The Street Smarts Marketer
Video can be a great way to market your products and services, but it can also be a huge waste of time.
I would love to get your feedback on video for marketing and learning.
Watch this short video to find out the pros and cons, how to do video for free and then leave your comments below.
Comments encouraged!
Every book has what is called a hook. Most books have multiple hooks. Do you know what the hooks for your book are?
Check out this short video on how I found the hook for a book on organic eating in a book I recently received from the author.
I do NOT benefit from any sales of this book. So if you think I used this book as the example because I will benefit financially … wrong!
I used this book to show you how easy it actually is.
What do you do to find a hook for your book? Comments and insights welcome.
Looking for simple to apply ways to market your books?
Check out my short video. Be sure to subscribe to my blog to receive regular updates.
Comments welcome and encouraged.
YouTube is a great way to gain visibility for your books. There are three things you need to know about using YouTube to get the most value for your time invested.
The six minute video explains this in detail.
5 Ways to Finish Your Book Faster
FREE Webinar
February 16th – 5 p.m. PST
Most people who want to sell lots of books dream of doing so in order to have a great impact on the world.
Unfortunately, the majority will never achieve their greatest potential. Why? Watch my 9 minute video where I explain the 3 Biggest Myths Authors Need to Shatter.
I cover the myths, 3 ways to market, and how to get the most out of one of the best book marketing strategies around.
5 Ways to Finish Your Book Faster
FREE Webinar
February 16th – 5 p.m. PST
I’m writing this on the plane home after a two day mastermind meeting with Brendon Burchard. To say it was amazing is an understatement.
There’s so much we covered in the two day intensive including best practices with others in the group, what’s on the horizon with online marketing, leadership, market trends, and mindset.
One particular process we worked on was our own personal success strategy. We were all asked to list five top traits we feel have contributed to something we succeeded at.
For me it is:
Whether it is success in my relationship, my business or my health, all five traits apply.
For example, in 2009 I was training for a marathon. After attending a Team in Training meeting I decided to commit to participate in the Portland marathon. I got very excited when I found out I could power walk rather than run. I was in.
Having never done long distance power walking prior to this I had no idea of what was in store. In hindsight the five traits definitely applied.
Vision – To really get my head and heart into this I had to see myself go through the process. The more I could hold the vision of being a marathoner the more of a reality it became. The vision aspect also includes seeing how this experience would benefit me in other areas.
Commitment – Without a solid commitment to the process there was no way I would have achieved what I did. Because of a very strong commitment I went from struggling with the first practice to almost daily power walks of anywhere from 4 – 15 miles or more.
Risk – I risked looking foolish, being ridiculed, having people say, “What’s a 55 year old woman doing getting into marathon training for the first time in her life?” I was willing to risk my reputation and failure to explore this side of my character and physical stamina.
I also wanted to bust the myth that a middle aged woman couldn’t do something this bold. It’s amazing how many people let misguided beliefs hold them back regardless of their age.
Training – We don’t know what we don’t know. This certainly applied to my knowledge about participating in a marathon. Little did I know how much I would learn about proper form, nutrition, rest, recovery, clothing and shoes, hydration and all that goes with marathon training. The training was invaluable and taught me life skills I could apply to other areas.
Focus – Wow! Did I ever learn the importance of focus. Not only focus on the goal but focus each and every time I trained. Lack of focus can result in exhaustion and injury. I found this out all too well when for a brief moment I let my guard down, lost my focus and hit a pot hole. Within seconds of hearing (and feeling) my ankle snap I knew my dream of being in the marathon for that season was out of the question.
Although my dream was put on hold this doesn’t mean it was gone forever. Just because I didn’t achieve my end result the first go round doesn’t mean I won’t again train for a marathon. It simply means there was a delay according to my original plan.
As a matter of fact, nearly three years later I am starting to once again train for a marathon. I am really excited to again have the vision of crossing the finish line with others who have a similar dream.
It’s amazing how much farther ahead I am this time with my knowledge than the first time. Although I don’t have a date or a location in mind I am beginning the process of taking frequent power walks. I am again evaluating my nutrition and all the other areas I need to focus on for a successful outcome.
As you think about something you have been successful at what five traits did you apply to achieve your outcome? Write those down.
Once you identify them you can apply them to virtually anything you are doing. I can look at my five traits and see how they definitely have applied to every single success I have achieved in my business. Whether it was developing a low priced product,, a mentoring course, or a full-fledged product launch, each took the following:
What it is you want to accomplish in your business? Do you want to develop your first product? Do you want to write a book? Do you want to do a video series?
Whatever it is, apply your five success traits. Really commit to applying them and you will definitely enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Post your traits in the comment box with a specific example of what you have succeeded at by applying them.
What’s my purpose? What’s my calling? Why can’t I be more spiritual in my business?
Have you ever asked yourself these questions?
If you have, you are not alone. For a long time I asked myself these types of questions. The harder I searched for the answer the more elusive it became.
Then it all changed.
Today, I know what it feels like to be on the path; to answer the calling.
When you answer the calling you are able to use your unique talents and passion for a bigger purpose, to reach and help more people.
You ARE meant to do more and be more. It’s time to stop playing small. You owe it to yourself and to your customers and clients to play BIG!
If you’re not sure how to do this, read on. My friend and colleague, Melanie Benson Strick, is hosting a virtual series called Answering the Call Today.
Melanie, America’s Leading Authority on Optimum Performance and a Big Idea Catalyst has handpicked twelve conscious entrepreneurs who will show you how to tap into your calling.
This is a unique tele-summit…
Melanie has gone beyond the traditional “tell me how to make money” and has asked each guest to share how they help people navigate through the evolution of who they are – and make good money and a big impact on the world in the process.
Join me now as my free guest: Click here to access.
Here’s a quick snapshot of who is in the summit:
** Marcia Wieder, Founder of Dream University covering “A Dream for Your Soul”
** Barbara Stanny, author of Overcoming Under Earning, on “Sacred Success – The Journey to Affluence”
** Adam Urbanski, The Marketing Mentor on the “Overnight Guru Formula”
** Cynthia Kersey, best-selling author of Unstoppable on “Becoming an Unstoppable Force for Good”
** Robin Fisher Roffer of Big Fish Marketing on “How to Reinvent Yourself in 30 Days
Grab your free seat now.
Click here to register
** Liora Mendeloff, founder of the Women Speakers Association on “Being At The Forefront Of Creating A New Paradigm”
** Elyse Hope Killoran, founder of The Prosperity Game on “How to Unplug from the Old Paradigm Thinking to Access the New Game of Wealth”
** Drew Gerber, co-founder of PitchRate on “Passions into Profits: The Key to Writing The Book That Puts YOU on The Map”
** Lissa Boeles, the Soul-Mapper on “Way-Seeing For New Business Leadership”
** Arielle Ford, best-selling author of SoulMates on “Answering the Call to YOUR Soul Mate”
** Wendy Yellen, The Tsunami Maker on “How to Get Off Your Back and Out of Your Own Way….Now!!
** and the host of the series, Melanie Benson Strick, on “Thriving in The New Era: How to Create Ultimate Entrepreneurial Success On Your Terms”
What’s being revealed is not just fluff or teasers – this is powerful, life-changing information that will help you profitably, and enthusiastically, bring your calling to the world – without wasted time, money and energy.
Click here to register for FREE
Grab your free seat today – especially since it starts on Tuesday, February 7th!
“See you” there…
P.S. If you are concerned that you’ll miss one of the calls or know that you don’t have time to sit through all the expert’s sessions right now, then rest assured once you enroll Melanie has promised she’ll show you how to get access to the recordings.
P.P.S. I also just learned that 5% of any sales generated will be going to the Unstoppable Foundation to help sponsor a village of clean water and education for children in Africa. How cool is that!!!
If I were to pick one of the major challenges most solopreneurs have in building their business it’s knowing how to get their website/blog(s) up and running.
It really doesn’t have to be a challenge at all. You have one of two choices to get going; you can hire someone or you can do it yourself.
Hiring someone may have new challenges – like budget. Imagine what it would be like if you could design your own sites time after time and not have to be at the mercy of a designer – one who may not have your best interest at heart.
If you’re among the ranks of those who want to have complete control of your web design then the following article by my friend and colleague, Christina Hills, is a must read.
When you are getting your business online, obviously you need a website.
Get that done though, and quickly you’ll discover that you want more than just one website to run and promote your business.
When you are getting your business online, obviously you need a website.
Get that done though, and quickly you’ll discover that you want more than just one website to run and promote your business.
For the Website Creation Workshop, I have 5 websites I use:
1 – Opt in Site
2 – Sales Letter Site
3 – Main Site with a Blog
4 – Affiliate Area Site
5 – Membership Site
Watch this video now and let me show you…
Instead of paying out a small 5-figure sum to a webmaster for all this (and then and waiting days, weeks or months even), you can do this yourself in matter of a few hours when you know how.
In the website Creation Workshop, I make it easy for you.
Registration starts this coming Tuesday, February 7th. Mark your calendars!
Today’s featured expert guest blogger is Janet Slack. Janet shares how to power up your social media with multimedia.
Multimedia encompasses any media that isn’t just text. Think audio, video, slideshow presentations, teleseminars, or webinars and you’re thinking multimedia.
Using various types of media with your blog or social media posts gives you many ways to connect with your audience members. People like to consume their information in a range of different ways, and by providing your content in multimedia format, you give your subscribers or followers a choice of how they want to interact with you.
Here are some of the most popular multimedia choices and why you should consider adding them to your social media marketing arsenal.
Audio: Podcasting and Content Downloads
Audio content has really taken off in the age of the iPod, iPhone, Android and tablet. Just about everyone has a portable audio player available in one of their electronics now.
Having your content in audio format makes it easy for people to listen while they’re on the go. It’s especially appealing for people who like to learn, but don’t want to set time aside to read a book.
Instead, they like to listen and learn while they’re on the bus, in their car, walking to lunch or while exercising. The audio format makes it easy for them to do that.
Video: Letting Them See the Real You
How you appear in video approximates who you are in real life in a way that isn’t available in other media.
When reading text, people often form images of you that just aren’t how you actually are. When you’re on video, however, it’s a lot easier for people to get to know the real you.
The visual connection helps to build the sense of community with your audience. Your viewer is developing a relationship with you as you really are. This in turn results in more trust, more sales, more backlinks and more partnership opportunities.
Webinars & Online Slideshow Presentations
Other common forms of multimedia are webinars and online slideshow presentations.
One benefit of both of these types of media is that they help you to establish yourself as an expert in your market. Both are powerful ways of getting your message across and to help your audience be familiar with your skills and ability to assist them.
Another benefit to using these types of media is that they offer you a stellar opportunity to sell products. Online presentations can build a great deal of trust for audience members and it’s possible to generate significant sales from a well placed and carefully crafted offer.
Multimedia Free or for a Fee
The most basic way to
deliver multimedia is in a free online format. Simply encode your audio content in MP3 format or upload your short video content to YouTube or Vimeo and make it available online. Webinar systems will record your presentation for you and SlideShare and Prezi are ways to share your slideshows with your audiences.
A more complex way of delivering your multimedia content would be to charge for it. The revenue generated from video or audio content is often much greater than for the same material in written format.
In order to use multimedia to generate revenue, you’ll need to have a fulfillment system of some sort. You can deliver your content electronically with an autoresponder such as in an online membership program. If you want to deliver physical products, you could burn and mail CDs or DVDs. However, if your website gets significant traffic, you’ll probably need to work with a fulfillment house for production and distribution of the physical products.
Using multimedia with your blog and other social media marketing is one of the best ways to take your business up a level. Give people the opportunity to interact with you in a variety of different ways and watch them respond with increased trust, connection and sales.
Janet Slack is a well-known author, coach, speaker and blogger on topics related to running a successful small business. She has guided hundreds of other entrepreneurs in their use of social media to grow their businesses and fatten their wallets. You can get a free copy of her popular book Biz Tips for Entrepreneurs filled with dozens of ideas for marketing YOUR biz here.
Ready to learn other ways to build your business. Check out Janet’s book Biz Tips. Click here
Something that is often overlooked in growing a business is staying out of harmful debt. One person who knows a great deal about this is Michael Dolen. Today Michael shares some great tips on how to avoid debt traps. His information may surprise you and give you a wake up call. (Editor – Kathleen Gage)
An online business should be a lean and mean operation. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always turn out that way. As someone who has been working in the online space for over a decade now – through independent as well as group ventures – I’ve had my fair share of successes and failures. What I’m about to share with you are three of the most common debt traps you can encounter when starting your online business.
#1. Avoid long-term contracts
Let’s be honest here… no matter how good your idea is, it’s impossible to know in advance whether it will sizzle or fizzle in the marketplace. Simply put, there are too many variables at play, many of which you have zero control over.
So with that said, does it make any sense to lock yourself into long term contracts? Probably not!
When you are starting out, I have found it’s best to “pay as you go” as much as possible. For example, even though it’s cheaper, don’t sign-up for a 24 or 36 month contract for webhosting when you don’t even know yet how well your business will perform.
For my primary business, which is an affiliate website for credit card offers, I stuck with month-to-month hosting plans for the first 3 years. Not only did this allow me to test the waters, but it also prevented me from being locked into a contract for a specific hardware configuration. This was a good thing, because my hardware needs 2 and 3 years out were totally different than what I had envisioned when I started.
#2: Online ads aren’t for amateurs
When you really know what you’re doing, Google Adwords and other advertising channels can be a great way to bring in customers. But if you think you can jump in and learn as you go, then think again! I cannot even begin to tell you how many horror stories I have heard from small business owners who have raked up massive credit card bills, sometimes unknowingly, through online advertising. Here’s why…
When you signup for Google Adwords, Microsoft Adcenter, etc., you enter your credit card information and then start creating campaigns. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy to get in way over your head, fast.
For example, let’s say I wanted to buy ads for the phrase “cash back credit cards” so that when people searched for that phrase on Google, an ad for my site would be shown. The expected number of times it will be shown can vary greatly based on whether I select broad, phrase, or exact match for my campaign. To give you an idea, last month there were 40,500 “broad” matches for cash back credit cards, but only 5,400 for “exact.”
Under those circumstances, if I selected “broad” and didn’t know what that meant, my ad would likely be shown a lot more often – and in turn – I could easily end up spending more, faster than expected.
However the quickest way to break the piggy bank is by selecting the display network, rather than the search network. The latter of which will mean your ad will only be shown when someone searches for your keywords. But when you select display (which is or at least used to be selected by default) then your ad will also be shown on any webpage which matches those keywords and displays Google Ads. Translation? The number of impressions will skyrocket! A good thing if you know what you’re doing, but a bad thing if you’re still learning the game.
By setting appropriate daily spending limits and bids per click, these problems can be avoided altogether. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can blow through money fast, like this guy who was new to the game and allegedly spent $30,000 overnight by accident.
The lesson? Make sure you know what you’re doing! This especially is important since your competitors probably have their ads down to a science. Can you say the same about your own level of expertise? If not, then you have some learning to do before getting your feet wet.
#3: Don’t overspend on design
Remember what I mentioned above about my hardware needs for CreditCardForum being significantly different 2- 3 years out than what they were on day one? Well, the same holds true when it comes to web design, software, and more. You need to be flexible because your needs will change.
Your online business will evolve and to be quite frank with you, it’s impossible to know what its finished form should be when you’re just starting out. There may be a feature or design aspect of your site which seemed like the perfect idea on day 1. But months later, you realize it needs to be something different.
For this reason, don’t get too obsessed with creating the perfect design for your site. I’ve consulted businesses that have gone into debt by charging tens of thousands of dollars to their credit card, to pay for design work. They thought it was a wise investment since the design was perfect (even though they hadn’t launched yet). Then down the road after they’re in operation, they come to find out they will need to cough up big bucks yet again, because what they envisioned as being the perfect idea actually needs some major adjustments.
Don’t get me wrong, you still want an aesthetically pleasing, professional looking site when you launch. But don’t spend with the mindset that it will be a one-time expense, because I guarantee you there will be many changes you want later on.
About The Author: Michael Dolen is an internet entrepreneur of over a decade. Since founding it in 2008, his primary venture (and most successful to date) has been CreditCardForum, which is a leading website for credit card ratings. The site promotes products and services for a number of large financial institutions including American Express, Discover, Citi, Chase, Capital One, HSBC, Equifax, and others. He has been featured in The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, and many other media outlets for his work with CreditCardForum.
Have you had any bad experience with unexpected debt? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
