The Write Spot, LLC

Too Busy to Shop

First a word from my fellow SXSW panelist Chris Brogan, who's looking a bit rockabilly biker-ish these days:

Too Busy to Shop: Marketing to "Multi-Minding" Women by Kelley Murray Skoloda shows markers and companies what they need to know and do to attract women buyers. After all, women control 85 percent of all consumer purchases.

Kelley explains that women are multi-tasking, but multi-minding – meaning that we are thinking about home when we’re at work, work when we’re at home, and about everything else of of the darn time.

Download an excerpt or see the reviews.

I highly recommend this book if your company markets to women through traditional media (print, TV, radio, etc.) or through social medial. Not only is it an easy read since Kelly keeps the ideas and examples coming, but she wraps up each chapter with Multi-Minding (or M2) Must-Dos, a list of the lessons learned in each section.

Too Busy to Shop is also full of stats, research, examples and terrific quotes from Stacy DeBroff, the CEO of Mom Central, who knows her stuff. (Stacy’s a colleague of mine. Every time I have a chance to speak with her, I learn so much.)

So if there’s one marketing book you read this summer on vacation – or during your lunch break at the office – it should be Too Busy to Shop: Marketing to "Multi-Minding" Women by Kelley Murray Skoloda.

Brad Meltzer gets slammed by press and turns it into a viral campaign

I thought novelists were more serious than this. But when faced with a bunch of rotten tomatoes thrown at his head, Brad Meltzer, author of The Book of Lies, turns it into a big batch of gazpacho.

I love gazpacho and I love this video. Brad’s grandma is awesome - I'd like to have a grandma like that. Plus, little kids trying to say big, complex words is always funny. And so are armpit farts.

By the way, the book is out TODAY. See the trailer or read Brad’s blog. His book even has a soundtrack. Brad is also on Facebook and MySpace. Even if the book stinks – yes I’ve asked his publicist for a review copy – his use of social media and viral video is top notch.

Book authors and publicists, I hope you’re taking notes.

Amazon acquires Shelfari

Shelfari, the social networking site for book lovers, recently announced that Amazon is acquiring their site. This is not surprising as Amazon has a long history of working with Shelfari and invested $1 million in the site in February 2007.

Funny thing is that Amazon already has a social networking site, LibraryThing. Last month Amazon bought AbeBooks, a vendor of rare and used books from independent publishers. AbeBooks purchased a 40% stake in LibraryThing back in May 2006, so now Amazon owns part of LibraryThing, too.

Will Amazon merge LibraryThing and Shelfari? That waits to be seen since LibraryThing has openly criticized Shelfari and links to 51 posts of bloggers and journalists peeved at what Shelfari did to them – spamming, astroturfing, and putting out annoying press releases among the complaints.

Will LibraryThing make an “honest woman” out of Shelfari? Possibly, still people are very loyal to their social networking sites and combining the two will upset users no matter what. Maybe that’s why Shelfari is asking users to chime in on how Amazon and Shelfari can make their site experience better. They've invited users to send them their questions, comments and suggestions to questions@shelfari.com. Great idea.

However, while I have a profile on Shelfari, I don’t use it much. I’ve found the bloggers I know use GoodReads more, and I like its features better. That's where I'll stay for now unless Amazon (not Shelfari) can persuade me to make the switch.

Blog 101 by Kyra Reed - an ebook review

I'm always on the lookout for blogging books to recommend clients. A few I recommend are in the right lower side bar. The latest one I'm recommending for new bloggers is Blog 101: Why YOU Need a Blog and How to Make it Successful by Kyra Reed. It's a downloadable ebook available on Kyra's blog, blog101 for $19.95.

Blog 101 is an introduction to blogging for beginners. It covers the basic definitions, history and benefits of having and maintaining a blog. Blog 101 takes the reader through step-by-step instructions on setting up and populating a blog, integrating into the blogosphere and building the vital online community necessary for a blog to be a success!

Kyra was nice enough send me a free copy to review.

My Review

When it comes to blogging, there's a wealth of information out there, from the daddy of them all, Problogger to up-and-comers like Blog About Your Blog. While the information is available elsewhere, it's wonderful to have one document like blog101 to centralize the information.

In other words, Kyra's book is nothing new. And that's o.k. because its strength is that it's amazingly comprehensive. She give you tons of information you need to start blogging. Most importantly, she links to various websites and blogs you must check out. And the wonderful thing about reading an ebook on your computer is that you can double click the links and immediately see what Kyra's talking about. Try that with a traditional book.

One word of caution, while blog101 is a great book for beginners, it's really slanted towards bloggers who are promoting a business. So if you're a blogger who just wants to write about a passion, hobby or your life, some of the information may not apply or may be overwhelming.

My only kvetch with blog101 is that there are a few typos that a good editor would find. That's the problem with self-publishing. You don't see those little boo-boos because you've read the document thousands of time. I would recommend to Kyra to get a freelance writer with strong editing skills to go over the document and correct those typos. Yes, it may cost a little money, but it's something anyone who's self-publishing an ebook should do.

blog101 - A Write Spot Recommended ebook - check it out!

Download Blogging Fingers Free Monetization E-Book and You Could Win FruitFulTime TaskManager (a $30 value)

In my online travels, I come across numerous blogs that try to explain the art of blogging, social media, and making money online. Just recently, I came across two great ones - Social Media Mom (who wrote about my comment about CafeMom) and Blogging Fingers.

Blogging Fingers is written by Matt Jones of Cambridge, England who is only 19-years-old and a seasoned online marketer. This week, he's giving away a FREE download of his Blog Monetization Strategies e-book.

Just a few of his topics include:

• Essential Online Advertising Terms
• Diversification
• Types Of Advertising To Use When Monetizing A Flagship Blog
• Types Of Advertising To Use When Monetizing A Niche Blog
• AdSense PlugIns
• When To Monetize A Niche Blog
• When To Monetize A Flagship Blog
• When To Monetize A Flagship Blog You Plan To Sell
• Flagship blog monetization scenarios
• Niche blog monetization scenarios
• Pre-sell pages And Resource Pages

All you have to do is go to the post and fill out your email address and name to receive it.

But that's not all. Matt is giving away 10 copies of FruitfulTime TaskManager, a to do list software worth $30!

There are a few things you need to do (like giving Blogging Fingers a Stumble) but it's easy. (Go to the post Download The Blog Monetization Strategies E-book And Win $300! for details.)

I can't wait to read Matt's ebook to see what tips he has for monetization. I hope you take advantage of his contest to plug his book and possibly win a great prize, too.

An Update on My Appearances in Print, in Person, in the Blogosphere and Online

In Print

Yours truly and my mommy blog, A Mama's Rant got a sizable mention in Beth Snyder Bulik's article at Advertising Age, Advertisers Promise You More Family Time. (If you want to see the post she referenced, click on The Dodge Caravan Dilemma.)

Stopping by Border's this weekend, I looked through a copy of The Rough Guide to Blogging, a book I've recommended to beginning bloggers just from the reviews at Amazon. In the back was a list of the author's favorite blogs including my food and diet blog, This Mama Cooks! Unfortunately, he spelled the blog's name wrong, but the URL will get them there just the same.

In Person

I recently gave a beginning blogging workshop, "Blogging at Breakfast" for members and friends of the Northern Colorado Writer's Association (NCWA). It was so successful that Kerrie Flanagan, the group's director, has asked me to do two blogging workshops at the NCWA's April conference.

I was already signed up to do one, but we both felt that there was enough interest for two - "Using Blogging and Social Media to Promote Your Book" and "Earn Money with Your Blog." If you're interested in signing up, go to the group's website.

Is getting organized worth it?

Did you know it's Get Organized Month, sponsored by NAPO (National Association of Organizing Professionals)? Getting organized is one of the top 5 New Year's resolutions, and NAPO offers tips for organizing your business and your home.

But is organizing the miracle cure for your business? Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman, authors of A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder--How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place don't believe so. And I think they may have a point...sorta.

Do you start filing or clearing up your desk as a method to put off an important call or duty? Good old fashioned procrastination here, folks.

Do you spend too much money on fancy in boxes, PDAs, and day planners in the name of organization? I love cool office supplies, but sometimes a notebook and a few plain file folders work better than the fanciest of gadgets.

Do you forget some tasks or clever ideas because you have filed them away out of view? Oops. Instead you may need to develop some processes so they won't get lost, like a clipping review folder or a better calendar system.

In these cases, Abrahamson and Freedman have a point. We're more into buying cool organizing stuff and wasting time setting up organizational tasks than developing the habits we need to keep us focused and using our time effectively. There's something to be said about being spontaneous and encouraging free flowing thought via brainstorming and similar types of "messiness," too.

But mostly A Perfect Mess comes across as a diatribe against professional organizers, NAPO, and neatniks. I appreciate their attempt at out of the box thinking and find some of their views interesting. However, I can't take anyone seriously who urge companies not to develop strategic plans - talk about lunatics running the asylum and rudderless ships.

Like the commercial says, life is messy - clean it up!

To view an eCard for A Perfect Mess , click here. It's pretty cool, so check it out.

The importance of testimonials

In Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits Jay Levinson discusses the importance of testimonials.

"If someone you know or respect recommends a product, that testimonial carries more weight than a recommendation from a salesperson. That's only one of the reasons why guerrillas obtain, publish, and lean on testimonials.

Some of the other reasons: testimonials are free, easy to get, timeless, readily available, and a flexible way to use many other marketing tools. They are also believed.

One of the biggest business oversights is failure to get a testimonial, even though all it takes is a simple request."

What makes a good testimonial? Specifics. "We increased our sales by 21 percent in two months thanks to your service." Bob Cunningham, President, Big Business Corp. "My son isn't a big reader, but once he got your books, he couldn't put them down. And his teacher says his reading scores have gone up, too." Mrs. Barbara Jones, stay-at-home mom, Denver, Colorado.

As Jay says, "The more specific the testimonial, the harder it will work for you."

Are you asking your clients for testimonials? Are you using them on your website or in your marketing materials?

Who are you reading?

More and more business gurus from Belinda Ellsworth to Jack Canfield say to read one book a week to improve your life or get more knowledgeable about your business.

Why keep it to books? How about blogs and podcasts, too?

Here are some that I check out regularly:

• Entrepreneur
• Fast Company
• The Brazen Careerist
• Small Business Trends Radio
• Bad Language
• 901am
• Guerilla Marketing

So who are you reading or listening to?

Marketing Plans

I've been reading Jay Levinson's Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits. I haven't read the guerrilla marketing books since they first came out in the '80s when they were all the rage in my business, PR and advertising classes.

I had thought that guerrilla marketing was old hat. Boy was I wrong. There's tons of terrific advice and things to try (or at least think about) in this book. This week, I will discuss several of the ones that stood out for me.

The first one - and always great advice - is to sit down and write a marketing plan. So many small business people don't have one. Currently, I don't either. However, my New Year's resolution is to have one by the beginning of 2007. But how to write it? I looked towards several books to help me out. First, I read Jack Canfield's The Power of Focus. It was good, but didn't give me a way to establish goals and a mission statement. Instead it told me that I should sit down and write them. (Geez Jack, thanks...)

Then I listened to the audio version of Full Steam Ahead!: Unleash the Power of Vision in Your Work and Your Life by Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner. The author uses a parable (a fictional story) to discuss vision, goals, values, etc. At first it comes across like a bad romance novel. Gradually, the story was an effective in getting the book's important points like:

• Purpose gives our lives meaning. By putting our purpose into writing, we understand what we want in life (business or personal). Writing it down helps us to stay focused on our purpose.
• Values are our beliefs about what is right and wrong. Again, it's important to identify and write them down. And then do business and live by them.
• A picture of the future is the mental imagery we need to create goals.
• Goals are short-term. Once we accomplish them, we need to create new ones - new visions for the future.
• Take action so you can become clearer about your purpose, values, future and goals. You can plan forever - you need to act, make mistakes, and adjust your plans according.