BlogWorldExpo 2008 - Sep 19, 2008

Starting as online personal journals, participatory media has exploded in the last few years and is now widely viewed as a credible and legitimate avenue for corporations, groups and individuals to spread their viewpoint and perspective. Bloggers are the new investigative journalists and op-ed writers, podcasters are marginalizing commercial radio and video bloggers are offering a meaningful alternative to the same old industry pap. In this engaging session, I’ll talk about what I see as the state of blogging and new media and offer up some ideas about where we’re going and how you can be a part of the future of human communication.

Prepare to be shocked and amazed by this dynamic, interactive presentation. You’ll learn the revolutionary new way of marketing without selling. Deborah (AKA @CoachDeb) will reveal an amazingly effective process that’s a 180° turn from all you’ve been told about marketing. Most people do it backwards. @CoachDeb will solve the problems that most entrepreneurs encounter when developing their marketing strategy. She’ll describe how these problems are created and what to do to reverse them. Instead of resorting to conventional marketing approaches, @CoachDeb will reveal why you need to reverse your focus and start with YOU first. She’ll demonstrate why making a personal connection is no longer an enhancement to the sales process but an expectation! @CoachDeb will demonstrate just how powerful personal connections are when seducing your Tribe to create raving fans. She’ll even get audience members out of their seats, interacting with each other on the spot to drive this point home.

A recent report from Forrester suggests that corporate blogging has had its day, the craze has passed and, frankly, companies don't blog very well. Corporate blogs can't drop corporate-speak, they fail to build up an audience and they're just plain boring. True or false? Another new report says that 39% of the Inc. 500 are blogging. And nearly 12% of the Fortune 500 have blogs, double the number of three years ago. So which is it: Myth or Reality? Come to this session featuring A-list corporate bloggers Paula Berg of Southwest Airlines and Mario Sundar of LinkedIn . Debbie Weil, consultant and author of the widely-praised THE CORPORATE BLOGGING BOOK, will lead a pointed discussion that answers the key questions: Can corporate blogs fulfill the promise of blogging as a two-way conversation with customers? Are blogs being eclipsed by social networks and online communities? What can we learn from the most successful corporate blogs?

Social media is a powerful way to build traffic and sales, IF you use it appropriately. This presentation teaches the power of social media and gives 4 specific strategies you can use to start building your traffic tonight!

This session shows marketers what the true power of services like Twitter, FriendFeed, Pownce, Flickr and Facebook have on a micro level. Also known as "micro blogging", micromedia has exploded with the growth of mobile technology and lets us look into the future of platform-agnostic marketing. Don't be left behind.

In the 21st century, the media landscape is rapidly shifting away from traditional print and broadcast and moving toward digital and social media. Average citizens are now using the Web to voice opinions, mobilize support and actively shape the world around them. And in an age of diminishing investment in traditional news-gathering, the importance of a worldwide citizen news force is more important than ever. Yet, criticism remains on the credibility of user-generated content. This panel will bring together various perspectives the citizen news ecosystem to discuss the importance of fostering credibility while maintaining openness. As issues arise questioning the value of citizen news, the more important it will be for new media forums to position and establish themselves as viable news sources in an overcrowded space.

For new and experienced internet creators, getting the right mix of your message and the technology you use can be a big challenge. This session will address both the left and right brain aspects, to this task. For the left brain we will review the top 10 technology platforms for blogging, audio & video podcasting, analyzing the key features of each. We will also discuss the key requirements for creating a successful text blog, audio podcast, and online video series. We will look objectively at the pros and cons of whether to write, speak, or shoot, and then at the upside/downside of each method. For the right brain, we will explore how to find your inner message, and creative ways you can tell your story letting the tech help not hinder you. Being authentic is the #1 ingredient for having longevity with your new media. We will "inquire within" to make sure your message is aligned with your methodology. This session addresses both individuals and businesses.

Businesses looking to enhance their online presence are now the biggest source of problogging jobs. These prestigious and relatively high-paying blogging careers are highly sought-after by aspiring probloggers. This session provides an insider's guide on how to get hired and succeed in these rewarding positions. This session reveals how aspiring probloggers can: * Find the business blogging positions that are not listed on regular job boards * Develop the business-blogging skill sets employers are looking for * Master relevant business concepts like metrics, ROI, branding etc. * Create the pitch-perfect application and portfolio * Answer the most common interview questions * Negotiate for the best pay and benefits * Get a paid blogging job!

Hear experiences and best practices from those leading blogging and new media communications at Fortune 500 companies.

You'll learn why substance and clarity trump flash and flair in the battle for readers. This session will teach you how to give your writing the power, lively freshness, style and needed to win hearts and minds. We'll talk about how you can focus your writing to a specific audience, how broadcast, print and website writing differ and why; and how you can use this knowledge to better target specific groups. We'll also examine the rhythms, structure, and succinctness of superior writing and provide you with examples of how the best writers make people see instead of just read.

Finding information isn't a problem anymore, but avoiding suffocating under all that information can be. Investigative journalists know that government collects a ton of information that most people never find and that Google and Wikipedia can't touch. This session will look at some of the free, hidden treasure chests of information. You'll learn how to assemble a background profile on someone from public records, how to trace property, cars, boats and other transactions, and where to go to find people who can help you find these items. You also will learn how to obtain information from local and national federal agencies through the Freedom of Information Act and how to get around the bureaucrats when they bar the front door and refuse to hand over the key. We'll also talk about fact-checking and source-credibility strategies that will keep you on the path of accuracy--and hopefully, out of someone else's blog.

A fast paced romp through the biggest legal risks that both individual and group bloggers face. Emphasis will be on recognizing problems early, assessing risks, self-help measures to minimize risk, when not to call an attorney, and when to make the call and how to use attorneys efficiently. Detailed legal analysis will not be provided. This is very much a "how to reduce risk in the real world" program.

In a crowded online world, how does an independent blogger stand out and be heard? Being cited, quoted, published or used as a source by mainstream media is a significant way to build a larger and wider audience. We will review the basic selection techniques of how journalists deem someone an "approved source" or expert; we discuss how bloggers can enter the Rolodex of reliable sources for major media. Second, we show ways to have blog content picked up by traditional media, from blasting out a press release to writing and submitting an op-ed to contacting and working with mainstream reporters on stories. Finally, we will look at the ethical issues that affect how your blog is perceived by mainstream media.

This exclusive after hours party is open to all BlogWorld attendees and exhibitors. Hosted and sponsored by TechSet, this glamourous party will be the meeting place for the most influential bloggers, thought leaders, tech luminaries and content creators attending BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2008. Be sure to bring your badge!

Open to GBC Registrants who have registerd for this event specifically. Presented by Family Research Council.