Category: Blogging

What I Took Away From Chris Brogan At The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

I had the privilege of hearing Chris Brogan speak at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Chris is co-author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling book Trust Agents. I was really impressed with him as a speaker. Obviously I wasn’t able to get everything down but here are bullets on some of the great points Chris made that I took away.

Brands are getting into social media to learn what brands mean to us, to learn what we, people, care about.
“It’s not entitlement, it’s what you’re worth.”
It’s all about relationships, business and trust.
The difference between audience and community is which way you point the chairs.
Listening, connecting and publishing are the 3 big parts of social media.
Customer service is the new marketing.
Connecting is everything - it’s the difference between theater and theater in the round.
What companies really want - They don’t want just a review, companies want you to tell stories and experiences in a connecting way.
Your blog is like a triangle. At the top of triangle is your community. Treat your community like gold, never sell them out. One bottom corner of the triangle is your sponsors (money, product). Other bottom corner of the triangle is content. We control the triangle. Make the community love you. The sponsors want the community. Work and make the three corners of the triangle meet.
Treat your blog as a business. Build a business plan.
Never work for free.
Make sure your ideas and proposals all have a beginning, middle and end.
If a company does great stuff in a vacuum noone knows which is why they want to share that info.
Think of things in terms or project shapes with a beginning and end and sides.
Don’t treat customers like stupid people. Don’t talk down to people. Treat them with respect.
To gain readers be helpful
Little bloggers grow up. (quote from Liz Strauss)
Write tighter stories.
Make reading stories easier by adding subheadings and bullets.
The biggest possible opportunity you have is to connect with your audience.
Follow FTC disclosure rules. See chrisbrogan.com/about for his disclosure. You can also use cmp.ly

Interested in hearing more of what Chris has to say? he gives lots of great advice at www.chrisbrogan.com and on Twitter at @chrisbrogan

Disclosure - I paid a nominal fee to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in Walt Disney World. Included in the conference fee was my room at the Polynesian Resort, Park Hopper tickets, the conference sessions and most meals. As always my opinions are my own, and I have given you my honest opinion.

Feb 14, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

I’m Going To The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration - Looking For Sponsors To Bring With Me

I am so excited! I’m going to Disney World! And it’s for my first bloggers conference! And we’re going to see Pooh! And Mickey! And we’re staying at the Polynesian! And we’re going to see Pooh! I am so pumped for this! I am really looking forward to meeting other bloggers, as well as learn how to use social media most effectively to communicate with others. This will help me network with others and learn the most effective ways to represent companies that I’m working with. This conference is sold out.

About the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

The Walt Disney World Resort near beautiful Orlando, Florida is the setting for this first ever, family-friendly social media conference for moms. You’ll experience special events, conference sessions and private parties taking place across the 40-square mile entertainment complex. You’ll have a chance to experience the fun and fantasy of Walt Disney World while hearing from captivating speakers such as Guy Kawasaki, Maxine Clark, MaryEllen Hooper, and more.

I am seeking partial sponsorships to this conference, to help cover travel expenses. If you have or represent a family friendly company and are interested in having me promote your business please contact me asap.

In return for your partial sponsorship I will:

Place your company or product badge in my sidebar for six months.
Write a post introducing you as a sponsor.
Mention you as a sponsor in any post where I write about the conference.
Wear your logo clothing, not only to the conference but also while in the parks.
Wear your product (if it can be worn).
Put your company or product on the back of my business card. (MUST CONTACT ME BEFORE END OF THIS WEEK FOR THIS)
Write a post quarterly mentioning any news or new products you’ve got.

Please contact me to discuss sponsorship for your company, product or client. Thanks for taking the time to consider my request.

Jan 27, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

I’m A CVS Caremark All Kids Can Grant Winner!

I recently received some very exciting news. Back in March, TwitterMoms gave me a heads up on the CVS Caremark All Kids Can campaign. My youngest son has Down Syndrome. I thought it was perfect timing for a campaign like this and I wrote a post about the importance of inclusion. The title was “With Inclusion, All Kids Can“.

I’ve learned that I am one of five bloggers that CVS chose to receive a $1,000 grant to the nonprofit of my choice that supports children with disabilities. When I read the email I had such mixed emotions. It made me happy, sad and very proud all at once. I am totally thrilled to have been selected as one of the winners.

I’ve chosen the National Down Syndrome Society to receive the money. I chose them because their mission statement parallels my own beliefs. Their vision is what I wish for my son. “The mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The National Down Syndrome Society envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities.”

A big thanks to CVS Caremark All Kids Can for selecting me as a winner and to TwitterMoms for giving me a heads up about the CVS Caremark All Kids Can campaign in the first place.

Jun 11, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

Today On New Jersey Moms Blog - Priorities

I have an article on New Jersey Moms Blog today. It’s called Priorities - A Six Pack And Stuff. It’s about what happened when I took my thirteen year old son TJ to the emergency room recently. I learned something about his priorities. I’d love it if you clicked over and checked it out.

Just when I thought I had the game figured out the rules changed.

Jun 06, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Pitch Bloggers

Trisha Haas from MomDot recognizes that an ethical blogger is a professional blogger, which is the type of blogger that PR professionals want to work with. To that end Trisha has created a fantastic group called Pitch Bloggers, a group dedicated to connecting PR professionals with ethical bloggers with the goal of using the best methods to promote products. It’s free to join, all you need to do is submit an application and sign an ethics agreement. The ethics agreement doesn’t ask you for antyhign unreasonable, it simply asks you to promise that you will conduct your reviews in a timely and professional manner. This site is a wonderful way to network and contains a lot of really helpful resources. Any blogger interested in bringing their product reviews to the next level should definitely be checking this group out. Members have access to forums where they have the opportunity to chat with other members and PR professionals. Members also receive a badge to put on their blog to let PR and marketing folks, and other bloggers, know that you’re a member of this reputable group. I’m thrilled to have been accepted into this group and look forward to learning a lot from them.Thanks for letting me join Trisha!

May 26, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

Proud of my Mom

I have to share this. I am so proud of my Mom. She started writing more and really put her heart into it on her blog Here And There a couple of months ago. I wasn’t sure if she’d enjoy it or how well she’d do but I think she’s doing a great job. She responds to just about every comment she gets, even the ones for giveaways. You’re doing a great job Mom! I love you and I’m proud of you. I like that we now have another thing in common that we can talk about. I like reading some of your thoughts and stories. (That’s how I know that you killed the plant. I love you anyway so there’s no need for you to call Westgate.) Maybe we can both go to BlogHer next year - together!

For my readers that have visited her blog - thank you! She gets so thrilled to read and reply to her comments and I get a big kick out of seeing her delighted like that. She’s a great lady and a great Mom.

Apr 12, 2009 | 2 comments | View Post

A welcome giveaway for Mom

I’m having a little giveaway to introduce my Mom to the rest of the world. She’s got her own little piece of the internet, it’s a blog called Here And There. My Mom’s name is Pat. and she’s pretty awesome. She’s a retired teacher, mother of four, grandmother of one girls and two boys. She writes about family, food, pets, travel, Disney, weight and health issues, and saving money. She’s started doing product reviews and is looking forward to doing more of those. She’s been enjoying writing on her blog a lot and I’ve enjoyed talking with her about it and trying to help her. I’d love to thrill her by sending her a bunch of traffic, so I’m holding a small giveaway as a sort of a little sitewarming. I’m sure you all remember what it’s like to be a fairly new blogger, excited to get a couple of visitors and comments. That’s what I want to do for her, she’d be thrilled.

GIVEAWAY

The winner will receive a coupon code good for one game of your choice over at Big Fish Games.

HOW TO ENTER.

Visit HereAndThere.US and leave a comment on any post there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for an entry.)

You can earn unlimited entries this way, just leave a comment there and then here (pun intended) for every entry you want.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Fave her blog Here And There at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here. Her Technorati fave button is in her sidebar.
1 - Place her button on your blog AND leave a link here. Her button code is in her sidebar.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link to Here And There, then leave your link here.

Leave an additional comment for each bonus entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Friday 03/13/09 at 11:59 pm est. Only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winners will be selected randomly. The winner must contact me within 2 days to confirm they wish to receive the prize. Good luck to everyone!

Mar 08, 2009 | 20 comments | View Post

Please help me get to know YOU

The song from The King and I is in my head now.

“Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.”

I’d like to learn more about my readers so that I can make this blog the best it can be, both for you (the reader) and myself. I’d really appreciate it if you could take one minute (two at the most) to take a quick survey (short and sweet, 7 questions). None of the questions are required but the more information you can share with me the better. No names required, feedback is given anonymously. Answers will not be visible to the public and they will appear, as if by magic, inside a spreadsheet in my Google Docs.
Thank you.

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Mar 03, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

February’s Top EC Dropper

I decided that at the beginning of each month I’d like to thank my top Entrecard droppers for the previous month.

My top Entrecard dropper for February is Karen from The Pond, who dropped on me from one of her three blogs a total of 42 times. Thanks Karen! I really appreciate it. You’re a terrific online friend.

Mrs Mecomber from New York Traveler and Lynne from Sewing Mom were my #2 and #3 droppers for last month. Thanks to you as well ladies!

Mar 02, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

Support Bloggers Give

Earlier this week, while traveling through some of the blogs I regularly read I noticed a cause named Bloggers Give mentioned. I liked what I read and wanted to learn more about how to help so I added it to my to-do list. Before I had a chance to learn more I was contacted directly by Louise from MomStart.com about Bloggers Give, after she read some of my blog. I’m still frequently surprised to learn that people notice my blog so I was tickled pink and very honored to learn that someone that stands out in the blogging community noticed it and asked me to help with this cause.

Bloggers Give is a non-profit organization that was founded by Trisha from MomDot.com. The organization is collecting items for The Center For Courageous Kids.

The Center For Courageous Kids is a camp in Scottsville, Kentucky for seriously ill, disabled and special needs children and their families. The camp, founded in 2004, gives the children the opportunity to be with other children with similar conditions while allowing them to have fun and feel good about themselves in a safe place. Registration is free, which is awesome because in this case the camp isn’t any old camp and free encompasses much more then most people realize. I’m not talking about tent camping, or a bunch of kids at a week of sleep away camp. I’m talking about facilities, equipment, programs and staff specialized to the children’s needs.

Most places in society just aren’t accessible enough for these children. They’re just not built that way and could present physical, social and emotional issues. I have a special needs child. I can’t tell you how huge the need is for places like this camp, and how much they mean to the families. I’m talking about places that welcome your children with open arms, just as they are. Places where there are other families like yours - people who understand what you feel, what you deal with, what challenges you face and what you go through ever day.

Back to Bloggers Give. I am proud to say I think their mission is a great one and that they need help. I’m proud to be able to say that these are bloggers, like me, and that they see a need and want to fill it. It makes me feel proud to call myself a blogger. So, if you are asking me to do a product review, please consider donating a second item to the Bloggers Give cause. It isn’t mandatory for you to do it in order for me to review your product but I guarantee it will make you feel good. And I’ll find a nice place on this site to put your banner up or link to you, letting the world know you want to help make a difference.

If you’re a fellow blogger, please consider joining in this cause with us. Readers, you don’t have to be a blogger to help, you can get in on this and help too!

To learn more about Bloggers Give and how you can help visit http://bloggersgive.com.

THIS IS ALSO CROSS POSTED ON MY REVIEW BLOG VALSVIEWS.COM).

Feb 01, 2009 | 0 comments | View Post

I want to go to Blogher. Want to help me get there?

I started this blog years ago but have only blogged regularly for about 18 months now. Since 2007 I’ve learned a lot about myself - as a person, as a Mom, as a wife, as a friend, as a blogger and as a shopper. I’ve grown to love blogging and have been fortunate enough to have had a lot of fun, made some great online friends, worked with some great companies and checked out a lot of new products here and on my review blog Val’s Views.

I’ve known for months that I want to to to BlogHer 2009. For those of you that don’t know, BlogHer is an annual conference for women bloggers. This year’s conference will be taking place on July 23-25, 2009 and the theme is “In Real Life”. I had hoped this year’s conference would be on the East Coast to minimize my travel expenses, figuring I’d drive and only have to cover the registration and the room. In the end it was decided to hold BlogHer in Chicago this year. I really want to go but with it being held in Chicago there’s just no way I can afford the trip on my own with my husband looking for work. I would need approximately $1,000 in order to be to attend - $200 to register for the conference ($300 if I register on March 1 or later), $400 for the room and $400 for the flight. That’s a lot of money that we don’t have now and aren’t likely to have any time soon. So I forced myself to tell say “I cannot afford to go to BlogHer this year” out loud, in an effort to make it real so I’d forget about how much I wanted to go and move on. Nope. After saying it out loud not only was it real but I wanted to go even more.

So here we are. I still want to go. So I’m looking for either a full sponsor or several partial sponsors so I can go to BlogHer. To be blunt, I want some of your company’s money. I don’t expect money for nothing, that’s silly. Here’s some of what could come from my attending BlogHer. What I could do for you, as it were.

One of the biggest reasons I want to go to BlogHer is for the knowledge. I want to learn from other bloggers on how to be a better blogger. The better of a blogger that I am the better I can work with you to promote your products. Another of the main reasons I want to go to BlogHer is for the networking. The more effectively that I network with other bloggers the more effectively I’ll be able to get the word out about your products. I’ve communicated with some of these women online for some time now and would love to be able to meet them and learn from them. I would really appreciate being able to meet representatives from companies that I’ve worked with already, in order to thank them. I’d also appreciate being able to get my name out to new companies as well.

To potential sponsors - I would really love to talk to you about a full or partial BlogHer sponsorship and how we can work together to create a successful and beneficial partnership between us. Whether you’d like to be featured in my sidebar for a year or have a whole bunch of your products reviewed - I’m open to your suggestions and ideas. I thank you for your time and consideration.

To my readers - I’ll be entering contests and anything else I can find that offers a full or partial scholarship to BlogHer so it’s a safe bet you’ll see it mentioned now and again. Thanks in advance for understanding. My blogging will only improve by attending BlogHer, making my content more enjoyable and my giveaways even better.

The Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ’09 Contest is the first contest I’m entering. Mabel’s Labels has generously offered to award one lucky blogger a full sponsorship (flight, registration, room) to BlogHer if they win the contest. To enter the contest they want to know the rewards and benefits of blogging, which I’ve included here.

Jan 31, 2009 | 0 comments | View Post

Check out the new digs!

I’ve wanted to renovate this blog for a while. I found the header image a while back. When hubby first saw her he said she looked like she was a know it all. How appropriate! She also has a ponytail and glasses. And she’s brunette like me! She’s skinny though. Hmm. Maybe next year.

So when I got home from work I set about backing up and upgrading wordpress. I was so thrilled everything went smoothly. My blog didn’t disappear like it did when I did my first upgrade way back when, so there was no need to beg my host to restore from the tape drives. Then I installed the new theme and made the rest of the necessary changes. I have a couple of minor changes to make but for all practical purposes she’s finished.

So what do you think of the new look? I’d love any feedback you care to share.

Jan 14, 2009 | 6 comments | View Post

I can see the future

I’m not good enough at foreseeing the future to be involved in futures trading but I can tell you that a couple of rather big changes (big for me, anyway) are coming to my blog. I’ve been busy and I’m hoping to have everything finished and ready to unveil this weekend.