Oct 8: Social Networking: Story Telling & Blogging
On Oct. 8, 2009 NAWBO hosted a Social Networking Event at TAI with speaker Melea Seward on "Storytelling and Social Media for Business Owners: How To Create Compelling Content and Market Your Business, Blogging"
Following are her comments and follow up information from this event:
Thank you guys for being such a great audience. And thank you for your patience.
I just started teaching two classes this week and there is a class blog where my students and I will be adding resources: You can keep up with it here: http://www.socialmediaismedia.com. I’m answering the specific NAWBO questions there.
1. Why Blog: Hubstop article on study showing how good is blogging is for your business.
2. Twitter: How to Use Tweet Deck -- For all things TWITTER, follow this blog, Twitips.
3. How Blogs help raise your SEO (aka getting found easily in google's search index)--if you want to know why don't just take it from us here are 10 good reasons Google loves blogs.
4. Tips on how to keep blogging and building content and trust:
-Use images and videos as content (flip video-inexpensive video cameras.) [Melea recommended her friend Todd Ritondaro as a videographer contact: todd.ritondaro@gmail.com]
-Find your niche--write about your passions
-Respond to stories in the news--show your knowledge and get involved. Use a niche agregator such as alltop.com to find articles to get your muse flowing.
-What questions do people ask--write your responses on the web
-Find sister businesses, link, share articles
-Use images--your own or from Creative Commons
5. Even without a website or a blog, you can get your business online using: Yelp (user generated reviews) for local businesses with street address--claim your own page before someone else does
-Google local listings--you can add up to 10 picts and 5 links
6. Other social networking places to link yourself, promote yourself, and create a community: Facebook and LinkedIn
7. Tips to engage your audience: Start competitions such as what is the best caption and create Surveys. Use them to engage your audience. A popular online survey tool is survey monkey.
8. Time Saver Tips: How I manage my ideas. And my life. Evernote is free. It rocks. Anyone who is blogging should download it on their phone and also on their laptop/desktop computer. Here is a resource for how--and why--to use it. Here's a list of tools I like from my website; specifically, around keeping track of contacts, managing projects, and collaborating with virtual teams.
9. List Making: I use this free list-making tool (TA-DA!) both on my own--and with others. I brainstorm ideas/lists here.
10. I feel like I should have a list of ten things, but I'm not sure what the tenth should be.... Hmmm. Helpful, helpful, helpful. Or interesting. Or both, maybe? You should know about BizBrag and Squidoo. And the top 20 places where you can put an online press release--that links back to your website--for free.
Want to play around with a self-hosted Wordpress blog before you go further? Here are 100 Great Free Wordpress Themes.
Hosting references. I like Bluehost for self-hosting. Why? Because their customer service is very good. I've dealt with many hosting companies (GoDaddy, HostGator, Aplus, and more) and they are easiest. If you already have a host you're happy with, then don't change. But for those who don't, Bluehost is a good option.
I love Thesis - the pro grade Wordpress theme that is highly customizable. My big project is being created with Thesis. Out of the box it is plain, but with a designer, you can make this thing sing. The link above shows you some examples. If you want some recommendations for Thesis designers, google Rowboat Media (Cynthia LaLuna) or Cody McBurnett.
As with any web related initiative you embark upon do your research and make sure you have a list of resources of where and how you can get help as you are learning any new technology.
Thank you again,
Melea
Also, find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. Or LinkedIn. And of course, email me here at melea@meleaseward.com.