In a marathon, focused and intense 8-hour session last month, I worked like a maniac to create FOUR tutorials about social media marketing. All of them were also designed to help spread Congenital Heart Defects Awareness, in preparation for ‘A DAY FOR HEARTS - CHD Awareness Day‘ on February 14th.

One of them was the revised version of a popular course from last year, the ‘10 Day Blog Profit Challenge‘. It has been taken by over 1,400 participants, and 86% reported having made money within the 10 day period itself by following the process.

Another was the ‘Squidoo for CHD Challenge’. It is about learning to build Squidoo lenses starting from scratch - and getting them ranked well, generating visitors and maybe even some revenue… in 5 short days!

The third and fourth were brand new courses, and deal with taking advantage of the networking and traffic potential of 2 upcoming social media networks - StumbleUpon (StumbleUpon Supremacy) and Twitter (Twitter Traffic).

I started spreading the word about it on January 27th, and have been working steadily at it for over a week. Contacted several friends who are highly visible and have large followings (A list bloggers, owners of huge lists, celebrities). Mentioned it in many messages I shared with subscribers, clients and friends. Prominently featured it on various online properties I own. Twittered, blogged, Stumbled and forum-posted about the events.

And at the end, response has been so dismal,

In the 10 Day Blog Challenge directory, there are 14 registrations. Contrast this against previous years - see the 2006 Directory or 2007 Directory.

Or take the Squidoo Challenge. The Squidoo for CHD group has 23 lenses - and most were created during last year’s challenge! See the list here.

In a sense, I’m relieved there isn’t a way to track how effective the other two challenges are - it would probably add to my gloom!

But guess what?

Crying isn’t ‘my thing’. I have very little time for complaining, or lamenting the way things are. Most of it is spent making them change. Or at least trying.

I could have sit idly by and accept that there is little one person can do to raise awareness about Congenital Heart Defects.

I could have balked at the size of the challenge of raising funds to sponsor expensive surgery.

I could have done the sane thing and stuck to a conventional, tried-and-tested process and path.

Instead, I have chosen to ‘Cross the Road‘. Accept the challenge. Make a difference - be it ever so small.

It is fun, even if at times frustrating. Energizing, although enervating. Motivating, at the same time, mocking.

Ok, I’m off to work - to try harder than before to spread CHD awareness and get more people to join in the celebration of ‘A DAY FOR HEARTS : CHD Awareness Day‘ on February 14th.

Won’t you help, please? Here’s how:

• Join “A Day for Hearts”
• How You Can Help
• CHD Social Media Challenges
• 10 Day Blog Profit Challenge
• Squidoo for CHD Challenge’
• StumbleUpon Supremacy
• Twitter Traffic