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Bloggers Toolkit: Passing on Help with Gratitude

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We Are Experienced

Blogtool box with mouse hanging out

Who knows the real figures? Not every blog is indexed. Thousands of bloggers start blogging all over the world every minute. I’m sure that many could be like I was — thinking this stuff has got to be easy and finding it wasn’t as easy as I thought.

Drew McLellan has a project to help new bloggers who are feeling like that. He’s compiling a toolkit — a list of blogs that new bloggers can turn to when they start out — a bloggy version of the SOB NEW BLOGGER PAGE. He’s asking for our help. He said.

Anyone who is interested, create a post listing a few blog sites (and maybe give a word or two as to how you’d categorize them) that:
New Bloggers Toolbox

  1. Are chock full of practical tips
  2. Act as a living lab on how to write compelling blog posts
  3. Demonstrate how to build a community
  4. Teach marketing tools
  5. Are welcome wagons – bloggers who spotlight newbies

Drew’s Bloggers Toolkit
Converstations (chock full of practical tips)
CK’s blog (compelling blog post examples)
Viral Garden  (demonstrate how to build a community)
Lonely Marketer (teach marketing tools)
Successful & Outstanding Blogs (bloggers who spotlight newbies)

Additions to The Bloggers Toolkit

    DailyBlog Tips (chock full of practical tips)
    The Copywriting Maven (compelling blog post examples)
    Come Gather Round (demonstrate how to build a community)
    Blogopreneur (teach marketing tools
    The Good Blogs (bloggers who spotlight newbies)

There are so many more blogs that could be here. I know. I know. If you can, write a post like this one and link back to Drew, so he can find it when he needs to compile them.

Drew’s doing a generous thing with this project. He’s offered us a chance to participate. We can “give back with gratitude,” through the links we choose to pass on. Let’s build a list that will help new bloggers and serve our readers at the same time.

We were all new bloggers once, and someone helped us. It’s nice to have this chance to do the same.

Thank you, Drew, for this idea and for including my blog on your list.
–ME “Lis” Strauss
If you’d like Liz to help you make a plan to meet your goals, click on the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.

Drew McLellan Has a Gift for Graduates

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No Wrapping Required

drews-grad.jpg

If you’re a parent, you know . . . that the best advice your graduate will get could be your ideas and your experience expressed in someone else’s words.

If you’ve had experience beyond school, you know . . . that those share what they learned about where you’re ready to go can make the world a whole lot easier to navigate.

Back in March, Drew McLellan invited many people to share what they know about how to get that first job. Here’s what he said,

When you have a couple minutes, would you consider swinging by my place and adding your 2-cents? I don’t know about you — but I still remember how nervous I was and how desperately I wanted someone to give me a chance. I’d like to create a tool so the next generation can get over those nerves a little faster/easier with our help.

Drew’s request was generous. He was repaid in kind. The eBook that he made is complete and available now in two forms for you and your graduate.

In the pages you’ll find, words of wisdom from these professionals:

Take a minute to look at the names in that list.

Drew, that’s some list of friends you have!
Thanks for what it took to put this together.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Drew McLellan Can’t Keep a Secret

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Or Can He?

Perhaps the real question is
Should he?

If by some force of magic, and you were Drew,
then would he?

If he were offered millsions of $dollars,
then what do think the answer is? Could he?

All I know is right now. Drew is
advertising that he’s got a secret about SOBCon 07.

Click the title to find out about the secret that Drew has.

Want to know [Drew’s Confidential] secret?

Pass on the secret . . . there’s only 16 days left!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
SOBCon 07 limited seating. Register Now!

Change the World: Have Purely Selfish Reasons

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Hey, Drew, How Can We Change the World?

Change the World!

From the first hello on the phone, I have looked forward to every word from Drew McLellan. Drew has a magical way of seeing the world that combines humor and humanity into compassion.

So I wasn’t surprised to find out that Drew is on the board of Variety US, a charity serving children. Nor was I surprised at the way he chose to explain his “purely selfish” reasons for being there. A humble guy would make sure that you’re looking the kids not at him.

Variety for Purely Selfish Reasons

Guest Writer: Drew McLellan

Why would a guy get involved?

Why Variety?

Honestly, for purely selfish reasons. I admit it. I serve as an Iowa and US Variety board member for myself. After all, isn’t this the what’s in it for me era? So what do I get out of it? Joy. Pride. Laughter. Opportunity.

Joy? I am literally immersed in joy overflowing every time I participate in a Bikes for Kids rally or see a child’s face when they realize that the technicool wheelchair really is for them. The kids and their uncensored awe creates an energy that you can’t help but get caught up in — and I get to carry that with me for days.

Pride? How lucky am I that I get to use my god given talents and skills to change my little part of the world? I am so proud to be associated with the amazing staff and volunteers who give their all to raise the money that allows a young boy go to Diabetes camp or provides new school supplies so a little girl won’t get teased by her classmates and can actually look forward to her first day of school.

Laughter? Whether it’s a board meeting, fundraiser or just because, the incredible people that Variety attracts have enriched my life with their friendship, warmth and laughter. There is an aura of determined giddiness that seems to flow from these good people who make the time in their busy lives to help kids who will probably never meet their kind hearted benefactors.

Opportunity? Variety is my chance to say thank you. Thank you for a healthy daughter. And a blessed life. It’s my way of trying to tip the scales and share some of what I’ve been given because truth be told, in a blink of an eye — it could just as easily be me who’s pacing outside a peds ICU room or trying to understand why my child will never walk.

I’m sure most people give their time to Variety for the kids. But in my case, it’s all about me.

Drew McLellan

___
Thanks, Drew, for your purely selfish reasons.
It’s the “purely” that makes the difference.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.

SOBCon 07 News: Drew’s Cool Idea!

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What We’ve Done So Far

It’s been only a month since we announced SOBCon 07 and so much has happened!

We’re letting folks know that this is a carefully-crafted, attendee centered, content-rich event. Folks are finding out that it’s going to be a quality experience in which the audience will have an active role as a partipicant.

That’s why when Drew McLellan suggested this idea, so in keeping with the conference, we just HAD to do it!

I’ll let Drew tell you about it.

Give Little Get A Little LOT

Guest Writer: Drew McLellan

Hey all,

Relationships are about give and take

You give a little. You get a little. That’s the balance of a good relationship.

It shouldn’t surprise you at all that this same balance would be adopted by a conference focused on taking your blog to the next level by building stronger and more valuable relationships.

SOBCon 07

Unlike a typical conference where the speakers are the only ones who get to share, at SOBCon we’re turning that notion upside down.

Each and every participant is invited to bring something they’ve created – a book, a white paper, a podcast series, a visual tool – you name it for every single attendee and speaker.
Imagine leaving the conference with a bag filled with knowledge, insights, laughter and inspiration.

And even better; imagine every SOBCon attendee learning more about your blog and passion, and being touched by your work.

There are only a few rules:

  • It has to be your original content.
  • You must bring enough for everyone.
  • You must be willing to give it away for free.
  • Do we need to say the material has to be appropriate?

Register today so you can get a little. And get a little LOT!!!
Drew,
Drew’s Marketing Minute

PS –Please pass this along. I have no pride of authorship on this. So feel free to completely re-write it, edit it or ask me to do either. Or just fall in love with it as it is and use it silly.

Thanks, Drew!
–ME “Liz” Strauss

Don’t forget to Persuade Me

SOB Business Cafe 01-12-07

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SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Success from the Nest has a question that could impact our bottom line.

Deep Jive Interests has offers Yahoo! a plan to get their ROI from MyBlogLog.

Solo Business Marketing reminds us of one thing we should be certain to find out.

Workboxers explains how to name a real world business opening online.

Drew’s Marketing Minute has an important ultimatum.

Logic + Emotion gives us a tour of what will soon be the newest and fastest growing habitat of the business world.

Technosailor details a series on the business of podcasting.

Whimspiration has gathered a comprehensive list of non-GMO, natural, heirloom, organic, and CNG seed vendors for gardeners looking to buy products on the Internet

Related ala carte selections include

Scribbit reminds us that not all things should be business.

Creative Think explains the benefit of resting to change and creativity.

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like.
No tips required. Comments appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

–ME “Liz” Strauss