carriewriterblog

Google Social Search Enhances Online Visibility

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:45:00 +0000

This screenshot of my Google Profile page shows my social media links, recent tweets and posts, and my Flickr photo stream.

A few months ago, I completed my Google Profile online, which was great, except for one thing -- I didn't know what to do with it. Now, I do. Google has launched in Beta a new feature that enhances online visibility by producing search results that include the contacts in your Social Circle.

Who is your Social Circle and Why Are They Important?
Basically, your circle includes all your online connections, including Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Friendfeed, LinkedIn, and of course, your G-mail contacts and Google Reader/Chat/Buzz connections. The idea is that when you go to research something online, you probably want to know what someone you already know thinks about it. Maybe it's a marketing tool, or a new restaurant or hotel, or even a book or movie.The SEO and "getting found" value of this is a huge plus. The more your name and links pop up, the more not only your friends and connections can find you, but others as well.

Here's how it works:

Set up your Google Profile (you need a Google account), and follow the prompts to fill in your contact information, social media links, bio, and any other information you like. Note that this isn't something you need to go back to and update -- if you complete it the first time you should be good to go.
When you are finished, you will get a profile link, which you can then add to your blog, social media profiles, signature tag, etc. You can also tweet it and promote it through all social media channels.
When you are next searching online, check the search results and look for an entry that reads: "Results from People in Your Social Circle." Here, you will see names that should be familiar to you, and just as their names are coming up, so should yours as well, depending on the topic. If you don't see the Social Circle results, click for More Results and continue looking on the next page or 2. I just did an experiment using the search terms "Video Marketing," and "Social Media Marketing," and in both cases the social circle names I recognized came up.

Social Circle results for the search term, "Video Marketing"

My Social Search page on Google showing all my connections alphabetically

A quick footnote: a Google profile is also a great way to get a snapshot of your connection's online life, and features all their social media links, recent posts and tweets, and an easy way to contact them on e-mail. You can also see who their connections are as well, providing a cool social media window of potential friends and contacts.

I've included my Google profile link here, feel free to connect with me, and if you're trying out the Social Search, let me know how it goes!

Sneak Preview: Constant Contact Launches 5 New Features

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

As a Constant Contact Business Partner, I get a cool sneak preview whenever they launch a new feature. So today I got the news of 5 exciting ones coming up soon and being announced to Constant Contact users later this week. Without further ado, here they are:

My Library: Formerly called "Image Hosting," My Library is a new image storage feature that will allow for up to 5 PDF documents to be stored right in your Constant Contact account. If you want to edit images, Picnik, the image editing software, is linked right into the account as well. If you need more storage, for $5 a month, you get upgraded to My Library Plus, which holds 50MG of PDF and image storage, as well as hundreds of stock gallery images.

My take on this: Yes! I was just thinking about PDFs while producing my July newsletter, and wondering why I could not include a direct attachment to a document, but only links. So this is a good evolution of events in the image and PDF category, although with a limit of 5 PDFs, most of us are going to need to go for the premium upgrade. Picnik is definitely one of the easier image editing programs around and takes only a few minutes to learn. I have successfully used it to crop and resize photos many times and it's very user friendly. There are even some new features like increasing sharpness, that are impressive and really work! Picnik also offers image storage, with a premium account.

2. New Tweet and Share Option:
With the new "Tweet and Share" option, you can automatically post your email to your Twitter feed when it is sent. After sending an email, you can Tweet it again as much as you like or share it on Facebook and other social networks using the "Share" button.

My Take On This: It's a good move to automate the Tweet and Share, although I was doing this anyway by using the Share button on that appears whenever you archive your e-mail anyway. Still, this should make it more convenient. I don't know if retweeting one's own newsletter repeatedly is a good idea, since the concept of social media is that other folks ideally do this, (kind of like not Digging yourself), but it's nice to know it's available if you want to promote your newsletter to a new audience or group online.

3. Get a Facebook "Like" Button for Shared Emails:

When you share your Constant Contact email on Facebook, a "Like" button appears at the top of the webpage view that is generated, making it easy for your friends and followers to promote your newsletter across the web.

My Take On This: A great idea, but how about integrating this with the templates for the individual articles themselves, so they can be separately Liked and Tweeted? I have seen this on some other programs and also used the feature myself when I saw an individual story I liked but didn't need to necessarily highlight the entire newsletter.

4. Spread the word about your event through social media:

Your registrants can now share your event on Facebook. This exciting new feature makes it easy for your registrants to share your event right from your Registration Confirmation and Event Details pages. You control whether you want your event shared simply by hiding or showing the event on your event calendar.

Your registrants can now Tweet your event. Now, those registered for your event can help you spread the word. Easy for them to tweet that they're attending your event, and as with Facebook, you control whether you want your event shared simply by putting it on your Event Marketing calendar or not.

My Take On This: I have not yet tried the Event functions using Constant Contact, but this looks to be a big improvement and should serve as an incentive for more folks to try out the Event tools.

5. Contact and Bounce Management:
In one quick step, you can move "bounced" contacts directly into your "Do Not Mail" list, making contact management easier and more efficient. You can now also import "All Contacts" from Gmail. In addition to "My Contacts," select any contact list you have in Gmail and import it into your Constant Contact account.

My Take On This: Both of these improvements should be huge time savers, although I'm surprised that given the number of Gmail users out there, that it would have taken this long to automate the address book feature. Also, personally I'm hesitant to use the address book feature as an all-in-one move, since I like to invite potential subscribers through a personal invitation first, and that way subscribers opt-in on their own initiative.

Feel free to comment here on how you like the new features when you try them out!

Could Video Kill the Blogging Star?

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:00:00 +0000

One of the great things about social media (and video), is that with today's tools, everyone can become a communicator. But as with everything in life, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should always do it, or do it in excess. This morning as I was sorting through my inbox, I noticed a concerning trend...too much video!

My philosophy of video is that it should provide information, entertain, enhance marketing efforts and messaging, and reinforce brand. There are times, however, when it can backfire on the publisher/communicator:

when it's done too much
when the quality is lacking, either on the video or audio side
when the content is dull

A favorite blogger who I have heard speak many times, recently sent at least 12 new videos from a trip he is currently on. This is a person who has always advocated that "less is more," so I was surprised to see this amount, which I do not have time to watch, by the way, so I deleted the message. If he had sent one really good video about his trip, I would have watched it.

Another blogger I generally enjoy, recently sent a video about the virtues of --you guessed it--creating video. It was long (over 3 minutes), and included a lot of circular discussion about video without any how to's or pointers. The video added absolutely nothing to her brand or expertise, and in fact damaged it, as for some reason she had another pop up sign up video appear on the same screen. Double videos? I don't think so. I'm keeping my subscription, but am pretty likely not to click on her videos again. If she had done a video about tips on creating or uploading them, or maybe links to some of her favorites, I would have watched it.

Another very prominent blogger whose books I love and have actually been promoting, posted a video a few months ago, where he was in a hotel room in the middle of the night, and had ordered room service. So while he was talking away about social media, we got to see and hear him munching away on his room service meal. Maybe this was his way of creating intimacy, but it seemed awkward. Ever heard of the phrase: "don't talk with your mouth full?" If he had created the same video and waited until after he had eaten, I would have watched and enjoyed it.

Here's a video I always love to watch, for those looking for great ideas.

Takeway message: be mindful of what, how much, and why you are posting video, so that you enhance your brand rather then take away from it. And remember, too much of anything can just seem, well...old fashioned.

What do you think?

My First "Jing" Video Tutorial: How to Add a YouTube Widget to Blogger Sidebar

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:44:00 +0000

This is a screen capture of the Jing video launch for my tutorial. Click here for the tutorial.

Welcome to my first screencast! I had a great time preparing this little tutorial on one of my favorite topics -- widgets! Here, I show how to easily add a YouTube widget that will show your channel in the Blogger sidebar. The reason I chose this particular widget is that there are some setting that pop up on the menu options that can be confusing. For example, if you leave the "keyword" options in, other videos will load in addition to or instead of yours, and you won't be showing off your videos. This might work if you are wanting to show your favorites, but if you are creating video content like I am, you're probably going to want to share that first.

Even if you aren't using Blogger and this topic may not be relevant, I added a quick note about Jing, the screencast program I tried out, with a quick review...

A Note About Jing

Pros:
*I found the program fairly easy to use, in that it was only about 15 minutes between the time I downloaded it to when I started preparing my tutorial. It was simple to crop the area I wanted on my desktop to become the screen, and the control panel of choices was straightforward: capture video, images, save to hard drive, save to screencast.com.

*I loved the customized buttons you can create on your control panel to automate sending files to Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr, and I'm going to test them out next. I also did something that was probably advanced for a first go-around, and created a "Screencast Embed" icon that would produce HTML code right away. Woohoo!

*I really liked how the sun image sits on your desktop with 3 navigation "rays:" HOME, HISTORY, and MORE (Help)

*The tutorials are numerous, clear, and to the point, and the voiceover is a pleasant speaking voice. I really enjoyed them and clicked on then a lot more then I have in other learning situations.

*The program is free, but...see CONS

Cons:

*You cannot upload directly to YouTube unless you upgrade to a PREMIUM account, which was about $14 a year. Without that option, you are left to get the embed code from the screencast program, and it was a awkward to retrieve it. I had to keep going back to the video to upload it again and get the code. A simple pop up widget would have helped a lot in this regard. Even when I did get the code with a test video, I had to go into the HTML to change the size of the video and other details that were a bit complex for the average user.

*Audio. My iBook is a few years old and the built-in microphone is not that great, however I have used it with iMovie and it's worked OK.
The audio, as you can probably tell, is not great, but if I were to create a lot of these I would definitely get a separate microphone anyway. I did find it odd that there were not any options for equipment add-ons in the audio department?

Overall, I would definitely recommend this screencast program. Comparing it to one other that I tried, Screentoaster, it was infinitely better, both in terms of image quality and sound. Screentoaster does have a new improved version in Beta, but I tried it on a test video, and the video image came up distorted and pixelated. So that's the end of that, for now.

Interested to hear your experiences with screenrecorders and favorites you might have...blog on!

Marketing Monday: What's Wrong With This Picture?

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:22:00 +0000

Welcome to another installment of "Marketing Monday," where I look at some real life marketing experiences, where I am the guinea pig and another company/person/entrepreneur is marketing to me, and offer insights into what worked, what didn't, and sometimes just a plain old: what's up with that?

What We Have Here: So, here we have an opened box of sodas from the Hansen's Natural soda company. They had contacted me on e-mail a few weeks ago saying they had seen my blog, and would I be interested in a sample of the soda. I filled out a form saying "YES!" since as a blogger I generally do have opinions about things- social media...communications....soda....why not? Writers need refreshment too.

The Good Part: They found me. They really found me. These days, finding someone counts for a lot. Someone did their marketing homework and thought I'd be good to send this stuff to.

The Not So Good Part: Well, the soda arrived, but as you can see, there is something seriously missing from the box. Yes, you guessed it...a Call to Action! Why would a company that went to all the trouble of sending me a box of sodas, (which were, by the way, quite tasty although a tad sweet...my favorite was Mandarin Lime), completely drop the marketing ball and not send so much as a little note saying:
Why not Fan us on Facebook? Follow us on Twitter? Make a video of you tasting our sodas and we'll post it on our YouTube page? How about a blog post? Or, please enjoy this $5 coupon off your next purchase of our soda?

The Takeaway: So, Hansen's Sodas and other liked-minded groups, if you had enclosed that extra note (Call to Action) with your box, I would have focused my post on why I really liked the Mandarin Lime, instead of what was missing from the box. You had a great idea to start with, you just needed to finish it. Otherwise, thank you for the 6 cans of soda, that are now finished. I would get more, but I don't have a coupon.

PS. I just checked the Hansen's web site, no social media or blog to be found, but nice site otherwise, with cool bubble icons that come up when you click on the nav bars. Now, that's clever marketing.

What do you think?

I Changed My Look

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:31:00 +0000

It's Carrie's blog here, and I decided it was time for a little makeover. So, I've been up late being tweaked and reorganized, and I have to say, I feel pretty good. Kind of like a weight has been lifted off my HTML, if you know what I mean. It was also good to see some of Blogger's new features, which are:

*Ability to add pages (up to 12), so I can feel like a real web site, cool!

*Some interesting new templates, of which this is one. I like the blue background and think it works well with the butterfly logo. I also think the type is easier to read.

*Handy plug-ins, like a Share widget that's more updated then previous ones, and also the ability in the Design template to move around the different elements of the post, like the date and time, links, etc.

*Finally, a retweet button, although I know Carrie had to dig around a little for this as it was nowhere to be found in the Blogger features...hope you are listening, Google. (Note: I'll be posted next on how to set up a retweet widget in Blogger for those who haven't done it yet, you have to go into the template code, but don't freak out, it's all good...)

*Carrie streamlined my sidebar, which was getting a little out of hand, even I admit it. Maybe it was all those late-night Oreos.

*Carrie just realized (ok, she admits it) that she didn't see until she went into her Settings mode, that she could choose between the traditional Blogger toolbox, and the new and improved. So of course, she went with the newly updated one, which has an improved Preview function -- you actually get a whole new window -- and more choices on the placement and sizing of photos. Just for the record, I'm all for that.

*Carrie decided to highlight some of her cool awards she's gotten lately, like her 2009 Contact E-Marketer Allstar, right in the sidebar...she should have thought of this sooner. I'm so proud.

*I'm liking the Amazon Association widget that automatically appears when she's writing a new post, another new feature. This allows her to automatically insert an image and link, just by typing in her item in the search bar. Cool.

*I think I hear something...Carrie must be back from her adventures in Advanced Template land... but before I go, please post a comment here on how you feel about my new look. I love feedback, really, I do, just be gentle, it's my first makeover in a while.

It's Carrie here, sorry to break things up, but it's 4:00 am and we all really need to go to bed!

Duck Marketing

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I feel bad for this guy, (Ducky!) which is why I took his photo. I wanted to make his day...or at least cheer him up, if he needed it. You see, he's always on our corner lately --in the morning when we drive off, and even at the end of the day on our way back. I don't know if he's actually sending any extra business over to the car wash, but still, he's always cheerful, and sometimes even dances around, even though I think he might get lonely, or hot, or thirsty. You see, he works, really hard, standing there all day, hoping the passing cars will see him and get the Call to Action hint.

I feel bad that Ducky has to stand there all day to get attention for his business. Lately, I'm thinking, maybe there are other ways to go about this. If the car wash were my business, maybe I'd do a little video featuring Ducky and post it on YouTube, and maybe even have him sing a catchy little song. That way, a lot more people would see Ducky in addition to those just driving by.

I'm thinking if the car wash were my business, I'd pay a little visit to my Yelp page and address some of the customers who had a not so great experience and make sure I made it right. Or at least I'd apologize for any problem so that all the online viewers could see that as a business owner, I pay attention to what my customers are saying.

I'm thinking if the car wash were my business, I would set up a Twitter profile and tweet some great discounts or specials. Or, set up a Facebook page so that there's be a cool community of customers that could talk about their Ducky experiences and maybe post their own photos, like I did here. That way, a lot more people would know about Ducky in addition to those just driving by.

I'm also thinking that if the car wash were my business, I'd start a nifty e-newsletter that customers could sign up for when they come in, or else sign up for through a link on Twitter or that Facebook page, or even on a blog page, and that way they'd know about specials and discounts and could forward the information to their friends, and a lot more people would know about Ducky in addition to those just driving by.

Of course, a blog would be great too, because then Ducky could really become the personality of the company and take on a life all his own, and folks would subscribe just to hear about Ducky's cool adventures, and there'd probably be a lot more visitors to the car wash because Ducky would have a "top of mind" presence with his customers and potential customers. I'd like to know stuff like what Ducky likes to eat, and where he hangs out when he's not on the streetcorner, and maybe even who his friends are. Does he tell jokes? Is he from here? Is he a veggie? Will he ever get married?

Maybe I don't feel so bad for Ducky after all -- he just gave me some great new ideas. As a matter of fact, when I see him tomorrow, I'm going to tell him he made my day.

Life in the Cloud and Why I Want to Have Lunch with Marc Benioff

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:19:00 +0000

Highlights of Salesforce.com Chatter and Cloud 2 Launch
June 22, San Jose

I'm just now getting "out from under" some great events I attended in June, one of them being the Salesforce 2010 event in San Jose, where "Chatter," (yes, that's the red M&M-like fella I'm in the photo with below) was launched. Now, I had never used any of this software, and did not really know what to expect from this event, but I have to say it really surpassed all expections. Why? For me, it came down to 5 super important elements when attending an organized event:

1. Dynamic Marketing: The strolling "Chatter" figures that promenaded around the Expo and even did a pre-Keynote dance on stage, was brilliant marketing. In the space of 6 hours, and the now 2 weeks that have passed since the event, we are not going to forget about this new program, even if we haven't tried it yet. There's nothing like a memorable logo come to life to impress event attendees, and to bring a virtual element into real time. Note: these little "Yodas" were also placed on every seat in the convention center ballroom, so guess what? You could take then home...and we did, and so did everyone else. The Flip giveaway to the first 1,000 attendees was also a great way to get people to show up at 8 am. (see photo below.)

2. A Rockin' Video: I saw the Chatter promo video nearly 4 times at the event, first at the Keynote, and late on at the Expo, and it really grabbed my attention and had every element of a "viral video." Catchy and "edgy" music, an overall sense of urgency, a big "Someday is Now" message, and a visual homerun, with social media stats and the typing of key themes and messages as a visual element throughout.

3. A Great Product: I was very impressed with the capabilities of the Chatter program. Based on a Facebook type interface, you can instantly communicate with your partners or salesteam, and know who is working on what, and when a project has been completed. "Salesforce Chatter is the most exciting thing I've worked on in my career," said Benioff. "Delivering Chatter is a seminal moment and one that marks the arrival of Cloud 2." Here's a link to a demo and review from CMS Wire. I was also impressed with the Service Cloud functionality, which created a knowledge database out of customer experiences, so that histories and case files could be readily and efficiently accessed by multiple users next time around.

4. A Swinging Expo: Great demos, bean bag chairs, lattes, and super networking, made this a terrific Expo. Exhibitors included Marketo, automation software for marketing and sales, Docusign (electronic signatures), Deloitte, Accenture, and Birst (reports and dashboards) and many more.

5. A Super Impressive CEO, and That's Why I Want to Have Lunch with Marc Benioff:
OK, he had me at "hello." The San Francisco Business Times named Benioff 2009 Executive of the Year, "for defying the fierce economic downdraft--and taking the lead role in the creation of an industry." In addition to the long list of awards he and Salesforce.com have won since he founded the company out of his apartment in 1999, I loved his energy, passion, and enthusiasm not only for technology, but for humanity. I was also very moved at his donation of $100 million for the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital at Mission Bay. As a former communications executive for a national nursing organization, I have a place in my heart for this, and I'm looking forward to hearing more. Way to go, Marc.

And if you should read this, lunch is on me!

Marc Benioff "chats" with Apple's chief iPad designer, Michael Tchao.

The Keynote was not your typical speech, but an interactive session with many Chatter Beta partners such as Motorola, Dell, and VMware, talking about their experiences with the product. I liked the Q/A format, and it kept my interest the entire time.

Having the new Flip HD cameras for attendees (complete with Salesforce.com logo) was another smart move.
I wanted one of these anyway, but I guess they knew that...

The Expo was impressive, complete with cloud balloons, a demo area with bean bag chairs to view the software, a cafe station, a Chatter Zone, Hackathon, and 8 Salesforce demo stations.

________________

Links of interest:
*Related post: Why I Want to Have Lunch with John Maeda
*Cloudforce 2010 Keynote Video with Marc Benioff

Marc Benioff gives a brief overview of Salesforce.com and makes an exciting philanthropy announcement with Susan Desmon-Hellmann, Chancellor of UCSF. Marc then presents Cloud 2, a new generation of enterprise application built for collaboration and inspired by consumer applications such as Facebook.

*Slides from Marc's Keynote

* * *
*Tim O'Reilly Explains the Cloud (video)
Tim O'Reilly on the future of Cloud computing and the "Internet of Things," speaking at the MySQL CE 2010 conference." As Bruce Sterling sez, "It looks like he's just telling disconnected alpha-geek anecdotes, in his customary, avuncular, visionary fashion. What Tim's really doing is throwing lit matches into his network. And boy is he the guru when it comes to doing that."(from Boingboing.net)

* * *
*Cloudy Innovation Should Brighten Your Budget
"Speaking at recent web business models conference in New York, media entrepreneur (and former colleague) Larry Kramer reminisced about his start-up's huge customer breakthrough moment. When his firm announced "instant news updates" over pager networks, over a million people signed up in a matter of days. Unfortunately, Kramer recalled, the pager networks his company used were so limited that many of those "instant" alerts took more than 20 minutes to deliver. Not good. His team worked feverishly to rearchitect its software and systems to meet the demand. The service proved a huge success and added millions to the company's value.'Nowadays," he concluded in a throwaway line, "you'd just use Twitter.'"

(from hbr.org - Harvard Business Review)

* * *
Garth's World Gets Rocked
"As you undoubtedly have heard, salesforce.com acquired Jigsaw. Its intention to purchase the company was announced April 21 (the most intense, surreal day of my life) and since then I have refrained from posting to Garth’s World as the two companies worked out what communications from the combined company need to look like while I undertook a search for the best beaches in the Carolinas ☺."

-Garth Moulton, VP of Community and Co-founder of Jigsaw

Want to Free Your Writing? Think Yoga When You Blog

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 05:25:00 +0000

Be Focused, but Open
Clear your mind from distractions, but also let new ideas float in as you write. You can always revise later, just as you can always try a new pose again.

Allow for Twists and Turns
Nothing is ever a straight line. Tell your story in an interesting way, and remember that you don't have to rush to finish -- the beginnings and endings will find you.

Stretch and Lengthen
A seemingly small idea can take on great importance when taken to its potential. Expand your brain, and try a new idea, style, approach, or topic. Suddenly it seems different, right?

Be Noodly
Don't be afraid of formlessness, there is a freedom in allowing content to take its own shape at times.

Be Real and Tune In
What better time to be yourself then in yoga, and in writing. It's great to think of others as mentors and for inspiration, but in the end, we answer to ourselves.

Don't Envy Others
There will always be those who can fly into a headstand with no problem, as there will always be those who can write pages and pages seemingly effortlessly. Accept it if you have to struggle a little, it will mean that much more in the end.

Play Music that Inspires
Even if it's just in your mind, listen to music that has inspired you in the past. Everyone has their own "Chariots of Fire" theme song.

Don't be Afraid to Fall
Falling means you tried and took a risk. Falling means you learned something. The great prima ballerina Darci Kistler stood out from the corps de ballet because Balanchine noticed that she allowed herself to fall. If and when you do fall, start over. Clear your screen. Walk around and come back.

Try Things Upside Down
Sometimes, your beginning is your ending, and your ending is the beginning. Try it out.

Celebrate Completion
Call a friend. Have a latte or an ice cream. Close your eyes, then open them again.

Breathe.
We all forget to do this at times. How can you write if you forget to breathe?

Namaste.

10 Organic Ways to Quick Start Content for Your Blog

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:44:00 +0000

Since starting this blog nearly 5 years ago, I've learned a lot about microblogging, (Seth Godin style, for those in the know), lengthier blogging, scheduled blogging, serialized posts, spontaneous blogging, (kind of like grabbing chocolate cupcakes from the fridge at 2 am, if you're looking for the food equivalent), formats for blogging, such as lists, answering reader questions, using graphics in an interesting way, surprising your readers, linking to others as well as your own previous posts...that kind of thing.

One of the most important lessons I have learned, is the importance of doing, rather than thinking about doing, when it comes to blogging and of course anything else, for that matter. I'm not saying you should write mediocre blog posts, but you don't have to write a manifesto everyday, either. There's a happy medium that will provide readable, effective content for your audience, while still giving them, and you, the chance to get other stuff done.

Many social media experts out there write that if you're not spending hours laboring over a blog post, you're probably not blogging correctly, and your life/business will suffer. I would say that while blogging is important, it's not the only thing you do all day, and while it's an essential vehicle for establishing your brand and online presence, it should not get in the way of your business, but rather should enhance your activities. So, I'm a firm believer in "organic blogging." I believe I just made up this term, so if you find it somewhere, let me know.

Your blogging should serve as a natural extension of your activities, passions, interests, and niche. But it should not take over your life, and unless you're looking to become the next million dollar blogger, there are easy ways to express yourself through your posts and create community with others, without having to exhaust yourself at the same time, particularly if you're not naturally a writer, or just plain not used to writing.

So, if you're just starting out blogging and you're finding it challenging to come up with good content on a regular basis, try some of these ideas out:

1. Review something related to your niche, such as a relevant book, movie, piece of equipment, clothing, whatever. We all have new things we try out from time to time, and if you're experimenting, why not share your results?

2. Highlight favorite links, blogs, web sites, of others. Blogging is as much about community as any other aspect of social media, so why not socialize a little? We all come across a great blogger or web site from time to time, so why not share it with your community.

3. Tell a great story. Much is being written right now about the importance of storytelling, both in the corporate and nonprofit world. Do you have a great story either about your own life, or a case study from working with a client, that would be helpful to share with others?

4. Write a list or compilation post like this one. It's been well established that readers love lists. They can easily bookmark them, share them with others, and get their own ideas for lists just by reading yours. Have you found 5 or 10 great tips that helped you do something better? Jot them down in a post.

5. Write a how-to or instructional post. With all the new technology appearing on the scene these days, it's hard to keep up. Help your readers by showing them how to do something, whether it be creating a new Facebook FAN page, a video, or even writing better copy.

6. Get inspired by photos and interesting graphics. When I was in 4th grade, my writing teacher always assigned us the task of writing stories based on New Yorker covers, and I was always amazed at the final product. Maybe it's your own cool photo you just uploaded of a beautiful forest in the afternoon sun, or a terrific photo on Flickr (make sure it's under "Creative Commons" so you have permission) that inspires you, but let the art take you where you need to go.

7. Share a mistake you made or a regret that you have. We all make mistakes. Sharing yours shows that you are human, and gives others a chance to identify with you.

8. Share Industry news or best practices. Whatever career specialty you have, you should be receiving news alerts or specialty publications that relate to it. Chances are, you get the inside scoop before anyone else. Share your news on posts, and heighten your credibility and expertise.

9. Be funny once in a while. There's nothing wrong with a little humor...in fact, there's a lot right with it. It's not easy to write a post that is genuinely funny, and if you pull it off, your readers will love it. If you're having trouble finding your voice or tone, or even feeling human in your writing, try to write in a way that matches your organic speech and the way you talk naturally. That's how many of us find our written voice.

10. Run a contest or ask your readers for feedback. Lately, I've seen a lot of requests for reader feedback, for topics ranging from new logo designs, to e-book content, to many others. (Peter Shankman, from HARO, recently asked his readers for feedback on a new logo he was launching.) Creating a contest is a great way to get readers involved in your blog and increase interest. If you are running a photo, video, or writing contest, you can use the entries as material and link to the owner or publisher. You can also create new content out of the entries, such as an e-book or a video. I recently posted a "reply" contest inspired by an e-book about blog commenting, by John Chow.

So...that's my list for now. If you haven't gotten started yet, now's the time! Anything to add on your quick start ideas?

Catch Your June issue of "The Butterfly"

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:25:00 +0000

I'm excited that my newsletter has doubled in subscribers in one year! You are welcome to subscribe to my monthly e-news, The Butterfly, and be the first to receive social media news, communications trends, book reviews, special offers, previews to upcoming products, discounts, and monthly book giveaway contests, directly in your In box. I'm also introducing a new column, about you! I'll be featuring interviews with subscribers and highlighting your business here, including your photo and links. If you're interested in being featured, send me a note at carrie@carriefreelance.com.

The Butterfly

carriefreelance communications newsletter

holistic media solutions

carrie jaffe-pickett

writing editing public relations e-news blogs social media

June 2010

Editor's Note

Defining Our Vision

With my mother at Filoli

Earlier this month, my mom visited from New York, and as special treat, we took her to the Filoli Gardens in Woodside.
It was truly breathtaking there, with field after field of amazing flowers, and an inspiring video about the original family
that built the gardens and the legacy they left behind. Filoli was built for Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn,
prominent San Franciscans whose chief source of wealth was the Empire Mine, a hard-rock gold mine in Grass Valley,
California.

I was fascinated by one particular detail: Mr. Bourn designated a single point in his main garden as the focal point.
This was the spot where you got the ideal view of the mountains and the horizon line. Everything in that garden was
arranged so that the focal point was in the distance..and guess what? It worked. If you stood at the end and looked
out through the trees, you did indeed see the view that he had in mind, and it was spectacular. So, in thinking about life,
and business, and all things entrepreneurial and fruitful, I find this to be the best analogy ever for what we do:
define our vision --for our business, our lives, our dreams and goals. Because once we define it, not only is it easier for us
to build our gardens, but for everyone around us to enjoy the view, to share in our excitement for what we do.
My garden is communications and holistic media solutions, and I enjoy sharing it all with you.

Highlights from the Blog

Having the Time of Your Life in Business - 6 Tips from the Film We Can't Forget
*Don't freak out if you have to learn fast
*Nobody puts baby in the corner...(you know I had to get that in!)
*Believe in change...read more

How to Set Up the New NutshellMail with Constant Contact in 5 Steps
I was excited about the big news that Constant Contact was integrating with NutshellMail, for two main reasons: 1. I am a Constant Contact Business Partner, so it was cool to get the advance notice and to offer e-news clients some neat bonuses, and 2. I had been curious about NutshellMail and have wanted to try it for the last few months, so this latest news gave me an excuse to check it out...

Book Giveaway

To enter July book giveaway, post a comment why you want it on my FAN page

I'm giving away a copy of The Zen of Social Media Marketing by Shama Kabani, a great online marketer who has been named BusinessWeek's "25 Under 25 Entrepreneurs for 2009." I'm reading it now and really enjoying Shama's clear writing style and helpful tips, and Shama very groovily agreed to sending me an extra copy for you all. To be eligible to win, head on over to my FAN page on Facebook, and post a comment on why you'd like the book. I'll choose the winner end of July. Good luck, and may the social media marketing force be with you.

Carrie's Summer Reading Suggestions

Visit Bookstore Here

(affiliate link)

_______________________________________________

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Need help starting an e-newsletter like this one, or a blog? Are you feeling lost in social media?
I offer monthly packages of customized services to help you increase your online visibility,
as well as coaching with any writing or editorial projects. Contact me for a free one-hour consult, a $100 value.

Solutions include:
web site writing, copywriting, editing, blog and e-news coaching,
case study writing, and e-book coaching and editing (New!)

Caroline Jaffe-Pickett
Communications Specialist
carriefreelance.com holistic media solutions
650-206-2682
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new! author of Six Degrees of Twitteration

Carrie Jaffe-Pickett is an award-winning writer and editor based in Silicon Valley.
She is the recent author of Six Degrees of Twitteration, and has been published in
Redbook, American Health, and numerous publications.
She has also been named one of 39 writers to follow on Twitter and one of 15 writers to follow on Buzz.

Email Marketing by

16 Ways to Be Interesting Online, Lady GAGA Aside

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

We've all heard this before. If your business is boring, no one will talk about it. If no one talks about it, you might not get referrals, even if you are really great at what you do. And you certainly will not get "buzz." So, how to be interesting online, which is the way most folks will meet you? You don't have to be Lady GAGA, but a little flair now and then won't hurt. Here are some quick and simple ideas to get you rolling:

1. Take a break from your own content and comment on other people's posts, blogs, photos, and videos. A little goes a long way.

2. If you've been posting text for a while, why not make a change and post a photo or video?

3. If you've never published a blog post series, try it. Start with 3 or so related items, like books by the same author, social media tools, movie reviews, whatever. It's good experience, you can link back to your previous posts which is great for SEO, and you can reuse the content for an e-newsletter, screencast, or e-book.

4. Write an e-book. Just a short one, to start, on a topic that interests you, or maybe an extension of a blog post you did a while ago. If you can't think of an idea, take some popular blog posts you published previously, edit them, and rework them into a book format with a good progression of topics. Start with a 12-15 page book to start. Then you are in a good position to write a longer book people might actually pay for.

5. Attend an interesting event, and cover it in a new way. For example, if you've never live tweeted before, try it out and practice on the spot tweeting, it's really a lot of fun. Tip: use Tweetchat if you don't want to keep retyping the hashtag. If you want to try video but find it easier to just take photos, try a program like Animoto, which is a lot of fun and free for a one-minute video.

6. Experiment with sound. I just found a new resource called Tubeminator, thanks to a tweet by Timothy Ferris, that converts videos to sound. Cool! I haven't tried it yet, let me know if you do.

7. Find new ways to stay organized and tell people about it. Readers love productivity tools, and anything that makes their hectic online lives easier. I have blogged before about my own online discoveries, like Boxnet, Evernote, NutshellMail, and others.

8. For that matter, find ways to do anything better, and tell people about it.

9. Use the most interesting graphics possible in your posts. I liked how blogger Julie Roads, (Writing Roads) recently used paintings done by an artist friend of hers to illustrate her blog. Some bloggers also take a technology break now and then, and use simple handwritten lists to make their point.

10. Compare things. Tech Crunch and Mashable always have comparison of popular programs, like Wordpress vs. Typepad, or Tweetdeck vs. Hootsuite. I'm getting ready to write a post comparing some online video tools.

11. Increase reader involvement in your blog posts, e-newsletters, or social networking, by running a contest. Ask readers to post their opinions, feedback, or reviews for one of your products, and offer prizes in return.

12. Think you can write like Seth Godin? Change your writing style around a bit by trying a post in someone else's style. Give whoever it is credit, and link to them.

13. How To's are always of interest, but make sure it's a hot topic. Check what's trending on Google or Twitter to see what folks are talking about, and if it matches up with something you're good at, explain away.

14. If you have an interesting hobby, don't be shy about sharing it, it adds depth to your brand. Peter Shankman, (HARO), has had some great skydiving videos over the years!

15. Promote something cool you have coming up in advance. If you're planning a great giveaway, webinar, or product launch, post a mini announcement ahead of time, and it will get people interested.

16. Tell a great story. Many write about the importance of authenticity and transparency online, and a good way to show this is by telling a terrific story that reveals the true you. Don't be afraid to admit to a weakness you might have, or a recent fear or failure. Chances are, most readers will identify with you in some way, and want to connect further. One of my weaknesses is that I am now hungry and therefore just shortened these tips to 16, from my original plan of 21, but I may write another installment if you would like.

Is anyone going "Gaga" over you? Please feel free to comment and let me know ways you have found to be interesting online, and it's OK if, for now, you're the only one who thinks so. As long as you can keep a "Poker Face" about it. (Ha!)

A Review of John Chow's New E-Book, "The Secrets to Getting Blog Comments" and "Reply" Contest Announcement

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Last week, I happened upon internet "mogul" John Chow (@johnchow) through various links, and in reviewing his web site, e-books, and staggering statistics -- get ready for this --over 100,000 blog readers, 56,423 twitter followers, and 4,000 Facebook fans, plus going from 0 to $40,000 a month blogging...well, OK, I'm impressed. So while I missed the deadline to review John's other new book, "Make Money Online" and win a new iPad (darn!), I did get a chance over the weekend to read his 21-page e-book, "The Secrets to Getting Blog Comments," and I found it an enjoyable read, with some specific tips I will definitely put into practice. In digging a little further and doing some research, I have found that John is not afraid of controversy, and has some marketing techniques that might be considered riske, but he works hard, practices what he preaches, and knows affiliate marketing like the back of his hand, which not many online marketers do.

Overview - The Chicken and the Egg Problem
So here's the problem: you want to start a blog because it's great for branding and building your business or organization. You write what you think are really great, interesting, useful, buzzworthy posts, and sometimes people even tell you in person, "you are the best blogger ever!" (I have been told this recently, thank you Betty Kaufman). But for some reason, you just aren't getting comments, and maybe it doesn't look so great. And maybe you're not getting comments because people don't see any comments so they are afraid to jump right in. I know with my blog, I can go for a few weeks without comments, and then suddenly a blog post will trigger more comments, depending on the topic and the way it's written.

Smart Commenting Tips - Technorati, Anyone?
Some of John's tips include: starting a blog commenting group; asking friends and family to comment to get the ball rolling; start a "Reply" contest by dangling a goodie in front of readers, and try this with some other posts as well, so your comments are spread throughout.

We've all heard about the importance of commenting on the posts of others, (these should be real, genuine thoughts, not just comments to get attention), but John emphasizes the importance of being one of the first or top ten to comment, since most blog readers don't read past the top 10. (Hopefully, the blog's publisher does.) John also suggest checking out blogs in your own niche, of course, as well as Technorati's top 100, which is where you'll find the power bloggers. John describes several handy Wordpress plug-ins that make it easy to highlight and reward top commentors, and he surprised me in his discussion of negative comments. John writes: "I actually look forward to negative comments on my blog, because it's an indication of growth." Lively discussion also generate traffic, which is a good thing. He also advises that negative comments should be addressed and definitely not ignored, with the specific topic at hand clarified or addressed as well. In other words, don't try and hide from negative commentors, it won't work.

Guilty by Association -Keep Good Blog Company
I realy liked John's "Bonus" section at the end, "Guilty by Association." I won't give it away, but let's just say that he really drives the point home about the importance of keeping good company, both online and off. Your peers and colleagues are your support system, and those who surround you should reflect your values and beliefs as well. The message? Keep good company on your blog, and in your life. Great bloggers flock together, so blog (and comment) on!

Post a Reply and You're Entered into Book Giveaway!

And now a brief request....since I always practice what I preach, and I have to say John's tips and advice are peaking my curiosity, here's what would be great. Post a reply here, or at my Facebook FAN page. Has anyone else tried John's tips and how have they worked for you? Do you comment on blog posts, or are you just starting to? I'm looking forward to hearing from you. All those who post a reply or Facebook comment will be entered to win a great new book on social media I have been loving, "The Zen of Social Media Marketing," by Shama Kabani, named one of BusinessWeek's 25 under 25 Entrepreneurs for 2009. Good luck!

10 Reasons Why Sherlock Holmes is My Favorite Entrepreneur

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:46:00 +0000

Apparently, in the 80's when I was watching "Thirtysomething," I should have been watching "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984-1994)," which I have now discovered on our local public television station. I am grateful for the now infamous and definitive Sherlock, Jeremy Brett. In the last few months, as I have thought a lot about business, social media, communications, listening, writing, observing, and everything that goes into being a complete package as a service provider, I have also been watching Jeremy, and amazed at how he serves as....an excellent business consultant!

Here's why:

1. He listens first:
He takes in all the information during client intakes, and doesn't take any action until he hears the whole story and finds out what's needed.

2. Has has great timing and knows when to wait & when to pounce:
If there's crucial information coming in a day or a week or a month, he will hold tight, and then jump on it at the right time.

3. He goes with his instincts:
Even in the face of other expert opinions, he goes with his gut instincts.

4. He knows what tools to use and when:
In any given episode, he'll use anything from a magnifying glass to a trained hunting dog, and even impersonations, to find the information he needs. In "The Adventure of the 6 Napoleons," for example, Sherlock has Watson track down an expert hunting dog to sniff out clues when the tracks are cold on a case.

5. He's great with paperwork:
When he wants to secure proper ownership, he makes sure his papers and signatures are in order. And in once case, gets to keep the famous and elusive Black Pearl!

6. He's nice to his assistant and delegates appropriately:
OK, so he can be a tad impatient with his sidekick, but he often says "please" and "thank you," to Watson, and he knows how to make full use of Watson's medical expertise when appropriate. He's a great delegator.

7. He gets time management and the value of staying up late, for good reason:
On many episodes, he's up all night, or just getting started at midnight, but there are great benefits....the case is solved by morning! I'd rather stay up late to get a problem out of the way and catch up on sleep when everything is cool.

8. He respects client confidentiality:
If someone swears him to secrecy, he don't divulge, even when pressured. Even better, he finds ways to placate those needing to know more, without telling his secrets.

9. He has great referrals:
Everyone knows who is is. They know his name, they recognize his face. They seek him out based on his reputation, and he has great referrals and repeat business. Look how he is always getting visitors.

10. He talks in sound bites and gets viral marketing:
If Sherlock Holmes had a Facebook page, he'd have thousands of FANS just on reputation alone. I think he'd also be great on Twitter. "Elementary, my dear Watson," is nowhere near 140 characters.

You can't say that about Hope and Michael Steadman, now, can you?

Check out A Related Post:
Would You Wait On Line for Yourself?

CompassPoint NonProfit Forum Highlights

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Earlier this month, I attended as PRESS the Compass Point Nonprofit Forum at the Mountain View Computer Museum, and had a great time at the various sessions, along with a lively crowd of 200 other participants. The program (click this link for audio downloads and copies of presentations) covered key aspects of nonprofit issues and action items for today: fundraising, decision-making, grassroots organizing and lobbying, and having a powerful and enactable mission statement.

Thanks so much to Nelson Layag, project director, for "hosting me," much appreciated.
(For more info, see www.twitter.com/nonprofitsrule, www.facebook.com/compasspoint.

On Legislative Issues: Erica Wood, vice-president of community leadership, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, emphasized the importance of grassroots organizing and keeping on top of legislative issues.

"Lobbying and advocacy not only have a place in your organization, but they are often the only key to getting to the root of the problem."

See a video excerpt of Erica here.

Hema Sareen Mohan, District Director and Press Representative - State Senator Joe Simitian, encouraged attendees to attend local events such as town hall meetings, farmer's markets and block parties, and to advocate on behalf of their clients.
"Legislators are often away from their constituents and in Sacramento most of the week, so it's really important to connect with them when there is a forum or event."

Watch a video excerpt of Hema here.

On Mission Statements: Jara Dean-Coffey, jdcPartnerships, spoke about how more then ever, nonprofits have to justify their mission and their results to philanthropic and goverment organizations. She discussed "logic models" and systems for determining whether your programs and structures are working.

On Decision-Making: Jeanne Bell, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, focused on key challenges of decision-making in organizations. Who makes the decisions? How are they communicated?
"Leaders are responsible for timely decision-making and execution." "We're supposed to hire slow and fire fast, but we often don't do that."

Watch Robert Weiner video here.

On Fundraising: The presenters were Sharon Svensson, Dolores Garay, Dolores Garay Consulting; and Robert L. Weiner, Strategic Technology Advisors to Nonprofit and Educational Institutions. The panel highlighted the importance of hiring a dedicated Director of Development in these tough times, and that for someone with good experience, an expected salary level was about 80K. Social media still has a ways to go in fundraising efforts, but in the end it's still reliant on mainstay marketing and solicitation tools. For example, speakers emphasized the importance of retaining donors, and thanking them often. When did you last thank your donors?
"Many successful fundraising efforts focus on a specific day or event, and focus their marketing that way. Social media is still used as a tool for building community, but we're all still figuring it out."

A collaborative event of:

The Jello 1-2-3 Theory of Social Media Marketing

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

This idea came to me in the middle of the night, and I just had to share it with you. OK, I admit it, I had snacking on my mind, I had worked through dinner finishing a project, and was therefore starving and proceeded to raid the kitchen for snacks. When I opened one of the cabinets, I found several boxes of Jello tucked in the back, which was surprising since I hadn't remembered buying them. They were the standard flavors, vanilla and chocolate, not nearly as exciting as the one I remembered. Well, of course I wasn't about to start making jello at 2 am, but I did get to thinking....

Whatever happened to Jello 1-2-3, which I had been endlessly fascinated with growing up? I remember being at the supermarket with my mother and refusing to leave without this magical substance, with its promise of separating into 3 flavors, or phases, kind of like a culinary rocket ship --each one, according to the photo on the package, creamier and frothier then the next. Anything that would somehow transform itself in the refrigerator, emerging in Star Trek fashion as a morphed version of itself, well, this had to be obtained.

So my mother gave in, maybe in part out of her own fascination with the stuff, or else to get me to put the topic to rest. Wasting no time, I flew to the kitchen, concocted the powdery mixture in a fancy glass, stuck in the fridge, and a few hours later, voila! It worked. I was in heaven.

So there was the top fluffy, frothy layer, and then the denser, more creamy layer after that, and finally the original Jello. You could mix it all up if you wanted, or be a purist and keep them separate. I liked to keep the layers separate. I liked the mystery in that it took a little while to get to the good part, the real, original Jello which I recognized, which was darn good in its own right. And I kind of liked the variations along the way, the slightly diluted original that presented different colors and consistencies.

You might see where I am going with this. The original "you," your business, your online identity, your website, is your bottom layer. This is your core, and it has to be constant. For those who already know you, it has to be consistent with what they have seen and experienced before. For those who don't, it still has to represent a foundation, although even at times a shaky one if you are making a lot of changes or going through a transition.

The upper layers are your social media, otherwise known as your sticky self. Maybe they are your Twitter or Facebook, your YouTube or Ning or blog. They represent your slightly diluted self, but in a good way. They represent the things you think about or read, suggest to others, or sell. The media you generate or reference, the quotes you like, the conference you just attended, the e-book you just wrote. They are your playful side, your experimental side, your slightly show -offy side, your learning side. They may not be the core you, but your extended self, out there for everyone to see.

So whatever your 1-2-3 thing is, make it good. Have a great top few layers so people will want to get to the real you, the original, the "this is what I do everyday," you, the value added you. Make your core layer a fun and good place to hang out, and people will be curious. They'll come back for seconds. They'll want to hang out with you for a while, and maybe even miss you a little when you're gone. Can they recreate this super duper online presence? Maybe, but it has to be for themselves, on their own, but if they have to follow the directions on the side of the package, it may be a lost cause.

Now, about that snack...

8 Hot Tips on Establishing Online Credibility

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:15:00 +0000

I get a lot of e-newsletters and blogs in my in box everyday. Of course, I wouldn't be getting them if I hadn't subscribed to them, and I wouldn't have subscribed to them if there weren't something compelling about the author, the content, the graphics and links, etc. In order to maintain my sanity and to stick to what is essential, however, I regularly assess what I am receiving and decide whether it continues to be relevant for me. One of the factors in this decision is the publisher's online credibility.

If I am reading a blog about writing tips, I want to know that the author is a good writer, can recommend valuable resources and links, and has a strong online presence. In other words, that they are credible. It's the same logic as meeting someone new at a social gathering - when people begin to tell us too much information, we get a bit uncomfortable, and suddenly talking about the weather isn't such a bad idea. When meeting new people, or even people I've known for a while - I don't need to know what they had for breakfast, or if they got stuck in traffic, or if they have a headache and are going to bed early - all information revealed more often than not through Twitter and other social networking tools which make it easy to tell one's life story, even if only in 140 characters.

So, how to establish online credibility? Much the same way as you would in person...do what you say you are going to do, and be consistent.

1. Establish a Publishing Schedule and Stick To It. If you have a blog, don't post one entry one week and 4 entries the next, it will appear inconsistent to your readers and they won't know what to expect from you. Once you establish a schedule, stick to it, and be realistic about it. This is more important that posting for the sake of posting. It is generally considered best practice to blog at least 3 times a week. Similarly, if you have an e-newsletter, establish a schedule that is realistic and stick to it. Monthly is the minimum timeframe in which to communicate with your audience via e-news. Also, be careful not to overcommunicate. Daily e-mail posts are too frequent for most people, and they are typically too short to be of value.

2. Don't change the rules out of nowhere. I recently signed up for a writing tips e-news blast. After a few weeks, the publisher decided that she was suddenly going to charge $6.00 to subscribers. I immediately unsubscribed, I didn't like that a fee had suddenly been introduced out of nowhere, and I had gotten used to this particular information being offered for free. I would have preferred that the publisher had introduced an entirely new product or publication and charged a fee up front for that. I would have been much more likely to buy in.

3. Double-check your links and resources. There is nothing worse then clicking on a link and finding the page is missing or outdated. Also, it gives the appearance that you the publisher are not paying attention to your own content.

4. Include strong graphics: I receive many excellent blogs and newsletters, but I have to admit that those with good graphics tend to hold my attention better. For one thing, they help break up the text. For another, they can provide insight as to the personality of the publisher. Dosh dosh, for example, always had relevant and thought provoking graphics.

5. Don't multipurpose your subscriber list: Make sure you are sending your subscribers what they are asking for, and if not, you should have a good reason. Also, be careful about personalization in outgoing communications if you don't want a personalized response back. I recently received an e-mail sent to me directly from a colleague who was coming to my area and wanted to possibly work with me on a project. I e mailed him back as to what did he have in mind, only to find that this was a blanket e-mail sent to a list of those he knew in the entire western US! He embarrassed himself by admitting it was a group e-mail, and he lost credibility with me. He should have sent me a direct e mail if he wanted to work with me. In this case, he would have been better off sending an announcement style communication rather than a personalized one.

6. Establish you own domain name: Many people hear of the importance of this, and it goes in one ear and out the other. I'm surprised at how many notable bloggers do not bother to brand their URL. When you have an extension on your URL that is not your own, it can confused your readers and also doesn't do much for your credibility. Most domain names are easily obtainable, and can be created so as to best reflect your business and purpose. It shows your readers that you are serious, and at the very least, makes it easier for them to remember your site name. On sites such as this one, blogger.com, you can get your own domain name for about$10 a year and only a few set-up steps.

7. Proofread and follow the rules of grammar/punctuation: I know this may sound like no fun, but sometimes it seems like just because writers find themselves in the blogosphere, they can suddenly make up all kind of writing rules. Many writers think that writing online is less formal then in print, and therefore typos and less then grammatical sentences are OK. While I'm all for being creative and have even made up a few words myself from time to time, such as "social media-ist," that's not the same as being careless about punctuation. It is more important then ever when writing online to follow best practices, and to proofread consistently. As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and with today's fast paced online environment, you can't afford to make mistakes. I have been surprised at the number of typos I have seen on the posts of well-established bloggers, and particularly the misuse of "it's" versus "its." Yipes.

8. Use a strong and distinctive headshot for your social media profiles and any online activity you have, including avatars that appear with your blog posts, author photos that might accompany articles or guest blog posts, etc. It's important to stick with one photo as much as possible so you can keep your brand consistent, and so that viewers feel they can trust contacting you, friending you, and buying from you. What do I mean by a strong headshot? The quality should be clear and not blurred, you should look approachable, and your photo should reflect your true self -- whether that be more on the corporate side or even the funky side. Avoid busy backgrounds and keep your dress simple.

Did I miss anything? What tips have you found useful in establishing credibility with your audiences?

How to Set Up the New NutshellMail with Constant Contact in 5 Steps

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:26:00 +0000

I was excited about the big news this week that Constant Contact was integrating with NutshellMail, for two main reasons: 1. I am a Constant Contact Business Partner, so it's cool to get the advance notice and also to be able to offer e-news clients some neat bonuses, and 2. I had been curious about NutshellMail and have wanted to try it for the last few months, so this latest news gave me an excuse to check it out.

So here's the deal: I just set up the program about an hour ago, and I can already see the benefits. The idea is that you combine all your social network info and integrate it with your e-mail, so all the updates come in as a group, rather then having to sort through messages, updates, posts, and replies, piecemeal. For those folks using Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, or Seesmic Desktop, you may already have gotten used to some of these automated features, but this program also allows you to integrate with Facebook, Linked In, and Twitter, making it a handy one-stop-shopping experience.

Overview: How to Set Up NutshellMail

1. Register: Go to https://nutshellmail.com/register/ to set up your account, by providing your e-mail address, a new password, and the social media accounts you want to connect to. These will be the ones included with your e-mail updates.

2. Allow Access: You will need to Allow Access by granting permission to connect with your social network sites. For example with Facebook, this allows you to post to your Wall, as well as "Comment," "Like," "Share," and "Reply to Wall."

3. Confirm Registration: Go to your Inbox to confirm your registration. You will notice that on the confirming registration e-mail, your status updates and preferences already appear in the lower half of the e-mail for you to review.

4. Review Updates: Here's a screen capture of the feeds that display automatically. Notice with Twitter, here my most recent update appears, and when I continue scrolling, I get the latest direct messages, tweets, and replies from those I'm following. I can update my status right from the e-mail, as well as direct message, follow, and delete. I can also do a Search by clicking on the Add Search Terms icon. Haven't tried it yet, but I will. Notice there's a "Customize" option, I'm getting to that next.

5. Customize: There's a lot of customization you can do here. In the Facebook platform, for example, the user can choose from almost all the main FB features and decide which ones to filter out, if any. On mine, I decided to delete some of the notifications, such as Birthdays and Group Invitations, since I prefer handle those directly in FB.On Twitter, as shown below, you can customize according to Sections you want to receive updates on, as well as Search Terms, and Lists. I had created some lists a few months ago, and it was great to see all the latest Tweets from list members in one spot. You can also schedule the frequency you want to receive updates in your e-mail, as well as the number of updates in each category.

The pros clearly are the consolidation of updates and the level of detail you can customize and filter the information. Very impressive. I'm also assuming that when we post our newsletter links, it will make the sharing and forwarding all the easier. I can also see eliminating some redundancy that can occur when there are too many connected feeds and double or even triple posting occurs. I like the idea of disconnecting some of my feeds so that I can post my updates in a more targeted way to my social networks and see it all consolidated in one screen. Less confusing.

Cons? None so far! Three small points though -- be sure to confirm your registration before you start any actions such as messaging or replying on that first confirming e-mail/preview, or you will just get an error message. At least, that's what happened to me. Also, when your update e-mail arrives, you may think items are missing. I'm in G-mail and Firefox, and I had to open a new tab to see the entire screen so that all my social networks showed up. Finally, based on the few minutes I just experienced with all this, I can see the need for pretty aggressive filtering. If you check yes to everything, it's a lot of updates to process.

So, that's it in a nutshell! I'm curious how other NutshellMail users are liking it so far, and how it compares with other aggregators. Feel free to post your comments here.

PS How about an advance posting/tweeting feature for those of us who sometimes work ahead? I suggested it to the NutshellMail folks on their FAN page and this is what they wrote back, so we'll see...

"Hi Caroline. At this point you cannot schedule tweets or advanced posts, but that is a killer suggestions that will be shared with the team. We can't wait to read your blog post!"

PPS Are Flickr and YouTube connections coming?

Why Great Writers Are Also Great Social Media-ists

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:24:00 +0000

Over the weekend, I was thinking about...well -- I admit it --my inbox. And how I should practice what I've preached in my own communications, and really pare down my subscriptions so I'm only receiving e-mails and blog posts from people I really want to. Otherwise I will forever be reading blog posts and newsletters, and not coming up with new content for my stuff, which was one of my marketing goals for 2010. Can you relate? So this morning, I pared down my subscriptions to my favorite bloggers, some of whom are: seth godin, chris brogan, brian clark (copyblogger), men with pens, problogger, michael martine (remarkablogger), mari smith (facebook), sharon hurley-hall, and zen habits. I'm sure many of them are your favorites as well.

In reviewing the common denominator for most of these publishers, I found that in addition to great blogs posts, they had all written at least one book, and that in most cases, I owned and of course, loved the book! A coincidence? I think not. Do you have to be a great writer to publish a book these days? Not necessarily, but you do have to have some pretty great content to be top rated on Amazon, retweeted a million times, interviewed by top blogs and media posts, and pursued in social media like you're going out of style. It doesn't just happen by accident.

So then I got to further thinking that not only did I like their blog posts and books, but I liked the way they used social media, and that's no coincidence either. Because great writers get online communications, and the apple doesn't fall too far from the social media tree. Here's why:

*They understand how to send powerful tweets, and that 140 characters is actually kind of a lot if you know how to compose timely and relevant posts.

*They understand that it's more about you then them, so their communications focus on solutions to your problems, and not their latest success.

*They get how to connect their products to their brand using strong copywriting.

*They use their writing as a bridge to other media, such as video, podcasts, etc., so as to further connect the dots.

*They are great aggregators, explainers, and summarizers, and they're not shy about putting together compilation posts that sing and using social media to get the word out.

*They get that maybe not everyone on Linked In wants to see their Twitter stream, so they have the courage to disconnect when it feels like the right thing to do.

*They pack a punch with their seemingly simple blog posts, and kind of leave you wondering how (in a good way.)

*They are effective list writers, and know how to make them juicy and post them on your bulletin board/refrigerator meaningful.

So where do I stand? I was excited about my first e-book, "6 Degrees of Twitteration," (and my next one coming soon, on a topic that seems to freak us all out), and I also get it. I get how to connect the dots, and find meaningful ways to connect online. I like the social media challenge -- it provides an added dimension to communications and consulting, and I'm here for you to help you out, if you need it.

In the meantime, enjoy these books I recommend through my affiliate links, from a few great "writers" and social media-ists.

Like this post? Please feel free to forward and share.

3 Tips for Effective E-Mail & Social Media Marketing, Plus Free Download

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

This is a screenshot of my Facebook FAN page, where I created a "Join My List" tab for visitors to subscribe to my e-news.

I attended an interesting webinar this morning presented by Lyris, about the intersection of e-mail and social media. There were some interesting factoids highlighted in the presentation, such as:

80% of adults use social media at least once a month
a poll of the webinar attendees revealed Facebook as the most popular social media, with Twitter and Linked In tied at a close 2nd, and YouTube 3rd (this surprised me a bit, considering the popularity of videos and the growth in YouTube since its inception)
as of January 2010, Twitter has seen a 294% growth, Facebook a 95% growth, and Foursquare a 519% growth

3 of the Key Factors in having an effective union of social media and e-mail marketing are:

1. Building your opt-in list and promoting it in key locations: Preferred areas to promote your sign-up are of course on the home page of your web site or blog, within your e-newsletter as a visible link, using Twitter to promote the latest issue of your newsletter, and your Facebook page to have a clear invitation to join your list or sign up. Be sure to include a brief description of the newsletter, and try to include a bonus offer as an incentive. Other less obvious techniques are to partner with someone else whose business is related to yours, or who has an audience that might be relevant to you, and ask them to offer your newsletter sign- up on their pages or as part of a bonus or bundle they are offering. It's great for branding, if you're partnering with the right company who already has an established presence.

2. Building Your Brand: This is most effectively done by establishing credibility online; stick to a regular publication schedule and be clear about your offers and promotions. Be sure to engage with your community using your social networks, so that when you make an offer, you have already established your online identity and purpose. You can also introduce targeted offers that link directly to your social media sites in order to encourage visitors and dialogue.
3. Evaluating Results and ROI: There are many ways of evaluating results of both your e-mail marketing and social media links. Good e-newsletter programs provide tracking reports that let you know how many click throughs and on what pages your audience has taken action on. You can also introduce specific campaigns through social media and e-newsletters that lead to a course or product, and evaluate their success through web analytics and other metrics, as well as subscribers and conversions to sales. Click map reports also provide you with metrics on your social media sites.

At the end of the webinar, the q/a proved as interesting as the topic itself. Here's a sample of some of the questions and answers, some of which I've enriched and expanded upon:

Q: How do I know what social media sites to use to connect with prospects?
A: You can use surveys to ask this question of current clients or prospects to find out where they like to hang out online. You can also research various social media sites and find out on their profile pages who is typically visiting their site. If you subscribe to blogs and e-newsletters and want to connect with those folks, look for their social media connections and you'll see where they spend their time as well. Twitter also has tools, such as Twitter lists, and Twello, that allow you to find people according to niche areas. Also, Linked In has an advance search tool that enables you to locate individuals in specific positions, at specific companies.

Q: What resources do I need to embark on social media marketing?
A: It's fine to start out with one full-time or part-time staffer, and expand from there. You'll know when it's time to add staff or increase participation by more then one person, or if it's appropriate for several staffers to contribute. It's also a good idea to start slowly, and establish a presence on one or two sites to start, rather than trying to be all over the social media map. In terms of cost, the budget implication is really the cost of the personnel involved.

Q: My company is resisting social media because they are afraid of negative comments. How do I respond?
A: That's the point, really. Not that negative comments are desired, but getting a dialogue going on early on and establishing mini forums, so to speak, are a great way to achieve customer satisfaction and clear the air if there has been a sensitive or controversial issue. It's also important information for you as a business owner to know. Plus, others are watching to see how you company handles these comments or complaints. If you respond directly and openly, go the extra mile to correct the problem as best you can, and show that you are paying attention to your customers, you've not only turned a disatisfied customer around, but gained some public relations points as well with others in your audience, and perhaps even among your competitors, who may not know how to handle this kind of input.

How about you? Have you discovered any tips for effectively combining social media with e-marketing? I'd like to hear your stories. Also, here's a free gift: there were about 40 slides that you can download through my Facebook FAN page that you will find useful. If you visit me there, post a quick comment so I know it's you!

Save Time Producing Your Communications: 5 Solutions to Common Roadblocks

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:41:00 +0000

In today's busy "I want it now!" environment, new demands are being placed on businesses, consultants, and entrepreneurs all the time, in order to keep pace with what customers and stakeholders want and need. In many ways, no matter what the tools, strategy, and execution are ultimately decided upon, it all comes down to content: having enough of it; having great quality; communicating it in a way your clients want to receive it (ie. newsletters, videos, podcasts, blog posts, etc.); and being timely. Not only is content king, but so are relevancy, delivery, accuracy, urgency, and "stickiness," -- the idea that people will bookmark it, share it, and come back to it a week, a month, or even a year later.

Over the last year or so, I've heard many common challenges and concerns about communications issues in particular. Following are 5 of the most common ones, and some quick "Do It Now" answers you can take with you right away:

In the category of I Don't Have Time To:

1. Engage in Social Networking:
Social Networking can be a huge time eater, and there's no direct correlation between time spent and ROI. That being said, there are real advantages to increasing your online visibility, developing communities to network and share ideas with, and eventually sell to and buy from. If you're just getting started or have a very limited schedule, try just half an hour a day (15 minutes in the am, and 15 in the pm). Focus on 1-2 tools that you enjoy or that make sense to you, and don't try and be all over the map. Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In are of course some of the most common platforms, but don't ignore other niche marketing sites that might be relevant for your business. If I'm short on time, I try daily to at least make one new connection, post or retweet a great resource to my community, and subscribe to a new blog, e-news, or course or webinar that look worthwhile.

2. Start a Blog:
This is a biggie. Many businesses realize the importance of blogging, but have little time to begin a blog, much less maintain one over time. Using a consultant to help set up a blog, establish strategies and goals, and even develop and outline content ideas for posts, can help launch your blog and see it through over the long haul. Consultants can even help market your posts to provide you with more visibility. To get started on your own, you might consider wordpress.com, which offers free blogging software and features about 10 template designs that also include navigation pages if you want to try this out as a website solution as well. Note that the free version is not as good as the paid, hosted version, wordpress.org, but it will get you going and you can transition into the paid themes later. Blogger, which I am using here, is also easy to get going and has many automated features for customizing your page, including widgets, links, Amazon affiliate pages, and others. Typepad, created by Seth Godin, and Moveable Type, are other blogging platforms you might try.

3. Launch an E-Newsletter:
Newsletters are great for keeping in touch with new people you meet at conferences, exhibit halls, networking events, or just everyday life. Plus, loyal subscribers are a great group to present special offers and coupons to, to survey, and to reward with free goodies. But finding a provider, planning and organizing relevant and dynamic content, and publishing on a regular schedule (at least monthly) can be daunting.
I researched newsletter delivery platforms for over a month when preparing to launch my newsletter, "The Butterfly," and settled on Constant Contact, as I found it the easiest and most efficient to use. There are many others out there to try, such as Aweber, Cooler E-Mail, and iContact, to name a few. Deciding on a program and what your typical content will be are the most time consuming aspects of your newsletter, but take advantage of trial offers to see which one you like best. Once you've chosen a program, you can save time by writing stories in advance so they are ready to plug in when you need them. If you already have a blog, you can link to your best posts for your newsletter, and turn them into features. Try featuring guest writers, which will also encourage reciprocal links between their website and yours, and you can also try quick interviews as great ways of getting content. An e-mail interview, for example, can include 5-6 questions that your chosen candidate can answer at their own pace and you can plug it right into your newsletter. Include a head shot of your interviewee, and if they are an author, a link to their new book, or even a book review.
When starting out, don't try to publish weekly, but rather monthly, until you get used to creating content on a regular basis.

4. Create Videos:
This is a tricky area. Everyone knows that video marketing is hot right now, so they are rushing on the video bandwagon without necessarily knowing what they are doing. I've seen a lot of folks create videos that are not great quality, and this doesn't do much for their brand or credibility. I had always regarded videos as highly specialized, and probably would not have even begin making them if not for 2 crucial factors: 1. I started experimenting with iMovie and got addicted! 2. I won a Flip at YouTube at a developers conference they held last summer, and got equally enthusiastic. I found that, as a writer, launching a YouTube channel and finding new ways to tell stories was a great addition to skills in print journalism I already knew. And I had fun.
For those of you looking to save time in video creation, I suggest Animoto, which I also learned about at my day at YouTube. Animoto takes your photos and now video clips, and creates special effects that make them look like a polished video, plus you can easily add royalty free music. An account is free for a 12 second movie, otherwise a $30 annual account gives you longer options. When I don't have time to use iMovie and create films, I use Animoto. Another great item is the Flip camera, which comes with movie making software which is fairly easy to use and works fine if your computer is new or purchased within the last 2 years or so. If you have a 4-year old computer, the files will take forever to load and you will encounter other problems, so don't try it. Also, many smart phones have video and direct to YouTube programs. I recently won a Palm Pre, and find the video capability and quality impressive. Plus, it only took a nano second to upload a video straight to YouTube.

5. E-books, Educational Courses, and Content Creation Overall:
Many marketers come out with new e-books, courses, webinars, and ezines all the time, and it can seem overwhelming to receive it all, much less produce it. If you like what they are doing but just don't have the time yourself, consider becoming an affiliate. Typically, the only criteria are that you like the product, and that you take the steps to set up the affiliate code and links on your web site or blog. Look for affiliate links and instructions from the Publisher, and feel free to ask them questions about how their affiliate programs work. I am an affiliate with Amazon, which makes sense for me since I write about books and authors so much. I am also a Constant Contact Business Partner and affiliate. Remember that if you are advertising an affiliate product, you need to disclose that you are an affiliate and that you profit from readers clicking on the affiliate link. Another tip is once you've signed on, don't just embed affiliate code, but also an image of the item you are referring to. Research has shown that items with corresponding graphics and images have higher click-through rates.

A great example of deciding on an affiliate program and evaluating its content and merits, is Chris Brogan's blog post from today, where he discusses signing up for Chris Guillebeau's Empire Building Kit affiliate program, and I may do the same shortly. You might also be interested in Chris's latest book, The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World. (affiliate link.)

So there you have it, 5 time-saving solutions to common communications projects we all need and want for our businesses and projects.

Any time-saving solutions you'd like to share here? Feel free to post a comment, and good luck on your communications projects!

Having the Time of Your Life in Business: 6 Tips from the Film We Can't Forget

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:30:00 +0000

Over the weekend, I happened to catch one of my favorite movies, "Dirty Dancing," which is all the more poignant in light of the still fairly recent death of actor Patrick Swayze. Although I've seen the movie many times, I was struck in this most recent viewing by the intensity with which Johnny teaches Baby the infamous dance routine that she performs to replace Penny. In a heated few days (I read up on this - the film was shot in Virginia under such high heat that several cast members apparently passed out), he teaches baby about balance, how to do lifts, feel from the heart, take flying leaps, and how not to look down. She struggles, but in the end accomplishes the moves well enough to pull off the performance, and do even better in the grand finale "Time of My Life," sequence that has become a hallmark of the film.

So maybe you see where I'm going with this. I got to thinking about how not only that sequence, but so much of this movie surprisingly is a great metaphor for life and business. Here's my breakdown:

1. Don't freak out if you have to learn fast.
In the film, Baby only has a few days to get her routine together. While at times frantic, she maintains her composure pretty well, and actually enjoys herself. So if you have something suddenly fall into your lap that you have to master pretty quickly, concentrate, take a deep breath, practice over and over again, and don't beat yourself up if you're not perfect. The main thing is to get through it and try. Others can tell when you're genuine and make the effort. It counts for a lot. If you make a mistake, learn from it, and fix it for the next time.

2. Don't let anyone put you in a corner, and while you're at it, dazzle the audience:
OK, it's a corny line, but it works. There's no greater moment then when Johnny issues that famous line, "no one puts Baby in a corner," and then whisks her onto the stage, which she certainly seems to own once she's up there. So, take the spotlight if you feel it's yours, and don't let anyone take it away from you. That means: make that speech, presentation, or pitch. Move if you have to, stay up all night if you have to, make 50 phone calls or send 500 e-mails if that's what you need to find your place in the sun. After all, if you don't claim your space, someone else will take it. And while you're at it, you might as well be dazzling.

3. Realize that things are often not what they seem:
Much of the plot of the movie and its twists and turns (no pun intended) has to do with false perceptions. Baby's father (Jerry Orbach) thinks mistakenly that Johnny has gotten Penny pregnant, when in fact it was Robbie. Johnny is mistaken for a thief, until Baby clears up that it could not have been him, as they were together all night. Johnny thinks of Baby as fearless, when in fact she admits, "I'm afraid of everything." Baby's father at one point tells her, "you're not who I thought you were."
In business and in life, we need to be super aware of everything. Do your peers and associates meet deadlines, be where they say they are going to be, produce what they are accountable for? Do you? Beware of agendas, and be ready to straighten out misconceptions before they get out of hand.

4. Stand up for what you believe in, and believe in change:
One of the themes of the film is standing up for your beliefs. Johnny is so impressed and moved that Baby admitted to their relationship to everyone, that he returns to Kellerman's for the final dance of the season, newly invigorated. Baby sees herself as a bridge between cultures and people, and wants to be a part of both the working class world of the Kellerman's staff, as well as someone who uses her economic advantage to do what she considers the right thing. We end up routing for her because she seems classy even in her flawed moments, such as failing to do the infamous "lift" in the first dance show, and running to get her father in emergencies.
The lessons in this movie ring true - evil gets punished, and change is inevitable. The terrible Robbie finally gets exposed for being rotten, and the thieving couple get put in prison, and those who resist change and the new way of covering the dance floor, will surely "sink like a stone." Watch the last scene of the movie --there isn't a single person who isn't dancing "the new way."
So if you're not sure what you believe in, do some soul searching, and start speaking out. The right people will follow.

5. Keep your sense of humor:
The movie has more then its share of tongue-in-cheek moments. There are great scenes when Baby and Johnny are mimicking the voices on the soundtrack and are playful with each other. And who can forget Lisa, Baby's sister, rehearsing her goofy "Hoola Hana" song for the big end of season guest show.
When times get tough, let loose a little and try to laugh...things will seem better in the morning.

6. The actors' lives beyond the film - you're only as good as now:
Paradoxically, the huge popularity of the film (it's been deemed one of the most watched movies ever), had a somewhat dooming effect on the actor' lives, and seemed to typecast them for years later. While Swayze went on to gain popularity with "Ghost" and other films, Grey changed the way she looked and became so unrecognizable, her roles seemed few and far between. Many other characters retired early, or disappeared completely.
This is itself is the lesson of carpe diem. Place the greatest importance on what you are doing now, because tomorrow, or the next day, you may show up at Kellerman's only to find the place has shut down.

And now, for those of us like me who can't resist, here's a clip from the infamous final scene, which by the way, has a whopping 194,676 views. Enjoy!

Candace in the City: Bushnell and "The Carrie Diaries" at Silicon Valley Reading

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:41:00 +0000

"When You're working on a book, that's all your doing...it lives with you!" commented Candace Bushnell, at a reading of "The Carrie Diaries" she held at the Menlo Atherton Performing Arts Center on May 12. The event was also a fundraiser for the Global Fund for Women, and organized through Kepler's Bookstore. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading and am looking forward to starting the book, which chronicles Carrie's early life, before Big, the "girls," Manolos, and other complications. It was also great to see a writer with so many "glam" credentials in television and movies, to be so earthy about the writing process and work just as hard as others less known. It was juicy to learn that Mr. Big really does exist, and they are friends now but both married to other people. Life does not always imitate art.

Other interesting factoids: Candace decided she wanted to be a writer at the age of 8, came to New York when she was 18, got her start writing for magazines and even wrote about microwaves, ("I know everything there is to know about them," she said.) She totally loves Sara Jessica (who wouldn't), and felt the "Lipstick Jungle" faced different challenges, as it was a network situation, very different from HBO and more pressure forf audiences/viewers. She tries to write at least 4 pages a day, and tends to write as many as 24 pages a day when she gets close to the end of a book.

Best quote of the night: "Carrie is a person who really really gets women. But men... maybe not so much..."

Feel free to order your copy through my affiliate link for The Carrie Diaries, and share your comments on the book here. Happy reading!

Letter to Online Marketers: 6 Annoying Things You Should Stop Doing Now

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Tue, 11 May 2010 09:33:00 +0000

Like many of you, I subscribe to quite a few newsletters and blogs, and and overall I've been thrilled to see the evolution of online marketing grow and develop from what it was a year ago, and even six months ago. With what might be called "social media 3.0," we are seeing the refinement of the sales funnel, the deluxe landing page complete with snappy videos and juicy offers, the clever blog post, the provocative Tweet, the valuable Facebook post, the super slick e-book. As subscribers and viewers, and maybe even as publishers and entrepreneurs ourselves, we have how to's, giveaways to Pittsburgh and Paris, iPads and iPhone offers coming out of our ears.

I've been a loyal fan of Problogger, Chris Brogan, Writing Roads, Copyblogger, Sharon Hurley-Hall, and Michael Martine at Remarkablogger for several years now. Why? Because they get it right. They use photos and other multimedia well. They vary their topics and style. They offer value. But there are also publishers who make their way into my in box and I end up wishing they hadn't. You don't have to be a Chris Brogan or a Darren Rouse or a Mari Smith, to get it right online. When you know what makes for good, effective marketing, it makes it all the more --frustrating, shall we say - when we see folks doing it wrong - by that I mean wrong marketing approach. Here's what I suggest not doing:

1. Please do not send me an invitation to a live, in-person conference in Iceland 2 days before the event, when I don't live anywhere near Iceland and cannot in a million years envision myself hopping a plane to Iceland at the last minute for anything except a family emergency, which would never happen because I don't have any family in Iceland. I don't care if you promise me the key to the city, a lifetime of free books, an ongoing supply of my favorite chocolate brownies, and the internet marketing secrets of the stars...I'm not going.
Hint: Try segmenting your newsletter list so that someone who lives in or near Iceland and who has indicated interest in event there, might want to receive the information and actually attend.

2. Please do not write blog post after blog post about how you're a millionaire and you're writing this post from a Hawaiian island and how you can take six months off a year or do whatever, and then hit me up for a $30 report or webinar. If you don't need the money, why are you charging a fee? I'm not impressed that you are a millionaire, because guess what? I don't believe you. There's no way you're getting my $30 dollars and I'm unsubscribing.
Hint: Being authentic doesn't mean showing off. Maybe you should share details of your life in a different way. And if in fact you are a millionaire, how about donating your profits to a charitable cause.

3. I love writers and writing, but in this day and age, communicating only with the written word and no multimedia is the equivalent of "web no.O." There's a good chance I will get bored with you, even if you have the spirit of Steinbeck and the flair of Fitzgerald. Sorry, but I need a jpeg once in a while.
Hint: How about a video clip, or a photo upload, or even a podcast.

4. Do not auto Tweet, and particularly do not auto Tweet literary quotes and quotes from famous people. It creates the impression that you do not get social media and that you don't care if you get it. In the same vein, do not link to a white paper PDF from a year ago and auto post it 10 times a day. I'm going to block you and unfriend you, for sure.
Hint: How about taking the time you would have spent setting up the auto tweets, to find real links to real information that your friends and followers will find valuable.

5. A survey with no reward is just plain depressing. Please, if I'm going to go to the trouble of answering your online survey when I have 100 emails, and errands and projects to take care of, make it worth it. Offer me a free goodie, I'll take you up on it.
Hint: Offer a free goody as I said, I'll take you up on it.

6. Another Twitter note: do not follow me with the expectation of me following you back, if you have a strange icon on your profile and no photo, or no web site linked to your account, and no signs of interaction in your Tweets for days on end. Myy Twitter fraud radar goes up, and I think you're a program and not a person.
Hint: Make sure your Twitter profile includes your professional image, link to your website, and a clear business title and tag line that clearly explains what you do. You only have a few seconds to prove you're for real, don't lose the moment.

What did I miss? Tell me about your online marketing grievances and how you would make them right.

Do You Really Want to Be Everywhere Online? Think Channels

carrie@carriefreelance.com (caroline jaffe-pickett) — Sat, 08 May 2010 01:24:00 +0000

A lot of marketers lately are talking about the importance of being everywhere online. I disagree. I think if you are everywhere, people get jaded about you, or bored with you, or overwhelmed by you, even if you have good content and clear calls to action. Imagine yourself at a party. You don't really want to spend the whole time talking to the same person, even if they are really great.

In my view, a better way to go, is to think in terms of channels. First, be findable when people are looking for you or your area of expertise. In my case, my area is writing, editing, social media coaching, blogging, e-newsletters, (I'm a Constant Contact Business Partner), and public relations solutions.

Another way to go is to build relevant connections through content, meaning this blog and social media, and in my case, I use different tools for different purposes. I use Twitter, for example, as an additional outpost to my main website, and as a place to build community with those in the communications sector and beyond, as well as for quick shares of links, event information, best practices, etc. I also occasionally use Twitter to try out different fun apps, such as Twitpics, tweetchat, twitvid, tweelater, social oomph, and others. I use Linked In to network with professionals in a more targeted approach, and to use the advanced search tools to find individuals in specific capacities and roles, as well as the Groups. I'm a member of several groups, including Writers and Editors, National Association of Women Business Owners, E-Marketing Association Network, Mequoda Summit, E-Women, Oberlin College, Silicon Valley Tweetup, and several others. My YouTube channel gives me a great place to share my videos, many of which include event coverage and interviews with folks who interest me. Subscribers can join in and be part of my community there.

Still another channel is to produce valuable content that readers and audiences will enjoy, which is why this year I have focused on targeted guest blog posts, a new e-book, and honing and refining my monthly e-newsletter about social media and communications trends, integrated content issues, business communications issues, and working with clients. which I renamed "The Butterfly." Feel free to join me there as well.

Trying to be everywhere is exhausting. It's better to think "channels" than "everywhereness," and if you're good, they will come. Try it out, or comment here on what works for you and how you communicate online.