Blogging Media & Marketing, Blissdom 2011

Marketing & Media Training: Keeping Your Thread Consistent

Allison McDonaldCassie BoornRenee Ross

Melanie Nelson

No Time for Flashcardshttp://www.notimeforflashcards.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/notimeforflashcards

Twitter@NoFlashCards

Blog Namehttp://www.cassieboorn.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/cassieboorn

Twitter@cassieaiden

Blog Namehttp://Cutiebootycakes.com

Facebook http://reneejross

Twitter@reneejross

Blogging Basics 101http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloggingBasics101

Twitter@chilihead

Marketing Your Blog

Set Your Goals

Goals must be • Challenging• Believable• Specific• Measurable• Written down

Finding & Expanding Your Audience

Finding Your Voice

• What is your blog about?• Who is going to read it?• How will they find you?• How do you want to be perceived?

Twenty Something Letter Project

Goal: Grow my audience and set a tone for my blog

Finding your message or voice.

To this, I• Reached out to bloggers and influencers• Shared my project and what I needed• Promoted it and began pitching media

Twenty Something Letter Project

Results:• Major traffic boost• Accreditation for my blog• Book Agent

Key Take Aways:• Reach out and ask for help• Engage your network and favorite bloggers• Be prepared• Don’t be afraid of a little self-promotion

Pitching Media

Media doesn’t look for you. YOU have to pitch them.– When to pitch– How to pitch– Who to pitch– How to find them

Be Ready

You’ve pitched and you’re in! Now, BE READY!Case Study: Clueless

Be Ready

You’ve pitched and you’re in! Now, BE READY!

Stay on Message!

Have a plan

Now that you’re famous, traffic is steady.– Provide content that fulfills a need– Ask your readers what they want (and give it to

them)– Don’t take a break!

Sharing Your Message and Building Community

Sharing Your Message & Building Community

Your blog isn’t your only outlet. Use Facebook and Twitter to reach even more readers.

Social Media Best Practices

• Conduct reader surveys• Engage in discussions• Invite collaboration• Use a professional voice• Share common experiences

Purse-a-nality

Goal: Use Facebook as a sales tool

Message: Come buy fashionable accessories from a fun gal.

Purse-a-nality

How We Did It• Started as a personal profile• Moved to business page

(facebook.com/Purseanality)

Purse-a-nality

• Multiple updates every day

Purse-a-nality

• Multiple updates every day– Posts pictures several times a day

Purse-a-nality

• Multiple updates every day– Posts pictures several times a day– Mix of professional and personal updates

Purse-a-nality

• Multiple updates every day– Posts pictures several times a day– Personalized her business with updates

• Phone number

Purse-a-nality

• Multiple updates every day– Posts pictures several times a day– Personalized her business with updates

• Phone number• Contact Form

Purse-a-nality

• Multiple updates every day– Posts pictures several times a day– Personalized her business with updates

• Phone number• Contact form• Respond to comments (Page Notifier)

Facebook Tips

What happened?

Her goal was to make $500/day. Within 5 weeks she was making $1500/day.

Take-aways

• Personal Profile vs. Business Page• What is an application?• How can apps help me?• How can you create discussion?

Manage Your Voice & Reputation

Once you’ve built an audience, they expect certain things from you. • What expectations are you setting?• What’s the long tail of those expectations?• Are you consistent?

Manage Your Voice & Reputation

DRAMA• You will find it. Whether you participate is up

to you.• How will an outburst affect your brand?• Find a blogging buddy you can talk to.Remember: You can have an opinion without being hurtful or unprofessional.

Now What?

Ultimately, we all do it differently and there isn’t a fool-proof formula.

Take the tools we’ve given you and make them work for you.