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How to Beat 80% of the Competition from the Start

January 18, 2009 by Liz

Do Worry, Do Something Anyone Can Do

When I was at WordCamp LasVegas, I met the guys from Voodoo Ventures. That’s a picture of Gerard Ramos, Lorelle VanFossen, me, and Chris Schultz after we spoke — all of us a presenters and in the conversation I’m about to share.

Chris, Gerard, and I sat for a couple of hours talking talking business, strategy, brands, and futures. In the course of that conversation, I was relentlessly asking questions, as I’m prone to do when I’m in that mode.

One series of such relentless questions was this one.
What do you bring that others don’t? Why will I be grateful that I’m working you and no one else? We already know that your work is quality, your people are top professionals, and you solve problems without causing them. What’s your secret ingredient that no one else does like you?

Chris Schultz [please know I’m paraphrasing] said

I’ve got 80% of the competition beat from the start, just because I show up. I answer every email — AFTER I read them to end. I return phone calls. I keep my promises. I do what I say I will. I listen and respond. And I like what I do and the people I do it with.

That’s a difference I’d pay for at most any place I do business with.

What about you? How easy is it to find service like that?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Buy the eBook. ane Register for SOBCon09 NOW!!

Filed Under: Marketing /Sales / Social Media, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, Chris Schultz, Gared Ramos, Lorelle-VanFossen, Voodoo Ventures, WordCamp Las Vegas

The Fairy BlogMother Lorelle

September 27, 2008 by Liz

Once Upon a Time at WordCamp Portland . . .

On the Worldwide Day of Play, Lorelle VanFossen gave her Keynote at WordCamp Portland as the Fairy BlogMother.

Amazing in every way!

Live TV : Ustream

How did you play today?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Get your best voice in the conversation. Buy my eBook.

Filed Under: Community, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blogging, Lorelle-VanFossen, WordPress

See the WordCamp Dallas Videos at Your Leisure.

April 7, 2008 by Liz

Word Camp 2008

Some folks have emailed asking where they might see the WordCamp Dallas presentations. Here are the videos released so far.

Liz Strauss WordCamp Dallas 2008

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Liz Strauss – Cmon, Lets Talk! It was a totally bad hair day, but the words went well — Well most of them.

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Lorelle VanFossen – WordPress Power Tips

Jonathan Bailey — Detect and Stop Content Theft

WordCamp Dallas 2008: The WordPress Podcast

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Cali Lewis and Neal Campbell

WordCamp Dallas 2008: John Pozadzides’ 45 Ways to Power Up Your Blog

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Matt Mullenweg, WordPress 2.5 and Beyond

Thanks to the folks who did the video and to John P. for posting them.

— ME “Liz” Strauss
Image source: John P.
Need help with writing? Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. All of that expertise in one room! Register now!

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, John P., Jonathan-Bailey, LizStrauss, Lorelle-VanFossen, WordCampDallas2008

Reviewing Your Face to Face Networking Techniques

March 5, 2008 by Liz

Liz Goes, Lorelle Guest Posts, Lorraine Gets Control

relationships button

When we’ve got a lot to do, we rely on friends to help us out and over the mound of work that we’re facing. I was delighted when my dear friend, Lorelle, jumped in to help me by writing a guest post for the time I’ll be gone to SxSW.

But as relationships work, sometimes our friends come with their own circle of relationships. A few months ago, Lorelle and I invented an alter ego of hers named Lorraine, who keeps popping up when Lorelle writes certain kinds of blog posts.

Well, Lorraine caught a thought that Lorelle was writing about networking for me and you. Lorraine’s fabulous street-wise, huge-size ego could not allow Lorelle to write that post on her own. Next thing we knew, Lorraine had taken over . . .

Lorelle and I want you to know that we hope you’re in no way offended by Lorraine’s take on the subject. She’s . . . um, er . . . direct and sometimes a little colorful. Enjoy!

Reviewing Your Face to Face Networking Techniques

by Lorraine, alterego of THE famous Lorelle VanFossen

Who are you more willing to come to aid of? A complete stranger or someone you’ve met?

Okay, so we know the answer. People are typically more willing to help those they know than total strangers. So it helps to know as many people as you can so you will get help if you need it, right?

Attending a business conference is about turning strangers into acquaintances into friends. You want to work with your friends, people you trust, people who trust you, and the ones you know can get the job done as well as help you get your job done. Right?

You want the experts and you want to get to know the experts.

Oh, wait. At a business conference, especially one on blogging, you are also the expert. People want to know you. You are the one they are waiting for to come to their aid. This is your chance. Are you ready? Are you trained? Are you prepared for the moment when the moment to perform arrives?

The Successful and Outstanding Bloggers Conference (SOBCon) is the place where experts come to rub shoulders with other experts – no matter what your expertise.

Are you ready to share your expertise and meet the experts at SOBCon in May?

Let’s review your preparation techniques.

  • What to Wear:
    Yes, clothes make the first impression, so what should you wear to be your best at such a powerful business of blogging conference? The first impression is your best networking tool so you want to look your best. At SOBCon though, we’re a bunch of bloggers. We are people who dress for success for the public and work in our underwear. Choose something in between that represents you and your blog while dressing for warm temperatures and hotel air conditioning. Chicago is warm in May. Informal, clean, with a spot on the left shoulder for a name badge.

    Wear something that says, “Hi, I’m a blogger but I’m a successful and outstanding blogger.”

  • Practice Your Smile and Handshake:
    I know you are used to virtual meetings and social networking, so you probably haven’t practiced your smile and handshake in a while. Take some time to rehearse in the mirror and practice on a family member or pet. You want the smile to not look like you have the hemorrhoids that come with blogging. Make it natural, fun, coy, and endearing. Like on television when the sick and dying child looks up and smiles to let you know that it will be okay, don’t worry, mommy and daddy. Make the handshake strong and firm without ripping off their arm. And wipe those sweaty palms.

    Be a professional networker now.

  • Practice Your Babble:
    Repeat after me: Hi, my name is [your name] and I blog about [your blog purpose and goals]. Wait, how many words does it take to define you and your blog? Can you do it in less than 200 words? If you can, work harder. Prune it down to 10 words or less and you have a powerful tagline to kick off a conversation with. Get your blog goals and purpose on paper and rehearse it. Practice introducing yourself and giving your spiel. You are going to get asked, so be ready for the moment.

    You’re there to get known, so if you can’t tell them what you do, who wants to know you?

  • Pry Open Your Brain:
    Crack open your virtual skull and get ready for new input. You’ve come here as an expert to learn from the experts. Get your head ready to fill with exciting thoughts, ideas, business techniques, tips, and the tools you need to ratchet your blog up 10 notches.

    The inspiration can’t get in unless the brain is open. Pack your can opener in your suitcase so you’re ready.

  • Remove Brain Filters:
    Yeah, yeah, heard it, read it, bought the book and the t-shirt. Stop that thinking right now. Clean out all the filters on your brain that thinks there is only one way to do this blogging thing. Get ready for new tips and techniques to drive themselves into your gray matter and come out with clearer blogging, networking, and marketing skills.

    Remove preconceived notions and cobwebs and get ready for new input to strain through the sifters in your skull.

  • Remember What It Means to Make Friends – Real Friends:
    Living online, we often forget the nuances that turns acquaintances into great friends. Remember how a look could fill say a paragraph of meaning and intent with your friends in the real world? I know the skills are rusty, but you can do it. Practice clever witticisms and comebacks. Work on that sly grin. Be ready to poke a little fun – appropriate fun – in the moment that will turn a chance meeting into a life-long relationship of working and playing together.

    It’s these little things that you do that change a stranger into a friend.

  • Did Someone Say Networking Means Business?
    You’re not just there to meet and greet. You attend these things to make money. You can make money by meeting the people who have money to share, or learn from those earning it hand over fist. It’s not just about the money. It’s about the money-making connections. What skills do you not have that you wish you did? Find someone who does and maybe you may have the skills they don’t have. SWAP! Pushing into the consultancy business? Then you better have a vast list of resource folks to help fill in the missing parts of your business services. Start collecting business cards and getting to know those missing parts people. NETWORKING!

    The more people you know with the right skills and resources, the more likely you are to sing in harmony to “Blogs Will Keep Us Together.”

  • Spread Yourself on Everyone:
    Become like jam. Be prepared to spread yourself everywhere during the conference. You want to be in all the pictures, podcasts, live blogging, and videos. You want to be the one who stands up and asks the brilliant question that gets everyone talking about you, you smarty pants, not the speaker. You want to be mentioned in every report from the conference as the witty, wise, and wondrous person who stole everyone’s heart with your dazzling brilliance and networking skills. After all, it’s who you know not what you know that can make all the difference in your blogging career.

    Start spreading your who around.

  • Be Thinking Blogging Every Moment:
    You know by now that anything can be a blog post, so keep your note pad near you at all times and jot down every blog post moment you can think of to blog about the event and the lessons you learned when you get back to your blog. You’re an expert now. You know that the networking doesn’t end with the face to face handshake and smile. It’s back to the blog salt mines where the real networking begins.

    Start your linking!

The power of online social networking is amazing. You meet people you would never run across in your daily life. You rub virtual shoulders with the whose who of the web. It’s a never ending network of connections as you find new sources of information daily, and others find you as their source.

However, the potential in these networking possibilities only show up when you show up. Show up.

—
Lorelle VanFossen writes for Lorelle on WordPress,
Blog Herald – Taking Your Camera on the Road where you’ll also find
Lorelle’s Family History Blog. Order Her Book Now! Blogging Tips: What Bloggers Won’t Tell You About Blogging

Lorraine is usually locked away where she cannot cause harm.

Thanks, Lorelle!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz to get over your networking phobia!!

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

Filed Under: Business Life, Strategy/Analysis, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, conferences, Lorelle-VanFossen, networking, relationships

Liz's Thematic Links Story: Lorelle's Blogging Birthday Quest

August 30, 2007 by Liz

thematic-links

I Promised I Would Write This Story

In response to the Joanna’s Thematic Links Post WritingChallenge, I promised I would use the titles to write a story. Here is the story that I wrote.

Lorelle’s Blogging Birthday Quest

Once upon a time, a sweet young lady called Lorelle set out to celebrate her blog’s birthday. She went on a quest to find her passion. Seeking knowledge, success, and wisdom, Lorelle went to to the lighthouse at SuccessCREEations. There she saw Chris, the wizard, she had met at SOBCon07. Lorelle was sure that he could help.

In her swirling teal green dress that matched the logo on her blog, Lorelle timidly knocked on the lighthouse door. A very tall, but kindly, Chris pulled back the huge and creaky door. He held a Klondike bar as he looked down, down, down to see the young lady in the swirling teal green dress that matched the swirling logo on her blog. She was looking up, up, up at him.

She noticed that her neck was getting a little crick and stepped back a step.

“I’ve decided to take on more — show people real Blog writing with a purpose,” Lorelle said.

Chris questioned whether he should Fan the Flames. He listened as she spoke.

“I’ve done The Recommended Weekly Readings (2007-08-18). Project Management, ” Lorelle said, sounding like a cross between an encyclopedia and a librarian.

“I was just about to do a blog myself,” Chris said. “It’s called ‘Weekly Wrap-up: War on Clutter.’ Would you like to watch? First of course, I have to clean up the clutter.”

Lorelle caught on right away. “You want me to help you clean your lighthouse. No way!!”

“Perhaps, then . . . ” Chris said, thoughtfully. “Frankly Lorelle, I worry about Google and the Privacy Dilemma. We shouldn’t be in the lighthouse alone. Maybe you should go out to play.”

But our little Lorelle was not to be stopped.

Everyone who knows, knows that you don’t get in the way of a determined Lorelle. She crossed her arms across her chest firmly and stamped one foot in a lovely black patent-leather shoe (that looked so elegant with the teal green dress that matched her blog.) “Why go out and Play when you can be Inside Blogging?”

As the two stood on the doorstep of the lighthouse, several bloggers walked by.

“There you go!” Chris said, seeing opportunity. “Hey, Jon!”

Jon and Brad walked over. Jon said, “Yeah, Chris?”

“Lorelle here wants the “How to Best Pitch Bloggers – a Virtual Group Interview” Speech. Are you the guy who does that?”

“Nope,” said Jon. Brad said, “That would be Jan. He’s out showing GP Why Writing a Link Post Should Be Like Planning a Party. I don’t think you’ll be finding him for a while.”

“What do you guys do that’s a cool blogging trick?” Lorelle asked, stomping her other lovely black patent leather shoe that looked so elegant with her teal green dress that swirled in the same color as her blog logo.

Together the two men said, “We know How to read feeds without driving yourself mad.

“I already know that.” Lorelle said.

A woman named Anastasia walked up to offer Lorelle A learning whirlpool.

Lorelle immediately backed off protecting her lovely black patent leather shoes that looked so elegant with her teal green dress that swirled in the same color as her blog logo.

“Error Retrieving What You Wished For! Retry? Y/N?” asked Alina.

“What are you talking about?” Lorelle asked, not at all sure these ladies were talking about blogs.

“Shared Answers – Final Roundup & the Winner” said Yvonne.

“I don’t want my horoscope read,” Lorelle exclaimed. “I just want to be Linking with intention even When writing means spirit spilling.”

“You should rest. After all next week is A New Week. You might feel differently by then.” Chris finally said to Lorelle.

As Chris walked Lorelle back to her blog, the teal green one with the swirly logo down the road — the one that matched the dress that looked so elegant with the lovely black patent leather shoes. The two travelers were passing a tiny blog when they heard a woman’s voice say, I’m just writing to say thanks.

“Who’s that?” Lorelle asked.

“Can’t tell.” Chris said. “It’s either Liz or Joanna. They’re both always saying stuff like that.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Related
A List Becomes 301 Links in Story — Chapter 1

Filed Under: Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, Chris-Cree, Joanna-Young, Liz-Strauss, Lorelle-VanFossen, ZZZ-FUN

SOBCon 07: Prizes and Gifts from Generous Folks

April 18, 2007 by Liz

Fabulous Books and a Blog Design for Attendee Gifts

Wonderful people have arranged to be sending books and a special prize for attendees at SOBCon. I want to personally thank them for their generosity.

Prizes

Thank you to these generous folks who have offered at their own cost to donate these prizes to attendees at this years’s SOBCon event in Chicago on May 11-12.

The Blog Studio

Peter Flaschner, Creative Dictator, of The Blog Studio has come forward to present an offer of a $2,000 blog design as a door prize. Here’s a sample of what they’ve done in the last year. Click the design to visit their gallery.

Lisa Haneberg

Two Weeks to a Breakthrough

Lisa has donated multiple copies of her book, Two Weeks to a Breakthrough: How to Zoom Toward Your Goal in 14 Days or Less, and pens to go along with the book. Using Lisa Haneberg’s proven process will help you move beyond your fears and bad habits and help you make significant breakthroughs, even amid the overwhelming clutter of everyday life. Two Weeks to a Breakthrough uses both repetition and the gradual introduction of new techniques to increase your ability to discover and manifest new possibilities. Through a combination of step-by-step instructions, examples, exercises, and illustrations, you will learn how to clarify your goals, take steps to break through both internal and external obstacles, and discover how to transform your career and personal life into exactly what you’ve always wanted. from the Amazon review

Ted Demopoulos

Secrets of Successful Blogging

Ted has generously provided a pile of his book Secrets of Successful Blogging to the conference. This popular tome is has had rave reviews from everyone who has had a chance to use it. Amazon says: 101+ tips for blogging more efficiently, effectively, and profitably, gleamed from interviewing hundreds of people who concretely benefit from the blogosphere. from the Amazon review

And Gift Books Too!

Tim Johnson

GUST

Tim is bringing his hot-off-the-presses, new book, Gust: The “Tale” Wind of Office Politics. Office politics are a fact of life in every company, but no one has ever told us how to use them to our advantage until now. Timothy Johnson has written a compelling, entertaining and deeply practical guide to navigating through the often-treacherous winds of office dynamics. You can t avoid company politics any more than you can dodge air molecules, so you may as well learn how to thrive in the midst of it. This wonderful book will show you how. —Steve Farber, Author, The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership and The Radical Edge: Stoke Your Business, Amp Your Life and Change the World

Rumor has it that

LorelleOnWordpress

Rumor has it that the famous Lorelle, that’s right Lorelle VanFossen of Lorelle on WordPress and The Blog Herald, will not only be at SOBCon, but will also introduce her brand new book for bloggers and will be providing a copy to every attendee courtesy of The Blog Herald, a SOBCon 07 Sponsor. Until then, the book title and contents are a secret.

Thank you to all of these generous people. Aren’t they great? If you see one, please say I told you what a big deal we all think their support is.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
SOBCon 07 — Be part of the most interactive and attendee-focused experience in blogging history.

Filed Under: Business Book, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, Lisa-Haneberg, Lorelle-VanFossen, Peter-Flaschner, SOBcon-07, Ted-Demopoulos, Timothy-Johnson

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