Blog better every day: My daily blog tips from January 2011
Throughout 2011, I share a daily blog tip via my Twitter account, @WadeOnTweets, at 6 a.m. CST.
You can …
- Ask follow-up questions in the comments.
- Tweet out your favorites.
- Follow #DailyBlogTip on Twitter.
- And follow me on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.
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The tips for January …
- Start the new year by renewing your goal to blog on a regular schedule, even just once a month.
- Define your topic in 1 sentence before writing. Otherwise, you’ll ramble and lose readers.
- Leave comments open. Nothing says “I mistrust readers” than closed/moderated comments.
- Set aside time to put together several posts. Batching saves time.
- Obscure headlines are bad for SEO. Clear headlines can be clever and still be SEO-friendly.
- “People don’t share meh. People share awesome.” – @unmarketing. You gotta make your posts *awesome*.
- In a rut? Different posts to try: photos, questions, lists, videos (shared or original), Q&A, guest posts.
- What’s your blogging fear? Define it, name it, challenge it head on. It’s not as bad you might imagine.
- Never start a post with the dull cliche, “I was wondering what to blog about when …”
- Blogging is about making mistakes. Success in blogging is about making them and learning from them.
- Read other blogs, and leave meaningful comments. Good for ideas, networking, marketing.
- What’s your comment policy? Define it, publish it, enforce it. Boundaries are important.
- Design vs. content. Only one really matters to audience, search engines — and it’s not design.
- Label your embedded videos for SEO purposes.
- Wade Kwon’s rule: Content first. Monetization second (or never).
- Read Problogger.net for tips, ideas and trends in blogging.
- For the Martin Luther King Day of Service today, donate your post to a local nonprofit org.
- I got rid of Google Adsense on my blogs. Maybe you should, too.
- Reach out to another blogger by e-mail, or even by phone. Build your network one connection at a time.
- It’s not about the blogging platform I recommend. It’s about the one that helps you go faster.
- Offer to do guest posts for your favorite blogs. You’ll almost never be turned down.
- Wade Kwon’s secret formula for better writing: Make each story you write better than last one. Every. Time.
- Read your posts from a year ago. Are you getting better, or are you in a rut?
- Hitting “Publish” isn’t the end. Must promote your post by newsletter, social media, social bookmarking.
- Think ahead to next month. What timely series could you start planning right now?
- Check YouTube for relevant videos. You’d be surprised how easy it is to jazz up a post with good videos.
- Linking out is generally better than no links. An exception: to focus readers on your products/services.
- Resize your photos for Web use. Don’t force your readers to sit through loading of 1MB+ pics.
- Promote your company blog on website’s front page, in newsletters, in printed material, in social media.
- Don’t take entire posts or photos from sites without permission or a Creative Commons license in effect.
- Use automated Google searches on your name, blog name and domain name to find links, content thieves.
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The lovingly prepared meal that is your blog
I’m still telling people about the incredible FoodBlogSouth conference earlier this month. It was that good.
And I’m still contemplating the lessons learned during my time there. Perhaps the best one shows a real connection between food and blogging.
During the past few years, I’ve completely changed my shopping and eating routine. All processed foods, gone. More cooking, more local. I am very picky about what I eat on a regular basis.
Let me tell you about the guidelines I’ve made for myself, and how they apply to both food and blogging …
1. Shop local. People care more about the source of their goods these days. Whether it’s toxic toys made in China or snapper from the Gulf of Mexico, origins matter. With groceries and dining, shopping locally diminished the gigantic carbon footprint from American industrialized food. With blogs, it means you know who wrote it and his authority/credibility.
What’s my authority level? Where’s my credibility from? It’s all up to you. I have to earn it with each word, and I can lose it in an instant. The better I do, the more you read, the more my authority goes up in your eyes. And the better you know the source of these blog posts.
2. Use only the best ingredients. You can’t half-ass it when it comes to cooking. I like to use fresh produce in season when possible. I can substitute ingredients — either for experimentation or as a necessity — but it all depends on how well I know my stuff. But no margarine, only butter. No frozen, only fresh.
When you mix up your blog posts, are you using your best material? Or are you just half-assing it? Use high-quality information, heaping cups of kindness, a dash of reason and a sprinkle of humor. Bake. Serve hot.
3. You can’t eat atmosphere. As a restaurant critic for our hometown newspaper, I reviewed more than a hundred eateries. Not to mention, I dine out regularly. In every place I’ve been around the world, I’ve had some wonderful meals. Sometimes, in posh settings, but often in very ordinary surroundings. More often than not, the company matter more than the decor.
The color of the wallpaper doesn’t make the steak taste better or worse, at least, not for me. And while I’ve debated many, many times online and off about blog design vs. content, I say content matters more to readers and to search engines. That isn’t to say you can’t have both, but many beginners focus too much on design, which can be outsourced, rather than good content, which rarely can be outsourced.
4. A recipe is just a starting point. I have all kinds of secrets to blogging: how often to post, how long to write, what keywords to use, how to test headlines and so forth. You would be underwhelmed at the actual tips. They’re pretty straightforward and easy to follow.
And, it’s only one way to do it.
I can give you a great recipe for potstickers, but if you know your way around a kitchen, you could probably make 10 times better. A new twist, a version with less salt, an easier way to make them. It’s just a list of ingredients and steps waiting for your creativity to enhance it.
Your blog can be done any number of ways. It’s just a starting point. But make it something really tasty and interesting.
5. Food is love. Either you get this or you don’t. We cook for people we care about. We share a meal with friends, family and loved ones. Our best moments often happen around a table filled with lovingly prepared dishes and a sense of instant camaraderie.
Your blog is love, or it should be. Do you make it with love? Do you love the ones you serve it up to? If not, consider why you’re doing it at all. It is not a place to be stingy or careless. You share, you tend to your guests, and you invite them to come back anytime for more.
Food for thought, right? Pull up a chair, because this is only the appetizer …
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More love to give: The speakers issued a challenge to each other: Ask readers to match the $3,000 raised by FoodBlogSouth for two very worthy causes. That’s quite an accomplishment for a first-time conference, and a huge amount to match.
The first recipient is Birmingham-based Desert Island Supply Company, shown at right, a program to teach kids to love writing. The second is the Alabama Gulf Coast Environmental Recovery Fund, created by Montgomery’s Legacy environmental group to fund education and research initiatives to help the area after the BP oil spill of 2010.
Making a donation is simple:
- For the Alabama Gulf Coast Environmental Recovery Fund, donate $5 to $500 online.
- For the Desert Island Supply Company, mail a check made out to Main Street Birmingham to DISCO, c/o Main Street Birmingham, Box 320637, Birmingham, AL 35232.
If you care about food, about the environment or education, please step up and give today.
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A few more morsels from my fellow bloggers who attended FoodBlogSouth …
- The Food Diva: “Attending Foodblogsouth was a delight. I came away with a fresh perspective as to how I do what I do, and more importantly, why I do what I do.”
- Eat. Drink. Smile.: A sampling of the foods throughout the conference.
- The Givens Chronicles: “There was a great panel on Southern Seafood After the Gulf Oil Disaster; yes, it is safe to eat seafood from the Gulf!”
- Urban Conversations: “Remember that your content is what people are coming to see. It’s important to make it easy for them to find it and to search for more information if needed.”
- Who Ate My Blog?: Stephen’s photos from the event
- Southern Plate: “If you put your heart into your blog, you may not get rich but I assure you that at the end of the day, the rewards will be priceless.”
- Dash of East: “Wade Kwon did a great session about Blogging for Your Business.”
- Eatin’ on the Cheap: “The seminars were really great. Many of them had just the information I was looking for and gave me lots of ideas to think about.”
- Vulcan’s Table: “Think about how you are helping others with your blog to make the best decisions with this valuable time.”
- Food Revival: “If you are passionate about food and you want to share it with the world, find a way to do that without compromising who you are. There’s room for us all, and there are plenty of recipes to go around.”
If you posted about FoodBlogSouth and want to be included in this list, leave a comment.
Video: Taylor Takes a Taste showed off his first video in his FoodBlogSouth post.
Photo: Melissa Crane, Dash of East
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FoodBlogSouth presentation: Hungry for More
If you came to my session at FoodBlogSouth 2011, “Hungry for More: How Blogging Can Keep Customers Coming Back for More,” thank you. If you’re just interested in effective blogging and social media for restaurants and food businesses, you’re in the right place.
1. You can see the slides from the presentation. Please feel free to download them or embed them on your site. To download a PDF, click “View on SlideShare,” then “Download.”
2. The worksheet/basic outline is available to download in the handy PDF format.
3. If you want to stay in touch …
- You can contact me through this simple form. Please feel free to ask questions, make suggestions or request help.
- You can follow me on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.
- You can subscribe to the free e-mail newsletter with tips, info, specials and more.
- And you can subscribe to my Birmingham Blogging Academy posts by RSS feed or by e-mail by looking for the box in the right sidebar.
Thanks for checking out “Hungry for More: How Blogging Can Keep Customers Coming Back for More.”
And because you insisted …
Plus, Stephen at Vulcan’s Table live-blogged my session (a first!). My thanks to him!
FoodBlogSouth, Birmingham’s first food blogging conference
Video: Christy Jordan may grace us with a song or two at FoodBlogSouth …
I’m excited to tell you about a hometown event that combines two of my passions: blogging and eating food.
Birmingham will play host to FoodBlogSouth this month, and I will be a speaker at this inaugural event. Organized by my friends Shaun Chavis and Jason Horn, two of the smartest foodies I know, this one-day conference will be the event for networking and learning within the food and restaurant community.
I am thrilled that Birmingham is home to this event. I cannot stop talking about the fantastic food trends going on here, from festivals to restaurants to markets to cooking to blogging.
If you’re a food blogger who wants to hit the next level, including publishing a cookbook like my friend and fellow speaker Christy Jordan, this conference is for you.
If you’re a restaurant owner or food entrepreneur who wants to promote your great offerings through blogging and social media, this conference is for you.
My friend and former Southern Living colleague Tanner Latham and my Birmingham Blogging Academy cohort André Natta will be on hand, as well as Mr. Foodimentary himself, John-Bryan Hopkins. And I found out today that my friend and other Southern Living colleague Erin Shaw Street will moderate a must-see panel on Gulf seafood and the BP oil spill.
Trust me: This is a lineup of speakers you won’t want to miss.
And me? I’ll be talking about blogging and content management specifically for restaurant and food websites. Even the smallest cafe or hot sauce startup can leverage the power of 21st-century communication with easy-to-learn techniques. The presentation is called “Hungry for More: How Blogging Keeps Customers Coming Back for More,” and I hope you’ll join me.
Update Jan. 8: The conference schedule has been posted.
Registration is just $135 for a full day of workshops, picking my brain and networking on Jan. 22 at the lovely Woodrow Hall in Woodlawn. But if you use my special discount code, FBSwade, you’ll save $20. That’s right: It’s only $115 for the conference, lunch plus two parties (Jan. 21 and 22!).
Update Jan. 8: I forgot to mention that a portion of the proceeds will go to help two very worthy causes in Alabama: Desert Island Supply Co. (a nonprofit writing program for Birmingham students) and the Alabama Gulf Coast Environmental Recovery Fund (in wake of the BP oil spill).
Hurry, seating is limited, and I don’t want you to miss out.
★★★ CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ★★★
It’s going to be a lot of fun meeting y’all and talking food. Hope to see you at FoodBlogSouth!
- FoodBlogSouth website | Facebook | Twitter @FoodBlogSouth
- Birmingham’s Best Eats
- Birmingham food festivals in 2011
What does it mean to be influential in social media?
The world of journalism is a small one, and growing smaller every day. Literally, figuratively, whatever.
Along the way, you meet some really great people: colleagues, bosses, teammates, underlings, random staffers, anyone who helps put a paper to bed or a newscast on the air.
I owe my latest honor to my roots in journalism and my friends still in the industry.
The Poynter Institute selected me as one of its 35 influential people in social media.
I’m deeply honored to be part of this group. But what does it mean, and how did I get here?
Much of my career has been focused on journalism, or, more to the point, communication. I’m fascinated by how we share information, and how often we get it wrong or right.
Social media is a wonderful outlet for me to share ideas, quips, questions and information quickly and easily. I love my Twitter and Facebook friends continue to work on deepening my ties with my LinkedIn crew. And let’s not forget blogging, my best area of expertise.
In essence, I like keeping up with people. And maybe that’s why, when the nonprofit journalism school Poynter put out the call for nominations for social media influences, my friend and former colleague Dave Sharp stepped in.
@Poynter, I nominate Birmingham’s social media monster @WadeOnTweets as one of your 35 Influential People in Social Media. #p35
I thanked Dave, my cohort from my Birmingham Post-Herald newspaper days, for the shout out, then thought nothing of it since September.
Until this popped up …
Follow @wadeontweets – flattered to be on same list: @Poynter‘s 35 social media influencers: http://bit.ly/gO4rlB #p35
Wow. A professor from the Columbia Journalism School. Sharing info, an honor and a compliment all at once. Without Sree Sreenivasan’s tweet, I might not have ever found out about it. (I still wonder why they didn’t contact me and maybe all the finalists. Who knows?)
That’s how I got here. Without social media, I would not have found out about my accolade about being influential in social media. (Or something like that.) Poynter had announced the results in November.
But really, what does it mean?
I’ve talked about an honor I received the month before, Best Tweeter in Birmingham. I said that how I used Twitter, as a conversation starter and a promotional tool, made the difference.
Poynter had some interesting criteria for narrowing their list of 66 nominees down to 35 (a number mirroring its 35th anniversary celebration):
When determining who made our final list of 35, we looked at your nominations, comments and the number of “likes” or retweets each nominee got. We also considered other factors, including the impact and significance of the contribution.
So, someone who was an early adopter and has a long track record of using social media would be as likely to make the list as someone who had one substantial contribution.
(I have a great love for Poynter, having attended two of the school’s weeklong leadership seminars in the past decade. Journalism and its practitioners are so much the wiser for its instructors’ counsel.)
The three main ways I influence journalism are:
- I provide news, features, opinion and multimedia content through blogs and websites. (This includes writing about the industry, news gathering, reporting, ethics and more.) And I teach how. This is 21st-century journalism.
- I discuss journalism daily in social media: best practices, horrifying trends, great examples, big questions. And frequently in real life.
- I am a co-founder of Media of Birmingham, a professional group for networking among journalists, advertising managers, public relations experts, social media strategists and more.
I have a responsibility to help define what journalism is and will be as technology and society evolve at alarming rates. That responsibility is shared among all of us who care about news and responsible reporting.
Thumb through the list, and you will find authors, professors, photographers, entrepreneurs, Twitter gurus, old media, new media. It’s just a fascinating array of people who redefined journalism again and again and again. (You can also follow the Twitter list of finalists and nominees.)
If I am influential in social media, it is because I am consistent at the basics: generously sharing good stuff; listening and responding to others; experimenting and measuring; and offering original material.
If people listen, it isn’t because I’m some important guy. It’s because I share things that matter or inspire or provoke or amuse.
If you learn something through my social media stream, I am happy. Because I always learn something from all of you.
For me, it’s not about how influential I am, but how well I use that influence to make the world a little better.
So thank you. This journalist trudges onward through the digital landscape. Come along with me.
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The bloggers I met at BlogWorld 2010
I made my third annual trip to BlogWorld in October. Once again, I met a wonderful set of bloggers from all around the world at the annual conference in Las Vegas.
Let me introduce you to the ones I met, along with some tips for their blogs. Maybe you’ll be inspired to blog like them in 2011!
Helen Lee, Sassybella, a fashion blog based in Sydney, Australia
What I like: Clean look, easy to navigate, clear headlines and spot-on content. Excellent job on the Advertise page.
What I suggest: The newsletter sign-up ad in the far right rail is hard to read. It could be bigger, higher and with a plainer font. Also, for a style blog, the logo is a little flat. Time to invest in a professional logo that reflects Helen (and her readers), a young woman on the go and in the know.
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Sarah Oriel, Planet Josh, a mom blogger raising an autistic child
What I like: Lovely header, chock full of personal stories and warmth. One of the better mom blogs I’ve seen in a while.
What I suggest: More art, please. Photos would help break up long blocks of text. (And I’m betting readers want to see more snippets of family life in photographic form.) I think Sarah is born to write a book, which means rethinking the blog approach top to bottom as a business.
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Rick Darby, Rick Darby on Learning Technology, answering questions about learning and technology
What I like: Very accessible: Information is broken up into good chunks and well organized. It’s clear who’s writing it and what it’s for.
What I suggest: The Spartan look needs more images. Blogging more frequently is a must. Also, don’t forget to respond to your commenters, even on the About This Blog page!
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Barbara Bailey, By Women For Women, helping women get started in business
What I like: For a young blog, very helpful material (even for men).
What I suggest: Cut down on the sharing buttons at the end. Which ones are your readers actually using? Too many creates confusion.
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Patrick Warren, Zappos.tv, the video side of the shoe retailer’s corporate blog
What I like: A company that goes out of its way to encourage fun on the blog, showing off who its people really are. Each video ends with a tag identifying Zappos’ sites, very smart. Does it sell more shoes? Probably. Does it boost employee morale? Definitely.
What I suggest: At least one video wasn’t embeddable. On the author pages, include the five most recent posts. And use your company size to your advantage: Get some folks internally clicking Like, tweeeting it out and leaving comments to get things rolling (just be transparent).
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Joe Webb, DealerKnows, showing auto dealers how to make the most of the Internet
What I like: Lots of good information packed in there. Joe has fun with videos, promoting talks and interviewing attendees.
What I suggest: More regular blogging. Also, make it easier to find the video channel. And again, photos and graphics will help break up those all-text posts.
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Marcie Hill, The Write Design Company, showing businesses how to blog
What I like: Regular posts show Marcie active in blogging and conferences. Lots of live blog posts using CoverItLive.
What I suggest: Lose the “Painting Pictures With Words” graphic; it’s taking up too much valuable screen real estate. Take the CoverItLive transcripts and post them with widget for maximum SEO value.
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Gordon Firemark, Entertainment Law Update Podcast, a monthly podcast focusing on entertainment law
What I like: Each entry lists topics covered on the podcast. Lots of great links related to topics covered in each episode.
What I suggest: More info everywhere. What is this podcast and who should listen to it? That should be on an About page or in a box in the right sidebar. Let visitors know in the excerpt that more info is available on the full post. It might be helpful to make the “Subscribe with iTunes” box bigger, and even include a mention in post at the end (getting people to subscribe automatically increases listener audience). And consider putting a transcript as every other post, for SEO value. And maybe a white background; text is hard to read on a gray background.
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Barry Moltz, BarryMoltz.com, professional business speaker and author
What I like: Great example of how a professional speaker (or other service provider) sets up a site. Most information is easily located …
What I suggest: … except the blog! I had to nose around a bit to actually find the entries. Blogging may not be the primary function of the site, but it’s still difficult to get to it. As I always say, “Blog like you mean it!”
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Eleanor Prior, Your Virtual Girl Friday, virtual assistant for social media marketing and site set-up
What I like: Common sense advice and tips for business owners trying to get into social media.
What I suggest: Front page makes it hard to get into the posts; header takes up a lot of room, as does the carousel with no defining text. Plus, that double navigation bar has always been a turnoff for me.
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Bill Murphy, BillMurphy.TV, a CEO talks about his Ironman adventures and training
What I like: Bill has an outlet for his athletic pursuits outside of his IT business. I like that he’s sharing his plans and his doubts, plus video interviews.
What I suggest: For the videos, investing in a microphone will improve the audio tremendously (tip I heard recently: video without good audio is surveillance footage). Add Related Posts to each post to encourage readers to stick around and look at more stuff.
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Danuta Hinc, DanutaHinc.com, writer and writing teacher with a novel coming out in March
What I like: Good stories with art from a professional. Easy navigation, good comment response.
What I suggest: For authors with books coming out, more content related to the book: the writing process, the book tour, the first chapter, whatever readers might be interested in. This is a group that really digs deep into literature and discussion, so make the most of it.
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The 12 Days of Tweetmas
Photo: Ethan Lindsey (CC)
♫ On the first day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, a shout out in an RT.
On the second day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the third day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the fourth day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the fifth day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the sixth day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, six Foursquare check-ins, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the seventh day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, seven dweebs-DMing, six Foursquare check-ins, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the eighth day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, eight auto-follows, seven dweebs-DMing, six Foursquare check-ins, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the ninth day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, nine links not working, eight auto-follows, seven dweebs-DMing, six Foursquare check-ins, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the 10th day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, 10 trolls-a-trolling, nine links not working, eight auto-follows, seven dweebs-DMing, six Foursquare check-ins, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the 11th day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, 11 spammers spamming, 10 trolls-a-trolling, nine links not working, eight auto-follows, seven dweebs-DMing, six Foursquare check-ins, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
On the 12th day of #Tweetmas, my true ❤ gave to me, 12 topics trending, 11 spammers spamming, 10 trolls-a-trolling, nine links not working, eight auto-follows, seven dweebs-DMing, six Foursquare check-ins, five Fa-a-ail Wha-a-a-ales, four Twitter birds, three #hashtags, two @replies and a shout out in an RT.
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Follow me on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.
The Funniest Blogger You Know: You!
If you came to my session at BlogWorld 2010, “The Funniest Blogger You Know: You!” thank you. If you’re just interested in adding some humor to your content, you’re in the right place.
1. You can see the slides from the presentation. All the links will take you to the blogs and photo sites. Please feel free to download them or embed them on your site.
2. The worksheet/basic outline is available to download in the handy PDF format.
3. If you want to stay in touch …
- You can contact me through this simple form. Please feel free to ask questions, make suggestions or request help.
- You can follow me on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.
- You can subscribe to the free e-mail newsletter with tips, info, specials and more.
- And you can subscribe to my Birmingham Blogging Academy posts by RSS feed or by e-mail by looking for the box in the right sidebar.
Thanks for checking out “The Funniest Blogger You Know: You!”
Preview – The Funniest Blogger You Know: You!
Before I jet off to Vegas for the 2010 BlogWorld and New Media Expo, I wanted to give a sneak peek at my presentation. Here are a few of the slides from “The Funniest Blogger You Know: You!” which will be at 11 a.m. PDT Friday in Mariners A/12 at Mandalay Bay.
I’ll have the full deck posted later this week.
(The font looks bad because of a SlideShare problem. Working on getting it fixed. It’s fixed! Had to use a PDF version.)
My friend Brandon Eley has a much better thought-out plan for BlogWorld, and I still need to look at the schedule. Decisions, decisions …
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What does it mean to be the Best Tweeter in town?
I’m not a fan of popularity contests.
I won a popularity contest.
So I’m torn.
As you know, what is popular is not always good, and what is good is not always what is popular. In either case, the kind readers of Birmingham Magazine selected me as Best Tweeter in the 2010 Best of B’ham online poll.
I am grateful for the honor. And embarrassed by the attention.
Here’s what the magazine said:
Best Tweeter
WADEONTWEETSCommunications consultant Wade Kwon (twitter.com/wadeontweets) has Birminghamians hanging on his every word—or at least, that’s what the voters in this survey and his 2,200-plus Twitter followers indicate. Kwon’s tweets are a mix of haikus, local and media news and analysis. But with Kwon it’s about more than information—it’s conversation. RUNNERS UP: John-Bryan Hopkins, Foodimentary (twitter.com/foodimentary), Kyle Whitmire, Second Front (twitter.com/secondfront)
What does it mean to be the Best Tweeter in town? If you make the best burger, that’s tangible. It’s right there on your plate. People like your beef, your method of preparation and your toppings better than anyone else’s.
But tweets … My compact digital graffiti is slightly more tolerable than those of others? A little silly. Especially if you ask those who aren’t on Twitter, those who want nothing to do with it.
How I use Twitter makes a difference. I use it as a conversation starter and a promotional tool. It’s obvious in the responses I make to people and the things I share.
It’s easy to talk to people on this channel, even strangers and detractors. I’m usually more talkative in social media than in real life. And it’s easy to listen to people on this channel. I can tune in and even ask probing questions.
Most of the things I promote aren’t mine. A few are. All are screened by me to ensure value. I don’t want to waste your time with junk: The Internet and real life already have a sufficient amount of garbage clogging the pipes.
That’s what I bring to the table. Conversation and useful information.
And I package it. Good, tight writing sells it.
Best Tweeter? I didn’t campaign for it (not sure I ever even tweeted about the poll), but I’m grateful for the recognition. If it pulls in a few more clients, great. If it makes me a more interesting person, all the better.
I summed it up in a tweet a few months back …
“When I say you’re good at tweeting, I really mean you’re good at writing and sharing.”
Good? Maybe. Getting there? Definitely.
Also:
- Thanks also to B-Metro magazine for naming me one of the Voices of Birmingham.
- The @WadeOnTweets Twitter log archive
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Follow me on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.
WordCamp Birmingham: Post-panel discussion
I hope you were able to join us today for our WordCamp Birmingham panel, “My business website needs …”
My thanks to panelists Lisa Isbell, Rebecca Morrow and Karla Porter.
(I’ll post any tips, transcripts, videos or anything worth nothing from the panel discussion later.)
If you have additional questions, please leave a comment below.
Case study: Using social media to brand yourself, find work
Meet my friend, Stacey Hood.
On Aug. 30, he found himself suddenly out of work after a company merger.
This week, he has a new job and new freelance clients, thanks to social networking.
Stacey, an Internet marketer based in Birmingham, has a wealth of knowledge and experience that is constantly evolving and changing. He successfully worked with Alabama Public Television, World Soccer Shop, Capstone Development and McWane Science Center, among others.
And when he needed help, he turned to Twitter. I asked him via e-mail to share his strategy …
Tell me about your work situation.
I will start a new position on Thursday as director of marketing with a local software company, in addition to having several freelance clients that were picked up in the 2 weeks following losing my job.
How did you share it with people in social media?
My first reaction was to put it out on Twitter (@StaceyHood). It’s fast and easy to post that sort of thing. I got immediate responses with offers of assistance, support, etc.
I then posted it on my Facebook page and on the agency’s page on Facebook. The response grew and grew.
How did you share it outside of social media?
I called a couple of friends who I knew weren’t on Twitter (for whatever reason) and, of course, a few family members.
What happened via Twitter in terms of job leads, projects and response?
Thanks to the post, I was able to get multiple leads on freelance clients and even was offered jobs with some friends’ companies in various positions.
What did you do right?
Brand myself, plain and simple. In the past 2 years — while I wasn’t as active as I should’ve been — I did think I was effective in putting myself out there in terms of showing my expertise of interactive marketing, including search engine optimization and social networks.
Notice that I didn’t say that I was an expert; I do not ever want to be known as an “expert,” a “guru” or anything else related to those terms. I want to be known for my expertise.
In my opinion, the industry’s waters have become milky due to so-called experts, gurus, ninjas, whatever. They use a cookie-cutter approach, and one size does not fit all.
How could you have done better?
Same thing as above. Looking back, I would like to have worked more on discussing my skill set and what I can do.
For example, I received a direct message on Twitter last week asking what exactly I do so that they could refer some business to me.
Where are you now in terms of work?
I just got approval from a pretty big client that was a referral from someone I know on Twitter. I’m working with another client with strategy towards a new venture. And as I mentioned before, I start my new position this week.
What would you advise others who want to find work via social media?
• Put your persona out there. Mine involves being myself: some humor, some serious, some involving my interests, some involving my family. But, be prepared to know that if you do this, you’re going to be judged.
Branding myself as I did, going to various media events and giving a couple of talks at some events, all of this helped. I’ve gotten to know a lot of people thanks to social media, and it’s helped me get to where I went from losing a job to getting an offer within in a week.
• Don’t come on too strong. Be smart and look for opportunities, because they are everywhere, even if you have to get a free client at first to get the experience and to get your chops.
I play drums, and if I don’t play for a while, I can tell that I’ve lost a bit of my time and skill. Same thing with marketing: Stay busy writing, exploring possibilities, looking for experience.
How are you using social media to brand yourself and your company? Leave us a comment.
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WordCamp Birmingham: What does your business website need?
WordCamp Birmingham is just around the corner. It’s an annual conference dedicated to WordPress, blogging and website development.
If you want to meet other bloggers, this is the place to be. If you want to understand websites and content management, this is the place to be. If you want to create your own WordPress themes and plugins, this is the place to be.
And, if you want to ask the experts about getting the most out of your online presence for your company, have I got a session for you.
Panel: My business website needs …
We’ve assembled a great team of experienced Web professionals prepared to answer questions from business owners:
Lisa Isbell, Rebecca Morrow, Karla Porter
- Lisa Isbell: marketing strategy consultant at How 2 Marketing Advice.
- Rebecca Morrow: SEO professional specializing in online marketing, analytics and creating an online presence.
- Karla Porter: web designer and graphic designer at Archer Creative.
- Me (moderator): content specialist at Birmingham Blogging Academy.
“An opportunity to ask specialists in SEO, design, marketing and content on how to make your business website the best it can be. Aimed at all levels: beginner through advanced. Figure out how to make your company’s site into more than just a pretty page. Make your online investment work for you.”
If you attend, you’ll hear great advice from a design, marketing, SEO and content perspective.
The conference will be Sept. 18 at Heritage Hall on the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus and Sept. 19 at a location to be announced. (Our panel will be on Sept. 18.) Tickets are just $40 for the entire 2-day event.
For more information, visit the WordCamp Birmingham site.
Hurry! You must register by Friday, Sept. 10 …
Deadline extended to Monday, Sept. 13!
We’ll see you there!
Does anyone know a website builder in Birmingham?
Does anyone know a website builder in Birmingham?
We ask that question in jest, but the City of Birmingham apparently is unaware of the many fine firms and designers and programmers in town who do this. For a living.
We don’t normally talk politics here, but we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that the city council and the mayor are at odds over who controls the flow of information on the City of Birmingham’s official website. As a solution, the council wants to spend $8,900 to build a separate site for its members.
The council’s proposed contract is $8,900 with Civic Plus, a Kansas-based company that would host, manage and maintain the council’s website.
“The city of Birmingham’s website presence right now is horrible, in particular the City Council’s website,” council member Johnathan Austin said. “My background is in technology. I consult with businesses and school systems all over the country and help guide them in the best way to technology.”
That’s right, Kansas.
- Who built the city’s current site? It’s not clear from the website. See update below.
- Can that site be expanded to facilitate the council’s needs? And without supposed interference from the mayor’s office?
- Was the contract bid out? Or was it handed to someone?
- What does it say to Birmingham businesses who pay taxes and choose to be here that the city wants to use an outside firm?
We invite any Birmingham-area website firm or designer to leave a comment below with your name, URL, e-mail, phone number and any other info about your services. Once we have a list, we’ll be happy to show this to city leaders to demonstrate the talent within our back yard.
Update: A tipster let me know that Birmingham firm MBI created the current version of the city’s website. So the fifth question would be: Why isn’t the council using this firm, too?
Update No. 2: After speaking with city council member Valerie Abbott, I learned that the public affairs committee did issue a Request for Proposal, with several Birmingham-area firms participating. Abbott said CivicPlus in Kansas had the best proposal by far.
Update April 2, 2012: It took nearly 2 years. Here’s what CivicPlus designed: birminghamalcitycouncil.org.
10 ways to get Twitter followers
On Twitter, I’ll often be followed at @WadeOnTweets by those promising to get me more followers!!
No thanks. Rather than let the scammers and spammers take over, I wanted to share an easier method.
Here are 10 simple ways to build your Twitter following as tweeted by me (and inspired in part by Ike Pigott’s “Twitter’s Ten Rules”) …
- Listen.
- Converse.
- Help.
- Ask.
- Respect.
- Thank.
- Praise.
- Joke.
- Be humble.
- Repeat.
Do this, and in no time, you’ll have more followers. Is it important to have thousands of followers? Not at all. But a wider circle means more conversations, more information, more opportunities and more fun.
Feel free to copy and tweet it:
10 ways to get Twitter followers:
Listen, converse, help, ask, respect, thank, praise,
joke and be humble. Repeat. (RT @WadeOnTweets)
Or click here to tweet it easily.
Next class: Getting Started in Blogging/Content Management
If you’re not updating your website regularly, you’re missing out on new business and squandering the resources invested in your digital branding.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We’re pleased to announce our next class will be on Aug. 24 at Infomedia. “Getting Started in Blogging/Content Management” is a 4-hour version of our beginner’s class for those business owners ready to make the most of their online presence.
You’ll walk away with:
- Goals for making the most of your site.
- Specific ideas on what will resonate with your customers.
- Tactics for managing time spent updating your blog and your site.
Join us on Aug. 24. We’re going to learn so much together in class.
Cost is $499. Seating is limited.
For more information, visit the Infomedia class info page.
And register today!
Social media mixer on Aug. 26
When my Twitter pal Iva Williams III (@Iva4Gov) called me up for a fun mixer, I jumped right in. I’ve never met Iva in person, but I’ve had some great conversations with him online through @WadeOnTweets.
Here’s a chance for social media acquaintances in Birmingham to meet in real life: “Skool Daze: The Ultimate Social Media Meet and Greet – Twitter vs. Facebook.”
We’ll be at Steel 1st and 23rd, 2300 First Ave. N., downtown [map], from 4 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 26.
Admission is free, with free pizza, free frozen drinks for women and 2-for-1 well drinks for men.
Stop by to say hi, have a drink and jump into the conversation. Everyone’s welcome!
Social Media Club of Birmingham asked members to give lightning talks and discussions at our meeting today. I led a conversation about “How to bridge the gap between social media and business communities in Birmingham.”
Once I asked the question, we were off and running. Here are the seven answers from the group:
1. Serve as ambassadors to chambers of commerce. Connect with others in the community to find out needs and recommend resources.
2. When talking with businesses, show value and utility of social media to their business. Keep their needs in mind: “What’s in it for me?”
3. Show how their brand is being portrayed online. And their competition. Are they ready to see themselves as their customers see them?
4. Show examples of how it can work. Melanie Dickinson of Women of the Powergrid gave a terrific example of working with a local car dealer. It’s being done. Every day.
5. Put on programs with broader appeal beyond membership. Consider beginners’ workshops so busy business owners can start using the tools.
6. Start up and promote speakers’ bureau. We have a lot of talent at SMC Birmingham. What would you like to learn about from one of our experts?
7. Get new attendees to help spread the word. I’ll make it easy. You can tweet this:
State @repcamward to give keynote at next @SMCBHAM meeting, 11:30a-1p 8/11 at @infomediadotcom. Free. http://bit.ly/asBUzq
How else can we connect these communities that need each other?
Birmingham Blogging Academy 