Archive: August 2008
Earlier this week I did a post and tweet asking for Pringles lovers to send me a picture of themselves and Pringles. I was using the photos to demonstrate the power of social media in a presentation I was giving at the Cincinnati AMA Digital Marketing Summit. Judging by some of the feedback I received I would say it went over very well. You can read some thoughts about my presentation here:
R.O. Why! Marketing Blog
Lucrum Marketing Blog
Pimp My Keywords
I want to thank those that participated in my little experiment and share the pictures that they sent me.
Corrin from corrinrenee.com
Owen from u-g-h.com
Connie from Brain Foggles
Drew and family from BenSpark.com
Thank you all for participating. This went over so well that I think I might do it again for future show. Next time I will try to give a little more warning.
Yes, that is Annie, winning at Disney DVD Bingo. And to the left, is a very upset Crystal (not winning). We decided to play a quick game during our lunch break. As you may remember, a group of lucky bloggers were invited to participate in Screenlife Games's product sampling initiative. There are actually a few non-product sampling opps in the marketplace for Screenlife Games, if you'd like to participate: Banzai: Banzai Fix, Disney DVD Bingo: B-8...Bingo!!!, and Disney DVD Bingo: What are Your Top 15?
For those of you who are participating in the product sampling initiative- get your posts in! It's so great to be able to connect you with these awesome advertisers. Help us help you get more products!! Speaking of awesome advertisers, Screenlife has even shipped us a bunch of games to giveaway at IZEAFest! That's right, SceneIt! Seinfeld edition and SceneIt! Deluxe. A-ma-zing. If you need to submit your post to the Banzai product sampling opp, please click here. If you are participating in the Disney DVD Bingo, please click here!
In the meantime, let's catch up with Crystal...looks like she finally got her Bingo!
The time is nearly here. I can feel the anticipation in the air. Bloggers 'round the world are bursting with excitement, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the greatest Social Media event in the world! IZEAFest!
Maybe I'm being a tad overdramatic, but I know I'm looking forward to it, as is V. Why shouldn't we be? Have you seen the list of speakers and the program schedule? It's rockin'. Not to mention the fantastic partners who are joining us for this social media celebration. And since this is an IZEA event you know there are going to be some crazy events and fun parties to accompany.
If you haven't registered yet I would highly recommend doing it TODAY! Just visit IZEAFest.com and click on the "Register" tab. Spots are filling-up very quickly; you don't want to miss out.
Here are a few photos of the venue to get you jazzed:
Technorati Tags: blogging event, conference, events, Grand Bohemian Hotel, IZEAFest, social media
keeps the doctor away! Isn't that the way the saying goes..? No? Hm.. Well, as you recall, we at IZEA love ourselves a little wine. Please click on that link, oh please oh please! We've got some connoisseurs among us, dontcha know! As you can see from the image below, Priscilla and I love us some wine- and it's times like this where I wish I could blog for some of our awesome advertisers! Priscilla's actually way cooler than I am, because she goes on Scotch tastings, too! 
The California Wine Club currently has an Opp out, so if you'd like to participate, request a slot! This Opp is coming to an end soon, and I know there are more grape-lovers out there!! Show yourselves :) I would absolutely love to join a wine club. Do you remember when cereal companies used to send those small sample boxes to consumers? Being in a wine club is like that...but better because it's WINE. And, even better, the first month of wine is my favorite price: FREE. Again, the name of the Opp is CA Wine Club Premium, click the link to be taken to all delicious details.
Actually, now that I think of it, a Wine Club membership would be an awesome gift for a newly married couple, a food/wine lover, or you know, somebody like me- who just likes to kick off her shoes and pull out a nice box of wine.
Cheers! **clink**
Hey peeps! I am working on a big presentation to the AMA (American Marketing Association) tomorrow and I need your help. I want to demonstrate that passionate fans of just about anything out there and are using blogs, tweets and other social media tools, representing a great Opportunity for marketers.
If you are a Pringles lover I would like you to send me a photo of yourself and some Pringles. The crazier the better! I will plug you on this blog, my personal blog and in the presentation itself. I love you Pringles like I do prove it : ) I know time is tight... Just had this idea today!
Send your photos to ted@izea.com
So, you're browsing SocialSpark, you come across an Opp you like, but Oh! It's full for today. What do you do?
Well, here is what some of you have been doing: requesting a slot via the comments section. As seen below:
While this is certainly an innovative way of requesting a slot; it won't work. Remember that the comments section is used to express comments about the Opp/Advertiser itself- not request a slot. Advertisers LOVE to see bloggers expressing how eager they are to participate in their campaign, but let's go over the right way to snag a spot on some of the most highly requested Opportunities.
1. After you've found an Opp you'd like to take, click on the Opp to be taken to it's Profile page.
2. Click on the 'Request a Slot,' from the orange Tools menu, on the top right of the profile.
3. After you have requested a slot, you will see a 'Request Sent' in your Message Center, which means the Advertiser will decide whether or not you are a good fit for this campaign.
4. When you are approved for a slot, you will receive a 'Reservation Created' notice in your Message Center, which means that you now have a slot! You can then proceed to submit your post, as usual. You have 12 hours to submit the post, from the time the email is sent.
Now, let's look at examples of other topics that should not be in the comments section. Post approval status, payment questions, account issues, and general 'waiting for a slot!' or 'give me a slot!' topics do not belong in the comments sections. For questions or issues regarding approval status, payments, or account issues, you must submit a ticket through the Help tab, from your SS account. 
Here are some things you can leave for advertisers: comments about the product in general, comments about the Opp itself, constructive criticism about the product.
Hope this helps and happy blogging!
A few months ago we crossed the 200,000 blogger mark in PayPerPost. While I am extremely excited about that achievement the tremendous growth has also created some issues for us. Over the past few weeks we have been speaking to many of our advertisers, reading our boards and gathering feedback in general. The single biggest complaint has been as our network has grown the quality of blogs has suffered. I want to formally acknowledge our customers’ concerns and our intention to address them.
Tomorrow we are beginning the first stage of cleaning up blog quality on each of our networks, starting with PPP. We are going to manually audit every blog in our system. Our goal is to elevate the overall quality of our marketplaces and deliver more value to our advertisers. This will undoubtedly leave thousands of bloggers upset that they can no longer participate in the system and I am sorry to be the bearer of unfortunate news to those who will no longer qualify.
Much like a bonsai tree we must strategically trim our marketplace to control its shape and promote proper growth. While I am saddened that we will no longer be to able to work with some blogs, I am confident that we will be providing our advertisers with a better service which ultimately means more opportunities for those blogs that remain.
Every blog in the system is going to be reevaluated with a discerning eye. I want to point out that our TOS provides minimum guidelines, but every blog is ultimately approved or not at our sole discretion. Just because a blog meets the minimum requirements does not mean it is the right fit for us.
If your blog fails the audit you will receive an email notification and will no longer be able to use that blog to take opportunities. You will still be paid for any outstanding posts that are currently in process and pass review. You will not be able to resubmit your blog for inclusion at this time.
If your blog passes the audit you will also receive an email letting you know you made the cut. It’s going to take at least 30 days to complete the audit so please be patient.
I wish you all luck.
Did you catch my post last week, about IZEA's trip to the Affiliate Summit in Boston, and the Affiliate Summit Party bus? If you didn't click here.
On the way back from Boston to New York City, a couple of folks on the party bus "shaved their head for charity." Specifically, they were raising money for an inspirational three-time cancer survivor we met at a Boston Tweetup and the Staley Foundation. Her Twitter handle is stales, and you can read more about her story at http://acs.typepad.com/kacs/. The two guys who shaved their heads are @hellyes0 and @jonathandingman (an IZEAFest panelist).
Think we got some pictures? Of course! You can always count on me to have a camera:
I'd like to do something similar for IZEAFest next month. Do you have any ideas? If so, send them to ashley[at]izea[dot]com and we might actually use it!
The IZEA office is closed today as we prepare for Tropical Storm Fay. Those who can will be working from home. The storm is a few hours from hitting us, wish us luck.
Many of our Posties spend much of their time online, which is just fine! There are plenty of things to do...update your blog, check your finances, watch TV online, check the weather, play games, and look up people you went to high school with...Obviously, the most fun is playing games!
NCSoft was awesome enough to share their latest online game, Tabula Rasa, with you through SocialSpark! First, it's free- very cool. Second, it's free AND available for you to explore and write about- double cool. The Operation Immortality website is a portal where humans can leave their mark on the universe- by submitting a personal motto, adding to humanity's greatest achievement lists, and uploading your own Tabula Rasa character to the site.
Right now there are 3 different Operation Immortality opps out, for your posting!
1. Operation Immortality - Why Should Your DNA Represent Mankind?
This is a video opp, which means you have to submit your own video, as well as an accompanying text portion, talking about why you believe you are an excellent specimen of a human.
I think it would be funny if space aliens stumbled on a video of say...Robin Williams. Can you imagine what they'd think 'humans' were like? Or what about American Gladiator "The Beast," who is what, 7 feet tall!? If they cloned him, they'd think we were a planet of giant muscle-y, loin-cloth wearing people. This is a cool Opp if you have done something amazing like scaled Mt. Everest, or if you want to show-off a neat talent.
2. I Can't Live Without It! What Would You Bring with You if the World Ended?
Here's the scenario: The world is coming under the inevitable attack of a giant meteor, surely much life will end. Fortunately, there is a rocket ship able to carry people to a new inhabitable planet and you've been chosen!!! You only have time to grab one thing- what is it? Include an image of the item in your post!
I'm pretty sure I'd be torn between a photo album, a board game, or a meal from Tijuana Flats...That way, I could start a Tijuana Flats in space or wherever we land. Oh wait, scratch that...I think I'd bring a blanket; I'm always cold. Plus, I could make a curtain out of it...or roll it into a pillow... Yeah, a blanket.
3. What's Your Mankind Motto? What Would You Leave as Your Legacy?
Ok this one is pretty neat, and a little tricky. First, you'll need to set up an account, which shouldn't be an issue. Then, click on the Send Your Own Message box and write your message. After it's done, you will have a message ID, that you can give to friends so that they can see yours, and write their own.
I've been doing some random searches with different numbers, and you should definitely read #666 (pictured above), 127, 123, 99, and 121. So what would you leave for your children's children's children's children? I think I would leave "If it's not yours, don't touch it," because isn't it annoying when people break your stuff? :(
