365 Days of Marketing Review

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(More customer reviews)The author's conversational tone makes it feel like I have just hired my very own marketing consultant - - - but one I can talk to at midnight in my pajamas for less than the cost of lunch. In my initial consultation, I tackled the concise Marketing 101 section. The absence of long, theory-based explanations makes it easy-to-follow and PRACTICAL! Especially impressive is the simple and straight-forward approach to social media and web-based marketing. I walked away with an understanding of how to create a framework for consistent and engaging communication with my target audience using ideas that were easy to implement immediately. In my next several sessions, I felt as though I were brainstorming with my consultant: the book provides a list of promotions, activities, and themes broken down month-by-month, week-by-week, and day-by-day. Sticky notes in hand, I flagged a number of ideas that seem like a perfect match for my marketing goals. I appreciate the variety of proposals, ranging from simple ideas for monthly newsletter themes to ambitious partnership events with local businesses. Never preachy or pedantic, the book got me fired-up about some strategies I could really see myself using. This is a resource I can imagine myself returning to again and again for new ideas and inspiration. If you are looking for marketing plans or ideas but don't have the time or money to sit down with a marketing consultant, then this book is a must-have!

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There are lots of resources available for those who want to gain an in-depth knowledge of traditional marketing, branding, communications, social media marketing, viral and word-of-mouth marketing, holding events and the like; but there are few resources that marry creative, practical ideas and content to the ‘how-to' of 'what to do' every day when it comes to marketing. That's where 365 Days of Marketing comes in.365 Days of Marketing can be used by anyone to get followers, stimulate referrals and build business.Beyond that, it will put "marketing"into a new light for non-marketing professionals.365 Days of Marketing will give you everyday-sized, practical 'nutritious helpings' of marketing concepts--you'll see how marketing actually fuels nearly every aspect of your business.Marketing doesn't have to be your passion. If you are passionate about your customers, your employees and your business, utilizing 365 Days of Marketing will help you build a bigger role for your business in the lives of your clients, develop customer loyalty and employee engagement, stimulate referrals, increase brand awareness and the influence you have in your community using traditional, social media, community and event-based marketing.

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Guerrilla P.R.: How You Can Wage an Effective Publicity Campaign...Without Going Broke Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had the good fortune of working with some of the top publicists in the country over the last 22 years, and wish that I could have read this book first. It would have made me much more effective in working with them, and also could have avoided a lot of their fees.
The advice is sound, based on my own experiences with a 37 city book tour in 1999. What it took me 37 cities to learn, you could glean from just reading this book. I envy you this opportunity.
Whatever your budget or appetite for public relations, the book will help you design and implement an effective program. It covers all of the basics, except for the Internet (which wasn't really a factor when this book was written). You will learn how to put out a press release, hold a press conference, do interviews, and create media events. Most of these things can be done relatively inexpensively, certainly at lower cost than with advertising.
I especially liked the high ethical standards that the book sets. It's easy to cut corners, but that is both wrong and eventually becomes ineffective.
May your 15 minutes of fame come soon as a result!
Seriously, public relations is a highly effective way to introduce potential customers to your products or services. It serves a good secondary purpose of helping you think through your message and who your audience is. This book does a good job of giving you questions to help you do both of these tasks. Follow this advice, and your business should be more successful within a year. Remember Mr. Levine's advice though, it's quality . . . not quantity . . . that counts.


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The manifesto for waging a street-smart publicity campaign with no- or low-cost strategies from one of Hollywood's most successful publicists.

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Perfect Phrases for Sales and Marketing Copy (Perfect Phrases Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Why We LOVE This Book
You can join 100 guru marketing groups. You can buy 100 Get Rich books. You can attend 100 marketing seminars.
Add them all up, and you may have a condensed version in this little book for under $10. It's craziness. For under 10, Barry Callen gives you ALL the tools you need to sell and promote successfully.
The price is priceless... the brevity is key, the knowledge is prodigious, the presention simple, the direction straight forward, no nonsense and to the point.
It's more than just phases. It's a super comprehensive Cliff's Notes of steps to take to sell your product. Just do every chapter, and that will be that - Success City! Wow... I bet some people will think I'm a bit over the top on that one... but, oh no! : )
Each chapter is clear and concise, brief yet detailed. He writes in a very conversational style - easy-easy to read. Chock FULL of info in every nicely worded sentence.
Some goodies:
8 Principles for More Effective Communication
"Look through your customer's eyes, not your own..."
23 Creative Approaches to Naming a Business
"Your single most important word and phrase is your name."
18 Approaches to Writing a Headline
"What's your most important point?"
Tactics for Print and Display Media
9 Steps to Creating a Print Ad - the best photo to choose
And a whole plethora more. Like, Tactics for Website Advertising. Very condensed - yikees, add effort (Do-ism), stir and serve! Fabulous!
I don't know about you, but when someone condenses (crams) a lifetime of incredible marketing "secrets" into one little extremely readable (he follows his own advice - "Write to express, not impress") how-to manual, you got to have it. And the author, Barry Callen, is TRULY an industry great having worked with Ogilvy & Mather, Nabisco, Coca Cola, United Way, etc.
I wish Barry Callen was my Dad. Oh, but then I'd be really rich and successful, and I'd be on some wonderful tropical island, or the top of Mt. Everest, or going to an Ivy League school thinking about running the world. And then, I wouldn't have written this little review to you from my humble little heart! : )
This book is more than a book. It is a TREASURE.

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The Right Phrase for Every Situation…Every Time

Whether you're trying to come up with a terrific headline for a newspaper ad, a snappy brochure for sales reps, or a slick radio script, every word counts. That's why you need Perfect Phrases for Marketing and Sales Copy. Filled with specific methods for writing the kind of headlines, body copy, taglines, and calls to action that will capture customer attention and move people to buy, this book gives you the how-tos and examples you need to make every ad or marketing piece succeed.

Find out the

23 creative approaches to naming a product, service, or business
18 ways to write a great headline
6 steps to creating memorable radio and TV ads

A must for writers, sales pros, and marketing people, this user-friendly guide tackles every style and format, providing winning phrases for powerful print ads, press releases, radio and television scripts, and much more. It's your ultimate resource and one-stop reference for phrases that provoke, phrases that inspire, phrases that sell.

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Write Your Book Now: A Proven System to Start and FINISH the Book You've Always Wanted to Write (Great Books for Writers) Review

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(More customer reviews)Every day it seems someone comes out with a new book on writing. As a writer, I'm drawn to the writing reference section in bookstores. I can't help myself. I'm always looking for that new take on things--maybe a secret that I've missed along the way somewhere.
While I know deep down that the only real way to learn to write well is to write often, I pick up new books on writing and glance through them to see if there's anything new in them.
Modeled on his class, "Starting and Finishing That Book You've Always Wanted to Write," Write Your Book Now! by Gene Perret lays out a direct and to-the-point path to follow in order to write and finish a book. Perret's idea is that no one can write a whole book, however, by focusing on small attainable goals, you can complete the overall project.
This is a small book (126 pages) but there's a LOT of information inside. Perret goes into step-by-step detail on how to tackle your book, emphasizing the need to plan ahead and know what you ultimately want to say along with everything from determining who your audience is to scheduling writing time in your day to publication and support on your writing journey.
While reading the book, the one thing that really stuck out to me was that there was no discussion of plot, structure or character. This threw me off because I've read more books on writing fiction than nonfiction and, well, I kind of expect to see a discussion of plot or character, regardless of how short the discussion is. And, yeah, that's probably just me. :)
However, it did bring up thoughts of the constant plotter vs pantser argument. I was given the opportunity to ask Mr. Perret some questions and my first question to him was along those lines:
KARI WOLFE: In the organic vs. outline writing debate on the Internet, you seem to come down pretty hard on the outline side of things. Do you think there is a place for organic writing (i.e. writing without an outline or planning) in the writing world?
GENE PERRET: I certainly do feel that there is a place for organic writing. I believe there is a place for all sorts of writing. The reason I favored "outline" writing in this book is because the book was designed for those people who have been wanting to write a book but can't seem to either get it started or get it finished. Therefore I suggested getting organized as a cure for that. Think through different segments of the book, organize them, outline the complete book. That may be the impetus you need to get your writing through to the "back cover."
One thing that should be emphasized is that my book is "A way" to start and finish a book. It's "The way" to start and finish a book. If a writer is having trouble completing a book, my ideas will help. However, if a writer is turning out manuscript after manuscript, there's no need to change that writer's working protocol just to correspond with the ideas in my book.
My own opinion is that it is a synthesis of BOTH plotting things out as well as writing from the seat of your pants that gives you the best novels as well as nonfiction books.
I will be writing some nonfiction ebooks in the next few months and I'll definitely use this book as a guide.
Received as a review copy from Quill Driver Books.
First posted at Imperfect Clarity: [...]

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Ideal for aspiring authors who only dream of actually finishing their works in progress, this guide features proven, field-tested tools guaranteed to successfully complete that romance, expert guide to business success, or great American novel. The chapters simplify the writing process by breaking it down into a series of discrete tasks, from creating a schedule in order to finish within a reasonable time, brainstorming sections of the book, and organizing ideas into chapters to rewriting, editing, submitting for publication, and even marketing. This reference is tailored to help writers avoid distractions and delays by establishing and maintaining a powerful writing momentum, thereby carrying their projects to completion. The psychological blocks that prevent writers from completing their manuscripts as well as how to combat them are also explored.

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Make a Name for Yourself: 8 Steps Every Woman Needs to Create a Personal Brand Strategy for Success Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this book. I couldn't read it fast enough the first time--it is well written, well organized, and easily understood. There are many useful examples of women who have successfully branded themselves using a variety of strategies. The 8 steps suggested by the author for defining your personal brand identity are within anyone's grasp. That's the beauty of the book--you don't need a big hunk of startup capital, you don't need a PhD, you don't need to aspire to a six figure income. Anyone can jump RIGHT IN and use the principles today. I have begun the process and find it very do-able even in the context of an insanely busy life. It is forcing me to think more clearly about my business goals and really define what I am offering to my customers. It is equally applicable to someone on a career path within a company as it is to a small business start-up like mine. Highly recommended...wish I could give it 25 stars. Amongst all the business books out there, this one provides the missing piece that can really help you differentiate what you offer to your employer or customer and maybe more importantly--the value or benefit THEY perceive will come from working with you.

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One of America's leading brand strategists shares her step-by-step program for creating an unforgettable identity in today's marketplace.For any woman who has ever gone to work in the morning and thought "there must be more," branding expert Robin Fisher Roffer reveals the eight surefire steps for developing a unique, personal brand strategy for success by identifying your extraordinary attributes, thinking about your values and passions, and learning how to use them to build a successful and fulfilling professional life.Whether you're starting out in the workforce, beginning your own business, changing careers, or tying to make it in the corporate world, Roffer will help you to uncover a focused direction for your career that celebrates you.

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Make 'Em Laugh & Take Their Money: A Few Thoughts On Using Humor As A Speaker or Writer or Sales Professional For Purposes of Persuasion Review

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(More customer reviews)I've seen Dan Kennedy speak many times. I never thought of him as funny, but I have thought of him as very bright and "witty". I'm surprised that this is the first review. This book is really well written, and Kennedy has mastered the art of showing how to get value out of everything he writes.
This book is realy an encyclopedia of all the different types of humor that are used in speaking from the platform. Dan explains how to use each of them so you don't irritate the entire crowd.
Dan gives the reasons you should want to make the audience laugh, and why it helps when you are selling.
He covers using self depricating humor to make the audience identify with you...but not look like a fool.
Dan talks about the many different ways to "Cheat", that is; get a laugh without being funny yourself. For most of us, this material alone is worth the price of the book.
Dan covers they different types of stories that are humorous, and how to structure them. He tells about several of his stories, and how he put them together to help pull the audience along ...toward buying.
Kennedy uses lots of example of different types of humor to control the audience. He uses examples from talk show hosts, comedians, and humorous speakers.
He gives reasons to know your audience ahead of your getting up to speak, and why you should listen to the speaker before you.
If you are looking for a funny book about speaking...this isn't it. I didn't laugh out loud once while reading. I was too busy taking notes and using a yellow highlighter.
By the way, he swears several times in the book. So, if you are seven years old, and want to be a comedian, this book isn't for you. But if you are an adult speaker, and want to know a proven way to engage the audience...this is THE book.

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People buy more and buy more happily when in good humor. Understanding humor and being able to effectively use it for your sales and persuasion purposes is a powerful advantage--for any speaker, salesman or writer." Drawn from 30 years' experience as a popular professional speaker, author of 13 books, columnist and advertising copywriter, Dan Kennedy looks at humor as an instrument of persuasion and influence. Anyone--amateur--or pro--who must stand and deliver speeches, seminars, group sales presentations, serve as toastmaster, or write advertisements, sales letters or newsletters will find fodder here, to be faster on their feet, more confident and adept at being funny with a purpose. The book contains thoughtful insight but also simple shortcuts. Reading it, you'll get a better appreciation for the humor around you and humor professionals who entertain you, and you'll exit stage left with humor strategies and tricks you can use. Even if you're not all that funny. Note: this book contains adult material and may not be suitable for minors. Or for the easily offended. From the author. . . "I first titled this book "Mugging for Fun and Profit," but then thought better of it. Reminds me of Napoleon Hill being threatened by his publisher with the title 'Use Your Noodle To Get The Boodle,' which Hill transformed to 'Think And Grow Rich.' Overnight. The power of a deadline and desperation. And one of the all-time bestselling books on the subject of success the result. Anyway, unless you are just doing to hit 'em over the head and drag them out into the desert to empty their pockets, I'd suggest, you need to know how to make 'em laugh.

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YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day Review

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(More customer reviews)When I received YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day I dove straight into it. I'm a technical person and have been working with Marketers all my life either to build systems or help in presales engagements. As Marketing has is becoming an online experience more and more, it makes sense to arm oneself with knowledge of the various media options. YupTube, like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are become forces to deal with in the online world.
Initially I expected a Step by Step, how-to guide. However as I dug through the book I kept asking myself when I was going to get to the first step. It isn't until halfway in that I started to find some technical aspects of how-to. But even these were not the "here's how" I expected. After completing the book, I initially felt I had not really gotten what I had hoped for.
However, I then reread the book. This time with a marketer's perspective. It reads more like a novel than an procedures manual and has one linger and investigate how others are engaging community and creating effective followings through YouTube Marketing. My opinion changed from a (2) to (4) stars after that insight. If you are looking for a technical step by step of loading videos, skip this book. If however, you want to get a flavor of how ours are being successful marketing with you tube and the elements to build your own campaigns. This is worth the investment and a second reading.


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A complete, task-based guide to developing, implementing, and tracking a video marketing strategy
Online video marketing is crucial in today's marketplace. This guide teaches you proven, practical guidelines for developing and implementing video marketing for your organization.

If you're a marketer, advertising professional, consultant, or small business owner, here's a relevant guide to understanding video marketing tactics, developing a strategy, implementing the campaign, and then measuring results. You'll find extensive coverage of keyword strategies and video optimization, distribution and promotion strategies to other sites and blogs, YouTube advertising opportunities, and crucial metrics and analysis.

Written in the popular "Hour a Day" format, which breaks intimidating topics down to easily approachable tasks
Covers previously undocumented optimization strategies, distribution techniques, community promotion tactics, and more
Explores the crucial keyword development phase and best practices for creating and maintaining a presence on YouTube via brand channel development and customization
Examines effective promotional tactics, how to optimize video for YouTube and search engine visibility, and metrics and analytics
Includes case studies, additional resources, a glossary, information about creating and editing video, step-by-step guides, and valuable tutorials

YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour A Day gives you the tools to give your clients or your organization a visible, vital marketing presence online

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Laugh & Get Rich: How to Profit from Humor in Any Business Review

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(More customer reviews)A friend suggested I read "Laugh and Grow Rich". I put it aside for about a week before I got around to reading it, and then I couldn't put it down.My mind was buzzing with ideas for meetings. I thought of ways that we could take some of the author's ideas and make our work more enjoyable-for both us and the customers. The chapter on how a printer made it enjoyable for people to be on hold made me rethink what we are doing. This was just one of the practical ideas that came from my first reading.I found the easy conversational tone took me a while to get used to, then it was just right. I guess that the best review I can give is that I purchased a second copy to give to a good friend who is in Wendy's upper management.A good book that is easy to follow and will help any manager to run better meetings and to deal with customer's and employees in a more effective manner.

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Break the rules of traditional business for the sake of the most important bottom line. Yours! This collection of tools and stories will serve as a blueprint for business success while you enjoy theprocess. Improve your organization by understanding inclusionary humor and other principles that will become part of your life.Humor, it's not just for advertising anymore!Learn 'HOW TO" strategically use humor to:- Build stronger client & employee relationships- Differentiate yourself from the competition in any industry- Sell more- Decrease employee turnoverREAL STORIES Behind the Laugh & Get Rich Philosophy- A company that went from zero to $6 million in six years- An HR expert who hires with humor- Furniture + Fun = $$$- A small business built with a porcelain pig

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Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution Review

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(More customer reviews)It has taken me almost two years on the film festival circuit with my first short film to learn half of the things discussed in this very informative and inspiring book! I wish I had found this book when I first started sending out my short to film festivals and dealing with distribution companies. There are funny anecdotes, stories, and wise nuggets from filmmakers and industry professionals that are really speaking from years of experience.
Sharon Badal has compiled an amazing group of people who are responsible for programming, discovering, and creating some of the best and most original shorts in the world. As a filmmaker, it is also very inspiring to read about the humble, passionate beginnings of filmmakers like Peter Sollett and Ryan Fleck/Anna Boden, and how their short films opened the doors for their feature films.
This book is a must-read for anyone trying to break in with their short film!

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Short films have come into their own, not least in part due to the incredible new ways to distribute them, including the Web, cell phones, new festivals devoted to shorts--even television and theatres. This is the ultimate guide for anyone who's made a short film and wonders what to do next. Whether your short film is meant to be a calling card, a segue to a feature film, or you just want to recoup some of the costs, this book describes the potential paths for distribution. Written by the short film programmer of the Tribeca Film Festival and featuring contributions from top film festival directors, as well as studio, marketing, and technology executives, this book shows you what's important to the decision makers and gatekeepers. This is the definitive handbook filled with insider information available nowhere else.* A guide to getting your short film the exposure it deserves* Filled with interviews and insider information from the gatekeepers at Focus Features, AtomFilms, Shorts International, Sundance, and more* Includes exercises and projects to help you develop a strategy and find the right investors

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