Archive for October, 2009

Book Marketing Tip, October 2009

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

–> Resources and Approaches to Get Big-Time Publicity
Last month, we talked about the mindset to craft an effective pitch. Now, how to actually get in front of the journalists you want to cover you.  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.

–> Hear & Meet Shel

  • Shel is doing a workshop on media publicity, Monday, November 16. Details not finalized. Contact Amy Zuckerman, workshop@frugalmarketing.com
  • A book marketing teleseminar aimed especially for speakers: as part of her monthly membership program, Susan Levin from SpeakerServices 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).
  • Negotiating with meeting planners in Africa for January, Switzerland for February. Nothing definite. If you have a lead on a paying gig in or near Switzerland, I would pay a nice commission if it materializes.
  • March 24, I’m doing a teleseminar for Stacy Karacostas.
  • April 25, I’ll be speaking on collaborating with a co-author at the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference in New York.
  • Click here to access all the links and contact info: http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2009/10/04/hear-meet-shel-october-2009/

–> Friends Who Want to Help

  • Does “selling” feel like an icky, sticky, dirty word, to you? It does to a lot of people but without sales, your business will fail–leaving you feeling awful and depriving your prospects of a needed resource! Don’t let that happen to you! Come listen to a call on November 4, 8 pm ET called “Stop Selling and Start Sharing: Learn How Your Marketing Can Be Authentic, Be Effective and Change the World!” Suzanne Evans, of Help More People, promises to “de-ick the sales conversation for you once and for all.” Visit http://bit.ly/19yWAp to learn more and reserve your space. Since I write about similar ideas in my award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, I’ve very much looking forward to seeing what she has to say.
  • One of the books I’ve been reading recently is Overcomers, Inc: a collection of experiences from *38* different authors on how they overcame adversity. Some of the stories are openly religious, others come from a completely different place. The launch promotion is already under way, and includes a bonus package from 95 different experts including Dr. Wayne Dyer, Janet Atwood, and Joe Nunziata. If you need a big dose of inspiration as the weather turns dreary, maybe this will be your personal cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder (joke). http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch
  • If you’ve followed me for a long time, you know that participation in online discussion groups has been the single best marketing tool for going from a tiny shop with a small local clientele (branching out from writing resumes to doing press releases, book covers, web page copy, and the like) to being internationally known as a copywriter, book shepherd, marketing and publishing consultant, and speaker. Mohit Kumar has launched a new no-cost Internet portal, Tweble, that tracks over a million discussions online form around the world. What a cool concept! Great for tracking stories and trends you can comment on or need to know about. Oh yeah, and if you own a forum, there are some revenue-sharing possibilities in the future. If you get value out of places like Digg, Delicious and StumbleUpon, check out http://tweble.com/
  • I’ve long been a believer in the incredible positive benefits of being a “giver”; it’s something I’ve talked about in Principled Profit and elsewhere. So I was delighted to discover a book built entirely around this concept. The book, The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All reveals strategies and secrets of people who possess true wealth and happiness: making the world a better place, which has the side benefit of bringing a great deal back to you–but only if your giving stems from sincerity rather than selfishness. I was also quite impressed with the authors’ philosophy — and with their commitment to give away 100% of the royalties they receive. I’ve poked into several sections of the book and have found gems all the way through.
  • Are you a blogger, marketer, or entrepreneur? You may have heard that earlier this month, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission came out with a new set of guidelines that require disclosures from bloggers and affiliates and that appear to change the game when it comes to using results-based testimonials. Marcia Yudkin, one of the smartest people I know (I first met her when she was a professor at Smith College, more than 20 years ago), is interviewing business attorney and author Jean Sifleet on exactly what the new FTC regulations mean and do not mean for bloggers, copywriters, marketers and entrepreneurs.  Anyone who registers ahead of time has the opportunity to submit a question for the interview. The quality of Marcia’s information tends to be superb, and I’m sure she’s chosen well to explain this complex and very important new rule. The call should be available on or around October 30, and you can register to purchase the recording in either MP3 or CD (choose at the bottom of her page), for $39.97–and submit any questions ahead of time, so they might be chosen for the call.
  • Author 101 University Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas.
  • 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 on our search page – click where it says “Say Hello to Search 2.0?” and start typing your query.
  • Sokule (pronounced so-cool) is a cool new Twitter-like social network offering some revenue possibilities.
  • This is by far the cheapest program on how to become a #1 bestseller that I’ve ever seen. 9 audios, plus support materials and bonuses. I have not personally reviewed the material but I did look at the scope of what it covers, seems like a lot of good info. Again, I haven’t listened–just sharing the information.
  • Click here to access all the links: http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/?p=1279

Some of the opportunities mentioned pay a commission to Shel. Shel maintains high quality standards for mention in this column, and has either personally vetted the product, experienced previous products of top quality from the provider, or mentions in the write-up that he hasn’t seen it. Many products get turned down if they don’t meet these criteria. 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, September, 2009

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

Published monthly since July, 2009 by Shel Horowitz

Resources and Approaches to Get Big-Time Publicity: Shel Horowitz’s Book Marketing Tip, Oct. ‘09

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Last month, we talked about the mindset to craft an effective pitch. Now, how to actually get in front of the journalists you want to cover you.

  1. Use media query services that aggregate reporters’ requests for sources. There is no better way to get publicity than to hit a reporter who’s desperately looking for someone exactly like you in order to finish an article. I use HARO, PitchRate, ReportersSource and some others I can’t remember, none of which cost anything. In the past, I’ve also used ProfNet, which has a significant cost. I’ve had far and away the best success with HARO and ProfNet. Several of the media lead sources also post leads on Twitter. You’ll want to follow (in  alphabetical order) @helpareporter, @pitchrate, @ProfNet, and @reporterssource
  2. Use social media sites to follow reporters on your beat, and build relationships (gently and without pressure); pitch only when you’ve established yourself as credible and your pitch is directly relevant to what they’re working on
  3. Send a press release that’s NOT “I’ve written a book” but that focuses on the attitudes we discussed last month. Some sample headlines I’ve actually used for my clients:
  • Pro-Anorexia Sites “Danger to Children,” Says Expert
  • Moveable Historic Action Figures Awarded BEST CLASSIC TOY of 2009: Industry Newcomer’s First Release Joins Yo-Yo, Crayons, Other Long-time Favorites
  • Teenage Partisan Who Fought the Nazis Lives to See Her Story Told—On Film and In Print
  • Ethics Expert: As an Ethics Warrior, Spitzer Must Meet a Higher Standard (this was not for a client but a news tie-in for my own book, Principled Profit)

Of course, I go into much more detail in my seventh book, Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers,and in several of my other marketing books too. Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First has a particularly nice section on building relationships with reporters.

Positive Power of Principled Profit, October 2009

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

–> Positive Power Spotlight, October 2009: Starlight Llama B&B
Several months ago, I had Dee Boyle-Clapp, co-owner of Starlight Llama Bed & Breakfast in Florence, MA, as a guest on my radio show. Prior to the show, she sent me a marvelous list of the Green steps she and her husband have taken with the inn, and the list so inspired me that I put it in my Future Positive Power Spotlight file.  Click here to continue reading.

–> Another Recommended Book: Integration Marketing by Mark Joyner
In the new approach to marketing that I discuss in my award-wining sixth book Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, one of the cornerstones is building partnerships with others who can market for you.   Mark Joyner has taken this principle and essentially…  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.

–> Hear & Meet Shel

  • Marc Grant interviews me about business ethics this Thursday, 11 a.m. ET. 
  • Guest on Kim Smith’s Blog Talk Radio show, “Introducing Writers” – listen to the audio at http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com/interview.html
  • A book marketing teleseminar aimed especially for speakers: as part of her monthly membership program, Susan Levin from SpeakerServices 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).
  • Negotiating with meeting planners in Africa for January, Switzerland for February. Nothing definite. If you have a lead on a paying gig in or near Switzerland, I would pay a nice commission if it materializes.
  • March 24, I’m doing a teleseminar for Stacy Karacostas.
  • April 25, I’ll be speaking on collaborating with a co-author at the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference in New York.
  • Click here to access all the links and contact info: http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2009/10/04/hear-meet-shel-october-2009/

–> Friends Who Want to Help

  • I’ve long been a believer in the incredible positive benefits of being a “giver”; it’s something I’ve talked about in Principled Profit and elsewhere. So I was delighted to discover a book built entirely around this concept. The book, The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All reveals strategies and secrets of people who possess true wealth and happiness: making the world a better place, which has the side benefit of bringing a great deal back to you–but only if your giving stems from sincerity rather than selfishness. I was also quite impressed with the authors’ philosophy — and with their commitment to give away 100% of the royalties they receive. I’ve poked into several sections of the book and have found gems all the way through.  
  • Are you a blogger, marketer, or entrepreneur? You may have heard that last Monday, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission came out with a new set of guidelines that require disclosures from bloggers and affiliates and that appear to change the game when it comes to using results-based testimonials. Marcia Yudkin, one of the smartest people I know (I first met her when she was a professor at Smith College, more than 20 years ago), is interviewing business attorney and author Jean Sifleet on exactly what the new FTC regulations mean and do not mean for bloggers, copywriters, marketers and entrepreneurs.  Anyone who registers ahead of time has the opportunity to submit a question for the interview. The quality of Marcia’s information tends to be superb, and I’m sure she’s chosen well to explain this complex and very important new rule. The call should be available on or around October 30, and you can register to purchase the recording in either MP3 or CD (choose at the bottom of her page), for $39.97–and submit any questions ahead of time, so they might be chosen for the call. 
  • Author 101 University Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas.
  • 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 on our search page – click where it says “Say Hello to Search 2.0?” and start typing your query.
  • Sokule (pronounced so-cool) is a cool new Twitter-like social network offering some revenue possibilities. 
  • This is by far the cheapest program on how to become a #1 bestseller that I’ve ever seen. 9 audios, plus support materials and bonuses. I have not personally reviewed the material but I did look at the scope of what it covers, seems like a lot of good info. Again, I haven’t listened–just sharing the information.
  • Click here to access all the links: http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/?p=1279
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.

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

–> New on the Sites, October, 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

Friends Who Want to Help, October 2009

Thursday, October 15th, 2009
  • I’ve long been a believer in the incredible positive benefits of being a “giver”; it’s something I’ve talked about in Principled Profit and elsewhere. So I was delighted to discover a book built entirely around this concept. The book, The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All reveals strategies and secrets of people who possess true wealth and happiness: making the world a better place, which has the side benefit of bringing a great deal back to you–but only if your giving stems from sincerity rather than selfishness. I was also quite impressed with the authors’ philosophy, as outlined in the video at http://powerofgiving.org/paperback — and with their commitment to give away 100% of the royalties they receive. I’ve poked into several sections of the book and have found gems all the way through.
    Wayne Dyer calls it: “Very inspiring”. Jack Canfield says “Give it to everyone you love.” This is a book about you and your potential.
    I encourage you to get your book now. To discover the great benefits to you, visit the Power of Giving website. The bonus package was supposed to expire yesterday, but I’ve asked them to extend it a day. Haven’t heard the answer at press time, but as giving people, I’d expect a yes. http://powerofgiving.org/paperback
  • Are you a blogger, marketer, or entrepreneur? You may have heard that last Monday, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission came out with a new set of guidelines that require disclosures from bloggers and affiliates and that appear to change the game when it comes to using results-based testimonials. Marcia Yudkin, one of the smartest people I know (I first met her when she was a professor at Smith College, more than 20 years ago), is interviewing business attorney and author Jean Sifleet on exactly what the new FTC regulations mean and do not mean for bloggers, copywriters, marketers and entrepreneurs.  Anyone who registers ahead of time has the opportunity to submit a question for the interview. The quality of Marcia’s information tends to be superb, and I’m sure she’s chosen well to explain this complex and very important new rule. The call should be available on or around October 30, and you can register to purchase the recording in either MP3 or CD (choose at the bottom of her page), for $39.97–and submit any questions ahead of time, so they might be chosen for the call.  http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?Clk=3322247
  • Author 101 University Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas. http://snipurl.com/25r7o
  • 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).
  • Sokule (pronounced so-cool) is a cool new Twitter-like social network offering some revenue possibilities. Check into it at http://su.pr/ADj6Fh
  • This is by far the cheapest program on how to become a #1 bestseller that I’ve ever seen. 9 audios, plus support materials and bonuses. I have not personally reviewed the material but I did look at the scope of what it covers, seems like a lot of good info. Again, I haven’t listened–just sharing the information. http://shelhorowitz.com/go/yourbestseller/
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.

Another Recommended Book: Integration Marketing by Mark Joyner

Thursday, October 15th, 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

Positive Power Spotlight: Starlight Llama B&B

Wednesday, October 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, October 2009

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

–> Cognoscenti vs. Hoi Polloi
Yeah, the big words in the headline are on purpose…and very relevant. Cognoscenti are those in the know, the experts, connoisseurs (same route word, I believe—but French origin, rather than Italian). the secret society, if you will. What Edward Bulwer-Lytton called “the great unwashed.” Hoi polloi are the rest of us, the masses. Sometimes you want to market to one sometimes the other. There’s actually a lot to be said for… 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.

–> Friends Who Want to Help

  • The average online retailer converts less than 2% of visitors into customers. That leaves a lot of room for improvement. Though research shows that engaging videos can help boost conversion rates many online merchants struggle with creating effective videos. Pixability from Cambridge, MA has come up with an easy, innovative (and cost-effective!) way to produce videos that help your conversions.  Learn more: http://www.pixability.com/frugal
  • The brilliant George Kao, the best social media trainer I’ve ever encountered (and I’ve tried quite a few), is actually letting me share his slides from his fantastic presentation on September 22. If, now or in the future, you expect to be marketing on social media, and especially Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, you absolutely want to spend some good focused time with these slides.  http://georgekao.com/socialslides
  • Booklets are Much Easier to Write than Books-Learn the Secrets Paulette Ensign, the Booklet Queen, is running a new teleseminar series: interviewing nine people who’ve been successful as authors of booklets. Booklet Author Success Series Paulette beleives in delivering a lot of value, and her interviews generally go well beyond the basics. This series is no exception. Among the topics: preselling thousands of copies before you write the first word, partnering effectively with charities, using the same content a gazillion different ways. The first of these calls starts today, September 15, 2 pm Eastern-but don’t fret if you missed it. She’s making recordings available.Reminder also that I’ll be speaking for Paulette Thursday evening on creative book marketing and bulk book sales; see the “Hear and Meet Shel” section
  • Tipping the Point is a quick-start guide to viral marketing, using integrity and ethics-and incorporating many examples.  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/
  • Author 101 University Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas. http://snipurl.com/25r7o
  • If you’ve seen Mark Joyner’s wonderful Cashmap series, you know that he and his business partner Brad Semp, and some subject-matter experts, have created a wonderful tool for thinking differently and holistically about a whole range of stuff, from managing e-mail to healthy eating to happy marriage. Mark is offering quite a deal right now: 10 of his best Cashmaps for just a dollar, and a free month of the Cashmap program. Grab this one before his sanity returns.
  • Jim Donovan, author of several bestselling books on having a happier life (and a long-time friend and occasional co-panelist), wants you to have a happy middle-aged and elder life. He writes, “If you didn’t know when you were born, how old would you be?”  Are you ageless – full of energy and ready to go – no matter what your birth certificate says? Or does the prospect of aging leave you deeply concerned about what lies ahead?  The rest of your life can be the best of your life: http://www.BestLifeBook.com
  • 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
  • Sokule (pronounced so-cool) is a cool new Twitter-like social network offering some revenue possibilities. Check into it at http://su.pr/ADj6Fh
  • AdWords guru Perry Marshall has a new version of his Definitive Guide. He’s one of only two people I trust for useful, actionable AdWords strategy. The 2010 edition actually has over a dozen brand new chapters covering things like the Content Network, Analytics, Quality Score, and the new interface. Prices start at $49 for the basic one-module version: http://bit.ly/5YdBJ
  • This is by far the cheapest program on how to become a #1 bestseller that I’ve ever seen. 9 audios, plus support materials and bonuses. I have not personally reviewed the material but I did look at the scope of what it covers, seems like a lot of good info. Again, I haven’t listened–just sharing the information. http://shelhorowitz.com/go/yourbestseller/
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.

–> Hear & Meet Shel, October 2009

  • Marc Grant interviews me about business ethics this Thursday, 11 a.m. ET. Info: media (at) mentorequitypress.com
  • 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
  • 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).
  • Negotiating with meeting planners in Africa for January, Switzerland for February. Nothing definite. If you have a lead on a paying gig in or near Switzerland, I would pay a nice commission if it materializes.
  • March 24, I’m doing a teleseminar for Stacy Karacostas: stacy (at) success-stream.com
  • April 25, I’ll be speaking on collaborating with a co-author at the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference in New York. http://asja.org/wc/2010/

Follow me on:

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

–> New on the Sites, October 2009

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

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

Frugal Fun Tip, October 2009

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

–> This Might Be the Cheapest Way to Stock Your Closet/Bookshelf/CD Collection
The thing about fashion is that we’re all programmed to get tired of the stuff hanging in our closets. The manufacturers and retailers, of course, want you to just go out and buy more. But we’re talking frugal here. How’s this alternative…  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.

–> Friends Who Want to Help

  • The brilliant George Kao, the best social media trainer I’ve ever encountered (and I’ve tried quite a few), is actually letting me share his slides from his fantastic presentation on September 22. If, now or in the future, you expect to be marketing on social media, and especially Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, you absolutely want to spend some good focused time with these slides.  http://georgekao.com/socialslides
  • Booklets are Much Easier to Write than Books-Learn the Secrets Paulette Ensign, the Booklet Queen, is running a new teleseminar series: interviewing nine people who’ve been successful as authors of booklets. Booklet Author Success Series Paulette beleives in delivering a lot of value, and her interviews generally go well beyond the basics. This series is no exception. Among the topics: preselling thousands of copies before you write the first word, partnering effectively with charities, using the same content a gazillion different ways. The first of these calls starts today, September 15, 2 pm Eastern-but don’t fret if you missed it. She’s making recordings available.Reminder also that I’ll be speaking for Paulette Thursday evening on creative book marketing and bulk book sales; see the “Hear and Meet Shel” section
  • Tipping the Point is a quick-start guide to viral marketing, using integrity and ethics-and incorporating many examples.  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/
  • Author 101 University Rick Frishman is doing another Author101 University, Oct 30 & 31 in Las Vegas. http://snipurl.com/25r7o
  • If you’ve seen Mark Joyner’s wonderful Cashmap series, you know that he and his business partner Brad Semp, and some subject-matter experts, have created a wonderful tool for thinking differently and holistically about a whole range of stuff, from managing e-mail to healthy eating to happy marriage. Mark is offering quite a deal right now: 10 of his best Cashmaps for just a dollar, and a free month of the Cashmap program. Grab this one before his sanity returns.
  • Jim Donovan, author of several bestselling books on having a happier life (and a long-time friend and occasional co-panelist), wants you to have a happy middle-aged and elder life. He writes, “If you didn’t know when you were born, how old would you be?”  Are you ageless – full of energy and ready to go – no matter what your birth certificate says? Or does the prospect of aging leave you deeply concerned about what lies ahead?  The rest of your life can be the best of your life: http://www.BestLifeBook.com
  • 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
  • Sokule (pronounced so-cool) is a cool new Twitter-like social network offering some revenue possibilities. Check into it at http://su.pr/ADj6Fh
  • AdWords guru Perry Marshall has a new version of his Definitive Guide. He’s one of only two people I trust for useful, actionable AdWords strategy. The 2010 edition actually has over a dozen brand new chapters covering things like the Content Network, Analytics, Quality Score, and the new interface. Prices start at $49 for the basic one-module version: http://bit.ly/5YdBJ
  • This is by far the cheapest program on how to become a #1 bestseller that I’ve ever seen. 9 audios, plus support materials and bonuses. I have not personally reviewed the material but I did look at the scope of what it covers, seems like a lot of good info. Again, I haven’t listened–just sharing the information. http://shelhorowitz.com/go/yourbestseller/
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.

–> Hear & Meet Shel, October 2009

  • Marc Grant interviews me about business ethics this Thursday, 11 a.m. ET. Info: media (at) mentorequitypress.com
  • 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
  • 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).
  • Negotiating with meeting planners in Africa for January, Switzerland for February. Nothing definite. If you have a lead on a paying gig in or near Switzerland, I would pay a nice commission if it materializes.
  • March 24, I’m doing a teleseminar for Stacy Karacostas: stacy (at) success-stream.com
  • April 25, I’ll be speaking on collaborating with a co-author at the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference in New York. http://asja.org/wc/2010/

Follow me on:

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

–> New on the Sites, October 2009

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

Hear & Meet Shel, October 2009

Sunday, October 4th, 2009
  • Marc Grant interviews me about business ethics this Thursday, 11 a.m. ET. Info: media (at) mentorequitypress.com
  • Guest on Kim Smith’s Blog Talk Radio show, “Introducing Writers”  Listen to the replay at http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com/interview.html
  • 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).
  • Negotiating with meeting planners in Africa for January, Switzerland for February. Nothing definite. If you have a lead on a paying gig in or near Switzerland, I would pay a nice commission if it materializes.
  • March 24, I’m doing a teleseminar for Stacy Karacostas: stacy (at) success-stream.com
  • April 25, I’ll be speaking on collaborating with a co-author at the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference in New York. http://asja.org/wc/2010/

Follow me on:

This Might Be the Cheapest Way to Stock Your Closet/Bookshelf/CD Collection…Frugal Fun Tip October ‘09

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

The thing about fashion is that we’re all programmed to get tired of the stuff hanging in our closets. The manufacturers and retailers, of course, want you to just go out and buy more. But we’re talking frugal here.

How’s this alternative: gather with five or ten friends all about your size. Each of you brings five outfits or garments you’ve grown tired of, but that are still in great shape. One person’s trash becomes another’s treasure, and you take home some things you didn’t bring, that someone else was ready to swap. The women among you will probably enjoy modeling them for each other, too, and have an impromptu fashion show. Men may just want to swap and be done with it. If there’s stuff left over, it can go to charity or back to the original owner.

You keep stuff out of landfills, let it be used again, spruce up your stuff, and spend nothing. Pretty cool, hmmm?

Same principle works just as well for books, CDs, movies, foods you bought by mistake, even garden tools, sports and recreation equipment, whatever.





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.