Want to write a book or create another type of information product and publish it yourself? Good for you — the timing has never been better to join the ranks of independent publishers. Of course, having great content is not enough. Successful independent publishing requires all those additional things traditional publishers do, including editing, designing, [...]
If you use a ghostwriter, should you make it known or keep it confidential? It really doesn’t matter. There was a time when named authors went to great lengths to keep the public from knowing they used a ghostwriter, but that’s no longer the case. These days, it’s common knowledge that most celebrities don’t write [...]
Email templates are a tremendous productivity tool, but your readers shouldn't be able to tell that you're using a template. Ask any woman who has ever shown up at a party and seen another woman wearing the same outfit how she feels. That's how you ought to feel if someone recognizes your templates because they've seen [...]
One of the hardest things most of us have to learn is this: No is a complete sentence. When we understand and apply this to our lives, we increase our productivity and reduce our negative stress. You don’t need to apologize or offer excuses when you say no. Nancy Reagan nailed it in her “just say [...]
One of the most effective ways to position yourself as an expert, generate media coverage and increase your social media engagement is a technique known as newsjacking. It’s a process by which you inject yourself into breaking news in real-time. Have you ever wondered where media outlets find the sources they quote? In most cases, [...]
I'm always amazed when I hear people say things like, "I can't spell" or "I'm a terrible writer" — especially when they seem to say it with so much pride! Of course, we can't all be professional writers, but writing skills count in most careers. The folks at Grammarly (one of my favorite websites and [...]
Here’s an interesting bit of trivia that was in a marketing email I just received: Did you know that in the original Star Trek series 59 crew members were killed in action and 73% of them were wearing red shirts? Might want to avoid wearing red shirts -- or standing next to someone else who [...]
Email marketing can be powerful -- but only if your readers know how to whitelist your email address so they receive your messages. In my blog "Do You Check Your Spam Folder?", I suggested that it's a good idea to periodically take a look at what your email system is reading as junk to be sure [...]
We've talked in other blog posts about how important it is for your slogan or other marketing message to be clear and say what you intend. Recently a reader sent us a great infographic showcasing the evolution of slogans. It contains some fun trivia as well as lessons for today's marketers. For example, did you [...]
Recently Jerry and I were featured in an article about what happens to digital assets after we die. Orlando Sentinel writer Kate Santich was reporting on Florida State Sen. Dorothy Hukill’s proposed legislation to deal with digital life after death. Click here to read the article and see the video online; click here to see a [...]
