Here are some basic principles that will help you be more successful with buzz challenges. These success secrets are centered around building quality relationships and being generous. Keep these in mind when buzzing and you will be building good will and standing out from the crowd.

• Talk less than half the time. A good listener will always stand out more than someone that dominates a conversation and does not give others a chance to express themselves
• Build a personal network even if you do not need it. You may not be in sales and you may not need to know lots of people, but start behaving like a network is essential to your job and success. A strong network will always pay dividends eventually.
• Don’t be afraid of Link Love. Link to other people’s websites, blogs and other online resources and they will often link back to you.
• Don’t hold back. Connect with people when you have the chance. Say hi and smile more. Don’t wait for someone else to break the ice.
• Give generously. No, don’t give away your money. Give people value by making introductions with people they will benefit knowing. Give people information they will like reading. Give value and knowledge without worrying about how you are going to make money that day.

Buzz depends on people talking to other people. It starts with you. Build good will and great relationships and creating buzz will be a much easier task.

First my confession. I’d heard of this Rocketboom before but had never taken the time to check it out. I’d never heard of Amanda Congdon.

This post is for people just like me. You see, I started seeing so much news about it that I had to check it out. If you are unfamiliar with this, check out the CNN article.

The article mentions blogs, Craigs list, video blogging and how to become well known on a shoe string. If you go to Technorati, Rocketboom and Amanda Congdon are top searches. I have seen mention on several big name blogs, which is what first brought them to my attention.

I frequently talk about making every employee into an expert or celebrity. Here is a great example of someone who has done it. Just be sure to have a back up plan.

First my confession. I’d heard of this Rocketboom before but had never taken the time to check it out. I’d never heard of Amanda Congdon.

This post is for people just like me. You see, I started seeing so much news about it that I had to check it out. If you are unfamiliar with this, check out the CNN article.

The article mentions blogs, Craigs list, video blogging and how to become well known on a shoe string. If you go to Technorati, Rocketboom and Amanda Congdon are top searches. I have seen mention on several big name blogs, which is what first brought them to my attention.

I frequently talk about making every employee into an expert or celebrity. Here is a great example of someone who has done it. Just be sure to have a back up plan.

I live in a city that is celebrating 200 years of history this year. It got me thinking about what it was like back then. With a few thousand dollars and the spirit of adventure, you could set off into the wild and not just strike gold, but build a city. Heck, lots of people were founding cities. You bought some land, ideally along a river, path or railroad, and you started your Buzz Marketing campaign. “Come live in the best new city in Ohio…”

Practically anyone could do it. If you got a good location and good buzz, you succeeded.

The Internet really is the new frontier. Myspace is a big city. Look at the July 2006 trend briefing at trend watching.

If you think of your new Web 2.0 system as a new city you need to create buzz for, you have a much bigger chance to succeed.

In business, we know that by focusing on a niche we can often be more successful. If you try to be everything to everyone, you are a watered down jack of all trades and no one will see you as a specialist.

Many small business owners water down their attitude as well. They are afraid of offending someone and loosing sales.

By no means am I suggesting you go out and upset people, but take some time to figure out what attitudes make you who you are and take pride in them, even if not everyone agrees.

For example, I have an attitude that many business owners do not like. I believe that if an employee is not willing to spend 5 minutes a day on their own time creating buzz for where they work, it is grounds to fire them. I believe that is the owner’s responsibility to provide guidance, encouragement and incentives to do this, and that employees along with owners and management must do it. Period.

You would be surprised at how many owners have said “But my employees hate working for me…”

Then stop worrying about Buzz Marketing and fix that problem first.

That is my Niche Attitude. Love it. Hate it. I don’t care. (And yes, I know it is easier said than done.)

What is your niche attitude? Use the comment option on this blog to let us know, if you are brave enough.

Whether you have a small group of people that care about your success or a world cup soccer stadium full of raving, fanatical fans, it is always good to reenergize your base whenever possible.

How do you do this? Ideally, you have a way to contact people that are fans of yours. It may be an email list, it could be a newsletter and it could be doing presentations at regular networking or social groups.

How do you reenergize them?

• New product release
• Big Success Story
• Discount offered for referrals only
• Contest
• Survey

For example, for the last week I have been doing marketing research on the mock up’s of our new book cover. People stay after meetings just to participate and one person today said “Make sure you let us help you promote it.” (As if I will say no….)

Don’t assume people are keeping you top of mind. Having something new and interactive will help you energize that base and get people to actively think about you again.

Over at Career Intensity David used my Interview Question post to start a trend of his own. If you have some favorites, send them to him.

Celebrating success stories in the Akron Ohio area could get your company profiled in Fast Company. I just found out the top 12 will be published.

If you do not qualify for this conference, find one you do qualify for. Nominations are a good way to create buzz.

Whether marketing interview questions or technology interview questions, this list of 5 interview questions will help you cut through the clutter and find out who the applicant really is. I am listing these here, because to hire great people that are going to buzz about your organization, you have to look past the skill set and find out if they are capable of creating buzz for you.

Here are 5 interview questions to add to the basics.

What are the last 3 books you have read and when did you read them?

What is the most important thing you have learned outside of school?

Who are the 3 most influential people you know personally and how did you meet them?

What is the worst product or service you have experienced in the last year and why? What could have made the experience positive?

Why did you choose this career? Why do you stay in it?

A friend of mine has a great book out on attitude.

10 Ways to Make It Great!
by Phil Gerbyshak
ISBN: 1-4196-2998-0

It’s a quick read that will brighten your day.