The Write Spot, LLC

Live and in person: Anne-Marie's whirlwind social media tour

2009-11-01T13:36:37-07:00

Funny thing about these social media conferences is that people want me to talk into their video cameras. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the earrings…

BowlHer at BlogHer 2009 (I’m usually in the group shots):

At Izeafest 2009 with "The Power of Giving: How Giving back Enriches us All" author, Azim Jamal:

At No Sense of Time, the personal blog of @GeorgeGSmithJr at BlogWorld Expo 2009:

At What happens in Vegas is often caught on video… at BlogWorld Expo 2009 on the Lijit blog:

Anne-Marie loves Lijit from Tara Anderson on Vimeo.

You can also catch me at Yum Gloss as “Anne-Marie Nichols: Foodie You Should Know” where my good friend and BlogHer roommate Michelle Lamar is the editorial director.

Getting the word out about your blog

2009-09-13T11:40:40-06:00

It’s not a matter of “if you blog it, they will come,” but how to get noticed so readers can find you. The best way to market your blog is by being active in your online community. If you’re a gardening blogger, you should visit, read and comment at other gardening blogs. That takes time, of course, so are there other ways to promote your blog? Well, there are Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, assuming you’re on those social networking sites and have the time and knowledge to use them. Instead, here are two easy, time saving and inexpensive ways to promote your blog.

Your email signature

Most email programs let you set up a preformatted signature that appears on the bottom of every email you send or reply to. It should include your name, title, your contact email address, the title and URL of your blog(s). Include your Twitter ID and LinkedIn profile if you have those, too. If you don’t mind people calling you, give a cell phone or Skype number instead of your home phone number.

If you’re blogging for your business, include the company name, address, phone numbers, the URL for your company’s main website (if there is one), and so on.

Also, don’t assume that everyone’s email program lets them see HTML, so write out your URL. Here’s an example:

Your Name, Title
me@mycoolblog.com
My Cool Blog – www.mycoolblog.com
Twitter – www.twitter.com/mycoolblog

Business cards

How many times have you gone to a gathering, started discussing your work, and didn’t have a business card on you? Or maybe you already have a business card, but don’t have your blog, LinkedIn profile or Twitter ID listed on it? Ooops!

Considering the cost of ink and paper these days, it’s very cost effective to use an online printer like VistaPrint, 123Print or Moo

I love the look of Moo’s Mini Moo Cards (123Print has their own mini version called Wee Bees). They’re incredibly cool and the quality can’t be beat. However, they’re problematic for people who like to keep the cards they’ve collected in a business card file since they’re much smaller than a standard business card.

For the eco-conscientious, 123Print cards printed on 100% recycled stock. I’ve ordered these and found the website hard to use since it was a challenge trying to get all my copy lined up and evenly spaced. I also felt that the recycled card stock they use is rather thin, and don’t like that their recycled cards cannot be ordered with a glossy finish. (In my opinion, a business card printed with several colors on thick stock with a glossy finish looks more professional.) Still if you’re a green blogger or believe in being earth friendly, they’re a good company to try.

Your best bet for cost, price, ease of use and design is VistaPrint. Often you can get their cards for free, though you may need to pick one of their standard designs. All you pay for is the shipping, and if you don’t need it rushed, it’s very inexpensive. (Hint: when ordering one of their standard designs, remember to take their website address off the back of your card.)

When designing business cards, make sure they have the look and feel of your blog – same colors, fonts, and graphics. Like in your email signature, include your name, title, your contact email address, the title and URL of your blog(s), your Twitter ID and a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one. Again, unless you have a business address and phone number, you may want to leave off your home phone and address. Finally, if you offer consulting, editing or copywriting services, you may want to use the back of the card as a discount coupon or to promote other blogs and publications your write for.

Want to learn more about how to market or monetize your blog? Come see me at the Expert Sessions at the Boulder Writers Alliance Expo, to be held at the Hotel Boulderado from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22.

(This originally appeared in the September issue of the Northern Colorado Writers newsletter.)

Vote now for my SXSW Interactive panel

2009-08-20T10:41:58-06:00

The voting for SXSW Interactive proposed panels has gone live. I have proposed a session called Don't Tell Me That's Not Your Department! along with Lucretia Pruitt aka Geek Mommy. She’s one of Nielsen’s Top 50 Power Moms and the Director of Social Media for Collective Bias.

We consider this an intermediate level track for anyone interested in advertising, working with bloggers, branding, marketing, PR and user generated content.

Basically it’s about why PR, advertising and marketing can't be separate in the New Media world. The silo method of yesterday is dead and it’s time to move on and figure out how brands and bloggers can work together productively and with integrity.

Some of the questions we hope to answer are:

Why is dealing with bloggers not like dealing with traditional media?
Why is paying bloggers not unethical?
How 21st century marketing isn't like 20th century marketing.
Why 21st century marketing is more like the 19th century with cool technology.
What is the rationale behind sponsored posting?
Why should bloggers and companies care about the FTC?
Why should bloggers and companies should NOT care about the FTC?
Why is it important to have a relationship with bloggers?
Why bloggers do not care about press releases?
How can you explain all this to your CMO/CEO/Board of Directors?

Voting is live now! So register for an account, log on, and give us a thumbs up. See you in Austin next year!

Come see me at the Boulder Writers Alliance Annual Expo

2009-08-12T07:47:21-06:00

I’ll be teaching a few sessions at the annual Boulder Writers Alliance Expo on September 22, 2009. It’s an information exchange and networking event for communications professionals held on the mezzanine of the Hotel Boulderado at 2115 13th Street, Boulder, Colorado on Tuesday, September 22 from 6 to 9 p.m.

I’ve gone as an attendee for several years and for the price of $10 ($5 for students, free for BWA members and experts) it’s a bargain. Heck, you can go for the delicious free food (with cash bar) or just to network with BWA members and other communications experts, representatives from business, colleges, and government organizations, and people interested in becoming a more diverse professional or improving their organization's communications. Make sure to stay for the sessions – you’ll walk away with some terrific handouts and much practical knowledge.

A Key Networking Event for Communications Professionals

(From the press release) Join the Boulder Writers Alliance (BWA) as it hosts its annual Expo, featuring discussion sessions with local communications experts who can answer your questions about a variety of communications areas, including social media, marketing, Web design, usability, and creative and technical writing. Learn about the latest developments in the world of communications, discover valuable solutions to common business challenges, network with colleagues, and establish new relationships with respected professionals. The BWA Expo is open to the public.

Expert Sessions

The BWA Expo’s Expert Sessions are mini-presentations provided by members and other recognized experts in several communications-related areas. This is an ideal opportunity to learn helpful tips and practical techniques to help you work more efficiently and more profitably, and maybe get just the lift you need to take that next step in your career.

Topics this year include:

Data mining LinkedIn to market your business
Transitioning from Word 2003 to Word 2007
Search engine optimization basics
Ways to monetize your blog and market it (that’s me!)
The role of usability in Web startup efforts
Move over text: video meets topic-based documentation
Getting your nonfiction book published
Writing genre fiction

Check the BWA Web site for the latest update of all the sessions offered and their times. Early arrival is suggested, as some discussion tables will fill quickly.

Book Exchange

The BWA Expo will also offer its traditional book exchange, so bring a book to share and take home one that is new to you. The book exchange is a great way to build your library and expand your knowledge in many areas of writing.

Resume Exchange

In addition to the educational options, the BWA Expo offers outstanding networking opportunities. Attendees are welcome to bring their resume, business cards, and any literature about their business or profession. There will be a table where you can leave such information, as well as pick up information about others.

About BWA

The Boulder Writers Alliance (BWA) is a nonprofit organization of communications professionals located in Boulder and throughout Colorado. Members specialize in all facets of writing and communications, including technical and marketing writing, fiction and journalism, editing, graphic arts, multimedia, and Web sites. BWA provides education, networking, and marketing opportunities for members, and connects writers with employers through the BWA site at www.bwa.org.
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Boulder Writers Alliance
P.O. Box 18342
Boulder, CO 80308-1342
http://www.bwa.org
Contact: Mary Headley
303-652-1752 or mkheadley80503@yahoo.com

My BlogHer09 Sightings

2009-08-04T09:38:53-06:00

I was interviewed by BlogTalkRadio at the PepsiCo booth. I think I had too much diet Pepsi that morning and chatted inanely about happy cows and chickens. (Gawd, what is wrong with me.)

Listen to Pepsicoatblogher on Blog Talk Radio

I was interviewed by MomTV at the BowlHer party, too.

And here’s the live blogging link to my session at the conference:

OFFICIAL LIVEBLOG - Saturday - Session 2 (1:30-2:45pm) Room of Your Own 2: Sponsored v. Unsponsored- Blogging for $$$

OK, now back to real life.

Lessons learned at Blogher09

2009-07-31T22:30:35-06:00

First, let me say I had a great time at BlogHer09 because it was what I made of it. I planned to do activities outside of the conference, like the food blogger dinner and cooking at the Washburne Culinary Institute with the kids at the Common Threads Summer Camp thanks to Edelman and Quaker Oats.

I made plans for a little pampering at the Suave booth and the MicroSpa. I got a tech update from HP about their new printers and and met with Louise Rasho to learn about Microsoft Office 2010. I planned to connect with sponsors like the Pork Board (and to see Rick Bayless cook) on the exhibit floor and with GreenWorks at their luncheon.

I made sure to connect with virtual and in real life friends at the Mom Central cocktail party, the Silicon Valley Moms get together, and at breakfast. I planned to make new friends during the GM carpool and at BowlHer. Plus, I picked the coolest roommate ever, Michele Lamar aka White Trash Mom aka Mrs. Tim Gunn to play “hide the remote” with. She was so fun that I wish I could have taken her back in one of my swag bags.

So for me the conference was right on for the most part because I planned it that way. Still, here are a few of my kvetches.

Swagaholics Anonymous

I like cool, free stuff, but I like recycling, eco-friendly items, and donating things I don’t need, too. I expected oodles of recycling bins and pitchers of water. Instead, we had individual bottles of juice and soda and bins were few and far between.

The recycling room was hard to find and should have been moved to another suite on Sunday, since that’s when most of the attendees were leaving. Same with the business office, since many people had early morning flights and couldn’t mail their packages that morning.

There has to be a better balance between sponsorship and support of the female blogging community and making the event affordable for all. BlogHer is listening! Give them your feedback. Note to sponsors, we like coupons for product samples, online coupon codes, and items mailed to us, too. Plus that way you can collect our info, ask us for feedback, and attempt to connect with us. It’s about developing relationships, after all.

It’s nice to be pampered, but…

I like comfy beds and swanky hotels, but am fine staying at discount motels, too, because they’re affordable. (Beth at Fake Plastic Fish had a good point about this and many other things related to the conference in her post - Blogher '09 and The Story of Stuff.)

Our Best Western sponsored hotel rooms to and from the conference were just as clean as the Sheraton’s, the beds were firmer and the free breakfast was better than at the conference. The reservations people were extremely helpful when I called with questions and changes, and the motel staff were welcoming and friendly. Also, I didn’t have problems with my bill like I did at the Sheraton.

Speaking of affordability

The BlogHer Swap Meet became the red headed stepchild of the conference, surprising because last year it was a major draw. The first day it wasn’t announced, so no one knew where it was and didn’t show up. The second day, even though it was announced at breakfast, it was way over on the other side of the hotel by the gift shop. Luckily I made an effort to see Sahar from FatFighterTV who was selling beautiful wine charms, so I planned to do a little shopping. I bought a cool purse organizer from Organize with Sandy, and some jewelry and a t-shirt. Those women needed those sales to pay for their trip and it was disheartening that they didn’t get the foot traffic they deserved.

Can you hear me now?

I like partying and having a few free drinks while yelling at friends over the loud music. Yet, I wished there was more opportunities for hanging out one-on-one with people and talking. I did get to sit down with several people in the hall, but mostly it was rush, rush, rush to the next session, the parties, or to see a celebrity. Still, meeting people and connecting is the main reason I go to BlogHer, but now I have to make sure I schedule more time for it.

More learning, less touchy feely

Frankly, I’m tired of the navel gazing. Do we need to talk about being mommy bloggers for another year, really? Still I realize that conference newbies love those sessions and they’re much desired and needed. So how about more advanced sessions for us “old timers”? This is why I’m glad to see the call for a writing track. Lord knows I need it, and would love to see a photography and design track, too. I’d also like to see the Unconference come back, so we can create our own content, share our knowledge, and learn from others.

Companies need to work with everyone

I was disturbed to hear that the lesbian moms (and I assume the gay dads) are not getting pitched to and would like to receive products to review. PR people are you listening? Gay parents buy stuff and have influence, too. Marketing to them means your reaching their (more likely than not) straight offspring, friends and relatives as well as the gay community. Open your minds to it and bring your clients in line, too.

Work hard, be nice

We can have passionate discussions and agree to disagree while remaining professional and courteous. People should be able to decide for themselves what direction their blog should take and how it will evolve over time without losing friends over it. For example, maybe last year a blogger was passionate about sharing personal stories, but this year due to the recession, a few paid posts or free products helps her make ends meet. Respect her decision even if you don’t agree with it. After all, you probably don’t know the whole story behind how she blogs and why, do you?

Also, we can still be nice to someone even if she’s gotten a book deal, become a conference speaker, gotten a job with a PR or tech firm, had a conference sponsorship, or appeared on the Today Show. In her mind, she’s still the same person but with a slightly better gig than last year when she had to hold a garage sale in order to pay for her plane ticket to Blogher08. Check your jealousy at the door, OK? You’re better than that and there are enough opportunities to go around for those who want to work hard at getting them.

Speaking of bad behavior, I heard the rumors of excessive drinking, stealing someone's stuff out of their room, eye rolling, fist fights, streaking through the lobby, snogging someone who wasn’t your husband/wife, trashing of hotel rooms, and so on. We all read the tweeted snarky put downs as well. At times it seemed more like a Tailhook Convention than a gathering of women bloggers who wanted to talk shop without having to explain what a link or tweet was.

Or at least that’s how it appeared to the outside world when the majority of us were connecting with friends, learning and having a great time at a marvelous conference. It’s always the squeaky wheels that get all the attention. Next year let’s make sure we ALL get the attention for the positive things we’re doing.

See you next year in NYC at BlogHer10!

Of conference sponsorships and my Blogher09 session

2009-07-14T13:00:38-06:00

Only eight days until I leave for BlogHer09 in my GM sponsored Chevy Traverse as part of the BlogHer09 Carpool. On the way, we’ll be staying at Best Western, one of my BlogHer09 Sponsors. When I get to the conference, I’ll be speaking at Room of Your Own 2 Session: Sponsored v. Unsponsored - Blogging for $$ Where Do You Stand? I’m also one of the hostesses at the BowlHer09 Party.

I’ll also be handing out coupons for free pancake syrup from my other sponsor, Log Cabin syrup. Did you know that Log Cabin is no longer made with HFCS (high fructose corn syrup)? And that they’re selling real maple syrup at selected Sam’s Clubs across the US?

Thank you to my sponsors, now back to our regularly scheduled programming

Conference sponsorships are a new thing among mom bloggers (see Kim Moldofsky’s post at Hormone-colored Days, Marketing to Moms: Announcing my BlogHer sponsor!). While I knew of one mom blogger at BlogHer08 who was paid to work at a booth by a company, I didn’t notice the phenomenon until the WalMart ElevenMoms went to SXSW09. I was aware that WalMart had sent them to the conference, but was surprised to learn that several of the moms had additional sponsors - everything from diapers to chocolate.

Then at the last Mile High Mamas’ blogger meet up, a few people asked me, “So, who is your BlogHer sponsor?” To which I replied, “No one.” I hadn’t thought about recruiting a sponsor though the idea of having one intrigued me. Hmmmm...

Sponsorships make conferences affordable and accessible

Even when I’ve had a roommate, got a cheap flight, had a free pass because I was a speaker, and took advantage of the free food at parties, most conferences ended up costing me around $300-600. For a freelancer, that’s a lot of dough, especially when you multiply it by the number of conferences you want to go to like SXSW, SOBCon, Chicks Who Click, WordCamp, BlogHer, BlogWorldExpo, and IzeaFest. I’m sure it’s the main reason why so many mom bloggers and other independent bloggers without corporate expense accounts seek sponsors.

In the past, I have been given a stipend or reimbursed for a conference ticket in exchange for reporting back to a client on industry trends and conference goers and events. I don’t consider that a sponsorship as much as consulting work. Semantics aside, having someone help you pay your expenses seemed like a good thing.

Getting recruited

I was first approached by a Stonyfield Farm organic yogurt back in March to represent their Oikos Organic Greek yogurt at BlogHer09. I had worked with the company and their PR people previously on a review and giveaway, and even contributed a recipe to the Stonyfield website. Plus it was a product I LOVED, so I felt honored to represent them.

During negotiations, BlogHer posted their informative FAQ about sponsored attendees, which restricted what I could do for Oikos on my main food/health blog, This Mama Cooks! On a Diet. They were unwilling to work around the restrictions. I was unwilling to take the BlogHer Ad Network (BHA) banner from my blog, since I would have lost more money before the conference than I would have made from Stonyfield. We amicably parted ways and I bemoned my loss on Twitter.

Elisa Camahort at BlogHer was nice enough to respond to make sure I knew about the workaround. (I did.) I also told her staying with BHA was worth it to me than a one time sponsorship.

Then I got a tweet from my contact at the Bender Hammerling Group saying they’d like to help. After I made sure they were cool with the BHA restrictions and they were positive about my promotional ideas, I got the Log Cabin sponsorship.

BlogHer09 Roadtrip

While I was wrestling with the food companies, I snapped up the chance to drive to Blogher in a GM car in the BlogHer09 Carpool. As a shareholder (along with the rest of the US tax paying population thanks to Mr. Obama) I was interested in test driving their cars and helping GM sell them, so maybe they could pay us taxpayers back.

More importantly, I was looking forward to hanging out with some fellow bloggers, and saw driving cross country as an adventure. Something like Thelma & Louise but without the rape, guns, and driving off the cliff part. (Though the Brad Pritt part? Hmmmm...)

Meanwhile, I was looking for a company to cover lodging since I knew that it would help not only me but the other ladies I was driving with. After Best Western pitched me about their Jonas Brothers contest, I asked them if the would sponsor us, and they graciously agreed.

As part of the sponsorship, I was able do an interview with Troy Rutman, Director of External Communications at Best Western. In it, we covered covered everything from how Best Western is making travel affordable for families and small business people to how they help you stay healthy and safe on the road.

Best Western and I go way back and has always been a clean, comfortable and affordable place for my family to stay at when we travel. I’m happy to represent them and have them as a sponsor.

Finding balance between the personal and the promotional

Working with the publicists and companies sponsoring me has been very positive. We’ve developed good working relationships and I’ve enjoyed doing pre-conference promotional activities for them.

My only concern is the conference itself. No it’s not taking time to post that we enjoyed our stay at Best Western or tweeting that I wish I had some sugar free Log Cabin syrup to drizzle on my breakfast. It’s more about how other conference attendees will interpret my sponsorships. Will they be cool with it and happily accept a free sample coupon? Or will I find a bunch of coupons littering the floor after I pass them out?

I know I have to find a balance between what my sponsor wants (pass out oodles of coupons) to what I feel is proper (give them out to people I personally connect with). And I know not everyone will be cool with it because either they don’t like pancake syrup (what?!?) or they think I’m being too promotional.

Yes, there are women in the mom blogging community who are against “working your business.” Some of them feel that making money with your blog is demeaning, that it “pimps your kids” and that only blogs with beautiful/funny/heart wrenching stories and writing should be recognized as successful or influential.

To that I say...let’s discuss it at my Room of Your Own 2 Session: Sponsored v. Unsponsored - Blogging for $$ Where Do You Stand?. Lucretia Pruitt of GeekMommy and I will be talking about conference sponsorships, sponsored conversations and reviews, the impending FTC regulations, and what WOMMA (the Word of Mouth Marketing Association) is proposing. Feel free to ask questions and discuss your concerns.

We hope to see you there and don’t be afraid to ask me for a free sample coupon of Log Cabin syrup, too! ;-)

Too Busy to Shop

2009-06-13T10:08:35-06:00

First a word from my fellow SXSW panelist Chris Brogan, who's looking a bit rockabilly biker-ish these days:

Too Busy to Shop: Marketing to "Multi-Minding" Women by Kelley Murray Skoloda shows markers and companies what they need to know and do to attract women buyers. After all, women control 85 percent of all consumer purchases.

Kelley explains that women are multi-tasking, but multi-minding – meaning that we are thinking about home when we’re at work, work when we’re at home, and about everything else of of the darn time.

Download an excerpt or see the reviews.

I highly recommend this book if your company markets to women through traditional media (print, TV, radio, etc.) or through social medial. Not only is it an easy read since Kelly keeps the ideas and examples coming, but she wraps up each chapter with Multi-Minding (or M2) Must-Dos, a list of the lessons learned in each section.

Too Busy to Shop is also full of stats, research, examples and terrific quotes from Stacy DeBroff, the CEO of Mom Central, who knows her stuff. (Stacy’s a colleague of mine. Every time I have a chance to speak with her, I learn so much.)

So if there’s one marketing book you read this summer on vacation – or during your lunch break at the office – it should be Too Busy to Shop: Marketing to "Multi-Minding" Women by Kelley Murray Skoloda.

More me at SXSW

2009-04-20T17:23:23-06:00

Just a little snippet of me at SXSW on the Dad is the New Mom panel.

If anyone filmed the whole session and posted the video, please let me know.

Dad is the new mom at SXSW '09

2009-03-26T09:49:41-06:00

Bonin Bough from PepsiCo DM’d me on Twitter that he had put up some video from the Dad is the New Mom panel.

All you can see is me and Chris Brogan, and it’s just a few minutes' worth of what turned out to be a pretty enjoyable and informational panel. Still it’s nice to have a record of the session.