A World Wide Rave, by David Meerman Scott
There are a lot of marketing books out there. A LOT. In case you haven’t noticed.
When I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of David Meerman Scott’s new book, World Wide Rave, I knew it would be good – I’m a huge fan. But I didn’t know how good.
What’s a World Wide Rave? According to D.M. Scott:
A World Wide Rave is when people around the world are talking about you, your company, and your products. Whether you’re located in San Francisco, Dubai, or Reykjavík, it’s when global communities eagerly link to your stuff on the Web. It’s when online buzz drives buyers to your virtual doorstep. And it’s when tons of fans visit your Web site and your blog because they genuinely want to be there.
David Meerman Scott is all about authenticity and being real as THE way to get anywhere online and via social media. And this book walks you through the process of creating your own world wide rave without ever selling out or enabling your inner car salesman.
World Wide Rave showcases fascinating examples of things people are doing to make an impact. And, he doesn’t pick superstars – he picks real people that we can all relate to. And they’re doing real things – not outrageous, just inspired – that we can all do.
Case in point: reading D.M. Scott’s book was a huge impetus for me to finally write my How to be a Successful Copywriter ebook and start my One-on-One Intensive program…and take action on a multitude of other projects. I’m telling you, this book doesn’t make you think, ‘Yeah, right, but I can’t do that.’ It makes you get up and go.
Besides how fast and thrilling it is to read, how easy the ‘work’ is to do, how much sense every sentence makes – the book itself is it’s own World Wide Rave – each book comes with a cover poster. D. M. Scott has sent out the call for folks to take pictures of that poster all over the world…a world wide rave of World Wide Rave. And, of course, it’s going like gang-busters.
Here’s one of my money shots and, no, you may not make fun of my hat:
Check out the rest of the pics from around the world (and from on top of my car) here.
And buy this book. It hits stores March 3rd.
Also, hear it straight from the author: The David Meerman Scott Interview.
Filed under How To, Marketing, News, Social Media | Tags: david meerman scott, internet marketing, Marketing, new book, online success, social media, viral, viral content, viral marketing, world wide rave | Comments (10)Your Internet-Reality Dictionary
One of the kings of social media, Chris Brogan, has just published a brilliant article about people in the real world.
He talks about how those of us who live in this web world need to remember that the majority of the people we interact with offline aren’t online. And/but that fact should not deter us from sharing the internet with them.
These two points define my business. Personally, because when I leave you all, my daily achievements online aren’t all that translatable. Professionally, because my clients often look at me with fear, confusion or a blank stare when I mention words like blog, online social media and site traffic.
The key, Chris points out, is to explore the internet with these clients from their La-Z-Boy recliners, in other words, where they’re most comfortable. He gives some great examples that I’m going to expand upon. The point is that we, as internet marketing people, can show these reality-based folk that they already have the tools and resources – we’re just going to repurpose them. Think of this as your Internet-Reality Dictionary.
What you have: Real World — What you could have: Web World
Newsletter Blog
Networking Groups Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
Mailings (via the USPS) Email marketing/communication
Staff writers Bloggers
Industry Experts Bloggers
Radio and TV ads Viral video, vlogs, podcasts
Loud Speaker Email & Blog
Print product surveys Online product surveys
Marketing Department Online Marketing Department
PR Director Director of Community Development
Phone help center Company Wiki
Additions from readers:
Chris Ramsay: Water Cooler Gossip = Facebook, Twitter, IM’s, etc.
Deb: Phone calls = IMs
Research Library = Wikipedia/Google
Typewriter = Laptop
Endless meetings = Thank heaven, no parallel!
Endless meetings = Endless Web Ex and endless Skype – thank heavens for backside chat.
Happy Hour = Tweetup
Product Demo or Seminar = Webinar
________________________
Is it just me or does the internet pile look like the real pile on steroids. Its a no-brainer and it will take your business outreach global, quickly.
Chris asks us to be the people to share the internet and all that it has to offer. You are on, Chris – one of my favorite things to do.
I’d love to add your additions to the dictionary…bring ‘em on!
Filed under Blogging, How To, Networking, The Business | Tags: Chris Brogan, client relations, freelance commercial copywriter, internet marketing, marketing writer, social media | Comments (15)real people, not Paris, using video and thriving on web 2.0
Here’s an example of someone, not Paris, succeeding online with video. Etsy just produced this mini-documentary of my friend Susan Gibbs and her revolutionary MV Fiber Farm which is the world’s first natural fiber CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). This past Sunday it was the featured video on YouTube‘s hompage – garnering 129,536 views as of this morning. Besides Susan’s amazing story, there is an exciting delivery in this tale…around the 1/2 way point of the vid.
Susan has grown the CSA almost entirely online (save the Martha’s Vineyard local farmer’s markets) – through her blog, website, store and online communities like Etsy. Some highlights from the first year:
- Sold three rounds of shares (2 falls, 1 spring – actually this fall’s shares are going like hotcakes right now if you’re interested!)
- Raised over $10,000 on her blog to help pay for an electric wheelchair for her uncle – in ONE week
- Doubled the size of the flock
- Featured in an article on the front page of the Wall Street Journal
- Spotlighted in Women’s World Magazine (which surprisingly has one of highest circulations of any magazine in the country)
- Promoted & supported by the awesome crew at Etsy who, amongst many other things, created the video
- Currently negotiating a book deal
- Built a strong and loyal community of knitters, crafters, weavers, spinners – and lamb and sheep lovers
Not bad, Susan, not bad at all. I wish I could say that I taught her everything she knows, but she is this brilliant and talented all by herself. Visit Susan and become part of the CSA at www.mvfiberfarm.com.
Filed under Marketing, News | Tags: angora goats, community supported agriculture, copywriting, CSA, Etsy, freelance copywriter, internet marketing, Julie Roads, knitting, marketing writer, martha's vineyard, MV Fiber Farm, online video, sheep, Social Media, Susan Gibbs, Wall Street Journal, Women's World Magazine, Writing Roads, YouTube | Comment (0)Networking all the time…
We were up in Boston this weekend – and I purposefully and painfully left my computer at home with the intention of not working. But people looking for marketing and websites and blogs just appear before me…it’s fantastic.
The truth is that these potential clients ‘just appear’ for everyone, all the time. But, you have to be looking, or at least you have to have your eyes open. I didn’t think I was finding them on purpose, but then I thought about it a little more, and realized that I am doing some things…here they are:
1. Ask. Whenever I meet someone new, I ask them questions. ‘What do you do?’ is most often the first and it leads to many others, ‘how do you market that?’, ‘do you have a website?’, ‘do you spend time on the internet?’ Find out who this person is business-wise and beyond.
2. Listen. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t listen to their answers. The connection between you and them exists in their answers, when they tell you what they want, when they tell you what never works.
3. Talk. When you ask someone what they do, they’re going to ask you the same thing. Be ready to tell them exactly what you do in a compelling and concise way. An ‘elevator speech’ if you will. The chances of you talking to someone in your exact profession are slim, so they will probably be intrigued that you can do something they can’t – like writing and navigating the web, in my case.
4. Friends and Family. Interesting, but true. I get a lot of business because my friends and family are good at singing my praises. When one of them hears of someone looking for writing, a website or any sort of marketing, they have no qualms about thrusting me in front of the person shouting, “Julie does that! You have to talk to HER!”
5. Love What You Do. I’m told that my passion and excitement for writing, web networking and marketing are magnetic. This thrills me because my work thrills me. Every person and potential client is a master puzzle waiting for the greatest solution. Too much fun.
Filed under Networking, The Business | Tags: blog marketing, Blogging, blogs, copywriter, copywriting, internet marketing, Julie Roads, Networking, web content, websites, Writing | Comment (0)
