Over the weekend I got to pose with celebrities – not the real pro bloggers and social media marketing celebrities I’ll see at BlogWorld Expo in about 10 days, but images of the people who got the very same education I did and then rose to fame. That’s me with Dick Van Dyke, actor and star of so many movies, and Bobby Short, called the world’s greatest cabaret singer who performed at the Cafe Carlyse in New York City, in the halls at Danville High School, right outside the auditorium with Tiffany chandeliers. Billed as the most expensive high school in the United States when it was originally built for one million dollars, like most high schools the grads are proud of their legacy.

Ever wished you could be famous but didn’t think you could be a noted celebrity actor, thinker or speaker? In this article, originally published in 2007, you’ll discover eight ways to share star power with the celebrity rub-off effect.
Will you be at BlogWorld Expo? Let me know so I can get a picture with you!

1. Choose Credible Celebrities
Make a list of people you’d like to meet or celebrities you’d like to be associated with. Think about leaders, speakers, products and even objects like cars that have the knowledge, image, power or credentials to give you more credibility with your audience.

2. Take a Picture
Bring your camera along with you to conferences, book signings, association lunches and special events. Find someone to snap a quick shot of you and your celebrity – after asking for their permission and telling them how you plan to use the image. Also offer to email a copy to them and the event host for use in their own promotional publications.

3 Write a Few Words
Send your celebrity a testimonial about how they changed your life or work. Track your celebrity online and in the news and then respond with a comment that relates your experiences.

4. Become a Student – Even for an Hour
Getting close to a celebrity thinker for an intimate conversation is empowering and enlightening. Most successful people enjoy mentoring students and will promote your success along with their own.

5. Read Their Book
Can’t get close to a best-selling author? Quoting them or referencing their work in a recommended reading list lets your audience know you value and follow their thinking.

6. Reference Relevant Videos
For the original article, I recorded a video with Jenna Fischer from The Office and Blades of Glory. But, she’s also Wired Magazine’s April 2007 cover girl. The video talks about “Radical Transparency,” a concept covered in the issue, which I tie into my Panoramic PR course. Today, you get to watch two videos, both embedded in the post, that feature Dick Van Dyke and Bobby Short. I did get to meet Bobby Short, once, when he was signing CDs at Neiman-Marcus. It took all my courage to go up and introduce my self as a someone from his hometown. It turned out he still owned the house he grew up in – a few blocks away from ours. I haven’t met Dick Van Dyke, but my father knew his father.

7. Interview Industry Celebrities
Round up the top 10 in the business and invite them to be speakers in a virtual event as I did with Ultimate PR Secrets. This direct connection immediately aligns you with leading authorities and opens new doors for collaborative projects. It’s really easy to talk to people at conference, but why not start conversing on Facebook, twitter or LinkedIn before you get there?

8. Express Your Opinion
What do you think about what they’re doing? For this one, you can comment on anyone, as long as your comments tie into your values and offer relevant insights. Be cautious about alienating people if you feel really strongly about an issue, but remember that it’s okay to take a stand.

Dick Van Dyke Show Video

Bobby Short Video

How about you?

How do you tie celebrity news and interviews into your public relations and social media marketing?