Beyond Blogging by Nathan Hangen and Mike CJ

So I was honored to receive a preview copy of Beyond Blogging a few weeks ago, and I have to tell you, I’m quite impressed with the work these guys put into this book. I’ve worked with Nathan because he writes for us over at TwiTip and I’ve known Mike around the internet for a while now. They’ve worked REALLY hard on this project, and I’m so proud of them! The best news is that it’s finally available to the public.

I’m really excited about this book because it’s not only co-authored by two great guys that know what they are doing, but also features 15 incredible case studies and in depth reviews of some of the most popular bloggers in the world.

Some of the names featured include:

Gary Vaynerchuk
Chris Brogan
Chris Garrett
David Risley
Penelope Trunk
Chris Guillebeau

And that’s just the start! There are an additional 9 case studies featuring the likes of Brian Clark, Shama Kabani, Darren Rowse, John Chow, iJustine, Jonathan Fields, Steve Pavlina, Michael Dunlop, and Pete Cashmore.

Like I said, I’ve had a chance to read this book, and it is hot!

So here’s the deal:

For those of you interested in taking your blog to the next level, they are also offering a fantastic blog consulting package to go along with your book. I think they’re crazy, but they’re giving you a 75% discount!

I know it’s right after Christmas, and you’ve got a lot going on, but there has never been a better time to start planning for a profitable 2010 than right now…so buy this book, use it to create your 2010 plan, and create the life you’ve been dreaming of.

You could be reading your copy within 60 seconds. Click Here to Go Beyond Blogging!

Social Media Breakfast Tech Valley #4 This Friday

Okay kinda cool news here… I’ve been asked by Amy Mengel to speak on a panel at this really nifty monthly get together called Social Media Breakfast Tech Valley. It’s this Friday, December 4th, 2009 (ack!) and is being held at the Red Cross in Albany, NY.

Yes, I “acked”. You’d think that provided the fact that I’ve been to dozens of conferences packed with thousands of people, and that one of my biggest clients is a very well known blogger and speaker whom I’ve seen speak on panels a dozen times, that I’d be chillin’. But I admit, I’m a bit tweaked. In a good way, of course!

I’m actually really excited about this! The coolness is that I found out that a really great guy I met (finally) at BWE this year, Justin Levy has spoken at SMBTV before! Justin rocks, plain and simple, but it’s one of those coolie six degrees things in a way.

Anyway, we’ve got a great panel… Christina Gleason from Phenomenal Content LLC, Amanda Magee of Trampoline Design Studio, and our moderator Greg Dahlmann of Uptown/Downtown Media and All Over Albany. It’s going to be lots of fun, and I’m really honored and excited to be a part!

Social Media Breakfast was founded by Bryan Person in August 2007 as an event where social media experts and newbies alike come together to eat, meet, share, and learn. Marketers, PR pros, entrepreneurs, bloggers, podcasters, new-media fanatics, and online social networkers are all welcome to attend.

The breakfast series began in Boston and has now spread to more than 20 cities throughout the United States and around the world.

SMB was brought to Tech Valley in 2009 by Amy Mengel and Patrick Boegel. Follow @smbtv on Twitter for updates.

The girls and I have decided that we’re gonna rock the denim, with “cute tops”. Keep in mind, I’m the only one of the three who’s single, boys…

People I Love From Blog World Expo 2009 – Part 2

I know this is going to take a while to get through all the people I got to meet and have grown to adore because of Blog World Expo 2009. Hopefully I can get through this list before Christmas!

Today I’d like to talk about the people I met at the ProBlogger Dinner, courtesy @TasteMGMGrand and FiAMMA Trattoria. A few of these people I’d met before, but never had the chance to really spend time with them, and a few are “new” to me.

Left to Right: Lisa Morosky, Jen Wilson, Chris Brogan, Brian Clark, Patrick O’Keefe, Zane Aveton, Darren Rowse, Reem Abeidoh, and me.

First, Darren’s guests who were invited to come along with us to help make the dinner great for the winners of the draw to attend.

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Patrick O’Keefe (@ifroggy) – Patrick’s a really great guy. We had spoken via Skype a few times just prior to the trip to Vegas. I actually had met him (sort of) last year because I walked in front of his camera when he was on a panel with Darren. I still feel terrible for that, as I’m usually really good about noticing cameras and staying out of their way!

Patrick has this book called Managing Online Forums: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Run Successful Community Discussion Boards that’s been a pretty big hit. I’m excited to start reading it myself, given the recent launch of ProBlogger.COMmunity. He also owns the iFroggy network, a collection of websites and communities on various topics.

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Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan) – At last year’s BWE I met Chris for about 30 seconds. He shared chocolate with me. Talk about a guy who knows how to connect! (I kid… he does know how, but it’s so much deeper than sharing chocolate with an addict like myself!)

Chris is an amazing, sweet, kind man who takes the time to connect with every human being who crosses his path. He’s also a big deal, in case you’re not aware. His latest co-authored book, Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation and Earn Trust made the New York Times Bestseller List and I strongly recommend that if you do business of ANY kind online that you get and read this book. He’s also the President of New Marketing Labs where he works with another coolie guy I met and had a heart to heart with at BWE, Justin Levy.

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Brian Clark (@copyblogger) – This was the first time I’d ever had the chance to actually meet Brian, and I’m really glad I did. He’s hilarious and was constantly catching me off guard! (Wait til you see the clip I took of him for ProBlogger giving his #1 Blogging Tip – Priceless!)

Brian’s all about copywriting, online marketing, and showing people how to have success with their blogging and writing efforts. He’s truly an amazing teacher in this regard. His free PDF Authority Rules: The 10 Rock Solid Elements of Effective Online Marketing is fantastic and a highly recommended read.

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Reem Abeidoh (@rabeidoh) – Another fun-loving, amazing sweetheart who I got to meet briefly last year at our b5 party night but didn’t get the chance to really bond with until this year. Why, oh why, did we wait so long? She’s amazing – a soul-connection. Reem’s destined for greatness for the rest of her life, I just know it. She is quickly developing her status as a Social Media Butterfly! I love how well she connects to people and really makes them feel comfortable.

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And on to our wonderful guests:

Zane Aveton (@zaneology) – This chick ROCKS. She’s one of the funniest, outgoing, sweet-hearted people I think I’ve ever met. She lives out loud (one of my favorite types of people) and is original and stylish to boot! Zane’s going places – she’s the energetic one. She’s the one who knows where all the “cool geeks” are hanging out. She’s got AMAZING shoes.

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Jen Wilson (@jenwilsonphoto) -If and when I’m blessed with children, I’m bringing Jen out to NY to photograph them. WOW! She was voted Children’s Photographer of The Year – 2009 by the Professional Photographers of California, and one look at her photoblog and you’ll know why. Jennifer has also been named *Environmental Photographer of the Year “(California 2006), “Top Ten Photographer” (California 2006) and had won both a Fuji Masterpiece award and the prestigious “Kodak Gallery Award” (2009). She was an absolute delight to share dinner with, and I look forward to seeing more of her work!

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Lisa Morosky (@lisamorosky) – Lisa’s awesome. Very funny and I’m SO glad she got to come to the dinner with us! She’s a VA for Bloggers, and is launching a new site in November: Spend Less on Life. I got to hang out with Lisa more during the conference (she’s in the ProBlogger blogging tips vid, too) and just know that this chick’s gonna go really far in her ventures online. She’s what I affectionately call a “fetus”, a joke borrowed from a comedian friend of mine, but this means that she’s got a great grip on what most young people her age do not have yet – a living sense of pride, hard work and determination. I’m excited to watch her progress!

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Yes, this is going to prove quite difficult I think. I don’t want to leave anyone at all out, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to miss a few people at some point! Have to keep these posts shorter rather than just one huge run-on of names and websites. I really am blessed to have met those I did, and I want to honor them with more than that.

Part 1 – KB (Karen Bell) is here.

Eat at FiAMMA Trattoria, MGM Grand, Las Vegas!

Plane landed yesterday at 11am Vegas time. I know, it’s Pacific Time (PT) but I like the sound of “Vegas time” better. Will update more in the next few days about the trip here for BWE, but right now I want to talk about where we had our arrival night dinner.

Last night, @TasteMGMGrand and FiAMMA Trattoria treated us to the most absolutely amazing Vegas dining experience. We all had our pick from the “Fall Tasting Menu” but on top of that Chef Carlos Buscaglia wanted us to have a true sampling of what FiAMMA is made of. (He also came out to the table afterward to meet us all. I can’t remember, but aren’t you supposed to applaud the chef? Part of me wanted to – because he’s amazing – but I think we were all in such a food coma that we didn’t  think about it. I feel bad… But I did talk with him and I totally gushed over the food. I hope that helped!)

We started our meal with a salad of mixed greens with the most AMAZING dressing I’ve ever had, and blackened shrimp. After that, we were presented with about a dozen different dishes to share around the table. Fresh pastas, short rib ravioli with truffle sauce, rolls with honey-truffle butter, octopus, arancini, fresh mozzarella (with that creamy stuff inside – can’t remember what it’s called but I’ve had it before and it’s amaaaazing), lobster gnocchi and more… I swear, I’ve been around the world and I’ve never had so much delicious food at one meal in my life.

After that, they brought out our choice main dishes. There was a pasta dish that I don’t think anyone had ordered because we all wanted something rich and protein-filled I guess. The majority at the table ordered the skirt steak while a few of us (myself included) ordered the salmon. I love salmon, but I’ve never had salmon like this! It was served on a chunky tomato base with asparagus. It was phenomenal. I don’t think I can ever look at salmon the same – I’m a salmon snob now!

As if that weren’t enough, we all received dishes of Panna Cotta with dried mission figs that were soaked in some kind of amazing something I can’t remember right now but wow… it was delish! A nice palate cleanser. But oh no, we’re not done yet… These HUGE dessert plates came out with a sampling of 8 MORE desserts! There were three kinds of gelato in little cups, tiramisu and these “donut holes” my Aunt Jeanette calls zeppolis (which I’m surprised they don’t call them that at FIAMMA, since it’s Italian) and people in New Orleans call beignets with 3 different dipping sauces. There was a dessert that can only be described as some kind of chocolate cakey raspberry torte something. Another ice cream coated in chocolate. I really honestly can’t even describe it.

I left the table feeling like it was a Royal Thanksgiving meal and I needed to unbutton my pants and sit back on the sofa for a nap!

Oh! And the sommelier was wonderful too. He brought us champagne and a sparkling dessert wine. Oh, and if you go, head to the bar and see Tom. He’s awesome.

So how did all this come about? Well, my super cool boss Darren Rowse (@problogger) had asked me to see if I could try to arrange some kind of small party or meetup for us and a few guests when we were in Vegas for BlogWorld. I knew we were staying here at MGM Grand so I wanted to try to get something going here. (It’s my fave place in Vegas.) Thanks to @TasteMGMGrand and FiAMMA, we had invited 8 guests plus ourselves for this glorious meal.

Our guest list included Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan), Patrick O’Keefe (@ifroggy), Brian Clark (@copyblogger), Reem Abeidoh (@rabeidoh), Lisa Morosky (@lisamorosky), Jen Wilson (@jenwilsonphoto), and Zane (@zaneology). So yeah – it wasn’t just about the great food, we had GREAT company, too! Thanks to everyone for coming, it was a great kickoff to our BWE experience!

Lisa’s review (with pics of the gang).

What’s A Girly Web Geek To Do?

Okay so it’s become painfully obvious to me that my business has gotten so busy that I have severely neglected my personal projects. My company blog is lacking in a major way, but so are all my other little pet projects.

I’m definitely an “idea woman” and I find that I get compelled to act upon every new idea I have. What I’d really love is to have a full staff of people whom I can afford to pay full time to help me keep all these little ideas running (and growing, of course). Just not happening at the moment, that’s for sure.

I’m kind of notorious for taking on too much sometimes, too. Sure, the money’s great, but when my stress level reaches 11 on a ten-point scale and I’ve got no time to spend with friends or family, the money seems so not worth it sometimes.

Okay wait, that’s a flat-out lie. The money’s really worth it, it’s just trying to get others to understand sometimes that’s difficult.

So here’s the problem: I’ve got too much I want to do, versus what I need to do.

What’s the solution?

Do I drop some of my personal project ideas? Does that mean selling off the domains that I just KNOW are going to be really great projects/money makers? Or does that mean continuing to dump a couple hundred bucks a year into the domains just so I can hang onto them until I have time or a staff?

Do I try to develop a hard-core, rigid schedule? I do tend to wander sometimes, as I often work best on borrowed time, but maybe it’s time to really work hard at overcoming that.

I’m really leaning on sitting down and mapping out a plan for the rest of the year, as best I can, to include a certain amount of “personal project” time, and then spidering that out into time spent on each project before I determine whether or not it’s a pass/fail.

Here’s a very generalized list of the projects:

1. Very large, specified niche network of blogs. Goal was to have at least one writer for each blog, with approximately 60-80 blogs. Would need major sponsorship I think, in order to get it rolling properly. Would need help acquiring such sponsorship.
2. Personal finance blog/possible network. I have mine started, but think it would be nice (in this economy) to help others.
3. Weight loss/health blog (possibly opening it up to a social network). This has been one of my many babies for over a dozen years. One I’m pretty positive I’m not ready to give up on.
4. Luxury living blog/possible network. (I know, a contradiction to #2, but I’m thinking it’s nice to dream, right?)
5. Fashion/beauty blog. (I’ve kind of had this tied into the weight loss blog, which is odd and un-fitting. Would like to branch it off.)

Now, keep in mind that I am still running the consutling business full-speed, and am possibly looking at taking on a solid 50 hours of work each week with that. I know, in no other country but America do people work so much, but given my own valid reasons, I really don’t mind as much or as often as many would.

So what wisdom or sage advice would you offer? I’d love to hear opinions as I work my way through this grasping of control and fun and making a living that I’m doing! Please share in the comments!