How to Be Interviewed - Seth Godin

You most likely already know Seth Godin, but if you don't click over to Seth's Blog and bookmark it (or grab his RSS feed). Besides having my all time favorite surname (reference my past clerical background), Mr. 'God-in' shares prolifically his interesting and helpful information. Today I ran across his simple and paradigm shifting correction to what I would call the  "I hate bad interviewers" whine. Seth offers a short and direct list of truths that EVERY presenter should know.

My biggest take a ways are: 1. The burden for a good interview is yours. Prepare and plan. 2. Stick to your interesting and exciting stuff. 3. Always remember it is about you so it's up to you to make it a success.

So, read it for yourself - he says it much better anyway!: How to Be Interviewed

Note: Image is directly from Seth's blog (click to follow) and I'm hoping he doesn't mind me stealing it... #justsaying

The Google vs Facebook War - Gone Wild!

Apparently, according to Blogger (a Google product), Facebook isn't even a word, much less a company.

See spell check screen shot...

The Secret to Social Media Promotion

What is Social Media good for? If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times, "Social Media is NOT about self promotion!" I get it. I get it. Companies, businesses and self made experts shouldn't promote themselves. Social media consumers don't like pushy people.

Yesterday, I discovered a secret way, quite by accident, to use Social Media to advance your own cause. It worked. It's worked many times, almost every time. Interested?




It began with an innocent enough status update posted simultaneously to Twitter and Facebook: "I'll not be defeated by momentary discomforts."  Within a moment, a couple people responded. Then quickly, a few more. The statement was liked, commented on, Re-tweeted and shared. That alone was nothing special, it's what happened next. First, some back story...

Yesterday started out bad. My dog woke me up early. I hadn't slept well and as I got up,  I felt the familiar aches and pains of my aging limbs screaming a little louder than normal. I was out of my 'good' coffee. I started thinking of the difficult things at work that awaited me... Get it? Been there?

Later, as I drove to work things got worse. I began that mental spiral into the dark side, negative thinking, one sided emotions, grumpiness. I parked at the office and before I left the car used our friends over at Foursquare to check in at work and thought, "I'm not going to whine." Then I posted the update: "I'll not be defeated by momentary discomforts."

When the responses came an interesting thing happened. I felt better, supported, understood. I know many of the people who responded. I know that on a bad day, if they could, they would have my back. My day, and in a small but important way, my life advanced. Social Media promoted me.

Just for the record - if you're ever having one of those days, let me know. I'll gladly return the favor.

An Exacting Dinner

Because of  my involvement with the Marketing Summit 2011 tomorrow in Greensboro, NC, I had the privilege of dinning with Jeffery Rohrs of Exact Target this evening.

Based on our conversation about Subscribers, Fans and Followers, I'm excited about his key note presentation tomorrow. I hope you can attend.

You may remember that the folks at Exact Target brought us one of the most viral info-graphics around last year.

I Need More Pressure!

A couple of years ago, I took a creative writing class. One of the techniques we discussed was the idea of scheduling  time to write everyday. The idea is that just as the sculpture needs a block of raw stone from which to create, the writer needs a block of raw words from which to create and develop their craft. I've practiced this technique off and on and have seen it work. Another way to 'see' this is to think of those regular pieces of writing as drops into a pool. Before we can swim we need to fill the tank.

Lately, when I sit to write I often experience something best described as emptiness...a lack of words and ideas. Reflecting on this I wonder this: I often tweet and write status updates when I am struck by a creative thought or idea that I think is worth sharing. Once it is shared, I tend to move on to the next thought. So, I wonder, does the instant sharing of nuggets of creative writing via Social Media rob the the creative mind of the inspirational pressure of accumulated ideas? Do we keep our vessel empty?

Have you ever experienced this?

Public Speaking at A Conference for Conference Centers

So, I'm thinking that when a Conference is planned and run by an association of Conference Centers at one of the member's locations - it will be one well done affair!

I'll let you know. I'm off today to attend and present at the IACC Americas Conference in Leesburg, Va. 

More to come... or follow #IACC2011 on Twitter for details real time.

Make Local Artist Famous!!! Do It! - REPOST!!!

REPOST! 


Your Votes Could Catapult a Local Artist to National Fame

Shelter dogs have amazing life stories.  From the tragedies in their lives to the joy of finding a forever home.  Local artist and shelter pet advocate Scott Davis features the day-to-day antics of his favorite dog, Sherlock in a comic strip that cuts to the heart of the simple joys that pets bring to our lives.  Well, now that comic is representing NC in an international competition and needs your help to move forward and win.

The contest is sponsored in part by Creators Syndicate, the organization behind the most creative cartooning talent in the world and the prize is a contract with the company.  The website where voting takes place (www.thecartooniststudio.com) was formed by some fantastic talent, including the artists behind Beatle Bailey and Baby Blues.  Simply put, winning this contest would put Scott Davis’ work in publications all around the globe.

Helping is simple and easy.  All you need to do is register online and vote up to 4 times a day for the comic…yep, that’s it! 

STEP ONE—Go to:   http://bit.ly/hzS958  and click on the mini comic image to go to the voting page for Scott’s comic, SHERLOCK UNLEASHED.

STEP TWO—Click the “I Like It” button

STEP THREE—Log in (if you already have an account) or register (first time only and we promise no spam or annoying messages come your way)…write down your username and password in a safe place

STEP FOUR—Once your vote registers, you’ll see it mark the comic with a check mark and then it will tell you the time when you can cast another vote.  Remember to come back time and again and vote, vote, vote!

The strip receives up to 4 votes each day, from each voter, by people just like you.  And at the end of each week, the strips with the most votes move on to the next week of voting.  Think of it like Survivor or American Idol for a comic strip.  The contest runs for 10 weeks and at the end of 10 weeks a winner is crowned.  Pretty cool to think you could be part of such a neat prize for a local artist and our region, right?  So, what are you waiting for? 

If you love the joy that dogs and pets bring to our lives, take a few minutes to register and help the strip move ahead!  Every single vote counts and the race is close at the top.  Wouldn’t it be great to have a local artist showcased in newspapers around the globe?  Especially with a strip that features other local furry friends and gives even more attention to our fantastic region?

Social Media is Different

Next week, I'm leading a workshop on Digital Media at the Annual Conference for the International Association of Conference Centers.

One of the exercises I'm having the group perform is to select which words, from the image below, aptly describe Social Media versus traditional advertising. Can you pick the right words?

Headed to Las Vegas for ASPDOTNETSTOREFRONT Conference. CYA!

If you need me this week, I'll be here: The Venetian.

I have the tough job of delivering a presentation at the ASPDOTNETSTOREFRONT Annual Conference this week. Topic Title: Social Media Sells and HOW!? - Leveraging the Uniqueness of Social Media for E-Commerce.

However, I will be voting for Scott all week and you should too!

Traveling Speaking Circuit for March

I'm not sure what stars and suns have aligned, but all of a sudden I find myself looking at a March of traveling for speaking engagements.

March 7-10 : I'm delighted to be speaking at the aspdotnetstorefront Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Topic: Social Media Sells and How?!

March 22-25 : Then its fun times in Virginia with the International Association of Conference Centers' America's Annual Conference where I'm leading an original workshop on Utilizing Digital Media for Marketing Your Conference Center.

And, to top it all off, I'm leading another LinkedIn workshop here in Winston-Salem, NC at Graylyn on March 31st.

Can you say "Happy as a Clam at High Tide?"