The Life of an Entrepreneur - by Perry Marshall

I'll never forget the first time I got fired from a job. I sent a rogue Fax - it's a hilarious story that I tell at seminars - but at the time it was a DEEPLY disturbing experience.

All the sudden, the world of people and productivity spit me out of its mouth. I was no longer useful, no longer getting a paycheck, no longer doing something "respectable." Every day I would roll out of bed and go buy a newspaper and hope for some new job openings in town.

This drove me into a spiral of self-doubt. I was taking a summer school class and suddenly I couldn't concentrate and started failing all my tests. I had to drop the class and forfeit my tuition and take the class over later.

Up until that point, I had defined success as "Never fail a class and never get fired from a job."

I had now failed on both points. I was really shaken by this.

I was suddenly open to the idea of taking the entrepreneurial path in life. As a result of all this, I was a lot more ready to listen when my friend Bill showed me a direct sales opportunity.

I got fired multiple times in the coming years. Just yesterday my 9 year old boy Caden was riding with me in the van with his friend CJ and he said, "Dad, tell CJ the story of how you got fired!"

Ain't it great? You walk in the door at 9:30am and your wife looks up at you in surprise. "What are you doing here?

Then she says, "Oh, never mind. I know the answer to that question. What was it this time?"

There are just certain people in the world who are chronically unemployable. (Ya think?)

And there are certain kinds of people who will never feel OK about their lives until nobody can fire them anymore.

If you're one of those people, then get on with building your biz, 'cuz I'll tell you right now - you're never gonna be satisfied until you do.

There's also an Entrepreneur's version of getting fired. It comes in the form of:

BEING EXCESSIVELY DEPENDENT ON ONE VENDOR, ONE CUSTOMER, ONE CLIENT, ONE ADVERTISING MEDIUM, ONE DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL, ONE SEARCH ENGINE, ONE SKILL, ONE EMPLOYEE, ONE MERCHANT ACCOUNT, OR RIDING ONE WAVE.

People who own businesses quickly learn that hanging out your shingle isn't necessarily any guarantee that you won't get fired.

***YOU ARE SELF EMPLOYED TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER VITAL ASPECTS OF YOUR BUSINESS.***

If you have a choice of vendors, customers, clients, advertising media, distributors, search engines, talents, staff, income sources and trends, then you are a free man. You are a free woman.

In the real world, you're exactly as good as your bag of tricks, your network and your willingness to be flexible. You're as good as your ability to identify the opportunities that come hidden in every crisis that presents itself.

Today is Christmas Eve. Tomorrow we celebrate gifts and giving and I hope you'll also celebrate your own giftedness and the opportunities you've been given.

As you finish out 2009, and consider where you're going in 2010, I hope you'll resolve to do *whatever it takes* to build your bag of tricks, your network and your opportunities. Build those things so deep that NOBODY can take you out.

On that day, nobody will run your life but YOU. And that will be cause for a mighty celebration.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Perry Marshall

I always enjoy your comments at
http://www.perrymarshall.com/somebody-runs-your-life/

20 Simple Ways to Get Massive Traffic to your Website - by Penny C. Sansevieri

Embarking on an Internet marketing campaign doesn't have to be difficult, tricky, or complicated. Here are a few simple ways (twenty in fact) that you can easily implement to get tons of traffic to your site right now!
1) Write articles: believe it or not this is an incredible tool for driving traffic. Well-written, relevant articles can net you quite a bit of activity to your website. Don't forget to add your URL in your byline. Articles should be 500 to 2,000 words in length. You can send articles to sites like: articlecity.com, goarticles.com, submityourarticles.com and ezinearticles.com.

2) Social bookmark *everything* - and I do mean everything, you can bookmark each page of your site and each blog entry you post. While this might seem tedious it's worth it. You'll see a strong increase in traffic if you social bookmark each page on your site and each of your blog entries.

3) List yourself in the best directories - you'll have to pay for this but since most people don't do this (since everyone's looking for a freebie) you could really enhance your traffic by getting a listing: http://dir.yahoo.com, botw.org.

4) Get yourself listed at: DMOZ.org - it's not easy to get listed there but worth the effort.

5) Review: if you can review hot new products or books within your market, head on over to Amazon.com and start positioning yourself as an expert. In order to do this effectively you'll want to create an Amazon profile and make sure and sign each review with a reference to your URL (your website). You can also go to epinions.com and revoo.com to review products as well.

6) Offer a freebie on craigslist: you'll be amazed at how much traffic you get from a single craigslist ad. They key here is to send people to a page on your site and make sure they have to sign up for something (like your email newsletter) before they can grab their freebie. That way you're not just getting traffic, you're also building your list.

7) Create a "recommended by" list on your del.icio.us page - you can do this by logging on and creating an account at del.icio.us and then tagging articles, blogs and other content you think is important to your readership. Then offer this page as a resource site. You can add a link to this page in your email signature line or on your website.

8) And speaking of your email signature line - do you have one? If you don't, create one. Believe it or not, people do follow these links. You'll be amazed how many folks read email signature lines. I have one and change it several times a year, depending on what we're doing or promoting or what books I have coming out.

9) Lend a helping hand: you can be an answer person at Yahoo Answers http://answers.yahoo.com/ - you don't have to spend hours on there but maybe a few minutes a week. Make sure and include a link back to your site by your answers.

10) Set up a social networking site using Facebook.com, Linkedin.com, or Squidoo. It's free and easy to do, just don't forget the all-important link back to your site!

11) Make sure your blog has an RSS feed so if you capture a reader you don't lose them if they forget to bookmark your site or blog.

12) Join relevant groups at Yahoo groups http://groups.yahoo.com/. You'll find everything from groups on growing your small business, writing books, finding your passion, even underwater basket weaving. I dare you to find one that isn't right for what you're promoting. When you do find the right group, join and participate as you can!

13) Podcasting is another great way to drive traffic. Start a podcast by going to AudioAcrobat http://bookmkr.audioacrobat.com/ - yes, this is our affiliate link. There are other programs you can use, but I love AudioAcrobat. You can record the podcast over the phone quickly and easily and then hit the "send" button on your computer once it's recorded and the system will syndicate it to 27 podcast directories including iTunes. It's a great way to let people know about you and your website!

14) Start a blog and then once you do, start commenting on other people's blogs, linking to them from your site or adding them to your blogroll.

15) Inbound links: don't squander your time (or a perfectly good link) on smaller low-traffic sites. Instead spend your time going after high traffic, high quality sites. Good sites should have a PR (page ranking) of 4-6 depending on the market. You can find out what a site's page ranking is by downloading the Google toolbar, which comes with a PR feature built in.

16) Start an email newsletter: while it may not seem like a newsletter that you email can drive traffic to your site, you'd be surprised at the effectiveness of this type of promotion. If your newsletter (like your articles) is interesting and relevant to your audience you'll find that it has a huge pass-through factor. Meaning that it is passed from one email subscriber to another. Also, if you have an email newsletter you should never, ever go to a single event without your handy sign-up sheet. Yes, you can even use offline events to drive traffic to your website.

17) And speaking of offline efforts: if you're ever quoted in a magazine or other publication, make sure and mention your URL as it's appropriate to the topic. Don't be too pushy about this, but do not forget to tell folks you have a website that may be a great resource for the topic of your interview.

18) If you have products to sell why not get a store on eBay? This site gets a tremendous amount of traffic, and on your sales page you're allowed to list your URL. Another great way to get an inbound link and a way for people to find you.

19) Load a video on YouTube and 57 other video sites - if you don't have a video or don't know how to create one, contact us and we'll refer you to our fabulous book video people!

20) While this isn't a tip per se it's still important. If you're going to go through all the trouble of getting traffic to your site, make sure your site is converting this traffic into something. Get folks to sign up for something, your newsletter, the RSS feed on your blog. Whatever it is, getting their email address will help you re-market to them when the time is right. Studies show that visitors landing on a site often don't buy the first time. That's ok! You want to get them into your marketing funnel so you can market to them again and again - not in a way that's obtrusive, offensive or downright annoying but in a way that is helping them with their own mission. An example of this might be an email newsletter. A helpful, informative newsletter is a fantastic funnel. A blog is another great way to keep people in your marketing loop without bombarding them with "please buy my stuff" email messages. Also, make sure you know what your traffic numbers are before you launch into any Internet marketing campaign. By traffic numbers, I mean how many people are visiting your site. You want to know this so you can gauge a before and after view of your marketing efforts.

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Advice from the Entertainment Pros for People Who Want to Get into "The Biz" (Uncensored)

As a member of LinkedIn's "Film & Video Production" group, I came across a discussion that turned out to be quite popular. Here it is in its entirety (at least up until this moment, as it seems to be continuing on its roll.) It includes valuable advice from various people who are now working in the video and film production industry, and I believe it's worth sharing with my readers. I would also like to add that if you have not signed on as a LinkedIn member, you probably should, as it could be beneficial for your business. - Patty Mooney, Crystal Pyramid Productions


I've been asked to speak at a High School Career Day on Film & Video Production. What would you teach kids who are thinking of getting into this business? Sources, links, all help is appreciated. - Peter Barossi, Executive Producer at Dravot Carnehan


It's rewarding. It engages you. You're part of a moving factory - You set up a city for a set number of days or weeks and then tear it all down. And another thing - all of this exists between long, long stretches of boredom and waiting. It's basically for anyone who wanted to run away and join the circus but wanted a scintilla of comfort along the way. I wouldn't want to have done anything else! And I would also tell them to be strategic: follow what's going on and set yourself up where you can succeed, using your unique talents and interests. And don't forget -- "It's only a movie!" - David Goorevitch, President, Javelin Pictures Inc.


For a short presentation, I'd be sure you hit concepts like: 1. A bit of balance, i.e. "Show Business" is made up of "Show" (the art) + "Business"... you can't have one without the other, so learn about them both. 2. A bit of hard reality, i.e. freelance life is sooo not 9-5; your work hours are going to be long. 3. A bit of hope, i.e. This is the industry of making dreams come true. Make a dream, and do the practical steps to get there (relate stories of the dreams you have achieved). Best wishes, Deb Patz Author, "Film Production Management 101"


I believe that your Father may have said it best; "Pay attention. Learn your trade." I believe that there are many young individuals who do not realize what the Production world is really all about and all of the effort, knowledge, understanding and daily learning that it really is. Many young individuals believe picking up a camera and shooting is what Production is all about, when it is not. I come across college students or recent graduates who may have been in Production for only 1 or 2 years and already consider themselves a Producer and or Director. I try my best not to laugh. There are also others who have been in production for a few years or even less and it finally hits them just how hard of it a trade it really is and want to walk away and switch careers so fast without continuing to pursue this wonderful world of ours. Maybe mentioning the plain and simple truth about production, the constant changes we have been facing in the 21st century but also the rewards that can be brought to us as individuals. I am sure that there are many other things that can be mentioned or discussed and I suppose it depends on the amount of time you have as a speaker to the HS students. Maybe you can just show them the glory of it all: Films, Spots, Programs, Virals, Branded Content, Digital Content etc etc etc. - Andrew T. Keech


Tell them to go into A) accounting or B) government instead. I've never heard of a decent (or even bad) accountant who was out of work. And government employees who stick it out can earn a tremendous living without working much... - Greg Brennan, Independent Marketing and Advertising Professional


I would teach them to have marketable skills outside of the industry. And seriously, I would tell them to learn about business. Too many of us "artists" don't know the art of negotiating a contract. - Steve Warren, Freelance Actor/Writer


I've been a guest lecturer at film/video classes at Colleges here in Chicago. My mantra, which is not well received, is "your degree doesn't make me trust that you know what you're doing". I tell them until they prove that they are up to more important tasks, they may not be qualified to even order pizza for the crew. Because if you screw up the lunch order, it's going to be a long day for the director. - Jan Hughes, Div. Mngr. Illinois Information Service at State of Illinois


Once you finish your career and land a job you might want to take the next step and marry rich, cause you might need it to fall back on. Actually , if you put your heart and sole into it and you're good with people you will succeed. - Richard Costello, Vice President - General Manager at MediaOne Services & Magnetic Image Video


Interesting comments but true. I think the strongest issue is having the basic people skills and integrity. For example, be on time, listen well, speak clearly, understand when to talk and when not to especially with clients around and know your specialty. I'd also recommend they all take a basic business class so they know how to invoice promptly and properly and run their careers as a business, since many will probably be freelance. - John Denlinger, Owner, Blackstone Media Group


1) Remind them that film making is a job and that it has hard work just like any other job or career. Point out some of the responsibilities, long shoot hours, stress of standing and waiting all day. Point out that it is a business and there are budgets, and lots of paperwork. Make them aware of both the issues and the benefits of working a project by project lifestyle and schedule. 2) Point out other useful skills that crossover not only into the film industry, but also into other potential careers. Computers for example are now an integral part of the film industry as well as a good skill for other career jobs. MachineShop/Engineering skills apply in building sets. Art and Animation a big plus not only in film making, but also advertising, computer games, etc...Also suggest they consider specializing in certain needed skills to make their goals in the industry more possible. 3) Tell them the realities of salaries for the jobs in the industry. Make them aware that you earn your keep in this industry. But at the same time show them that someone who works hard can reap rewards. A good idea is to point out how competitive the industry is and that there is a huge pay scale difference in budgeted projects. Not everyone can work on an A-level movie. 4) Tell them some side stories from behind the scenes that also makes them realize the reality of the job, yet the wonderful rewards of working on a film. Give them some backgroud to make them feel a part of your career. Some props wouldn't hurt either. 5) Suggest some resources, groups and advanced associations, networking tools (Linked-In comes to mind here), and show them how to find the info and personal connections that will help them to achieve their goals. Cheers' Tom... - Thomas Green, Radio/TV Broadcast Professional, Game Designer, Music Composer, Film/TV Industry, Marketing, Public Relations, Inventor!




Funny you should mention this, as my partner and I were on a panel only last night at UCSD, presenting to Communications students interested in our industry. We just gave them our own personal story, the "agonies and the ecstacies" of becoming a video production entrepreneur, and encouraged them to participate as interns while they still have the opportunity to do so; to find a mentor; to be willing to do the grip and PA work before they can step up the ladder to do the camera operation or producing. It's a wonderful thing you do when you can lend your expertise to young people. They were very hungry to hear everything we had to say, and some of them stayed an extra half hour to talk with us after the panel. The best thing you can give anyone is hope. With that small spark of hope that you impart, you could be helping to change one or many lives for the better. Patty Mooney Partner, Crystal Pyramid Productions



what a great opportunity for you! Congratulations. Tell them the job they will have is probably not invented yet. Also if they don't see people that they can resonate with today, don't worry, who would have predicted that a guy like Seth Rogen could carrry a film as a lead in a romantic comedy? Catherine Marcus, CEO at Tomcat Films


Make sure they marry somebody with money if they want to be in this business. If times are tough, you're first to hit the pavement. Gay Pinder, Communications Specialist


As one who from time to time speaks to university film students, and one who out of necessity now handles all the adminstrative responsibilities for the companies that I am involved with, either on my own or with partners, at risk of not being invited back I advise them to get a legal or finance degree, or both. When aspiring filmmakers complete film school they want to make a film but will know next to nothing. They will not have a clue how to identify and raise funding and how to structure the contracts for the various types of deals. They may eventually get a film made and if lucky even have it distributed in some form but they will always get screwed financially on the first few films because they didn't know anything. A high school teacher once told me if you are going to work you should get paid for it. This will become a necessity if they find that they really love this business and want to stick around a while. They can get their foot in the door of a legal or finance dept. at an entertainment company in NY or LA or even Nashville or London. Over time they will learn how films and television are made. More importantly they will learn where the money is, and how to structure the business plan to get it, and to execute the contracts to keep it. - Richard Sirianni, Co-Owner and Partner in Common Sense Films, LLC


I teach HS students Film Production a program "Quiet On the Set!" Most kids only know directors and actors, they haven't a clue about crew. Teach them the craft you know best and how it works in a team. It is all about passion and creativity. Good luck. Joan Gringer, Producer/Promotions Consultant at Joan M Gringer


TELL THEM THE TRUTH!!!! That it is all Lights, Camera, Airbrushing, and Action! It's Hollywood Baby!!! LOL. Meaning, the Gov. of CA is NOT as tall as he appears; The Greatest Action hero may actually be a gay; AND the female that just won the 2009 Oscar, was actually an "he" in high school! NONE OF WHICH IS TRUE!!!...(except the Gov. comment... BUT ALL OF WHICH IS HOLLYWOOD!!!! In production, we have the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to make the ordain...EXCEPTIONAL! INSPIRING! hell....DOWN RIGHT F* COMPELLING!!!! LOL AND if THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO TRULY COMMIT THEIR LIFE TO .... Then like my previous commentors, "Hard Work, Integrity, Puncuality, Creativity, TENACITY and the ability to do more than required!!!!!" pays off!!! That and really great Publisher and Agent!! LOL In all, Keep it light....the truth works best! I taught for H.S Pre Cal for 3+ years and I've been an Offical Bill Gates Scholar Trainer/Educator for 3 yrs w/ no formal teaching education background!!!!! (My crazy azz majored in Business?) But seriously; Kids (regardless to what age) KNOW when you B.S them!!! So be YOU! and Tell them YOUR story!! Remember why YOU got in this industry? - Emen Christopher-Olive, Owner of Intimate Professionals at Intimate Professionals


I do a lot of covering new media and where media is headed on my blog unconventionmedia.wordpress.com Check it out! - Eric Mofford, Film/TV/New Media Producer/Director


I've taught at Career Day programs, both on the HS and middle school level - albeit about careers in law. (I think talking to college kids about careers is quite different - their concerns are different.) But I think the approach I took (recommended to me by a very smart colleague) applies here as well. 1. Describe the basic skills required: working on computers with state-of-the art programs; extremely detail-oriented and task-oriented; enjoy working in collaboration with others - i.e., team player, not a big ego; etc. (you know what should be in this list better than I). If you don't have most of these skills, you won't be successful and you certainly won't be happy. 2. Describe the different career opportunities - e.g., working for a studio as a technician or a supervisor (regular hours, weekly paycheck, some job security from union membership, etc.); freelance (intermittent work and pay, no job security); working in TV or commercials; working and living abroad wherever there's a local film/TV industry; etc. 3. What's good about working in these careers. 4. What's negative about working in these careers. You can pepper this with a few anecdotes (those always go over big), but the kids aren't really ready for the nuts-and-bolts how-to of how to do any of these jobs. Their interest level is much more basic. Hope this helps - Peter Levitan, Entertainment/Film Lawyer - finance & production specialist


I have had the pleasure of talking to High School and College students along the way……….I give them hope that yes, you can make it! It is too easy to discourage and just say choose something else. In addition, now I ask them to look around the room, most of you will not make it in this very competitive and highly intense industry. You must want it and accept nothing less. If you just want big $$$, get out now,…if you want to be a big shot, get out now,…if you think after you earn a degree, you are owed a well paid, entry level position, get out now… The work is hard….the work is long hours…the work is extremely demanding…the work rarely gives back the dollar amount that you think you deserve. However, when your work is a part of something great that you felt applied a creative element from within, the satisfying aspect of that work is most gratifying. It is the latter passion that makes most go and strive for the best. My advice to most is to go earn a degree in business, marketing or public relations…..minor in Film/TV and get an internship!...The door to their dreams in this industry, and almost all highly creative jobs, is closed most of the time. Probably most of your fellow students will not be able to get in…..this doesn’t mean you can’t. Follow your passion for what you want, not what any other person thinks or suggests…..It’s a great industry to get into, and harder to remain in it. The taste of creative excellence is the reward that only certain jobs can provide……once you know it, no other path would seem right! - Henry Glenn, Reporter/Producer/Consultant at Henry Glenn Productions


Men..lovely topic. Lovely people. Lovely contributions. Thanks Emen Christopher-Olive. In NOLLYWOOD... I teach them 1. Ethics: -Punctuality, discipline, concentration, imagination, Team-work, and Creativity. I try to build their minds correctly with nothing but the TRUTH. With these, even if they leave the industry for another, they will forever be grateful to you for arming them well. 2. I give them some of my true-life stories from my 30yrs of HARD Professional Practice as an Artiste. It is a unique WEAPON, they always love. It works like magic, except if you have none. 3. I raise delicate issues such as: "Who are the Actors / Actresses / Films that they DISLIKE and WHY?". Its always very controversial because, "One man's meat is another man's poison". But it will enable you correct certain minds' set. 4. I encourage them to go for FREE Holiday Trainee jobs to enable them learn and equally Network with practitioners. They love that so much. 5. I encourage them to use their hand-sets or get a good Camcorder and experiment with their environment and activities. They enjoy it so much and you will be shocked what some of them will capture. It could make the NEWS or even commercialized. 6. Above all...Keep everything ' VERY LIGHT" like Emen C-Olive said. Thank you and thanks to other contributors Just in case anyone feels like connecting with me and / or NOLLYWOOD, please use this: vickezo@yahoo.com Vic. - Victor Eze-Okwuchukwu, National Secretary at CWC OF NOLLYWOOD


I am overwhelmed by all the great input. All of a sudden 50 minutes of time with the students see...'Peter Barossi, Executive Producer at Dravot Carnehan


Fifty min. IS short. You can only make 3-5 of the points mentioned above -- and disabuse them of the notion that they're going to spend most days with Brad Pitt peering over their shoulder, or inviting them out for a beer. Plus, you need to reserve time for Q&A at the end, and there's usually a lot of that - maybe 10 min. at least. Regards, Peter Levitan, Entertainment/Film Lawyer - finance & production specialist


Tell them to check out Freshiflix.com. Tell them to make movies, make movies, make movies. That's what George Lucas did. When he was 8, his mom let him film an explosion in the oven. My mom wouldn't have allowed it, but how else do you learn but by doing? Anne Turley, Film and Television Editor


Strongly second the suggestion(s) about mentioning what may (at first) seem entirely off-base to them. That is, their legal status in our social / economic labyrinth: freelance vs. staff...if there will be any staff employment in the days to come. In '82, I taught both at my alma mater(assoc / assist) & for an early trade school trying to specialize in production. Both times alienating the faculty which hired me, I devoted a full DAY to discussing the difference between, say, W4's, W9's, & I9's. Terms like "vendor." These kids will almost assuredly have never heard about these things. They hadn't nearly 30 yrs ago; imagine how poorly they'll be prepared to hear what you have to say these days, coming out of TODAY's post-apocalyptic education system. I've almost always been the one who speaks up from amongst a crowd of cynics. Ask a group from our industry what advice they give newbies, they typically say "Turn around while you're young enough & find something else." That's never been me. Until recently. Because the orders of magnitude of RATE of change (read: displacement & outsourcing) is now completely untrackable, anything to do with media is close to entropy. I now observe industry professionals (at the enterprise level), intimate for decades, begin conversations only to realize they no longer even have even recognizably similar baseline assumptions. For a newbie to compete seems virtually impossible; the wait for their opportunities is now many-fold what it was even a decade ago. Meanwhile, a "living" can be made at Starbuck's...so they do. My advice may sound counter-intuitive. Those who insist on trying this industry should examine EVERY career move in light of this question: "Can this activity EVER be outsourced, whether offshore, out-of-house, or by technology?" This train of thought inevitably leads to services / goods which seem unglamorous: stagehand labor, catering, etc. Yet the "stability" we knew will NOT be known by subsequent generations entering the 'biz. - Jim Conrad, Proprietor at JimConrad.info


I loved what Greg said: "tell them to become accountants or government workers" but not for the reason he gives. My father is a sculptor who taught for many years. The first thing he always said to his students was "why on earth do you want to be an artist? Go be a plumber, you'll make more money and have less stress!" He knew that it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to be an artist, but more than that. If you can be talked out of it, you are NOT an artist. A true artist has no choice but to be an artist.I feel the same was about people in the business of film. If you can be talked out of it, you don't have what it takes. So go be an accountant or government worker. You'll be happier. Posted by Louise Mackintosh


Filmmaking at a professional level is a collaborative business and art. Young people need to gain people skills, collaboration skills, communication skills in order to be effective and valued employees. That's true whether they pursue work as technicians and crew members, or want to be on the side we think of as more "creative" -- writing, producing, directing.


I highly encourage motivated and (possibly) talented students to get into an undergraduate film/video or communication program at a respected and well-connected institution like USC, UCLA, or NYU -- although there are fine programs at other colleges and universities. These upper tier schools are much less interested (as one of them puts it) in the Star Wars parodies you've made in your backyard, than in your ability to write well.


So the most important message I leave students with is: learn to write. That involves learning to learn, to organize thoughts and messages, and to articulate them effectively. These reasoning and verbal skills are far more valuable in film (and in life outside of film), than knowing how to operate a camera or frame a shot or edit a scene. Those latter are things the university will teach you; what they want you to arrive with is the ability to tell stories in interesting and accessible ways.


They are also looking for people who are passionately interested in the world around them -- in people and issues -- and who therefor read widely and become engaged. If all a student is interested in is filmmaking, he or she will never be a successful filmmaker.


If one is less interested in the "creative" side (although, really, all sides are creative), and wants to focus on the technical, they still must know how stories are told and how to communicate with others, they still must understand the jobs of all the others involved in production, in order to participate in this very collaborative business.


One should also study very carefully -- and with the guidance of qualified instructors -- film history and criticism. Every successful revolutionary, independent, avant garde filmmaker was first a devoted student of his or her predecessors. We all stand on the shoulders of others. To dismiss Hollywood genre filmmaking and the dreaded "formulaic" approach to filmmaking is naive, but many students seem to think they're going to change the world -- without first understanding it. Can't happen.


Finally, as others have implied, don't get into this business for the money, but for the love of it. - Bob Kalsey

This Business Woman is a Maverick in Video Production

WE Magazine has just published a piece about me.

What an honor! This is an example of how you, too, can get the word out about yourself and your services.

Meet Patty Mooney, COO & CFO ~ partner and co-owner of Crystal Pyramid Productions and New & Unique Videos in San Diego, CA

Web Worker Careers: Video Production and Editing - by Meryl K. Evans

This story is from Web Worker Daily. Included is a quote from me, near the end of this story. The above photo shows me controlling a robotic camera at a Microsoft 7 web seminar - Patty

------------------------------------
November 2nd, 2009 (11:00am) Meryl Evans

Just about every organization can use video to tell its story. Video producers tell that story by creating a product that entertains, educates, informs, promotes, captures or markets.
While video production may involve location-specific elements where you need to go out to capture visuals and sounds, you can still make it a career where you can work anywhere you want.

Is video production the career for you?

Video Production Careers

In video production, some stick to just one task, while others do several things, or even do all the jobs to take a video from start to finish. Here are a few video-related jobs:

Producer: Video businesses vary in the area of production based on the type of videos they create and the topics they cover. Producers may specialize in one or several different types of video. The title “producer” has many meanings, but a producer often oversees the entire video production process.

Post-production: Folks in post-production work with existing video to enhance it, edit it and add to it. These tasks could involve animation, audio, voice-overs, DVD menus, music and graphics.
Editor: Editors compile audio and video to create the final product that meets project requirements. “The editor is much like a cook. We take raw ingredients and combine them artfully into a video that meets the clients’ goals,” says Ed McNichol of EDcetera.

How to Qualify

Video producers and editors are a diverse lot when it comes to how they first entered the video business and gained experience. Tim Clark started on Ken Burns’ documentaries in the editing room. Jack Dever, director of post production at PACSAT, literally started on the bottom floor by sweeping in a studio before and after shoots. After that, he climbed to assistant video editor, editor, producer, director and supervisor. Many folks in video started at the bottom and worked into jobs in the field.

Kim Brame, executive producer with creative illusions Productions, took every job available to her after college to build a network and learn the craft. Her coworkers have degrees and training in audio engineering, programming, graphic design and animation.

Steve Mann, lost his job in the dot-com bust. “Over 50 and no higher degree made me virtually invisible in the collapsed high-tech job market. Since my passion was always photography and more recently videography, doing what I enjoy seemed like the best career move,” Mann says.

Vicky Poole didn’t start at the bottom. Rather, she started in a different job as a secretary working for a post-production company. Her boss gave her opportunities to work with equipment and on smaller projects.
A handful of folks say they received a college degree in mass communications, media, film production or something similar. But these same people say that job experience is what really matters. In terms of gaining skills, many say they just learned how to use the software and practice often. No matter where you are in your video career, everyone has benefited from attending seminars and trade shows. Jeff Davis of JD Savage Productions says, “Do what you love, and never stop learning new stuff.”

“There is a balance of technical aptitude and creativity,” says Tom Hinchey of HincheyStudios LLC. Not only do video producers need to know the technical side of things, but also how to create the message the video must communicate.

A person who knows how to use all the video production equipment and tools doesn’t always have the knowledge and skills to be a full-fledged video producer. “You need to first know how to be a storyteller. This is one of the key components that people don’t understand with video,” says David Spark of Spark Media Solutions.

Video Production Tools

Video production involves a long list of tools. After all, you can’t capture sound and visuals without cameras and microsphones, or put all the footage together to tell a good story without apps.

The following popular tools are a smattering of what the professionals use: Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, HD cameras (especially Sony and Canon), AVID, Adobe Creative Suite, Affect Effects and Premiere. Some also use mics, lighting, DVD authoring and scripting tools. Of course, many use a Mac computer to do their work. They often post their videos on web-based video services like YouTube and Vimeo.

Find Clients

Word-of-mouth and happy current clients rule the roost as the best way to get business. Networking both in person and on social network sites works well. Some do formal marketing or post on craigslist. Video producers create a portfolio for their web sites. “Gone are the days of DVD reels. If a client wants instant access to your portfolio, your website can help you lock in that client instantly,” says Kico Velarde.

Crystal Pyramid Productions’ Patty Mooney not only uses a web site and networks, but also finds clients through the Chamber of Commerce, search engine optimization (SEO) and advertising in online and print directories. Another way to break in the field is to volunteer to get experience and build your portfolio.

Thomas Hoebbel took the old fashioned approach by connecting with organizations that could benefit from his work, and they hired him. Some people like Clint Till of Parc Entertainment, Inc. hand out demo reels on DVD and make cold calls.


Would you consider a video production career?

"Women Who Mean Business Award" Finalist

It's always lovely to receive kudos, pats on the back and honors. Recently I was a finalist of San Diego Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business" Awards.

In terms of Marketing your business, I always encourage people to participate in as many of these kinds of competitions as you can. They're generally free. Just have someone who knows you nominate you, or nominate yourself. The rewards are worth it. In this case, the Business Journal printed my name and company name in a list appearing in one of their issues. In the following issue, they printed up a blurb about me and my company, Crystal Pyramid Productions. You really can't buy that kind of P.R.

Also, when you attend the awards luncheon or dinner, you will have the opportunity to meet other business people in your community who excel at their chosen careers. You may happen to meet someone who needs the services that your company provides. Definitely a "win-win" situation to blog about!

Photo featuring Patty Mooney and Events Photographer, Brian Bostrum - by Mark Schulze

Link Building for Bing Rankings: Dos and Don'ts - by Chris Crum

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bing Talks About its Link-Building Policy

It's easy for businesses to get caught up in Google's expectations for their sites, when trying to market through search. That's certainly a wise thing to do, considering Google dominates the search market by a huge margin. Still, there are other search engines that people are using, and it is also wise to make sure your site is performing to the best of its ability in those too.

I'm obviously talking about Yahoo and Bing, but Yahoo's share is declining, while Bing's is gaining. Furthermore, if the deal between Microsoft and Yahoo goes through, Bing search will be talking over Yahoo anyway.

Do you take Bing into account when optimizing your site? Comment here.

We don't hear as much about what Bing wants out of a site for rankings, but Rick DeJarnette of Bing Webmaster Center has shared some dos and don'ts of link-building for Bing. Not surprisingly, a lot of his advice for honoring Bing's policy, does not differ too much from advice that Google would give you. It is, however, still always nice to see how they feel, just to clear up any possible confusion.

Like Google, Bing places great emphasis on quality links to determine its rankings. "Just don't make the mistake of believing it will result in instant gratification. Successful link building efforts require a long-term commitment, not an overnight or turnkey solution," says DeJarnette. "You need to continually invest in link building efforts with creativity and time."

Other popular WebProNews articles:

Is the Murdoch Bing Deal Really Just About the Wall Street Journal?

Ensuring Your Site is Indexed in Google's Mobile Search

If You Care About Search, You Must Care About Social Media

What Not To Do

DeJarnette shared a list of things that you should avoid in your link building efforts, if it is a good Bing ranking that you are after. Here is what Bing says will get your site reviewed more closely by staff:


1. The number of inbound links suddenly increases by orders of magnitude in a short period of time

2. Many inbound links coming from irrelevant blog comments and/or from unrelated sites

3. Using hidden links in your pages

4. Receiving inbound links from paid link farms, link exchanges, or known "bad neighborhoods" on the Web

5. Linking out to known web spam sites

"When probable manipulation is detected, a spam rank factor is applied to a site, depending upon the type and severity of the infraction," says DeJarnette. "If the spam rating is high, a site can be penalized with a lowered rank. If the violations are egregious, a site can be temporarily or even permanently purged from the index."

What To Do

DeJarnette also shared some tips for getting more quality links. Following are Bing's tips for effective link building (paraphrased):


1. Develop your site as a business brand and brand it consistently

2. Find relevant industry experts, product reviewers, bloggers, and media folk, and make sure they're aware of your site/content

3. Publish concise, informative press releases online

4. Publish expert articles to online article directories

5. Participate in relevant conversations on blogs/forums, referring back to your site's content when applicable

6. Use social networks to connect to industry influencers (make sure you have links to your site in your profiles)

7. Create an email newsletter with notifications of new content

8. Launch a blog/forum on your site

9. Participate in relevant industry associations and especially in their online forums

10. Strive to become a trusted expert voice for your industry, while promoting your site

Most of the stuff DeJarnette shared is nothing any savvy search marketer is not already aware of. That said, there are clearly plenty of online (and offline for that matter) businesses out there that don't have savvy search marketers on the payroll. It can be quite helpful when a search engine itself lays out what to do and what not to do to help webmasters get better rankings.


About the author:
Chris Crum has been a part of the WebProNews team and the iEntry Network of B2B Publications since 2003. Twitter: @CCrum237

Four of 10 Americans Read Blogs and One-Third of Those Click on Ads

Four of 10 Americans Read Blogs and One-Third of Those Click on Ads

How to Use Twitter for Public Relations - by Wes Upchurch

It's very clear that Twitter has become the place for public relations professionals. Twitter allows the PR specialists to connect with journalists and bloggers. When used tactfully, it allows those in media relations to learn about a journalist's specific interests and preferences. This can help the PR professional prepare customized pitches for journalists who want to hear them.

Twitter, when used properly, can be a powerful PR tool. But as with any communication, there are good ways and bad ways to approach it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Compared to other methods, journalists are often more receptive to being pitched on Twitter, because it forces the public relations professional to be brief. In fact, he only gets 140 characters.

Using a direct message for your first interaction with a journalist is rude-especially if it's a pitch. If you're off topic because you didn't take the time to engage the journalist in dialog it's even worse.

If you take the time to discover what the journalist likes writing about, it will be much easier for you to pitch a story that's relevant to him and his audience. Ideally, you'd follow the journalist for a while before making a push of your own.

Keep in mind that you don't always have to seek a placement in the journalist's publication or land a spot on their show. Often times just demonstrating that you can be a valuable resource to them. When the time is right, they might approach you.

Journalists write because they want people to listen. If you can express your interest by showing appreciation for stories you truly enjoy and respond to the journalists tweets, you'll befriend them much sooner. Journalists will open their ears to you if they know you'll do the same for them.

Above all else, the key to interacting with a journalist is respect. You should communicate with them in a professional manner and put your time in. Blindly pitching your story and pushing your agenda is a surefire way to lose the respect of a writer, broadcaster, or anyone else in the news business. Instead you should consider their needs, interests and preferred method of contact.

By following journalists, you can observe how other communications professionals successfully use Twitter. By noticing what works and what doesn't for each individual journalist, you'll be better prepared for your own approach. Following established PR professionals can benefit you too. Through conversation and observation you'll find that Twitter can be a powerful Public Relations tool.



Wes Upchurch invites you see his latest Tweets about media relations by following PressDr on Twitter. By following PressDr you'll discover the secrets of writing the perfect press release and getting free publicity for your business.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wes_Upchurch

Blog Facts - by Penny C. Sansevieri

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Still not impressed by blogs? Consider this:In 1998 there were only 23 known blogs, the term blog or weblog wasn't born until April, 1999.Since 2002, Technorati has indexed 133 million blogs.Blogs have become a very mainstream form of communication; according to BlogHer, 36.2 million women participate in the blogosphere weekly. Out of this amount, 15.1 million are publishing at least one post weekly.Also according to BlogHer, 32% of blog publishers and 28% of blog readers have decided not to purchase a product as a result of a recommendation or bad experience shared on a blog.


Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Give A Shoutout To Other Bloggers - by Lisa Morosky

Over the last couple weeks, I've been doing recap posts from my time spent at BlogWorld. In those posts, where I talk about sessions I went to and people I met, I link to the person's blog or website. Pretty standard thing to do.

Fast forward to a couple days ago. I was sitting there thinking about the fact that I suddenly had "big name" people leaving comments on my blog, and tweeting me on Twitter.
"How did all of these people suddenly find my blog and my Twitter username and learn about me?" I couldn't figure out where these people might have seen me.

Then I realized that it was just because I had included a link to their blog in one of my posts. They saw a pingback saying that I had linked to them.

Duh.

Did you know that something you probably do regularly can get you on the radar of those in your industry? I bet you do, but maybe you've forgotten.

Take some time over the next week to reach out and give a shoutout to other bloggers in your market. Who knows. They may give a shoutout back to you, and you'll see a big traffic increase.

----------------------

Lisa Morosky is a Virtual Assistant to busy bloggers and Internet entrepreneurs. She founded VAforBloggers.com, LisaMorosky.com, and SpendLessOnLife.com.

Email is Dead - by Penny C. Sansevieri

If you're overwhelmed with email (as I am) you probably love this headline. Let's face it, between emails from the International Lottery ("Congratulations, today is your lucky day! Send us $500,000 and you will get a check for $3M!") and all the other crazy emails and spam you get, it's getting harder and harder to decipher what's real, what's spam, and what should just be flat out ignored.


The Wall Street Journal just did an article on this topic. They discussed the benefits of using services like Twitter, Facebook messaging and on site email, and how social networking and instant messaging are overtaking the once popular way of communicating: email. They went on to say, "Email's reign is over."


So, is email dead, really? Well, not entirely, but let's face it - with spam filters swallowing everyone but Tokyo and emails often stopping at the server's wall, it's tough to know what gets through and what doesn't. The problem with this is its impact on email campaigns.


If you have recently done an email campaign and wondered about the success of it, consider this: it's likely that only 5% of the emails actually got through. No, I'm not kidding. I wish I were. And if they did get through, how many people even bothered looking at them? And of that percentage how many made a purchase? AME's Search Engine Optimization expert Susan Gilbert agreed, and said that most online promoters are now avoiding email for promotions because effectiveness and conversion are at all-time lows.


Keep in mind that while the Journal piece refers to individual emails, this is not what we're worried about (although that does factor into the equation). We're really talking about marketing campaigns based on email blasts. That's where it starts to get sticky.


When we look at things like an email newsletter (such as this one, which hopefully didn't get caught in your spam filter), the open rate of newsletters in general has gone down. Is that because our readers have become less engaged? Doubtful. It's likely because they aren't seeing the newsletter in the first place. So what do we do with that? We post the newsletter on our blog so those who subscribe can see it without filtering through a zillion ad-based, junk emails. We also Twitter on it, which will then get exposure through our Twitter followers, the same with Facebook and, well, you get the idea. The new norm are these social networking sites which allow people to filter what they read and bypass the tricky email filters that don't seem to work well, anyway.


The point is that as you're looking for ways to promote yourself, don't trust email to make you famous, make you a bestseller, or make you money. By all accounts, today email may be one of the worst ways to promote yourself and it's only going to get harder. As new viruses come into our realm and hackers get craftier, spam filters and firewalls have to get tougher. This means that your outbound messages may as well sit in the outbox of your email.


If you've got a campaign planned that depends on the success of an email getting through, consider revamping it and moving the model to something that is more dependable. Consider running tweets on your Twitter account, or try announcing your program to your Facebook Fan page followers or those who have friended you on Squidoo.


Alternatively, have you ever considered doing a postcard or print mailing campaign? Post office volume is at an all-time low and savvy marketers should be taking advantage of this decline in mail to use it perhaps for their own marketing purposes. Some of our biggest authors and clients were secured by mailer campaigns. When done correctly, they do pay off.


The bigger message to all of us is that we need to move away from antiquated marketing methods. It's hard to think that email is antiquated, isn't it? And when you compare it to using the good old postal service I guess that old saying is true: "What's old is new again." Fashions come back into style and marketing methods have seasons, too. I believe the season for email marketing has passed, at least for now.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Some Quotes About Writing

Bloggers are writers. Here are some quotes that I hope will inspire you to enjoy your chosen profession of blogging! These were collected by Blogger Link Up's Cathy Stucker.


"Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don't see any." - Orson Scott Card

"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats." - Howard Aiken

"If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word." - Margaret Atwood

"Nighttime is really the best time to work. All the ideas are there to be yours because everyone else is asleep." - Catherine O'Hara

"Don't get it right, just get it written." - James Thurber

"If you're going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow." - Louis L'Amour

"The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair." - Mary Heaton Vorse

"Lower your standards and keep writing." - William Stafford

"I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately I am inspired at 9 o'clock every morning." - William Faulkner

Getting Clients - How to Pull Clients To You - by Jennifer Davey

Small Businesses that get clients contacting and reaching out to them find major success. When clients call you it saves you a lot of effort, plus it allows you increase your pricing due to your demand. Nothing creates success like success. Let’s talk about how to PULL clients to you.

Network
It’s likely that your business is not the only one that a certain client uses. For example, someone hiring a web designer may also need a content writer. Certain fields go hand in hand. Start a Rolodex and put together a network of partnerships to serve clients. They will be very grateful for the referral.

Spread the Wealth
You have a lot of knowledge about your niche. Take the time to give out free information that will prove helpful to current and future clients. Write a newsletter or ezine.

Be of Service
When people are looking for a solution to their problem, they want to know what you can do for them. Focus on service and don’t publicize your needs.

Be a Good Listener
Yes, this works for your business relationships just like it works for personal relationships. Be aware of what is happening with the client at the time of the project. Listen closely, because sometime people can’t communicate exactly what they need.

Call Them to Action
Getting potential clients to read marketing material is only half the battle. You need to get them to contact you. Be clear about what you want potential clients to do. Give them a “call to action.” Make sure your “call to action” is visible on every page of marketing material.

Jennifer Davey is a Small Business Coach and Marketing Strategist. Jennifer coaches small businesses, self employed professionals, and solopreneurs in strategies for getting clients and making more income. Jennifer can help you implement a successful and easy to repeat marketing program that will attract clients. Contact Jennifer and set up a time discuss your struggles with getting clients and making more income. http://jjscoaching.com/contact Discover what you need to know to get clients. Grab a copy of Jennifer's FREE report "What You Need to Know to Be Successful at Getting Clients", and her 14-Step Formula for Getting Clients. http://jjscoaching.com/free-marketing-tips/

Everything is Your Resume - by Penny C. Sansevieri

I wanted to share the following article with you. Although it relates to book promotion, it really pertains to blogging and social networking as well. - Patty


When it comes to book promotion, the title of this article is truer now than it ever was. When you put something online, it can almost live forever. That means that we have to be careful what we share, what we say, and the footprints we leave online. A bad first impression is tough to recover from, and in some cases, it might not just mean a lost sale but a lost media opportunity. Here are a few guidelines to consider when forging your success online!

1) Article Syndication: edit, edit, edit. I can't say this enough. We do a lot of article syndication and I can't tell you how much editing we do for some of our authors. But when you're syndicating yourself, who do you turn to? Well, get an editor to do project work for you. I really recommend it. Once an article is "out there" it's almost impossible to get it back.

2) Blog posts: edit, edit, edit. Never put up a single blog post without running spell check (thankfully most blog software comes with this now), but be cautious about this. Remember, it's public domain and blog posts that go up generally stay up unless you pull them down. They'll get spidered, you might even get folks linking to them.

3) Twitter tweets: this is a big one, especially as many of us are hopping on Twitter these days. All of your tweets can be searched and in the case of Twitter, it's pretty easy to shoot off a quickie - a short and thoughtless tweet. Remember that in the case of Twitter, the world is watching. My rule of thumb? Don't tweet anything you wouldn't want your Grandmother to read.

4) Facebook updates: this is another cautionary tale, and not always just from your updates. As with anything online, be cautious about the type and amount of personal information you give away. Remember, like we've been saying, everything is your resume. If you need a personal page then get one, but keep the business/book stuff to a fan page that's isolated to the message. You don't necessarily want all of your readers to know you and the hubby just went out for Chinese food or that you found fleas on Fido.

5) Online reviews: while you can't control the content of reviews online, you can control your reaction to them. If you get a bad review, don't attack the reviewer. Listen, I had a bad review on the first edition of Red Hot Internet Publicity, and while it was the only negative comment I wanted so badly to write to the reviewer and begin engaging him in a debate over my book. Instead, what I did was I wrote him, first thanking him for the time he took to read the book and then I offered insight on the negative points he mentioned. I also thanked him for his feedback which, once I stepped back from the harshness of his words, was actually really helpful. Don't battle an online reviewer. You put your book out there and not everyone is going to like it. You have to either accept this or stop promoting it.

6) Blog comments: Commenting on other people's blogs is a great idea, but like anything else, be careful about this because like a blog post, comments are searchable.

7) Podcasts and BlogTalk radio: there are a lot of opportunities to do radio online these days and while it might not seem as glamorous as, say, NPR, it can get you a lot of traction for your message. Don't underestimate the power of online radio and podcasts, they can have a far reach. Be as prepared as you would be to go on a big show. Some of these podcasts (and especially BlogTalk radio) get thousands upon thousands of listeners.

8) YouTube: a colleague of mine was commenting last week on a book/author video that was posted to YouTube. He said that while it was interesting, the author wasn't a great interview and the video was sort of flat. Many authors put up video and forget the worldwide reach that this has. They also forget that if the video can be found, a media person might land on it and if your video is subpar, it might nix any chances for an interview. Don't just assume because you put it out there that it's good. Yes, sketchy, off-color videos get circulated by the media, but if you look at the number of videos that get loaded onto YouTube, it's really a small slice of the pie.

9) Hiring someone: with the proliferation of Internet marketing firms offering Virtual Book Tours you want to proceed with caution. We've been offering Internet tours for a long time, and we are extremely careful how we represent our authors online. If you're thinking of hiring a company, get a sense of who they've promoted and how they've promoted them. If you hire a company that uses "black hat" marketing techniques, you could get dinged for something that isn't even your fault. Black hat refers to a certain type of Internet marketing that uses faulty link-building and spam techniques to get an author book exposure. Often the exposure is short-lived and very harmful but black hat techniques can show up *very* successfully early on, that's the way these tricksters are poised: Show early success only to have it drop off. In some cases, I've known authors to even get their sites yanked. It's not pretty.

There are numerous "easy" ways to get your name out there and that means you just have to make sure the information you put out there is good, solid - yes edited - and representative of your work. When it comes to marketing online, the Internet is one big networking event. Consider this: would you ever go to a networking event dressed in shorts, flip-flops and a tank top? Doubtful. You show up dressed up, business cards in hand and ready to rock and roll. The same rules apply online. Everything is your resume. If you make that your motto, the world will beat a path to your virtual door.

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Blogging Tips from Cathy Stucker

One of the challenges several of you said you face is finding the time to blog regularly. One way to deal with this is to reset your expectations. It is great if you can blog everyday, but it may not be realistic for bloggers with many other responsibilities. Perhaps three times a week is a more achievable goal.

Another thing that may get in your way is the idea that every post has to be a certain length. Many of the articles and posts I put online are in the range of 400 - 600 words. Some bloggers write longer posts, perhaps 800 to 1000 or more words. However, there is no rule that says posts must be at least a certain number of words, or that all of your posts must be the same length.

You might try mixing it up. Continue to write some posts with your usual word count, but also do some that are short. For example, if your usual posts examine an issue in depth, do some quick tips that are just 150 - 250 words. Or link to a blog post or website that you found useful, with a brief description of what you liked about it.

These short posts can be created as you run across interesting ideas and sites, or you can set aside an hour or two now and then to stockpile several posts.

Here are some additional ideas for quick posts:
Put up a poll. Many blogging platforms have poll applications built in. Run a poll and get input from your readers about an issue.

(Then write a post about the poll results.)

Answer a question from one of your readers. I get lots of email questions, and sometimes publish a question and my answer as a blog post.

Share a favorite quotation, and add a bit of commentary about why you like it or what it means to you. Here's a recent example from my blog: http://cathystucker.com/does-success-mean-you-can-slow-down

Use this Firefox plugin to collect videos, images, text/quotes, songs and screen-captures from any web page and publish them to your blog: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7215

Do you ever write blog posts such as "Seven Ways to ..." or "Six Things You Need to Know About..."? Take a point from one of those articles and expand on it. For example, I could take any of the individual suggestions from this article http://IdeaLady.com/article/grow_your_business_with_cloning and create a new post with more details on that idea.

Have an open mind about what a blog post can be and you will find many opportunities to create interesting and useful posts for your readers.
Cathy

P.S. Of course, another quick way to get posts is to request them here. Be sure to send your requests and offers for the next issue of BLU. We're waiting!

Sign up for BloggerLinkUp at http://BloggerLinkUp.com/ Be sure to tell your friends!

INDEPENDENT DOC BRINGS ATTENTION TO HOMELESS VETERANS | Articles | Post Magazine

INDEPENDENT DOC BRINGS ATTENTION TO HOMELESS VETERANS Articles Post Magazine

Shared via AddThis

Twitter Dos and Don'ts - Tweet About What You're Doing - by Lisa Mason

I keep reading all of these Twitter lists online about what you should and shouldn't tweet on Twitter. I agree with most of them and let's face it, some of them are just plain 'ole common sense. However, there is one "rule" that keeps coming up that I'm not certain I agree on.
This is the "rule" that you can't or shouldn't tweet about what you're doing throughout the day. I've read that this is a sure-fire way to get people to unfollow or even blacklist you on Twitter. I've heard self-proclaimed experts ranting about how this practice should never be done.

I disagree.

I think many people are forgetting exactly what Twitter was designed to be in the first place- a micro blogging platform. Basically, that's blogging- but on a mini scale. What do people do in their blogs? They often talk about their day, right? Many blogs are actually a sort of online diary.
While blogging is now commonly used by businesses, marketers and more, the original popularity was for the personal diary/journal experience. The same can be said about Twitter. Twitter is like the status messages on Facebook and Myspace where you can post in 1-2 sentences what you're up to.

Why not tell people you're walking your dog in the rain if you want to? It's a micro-blog, after all. It's your Twitter stream and you can tweet whatever you darn well please.

Now as for the topic of whether or not other people will want to hear about what you're doing, I guess it depends on how exciting you are. People will follow celebrities who talk about what they're doing every minute of the day but will be less excited to hear that a nobody is clipping their toenails.

If you're a creative, witty or snarky person, people may enjoy your tweets, even if they are about ordinary things. If you mix up your tweets about what you're doing with other useful tweets, this creates a good balance as well and most people won't have a problem with it.
Tweeting about what you're doing with your day creates a personal bond or connection between you and your followers. It makes you less of a spam-bot and more of an actual human being. I would not place tweeting what you're doing in the "DON'T" category but I would warn against over-tweeting these mundane matters.

Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.

Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Mason

Who's Who in the World? - by Patty Mooney

Okay, now we are on a roll! A couple of weeks ago I announced that my profile would be appearing in the 2010 edition of "Who's Who in America."

The Marquis Who's Who folks have just announced that I am also to be included in the 2010 edition of "Who's Who in the World." It's always lovely to receive honors and awards for one's work. And this is the sort of thing that can be used to great advantage in marketing one's company. So, if you are a serious business person or entrepreneur who has been at it for awhile, I encourage you to submit your profile to Marquis Who's Who and see what happens.

Recently I was at an award ceremony for San Diego Business Journal's CFO of the Year, where I was honored as one of the finalists. A man in his 50's received a Lifetime Achievement Award. He mentioned how one of his coworkers had told him she would provide the tennis balls for his walker. He seemed almost dismayed to collect the crystal paperweight engraved with his name and title. I suppose if one is fortunate in amassing awards and honors, then the "Lifetime Achievement" one would be the granddaddy, and possible signal that it is time to retire from the work life - kind of like a "Thanks for your service to the industry, you're ancient, now get outta here." And isn't it ironic that one of the highest honors ever would be a Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award. I mean, you're not even around to accept it. It gives new meaning to the term "Over my dead body!"


Photograph of Patty Mooney onsite at San Diego Comic Con by Mark Schulze

A Message for Technorati

ruz6fxbvcm

10 Power Tricks to Get Your Power Ovation Before You Speak - by Eric Feng

Public speaking is a very important element in getting the word out about your business services or products. From time to time you may be asked to stand up in front of a crowd of people to describe what you do, and preparation really pays off. Even if it's a night of Karaoke at your favorite local dive, you still need to say a few words to prep your audience for your rendition of "Black Velvet." You might even get on a roll and decide that Public Speaking is what you always wanted to do. I just found this article at EzineArticles.com that I thought would be a great one to share with you.

- Patty Mooney

------------------------------

10 Power Tricks to Get Your Power Ovation Before You Speak - by Eric Feng

You step onto the stage.

Your audience stares back at you - a sea of unknown faces. If you're lucky, they'll be receptive. If you're not, they'll be bored.

And if it's just not your day, they'll even be hostile.

There's a lot of information out there on how to make sure your speech is effective. But what most people don't realize is that half the battle is won if your audience is awake and eager before you even open your mouth.

Here are 10 things you should know so that you can win even more than half that battle!

1. Mingle with the audience before you start the speech.
The author of Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience, Joanna Campbell Slan, advises that you should arrive as early as possible and mix with the crowd of people beforehand, and many other experienced speakers do the same.( See, I'm not the only person who preaches about doing this) Make small talk, introduce yourself, and get a feel of what the audience already thinks about the topic. It helps you be prepared and is better than simply fretting alone backstage and getting more nervous.

You don't have to tell them that you'll be speaking later if you don't want to. You can surprise your audience when you walk out on stage. Wave at the people you spoke to for more effect. This also gives you an effective starter. Be careful, though: if your audience is likely to be hostile to your topic, it's best to be honest from the beginning.

2. If there's no chance to mingle beforehand, simply BE ON TIME
If you're half-an-hour late in beginning, the audience will have long settled down to a nap in their comfortable auditorium chairs. Having to wake them up at that point doesn't earn you brownie points, and even if you get their eyes open, sleepy people don't pay attention. And sleepy people don't like to have their sleep interrupted.

3. Dress well and appropriately.
The first impression is made within ten seconds - and it's been estimated that up to 90% of that impression is made based on how you look. Gail Hogan, a former news anchor writing for business journal Business First, tells us:

"Take a former politician of a large city in the Midwest. At the start of a luncheon speech to announce his new economic plan, the candidate was greeted by snickering and hushed whispers from the crowd.

It seemed a piece of the poor guy's cherry cheesecake missed his mouth, found his chin and decided to stick around for the speech. Post-speech chatter centered around the candidate's embarrassing public moment and not on his well-thought-out economic plan."
If you look sloppy or if your hair is messy or if your clothes are not professional, your audience is less likely to take you and your speech seriously. This doesn't mean that you can't wear casual clothes for a more laidback atmosphere, but you must be sure that it's appropriate for the occasion.

4. "More speeches than you can imagine are doomed to fail by bad introductions...Instead of kindling fires of enthusiasm within the audience, the introductions lead to an epidemic outbreak of brain freeze."

From The Toastmaster, a public speaking journal
Don't let your intro be a dry narration of your academic credentials or the bare facts of your life's story. The audience isn't really interested in that. Either keep it as short as possible or find some interesting( humor would be a bonus) way to say it - possibly through a narrative story about an interesting incident. Let me give you an example:

"Eric just loves to be gawked at..even if it is in a pervert kind of way.."
Introduce yourself if possible, but if someone else is introducing you, make sure that you have control of what will be said or you'll have someone shout "BRAG!" from the back of the room.

5. Make the venue interesting.

Put up posters or visuals of your subject. If you're giving a presentation on aid for places struck by natural disasters, tack up images of victims or of the devastation caused by the hurricane/earthquake/etc. If you're giving a corporate presentation on a product, put up images of the product, or better still, have the product there for your audience to fiddle with first.

6. Think up innovative ways of leading them into the topic, such as printing memorable statistics or quotes of key points and pasting them to the floor or even the ceiling.
Your audience will find themselves actively treasure-hunting for the information you've left them, and this will ensure that they're warmed up for your actual presentation.

7. If possible, leave a quick introduction of your speech topic on the seats.
Don't write a six-page article, though!( If not, we'll be back to the sleeping problem ) The idea is to tantalize your audience and allow them to get a better idea of what you're about to say without giving the game away. Give them one or two pertinent questions at the end of the introduction, to get them to think and warm up their brains. Once again, humour will be a bonus here.

8. Give out freebies.

Especially in Singapore! What better way to please Singaporeans then giving away free stuff?Business writer Meredith Pond advises that freebies are a great way to help people remember your business. For her, 'giving away free stuff, even if it's just your advice, shows people that you're willing to help them out', and they 'help your customers remember you'.

This is equally applicable to public speakers - it builds goodwill even before you start speaking. Who doesn't like free stuff? Besides this, if you customize it or make it relevant to your product/speech topic, people will remember you whenever they use it.

9. Get them moving.

While this may be limited by the place constraints, just getting your audience to get up and do a few stretches before your speech will provide a change of pace and get the blood moving. It's not possible to fall asleep while doing a jumping jack. More importantly, get the audiences involved in your presentation. By doing these 2 things, you're giving the audiences the much desired attention and they'll love you for it!

10. And before you move into the body of your presentation, use your opening to grab attention. First impressions matter.

We size a person up in the first ten seconds or so, so don't waste it. Toastmaster J. A. Gamache once opened a speech by blowing a whistle and yelling, 'All aboard!' Not only does the noise wake up any potential sleepers, it intrigues the audience and creates a genuine interest in your speech. In his case, it transported them from a boring auditorium to the train he wanted them to be on.

These are just a few ideas to begin with. You don't have to do all of them, but bear in mind that you definitely want the audience to like you or to fire their interest in your topic (best if both, of course). They're be warmer, more likely to be forgiving of any mistakes you may make later, and far more receptive to your message.

Eric Feng is the go-to guy if you want to learn how to impress your customers, employers and investors through public speaking. Eric has successfully helped over 3000 people to become confident and compelling speakers. To watch FREE videos on how you can unleash the speaker in you and charm your audience in 8 simple steps, go to: http://www.TakingTheStageNow.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Feng

Photo of Patty Mooney by Mark Schulze, Nashville Tennessee

Who's Who in America? Me, That's Who! - by Patty Mooney

If you have ever heard of the Marquis Who's Who reference tomes, you will have naturally heard of "Who's Who in America." So it pleases me to announce that Marquis Who's Who has selected my biography for inclusion in the forthcoming 2010 issue.

According to COO, Fred Marks, who sent the letter, "This exciting and unique edition will profile the country's most accomplished men and women from across all fields of endeavor. It is a testament to your hard work and dedication to success that you have earned a place in America's premiere biographical resource. You should be proud of your achievements."

Well, blush, blush, I am proud. But not too proud to stop working at marketing our business. One of my ten rules of a successful business (and one of these days I'll jot them all down!) is "Don't rest on your laurels." In today's parlance, "laurels" would be synonymous with gold statuettes, and you would certainly not want to sit down on those!