SMBSTL Speaker Spotlight: Ashlyn Brewer and Nick Sargent

Google+ is still the new kid in town when it comes to social media. There are some that swear by it, and others who are still on the fence about it’s capabilities and reach. We are pleased to have two people who are quite the Google + enthusiasts (well, one is and one isn’t as excited about it (more on that later) discussing the powerful platform at this year’s conference.

Ashlyn and Nick are proud Google+ users and will be sharing their tips and feedback about it in October. But for now, you can read about their thoughts about social media and get to know a little more about this fabulous pair:

1.            Why should we care about Google +?

(Ashlyn) Although I’m not as excited about Google+ today as I was a year ago, I think that what Google+ represents – the growing integration between search and social – is critical for us to understand.

(Nick) Google is the 800-pound gorilla of the internet; it sits where it wants (whether it’s a good idea or not). I’m not convinced that Google + was a wise decision for Google’s shareholders or social networkers. But when the Google name is attached to something on the internet, we all have to pay attention and understand what the company is trying to do. All content producers on the web should care about how social network impact search results, especially bloggers. The implications for search and Google + are pretty huge.

2.            What’s next for social media?

(Ashlyn) Social media is rapidly evolving from just a destination on the Internet into the underlying fabric of the entire system.  At the same time, there’s been a big emergence of niche networks. Instead of trying to do everything (like Facebook and Google+) many networks are focusing in on doing one thing really well.

(Nick) The temptation here is to say, “I think the next Pinterest is … .” But rather than talking about the next big platform, I think we could see big change in social media over the next few years. If you’re following the saga of Dalton Caldwell, you know that there’s a growing disgust (particularly in the developer community, which enhances user experience on social networks) with the way the large social networks treat users; users are the product and advertisers are the customers. So, according to guys like Dalton, the experience isn’t built for users to derive value. It’s built for advertisers to reach users and for owners .

In response, he’s developed a fee-based membership “social platform” at app.net. There’s no advertising because he believes social networks should act less like the entertainment industry and more like infrastructure (think electricity or cellular phone service) where value is focused more on what users get from a platform and less on how much money the platform makes.  If app.net succeeds I think that could fundamentally change the way we interact on the internet and create communities with even higher degrees of engagement and authenticity.

3.            Who’s better when it comes to utilizing social media? You (Ashlyn) or Nick?

(Ashlyn) It depends on how many pictures of toddlers you like in your feeds…

(Nick) Better is a tough judgment to pass when it comes to social media.  If it’s about getting the value that you put into it, or being able to connect with cool and smart people. I’d call it a tie. If it’s about torturing your friend about the Cardinals getting no hit on her birthday? Then I win.

…And there you have it folks.

Check out Ashlyn and Nick banter and continue their friendly rivalry during their presentation, The Search…for an Effective Google+ Strategy, on Social Media Day #1. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, you can purchase them HERE!

Ashlyn and Nick both spend their daytime hours at Standing Partnership. Give their site a visit!

6 Share In 7: Get Speaker Experience With Mini Presentations During SMBSTL

Show Me the Blog believes that there is a wonderful speaker in us all. Each and every one of us, no matter our education, background, or level of expertise, or popularity, can share with others and help people learn. That has been the goal of Show Me the Blog ever since the first year, and now we want to take that goal to a whole new level.

Which is why we are unleashing ’6 Share In 7′ this year. It will be a group of 6 speakers, each speaking on their chosen topic for 7 minutes each. During these many presentations, people can share their life stories, their lessons, their mistakes, their thoughts, their epiphanies, their loves. ’6 Share In 7′ is not a technical type of speak, but rather a way to reach out to an audience in a way that bonds us.

’6 Share In 7′ is perfect for those of you who are new to presenting in a formal fashion, or want to build your speaking and engagement appearances.

6 speakers, 7 minutes each, with 3 minutes left over for Q & A. An hour full of great stories and teachable moments.

If you are interested in being a 6 on 7 speaker, please send us an email at info@showmetheblog.com.

5 Ways To Make Money On Your Blog

Creating an income with your blog is now something that most bloggers can achieve with a little hard work and determination. Gone are the days where only a certain few bloggers could make money—it has become a platform that has created additional sources of income for the millions of people who blog professionally or for fun. Making money with your blog isn’t hard, but it does take a knowledge and a little time.

Here are 5 ways to make money on your blog:

1. Ad networks: The most obvious way to make money on your blog is to use an ad network for your site. This could be an ad network such as Google Ads which isn’t exclusive and allows anyone with a site to use the service. An ad network gives you a code (the code produces a visual ad) for you to put in select spaces on your blog, and money is earned by impressions (or page views) for the ads, or clicks for the ads. If you have a nice amount of traffic, you can make a pretty good income using ad networks, but if you are a new blog with a small audience, it may take time for you to rake in the dough. Using more than one ad of different sizes can also increase your cash. But be careful. Too many ads can cause your site to load slowly and may turn some people off.

Read more >>

WordCamp is coming to St. Louis August 6th

At Show Me the Blog, we heavily prefer WordPress over other blogging modules. So we were elated to find out that WordCamp is finally coming to our neck of the woods August 6th at Maryville University. WordCamp is the preeminent WordPress conference in which you can learn everything about the interface including design, development, and business in terms of the blogging tool.

Presale tickets are now available for $20, which is indeed a steal. Hurry and buy yours quick because they are sure to be gone soon.

We plan on participating in WordCamp St. Louis and will be in attendance for the event when it kicks off for the first time in our area. We hope that all of you Show Me the Bloggers will attend and show your support!

Visit the WordCamp St. Louis website HERE and learn more about the conference. You can also buy your tickets by visiting the link as well.

Will you be joining us at WordCamp St. Louis?

5 Mistakes You May Be Making On Your Blog

Blogging, although a pretty saturated term, is pretty much still a new frontier as a medium. Compared to its counterparts, blogging is the newest forefront that we use to share information and express ourselves. And while there are no rules for blogging per se, if you want to take your blog to the next level or become a professional blogger, there are things that you should be doing to achieve that goal.

There are power in your words and your voice as it pertains to your blog, but you could also be making major mistakes with your site—mistakes that may be costing you the opportunity to advance as not only a blogger, but a source people rely on for information.

Here are 5 mistakes you may be making on your blog:

1.Not having your own domain: We at Show Me the Blog are big on branding and setting your blog apart from the rest. Purchasing your domain is one of the most important things you can do to make a name for yourself with your blog. Years ago, domains used to cost upwards of $25-100 but now cost less than $10 with most providers. Invest in your blog by purchasing a domain and say goodbye to suchandsuch.blogspot.com, et al. It’s good for your branding, good for your blog, and will overall improve your traffic and your SEO. (Also, get on WordPress if you aren’t already! SEO loves WP blogs!)

2. Not being consistent: There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to how often you should blog, but being consistent goes a long way. Not only does consistency help maintain and acquire readers who are thirsty for your information, but it also helps your page rank. Google and other search engines show favor to sites who are updated regularly (at least once a week). Make it a habit to post on your blog weekly and watch your traffic grow.

3. Not engaging your readers: If you are not engaging your readers on social networks or in the comment section of your blog, then you are losing. Engaging your readers is a great way to thank those who read your blog and it creates a sense of community within your niche and site. If you only “broadcast” and not “engage”, then you need to shake it up a bit. Your readers will thank you and you may just make some new friends along the way.

4. Not having your contact information on your site: If you are a blogger who wants to work with brands or blog professionally, people need to be able to contact you. It shouldn’t be a chore to try to find contact information on your site. Have an ABOUT ME page on your blog with up-to-date information about you and your blog including your email address. Will you get spam? Probably. But you may also get the opportunity to work or cover some great stuff, all because you could be contacted.

5. Having all over the place content: Depending on your blog site or type, you probably fit into a niche. Having a niche is great because it gives you a subject to blog about and can make you an “expert” or “guru” in a particular area. But when you don’t have a defined niche or your content is all over the place, you could confuse your readers before they’ve had a chance to really get to know you. Sit down and think about what it is that you want to say; define your voice, then post your message. Doing so can improve the readership of your blog.

Blogging is an awesome thing—we love it! But with a few tweaks here and there, you can take your blog to never before seen heights. We hope posting these 5 mistakes you could be making on your blog help you and your quest for worldwide domination!

Written by: Danyelle Little, Founder and Organizer, Show Me the Blog Social Media and Blogging Conference; The Cubicle Chick.com