As BlogHer looms ever closer the party haves and have-nots are starting to make their voices heard on Twitter and across the blogosphere. It’s inevitable that when there are 3000 women at a conference, but only a small amount of invitations available for many events, that jealousy – or even panic – will set in. I am co-hosting two events at BlogHer this year – one for KidzVuz and one for the Blogging Angels - for the first time ever. For both events guest lists had to be created – and agreed to – by the different hosts, and everyone had their reasons for choosing certain people.
But, truth be told I just don’t know everyone at BlogHer, and many of the people I might want at an event won’t be at BlogHer. And then there is the added requirement that the blogger actually fit the event. Bloggers write across many niches and when you’re thinking about who will get the most out of the sponsors or event theme you have to consider that too. So, we’ve done the best we could and I hate that some people might feel left out. They shouldn’t. See, the best thing about BlogHer is that all of the official parties are open to everyone. There are endless opportunities to meet new people and grab a drink and wear your most fabulous shoes or sparkliest earrings. It’s not about the number of invites it’s about what you make of the parties you do attend.
This is an article I wrote for Mom Blog Magazine way back after the Disney Social Media Moms debacle. I think it still applies, and hopefully makes sense to those looking for guidance on how their social media footprint looks to event organizers:
So you weren’t invited to the big event that everyone is talking about. Maybe it’s a lunch with some fabulous celebrities, a cocktail party with sneak peeks at new products or even a hugely coveted three-day conference to a magical place and you’re wondering why others were asked while you were passed over. It’s not an easy question to answer because in the end PR reps will not divulge how they make their lists. But that doesn’t mean you should sit around and wait to be asked to the ball. No matter what stage of blogging you’re in you can be proactive about managing and building your online presence.
The first step in getting taken seriously by brands is to treat yourself like a brand. Your blog, your Facebook page, your Twitter stream, your YouTube channel – all of these social media outlets are your ever evolving online resume. Unlike real life where you are judged by your clothes, your home, even your accent, your online persona can be crafted in a way to always present yourself in the best light, maybe even a brighter light than you can even imagine. First, take a look at how you appear online to others.
These Tools Can Get You Started
- Social Mention: socialmention.com You can use Social Mention to monitor your blog and your own name. It’s like a Google Alert on steroids. Get a snapshot of where your blog is being mentioned, linked from, stumbled and commented upon. See the keywords that define you and how strong your influence and passion are.
- Klout: klout.com The ultimate cheat sheet for brands — though many industry pros know that it’s not the perfect tool — it doesn’t measure quality, loyalty or other important traits that could help identify bloggers that make a good brand match. But, brands love it. Make sure you register with them and link your Facebook account too to maximize your score.
- Addictomatic: addictomatic.com In one beautiful page view you can see your blog mentions or your name in various outlets: Google Blog Search, You Tube, Twitter, Tweetmeme and more. It gives you an instant sense of your reach and where you need to improve.
(NOTE: Forget Compete. It’s so off and lags so far behind that the stats are always way off. Unfortunately some brands and PR people will still use it because it’s fast and free so you should at least know what they’re seeing if they do. But, check out this post: Why and How to Keep Track of Your Blog Traffic by Kris Cain for some other traffic stat sources.)
- Compete: compete.com I know, we’re all in this together and you should focus on yourself right? In a perfect world of course, but in the real world go ahead and type in your blog with some of your peers and see how you stack up. Then check out the blogs that are doing better than you and see how you can improve.
So, now you’ve got all of these stats and a clear picture of how you and your blog perform across platforms. Where can you improve? Tweet more meaningful links? Spend more time commenting on other blogs? Create better links in your own posts? Most importantly, be true to yourself and your voice. Be aware of trends, but don’t jump on every meme that comes your way. Be consistent, be unique and be engaged. Chances are you will find yourself with an inbox full of invites and an even bigger problem – what to wear?
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