Hi everyone, Starbucker here again. With SOBCon fast approaching (9 days away!) and the excitement building (take a look at that attendee list – what an awesome group), we thought we’d kick it up even a few notches more with this fabulous book giveaway offer:

Starting today, May 2, at 9:30AM EST, the next 20 persons who register and pay for SOBCon will also receive an autographed copy of Lisa Haneberg’s excellent book, “Two Weeks To a Breakthrough“. I’ll deliver it to you personally in Chicago.

Lisa is a proud sponsor of SOBCon (through Haneberg Management), and we’re just as proud to feature her new book, subtitled “How to Zoom Toward Your Goal in 14 Days or Less“.

Here’s a snippet of my review on Ramblings From a Glass Half Full: “It’s truly a practical workbook, guiding and encouraging you through the process, quite enthusiastically, I might add. It’s the spark and passion that Lisa shows throughout the text that pushes this ahead of the rest of the pack.”

Spark and passion – a prime characteristic of Successful and Outstanding Bloggers. Come to Chicago and soak in that wonderful vibe, many times over (plus get Lisa’s book!).

See you there!

Conversation Means YOU Talk Too

A conversation involves more than one person talking. A conversation means you get to talk too. The best ideas come when we mash up the knowledge and approaches from different fields and when we look at ideas from all points of view.

Imagine SOBCon — a room filled with web publishers, many you have met on your blog or blogs like this one.

See the SOBCon presenters. They’re leading conversations.

Can you see it? It’s an audience of people engaged in swapping strategies, offering top-notch thinking from which you get to choose . . . Here’s just a few of the folks who will be adding value.

• Brad, Sheila, and Marcus, who know how words make connections with readers
• Lisa, who brings the soul of an actress and the mind of a teacher
• Jesse, who can see how a gamer might get over a wall
• Tony, who can diagnose a problem inside a plan
• Dr. Wolcott, who is at the top in the field of business innovation
• Ashley, who brings a painter’s vision and delicate hand
• Sandra, who knows tools and techniques of visual thinking
• Joe, who brings those grounding questions and computer expertise
• Jeff, who understands good to great and will get there
• Tammy, who knows the people in every part of our job and the dynamics of conversation
• Steve, who is the extreme leadership that lifts us to try
• Dawud, who brings those goals he wrote that prove we express ourselves in our business
• Vernun, who knows how to celebrate others as part of our dream
• Muhammed, who can’t help but provide energy and new ideas
• Robert, who will be there with a practical eye toward what is real
• Franke and Timothy, who know the “group think” of the situation
• Easton, who knows how to organize and monetize without killing the grace of an idea
• Ann and Kent, who are leaders that know presentation is as important as content
• Troy, who thinks big and challenges everyone to take permission to do so

And add to that list people from every walk of business life — corporate innovators, public relations communicators, and the hippest new media contributors — no kidding really. I’ve seen who’s coming and they’re all on it.

Why SOBCon 07 and Not That Other One?

An entire room of experienced minds challenging each other to find the best ways of

• engaging readers and connecting with customers
• drawing people into deeper and more meaningful conversation
• using architecture that invites people hang out around and talk longer
• converting visitors into friends and super influencers
• reaching out beyond the blogosphere

And of course, each person’s answer will be different.
Think about that . . . a roomful of minds all looking the same direction — toward how relationships can build a business — your blog, your business.

SOBCon 07 is more than a conference. It will be a one of a kind experience.
A roomful of incredible minds, ideas, and choices.

You can’t get that just anywhere.

Starbucker here, reminding everyone that due to the high demand for the hotel rooms at the Sofitel (home of SOBCon), the cutoff for the excellent $129 rate is midnight, April 13. Friday!, so if you haven’t reserved your room, DO IT NOW!.

On another note, Zane Safrit and Mike Wagner (speaker at SOBCon) are conducting podcast interviews of SOBCon participants that are being posted on Zane’s website Conference Calls Unlimited. I recently participated in one of those interviews, and really enjoyed the conversation.

If you’re looking for more insight on SOBCon, check out these podcasts.

Register for SOBCon now – don’t miss this “day to remember”!

Hello again everyone, Terry Starbucker here from Ramblings From a Glass Half Full

As you can see by looking on the right hand side of this page that I’m one of the speakers at SOBCon07 (register now!).

Actually, while I am going to speak at this event, my role is going to be different than the other fellow bloggers who will be on the podium.

You see, the only reason I ended up on that list is because I really wanted this event to happen, and was more than willing to offer my help to make it a reality. It was on one of Liz Strauss’ Open Comment Nights where I had the audacity to suggest that we try to get her Successful and Outstanding Bloggers (SOBs, as she calls them) together in Chicago.

I had so much fun corresponding via comments on a blog (and if you haven’t done this on Tuesday nights, you really should – it’s a blast) that I really wanted to meet these people – they all seemed so nice, so authentic, and pretty darn funny.

As it would happen, Liz had been thinking about this already – she wanted to do more than just have a nice party. She wanted to take this to a whole other level – where relationships could be deepened, blogging skills can be expanded, and our known world could be significantly expanded. She wanted to make it something special, in a way that only she (and other wonderful friends of Liz ) could.

How could I resist that? So I signed on, and on May 12 I will having the honor of introducing the other folks on the right side of the page.

Who is Terry Starbucker? Just a fledgling blogger from Connecticut, in his late 40’s and working full time in the service business world (and doing a lot of traveling to the Rocky Mountain West). I really enjoy blogging, and I’ve grown to cherish the relationships I have forged through it.

I like to look at life as a glass that’s half full, not half empty – in my blog I call it “looking at the literal world in a favorable way“. I also have wrapped “Half-Fullism” into a belief statement, inspired by Crash Davis in the movie Bull Durham.

As is my habit sometimes (I like to write lyrics and sing on occasion), I wrote a poem on my recent first blogiversary that I think sums me (and my blogging) up nicely:

It was one year ago today
I found a place where I had something to say
Talkin’ about the daily grind
And those amazing ties that bind

Connecting through the written word
Soaring with prose like a high-flying bird
Keepin’ it positive in a humorous way
Finding moments that matter in every day

So I celebrate blogging, one year on
A labor of love that I chanced upon
And now I’m committed, and that ain’t no bull
To keep up with those Ramblings
From a Glass that’s Half Full

That’s why I’m going to Chicago – because I’m committed to find more of those “moments that matter“, and I know at SOBCon I will find them in abundance. I am willing to go to the top of any mountain and yell (or more likely sing) at the top of my lungs “Attention all bloggers: This is one special event you will not want to miss – it will be something you will remember for the rest of your lives!”

Register now!

David Armano

David has over 14 years experience in the creative field with the majority of his time spent in interactive marketing and digital experience design. An active thought leader in the industry, David blogs at Logic + Emotion which has taken the marketing, design, and advertising communities by storm. David’s blog has been covered by Forrester, The Boston Globe and landed in BusinessWeek’s “Best of 2006”. More importantly Logic + Emotion remains one of the blogging worlds most compelling success stories—combining healthy Technorati and Alexa statistics with an even healthier community of smart and passionate people who join the daily conversation on “L+E”.

Prior to his current role at Digitas, David was a Senior Creative Director with Agency.com where he led multiple initiatives for clients such as HP, Grainger, Con Agra foods, Bally Total Fitness and Abbott Laboratories. Previously, David earned his interactive stripes working with The Chicago Tribune on their site initiatives. David helped launch and upgrade site features, functionality and content for the Tribune’s flagship site. David also accumulated broadcast and direct marketing knowledge while working for companies such as Fox and Columbia House. David graduated magna cum laude with a degree in design (computer graphics) from the reputable Pratt Institute.

The Presentation

Designing Conversations: How “Conversation Architecture” can result in an effective, differentiated blog experience.

David, will combine his strengths in visual communications and experience design to show you how you can tap these techniques to help differentiate your blog and build a better experience for your community.

• The myth and reality of design and what it means to blogging
• How “conversation architecture” can strengthen your community
• How design effects our “personal brands” and can help you find your “voice”
• How visuals can enhance our conversations and spark meaningful dialogue
• How to upgrade your blog experience without alienating your community
• How you can get noticed by mainstream media and other influencers

About Liz Strauss and Successful-Blog

Liz Strauss is known as a relationship blogger, a person who answers every comment, and someone who never sleeps. If you ask her about it, she’ll tell you she lives inside your computer. Some folks have started to believe that. She believes blogging is about the people and, as part of her B.A.D. Blogger program, Liz calls a blogger a day to find out more about the folks who blog.

ME “Liz” Strauss has worked in print, software, and online publishing with small companies and corporate giants such as Pearson, Reed Elsevier, and Wolters Kluwer. She conceived and drove the reader-centered strategy that turned around a sharply declining company, taking it from $9M to sell for $35M in 3 years. Her presentations are known for being fun, insightful, and packed with quality content.

Successful-Blog Thinking, writing, business ideas. You’re only a stranger once.
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