February 2010

3 Annoying Comments Other Bloggers Made

by Marian Schembari on February 22, 2010

The Facebook ads I posted back in July resulted in a little bit of press, mostly due to the awesome Debbie Stier of HarperStudio, but also because I’m absurdly cool. Some of that press wasn’t so positive, and since another pretty negative blog post cropped up recently I want to address some of the factors other bloggers have mentioned.

Facebook ads can’t replace traditional networking.

Traditional networking is dead. Give me one person who likes to stand around awkwardly in a room full of strangers cradling the ubiquitous “classy” plastic cup and I’ll give you 1,000 who’d rather break a kneecap.

I wouldn’t consider myself a shy person, but in groups of people I pretend I have a super important call and usually stand on the sidelines until some nice person decides they feel horribly bad for me and make some form of small talk for 5 minutes until they realize I’m incredibly boring. But give me one person. Give me a blog friend or the president of a major publishing house and I can schmooze with the rest of them. I like one-on-one, but it’s hard to find that one person unless you “know a guy” (insert heavy NYC-Italian accent here) or successfully attended one of these networking events.

Social media (including, but not limited to, Facebook ads) puts you in touch with hundreds of people you might never have had the balls to approach otherwise. Social media has the ability to foster some incredibly important – and mutually beneficial – relationships. People need to stop freaking out about how the internet makes things “less personal” just because many interactions are no longer face-to-face. I have developed more personal and wonderful and important relationships in the past 6 months than I ever did doing things the “traditional” way. And I’m positive my fellow tech-savvy, social-media-at-the-ready, scared-of-groups comrades would agree.

Ads make you look desperate.

You know what? The economy sucks and it’s harder than ever to get a job, so if you’re unemployed, you’re most likely desperate. Not to mention the fact that sending out generic cover letters and cold calling is a rude and impersonal act of desperation.

Cecelia Martinez over at Dcecelia.com, Joe Grimm of Poynter Online and Caitlin McDevitt on The Big Money wrote that the ads are creepy and gimmicky. Gimmicky? Maybe. But you have to back the ads up with substance, you can’t just sit back and wait for jobs to come to you. When I think of a “gimmick” I think misrepresentation. Devious. As for creepy? Bite me. Honestly, you don’t want people targeting you on Facebook because of where you work, your age or what your interests are, don’t post them. It’s that simple.

It doesn’t work.

Let’s check out two quotes:

“But did Facebook help Schembari land her dream job? Not sure.” ~ Rachel Kaufman, Media Jobs Daily

“There hasn’t been word that any one of these ads has helped these job seekers gain anything more than a little bit of publicity on employment blogs.” ~ Cecelia Martinez, Dcecelia.com

Here’s where I brag: First of all, um, I got a job, and I’ve already bitched about Kaufman’s definition of a “dream job.” Secondly, check out my press page again. Do it. Do it now. About three of those articles came about without any help from me. Any other press I received I got through contacting journalists through HARO, finding like-minded people on Twitter and through my freelance work at Digital Book World.

Like I said earlier, you can’t just put up an ad (something that takes balls but basically zero skill, time or money) and expect shit to happen.

To summarize, here’s a snippet of my comment on Dcecelia’s blog:

[The ads] just help get your name out there, which can often be the hardest part. Applying through job boards is a supreme waste of time and ultimately, while I did leave the job I got through the ads, there were a variety of reasons behind that decision, one of which was that I’ve been getting so much freelance work I don’t need a 9 to 5.

To be honest, if you’re looking for a traditional job through a traditional company, the ads may be a waste of time and money. That’s the first mistake. But if people think you’re “innovative” (a word that makes HR managers cry like 12-year-old girls) it doesn’t really matter if the ads reek of desperation. I know so many more people because of these ads and am now able to keep those connections, get freelance work, do said work from home, make more money, not have a boss AND go to culinary school. So total lameness aside, I would call the ads a complete success.

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In which I consider a move across the country and plead for some unbiased insight

by Marian Schembari on February 19, 2010

I’m pretty sure (about 97%) that I’m moving to Portland. Oregon.

As in, not New York.

Which makes both parents want to murder me (if only to keep me here I suppose). Doesn’t matter that I lived abroad for a year and saw them a grand total of 3 times. No, apparently there aren’t as many “opportunities” in the Pacific Northwest. Wtf?

Here’s the thing: I’ve always assumed I would “end up” in New York. I mean, it’s New-effing-York. The Big Apple/city that never sleeps/land of good and plenty, blady blah blah blah. Maybe it’s because I grew up in an NYC suburb or because all the women in my family are crazy successful awesome ladies and New York is apparently the place to be if you’re going to be an independent woman with a snazzy career and briefcase to match.

U.S.A. vs Everywhere Else

I’ve seen more of the world than the United States. While I was living abroad in 2007 and 2008 I realized this weird and crazy fact, that is also mildly depressing. How could I not know anything about my own country? My globetrotter parents were adamant their kids would see the world and we totes went on road trips in big cars with fold down seats. I hated them (the road trips, not the seats. The seats were cool). Meaning that my memories of Yellowstone and the Southeast and Canada are not my fondest – apparently I have sleep tourettes. But only when I sleep in a tent with 5 other people, three of whom are smelly boys. I really wish I was kidding.

With that in mind, I thought the world revolved around New York. Both my parents (who I love and adore and ardently respect) worked here at big important jobs meeting big important people. New York was really my first experience with a big city. Then I moved to London and fell head over hells in love. A year later and I vacationed with my bestest friends in San Diego and fell in love again. And I’m starting to realize I don’t actually like New York, never mind love.

Things I Will Not Miss and Things I Currently Do

I miss nature and greenery not confined to a park. I’d be more than happy to get rid of the crowded streets, noise, the smell of urine, the smell of “meat”, dirty/run-down/rat-infested public transportation, scowls, feeling like a bitch all the time, being surrounded by bitches all the time and did I mention noise? I know I can’t do country living as I get bored quite easily but I need a city that’s a little more hippy and outdoorsy than the Big A. New York does indeed have everything and I know there are groups here that drive up to the Catskills but I need it to not be such a trek. I need something slower. Let’s brash and painfully obvious (i.e. pretentious).

Over the past six months I’ve learned to seriously rely on myself and trust my instincts but I’m nevertheless letting the doubts of my parents influence how I think. Will moving out of the Center of the Universe ruin all my hard work? Can I handle leaving all of my greatest and oldest friends and start off brand-spanking new? Can I even afford a move across the country?

Can I Do It Anywhere?

The beauty of freelance and social media work is that you can do it in New York or in a tiny cellar at a farmhouse about 10 miles south of Tikrit. It can’t be that difficult to find clients in Portland, right?

I interviewed Jane Friedman (based in Ohio) for a Digital Book World post and wrote: “She says her Midwestern location makes her feel a little removed and makes it much harder to keep up with the rapid changes happening in the industry. On the other hand, that distance also gives her a great perspective which, coupled with the job itself, means she’s not biased about which direction publishing goes in.”

So as of right now the plan is to head over there in March or April to scope the place out. Meet with people in publishing and social media, check out the bakeries, maybe tour a culinary school… If I love it, then hopefully I’ll be able to move out there in 2011. We’ll just have to see. If anyone has any advice, knows people in Oregon and/or has done something similar, pleasepleaseplease, advise away.

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On New Blogs: Questions to ask yourself

by Marian Schembari on February 18, 2010

A Twitter friend of mine, Paul Snyder, sent me an email yesterday wondering how to go about starting a new blog. Why he chose to ask me, I have no idea, but it got me thinking anyway.

Here are some snippets from our email exchange:

1. Is a blog without some kind of central theme worth a crap? The first point I made in a Twitter primer I prepared for some clients months ago was: “Ask yourself ‘Why would I do this?’” I’m not sure I have a good answer for that when I ask it of myself related to a new blog.

I don’t think it’s 100% worthless, but don’t just write about your day slash dog slash cold sores. Try and tie everything back into one theme – whatever that is. Like I said, niche is important, even if it’s not everything. Why exactly do you want to have a blog? For yourself? To get things off your chest? Or are you looking to promote something? Help people? Get work? Make a list of what exactly you want to accomplish and then revisit the theme issue.

Now, if something is connected through your own experiences, then it is, in fact, connected. Take Penelope Trunk for example. She writes about her love life, her job, her family, blogging and Gen Y careers – things that may not be related but are connected through her. Regardless, having something specific is important or else you don’t have a target audience and you’ll spread yourself too thin.

2. Should I wait until I have enough common thread material or industry experience (in a new job in which I have zero experience, no less?)

Not necessarily. If you have questions about the new job, it seems like other people might too. You don’t need to be an “expert” to write a blog. People like to accompany you on your journey and whatnot. So don’t let that stop you, but definitely wait until you have at least 5 posts in you before you start actively promoting the blog (if that’s what you want to do).

3. What do you think are some other relevant questions I should ask myself before launching in to a new blog?

Ask yourself:
- Do I have enough material? Do I have at least 10 posts in me? 50?
- Can I sustain this for a long period of time? No one like a blogger that stops writing/can’t commit/etc.
- Will I really love writing about Topics x, y and z? Or will it feel like a chore?

Here are two excellent links that can help get anyone going:

Penelope’s Guide to Blogging

Chris Brogan’s Best Advice About Blogging

I am in no way the expert so seriously take what I say with a grain of salt. Entirely possible I’ll be useless, but I hope this provides at least a little food for thought and is moderately helpful in its own… special… way.

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The New Farm System: Scouting Blogs and (Not) Sharing Secrets

by Marian Schembari on February 12, 2010

By most accounts, the 2010 Digital Book World Conference delivered on its promise of “practicality, not punditry”, but that doesn’t mean it was perfect. One notable misstep was “The New Farm System: Scouting Blogs and Self-Publishers for Commercial Books” session. With panelists representing ICM, Simon & Schuster and Gotham Books, expectations were high, but by the end, those expectations weren’t met and attendees were left with incomplete and unsatisfactory answers to many of their questions.

Most attendees went into the session already knowing that popular blogs get book deals; Julie and Julia was even referenced in the session’s description. With so many amazing blogs out there, though, finding one that can be successful offline is as much an art as it is science.

One of the major challenges publishers face in the digital age is that every piece of information you could possibly want is available somewhere online. Many have decided to see this as an opportunity, and according to Gotham Books Editor Patrick Mulligan, more than 50 blogs received book deals in 2009.

ForeWord Reviews publisher, Victoria Sutherland, moderating the panel, noted: “The problem with this session is that these guys don’t want to give away too many of their secrets.”

They were so intent on hoarding those secrets, in fact, that most of their discussion revolved around a few pretty obvious points:

Blogs most likely to get a publishing deal have great traffic, are highly regarded in their industry/niche, are linked to frequently, and are well written.

Okay, well…

It’s pretty easy to find a popular blog and give the blogger a book deal. What I was hoping to learn was what some of these blogs were doing that had generated so much traffic; what insights had their writers offered that made them so highly regarded; who was linking to them and why?

“If you’re funny & your voice is unique,” Mulligan offered, “people will come to it.”

“It was a lot easier a few years ago when there were fewer people on the web and fewer people looking,” offered ICM’s Kate Lee, choosing not to discuss her methodology in a room of publishing gurus looking for tips on finding the next bestseller.

I was hoping to learn how the panelists find the little-known gems, like design*sponge, the little blog that could, with its cult following and a forthcoming book (Fall/Winter 2010 – Artisan Books). How do those bloggers get discovered and get book deals?

During the Q&A, the audience had some great questions for the panelists, though many weren’t satisfactorily answered:

Is there a magic number for viewership when looking at blogs?

Mulligan said he usually sees viewership in the millions, but he also talked a lot about working with novelty blogs powered by user-generated-content (eg: Lolcats, Chuck Norris Facts). No one else gave numbers, though. Mulligan also mentioned that it’s hard to determine what the blog will look like when it becomes a book; you “have to judge the staying power.”

How do you make sure a book is not an exact replica of the site?

Simon & Schuster’s Sulay Hernandez noted that, with Smart Bitches Trashy Books, it’s not just the blog in book form, but also the author’s thoughts on the romance industry.

“No publisher wants to reproduce what is available for free online,” said Lee.

How much extra material can a blogger provide?

While the panelists all emphasized that added value is really important, Mulligan warned that you can’t go so far in the editing that it no longer resembles the blog.

When a blog is user submitted, how do you get permission?

For sites featuring user-generated-content, it can be difficult to get permissions, especially with photos where the person who submitted them isn’t the actual photographer. Some sites are easier than others, though; on Texts from Last Night, users give permission before submitting anything. Contractually speaking however, Lee says that it’s the author’s responsibility and that, in terms of plagiarism, it’s not something she’s really had a problem with.

What’s the process for finding blogs and what kind of advances are we looking at?

** Silence. **

I get why editors and agents would want to keep their numbers and sources close, but to be perfectly honest, this kind of attitude is a little disconcerting. Why agree to be a panelist if you’re just going to censor yourself?

According to the DBW website, the conference focused “specifically on the challenges and opportunities facing consumer book publishers… presenting strategies that can be implemented immediately.” With panels on everything from agents to eBooks to social media, I personally feel the conference more than delivered on its promise.

The New Farm System session, though, was an exception. The attendees came to hear how these talented editors and agents scouted new writers and interesting book ideas; what they, too, could do to take advantage of this great opportunity – but as Sutherland noted, the panelists weren’t looking “to give away too many of their secrets.”

Remember folks, we’re all supposed to be in this together.

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