Monday, December 27, 2010

Introducing the Blogging Summit 2011: Get YOUR Social Media Swag!


 Do you have Blog Swag? 
Pam Perry, "The Swag of Social Media" coming soon!
Before I tell you how this virtual summit will help your business gain more exposure, more qualified leads, better customer engagement and more sales, let me share a story with you.

PROOF BLOGGING WORKS...
In October 2009, Michael Stelzner started Social Media Examiner, a blog for marketers and small business owners. Almost overnight, his site became one of the top business blogs in the world.

He didn't advertise, didn't rely on the press and almost none of his traffic came from search engines.
Slightly more than a year later, he has nearly 50,000 email subscribers, a half-million page views a month, and has generated nearly $2 million in sales from the site.

Everything he does focuses around delivering high-quality content along with intelligent marketing.
Michael's story is not unique. A significant 43% of U.S. companies will be marketing via their own blog by 2012, according to eMarketer.

Now the connection... Blogging represents a new marketing frontier because it bypasses all the costly middlemen and allows you to own your own platform, quickly engaging with your customers and prospects! AND this presents an enormous opportunity for you.
SO WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
Michael (and his team) have been working for months to bring the best minds in blogging together in a fully online event called Blogging Success Summit 2011
 
More than 4,400 marketers and business owners from around the world attended his last two summits. Businesses were transformed. In fact, 95% of attendees said they'd attend again.

This summit's focus is to empower you to implement successful blogging strategies, grow a loyal following, generate quality leads and sell with your blog.

23 of the world's leading social media superstars will be summit instructors.

Presenters include Technorati CEO Richard Jalichandra, Scott Monty (head of social media, Ford), Darren Rowse (co-author, ProBlogger), Brian Clark (Copyblogger), Michael Stelzner (Social Media Examiner), Debbie Weil (author, The Corporate Blogging Book), Douglas Karr (co-author, Corporate Blogging for Dummies) and experts from McDonald's, Cisco, Southwest Airlines, Sony and Procter & Gamble.

Plus join Joe Pulizzi (co-author, Get Content Get Customers), Mari Smith (co-author, Facebook Marketing), Jay Baer (co-author, The Now Revolution), Chris Garrett (co-author, ProBlogger), Dave Garland (author, Smarter, Faster, Cheaper), Mike Volpe (VP of marketing, HubSpot), and Rick Calvert (CEO, BlogWorld)--just to mention a few.

Attendees at our two last summits included well-known organizations such as General Electric, American Express, Staples, General Mills, Intel, Harvard, San Francisco Giants, Kraft Foods, Hyatt Hotels, Stanford, IDG and Disney. But you don't need to be a big business to benefit!

This is the world's largest online blogging event designed to empower marketers and business owners to master blogging. And the great news is it's a live online conference you can attend from your home or office.
Go here now to learn more: http://bit.ly/pambloggingsummit
Get your BLOG SWAG going! 
Pam Perry, YOUR PR Coach
Coaching you to get more "SWAG in your Social Media"
 Look for upcoming the book and webinars in 2011 from the SMS Team!
http://bit.ly/pamperrywinnerstartupnation

P.S. You can get 50% off if you act before Jan. 13, 2011.
Twenty-three blogging pros will show you how to use blogging to market and grow your business.
Remember, the experts teach the sessions live (and it's all online). So you don't need to leave your home or office! Go here to see how this works: http://bit.ly/pambloggingsummit

P.P.S. As a way of saying "thanks" for checking out the summit, there's a gift just for marketers called "Building Community with Facebook and Blogs" (valued at $59) waiting for you. Go get it here: http://bit.ly/pambloggingsummit
P.P.P.S. If you're an author, and want personal coaching from me - see http://www.pamperryonlinepr.com and sign up for the next LIVE PR Boot Camp! All NEW for 2011 focusing on Social Media SWAG!  Hear the podcast - see the video testimonials!



See www.PamPerryPRCoach.com too and join www.ChocolatePagesNetwork.com!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Social Media and Online Relationships Matter: Christmas Tribute from Pam Perry, PR Coach

First I want to say thank you for your company, support and making 2010 a very special and memorable year for us at Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc.


This has been a year of Synergy Energy for sure! 

We have met so many new friends, customers, clients and joint venture partners and we were blessed by the amazing people who have come into our lives through the power of social media.

This is just a clip of our gratitude to YOU too. Hear the song, listen to the words. It's for YOU. 



So, What’s happening in 2011?

Lots of changes happening in 2011. We have heard what you need most: PERSONAL SUPPORT to help you navigate the social media marketing landscape (from someone you trust).

So our focus in January is getting ready for our exciting SOLUTIONS DRIVEN workshops.
These are online workshops and classes that will give you step-by-step instructions and ongoing personal support - to reach your goals for your book, business or ministry.

It's exciting. Keep watching your email or checking us at the website.

Also, a new book: THE SWAG OF SOCIAL MEDIA. Details of that coming soon!  

This book is available as an ebook at The PR Pro Shop too. 
FREE...my gift to you until CHRISTmas! 

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Are you Googlicious? Take this Test to See.

Got Google Juice?


I’m not claiming to be an expert SEO or a whiz at Web Analytics and I really am not a “geek” or a “techie.”  I am a public relations professional who reinvented my business and have made some pretty significant strides in the online world. This year alone we’ve been honored with five awards and received trade publicity for our social media marketing tactics. It’s PR 2.0 and it’s working for our clients.

But still a lot of folks don’t “get it.” They think Social Media Marketing is just trend.  But it’s not. It is a way of life. It is the new economy. It is the way companies are thriving while other companies who aren’t “GOOGLICIOUS” are dying.

Test Your Googlicious Quotient:

  1. Do you have a Facebook account with at least 1,000 friends in your niche?
  2. Have you set up a “Like” Page for your  brand, book or business and connected it to Twitter?
  3. Do you tweet at least 5 times a day by adding value?
  4. Do you use Twitter tools like Tweet Deck or Hoot Suite with your tweets?
  5. Do you have an updated and full and complete Google profile?
  6. Have you set up a Youtube video channel that brands you by name and look?  
  7. Have you created at least one video and posted it on your channel with relevant key words to your brand?
  8. Do you have a Linkedin account with recommendations from others proving you to be all you say you are and key words in your “about me” section?
  9. Are you part of any groups in Linkedin and post comments with links (live urls) there often?
  10. Do you blog regularly (at least once a week)? Do you have blogroll on it and RSS feed?
  11. Do you podcast or are featured on Blogtalk Radio frequently?
  12. Do you have photos of yourself tagged on your blog or website with your name as the description?
  13. Have you secured a personal domain of your name at a “dot com?” Have you used NameCheck.com to secure your social media “real estate”?
  14. Do you have a list of the key words people search for in your industry? Do you use them in blogs and in other content-sharing activities?
  15. Have you installed Google Analytics to your blog or website? Do you know where your traffic is coming from and where they are going when they land on your site?
  16. Do you have a FriendFeed account?
  17. Do you Bookmark items in Digg, Stumbleupon or De.lic.ious?
  18. Do you have a professional Flickr account for your photos and videos?
  19. Do you have a Slideshare, Scribd or GoogleDocs account?
  20. Do you have an email marketing program that posts your emails to your social networks?
  21. Do you post articles in article directories and/or do your regularly distribute social media releases?
  22. If an author, do you have an updated bio, your blog and video in your Amazon profile? Do you have an online press kit?
  23. Are you connecting with your core customer in Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn by delivering “fremiums” to them and growing your email list an average of 10 per week?
  24. Do you have RSS “chicklets” or “widgets” on your blog or website that gives you backlinks (which is a key SEO rankings)?
  25. Do you have most of the Google products: Google Reader, Google Friend Connect, Gmail,  GoogleTalk,Youtube, Google maps, photos, Feedburner and Google Buzz?

If you have 15 or more “yes” answers, you are on you way to being very Googlicious and having your possible customers, potential clients and media find you. Once they find you – that’s where the “Ka-Ching” happens!   

People are searching in Google – can they find you? And once they find you, do you know how to convert that connection into a customer?

Want to know more about this process? See our tools and tips at www.pamperryonlinepr.com
 Coming in 2011 > Solutions Driven Workshops Online!
Blog on!


See www.PamPerryPRCoach.com too and join www.ChocolatePagesNetwork.com!

Monday, December 06, 2010

Vote to Help Select the Lineup for Blogging While Brown 2011- Los Angeles!

The purpose of Blogging While Brown is to give Bloggers of Color an opportunity to meet each other for the first time, discuss current issues affecting Bloggers of Color, and learn about the latest technology that will assist them with publishing their work. 
 Blogging While Brown was created in response to widespread dissatisfaction with the amount of diversity in some of the largest blogging conferences.
A critical mass of Bloggers of Color has yet to attend these established conferences, however the initial response from Bloggers of Color to the idea of holding their own conference has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
Bloggers of Color are excited about a conference, for, by and about them and look forward to moving beyond the single panel or discussion focusing on diversity that are typically featured at some of the larger blogging conferences.

SESSION TITLE: Infusing Traditional PR Methods with Social Media
Photobucket
Click the LINK!!!

PRESENTATION TYPE: Workshop

PROGRAMMING TRACK: The Business of Blogging

Pam Perry and Karen Taylor Bass, PR Pros

DESCRIPTION: Stand Out, Get Noticed, Get More Business using Social Media to brand and get publicity that will make you a BRANDING SUPERSTAR!
Karen and Pam doing the PR Bailout workshop

    * Infuse your traditional PR methods with new social media tools
    * Create PR campaigns that will extend your reach and coverage
    * Raise your online visibility and drive website traffic

 QUESTIONS THIS SESSION WILL ANSWER
1. How to increase friends, fans and followers in social media and get qualified leads (list building tactics) for successful email marketing campaigns
2. How to create a better blog that will increased natural search ranking (showing up in Google) and use article marketing to double your exposure
http://pamperrysocialmedia.eventbrite.com
To learn more about Pam Perry and Karen Taylor Bass please visit:

Please VOTE FOR OUR SESSION:
http://www.bloggingwhilebrown.com/vote-traditional-pr-method/#
Thank you! See you in LA!



Blogging While Brown Program Book Scribd

Friday, December 03, 2010

15 Reasons Why Amazon is the World's Most Popular Bookstore



Today's guest post is part of the virtual book tour  for 
How to Sell More Books on Amazon
 by Ministry Marketing Solutions Synergy Energy partner, Dana Lynn Smith

Amazon.com accounts for the vast majority of online book sales and about 22 percent of the total book sales in the United States. The site is also a leading retailer in many other product categories. Just how big is Amazon? Sales in the third quarter of 2010 were up 39% to $7.56 billion.

It's important for authors and indie publishers to have a good understanding of this dominant book retailer. 

Listed below are some of the top reasons that Amazon is the most popular place to purchase books (and a whole lot of other products) online:

1.    People know and trust the Amazon brand.

2.    Amazon sells most books and other products at a discount from list price and they aim to be the lowest cost retailer.

3.    Customers in many states pay no sales tax when buying on Amazon.com, resulting in further savings.

4.    Regular Amazon customers know that they will get free shipping if their order totals at least $25 (for most products shipping directly from Amazon). Personally, if I want to buy something that's under $25 and I'm not in a hurry, I'll place it in my shopping cart and then purchase the item later when I have something else to buy.

5.    Purchasing is quick and easy for regular Amazon customers because their shipping address and credit card information are already stored in their profile. Shoppers can buy an item with just one mouse click.

6.    Amazon.com lists a vast selection of 14 million books. Out of print books can often be found in the Marketplace section of the site, available through used book dealers and individuals.

7.    While online stores can't replace the experience of browsing in a bookstore, Amazon provides a good book shopping experience. The site offers tools that make it easy to find just the right book, the ability to browse a book's content though the Look Inside program, and book reviews to help customers feel confident in their selection.

8.    It's convenient to purchase several items in one place. Shoppers can buy books, electronics, pet supplies, software, vitamins, kitchen gadgets and much more in one spot.

9.    Amazon gift cards make a wonderful gift for book lovers and everyone else, due to the huge selection of merchandise available on the site. Gift cards can be emailed, printed out, or mailed by Amazon at no extra charge.

10.    Amazon's Kindle store offers the largest selection of digital ebooks anywhere, with more than 720,000 titles. During 2009, it's estimated that the Kindle store accounted for 90 percent of all digital ebook sales. Amazon shoppers can even purchase Kindle ebooks as gifts for others.

11.    Readers don't even need a Kindle ebook reading device to enjoy ebooks, magazines, newspapers and blogs from the Kindle store – just download the free Kindle app to read content on a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, or Android or Windows phone.

12.    An army of affiliates in the Amazon Associates program link to books and other products on their own websites, in exchange for referral fees from Amazon.

13.    Amazon continues to offer innovative programs and services. For example, in November of 2010, they announced that customers can go to www.amazon.com/giftcards-facebook to create personalized gift cards that can be delivered on the recipient's Facebook Wall up to a year in advance.

14.    Also in November, Amazon unveiled Price Check by Amazon, a price comparison app for the iPhone that lets shoppers scan a barcode or snap a photo of an item in a retail store (or speak or type a product name) and receive instant prices on Amazon.com and other online merchants. Customers can purchase the item from Amazon with one click.

15.    For international customers, Amazon operates sites in Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.


To learn how to boost your book's visibility on the world's most popular bookstore, increase sales, and improve profits, check out How to Sell More Books on Amazon
by book marketing coach Dana Lynn Smith. For more book marketing tips, follow @BookMarketer on Twitter and get Dana's free Top Book Marketing Tips ebook at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com
Dana Lynn Smith


Amazon Facebook Page: www.amazon.com/giftcards-facebook
Book Sales page: Buy the book here


Also See www.PamPerryPRCoach.com too and join www.ChocolatePagesNetwork.com!