Recently I've posted about Copyblogger and their 3-part series on Dan Kennedy (Copyblogger Updates Dan Kennedy and Dan Kennedy Translated To Online-Speak--part 3 isn't out yet but you can count on me letting you know when it is). It occurred to me this morning that I haven't given you even one Dan Kennedy book recommendation.
The one the Sean Platt is using as his inspiration for this series is The Ultimate Marketing Plan: Find Your Hook, Communicate Your Message, Make Your Mark, but there are more that can be amazingly helpful, especially once you've seen how to turn his direct marketing ideas into online methods. Enjoy the reading (he has a ton of books out there and I don't think a single one of them is bad).
Look forward to the next installment of the Copyblogger post in the series--I'll be telling you about it right here.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Quotes, Fear, and Safety
I’ve been “harvesting” quotes lately. I love quotes and I like to use them to express what I believe to be true in a way that keeps me from going on for whole paragraphs about my feelings and beliefs. Oh, and sometimes I like them for their humor or silliness. Today, as I was finding little gems in my Twitter feed, I came across four of them that were so appropriate for my clients, their clients, and my readers that I decided to clump them together and write whole paragraphs about them—OK, not whole paragraphs but at least whole sentences.
Here they are:
I’ve been thinking about how much fear has been holding me back and how much being safe has kept me from more success and, who knows, greatness? How about you? Are you letting your fear hold you back, too? Step out of your comfort zone a little. You can start with baby steps—don’t jump off a bridge when leaping into a swimming pool will do nicely.
Here they are:
- "A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." Grace Murray Hopper
- Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is a light shining somewhere nearby.
- Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomfort. - Arnold Bennett, novelist
- Love is random; fear is inevitable. -Orson Scott Card
I’ve been thinking about how much fear has been holding me back and how much being safe has kept me from more success and, who knows, greatness? How about you? Are you letting your fear hold you back, too? Step out of your comfort zone a little. You can start with baby steps—don’t jump off a bridge when leaping into a swimming pool will do nicely.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Dan Kennedy Translated to Online-Speak, Part 2
A few days ago I shared the beginning of a series of posts by our friends at copyblogger. Part 2 of how to put Dan Kennedy's direct marketing strategies to work online is available for your perusal. If you like the first one, you're going to love the second; Lessons 6-10 from One of the World's Highest-Paid Copywriters.
Didn't see the original post? Not to worry, here's where to find 14 Lessons Learned from One of the World's Highest-Paid Copywriters.
Copyblogger has always had posts of the highest caliber and it's definitely one of my favorite blogs to read. I hope you enjoy them as well.
Didn't see the original post? Not to worry, here's where to find 14 Lessons Learned from One of the World's Highest-Paid Copywriters.
Copyblogger has always had posts of the highest caliber and it's definitely one of my favorite blogs to read. I hope you enjoy them as well.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Social Media and the Women It Loves
Mashable wants us to know Why Social Media Means Big Opportunities for Women. Take a look at what they're saying and chime in on how you feel about it.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Which Social Media Should I Use?
There are so many new ways to get into the social media marketing mix that you could spend all day, every day, keeping up with all that updating and and responding to your existing/potential clients. This is by no means an exhaustive list. In fact, it's pretty much the tip of the iceburg:
You have a few choices:
- MySpace
- Blogging
- YouTube
- Discussion boards
- Ning
- Squidoo
You have a few choices:
- Spend more time marketing and less time sleeping
- Have your VA do it for you
- Pick the options that are best for you and develop a routine
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Copyblogger Updates Dan Kennedy
Sean Platt over at Copybloggers.com has started a 3-part series on 14 Lessons Learned from One of the World's Highest-Paid Copywriters. Dan Kennedy gets more money to write one page of advertising copy than any other copywriter anyone knows of and that's because he's the best at what he does. In his book, The Ultimate Marketing Plan, he lays out how to market just about anything--using direct mail-style marketing. There's definitely nothing wrong with that and there is still a huge place for that in the marketing world. We, however, are primarily focused on online marketing and Sean helps bridge the gap between Dan Kennedy's style and our needs.
The first part of the series is great--I'm looking forward to the next two and I know you'll want to read them--and put them into practice--too.
The first part of the series is great--I'm looking forward to the next two and I know you'll want to read them--and put them into practice--too.
Monday, February 15, 2010
If it's Good Enough for Coca-Cola...
According to a news story that hit the internet last month, Coke and Unilever are using social media marketing enough that they're cutting their "regular" marketing budget.
Here's the story from New Media Age:
Here's the story from New Media Age:
Coca-Cola and Unilever are shifting their digital focus away from traditional campaign sites and towards community platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube, as social media begins to dictate their marketing activity in 2010.
The FMCG giants are moving away from sites created on a campaign-by-campaign basis in favour of investment in existing communities. While both companies will continue to create campaign sites for certain brands in the immediate future, they have said the long-term future lies with social media on platforms populated by their target consumers.
Coca-Cola will position its official Facebook and YouTube pages as the lead online channels for upcoming international activity for its Coke Zero and Fanta brands, new media age understands.
Prinz Pinakatt, the Coca-Cola Company’s interactive marketing manager for Europe, said, “In some cases some of our campaigns won’t need a coke.com-hosted site. In most cases these will still exist as it’s the most obvious destination for a consumer, but it might only be a page linking to YouTube encouraging people to join the community there.
“We would like to place our activities and brands where people are, rather than dragging them to our platform,” Pinakatt added.My question: If it's good enough for Coca-Cola and the folks who bring us such products as Dove, Lipton, and Slim-Fast don't you think it should be good enough for the rest of us?
I know--if it's so good for you, why don't I do more of it? It's very possibly the biggest cop-out there is but the truth of the matter is that I don't want my business to grow to a point where I need to hire people. I'm very happy with the way my business is going. If I wanted to do marketing and grow my business I'd be doing the whole social media marketing gig.
"Ah, but now you have a blog," I hear you saying. Yes, I do, and the reason I do is something you want to think about as well. While most of my clients have blogs to get their name out there and show people why it would be a good idea to do business with them, many of them are also utilizing the system to help keep their current clients up-to-date on information that will help them in their fields.
Back to the whole Coke and Unilever thing. When the big boys start using social media we know it's not just a fad--it's big and the sooner you get on the band wagon, the sooner you can take advantage of its many benefits.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Valentine’s Day movie review
I’m sure all you guys out there are looking for a movie to take your favorite gals to see and the gals are looking for something to be taken to.
Along comes Dear John, last weekend’s biggest money maker. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Maybe it is. I thought about checking it out so first I checked out the reviews—not so great. There a ton of them out there—a quick google search will bring up more than any sane person would want to read—but here’s the one I chose to share with you.
Whatever you do, wherever you go, have a great day—I know I’m going to and I don’t even have a honey to share it with. Many years ago I decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to do a little of that self-love thing. If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to buy chocolates, flowers, and have a restaurant meal that includes cloth napkins.
Along comes Dear John, last weekend’s biggest money maker. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Maybe it is. I thought about checking it out so first I checked out the reviews—not so great. There a ton of them out there—a quick google search will bring up more than any sane person would want to read—but here’s the one I chose to share with you.
Whatever you do, wherever you go, have a great day—I know I’m going to and I don’t even have a honey to share it with. Many years ago I decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to do a little of that self-love thing. If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to buy chocolates, flowers, and have a restaurant meal that includes cloth napkins.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Valentine's Day Ideas?
Quick Link--I had fun here and thought you might, too. 7 Things to Buy the Homeworker Who Has Everything
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Facebook Becomes Spamming and Phishing's Number One Hot Spot
The Times of London has been tracking the problem of spamming and phishing on Facebook. "A tidal wave of spam has been predicted this year as cyber criminals are increasingly targeting social networks such as Facebook." (Facebook Spam) Chances are we've recently all gotten some kind of spam on our Facebook accounts but according to this article, "In 2008 there were virtually no Facebook phishing messages. Today Facebook is the second most phished organisation online and, if current trends continue, is on track to take the top spot in 2010."
I don't know about you but I'm not thrilled about this. The article doesn't tell us what to do about this invasion of our online privacy. I'll be looking into this and reporting what I discover. In the meantime, if you know of articles or other information that will help us keep the spammers at bay, let me know and I'll pass it along.
I don't know about you but I'm not thrilled about this. The article doesn't tell us what to do about this invasion of our online privacy. I'll be looking into this and reporting what I discover. In the meantime, if you know of articles or other information that will help us keep the spammers at bay, let me know and I'll pass it along.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Advertising Money is Going Into Social Media
Mashable, the Social Media Guide, says, "Money spent on social media-related advertising is already expected to grow significantly this year" and they have the survey to prove it. Take a look to see what the buzz is all about.
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