My latest blog is about why I’m optimistic about 2009, in spite of the awful shape the world is in at the moment. So maybe I’m crazy–but I have noticed that when I chose to start seeing the world as an abundant place, and started looking for the good in people, my own life got better.

Monday, I bought three buttons for admission to the big First Night celebration they have in the next town over, with dozens of concerts and other performances. Today, it’s snowing hard and they’re talking about it going down to 8 degrees F (minus 13 C), minus a significant wind chill. So I might not even be able to make the seven miles of rural driving into town and if we get there, I might be very cold. But I’m choosing to be optimistic. whether those end up being tickets to the performance or just a charity donation to the local arts organization, I’m OK. I know something good will come of it.

But I do want to celebrate, somehow. Reaching across the miles and continents to all of you, spread out all over the world. consider this a virtual hug.

And to quantify the hug, here’s something concrete I can offer (and this was not premeditated; I just came up with this–fortunately, the cart was already set up): Through Sunday, January 3, I’ll personally autograph and waive the shipping on any order of my award-winning marketing books, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World, and/or Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers. Principled Profit, in particular, contains a life-changing message about abundance, Green/ethical principles, and business success. The other two are straight-up how-to books. All three have won awards and great reviews. If you visit the order page and put “FREESHIP” (no quotes) in the promotion field, you don’t pay the shipping, even if you live on another continent. I think the cart is set up to reject international orders on this promo, but I actually process the orders manually. If it rejects it in the promo code, just put it in the comments/special instructions. If I see FREESHIP anywhere, I won’t charge for shipping.

A happy, healthy, and prosperous new year to you!

Today’s Book Marketing Tip is a guest article form Susan Kendrick, of Book Cover Quick Start, discussing (among other things) the important distinction between readers and buyers, and how that affects your book. And by the way, if you order a copy of my seventh book, Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers, directly from me, one of the two free e-books you get is “How to Write and Publish a Marketable Book”-which includes a full chapter on covers.

Take it away, Susan!

-Shel

Does Your Book Cover Have a Hidden Target Market?

One Book–Multiple Target Markets?
Discover the Hidden Buyers for Your Book
(That Can More Than Double Your Sales!)

By Susan Kendrick

By now you must have heard or read at least once that you should narrow
your niche, know your target audience and market exclusively to them on
your book cover. I’m going to tell you to forget all that for a few
minutes, because I want to help you see the hidden sales opportunities you
could be missing.

For the next few minutes, I want you to think about your book in terms of
readers and buyers, two often separate target markets you need to make an
impact on with your book cover.

But aren’t readers and buyers the same person?

Not always. Keep reading. (more…)

–> The Difference Between Book Buying and Book Reading Audiences: Book Marketing Tip, Dec. 08
Today’s Book Marketing Tip is a guest article form Susan Kendrick, of Book Cover Quick Start, discussing (among other things) the important distinction between readers and buyers, and how that affects your book. And by the way, if you order a copy of my seventh book, Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers, directly from me, one of the two free e-books you get is “How to Write and Publish a Marketable Book”-which includes a full chapter on covers.

–> Special limited offer while supplies last: As a thank-you for being one of their “luminary” interviewees, InspireMeToday.com gave me ten free one-year premium memberships. They are having great people in all sorts of fields, and members get access to the archives (including my interview) as well.

I’m keeping one for myself…and that leaves nine to give away. The first nine people who order at least two of my books directly from me can get a membership; just put inspiremetoday in the comment field. If you want to know if I still have any left, you can even call (8 a.m. to 10 p.m. US Eastern) 413-586-2388 and ask me.

–> Boost Your Biz with a Blog: How to Build a Professional Blog that Turns Prospects into Clients
Been putting off starting your blog? Get a ton of free advice from the recognized experts: Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff, a/k/a The Blog Squad (is that great branding or what?). They’re doing a free call just for my subscribers, January 8, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.  Click here to register.

–> Friends Who Want to Help You, January ‘09

• Do you speak? Susan Levin from SpeakerServices.com is offering a no-charge webinar with Geoffrey Zimpfer, and a $100 discount on a 4-part series, Webinar Marketing Secrets Revealed
• Marcia Yudkin is giving away a 12-page report, 33 Keys to Thriving During a Recession
• Another recession-buster from Biana Babinsky: the no charge report, “5 Keys For Getting Clients During Recession.”
• For years, Joan Stewart has published one of my favorite e-zines, The Publicity Hound. And every year, she publishes a free “The Best of the Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week” ebook. Pick up the 2008 edition here.
• Radio host David Ewen of COS Radio is looking for guests to join Book World News.
• Two very high-quality membership-based teleseminar series are featuring me later in the year. Paulette Ensign’s Publishing Prosperity series has already started. I’ve heard a few of the calls, and they’re excellent–the one with Marcia Yudkin was especially awesome. And Allison Nazarian, a new friend via Facebook, starts her last-Thursday-of-the-month Do It Yourself Marketing Seminar series (with such worthies as Willie Crawford, Kathleen Gage, and yours truly) in January–and is offering all 16 sessions at just $6 per class if you register by January 14.

–> Recent Media Coverage of Shel and His Work, 12/27/08
A new feature: spotlight on some of the places where Shel’s been featured recently.

–> How to Get Grassroots Marketing for Half-Price
Over 300 pages of solid information on lowering your marketing cost, boosting your return

–> A No-Cost Way to Connect with Reporters Seeking Stories
My friend Peter Shankman, a very well-connected PR guy in NYC, has started a no-charge service called Help A Reporter Out. He sends queries from reporters a few times a day, and if there’s a good fit, you answer the journalist. And he gets some leads that never make it to Profnet/PR Leads. This should be a no-brainer–but don’t abuse it. Only answer if you’re approrpiate for the query, or else you’ll spoil it for yourself and everyone else . If you get one good lead in a year, it’s worth it. He has passed on leads from the NY Times and Washington Post, as well as lesser venues. Sign up at www.helpareporter.com

–> Finally–An E-Book Site Puts Authors’ Needs First
Writers: Mark Victor Hansen (of Chicken Soup fame) has just launched a very author-friendly e-book/multimedia content distribution site at http://www.youpublish.com/referredby/shelhorowitz. No fee to set up, no fee to upload your files (wide range of types), 50% commission.

–> Facebook Teleseminar with Mari Smith
If you’re not on Facebook yet, you may be missing valuable business opportunities. If you are on Facebook, are you getting the most out of it for your business? Recently, The Blog Squad grilled Mari Smith about why you need to be on Facebook and how to use the social networking site to be smart about building your business. Now you can get access to the audio program from the live teleseminar for an investment of only $20.

–> You’re invited to join Foundercontact
Christophe Poizat, founder and chairman of the International Network of Social Entrepreneurs (INSE) has invited you to receive a free membership with Foundercontact. Foundercontact International Ltd is a web 2.0 online marketplace designed to bring entrepreneurs into contact with 3500 investors for seed, early stage, or growth capital. With members from 5 continents and 93 different countries, it opens up international business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Sign up at http://www.foundercontact.com/user/register

–> Hear and Meet Shel, January 2009

–> Which of Shel’s Books is Right for You?

–> Latest Additions to the Websites

–> Administrative Information
Subscribe, unsubscribe, back issues, etc.

–> Don’t forget to play our games, at the top of any page on FrugalFun.com– no fees to play, prizes to win, and you help me continue to bring all this good information to you.

Published monthly since July, 2007 by Shel Horowitz
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 USA
413/586-2388

–> Free Call Today For those Looking to Become Better Speakers

Susan Levin and Jack Barnard will be doing a call focused on the art of speaking well, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT *tonight* (Monday, 1/26) The call will cover

- Tap into your authenticity, innate creativity and spirit
- Position yourself as a credible expert and get to the next level
- Command-Brand your message with a phrase that pays
- Streamline your ideas into a well-organized presentation with a proven template systematic work plan
- Select irresistible topics and titles that grab attention
- Produce presentations that captivate and attract attention and motivate action and get results
- Create a clear focus and deliver ideas effectively with confidence that inspire any audience to accept and remember your message and take action.

This is a preview call for Susan’s bootcamps in Los Angeles March 4-8 and Portland, Maine, May 13-17. I attended one of Susan’s bootcamps a few years back and found it tremendously useful. Get the call info at http://www.speakerservices.com/teleclasses/detail/125/879810

–> Be Fearless! Discover the wise and fearless presence of a bright new power that lives within you… Best-selling author Guy Finley’s newest book is a step-by-step guide to realizing your ultimate potential as a human being. It reveals fundamental secrets of our living Universe, and contains practical techniques to help you find the truly fearless life. Today marks a special release of the book, and buyers today receive a host of free gifts from over 70 leading authors and experts. Click for details: http://www.EssentialLaws.org/special/1353/

–> Getting Started with Twitter
If you’re not already using Twitter, or using it ineffectively, you’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish with it. I’ve written about this, and so have many others. I found Karen Purves’ no-charge report to have some particularly great resources. Download your copy at www.havemoreclients.com And you can follow Shel on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ShelHorowitz

–> Special limited offer while supplies last: As a thank-you for being one of their “luminary” interviewees, InspireMeToday.com gave me ten free one-year premium memberships. They are having great people in all sorts of fields, and members get access to the archives (including my interview) as well.

I’m keeping one for myself…and that leaves nine to give away. The first nine people who order at least two of my books directly from me can get a membership; just put inspiremetoday in the comment field. If you want to know if I still have any left, you can even call (8 a.m. to 10 p.m. US Eastern) 413-586-2388 and ask me.

–> Boost Your Biz with a Blog: How to Build a Professional Blog that Turns Prospects into Clients
Been putting off starting your blog? Get a ton of free advice from the recognized experts: Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff, a/k/a The Blog Squad (is that great branding or what?).  If you missed the live call, you can get the replay here: http://frugalmarketing.com/blogsquad/index.html Also note that the 20% discount offer on the Build a Better Blog System products has been extended to January 16. Use coupon code: SH20 to save at http://www.theblogsquad.net/shel

–> Do you speak? Susan Levin from SpeakerServices.com is offering a no-charge webinar with Geoffrey Zimpfer, “Get Paid for Speaking Without Ever Leaving the Comfort of Your Home,” Wednesday, January 7, 11am-Noon Pacific, or 2pm -3pm Eastern. And if you miss it, she’ll send you the recording.

Susan is also offering my readers a $100 discount off the $497 price for her 4-part series, Webinar Marketing Secrets Revealed: Professionals Make Big Money with Webinars–but only if you register by January 14.

–> Marcia Yudkin is giving away a 12-page report,”33 Keys to Thriving During a Recession” that she wrote at the request of a few clients. It is available for downloading at no cost, and you also have permission to share the report. Download it at http://www.yudkin.com/recess.htm

–> Another recession-buster from Biana Babinsky: the no charge report, “5 Keys For Getting Clients During Recession.”

–> For years, Joan Stewart has published one of my favorite e-zines, The Publicity Hound. And every year, she publishes a free “The Best of the Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week” ebook. Pick up the 2008 edition here.

–> Radio host David Ewen writes, “Hello, at COS Radio we are looking for guests to join us on Book World News. On this weekly show, we talk about what is new in publishing, book marketing, and anything else new in the book world. We talk about anything from inside an independent press, book events, new technologies, new ideas in marketing, etc. In the past we’ve had great guests like Google Books, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Our shows can be found on www.cospRadio.com To be a guest on our show, email TodaysAuthor [AT] yahoo.com.” I’ve been a guest on his show as well. If you haven’t done radio before, this is an easy and safe way to get your feet wet.

–> Two very high-quality membership-based teleseminar series are featuring me later in the year. Paulette Ensign’s Publishing Prosperity series has already started. I’ve heard a few of the calls, and they’re excellent–the one with Marcia Yudkin was especially awesome. And Allison Nazarian, a new friend via Facebook, starts her last-Thursday-of-the-month Do It Yourself Marketing Seminar series (with such worthies as Willie Crawford, Kathleen Gage, and yours truly) in January–and is offering all 16 sessions at just $6 per class if you register by January 14.

Kelly Sonora just posted a list of 100 useful blogs for business. I am familiar with about half a dozen of the blogs on this list, and those happen to be among my favorites–there’s even a section on frugality. So it’s probably a pretty good list .

Some of the opportunities mentioned may pay commissions. If you’d like to know if a particular program is commissionable, you’re welcome to ask us.

POSTPONED from Wednesday, February 11–New Date is Thursday, February 19, How to be a Success in Business and Still Hold Your Head Up High, webinar for You Speak Easy.com. Register at http://www.brighttalk.com/webcasts/2349/attend

Small Biz America Interview on Business Ethics. This was a really fun one; we got to talk about small businesses who violate good ethics, and how that backfires, and also how lawyers and compliance issues get in the way of real communication (e.g., this bag of peanuts contains peanuts. Hello, that’s why we’re buying it). Click here for the replay.

On the Wealthy Freelancer website I’ve just published a light-hearted and very useful article, Five Tips for Frugal Freelance Success–think of it as a bonus tip for this month. Maybe I should make this category hear/meet/read

For a little while longer, you can hear my InspireMeToday.com luminary interview at no charge, using this link. You’ll hear about my past in dire poverty, the local environmental campaign that inspired me to start the Business Ethics Pledge, and a great story about how interfering with a client’s unfortunate direction led to some wonderful things. Also some stories from host Gail Goodwin’s remarkable life. And you’ll even hear the specific technique I use to tap into a higher power when I need advice!

Principled Profit: The Good Business Radio Show, alternate Mondays, 4 p.m. Eastern, over http://www.valleyfreeradio.org (in the Northampton, MA area, 103.3 FM). 1/26/09, Richard Michelson, owner of R. Michelson Gallery (fine arts) and author of several children’s books. 2/9, Beth Adams, who created the ReikiT bodywork technique.

Replay of my book marketing teleseminar for HappyAbout.com at http://happyabout.info/hidden/HappyAbout-MarketingTeleseminar03-ShelHorowitz.wav, which covered
1) Your web presence
2) Online community participation
3) 4-5-day Amazon Push
4) Various techniques to drive book sales

Replay of my Webinar, How Ethical Business Practices Can Drive Your Success, for B2B Power Exchange:

• Why ethics makes your business stronger
• What Johnson & Johnson understood about crisis management that Ford had no clue about
• What the REAL Arthur Andersen would have thought of his company’s role in the Enron scandal

And plenty more: http://www.b2bpowerexchange.net/video/video/show?id=2069901:Video:5206

Shel will be speaking at Willie Crawford’s 50th Birthday Internet Marketing Conference in Orlando, March 26-28, with an all-star lineup.  http://birthdaybashseminar.com/

And if you want to plan ahead… I’m doing another teleseminar for Gail Richards of AuthorSmart on book marketing, February 10, and one on cost-effective direct mail for Lorman Educational, March 11. I’m speaking live at CAPA University in Hartford May 9, probably at Book Expo America in late May (view/download the complete program here), and doing teleseminars for Allison Nazarian March 3rd (NOTE DATE CHANGE FROM JUNE), 12:00pm ET) titled “Make Yourself More Marketable with a Book” and Paulette Ensign September 10. Details will follow as I get them.

Follow me on:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/shelhorowitz
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=536574918
• Plaxo: http://pulse.plaxo.com/pulse/profile/show/128849525442/

Quoted at length in Aviation Week about the public relations consequences of using corporate jets.

Quoted on event marketing around the holidays in the Wilmington (NC) Journal.

Quoted in ECommerce Journal on recognizing and marketing around other winter holidays besides Chanukah and Christmas.

Quoted as the first source in an article for Seattle Business Magazine on Greener offices.

Featured in e-zine article, “Best Advice I Ever Got,” by Linda Hollander, The Wealthy Bag Lady (can’t find it on her site, though).

Article, “Why You Need a Book,” accepted into the forthcoming book 42 Rules for Driving Success with Books, edited by Mitchell Levy. This book has several superstar contributors, including (alphabetically) Jason Alba, Michelle Dunn, Joshua Estrin, Liz Goodgold, Jay Conrad Levinson,  and a number of others. Click on the title to pre-order your copy.

Article, “Web Traffic Strategies for Book Promoters,” featured in Small Publishers of North America e-zine and website.

–> Positive Power Spotlight: Tyson Foods

–> Another Recommended Book: Just Good Business, by Kellie A. McElhaney

–> Boost Your Biz with a Blog: How to Build a Professional Blog that Turns Prospects into Clients
Been putting off starting your blog? Get a ton of free advice from the recognized experts: Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff, a/k/a The Blog Squad (is that great branding or what?). They’re doing a free call just for my subscribers, January 8, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.  Click here to register.

–> Holiday Special: Principled Profit
Get a special deal on Principled Profit this holiday season, perfect for gift giving! Order 4 to 9 copies for just $12.95 each plus shipping (actual shipping if they’re all shipped to the same address, or $4.30 each if you’d like them shipped to different addresses), or order 10 or more copies and pay just $10.50 each plus shipping. For foreign orders, order 4 and pay $12.95 each plus $12 shipping, or order 10 or more copies and pay $10.50 each plus shipping. Please note if you’d like a gift acknowledgment included and/or autographed copies.

–> Do Your Holiday Shopping With Us–Discounts on Books for Your Favorite Entrepreneurs
With the holidays coming up, this is a great chance to save money on Shel’s books–they make fabulous gifts for the entrepreneurs, authors, marketers, and business managers in your life, or for those who’d like to be authors or marketers.

–> Friends and Colleagues Who Want to Help

• Real-Life Law of Attraction Success Stories: Real Stories of People Manifesting Health, Wealth, and Happiness is the name of a brand new and very nice book just released (December 1) by Rich German and Robin Hoch.
• OS Radio is looking for guests to join them on Book World News.
• Yvonne Perry has a nice new e-book focused entirely on book promoting online, called Book Marketing in the Digital Age: Online Promotion Made Easy.
• Among the more interesting people I’ve found on Twitter is Kenneth Yu.
• Marcia Yudkin is giving away a 12-page report,”33 Keys to Thriving During a Recession”
• Small Business CEO is a nice new magazine available online at no cost, from the good people at Healthy, Wealthy N Wise.
• My friend Susan Daffron has a nice new book called Publishize: How to Quickly and Affordably Self-Publish a Book That Promotes Your Expertise. Order it on December 11th for free shipping and a big pile of bonuses, including my report, Buzz-Based Book Marketing

(Click here to continue reading)

–> Hear and Meet Shel, December 2008

–> Recent Media Coverage of Shel and His Work, 12/1/08

–> Anatomy of a Promotional Offer
This is a real offer (actually two real offers) that I’m making to you–and then I’m going to analyze it and show you my exact thinking in constructing it. I think this may be extremely helpful in your own marketing, especially since I deliberately violate two key marketing rules. (Click here to continue reading)

–> Which of Shel’s Books is Right for You?

–> Latest Additions to the Websites

–> Administrative Information
Subscribe, unsubscribe, back issues, etc.

–> Don’t forget to play our games, at the top of any page on FrugalFun.com– no fees to play, prizes to win, and you help me continue to bring all this good information to you.

Published monthly since September, 2003 by Shel Horowitz
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 USA
413/586-2388

This post (along with about 300 other articles) is available exclusively to subscribers or to members of the Clean and Green Club. If you are a subscriber or Club member, please login at www.thecleanandgreenclub.com/members If you are not a subscriber or member, please visit www.thecleanandgreenclub.com

This post (along with about 300 other articles) is available exclusively to subscribers or to members of the Clean and Green Club. If you are a subscriber or Club member, please login at www.thecleanandgreenclub.com/members If you are not a subscriber or member, please visit www.thecleanandgreenclub.com

–> Shel Horowitz’s Frugal Fun Tip, Five Frugal Gift Ideas
If the economy is squeezing you, these gift items cost nothing or nearly nothing.

–> Do Your Holiday Shopping With Us–Discounts on Books for Your Favorite Entrepreneurs
With the holidays coming up, this is a great chance to save money on Shel’s books–they make fabulous gifts for the entrepreneurs, authors, marketers, and business managers in your life, or for those who’d like to be authors or marketers. (Click here to continue reading)

–> Friends and Colleagues Who Want to Help

• Real-Life Law of Attraction Success Stories: Real Stories of People Manifesting Health, Wealth, and Happiness is the name of a brand new and very nice book being released today (December 1) by Rich German and Robin Hoch.
• OS Radio is looking for guests to join them on Book World News.
• Yvonne Perry has a nice new e-book focused entirely on book promoting online, called Book Marketing in the Digital Age: Online Promotion Made Easy.
• Among the more interesting people I’ve found on Twitter is Kenneth Yu.
• Marcia Yudkin is giving away a 12-page report,”33 Keys to Thriving During a Recession”
• Small Business CEO is a nice new magazine available online at no cost, from the good people at Healthy, Wealthy N Wise.
• My friend Susan Daffron has a nice new book called Publishize: How to Quickly and Affordably Self-Publish a Book That Promotes Your Expertise. Order it on December 11th for free shipping and a big pile of bonuses, including my report, Buzz-Based Book Marketing

(Click here to continue reading)

–> Hear and Meet Shel, December 2008

–> Which of Shel’s Books is Right for You?

–> Latest Additions to the Websites

–> Administrative Information
Subscribe, unsubscribe, back issues, etc.

–> Don’t forget to play our games, at the top of any page on FrugalFun.com– no fees to play, prizes to win, and you help me continue to bring all this good information to you.

Published monthly since May, 1997 by Shel Horowitz
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 USA
413/586-2388