Archive for January, 2009

Book Marketing Tip of the Month, January 2009

Monday, January 26th, 2009

–> Can an Org Use Your Book? Part 1-Advantages
When an organization buys your book, in quantity, there are many advantages to you beyond the dollars in your pocket. Not that those dollars aren’t a good thing; they most certainly are. But the cash in your pocket may not be worth as much as the massive marketing benefit you can get from it.  (Click here to continue reading.)

–> 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

–> 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.

–> 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/

–> Hear and Meet Shel, January 2009
Wednesday, February 11,
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

–> Friends Who Want to Help You
* 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,” register and she’ll send you the recording.
*
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 ;-) .

–> Recent Media Coverage of Shel and His Work
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

–> 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

Can an Org Use Your Book? Part 1-Advantages

Monday, January 26th, 2009

When an organization buys your book, in quantity, there are many advantages to you beyond the dollars in your pocket. Not that those dollars aren’t a good thing; they most certainly are. But the cash in your pocket may not be worth as much as the massive marketing benefit you can get from it:

  • Third-party validation. When an organization buys your book, it’s the highest kind of endorsement. The movers and shakers of that organization are telling their members that your work contributes valuable knowledge in the field where they’re the recognized experts. Is that cool or what?
  • Access to the organization’s members. Depending on how the group plans to use your book (we’ll talk about some of the possibilities next month), it may tell its members about you through newsletters, web sites, member events that feature you as a speaker, presenter, consultant, or visiting celebrity. The group could even bring you in as a paid spokesperson!
  • Ability to mention this relationship in your other marketing. If, for example, you’re approaching a journalist to pitch your heart-disease recovery book, or talking to a medical book club about carrying your title, don’t you think you’ll get more attention if you can say honestly that you’re partnering with the American Heart Association?
  • Potentially, you could even get access to the organization’s other partners, including for-profit businesses that might also buy your book in quantity, sponsor appearances, etc.
  • If the arrangement is made before you go to print, you can lower your print costs by increasing volume to supply the organization’s purchase.

For all these reasons, it’s worth coming to a deal. Unless it’s a very small purchase, don’t be afraid to discount. If you can do better than break even, that’s terrific. But if you at least cover your costs, the deal still works in your favor, long-term.
Part 2 of this series suggests several types of organizations that might work for you. Part 3 will look at ways organizations might use your books, part 4 on the types of books that can work (you may be pleasantly surprised), and part 5, how to approach the organizations. And as a bonus, part 6 will apply what you’ve learned to bulk purchases in the corporate sector.

If you don’t want to wait 6 months for all this information, you can buy copies of my award-winning books, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, and Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers. Use this link to get the paperback editions at the discounted price of $41.95, combined (plus shipping), or this link for the e-book editions at just $34.95 (no shipping charge). Between those two books, you’ll get lots of ideas on how to form win-win partnerships that move quantities of your book.

New on the Sites, February 2009

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Down to Business Magazine

Frugal & Fashionable Living Magazine

Career Page

Business Ethics Page

Global Travel Review

Positive Power of Principled Profit, January 2009

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

–> Positive Power Spotlight: Green Home Environmental Store
One of the better websites I’ve seen for Green products is http://www.greenhome.com As its CEO describes it, this cheerful and well-laid out site features “the most hand-made products from small green businesses, making us a bit like a Farmers Market for green products.”

–> Another Recommended Book: Just Good Business, by Kellie A. McElhaney
Greening Your Business: The Hands-on Guide to Crdating a Successful and Sustainable Business, by Daniel Sitarz (Carbondale, IL: Earthpress, 2008)  For all those who think being more Green means spending a ton of money, go out and get this book. The larger your enterprise, the more money you’ll save.

–> 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

–> 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/

–> Friends Who Want to Help You
* 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,” register and she’ll send you the recording.
*
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 ;-) .

–> Hear and Meet Shel, January 2009

–> Recent Media Coverage of Shel and His Work

–> 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

Positive Power Spotlight, January: Green Home Environmental Store

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009
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

Another Recommended Book: Greening Your Business

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009
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

Frugal Marketing Tip, January 2009

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

–> Frugal Marketing Tip of the Month: Succeed with Social Media
This is my entry for Eban Pagan’s how-to-use social-media contest. Even though I’ve covered social media within the year, I think this nice succinct summary stands well as a Frugal Marketing Tip–and is maybe easier to deal with than the four-part series I ran last spring.  (click here to continue reading)

–> Free Teleseminar, 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: http://www.blogsquadteleseminars.com/shel/

–> Friends and Colleagues Who Want to Help

  • 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.
  • 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 ;-).

–> Hear and Meet Shel, January 2009

–> Recent Media Coverage of Shel and His Work

–> 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

Succeed With Social Media

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
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

Frugal Fun Tip, January 2009

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

–> Frugal Fun Tip of the Month: Rotate Your Collections

–> Free Teleseminar, 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: http://www.blogsquadteleseminars.com/shel/

–> Friends and Colleagues Who Want to Help

  • 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.
  • 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 ;-).

–> 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 May, 1997 by Shel Horowitz
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 USA
413/586-2388

Rotate Your Collections: Frugal Fun Tip January 09

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

Over the years, I’ve accumulated a lot of carved wood or stone animals. They were all displayed on a rather crowded shelf, and I would look at them every once in a while, but not really absorb them.

But a couple of months ago, I put almost all of them in a box, and then pulled two out for the shelf. Wow! All of a sudden I can see and appreciate them. After a couple of weeks, I put them back in the box and pulled out a couple of others. I feel like I’m appreciating them much more when I can see them individually; they’ve gone from clutter to art.

It reminded me of my frustration when I go to a museum that has a canvas jammed into every available inch of wall space. It is more relaxing and I get more out of it if there’s plenty of space between the artworks.

So…whatever you collect, think about de-cluttering your display space and letting each special object take turns.

Now, if I could just get the rest of my office looking that good!

 

Free Teleseminar, 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: http://www.blogsquadteleseminars.com/shel/





Note: As is the case for most professional reviewers, many of the books I review on this site have been provided by the publisher or author, at no cost to me. I've also reviewed books that I bought, because they were worthy of your time. And I've also received dozens of review copies at no charge that do not get reviewed, either because they are not worthy or because they don't meet the subject criteria for this column, or simply because I haven't gotten around to them yet, since I only review one book per month. I have far more books in my office than I will ever read, and the receipt of a free book does not affect my review.