We know each well other from in-town connection points, but we hadn’t “met” on the internet until a few weeks ago.

She wanted to know how I’d been able to accomplish so much online.

Let me stop right here and tell you: this is not a self-promotion post. [I will share the same “secret” with you: many, many small ...]]> That’s the question I got from another mom – also with three kids and also the owner of a creative agency.

We know each well other from in-town connection points, but we hadn’t “met” on the internet until a few weeks ago.

She wanted to know how I’d been able to accomplish so much online.

Let me stop right here and tell you: this is not a self-promotion post. [I will share the same “secret” with you: many, many small actions add up over time, in my case going all the way back 1996.]

Rather, it’s kind of a self-reflection on making sacrifices/tradeoffs and setting priorities in life – and in business.

And, it’s also a kind of apology to my readers. I didn’t realize I had taken so much time off from regular posting until I looked at my LinkedIn profile and saw “last post 8 days ago” a few days back and resolved to write all the posts that are stacked up right them, right there.

But, I didn’t write a single one.

Instead, I directed my attention to serving clients, writing presentations, answering questions, promoting SMC Chicago’s July event, uploading images and getting two sons ready to take off on their big summer adventures. It’s the last assignment that got the least amount of attention and time.

On Friday, we were shopping up until the very last minute for work gear, socks, swim trunks [he went with the one with the Cubs logo, which means his sister will not be seen with him on the beach], snacks, toiletries [he loves this word] and magazines. It’s the kind of trip I know by heart: this is his third mission trip and our fifth year sending kids off. But, this time it had to get tucked into the last in line spot. Too many deadlines kept me from being able to break away.

I had to convince my son that the grocery store was where we would consolidate purchases. He wanted to go to Walgreens and Trader Joe’s because that was his tradition. There wasn’t enough time for that. As I waited at the checkout line for all of the groceries to go through, he wandered away.

“How’s your day going?” the bagger asked. At first I didn’t hear her. So she asked again.

“Okay,” I said as I watched the collection of toiletries, snack, magazines, Foster Grants and bandanas roll by. “My son leaves for a mission trip tomorrow,” I said.

At that point, my 6’ 3” tall son came back to stand beside me. When he walked up, the checker and the bagger asked about his trip. Hearing him share his excitement and commitment to serving, with two strangers, made me realize that no matter how much time we had to get ready, this was the moment that brought us together.

Today, his mission work starts and tomorrow our youngest son gets home from a singing tour in England. 

Back to the question: How do you do it all?

I might ask the same question of many of my friends.

Being able to balance creativity, work, family, community, volunteer work, free time and everything else in life requires a delicate and daily balancing act. Even so, here are . . . 

12 Ways to Do it All: Balancing Business, Life and Branding for Entrepreneurs

1. Change “Doing it All” to “Doing What’s Important”

2. Dedicate time only to what really matters

3. Look for magic in the moment, not so much the epic adventure

4. Talk to people you love and honor your relationship

5. Make time for people you like and let them know you like them

6. Stay close to home and focus on what you know

7. Invest in existing relationships first before you go out and look for new ones

8. Tell people why and how they fit into your life and understand how you fit into theirs

9. Aim high and follow leaders who have success paths you’d like to follow

10. Stay in touch and stay committed

11.

12.

How about you – how do you do it all do what’s most important? 

Image: two brothers, Morton Arboretum, Mother’s Day 2009

Looking to make connections with bloggers – or to see how your own blog ranks? Then check out Blog Rank’s top blog listings. The lists are not all-inclusive, especially if yours is missing. You may make a request to add your blog to the blog rank list.

What I like about Blog Rank is that it measures and ranks blogs based on multiple criteria. Ways you can use this information:

- gauge your own blog performance

- find out where you ...]]>

Looking to make connections with bloggers – or to see how your own blog ranks? Then check out Blog Rank’s top blog listings. The lists are not all-inclusive, especially if yours is missing. You may make a request to add your blog to the blog rank list.

What I like about Blog Rank is that it measures and ranks blogs based on multiple criteria. Ways you can use this information:

- gauge your own blog performance

- find out where you need to improve

- get ideas for bloggers you’d like to follow or interview

- make a list of blogs you’d like to write for or submit posts to

- contact blogs about advertising or promoting your services if you have a companion audience

- recommend blogs for your readers

- mention your listing as verification of your standing in the blogosphere

A word of caution on that last one . . . remember to add “according to.”

Still, you can say, like I’m doing here, that you submitted your list and this is how you rank according to one site. 

Check out top ranked blogs in these categories . . .

Top Art and Literature Blogs

Top Computing and Internet Blogs

Top History and Religion Blogs

Top Interest Blogs by Category

Top Life and People Blogs

How Wired PR Works ranks in the PR blog category

64 Ultimate Rank

27 Unique Monthly Visitors

54 Number of pages posted 1287

27 Compete.com rank

11 Alexa site rank

Top 15 PR blogs by Alexa site rank according to this list

Note that some of the top blogs in the compete.com rankings are not in this one.

Rank
Blog Name
RSS
Alexa Site Rank

1
Event Manager Blog

  306,377

2
Collegewebeditor.com

  313,009

3
PR Couture

  348,890

4
Hispanic Marketing and PR

  349,537

5
KDPaines Measurement Blog

  353,101

6
Strumpette

  359,186

7
Off Madison AVe

  365,831

8
Church Relevance

  369,108

9
Liberate Media blog

  378,257

10
Words of a Broken Mirror

  394,975

11
Wired PR Works

  395,120

12
Marketing Conversation

  415,279

13
PitchEngine

  419,955

14
Blendingthemix

  443,251

15
Media Culpa

  470,961

How Wired PR Works Stacks up in all categories

What do you think about ranking systems? How do you gauge their credibility?

Top Business and Money Blogs

Today I made it off the waiting list and on to the registered attendee roster for BlogHer 09!

Click on the image – that’s me on the left.

If you know me, you know I like to be honest.

So, when I looked back at my first BlogHer09 post, published on November 19, 2008 and saw an “I’m going to BlogHer09” badge, I was a bit relieved to say, just today, that yes, I really am going.

This will ...]]>

Today I made it off the waiting list and on to the registered attendee roster for BlogHer 09!

Click on the image – that’s me on the left.

If you know me, you know I like to be honest.

So, when I looked back at my first BlogHer09 post, published on November 19, 2008 and saw an “I’m going to BlogHer09” badge, I was a bit relieved to say, just today, that yes, I really am going.

This will be my third BlogHer conference and the second in Chicago. At SOBCon, there was lots of pre-BlogHer buzz that made me wish I had signed up right away. Thinking I had plenty of time – after all last year I got in with only a few weeks’ advance planning, I tried to register a few months ago and landed on the waitlist. Now, I’m in and looking forward to welcoming the conference on behalf of Social Media Club Chicago. Check out the BlogHer09 conference agenda and my conference coverage.

Wired PR Works BlogHer07 coverage

Wired PR Works BlogHer08 coverage

Wired PR Works BlogHer09 coverage

I love this year’s theme “In Real Life” – how has social media translated from onscreen to face-to-face or business value for you?

Liz Strauss closed SOBCon09 with a talk that seemed simple on the surface, but in typical Liz fashion it was ocean deep. In this video, Chris Brogan asked Liz to outline “the simplest, smallest project plan ever.”

“If it doesn’t fit easily into your life, it ...]]> Update: The viddler embed code played in the post on preview mode, but went directly to viddler in publish mode. Go directly to the video of Liz Strauss answering Chris Brogan’s question about product development.

Liz Strauss closed SOBCon09 with a talk that seemed simple on the surface, but in typical Liz fashion it was ocean deep. In this video, Chris Brogan asked Liz to outline “the simplest, smallest project plan ever.”

“If it doesn’t fit easily into your life, it doesn’t matter,” Liz says. What products fit easily into your life? Why do they matter?

In June 2008, they decided to start tracking Barack Obama on social media. They used Snag-it to capture to 1100 artifacts from the campaign. Then, they took the ideas and put them on the blog – all time and date stamped to give them an online record of publishing an event. He was nothing more than a citizen journalist.

Everyone can become a citizen journalist.

David Bullock’s ...]]> Presentation notes by David Bullock on his Barack 2.0 project with Brent Leary.

In June 2008, they decided to start tracking Barack Obama on social media. They used Snag-it to capture to 1100 artifacts from the campaign. Then, they took the ideas and put them on the blog – all time and date stamped to give them an online record of publishing an event. He was nothing more than a citizen journalist.

Everyone can become a citizen journalist.

David Bullock’s STAR Method

David Bullock’s SOBCon08 presentation on business development action plans.

Strategy

Tactics

Action

Result

Steps

1 – webinar with 34 people

2- podcasts

3 – blogs

He took a 17 post blog and turned it into a 134 page book. Took a blog, made it into a book and stuck it up on lulu.

Reported on a “rising story in the marketplace.”

Black Enterprise, links in from Fast Company and the LA Times – serious links and serious exposure.

Printed a call to action on the interior of the book, if you want video, audio and text – send in your email for additional resources. The .pdf is password protected. 75/200 people registered for the .pdf. Hilton Hotels, Sears, Sports Illustrated are buyers.

“Free is nice, but it does not get me paid.”

Publishing is a trick – so he self-published so he could own the rights. Lulu is good, but doesn’t let you collect the names and emails addresses.

Any business can go in find the rising story in the industry – go to ireports. There’s money in the trends that people want to talk about.

Sold $8000 of books [200 copies] in four months. This whole thing was a case study. Now he has a case study within the case study. We can show you how to use this because we have done it. Now he has a self-liquidating lead [lead that you generate pays for itself] model.

If you say you’re going to do something – do it.

Then, figure out what you’re doing – and do it!

Asked to speak at Wharton school of business – last year at SOBCon, David wondered why he was here.

All of these things happen when you have interesting things to talk about that people want to know.

His model is a non-deliverable consulting [dichotomy in the marketplace, so many consultants tell you what to do, but they’ve never done it before- but David has] situation as a thought leader in the marketplace. We would become a thought leader here.

Showed up on Amazon two weeks ago. Price doesn’t matter because the whole thing goes to David. Also on Barnes and Noble and his site. Using all the distribution channels. In the book, he has 100 screen shots. All of its positioning and storytelling, but once you control something that people want then you have control in the marketplace.

SocialMediaConnection is David’s site, now videos on YouTube, etc. Did an SEO study on Fox News. If you think you need a platform, use WordPress like Fox does.

This model is a duplicate-able model, but he won’t be presenting around it the country. 

Once you know how to do something, no one can take that away from you.

Brian says his presentation “Power Positioning: From Personal Branding to Online Assets” is all about telling a story that accomplishes your goals [yay! storytelling!]

What is Positioning? “Your Winning Difference”

It’s that you’re unique in a way that no one can copy you. If no one’s talking about you, it’s not enough to differentiate your from the competition.

Naomi Dunford and Frank Kern are persona driven personalities that talk about marketing in ...]]> Lightly edited notes taken at SOBCon09 from Brian Clark’s presentation.

Brian says his presentation “Power Positioning: From Personal Branding to Online Assets” is all about telling a story that accomplishes your goals [yay! storytelling!]

What is Positioning? “Your Winning Difference”

It’s that you’re unique in a way that no one can copy you. If no one’s talking about you, it’s not enough to differentiate your from the competition.

Naomi Dunford and Frank Kern are persona driven personalities that talk about marketing in an unconventional way by offending all the right people.

Personal Positioning

When you identify that strongly with your audience, they’ll buy everything that you sell because they want to part of you. Extremes are remarkable; you have to be willing to be extreme. You have to have a think skin and understand that criticism is personal. Biggest reason why Brian Clark doesn’t do this is because he likes to sell stuff and cashing out is difficult. Room thinks that “personal branding” is an obnoxious term.

Creative Intersections

Take two seemingly unrelated things and you connect the dots for people. Intersection between copywriting and content = copyblogger. Viral action = creativity + productivity. Amplify the things you can talk about at the intersection. Don’t assume that they get it. The Madici Effect- Lower Associate Barriers – book.

All good about pages should be telling your story.

Metaphor – Most Powerful Approach, but can be tough to come up with one that works

Duct Tape marketing creates instant understanding: duct tape is simple, practical and it works. When you’re dealing with information, it’s the most fertile ground for metaphors.  Go to the bookstore and look at titles: Purple Cow, Meatball Sundae

It All Comes Down to What’s Your Story?

Positioning is the most important part of your strategy, especially if you’re trying to get people to pay for your information.

Q: Will having a personal brand help your partnership strategy? question from Chris Garrett

A: Look around and see what’s needed and you find a way to get it done. You pair up with someone else and then you come up with another strategy as in Teaching Sells. It really depends on your goal. It’s more important to have a strong individual brand that makes you well know.

Q: Can you say more about content – how do you be nice, but not wishy-washy? question from Jen Knoedl

A: On social networking, just be new. “You don’t want to be a digital sharecropper.” Create an asset of your own. If you’re just conversing with people what’s the value of your goals? Content marketing is the most powerful thing you can do. All Brian does is publish his blog and tweet. “Google will love you if people love you first.” Real estate is interesting: you have to get other bloggers to link to you. Have to content for customers that relates to other realtors to get links.

Q: Has twitter changed your approach, content, writing style? Do you value twitter more than comments on your blog?

A: We write about twitter sometimes when we want traffic. Twitter has changed the content landscape. It’s very difficult to attract links from other blogs because everyone is sharing no follow links on twitter. Aaron Wall is talking about this – not good for SEO. Check to see if links are no follow and then contact the person who’s giving you a link to ask them to change it – they usually will. [tip from Daniel Honigman] The dynamics have changed in that blogs are being shared on twitter. Start creating valuable content that people love now.

Q: We always talk about content. Why don’t we talk in terms of products?

A: Teaching Sells starts off with the marketing and positioning is somewhere down the step. Free isn’t as valued anymore. Trust is down: free isn’t free. You need to start with who are you talking to: who are you trying to attract and how are you trying to convert them

Q: Back to the nice thing again . . . out of all the things you said . . .

A: You don’t have to be mean. You have to be extreme. Provocative – and willing to tick people off so that other people actually like you and love you. Be off the hook like Gary V. What does the whole authenticity thing mean? Who’s the real you? Personas work best if you pick the most extreme aspect of your personality and turn it up to an 11.

Q: It’s a matter of having an opinion. It’s more about not being wishy-washy. Do you agree with that? Kristen King

A: Don’t back track and don’t be so nice to the trolls. The best thing ever is when your fans blast them for you.

Q: How does this apply to a small business or a larger business? in a larger context? Geoff Livingston

A. So few businesses do this – and it’s vital – most people aren’t brave enough and it’s tough. The companies that do this well don’t care about other people. People are looking for a reason not to pay attention to you. We all seek attention, but what are you going to do with it? Copyblogger is not about writing, it’s about marketing online.

Q: What do you think is going to happen with video re: content marketing?

A: Audio is the easiest form of content to make. A lot of people who were drawn to the web were readers. Thanks to the Oprah-Ashton effect, most people don’t read. More and more we’re going to have to do other forms of content. Video is hard to well, but some of the more successful people online are starting to invest – we’re migrating more to professional standards than where we are right now.

Liz Strauss– Last year, Karen Putz said she was really concerned about the Internet going to video because so many deaf people won’t be able to hear. We need to have closed captioning. The accessibility market is huge.

Q: Video quality – is handycam okay?

Anything new and different is appealing until it’s not new anymore. We’re really at the early stages here. There’s so much opportunity left. Make friends with the people in the room.

Q/comment:  We’re changing what professional is – we still have to learn how to be amateur professional videographers. Melissa Pierce

Q/comment: It’s much the same as blogging, video is very similar to writing. Even the hugs guy – there was a story there and it was edited.

A: Brian is really into writing scripts for video. That’s where it’s going.

Q/comment: One media doesn’t kill another. There is always going to be an audience for what you’re doing if you’re doing it really well. Geekmommy

A: In a lot of competitive and lucrative niches and you do video, you’re going to win.

Q/comment: In the porn industry, handycam video sells better than high quality.

Q/comment: You can learn from anything, you have to serve your readers. Look at what people completely unrelated to you are doing – take advantage of this. Don’t discount porn. Lorelle

What do you think? What “extreme aspects” of your personality would you be willing to amplify? Why?

Answer: [Have a question you’d like answered? Email connectATcorywestmedia.com with Question for Wired PR Works in the subject line.]

Starting a blog is a good start, but it takes time to build traffic and prominence.

Here’s an energy friendly way to approach your marketing: repurpose your content by taking the same information, reshaping it ...]]> A reader writes: We’re an eco-friendly baby products company. How can we use social media? We plan to start a blog, but do you have any other ideas?

Answer: [Have a question you’d like answered? Email connectATcorywestmedia.com with Question for Wired PR Works in the subject line.]

Starting a blog is a good start, but it takes time to build traffic and prominence.

Here’s an energy friendly way to approach your marketing: repurpose your content by taking the same information, reshaping it and using it over and over again in different places online. As far as social media ideas go, here are three mini-marketing strategies to help you get started.

Blogging Mini-Marketing Strategy

- plan – design, content and editorial for at least six months out

- comment – set up Google alerts for your keywords and comment when yours gets mentioned

- reviews – some bloggers review products for a fee, others will review products if there is a direct relationship and benefit for their readers

- contests – give away coupons or products

- conferences – meet the moms who write about your products

Facebook Mini-Marketing Strategy

- determine your value

- set up a company page

- search for partners

- invite people to become fans

- keep your presence lively and interactive

Twitter Mini-Marketing Strategy

- listen and track conversations with twitter search

- strategize how you will interact

- get to know key players

- start talking and responding

- host a #ecobaby conversation at a regularly scheduled day/time

- tweet ups – sponsor eco-baby gatherings

BlogHer is coming back to Chicago!

After attending BlogHer07 in Chicago as a local volunteer live blogger, I made the decision to travel to BlogHer08 in San Francisco.

What a difference a year made!

In 2007, blogging was still edging into the monetization mainstream. In 2008, PR reps from major agencies seemed to pop up in every session. Why? Because the bloggers at BlogHer are conversation masters – for large communities.

I predict that BlogHer09 will be a must-attend blogging ...]]>  

BlogHer is coming back to Chicago!

After attending BlogHer07 in Chicago as a local volunteer live blogger, I made the decision to travel to BlogHer08 in San Francisco.

What a difference a year made!

In 2007, blogging was still edging into the monetization mainstream. In 2008, PR reps from major agencies seemed to pop up in every session. Why? Because the bloggers at BlogHer are conversation masters – for large communities.

I predict that BlogHer09 will be a must-attend blogging conference – and not just for women only – but for the marketing, PR and advertising industries at large.

On behalf of the Chicago Social Media Club advisory board, we’re welcoming BlogHer09 to Chicago and starting our countdown now!

You’ll find all of my BlogWorld08 twoverage [tweet +coverage] here.

Thanks to those of you who asked me to share these updates.

Reader’s Guide: Each line represents a live update made on @wiredprworks on twitter.com. ...]]> Interested in what happened at BlogWorld? During the sessions, I sent out enough twitter updates to fill a 15 page Word document, which added up to over 300 updates. This post covers Book Deals, Digital Assets And Corporate Sponsorships with Prince Campbell, Jonathan Fields and Geoff Nelson.

You’ll find all of my BlogWorld08 twoverage [tweet +coverage] here.

Thanks to those of you who asked me to share these updates.

Reader’s Guide: Each line represents a live update made on @wiredprworks on twitter.com. Reporting is in reverse order; so start at the end and read your way up. Note that this is exactly what I typed during the session, misspellings and all. When you see @name, this means that the person who was talking may be found on twitter.com/name. Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies. 

Did you go to BlogWorld? Please share your takeaways and resources in the comments section.

I walked in late to this session – too many people to talk to in the hallways. Other places to find more detail

Glenda’s recap of day two sessions covers major points from several sessions, including book deals, digital assets and corporate sponsorships

Ducksnorts, a sports blogger, summed up blog and book marketability highlights: “The panelists focused on the importance of marketability, with the two big lessons here being that price is all about perceived value and that you always want to keep your end game in mind, ensuring that everything you’re doing is pulling you in that direction.”

Book Deals, Digital Assets and Corporate Sponsorships for Bloggers Session Transcription by Barbara Rozgonyi @wiredprworks on twitter.com

retheauditors: Will work on that. RT @wiredprworks @lizstrauss to get published need a marketable manuscript and be someone who’s easy to work with #bwe08

@lizstrauss to get published need a marketable manuscript and have to be someone who’s easy to work with #deals, #bwe08

how big of a platform do you need? depends, smaller pubs, smaller platform #deals, #bwe08

you need to know what your endgame is, make sure everything you are doing is headed in that direction #deals #bwe08

RT thanks DaveTaylor @wiredprworks psssst Peter Shankman’s Twitter Id is @skydiver #bwe08

RETWEET @suziecheel 2pm Launch of my book “emergings- a meditation on the emotions of change” by @lizstrauss @photrade booth 510 at #BWE08

ShannonRenee: Retweeting @wiredprworks: follow session updates http://tinyurl.com/3emc8m (expand) #bwe08

if you want to speak at a conference, propose the whole package, not just a session @lizstrauss #deals, #bwe08

might take 6-7 tries to get past gatekeeper to get corporate sponsorships #deals #bwe08

people talk about corporate stuff, but it’s really all about relationships #deals, #bwe08

follow session updates http://tinyurl.com/3emc8m (expand) #bwe08

couple of ways to approach radio, radio and tv internet report rtir.com?, HARO @petershankman, set up sattelite radio tour #deals #bwe08

ShannonRenee: Retweeting @wiredprworks: we leave a footprint that lasts forever online – get it out there and comment on company blogs #bwe08

we leave a footprint that lasts forever online – get it out there and comment on company blogs #bwe08

@jetblue has a dedicate community manager, his job is to check out twitter, use the places that you use to reach out #bwe08

if you have an audience and what you’re saying is what people are interested in, they/companies will come to you #bwe08

call companies and say I blog alot about this – how can we work together? #bwe08

in digital assets sessions, this is where real $ is, facebook session too full to get into s/b in here #bwe08

Book Deals Panelists

Liz Strauss, @lizstrauss

Prince Campbell

Jonathon Fields, @jonathonfields

Geoff Nelson