Final Changes Offer More to Mastermind Teams!

Posted on March 25, 2008 by terry

Often Conflicts Lead to Opportunities

I read once that when conflicts in business happen it often works out to benefit both parties. I’m delighted to say that might be what’s happened to the SOBCon08 program!

During a conversation last night, Muhammad Saleem and I realized that he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his role as a speaker that weekend in May. Sad news. Thank you Mu, for letting us know in such a timely manner. We love you for being so involved up to this point. Hope to see you next year!

What To Do?

When I looked over the program I realized that this offered an opportunity to make more room for folks to actually think about what they’re planning and doing. Quick, I was on the phone this morning to Chris Brogran to talk about how he might combine his social media portfolio with what Muhammad was going to do. We both agreed that the two are a more natural fit together. We replanned the model and the presentation.

We reordered the day.

Now, there’s a new session in the afternoon for just thinking through the entire plan as a whole — mastermind teams can ask questions, critique plans, network or use the time to further their game plan in whatever way they see will work best for them.

Everyone wins.

The SOBCon program is really all about YOU

A Word from Our Local Baker

Posted on March 21, 2008 by terry

When we launched our corporate site last year we had a clear vision of where we wanted to go and we understood pretty fast that we were not choosing an easy path. The web hosting industry is extremely competitive, but the competition was a secondary concern. This sounds hard to believe, especially since we promise to match any competitor’s price guaranteed, but the promise has more to do with our commitment to customer satisfaction than it has to do with fighting to becoming the most popular web host. We are not even aiming to go there, but we want to be bloggers’ first choice for web hosting.

Last year we read a lot about SOBCon and the fine bloggers who attend this extraordinary event. This year the event sounds even more promising and we are proud to be among the first companies to sponsor it. It simply makes sense for us to promulgate our corporate values by sponsoring excellence. If you take a look at our online history and read the numerous testimonials about our company, services and customer support, you will see that excellence is something we also strive for.

We host hundreds of websites and we carefully monitor their activities. There are many reasons why we do this and we can easily summarize the most important ones. We pledge to be a family safe web host – meaning that we will not allow mature content on our servers. We will also delete any website that promotes any type of questionable content without further recourse. These are serious concerns that help us maintain our integrity as a brand. However, when we monitor the sites we host the most rewarding experience is to learn from our customers, to grow with them and to promote their work if we can. This is how THC differentiates itself from other web hosting companies.

Our company philosophy is: to treat our customers with utmost respect, to create a bridge between our company and them, to offer room for real conversations and real relationships.

Do you remember the small neighborhood bakery where the cakes tasted better because the seller knew how to be a baker? Do you remember the little cookie he always kept aside for your child and do you remember the way he hand it out to your child with an open smile? He didn’t charge you more to be kind, did he? Besides, you always knew that if there was something wrong with the cake you bought, the baker would have solved the problem immediately. No false excuses. No extra charges. Well, THC is your local baker.

Cheapskate Blogger Seeks Roommate for SOBCon08

Posted on March 17, 2008 by Starbucker

Are you interested in defraying conference costs? Me too! If you’re a nonsmoking female blogger who might want to split a room at Club Quarters for SOBCon08, please e-mail or Skype Kristen King (kristen(at)kristenkingfreelancing.com, www.inkthinkerblog.com) to talk about being roomies for a few days.

Thanks!

And the Winner Is………

Posted on March 17, 2008 by Starbucker

It is with great pleasure that we announce the winner of our 2008 Marketing contest.

The grand prize is a free registration to SOBCon08, plus two hotel nights.

We’d also like to give one more big shoutout to our contest co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors.

In a close contest, Todd Jordan prevailed over a field of 22 entrants. He took an early lead and never relinquished it, despite strong challenges along the way.

Congratulations Todd!!

And thanks to all who participated in the contest – your promotion of this event has been most appreciated. And hey, don’t despair, there’s still time to register if you haven’t already done so (if you are a returnee, remember that the special $350 price expires on April 1).

Have a great week!

Invest One Day of Experts to Be a Winner?

Posted on March 15, 2008 by terry

Planning a conference is a lot like planning a wedding reception. Everyone thinks, “Oh it doesn’t matter if I RSVP.” But business is about being able to make a decision. We made our decisions. Can you make yours?

Would you invest one day of experts, models, and teamwork to build your business around your strengths, your situation, and where you want to be?

Success is a decision.

Register now.Lots of registration perks up.
If you’re returning from last year, register by April 1 to take advantage of that great price.
If you’re planning to stay in the Club Quarters Hotel or the Hotel 71, book now. The rooms are limited, especially at the Club Quarters. Some folks have already signed up. Rooms are at a premium.

Karen at bestwellnessconsultant [@] gmail [dot]com has volunteered to help coordinate a list of roommates for those who are looking.

Southwest has come great airfares. They also require a decision.

SOBCon08: Stop the Noise, Drop the Details, DECIDE YOUR BUSINESS

Where To Stay While You Attend SOBCon08 at the Summit

Posted on March 14, 2008 by Starbucker

Hi everyone – now that we’ve picked the most excellent place to hold SOBCon08 (and its fabulous program) this year, the Summit Executive Center, it’s time to talk about hotels.

Yes, the Summit Executive Center is JUST a meeting center – it doesn’t have a companion hotel to put overnight guests.

BUT…(and here’s the really good news), there are nearly 4,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Summit (yep, it’s THAT good of a location!).

You have a lot of choices. On the other hand, sometimes too many choices is not such a good thing. It’s like the menu at the Cheesecake Factory – so many things to pick from, that it takes forever to decide (so THAT’s why there’s always such a long wait there).

So, we’re pleased to declare a couple of “preferred” hotels that are offering special prices for SOBCon08 attendees – Club Quarters and Hotel 71.

The Hotel 71 price is $225 per night – you can reach them at 312-346-7100. It’s best to call them during normal business hours, 9AM to 6PM CST M-F, and 9AM to 5PM on Saturday. Ask for the group rate for “SOBCon08″.

The Club Quarters rate is $139. You can call them at 312-357-6400, and it’s also best to call them during the day. Say that you are booking the room in association with an event at the Summit .

If neither of these hotels suit your fancy, there are many more – check out the Summit site for just a sample of the other options.

If you have any questions, just let me know at terrystarbucker(at)gmail(dot com).

Go ahead and register – NOW!!

The SOBCon 2008 Marketing Contest Update

Posted on March 9, 2008 by Starbucker

Here are the latest results of our 2008 Marketing contest.

The grand prize is a free registration to SOBCon08, plus two hotel nights. And thanks again to our contest co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors!

Here are the Top 10 linkers as of 9:52 EST on 3/9/08:

1) Todd Jordan - 216
2) Karen Putz - 153
3) Alex Shalman - 130
4) Jesse Petersen - 98
5) Troy Worman - 86
6) Char Polanosky - 82
7) Stephen Smith – 74 Joanna Young - 44
9) Phil Gerbyshak – 25
10) Derrick Sorles – 17

Tune in next week for the FINAL results.

And don’t forget to register!

Location, Location, Location: SOBCon08 Has a New Home!

Posted on March 8, 2008 by Starbucker

It is with great excitement that we announce the venue for SOBCon08 -Biz School for Bloggers:

The Summit Executive Center in Downtown Chicago!

That’s right, we’re going to be getting together right in the heart of the Windy City, at 205 N. Michigan Ave.

As you know, we’ve spend much time looking for just the right place to host this gathering, and The Summit fits the bill perfectly.

It didn’t take us long after meeting Summit “Ring Leader” Louise Silberman and touring the facility that we knew we’d found our new home – in fact they practically “had us at hello” with their core purpose statement: “To support education…inspiring professional and personal growth.”

Bingo! (check it out for yourselves on their excellent web site)

So we’ve found our place, and what’s more, the downdown location allows our attendees much flexibility and possibility – flexibility in lodging (there are 4,000 rooms within walking distance of the Summit!) and possibility (all that the bustling city of Chicago has to offer).

Stay tuned to this space for further information regarding preferred hotels and special giveaways to all attendees.

Heck, let us put one out there right now – all registrants will receive a hot-off-the-presses book “Problogger Book” by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett compliments of Wiley Publishing, a $25 value. Nice!

SOBCon 2008 Marketing Contest – Day 20

Posted on March 1, 2008 by Starbucker

Hi all! Terry Starbucker here once again, reporting on the latest results of our 2008 Marketing contest.

The grand prize is a free registration to SOBCon08, plus two hotel nights thrown in for good measure. And thanks again to our contest co-sponsor, Plante Moran Financial Advisors!

Here are the Top 10 linkers as of 11:38 AM EST on 3/1/08:

1) Todd Jordan - 113
2) Alex Shalman - 104
3) Jesse Petersen - 70
4) Stephen Smith – 59
5) Char Polanosky - 58
6) Troy Worman - 56
7) Joanna Young - 39 Phil Gerbyshak – 21
9) Chris Brown – 11
10) Tie, Becky McCray, and Derrick Sorles – 8

Todd and Alex are locked in a tight battle for first place, but there’s 14 days to go and all it takes is a big “Stumble” (ha) to get lots o’ links!

Thanks again everyone, and tune in next week for the latest results.

And don’t forget to register!