I started to blog in January 28, 2005 with a blog that was called Flair et Style. My first post was about Dwell, the modern architecture and design magazine. I wrote exclusively in French at the time. In fact, I produced two blogs before I switched to the language of Shakespeare.

It is not for reminiscences that I tell you that. It is because I just migrated my closed blogs to WordPress. They were on an obsolete blog platform called Subtext. We will depart from old servers. We must transfer everything that we want to keep online. Since my husband, Jerome Paradis, developed a converter from Subtext to WordPress, it was easy for us to migrate the data. I simply lost the look and feel of the original blogs. It is all right! My goal is only to keep the content alive.

Why it is Important to Keep a Trace?

Think about what you want to do if you stop to write on a blog. Do you wish that the blog lives forever on the Web? For me, it is important to maintain the presence of my first two blogs as a proof that I had two years of blogging experience before I launched At Home with Kim Vallee. A new reality of social media is that part of your CV is publicly available on the Web. This is why I preserve the traces of what I accomplished.

Keep it Simple

Like I said earlier, the important thing is to preserve the content, not the container. I opted for a basic, free WordPress theme that I tailored to the minimum.

I took me a few minutes to tailor Typebased from Woothemes for each site. I do not need any bells and whistles that are common today. I simply created an image for the title, modified four elements on the CSS and configured my sidebar. Voilà! I keep my blog history alive.

MORE:
+ Flair et Style par Kim Vallee
+ Actualiser l’art de recevoir

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More and more brands ask you every day to become a fan of their Facebook page. As a blogger, we often get requests from brands that we never heard of. In light of this fact, I share here how I decide to become a fan or not of a brand on Facebook. I feel my social netetiquette guide could be useful to marketers who wish to pitch bloggers.

The first thing I suggest to any marketer is to know the blogger first. Chances are that if we never connected on social media and that I never talked about your brand on my blog, I do not know you. Second, know what are the values and the scope of interests of the bloggers you targeted. Third, read my editorial policy as it applies to all the content I produce.  [Update: If after that it still seems like a good fit, maybe you can inquire if I know your brand or if I tried your products/services before?] Four, do not insist.

My brand At Home with Kim Vallee is based on providing a curated experience for my readers. My profile on Facebook is an extension of my brand. Using kimvallee.com as the domain name excludes the idea of separating the two identities.

On Facebook each brand is subject to the same principles I apply when I write a post, that is I feature only things and stores that I like. For me, being a fan symbolizes that you like a lot. Therefore, I may even go a step further with fan pages. Plus, if I become a fan of everything it will lose its purpose. But more importantly, if I become a fan of everything that is pitched to me I would betray the trust that my fans, my readers, my Facebook friends and my Twitter followers put on me as a curator.

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One thing that is difficult for many bloggers is to define their niche. As the competition on the blogosphere becomes fiercer, you need to position your blog in order to stand out. People needs to quick get what your blog is about and how it is different from the pack.

Whether you talk about one topic or many topics in your blog, you need to find one direction that summarizes what your blog is about.

Give Room to Your Niche to Evolve

If you are starting out, think about how to categorize your blogs in directories. Take my At Home blog. It is a design blog for women well positioned as a stylish living blog. It started in 2007 as a blog about entertaining at home with style. In time, I found out that it is the stylish living aspect that my readers are attached to.

Think about directories

In a real conversation, people would easily describe the scope of At Home. But I have a hard time selecting a category for it in Web directories. Lifestyle blogs are not exactly what I am since I do not cover cultural events or musics. I am not only about food or home decor. I also touch family life without being about kids and parenting. Women magazines are rarely there and when they are, it is often filled by feminist blogs or women issues blogs.

There is also another impact. I consider myself a design blog. But when they are blog awards on specific topics (interior design, food, etc), I realized that people would not instinctively think about my blog. I am not complaining. I am happy with my positioning. I just point it out so you could fully grasp the extent of your decision.

Examine Your Content

Ask yourself that question: Are you mainly

• a creator of new content – ex: a crafter,
• a collector  – blog is about what you like,
• a curator  – like I am
• a news publisher – being the source of all the news about a specific topic
• a problem solver
• one that inspires people to act or create
• a commentator, someone who shares his/her perspectives on issues and ideas, etc…

The content you produce may also influence how you define your niche. Lastly, you need to consider your competition since you need to differentiate yourself.

Remember that helps growth and maintain a readership:

1. Regularly write posts with original content
2. Concentrate on being useful for your readers
3. Be active in the social media community, not just in the blogosphere

For the last point, I refer you to an excellent post about how to get noticed by the right people written by my friend Lara McCulloch of Ready 2 Spark.

+ photo that I took when I went to the after-party of the Social Gaming Summit 2009 in San Francisco

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Since I published my new brand identity I tried to produce, with my graphic designer, business cards for my blogs. I did 2 attempts so far. The difficulty does not rest in the design of the cards. My problem is what content do I put on my cards.

At first, I imagined a double sided card with At Home on the recto and On the Web on the verso. I found that we were repeating too many things on each side. Then, I thought I could just design a card  for my main blog; it is the one I want to promote the most after all. I put that idea on hold because I feel that one important factor of my brand would be missing.

Too Many Hats

Another challenge lies with the title. I am the editor in chief on two blogs. This is my work. But journalists in traditional media interviewed me because I am a lifestyle and entertaining expert. That fact is also relevant for readers. All that and other factors questioned my identity.

Then, I watched a live coverage of an unconference in New York a couple weeks ago where the speaker encourages us to rethink the purpose of the business cards. And yes, we still need a paper version. He (sorry, I do not remember whom) was saying that your business card could say more about yourself. The message should tell to people why they should contact you.

Which information is still relevant on a business card? I stopped publishing our fax number at the office many years ago. An address is not relevant for a blog. By not putting an address I gain precious real estate on the card. Do I put my twitter account? My Facebook profile?

Since I do not have all the answers yet I decided to stick to Moo MiniCards until I make up my mind. Plus, people like getting my Moo cards. I will experiment with the content on each 100 cards batch.

Advantage of the Moo MiniCards

I published pictures I take about my trips, trade shows I go to, and food photos. I used the picture to connect with people.  I tell the recipient the story behind the picture. I even have friends who asked me for a new one when they learned I got a new set of photos.

Many people think that the full-size business cards are more practical. Plus my business card should apply to most situations. What do you think? Any suggestion?

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I always say to new bloggers that they must try to take their own pictures. Nothing beats original content. Time constraints, money, logistics and talent do not always make it possible.

Most successful food bloggers excel at photography; it is part of their personal brand. Take for example La Tartine Gourmande. We are craving to have a look at her fabulous photos. Bea creates dreamy moments that inspire us and bring happiness to our day. Her writing complements the scenery depicted by her pictures. The whole makes it an awesome experience that encourages us to go back to her blog.

Lifestyle Pictures from Brands

Great pictures also contribute to the success of retailers and distributors. Many brands are known for their superb pictures. Making available inspiring shots also influences the amount of coverage a brand/retailer may get on the blogosphere.

I start any post for At Home with Kim Vallee by creating my photo collage. The photos provided to me or that I am able to find on the Web site of the retailers and the producers influence which products or storyline I will feature. In fact, many of my posts started by a fabulous picture that I spot on a brand Web site. It goes deeper that that since I moved to another story or put it on hold whenever I was unable to get good pictures for a subject.

As more and more brands pitched bloggers for product reviews, I suggest that brands make sure to have a wide selection of creatively styled pictures available. It is in the advantage for both sides that various pictures are shown; it avoids fatigue. As a reader, if I see the same picture over and over, I am less inclined to read the post because it seems like dejà vu.

Product close-up pictures are needed to understand what the product is all about. Make sure to display them on an inviting background. I believe that without including lifestyle pictures on their press package, brands are missing opportunities. If you wish bloggers to talk about your products, make it easy for them. We are busy people.

Having said that, I encourage bloggers to create their own styled pictures if they have the product on hand or if they are at an exhibit. Then, you can use the brand pictures, if needed, to extend your coverage.

+ La Tartine Gourmande
+ Hawaiian Dream Vacation Sweepstakes by Pottery Barn

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Roberto Rocca wrote for the Gazette that the tech-savvy crowd now exchanges Twitter accounts instead of paper cards. Roberto is wondering if Twitter is becoming the new business card. This was certainly the case at PodCamp Toronto last February when many wrote their Twitter account name with the @ sign on their name tag.

I always ask people that I meet for the first time if they are on Twitter. As a Twitter devotee, I try to convert as many people as possible on being active on Twitter. If you are new to Twitter, familiarize yourself with the basic Twitter commands. I wrote this post to help you understand the culture behind Twitter.

Broadcasting to the World

You protect your privacy in Twitter by knowing that what you say can be seen and read by anyone in the World. Your tweets will end up on Google. I will go as far as saying that if you cannot overcome the urge of protecting your tweets, Twitter is not necessary for you. Look at Twitter as your public forum. Therefore, you do not post family photos and other personal life items on Twitter. You leave that for Facebook.

Chose Who To Follow

You do not select who decide to follow you and there is no obligation to follow back. A stranger can like what you are saying but you may not be interested by what they are saying. It is OK. I select my followers based on the goal of my brand and my interests.

Update: Having said that, I follow back lots of people. I follow everyone manually. It may happen that I forgot someone interesting once in a while. But I do not want to automatize the process. I do so because  I wish to have a true conversation with the people I follow.

What To Say in Your Tweets

I believe that your tweets should mix 5 things. It holds true for anyone, even if the Twitter account is a business. Twitter is a place where you can:

1. get informed about what is a happening very fast. It is great to receive local and international news. By  following the right crowd, you will get news about your industry or your hobbies
2. listen; learn what people care about, what are their opinions.
3. share your and other ideas, facts and knowledge. Share things that adds value. Always make sure to give the credits to the source. Retweet a tweet; don’t simply copy
4. engage in small talks. TV shows, music, sports and food often get good responses.
5. promote events, a cause, yourself, your blog and even your products. Plus participate in #followfriday and other online Twitter activities

BONUS items:

• access the knowledge of the crowd: you can ask for help or ask a question on Twitter
• plan meet ups or other informal get-together meeting with your friends or the Tweeple in your area.

It is important that you create a balance on your tweets. At the end of the day, the secret is to have interesting stories, add value with your insights and participate in other conversations.

+ Follow me on Twitter
+ Add me as a Facebook friend

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Yesterday I had an excellent meeting with my mentor to review my blog priorities. This is something I encourage you to do if you are serious about blogging.

Find someone you trust. The ideal candidate is an active blogger but someone with hands-on experience in social media can be a suitable candidate. Never forget in your discussions where you wish to bring your brand. Your actions should lead to your ultimate goal.

Bloggers are solicited from everywhere. We receive suggestions from readers and people we meet. It is easy to be tempted to imitate best practices you hear about without putting them in context with your entire blog experience. We analyze what is going on our niche. Therefore, it is easy to get distracted.

Plus the blogosphere is changing with the popularity of Web 2.0. We have to adapt our marketing and our blog to the new reality. For instance, I often receive more feedback for a post on Twitter and on Facebook than the number of comments on the post.

There is a lot to take into account in setting the priorities for your blog. It goes from what your brand stands for up to the importance of unique editorial content and how you will monetize your blog. You have to reevaluate these issues several times a year; I say every season. You also gain a second opinion on what you achieved so far. Did you meet your objectives? If no, why and what solutions are available to you.

I have the feeling that good mentors find you instead of the other way around. Until you find a mentor, have good talks with bloggers sharing similar challenges than you. I met Eden of Bargainista last Saturday for a coffee that extended until lunch. We exchanged on some of our challenges and experiences.

I am lucky to have a wonderful blog mentor that is a perfect fit for me. I hope you will find a suitable fit for yours.

IMAGE:
+ Two amazing bloggers that I admire: Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy and Harry Wakefield of MoCo Loco. I met them after their panel session at IDS 09. We did a tour of the main exhibit attractions, then talked over Champagne at the Veuve Clicquot VIP and Media Lounge together. Harry is my mentor.

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I wish to share my experience with my Fagebook pages for my blogs. Yesterday, Jessica of How About Orange asked her readers to enlighten her on why it’s good to have a Facebook page for your blog? She received 42 comments so far. A good number of her readers did not see the point or simply see it as added work. I wish to show you how to add value to your blog with a Facebook page.

Which Content to Put on Your Facebook Page

You will struggle with this question at first. It is intimidating. One mistaken view is to simply duplicate the content of the blog. You should not do that. Continue to publish your latest posts on your page but make sure to add other relevant content that is not on your blog. An easy trick is to write a message telling your fans what they will be getting from your post when you share a post link on your Facebook page.

Enhance the Communications

I wish to publicly thank Michelle Blanc for inspiring me, without knowing it. Michelle talked at 3rd Tuesday last week about how the newspapers and traditional media should use the different channels to complement their stories. It opened my mind.

Now I use my Facebook page as a way to enhance the content of my blog. I published additional pictures on stories I covered on my blog. Used it to say about things about yourself that may interested your fans. For example, I create photo albums when I attended events (see my 3rd Tuesday album). Thinking about my page as a persona makes it easier to write status messages on the page wall. What additional content do your put on your Facebook page?

Get More Feedbacks, More Rapidly

It is fair to assume that most of your Facebook friends do not subscribe to your RSS feeds. The fact that I published each new post URL on my user profile and my Facebook page increases the number of comments I get on Facebook and the like this votes. When you are lucky, a new reader will publish a comment on your blog. Remember that Facebook is a more casual platform than a blog; Facebook encourages communication through word of mouth.

Power of Word of Mouth

More than 175 millions people are on Facebook. The split in the United Stated is about 55% of Facebook users are 25 years old or less, 45% are over 25 years old. The claim that Facebook is only for kids does not added up anymore. Even without that fact, your friends and the friends of your friends are a part of that 45%. It is also possible to use social-demographic targeted advertisement to promote your page within Facebook.

When a fan does an action on your Facebook page, their friends can see it and you get a chance to convert strangers which brings exposure to the friends of your friends of your friends. The multiplying effect on Facebook delivers more exposure than if you limit yourself to your blog and writing blog comments on the blogosphere. It only costs a little bit of your time.

+ become a fan of On The Web with Kim Vallee
+ become a fan of At Home with Kim Vallee

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A few weeks ago I talked about the Quickest and Easiest Way to Promote Your Blog on Facebook. This was based on my own experience and it is still valid. In fact, it may still be the best solution for many bloggers. If you wish to build a brand around your blog, it is another question. The latest changes to the Facebook Fan Pages eliminated my top objection to use them.

With the fan pages behaving almost as user profiles, you can use the same easy techniques I talked about earlier. Moreover, the Fan pages provides statistics on your fan demographics and visits. You can send updates to all your fans (or a target group defined with demographic filters) but you won’t be able to send individual message. Another fact to know is that the owner of a Facebook page stays anonymous.

Having a Facebook page looks more and more appealing. I see the added challenge to build an active community but I also see new opportunities. For example, I answer many viewer’s email behind closed doors. Now I could answer them publicly for the benefit of the group. I am planning to host events to connect with my readers this year. I could report more details on the AHWKV page than on my blog. I feel that over time, it may be better for my brand to promote it via a Fan page – one page per blog.

What do you think? Do you use a Facebook page? If so, do you have any tips to share?

Fan Page for On the Web with Kim Vallee

Help me build a strong community by becoming a fan of On The Web with Kim Vallee. Use the wall to communicate with me and other fans. The Stream shows what the page owner did. The wall is about what the fans did. Send me your questions that could become the topic of future posts.

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If you are a blogger, there is no doubt on my mind: you should be active on Twitter. I mentioned before that Twitter is a powerful marketing tool to raise awareness about what you do. It enables you to build credibility, increase your blog traffic and establish yourself as an influencer.

It is not a matter of Twittering vs. Blogging. Each one serves its purpose. The best option is to try to take advantages of their respective strength.

Twitter Enhances Blogging

I write several posts a week on AHWKV with quick links of the best of the Web. Retweet is the same idea but applied to Twitter. On Twitter, I can include topics outside the scope of my blog.  As a matter of fact, Twitter allows me to extend my curator role.

I also see Twitter as a laboratory for ideas. I can test the interest for topics before I write my post. Conversations bring me fresh ideas. I can see trends developing. I read about what people care for; how they react. I get answers more quickly, and often in bigger number, on Twitter than if I wrote a post. In fact, Twitter can help me write better content for my blog if I am listening properly.

When I write a post, people comment on my blogs but I often get more feedback on Twitter or on Facebook. It makes me sad that there is no tool to aggregate all these feedback under my blog.

Still, Twitter does not eliminate the need for a blog. I remain a blogger; this is my main job. I could not tell you all this in a coherent way using a succession of 140-character messages. I could but it would be complicated for you to follow my thread. I repeat: Twitter enhances my blogging experience.

Twitter Promotes Your Personal Brand

Twitter enables you to reach people who would not normally read your blog. More importantly, it enables you to reach Tweeple with similar interests and to build a stronger relationship with them.

Twitter makes uses of the social graph. It brings blogger opportunities. It can become a strong public relations vehicle for you. How to use Twitter wisely to raise your personal brand will be the subject of a future post.

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You want a method that uses the full potential of the social graph. This is why I feel the internal features of Facebook is more powerful than using a Facebook blog application to generate comments, likes and traffic to your blog.

My solution takes a 2 seconds to do. Simply copy the URL of your post on Post Link of your profile page and hit Preview. If your post featured several pictures, you will be able to select which one you wish to appear.

Time saver: The FeedFlare Share on Facebook link is faster since it automatically copy the post link and you are ready to post into your profile. Moreover, you encourage your fans to tag and promote your content. You will need first to activate the feature on Feedburner and insert some code into your blog template. It works on your RSS feeds and your blog. There are also many plugins that do the same job.

Main Advantages

Your Facebook friends can comment on your post. The fact that they comment on your note (link) will be shown on their wall. If you are lucky, that action may also appear on the News feed of some of your friends.

The same rules applied to the Like and Share button. Share will publish your note to your friend’s profile. If you are lucky your friends will like or share, plus comment your post.

My goal was to show you how quick and easy is it to use the internal functions to Facebook to promote your blog. Naturally you could create a group or a page for your blog but it requires more work to set up, maintain and market. We will talk about their added values and the differences between Facebook pages and groups at a later time.

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