Dan Levy, a multifaceted influencer and community builder, shares insights on building a following and engaging with brands through various platforms, including social media and events. He emphasizes the importance of open communication, relationship building, and providing value to both followers and brands. The document also outlines best practices for brands when reaching out to influencers, highlighting the significance of targeted, respectful, and reciprocal interactions.

1. Dan Levy:
An Influencer’s/Blogger’s
Perspective
Foundations of Digital Marketing Mgmt
University of Toronto - November 18, 2013
#SCS2846

2. Who I Am
 Renaissance Guy
 Writer
 Reader
 Geek
 Social Fusionist & Community Builder
 Researcher
 Student
 Online Portfolio: About.Me/TheDanLevy
 Blog: http://bit.ly/thedanlevy
 Twitter: @TheDanLevy
 Facebook: FB.com/TheDanLevy
 G+: Gplus.to/TheDanLevy

3. How I Built My Following
 PLATFORMS:
 Real Life (events & community gatherings)
• Attending, Organizing, & Generally Helping
 Twitter
• Being present.
• Live tweeting at events/conferences
 Blog
• Guest blogging
• Blogging on other’s outlets as well
 Facebook
 Other blogs’ comments sections

4. How I Built My Following
Being Open, Approachable, & Engaging

5. How I Built My Following
Being Positive & Honest

6. How I Built My Following
Joining The Community

7. How I Built My Following
Joining The Community

8. How I Built My Following

9. When Did I Notice Brands
Reaching Out

10. How I Help(ed) Brands
 Talk about things – before, during, & after – online and in real
life.
 Events
 Review items
 Campaigns
 Suggest ways to add value
 Connect them with others (especially if I know I’m outside
their target).
 Complete info in blog posts with linkbacks and SEO tactics
 Honest Feedback: quietly and privately especially if I’m
being critical.
 Be a brand ambassador.

11. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
DOs
 Reach out personally and make sure it’s targeted.
 Build a relationship.
 Make sure you’re providing them and their readers
value.
 Make sure to give them something to talk about.
 Make stuff easy to find & share before, during, and
after the fact.
 Make important info easily exportable from the
communication.
 Share & RT their content about you with your
audience.

12. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
DOs
 Try to give them an amount of respect similar to
what’s given to the media.
 Touch base before and after.
 Be open to try new things/ideas.
 Be honest & open in communications with them.
 If you’re giving SWAG, make sure it is something
which will actually be used not just sit in a drawer.
 Give them a USB key they’ll actually use again or
just switch to the cloud.
 Remember: We talk in real life too so the online
response may not be entirely accurate.

13. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
DOs
Give them a USB key they’ll actually use again.

14. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
DOs
Give them a USB key they’ll actually use again.

15. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
DOs
Give them a USB key they’ll actually use again.

16. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
DON’Ts
 Forget that this is EARNED media, not paid or
owned.
 Send untargeted press releases.
 Send untargeted invites.
 Send emails with no actionable info UNLESS
you’re dealing with a news site.
 Forget their +1s. Don’t make them ask and feel like
a beggar.
 Blame them when something doesn’t go the way
you wanted.

17. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
Crowdsourced DOs & DON’Ts

18. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
“Personalized” Message Fails

19. Engaging With A
Blogger/Influencer
“Personalized” Message Fail

20. My Details:
 Email: TheDanLevy@gmail.com
 Online Portfolio: About.Me/TheDanLevy
 Blog: http://bit.ly/thedanlevy
 Twitter: @TheDanLevy
 Facebook: FB.com/TheDanLevy
 Google Plus: Gplus.to/TheDanLevy