Virtual Event Success

Following on Michael Port & Scott Stratten’s video on what people are doing wrong with telesummits, my buddy Lou Bortone interviewed me about my views on telesummits.

In this 10-minute interview, Lou asked me:

• Why are telesummits so popular?
• To define telesummits so everyone understands what they are.
• Why the telesummit model is flawed today even though they’re so popular.
• Why templates for telesummit are both a good and bad thing.
• And what are some of the ways the telesummit model can be refreshed.

Interested in joining me November 3-5, 2010 in Atlanta, GA for more refreshed ideas? Click here to learn more about Telesummit Refresh.

I'm at the half way point of the 2009 Social Media Telesummit, I've been blown away by the level of content presented by the faculty. And I'm equally pleased at how quickly attendees are embracing and implementing these ideas.

Here are some highlights from the 12 speakers:

• Paul Colligan gave his tips on how he updates his status on dozens and dozens of social media websites in just 15 minutes per day.
• David Meerman Scott gave his tips on how to create triggers online and get millions of people to share your ideas. David's advice caused one attendee to completely change his launch plan regarding one of his products. David's advice was so profound, it caused me to question everything I've been told about internet marketing.
• Coach Deb shared her C.H.A.R.M. formula on how to create tribal seduction with people online.
• The session that helped the 2009 Social Media Telesummit become one of the Top 10 most popular topics being discussed on Twitter was Scott Stratten. Scott shared how to make good investments in your social currency.
• Adam Urbanski followed up with his advice on how to turn contacts into contracts. Adam's advice went counter to what the previous speakers said because he gave a specific roadmap on how to present offers to your friends and followers online without pissing them off.
• The biggest eye opener was from Chip Lambert who taught us how to use LinkedIn in a more strategic way. Chip shared the differences between Facebook and LinkedIn and why the way you use Facebook is NOT the way you'd use LinkedIn.
• Lou Bortone started off Day 3 giving us a tutorial on how to use online videos to build your personal brand.
• The Blog Squad shared their tips on how to get maximum visibility through your blog.
• Fred Castaneda ended Day 3 teaching attendees how to create premium podcasts from information products.
• Kim Dushinski, Shannon Cherry and Des Walsh spoke today (I'll have summaries for these 3 sessions in a bit).

There's still time to register your spot as we have 4 days and 12 sessions still left to go through live. If you can't call-in to the live sessions, you'll have unlimited access to the online recordings. Depending on the plan you purchase, you can download the recordings or have them mailed to your door on a portable media player.

Now, if you think that the 2009 Social Media Telesummit is only about listening to sessions over the phone, it's much more. Attendees and speakers interact with each other in the private Facebook group and use a hashtag to share their discoveries and reactions on Twitter. It's a 360-degree experience.

After January 30, 2009, you will not be able to register for the 2009 Social Media Telesummit. I'm serious, if you visit the sales page on January 31, 2009, the registration links will be gone. So head on over to the 2009 Social Media Telesummit information page and register your spot.

And if you'd like to see what's up and coming on the 2009 Social Media Telesummit schedule, click here.

I recently got an email from Kim Castle of BrandU and the subject was Can Misusing Online Video Ruin Your Brand?

Yes, it can. Here's how:

1. It can make you look cheap and unsuccessful. If you're teaching people how to create a six figure income, your video better look like it. There's a video of a guy who's teaching you how to make 5 figures in 21 days from Facebook. He's using videos in his marketing. Unfortunately, his videos smack of someone who's barely getting by on $21 an hour. He threw up a very cheap red colored fabric as his background while sitting in front of a desk. Plus, the audio is poor. John Reese's video makes him look like 7 figure success. This first video I did a few months ago here makes me look like a 3 figure success story. Ouch!
2. It can create a disconnect with your personality. Some people are naturally outgoing, but produce a video that hides what makes them unique. Someone pointing this out to me a couple of months ago. She said that on the phone, I showed up, yet on the videos, I was hiding. At the time, I chose to sit at my desk in front of the camera and talk. While that may work for some, such as my friends Nancy Marmolejo, Sherman Hu and Travis Greenlee (they look amazing on camera), it didn't for me. Being a talking head boxed me in a corner, like I was being benched in a basketball game. So, taking a page out of Lou Bortone's book, I let my personality show through and started to be myself.
3. It can create doubt in your target market's mind. There are many people who hate being in front of crowds. Using video is quite the same. Although you can't see the crowd, the crowd will be watching. You may sound confident over the phone on a teleclass, but fold to pieces as soon as a camera is shining in your face. Imagine what your target market may be thinking seeing you sweat and look uncomfortable when you're supposed to be their Empowerment Queen. Give yourself permission not to jump on the video bandwagon if you're not comfortable with it.

You can produce video that won't ruin your brand without spending thousands of dollars. I recently provided some shoestring budget ways to spruce up your videos here and here.

Producing video for online distribution doesn't have to be hard, but it shouldn't ruin your personal brand either.

What other tips can you provide so that others don't ruin their personal brand when using online videos?