March and April hold several speaking opportunities. Here's the list along with some brief commentary about each:

MARCH

ZoomInfo Twitter for Business Webinar
March 2
The folks at ZoomInfo were kind enough to invite me to present a Webinar on using Twitter for sales and marketing, especially sales. 

Ottawa Web Marketing Club
Ottawa, Ontario, Ca
March 4
I'm particularly excited about this event as 1) I've never been to Canada, and 2) I'm keynoting the inaugural Ottawa Web Marketing Club Executive Breakfast. I certainly hope they don't hold the USA's defeat of Canada in the Olympics against me. I promise not to hold Canada's dramatic overtime victory against the US in th gold medal game against them. By the way, even in south Louisiana we have hockey, the Louisiana Icegators located in my home town of Lafayette!

Houston Association of Realtors Spring Training Event
Houston, TX
March 11-12
I'm particularly excited about going back to Houston to speak at this two-day event sponsored by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), the largest real estate association in the country. I was there last year for a social media training event and was treated so well I can't wait to get back. 

RETechSouth
Atlanta, GA
March 25
This is yet another real estate technology event that's in its 2nd (or 3rd) year. 

Portable Sanitation Association Nuts & Bolts Workshop
Biloxi, MS
March 26

APRIL

LASHRM Conference
Lafayette, LA
April 19
This is the Louisiana Society of Human Resource Management conference (in case you hadn't figured that out). It will be the first time I've spoken about social media from a human resources perspective, but we've got some really good plans as to how to make it be a fit. 

SCNR NewComm Forum
San Mateo, CA
April 21
Of all the events I've ever done, being invited to speak at NewComm Forum has made the greatest impression. If you look at the roster of speaker, they represent the best in the business. I'm very jazzed about being there. It is a signal honor. 

MarketingProfs Webinar
April 29
I'm doing a very nuts and bolts social media Webinar for MarketingProfs. They're a great group of people and I very much appreciate my association with them. 

I do have some feelers out for May, but if you're looking for a popular, dynamic speaker who can rock the house on the topic of social media, well, they are probably all taken by now! But, I'm available. Give me a call. I'm an old rocker! 

It's something we're doing just for fun, based on our common interest in this new technology. 

We're asking the following:

1. Bookmark the URL, so when we launch it, you'll be ready.
2. Subscribe to the RSS feed if you'd like to stay abreast of the posts
3. If you're a Posterous user, add this site to your list

We're planning to launch the site at noon central and will tweet the launch when it happens.

Again, we've chosen to use Posterous because we want to do this site "posterous-style." Our focus is on aggregation, filtering and reporting, and less on pontificating or opining, though you'll get some of that as well.

In a nutshell (pardon the pun), it aggregates Facebook content that appears as Wall posts, newsfeed items and messages and delivers it to my email inbox. It shows me a list of my friend's birthdays as well. Not only that, but it can pull content from other sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace. 

I get an email a couple of times a day that apprises me of all that's happening on these social networks. 

The primary benefit is convenience. I don't have to go to these sites, they come to me via email. It works much like an RSS feed, but presents the content in a nicely-formatted HTML email. I can see friend's avatars, photos, etc. It's a real time-saver that puts everything in one neatly-arranged package.

There are a lot of new apps being developed and rolled out each and every day. I try a lot of them and find few that match the simplicity, ease of use and convenience of Nutshell Mail. I encourage you to try it. 

(DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a sponsored conversation. This comes from my heart and the only reason I pass along the information is because I think you'd find it to be valuable.) 

The reason we're doing this is based on our common curiosity about location-based social networks. So strong is that curiosity that we're taking what little time we have in the evenings and weekends to devote some attention to watching and commenting on this burgeoning new industry. We're doing so on a site we've entitled Check-Insider. The name is based on the reference to these sites as "check-in services." 

There is more to it than mere curiosity. Ken and I are hopeful Check-Insider will follow in the vein of sites like AllFacebook.com that intensely cover a particular topic. So far as I know, no site is doing this as of yet, but even if there is, we still want to.

Of course, that's a tall order and neither of us is prepared to tackle this alone. We are on the hunt for a few other bloggers who are willing to cover this space and who will do so without hope of financial remuneration (at least for the time-being). We would prefer to find people who are avid users of sites like Foursquare, who have some experience blogging, and who have an innate, burning desire to discuss this topic. If that's you, let's talk. 

Now, Mashable and Techcrunch, you have no need to fear. We're not out to steal your thunder, just borrow a little of it from time to time by referencing posts on the topic that appear on your respective sites. As stated earlier, this is something we're doing on the side, and there is as of yet no business model tied to it. Unless we gather a team of bloggers, you won't see multiple posts per day, not that we'd be opposed to it. 

Lastly, Ken and I discussed which blog platform to use in starting the site and we chose Posterous, mainly because a) I have a fascination with the platform and b) Ken is easy-going and willing to give it a try.

As such, we're covering this topic "posterous-style," that is to say using the platform's bookmarklet to grab relevant content as we find it, and to post via email as the need arises. (Plus, it makes it easier to live-blog all those LBSN conferences we know we're going to be invited to, ahem!) 

So, come Monday of next week, expect to see Check-Insider unveiled. We hope you'll subscribe to the RSS feed or, if you're a Posterous use yourself, add us to your list of such sites. 

Aside from the shenanigans, we covered ways in which small businesses can incorporate social media into the marketing mix and other related topics.

While I have to admit not being familiar with the show, when I visited the Cover Story page, I was pleasantly surprised to find it has had quite a number of thought-leaders as guests in past weeks, people like Pitch Engine CEO Jason Kintzler, Christine Perkett, President and Founder of PerkettPR, and Kami Watson Huyse, President of Zoetica Media and blogger at Communication Overtones. (Lots of PR people it seems.)

I want to say a hearty thank you to show host Brandy and to Jorge Hermida, the director of programming, for having me on. Again, it was great fun.

He cites Forrester's recent policy decision to require its analysts to blog at Forrester.com, which seems like the wrong path to take but, given the recent exodus of a number of analysts - Charlene Li, Jeremiah Owyang to name two of the more prominent - perhaps they're skittish about allowing analysts to build up too much of a personal brand at the expense of the corporate. (But, that's a topic for another post, one that I do plan to address.)

Back to the question at hand, is there a right or wrong way to blog? And, what makes a blog a blog anyway? 

I can think of a number of wrong approaches to blogging - simply using a blog to repost press releases, for example. Ghost-blogging for another. Not a big fan of that. 

Aside from those rather obvious fails, here are some ways to make sure you get blogging right:

Make it personal

I've always believed that what makes a blog a blog has less to do with the technology and more to do with the personality. In other words, I believe what makes a blog a blog is the person writing it. 

Most Web content management systems have components built into them that used to be the sole purview of blogs; things like commenting, social bookmarking via Digg, Stumbleupon, or Reddit, and social sharing via Facebook and Twitter are what I'm talking about. That's more or less commonplace nowadays. 

Regardless of the platform, what sets blogging apart (to me at least) is that it gives the author a bully pulpit from which to inform, instruct, inspire or incite. Not only that, the reader gets to know the person behind the blog even to the point of forming a relationship with them, albeit virtual.

Someone once said that a blog is "like an ongoing tour with a guide you get to know." I believe that's true. A blog is an ideal place for the writer to establish their voice and build a unique identity. 

Even if you're writing on a company blog, I believe best practices demand that you be identified as the blogger by name, not as the "admin." 

Make it practical

While I'm probably the worst example of this principle, the best blogs are those that are written with the reader in mind. What's important to the reader becomes the topic being blogged  on a given day. 

There is a fine line between blogging on topics about which you are passionate and writing for your audience. Arguments could be made for both. After all, if you write feverishly about a topic of great interest to you, chances are you will build an audience of those who share that same interest. 

Still, I believe bloggers have a responsibility to use their pulpit responsibly, and I believe that denotes an emphasis on attending to the needs of readers. Again, I'm the worst example of this ever. 

Make it topical

If you're using a blog for marketing purposes, especially if SEO is a factor (and why wouldn't it be), I believe it's best to focus on an individual topic. 

My favorite example of this principle is a blog about single-serve coffee makers. Google that phrase and see what comes up as the #1 return. In fact, don't click the search button, click "I'm Feeling Lucky" (assuming you're actually using Google as the search engine). 

The #1 return is SingleServeCoffee.com, a blog about, what else, single serve coffeemakers, coffees, and other items related to that topic. As it pertains to this topic, Google has accorded this site top dog status for years. 

I've often said that a frequently-updated, keyword-optimized, topically-centric blog will improve your presence on Google better than anything else. While it's not practical to choose this approach for every blog, again, if marketing is the primary driver, thinking topically is the way to go. 

Make it fit the platform

Okay, so that heading is a bit forced, but I'm big on alliteration. What I mean is that, in spite of what I said earlier, platforms do play something of a factor, so choosing the right one for the blogging approach being taken is important. Let me explain.

Twitter is commonly referred to as a "micro-blog," in that its posts are limited to 140 characters. Obviously, you can't write 3,000 word essays there. Conversely, Wordpress, Typepad, MovableType and a number of other blog platforms are well-suited to long-form blogging. 

But, what if you want to write posts that retain the anecdotal character of Twitter, but not be constrained by character limits. Posterous is a blog platform that has carved a niche for itself in what is becoming known as micro-blogging, but not in the Twitter sense. Typepad has also identified micro-blogging as a space where it wants to establish a presence. For the first time, they are offering a free micro-blog to anybody who wants one. 

Make it happen

The real story here is, whether you post on a company blog, your own, or a third-party site like MarketingProfs Daily Fix (I blog on all three), I heartily encourage you to start blogging. 

I know blogs are the forerunners of the social media movement and some consider them to be antiquated and out of style. I still believe blogs can do for you or your company what no other form of social media can, especially from the standpoint of SEO and/or content marketing, which often go hand-in-hand. 

There are any number of reasons to use a blog and I would be happy to enumerate them if you'd like. I'd also be happy to assist you or your company with establishing a blog marketing strategy. Please feel free to contact me if you'd have an interest in such. 

I'm leaving the question on the table. Is there a right or wrong way to blog? Please leave a comment stating your thoughts and opinions. I'd really like to hear from you. 

For example, Google recently started Buzz, which many say mimicks Facebook and Twitter. Conversely, Facebook has upped the ante on their search functionality and may soon be rolling out their own Gmail-like email service. 

In reality, they are both trying to keep their user-base satisfied enough to remain loyal. Which is doing the better job? For now, my vote goes to Facebook. 

I find some of Google's attempts at being social almost laughable. Take Orkut, for example. Its user-base is almost exclusively Brazilian. Google's OpenSocial never really caught on and look what has become of Wave. Can we expect Buzz to fare better? Perhaps, but I don't see it gaining mainstream adoption, even among Gmail users. 

And users aren't the only thing (or even the main thing) at stake. Advertising revenue gets that crown. Google makes gazillions of dollars from Adwords and Facebook has just crossed into the black thanks largely to Facebook Ads. 

As for me, for the time being I still use Google for search and Facebook and Twitter for social. I'm not suggesting my behavior won't change, but I will tell you this, I'm not a big fan of Bing, which is the engine that drives Facebook's Web search results.

What about you. Has your use of either Facebook or Google changed as a result of the introduction of new applications? Do you anticipate it changing in the near future? 

My wife, Amie, spends a fair amount of time on Facebook. Part of it is related to keeping up with activities of friends and family. The other part has a distinctly business focus...sort of anyway. Allow me to explain.

She is a home stager who owns her own business, Home Staging by Amie (check out her Facebook Fan Page too). Her target market consists of home builders, real estate agents and home owners in south Louisiana.  

So, who does she friend in Facebook? Precisely those people. And how does she engage them? Lately, it's been through the game Farmville. It seems that Realtors especially like to play it. 

By no means am I suggesting the only reason she plays Farmville is for business development. Obviously, she receives great enjoyment from doing so. What I'm saying is that she understands how to mix business with pleasure. It's called marketing via shared interests. 

Not only does Amie tend her own farm, she also helps tend the farms of others. She makes sure crops are fertilized, animals are fed and watered, predators are kept away and other acts of generosity for which she receives rewards. A by-product of that activity is that she gains the attention and trust of the other players, many of whom are prospective clients.

I used to put very little stock in this approach, considering it a waste of time. I don't play these games and, as a result, never paid attention to the business benefit that might be accrued. That was until a friend told me he gets business through playing Facebook games like Texas Holdem. 

While I still don't think this approach is well-suited to me, for my wife, it's a perfect fit. And I'm betting it won't be long before the friendships developed in Farmville turn into business relationships. For all I know, they already have. But even if not, this is a great way to stay top-of-mind with these Realtors.

Of course, there are many other ways you can use Facebook to develop new business. Here is a short list of ideas (please feel free to add to this list by leaving a comment): 

1. Friend those with whom there is potential for business relationships

2. Pay attention to their birthdays and post a message to their Wall, send a virtual gift or, even better, a personal message 

3. Update your status daily to stay top-of-mind with others

4. Join groups where potential business prospects would be; this might include alumni groups, hobbies, college sports teams, etc. Anywhere there is a shared interest. 

5. Use Facebook Search to find those with whom to friends based on keywords

Once you've friended others, the thing not to do is hit them over the head with a sales pitch. Rather, do what my wife does -- focus on your friend's interests, wants and needs. Become a useful resource in that respect and it's bound to pay dividends in the long-run.  

So, here I am, the respected social media "guru" (so-called) who has written two books on the subject learning about marketing via Facebook from my wife, someone who understands the "social" side of social media much better than I. 

In what ways do you see Facebook being useful for business development, sales and marketing? Do you see games like Farmville, Texas Holdem and Mafia Wars as fitting? Please feel free to add to my short list by leaving a comment. 

Step 1: Log into your Facebook account 

Step 2: Use search to find Facebook Fan Pages of news sites such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, or, even localized news sites such as local newspapers, radio or TV stations 

Step 3: From your Facebook home page, click the "Friends" link in the left-hand side of the page 

Step 4: Click the "+ Create a List" button (a box will pop-up)

Step 5: Enter a name in the field where it says "Enter a Name"

Step 6: Scroll down through your list of friends and, eventually, you'll find the news site Fan Pages you selected earlier 

Step 7: Click on the ones you wish to add to the list

Step 8: Click the "Home" button, go to the "Friends" link on the left-hand side of the page, click it, then find the News category and click it. There's your news feed! 

Of course, what I've just outlined is the process you'd follow to create any type of list, whether news-related or otherwise. Facebook lists are a great way to curate and filter content of all types. I encourage you to use lists to your advantage. 

Lastly, while following news sites in Facebook is certainly useful, it won't replace a good old RSS reader like Google Reader or Bloglines for subscribing to RSS feeds from blogs, news sites, etc. And, it would be nice if Facebook enabled the creation of an RSS feed tied to your list for that purpose.

via filmmaker.turnhere.com

Turn Here did this video for Bizzuka free of charge. It's part of a special promotion they had going. They use local videographers too. 

Posted via web from Paul Chaney's [Other] Blog