Alan Weinkrantz PR Web Log

How (and why) I am Branding Myself via BlogCatalog

One of my New Year's resolutions was to be more purposeful in developing my personal brand.  I wrote about this subject in my January column in the San Antonio Express-News.

I have been following the sage advise of Personal Brand Master, Dan Schwabel, along these lines.

Aside from being present and actives on my blogs and on sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, etc. I've also tried to be more present on BlogCatalog, which is what this post is really about.

In looking at how to mash up, and best represent myself on the Social Web, I recently bought alanweinkrantz.tel which is the new domain for that purpose.  

While I really like the .tel concept, it does limit me in terms of graphically representing my brand.  If you look at my profile on BlogCatalog, you can see what not only my presence, but a graphically pleasing mash up of my activity on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, etc.

If you are developing your own personal branding strategies, BlogCatalog should be part of your mix.  There is more to this site than just the blogosphere.

Disclosure:  I have done consulting work for BlogCatalog in the past, but they are currently not an active client.  

BloggersUnite's Tony Berkman Helps Foster the Political Conversation. SA4Mayor's Patricio Espinoza Captures the Story...

I'm a volunteer for the Julian Castro for Mayor of San Antonio Campaign, pitching in with some social media strategies.

Tony Berkman, CEO of San Antonio-based BlogCatalog and BloggersUnite articulates the role of social media and how his BloggersUnite site helps causes join together through the power of the blogosphere, while remaining political neutral.  Kudos to Patricio Espinoza, who is doing a great job of reporting on and more importantly, telling a fair and balanced story about the Mayoral race in our town via his SA4Mayor site.

Here's the interview:

How I Make New Friends and Keep the Old Ones

In business and in life, I am finding the discipline of Social Media and Networking on the web has enabled me to expand my sphere of "friends." 

Some are friends in the real way that friends are meant to be.  Some are friends that I meet on line, find we have common interests, and maybe..... maybe the also become business relationships.

Yesterday afternoon I had lunch at the Olmos Soda Fountain with my new social media friend, Gylon Jackson.  He told me about his radio show on BlogTalkRadio.  He was interviewing Richard Becker, who I follow on Twitter and have some common interests with on BlogCatalog.

Richard was being interviewed, I dialed into the conversation line, and had a chance to meet Rich on the phone.

At the end of the conversation, I invited Richard to San Antonio.  And if he does indeed come, I made him an offer he should not refuse:  you're my guest for a world class burger and milk shake at the Pharmacy.

Meeting Gylon Jackson at Social Media Club of San Antonio

This happens to me time after time after time.

Someone tells me about someone and then I start following that someone for a while.  That person could live where I live or somewhere far away. 

To me it doesn't really matter. 

Virtually, and then in the real world, there's some type of very cool connection that goes on.

This happened tonight at the Social Media Club of San Antonio meet up. 

My buddy, and sometimes client, Tony Berkman of BlogCatalog, told me about Gylon Jackson.   So I start following Gylon on Twitter and hear about his Blog Training Academy.

And then tonight at the Social Media Club event, we meet in person.

Bingo. 

Instant connection.

Then, by chance, Glyon's cell phone rings.

It's Tony Berkman.

Gylon tells Tony I am here.

And then I speak to Tony. 

And then suddenly I see the whole connection thing that happens in what we all do.

Next..... Memo to Gylon- let's meet sometime next week and re-connect.

How do you connect?

How Corporate Blogging Can Impact Your Media Relations Strategies

As seen on BlogCatalog.....here is my contributed story...

Blogging has quickly migrated from being perceived as a forum for personal rants and raves to being a strategy-leading vehicle for communication between companies and their customers.

Rest the rest of the story here.....

Download my Power of Blogging and PR Here

Here is the presentation which you may download called "The Power of Blogging and PR."

Download the_power_of_blogging_and_pr_final.pdf

BlogCatalog Presents Live, Interactive Video Broadcast Featuring Me!

I hope you will join the team at BlogCatalog that is sponsoring my broadcast on UStream.tv.  Tomorrow, I will be speaking about the Power of Blogging and PR.

11 AM CST / 7 PM Israel time.

Read the news release here.

Log on to BlogCatalog's info page to learn more.

Coming Live on UStream.TV - The Power of Blogging & PR

On Tuesday, September 16, I will be hosted by the Internet's fastest-growing blogging social network, BlogCatalog to hold a live video broadcast discussion on the subject of blogging and PR.

 

The event will be broadcast live, on this UStream channel and will last about 30 - 45 minutes.

Tuesday, September 16

11:00 AM CST

7:00 PM Israel time

Whether or not if you have a blog, I am going to talk about the basics of PR:  messaging, strategy, outreach, how to pitch, and much more.

And if you can't make it in real time, you can log on to the event where it will be recorded.

I hope to have you join in!

Save the Date: September 16 for My First Live Seminar on Blogging & PR

Save the date:on September 16 / 11 AM CST (9 AM PST / 11 AM MST / 1 PM EST / 7 PM Israel time) I will be conducting a free online seminar which will be broadcast on UStream.TV.  BlogCatalog is sponsoring the event.

I'll be posting more information about this event later this week.