AgWired DomesticFuel Precision Pays World Dairy Diary AgNewsWireThe trade show kicked off this morning here at BlogWorld. I did a walk through video clip for you and for myself to decide which ones I want to go back and spend some time with.
Activity on the floor was great to get the show started.
During the evenings here at BlogWorld we have parties. Last night it was at The Bank in Bellagio, sponsored by TechSet. The party was packed and I’m betting some folks were off to a slow start this morning.
While we were at Bellagio last night we watched their famous fountain shows. I got one on video with my phone that I thought I’d share with you.
Day two of the BlogWorld and New Media Expo is underway. We’re listing to Richard Jalichandra, Technorati, give a preview of this year’s State of the Blogosphere. It will be published next week.
They surveyed bloggers this past year and he’s showing us some selected statistics. He started out by saying that the blogosphere is very healthy and contrary to media reports otherwise, bloggers are blogging even more than last year. Of the professional bloggers, 40 percent have worked in traditional media. He says, “Blogs are media.” I fully agree with that.
I’ll do my best to get an interview with him and update this post if I do.
Post Update: I caught Richard on his way out after his keynote address and you can listen to my interview with him here: bwe-09-jalichandra.mp3
Chris Baggott, Compendium Blogware, provided the most clear reasons for why companies should be blogging that I’ve heard in a while. If you value how your business or brand shows up in search results then having a blog is the best way to improve your results. He quoted a study by HubSpot that showed that companies that have blogs have significantly higher traffic, link and indexing.
He says that not only do blogs increase your searchability but also your results because you’re making the searcher happier. He says to remember that social media is about people. It’s about human beings and blogs help articulate the humanity of the organization.
Chris is seen in the photo talking with some BlogWorld participants after his talk.
Listen to my interview with Chris here: bwe-09-baggot.mp3
How do you measure ROI for a social media campaign? Boy that’s a loaded question. Are we talking “return on investment” or “return on influence?” Those are very different things.
I think most companies choose investment since they’ve got cash in the game. They want to know what they’re getting for their money. That goes for an ad buy on a blog all the way to creating their own social networks via tools like Twitter. I attended a session on this subject this morning and afterward spoke with one of the panelists, Jim Marks, Virtual Results.
Jim says the most important component is setting goals and expectations up front. What is it that you hope to achieve for example? Then he does place a lot of weight on traffic (to your blog, # followers, # friends, etc.) and conversion.
Listen to my interview with Jim here: bwe-09-roi.mp3
Here’s the founder of BlogWorld, Rick Calvert, with opening speaker Laura Fitton. I’m going to find an opportunity to talk with Rick about how and why he started this conference.
After the opening session I did get to speak with Laura, Pistachio Consulting. Laura says that the main message she wanted people to walk away with was “Be Awesome.” She also wanted to plant the idea of using social networking mechanisms like Twitter to connect with other people and get your ideas out in the world where they might yield awesome results.
She says Twitter has helped take her from a busy stay at home Mom to giving the keynote here, publishing a book and launching her business. She points out how well Twitter works for business since there are so many Twitter tools.
Listen to my interview with Laura here: bwe-09-fitton.mp3
The opening session of BlogWorld and New Media Expo features Laura Fitton, Pistachio Consulting. She’s challenging and inspiring us. And many need that after their first night in Las Vegas!
Part of her message so far is to be or become lucky and she’s telling her story of how she has become successful through her expertise in “microsharing.”
I’ve started a photo album for the conference which I’ll be adding to periodically over the next couple days: BlogWorld Photo Album
The 2009 BlogWorld & New Media Expo is about to get underway in Las Vegas. ZimmComm New Media team members Carly, Robert and I are on location (finally).
I’m looking forward to several days of immersion in all things new media and will be posting here as often as I can. I’ll also be tweeting so make sure you’re following along @ZimmComm.
My hope is that I can shed a little more light on how and why you and your company should be utilizing new media mechanisms like blogs, podcasts and social networks.
It’s almost time for BlogWorld & New Media Expo.
If for some reason you can’t make it then I will be writing about what I see and hear. So I can be your new media eyes and ears. You can count on posts starting a week from today. With me will be daughter Carly and our webmaster, Robert. Robert and I are cooking up plans for new capabilities for ZimmComm and our websites and the Expo gives us some good face time to discuss.
Now if you really want to create some online branding for your company while learning more about today’s communications tools and mechanisms then I will be happy to have you “sponsor” my coverage. Just let Dave Larson or me know and I’m sure we can work out a deal!
You know the world of communications has changed. You know it’s about more than having a static web page that you only update every six months. You know your customers, family and friends are all “on Facebook and Twitter.” You know your company should be engaged with people using these mechanisms. But you’re afraid. At least that’s what’s being reported on eMarketer.
But fears still abound. Online retailers remain worried about their own competence at using social media and losing control of their brand.
Their concerns also showed that retailers understand the importance of social media: One of their biggest fears was that customers would abandon their site in favor of one that was more socially engaging. Using social media might be scary, but avoiding it is becoming less of an option.
The primary social media goal of the retailers surveyed was to increase customer engagement, followed by boosting brand loyalty and spurring word-of-mouth among brand advocates.
But I say, “Be Not Afraid.” If you don’t have the expertise to utilize social media then look to your staff or a company like ours to outsource your “engagement practices.” I’m not sure how you would lose control of your brand. Are you sure you have control now? Your customers or members are going to talk about you (online and person to person) and say whatever they want. You don’t have control of that. That’s what social media is all about. People communicating with other people. You need to be there. So get with the program!
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