Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

(Photo credit: Diego RB)

Hi and welcome to the Readers’ Café – a place to gather and to share. Tonight we’re at Restaurante Maria Mata Mouro in Pelourinho, the old historic center of Salvador, Brazil. I couldn’t resist popping into this inviting spot. (If you have a photo of a favourite café that you’d like to share at a Readers’ Café, please let me know.)

Please join us and help yourself to a beverage of your choice. Then sit back, drink in the magnificent beauty of this place and join in the conversation by posting comments below. Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation. All that I ask is that you respect others and keep it relatively family-friendly. Also, keep in mind that this is a public space, so share what you feel comfortable sharing publicly.

I would like to begin by sharing this story:

Earlier this year, Do It Myself Blog was a finalist for the Best of Blog Award, under the Best Inspirational Blog category. Winners were determined by the number of votes received; the Grand Prize winner is to be announced in Las Vegas at the Blog World Expo in November. The sound of Vegas for my birthday appealed to me and I wondered if the Law of Attraction would work in my favour. Unfortunately, I became sick with bronchitis for a month and did not promote the competition as much as I would have liked, missing first place by thirty-something votes. Disappointing, but no big deal. However, Vegas for my birthday remained in the back of my mind.

Last week, I was poking around the Blog World Expo site, reading the conference schedule and list of presenters, which includes names like Andy Wibbels, Leesa Barnes and Des Walsh – my virtual mentors and colleagues. I had this intense urge to attend the conference, to meet these names in person and to soak up all I can about blogging and social media. Blogging is my medium and I want to be the best that I can be at it.

Discussing it with Darrell, we then quickly researched hotels and airfares. Thursday, without a clue how we’d pay off the credit card, we booked it! Leaving the Flight Centre, we came up with a creative solution for paying off the plastic. Not ideal, but definitely doable.

While I was writing the blog post sharing my exciting news, I received an email from a client. He needed to pay me in advance to fully spend a grant. Are you kidding me?! The amount will pay for a large chunk of the airfare and hotel!

Coincidence or the Law of Attraction in action?

Today’s topic is:

Does the Law of Attraction really work? Share your story.

I am pleased to debut a short video produced by my tech-savy husband Darrell. In this video, I demonstrate how I use my left thumb and assistive technology to blog. Enjoy!

Yes! Today Darrell and I booked flights and hotel, and registered for the BlogWorld & New Media Expo. I’m going to Las Vegas for my birthday after all! (Well, close enough.)

The event is billed as:

The first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media. In addition to the only industry-wide exhibition, BlogWorld will feature the largest blogging conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business. If

I am really excited about going – not only about going to Vegas, which Darrell and I have talked about doing for a few years, but also about the conference and putting “real people” to names. They will no longer be my imaginary colleagues and friends. I’m thinking it’ll also legitimize and “make real” this thing that I do to which many people respond, “Oh, that’s nice, dear,” as they dismiss me. And, to think one employment counsellor said blogging was a passing fad. Ha!

So, if you’re also going to BlogWorld and would like to hook-up with the Left Thumb Blogger, let me know.

I’m off to strategize how to sell a ton of ebooks to pay for the trip.

Several weeks ago Valeria Maltoni from Conversation Agent put together a list of powerful PR and marketing professional women bloggers. Liz Strauss at Successful and Outstanding Blogs added to the list, including moi for which I’m honoured.

Since then, the list has been circulating the blogoshpere and has taken on a life of its own: that’s the magical of the blogoshpere and the power of women! The W-List “is a way for women bloggers to celebrate each other .. a way for women to support women .. a way for women to be ourselves.”

I feel privileged to continue the recognition and celebration of women bloggers by presenting the list with my additions in bold:

• 45 Things by Anita Bruzzese
• A Deaf Mom Shares Her World by Karen Putz
• Ask Dr. Kirk
• The Artsy Asylum by Susan Reynolds
• Ask Patty – Automotive Advice for Women by Jody DeVere
• Back in Skinny Jeans by Stephanie Quilao
• BlogWrite for CEOs Debbie Weil
• Biz Growth News by Krishna De
• Brain Based Biz by Dr. Robyn McMaster
• Brain Based Business by Dr. Ellen Weber
• Brand Sizzle Anne Simons
• Branding & Marketing Chris Brown
• Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk
• Build a Solo Practice, LLC by Susan Cartier Liebel
• Christine Kane by Christine Kane
• CK’s Blog CK (Christina Kerley)
• Communication Overtones Kami Huyse
• Conscious Business by Anne Libby
• Conversation Agent Valeria Maltoni
• Corporate PR Elizabeth Albrycht
• Customers Rock! Becky Carroll
• CustServ by Meikah David
• Creative Curio by Lauren Marie
• Debbie Millman by Debbie Millman
• Deborah Schultz by Deborah Schultz
• Designers Who Blog by Cat Morley
• Design Your Writing Life by Lisa Gates
• Diva Marketing Blog Toby Bloomberg
• Do It Myself Blog by Glenda Watson Hyatt
• Dooce by Heather B. Armstrong
• Email Marketing Best PracticesTamara Gielen
• Enter the Laughter by Marti Lawrence
• Escape Blog by Melissa Petri
• Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pamela Slim
• eSoup by Sharon Sarmiento
• Essential Keystrokes by Char
• Every Dot Connectsby Connie Reece
• Fish Creek House by GP
• Flooring The Consumer CB Whittemore
• Forrester’s Marketing Blog Shar, Charlene, Chloe, Christine Elana, Laura and Lisa
• Franke James by Franke James
• Get Fresh Minds by Katie Konrath
• Great Presentations Mean Business by Laura Athavale Fitton
• Hey Marci by Marci Alboher
• Get Shouty by Katie Chatfield
• Grow Your Writing Business by Yvonne Russell
• ifelse by Phu Ly
• Inspired Business Growth by Wendy Piersall
• J.T. O’Donnell Career Insights by J.T. O’Donnell
• Joyful, Jubilant Learning by Rosa Say
• Kinetic Ideas Wendy Maynard
• Learned on Women by Andrea Learned
• Lindsey Pollak by Lindsey Pollak
• Liz Strauss at Successful Blog by Liz Strauss
• Lorelle on WordPress by Lorelle VanFossen
• Making Life Work for You by April Groves
• Manage to Change by Ann Michael
• Management Craft by Lisa Haneberg
• Marketing Roadmaps Susan Getgood
• Moda di Magno by Lori Magno
• Modite by Rebecca Thorman
• Narrative Assets by Karen Hegman
• Presto Vivace Blog Alice Marshall
• Productivity Goal by Carolyn Manning
• RuthEllison.com by Ruth Ellison
• Small Biz Survival by Becky McCray
• The Brand Dame by Lyn Chamberlin
• Spare Change Nedra Kline Weinreich
• Talk It Up Heidi Miller
• Tech Kitten by Trisha Miller
• The Copywriting Maven Roberta Rosenberg
• The Blog Angel by Claire Raikes
• The Engaging Brand by Anna Farmery
• The Floozy Blog by Kate Coote
• The Kiss Business Too by Karin H.
• The Origin of Brands Laura Ries
• The Parody by Sasha Manuel
• The Podcast Sisters by Krishna De, Anna Farmery and Heather Gorringe
• Water Cooler Wisdom by Alexandra Levit
• Wealth Strategy Secrets by Nicola Cairncross
• What’s Next Blog B L Ochman
• That’s What She Said by Julie Elgar
• Ypulse by Anastasia Goodstein

Read, share and celebrate women!

With two virtual book tours under my belt in promoting my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself, I’m now have a better sense of what contributes to the success of this kind of book promotion.

My first virtual book tour “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days” was way too long, particularly for my first attempt at this kind of marketing. My new blog still had “Wet Paint” signs and I had only 10% of the appearances confirmed when I headed out, which added to the excitement of the experience in that I literally didn’t know where I was headed next. It meant I was scrambling to find bloggers while I was answering interview questions, which meant many late nights. No wonder I ended up with bronchitis for a month at the tour’s end, losing the momentum I had built over the eight weeks.

The second tour “Summer Sojourn” was only two weeks and was much more enjoyable. Because my blog is more established, finding willing hosts within my target market was significantly easier. This time I headed out with 80% of the appearances confirmed; the other two dates were easily filled thanks to the networking I’d been doing. Book sales also dramatically increased.

On the “Summer Sojourn” tour, a theme unexpectedly arose that most of the hosts continued. Seeing where my Ferrari 360 Spyder would take me next added another dimension to the experience for the readers, encouraging them to follow the tour more closely. Amazing! I couldn’t have planned that magic better if I had tried!

From my experience, the key to successful virtual book tours is short, targeted and themed. I’ll keep this in mind while I plan my British tour. Watch for details in a few weeks!