Hi all! Terry Starbucker here once again, reporting on the latest results of our 2008 Marketing contest.

The grand prize is a free registration to SOBCon08, plus two hotel nights thrown in for good measure. And thanks again to our contest co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors!

Here are the Top 10 linkers as of 11:38 AM EST on 3/1/08:

1) Todd Jordan – 113
2) Alex Shalman – 104
3) Jesse Petersen – 70
4) Stephen Smith – 59
5) Char Polanosky – 58
6) Troy Worman – 56
7) Joanna Young – 39
8) Phil Gerbyshak – 21
9) Chris Brown – 11
10) Tie, Becky McCray, and Derrick Sorles – 8

Todd and Alex are locked in a tight battle for first place, but there’s 14 days to go and all it takes is a big “Stumble” (ha) to get lots o’ links!

Thanks again everyone, and tune in next week for the latest results.

And don’t forget to register!

Hi all! Terry Starbucker here, reporting on the latest results of our 2008 Marketing contest.

We have 19 contestants going for the grand prize, a free registration to SOBCon08 plus two hotel nights thrown in for good measure. Let’s also remember and thank our contest co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors!

For those of you not entered, there’s still 22 says left in the contest, so if you’d like to jump in send me a note at terrystarbucker(at)gmail(dotcom).

Here are the Top 10 linkers as of 6PM EST on 2/23/08:

1) Todd Jordan – 71
2) Alex Shalman – 49
3) Jesse Petersen – 46
4) Joanna Young – 22
5) Char Polanosky – 20
6) Phil Gerbyshak – 19
7) Troy Worman – 11
8) Stephen Smith – 9
9) Becky McCray – 5
10) Chris Brown – 4

Looks like quite a contest we have going here! Keep up that promotion – there’s a long way to go.

Thanks all, and tune in next week for the latest results.

Oh, and don’t forget to register!

(PS: I’m so pumped about this I’m going to put out a little hint on our very imminent hotel announcement – just think Petula Clark!)

Want to get a free registration to SOBCon08, plus two night’s hotel thrown in for good measure?

The SOBCon founders and the good folks at Plante Moran Financial Advisors (www.pmfa.com) are co-sponsoring a SOBCon Marketing Contest, where the blogger who can refer the most traffic to the SOBCon website (www.sobevent.com) between February 11 and March 15 will win:

• A free registration to SOBCon08 in Chicago, from May 2-4 ($450 value)
  
• Two nights hotel accommodations ($300 value)
  
• Podium recognition by the SOBCon MC, Terry Starbucker(promotional value for your blog and business – priceless)

Let’s get to the rules, but first a quick word about our co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors (www.pmfa.com). They’re a group of financial professionals that are all about “you”, just as it should be. In their own words, “In saying “you” we encompass every aspect of you, such as your family, business, and personal interests into your investment strategy – today and into the future. You are our first priority and that is why our approach to your wealth management is as unique as you.”

OK, here are the rules:

1. To be eligible you must register your referring site, via e-mail to terrystarbucker(at)gmail(dotcom). You can do this anytime before or during the contest period, but the sooner you’re “in” the better.
2. We will count the referrals to SOBCon08 (defined as a “hit” to the site that comes from a link on your site) beginning on February 11, and running through March 15.
3. The referrals must be from a sufficient variety of network and geographical locations (as determined by Google Analytics), as determined by the SOBCon contest committee.
4. Speakers at the conference are not eligible, as well as the founders.
5. If you’ve already registered, you can certainly enter, and see if you can win your money back (and then some!)

So, do you think you have the promotional moxie to promote SOBCon and get your readers to check out our site, and find out how irresistible and compelling this year’s conference is going to be? Are you looking for a way to get to SOBCon but all you have is a blog, and not the cash?

Than sign up and start promoting SOBCon!!

Good luck and have fun.

In the May 08 issue of his column, Nussbaum on Design, Bruce Nussbaum shines the light on SOBCon and David Armano.

Blog conferences are proliferating and I think it’s because people are discovering that blogging–blogging with a purpose– is harder than it appears. This is a lesson that I’m discovering as I meander into the blogopshere. If you want to influence an audience, you actually have to know how.

And there is no better teacher of these skills than David Armano over at Logic + Emotion. David is talking this Saturday at SOBCon07 (who makes this stuff up?) about taking blogs to the next level.

“If you want to influence an audience, you actually have to know how.”

Powerful statment.

Thank you, Bruce Nussbaum.

The Successful and Outstanding Bloggers Conference begins Friday, May 11, with a great bang and fanfare. Check the Schedule Of Events for all the details.

If you haven’t registered, there is still room so sign up now to ensure a seat in this jam-packed conference.

The conference is at the Hotel Sofitel Chicago O’Hare
5550 North River Road, Rosemont in Chicago.
Tel: (+1)847/678-4488

Need directions? Here’s the Sofitel Chicago O’Hare Hotel on Google Maps for driving directions.

The hotel is sold out but there are other places to stay nearby. Check the Accommodations list.

Some of the brightest blogging stars and experts in blog building will be at the conference, sponsored by Blog Herald, Blog Talk Radio, Evoca, Podblaze, MyBlogLog, TheGoodBlogs, Haneberg Management, among others.

The speakers include Phil Gerbyshak of Make It Great!, David Armano of Logic + Emotion, Andy Sernovitz author of Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking, Liz Strauss of Successful and Oustanding Bloggers, Mike Sansone of Conversations and BlogTalk Radio, Drew McLellan of Drew’s Marketing Minute, Mike Wagner of Own Your Brand, Rodney Rumford of PodBlaze, Ben Yoskovitz of Instigator Blog, Chris Cree of Success CREEations, Scott Rafer of MyBlogLog, Vernon Lun of The Good Blogs, Diego Orjuela of Evoca, Wendy Piersall of eMoms at Home, Terry Starbucker of Ramblings from a Glass Half Full, and many other blogging experts.

This is your last chance for this one time blogger’s special event, so sign up now and learn how to take your blog beyond.

Need more convincing? Here is what others have been saying about it:

• Chris Brown – SOBCon ’07 – What I hope to Learn & Get From the Experience
• Tim Draayer – Blog This! SOBCon 07
• Robyn McMaster – Procrastinated? Timing’s Just Right to Save Bucks for SOBCon07
• Jim Walton – Coming to Chicago, SOBCON , May 12
• Lorelle on WordPress – The Successful and Outstanding Blogger Conference – Will You Be There?
• Blog Herald – The Relationship Conference: Building Blogs Through Interaction article series
• Ben Yoskovitz – 5 Reasons NOT To Attend The SOBCon Blogger Conference
• Ramblings from a Glass Half Full – Countdown to SOBCon (Bloggers in the Flesh!)
• Working At Home On the Internet – Sobcon2007 – What? Me Worry?
• Business Blogging Tips – Bloggy Tag With SOBcon 07
• Success Creeations – Interview about SOBCon ‘07
• The Marketing Minute – Want to know the SOBCon secret?
• Get a New Browser – SOBCon 07 – A Blogger Conference May 11-12
• eMoms – Relationship Bloggers Unite! SOBCon ‘07
• Business and Blogging – SOBCon07, Chicago, May 10-11

What more do you need? See you there!