–> Can You Pounce On A Breaking News Event?
Can you pounce on a breaking news event? Not everybody can, but if your subject has breaking news potential then you’d better be ready to take advantage of it.  Click here to continue reading.

–> My Quandary = Your Opportunity
You might have heard that the rights to my award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, got picked up by John Wiley & Sons, and it forms the basis for my eighth book, Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson). The new book will include all but, I think, two chapters of Principled Profit, plus some 20-25,000 words of new material. Wiley will publish it in 2010. I’m especially proud of this because, following an e-mail introduction by one of Wiley’s business authors, I landed the deal and negotiated the contract myself. But my problem is…my contract with Wiley forces me to stop selling Principled Profit by the end of this year. And I still have quite a few left. This was a groundbreaking book when it came out–one of the only voices showing that ethical business not only made good moral sense, but good business sense as well. While there are more resources in this area than there used to be, it’s still really hard to find this sort of solid, practical advice on both the theory and the implementation, in a nice, easy-to-read format that anyone can put into practice. So I’ve got a deal for you! Want a copy for yourself? Take $5 off the original $17.50 price. Visit http://snipurl.com/kdq1j to order this remarkable book. Just visit and enter the right code:
GET5OFF – $5 off one copy
GET10OFF2 – $10 off two copies
GET15OFF3 – $15 off three copies
With any of these three coupon codes, you’ll also receive my two newest e-books free with your purchase. Get all the details here: http://www.tinyurl.com/ShelsQuandary

–> Hear & Meet Shel
* If you’re in Western Massachusetts and want to see some amazing art, my stepfather, Michihiro Yoshida, is having another one-man show at the Burnett Gallery, Jones Library, Amherst.  I’ll be at the reception the evening of September 3. He’s painting up a storm!
* September 9, I’ll be Janice Campbell’s podcast guest at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT, discussing ethical success strategies you can implement in your business. Janice has also named me to her Board of Experts for the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, http://www.NAIWE.com (she’s the organization’s Director). More info: jcwords@gmail.com
* 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 17 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing-By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
* “How and Why to Green Your Work Life,” GreenWorks: Green Career and Job Development Symposium, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven (and there’s a Green Expo/Folk Festival the next day at Edgerton Park). I’m on a two-person panel, and I’ll be focusing on the “Why” part–the Principled Profit rationale.  I’ll also have a table at both events. Stop by and say hi.
* Friday, September 18, interviewed on Business Ethics and Marketing by Ike Engelbaum on his Entrepreneurship American Style radio show.
* Also on Friday, September 18, I plan to attend the Western Mass Tweetup at Amherst Brewing Co., downtown Amherst, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
* Tuesday Sept 22, 5 pm ET/2 pm PT, Allison Nazarian and I will host a call with the amazing George Kao, a social network trainer who has forgotten more than most of us know. I’ve been marketing seriously via social media since 1995, and it’s been my primary source of clients all the way back to 1996. And yet, I learn so much from listening to George that I not only sat in on three of his calls in the last two months, but also made a point of seeking him out for a dinner meeting when I was in San Francisco. This call is so important, and you will learn so much, that I’m going to send a special note about it. If you only pick one teleclass to attend in the next few months, make it this one. Sign up at http://georgekao.com/922s
* Wednesday, September 23, I’m doing a class for Hilton Johnson’s Global TeleClass organization, “The Magic Triangle: Turn Ethics Into Powerful Success.” This is an experiment, and as part of my contract, I have promised to send out a series of three solo mailings: two about their HealthCoach training and one about my program (which I think also mentions the other programs for the month). So even though you don’t usually get solo mailings from me, be aware of these.
* Guest on Kim Smith’s Blog Talk Radio show, “Introducing Writers,” Wednesday, October 14, 8:30 pm ET/5:30 PT (book marketing).
* A book marketing teleseminar aimed especially for speakers: as part of her monthly membership program, Susan Levin from SpeakerServices.com interviews me on “Marketing Your Book Beyond the [speaking] Platform,” Thursday, October 29, 7 pm ET/4 p.m. PT. I exhibited at one of Susan’s life events a few years ago and I thought it was one of the best organized conferences I’ve ever been at, with top-name faculty and the most vendor-friendly attitude I’ve ever experienced (we vendors even got to attend all the sessions as part of our sign-up fee).

–> Friends Who Want to Help
* Dr. Mani’s New Book Benefits Child Heart Patients: Remember my friend Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian, India-based pediatric cardiac surgeon, e-book author, and Internet entrepreneur? He’s about to release his first physical book: Think, Write & Retire!–and all profits will go to funding heart surgery for needy children.
* Stop by my blog September 18, when Jacqueline Wales, author of  The Fearless Factor, has a guest post as part of her blog tour.
* Author 101 University: Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas.
* Want to be interviewed in a book? Jim O’Connor, whose book “Cuss Control: The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing” was published by Random House, is writing a book on beauty and our culture. He is looking for people to interview who were teased or bullied as children because they were unlucky in the looks department, yet became successful: found love, self -esteem and happiness. Call Lynda O’Connor at 847-615-5462.
* Two new no-cost offerings from The Blog Squad, known for their high-content programs:
Get the Best Out of Your Blog – Free 5-Part Video Course: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?Clk=3217930
Quality Blog Traffic – Free Audio Program: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?Clk=3217931
* A Search Tool That’s Better than Google? How about one that delivers your choice of results from Google, Yahoo, MSN, Yelp, Wikipedia and various other places–and displays results before you even click? Try it yourself at http://frugalmarketing.com/search.shtml#web — click where it says “Say Hello to Search 2.0″ and start typing your query. You might want to bookmark this page, which also allows you to search all of my dozen-plus sites at once and even provides tips to help you find exactly what you want in any search (people have thanked me quite a few times for this little tipsheet).

* Judith and Jim’s “Bridging Heart and Marketing III (BH&M III) – the Soft Sell Virtual Conference,” October 8-18, online from anywhere in the world. The conference motto is “Marketing with Consciousness and Conscience.” Judith and Jim are the authors of The Heart of Marketing: Love Your Customers and They Will Love You Back, which I reviewed a few months ago at http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2009/04/15/another-recommended-book-the-heart-of-marketing/ Learn more at http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3221681
* Mark Joyner writes, Everyone is talking about this “mystery” on the Internet and I’d love your help solving it: http://www.simpleology.com/p/onlineaffiliateincome/prinprofit/ One thing is certain: whoever solves this is going to make a BUNDLE.
Some of the opportunities mentioned may pay me commissions. If you’d like to know if a particular program is commissionable, you’re welcome to ask us.

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

–> New on the Sites, August, 2009

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

Published monthly since July, 2009 by Shel Horowitz

Guest Post By Scott Lorenz

[Editor's Note: This article has three important lessons I wanted to highlight: 1) follow news events and tie your book and/or your author in--legitimately, don't force it--to breaking news; 2) if there's a news event you know will happen eventually that has such a tie-in, do the advance prep; 3) old books can get good play under the right circumstances. This article was published previously in Fran Silverman's Book Marketing Newsletter and is used with the gracious permission of the author.

--Shel Horowitz, author of Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers]

Can you pounce on a breaking news event? Not everybody can, but if your subject has breaking news potential then you’d better be ready to take advantage of it.

One such opportunity presented itself to Westwind Communications on February 19, 2008 when Fidel Castro announced his resignation. One of my author clients has a gorgeous coffee table photo book on Cuba and has made 40 plus quasi illegal trips to the island nation. He’s an American citizen and expert on Cuba. http://www.corazonpress.com.

Having pitched this book and his story to all major media from Good Morning America and Nightline to Syndicated Radio, all of the big media outlets said–I’m not exaggerating–”Sure we’ll cover it–when Fidel dies.”

So, like vultures circling above, we’ve been waiting for every slip, fall, missed parade, bad medical report about Fidel so that we could jump on the opportunity. It finally came at 5:30am on the morning of February 19, 2008 with the announcement of Fidel’s resignation. That was almost as good as the dictator passing on! Less drama but still worth covering since it announced a change in power of the United States’ long time nemesis of 50 years.

So, I dusted off the release about Fidel’s death that had been sitting in wait for two years, changed the headline to reflect his resignation, and a few other items and out it went to my carefully maintained and targeted list of media contacts and put it on the wire by 6AM while everyone else was still sleeping.

The result was outstanding. CBS Radio immediately saw the release, set up an interview that ran in Detroit all day and night. Then National Public Radio set up an in-studio interview as did WJR and WCSX radio. Print media got into the act with interviews in The Ann Arbor News http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-26/120352203518630.xml&coll=2, Detroit News, Observer & Eccentric http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=C5&Dato=20080225&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=225001&Ref=PH and Oakland Press http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/022008/loc_20080220268.shtml. We even got interest, but unfortunately no story since the book was not newly released, from the Wall Street Journal.

Then, one of Amazon’s Top Ten reviewers asked for a review copy, which, by itself could create a ground swell of book sales. (thousands have already read his review http://www.amazon.com/Cuba-Photographs-Jack-Kenny/dp/0976834901). A travel writer from MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23278430 wanted to get Kenny’s expert advice on traveling to CUBA and the media inquires are still coming in. Interestingly enough, three producers and reporters called me after they got to their office and found out that Fidel had resigned, needed a Cuba expert, did a Google search and found my press release on top of the Google News section.  I love technology!

This whole operation was a success because I constantly monitor the news and set Google Alerts http://www.google.com/alerts?hl=en to watch for key news items. And, of course, I had the release ready to go. Everything was thought out, my client was ready–for 2 years. The gun was loaded, cocked, and ready to fire.

And you know another upside of this? I can still use a version of my original “Fidel’s Death” release later! Don’t think bad things about me, somebody somewhere might have your obituary already written too!

When should you send out a press release? My acid test is that if it’s newsworthy and if it’s timely and useful to the reader, send it. It’s that simple.

There are many factors to weigh when considering the need to send out a press release. As a publicist I have sent thousands of releases over the years and while there are no hard and fast rules, the most important factor is that you’ve got to make sure it’s newsworthy and useful to the reader. Anything else and it’s just a waste of time for the members of the media.

So what press release do you have in your hip pocket? Are you ready when breaking news hits?

————-

Scott is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm. He has handled public relations and marketing for numerous authors, doctors, lawyers, inventors and entrepreneurs. As a book marketing expert Scott is called upon by top execs and bestselling authors to promote their books. Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at http://www.book-marketing-expert.com or contact Scott at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090

–> Positive Power Spotlight, August 2009: EnergyCircle.com
How’s this for a mission statement (transcribed from the cheery video by the head of customer service, right at the top of the home page): “To help you find the most effective products to make your house most efficient.” The same video offers a great guarantee: “If you aren’t satisfied with anything you buy from us, we’ll replace it, refund your money, or work with you to make it right. We as a company, and I personally, are committed to you being 100% thrilled with us.”  Click here to continue reading…

–> My Quandary = Your Opportunity
You might have heard that the rights to my award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, got picked up by John Wiley & Sons, and it forms the basis for my eighth book, Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson). The new book will include all but, I think, two chapters of Principled Profit, plus some 20-25,000 words of new material. Wiley will publish it in 2010. I’m especially proud of this because, following an e-mail introduction by one of Wiley’s business authors, I landed the deal and negotiated the contract myself. But my problem is…my contract with Wiley forces me to stop selling Principled Profit by the end of this year. And I still have quite a few left. This was a groundbreaking book when it came out–one of the only voices showing that ethical business not only made good moral sense, but good business sense as well. While there are more resources in this area than there used to be, it’s still really hard to find this sort of solid, practical advice on both the theory and the implementation, in a nice, easy-to-read format that anyone can put into practice. So I’ve got a deal for you! Want a copy for yourself? Take $5 off the original $17.50 price. Visit http://snipurl.com/kdq1j to order this remarkable book. Just visit and enter the code,GET5OFF. You’ll also receive my two newest e-books free with your purchase. Get all the details here: http://www.tinyurl.com/ShelsQuandary

–> New Web Portal Puts All of Shel’s Stuff in One Place
Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time: have a single page that lets people sort
themselves out according to what you’re looking for and how I can help. With over a dozen websites, it was getting pretty complicated. This page starts with several options for types of services, continues to a website directory, and then has a bio and contact options. Would love to hear what you think of it. http://shelhorowitz.com

–> Hear & Meet Shel
* If you’re in Western Massachusetts and want to see some amazing art, my stepfather, Michihiro Yoshida, is having another one-man show at the Burnett Gallery, Jones Library, Amherst.  I’ll be at the reception the evening of September 3. He’s painting up a storm!
* 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 17 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing-By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
* “How and Why to Green Your Work Life,” GreenWorks: Green Career and Job Development Symposium, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven (and there’s a Green Expo/Folk Festival the next day at Edgerton Park). I’m on a two-person panel, and I’ll be focusing on the “Why” part–the Principled Profit rationale.  I’ll also have a table at both events. Stop by and say hi.
* Friday, September 18, interviewed on Business Ethics and Marketing by Ike Engelbaum on his Entrepreneurship American Style radio show.
* Tuesday Sept 22, 5 pm ET/2 pm PT, Allison Nazarian and I will host a call with the amazing George Kao, a social network trainer who has forgotten more than most of us know. I’ve been marketing seriously via social media since 1995, and it’s been my primary source of clients all the way back to 1996. And yet, I learn so much from listening to George that I not only sat in on three of his calls in the last two months, but also made a point of seeking him out for a dinner meeting when I was in San Francisco. This call is so important, and you will learn so much, that I’m going to send a special note about it. If you only pick one teleclass to attend in the next few months, make it this one. Sign up at http://georgekao.com/922s
* Wednesday, September 23, I’m doing a class for Hilton Johnson’s Global TeleClass organization, “The Magic Triangle: Turn Ethics Into Powerful Success.” This is an experiment, and as part of my contract, I have promised to send out a series of three solo mailings: two about their HealthCoach training and one about my program (which I think also mentions the other programs for the month). So even though you don’t usually get solo mailings from me, be aware of these.
* Guest on Kim Smith’s Blog Talk Radio show, “Introducing Writers,” Wednesday, October 14, 8:30 pm ET/5:30 PT (book marketing).

–> Friends Who Want to Help
* Dr. Mani’s New Book Benefits Child Heart Patients: Remember my friend Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian, India-based pediatric cardiac surgeon, e-book author, and Internet entrepreneur? He’s about to release his first physical book: Think, Write & Retire!–and all profits will go to funding heart surgery for needy children.
* Author 101 University: Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas.
Some of the opportunities mentioned may pay me commissions. If you’d like to know if  a particular program is commissionable, you’re welcome to ask us.

–> Another Recommended Book: Tipping The Point, by Tom O’Brien
As I complete six years of writing this column, I believe this is the first time I’ve reviewed an e-book instead of a physical book. Not only that, but an e-book with a absurdly low price of $9.95 US. I’ve seen a lot of those, and the vast majority I’d never recommend. They tend to be shallow, fluffy, and to exist only to upsell various other offers.  Tipping the Point is different. It has far more practical value than many e-books I’ve seen at five or even ten times the price.  Basically, it’s a quick-start guide to viral marketing, using integrity and ethics–and incorporating many examples… Click here to continue reading… http://shelhorowitz.com/go/tippingthepoint/

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

–> New on the Sites, August, 2009

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

Published monthly since September, 2003 by Shel Horowitz

Shel Horowitz, 16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035, United States

Reviewed by Shel Horowitz

As I complete six years of writing this column, I believe this is the first time I’ve reviewed an e-book instead of a physical book. Not only that, but an e-book with a absurdly low price of $9.95 US. I’ve seen a lot of those, and the vast majority I’d never recommend. They tend to be shallow, fluffy, and to exist only to upsell various other offers.

Tipping the Point is different. It has far more practical value than many e-books I’ve seen at five or even ten times the price.

Basically, it’s a quick-start guide to viral marketing, using integrity and ethics–and incorporating many examples (yes, including upsells). It starts with a theory section, but one made accessible and clear even to people who haven’t studied a lot of marketing–and one emphasizing the importance of building a real relationship. He covers force multipliers, the difference between viral ideas that spread via influencers and those that spread through the general public (a much larger group, of course, and therefore able to spread your idea or product much faster), and even looked at where Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point may have gotten some of its best ideas. He also covers some niceties as the ratio you need to become self-replicating and the ease with which you can get others to pass your stuff on.

Other goodies:
* 21-item glossary
* 11-point checklist for creating a message that people welcome and pass along
* More in-depth coverage of 14 different strategy success factors (not the same as those on the checklist)
* 12 problems that can sabotage your campaign
* 29 tactics to draw attention to your viral offering
* Plus a gazillion specific URLs for resources (more than I’m willing to hand-count!)
* A software bonus called The DOT (Do It Now), which claims to support you in achieving focus and concentration. It’s PC only and I’m on a Mac, so I can’t vouch for it.

Tom walks his talk, too. In the little over a year we’ve known each other online, I’ve noticed that he’s always doing little favors for me and others, without expectation of a direct return: a principle he espouses repeatedly in Tipping the Point (and one that I recommend in Principled Profit, as well). Oh yes, and he’s set up some nice charity stuff in this e-book, in keeping with the work he’s been doing at JointWinWin for a while now.

The book isn’t perfect. Yes, it does suffer from a few of the typical e-book flaws, like the occasional instance of poor proofreading and amateurish clipart illustrations. And while I prefer to think of his Britishisms (not just spelling, but idioms) as charming, not everyone may feel that way. (It’s honest, though–he is based in England.) But there’s an awful lot of good stuff here.

In fact, there’s so much good stuff that I took the very unusual step of becoming a dealer and putting it up for download on my own cart. And let me tell you, something has to be really good for me to do that. I still can’t believe he only wants $9.95 for this!

Please click here to get your own copy, and yes, I do benefit financially (a little, anyhow) from your purchase.

http://shelhorowitz.com/go/tippingthepoint/

Note: There are two volumes in Tipping the Point. Volume 1 is free and you can download it from this link. Volume 2 is available for $9.95 with the “add to cart” button on the page linked above.

–> Mobile Marketing, Part 1: The Newest Frontier
Three times as many people carry a cell phone or PDA than use stand-alone computers. And the opportunity for marketers, particularly for those willing to be pioneers while the field is wide open, is huge. Mobile marketing is in its earliest stage, where the Internet was around 1996. If you have an appropriate offering and strategy now, you might just ride the next boom. Just in the US, sales of hard goods (not including downloadable purchases) via mobile is expected to go from $480 million in 2006 to $1.9 billion in 2010 (that’s a nearly 400 percent increase in four years). And some experts expect mobile to become the most popular way to pay for a transaction within the next few years.  But you need a roadmap in this universe, where a wrong turn could leave you bleeding and broke. I recommend…  (Click here to continue reading.)

–> My Quandary = Your Opportunity
You might have heard that the rights to my award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, got picked up by John Wiley & Sons, and it forms the basis for my eighth book, Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson). The new book will include all but, I think, two chapters of Principled Profit, plus some 20-25,000 words of new material. Wiley will publish it in 2010. I’m especially proud of this because, following an e-mail introduction by one of Wiley’s business authors, I landed the deal and negotiated the contract myself.
But my problem is…my contract with Wiley forces me to stop selling Principled Profit by the end of this year. And I still have quite a few left. This was a groundbreaking book when it came out–one of the only voices showing that ethical business not only made good moral sense, but good business sense as well. While there are more resources in this area than there used to be, it’s still really hard to find this sort of solid, practical advice on both the theory and the implementation, in a nice, easy-to-read format that anyone can put into practice.
So I’ve got a deal for you! Want a copy for yourself? Take $5 off the original $17.50 price. Visit http://snipurl.com/kdq1j to order this remarkable book. Just visit and enter the code, GET5OFF. You’ll also receive my two newest e-books free with your purchase.
Get all the details here: http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2009/06/26/my-quandary-your-opportunity/

–> Hear & Meet Shel

• Shel addresses the Holyoke, MA Rotary Club Tuesday, August 11, Noon ET, at the Delaney House, Route 5.
• If you’re in Western Massachusetts and want to see some amazing art, my stepfather, Michihiro Yoshida, is having another one-man show at the Burnett Gallery, Jones Library, Amherst. I’ll be at the reception the evening of September 3. He’s painting up a storm!
• 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 17 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing-By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
• “How and Why to Green Your Work Life,” GreenWorks: Green Career and Job Development Symposium, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven (and there’s a Green Expo/Folk Festival the next day at Edgerton Park). I’m on a two-person panel, and I’ll be focusing on the “Why” part–the Principled Profit rationale.  I’ll also have a table at both events. Stop by and say hi.
• Friday, September 18, interviewed on Business Ethics and Marketing by Ike Engelbaum) on his Entrepreneurship American Style radio show.
• Wednesday, September 23, I’m doing a class for Hilton Johnson’s Global TeleClass organization, “The Magic Triangle: Turn Ethics Into Powerful Success.” This is an experiment, and as part of my contract, I have promised to send out a series of three solo mailings: two about their HealthCoach training and one about my program (which I think also mentions the other programs for the month). So even though you don’t usually get solo mailings from me, be aware of these.
• Guest on Kim Smith’s Blog Talk Radio show, “Introducing Writers,” Wednesday, October 14, 8:30 pm ET/5:30 PT (book marketing).

–> Friends Who Want to Help

My two favorite social media trainers both have offerings for you this month!

• George Kao Long-Term Training in Social Media: If you’ve ever been on a webinar with George Kao, you’ll know why he gets my vote for the person who adds the most value of any trainer I’ve experienced. He combines amazingly good information with a strong and solid commitment to ethics. His 11+ hour course plus bonuses is a bargain at the retail price of $500–the slides alone could probably be sold for $197. But I’ve negotiated a price of $330 (saving $170) if you act by August 8 (you have up to a year to actually enroll), and it comes with a money-back guarantee. To get this price, visit http://georgekao.com/socialmedia and enter the coupon code shelhorowitz
• Mari Smith One-Day  Social Media Training, August 14: Coming up very soon: The amazing Mari Smith is doing “Social Media in a Day,” in San Diego next week: August 14, to be exact. Mari personally convinced me to get on Facebook and has given me many pointers on social media. Fast Company called her “The Pied Piper of Facebook.”  http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?Clk=3182187
• Dr. Mani’s New Book Benefits Child Heart Patients: Remember my friend Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian, India-based pediatric cardiac surgeon, e-book author, and Internet entrepreneur? He’s about to release his first physical book: Think, Write & Retire!–and all profits will go to funding heart surgery for needy children.
• Author 101 University: Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas.

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.

–> Coping With Zucchini Overload
This is the time of year when neighbors sneak around in the middle of the night, dropping bags of zucchini on your doorstep and running away. Of course, we don’t want that good wholesome squash to go to waste—but how much ratatouille and zucchini bread can you eat, after all?  So, as a public service, this month’s Frugal Fun Tip gives you some more ideas of what to do with that green thing that keeps poking its way into your kitchen.  (Click here to continue reading.)

–> My Quandary = Your Opportunity
You might have heard that the rights to my award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, got picked up by John Wiley & Sons, and it forms the basis for my eighth book, Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson). The new book will include all but, I think, two chapters of Principled Profit, plus some 20-25,000 words of new material. Wiley will publish it in 2010. I’m especially proud of this because, following an e-mail introduction by one of Wiley’s business authors, I landed the deal and negotiated the contract myself.
But my problem is…my contract with Wiley forces me to stop selling Principled Profit by the end of this year. And I still have quite a few left. This was a groundbreaking book when it came out–one of the only voices showing that ethical business not only made good moral sense, but good business sense as well. While there are more resources in this area than there used to be, it’s still really hard to find this sort of solid, practical advice on both the theory and the implementation, in a nice, easy-to-read format that anyone can put into practice.
So I’ve got a deal for you! Want a copy for yourself? Take $5 off the original $17.50 price. Visit http://snipurl.com/kdq1j to order this remarkable book. Just visit and enter the code, GET5OFF. You’ll also receive my two newest e-books free with your purchase.
Get all the details here: http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2009/06/26/my-quandary-your-opportunity/

–> Hear & Meet Shel

• Shel addresses the Holyoke, MA Rotary Club Tuesday, August 11, Noon ET, at the Delaney House, Route 5.
• If you’re in Western Massachusetts and want to see some amazing art, my stepfather, Michihiro Yoshida, is having another one-man show at the Burnett Gallery, Jones Library, Amherst. I’ll be at the reception the evening of September 3. He’s painting up a storm! 
• 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 17 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing-By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
• “How and Why to Green Your Work Life,” GreenWorks: Green Career and Job Development Symposium, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven (and there’s a Green Expo/Folk Festival the next day at Edgerton Park). I’m on a two-person panel, and I’ll be focusing on the “Why” part–the Principled Profit rationale.  I’ll also have a table at both events. Stop by and say hi.
• Friday, September 18, interviewed on Business Ethics and Marketing by Ike Engelbaum) on his Entrepreneurship American Style radio show.
• Wednesday, September 23, I’m doing a class for Hilton Johnson’s Global TeleClass organization, “The Magic Triangle: Turn Ethics Into Powerful Success.” This is an experiment, and as part of my contract, I have promised to send out a series of three solo mailings: two about their HealthCoach training and one about my program (which I think also mentions the other programs for the month). So even though you don’t usually get solo mailings from me, be aware of these.
• Guest on Kim Smith’s Blog Talk Radio show, “Introducing Writers,” Wednesday, October 14, 8:30 pm ET/5:30 PT (book marketing).

–> Friends Who Want to Help

My two favorite social media trainers both have offerings for you this month!

• George Kao Long-Term Training in Social Media: If you’ve ever been on a webinar with George Kao, you’ll know why he gets my vote for the person who adds the most value of any trainer I’ve experienced. He combines amazingly good information with a strong and solid commitment to ethics. His 11+ hour course plus bonuses is a bargain at the retail price of $500–the slides alone could probably be sold for $197. But I’ve negotiated a price of $330 (saving $170) if you act by August 8 (you have up to a year to actually enroll), and it comes with a money-back guarantee. To get this price, visit http://georgekao.com/socialmedia and enter the coupon code shelhorowitz
• Mari Smith One-Day  Social Media Training, August 14: Coming up very soon: The amazing Mari Smith is doing “Social Media in a Day,” in San Diego next week: August 14, to be exact. Mari personally convinced me to get on Facebook and has given me many pointers on social media. Fast Company called her “The Pied Piper of Facebook.”  http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?Clk=3182187
• Dr. Mani’s New Book Benefits Child Heart Patients: Remember my friend Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian, India-based pediatric cardiac surgeon, e-book author, and Internet entrepreneur? He’s about to release his first physical book: Think, Write & Retire!–and all profits will go to funding heart surgery for needy children.
• Author 101 University: Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas.

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.

My two favorite social media trainers both have offerings for you this month!

George Kao Long-Term Training in Social Media
If you’ve ever been on a webinar with George Kao, you’ll know why he gets my vote for the person who adds the most value of any trainer I’ve experienced. He combines amazingly good information with a strong and solid commitment to ethics.
Here’s a concrete example: this is *half* of his checklist on using Facebook in 15 minutes a day (it makes total sense in the context of all the info he has already shared by this time in the call):
If you use Facebook every once in awhile…

• Clear FB inbox. (You should be get these by email / respond ad hoc anyway.)
• Got an event to promote?  Create an Event on Facebook.  Invite friend lists.  Msg all.
• Fan Page / Public Profile: Post on wall.  Send Update.  Engage with your fans.
• Message your Groups occasionally (monthly/quarterly) important/interesting updates.
• Look at your own profile – anything to remove?  To comment on?  Update “Info” tab?
• Open friend requests in separate tabs.  Add to list(s).  Approve friend requests.
• Add new clients, partners, etc. and potential clients/partners to Friend Lists. (CRM)
• Check your current Z-list: if over 90, rename it Z15 etc. and create a new one.
• Check homepage (news feed) of top Friend Lists. Comment to show care.

In one hour with George, he’ll go through about 20 slides like that–and somehow manage to keep you energized and focused and not buried in overwhelm. Yeah, he’s really, really good!
His 11+ hour course plus bonuses is a bargain at the retail price of $500–the slides alone could probably be sold for $197. But I’ve negotiated a price of $330 (saving $170) if you act by August 8 (you have up to a year to actually enroll), and it comes with a money-back guarantee. To get this price, visit http://georgekao.com/socialmedia and enter the coupon code shelhorowitz

• Shel addresses the Holyoke, MA Rotary Club Tuesday, August 11, Noon ET, at the Delaney House, Route 5. Contact: Christine Salem <clowntique@yahoo.com>
• If you’re in Western Massachusetts and want to see some amazing art, my stepfather, Michihiro Yoshida, is having another one-man show at the Burnett Gallery, Jones Library, Amherst. I’ll be at the reception the evening of September 3. He’s painting up a storm! His website does not do him justice and hasn’t been updated in a while, but you can at least get a sense at http://www.artbyyoshi.com/
• 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 17 on “Frugal, Ethical, and Creative Book Marketing-By the Book, Or By the Boxcar”
• “How and Why to Green Your Work Life,” GreenWorks: Green Career and Job Development Symposium, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, http://ctfolk.com/ctff/greenworks.html (and there’s a Green Expo/Folk Festival the next day at Edgerton Park, http://ctfolk.com/ctff/index.html I’m on a two-person panel, and I’ll be focusing on the “Why” part–the Principled Profit rationale.  I’ll also have a table at both events. Stop by and say hi.
• Friday, September 18, interviewed on Business Ethics and Marketing by Ike Engelbaum) on his Entrepreneurship American Style radio show, http://www.seniorgazette.net/EntrepreneurshipAmericanStyleRadioProgram.html
• Wednesday, September 23, I’m doing a class for Hilton Johnson’s Global TeleClass organization, “The Magic Triangle: Turn Ethics Into Powerful Success.” This is an experiment, and as part of my contract, I have promised to send out a series of three solo mailings: two about their HealthCoach training and one about my program (which I think also mentions the other programs for the month). So even though you don’t usually get solo mailings from me, be aware of these.
• Guest on Kim Smith’s Blog Talk Radio show, “Introducing Writers,” Wednesday, October 14, 8:30 pm ET/5:30 PT (book marketing). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/KimS

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