Before we get to this month’s tip: Two Important Announcements From Shel

1. In these tough times, I want to do my part. I’ve just released some things to save you money: A brand new e-book called Painless Green: 111 Tips to Help the Environment, Lower Your Carbon Footprint, Cut Your Budget, and Improve Your Quality of Life—With No Negative Impact on Your Lifestyle,  http://www.painlessgreenbook.com – and a website where you can get that e-book and all my books at a discount: http://www.RecessionBusterBooks.com

2. If you haven’t gotten your book done yet, or you know someone looking to become a published author, my new coaching program can help: Shel Horowitz’s Exclusive Ethical Expert Book Publishing Program. I’ll be announcing this in my speech Saturday at Willie Crawford’s Birthday Bash in front of several hundred people, but I wanted to let you have first crack. Especially since I’m offering it at a reduced price this first time out, and because the number of available seats is sharply limited: I’ve told the conference planners to stop taking offers when we reach 30 seats at the Gold level, and only FIVE at the Platinum level, which includes private coaching from me.

And now, on to this month’s tip:

How Organizations Benefit by Partnering With You

It’s absolutely vital to understand how an organization will benefit from your book <i>before</> you make the initial contact–because you must answer that question in your proposal letter. This brief adaptation from Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers provides some possible answers:

The key question to ask yourself is this:
How does this organization genuinely benefit from using my book?
There are many possible answers; finding the correct answer may be the key that will turn your prospect into a buyer. Usually, the correct answer will involve drilling down with “so what” questions, until you find ways to either increase sales of the organization‘s products and services and/or increase the organization’s status in the minds of its customers, prospects, employees, vendors—and in some cases (especially to counterbalance negative publicity) the general public. Among many possibilities, the organization might want to:

• Show people how to use the organization’s product or services in creative or expanded ways.
• Establish its own expertise and/or disseminate its ideas to a wider audience.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the community (as when a local bank sponsors a history of the town).
• Overcome bad press.
• Show off the organization in time for an important anniversary or milestone.
• Woo lucrative clients, investors/donors, or business-venture partners with interesting and useful gifts.
• Use the book for internal training.
• Convey a point of view about a hot-button issue of the day (for instance, a organization might give out copies of a book to legislators, regulators, or policy makers).
• Demonstrate that it is a caring and concerned organization willing to help.

One I don’t mention in the book is more important these days than ever before: create (or supplement) a revenue stream through product sales.

Rather not wait until the end of June to get started? Grab 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. ). Of course, you can also buy just one book, at the usual price.

–> Positive Power Spotlight: HelpAReporter.com (HARO)
What a perfect example of “do what you love, and the money will follow.” Peter Shankman used to run a PR agency called The Geek Factory. In late 2007, he started sending queries from reporters needing story sources, as a favor to the reporters. Originally…

–> Another Recommended Book: If Not Me, Then Who? By E. Cabell Brand
This is not the book you’d expect from a very successful white businessman of the 1950s, a World War II veteran and a resident of ultraconservative southwestern Virginia. But that’s because Cabell Brand hasn’t led the typical life of his demographic.

–> Friends Who Want to Help You (March 2009)

• Publicity guru Shannon Cherry’s fifth annual Be Heard Day is March 7. Her nothing-to-buy giveaway continues through March 20 (Hey, Shannon, maybe you should call it Be Heard Week?). National Be Heard Day appears in Chase’s Calendar of Events, has been recognized in New York State, and has gotten amazing media coverage including being featured by the Associated Press. This year’s giveaway is worth $5500, including information on using social media for publicity from Nancy Marmolejo,  25 ways to hear Ka-Ching! in your business, fast, from Michelle PW, find out how you have more time to have the lifestyle you want from Melanie Benson Strick, and of course, something from me: Ten Cost-Free Ways a Business or Service Can Find New Prospects.
• Need a product to sell? If you’ve been around the Internet marketing world for any time at all, you’ve come across 1ShoppingCart.com and all its rebranded variations. Many of the gurus use this software to run their downloadable e-products, their autoresponders, newsletters, etc. The programmer who created 1shoppingcart is George Tran, and George has just released “The Social Marketing Manifesto,” a very well-written, well-thought-out, and well-researched 154-page e-book that helps you quickly understand the culture of social media networks, has great advice for how to monetize, and reviews numerous tools to set up your own social media network and/or participate more effectively on existing platforms. It retails for $29.97, but I’m offering it for just $18.95. AND you get full resale rights! I have to tell you, I’ve not been impressed with the quality of a lot of the private-label-resale-rights info products out there, but this one is a gem. And one of the things I really like about it is that it’s aimed at (and useful to) both business and nonprofits, and there’s a lot of really good stuff specifically for nonprofits from someone who deeply understands that business model.
• Dr. Mani is giving away a report that explains eight force-multipliers that will help business owners boost profit. I’ve seen the report and it’s well done.  Biz Multiplier Free
  
• Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski offer a short thought on the topic of either Relationships or The Freedom to Be Fabulous each day –  5 days a week. No cost. Here’s the first one, which they did for Valentine’s Day: With Valentine’s Day coming, Be Fabulous by expressing your genuine care and enjoyment to all those you love. AND be sure to RECEIVE their appreciation and all that they give to you. Want more? http://www.judithandjim.com/receiving
• The Game, A Speaker’s Bootcamp: Susan Levin’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 info at http://www.speakerservices.com/services/thegame.html/879810

–> Hear and Meet Shel, Late Feb/March 2009

• I’m speaking at Willie Crawford’s 50th Birthday Internet Marketing Conference in Orlando, March 26-28
  
• Book Marketing for Authors, CAPA University in Hartford, May 9, and probably again at Book Expo America in New York, May 29 or 30.
• Paulette Ensign’s Publishing Prosperity Mastermind is another high-value, low-cost teleseminar series that’s already started, and again, you get all the recordings. I’m speaking on September 10 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing–By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
• How to be a Success in Business and Still Hold Your Head Up High, webinar for You Speak Easy.com (five-star rating by attendees). Through the end of March, you can get the replay at no charge. After that, it’ll be $14.95.
• Cross-Marketing: How to Turn Competitors into Partners, an earlier webinar for the same group. Through the end of March, you can get the replay at no charge. After that, it’ll be $14.95.
• 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).
• On the Wealthy Freelancer website I’ve 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
• This is the last month to hear my InspireMeToday.com luminary interview at no charge.
• 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). 3/9/09 Ken Foster of Shared Vision Network. 3/23/09 Peter Shankman of HARO, the reporter-source matching service.
  
• Replay of my book marketing teleseminar for HappyAbout.com
• Replay of my Webinar, How Ethical Business Practices Can Drive Your Success, for B2B Power Exchange

Click here for all the links.

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

–> 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

–> Get More News Coverage, Part 2-Follow Up
Ok, you read last month’s Frugal Marketing Tip and you’ve identified reporters who’ll be receptive to your pitch. What next? It’ll take two months to answer, because there are two different situations. If you’re responding to a reporter query on HARO or PR Leads/Profnet… click here to continue reading.

–> Help Shel create a new product/website that helps you become more environmentally friendly with little or no expenditure and without significant lifestyle changes by taking this quick 7-question survey:  http://tinyurl.com/painfreegreensurvey

–> Friends Who Want to Help You (March 2009)

• Publicity guru Shannon Cherry’s fifth annual Be Heard Day is March 7. Her nothing-to-buy giveaway starts tomorrow (March 6) and continues through March 20 (Hey, Shannon, maybe you should call it Be Heard Week?). National Be Heard Day appears in Chase’s Calendar of Events, has been recognized in New York State, and has gotten amazing media coverage including being featured by the Associated Press. This year’s giveaway is worth $5500, including information on using social media for publicity from Nancy Marmolejo,  25 ways to hear Ka-Ching! in your business, fast, from Michelle PW, find out how you have more time to have the lifestyle you want from Melanie Benson Strick, and of course, something from me: Ten Cost-Free Ways a Business or Service Can Find New Prospects. Remember–wait until tomorrow. All that’s up there right now is some teaser copy.
• Need a product to sell? If you’ve been around the Internet marketing world for any time at all, you’ve come across 1ShoppingCart.com and all its rebranded variations. Many of the gurus use this software to run their downloadable e-products, their autoresponders, newsletters, etc. The programmer who created 1shoppingcart is George Tran, and George has just released “The Social Marketing Manifesto,” a very well-written, well-thought-out, and well-researched 154-page e-book that helps you quickly understand the culture of social media networks, has great advice for how to monetize, and reviews numerous tools to set up your own social media network and/or participate more effectively on existing platforms. It retails for $29.97, but I’m offering it for just $18.95. AND you get full resale rights! I have to tell you, I’ve not been impressed with the quality of a lot of the private-label-resale-rights info products out there, but this one is a gem. And one of the things I really like about it is that it’s aimed at (and useful to) both business and nonprofits, and there’s a lot of really good stuff specifically for nonprofits from someone who deeply understands that business model.
• Dr. Mani is giving away a report that explains eight force-multipliers that will help business owners boost profit. I’ve seen the report and it’s well done.  Biz Multiplier Free
  
• Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski offer a short thought on the topic of either Relationships or The Freedom to Be Fabulous each day –  5 days a week. No cost. Here’s the first one, which they did for Valentine’s Day:
  With Valentine’s Day coming, Be Fabulous by expressing your genuine care and enjoyment to all those you love.
  AND be sure to RECEIVE their appreciation and all that they give to you.
  Want more? http://www.judithandjim.com/receiving

–> Hear and Meet Shel, Late Feb/March 2009

• Make Yourself More Marketable with a Book, Allison Nazarian’s Do It Yourself Marketing Training Series, Tuesday, March 3rd, noon ET/9 a.m. PT.
• Innovative Solutions to Reduce Direct Mail Expenses, Association of Strategic Marketing/Lorman Education Services, March 11, 1 pm ET/10 a.m. PT.$199 and qualifies for 0.5 credit toward CMM certificate.
• I’m speaking at Willie Crawford’s 50th Birthday Internet Marketing Conference in Orlando, March 26-28
  
• Book Marketing for Authors, CAPA University in Hartford, May 9, and probably again at Book Expo America in New York, May 29 or 30.
• Paulette Ensign’s Publishing Prosperity Mastermind is another high-value, low-cost teleseminar series that’s already started, and again, you get all the recordings. I’m speaking on September 10 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing–By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
• How to be a Success in Business and Still Hold Your Head Up High, webinar for You Speak Easy.com (five-star rating by attendees). Through the end of March, you can get the replay at no charge. After that, it’ll be $14.95.
• Cross-Marketing: How to Turn Competitors into Partners, an earlier webinar for the same group. Through the end of March, you can get the replay at no charge. After that, it’ll be $14.95.
• 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).
• 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
• This is the last month to hear my InspireMeToday.com luminary interview at no charge.
• 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). 3/9/09 Ken Foster of Shared Vision Network. 3/23/09 Peter Shankman of HARO, the reporter-source matching service.
  
• Replay of my book marketing teleseminar for HappyAbout.com
• Replay of my Webinar, How Ethical Business Practices Can Drive Your Success, for B2B Power Exchange

Click here for all the links.

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

–> 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

–> Museum and School Reciprocity: Frugal Fun Tip, March, 2009
Sure, you know about AAA and AARP  discounts, at least if you’re in the US (if you’re not: American Automobile Association, American Association of Retired Persons).  But did you know that… click here to continue reading for two more easy ways to receive discounts!

–> Help Shel create a new product/website that helps you become more environmentally friendly with little or no expenditure and without significant lifestyle changes by taking this quick 7-question survey:  http://tinyurl.com/painfreegreensurvey

–> Friends Who Want to Help You (March 2009)

• Publicity guru Shannon Cherry’s fifth annual Be Heard Day is March 7. Her nothing-to-buy giveaway starts tomorrow (March 6) and continues through March 20 (Hey, Shannon, maybe you should call it Be Heard Week?). National Be Heard Day appears in Chase’s Calendar of Events, has been recognized in New York State, and has gotten amazing media coverage including being featured by the Associated Press. This year’s giveaway is worth $5500, including information on using social media for publicity from Nancy Marmolejo,  25 ways to hear Ka-Ching! in your business, fast, from Michelle PW, find out how you have more time to have the lifestyle you want from Melanie Benson Strick, and of course, something from me: Ten Cost-Free Ways a Business or Service Can Find New Prospects. Remember–wait until tomorrow. All that’s up there right now is some teaser copy.
• Need a product to sell? If you’ve been around the Internet marketing world for any time at all, you’ve come across 1ShoppingCart.com and all its rebranded variations. Many of the gurus use this software to run their downloadable e-products, their autoresponders, newsletters, etc. The programmer who created 1shoppingcart is George Tran, and George has just released “The Social Marketing Manifesto,” a very well-written, well-thought-out, and well-researched 154-page e-book that helps you quickly understand the culture of social media networks, has great advice for how to monetize, and reviews numerous tools to set up your own social media network and/or participate more effectively on existing platforms. It retails for $29.97, but I’m offering it for just $18.95. AND you get full resale rights! I have to tell you, I’ve not been impressed with the quality of a lot of the private-label-resale-rights info products out there, but this one is a gem. And one of the things I really like about it is that it’s aimed at (and useful to) both business and nonprofits, and there’s a lot of really good stuff specifically for nonprofits from someone who deeply understands that business model.
• Dr. Mani is giving away a report that explains eight force-multipliers that will help business owners boost profit. I’ve seen the report and it’s well done.  Biz Multiplier Free
  
• Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski offer a short thought on the topic of either Relationships or The Freedom to Be Fabulous each day –  5 days a week. No cost. Here’s the first one, which they did for Valentine’s Day:
  With Valentine’s Day coming, Be Fabulous by expressing your genuine care and enjoyment to all those you love.
  AND be sure to RECEIVE their appreciation and all that they give to you.
  Want more? http://www.judithandjim.com/receiving

–> Hear and Meet Shel, Late Feb/March 2009

• Make Yourself More Marketable with a Book, Allison Nazarian’s Do It Yourself Marketing Training Series, Tuesday, March 3rd, noon ET/9 a.m. PT.
• Innovative Solutions to Reduce Direct Mail Expenses, Association of Strategic Marketing/Lorman Education Services, March 11, 1 pm ET/10 a.m. PT.$199 and qualifies for 0.5 credit toward CMM certificate.
• I’m speaking at Willie Crawford’s 50th Birthday Internet Marketing Conference in Orlando, March 26-28
  
• Book Marketing for Authors, CAPA University in Hartford, May 9, and probably again at Book Expo America in New York, May 29 or 30.
• Paulette Ensign’s Publishing Prosperity Mastermind is another high-value, low-cost teleseminar series that’s already started, and again, you get all the recordings. I’m speaking on September 10 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing–By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
• How to be a Success in Business and Still Hold Your Head Up High, webinar for You Speak Easy.com (five-star rating by attendees). Through the end of March, you can get the replay at no charge. After that, it’ll be $14.95.
• Cross-Marketing: How to Turn Competitors into Partners, an earlier webinar for the same group. Through the end of March, you can get the replay at no charge. After that, it’ll be $14.95.
• 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).
• 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
• This is the last month to hear my InspireMeToday.com luminary interview at no charge.
• 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). 3/9/09 Ken Foster of Shared Vision Network. 3/23/09 Peter Shankman of HARO, the reporter-source matching service.
  
• Replay of my book marketing teleseminar for HappyAbout.com
• Replay of my Webinar, How Ethical Business Practices Can Drive Your Success, for B2B Power Exchange

Click here for all the links.

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

–> 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

Sure, you know about AAA and AARP  discounts, at least if you’re in the US (if you’re not: American Automobile Association, American Association of Retired Persons).

But did you know that if you join a popular museum, you might get discounts at other museums around the country? My sister has four children–and a membership in one of the major Denver museums. When she travels, they always ask at other museums if they offer reciprocity. Many of them do, and she gets free or reduced admission for her and her large family.

Here’s another one: if you work for a college or university, or another museum, you may get discounts. My wife teaches at the University of Massachusetts. Either her faculty ID card or her professors’ union card has gotten us many free or reduced admissions.

To those in the Northeast US: Happy maple syrup season! We’re having warm days and cold nights here in Massachusetts, perfect wether for sugaring.