Not all smart marketing occurs online. Never underestimate the power of your smile, and a handshake, to go with your introduction at networking and trade show events.

Last weekend, The Blog Squad attended the 2nd annual BlogHer conference for women bloggers. Here’s what happened when Denise got a little bold and extended her hand in line to the gentleman next to her: she met and had a conversation with Guy Kawasaki, marketing expert!

Later on, a client of ours managed to grab Denise and pull her into an introduction and conversation with Mena Trott, founder and developer of Six Apart and Typepad. You can’t replace the value of face-to-face meetings, ever. No amount of email or phone calls will do the job as well as in-person.

We also met face-to-face with Phil Hollows, founder of FeedBlitz, which turned into several conversations on how we can work together to improve services to our clients.

Are all conferences worth going to, in spite of the time and expense commitments? I would say, most are, yes. Besides the valuable people contacts, the information is inspiring and leads to new perspectives on how you can run your own business.

Download Top10tipsforNetworking.doc

This Wednesday, July 19th at 8:30 ET, Conversations with Experts will feature co-authoring expert Steven E, TEAM Publishers

How to Get Instant Credibility with a Bestselling Book

You too can be a best selling author with the Wake Up…Live the Life You Love series. We give you Instant Credibility… and take you to the best seller list. We have 3 programs in one. First, we take you through the publishing process starting with your story submission. Next, we teach you how to build your business with a book through our exclusive Millionaire Book Marketing Method.

As a bonus, we produce a book and take you to the best seller list. You will be able to say that you are a best selling author for the rest of your life. We currently have 12 million stories in print around the world.

NOTE: This Conversation is a bit of departure for The Blog Squad. We have had a lot of requests for information about how to get published fast and easy so we are bringing you the experts from TEAM Publishing so you can learn about this powerful program for getting into print fast.

Registration is required at www.conversationswithexperts.com

If you cannot attend the Conversation, you can pre-order the audio program for only $4.95.  The audio will be $9.95 after the Conversation.  Save 50% and pre-order now.

Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line
Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

Time Management: Learn productivity tips from Ruth Klein
Conversations with Experts presents…

How to Make Time to Get your Work Done Without Going In Circles or Insane
Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 8:30 p.m. ET
Guest Expert:  Ruth Klein, www.ruthklein.com

What do you, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Katy Couric have in common?  You all have 24 hours in one day.  Ruth Klein will share with you how to turn insanity into clarity, overwhelm into focus, and energy into productivity.  What you will hear in this interview:

• The five biggest time robbers in your work day
• Three ways to increase your daily energy for more accurate and focused productivity
• The most effective way to prioritize calls, emails, tasks and errands
• Finding the time to blog, create products, market your business and still have a life
• How to identify your lifestyle motivation to exceed your business goals

Ruth Klein is a results-oriented Performance Strategist and "Action" Coach for small business owners, entrepreneurs, authors, speakers and consultants in the areas of Time Management and Productivity; Personality-Based Online/Offline Marketing and National Publicity.

Ruth has penned five books, the most recent can be found in bookstores and will be a PBS special in Spring 2007 – Time Management Secrets for Working Women (Sourcebooks).  The Everything Sales Rep book (Adams) will be coming out in the Fall 2006.

Ruth as well as several of her clients have been in the Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, Larry King Live and other top publicity venues.

Register:  www.ConversationsWithExperts.com

If you cannot attend the Conversation, you can pre-order the audio program for only $4.95.  The audio will be $9.95 after the Conversation.  Save 50% and pre-order now.

Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line
Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

I can’t resist posting, as I just sat down for the Seth Godin viral marketing seminar in NYC. Looking forward to learning from one of the "horse’s mouths" in effective buzz….More later!