Over the next few days, we will be sharing with you many gems from the conference including links to speaker presentations, photos, video, insights from attendees, and much more!

We would like to take the time once again to thank our sponsors, speakers, attendees, staff, and volunteers for a successful third year. Without you, this conference couldn’t have been done.

Below are a few photos from the conference, and we will be sharing with you the official conference photos taken by conference photographer Caren Libby as well as presenter Kristi Bonney.

What was your favorite part of Show Me the Blog 3.0?

Time to Play Pre-Conference Game Night at Show Me the Blog

Show Me the Blog Day #1

Show Me the Blog Day #2

]]> http://www.showmetheblog.com/index.php/2012/10/22/another-show-me-the-blog-conference-is-in-the-books/feed/ 0 http://www.showmetheblog.com/index.php/2012/10/17/details-xd-web-solutions-web-tools-table-at-smbstl/ http://www.showmetheblog.com/index.php/2012/10/17/details-xd-web-solutions-web-tools-table-at-smbstl/#comments Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:30:49 +0000 admin http://www.showmetheblog.com/?p=1309 With new blogs being created every second, you need to be able to carve your way through the noise. Want more engaged and loyal followers? Want more opportunities to joint venture with other bloggers and even brands? Want to bring in more income from your blog?

Of course you do!

That’s why XD Web Solutions is offering you a chance to win a FREE Video Blog Critique (normally priced at $49). One Video Blog Critique service will be given away each day of the conference. All you have to do is stop by and leave your contact information.

Why do you need a blog critique?

Because you desire more from your home on the web, that’s why. I offer you my years of expertise in design and marketing to help transform your blog into pure awesomeness! The video assessment will identify areas you are already doing well, point out elements that could use improvement, and offer suggestions on how to make it all work for you.

I look forward to meeting you!

Connect with XD Web Solutions on Facebook and Twitter.

The www.MasterYourCardMO.org booth will feature information on increasing security, preventing fraud, and negotiation tips to save money on your bank and processing fees. They will also have 1 GB flash drives among their giveaways! Make sure you stop by their table and learn more about this exciting and beneficial program.

On Social Media Day #1, John will be bringing Naked Chocolate Ice Cream and Whole Bean Coffee Ice Cream. On Blogging Day #2, we will all get to try Frostbite’s Cinnamon Ice Cream and Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream.

The coffee ice cream that Frostbite will be bringing is uses Cafe Peru Chilchos coffee beans from their business partner, Kuva Coffee.  This will be only the second time that this ice cream has made a public appearance so, we SMBSTL attendees will get to try it out before others. John really wants to have our feedback!

The pumpkin ice cream Frostbite will have on hand is made with pumpkins from local farmers, Eckert’s.  John usually takes a trip there about this time each year for pumpkins when their season begins.  Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream is only available in the Fall.

We hope you bring your sweet tooth with you to SMBSTL. With Frostbite on hand, you are going to need it!

You can follow Frostbite Ice Cream on Facebook and Twitter.

I asked Marcie a few questions so we can get a better perspective of freelancing, and what to expect during her presentation:

1.What is one quality all writers should have?

Patience is THE  most important quality successful writers must possess. In my opinion, there is a difference between good writers and successful writers. Good writers have skills and the possibly the desire to succeed; successful writers have the patience, commitment and wherewithal to make their dreams come true.

2. What’s the biggest misconception about freelancing?

The biggest misconception about freelancing is that It’s easy. It is not. In addition to patience, writers have to be persistent. There are many “one-hit” writers; but persistent scribes build name recognition, a huge portfolio, and other opportunities for themselves.

3. How has social media changed the way you network and communicate?

Social media is very spiritual for me, especially Twitter. If there is a resource I need, someone I think I need or just some random information I desire, I’ll tweet it and almost always get an answer. It’s putting information in the Universe and getting a response. LinkedIn is a great resource for me, too. The bad thing about social media is my high level of social-ness. I have to discipline myself to not use it until after my relevant projects are completed.

Catch Marcie and her presentation, Freelance Ain’t Free: The Do’s and Don’ts of Freelancing for Sites & Publications, at this year’s conference. Click HERE to see the full schedule.

Because of the size of the conference, we are asking that you schedule your 10 minute session beforehand. To schedule a session, simply email info@showmetheblog.com with your name, URL, and WordPress issue(s) summarized. Also indicate what day you are attending (day #1, day #2, or both days), and we will email you back with the time of your scheduled appointment.

Also, in order to make the appointment as hands on as possible, be sure to bring your laptop with you to the conference for the appointment.

Appointments will be handled on a first come, first served basis.

Learn more about Dr. Lisa Richardson and her expertise below:

In 1983, Lincoln Richardson brought home a brand-new computer and taught his eight-year-old daughter how to write a simple program in BASIC, play games, and use a word processing program. It was love at first sight. In college, ten years later, that girl was introduced to the internet. She learned how to chat online, search for information…and skip classes. (goodbye full ride!) Today, Dr. Lisa Richardson helps individuals and organizations optimize business processes with a holistic approach to technology education and web design strategy. Lisa T. Richardson, PhD is the lead designer of Flow! Web Strategy & Design (YouCanFlow.com) in Atlanta, GA.

Here’s more information on Midwest Dairy Council’s demonstration and presentation:

From Farm to Table: Blogging to Tell Dairy’s Story
Using blogs, dairy farm women are sharing everything from cheese-laced recipes to personal accounts about life on their farms to promote dairy and bridge the gap between farmers and consumers.  Dairy farm moms Janet Bremer and Becky Bode, and Midwest Dairy Council registered dietitian Stephanie Cundith, lead this interactive keynote session as they share their passion to tell dairy’s story through blogging, and in the process, demonstrate a nutritious, easy recipe for your family — Mozzarella Pepper Salsa. Come listen, learn… and taste!

Dairy farm mom Janet Bremer writes about life on a dairy farm in her blog, My Barnyard View.  In addition to being the proud wife of a dairy farmer and having raised her two children on a dairy farm, Janet is a Title 1 Instructional Assistant at an elementary school. Dairy and education are at the heart of her writing; she enjoys teaching others about farming and the value of dairy foods.

Becky Bode shares her family’s dairy farm through the blog, Bode Dairy.  She is a mother of three, and recently became a grandmother. Becky and her husband farm with a commitment to the environment, not only for their family, but for their neighbors and the community. In addition to farm duties, Becky is a cook at a K-8 school, where she also plans and shops for school meals. She enjoys giving farm tours, both in person and virtually through her blog, to share the importance of her dairy farm family’s way of life.

Stephanie Cundith, Midwest Dairy Council registered dietitian, is a nutrition blogger for Dairy Makes Sense and The Dairy Report. As a working parent, she appreciates the need for healthy, quick and easy nutritious recipes. As a runner, she appreciates the connection between diet and exercise. She writes about the nutritional benefits of dairy foods, and how they play a key role in feeding her family as well as her fitness.

For more on our complete programming schedule, click HERE!

FYI, breakfast will be provided this year during both days of the conference. We hope you enjoy!

The Time to Play Game Night Pre-Conference Reception is open to current ticket holders for the conference, only. So if you haven’t registered yet, what are you waiting for?

Time to Play will be not only hosting a wonderful game night filled with fun, but giving away swag and prizes too! For more details on the giveaways that will take place during the event, and to register, click HERE. You must RSVP to this event even if you are a ticketholder for the conference so we can gauge the attendance for the event.

We hope to see you there!

In order to get to know a little bit more about Russ, we asked him a few questions about this thoughts on business, social media, and more!:

1. Why do you think some businesses are still behind when it comes to social media?
I think there are a number of reasons that a business may be behind when it comes to social media:
1. They don’t see a clear ROI – Social media takes time and effort.  Add to that the fact that results are often slow to develop and it is difficult to measure.

2.They don’t have the technical know-how – Those of us that work in the online marketing space of often live in an echo chamber.  We don’t realize how difficult something like Facebook or Twitter is to operate and understand.

3. They are afraid to lose control – It’s true, the proliferation of social media has caused us to lose control of our message to some extent.  That being said, ducking your head in the sand will not cause people to stop talking about you in these channels.  Get involved in these conversations.

2. What must businesses do differently now in order to succeed?
According to research done by Shopper Sciences, 70% of Americans look at product reviews before making a purchase.  When researching purchases, 50% of Americans use search engines during the “information gathering” stage of the buying cycle.  In short, people are searching for information about your products, your brands, your key employees and the solutions that are available to them.  This research phase is where purchasing decisions are formulated.  If your company is not involved in this online conversation you are becoming less and less likely to be involved when the purchase is made.

 3.What do you see as the future of social media and marketing?
In the past, companies were pure product/service providers that looked to publishers of content (TV networks, print publications, radio stations) to buy access to the audience in the form of ads.  As this model continues to erode, companies will continue to morph into publishers of their own content and builders of their own audience.  Online communities like Fiskateers (a site for arts and crafts enthusiasts that use Fiskars scissors) and Nike’s Better World (a community of athletes that care about the planet) will become the rule rather than the exception.  While these are product based examples from large companies, small businesses will find the creation of community around their content more beneficial and easier to execute than large businesses.

Russ will be presenting, Three Overlooked Ways to Build the Email List of Your Dreams, on Social Media Day #1. Get your tickets now to learn from Russ and other speakers and presenters.