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Announcing More NMX 2014 Speakers!

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Last month, we announced our first round of NMX 2014 speakers, which included both familiar faces to the NMX/BlogWorld stage and brand new speakers who will be joining us for the first time. Today, we’re proud to announce another group of speakers for our 2014 show. Check out who you’ll see presenting sessions at NMX 2014 in January:

Amy Lupold Bair

We love having Amy back as an NMX speaker again. As the inventor of the Twitter Party, Amy is a pro at creating buzz for brands and reaching influencers. If you haven’t seen her speak in the past, now’s your chance!

Learn More and Connect with Amy >

Cliff Ravenscraft

We’re excited to have Cliff back as a speaker again, and he’ll also be helping ensure that the NMX podcasting track is even more awesome than last year.

Learn More and Connect with Cliff >

Dre Armeda

Want to know about making your website more secure? Dre’s your man. We’re happy to have him coming back to the NMX stage to share his knowledge and help you stay protected.

Learn More and Connect with Dre >

Gary Bembridge

Gary has been part of our TBEX (travel blogger) community, and we knew we had to bring him to Las Vegas as well. We can’t wait to have him on the NMX stage for the first time.

Learn More and Connect with Gary >

Greg Hickman

Greg has worked with major brands (including The New York Jets, AT&T, and Cabelas) to help develop their mobile strategies, so he’s a perfect fit for NMX. We can’t wait to have him take the stage in January.

Learn More and Connect with Greg >

Pat Flynn

Pat is always one of our most-requested and highest-rated requested speakers, so it’s our pleasure to have him back for another great session at NMX.

Learn More and Connect with Pat >

Patrice Yursik

Last year, Patrice (aka Afrobella) was brand new to NMX, and we loved her session. Her fans have named her the “Godmother of Brown Beauty Blogging” and we agree!

Learn More and Connect with Patrice >

Ric Dragon

If you’re looking for advanced knowledge from a digital marketing expert, look no farther than Ric’s session. We’re happy to have him coming back to the NMX stage for our 2014 show.

Learn More and Connect with Ric >

Rob Walch

We’re always happy to have Rob speaking at NMX. As the author of Tricks of the Podcasting Masters and the VP of Podcaster Relations for Libsyn, who better to join our podcasting track?

Learn More and Connect with Rob >

Sam Fiorella

We’re glad to have Sam back for another great session. He’s an author, a Huffington Post contributor, a Rutgers faculty member, and the founder of the weekly Twitter debate #bizforum. If you’re a business professional, you don’t want to miss his session!

Learn More and Connect with Sam >

Tom Webster

Tom’s sessions are always filled with stats and data while still being entertaining. You don’t want to miss him on the NMX 2014 stage.

Learn More and Connect with Tom >

And in case you missed our June announcement, here’s a list of other speakers you’ll see at NMX 2014:

If you don’t have your ticket to NMX 2014 yet, what are you waiting for? Register now to see all these speakers – and dozens more TBA – in Las Vegas this January!

5 Life-Changing Lessons I Learned at NMX

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new media lounge at nmx

You might suspect that I’m biased when I say that NMX is the best conference in the world. But I can honestly say that I would attend this conference even if I didn’t work for the company. The networking is great. The show floor helps my business. But more than anything, I love NMX for the education.

I’ve been blogging since 2006, and I highly disagree with advanced bloggers who say there’s only beginner content at NMX. Even in some of the 101-sessions, I end up learning new tips because this industry is changing so quickly. However, there are a few MAJOR lessons that stick out in my mind. Life-changing lessons, even. Today, I want to share with you what I’ve learned.

(And Pssst…did you know NMX 2014 tickets are available? Learn more here.)

Lesson #1: Not every piece of advice is right for every person.

At my first NMX (BlogWorld back then), I took notes at an alarming rate. Each session was filled with tips and tricks that I needed to implement on my blog immediately. I walked away from many sessions feeling like a failure. Why wasn’t I putting more effort into Facebook? Why didn’t I write more list posts? Why didn’t I have an ebook to sell? Why did I have no plans to start a podcast? Why did I ignore my site design? Why…

You get the picture.

But what I came to realize is that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything. What’s important is that you’re prioritizing and testing all advice so you do the things that are most important for you.

Even more importantly, two pieces of advice can be in direct opposition of one another and still both be correct. I walked into one session where I was told that I absolutely need to have pop-ups on my blog because they convert well. I walked into a session immediately afterward where the speaker said pop-ups are horrible. That specific debate still rages on, and you shouldn’t fall on one side of the debate or the other just because someone else makes a case for it. Do your own testing, because your results could be very different from someone else’s results.

Lesson #2: Education means nothing without an implementation plan.

Conferences are simultaneously exhausting and inspiring. In the past, I would get home with a notebook full of great tips…and implement none of them.

I’ve found that if I truly want to make the most of NMX, I need to have a plan for getting the ball rolling after the conference. So now, on the plane ride home, I prioritize everything I’ve learned. During my first week back, I try my best to follow up with as many people as possible by organizing my collected business cards, and then I make every effort to implement the top three things I learned at the conference.

Lesson #3: Techniques and tips aren’t manipulative. People are.

Let’s say two people attend the same NMX session and learn the same tip for driving traffic. The way one person uses that tip could be very white hate while the way another person uses that tip could be extremely black hat.

Rarely are tips manipulative. It’s all how you use the advice for your own needs.

At NMX we try our very best to ensure that “black hat” people never speak at our conference, but there’s a lot of gray area. What one person considers a scam, the next person might consider to be fine. So, when you’re attending a session at NMX or at any conference for that matter, realize that you can still get value from a specific tip even if you don’t agree with exactly what the speaker does.

Lesson #4: Personal growth is reflected in business growth.

Some big-name bloggers have not seen their blogs grow in the past few years. They still have huge blogs, but their traffic/conversions are no better than the year before, while a smaller blogger might have seen tremendous growth, even though (s)he still has a lower traffic numbers.Who is the real winner? The small blogger, in my opinion.

At conferences, do you hang out with the same people or do you expand you horizons and meet new people at networking receptions? Do you skip sessions unless a friend is speaking or do you attend sessions from new people who have something interesting to teach you? Do you visit the show floor to learn about new products and tools or do you stick with what you’ve always used without examining new possibilities?

If you’re not growing as a person by admitting faults, it’s hard to grow as a business or content creator. This lack of personal growth is clearly visible at conferences. Some people choose to fully immerse themselves in the conference and learn all they can from everyone, while others do not.

Lesson #5: It’s important to ask for help.

We are nothing without one another.

I have a hard time asking people for help. I always feel like I’m imposing, and my mind is constantly yelling at me, “So-and-so doesn’t want to help you! What’s in it for them? Stop bothering people!”

Those are my insecurities talking. The fact of the matter is, if you’re a good, helpful person, people will be happy to help you as well. You just have to ask. Conferences like NMX are great for connecting with others and asking for any kind of help you might need.

That’s not to say you should plan out how you can use people. Make genuine connections, rather than only giving the time of day to people who can help you in some way. Just don’t be afraid to ask people for advice, interviews, guest posts, help connecting you with their friends, and other favors, as long as you can do so in a no-pressure way.

Remember always: You get what you give. Be helpful to others and that karma will circle back around when you’re the person in need.

I hope you’ll join us at NMX 2014, which is going to be a great show filled with even more life-changing lessons. Have you been to NMX (or BlogWorld) in the past? What are the most important lessons you’ve learned? Leave a comment!

 

10 Reasons You Should Start Thinking About Your NMX Speaking Proposal NOW

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NMX 2013 is a wrap, and even though it may seem like you have an entire year before you have to start thinking about the next show, if you have aspirations to speak, you really should start thinking about it today. And here’s why:

Reason #1: We open the proposal submission form as soon as we can.

Even though the next NMX is a long time off, we open the proposal form well before the event. So in actuality, it won’t be long before you can submit your ideas! And we make decisions early. Every year, tons of people wait until the last day to submit their proposals, but the fact of the matter is that the first round of speakers is often decided before the submission deadline. So if you apply early, you’ll have less competition.

Reason #2: Thinking about your proposed topic now helps you work toward that goal all year.

Right now, you are probably qualified to speak about several different topics. However, you’re more likely to be accepted as a speaker if you become a true expert in a single topic. When you speak at NMX, you aren’t speaking to a bunch of 101-level students or business owners who’ve never used Twitter before (at least in most cases). You’re speaking to people who live and breathe new media. If you spend the next several months really beefing up your knowledge and practical experience in the area that most interests you, you’ll be much more qualified to speak.

Reason #3: You’ll have time to review 2013 sessions.

Right now, our 2013 sessions are available at NMX University. If you become a premium member, you’ll have access to all of this content, and you can not only learn a thing or two (or three or a hundred…), but you can also get a feel for the type of sessions proposals we accept. It also means you can avoid submitting a topic that was covered in detail at the last event. Some topics lend themselves well to sessions year after year, but you’ll really wow us if you submit a really fresh idea that we haven’t heard before. In addition, when you check out these sessions, it is pretty apparent which ones were most successful and why – and that’s something you can keep in mind when submitting your proposal.

Reason #4: You have time to develop your session.

The very best sessions every year are those which have been well planned. Most public speakers will tell you that they aren’t just naturally better at speaking. They practice over and over and over. So thinking about your topic now allows you to work out the kinks by practicing at home in front of the mirror or even to smaller, local groups. That way, by the time NMX rolls around, you’ll be a much better speaker. And if you don’t get accepted? Don’t sweat it – you can always record a video for your blog or do a webinar, so the presentation won’t go to waste.

Reason #5: Good ideas take time.

Your first session idea probably isn’t the best idea you have in you. Coming up with good ideas takes time, and inspiration is something that can happen out of the blue. We want the very best at NMX, and by starting the brainstorming process now and keeping it in the back of your mind while waiting for the submission form to open, you can make sure that you’re proposing your very best ideas, not your very first ideas.

Reason #6: You can test ideas with small pieces of content.

Wondering if people will really be interested in your idea? Test with a small piece of content: a blog post, a video, or a podcast. If people are going nuts for more, you have a great presentation idea that just needs to be developed beyond the kernel of information you gave away. If you hear crickets, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.

Reason #7: You’ll have time to expand and develop a product.

At NMX, we don’t allow informercial sessions. Selling from the stage is a big no-no, so we ask that all speakers only mention their own stuff when it is extremely relevant to the discussion. That said, the biggest benefit to NMX is the exposure. If you’re an NMX speaker, people will be looking you up, often on smart phones as you’re presenting, but also before and after the event. If you’re speaking about podcasting 101 and you happen to be selling a podcasting 101 training course on your site, you have the potential to make a lot of sales. So plan your session now, and then think about how you can turn this session into an expanded informational product to sell.

Reason #8: It gives you time to edit.

Writing a proposal early gives you time to ask your friends to review. We value good content above all else, but proofreading matters. If you’re anything like me, you’re horrible at picking out your own typos. When you wait until deadline to submit your proposal, you don’t have time to ask a friend to give it a once-over before you send it off.

Reason #9: You might see us at another event.

NMX staffers are constantly attending other events. If you’re waiting in a taxi line behind Rick or see Dave at a networking reception or notice another else from NMX, please say hello! We love to meet our community. And, if you have an idea in mind for a session, you can run it by us. You won’t get a yes or no on the spot (in most cases!), but you will get an honest opinion that can help you write the best proposal possible when the submission form opens.

Reason #10: You can use the time to become a bigger part of our community.

Again, content trumps all, but we’re always much happier to see names we recognize than people who pop up out of the blue. It means you’re really dedicated to this community and you’re less likely to flake, phone it in, or pitch your products from the stage. We like that. So join us on Facebook. Be part of the conversation on Twitter. Follow us on Pinterest and Google+ and LinkedIn – whichever social networks you like best. Engage and get to know the company and the individual staff members.

And of course, comment on our blog! 🙂 Today I want to know: what’s your biggest frustration or worry when applying to speak at NMX or other conferences? Weigh in now!

Essential Tips on Content and Community From the New Media Rat Pack

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Are you excited? NMX is coming up fast and there’s a lot to get excited about. For me, the Las Vegas edition of NMX brings back many fond memories of connecting with peers from a mix of industries and expertise. From brands to soloprenuers and marketers to public relations professionals, all have the same areas of focus in common: content and community.

When you look at Las Vegas history, the 1960’s holds some great memories too. Few exemplify the energy and excitement of the playground that is Las Vegas more than the Rat Pack. Fans would pour into the city of lights from all over the country to hear the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford perform.

The New Media Rat Pack

For a few days in January, thousands of people will converge at the Rio to learn about every aspect of new media publishing and community building that you can imagine from what I’d like to call, “The New Media Rat Pack.”  From branding to legal to online TV to content marketing, some of the world’s top experts will be singing their songs of advice about how to be successful in today’s new media world.

To help you tap into the fun and infotainment to be experienced at NMX, MarketingBlog.com has partnered with NMX to create a Visual eBook with tips, tactics and smart advice from an impressive mix of NMX speakers. With practical tips from their presentations, this eBook has been designed to highlight what NMX has to offer.

Download the ebook now.

To help you decide what sessions will be “hot” and where the action is, here’s a bit of a preview from each chapter of The New Media Rat Pack: 52 Tips On Content and Community From the Experts of NMX.

Branding – The Perception of Your Brand Drives Sales

In the age of hyperconnected consumers, branding is more important now than ever. Twenty or even ten years ago, had you ever heard of a brand advocate? Your company has the opportunity to become recognizable, popular, and even loved among social fans and customers. Michael Brito of Edelman who is presenting, ” The New Influencers: Brand Advocacy Inside & Out” offers this advice:

“Brands must do more than just “empower” their brand advocates. They must “enable” them by creating specific programs that encompass content, measurement, longevity of the program; and more importantly, how their content can feed into the overall marketing strategy.”

Blogging – A Quantity of Quality is the Key to Blogging Success

Recent industry surveys show 92% of companies who blog several times per day have acquired a customer from their blog, yet 65% of business blogs haven’t been updated in a year or more. It’s important to take an optimized approach to blogging. Who are your readers? What are they looking for when they visit your blog and are you successful in fulfilling that need?  Patrice Yursik of Afrobella will be presenting, “How To Actually Grow A BIG Brand & Community With Just A Simple Blog” and offers this advice:

“Follow your passion and create an online platform that’s genuinely reflective of yourself, your interests and your beliefs. That will ensure that you never lose that passion for your subject matter, and that your readers will respond to you in a similar fashion. Staying true to yourself always pays off in the long run.”

Social Media –  Positive Social Exposure Affects Consumer’s Overall Satisfaction

A recent survey of tech buyers found that a whopping 95% use at least one social media site and that exposure to a product on that site had a positive effect on their likelihood to purchase among 44%.  Social media is helping brands build trust, loyalty and brand recognition, among other measurable benefits. Ninety-two percent of global consumers say they trust earned media above all other forms of advertising. Jay Baer of  Convince & Convert will be talking about the importance for brands to be useful through social channels in his presentation: “Youtility: Why Smart Companies Focus on Helping, Not Selling.” His advice:

“Change your marketing objective from selling to helping. If you sell something, you make a customer today. If you help someone, you may create a customer for life. Try to make your marketing so useful people would theoretically pay for it. If you make your marketing astoundingly useful – your customers will do your promotional work for you.”

New Media Law –  Even A Small Legal Blunder Can End Up In the Headlines

Media law may not seem a pressing concern in everyday business at the typical organization. Yet every so often, a legal blunder in the online space makes headlines. How can you protect your company from litigation and prevent missteps outside the law in regards to labor and employment, intellectual property rights, securities and consumer privacy? Art Neill of New Media Rights will help clarify legal questions as they related to social and digital media with his presentation, “Legal Ease – What You Should Know to Stay on the Right Side of the Law.” While it’s not exactly legal advice, Art offers these smart insights:

“Having a working knowledge of copyright when sharing video on the internet is important.  The chance you’ll actually be sued for an isolated infringing video on the internet is low, but getting your video taken down can have all kinds of other consequences. You could get an account strike.  Account strikes may prevent that person from becoming a YouTube partner, for instance. Two or three strikes can get an account completely banned, erasing the time and money you’ve spent, and the goodwill created by your channel. Knowing your rights can keep you creating rather than wrapped up in legal disputes.”

Mobile –  How Can Your Business Get Ahead of Consumers Who Are Already Constantly on the Go?

In 2009, comScore told us the number of people who used their cell phone daily had doubled over 2008, to 22.4 million U.S. adults. At the time, downloadable maps were the most popular application.

Fast forward to today. Mobile phones have become smarter and consumers hungrier for information to help them make better buying decisions. Tablets are all the rage. Now, consumers are moving away from PCs in favor of more powerful, portable mobile devices as their default gateway to the Internet.  Brian Wong of Kiip will be discussing “The Art of Mobile Business” and offers this perspective on the value of mobile:

“The intimacy of the mobile device can help you build closer relationships with consumers by creating a connection that is less interruptive and more personal than ever before.”

Content Marketing – Investment In and Expectations From Killer Content Marketing Is On the Rise

Ninety-two percent of U.S. adults read content online, spending more than seven hours per week looking for content.  A viable content marketing strategy means more than creating a greater volume of content, or even publishing a regular schedule of content.  Ann Handley of MarketingProfs, who is presenting as part of the BusinessNext conference, collocated with NMX, shares this advice on content marketing:

Give your content wings and roots. Focus not on just creating content. Instead, focus on creating content that’s worth sharing. The best content marketers involve their customers at a fundamental level, by putting their customers at the heart of their larger story, and allowing them to share it, all across the social web.

Video – Optimize Your Video Strategy For Fan Preferences

Over the past year, there has been a 38% increase in the amount of people accessing video online and a 34% increase in accessing video on smartphones. Video consumption on tablets has already exceeded smartphone viewing, and consumers are using their devices simultaneously; 85% of tablet viewers have been on their tablet while watching TV.  Annunziata Gianzero of Ivy Media Group will be presenting, “Acting Up! How To Do Your Best Work For Any Screen.” She offers this perspective:

“Even though it feels like everybody and his brother are making web series, there really is a core community you should join in order to network and enhance your visibility.  They are a supportive and creative group and essential to sustaining a career in the web series world.”

Podcasting – Make the Most of Your Audience’s Time

Podcasting is a fantastic opportunity for companies and individuals to establish expertise, build their brand and influence consumers through portable audio content they can digest on their own time. Jason Cabassi, from The Walking Dead ‘Cast is presenting “Tips and Techniques For Building a Successful Fan Podcast “ and offers this basic, yet important tip:

“When you first get started, act as if you already have the audience you want, in size and character. Be persistent with it and you’ll draw them to you.”

Websites –  A Great Website Design Must Cater to the Needs of the User

Website design concerns have increasingly moved to mobile, as more customers are researching and shopping on the go. However, the desktop experience can’t be overlooked or left behind. Design is not only about design elements or outward appearances; usability, ease of navigation and function are all top priorities for a corporate or e-commerce website.  Mitch Canter of Studio Nash Vegas will present, “Advanced Blog Design: The Latest Tools, Trends & Best Practices You Can Implement Today” and has this to say about responsive web design:

“If there’s any design “trend” that you should focus on, then make sure your site is “responsive” to a mobile device.  Mobile devices aren’t going anywhere, and it’s up to content creators to give users the best experience for viewing their content.”

As you can see, NMX has a LOT to offer. Hopefully these speakers’ tips will help get you into the goove of New Media Expo, Vegas style. I’ll leave you with a few tips that will be helpful no matter what situation you’re in with new media:

  1. Align your customer and business goals for measureable online marketing objectives.
  2. Determine which online marketing tactics you want to implement or refine in 2013.
  3. Give yourself time to implement new tactics in a way that will have the highest impact on your business objectives.
  4. Identify thought leaders and key influencers within your industry that you can learn from, and engage with.
Don’t forget to check out my own session on January 8th, at noon:  “War of Words: Myth-Busting Social, SEO & Content” where I’ll be sharing the full New Media Rat Pack: 52 Tips On Content and Community From the Experts of NMX Visual eBook including additional tips from Robert Scoble, Guy Kawasaki and myself.

6 Things an NMX Veteran is Doing to Prepare for the Event

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After months of preparation, it’s almost time for the New Media Expo event in Las Vegas. I know that the show management folks have been working hard, exhibitors have been preparing thier displays and products, and my fellow speakers have been crafting their presentations.

Serious Chimping at BlogWorldHaving attended New Media Expo a few times previously (when it was known as BlogWorld), here’s what I suggest to attendees to help them prepare for an event like this:

  • Identify Sessions of Interest – check out the schedule of presentations for the event, and skim through the various options available. Read the descriptions and speaker bios for the ones that sound promising, and make a tentative plan of which sessions will be most helpful for you.
  • Connect with Those You Want to Meet – if there are speakers, exhibitors, or other attendees that you want to meet, hopefully you’ve already made some connection with them. Interact with them on Twitter, comment on their blog, or send them an email so that they can get to know you a bit.
  • Prepare Business Cards – you’ll want to make sure that you bring business cards to the event. As digital as we’ve become, a business card is still a great way to share contact information with someone new. Make sure that you have plenty of cards and that they make it into your suitcase.
  • Look at Parties – we’ve seen a few parties announced thus far, and as we get closer to the event we’ll probably hear of additional gatherings or meetups. Just like you’ve identified sessions of particular interest, figure out which parties are going to be on your roadmap to help you make connections.
  • Figure Out Your Non-Conference Life – while we’re in Las Vegas taking in the NMX goodness, the rest of the world will go on. You’re going to receive email. Folks will be coming to your blog looking for something to read. People will continue to buy your products and services. Have a plan in place so that “real life” will go on while you’re enjoying NMX. Perhaps this means pre-scheduling articles for your blog. You might need to dedicate some downtime at the conference for responding to email in a timely manner. If you have coworkers, make arrangements for them to handle things while you’re out of town.
  • Get Plenty of Rest and Arrive Healthy – most of your time at New Media Expo is probably going to be spent on the go, meeting others, listening to presentations, attending parties, or otherwise not resting. In the few days before the event, try to get plenty of sleep. Be sure that you’re eating well, and it wouldn’t hurt to take plenty of vitamin C.

What other tips or suggestions do you have for others who are getting ready for New Media Expo? Leave a comment below and share with us all!

What is NMX, Really?

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When I tell people about my job working for a conference, they often ask me, “Okay…what is your conference about?” So I tell them: it’s about blogging, podcasting, video production, social media, mobile, and all other things involving new media.

That’s the blanket answer, the informative answer. But I think the real answer is much deeper. What is NMX all about, really?

NMX is about having a voice.

NMX is about the people who get in front of the camera…

…and the people who are behind the camera.

NMX is about networking with people who really “get” you and your passions.

NMX is about meeting new friends…

…and seeing old ones after months or even years apart.

NMX is about speakers who will change the way you see the world.

NMX is about companies who will change the way you do business.

NMX is about meeting friends you “met” on social media in person for the first time.

NMX is about being proud of your accomplishments, and sharing them with the world.

NMX is you.

Thank you for making this the very best community in the world. Happy holidays, NMX. We hope to see you at our next event in Las Vegas this January!

The Photography Wars Heat Up

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My entire life I’ve enjoyed taking photos. Follow me on Instagram and you’ll see that I’m constantly capturing moments from my life and sharing them with the world. This allows people to connect with me in a way that my blog, podcast or other mediums have never allowed.

Most of us leave the house every day with a camera in our pocket (aka a phone) and yet businesses big and small seem to be ignoring or not fully realizing the power of photography when they plan out their marketing efforts.

Repeat after me: Photography MUST Be Part of Your Marketing Plans.

I’ve been saying it for years and yet not everyone was listening. We even dedicated a whole chapter to photography in Content Rules because Ann and I knew that no matter what business you were in, images are important.

This week we’ve seen the battle for photography heating up online as Instagram pulled their images from Twitter, Flickr unveiled a major update and Twitter added editing capabilities to their native app.

It is easier than ever to take a photo, post it online and get reactions to it. Take one minute to look at your social network of choice and you’ll see photos throughout.

Images are the most important content you can create to get attention online.

I’m not discounting other forms of content, but I am telling you that if you are not creating and sharing images as part of your marketing mix you are in trouble.

Humans enjoy looking at photos. They stand out and get attention from even the most click happy of web surfers.

During my session at NMX I’ll be discussing the importance of photography, but I’ll also be sharing tips on how anyone can find, take and share images that people will enjoy.

While I won’t have time to teach a full photography class, I do plan on sharing my personal workflow and plan on everyone leaving thinking and taking photos in a new light compared to when they walked in.

The Life-Changing Move I Made When I Wanted to Quit Blogging

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Feel like your blog has stalled? I’ve been there. Today’s post is a pretty personal one for me.

I think all bloggers get to a point where they plateau. Your content is great, but you don’t have any more readers than you did last month. You’re enjoying what you’re doing, but the blog isn’t paying the bills. You read all the top blogs about blogging, but the tips and tricks they post don’t really seem to be working for you.

I’ve been there. I’ve completely stalled out and wanted to quit, so today, I thought I’d tell you all the story of how I got past it.

My Beginnings

My personal blogging story begins in 2006 when I was still in college. I got hired to work for a now-defunct blogging network where I ran three different blogs, and later I moved on to working for b5media, a place where other NMX-ers past and present also got their start.

It wasn’t long before I started thinking, “Hey, I’m spending all of this time blogging for other people. Why don’t I just do it myself?”

I went into the whole “blogging for yourself” thing convinced that I’d be the next big name on the virtual block inside six months or so. Obviously, that didn’t happen, but what did happen is that I started learning all I could about blogging and how to do it better.

So from 2007 to 2009, I built my blogs, as well as continuing to blog for other people. Things went well, but I was soon extremely frustrated with my lack of growth. I quit some of my blogs and blogging jobs. I considered quitting others. I was ready to just get a “real job” and forget this whole online entrepreneur thing once and for all.

And Then I had a Major Breakthrough

Obviously, I did not quit, as I’m writing this little post for you today. So what changed? Easy; I did one thing that I had not been doing before and it completely turned things around.

I invested in education.

I had spend hundreds of thousands of dollars (my own, my parents’ and in scholarships) to go to a four-year school and major in Professional Writing, but I never once spent a dime learning how to be a better blogger. Certainly, you don’t need a degree to be successful in your career, but you absolutely do need education. And I was lacking it.

The truth of the matter is that you can read this blog or other blogs about blogging all day long, but it isn’t the same as actually investing in an educational program, like the one we offer at NMX.

Actually, the first educational program I bought wasn’t NMX (BlogWorld at the time), but rather a membership to a blogging 101 program. The information in this program wasn’t really what I wanted, to be honest (I was looking for something more advanced), but it sparked something inside of me. Every “learning module” was something I already knew, but I had gotten lax in my blogging duties. Now that I was paying for it, I felt like I needed to listen to what I was being taught. So, I spruced up my content and monetization efforts, as well as made improvements to the way I was promoting my work via social media and email. Immediately, my stats across the board jumped up, and it wasn’t just a random spike. It was actually working.

The Best Think I Ever Did for My Blog

Then, I did the best thing I have ever done for my blog to date: I attended my first BlogWorld. It literally changed my life.

Now, I’m sure that you’ll take what I say with a grain of salt, since I now work full-time for NMX (previously BlogWorld). But anyone who knows me knows that there’s no way I’d ever work for a company I didn’t believe in 100%. When I say attending this event was the best move of my career, I’m not exaggerating. I had drinks with a-list bloggers. I made partnership deals with others who have since become some of my closest professional friends. I soaked up so much information that it was almost overwhelming, and when I got home, I took my personal blogs to levels they had never before seen.

Not to mention that I’m now courted for consulting and blogging jobs within the new media industry. I went from being a no-name blogger struggling with the tempting idea of quitting to someone who is not only proud of the blogs she has built, but cringing at the thought of ever having to give up this work.

So I hope that you’ll join me at NMX this January. I’m confident that you’ll have a similar experience – that investing in your education as a blogger (or podcaster or video producer) will be the best thing you could have ever done for your career.

And while in Vegas, definitely get in touch with me. I’d love to meet up and trade blogging war stories!

Photo Credit: Bigstock

Goodbye BlogWorld TV – Hello NMX TV!

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Podcast Session
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N8unrE9wgY[/youtube]

This is the post-apocalyptic episode where we talk about BlogWorld & New Media Expo – New York. This is also a goodbye to the BlogWorld name, and hello to the new name – New Media Expo. With that, I, your host Jeffrey Powers, say goodbye to BlogWorld TV, and hello to NMX TV – the newest place for happenings at New Media Expo.

BlogWorld – New York

In this episode, I go over the Virtual Ticket. If you missed any of the sessions, I’ll give you the info you need to get the ticket! BlogWorld’s Virtual Ticket includes the audio from sessions in New York, along with video of the slides. You can hear the discussions that were had in New York, and learn all about your passions in blogging, podcasting, Web TV, and more!

I also talk about the new hashtag. In talking about New York, we use #BWENY. HOWEVER, from this point forward, the hashtag for all our events and news is #NMX. Still, there is a lot of #BWENY discussion happening on Twitter. Including a great article: 6 Secrets to Launching a Successful Kickstarter.

Podcast Session Room

The People at BlogWorld & New Media Expo

I grabbed random faces from the crowd while in New York. I asked them simply what their takeaways were. Diana Katche, Shari Simpson, and Mark Ensign give us some great information about what they learned at BlogWorld.

Goodbye, BlogWorld TV

With that, we say goodbye to BlogWorld TV. Next week, I unveil the new show: NMX TV!

BlogWorld Unveils New Name

Author:

Big news came at the end of Day Two at BlogWorld New York today. At the keynote session, BlogWorld founders Rick Calvert and Dave Cynkin announced the new name for the conference. Going forward, the event will no longer be called BlogWorld & New Media Expo. Instead, it will be New Media Expo (NMX).

The reason for the change? Simply put, the name better represents the entire industry and community of bloggers, podcasters, and Web TV producers and is inclusive of all online content creators. “When we started BlogWorld in 2006 the new media industry hadn’t really formed yet,” says Rick. “Changing the name from BlogWorld to New Media Expo was always the plan, but the timing wasn’t right until now. The industry has clearly defined itself and the name ‘BlogWorld’ no longer represents everything our industry event embodies, which is blogging, podcasting, and Web TV.”

From the beginning, BlogWorld’s goal was to bring all new media content creators together at one comprehensive industry event, Rick told attendees prior to Chris Brogan’s keynote speech began in New York. ““We are, and always will be, married to the mission of the show, not the name.”

For those of you in our community who are designers, the name change brings with it a really cool opportunity. We want you to be involved as we evolve. The logo you see in the photo above is just a placeholder. We want YOU to submit designs for what our new NMX logo will look like! We’ll narrow down the submissions and then have our community vote on which one they like best.

You get cash and prizes if you’re the winner.

Here’s the dealio:

The chosen winner of the logo competition will receive:

  • $5,000 cash money (Or U.S. savings bonds if you prefer. We strongly suggest you take the cash.)
  • A LIFETIME PASS to New Media Expo
  • An all-expenses paid trip to NMX Las Vegas in January 2013 (including airfare and hotel)
  • And, he or she will be recognized on stage at NMX as the creator of the new NMX logo.

Pretty nifty, eh?

We’ll be telling you more about how to get involved soon, so stay tuned.

So, welcome to the next chapter of the new media revolution. NMX is here and we will continue to serve our community of podcasters, bloggers, and Web TV producers now and long into the future. We’re glad you’re here with us for the journey.

Learn About NMX

NEW TWITTER HASHTAG: #NMX

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