You have another chance to win registration to SOBCon08 if you act fast.

Lisa Sabin-Wilson has to give up her ticket because she has been snarled up with work. I am disappointed I won’t be able to meet her but her misfortune is your stroke of good luck, her ticket is up for grabs. Lisa is allowed to transfer the ticket – to you

The GOOD news, however, is this – - I have been in touch with Terry Starbucker, one of the organizers of the event (along with the illustrious Liz Strauss) – and they have confirmed that I can give my registration away and transfer it to another interested party.

Get the full details over on Lisa’s blog.

Good luck, I hope to see as many of you there as possible!

One of the top questions that I was asked when I put a call out for your biggest blogging challenges was

What do I need to do to build community on my blog?

How can I get more comments?

and

Why do I get views but no comments?

I was going to write a downloadable report on the topic, but expert community builder Liz has gone and done a brilliant presentation at WordCamp Dallas that answers the question nicely.

Just to point out an incredible fact from the video, Liz has over 60,000 comments. She knows a thing or two about getting people talking.

Get the video at Viddler

Get a transcript from Ronald Huereca at RAProject.com

Remember the SOBCon competition? We asked for you to write a post about Authority Blogging and why you should be given the SOBCon expenses, 1:1 consulting and Authority Blogger course.

We had some excellent entries but the committee could only select one winner …

The winner is Andrew Dubber of New Music Strategies with his entry here.

Why? It was a close run thing, but we felt Andrew edged in front with a unique and reader-focused submission. Liz, chair of the selection committee and boss of all things SOBCon put it this way:

Andrew Dubber fulfilled the requirement of explaining why he found SOBCon of value and what he would add himself — and he did so focused on his readers in a totally entertaining and unique fashion. Even more, Andrew showed how creativity can expand a passive offer into a chance to invite potential clients and customers to participate in both the SOBCon offer and in his consultancy.

Thanks to Blog Catalog and SOBCon for the opportunity, and thank you to everyone who put in those great submissions. I got a real kick out of seeing what you wrote.

Here is a small selection:

Andrew Dubber

Regardless of what business you’re in, the act of being an authority — or, as I’ve put it elsewhere, being thought of as an opinion leader — is a very strong driver of traffic, builder of loyalty and securer of careers. More so than pretty much any other online strategy you might care to name.

Joanna Young

in the democratic world of the internet the word “authority” takes on a different meaning. Not the kind you demand, but the kind you earn. It’s a Jeffersonian definition of the word, where: All authority belongs to the people. That’s the kind of authority I find inspiring.

Bob Younce

Being an Authority Blogger provides me with the medium necessary to reach even more Internet writers to learn from my mistakes and to help them on their path to success.

Amy Palko

I have founded a community of like-minded individuals. I am helping others to connect not only to their environment and to my environment, but also to each other and to themselves. For me, this is the essence of ‘authority’ blogging: the ability to create connections.

Hartley B Singer

Everybody in the world DEFINITELY has experience at .. something. Everybody else in the world has opinions on how you can share that knowledge with the rest of the world. Unlike our age and our health … time spent blogging PROVES that “Time Is NOT Our Enemy”, and both our experiences (and abilities to share our experiences) really do get better with age! That’s why blogging is so attractive these days. That’s why the ones you already perceive to be an authority – become even more of an authority over time.

Jon Gatrell

3 things which I feel authority blogging is not about:

1. Ego: I’m quickly coming to the conclusion that ego’s can drive traffic, but not influence. I find myself linking to really insightful content from non-ego folk who provide a thought provoking take on a subject.
2. The amount/size of Content: Very often the amount of content is confused with authority. Some of the most authoritative things online are published in under 140 characters on twitter and isn’t a fleshed out, but a query or insight which makes you THINK.
3. It is NOT a metric: Not links, not technorati ranks, not page views. A single post can be more influential than anything – where is YOURS?

So if authority isn’t driven from those things, it only leaves me with two things it might be or that I might have. A passion to share and willingness to engage

David Rogers

whatever my expertise in the field of self confidence, I started out as a total novice blogger. And to be an authority blogger you need more than expertise in your field. You also need an ability to write that conveys an authenticity, an awareness that what you write is valuable to the reader.

Easton Ellsworth

My purpose with Visionary Blogging is to teach you how to improve your blog and your blogging skills more effectively and how to achieve maximum blogging success. I will therefore succeed here only to the degree that I establish myself as an authority blogger.

How would you like an hour of free one on one consulting with me, face to face?

Even better, how would you like us to meet in Chicago, with someone else picking up the bill?

Are you looking to be an authority blogger? Join the Authority Blogger SOBCon Contest!

Blog Catalog, SOBCon08, and Authority Blogger have come together to make an exciting new contest offer. It’s all set to help you launch your yourself this year as an Authority Blogger with the plan, the models, and the support that you need to be off to a successful career.

What is SOBCon08?

As you may already know, I am going to be giving a talk at this years SOBEvent in Chicago.

I’m very excited, not just because I think it will be a fantastic event (it will), a lot of fun (yup), and I will get a chance to meet some really cool people (that too), but also I think the attendees will get a huge amount of benefit from it.

You see, it is a conference like no other.

SOBCon08 is small and focused on truly beneficial and actionable information. It’s a series of mastermind meetings. You will get quality time with serious experts giving real knowledge, not lame half-pitches for their expensive CD box set

Check out the program

Other speakers/presenters include: Anita Bruzzese from Gannett USA Today, on online reputation management, Brian Clark, Copyblogger, on online business models that work, Lorelle VanFossen of Lorelle on WordPress, one focusing your business to get noticed, Muhammad Saleem on what makes an appropriate social networking portfolio, Chris Brogan, on social media choices that produce, Dave Bullock, a sales model that converts, Liz Strauss, how to build an irresistible offer and Wendy Piersall on success management.

Don’t you think that is perfect for Authority Bloggers? That’s why we’re offering this contest!

Authority Blogger Contest Prizes and Rules

It’s always fun to start with the prizes. What the Blog Catalog, SOBCon, Authority Blogger competition winner will win:

1. $1000 budget to pay for SOBCon08 registration and travel expenses which also includes:

• a copy of ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett
• 60 attendees will get free design and SEO consults from Network Solutions experts.
• a $99 lifetime hosting offer from THC
• a pro account at E-Junkie
• a free subscription to Blogger & Podcaster Magazine and a chance to join their new USA Today guide
• a professional video interview on you and your biz for BlogTV sponsored by Fuel My Blog

2. A hour of consulting with Chris Garrett, face-to-face if possible.
3. The complete Authority Blogger online course when it launches.
4. An introduction to all of the speakers at the event.

It’s a fabulous prize package!

To Enter:

1. Write a blog post explaining why you’re the best candidate to be the next Authority Blogger. What you’ll add to the event, what you hope to learn from a personal consultancy with Chris Garrett and the wealth of great business bloggers in that weekend in Chicago. Be sure to write with authority. Tell your compelling story.
2. Have your post written by March 31st.
3. Leave a trackback to the post at chrisg.com or a link in the comment, so that we know you’ve entered.
4. Your post can include pictures, but should be no longer than 1000 words.
5. Liz Strauss, and Chris Garrett, that’s me, will select the winner on 1st of April.
6. In the case of a draw a representative from Blog Catalog will have the deciding vote.

Make sure you sign up to the Authority Blogger newsletter to be eligible for the full prize and to see all the competition announcements.

Don’t miss the deadline, then you really would feel like an April fool

Get writing and good luck!

Chris