Category Archives: Big Ooga Events

Top 10 Content Strategy Tips From Andy Crestodina

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It’s true. I’ve been conspiring with Lennie Rose. To build up to the event on October 2nd, we’re posting top 10 lists on each others blogs, one tip per day. You’ll find my tips below and you can see Lennie’s content strategy tips on the Orbit blog.

So check back daily and you’ll see this list grow. Feel free to leave a comment and say hello, and hopefully, I’ll see a few of you at the Catalyst Ranch at the next Big Ooga!

1. Know who you’re talking to…

Web marketing is all about empathy. The more you can put yourself in the shoes of your audience, the more successful you’ll be. What questions do they have? What gets them excited? Worried? Where do they hang out? Who do they read? Who do they listen to?

This is the mindset of the content strategist: What questions does my audience need to have answered before they buy? Where are they asking these questions? How can I get there and provide the answers first?

2. Share with people who care…

Here’s a quick way to get your content in front of people who are interested: Visit FilterTweeps.com and find people who have the topic in the bio. If the post is called “How Wedding Planners Can Use Pinterest,” search for people who have “wedding” and “pinterest” in their Twitter bios (hint: there are 37). Pick a few with big followings and mention them when you Tweet the link!

3. Be Brief

Edit it down! Don’t use ten words if you can say it in six. Your reader is busy. Honor their time by being concise. Use short sentences. Short paragraphs. Even sentence fragments.

4. Internal links

Never miss a chance to link from one piece of content to another. Link from the blog post to the whitepaper, and from the whitepaper to the contact form. This is good for converting visitors into leads.

Also, whenever you write something, go back and look at older posts and find opportunities to link to the new post. The link itself should include descriptive text. For example, ”How to make a sitemap” is a better link than ”click here.” This indicates relevance and is good for SEO.

5. Get together…

According to the 2012 B2B Content Marketing Survey, live events are considered the most effective content marketing tactic. Remember, speaking is content too! So find a venue and invite your audience to network and learn from the experts (that’s you). When you meet people in person, you can build a relationship stronger than all those social media connections put together.

6. Take risks…

Try something new. Experiment with different tone, topics, tactics or frequency. What’s the worst than can happen?

…and every now and then, take a stand. Come out strong for (or against) something. It’s good show your readers what’s important to you. You can be sure than when you write an opinion that’s important to you, it will be in an authentic voice.

7. Set it and forget it…

Find every opportunity to put something on auto-pilot. Schedule holiday tweets a year in advance. Use Paper.li to auto-curate a weekly or daily paper. Set up a series auto-response emails when people subscribe to your newsletter or fill out your contact form.

8. Give people a reason to sign-up

If you’re newsletter sign-up box doesn’t tell people exactly what to expect and how often they’ll get it, can you really expect people to subscribe? Your email sign-up form should appear right next to the content, be visually prominent and set good expectations.

9. Post with pictures…

If your post goes live without a picture in it, it won’t stand out when you share it on Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn. If at all possible, create a diagram or chart. Use a stock photo if necessary. A great picture is interesting all on it’s own. Not sure where to find a photo? Try using the camera in your pocket!

10. Collaborate!

Find someone you like and come up with a writing project together. Take on a bigger content project and split it up the tasks. Combine your client lists and try a survey. Combine your contacts and hold an event. Or, post Top-10 lists on each others blogs and share with each others networks. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

Join us tonight at Big Ooga!

Andy Crestodina

We’ll be turning attendees into kick ass content marketers, showing how to turn key messages into client magnets. Learn the skinny on how content strategy works with search marketing and social media.

Andy will be asking for a few volunteers to create an on-the-spot strategy for your company. If you’d like to be chosen, come prepared to answer this: “What questions does my target audience ask about my product or service?

Success & The Questions You Ask Yourself

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I have lots of conversations with entrepreneurs and realize the way we frame questions to ourselves determines the direction we’re heading in.

If, for example, you are asking yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen? Can I possibly end up in a double-wide?” This is the wrong direction.

It’s not IF you will succeed that should be running ramped through your brain. It’s HOW you will succeed. What do you need to do differently? Whose perspective can add clarity? How can you replicate what you’re doing right?

Entrepreneurs are problem solvers. If you focus on the solution – you are in the right direction. If you focus on the problem it’s either going to get bigger, scarier or more prevalent.

That which we focus on grows bigger. That which we take our attention away from fades. ( I’m paraphrasing here).

So your energy has to be directed toward driving you forward because if it’s driving you backwards, getting back up to zero from a negative space is exhausting.

On the flip side – seeking the answer is/can be thrilling.

Giving something a chance..just testing an idea is a private beta. You don’t have to lock it in, announce it, throw big dollars at it. You just have to envision if it is possible.

Like trying on a pair of shoes.  You try them on, you take them off.  If you like them and they work – you commit.  If you don’t, you haven’t wasted your time, you’ve spent it on discovery.

Discovery is way more fun and lucrative than inaction.  I’m not suggesting you give every hair-brained idea a try. But what happened to “No question is a stupid question” when you were little?

When I’m building, I’m looking at the whole and the pieces of the puzzle. What next piece makes sense?

Then I take those pieces to someone who thinks in a linear, strategic, sane fashion and say, “I can see that these fit together. Can you? In what order? Can we make them happen now? OR do we put these in the someday file?”

You are not alone in this brave new entrepreneurial world.  Look at Greece, America…Netflix… We are all searching to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Smart, big, small, young, old, experienced, novice..all searching, working, striving to meet the next step.

My here and your here are our creations.  When we meet in the middle we’re collaborating.

When we’re collaborating we’re helping each other.

When we’re helping each other we’re in the right direction.

Don’t let the economy get you down. Keep building upward.. and while you’re at it maybe you want to come and listen to someone who has done just that.

If you’re up for getting inspired, and hearing the unvarnished truth from Nancy Sharp who has built a company from $Zippo to $25 million in revenue.  Then join us and hear what questions she’s asked of herself or how she put the pieces of her own successful company together.

If you’d like to join us at the next Big Ooga meeting October 4th, here’s the link:

Building a Company From the Ground Up 

 

 

 

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Reflections from Brain Training – The Entrepreneur’s Mind at Work

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After Saturday’s Brain Training I was calm. Calm is not the hallmark of an entrepreneurial mind.  Calm creates breathing room, head room, emotional room. Calm is underrated and I didn’t know it was so valuable until I had some.

I got home from the Brain Training and went right to my email. Pushed the send and receive all button and watched 100 emails trickle down into the inbox. My mind went right to the relevant emails and didn’t bother with the others. No emotional or mental overload.  Just respond, delete.  It’s done.

Other amazing results – I finished work early on Monday…like 6:30 pm, not to say work is ever finished as an entrepreneur. There is always more to do.  But what had to be done got done.

Tonight is another Big Ooga event.  Usually, at this time in the morning of an event I’m a crazy person.  Granted there are several contributing factors to why this sudden change … 1) We’re back home at the Ranch as in HOME 2) I discovered a dream catering company with healthy, organic and delicious food with customer service so good you could kiss the driver 3) the guest list is created in advance 4) all of the volunteers have already volunteered 5) we already know next month is Mastering AdWords 6) and now I’m probably boring you so my mind has stopped me and changed direction.

The trick to maintaining this state of mind is to practice the brain training exercises, out loud.  I’m doing mine at 6 am with coffee and now I just SOUND like a crazy person when no one is listening.

If you are an entrepreneur who is trembling by the end of the day with information overload, too much to do, too much stress, too much of everything… you can have a happy, healthy mind. We will most def host another Combat Brain Training.  Thank you, John Kennedy!

Really Good Reasons to Connect with Intelligent Life in Chicago

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If you crave intelligent life in Chicago and are an entrepreneur or solo-preneur  looking for a business community to lift and support your company, here are a few really good reasons to consider joining Big Ooga.

Not all groups are equal.  Not all workshops and teachers are equal.  Both have to be worth your time so you are more successful as a direct result of joining.

Why Us and Why You Should Consider Us

We only offer workshops by top experts.  The WordPress class on Saturday, Jan 29th is taught by a former CIO.  The reason we are offering this particular workshop is that each and every one of us needs to generate relevant and continuous content. This means we will need a platform from which to do it.

Step 1 is building that platform so we can manage our own Internet presence.  The platform must be cost effective, easy to build and flexible enough to customize with our valuable new and evolving content.

By offering one class at a time, in the order of skills needed,  you can learn what you need to learn in the right order.

Our last First Tuesday meeting focused on sequencing. The panel discussion (with the rest of us chiming in) included an SEO expert, a niche brand development expert, our WordPress expert and a technology expert.

We established companies must get their heartbeat on the page and be a valuable resource so people have reasons to continuously  return to you / your presence.  Next is to optimize and market like maniacs virtually and in  IRL (in real life). First step is to get that platform.  We’ll take it to the next step in the next step classes!

If you would like to learn more about our upcoming WordPress class:

http://tinyurl.com/4na2ju8

Now to tell you  a little about the classmates who have signed up for this Big Ooga workshop:

So far, the Saturday class includes:  Enterprise level IT architect, Publisher of a new on-line business publication, adjunct professor, professional organizer specializing in hording and her assistant, a corporate organizational expert and moi.

You may want to form a learning pod with your classmates beyond the workshop. This is encouraged behavior.

NOW a little about the First Tuesday Big Ooga Events

They are personal.  Each first Tuesday night of the month our group meets and enters the discussion on the topic presented.  Often the night includes a hands-on breakout.  The presenters are focused on presenting info you can use immediately to impact your own business, like the fabulous Carol Roth, who is our keynote next month, Feb 1.  To learn more about Carol: http://www.bigooga.com/community.html

If  you are just starting out, the monthly events and classes will be great for you. If you are a more seasoned professional and entrepreneur, becoming a member is the right way to go. http://www.bigooga.com/signup.html

We ALL value continuous learning, excellent teachers and intelligent peers.  All of the members are people you can be proud to recommend.  Some of us are even funny. What good is the journey without the Joy!

Thanks for reading and do get in touch. Lennie@BigOoga.com or 708-524-4562

Raising Happy Healthy Companies One Entrepreneur at a Time

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Yes, it’s going to take a village to raise happy, healthy companies, but being out there on your own isn’t the only way.  Ask yourself,  “If I don’t have to do everything myself, why would I want to?”  By putting a community behind you, you’ll have more resources, less stress, and more time to focus on what you do best. 

 
If you’re ready to be the change, let’s get started!  The first step is to join us at the Networking Level.
This gets you into the system and puts the vetting process into motion. You’ll get all of the wonderful perks the Big Ooga has consistently delivered – free monthly meetings, high quality people and programs, personal introductions and a new referral system as a Big Ooga approved company. You’ll also get a FREE marketing consultation with Lennie.

Once you are a Big Ooga approved member and you wish to become part of a second level to build or develop your company, we will send you an evaluation form. This is designed to pinpoint where you are in your journey, what perceived obstacles you face and determine your greatest strengths and professional ambitions so we can help you get there.  Level II engagement will give you entrance into a peer support pod, entrance into an expert pod to offer your services and the ability to teach and showcase your expertise.

At this level you will be able to join us in leadership and receive OogaShares to help you afford some of the services for your development. We will be spending the next two months populating the pods to create just the right mix of people. 

To Join at the Networking Level as a listing company – please click this link: http://www.bigooga.com/signup.html

For any questions regarding membership at any level please email us at membership@bigooga.com 

Your input and participation is welcome!