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International SOBCon08 NEWS and Updates!

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Updates and News

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We’re all looking at less than 6 weeks until we’ll be in Chicago. People from Scotland, England, France, Denmark, Mexico, Canada, and the US are coming — It’s hard not not be singing!

I thought I’d remind you of something I promised last October over on the SOBCon08 blog.

. . . you’ll have plenty of reasons you’ll be glad you made the investment to come.

Here are just 3 of them:

  • SOBCon Quality. We’re keeping the size intimate — quality time with quality people.
  • Actionable Ideas We’re pushing every topic from the Theory into Practice — solid plans tailored to your needs.
  • Interactive format We’re redefining the word conference even further — authentic experience working together.

The biggest reason, of course, is the people you’ll get to spend quality time talking with. Imagine who’s going to be on that one weekend together — talking business and blogging until 3 in the morning.

Some Housekeeping

Hotels are filling up and the room block releases soon. What does that mean? Well, it means two things:

  1. We’ve laid out funds to reserve rooms at a rate lower than the rack rate at the preferred hotels. Your chance to get that rate will likely disappear with the loss of the room block.
  2. Rooms that go unbooked, we’llhave to cover ourselves. It’s a risk we felt important to take so that none of you were left with no where to stay, but if you can book before April 1. You’ll be saying us an unnecessary expense.

Also we’ll need final numbers to commit to food and seating by April 11. So, even though, if you’re like me, we like to book at the last minute — my credit card likes that too — if there’s some way that you could register early or let us know that you plan to come, we can make sure that we don’t end up in a bind for great food.

Already our audience includes entrepreneurs, company bloggers, nonprofits, and some corporations. The folks at the Summit are so excited about the event that they’re extending an invitation to corporations who use their facilities. The Summit thinks that we have a lot to offer their patrons regarding about what we do.

And the Network Solutions folks are going to start taking appoints for in-depth blog consultations for 30 lucky attendees starting on April 1.

It’s going to be an exciting event!

Oh and don’t forget Chrisg’s contest with over $2000 worth of prizes sponsored by Chrisg and Blog Catalog!!! Make sure you sign up for Chris’ Authority Blogger newsletter to be eligible for the full prize and to see all the competition announcements.

Lot’s of reasons not to be an April Fool!! Can’t wait to see you in Chicago!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

$2,000 of SOBCon and Chrisg Consulting Prizes

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Be a Winner! Come to SOCon08

Blog Catalog

Are you looking to be an authority blogger? Join the Authority Blogger Contest!

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Blog Catalog SOBCon08, and Chrisg have come together to make an exciting new contest offer. It’s all set to help you launch your yourself this year as an authority blogger with the plan, the models, and the support that you need to be off to a successful career.

What IS SOBCon08?

As you may already know, SOBCon08 is small and focused on buidling an actionable business plan. It’s a series of mastermind meetings. The folks from Blog Catalog are joining us there to grow their business and they want you to grow yours! So they’re support the event with this contest over at Chrisg.com

Check who else is on the SOBCon08 the program

Speaker/presenters include: Anita Bruzzese from Gannett USA Today, on online reputation management, Brian Clark, Copyblogger, on online business models that work, Lorelle VanFossen of Lorelle on WordPress, one focusing your business to get noticed, Chris Garrett, on managing the editorial, Muhammad Saleem, on what makes an appropriate social networking portfolio, Chris Brogan, on social media choices that produce, Dave Bullock, a sales model that converts, Liz Strauss, how to build an irresistible offer and Wendy Piersall on success management.

So get on board with the contest!

Authority Blogger Contest Prizes and Rules

It’s always fun to start with the prizes. What the Blog Catalog, SOBCon, Authority Blogger will win:

    $1000 budget to pay for SOBCon08 registration and travel expenses
    which also includes:

    • a copy of ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett
    • 60 attendees will get free design and SEO consults from Network Solutions experts.
    • a $99 lifetime hosting offer from THC
    • a pro account at E-Junkie
    • a free subscription to Blogger & Podcaster Magazine and a chance to join their new USA Today guide
    • a professional video interview on you and your biz for BlogTV sponsored by Fuel My Blog
  • A hour of consulting with Chris Garrett, face-to-face if possible.
  • The complete Authority Blogger online course when it launches.
  • An introduction to all of the speakers at the event.

It’s a fabulous prize package!

To Enter:

  1. Write a blog post explaining why you’re the best candidate to be the next authority blogger. What you’ll add to the event, what you hope to learn from a personal consultancy with Chris Garrett and the wealth of great business bloggers in that weekend in Chicago. Be sure to write with authority. Tell your compelling story.
  2. Have your post published by March 31st.
  3. Leave a trackback to this post on Chrisg.com or a link in the comments, so that we know you’ve enterred.
  4. Your post can include pictures, but should be no longer than 1000 words.
  5. Liz Strauss, and Chris Garrett will select the winner on 1st of April.
  6. In the case of a draw a representative from Blog Catalog will have the deciding vote.
  7. Yes registrants can enter!
    The winner will be selected based on the strength of the argument, the understanding of Chris’ meaning of Authority Blogger, and story of how attending SOBCon08 will contribute to their future.

Make sure you sign up for Chris’ Authority Blogger newsletter to be eligible for the full prize and to see all the competition announcements.

Don’t miss the deadline, then you really would feel like an April fool.

Good luck!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

Twittering at Hollywood and Vine

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Come to SOBCon and Find Out Why You’re There

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Everyone knows some folks who invest time on Twitter.

Successful business folks make conversation, relationships, alliances, and connections. What they share is witty, intelligent, and useful. They’re curious, interested, and interesting. I’ve learned about surveys, trends, and what’s important to people who’s opinion I value. I’ve also found breaking news that keeps me aware of the larger web community.

Other folks go to Twitter to be seen. They spend time like girls in the 50s waiting at the drug store at Hollywood and Vine — hoping someone will discover them.

The difference between the two groups is that the successful business folks think about why they’re there and how being there fits with their business. They go in looking at the purpose of investing their time.

The same thing happens on every social networking site I’ve seen.

How do your social networks serve your business?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Hear Muhammad Saleem speak on which social networks are right for you! Register now!

Gratitude Goes Deep

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Wow! Where to Start?

heart in the sky

Thank you to everyone who’s been keeping the story of SOBCon08 alive while I’ve been not well. Also thank you to the new clients doing new business is always a pleasure.

I’m hanging my heart over Lake Michigan for you!

Here are a few of the folks who’ve been there for us.

BTW No one seems to have told Matt that we’ll be there –> sobcon08

If you have time to help with SOBCon08, please email me at lizsun2 [at] gmail [dot] com

If you’re writing about SOBCon08, let me know, I’d like to include you in a list like this. If you already have and I’ve missed you. Dead sick doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. I’d like to thank you too. 🙂

Back to the blankets.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

Are You Invested Enough to Succeed?

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Understanding Return on Investment

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The hardest part of building a business is the signal to noise ratio. Every second someone offers something to tilt our sails in another direction. What keeps successful business folks unwavering and always on course? Serious business folks see everything as return on investment.

Invest in a Plan

They say it takes money to make money. Not so. Some folks do it with sweat and charm. But like every well-funded business start-up, the key is that they invest wisely. They’ve thought through a plan to get from point A to point B, and that plan is no pipe dream. The plan is everything.

You need to invest to build a business.

Folks who succeed are invested — in with “both feet.” They put their time and money down, and then they make sure that they get a return. Look at Wendy.

An example: Was going to SxSW a good business decision? I made it so. I put my money down and held my feet to the fire — Mission: get that value back. I pre-arranged meetings, had a plan. Sounds basic, but I talked to plenty of folks who didn’t do that.

I got the return I planned on — more really. An investment outlook changes everything.

Starting a business is a decision, not a “let’s see.” You can’t be “half in” without being “half out.” Who wants to give their important work to someone who’s not fully committed to being there tomorrow?

Are you invested? Do you know where your business will be in three years?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!! SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Invest in Expert Models, An Actionable Plan, and the Support of a Mastermind Team! Register now!

Wendy Wouldn't Wait. Will You?

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See the Difference

Wendy Piersall and I were talking this morning. Our conversation centered around this point.

A blog is a blog. A business is a business.

A blog isn’t a business any more than a building is a company. We can work our hearts out in the name of our blogs — reading feeds, writing posts, commenting, and social networking — but without a plan, those things won’t get us what we need to pay the rent.

I like having conversations about business with Wendy because she “gets” it. She knows that a blog can make money, but a business with a future requires a plan. Once Once Wendy decided that she was going to have a business, a business is what she built.

Wendy Wouldn’t Wait. Will You?

Wendy Piersall was invested in having a business. She wouldn’t wait for someone else to show her how. She made it was her job to research and do the work that needed to be done. She didn’t wait until every star was aligned. She aligned them for herself.

“I saw it as investing.” Wendy said. “I carefully choose what would move my business forward, then I went after the resources to make those things happen.” She scrimped to find time and money. “Do it that way, put your work and money down, and I assure you, you’ll make sure that your investments pay off.”

Wendy made a plan, found the best models, put together a mastermind team for support and went about building a business. Have you paid attention to how far Wendy has come?

This is Wendy’s blog last year.

eMoms February 2007

This is Wendy’s BUSINESS now. By SOBCon08 it will have expanded further.

eMoms February 2008

Wendy wasn’t flush with cash, time, or teachers. She wasn’t waiting for the future. She was ready to make a business. It took her less than a year.

I asked her what was the most important part. She said, “A blog is not a business. Business is a serious leap. You have to be ready to take it on.”

Wendy’s formula for success is familiar — Models, Mastermind Support, and a Plan.

I’m pleased to announce

I’m speaking at SOBCon08

What are you doing to build the business of your dreams now?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!! Models, Masterminds, and an Actionable Plan — SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!
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