Using Blogs to Leverage Your Brand Presented by: Deb Averett & Christy Nelson Co-owners of Toolulu, Inc.

State of the Blogosphere Over 15 million Wordpress publishers. 200 million people visit one or more Wordpress.com blogs a month. Anywhere from 10k-15k new Wordpress blogs are created daily . Source: http:// en.wordpress.com /stats/

Over 15 million Wordpress publishers.

200 million people visit one or more Wordpress.com blogs a month.

Anywhere from 10k-15k new Wordpress blogs are created daily .

Source: http:// en.wordpress.com /stats/

Who Do Consumers Trust? 90% trust “completely” or “somewhat” a recommendation from people they know. 70% trust consumer opinions posted online.

90% trust “completely” or “somewhat” a recommendation from people they know.

70% trust consumer opinions posted online.

How Do I Begin? Start your own Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad Update website to include a blog feature

Start your own

Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad

Update website to include a blog feature

Get a Game Plan What is your purpose? What kind of audience do you want to reach? What are you trying to promote?

What is your purpose?

What kind of audience do you want to reach?

What are you trying to promote?

How to Find Bloggers Finding a group of core bloggers is key. Google Blogsearch Twitter search Word of mouth Technorati

Finding a group of core bloggers is key.

Google Blogsearch

Twitter search

Word of mouth

Technorati

Build Relationships Follow on Twitter Become Facebook fan Link to them Promote Attend events

Follow on Twitter

Become Facebook fan

Link to them

Promote

Attend events

Pitches: What Not to Do Email Blasts Generic “Dear Blogger” pitches Requirements Deadlines Embargoes Asking for positive reviews

Email Blasts

Generic “Dear Blogger” pitches

Requirements

Deadlines

Embargoes

Asking for positive reviews

Pitches: What to Do Know what they write about Be genuine Make sure your pitch is relevant to their blog Use a conversational style Avoid sending typical press releases when possible

Know what they write about

Be genuine

Make sure your pitch is relevant to their blog

Use a conversational style

Avoid sending typical press releases when possible

Toolulu Follow our blog at toolulu.com for more tips and tricks on how to build your online presence. Classes coming up: Social Media 201 & Social Media Gets You Leads- see toolulu.com for more details.

Follow our blog at toolulu.com for more tips and tricks on how to build your online presence.

Classes coming up: Social Media 201 & Social Media Gets You Leads- see toolulu.com for more details.