There's challenges facing every business:  How to break through the clutter, get the word out and build both credibility and attendance at events.

PR, advertising, promotions, and direct mail all play an important role; but for more and more companies, bloggers are becoming a key part of the outreach and promotions strategy.

This generally involves giving a ""press pass"" to a blogger in return for their covering your event.

The real benefit of engaging a social media maven, blogger, or industry evangelist lies in the longer term relationships you are able to form:
- stronger relationships with industry influencers and insiders
- pertinent insight and feedback
- reach, exposure and search engine credibility (over time)

First, invite a blogger to your event.  Hopefully, the relationship progresses so that they are a respected insider.  Ideally, you want them to become a collaborator who helps you create industry events.

It's media relations 101 applied to the blogosphere.
- Identify bloggers, mavens or others whom you respect both their writing and their audience

- Reach out and begin developing direct relationships

- Be clear about expectations and open to input and suggestions

- Actively monitor and participate in conversations as they happen online  

Read the article, entitled The Why and How of Engaging Bloggers at Your Event, at:  http://www.mpdailyfix.com/2008/05/the_why_and_how_of_engaging_bl.html

Lynn Moss
Def 6 Client Manager