I’m here at SES Toronto. It’s been a crazy last few weeks, with SMX Advanced, then Internet Retailer, and now SES Toronto. I came in late to the session “Beyond Linkbait: Getting Authoritative Online Mentions”, so I only have notes from Jim Hedger‘s presentation. Here are Jim’s main takeaways:

• The fastest path to prominence is to create something of value every day
• Get involved in conversations
• The internet is a conversational medium
• Create informative content (audio, video, text, whatever)
• Give insights about your industry
• Offer your own techniques, tactics and forecasts
• Review software or products your readers might find useful
• Give others something to reference or link to
• Get involved in conversations
• Create informative content
• Participate in community forums like SEW, Cre8asite, WebmasterWorld, Digital Point, IHelpYou, etc.
• Do nice things. Acts of kindness go a long way in this community. e.g. Search Engine Journal’s SEM Essay Prize Pack, Metamend’s Hockey Tournaments for the Food Bank, SEOmoz’s free passes to SMX events, MarketingPilgrim’s SEO/SEM Education Scholarships
• The Internet is a collective memory. Which is good because otherwise nobody would remember exactly what happened at the infamous Internet Marketers of New York / Best of the Web charity parties.
• Be of good value. It’s really hard work, but it helps you stand out in the crowd.
• Start early. repeat frequently.
• On authoritative sources, journalists and bloggers: Be a pal. Be a source.
• Remember a few vital rules…
  • #1: Never tell a journalist or blogger something you don’t want everyone else on Earth to know
  • #2: Keep it simple. The media has a dozen different story options to choose from every day. each story is extremely complicated. Help writers get it right.
  • #3: Know your audience. Learn the interests and passions of favored writers. Pitch stories to writers who might be interested. Avoid annoying writers with uninteresting stories.
• Always be honest. Every writer has heard his or her share of big fish stories. Writers might research your cliam.
• Things not to do:
  • Don’t make up fake news stories
  • Don’t assume entitlement. You don’t get links because you are you. You have to work for it.
  • Don’t spam writers.
  • Don’t forget to say thanks