Successful Blog

You Want More Influence? Tell Us Why …

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It’s All in the Why

When I was a kid if I asked my dad for something small, like a quarter to play the jukebox, his answer would be, “Give me good three reason why.” Not every reason was so good at first, but I learned to think up reasons before I gave the request. That lesson stuck and stayed all through my life.

So I wasn’t that surprised when I read this study years ago.

Dr. Ellen Langer, a Harvard social psychologist, took a document to a line of people at the copier and said, “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine?”
Some 60% said “yes.”

But when she added a “reason,” by saying in similar circumstances, “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I have to make some copies?” The number jumped to huge 93%.

I searched the web for the original study. Can’t find it. But memory says that she went a third time with a reason involving a deadline and that number rose close to 100%.

Tell me why …

Subscribe to my blog. –> Never miss information like this.
Tweet this please. –> Get more followers.
Follow me on Twitter. –> I’ll share what I value with you.

If a simple why makes a difference, imagine the effect of a reason that’s meaningful.

Your turn …

Write something you want us to do and why we should do it in the comment box. It’s a chance for you to influence what we do.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!! See what you can do!

SOBCon09 Comment Box Conference / Q&A — 12 Hours Tuesday Feb. 10

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An Expert Every Hour and Q&A for 12 Hours

Everyone is invited. Stop by for a while listen in and meet some new friends.

Think theater of the imagination meets speakers and attendees in the comment box for conversation.

Why the comment box and not some new technology? The comment box offers a different experience — slower, more intimate, with room for everyone to bring long thoughts and serious questions.

When: Tuesday, February 10th

Where: Successful-Blog.com

What: New Post and Speaker Every Hour
11:00 a.m. – 10 p.m. CT (GMT -6hrs)
Watch the clock in the sidebar.

When and Who:

11:00 – Liz Strauss on How to Build a Personal Development Network
12:00 – Mark Carter on Saving The World With Social Media
1:00 – Lucretia Pruitt on Twittering the Way that Works Best for You
2:00 – Andy Sernovitz on Amazing Word of Mouth for Your Blog
3:00 – Mary-Lynn Foster on Podcast and Blog Interviewing Tips
4:00 – Easton Ellsworth on Visionary Blogging Improvements
5:00 – John Haydon on Social Media and Trust Online
6:00 – VickyHennegan on Writing for the Web
7:00 – Becky McCray on Successful Entrepreneurship
8:00 – Shannon Paul on Internet People and What They Do
9:00 –Angela Maiers on Literacy and Learning in the 21st Century
10:00 –Terry Starbucker on Pitching Social Media to Clients — 5 Key Questions for Potential Clients

Bring your own link to leave to share information about blogging, social media, and ROI of Relationships on the Social Web

C’mon Let’s Talk!

We haven’t done something like this since 2007!
— ME “Liz” Strauss

Register Now for SOBCon09 Explode your network!

Twestival Comes To Chicago: A Great Cause & Great Connections

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February is the month of relationships and relationships matter. They’re what keeps us going, gives our lives meaning, and keeps our hearts beating with purpose. Throughout the world, the folks on Twitter have started to use the relationships they’ve formed their for many good purposes. One of those is series of events called Twestivals. The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.

The Twestival in Chicago is this week. I asked Mark Carter to write a few words about it.

On 12 February 2009 175+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

Chicago’s event will be a casual, fun night of social networking for a cause. You’ll have a chance to meet your online friends and some offline friends.

We’ve also set up a Facebook group at
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59499469458&ref=mf
so people can connect before AND after the event. We’ll be posting pictures, reviews, comments and continuing conversations long after the event is over.

And for a quick, direct way to learn more and get involved:

http://www.chicagotwestival.eventbrite.com

If you’d like to get involved or have questions email me anytime at mjcarter (at) savingtheworld.net

Hope to talk soon!

If you’re from Chicago, stop in and “Tweet. Meet. Give.”

If you’re in another city, see how you can be part of a Twestival near you.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Thanks to Week 172 SOBs

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Successful and Outstanding Bloggers

Let me introduce the bloggers
who have earned this official badge of achievement,

and the right to call themselves
Successful Blog SOBs.

I invite them to take a badge home to display on their blogs.

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They take the conversation to their readers,
contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger.

I thank all of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on.
Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.

Should anyone question this SOB button’s validity, send him or her to me. Thie award carries a “Liz said so” guarantee, is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and is backed by my brothers, Angelo and Pasquale.

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Want to become an SOB?

If you’re an SO-Wanna-B, you can see the whole list of SOBs and learn how to be one by visiting the SOB Hall of Fame– A-Z Directory . Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

What’s the ROI of Relationships All About? Ask David Sherbow

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David SherbowWe asked SOBCon alumnus David Sherbow what the ROI of Relationships meant to him — here was his reply:

“I’ve been in the urban independent record promotion business for 15 years. Many would say that I am one of the best if not the best at what I do. Everybody thinks that getting records on the radio is all about money. Every big record company has money. The great differentiator is the type and quality of relationships you have built. I worked for the VP of Marketing and Promotion of Def Jam Records for 10 years. For the first 5 he taught me everything he knew and passed on his relationships. For the second five years I ran his business by myself and became better at it then he was. When we parted ways it is only because of the relationship he passed on or allowed me to make on my own that has allowed me to survive profitably in what is an extremely difficult business for the last five years.”

David blogs at MusicBizGuy.Com , and you can find him on Twitter @MusicBizGuy. Also, his new website, MPTrax.Com, the first user generated music booking utility, just went up. Check out his 3 minute video presentation on MPTrax.

So what does the ROI of Relationships mean to you? Let us know on a comment to this post, or put up a post of your own and link to us.

See you in Chicago – register for SOBCon09 NOW!

SOB Business Cafe 02-06-09

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SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking — articles, books, podcasts, and videos about business online written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

The Buzz Bin explains the burden of listening.
Our ears are always on, sometimes to our chagrin. But although we listen non-stop, we often don’t hear. Therein lies the challenge and opportunity associated with assessing an online environment.

Listening requires depth and patience regardless of the situation.

Remarkable Communication explains the value of slowing down
A few days ago, Mara Rogers wrote a post for Copyblogger about SpeedBlogging. Her post had a lot of smart tips for writing blog posts more quickly and efficiently, and I don’t disagree with any of the advice she gave.

But I’d like to propose another way to approach your posts: SlowBlogging.

Drew’s Marketing Minute explains what we have to do with “it.”
I was talking to a friend of mine who owns a small business last week. He admitted they’re having a fantastic start to the year and everything looks good moving forward.

He went on to tell me that he needs a new company car. He has the money to pay cash for it. Car prices have never been lower. But he’s holding off.

ripple explains how lingo and lines.
“Peppers?” I was California perplexed.

“Yeah, sweet or hot giardinare.” Mario barked.

(Someone in my new found social community chimed in and suggested the sweet peppers. And to have Mario spoon the beef juice rather than dip the sandwich. Too soggy otherwise.)

Login + Emotion explains what we do what we’re teaching.
Imagine someone comes up to you at a cocktail party. And they’re wearing a mask—while everyone else isn’t. You don’t know much about that person because they’re not really telling you a great deal about themselves. How much would you tell them about yourself in return?

Related ala carte selections include

Todd Smith Photography shows where he is.

Twittersheep shows what folks who follow me say about themselves. Click the image to go there.

My twitter name is @lizstrauss . What else would it be?

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

–ME “Liz” Strauss