Thanks to Brad Shorr for contributing today’s guest post.

Last November, Barbara wrote a valuable post on how to be a great guest blogger. She offered some great advice about both how to approach a blogger and actually write an effective post.

Important stuff, to be sure!

Getting published on other blogs is tremendous for brand awareness, establishing your credentials, and SEO.

In terms of SEO, guest blogging has really become a hot topic, as people are getting the message that Google is overlooking or penalizing those cheap and easy links, while rewarding quality links – like the ones involved in a quality guest blog post.

Since scads of people are looking for guest post opportunities, a strong pitch is vital. With that in mind, Barbara invited me to share some beneficial tips that work for me, as I find myself on both sides of pitches several times a day!

Here are three pitch tips I’ve picked up: I hope they help.

How to Pitch a Blogger on Writing a Guest Post

1. Define what you’re looking for.

If you approach bloggers haphazardly, it will show and you’ll get a lot of rejections. It’s better to create a model of the type of blog you’re looking for, and go after those opportunities with laser focus.

Things to consider include –

a.) Subject matter – Can you write authoritatively about the blog’s themes?

b.) Style – Can you write it the way they want it?

c.) Authority

- PageRank

- Subscriber

- Number of comments

- Social media presence

- Reputation

- Other factors

d.) Receptivity to guest authors

2. Give the blogger everything he/she needs to evaluate you.

If your pitch email leaves a lot to the imagination, don’t be surprised to get a rejection or a no-response. Bloggers are too busy to be proactive in filling in your blanks. In my pitch letters, I like to include:

a.) A brief explanation of why I could write an effective post on this particular blog

b.) Two or three links to other posts I’ve written that are as similar as possible to the style and/or subject matter of the blog in question

c.) How soon I could submit a post if asked to write one

d.) One or two topic ideas (including a title and thumbnail description)

e.) Express a willingness to write on other topics if these are not suitable, or if there is something “hot” the blogger wants covered

f.) End with a definite call to action, such as, “Would you like me to proceed with one of these topics?”

3. Follow up.

Pitching is selling, and all good sales people follow up. If you don’t hear from the blogger within a few days, it’s perfectly fine and totally professional to ask if he/she has had a chance to review your inquiry. When you follow up:

a.) Be polite and professional

b.) End with a call to action (see 2f above)

c.) In some situations, you might say that if you don’t get an answer within a few days, you will offer the topic(s) to other interested bloggers

Inherent in all of these tips are the need to do your homework, and to take a personal and customized approach to each pitch. This may seem obvious, but on pitches I receive, only a handful do those things. It’s too bad, because my suspicion is a lot of writers are much better than their pitches.

Over to You

What pitching techniques are working for you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today’s guest post is by Brad Shorr, @bradshorr on twitter.

Brad Shorr is Director of Content & Social Media for Straight North, a Chicago web design company. The firm works with middle market B2B firms doing everything from online payment gateways to safety leather gloves. Join Straight North on Facebook and Brad Shorr on Google+ for conversation on SEO and other Internet marketing topics.

 

Happy New Year! Social Media Club Chicago’s first event of the 2012 social season took place last night at House of Blues in Chicago. Thanks to Brickfish for the free book and for bringing Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics and now Digital Leader: 5 Simple Keys to Success and Influence, to Chicago.

A brilliant thought leader, Erik’s the bright mind behind the Social Media Revolution videos. Here’s a quote from his new book.

“Digital footprints are what we post about ourselves. Digital shadows are what others upload about us. Collectively, they have changed the world forever. As leaders and future leaders we need to adapt to this new world.” 

What a strong way to frame up 2012.

Erik first spoke at an SMC Chicago event a few years ago when he was in town to talk at Search Engine Strategies. Here’s what Erik had to say about Social Media Optimization then. Last night, we learned more about Erik’s digital leader process, which is based on five powerful truths you can use to establish your leadership “stamp.”

Erik Qualman’s 5 Simple Keys to Success and Influence

Simple: success is the result of simplification and focus

True: be true to your passion

Act: nothing happens without action–take the first step

Map: goals and visions are needed to get where you want to be

People: success doesn’t happen alone

During the presentation, I took a few notes on my iPhone. Apologies to Erik for any inaccuracies. When I got home, I browsed the book and will finish it over the weekend. For now, here’s a quick recap of Erik’s presentation.

Simplifying your focus is the most important thing you can do

• Write out in 140 characters or less what you want to be, what you want your stamp in life to be and what  you want your life to stand for. In the book, Erik quotes Dick Van Dyke [like me, also a Danville High School alum] as saying he wants his epitaph to be “Glad I could help.”
• Focus more on output than on input; focus on shipping stuff out.
• Pick only two things to do every day, look at what other leaders doing today to excel. Write them down and focus on knocking those two things out today.
• When Erik was speaking in Africa with Tony Hawk, he found out that Tony loves to tweet. Tony waits 30 minutes before announcing an impromptu skate park drop in. More advanced notice than that, and the park will be jammed. Follow leaders to see where they’ll be next.
• In life, most people will remember how you treated them.
• People will empower you to get things done.

Social Media Asks Questions, Erik Answers

After Erik talked about the book, he read comments via social media on his phone. As an author, he’s interested following conversations and in checking out what people are highlighting on their Kindle. I like this “answer questions in the moment” approach. Questions and comments via social media included:

Love the LIFO method

Borrowed from the accounting term LIFO, Last in first out, is a kind of arbitrage. It’s better to respond to the last ones in, then go back and reply to old messages sitting around in email and on social media. You may surprise and delight the person who gets a reply in 30 seconds.

Complain = digital pain

If you want to stand out, stop complaining. Be proactively positive, use social media emoticons apps, and dig in and find out about someone’s hobbies when you chat with them online.

Multitasking is worse for your brain than marijuana

While Erik was not suggesting smoking marijuana [this line got a big laugh], he was serious about doing only one thing well at a time. Multi-tasking drops IQ scores by 10 points and is the worst thing you can do to get things done. Who else is guilty of trying to accomplish more than two things at once?

Interruptions take you off track; avoid them.

In the book, Erik suggests wearing headphones and getting away to work on your work.

Out of office suggestion

When you go on vacation, ask people to resend an email on the day you return. Erik tried this. Only 9/1100 resent the email and no one complained about him not responding. Yes, he did delete all the email that came in while he was away – without reading it. Who would be brave enough to try this?

When to fire your customers

People want partnerships with companies, only work with people who value you.

Set audacious, laughable goals

Then, find people to help you. They’re the ones that don’t laugh and take you seriously.

Success is a choice

The only way we can do it is to simplify our lives. No matter how successful you are you, can never reach the mountaintop if you surround yourself with the wrong kind of people who will bring you down.

Big trend for 2012 is technology and education

Two examples: teachers assign videos produced by Khan Academy and MIT offers free courses you can get  online.

Erik’s goal is to break a world’s record for the most one-sentence reviews on Amazon.

After hearing Erik speak, and browsing the book briefly last night, it would be a challenge for me to compress my review into one slim sentence, but I’ll try: To live the best of your life, read this book to find out how to simplify, share and lead with your passion.

Image: Jeff Willinger, SMC Chicago president; Tim Mc Donald, SMC Chicago Community Manager; Amy Hesser SMC Chicago member; Barbara Rozgonyi, SMC Chicago founder and Erik Qualman.

Need help discovering how to share your passion? Here’s how to borrow my brain.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so grateful today for everyone who’s ever been interested in one of my blog post, articles or social updates. After all, if I didn’t have you, who would I write for?

Every year I compose a Thanksgiving greeting. It’s an honor to share a few thoughts with you today.

Did you know we have Abe Lincoln and Sarah Josepha Hale, a 74-year-old editor of a woman’s magazine, Godey’s Ladys’ Book,  to thank for this national day of Thanksgiving? Before 1863, each state held its own Thanksgiving day.

What are you most thankful for this year?

Top 11 Reasons Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

1. It’s both quiet and noisy.

2. I can cook and cook and cook – or not, depending on who’s hosting.

3. It reminds to realize the phenomenal power of simply thanking others.

4. Decorations can be natural and minimal and they don’t have to light up.

5. Families come together, for better or worse – and always leave better off for having been together.

6. Memories get revived and shared and new stories get added to the collection.

7. It takes forever to do the dishes, which means more time to talk.

8. Warmth fills homes and hearts with traditional almost secret to this family rituals.

9. Teens and college kids must be present – no excuses.

10. Leftovers

11, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

For years, for us, it really was over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s farmhouse we go.

We always arrived after dark, driving up the long rock driveway after hours on the road. More often than not, we carried in sleepy bundled up kids.

On Thanksgiving morning we’d walk in the barnyard with Grandpa Tony. If we were lucky, and we usually were, his pet wild turkeys would follow us from the pigpen to the hen house to the cattle yard to the horse in the barn and back to the playhouse in the side yard.

Thanksgiving was small, intimate and devoted to two things: food and football.

This year, we’ll be with our extended family at my sister’s house. She’s cooking. I’m not. It’s her turn to host. I get Christmas this year.

We’ll eat too much. Laugh more. And wonder how so many years went by so fast.

My newsletter got this message last night. What they didn’t get was this image and this story.

I bought this statue at a resale shop in town for $5.

I liked his rugged hominess. And, I needed something besides flowers and candles to spark up my Thanksgiving table. So, I grabbed this guy.

He reminded the kids of the movie “The Indian and The Cupboard.” They liked to move the last fish on his line. What would happen if he did come to life? After Thanksgiving I moved him to a bookshelf and forgot about him.

Until teacher conferences the next year. “It was so nice of you to let your son bring in your statue,” his teacher said. “He told the class how expensive he was. You know, because you got him downtown at Marshall Field’s.”

“Statue?” I asked. “Which one did he bring in?”

“On the one with the brave holding the corn and the fish. I hope you don’t mind that we let the kids pass it around.” she said as she winked at me.

“Of course not, I’m glad the class enjoyed him.” I said as I smiled back.

In this image, he looks almost happy and directly into the camera. In reality, he’s very serious.

When I was think about an image for this post, this one seemed to fit.

Here’s wishing you and yours a blessed, bountiful and beautiful Thanksgiving!

Brands and Blogger Panel #BBSummit11

In almost every presentation, I show a chart with survey results that prove blogger relations is the most effective social media marketing tactic.

Then I ask this question: Who here is using blogger relations as a social media marketing tactic?

Every time, almost no hands go up. That’s why when MJ Tam asked me to moderate the Midwest Moms Moms BBSummit11 blogger and brands panel, I was honored and intrigued.

As a blogger and a consultant for brands, I wanted to know why and how we could improve our relationships. Are you a blogger or a brand? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

Six successful and talented bloggers shared their insights, including: Beth Rosen of 4Keys Media, Duong Sheahan of Digital Girlfriends, Dwana De LaCerna of Houseonahill.org / Chicagonista, Meagan Francis of MeaganFrancis.com, Stephanie Precourt of Adventures of Babywearing, Wendy Piersall of WooJr.com

Three social media savvy panelists represented the brand perspective: Connie Burke for GMC, Nicole Simonds for FlatOut Flatbread, and Sheila Bernus Dowd for Clever Girls Collective and Ubisoft

Thanks to all the panelists for sharing so openly over the course of two hours. Given the amount of interest in the room, I think we could have easily continued the conversation for several more hours. Today I’m sharing a few main points with you. What’s your biggest question about how to improve the brand and blogger relationship?

Making the first move – Who pitches who?

The short answer is: it goes both ways. When asked for a show of hands, almost every blogger in the room had pitched a brand.

Brands like being pitched with creative ideas. For example, a family vacation is okay. How can you package it into coverage that gets more traffic and attention? Pitching videos in addition to blog posts adds value.

Does network size and reader response matter?

Brands do look at stats, although they also evaluate each opportunity individually. So, bloggers think about posting a media kit online. Include your reach beyond the blog into social networks and even in real life. For example, if you’re going to speak at a conference, tell them who will be in the audience.

If you want to be successful, find your niche.

If brands aren’t finding you, you’re not standing out as a desirable connection. Decide who you are and who you want to be. If you don’t have brands pitching you, you’re in trouble.

But, stay true to who you are and make sure that there is a good brand/blog fit. Google the brand name + controversy to see what comes up. If you don’t like what you see, don’t take the offer.

“It’s really important to know your niche and own it.” Wendy Piersall

For detailed answers, grab a copy of Wendy Piersall’s new book, Mom Blogging for Dummies.

I will share the pitch that landed me a spot on Sears Blue Blogger Crew and a trip to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Two weeks ago today Google+ launched. Like most new tools, it’s a lot easier to figure out how it works when you ask other people how they use it.

That’s why we’re bringing Google+ alive in 3D at the next Digital Innovation Forum next Thursday at IIT/SAT in Wheaton.

Do you need a Google+ invitation? Leave a comment with your gmail address and it will be on its way.

DIF [Digital Innovation Forum] DuPage Presents Google+ 3D Branding for Business

July 21 from 11:30 – 1:00 at IIT/SAT in Wheaton

RSVP at http://difdupage0711.eventbrite.com

Use code ALIST to save $5.00

How will Google+ impact your digital branding?

Move over Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn, there’s a new social network online. With over 10 million members in about two weeks, Google+ is poised to be a leader.

Backed by the power of Google, Google+ is reshaping social media’s function as a digital brand differentiator that incorporates groups, live video and custom news feeds.

Join DIF DuPage on July 21, 2011 for networking, lunch, a live Google+ demonstration and a community conversation about how to put the power of Google+ to work for you and your business.

Barbara Rozgonyi, founder of Social Media Club Chicago, will moderate the program.

Find out:

- why you need to know about Google+

- what’s different about Google+

- when to use Google+ or another social network like LinkedIn, Facebook or twitter

- how Google+ changes the game and may be easier to use

- who’s using Google+ now and how it’s working in a community conversation

Explore Google+ and get an invitation to join

Convene. Connect. Converse.

11:00-11:30 Networking

11:30-12:30 Program and Community Conversation

12:30- 1:00 Networking

It’s new. It’s now. It’s DIF.

Mixing socializing with programming and a live learning lab, Digital Innovation Forum [DIF] breaks the traditional networking world mold into a 3D [digital, dynamic and direct] experience.

If you’re looking for a place to connect with other social media enthusiasts where you can:

1. exchange digital innovation ideas

2. learn more about how to get social media to work for you and your business, and

3. grow your community connections in 3D

DIF is it.

DIF DuPage is a community think tank that focuses on content and community development via social media, mobile and interactive platforms.

Location

Illinois Institute of Technology School of Applied Technology 201 E. Loop Road Wheaton, Illinois

Producer
DIF is proudly brought to you by CoryWest Media, LLC, a DuPage County business since 1996. Thanks so much for your interest and consideration in attending this event!

What’s the number one reason you will – or will not – use Google+?