Branding Yourself as an Expert on CNN iReport can create Massive iReport Exposure

Many of us are in YouTube and other video sharing sites.
We are also in places like Twitter and Facebook.

I follow the live news from CNN in FaceBook. Its how I watched the Obama Innauguaration and his State of The Nation Address. Super way to get the news in a social network that I'm already in.

I am a big fan of CNN news. I get lots of great information and META for my content by staying up to date and current with world news, national news and more.

Thats right, I get great content from the news for my online blogs, pages and twitter posts to share with friends. Keeping up to date information out there helps me remain a VALUE to others.

SO WHERE did I get inspired ?

Recently I got completely addicted to Rick Sanchez of CNN-
(he's on at 3 pm EST) and his LIVE coverage of whats hot in the news.

What attracted me to Rick Sanchez is that he has Twitter, Facebook and MySpace pages where he lets you post comments about the news and then SHOWS those pages and comments LIVE ON THE NEWS!

FOLLOW Rick Sanchez in Twitter and see how he Interacts with you for the News!
RICK SANCHEZ TWITTER

I just got this from RICK in Twitter:
To prove how powerful social media is with these fabulous Media Stars check out what the New York Times had to say...
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

MILLIONS TUNE IN DAILY TO WATCH
For those of us who are always wanting to expand our online presence I saw this an OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE with like minded people who care about the same issues I do and BONUS... get some exposure!

Millions of people tune in daily, so if we contribute to Ricks pages (and others) by placing informed, educated comments and those get posted on the news, Imagine for a moment the Exposure...

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE Could See YOUR comment!
Those that Follow, will now end up FOLLOWING or Adding YOU as friends!

I have successfully added many friends and followers by keeping up with Rick's daily news in these social arena's.

Another CNN reporter I like is Jack Cafferty of The Situation Room.

His candor and bluntness for saying what is on his mind absolutely make me just love to hear what he's going to say next. Jack doesn't sugarcoat it and sometimes in the News that is especially refreshing. Nobody tells Jack he can't express HIS opinion!

Jack has , The Cafferty File his blog where you can post comments (be sure to list the city your from he likes that) and he is in Twitter as well. Jack like Rick loves to put up the comments that YOU input.

Jack Cafferty posts at least ONE question a day if not three (I've seen him ask that many depending on the day) where he gives you the chance to SOUND OFF.

You can also keep up with JACK CAFFERTY's TWITTER

When you are social networking you need to be INTERACTIVE
you are going to have others who follow what is important to us socially and that means NEWS.

If given the opportunity to enjoy FREE SPEECH why not jump on the band wagon?

I've just recently realized that my addiction for the current events can have a big payoff! And here is where...

CNN has iReport
User generated, Uncensored News and Opinions from REAL PEOPLE.

This has been a HUGE succes with CNN and has regular daily segments on the News. Massive attractive action and exposure potential here!

You will see SEVERAL TIMES A DAY the main anchor pop in with the iReport section of CNN News and find out what people are saying and reporting about a current subject.

Also CNN loves that many iReporters are catching NEWS LIVE in their areas that CNN may be missing!

The recent Fires in Austrailia got hundreds of up close and personal videos of what was happening in the 140- 170 mile per hour fires that ravaged its countryside and killing many people in its path. This allowed CNN to have to most valuable content about the fires on the News and Web!

IF you think that you want to be an iReporter you can sign up for free.
I include the information for doing so below.

SUGGESTION make sure that you love the NEWS.
Or, that you are in an idustry that is making the NEWS!

KEEP IT EXCLUSIVE
TIP: don't post your iReports in YouTube or other video sharing sites. Keep them EXCLUSIVE to iReports. You can share the links in FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace if you want to get the word out!

This keeps you in your TOU (Terms of Use) with CNN.

For me, I have Camtasia, so if I want to spotlight my iReport account in You Tube I can. However, I am not going to repost the video's to video sharing sites.

BONUS: LIST YUR HOMEPAGE FOR MORE EXPOSURE
You can list your homepage on your iReport profile
I chose to list my You Tube channel for my homepage to keep up with my profile in iReport.

I specifically list- that I work online. (As do many iReporters) helping small business owners expand their web presences to interact with their clients. That's it. No more!

Talk about Traffic!

Marketer ALERT!!!
iReports is NOT THE PLACE TO PROMOTE YOUR PROGRAMS! YOU WILL GET SLAMMED! and DELETED!

SO DON'T DO IT!

iREPORT is for people who love current events and create value based information about them.This is a place to socialize not monetize so don't be a LOSER here!

Why blow a BIG Opportunity?

You can attract people who want to learn more about you who are LIKE MINDED. Save the promo's for You Tube and other places where they can find out MORE about you. DO NOT DO IT HERE!

Utilize this place for the Expansion of YOU as an EXPERT without being a promoter. You know more than one thing so focus on those!

People who like you will visit your homepage, WINK!

What are you cutting from your budget?
Calling all Super Moms
Barbie's turning 50
Surviving a Tough Economy
Stimulus Thoughts: What You'd fix first?
Signs of the Times
Sound Off
Money Problems: Ask an Expert!
My School District
Small Business Showcase
In Need of a Money Coach?
Weight Loss Success Stories
Young People who ROCK
News to Me
Social Networking: Too Much Information?
Tech Talk
Your "How To" Video
and MANY MANY MORE...

There has to be something on this list that YOU can contribute to!

Join me in iReport
visit my profile there at
CNN iReporter: HappyLaptop

SEE MY FIRST iREPORT w/Dennis Karganilla Spotlight as a new iReporter

I'm in production now on a few videos and I will be doing something that I don't see any other iReporters do. It's all about NICHE!

The first video has only been up 2 hours and has over 200 hits.
A second video got 137 hits in 23 minutes!
Not bad for a newbie and I'm only going to get better by utilizing the network by meeting others and checking out the SuperStars!

Then my assignment: What are You cutting from your budget?
Since I just moved and revamped my ENTIRE life this was Perfect!!!
(this was the 2nd video I posted from numbers above...)

It got 78,000 + views and 120 comments.
It also got me to SUPERSTAR status, now I will never lose that status and will always be FEATURED as long as I post regularly to my account. News junkie no problem there! Thousands of people only watch the SuperStars!

OK HERE's The ACTUAL footage of what HIT CNN NEWS Friday Feb 28,2009
remember this was my 1st iReport day! (I have 3 videos running on the CNN news currently at last update from CNN)

CLICK THAT LITTLE "CNN VIDEO BELOW"

Embedded video from CNN Video

I know several people actually but frankly I'm only going to mention 2.
Why? Their niches.

RhondaKHicks- many of you know her in You Tube as a valued friend and mentor.
She also though works with FIRST GENERATION College students.
This means that no one in their family has ever gone to college. She helps them figure out a path, go through the application and get rolling on a bright future!

Because Rhonda is in such a niche market and since its a HOT HOT HOT topic for Obama, I think what she knows as an Expert could help other people. From parents hoping to help get kids into college, to Adults who will be answering Obama's call from his State of the Nation address to get Continued Education!

Imagine Rhonda how many times Education will pop in the news over the next few months and all the quick little iReports you could do!

Then there is Cynthia Dixon -you also know from You Tube as a valued friend and mentor.CYNTHIA DIXONS "Lets Get Raw"

Cynthia is testing a Raw Food diet and wants to get into the BILLION DOLLAR Holistic Food and Health Arena. This is another HOT HOT HOT area that will be popping up in the news.

While Cynthia is taking a personal approach and learning she could be sharing some of that knowledge everytime Healthcare, Weight and American Obesity come up in the news! (And we know that American Weight comes up a lot in the news).

It's also another part of the Obama link, He's hot after healthcare reform and that means that many people in America are going to have to get a grip and GET HEALTHY to truely lower costs!

Where to sign up to be an iReporter for CNN
Here is where you go to find out about setting up a FREE account to be a CNN iReporter. Make sure that you read the TOU (Terms of Use) so that YOU can comply with what they are looking for and the terms of Copywrite!

I set my account and profile up in 7 minutes!
Make sure you use a profile pic! Here's the one I used on mine.

SIGN UP TO BE A CNN iREPORTER

iReport has an assignment desk where they ask for Specific CURRENT content
By Using this feature you are on the current News list. This equals a better chance of being featured on the CNN News, you can check for the latest assignments after creating an account here or just BROWSE this area to see if you have any value to add...
iREPORT ASSIGNMENTS

iReport Toolkit
where you can learn what makes a good story for submission. The more you follow along with iReport guidelines the better your chances of getting included not only in the community as a valued contributor but also ON THE NEWS!
iREPORT TOOLKIT

I value your opinions.
YOU help me become a better Lensmaster.
Please let me know how I am doing.
What you thought.
If you popped over and checked out the links.
YOUR feedback is important to me!

Thanks for hanging out with me, say hello so I know that you were here :)

Always Looking for you too,
Johni
myHAPPYlaptop

iReporter "HappyLaptop"