3-25-10 Participants in my Story Biz workshop holding up their copies of The Story Biz Handbook

Friends:

Today was my pre-conference workshop, The Story Biz. I taught an intensive 6 hour workshop in which the participants learned about all the aspects of the business of storytelling, including administrative work, marketing, websites and social networking. They learned how to interact with the media, how to network in person, and how to create striking promotional materials.

3-24-10 Workshop participants exchanging biz cards during ice breaker

The workshop was very well received and everyone left with a list of things to do. Later that evening, I was part of a storytelling olio. I told Madame Poulet and Monsier Roach. The lineup of tellers included Susan Klein, Tamara Pierce, Dan Keding, Ada Forney, me, and Eth-Noh-Tec. It was a great concert and the audience left happy.

3-25-10 Storytelling evening concert

Tomorrow, I perform a 3 hour Handmade Tales workshop and participate in another storytelling concert. It will be fun!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

10 Reasons to Get “Social” on the Web for Your Biz
By Dianne de Las Casas

What if you were invited to the largest party in the world for your industry? Entrance to this party is free and all the key players in your field are attending. You would have the opportunity to meet, greet and make valuable connections. Would you go? Chances are; you would.

Here’s the good news. You can do this every day on the World Wide Web through social networking. You’ve probably heard all the rage about Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and other social media sites. If you are looking to boost your biz, here are 10 reasons why you should start getting “social.”

1. Brand Yourself – Branding is very important for anyone in business. When you are “branded,” this means that you have created a particular image that people come to know and trust. Through social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, you can get your brand in the spotlight.

2. Develop a Following – When people like you, you develop a following. On Facebook and MySpace, people “friend” you. On Twitter, people “follow” you. On LinkedIn, you connect by giving and receiving recommendations. You can even create an interactive page on Facebook, where people become “fans.” NBA basketball player Shaquille O’Neal uses the power of Twitter to meet up with fans from around the country, continually building his “brand” and his following.

3. Network – When you become an active participant in these online social forums, you are creating valuable connections. You never know when the next connection will lead to an opportunity to help your business grow. Through these connections, you build relationships. People do business with people they know.

4. Find Out Who the Key Players Are – Every industry has its “superstars.” Find out who the key players in your industry are. Through normal channels, you may not have the opportunity to actually talk to the big gurus in your field (you just hear them at conferences or see them in the media). But through social media, many times, you can actually personally connect and converse with them.

5. Conduct Business – Yes, it’s possible to actually conduct business through social media channels. I have scheduled media interviews, booked author visits, and even scheduled a book launch party all through the power of social networking.

6. Spotlight Your Message/Cause – Do you care about the environment? Are you interested in national health policy issues? Do you want people to notice the growing poverty in America? Through social networking, you can help make a difference by connecting with like-minded individuals who support the causes you do.

7. Engage in Professional Growth – There are so many experts delivering their messages on social media channels. Through the articles and resources they post, tweet and recommend, you can engage in meaningful professional growth.

8. Keep Up with Trends – The latest trends, topics and current events are being discussed through social media channels. Often, breaking news is leaked through Twitter before mainstream media reports it. Be in the “know” now!

9. Become an Expert – If you have expertise in a certain field, perhaps only a handful of people in your industry know it. Through social media, you can actively participate in conversations, dispense your knowledge, and quickly become labeled as an “expert,” giving you a much wider audience. This, of course, can lead to new opportunities.

10. It’s Fun! – If you are a “people” person, becoming “social” on the web is just another way to connect with people. You can make new friends and even gain an extra laugh or two every day. So what are you waiting for? Join us. Mingle. We’re waiting for YOU!

A Few Social Media Sites
* Facebook – http://www.facebook.com
* Hubpages – http://www.hubpages.com
* LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com
* MySpace – http://www.myspace.com
* Ning – http://www.ning.com
* Plaxo – http://www.plaxo.com
* Tagged – http://www.tagged.com
* Twitter – http://www.twitter.com

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Dianne de Las Casas
Friend me! Facebook –
http://www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas
Fan me! Facebook Fan Page –
http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne
Follow me! Twitter –
http://www.twitter.com/storyconnection

Friends:

Since I have been back in my office, things have been hopping! My website was hacked over the summer, causing numerous problems you won’t even believe. Thankfully, after a lot of work, Heidi, my fabulous web designer, got to the bottom of the problem and fixed things, including my blog. So now, I can blog again. Yay!

I have been working on numerous book projects. The Story Biz Handbook: How to Manage Your Storytelling Career from the Desk to the Stage has been sent to the printer. It will be out by the end of September, early October. It is 30 chapters on everything you wanted to know about being a professional storyteller. You can order a copy from Libraries Unlimited (http://www.lu.com) or from any major online retailer. This is what the book looks like:

The Story Biz Handbook

I am now working on the final proofing of Tangram Tales: Story Theater Using the Ancient Chinese Puzzle. I am really excited about this book. It bring stories and story theater to life in a whole new way, using Tangrams. As far as I know, it’s the first book of its kind. Tangram Tales should be out by the end of the year, if all goes well with production.

Tangram Tales

I also just finished with the final proofing of my first picture book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, a spicy twist on The Gingerbread Man folktale. The illustrator, Marita Gentry, did a fantastic job and I am soooo excited about this book. It has been my dream since I was a child to publish a picture book. Special thanks to my editor, Nina, who made the book shine. I hope there will be many more picture books to come! There is something so magical about a picture book. Even as an adult, I am mesmerized by both the words and the illustrations in a fantastic picture book. Check out the book’s phenomenal cover…

The Cajun Cornbread Boy

I will be working on more book projects in the upcoming months, including writing Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill, which is due in December.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne