Many of you noticed that I added a little icon on the sidebar yesterday. I made the metrics cut for the Top 25 Marketing blogs maintained by Mack Collier at Viral Garden. My debut was at number 23, so technically there are only 22 blogs separating me from Seth Godin.
Talking about Seth, I had the pleasure of attending his first appointment on the book tour for The Dip at the World Cafe' Live in Philadelphia this week. Some choice thoughts to consider from my favorites:
- find ways to learn what it feels like to be the best at something;
- bigger is almost never better;
- seek craftsmanship through high quality customer base and your business will evolve into sustainable and profitable;
- seek to develop mastery;
- DNA is transferable;
- love the product.
Seth's self-proclaimed goal is to spread ideas. What is your self-proclaimed goal? Do you have one? Does it match your brand? We talked about the power of story, approach and experience to define what "best in the world" means -- the definition of 'best' changes all the time. To learn more about the seven reasons why people quit, follow the link to the book's blog -- and buy the book. Better yet, buy a dozen copies to give to colleagues and peers.
The truth is we need something to be the best in the world. "We have a superstar shortage," said Seth. And this brings me to one more reason for this post: heroes, even if just for a day. Today I inaugurated my new relationship with The Blog Herald as a contributor for the publication.
I will be blogging about the integration of online with offline opportunities to market and sell your products and services using a blog; Web sites and online tools as influence makers to address the secondary benefits of blogging and building an audience; and blogging as a powerful branding tool. My first post -- Do You Follow the *Heroes* Model in Your Blog? -- talks about using the power of story and language to create an emotional connection with your readers.
It's been pretty quiet so far... let's jump over there and see what I'm talking about. I know you have opinions, let's build on the page. I'm planning an extension to that post with the next, when I will talk about how people find you. This is very exciting for me, a new audience and community. I am honored to be joining powerful writers and connectors Lorelle VanFossen and Liz Strauss, and a little nervous. I met Tony Hung via ProBlogger when he was guest starring there several months ago. Tony has been the driving force behind the redesign and renewal of The Blog Herald.
Dulcis in fundo, Conversation Agent has been selected as Typepad Featured Blog today. This has been a week filled with stories, heroes and opportunities to be hero for a day.
How was your week?
Congratulations on so many wonderful achievements! Hurray, and enjoy!
Posted by: C.B. Whittemore | May 18, 2007 at 04:02 PM
Wow we will all have a tough time matching your week of accomplishment Valeria, congrats!
Posted by: Mack Collier | May 18, 2007 at 04:29 PM
Congrats! So glad to see that your talents have been acknowledged by so many diverse outlets. Looking forward to reading your new column.
Posted by: Toby | May 18, 2007 at 04:43 PM
C.B. -- this was unexpected and unplanned, esp. the Top 25. I can say I had a wonderful week. And what made it most special was the conversation format Mark and I followed in Ask?Away. I think it works very well in blogs.
Mack -- there's nobody more surprised and delighted than I. I forgot about the Typepad Featured Blog until Verdino sent me an email while I was posting. Talk about timing!
Toby -- you are very kind. Last night we had the Marketer of the Year Awards at the Philadelphia AMA and I discussed your post on the proposed new statement with some board members.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | May 18, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Wow! Congratulations, Valeria. You won the blogging trifecta this week -- and well-deserved, I might add. Now I'm off to read your Blog Herald entry.
Posted by: Connie Reece | May 18, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Valeria, you are such a terrific and talented person. I wish you all the best.
Posted by: gianandrea facchini | May 19, 2007 at 01:24 AM
Congrats, Valeria!! Very cool!
Hey - were you planning on attending the FOOA conference June 7-8? I'll be there, and am working with Darren to set up another meetup like the one we had where you and I got to meet!
Check details at my site or Darren's... we're finalizing things on Monday.
Would LOVE to get to see you again!
Posted by: Lara Kulpa | May 19, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Connie -- thank you, you are very kind. It all came together as if I had planned it.
Gianandrea -- sei molto gentile, grazie.
Lara -- what I know is that ProBlogger is doing one day in NYC on June 9, which I will be attending. Will you be there? Would love to catch up as well. I enjoyed meeting you and your dad very much.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | May 19, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Congrats, Valeria! You Rock!
Posted by: Paul McEnany | May 19, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Valeria,
I expected all of this for you and am celebrating with a big smile...
Posted by: Steve Roesler | May 20, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Molto bene! Valeria, you've earned all of this recognition with your great work- it is totally deserved.
Your first post at Blog Herald was great too, so I am looking forward to seeing more of them.
Yes, it's been quite a week for you. Gonna be hard to top, but if anybody is capable of it, you certainly are.
Posted by: Tim Jackson | May 21, 2007 at 12:19 AM
Paul -- thank you for stopping by. I've been throwing away all those boxes I had sitting around.
Steve -- I'll be in touch with more introductions for you.
Tim -- grazie. Looking forward to some features on Italian courses at Masiguy.com. For toppings I use whipped cream and dark chocolate.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | May 21, 2007 at 08:24 AM
Valeria!
Congratulations on such incredible achievements. You must feel just wonderful that you're recognized in a field you're so passionate about. This is surely a sign...
My week wasn't nearly as awarding. Though I did meet a few heroes - Karen Stephenson and Warren Bennis to name a few.
Posted by: Joe Raasch | May 21, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Valeria,
Catching up on the posts I missed while on holidays. Congratulations! All this on the same week, wow! Wait, I know why... it's because you really deserve it! Félicitations!
Posted by: mindblob | May 21, 2007 at 04:24 PM
Joe -- my reward is in the comments, every day of the week. I imagine Warren Bennis must be quite impressive.
Luc -- you are very kind. I would love to be on your schedule. And maybe now that my job is done, I will take some time off while I search for the next opportunity.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | May 21, 2007 at 04:32 PM