This presentation examines a website that I started which became an introspective case study on what it takes to become known in a particular industry.

1. Becoming an Internet Celebrity
Using WordPress & Social Media
Erin Blaskie
Business ID: ErinBlaskie.com
Alter Ego: ErinGames.com

2. I Know What You’re Thinking...
• “But... I don’t know you!”
– You do now! ;)
– Important to maintain relevant to YOUR target
market (not the entire world – although, that’s not
bad either!)
– As you maintain relevancy and gain further
exposure in the market, your reach will expand
further than you ever dreamed

3. I Know What Else You Are Thinking
• “But I don’t want to be an Internet celebrity”
– True, you may not... But do you want to sell your
services and products online?
– Internet celebrity is interchangeable with industry
expert, industry leader, guru, go-to-person, etc.
– It’s all about the know, like & trust factor –
building credibility online will help you achieve
this

4. My Real Live Case Study
• Meet Erin Games
• Did not exist pre February of 2009
• Erin Games 1.0 was built entirely using
WP, social media and a World of Warcraft
membership
• She stayed in beta mode for approximately
one month while tested by the community
and the gaming industry

5. Erin Games WordPress Blog Site
TWITTER
PLUG-IN FAIL!!

6. The Key to This Case Study
• I started Erin Games from scratch
• WordPress was used to easily build site and
build up a bulk of content – ie: expert!!
• I used none of my contacts from my business
& internet marketing world to drive
traffic, etc. (although once I unleash this, I
suspect the views / followers / etc. will
increase!)
• No previous experience in the gaming industry
as a professional – only as a gamer

7. The Way She Looks Today
• Nearly 9,000 channel views on YouTube
• Nearly 500 subscribers on YouTube
• Nearly 2,000 followers on Twitter
• Starting a regular spot on TheStream.tv as a
gaming / MMO correspondent
• Asked to cover ComicCon, BlizzCon, QuakeCon
and PAX
• Clothing sponsorship with Jinx.com
• Get beta codes & beta test opportunities

8. How Did This Happen?
• Currently ranking well in Alexa.com – we’re up
340% over the 3 months we’ve been live
• We’re using Brian Gardner’s Church theme
and blogging on a low to moderate amount
• 279,000 ranking in the USA
• 758 ranking in Namibia
• 230,000 ranking in Canada

10. The Way She Looks Today
• Invited to EA’s offices
• Visited LucasArt Digital office
• Invited to the Resident Evil 5 launch party in
San Fran
• EA Sports contacted EG on Twitter and is
mailing sports titles as “test” games
• Featured on a radio program to discuss
gaming and the MMO community

12. How Did This Happen?
• Chose a specific target market that I had
knowledge and passion in
• Began pushing content, videos and most
importantly, personality, out to the
mainstream community via WordPress and
other tools
• Had a professional “look” to the site
easily, quickly and did it myself (zero
overhead!)

13. How Did This Happen?
• Partnered carefully with sites that were bigger
• Focused and targeted specific people in the
industry and on the web who would help drive
the brand forward
• Did live “come & meet me” broadcasts using
Ustream.tv (first broadcast had 700 viewers)

14. How Internet Celebritism Applies to You
• Expert status for “guru sites”
• Gather a following for your blog as opposed to
capturing a one-time audience – many people
blog without involving themselves in it
completely
• Target markets you may not have explored yet
– advertising, YouTube partnerships, etc.

15. How Internet Celebritism Applies to You
• Create buzz and appeal from your market thus
increasing sales, visibility and market appeal
• In today’s market, in any business, the hard
sell does NOT work – selling socially does
• New promotional opportunities open up that
didn’t exist before – media
interviews, possible inclusion in books & other
written materials, etc.

16. How I Applied This to My Company
• Erin Games was both a case study and also an
opportunity for me to explore my passion in a
possibly profitable way
• Over the last five years, I’ve built a six-figure
company with a current team of seventeen
using no paid advertising other than my blog
site (thank you Brian!)
• I sell socially rather than hard selling or buying
customers

17. Following on the Biz Level
• 250-500K visitors per month to the website
• Nearly 10,000 followers on Twitter
• 5,000 contacts on Facebook (1000+ pending)
• 10,000 contacts on 1ShoppingCart (our
autoresponder program)
• Nearly 5,000 views on business YouTube
channel

18. No, It’s Not an Ego Stroke
• Selling socially works much better than hard
selling
• The contacts and followers I have were not
spammed, followed for the sake of
following, purchased, etc.
• People will seek you out when you give them
reason to – the reason should be YOU and
that authentic part of you

19. ErinBlaskie.com

20. Business Services, ETC (www.bsetc.ca)

21. The VA Coach (www.thevacoach.com)

22. LearnAboutOnlineBusiness.com

23. Generate a Following,
Build a Long-Term Business
• People buy from those that they like, know
and trust – becoming prolific on the Internet
gives people plenty of opportunity to get to
know you
• Authenticity sells... Be yourself instead of just
trying to fit into a particular “mold”
• Utilize the tools and stay current and relevant

24. Generate a Long-Term Following
• Sell with passion and not for money – the
money will come when you are passionate
• Ask yourself: would you want to work with
someone who is unknown or is known?
• When you are blogging (and you should blog
often of course) blog in your voice so people
get to learn about YOU and not just your
company or your chosen topic.

25. Simple Tools to Get You Started
• Video: if you’re comfy with it, get on YouTube
and do videos about your content area
– For example: WP designers could do video tips for
their clients... People who want a new WP blog.
Series called “Why WordPress is the Better
Website Choice...” with tips will generate you
clients.
• Social networking: don’t get on it and blog
about your breakfast, blog content specific
things that showcase your expertise

26. Simple Tools to Get You Started
• Blog different mediums – video, blog
posts, excerpts from other bloggers – give
people a lot of things to interact with
• Interweave your efforts – when you blog, do a
Tweet about your post, turn your blog posts
where possible into articles and distribute
those, turn your online videos into blog
posts, etc.

27. Simple Tools to Get You Started
• Live streaming video: do sessions where you
can invite people to come and ask you
questions
• Guest bloggers: if you want tons of great
content, invite some other industry leaders to
blog on your site
• Interaction & interactivity: get your
community involved through contests, etc.
– Freebies actually help sell your stuff!

28. Simple Tools to Get You Started
• Get out of your bubble: look at the industry
and outside of your industry to see what is
“hot” right now
– Create blog posts about relevant things
– Create videos, parody videos, etc. – It’s okay to
infuse personality and FUN into your business
• Attend specific events: going to networking
events and conferences in your industry gets
you out there and helps you meet others

29. Most Important Tip
• Be a rockstar!
– It’s okay to TALK about what you do, who you are
and why you’re the rockstar in your industry
– Exude confidence when talking about your work –
confidence and personality sell
– Get used to saying, “SUBSCRIBE!” or “Follow me
on Twitter!” – do it often and say it everywhere
– Reach out as much as you expect to be reached
to... This isn’t a one-way street

30. Questions?
• As an industry leader, expert, internet
celebrity, gamer and online rock star... I have
answers ;) (See... Confidence! Haha)
• Oh... And follow me on Twitter! @ErinBlaskie
• Susbcribe on YouTube ;)