|
Author: Brent Sampson Article source: http://www.selfseo.com/. Used with author's permission.
Like the Internet itself, online marketing resources such as blogs, chat rooms, and user groups are vast and puzzling. On one hand they offer that elusive "promise land" of free and effective marketing. On the other, they embody a "time sink" of astronomical proportions. They have addictive qualities and their effectiveness is measured only by your own self-control.
That said, let's briefly describe each opportunity and explore their potential.
"Blog" is short for "web log" - an online diary of sorts that is relatively user-friendly, at least by Internet standards. Through free services such as Blogger.com, an author (or "blogger" as they have come to be known) can compose content and then, with the click of a button, become "published" online within a matter of seconds for the world to see.
Whether or not the world actually does see it, however, is a matter of distribution. The topic of distributing blogs is outside the scope of this article, but may be one I tackle in an upcoming newsletter. Suffice it to say, it's a little more technical, requiring techno-babble references to jargon-esque acronyms and geek-speak like .xml, atom, and RSS.
In the meantime, let's discuss the other two Internet venues. Online chat rooms and user groups also provide a forum for the self-promoter. While they share similarities with blogs they lack some of the distribution possibilities. Yahoo offers both chat rooms and use groups/bulletin boards organized by subject, and you can find similarly themed groups on Google.
I briefly discuss blogs, chat rooms, and user groups in my book Publishing Gems: Insider Information for the Self-Publishing Writer when covering ways in which to establish yourself as an expert.
Here are six steps for establishing yourself as an expert:
1 Write a book
You've done this already, right? If you haven't, consider it. You may find yourself closer to a finished manuscript than you realize. Writing a publishable book from your knowledge or experience is often a matter of simply putting your expertise on paper.
2 Publish your book
A published book becomes a calling card to line-up speaking engagements, freelance writing gigs, and other opportunities. Once your book is published, the Catch-22 kicks in: You are an expert because you have published a book, and your published book proves your expertise. Get your book published at OutskirtsPress.com.
3 Promote your expertise
Two good places to begin are AOL and ABOUT.COM. Both have category-specific forums in which you can participate. By mentioning that you are the "author of such-and-such" or the "vice president of so-and-so" within the scope of your communication, you begin to label yourself as an expert.
Web-logs, or "blogs" are also a cost effective, efficient way to promote your expertise. Blogs utilize .xml and RSS feeds to provide dynamic, up-to-the minute publication across a variety of searchable platforms. The integration between blogs and contextual search engines becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy toward recognition. If you write about something, people searching for the topic will invariably find you, and that makes you an expert!
4 Overcome the hurdles
Being recognized as an expert in a technical category is admittedly easier than other subjective categories. Even so, it is important to do whatever is necessary to establish your expertise. Let's take the example of fiction authors -- not exactly an easy sell, right? But becoming a recognized expert is not only possible, but mandatory. Just look at Clancy, Rowling, and Robbins.
5 Explore the possibilities
Whether you've penned a techno-thriller, children's fantasy, or romance, (or exist in the more technical fields where your education and/or publishing credits alone might be enough) there is a forum in which to voice your expertise. The Internet is full of chat rooms, writing groups, genre-sites, and more. They're all thirsty for content from published authors and knowledgeable people. You just have to know where to look. Conducting a Google search is a good place to start.
6 Join, participate, schmooze
Seek out conferences, associations, and other experts to help you. Find forums, websites, and ezines in which to promote yourself. Brent Sampson is the President & CEO of Outskirts Press Publishing at OutskirtsPress.com and author of Publishing Gems: Insider Information for the Self-Publishing Writer. Information at http://outskirtspress.com/publishinggems
10 Quick and Easy Steps To Building A HIGHLY Targeted And Responsive Opt-In List
This article describes in 10 simple steps on how to research a Niche and build a targeted Opt-In list related to that Niche.
Reduce Noise to Reduce Stress: Sound Advice From the Rug Doctor
Scientists and health officials aren't just dismissing noise at home as a nuisance; they're taking the issue seriously. Absorbing sound is one way to turn down ...
Scary halloween Masks
There are countless Halloween masks available today.
Blogging For Fun & Profits
However, many people don't realize that "blogs" are quietly revolutionizing the way companies and customers interact about everything from existing products to ...
Josephine the Merovingian
I cannot emphasize enough the dearth of information, or the outright disinformation, I find in various web world accounts relating to Josephine and Jean Lafitte...
Protopic Cancer Risk Lawyer
The FDA issued a warning in July of 2005 on two skin creams, Elidel (pimecrolimus) and Protopic (tacrolimus) to all ages. Recent animal studies have found that ...
Top Seven Ways to Write your Print or eBook Fast
Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on why it will help your profits and brand your business? Need to know each step so you can delegate it to an ass...
Career Search from Within
Finding work that is meaningful and fulfilling is not something we 'figure-out,' abdicate to external forces, nor something we push ourselves to do. Coming to k...
Productive Meetings: How to Make Your Meetings More Productive
There's one simple secret to productive meetings: set an agenda and stick to it. The agenda drives the content and outcomes of the meeting and, where appropriat...
Golf Workouts For Winter
Golf workouts for winter is a great approach to taking advantage of the time you now have available to improve your golf since you're not playing as much, if no...
Is My Female Shih Tzu Pregnant?
The earliest sign of pregnancy in a Shih Tzu is often behavioral changes. She may demand extra attention or she may become depressed, lethargic and withdrawn.
SWOT Analysis Is No Magic 8 Ball
Think of a SWOT Analysis as a checkup for your business. By spending a little time examining the internal and external factors that affect your business' health...
How to Profit at Online Poker Over the Long Run
So you are finally an online poker professional. The next step is staying profitable over the long run.
What is the Best Stock to Invest In?
If you're like most stock market investors you have struggled with finding the best stocks to invest in.
The Touch of Tiffany - Unsurpassed Quality and Excellence By Dale Tiffany Inc.
Dale Tiffany Inc. has set out to bring the "Touch of Tiffany" back into the world. The mere mention of the word Tiffany will immediately call to mind an idea o...
5 Steps to Identify Core Processes
How can you identify a gap in one of your company's core processes?...Define your business model, create a process map, examine financial statements, set veloci...
Reasons to Consider a Professional Designer for Your Interior Decorating Project
When planning your new home or room project, it is smart to consider a professional Interior Designer. This decision will free your time and place the task into...
7 Sure-Fire Ways to Attract More Targeted Visitors to Your Web Site!
I admit it, getting a targeted traffic these days is
very difficult because many of us get scammed by people
who's telling us to attract all traffic you can f...
The Wisdom Of Giving Away Something For Nothing
If you're new to Internet Business, this might be hard to absorb. "Me? Giving away for free? I'm in business, not charity!" I heard you. That thought came acros...
Know Your Muscle Building Exercises - The Shoulders
We all have our favorite exercises for each body part but sometimes it is useful to look at our training program from a different perspective. This article outl...
How to Jump-start Your Emotional Health
You've probably heard the expression: "It's not what you're eating. It's what's eating you!" This well-known saying reminds us that the thoughts we entertain ca...
Protein, Carbs and Fat: Learn How to Diet with Macronutrients
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you to get rid of some food that you love. However, the three macronutrients as well as the unofficial fourth...
Be Aware of the Supreme Deceiver (Part 2)
The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds us of David who became so angry and indignant when he heard about the awful behaviors of a rich person d...
Training and ROI (Return On Investment)
Statistics consistently reinforce that the biggest challenge in today's contact center environment is agent training. Turnover continues to be high; new hire c...
|
Print this page