July, 2006
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July, 2006 |
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Ahhhhh Summertime and the livin′ is...busy! I′m not quite sure how it happened, by my wife and I actually managed to attend all three of our kids′ baseball games this weekend – simultaneously! Between travel to speaking engagements, client meetings, taking the kids to see Grandma and Grandpa and a quick jaunt to Las Vegas with my three brothers and my Dad, my United Premier status is in no jeopardy of lapsing any time soon. But as I fly around the country I also think about the vast amounts of information flying around in cyberspace. The content is expansive and often overwhelming, but somehow, the cream seems to rise to the top. In today′s article, I talk about the phenomenon of "viral″ content on the net and why some information languishes in cyberspace, while other items seem to take on a life of their own. It′s good food-for-thought for my fellow information brokers seeking to share their wisdom with the masses. Well, it′s time to pack my bags again. Off to Orlando for the annual conference of the National Speakers Association. If you see me there, come up and say "Hi.″ I hope this summer finds you free of the bad viruses and enjoying the fruits of the good kind. -The Coach |
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By David Avrin – The Visibility Coach
The newest buzz words on the net are "going viral″ and it′s a condition that you should aspire to. Not simply identifying a new trend, going viral means that an online item, a video clip, an essay or some other nugget of wisdom or entertainment is so captivating, that millions of people have seen fit to pass it on to others. In the early days of the web it was quite often an off-color joke or an internet hoax that seemed to show up in your e-mail box. In recent years, however, those simple pass-around-the-office nuggets, have made way for sophisticated video parodies, online rants from disgruntled customers and even thinly-veiled, but very entertaining online marketing. Many computer animation companies create funny, online greeting cards, or simple games like the infamous Elf Bowling and launch it into cyberspace for free in the hopes that it will be passed around, providing exposure for the company.
Sometimes it is not simply a great visual, but the pass around of e-mails seeking and offering solutions, or the widespread endorsement of a great resource that can go viral. Such is the case with Jon Holsten′s children's book "The Swimsuit Lesson" that helps parents teach their kids to be safe from sexual predators. Unfortunately, along with the explosive growth of the web, it has come a overwhelming glut of meaningless drivel. O.K. let′s just call it what it is – Crap! Simply posting ideas is no longer sufficient if building your business is the endgame. Since virtually every 14 year-old girl in the world has her own website, or MySpace.com page and countless homebound anarchists are blogging on an hourly basis, it becomes all the more important to ensure that your insights are not simply taking up space, but worthy of going viral in cyberspace. Like me, the bulk of my clients are in the information-sharing business. And like the information we provide in our live presentations, or what I espouse in my coaching sessions, information intended for a cyber audience must be unique, profound, insightful, entertaining and astoundingly timely and relevant. Are you writing your e-zines and blogging simply because it is the day you are scheduled to write it, or are you waiting until you have something truly relevant to say? There is a fine line between creating content to optimize your website for the search engines and training your audience to ignore your overwhelming barrage of content. Wait until you have to have something to say that someone actually wants to hear! Look at your e-zines, e-mails, podcasts, video podcasts, blogs, and other online postings with a larger goal than simply "getting it out there.″ Go big. Go wildly creative. Go astoundingly provocative, profound and entertaining. If you′re lucky, you′ll go viral. David Avrin is known internationally as the Visibility Coach. A noted speaker, author, publicist, branding consultant and executive coach, David shows professionals how to stand apart and raise their profile in a competitive marketplace. Visit him online at www.visibilitycoach.com
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One recent phenomenon was launched by terrific speaker and trainer, Steve Spangler, CSP. A high-energy and wildly-creative educator, Steve created the now-famous 
