From the desk (and BlackBerry) of Keith Parnell

I will be leading a class on the WordPress blogging platform next week. Feel free to join us if you have not yet begun blogging and don’t know where to start, or if you’re stalled near the starting line, or if you just want to know more about blogging with WordPress.

In the class, we will talk about many topics but a few of them are:

1. Why use WordPress as your blogging platform?
2. Where to host your WordPress blog.
3. How to setup your WordPress blog.
4. How to choose, install, and activate a WordPress theme.
5. How to choose, install, and activate a WordPress plugin.
6. How to configure your WordPress blog.
7. Creating content:
   1. Blog posts.
   2. Blog pages.
   3. Adding images.
   4. Adding video.
8. What are categories?
9. What are tags?
10. How and why to setup comment approval.
11. Fighting spam with Akismet.

Register for the Using WordPress as a Business Tool, How To Get Started on Blogging class here.

Photo credit: Eric M Martin

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to Little Village by John Hiatt & Ry Cooder.

Does private messaging work with social media friends?

Private Messaging = email (no CC, no BCC), Instant message, Twitter direct message, Facebook inbox message, etc.

Social Media Messaging = email (to a group), Chat message, Twitter tweets, Facebook status, etc.

Relationship / Friend = business associate, family member, friend, etc.

So, back to my question. If you have a group of friends that you converse with in a public forum such as Twitter, then you slide one of them a private message, is it a correct assumption that they will make public your communication because your friendship is public in nature? Or should the morality of communication in general dictate that a private message should always stay private no matter the nature of the relationship?

And to add to today’s relationship complexity, has the current social media landscape changed the way we communicate privately and with who?

Photo credit: {gman:DesignStudio}

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew.

Things are changing. Times are changing. Not in all cases do we recommend to our clients to use email newsletter management software such as Constant Contact or email newsletters in general.

There are times when email newsletters are perfect, just know not in all situations is that the case. At times, RSS-to-email messaging from a category on your blog should be the delivery of choice. But that conversation is for another time.

Here are a few quick tips for creating powerful, attractive electronic newsletters.

1. Have an agenda. What is the purpose of your newsletter? Are you a thought leader? Is your message for customer retention purposes?
2. Provide usable, original content. Make sure your message is relevant to your audience.
3. Grab attention with your subject lines. I talk about this in depth here.
4. Remember short attentions spans. Design your newsletter for skimmers. Use catchy sub titles for eye-catching sections.
5. Publish on a schedule. Whatever schedule you create, stick to it so your readers know when to expect your juicy tidbits of info.

Have fun and happy publishing!

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to See the Sun by Dido.

I get people all the time tell me it’s hard to get up with me when they need. Well, it’s really not that hard. Today’s communications methods make it really easy. I’m on Twitter. I’m on Facebook. I’m on my blog. I’m on JASEzone. I’m on foursquare. I’m on LinkedIn. A lot! Between my PC in the office, my notebook in the coffee cafes, and my BlackBerry around the world, I would estimate I have online access at least 18 hours everyday.

I live in these social communications as a part of my business life and personal life. These are my network of choice.

But ultimately, there is one single way to ensure I return your personal message. In my world, my home base is my blog. Hit me up here on the contact webform and I’ll shoot you a message back everytime.

Google Docs supports the backend of this contact webform so I have traceability. I have history. I have a way to prioritize communication. And I have a way to control the staying power of the message you took the time to send me. I have a way to manage my time.

You can email me directly if I’ve given you my email address.
You can call me on the BlackBerry if I’ve given you my phone number.
You can text message me if I’ve given you the number.
You can DM me on Twitter if we are connected friends.
You can inbox message me on Facebook if we are friends.
You can send a message on LinkedIn if we are a connection.

But none of these methods guarantee a return message. I receive too many spammer type messages this way with no way to manage them efficiently. Example - I receive ~150 Twitter DM’s each day, ~25 Facebook inbox messages each day, ~250 emails each day, and ~35 text messages each day. I cannot manage all of them and still be productive.

That’s okay though. There is one single way to ensure I return your personal message. In my world, my home base is my blog. Hit me up here on the contact webform and I’ll shoot you a message back everytime.

Where are you available?

What about you? What’s your preference on initializing a new one-on-one communication channel?

Photo credit: hegarty_david

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to The Sun Is Shining by Third Day.

I will be speaking to the Williamsburg / Peninsula Internet Marketing Group in February on Blogging for Business - The How’s and Why’s. Thanks John for the invite.

Of the many topics we will cover, will be -

• Why you should blog.
• How and where to setup a new blog.
• How often to blog.
• When to blog - on a schedule?
• Who to blog to.
• Inbound marketing concepts.
• Lead generation.
• How to blog efficiently.
• How to tie your blog to other social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
• How to measure the results of blogging.
• How to encourage audience interaction on your blog.
• How to syndicate your blog.
• Is blogging all you need to do?

Keep an eye out here for more information and registration details.

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.

Do you wonder who is JASE Group?
Do you wonder what JASE Group does?
Wonder no longer!

Related info:

http://www.JASEgroup.com
http://www.CoffeeWithTheCEO.com
http://www.jasegroup.com/brand_management
http://www.jasegroup.com/inbound_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/design
http://www.jasegroup.com/blog

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to After the Storm by Norman Brown.

photo credit: www.timbarcz.com

Here are a few quick blogging tips to keep in mind so you don’t bore your readers stiff:

1. Write for your audience. Not for you. Not for your boss. Write for your readers.
2. Don’t write a book. Booorrring. If your readers want to read multiple pages, they’ll download a new book onto their Kindle.
3. Have a purpose. Don’t just ramble on your blog. You can do that on Twitter, JASEzone or some other microblog platform. Write blog articles that have a point to make or a question to ask. Which leads to the next point …
4. Ask questions. Get your readers involved in the communication.
5. Share information. Don’t fall into the old school mindset that you need to hoard your “mojo”. Believe me, it’s not yours. Someone else has already thought of it.
6. Be Switzerland. This one is hard sometimes. I know. But try to be neutral.
7. Publish your articles on a schedule. Or atleast a semi schedule. Don’t sweat missing a beat or two but try to be considerate and thankful of your readers that are coming back to you for information.
8. Link. Link. Link. Out. Link to your competitors. Link to other ‘experts’. They will appreciate the recognition and do the same back to you. Trackbacks work. I promise.

What are some other tips you can think of?

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A group of business professionals from Hampton Roads gathered at Panera Bread in Ghent, Norfolk, VA to talk social media, new media, SEO, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, website designs, Southside Hampton Roads & Peninsula meetups, New Media Conventions, business strategies, video sharing, photo sharing, social bookmarking, marketing strategies, internet advertising, inbound marketing, email marketing and many other intriguing topics.

RSS and Facebook readers: click here to watch the video.

Related Information:
http://www.coffeewiththeceo.com
http://www.jasegroup.com/advertising
http://www.jasegroup.com/design
http://www.jasegroup.com/email_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/inbound_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/internet_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/search_engine_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/social_media
http://blog.keithparnell.com
http://www.keithparnell.com
http://www.newmediaconventions.com

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I’m very excited to have finally started this weekend reading David Meerman Scott’s The New Rules of Marketing & PR. The book has been sitting on the bookshelves in my office for months. 

I’ve gotten on the ‘reading’ kick lately having just ordered copies of Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust (by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith) and Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs (by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah).

What are you reading right now?

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I’ve been holding off, not sure why, but I finally gave in and ordered these two books. Chris Brogan, Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah are three trusted guys that I’ve been following and reading for quite some time. Their accomplishments and successes are to be admired. Can’t wait for the books to come in from amazon.com.

Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust	Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs

Amazon.com Editorial Reviews

Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust

How to tap the power of social software and networks to build your business

In Trust Agents, two social media veterans show you how to tap into the power of social networks to build your brand’s influence, reputation, and, of course, profits. Today’s online influencers are web natives who trade in trust, reputation, and relationships, using social media to accrue the influence that builds up or brings down businesses online.

The book shows how people use online social tools to build networks of influence and how you can use those networks to positively impact your business. Because trust is key to building online reputations,, those who traffic in it are “trust agents,” the key people your business needs on its side.

• Delivers actionable steps and case studies that show how social media can positively impact your business
• Written by authors with over ten years of online media experience
• Shows you how to build and wield influence online to benefit your brand
• Combines high-level theory with practical step-by-step guidance

If you want your business to succeed, don’t sit on the sidelines. Instead, use the Web to build trust with your consumers using Trust Agents.

Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs

Stop pushing your message out and start pulling your customers inTraditional “outbound” marketing methods like cold-calling, email blasts, advertising, and direct mail are increasingly less effective. People are getting better at blocking these interruptions out using Caller ID, spam protection, TiVo, etc. People are now increasingly turning to Google, social media, and blogs to find products and services. Inbound Marketing helps you take advantage of this change by showing you how to get found by customers online.

Inbound Marketing is a how-to guide to getting found via Google, the blogosphere, and social media sites.

    • Improve your rankings in Google to get more traffic
    • Build and promote a blog for your business
    • Grow and nurture a community in Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
    • Measure what matters and do more of what works online

The rules of marketing have changed, and your business can benefit from this change. Inbound Marketing shows you how to get found by more prospects already looking for what you have to sell.

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I get this question quite a bit. Becoming a better blogger assumes you want to blog and you care about the task at hand: blogging - communicating - interacting. I’ve mentioned below a few points that I try to follow when blogging but I can’t say I’m perfect at all of them. I try. But I fail at times. So I keep trying.

The big rule of thumb though to remember when you’re searching for this kind of answer is to remain patient. You won’t turn your blog or your blogging skills or your blog traffic around overnight. Stick with it. And you’ll succeed.

So, how do we become better bloggers? Read on -

1. Define the pupose of your blog. Even if your topics are varied. Define them and stick to the scope of the definition(s).
2. Create visual appeal. Use graphics, photos or art in your posts.
3. Stay in one place. Once you establish a place (e.g., blog.keithparnell.com) on the Internet, stay there. Don’t make people hunt you down. They won’t.
4. Engage and involve your readers. If your posts are not of interest to your readers they won’t stay around or come back. Get them involved in commenting on your blog. Even if you keep most of them hidden (like I do) conversations on your posts are crucial.
5. Establish a blog schedule. I’m not real good at this but I try to get up a post at least 3 or 4 times per week. I blog on several blogs so sometimes it’s hard; it doesn’t matter. You must be consistent to keep interest.
6. Proofread your work before hitting the airwaves. Please! If you have this inadequacy and you know it, have someone proofread for you.
7. Syndicate yourself. Use RSS feeds extensively. A lot of blog readers use feeds to scan many blogs quickly just like the morning newspaper. Personally, I have about 350 blogs that I check daily. I could not and would do this without using RSS feeds.
8. Make sure you have an “about me” page or a home page link. People want to know that you’re a real person.
9. Get involved in the blogosphere. Getting involved means post comments on other blogs. Get involved in conversations and when possible link back to your blog.
10. Submit your posts to other social web 2.0 communities. Reddit, Digg, Delicious, Netscape, and Stumble Upon are a good start.
11. Interview industry experts. This sometimes bring in a new audience to your blog from which you may pick up new loyal readers.
12. Interact with your readers. Just as I’ve done with this new post, its origin is a comment from a client on another post. Interaction and conversation is always good.
13. Write about something you love. This is the only way to keep your own interest. Believe me, if you don’t love what you’re talking about people will notice.
14. Include lists in your posts. Use bullets or numbers. Readers scanning your blog will be attracted to lists more than thousands of words on a page.
15. Have fun. Blogging doesn’t have to be work. Feel free to make your posts fun and entertaining without wondering what people are thinking of you.
16. Give lots of link love! Link to many different web pages and websites. Link to competitors. It’s okay, there’s plenty of traffic on the Internet for everyone.

Hopefully this list didn’t bore you too much and maybe even struck some interest and other questions. Do you have other suggestions?

As I said, have fun with your blogging. Talk soon.

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Here are a few Chief Executive Officers that I have in my Google Reader. Do you have others?

Donald Trump
Trump Blog
http://feeds.trumpuniversity.com/blogs/trumpblog.rss

Jason Calacanis
Jason Calacanis Weblog
http://calacanis.com/feed/

John Bruce
Living Enterprise 2.0
http://john-bruce.awarenessnetworks.com/rss.asp?id=2B5A9058-C92D-4979-867A-D1C676966D86&full=1

Jonathan Schwartz
Jonathan Schwartz’s Blog
http://blogs.sun.com/jonathan/feed/entries/rss

Mark Cuban
Blog Maverick
http://blogmaverick.com/feed/

Keith Parnell
From the desk (and BlackBerry) of Keith Parnell
http://feeds.feedburner.com/blog_keithparnell_com

Ross Mayfield
Ross Mayfield’s Weblog
http://feeds.feedburner.com/ross

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Passion. What a very powerful word. When I think of passion, I think of every emotion I can conjur up directed towards a single center.

Passion. Do we all have passions? Real passions? Not just that we like something, that we thrive to like it and we live to like it.

Passion. I have a passion. My passion is new media. New media from yesterday. New media from today. And especially tomorrow’s new media. I have a passion for tomorrow’s social media. Tomorrow’s social media is today’s social media on steroids.

What do I mean by “social media on steroids”? I can better answer that with a question to you. What do you do with social media today? Imagine that scaled two-fold.

Imagine me talking on my blog and my message getting out to the many social platforms of my network. Imagine the conversations from those networks being aggregated together under the new Internet cloud into one conversation, in real-time. Imagine being able to participate in that large conversation without confusing effort.

Wow. That’s my passion. My passion is tomorrow’s new media. And it gets me excited for the possibilities!

What is your passion?

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No time to check the news? That’s okay.
No time to go check your list of blogs? That’s okay.

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