Book marketing and Book Promotion should of great importance to you as an author and know that this is definitely the case where your publisher is concerned. Without a solid book Marketing plan many book authors can experience the ebb and flow of book sales when they first start out. Some never break out of this daunting cycle. They don’t experience the flow of good sales that comes with a consistent marketing plan.
 
In fact, to increase your daily sales you must have a book marketing / promotion plan put into place that shows the publisher you are marketing to your audience on a daily basis.

Here are 10 easy book marketing tips that will be useful for marketing and promoting your books.

1. Create a new book marketing plan or revise your old one to include all aspects of offline and online Marketing. Your book marketing plan will describe your book, what will you do after the book is completed and published. It also describes whom you want to sell your book to or your target audience.

2. Using press releases for marketing or promoting your book or book’s website has become increasingly popular as publishers discover the powerful benefits of using press releases.

3. It’s important to create a website specifically for your book that focuses on your book title; you’ll be able to refer editors and customers and all interested parties to your book information with the click of a mouse.

4. I’ve seen a lot of people paying for expensive display ads, so beware if you do this; I don’t advise it in the beginning — get your feet wet first so you know what you’re doing.  One of your best bets is creating Joint Ventures.  Visit www.hartofsussess.com/manifesto to pick up your free copy explaining how to do this.

5. Be your own publicist and send a press release along with a review copy of your book to publications in your book’s genre and to book review magazines. Get as many testimonials about your book, as possible, from experts in the field relating to your title, not customers; use these on your fliers and back of books.

6. You can create a fan page on Facebook and twitter page specifically for your book; They are great online book marketing tools.

7. Library Press Release – Are you a member of your local library?  Once your book has been published, meet with the branch manager and ask them to issue a press release in the library system’s newsletter.  (You can write this ahead of time for them.

8. Local Newspaper – Contact your local news publications. Including the citywide and local papers.  Explain as a local to your town or city, you have written a book and would like them to do a story on you.

9. Local Radio and T.V. Stations – Contact your local radio station.  Preferably one that will have listeners in your target market and also your local T.V. Stations, like breakfast shows.  Explain as a local to your town or city, you have written a book and would like them to do a feature on you. Community oriented opportunities are usually easier to secure than national ones in the beginning.

10. Perhaps the most important tip is to recognize that your book marketing and book promotion will be mainly done by you and not your publisher.  They will help you with certain aspects of this procedure but you will be best advised to create your own plan with additional back-end products.  We work on this with all my students in the http://www.mitprogram.com/ mentorship program as I know firsthand by working with my students and clients what publishers are looking for, but most importantly what plan is needed to make your book marketing and book promotion successful.

The success of any book launch campaign depends on a good book and marketing plan; it’s been done many times before and you can do it too.

Use your book promotion and book marketing dollars wisely; go after the local and no-cost strategies first. Make sure to test, test, and test some more before you lay out large sums of money.

All the Best,

Stefanie

Popularity: 1% [?]

I found this funny website with Crazy Translations and it got me to thinking about why it’s so crucial to understand your target market.

Picture this: You’re a big-shot marketing honcho at General Motors in the ‘70s.  One of the global car retailer’s best-selling models is the Chevy Nova.  Comfortable, conservatively stylish for its day, it’s a car that’s on the move – so to speak.  Your territory is Latin America and you’re excited to offer this fine vehicle to our neighbors to the south.  You hop a flight from Detroit south of the border because you just can’t wait for the dealers to greet you like the conquering hero you know you are.  You walk proudly into the first dealership and ask the manager about Nova sales.  “Nunca (none),” he says.  You’re sure “nunca” is the word for “thousands.”  You ask the interpreter for a translation.  “None,” he says, “the dealer has not sold one Nova.”  What?! How can that be possible?!  In the states, dealers can scarcely keep enough on the showroom floor!  Why haven’t they sold any?

“Well,” explains the interpreter sheepishly, “No-va in Spanish means: Doesn’t go.” 

The morale of this famous business blunder is clear: know your customers, know your niche target market. And, this is important, know them before you spend millions in research, development, production and marketing!

Being successful in a business venture takes more than a knowledge of the market, it starts with a knowledge of people – the buyers, the final customer –  Each person plays a unique role in your ultimate success – as well as a unique perspective on your product or service’s plusses and minuses based on the observations from where they sit.  Talk with them.  Visit them.  Listen to them.  Communication  is key.

In the MIT Program www.mitprogram.com we work on figuring out your niche or target market so you can communicate to them in the most effective way.

Things to think about:
• Think outside the norm. Who could benefit from your info, but no-one is teaching them?
• Where do they hang out & their lifestyle? (Locate companies that reach your target market)
• What are the commonalities of why customers come to you for help?
• Find out if there is a market for your product by seeing how many people search for your keywords. 

Just ask the Scandinavian manufacturer Electrolux who once launched their newest vacuum in the U.S. with the slogan: “Nothing Sucks Like an Electrolux.”

You bet.

Other Big Marketing Brands and Funny Translations:

Clairol introduced the “Mist Stick,” a curling iron, into Germany only to find out that “mist” is slang for manure. Not too many people had use for the “Manure Stick.”

Coors put its slogan, “Turn It Loose,” into Spanish, where it was read as “Suffer From Diarrhea.”

Pepsi’s “Come Alive With the Pepsi Generation” translated into “Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back From the Grave” in Chinese.

When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the labels of what’s inside, since many people can’t read.

Colgate introduced a toothpaste in France called Cue, the name of a notorious porno magazine

When American Airlines wanted to advertise its new leather first class seats in the Mexican market, it translated its “Fly In Leather” campaign literally, which meant “Fly Naked” (vuela en cuero) in Spanish.

An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope’s visit. Instead of “I saw the Pope” (el Papa), the shirts read “I Saw the Potato” (la papa).

The Dairy Association’s huge success with the campaign “Got Milk?” prompted them to expand advertising to Mexico. It was soon brought to their attention the Spanish translation read “Are You Lactating?”

The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as “Kekoukela”, meaning “Bite the Wax Tadpole” or “Female Horse Stuffed with Wax”, depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent “kokoukole”, translating into “Happiness in the Mouth.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

I just found this book that I thought was really interesting.  It’s called ‘Predictably Irrational’ by Dan Ariely.  He’s a pretty interesting guy.  He is the James B. Duke Professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight.  He did an experiment with giving away free items that marketers should read about.

Here’s a brief summary of one of his chapters:

The Free Trade Experiment

One of the chapters in Ariely’s book discusses the amazing power of giving away things for free. We all know that getting something for free makes people feel good. But Ariely takes it a step further and explains how attached people get to their zero-cost item, and psychologically, zero is very special.

Ariely wanted to find a way to explore his theory, so on Halloween, the author conducted an interesting experiment on trick-or-treaters.  After all – kids get zero cost (free) items every Halloween.  So he started out with a giving out three Hershey’s Kisses when the children first started to come to his door. But then he offered to make a deal.

He gave them a choice.  Each child could trade one Kiss for a mini Snickers bar or two Kisses for a full  sized chocolate bar. The result: after seeing the size difference in the chocolate, almost all of them traded the two Kisses for a full-sized bar.

As this is an experiment, Ariely changed the terms of the deal halfway through the night.

This time, the kids could now trade one (instead of two) of their three Kisses for the larger bar, OR get a mini-Snickers without having to give up anything in return. In terms of sheer volume of chocolate, the trade for the larger bar was still by far the better deal.

Here’s what’s interesting; when faced with this choice, most of them refused the trade, even though it cost them overall. Ariely later performed this experiment on his MIT students, and the majority there as well made the same mistake.

So what happened?

Ariely speculates that the underlying reason for the chocolate miscalculation was anxiety. He believes that people are naturally risk averse. He says, “there’s no visible possibility of loss when we choose something for free.” Therefore, most people are drawn to it.

I found this interesting because I know through consulting that when you give too much away free, you can ‘train’ people not to buy from you. In essence, they come to EXPECT all your products and services and help for free.  They might even get upset if you suggest a price to them.  Accordingly, when I consult, I walk the line with clients of suggesting what times we give for free, and what we just charge a small fee for and then strategically decide when we should begin to introduce the paid for items.

Having said that, I typically will include a free item to give people an incentive to buy.  Perhaps we can take this experiment to heart and offer our FREE items in a way where people can trade up for other items.  Like – download these 2 e-books and get this one for free.  OR sign up on this form to get a free item a month sent to you.  OR trade that for X.  It would be interesting to see what people choose.

OR even do something like what places like GoupOn does, where they offer deals, but only if the majority of people want it.  So everyone saves, but if only a few people want the 50% off then it doesn’t go on sale.  This company basically has the consumer emailing out to other consumers asking others if they want it in order for everyone to get the 50% off.  I might try this by asking my list which product or program item do THEY want a SALE on – the majority vote wins!  Great way to have people get involved and interacting.

Please let me know what your own FREE item experiences are.

All the best,
Stefanie

Popularity: 13% [?]

AUTHOR 101 UNIVERSITY OCTOBER 29-31 IN LAS VEGAS

You know I go to maybe 4 events a year.  Many events have lots of hype but when you show up  (frankly) they can suck.  I am sorry for being so blatant here, but you know it’s true.

However, the event that I return to EVERY year is Author 101 with Rick Frishman.

This is one of the best events.  It is always a PACKED room, and you meet a ton of authors and BIGWIGS.  Rick always invites industry pros and let me tell you – most people don’t even realize or take advantage of this opportunity.  But that’s like life isn’t it?  98% of people don’t do the things that gives them the edge, they just talk.

I am shocked.

Here’s why.   It costs you NOTHING to go up and either ask ME (which I will) or ask Rick to introduce you to a star maker at the event. What MOST PEOPE do at this event is just attend, sit in a chair and watch the speakers.  Listen, you will learn a LOT that way, and I hope you show up to support my presentation. But if you want to be someone who BREAKS through then in between the speakers presentations (on the breaks) CONNECT with those who help to make you a star.

Some may be one of the speakers OR one of the panelists.

EVEN if you have nothing to offer right, now, no book or product, no website.  What you DO have right now is YOU, your heart and your guts.  Nothing beats a face to face handshake, and 2 mins of rapport building that who knows may turn into dinner, that may turn into a million dollar deal next year.  I have seen it happen.

Trust me you won’t get a chance to have a phone call with them.

You might meet someone who SEES your STAR potential.  You might just meet someone who wants to PUBLISH you or MARKET you or turn your ideas into a MOVIE or TV Show next year. Or you might meet someone who just thinks you are so great they want to do a JV with you and you don’t know what yet, just that you are keen to put something together.

So here’s the email about the event.  It’s also 2 for 1 and it’s frankly underpriced.

I suggest if you go to this event – and when you do, COME GET me and ask me to introduce you to ANYONE or EVERYONE.

Be the top 1% , not the rest.

Plus – it’s Halloween- if you’re going to come to Vegas Halloween will be a riot.  Lots of fun.

About the event:

AUTHOR 101 UNIVERSITY is the place to be if you’re an author, publisher or aspiring author. You’ll hear top publishing and marketing experts reveal tools and techniques to get your book published and double or triple your income as an author or publisher.

You’ll hear from…

• Brian Tracy (he will help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined)
• Stefanie Hartman (she will help you monetize your expertise and make revenue FROM your book)
• Rick Frishman (best selling author, Morgan James Publisher and the go-to guy for author publicity)
• Barbara DeAngelis (one of the most influential teachers of our time, with four NY Times #1 best selling books)
• Tom Antion (internationally acclaimed Internet Marketing Expert)
• Loral Langemeier (NY Times best selling author and one of today’s most dynamic and pioneering money experts)

There are 19 other fabulous speakers – AND a Publishing Panel of publishers, agents, and editors that you can meet and talk with. This is going to be an amazing event and it is going to sell out fast.

LITERARY AGENTS are looking for your book – Don’t participate in the recession – this event will change your life!

Go today to www.stefaniehartman.com/recommendation/author101
and get the details and watch videos from some of our previous attendees.

See you there!
Stefanie

Popularity: 10% [?]

This is brilliant!

Before there was a term for it, I‘ve been teaching the power of ‘Heart Marketing’ for 10 years. In fact, I believe the reason my web copy won out in million dollar product sales, over more expensive copy writers (face it I had none), was because while others were ‘screaming’ at their consumers, I was dating them.

Now I didn’t read some kind of slimy ‘how to pretend to like my list to capture sales book’ to figure this out. I came by it honestly. I cared. Plus I respect other people and choose to believe that I am writing to highly intelligent, fun loving people. Good people. People I’d love to sit down over dinner and chat with for hours.

So I just treat them as such.

I genuinely care about everyone who takes a moment to read or listen to something I have created. I mean, how great is that they chose to spend 10 minutes with you? That should be appreciated not manipulated.

In your marketing, your emailing and your blog posts, I still have fights with others who say I should NOT post funny or casual posts in my blogs, just keep it business articles. For me that makes no sense. OK, I will put 90% business articles, but hey, we’re all human, so why wouldn’t we all want a more human experience.

As your coach, I hope you do as well with your consumers and marketing. If you have forgotten it – go to the MIT course and read up on the Oprah factor in emails, and in weeks or even days you’ll be well on your way to establishing an incredible relationship with the people you SHOULD be caring about – those that choose to read, buy or come see YOU!

Finally big corporations are catching on.

Comment and Tell me what you think below.

Warmest Regards,
Stefanie

Popularity: 1% [?]

Ok, this is a strange blog post I know, but hey- sometimes it happens – and this year – boy did it ever happen to me.  So I’m figuring that you may have had a similar bad start to the year – maybe not this year, but at least once in your life – and if you did – please share it with me and if there were any lessons learned.  And I tell you what –  the best 3 stories will get a special prize!  But – hey I may win my own prize.

But I figure if my first day was this bad in the New Year, then the rest of the year should be GREAT!  Just getting it all out in the beginning.

So here’s what happened…

December office was busy, trying to shut down for the holiday plans, the “holidays “(really we need another word here) were also at a fast pace as my family chose to split up the festivities this year, so it was 3 days of prep and 5 days of different cities and celebrating (not including new years).  But I love the holidays, giving presents and feeling all the warm vibes of the season, so I was tired but enjoyed it.  But I did feel I was trying to make everyone else happy and exhausted myself in the process. That’s sign #1.

But then I came down with a 2 week sinus affection that didn’t allow me to sleep, eat or breathe properly.  I had black eyes from this infection. And I am the person who doesn’t get colds even when I have sick people around me, so it was surprising.  Perhaps a sign to slow down.

During this time I also found out that a good friend of mine died and I attended the funeral and Shiva.  So that was a hard reminder that love and friendships are precious.  It was also a reminder that we’re all on a silent egg timer and we never know when the bell will ring for us.

A few days later I return to work and a business deal and relationship I am deeply involved in (and really enjoy) seems to have gone to hell in a hand basket (who made up this expression, it’s really good).  I am hoping this will end on a positive note, but the journey to get there is really horribly difficult, time costly and dragged me down emotionally for 3 days where I couldn’t even move – which is weird as I am typically the girl you call in any traumatic experience.  I am a rock and a strong guide in tough situations.  I was a crisis manager for pete-sake!  I can handle pressure.

But I must have been so sick, so exhausted and overwhelmed by the feeling of being let down, that it contributed to my emotional state.   In fact I almost missed New Years over it because I was so devastated by their actions.  Mostly because when they were really making big mistakes and I covered for them and was as forgiving as Mother Theresa.  Why don’t people appreciate or remember those things?  Do we have to be feared in business to get respect and appreciation?   I should be furious but I mostly feel disappointed.  I rationalize it thinking that even good people can do strange actions when they are emotionally or financially struggling, it helps people act from fear and lash out at others.

That same day (my first day back to work), my staff accidentally erased 3 of my main business websites.  Thank god for back-ups!!  This has created a few days of me trying not to panic, but it is slowly being resolved as we speak. But I couldn’t get mad because who can get upset at someone who is more upset at themselves, than I could ever be?  Mistakes can happen.

Then for some strange reason my outlook refused to open, so I had no way of looking at past, present or future emails.  Weird.  It later repaired itself.  It may have been a sign to walk away.

Did I mention that my grandmother is ill?

Seriously, I’m not sure you can top 8 years of work being wiped out in 1 day, a death of a friend, a possible end to a part of a business I enjoyed, computer failures and feeling like crap? – but hey you can try.  Be my guest.

So what do I take from all this????  Well you may have more enlightening answers (and if you do please send them my way).

Here was my thought process:

Ok, someone cursed me.

Ok, everyone but me is crazy.

Ok, I must suck at business.

Ok, I must be the crazy one and don’t see it.  Well, I am talking to myself here.

Jeez, I am dehydrated from crying.  Can someone get dehydrated from tears? 

Ok, maybe a possible (hopefully not) end to a partnership deal, my business being deleted is a signal for me to become a vet.  I love animals – but no, can’t operate on them.  Vet is out – plus I don’t look good in white, I need more color. 

Hmmm, Ok, I should go back to bed, and hide under the covers until I can smell tulips in March.  Hopefully my husband will remember to keep feeding our dog.  He probably won’t. Damn!  I have to get out of bed.

Ok, am I going to let this get me down???       Hell yes! 

……Ok, try again, am I going to let this get me down and quit?      Well, maybe I can look at the positives; maybe SOME people still love me.  Maybe I shouldn’t take this one weird week as the representative of my 8 years of doing good work on the planet and helping so many people find their way and reach for more.    Ok, feeling better.

Getting Proper Perspective Back
Why is it I pay more attention to negative actions of a few, than the many more positives?  I know why, because I try so hard to please everyone, and it just doesn’t work all the time.

Maybe the world has better things to do than single me out for a take-down, after all, I’m not one of the bad guys – just an imperfect woman trying to be perfect 24/7 and make the lives of others a better place.  Bound to make some errors, maybe I have.  Maybe I should forgive others and forgive myself.  Hmm, good start.  That feels better.

Next – look at the bright side:  Ok, I have my health back, which is so important.  My personal relationships are great right now.  My dog is super cute and definitely still loves me.

I have incredible circle of people in my group this year – really top notch and include some of my favorite people.  I am also looking forward to seeing my new MIT members change & grow and helping them along the way like a proud mum.

I may have lost 3 pounds from my cold, which makes up for the chocolate binge on the 3 days I was feeling sorry for myself and not getting off my sofa.  Ok, I’m on to caramels now – and I am currently accepting chocolate or caramel donations.

I am also reminded of an email my good friend, our fabulous MIT coach and circle member Nat said to me last year.  He said his computer froze, and at first he panicked – but then he sought to see the beauty and positive in his situation.  He realized that all he needed to do was do a “de-fragmentation” repair on his computer – this also mirrored his office.  So he took this spare time to clean up all the bits of paper and stuff cluttering up his office and felt a weight lift.  Both he and his computer got a clean-up that day.

So taking Nat’s advice (after all not only is he a rocking MIT Coach, but he is also a Buddhist monk and entrepreneur.  That’s a strong combination) I reflected …

… And thought- if my whole business disappeared (which it did temporarily) – would I be ok?   Yes, I can rebuild.  I would find a way.  Or maybe this is a wake-up call that I should look at changing the program and starting with a fresh perspective.  I have been meaning to do updates.  Or maybe start something totally new.  Is there something else I have been meaning to do?  Is there a new path?

Regarding the deal and partnership that I so treasured… I will keep in my thoughts that both my partner and I will be very happy with whatever the outcome or resolution may be and remain friends and still send each other business.  Perhaps letting go is good – even though it scares me and fills me with unanswered questions about the future.

This also made me realize – when things went – poof! Gone!  That we have a CHOICE to be here.  We have a choice to keep offering the same programs or start again from scratch or even change what we do every day. No one is forcing you to stay at your job, even though it may feel like that sometimes.   We always have a CHOICE to look for new solutions or not. 

It made me remember that in ANY industry you will meet villains, saints and people who do things you just don’t understand (out of fear, jealousy, negative belief systems or desperation), so accept that.  There will be people you help who may resent you for your help later.  I think dogs are the only animals that won’t bite you after you feed them.  People unfortunately can sometimes.  What’s with the dog theme here?

Letting Go Of My Maps
I don’t have everything planned to perfection as I typically do at this time of year.  I choose to not feel panicked about that.  Ok, I repeat, I choose not to feel panicked (I feel like Dorothy clicking her heels and deeply concentrating here – this is hard).   After all I think if there is one life lesson Stefanie Hartman is supposed to learn it’s that you can TRUST life more.  Life has a way of working out.  Life has its own map & timeline.   I hate not having full direction by now, not seeing what is to come.  I can adjust plans, but I typically need to have some direction.  I love maps!  So I’m easing up on that somewhat.  Yes I will identify a few goals, but if I don’t know where my next income is going to be made I will TRUST more that it will (back to the shoes clicking).

Letting Go & Taking a Stand for Me
I will not compare myself or my progress to others as that only ends badly.  I just realized that when I compare myself to others, I never compare to those ‘below’ me, just ‘above’ me (basically whoever has something I would also like to have)?   Really this is not a fair comparison without the two perspectives.   While there will be people smarter, more successful, “luckier”, prettier, taller, whatever, there will also be people whose life you would never trade for.  Many people have greater challenges and discomfort or pain.  I will remember the bigger picture and be grateful every day. 

There are very successful people who can feel like failures because they hold themselves to ridiculous standards or ‘fail’ their own self-imposed timelines.  I do not want to be one of them.

I will also retain my own successes in my mind and heart with personal pride and not let my achievements diminish as soon as they are accomplished for fear of being egotistical.  Being happy for myself is not a negative thing, especially when I am genuinely happy for those around me too.  I will no longer put my own happiness in second, third or fourth place.

I will continue to run my business in a way I am proud of, even if others are “getting ahead” faster through not so pleasant methods. 

I will be proud of myself and TRUST that my life has its own timeline and I cannot plan everything.

I will stretch time and spend 8 hours a month connecting with a business & personal relationships – out of the blue.  Telling them how much I care for them.

I will not hold onto what I think ‘should happen’ with a tight grip, even if I am sad or have fear – as I will trust that if it is not meant to work out (no matter what it is), gripping it will only give me a hand cramp and waste time and energy.   Letting things fall where they may, makes room for something better that I may never have even imagined.

It is possible that the plan I have is not as great as the plan the universe has.  I am betting on you universe – so now’s your chance. 

I will do more things in love of life and in spite of fear.

Humanity has gotten me down a bit this past year, so maybe I should add a project that will show the charitable and unexpected sides of people, or do something to help rescue distressed animals.  I will meditate on this.  Having a positive project may be good for me.

I will learn how to meditate.

I will continue to take the risk of opening myself up to the world (and who ever reads this, thank you), keep being transparent, VULNERABLE and real – and hope that I don’t need to be ‘perfect’ and a shark for others to see that while I have vulnerable moments I have many more moments of great strength, that in fact being vulnerable, not putting on a persona in public takes great courage and strength. 

I will try not to take to heart the 1 or 2 negative emails I get from people every so often.  I will instead put more weight on the hundreds of positive ones.

I will let myself be wrong occasionally and forgive myself.  I will forgive others as well.

Whenever I feel fear, I will remember its ‘made up’, not real, and I will trust more.

I will work on getting my body into a gym, and getting my mind/soul into some fun activities as well as some soul searching.

I will go and get some more chocolate caramels because I just missed lunch.

I will not be so hard on myself.

I will keep my sense of humor…it may be the last thing I take with me on earth.

Foreshadow: I‘m thinking my next year’s blog post may be about visiting the dentist from all these milk duds I am eating.  Ok I’m done with eating chocolate – free milk dud boxes for those who think they can top this!

Maybe if I keep saying MILK DUDS the company will sponsor my blog, milk duds, milk duds, and no calls yet…I will keep trying later.

Thanks for listening…..

Your friend, mentor (hopefully still after this crazy blog post) and person who may be YOUR biggest fan and cheerleader,

Stefanie Hartman

PS – Please post your proper email address as will will be contacting the winners!

Popularity: 4% [?]

OK. What happened this month?  August was fun, then for some reason everyone I know practically contacted me or is doing something this month. Typically we promote maybe 2-4 events per year for others, so if its weirding you out that this past week we’ve sent 3 – then don’t worry its weirding me out too.    Bu the good news is they are all REALLY cool events that I just wanted to make you aware of (as personally I hate missing out on stuff).

Here’s some things that we are going too:

Will I see you at any of them?  If so, please let me know or find me at the events so I can meet you and make powerful introductions for you.

September 25th – 27th – My Mastermind Group meets in Vancouver – we’re all EXCITED about it. This is a CLOSED event. You can’t even peek into our windows.

Monday Sept 28th – I am speaking at Dov Baron’s $5,000 person event (which I got you 80% off which is amazing) in Richmond so take advantage of it. www.tinyurl.com/qwm-stefanie

Sept 30th – Oct 4th – Engage Now event (see below) in Calgary Alberta. I’ve been invited to dine with Branson, which is hard to pass up, but I am not sure I can do so much traveling in this time, I will have to decide tomorrow.  But if you want to attend you should go as this sounds like a really unique event. See below for details but the Dali Lama, Richard Branson and other mega authors will be there. www.stefaniehartman.com/recommendation/engagenow

October 10/11 – I will have a booth at a San Diego Social Media Conference. Should be interesting.  It’s been awhile since I was a “booth babe”.  But my partner and I are showing off and pre-viewing our social media set up and marketing package there (which we’re not making public till Oct/Nov).

October 30/31 – I will have booth & will be speaking at Rick Frishman’s Author 101 event in Vegas. It’s a smaller more intimate event – will be cool to meet people. PLUS it’s Halloween so I may be partying in Vegas (without my husband which is funny – well not funny for him) or I will have a quiet dinner with my business partner and maybe clients and cool people. www.stefaniehartman.com/recommendation/author101  Either way that’s probably what I’ll tell him I’m doing- oops, I think he’s on this mailing list too.

Today, let me tell you about the Engage Now event:

My friend Gail is putting this together and as a favor to her and Jill who’s also helping out, I wanted to let you know about it.  It certainly is an unusual event that may not come around again.

As I said, the Dali Lama, Richard Branson and other mega authors will be there including Dr. Steven Covey, Barbara DeAngelis, the CEO of Zappos (who just sold for over $900 Million to Amazon). Read more here: www.stefaniehartman.com/recommendation/engagenow

Maybe I will see you at some of these places, if not , I’ll be thinking of you and will bring you any tips I find.

Warmest regards,
Stefanie

Popularity: 2% [?]

Remember the Wisk commercial in my last blog?  Here’s another vintage commercial:

I bet you didn’t even know you needed Space Food Sticks until you saw that!  LOL!

Out with the old . . . in with the new.   Download your free copy of The Hartman Report now.

Popularity: 1% [?]

There was a time, not so long ago, when consumers relied heavily on expensive paid advertising to make their spending decisions.  Remember this?

Before seeing that commercial, viewers may not even have known that their husbands were suffering disdain and mockery due to the rings around their collars.  Luckily, the commercial not only educated them about the dreadful plight of grey-collared office workers, but it also offered them a solution — Wisk Detergent.  They would be spared the shame that the poor woman on the commercial suffered.  Their washers wouldn’t taunt them each time they opened the door.

With the advent of the internet, consumers make their decisions a little differently now.  As a heart-based entrepreneur, this is a great thing for you.   When your potential clients are confronted with pricey ads from mega-corporations, it takes them minutes to do more research.  They click on their favorite  sites to check reviews on the company.  They listen to podcasts.  They Google the product and look for product reviews.  They might even hit up WikiAnswers.com:  “Is ring around the collar even a big deal?”

You may not have a massive advertising budget, but you have a global marketplace right at your fingertips, and consumers are talking to each other.  The MarketingGuy tells us that according to a survey from 1&1 Internet, 89% of shoppers say they purposely stay away from small online retailers with negative customer reviews on the web.  Referrals and recommendations are important.  So how can you make this trend work to your advantage?

• Make sure you deserve your good reputation. Determine what your clients need, and deliver it.
• Build incentives for referrals into your processes from the beginning. Referrals are extremely effective, but your clients may not think of it if you don’t suggest it.
• Follow up with your clients to make sure they’re satisfied, then ask for referrals. Make sure you hand out at least three business cards

If you’re taking the time to know what your customers need and giving it to them with a true service attitude, you don’t have to worry if you have a small or no advertising budget.  Clients who are referred to you will trust you more, and research shows that they are willing to spend more as well.  What are you doing to earn referrals for your business?  I’d love to see your comments below.

To learn more about the changing face of marketing and how to take advantage of it, download your free copy of The Hartman Report now.

Popularity: 1% [?]

You can mail out the most riveting email showcasing your product, but if you don’t target it to the right audience, you won’t get results.

Check out this funny video to see what I’m talking about!

Need help targeting your email newsletters for maximum impact and profit?  Check out our Get it Done series.  Let us concentrate on your marketing needs, so you’re free to take care of business.

Popularity: 2% [?]