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Best 2011 Social Media Marketing Posts at wiredPRworks

Barbara Rozgonyi — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:00:52 +0000

Keepers – these all are. In late December, I cull through all wiredPRworks blog posts looking for the best of the best to share. Here’s the 2011 lot. You’ll find inspiration, ideas, trends, news and stories. What’s missing? What would you like to see here in 2012?

Rocks and Ripples

Although this post does not directly address social media marketing or PR, it is my top choice for a number of reasons: it features my son [with his permission], it tells a story, it responds to an inspiring story and it features a video. Everyone I send it to writes back about how they like it. I hope you will, too. Thanks to my son and Tim Sanders for the inspiration.

“You’ve got to go create a ripple.”

Those words came to me as our youngest son and I tromped around the woods. Early in the evening or late in the afternoon, depending on how you measured it, we were doing what we do best: an adventurous young man now, once a boy, coaxing a mom to overcome her trepidation to explore nature and life without boundaries. Where would he lead me if I said . . .

Best Picture Goes to the Social Network

Ending the discussion about whether or not social networks have a lasting place in popular culture and real life, The Social Network won four Golden Globe awards, including best picture.

Best of CES 2011 Innovation Electronics and Connections

Business Week found the 2011 show to be The Most Innovation-Filled CES in Years “The technology at the Consumer Electronics Show was more diverse, more connected, and in some cases just plain weirder than ever.” I enjoyed covering the show as one of five Sears Blue Blogger Crew members.

Personal Branding for Affiliate Marketers

Recap from a panel discussion about personal branding for affiliate marketers at Affiliate Summit West 2011 in Las Vegas. Panelists included Marty Fahncke, our moderator, Jim Kukral, and Geno Prussakov.

Social Media Twigs from the CES Tweet House

Tweet House speakers Angela LoSasso, David Armano, Jeffrey Hayzlett and moderator Steve Broback focused on social media tools and techniques for organizations.

Recovering from Being Hacked Off of Facebook – Now Back On

After two weeks and three attempts, my account was restored. Here’s how to get back on after being hacked off.

Atlantic City the Real Jersey Shore Travel Tuesday PR

When the offer came in to fly away for a girlfriends weekend, I erased my former memory files and eagerly said yes. After all, most of my friends would be away at South by Southwest Interactive in Austin. I wanted to get away, too.

SOBCon 2011 Models Teams and Tables

Deciding who to sit with can affect your SOBCon outcome. Your table is your group. This year, I got really lucky. I enjoyed sitting at the conference media production table with five amazing people, including the world-famous Lorelle Van Fossen who writes the blog Lorelle on WordPress.

3 YouTube & Video Marketing Tricks You Should Not Miss

Everybody’s making videos, but who really knows how to marketing them? For the answer to that question, I passed this topic over to a talented guest author, Bob Tripathi.

LinkedIn Checklist for Getting Your Next Job or New Client

No matter where your profile is in its stage of completeness, this LinkedIn checklist can help you not only get to 100%, but also truly present your professional credentials in the most accurate and attractive way possible.

7 Things Service Dogs Know About Love and Social Media

What do dogs know about service? What does service have to do with social media? Maybe the answer is as simple as: they know how to find somebody to love. That’s why dogs have one of the best jobs in the world.

Cloud Computing Business Basics for PR Folks

When Illinois Institute of Technology’s School of Applied Technology, invited me to attend a cloud computing workshop, I was curious. Here’s what I learned.

12 Ways to Rock Your Speech, Your Audience and Your Event

This is a post about how to be a rock star speaker – inspired by Tony Robbins.

25 Thoughts re: Google+

Thanks to Chris Brogan for the suggestion to blog about what you think about Google+.

How Gray is Social Networking

Fully 65% of adult internet users now say they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn, up from 61% one year ago. This marks the first time in Pew Internet surveys that 50% of all adults use social networking sites. Source: Pew Research on Adult Social Media Usage

37 Tweet Size Writing Tips

If you only have time to read one of the 37 tweets, read #22: Empower writers. Because the writer runs the show. Quality content gets you where you want to go. Thanks to Ragan Communications for the ticket to the Corporate Writers and Editors Conference in Chicago.

How to Pick My Brain

Ever wished you had an on-call marketing consultant, but didn’t think you could find someone who was willing to give you the answers you need to get to increase your visibility, influence and profitability? Here’s how to pick my brain.

Guest Blogger Guidelines How to Write at Somebody Else’s Place

Writing for a popular blogger with a fanatic following online is even tougher. It’s not just their space, it’s their readers’ communal gathering zone where they can and do talk back. Here’s a quick how-to guide along with an invitation to be a contributor to wiredPRworks.

Which of these posts/topics interest you the most?

Guest Blogger Guidelines How to Write at Somebody Else’s Place

Barbara Rozgonyi — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:10:46 +0000

Until I started blogging, way back in June 2006, most of my writing was for clients. I wrote to reach to their markets/media contacts/communities in a voice that reflected their sound, not mine. If you’re a professional writer, you know that writing under your own byline in an incentive to do your best.

And, writing for a popular blogger with a fanatic following online is even tougher. It’s not just their space, it’s their readers’ communal gathering zone where they can and do talk back. Here’s a quick how-to guide along with an invitation to be a contributor to wiredPRworks.

How to Be a Great Guest Blogger

Excerpted from a post originally published on March 13, 2008 after I wrote this guest post, Demystifying PR: 7 Ways to Become an Expert News Source for Liz Strauss.

- read the blog and know the blogger [the same advice you hear about contacting any journalist or publisher]

- search the archives to see how and if your topic’s been covered

- send a short email asking about the possibility of guest blogging and include a brief summary of the proposed post

- interview the blogger about what they think their audience wants to know about and why

- ask about word count and preferred format

- read other guest’s posts to get a sense of how they fit in

- write something fresh and challenge yourself to be your best

- set a tight deadline so you finish the piece while you’re still inspired

- suggest an image that tells your story

- include a bio that links to your blog/site

- offer a call to action that benefits the reader, in my case, a free Q&A call open to anyone

- send a final draft and be open to comments

- comment on the post with a note of thanks

- link to the post from your own blog

One of the benefits of guest posting is, of course, to reach a new audience on another blog. Would you like to see your writing here?

wiredPRworks Guest Blogger Posting Guidelines

How to Apply

Please complete this guest blogger application form, which will give us your contact information. Before you write a post just for us, suggest a few ideas and give us three links to your writing online.

Quality

We reserve the right to review all submissions. Once approved, content is subject to editing. What our readers like: numbers, ideas and stories about what works.

Topics

Topics: social media strategy, content marketing, public relations, press releases, what gets attention and why.

Framing

Our readers are marketing and PR professionals. Our goal is to give them information to help them do their jobs better. We’re not so much interested in lists as we are in original ways to get attention, attract prospects and build communities.

Images

Each post requires an image. Please suggest one to accompany your post. If you don’t have one, we can supply one for you. All images must be approved, properly attributed and free of paid licensing requirements.

Format and Style

Headlines must be under 80 characters. Posts need to be at least 300 words, but less than 750 words.

Our readers prefer short and crisp paragraphs with succinct sentences. They love images and videos – so feel free to send a link to a YouTube video to accompany your post.

Use subheads in the post body. Include H2 and H3 tags. Use short paragraphs or bullet points to make the post easier to read.

Link Policy

You may link to your site in your author bio credit. Please consider linking to other posts found on http://wiredPRworks.com.

You may link out to other sites once for every 100 words.

Affiliate Links

Affiliate links will only be considered when products or services add value to our readers. All affiliate links must be disclosed in compliance with FTC guidelines. Additional agreements will be made in advance of posting. Disclosure: Affiliate links appear throughout wiredPRworks.com. This means that when someone clicks on an affiliate link, a commission is paid on the sale.

Keyword-Rich Anchor Text

Requests to include keyword-rich anchor text links will be reviewed, but will only be accepted when including them raises the content’s visibility in search engines.

Author Promotion

Authors may include an approved 50-word bio with a link back to their site. If available, an affiliate link may be used. Authors may choose to use a link to one of their social networking profiles or their blog.

Author Compensation

At this time, authors are compensated in the way of exposure throughout the wiredPRworks social networks, which includes being on Alltop PR. One guest author’s post was selected as a top 40 social media content in the first quarter of 2011.

Republishing Policy

Content must be original and written for wiredPRworks.com. After being published here, we suggest the author post a mention about the piece on their blog. We prefer that content be limited to these two publishing placements.

Editorial Policy

Content may be edited for style, readability and search. Please don’t be offended if we suggest changes.

Guest Post Submission Checklist

Headline: 80 characters or less

Image with attribution credit

Content: 300 – 750 words

Headers: as subheads

Links: up to one for every 100 words

Headshot: author’s image

Apply to be a guest blogger on wiredPRworks.

What topics would like to see covered here?

Improving Brands and Blogger Relationships BBSummit11 Panel

Barbara Rozgonyi — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:24:19 +0000

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.

Hope this gives you some ideas of how to either pitch bloggers or brands. Thanks, again, for sharing your thoughts with us in the comment section.

CES | Consumer Electronics Show 2011 | Barbara Rozgonyi

Getting Paid – bloggers and affiliate marketers – New Rules

Barbara Rozgonyi — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:10:56 +0000

image credit: shutterstock.com

Attention bloggers . . . as of December 1, you are accountable for reporting any freebies you get in exchange for arranged exposure – at least I think that’s right. At a long 81 pages long, the FTC guide concerning the endorsements and testimonials in advertising is a challenge to interpret. Unless, of course, you’re a lawyer. Everyone seems to understand that violators will be charged up to $11,000. Numbers are easier to get than contractual language.

AdAge interprets the guidelines:

Specifically covered in the new rules is the use of social media, such as Twitter, by celebrities to endorse a product. That’s now a no-no unless the commercial relationship is disclosed. So, too, are celebrity mentions of products in other media, such as talk shows. But the new rules on blogging will have the farthest-reaching influence. They are, in effect, the first rules imposed on a general public that no longer needs access to TV, print or radio to publish opinions or create a personal media channel.

Beyond that, I’m not sure I get it all. Disclosure: no one’s ever sent me a free product to review. I got a book once, but the topic didn’t seem to fit what my readers would be interested in. Shutterstock did give me a complimentary 3-month subscription with the understanding that I would credit the photos like the one that goes with this post. That’s something I’d do anyway. Who doesn’t credit cool art?

Let’s say that changes. What if I get products for review? What if I have a corporate sponsor [yes, I am looking and open to opportunities]? What’s the best way to identify the sponsor throughout the social system? Is it as easy as skateboarders who, once they get sponsored, become branded as part of the company that funds them?

What about affiliate commissions?

FTC Guidelines and Affiliate Marketing
Hat tip to Artist Tara Reed for sending me over to read what Geno Prussakov wrote about the FTC on Affiliate Marketing Blog, which gives an instructive overview and is even optimistic about the good that will come out of disclosure.

I do not believe this should have any negative effect on affiliates that are really adding value for the end user. To provide a simple example, if a blog with a built-in shopping comparison engine (run by an affiliate) that receives commission of every sale they refer to merchants offers a helpful tool for shoppers to compare products across several different merchants, and blogs about them and their products daily, discloses its relationship with these merchants, it will only spell out their honesty and add more credibility to the affiliate’s website.

What freebies do I get right now? Conference admissions in exchange for covering sessions.
Even then there are usually no expectations, suggestions or requirements to get the free ticket. Most of the time, like at BlogWorld Expo, I’ll be a member of the media corps. Why do I do that? I like free tickets. But, more importantly I like the prestige that comes with being selected to cover what I truly feel is a newsworthy event. I think back to the times I wished I could buy a ticket or fund a trip and was left sitting at home alone wondering what I was missing. These are the people I’m writing for.

Bloggers, Brands and Freebies
In July, BlogHer came to Chicago and Social Media Club Chicago hosted a panel about women, blogging and social media. Much of the talk among the celeb-type bloggers was that they were lifestyle blogs and immune from this kind of regulation. After all, would the feds go after, say, Britney [wait-does she have a blog? she does have a social media manager known as an innovator] for mentioning the sunglasses she wears. I think about the stars on the red carpet who obviously get compensated for wearing designer duds – are they regulated?

Fashion Print Mags Exempt?
So, what is the word over at the fashion scene? Here’s Fashionista‘s take:

The New York Times wrote, “the move suggests that the government is intent on bringing to bear on the Internet the same sorts of regulations that have governed other forms of media, like television or print,” as if it’s a compliment; blogs are suddenly legitimate. Which is great. Except that print publications, at least the ones we pay attention to, aren’t held to the same standards. In fact, basically every element of a fashion magazine is free, from the clothes on the editors’ backs to the blonde dye in their hair.

Back to bloggers, PR and reviews. . .
Why would you write a testimonial or endorse a product in exchange for money? If the product is a $40 sweater and the time it takes to write the review is worth it, how will disclosing that you got the product for free affect the reader’s decision to buy? What and how much do you need to disclose to meet the guidelines? Do you need an attorney?

Bloggers and the Stuff Exchange: Is it worth it?
I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do know that I was one of the few bloggers to thank the companies who gave me so much/ free stuff at a BlogHer event. They didn’t ask me to write about it or to review their products, almost none of which fit my reader demographic, but I wanted to show my gratitude somehow so I wrote Bloggers and Brands: The Stuff Exchange. From a branding, exposure and PR perspective, I’m not sure what, if anything, the companies got out of showering us with their freebies. What do you get out of giving out free stuff if nobody ever hears about it?

PR Week Weighs in on Placement and Influence
Here’s what PR Week had to say about paying for editorial placement. . . .

PR practitioners know that secretly paying for editorial placement or editorial influence and failing to disclose the exchange of value or “quid pro quo” flouts fundamental tenets of truth and transparency. Known as “pay for play,” this practice also runs afoul of specific tenets of the PRSA’s Code of Ethics.

The key words here: secretly, failing, flouts. Maybe the switch needs to be to: open, agreeing, complies

How will the FTC enforce the guidelines? Ron May of The May Report wonders about enforceability . . .

Of course the big news is the new FTC guidelines on blogs and payola for bloggers. All that must be disclosed now and there are big fines if it is not disclosed. And enforceability is a huge issue. How much work will they put into catching violators?

Fast Company Gets Your FDC Questions Answered
Thanks to Steve Rubel for pointing out that Fast Company is taking bloggers’ questions for Richard Cleland, assistant director, division of advertising practices at the FTC at ideas@ fastcompany.com

Here’s what Mr. Cleland has to say about enforceability:

“We’d alert Web sites to potential problems and then invite them to contact us about questions of compliance. I don’t think it’s a matter of the enforcement side being weak but the most cost-effective tool in our arsenal. In this case, we’re going to rely more on voluntary compliance than prosecution. That’s the most likely source that we’ll be able to use to identify a problem, and if we do see a problem at a ground level and then ask the right questions, we’ll figure out why there’s a problem pretty quickly and go from there.” Also, Cleland adds, “Competitors are very quick to turn people in. I’ve never suffered from a shortage of competitive complaints.”

Tell Us: What’s your take?

Wired PR Works » Business Blog

Best 2011 Social Media Marketing Posts at wiredPRworks

Guest Blogger Guidelines How to Write at Somebody Else’s Place

wiredPRworks Guest Blogger Posting Guidelines

Guest Post Submission Checklist

Apply to be a guest blogger on wiredPRworks.

Improving Brands and Blogger Relationships BBSummit11 Panel

Making the first move – Who pitches who?

Does network size and reader response matter?

If you want to be successful, find your niche.

Top Twelve Posts 2009

Getting Paid – bloggers and affiliate marketers – New Rules