About 2 weeks ago, we mailed a letter to all Telesummit alumni. We decided to try out the mail thing because some attendees complained about not receiving our emails.

So, to quell the worry and to answer your questions, we thought that having a few pages authored by me, Leesa Barnes, would be a great way to inform you of what’s going on.

And man, was it ever a good choice. One attendee had this to say to me over Twitter:

BTW, got your postal letter today. Love direct mail but so few do it. Thanks for kickin’ it old school…and a sticker, too!

Aw, shucks! Who knew that such a old piece of marketing could add such an emotional and personal touch?

I found out about Leesa’s Social Media Summit just the other day, and I immediately signed up but many days late. I’m probably going to up many nights, catching up on all this - and I’m really psyched!I’m about to start my podcast interviews of “Contemporary Amazons” on March 7th when I interview Jessica Valenti, author of Full Frontal Feminism - A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters and blogger extraordinaire of Feministing.com.

Podcasting occurred to me and seemed like a great way to create more buzz and excitement about my work training women into power and success. So, thinking of doing a podcast series - but I don’t know that much about HOW to do it - makes this summit a perfect fit for me.

Imagine my delight in the (magical) sequence of events that led me to Leesa’s work.

For now, I merely wanted to share my website and blog sites (check them both out, and feedback is welcomed), let you all know that I’ve joined the tribe, and tell you that I’m a hungry student whose willing to admit that “ignorance is not bliss”.

Looking forward to “meeting” you!

Kyle King - “The Amazon Queen”

Here’s my summary of the Telesummit so far.

1. I opened the Telesummit by encouraging attendees to use my 10 point system to define their business goals. Using this template, attendees are better prepared to properly assess which social media tool they should use for their business.
2. Ron Rosenberg, Christina Hills, Jason Van Orden, Penny Haynes and Krishna De joined me on a panel to talk about the future of social media for businesses. In this lively, 1 hour discussion, we debated on what will help businesses
   thrive - and survive - in the social media landscape.
3. Travis Greenlee led a session on how to use video to fill your list with quality leads. His session was only supposed to be 50 minutes, however, Travis kept attendees riveted for an hour and 20 minutes. He shared many tips, including which camera, software and distribution service to use to share your video content online.
4. In his presentation on Day 2, Jason Van Orden gave a very specific strategy on how to earn 5 figures in just one quarter. Many attendees were surprised that he generated this amount of money so quickly and he taught attendees how they can replicate his success.
5. MaryPat Kavanagh and Michele PW both shared in their session that it’s easier to use social media to connect with experts because there are no gatekeepers. They shared a key strategy on how to approach a high profile expert
   for your next joint venture project.
6. Denise Wakeman, one half of The Blog Squad, flew solo as Patsi Krakoff was ill. Denise said that 90% of business blogs are abandoned in the first 90 days. She gave some winning tips on how to avoid this fate with your own blog.
7. Kate Trgovac presented business building tips if you want to use Second Life to generate leads. She told attendees about an amazing case study of a small business owner who uses Second Life to lead people to her clothing store in real life.

Registration is still open for the Social Media Telesummit and you can still get caught up through the recordings. That way
you can review whatever you missed.

But, you have to take action before 11:59pm EST on February 22nd. After Feb 22nd, you can still register for the Social Media Telesummit, but be prepared to pay more (only option will be $597) for alot less (the bonuses disappear, including Dan Barefoot and Julie Szabo’s ebook, Social Media Marketing Playbook).

Click here to register your spot.

Got content….? Like audio and video.

Got a website….? That you can copy/paste an html-code in - like a widget.

Then you are only a step away from podcasting. You don´t have to set up a new site, and you don´t need to know anything about podcasting, really. You just worry about the content, thats all.

I, Karin Hoegh, am giving a session Friday at 12:00 about How Any Time-Starved Person Can Produce a Quality Podcast Using the Power of Automation, so why not share the power of a tool that does exactly that. Automate the process?

My partners at PODHANDLE.com want to let attendees at the Social Media Telesummit benefit from the power of automation and get a free logon to the podcasting system PLUS free (limited) hosting.

This is a service of great value, but in order to spread the word we need references and positive feedback from users of the system.

Get the Bonus Gift as PDF here.

If you’re still on the fence regarding the Social Media Telesummit, I’m holding a one hour special teleseminar from 9am EST to 10am EST where you can ask me anything about the Social Media Telesummit.

Now, this isn’t a session to ask about which blog platform you should use for your shoe buying business. Nor should you use this session to ask me which audio gear you should buy to record your interviews.

Instead, use this time to ask me any question that is still unanswered about the Social Media Telesummit. We’ll do this via a webcast and you can start submitting your questions in the box below. Then, come back at 9am EST (New York time) and I’ll start plugging through the questions.

I know that this session will remove all doubts you may be having about attending the Social Media Telesummit. See you at 9am EST on February 20th.

Replay of the Question & Answer Session:

Paul Colligan has used the analogy of a country lunch buffet to illustrate in this 9 minute video on the 7 ways you can maximize your attendance at the Social Media Telesummit.

Click here to register your spot for the Social Media Telesummit beginning February 20, 2008.

Patsi and I are looking forward to being part of the Social Media Telesummit, both in presenting about branding and blogging on Thursday, February 21, and learning from the other terrific experts. Organizer Leesa Barnes said we provide a gift for the SMT attendees and we’re most happy to oblige.

We realize there are people at every stage building their online business. We have a 57 page report called “What the Heck is a Blog” that we’re giving to you. This is especially good for people who are just starting a blog or thinking about starting a blog (highly recommended!).

This 57 page report defines blogs and how a business blog can help you attract more clients. It also includes the complete transcript from a program we did about how to use blog to write and market a book. Read the rest of this entry »

In advance of our presentation on Blogging and Branding on February 21, we want to share a list of books we have read and studied about branding. Social media tools are really powerful for extending your personal brand…but you have to be very clear about your brand and your core message before you start spreading yourself all over the social media landscape.

POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd, by Sam Horn (Patsi loves this book!)

The Anatomy of Buzz: How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing, by Emanuel Rosen

Hot Button Marketing: Push the Emotional Buttons That Get People to Buy, by Barry Feig

The Elements of Persuasion: Use Storytelling to Pitch Better, Sell Faster & Win More Business, by Richard Maxwell & Robert Dickman

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?: Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing, by Bryan & Jeffrey Eisenberg

Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand, by William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson (listen to our interview with William Arruda)

Get Slightly Famous: Become a Celebrity in Your Field and Attract More Business with Less Effort, by Steven Van Yoder

Patsi Krakoff and I (aka The Blog Squad) are presenting on February 21 about Branding and Blogging. To that end, following is an article to get you in the branding mindset.

7 Deadly Branding Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make

© The Blog Squad™ Patsi Krakoff, Psy.D. & Denise Wakeman
with Ruth Klein

Branding is a marketing concept that’s been around for decades. But, do you know how important it is to your business and career for getting known, getting found, and getting clients?

Many professionals and entrepreneurs are either brandless or under-branded. They don’t stand out from their competition, especially on the Web. As a result, their effort, time, energy and money spent marketing doesn’t pay off as well as it should.

When you have an effective, memorable brand and use powerful Internet tools like a business blog to reinforce your message, you can get big results. Your name and your business stay top of mind when someone is ready to hire or buy.

Here are seven common branding mistakes we frequently see among the small business entrepreneurs and professionals with whom we work:

Branding Mistake #1
Trying to market to everyone. Often small business professionals aren’t specific about who really needs or wants their products or services. Consequently, the right people don’t pay attention to their marketing message.

There is a direct relationship in creating a distinct brand designed to attract a specific niche market and the success of your business.

Branding Mistake #2
Not knowing what’s being said about you on the Web.

It is critical that you are aware of where your name, business and products are being mentioned online. Set up Google Alerts with your name, business name, products, services and keywords for your niche so you are on top of your online identity.

Branding Mistake #3
Spending the majority of time working “in” the business rather than working “on” the business.

Working “in” your business is doing operational activities and projects, delivering products and services. Working “on” your business is marketing and building your brand…they are future income-producing activities.

Marketing and branding projects bring in future revenues and clients. It’s essential to schedule time everyday developing your image, reputation, and thought leadership in your niche.

One way to do this is with a business blog. Writing on your blog is an opportunity for readers to get to know you and your expertise. The more authentic you are, the easier it is for them choose your services or products as a solution to their problems. Blogging is a long term investment in your business.

Branding Mistake #4
Focusing on the features rather than customer-oriented benefits.

Focusing on features gives information while focusing on benefits drives the motivation in clients to buy your product or service.

What problem does your business solve? What are the pain points experienced by your target audience? What are their hot buttons that move them into action?

Again, your business blog is a great vehicle for exploring the wants and needs of your readers and clients. You can survey them to find out what they want from you, ask for their experiences, feedback, and input so you can deliver exactly the right service to the right people.

Branding Mistake #5
Having a business name that does not stand out from the crowd. Many professionals don’t take advantage of the opportunity to name their company or services with originality and pizzazz.

As a result, they get lost in the competition and much of their marketing efforts are wasted. If prospects can’t easily remember you and what you do, you may have a ho-hum brand. If your name or your company name is ordinary, then spice it up with a memorable tag line or Unique Selling Proposition. You have 15-20 seconds to capture someone’s attention and interest; how are you using those crucial moments?

On the Web, you have myriad opportunities to control your message and how people remember you. For example, the name of your blog and its tag line should encapsulate your purpose in blogging, who you are writing for, and your name as the author.

Branding Mistake #6
Not leveraging the Web to extend a business brand online.

Many professionals and business owners market in one channel, such as networking events, and ignore the Internet.

Today’s competitive and global environment creates new opportunities to reach more clients, deliver more services and sell more products.

To extend your brand online and control what people see, you must use the Web: a blog is one of the best ways to get your message out, build relationships with prospects, and establish thought leadership in your field.

Using the Web, you control what people read about you and your company. You must be continually learning to use these marketing and branding opportunities, because your competitors already are…

Branding Mistake #7
Leaving money on the table by not leveraging intellectual property. Many professionals invest a lot of energy in creating one product or service, ignoring other potentially lucrative possibilities. Extend your brand AND your income by repurposing your content into multiple formats.

A speech is not just a speech, a book is not a book. From one blog post, speech or book there are articles, ebooks, e-courses, tips lists, teleseminars, bonus reports, white papers, press releases, home study kits, and audio programs. The more options you offer, the better your chances are of attracting and connecting with your ideal clients.

Don’t Make These Mistakes

The solution? Spend time developing your memorable business and personal brand. Brainstorm names and slogans that encapsulate the spirit of your business. Stand out from the crowd (and your competition!) by developing a clever name and memorable symbols that make you unforgettable.

Great branding isn’t always easy to create, but when you do find it you’ll know immediately. Once you find a great name, you can extend it to name your products and programs. Then, use your business blog to communicate your core message and philosophy. With this strategy, you continually reinforce your brand with everything you do, write and speak.

About the Authors
Learn how to get your business found on the Web. Subscribe to The Blog Squad’s ezine Savvy eBiz Tips at www.savvyebiztips.com and get your free white paper on how to overcome The Great Internet Marketing Challenge. Business blogging experts Denise Wakeman & Patsi Krakoff are The Blog Squad and can be found online at www.blogsquad.biz