Designers are Buzzing

February 27, 2007 | 1 Comment

I want to say thanks to the Designing Profits Conference people that have been emailing me, commenting on my blog and leaving Amazon testimonials.  If you have been on the fence about buying the book or hiring me as a speaker, talk to one of them.  I have a feeling you will be hearing a lot of buzz coming out of the Design Industry in the near future.

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Buzzoodle, Blog 

Your Alumni Association

February 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment

When you are thinking about new ways to create a little buzz, it is easy to overlook the obvious.  Many Alumni Associations have alumni magazines and publish news about past students.  They are often interested in any kind of change or achievement.

  • Published a book?
  • Get a promotion?
  • Change jobs?
  • Win an award?

I usually look through mine to see if anyone jumps out at me as someone I would like to contact.  It is probably as easy as going to the college website, clicking on a link to the alumni association and finding the contact page.  Many are moving to eMagazines as well, so you can look through and find some interesting people.

The best alumni associations also have online communities where you can see other members and network.  There is something powerful about having several years of your life spent in the same place as someone else.  You meet with many things already in common and have a wealth of things to talk about, whether you are a CEO, a Hippy, or both.

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

Designing Profits

February 25, 2007 | 8 Comments

I just got back from a really fun presentation in Atlanta.  Designing Profits did a conference called Creating your Celebrity Brand and it was all designers.  Talk about a fun group, they were dancing in a conga line before I got started.  I hated to interrupt them.

One thing I told them is that you have to carve out time and create buzz.  No excuses.  I also promised them that tonight I would be up at midnight doing something to promote myself, so if you are one of the attendees checking on me, here is my blog post (12:04 AM) and I was sending emails too.

And yes I am tired too!

Thanks for having me down, it really was fun.

�

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

Brain Freeze

February 23, 2007 | 4 Comments

I rarely have writers block for more than 5 minutes, but this week I have been getting ready for a presentation and dealing with computer programming languages more than usual, which is what probably scrambled my brain.

I did hear a good idea this morning at a meeting.  I guess people promoting books are doing a blog version of the book tour.  Each blogger gets a copy of the book in advance and can say whatever they want and promote it as they please.  (Review, interview, podcast…)

The beauty of this is that each blog post is scheduled and each person in the chain links to the other resources as well. 

Here is why I like this:

  • Bloggers get more value from the other good blogs linking to them.  Free book + links is a nice win.
  • Author gets more credibility because an interested reader can follow along and get various opinions.
  • More sites are willing to promote a good book.

This works because it addresses what bloggers appreciate.  Links and traffic.

Could you create a message and strategy that would appeal to this audience?  If you can, buzz will happen for you quicker than you can imagine.

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

Z-List Update

February 21, 2007 | 7 Comments

A while back I wrote about the z-list, which has vastly improved my technorati ranking.

Chris Brown did a new version of the list with descriptions and I thought it was simple yet valuable, so I am reposting it here.  Thanks Chris.

—————————————

Thanks to Gavin Heaton, Sharon Sarmiento and Becky Carroll for creating the full Z-list as a Download Zlist-categorised.doc or Download zlist_by_category.xls.

Calico Monkey
Focuses on the ToonBoom software to create animation.
Women, Art, Life: Weaving It All Together
Art-focused, including thoughts on the art that Tammy produces.
Woolgathering
Looking, thinking, drawing, being
World Blog Collection
Blog listings categorized by type; goal to add 1000 links in ’07.
Blogging Secret
Part personal but mostly blogging related site.
Blogging to Fame
All aspects of online business from SEO to usability and blogging.
Blog-Op
How to improve your blogging by Chris and others.
Daily Blog Tips
Tips to improve your blogging from tools to design.
Mike’s Money Making Mission
Making money using free blogs.
One Reader at a Time
One blogger’s experiment in building and engaging with online communities.
Ruminate this site
Reviews blogs and sites so that we don’t have to.
SMogger Social Media Blog
The ethical use of social media for bloggers and other web users.
SuccessCREEations
Blog Consultant bringing the twin passions of business and blogging together.
Successful Blog
The legendary Liz Strauss, blogger extraordinaire and creator of the SOB award.
Troy Worman’s Blog
Focus on writing, ideas and connections
Copywriter’s Crucible
The importance of copy in corporate blogging
Copywriting Tuneups
How to measure reading effectiveness and why it is important in the blogosphere
Dipping into the Blogpond
Blogging about starting an Internet company in the Sutherland Shire.
BrandSizzle
Broad and deep insight into the branding process.
Own Your Brand!
Blog to help businesses re-imagine their brands.
The Emerging Brand
Corporate branding blog focused on leadership.
The Engaging Brand
Using technology and marketing knowledge to improve business communications.
What is Brand?
Japanese readers/speakers? Anyone?
Presentation Zen
(Site in English) Tips for great presentations, marketing, and business communications.
Bob Sutton
Discussions of “jerks” in business.
Perspective
Health, wealth and the freedom to choose. Archived blog. New one is jugaad (http://www.nitibhan.com/jugaad).
Ramblings from a Glass Half Full
Views on business life.
Simplicity Mary’s Blog
Business development, marketing troubleshooting
Funny Business
Wide ranging discussion on business with a funny and pictorial approach.
Creative Think
Fun Ideas to stimulate your creativity.
The Copywriting Maven
Marketing and SEO copywriting tips.
Brain Based Biz
Tips for stirring creativity in business.
Experienceology
How to create great customer experiences on the web and in the “real” world.
QAQNA
Business blog on call centers, quality assessment, and customer service.
Shut Up and Drink the Kool-Aid!
The irrepressible Tim MasiGuy Jackson and Co’s slant on bicycle marketing.
MineThatData
Tips for database marketing from the viewpoint of a DM wiz.
Design Sojourn
How to do good design and create clever products.
aialone
Design, innovation, as well as Jon’s cartoons!
Frozen Puck
Making cool stuff with expensive toys
Africa Unchained
Discussing issues and solutions in Africa.
Energy Blog
News, information and updates on the Energy generation industry.
Movie Marketing Madness
Marketing with a focus on Hollywood. No info on About page.
gDiapers
Corporate blog discussing environmental issues.
Time to Budget
How to gain financial freedom by controlling your finances.
Soloride
A project raising awareness and funds for children with dyslexia and learning differences
Girls Swimsuits
The name says it all, new site, small archive.
Home Business Wiz
Collection of resources about home business.
Working at Home on the Internet
Home business entrepreneurs and making money from home
Kristie T
Fun, mom-geared work-at-home tips and advice on making money on the net.
Asia Inspection Community
Blog for Inspection Engineers based in Asia. Includes job board.
Employment Law Colorado
Resource for employers and employees on Colorado employment law
Leading Questions
Real life leadership, organisational tranformation and practical tips for leaders of all kinds.
Steve Olson
Chronicling one family’s quest for personal freedom.
Make It Great!
How to take your life from good to great by focusing on relationships.
You Already Know This Stuff
Reminding us all that what we need to know is already in our minds and hearts.
HolyMama!
Funny perspective on life from a stay at home Christian mom.
My Marrakesh
Expatriate American with an eye for style, architecture and good living
Gangster Sonny
Fascinated with all things mafia … from movies to weapons.
Talking Story
Management and leadership, Hawaiian style.
AENDirect
Freelance art director’s view on creativity and advertising
Being Peter Kim
Personal insights from the depths of Forrester (note: this is his personal, not Forrester, blog).
BizandBuzz
Brand building and marketing from an Italian perspective
bizsolutionsplus
A passionate and respected author, marketer and activist.
Blog Till You Drop!
Marketing, advertising, branding, blogging
Branding & Marketing
Designed for business professionals with an interest in branding and marketing.
Business Garden
French readers/speakers?
Buzz Canuck
Passionate exponent of word of mouth from Canada.
Buzzoodle
Creating buzz with word of mouth marketing.
Christine Kane
A recording artist, Christine harnesses the power of community to reach her audience.
CKs Blog
Clever strategies, the new best practices, and the smart marketers behind them.
Conversation Agent
Connecting ideas and people—how talk can change our lives
converstations
Known as the blogging yoda (for insight not looks), Mike is a conversation generator.
CrapHammer
Marketing using new media.
Customers Rock!
Marketing the customer experience; its importance for businesses.
Diva Marketing
The Diva herself, aligning technology, marketing and branding for businesses.
Dmitry Linkov
Everyday and business issues
Drew’s Marketing Minute
Where strategy and passion collide
eSoup
Productivity, marketing, web media, small biz development and other stuff entrepreneurs ought to know.
Flooring the Consumer
Improving the consumer experience, particularly in flooring (carpeting)
Get Shouty!
Digital strategy and thoughts on blogging.
Golden Practices
Thoughts on marketing for professional services firms, including lawyers and CPAs.
Hee-Haw Marketing
There is no box. New media marketing strategy thrown together with a few cuss words and a dash of panache.
Hola! Oi! Hi!
Thoughts of a Brazilian newly arrived in the US with a marketer’s point of view.
Jeremy Latham’s Blog
A marketing-business oriented blog on website development.
John Wagner
News and views on marketing, advertising, media, PR and grass-roots communications
Kinetic Ideas
Marketing tips, ideas, strategies, and musings for small businesses.
Logic + Emotion
The intersection of marketing, brand engagement and experience design. How to turn your passive consumers into active brand participants.
Marketing Hipster
Online oriented blog on marketing and web 2.0 tools.
Marketing Nirvana
How corporate marketers can leverage the web & social media for better results
Mindblob
Using alien intelligence to follow the path of ideas as they come to life.
Multi-Cult Classics
Musings on Multiculturalism in the Ad Industry and Beyond.
Nick Rice
Marketing strategy combined with creative thinking and design.
On Influence & Automation
A marketing and technology blog
OTOInsights
Corporate blog focusing on using technology to create and sustain customer conversations.
Pardon My French
Online strategy and marketing with great case studies of real projects.
Pow! Right Between The Eyes!
The importance of surprise in business
Purple Wren
Tools and techniques for communicating life through print and images.
Servant of Chaos
Gavin’s rant on the world of branding and storytelling.
Shotgun Marketing Blog
Musings on marketing and related ideas.
Small Business Blogging
Using web media to market your business
Tell Ten Friends
Marketing using new media to make connections.
The Branding Blog
Branding principals, opinions and prejudices he’s developed
The Experience Curve
Social media and marketing from an experiential point of view.
The Instigator Blog
Entrepreneurial focus on marketing, ideas and building your business
The Marketing Minute
Expert insight into marketing and branding. And Drew loves Disneyland.
The Viral Garden
Mr Community leads the way in using technology to create conversation.
Two Hat Marketing
Views on targeted marketing.
Unconventional Thinking
The art and science of growing businesses
Viaspire
Marketing and Communications consulting firm blog
Popcorn n Roses
Movie industry blog with reviews and musings.
Current World news
“Breaking” news across a couple of categories. Small archive.
Choice at Your Fingertips
News and tips for making money blogging. No archive.
Blogtrepreneur
How to be an online entrepreneur and also build community!
Can I Make Big Money Online
Tips for making money online including research, design and blogging.
Dosh Dosh
Trying to source legitimate methods for making money online.
Internet Bazaar
Tips and ideas for making money online.
Kumiko’s Cash Quest
Trying to make money online and sharing the experience.
Million Dollar Experiment heads Down Under
Can thinking positively make you a cool mill? Rob hopes so.
Quest to make money on the internet
Currently up to £128, this site makes money by letting out its posting space.
Above Popular
Motivated to make the world a better place.
Critical Fluff
Ranks various things in life with mulligans, crabapples, and pineapples.
Forged Euphoria
Some sponsored links.
OrbitNow!
Miscellaneous musings
The Sartorialist
Photos of fashion on the streets, geared to inspire designers.
Bullshitobserver
Politics and commentary.
New Millenium PR
Bringing business, branding, marketing and PR together.
The New PR
Public relations in the online world.
Carpe Factum
Blog that focuses on the things you need to do to accomplish things. Especially big things.
Work, in Plain English
A design and marketing focused blog on project management. Interesting mix!
turned out
Minister blogging to connect everyone with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Evolution…not just a theory anymore
Creation vs evolution, commentary and archaeology by an independent scholar.
SEO Blog
New site on SEO and use of blogs to improve rankings.
Flee the Cube
Starting up a small business in web design.
Community Guy
Online and offline community building tips and tricks.
A Free and Decent Blog Host
Technology news focusing on blogs and blog software
Billions With Zero Knowledge
Changing the world with little bits of knowledge
Connected Internet
All things to do with technology, mobile phones and gaming.
darrenbarefoot.com
Tech news, writing and marketing
Deepak
Focuses on the technology of the Internet and loves Google.
MapleLeaf 2.0
Tech news stories relating to Canada
Scott Burkett’s Pothole on the Infobahn
Musings on technology, IT management, and online community.
Small Surfaces
Interaction design, user interface design, user experience, usability and social trends related to mobile devices.
TechBuzz
Tech new and reviews written by 17 year old in India. Awesome.
Masey.com
Design and photography blog.
Through the Lenses
Travel/photography blog includes stunning shots and photography tips.
Travel And Vacation On Blog
Lightweight travel guide/destination information on selected cities. Needs more.
The Best Guides to eCommerce with Favor
Viral marketing tools, memes and SEO tips.
Web Metrics Guru
Web analytics, in particular for blogs
The Future of the Web
Use of new technologies for the web.
Social Media on the fly
Learning social media on the fly
http://asyuu.asablo.jp/blog/
Japanese readers/speakers? Anyone?

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

Free Buzz Marketing Workshop

February 19, 2007 | 3 Comments

Take a look at what Mark Nagurski had to say about Buzzoodle Buzz Marketing over at Free Form Marketing.

The big reason I wrote the book was to give people the knowledge to quickly take action and get results.  I am glad that is coming through, and it is getting such great reviews.

This book is supposed to sit on every employees desk in a business looking to create buzz.  If you purchase 500 or more copies before 5/1/2007, I will come and do a workshop and strategy session at your location (US and Canada) at no charge.

Contact me for details.

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

Start Up Business - Buzz Lifecycle

February 16, 2007 | 2 Comments

What is the lifecycle of buzz for a start up.  Assuming you get buzz, understand how to create it and make it part of your business plan, how will it evolve with your business?

  1. You will begin with few clients and have lots of time to create buzz. 
  2. You begin working more hours to continue creating buzz and to fill your increasing demand.
  3. You start working on process improvements.  You can no longer just wing it and do custom work for each person.  You are less concerned about buzz now because you have more work than you can handle.
  4. You either simplify your business or outsource tasks, possibly including buzz, to people that have more time than you.
  5. Your products and services are either great, and creating their own buzz, or they are not great and your business stagnates.

Of course this is just one possibility.  A possibility I have seen many times in one form or another.

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Small Business, Blog 

Are you are wearing the wrong ear rings!

February 13, 2007 | 1 Comment

A while back I asked a question on the LinkedIn network: What is the best free thing you have ever done to create some buzz for you or your organization?

We got more than 25 replies and I have been slowly publishing them here.  Naina Redhu is Creative Head [ Art Director and Graphic Designer ] for Aside.in.  She wrote:

I wore different colored ear-rings - one red and one blue [ easy to spot ] - these are my brand colors - and people would invariably come up to me and tell me that I was wearing the wrong ear-rings - I would then explain what I did for a living [ graphic design ] and hand them my card which has my logo and brand colors. Not only was it a good way to attract attention, it also worked as an ice-breaker and created conversation!

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

Virtual Back Office

February 12, 2007 | 3 Comments

I am working with a client that has a virtual back office system called MyBusinessAssistant.  It is a great project, because it gives you a glimpse into the future for small business.  Why do any of us need administrative staff sitting in the office?  Why do we need to buy a voice mail system?  Why do we need to hire book keepers?  Wouldn’t it be great if one company managed all these issues?

Solutions are coming along for many of these issues.  The question is, are you going to buy different services from different vendors?  Phone, web, virtual assisant, book keeping?  Or one company that will smoothly run your business while you focus on your core competencies.

This could have a bigger impact on your bottom line than you initially think.  Let’s assume that you spend a few hundred dollars a month on these kinds of services.  It frees up about 10 extra hours a week for you (just making up numbers here) and you use those extra hours to create buzz.  That would be a lot of buzz and a lot more leads.

I think the biggest key is to plan before you purchase a service like this.  While some of the virtual services are standard, others take some thought to get maximum value.  For example, web management and virtual assistants.   Here are my ideas on getting the biggest bang for your dollar.

Website Services

  • Keep your site fresh and have them post news each month
  • Have documents you use converted to PDF and posted on the web
  • Maintain an “In the News” summary of important industry news and link over to it.

Virtual Assistants

  • Keep contact lists fresh and clean (Weed out duplicates and follow up with old contacts.)
  • Promote events and workshops via email
  • Manage calendar
  • Organize and rename documents on your file server to make things easier to find.

These are just some of my ideas on how this service can be helpful.  Please feel free to comment below if you have some other ideas or success stories.

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

Aviva - 25 Web 2.0 Tools for Entrepreneurs

February 8, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Aviva published a top 25 Web 2.0 Tools for Entrepreneurs guide.  The one I think is missing that I use all the time is GoToMeeting.

Worth reading through if you get a chance.

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

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