Here’s an event I’m really excited about because of the speakers, the networking and the discount I get to give to you!!! Take a look at the event video and let me know if I’ll see you on April 24!

The Art of Marketing in Chicago Speakers

Learn from six New York Times bestselling authors and leaders including Randi Zuckerberg, Seth Godin, Gary Vaynerchuk, Avinash Kaushik, Keith Ferrazzi and Mitch Joel.

The Art of Marketing Networking

The conference  expects over 1,500 marketers and entrepreneurs from across the country. I’m looking forward to making new friends and meeting the speakers.

When?

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
8:45AM – 4:45PM

Where?

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
301 East North Water Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312-464-1000
www.sheratonchicago.com

 

The Art of Marketing Chicago Discount

To reduce the price by $50 off per person, or $100 off per person when registering 3 or more people at the same time, use this promo code: SK23

The Art of Marketing Chicago Video

Disclosure: In exchange for offering a discount to wiredPRworks readers, The Art of Marketing is providing two complimentary event passes.

Will you be there? Let’s meet up!

Imagine being one in a crowd of hundreds trying to win the last spot on a fabulous cruise to the Bahamas.  You’re jumping up and down to get noticed amidst a sea of others.  Now imagine your press release distribution – your releases are fighting against similar odds, battling hundreds of others to turn heads and find readers.

It isn’t an easy task creating content that stands above the din of the Internet static.  You need some very specific elements to boost your press release distribution success.  Not sure what they are?  Read on for 5 ways to get your content noticed:

1.     Play With Press Release Headlines

As the saying goes, you only have one chance to create a first impression so let your creative headlines set your content off on the right foot.  Use these tips to inspire that head-turning title that will get shared, liked and retweeted:

• Try humoring readers
• Explore double entendres
• Experiment with cultural clichés
• Use active language

In the age of content curation, keeping a collection of the headlines that caught your eye is easier than ever.  Staying abreast of fresh ideas will help you create 70 killer characters that will invite audiences to keep reading.

2.     Pour Your Creativity Into Your Press Release Lead

The lead paragraph works just like a dust jacket cover on a book.  When you scan that summary you give the publisher one chance to capture your attention.  Will you turn the page based on what that column of content promises?

Your lead may be as far as readers get so be sure it’s crafted to include the gist of your message with the most important details up front.  A creative hook is a good place to start but don’t get so caught up in metaphors or other linguistic conceits that you forget to share what’s really important.

3.     Say More With Less

The truth of press release distribution is that your press release is just one in thousands sent out daily into the digital marketplace.  And when you take into account how busy the typical reader (whether journalist or consumer) is, you need to remember the Golden Rule of press release writing – Say More With Less.

The supporting paragraphs of your press release should fill out the important details you so beautifully presented in the lead and help readers get what they really need to understand your topic.  Keep the length to between 500-800 words and only include information that is essential.

4.     Get Visual, Add Video News Releases

The average Internet user is a creature with a healthy appetite for online video.  Nearly half of those surveyed by video ad company YuMe watch videos daily adding up to an average of 7 hours per week.

So appeal to this attraction by including video news releases in your editorial calendar.  Conduct interviews with industry leaders or your company spokesperson or create a short video demonstrating the new product you’re announcing.

5.     Use the News

There are some basic rules for successful online content.  It has to inform, educate and provide value to audiences and it has to be relevant.  There’s no better way to raise your relevance factor than by connecting to news and trends with your message.

You can cite research, share poll results, provide survey findings and tie into current events to give your content the credibility discerning audiences are looking for.  Try subscribing to a service such as Muck Rack to stay up on the latest trending topics.

By putting these key elements into play in all your press releases, you’ll improve your press release distribution and increase the reach of your messages.

Look for more ways to get your press release noticed? Visit PRWeb’s learning center for more press release ideas.

Today’s guest post is by Stacey Acevero. Stacey is the social media community manager of PRWeb.  She is all about creative social media marketing ideas as well as building the PRWeb brand.

Wondering how PRWeb works for agencies? Check out this post about our ciient, Drury Design’s award winning kitchen and bath PRWeb press release.

If there’s only one person you follow for social media and search engine optimization [SEO] information, make it Lee Odden. Not sure how SEO and social media work together? Watch the video in this post.

When Lee was in Chicago for Search Engine Strategies, I attended his presentation. In it, he previewed his new book, “Optimize.”  I found it to be one of the most informative and useful presentations I attended last year, That’s why I’m inviting you to join me in hearing Lee speak at SMC Chicago on April 10. Join us at  ITA/TechNexus. located at 200 S. Wacker Dr., 15th floor.

Not in Chicago? We’re working on setting up live-streaming. For updates, follow @smcchicago on twitter, like Social Media Club Chicago on Facebook and join the Social Media Club Chicago group on LinkedIn.

Social Media Club Chicago Optimize and Socialize with Lee Odden

Here’s your invitation, copied from the SMC Chicago invitation site.

Tickets: $10 Early Bird  / $20.00 Advance with book / $15 Advance no book / $20 Day of Event

Price includes: Program, food @Ramon_DeLeon Domino’s Pizza, beer/wine/water and a copy of the book for those who select that ticket option. Please note that we will sell out of books and we are not expecting to have an additional copies at the event. Thanks to the publisher for shipping a limited number of copies to us.

Social Media Club Chicago relies on sponsors to provide quality events for social media professional monthly. Our sponsors receive exposure to thousands of connectors via email, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Plancast and more! If you are interested in sponsoring a future SMC Chicago event, please contact Jeannie Walters at jeannie @360Connext.com.

Social Media Club Chicago

Board Members

Barbara Rozgonyi [@wiredprworks], Founder;  Jeff Willinger [@jwillie], President, Chicago SMC chapter; Amy Korin [@interactiveamy], Coordinates Volunteers;  Jeannie Walters [@jeanniecw], Oversees Logistics and  Carolyn Martin [@cm_socialmedia], Communications

Social Media Club’s primary mission is to expand digital media literacy, promote standard technologies, encourage ethical behavior and share best practices. We bring together journalists, publishers, communications professionals, artists, amateur media creators, citizen journalists, teachers, students, tool makers, and other interested collaborators. Essentially the people who create and consume media who have an interest in seeing the ‘media industry’ evolve for everyone’s benefit. We are more than just USERS, we are the reason the tools exist – we are the people who communicate our thoughts and ideas near and far. Join us and let’s shape the future together!

Your turn

What’s your biggest question about social media and SEO?

Ready or not: March 30 is the deadline for Facebook’s new timeline pages for brands. if you’ve been resisting updating, relax. It’s pretty simple to make changes. And, you can always add more detail as you go. Here are four things to do today that will get you and your brand ready for the new Facebook timeline.

1. Add a Facebook timeline cover image.

1. Choose a Cover Photo and follow these guidelines from Facebook

Cover images must be at least 399 pixels wide and may not contain:

• Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
• Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
• References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
• Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

2.  Activate your Facebook timeline about section.

Add a call to action to visit your site or blog or sign up for your newsletter. Drop in links to other social networking profiles.

3. Promote your posts.

Every status comes with options. Click the star to highlight a post and expand it the full width of the timeline. Click the pencil to edit. When you select “Pin to Top” the post will be first on the timeline. Unless you change it, it will stay there for a week.

4. Arrange and add app tabs.

Before, Facebook arranged wall navigation in a column on the left hand side of the page. Now, navigation floats on three tabs under the cover shot. The first will always be photos, then you can switch placement with others.  Prioritize which to display first. Visitors can click more to see a drop down menu

Facebook Timeline Infographic Source

Show and Share

Leave a link to your Facebook page[s] you like so we can check out the best!

Ever wished you could go from  the sidelines to being a LinkedIn Superstar, but didn’t think you had the know-how to transform your connections into a dynamic business network? I’d like to send you the chapter I wrote about how to do just that.

Although I’ve been mentioned in four books now, Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars is the first book I’ve ever co-authored. As a co-author, you get to contribute. You, probably, like me, don’t get paid. You get a byline and a door open to publicity from making the inner circle, which in this case is truly humbling for me.

I’ll get to that part in a minute, but first I want to make one thing clear: everyone is a superstar at something.

Although this blog and the wiredprworks twitter account make some lists, I am not a superstar or a rock star or even kind of a big deal – unless you say so.

While I welcome new connections, the purpose of the relationships for me is to connect more people to information, to each other and to ways to improve business and life. So, that’s my “superstar” platform.

From the book . . .

Get an an unmatched advantage into the world of social media – the priceless secrets, strategies, tactics and insights of more than 20 of today’s social media elite. Handpicked to cover almost every aspect of social media marketing, this distinguished team of experts open their playbooks and teach you how to create effective social media campaigns to cut through the clutter, reach out to millions and grow your business.

Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars Author List

Twitter is the source for all information: bio and site links.

Keith Ferrazi & Tahl Raz: Relationship Strategy
Bio Thought leader. Relationship Guru. Consultant. Author of “Never Eat Alone” and “Who’s got Your Back.”
Site: Keith Ferrazi

Brian Clark: Psychology of SMM
Bio: Founder and CEO of Copyblogger Media. Living proof that anyone can become a CEO.
Site: Copyblogger

Mitch Meyerson: Online Marketing
Mitch Meyerson is Founder of Guerrilla Marketing Coaching, author of eight books including Mastering Online Marketing
Site: Mastering Online Marketing

Ann Handley: Creating Content
Bio Head of content, editor, social media, marketing, great food, good wine, writer: ContentRulesBook.com
Site: Marketing Profs

Gary Vaynerchuk: Building Mega-Followings
Bio Wine guy, host of Wine Library TV. Video blogger and Businessman that loves people and the hustle
Site: Gary Vaynerchuk

Andy Wibbels: Personality
Bio Creative malcontent. Work @gitomer. Author of Blogwild http://GOblogwild.com/
Site: Andy Wibbels

Chris Brogan: Building Communities
Bio President, New Marketing Labs. More? http://bit.ly/cbbio . email: blog at chrisbrogan dot com
Site: Chris Brogan

Joel Comm: Success Qualities
Bio Husband, Father. Author of Twitter Power – TwitterPower.com – Speaker, New Media Marketing Strategist
Site: Joel Comm

Craig Valentine:Communicate with Impact
Bio Professional speaker and author. Currently helping speakers become Certified World Class Speaking Coaches
Site: Craig Valentine

Starr Hall: Building Profits
Bio A full time kick ass publicist, author, speaker, social media strategist, branding consultant/coach, mom, friend, and truly grateful being
Site: Starr Hall

Dan Janal: PR Strategies
Bio Publicity expert, PR, author, speaker, avid reader, kayaker, blues/acoustic guitar
Site: PR Leads

Michael Stelzner: Go Viral
Bio Author of ‘Writing White Papers,’ founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com & organizer of summits + writer and a dad. Also see Facebook.com/smexaminer
Site: Social Media Examiner

Denise Wakeman:Blogs
Bio Founder of The Blog Squad. Tips on business blogging, online marketing and boosting your visibility on the Web.
Site: Denise Wakeman

Mari Smith: Facebook
Bio Social Media Speaker & Trainer | Chic Geek & Facebook Passionista! | Author of @FacebookMktg | Spiritual Truth-Seeker | Bubbly Scottish-Canadian ?’s San Diego?!
Site: Mari Smith on Facebook

Deborah Cole Micek: Twitter
Bio Authored 1st book on New Media Marketing; Published 1st book on Twitter: Twitter Revolution; Created QuanSite.com 4 small business owners 2 dominate Google!
Site: QuanSite

Barbara Rozgonyi: LinkedIn
Bio Wired Writer | Photographer | Social Media Marketing PR Maven |SMC Chicago Founder |Publisher, wiredPRworks |Hungarian | Kids:20~17~15 | Cat=tabby
Site: Wired PR Works

Julie Perry: YouTube
Bio Social Media Director @BLASTMediaPR, YouTube Expert, and Author of luxury yachting career book: www.WorkOnAYacht.com
Site: Blast Media

Paul Colligan: Podcasting
Bio Reach more – with less effort – for greater profit – with new media.
Site: Paul Colligan

Chris Garrett: Social Bookmarking
Bio Web geek and co-author of ProBloggerBook.com
Site: Chris Garrett

Kim Dushinski: Mobile Marketing
Bio Author of The Mobile Marketing Handbook ~ Fascinated with New Media ~ Happy Palm Pre Owner ~ Avid Reader ~ Dislike celebrity gossip ~ Love smart people
Site: Mobile Marketing Profits

Shama Kabani: Online Video
Social Media Marketing, Host of Shama.Tv, President of The Marketing Zen Group
Site: Shama.tv

Dave Evans: One Hour a Day
Bio Social Media enthusiast and author of Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day.
Site: Read This

If you’re looking for a LinkedIn PR social media marketing speaker, consultant or workshop leader, feel free to call or text me at 630.207.7530 or check out my [Barbara Rozgonyi] LinkedIn profile.