THE NEWS: Next Friday I will be at BlogWorld & New Media Expo in Las Vegas and helping Dr. Lindsey of Genesis Today and John Andrews of Collective Bias to kick off a Genesis of a Great Idea social media contest in which one of you guys could win a $10,000 consulting contract with a great social media idea.
Details can be found at GenesisOfAGreatIdea.com.
THE BACKSTORY:
Can I be honest here among friends…?
I’m so tired of the talk of A-list bloggers and only a small percentage of bloggers being picked for campaigns and working together with companies.
While I understand that there are metrics that can be used to measure bloggers potential influence, and reach, but there is so much more about social media than what numbers can ever even start to tell.
I don’t think there is A-list, or B-list or any list. Just community. And those bloggers and companies that get the concept of community will be the ones who will succeed in the evolution of new media as a marketing platform.
I told several of my fellow bloggers many moons ago that while in some ways someone might see us as “competitors”, I would never see a fellow blogger as a competitor – we may be in the rat race of making this platform to work us in a way to make a living, but if we compete against each others we will never make it to the end line. We only make it if we stick together. Because that’s where one’s influence and power in social media comes from – from having the community around you, and cheering people around you to succeed.
Those bloggers who realize that true concept of social capital and community will be the ones standing in the victory lane.
I spoke about bloggers karma at Type-A Mom conference, and how I want the people in my community succeed. I feel that I am a success, if I have helped enough many people to succeed in what they do. Day in and day out I refer people to opportunities, and help them without asking anything back. I know that it will come back to me someday, a way of another. And if not, I’m ok with that.
Today is one of those days that the karma returned to me, but not just that I got an amazing opportunity, but I got an opportunity to make opportunities for others as well. I think this is the true testimony of kharma, and how paying forward in your actions pays back big time.
COLLECTIVE BIAS AND GENESIS TODAY
Let me introduce you two companies. You may or may not have heard of them.
A digital agency Collective Bias and a natural health food company Genesis Today.
Collective Bias, a digital agency under Mars Advertising, shares the same vision of social media marketing as I do, and connects companies with consumers in a feel-good way. One of their upcoming things in social media world is attending BlogWorld and New Media Expo in Las Vegas next week and organizing speed dating session with companies and bloggers. Yes, one-on-one time with brands and bloggers – to really get into the core what are the ways we can work together with the I-tell-what-I-want-you-tell-me-what-you-what opportunity.
Genesis Today is a natural health lifestyle company from Austin, Texas, and their natural health juices are sold across the nation and their new low-priced superfruit juices are taking Walmarts by storm. Their success is of course because the high quality products they make, but also because the high company values and passion to make people’s lives better. This has resulted in natural word-of-mouth-marketing for the company, which is now ready to kick it up a notch and get involved with social media.
I got an opportunity to work with these two companies in the journey of helping Genesis Today to be part of our online community.
I am all about community and paying it forward. I also believe that anyone can have a great idea, and I am positive that the next Great Idea will come from my community.
If you will be at Blog World Expo, make sure to come to our panel – or click to the Genesis of a great idea website to get the contest rules (go live next Friday) and follow the discussion at twitter with the hashtag #cbbwe
Be part of the next great social media success story and enter the contest starting next week.
Full Disclosure: I am a free-lance social media marketing/PR consultant and consult Collective Bias in this campaign, and Genesis Today is one of their clients.
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"Skimba" = Finnish for skiing, CO = Colorado.
{ 23 comments }
This is great Katja. I agree with you regarding helping to build one another up rather than tear one another down.
You truly are a person who lifts everyone up when she earns good fortune.
This will be a great opportunity for someone with big ideas who just needs a chance.
Thank you to you and your team for bringing it to the community.
I love your positive outlook and upbeat attitude. What a great opportunity for someone who may not have had a chance otherwise!
I agree that the feeling that we need to compete in this social media arena is not that way to go. We’re all so diverse and each can bring something unique and special to different campaigns. More bloggers need to think about the bigger picture of community and be more willing to let go and share because in the end we all will benefit. True Karma works this way. Trust me as a Buddhist I know these things. =)
Katja, this is perfect for you – you do live the ‘pay it forward’ mentality – you have been – by far- one of the most supportive people I have met since I began my journey online. I am thrilled that you are a part of something so fun and rewarding. Reading this post and learning about this campaign is like seeing your ‘Karma’ talk in action.
Wonderful for you. Wonderful for someone with a great idea!
Love this article, Can you hear me clapping loudly?
Katja.. this is what makes you such a beautiful soul. I loved being in that Blog Karma session. We are all a community and I love living by the motto “pay it forward”.
Of all the wonderful mom bloggers in this community, it is so wonderful to see you get the great “Karma” in return. KUDOS to you and thank you for sharing this with us. Such a great opportunity for us all!
I’m, again, so thrilled I got to share this conversation with you at the bar. I frakin’ love you, Katja! It’s blog Karma that we met. So much love and happiness I have to help you, and others, succeed. I’m glad to be in this boat with you. :)
Katja, my social media friend. You’re my ambassador of Quan!
So excited about this – what a great idea! Looking forward to seeing and learning more!
Katja,
You never fail to inspire me. I so believe in paying it forward. By choosing to generous, supportive, and loyal we literally change the world one small moment at a time. I am new to the mommy blogging arena and I am so impressed by the power, potential, and possibilities that are available:) Thank you!
Marcel
I wish I was able to attend Blog World Expo! What a great program.
You are always on the lookout for everyone, Katja… I think you’re one of the few people I have ever met who truly sees everyone as a friend until proven otherwise. I am happy to call you mine!
I’m so jealous not to be able to attend BLOGWORLD and hear more about this. I’m so passionate about health but specifically natural health and would love to have come this specific panel!! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
BTW…Katja, I learn so much from you…your posts are always so inspiring, positive and whitty!! *giggles*
So blessed to know you!!
Katja. It was great meeting you in person and I could tell you are one to help others. This is an amazing opportunity and I LOVE that you are working with a natural food company.
If I do make it to BW you’ll be one of the first people I come find. I’m dying to be a spokesperson for something I believe in!
Thanks!
Seriously how wonderful!! You’ve always been helpful and kind, I wish things could be different. for me anyway.
I really wish I were going to BWE
That looks like so much fun!
ABSOLUTELY! Most of my work these days is mentoring PR agencies & brands they represent that don’t ‘get it’ — yet, but want to — when dealing with bloggers as well as bloggers looking to make a jump to something a little bigger. As soon as everyone realizes the pond is big enough for more fish, the better off we all will be! – Lynette Young
You know what I love about you? Among many things, the fact that you are so genuine. You are real And you live life with a passion that includes others. I’m proud to call you my friend. Go Girl!
Could you hear me fist pumping my monitor and hollering “YEAH” while I read this post? I’ve had to face.. we’ll call them the “mean girls” of the blogosphere lately. The effect was so hurtful and pervasive that I seriously considered giving up my blog, which is something I dearly love. That it could go that far was a shock and a revelation. I’ve always felt like supportive interaction was much more productive than a competitive smack down. This social media thing really is that elusive “Brave New World” and we truly do have the power to make it what we want to be. That said I’ll leave you with the immortal words of Uncle Ben Parker “With great power comes great responsibility”. BTW, I’ll be in Vegas for SISTScation at the same time as you. Sadly not for Blog World but hey stop by The Venetian and have a martini 80)
Katja,
I totally agree with you about succeeding together instead of competing against each other.
That’s something I’ve learned from bloggers like Darren Rowse, Dave Navarro, Chris Guillebeau, Jon Morrow, Yaro Starak, Brian Clark, Chris Brogan, Johnathan Fields, and Johnny B. Truant.
Do you know what they have in common (besides NOT being women)? The knowledge that they are not competitors but instead comrades.
Kudos, karma and quan (love that, Kelly!) to you, Katja for fostering that idea amongst women/mom bloggers.
Heather
thanks for showing me your post! What a great idea. We will share with our community.
Trisha
You Rock Katja!!!
I am thinking. cant wait for more details. I wish I was going to blog world. Be prepared for next year….the professor will be there ;)
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