HOW WEB 2.0 PUBLICITY (HARO) CAN HELP YOU FIND A JOB OR PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS

Early in my blogging days, I blogged about Peter Shankman’s new project, HARO (”Everyone’s An Expert At Something”), which brings regular people & business owners together with journalists looking for specific people to feature/include in stories they’re working on.  At the time of my 1st YDM blog post on HARO, I didn’t really believe it would work, and I thought I would get tired of the 3 times daily emails…  Reporters pay for including requests in Peter’s emails, for everyone else, it’s free!  Be sure to read and follow the important terms, so that you don’t find yourself blacklisted by the service for grabbing reporter contacts or sending unsolicited press releases.  That would be bad.

What is good is Peter’s encouragement that if you feel like you should be paying to contribute to his project, you should simply make a donation to a local animal shelter and continue to further the good Karma.

After shooting off a quick note to a reporter Peter had identified as looking for stories about how people are job hunting in the weeks following the start of the economic crisis (late October 2008), I quickly forgot about HARO and moved on to tackle other Web 2.0 projects.  

Recently though, someone in my industy found me on Facebook and asked how I managed to get mentioned on MSN, and I had to go looking for the article, by Google-ing myself! As it turns out my quick note to the reporter was picked up by multiple blogs and job hunting websites for my initiative in deciding to take “the bull by the horns” and develop an in-depth knowledge of Web 2.0 & Social Media for integrating into agency brand campaigns.

This is also a great example of how a little bit of online publicity can mushroom on its own, from one media mention/quote to many other blogs and articles.

“I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of Web 2.0 as it relates to my industry,” explains Debbie Horovitch, a marketing and media specialist. She decided to start a blog and use its content as a virtual calling card, where she can show readers what she’s learned. 

“The results of my efforts are online for all potential employers. They can see that I am a self-starter, and understand business trends, opportunities and needs.”

Even last month, bloggers writing about job hunting in the new economy have seen some of the articles and continued to mention me by name, further helping establish my Web 2.0 calling card.

• The Zen of Blog “The New Media Way to Job-Search“
• Financial Matters by Vik Dulat “Start a blog and land a job“
• Wibo’s Weblog “Start your own blog“

 [YOUR] DIRECTOR OF MARKETING BLOG

 RANKS #16 IN FACEBOOK TOP 50 SMALL BUSINESS BLOGS

The [Your] Director of Marketing Blog Network page actually ranks #16 in the Top 50 of facebook small business blogs, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  If you’re clicking through and are a regular facebook user, please be sure to click on and join my [Your] Director of Marketing networked blog on facebook.

Currently, the Top 5 “NetworkedBlogs” in the small business category are:

1. Just For Small Business - Real life “how to” tips for small business owners
2. mirrormirror - Moving from London to Seattle. Bringing up a business and little girl. Trying to live happily ever after. I write about my design inspirations, the trials and tribulations of running my online shop, life in the US, doing up our funny old craftsman house, cooking, knitting and photography
3. The Moutray Chronicles - I created this blog to keep my friends and family updated on events and issues of relevance to Charlotte and me. As this blog has evolved, it has focused heavily on my professional activities, especially in terms of my research on small business and entrepreneurship.
4. Forever Always Events
5. Competeability Trainer and Coach - Brian Panichelle helps small businesses to compete in a big business world.

The NetworkedBlogs application makes integrating your blog and facebook activities a breeze and I’m all for efficiency in my time for the business!  Also, it’s just so easy for people to chat with their friends about your blog (good or bad), when they’re reading it from inside of facebook.

From your readers’ perspective, those who are on facebook might appreciate the ease of receiving your content in a convenient place, facebook.  (where it is almost too convenient for them to chat to their friends about your blog, good or bad)

Want to get your own blog on NetworkedBlogs on facebook?

START YOUR OWN BLOGGING BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEUR PRESS AND J.S. MACDOUGALL, 2007

I’ve read three blogging books so far and this is one of the better books - more than the others, possibly because it was published more recently, so it speaks to people who at least read a few blogs and are not entirely foreign to how they work.

Here are a few of the most valuable links I found included in the book.  For my complete list of links & recommendations, email me or grab a copy of the book for yourself here, or through your local library (I borrowed mine from Toronto Public Library).

FREE Blog Aggregators, to help build your blog’s audience:

1. Technorati
2. Blog Explosion
3. Weblogs

1. Linkshare
2. ClickBank
3. Commission Junction
4. Amazon Associates 
5. Chapters Indigo

Want to sell advertising on your blog?  It will be more difficult now given that economic downturns often mean shrinking ad budgets, so a media kit prepared to showcase your blog best (audience) features, so include in your media kit:

1. Blog overall description and details of topics, milestones , awards and honors as a business
2. Audience: Age range, gender, location, occupation, annual salary, etc. 

     To get specific info on your readers can be challenging, so you may want hire a Survey company:

• Survey Monkey
• Vanguard
• Question Pro
• Survey Gold
• Vovici
• Zoomerang

If, like me, you’re considering the scope of the current economic crisis and what the future might look like, now that we know what we know.  I’m a strong believer in a positive mental attitude, not meaning that everything is parties all the time but that there are valuable lessons to be learned in the process, wherever you are in that process.

The Blog Herald offers their thoughts on how you might be able to use blogging to survive the economy.  I see it as a resource - a great place to learn and think about using blogging to THRIVE in the near future, regardless of economies. 

1. Start a blog - it doesn’t cost much to start up and can be a productive fun way to make a little bit of extra income
2. Online Resume and Visual Presence: “If you are job hunting or want to prove your worth to a company, why not do it with a visual online presence. With a blog and active involvement in social media, you increase your odds of being found if someone searches for you or your specialty.  Create an online reputation for your expertise and skills with your blog. A blog proves job performance, reliability, consistency, and perseverance. It proves you not only can write but communicate your thoughts and ideas. A blog proves you understand that the world is about who you know who knows what you need. It shows you know how to build a community and network. A blog proves you understand how this “online thing” works, which a lot of businesses desperately need.  Consider your blog your online resume. Consider all your online activities, correspondence, and social media microblog posts and communications part of your reputation. Everything online adds to the story of “you” so make sure it represents you well.
3. Start a New Business
4. Social Networking and Support
5. A Blog Depends on You
6. FREE Entertainment

Actually, this app is like the invention of the Microwave was to heating food - it does it, at SUPER SPEED…

I’m surprised how few people have found it and are making use of it, so I’m making it my personal quest to share it with everyone.

It’s actually rediculously simple, and makes sharing web items on Facebook somthing you can do in literally 2 clicks.  Probably about 3 seconds for the entire idea of “oh, my FB friends would get a kick out of this Will Ferrell video” or “My clients will be impressed I shared this important news report with them”.

Even better, you can do it WITHOUT opening up Facebook at all.  No chance of your employees catching you “socializing” on Facebook (if only they knew!).

Click here and within two minutes you’ll be sharing real-time updates and tidbits to your valued clients and friends all day long, without it taking any time at all.

Now that I’m blogging I’m still using the Share on Facebook bookmarklet all the time!