share more, and give to others.  You will get a LOT back
• Twitter chat sessions help join people with the same interests
• Google Doc w/ 
• @glamkitten88 said it best "Twitter chats help you connect with new people and gain followed in the process. #smbstl(Plus, they are super fun!)"
• Don't forget the e-mail signature w/ links

LinkedIn for Everyone by @NickGilham

• #1 Social network for Professionals (Facebook for business people)
• What is LinkedIn
• Online Resume
• Corp Espionage tool
• Job Board
• Question/Answer site
• 75 Companies on Fortune 100 use Linked in for Hiring
• There is a WSJ article about your LinkedIn Photo (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203388804576613561719372694.html)
• Don't take the default 'personal note' when connecting to someone on LinkedIn
• Specialties is a chance to repeat items in your summary.  List multiple items separated by a comma.
• Use the Skills that LinkedIn has in their system.  It links to more information
• Premium account
• Gives you more visual information about who visited your profile
• Industry information about those who visit you
• Keyboard search info on your profile
• Use http://inmaps.linkedinlabs.com to see more information on your relationships

How to engage your audience by Eli Rose Social

• Don't forget to keep the About page of your blog updated.  E-mail address and Twitter handle w/ links
• Be sure to use your real e-mail address when commenting.  Bloggers don't want to see noreply@whatever.com
• @robynsworld gave the following tweets
• Blog Engagement - leave comments on other blogs, be sincere, show you've paid attention #smbstl 
• Facebook uses EdgeRank - algorithm based on affinity x weight x time decay. It means interact on FB so you show up for others
• Want to make custom tabs, run sweepstakes, etc. on Facebook? Try Shortstack http://bit.ly/pc17lZ
• Way to check your engagement. Used www.EdgerankChecker.com
• Twitter interactions
• Create Twitter lists
• Twitcleaner
• Formulists
• Use caution w/ automated tools
• LOATHE for AutoDM
• Triberr is like AutoDM

Show Me the Blog - Day 1 (before lunch)

Got to Lumier early, and picked a table w/ power, ended up sitting with a lot of the presenters
Hashtab is #SMBSTL

The first panel was 'So You Want a Job in Social Media' w/ Danyelle Little (thecubiclechick.com), Annie Haarmann, Aimee Knebel, & Jenna Petroff

•   Social Media is not a 9-5 job, it happens all the time and insomnia is a regular issue.
•   Lots of research time & responding to customers at all hours
•   Know your audience (the company and the customer)
•   If you don't know Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc on a personally, then get started now before you go looking for a job.  But just because you 'watch', doesn't mean you know what you are doing.  You need to be interacting, because that is what SM is.
• @bellebeandog put it well "Your online profiles are your resume"
•   Other's may think you just have fun all day, but it is work.
• @YelpStLouis Dad thinks she tweets all day long for work
• Where do you find the Social Media job?
• They won't call it Social Media, it will be PR or graphic design
• It comes back to who you know
• Ask to talk to someone you know for just information
• Having a background in PR, Marketing, Event Planning, Communications is a Plus
•  Don't be afraid to create the job you want 
• DON'T DO - Definitely don't drink and tweet!
• Use different clients when you tweet personal and business.
• WAIT, take a minute, before you fire back at someone attacking you/your brand in social media. Calm down first
• You can never delete something on the internet.
• @bellebeandog: You might delete a tweet but the history stays. Be careful of your personal brand n reputation.
• Be sure to look at WHERE you are seeing your return.  Is it Facebook, Email, Twitter, other
• Respond to critics and advocates, but be sure it's not the constant complainers.

Lunch was sponsored by @Hardees
To read about the events after lunch go to http://pscherry.blogspot.com/2011/10/show-me-blog-day-1-after-lunch.html

Show me the Blog Conference

At the WizTech Cafe on Locust (The Club sandwich is good).
Presenters:
@TheCubicleChick
@BlkSportsOnline
@CampingGearTV
@RobynsOnlineWorld

Before it started met @HealthyLifeDeal at the Show me the Blog presentation (www.showmetheblog.com). She does couponing for Whole Foods, and is holding another class on May 14th.

Stand tall and be proud of your blog. And don't be afraid to take a stand!
When a company approaches you to review their product, @TheCubicleChick (1000+ e-mail subscribers) sends them a media kit and an advertising rate sheet. The companies either say no, or alot of time they say "sure".
Stop blogging for free. Not that every blog post needs to be paid for, but don't give everything away. You must disclose in the blog if you are paid. Don't want to get that $100k fine from the FTC.

Treat it like a business if you really want to make money with it (try 5% first). Make sure to be authentic and genuine. It is competitive environment.

Know your price - Have a press kit, and know your Alexa and Page Rank ratings are; and who your demographics are. Don't pitch a company you don't really want to do business with (have a pitch letter). Customize your letter to the company you are writing to. Tell them what you do, and how you do it. Also, know about how social media savvy the company is.
Compete.com lets you compare how you rank against other websites out there.
Another way to make money is to use Ad networks to place advertising on your site.
It is not always getting paid, but maybe getting free products, trips, admission to conferences.

Remember, you are spending your time, so you should get paid for your time.
Put value in your social circle on Twitter and Facebook.
Spreading your blogs around, also spreads you around. But you may need different blogs if the subject matter is really unreleated.

Be passionate about what you blog about, you are only writing for one person (yourself). As your start, it doesn't matter how many people read it. Only need the right person to read it, and you never know who that is. It may seem to take forever, and you may want to give up, but that is why you are doing something you have passion for.

Do you ever clock out? It is NOT a 9-5. You need to put in the constant effort to keep in the game for more than a short time. You have to sacrifice to get what you want. There is no off button on the internet.