1. The Journey of Building A Brand
Teresa O’Connor of Seasonal Wisdom
1
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com

2. Please Fasten Your Seat Belts
• A Quick Trip Back to Past
• Various Stops Along the Way
• Moving Forward
– 7 Social Media Steps to Success
• What’s Your Direction?
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
2

3. But First, Let’s Rewind
Back to ...
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
3
2009

4. My Journey Began
• Professional Writer ...
With strong background
in marketing and PR.
• Master Gardener ...
Trying to break into
gardening and food
writing.
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
4

5. Three Women Pushed Me On
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
5

6. Seasonal Wisdom Was Born
• New blog
• New creative direction
• New way to network
Baby Steps
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
6

7. 2009 – 2011: Glory Years of Twitter
• Lots of excitement
• Everyone “new”
• More interaction
• Less self-promotion
• Conversations galore
• Many friendships began
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
7

8. GWA 2009
• First Tweet-Up Ever
• Hosted by @HelenYoest
• All “knew” each other
• Instant recognition
• Steps ahead already!
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
8

9. You Can Still Benefit from Twitter
We’ll talk about
HOW in a
minute.
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
9

10. Next Stops on Journey
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
10
But most of us
met on Twitter...

11. Unexpected Side Trip
• 3 Months on Twitter
• Asked to Co-Author
• First Crowd-Sourced
Garden Book
• Social Media Driven
• Recipes, photos, ideas
from across the globe
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
11

12. Grocery Gardening Team
Other Authors:
• Jean Ann Van Krevelan
@JeanAnnVK
• Amanda Thompsen
@KissMyAster
• Robin Ripley
@RobinRipley
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
12
100 % Virtual Team

13. Next Stop? Podcasting
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
13
Nest In Style on iTunes
Co-host: Jayme Jenkins
@JaymeJenkins

14. Interviewed Nearly Everybody
• Rosalind Creasy
(Leader in Edible
Landscaping)
• Magazine editors,
garden designers, book
authors and more...
Recorded on iPhone
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
14

15. Nest in Style Interviews
• Garden designers like @SusanCohan (NYC
metro) and @SweetRebecca (San Francisco)
• Garden Show organizers like @JanetEndsley
(Northwest Flower & Garden Show - @NWFGS)
• Garden editors at @FineGardening @SunsetMag
• Book authors like @DebraLBaldwin
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
15

16. Benefits of Podcasts
• Met lots of people
• Gained knowledge
• Got great content
• Built relationships
• Showed skills
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
16

17. Nest in Style Hort Radio
Monthly Segments for Horticulture Magazine
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
17

18. Next Stop? A New Look
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
18

19. Moved On to WordPress
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
19
Web design and technical help - Fern Richardson of LifeOnTheBalcony.com

20. Kicked Off with Week of Giveaways
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
20

21. Hasn’t Slowed Down Yet...
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
21

22. Trip Highlights
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
22

23. Garden2Blog with P. Allen Smith
One of “Ten
Great Garden
Blogs,” P. Allen
Smith.
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
23

24. Two Years of Garden2Blog Invites
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
24

25. Best Part? Meet Other Bloggers
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
25
• @UrbanGardens
• @OurLittleAcre
• @LifeOnTheBlcny
• @HelenYoest
• @MulchMaven
• @PunkRockGardens
• And many more fun,
talented writers...

26. Bing’s Summer of Doing
Vertical Gardening Expert
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
26

27. Speaking Opportunities
Panel on Incredible Edibles Talks from Boston to Boise
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
27
Joe Lamp’l, Willi Galloway and Graham Kerr
“Galloping Gourmet”

28. Resource for Garden Companies
Pleasant Valley/GrowOrganic.com Burpee’s Blog
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
28
Edible flowers video on company site Herb tips in Burpee’s blog

29. Media Source
Gardening, Food, Folklore
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
29
Columbia News Wire Story Multiple Stories on Seasonal Folklore

30. Editors Started Calling
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
30

31. http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
31
National Garden Authors Team

32. What About Your Journey?
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
32

33. Success You Want
1. Often when you’re most discouraged, the
phone will ring. Keep moving forward.
2. It’s easy to forget what you’ve accomplished.
Schedule time to pat yourself on back.
3. Success is much easier when you’re working
with others. Find travel companions.
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
33

34. Seven Steps to Social Media Success
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
34

35. #1 – Think Outside Yourself
You are NOT alone:
• Share like crazy
• RT/FB shares/ G+
• Reach out to others
• Join conversations
• Promote more than self
Social Media = Communityhttp://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
35

36. From the Very Beginning ...
• Stories about others:
– Favorite plants
– Favorite projects
– Favorite seasonal tips
– Favorite recipes
– Favorite books
– Reviews of their books
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
36

37. Speaking of Recipes ...
May Wine from
OurLifeinIdaho.Blogspot.com
Tomato Sauce from
FoodandStyle.com
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
37

38. Four out of Five
Hall of Fame Nominations for
“Best Overall Blog”
Already featured on
SeasonalWisdom.com
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
38

39. #2 – Collaborate
• Partner with others
• Interview others
• Form “support” groups
• Link to each other
Garden Designers
Roundtable
http://gdrt.wordpress.com/
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
39

40. Guest Contributors
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
40
Plus! 5 Reasons Bloggers DON’T want Guest Posts @ TeresaTOconnor.com

41. #3 – Provide Value
• Go the extra mile
• “News they can use”
• Links, photos, research,
other sources
• Think refrigerator
journalism – would they
hang this on fridge?
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
41

42. #4 - Entertain
• Show versatility
• Give hard-to-find info
• Do unexpected
• Make them laugh
Would you want to follow
you on Twitter?
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
42

43. #5 - Reciprocate
• Repay “favors”
• Show gratitude
• Do unto others ...
Reciprocity makes the
social media world turn.
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
43

44. BonBonBreak.com
• Features other bloggers
• Promotes weekly
• Receives lots of
RTs/shares
Twitter, Pinterest,
Facebook support
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
44

45. #6 – Step Up!
• Speak at garden events
• Do podcasts
• Consider products
• Support community
• #gardenchat, #rosechat,
#treechat, #groundchat
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
45

46. Gardeners on Twitter
Brenda Haas @BG_garden
#gardenchat
@TheGardenChat
Monday 9 p.m. ET
Trends on Twitter
Often reaches 100K folks via
100+ participants.
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
46

47. Rose Lovers #RoseChat
• Hosts: Chris VanCleave
@RedneckRosarian,
Teresa Byington
@AGardenDiary
• Podcast, Twitter chats,
and more...
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
47

48. Gardeners on Pinterest
• Pamela Price of
Redwhiteandgrew.com
• Vegetable Garden
Bloggers + Garden
Bloggers on Pinterest
• Garden bloggers share
posts, reach thousands
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
48

49. 7 – Stay on the Right Path
• What feels right?
• Is it still fun?
• Are you growing?
• Showcasing your skills?
• Time for new direction?
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
49

50. Questions to Ask Yourself
• What matters most to you? Fun? Portfolio? $?
• What does “success” mean to you?
• Advertising? Guest Posts? Giveaways?
• Who could help with writing, photos, design?
• What stories do you want to tell?
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
50

51. Trip Report Summary
1. Blogging is a journey, filled with unexpected
surprises.
2. You never quite know where you’ll end up.
3. Don’t go alone ... travel with others who
inspire you.
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
51

52. A Few More Travel Companions
• Growing a Greener World @GGWTV
• Leaf Magazine at @LeafMag
• Theresa Loe @TheresaLoe
• Robin Haglund @GardenMentor
• Nancy Wallace @SassyNancy
• Niki Jabbour @NikiJabbour
• Annie Haven @GreenSoil
• LaManda Joy @TheYarden
• Carole Sevilla Brown @CB4wildlife
• Kerry Michaels @ContainerGarden
• Lynn Felici-Gallant @IndigoGardens
• Chris McLaughlin @Suburban_Farmer
• Maggie Lawrence @BackyardWisdom
• Kathy Vilim @NativeGardener
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
52
Plus, so many more...

53. Wherever You’re Heading ...
Enjoy the Ride
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
53

54. Any Questions?
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
54
www.SeasonalWisdom.com

55. Photos Courtesy of Flickr and ...
Amphalon
Crazy House Capers
Damian Gadal
Enokson
erjkprunczyk
H is for Home
Pamla J. Eisenberg
Thrift Store Addict
UpNorth Memories
http://garden-bloggers-conference.com/
Copyright Teresa Connor
SeasonalWisdom.com
55