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This digital document is an article from Agri Marketing, published by Henderson Communications, LLC on September 1, 2009. The length of the article is 2438 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Mastering the complexities of workplace communication.(AGRIBUSINESS EMPLOYER GUIDE)
Author: Erika Brandt
Publication: Agri Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Henderson Communications, LLC
Volume: 47Issue: 7Page: S18(3)

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This digital document is an article from ABA Bank Marketing, published by Bank Marketing Assn. on July 1, 2009. The length of the article is 568 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Keeping sales up in a down market.(Marketing News)
Author: Unavailable
Publication: ABA Bank Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2009
Publisher: Bank Marketing Assn.
Volume: 41Issue: 6Page: 3(2)

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This digital document is an article from Bank Marketing, published by Bank Marketing Assn. on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 573 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Take the initiative! (Rewarding Employees).(Brief Article)
Author: Bob Nelson
Publication: Bank Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Bank Marketing Assn.
Volume: 34Issue: 4Page: 10(1)

Article Type: Brief Article

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This digital document is an article from Bank Marketing, published by Bank Marketing Assn. on April 1, 1997. The length of the article is 951 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Surveys are important organizational tools to measure the level of change in the organization, the effectiveness of leadership as perceived by the staff, and how the company rates against competitors. They also provide means of gathering data on technology, wages and benefits, and the company's provision for career development. Effective leadership facilitates the institution of changes, which draws employees' support. A company's structure and systems are found to have direct implications on employee motivation and satisfaction.

Citation Details
Title: Designing a survey to meet your organization's needs.
Author: T. Wood Parker
Publication: Bank Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 1997
Publisher: Bank Marketing Assn.
Volume: v29Issue: n4Page: p22(2)

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This digital document is an article from Agri Marketing, published by Henderson Communications, LLC on September 1, 2008. The length of the article is 1570 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Making a great first impression.(AGRIBUSINESS EMPLOYER GUIDE)
Author: Ashley Warlick
Publication: Agri Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2008
Publisher: Henderson Communications, LLC
Volume: 46Issue: 7Page: S28(2)

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This digital document is an article from Agri Marketing, published by Henderson Communications, LLC on September 1, 2008. The length of the article is 2238 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: University professionals and recent graduates offer advice for effective job searching: successful searching.(AGRIBUSINESS EMPLOYER GUIDE)
Author: Cynthia Hoffman
Publication: Agri Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2008
Publisher: Henderson Communications, LLC
Volume: 46Issue: 7Page: S16(3)

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This digital document is an article from Fund Raising Management, published by Hoke Communications, Inc. on January 1, 1999. The length of the article is 2095 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Four management styles, which include clones, parrots, boomerangs and yo-yos, are predicted to fail. Clones are managers that get their style from their superiors or mentors. Their failure lies in their inability to add new knowledge. Parrots are those that mimic other people's styles in terms of clothing, values and mannerisms which negate their ability to sell original ideas. Boomerangs are those who are fixated on other successful people before them. Yo-yo's are those that are afraid to venture far from their comfort zone.

Citation Details
Title: Clones, parrots, yo yo's, and boomerangs: poor excuses for a management style.
Author: C. Neal Davis
Publication: Fund Raising Management (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 1999
Publisher: Hoke Communications, Inc.
Volume: 29Issue: 11Page: 16(3)

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Customer Reviews (2)

A Quick Primer With a Dangerous Downfall
As a fellow alum of Western Michigan University and business practitioner, I figured it would be worth reading this book. Given my experience in marketing and sales, the material itself was not incredibly new to me. However, I appreciate the no-nonsense approach that Tony takes to approaching the content of MIND CAPTURE.

That said, I feel that there was one significant flaw that severely tainted my reading experience. The discussion of "friendly competition" as a "huge lie" is inconsistent with economic game theory (it assumes a zero-sum game in a world where that is not generally the case). Indeed, it is also incompatible with the idea of having a team approach to sales - if each person is not able to share the market of customers with other businesses, how are they supposed to share within their own sales team?

Overall, I found this read to be consistent with many other books on sales. It is a good starter for someone completely new to sales and looking for some quick tips to apply immediately. This is not a book, however, that is likely to advance a seasoned salesperson in his or her career.

Guerrilla Marketing for the Mind!
Not since Guerrilla Marketing was introduced has a book stood out so much. Mind Capture will do just that and teach you how to do the same. I've already implemented some of the concepts which has help grow Morgan James Publishing over the last few months. ... Read more

Product Description
The nuts and bolts of book promotion are covered for fiction, nonfiction, hardcover trade, mass market, and trade paperbacks. Readers are told how to tailor campaigns to reach differing consumer, trade, and special-interest audiences; how to pitch the media and arrange author tours with print, television, and radio interviews; and how to produce headline-grabbing promotional events.

Jodee Blanco has spearheaded campaigns for more than a dozen New York Times best-sellers. President of Blanco & Peace, a Chicago-based public relations firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles, and a faculty member of New York University's Center for Publishing, she splits her time among all three cities.Amazon.com Review
Publicizing a book, whether it's your own or someone else's, can be adaunting task. With books piled precariously high in editors' andproducers' offices, how do you possibly make yours stand out? Relax."There's no such thing as an author or book that isn't publicizable," saysJodee Blanco, who has been promoting books for nearly 20 years. "You haveto be willing to tailor the campaign to fit the situation." Blanco'sapproach is to read the book, interview the author, then explore allpossible angles. Some books are best publicized from the national leveldown; others fare better with grassroots campaigns. In The CompleteGuide to Book Publicity Blanco explains the ins and outs of writingpress kits, conducting media research, making pitches, tailoring andrunning publicity campaigns, and organizing book tours. She divulges thesecrets to interview success, which include the author's knowing as muchabout the interview as possible ahead of time (it also helps, she says, notto wear plaid and not to hawk the book too blatantly). Most important,though, Blanco knows how to get a media contact to read her mail, and evento return her phone calls. Sometimes, she says, she'll "messenger [a] notewith a flower or piece of chocolate. A touch of human kindness workswonders." --Jane Steinberg ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Lots of good ideas but traditional in its approach
Once I decided to self-publish some books as part of my small business, I realized quickly I had to do a lot of research if this addition to my business was going to be successful.

Jodee Blanco does an excellent job of outling, in detail, what I have come to realize is the traditional approach to marketing books.For many authors, this book will be an excellent resource.

Unfortunately, this book did not help me and the situation that I must work in to promote both my books and my business.I have a full time job, a very limited budget, and need to use promotional methods that only require my time and little money or no money. My current employer would not be happy if I missed work to go on a book promotion tour or appear on talk radio or TV shows.

Some reviewers would give this book a much lower rating but I felt it should get a 4 star rating.It is well written, and for authors seeking information on traditional book promotion and marketing, this is an excellent source.

Where I took a star from the book is that book promotion and book marketing has changed.Many authors, particularly those who self-publish, need to use the internet to promote their book.If Blanco updates the book and revised it to include current strategies used to promote books via electronic means, this would be a five star book for certain.

Review by Kevin Sivils

Get Ready for Your National Book Tour
This book is everything you need to know before you go on a national book tour, or just a small regional tour, or what you need to know to decide whether you want a book tour or just radio interviews and print PR. After reading this book it makes the reader understand why book PR costs so much, and why you probably will not get a book tour, but what you can do if you do not. I highly recommend.

Great ideas, great practical information!
I bought this book in order to get more information about how to further publicize my own recently published book. I found this book very helpful, with great ideas and suggestions. The book is laid out very concisely and it is very easy to navigate the different topics and chapters. I was so thankful to find this book!
www.balloonstopawpaw.com
Thanks!

One of the most important books on Literary PR - EVER!!
Wow.

Wait... let me rephrase that.

WOW!! Forget every other review I have ever given. With all due respect to such classics as "Jump Start You book Sales" and "1,001 Ways to Market Your Book" this book opened my eyes to the other side of the media - and how to get there. I have read and reread everything from "How to Sell You book on Amazon" to "Publicize You Book" (and hundreds of other texts), but this one book stands out head and shoulders as a MUST READ if you ever want to sell ANY books. Written TO the author or public relations specialist (seasoned or student), this book covers in depth print, broadcast, local, regional, and national media like no other book on the subject. Read all of the books I listed above - and read anything By Rick Frishman, but make sure you always have THIS BOOK within arms' reach.

Jodee knows her stuff and she tells all. In contrast to the wonderful texts above, what I gleaned from these pages was HOW TO plan out a campaign (not just a collection of nifty ideas - which are also useful in their own right). Jodee explains the inner workings of every aspect of the media, and how to approach a television producer versus a radio producer or news paper editor, and why. Moreover she gives example after example of how to write a grreat press release, cover letter, question and topic sheets, but her greatest accomplishment is her intensive work on fiction.

NO OTHER BOOK I have read comes close to covering "How To" promote fiction like this one does. I have spoken to and emailed scores of well known and respected professionals who shy away from fiction, but Jodee tackles it head on and tells you as an author or publicity specialist exactly how to research, locate, and exploit the right angles to make the media frenzy for your book. "Where is the hook?" is the greatest bane of anyone who attempts to publicize a novel. "Why should anyone care that you wrote a story?" This book is the first (and currently ONLY) I have found to address these two nefarious questions. This book changed my life. Most highly recommended.

This book is exhausting
Some books leave you hungry for more. Others leave you satisfied and content. And still others leave you literally exhausted, like consuming a Thanksgiving dinner.The Complete Guide to Book Publicity falls into the third category.When you are done consuming this wealth of information, go through and read it again, this time compiling a "to do" list. Every page will be tattered and worn with ear-marks, highlights, and scribbled notes.

Reading this book is like its own productivity test.Some may find absorbing it all very taxing, much less acting upon 10% of it. But for those who do both (read it AND act upon it), this book cannot help but improve your book publicity tactics. - Brent Sampson, author of Self-Publishing Simplified
... Read more

Product Description
Publicity lets the world know who you are, what your company offers, or the urgency of your cause. Whether you want to draw in new business, establish yourself as an expert, or introduce a new concept to the community, free publicity is the cheapest, most credible way to do it. This newly updated edition of a classic guide to obtaining media coverage includes tips for using email and the Web to reach publicity gatekeepers, along with the basics of earning ink or airtime. It also covers:o Getting started-how to overcome fears, feel comfortable, and think like a publicity hound.o How to write tip sheets, pitch letters, and press releases that roll out your message and keep you in people's minds and files.o Performing on radio, TV, or the Web like a pro.o How to be easily found through the search engines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

What I needed at the time read
I love the size of the book!I kept it in my purse and read it in 3-days.The revised edition was really jam packed with great resources. Pages 249-263 made me drool.I love resources!You have to read it front to back and try what works for you.[...].

Self Promotion For Visitorinfo.com Made Easy
In trying to increase online traffic to my visitorinfo.com website I picked up this book for free clues and tips. Although not probably encouraged by amazon.com, the author on page 89 suggests writing a review for a book that you found useful in your business. That is why you are reading this review now!

But that's not all the author suggests. Marcia walks you through the business of free publicity in an informal and comfortable manner. There are real tips on how to figure out how to get that valuable free press.

Besides getting local newspaper articles published about you or your business, have you ever considered regional or national exposure? The author makes it seem a plausible and straightforward proposition. Even one little success will more than pay for this book.

This 6 steps book will also prevent you from embarrassing yourself with ill conceived and poorly executed attempts at getting that free advertising that you so hope will start to roll in.

The Best Resource of its Kind
Not long ago, I was hired by a group of small business owners to teach a class on writing press releases. I gathered up all of my resource books along with the notes from each I have compiled. As I began creating the curricula for the course, I quickly noticed that about 95% of the information I was using came from Marcia Yudkin's book, 6 STEPS TO FREE PUBLICITY. In retrospect, I could have easily written the entire the entire program from this book.

If you're looking for an exceptional resource to help your business utilize free publicity, then look no further. This book not only will give you critical insight to establishing a press release program, but also covers other forms of publicity in just as much detail. Letters, tip sheets, articles, Advertorials, it's all here. Yudkin even shows you how to stage and prepare for supporting events from your publicity, such as speaking on radio and TV.

Publicity is a critical element for any successful business and yet it is an element that is consistently under utilized. If you are a business owner, or a writer working with businesses to develop an on-going publicity program, this is the definitive resource for you. The book is easily comprehensible and loaded with cover-to-cover details on making your publicity program a success.

Packed full of pragmatic advice for ethical and free PR
The title "6 Steps to Free Publicity" set my expectations that there are 6 steps to follow in order to get free publicity. Instead, I am elated at the volume of tips and pragmatic advice given in this small book. Marcia does not harp on "6 steps" to be followed in a sequential order. I am totally satisfied with the good advice given on topics that include the 4 parts of a free speech for a Rotary club and how to promote and host an event for Boston. All tips are relevant to our current business climate, including the use of electronic media such as personal websites. Chapter 4 "Creating and Distributing a News Release" alone is worth ten times the cost of this book. Marcia lays out the pros and cons of many types of free publicity available today. This is a valuable addition to my bookshelf.

6 Steps to Greater Visibility!
This book was suggested to me by a friend who read it years ago and employs one of the steps in the book.His business is highly successful and he doesn't spend a fortune in marketing.I read this book recently and have started to use the suggestions by author Marcia Yudkin.The book is an easy read and full of examples.The steps are not difficult to perform and, in some cases, don't cost a thing.I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to increase visibility of their product, services, or themselves. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents how to do a better job of self-promotion. Offers 1001 techniques and true life stories covering all the critical promotional functions, including how to identify your promotional strategies and fit them into a master plan. Softcover. DLC: Career development. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Good Read!
If you're just beginning your career or if you're stalled and wondering why you're not progressing up the ladder, you will find David E. Rye's basic book quite useful. His credo: Use self-promotion to attain professional promotion. Don't be misled by the gimmicky title. This is not a list of 1,00l ways to land that promotion. Instead, Rye builds his book around seven strategies that let everyone know you are management material. We [...] like one thing in particular - at pivotal points in each chapter, Rye recommends books that will take you further into the particular subject that chapter covers. This is a great idea, and more business books should refer onward this way. So, if you're just starting out or if you need a boost up the corporate ranks, this book will tell you how to climb, or at least tell you where to go to find out what you need to know.

Nice idea, but where is the delivery ?
I read about a third of the book before giving up.I found it to be useful from the point of view of identifying and rating ones own skills, but it then went on about powerplays in the workplace.While this is an essential part of promotions, it is not a good long term strategy if the principle one wants to adopt is to be promoted on merit.

The book (or at least what I read) lacked any discussion on exercising the brain so that one can improve their methodology.Doing this would help one improve the quality of their work, and then achieve their promotional goals.Its just a different way of getting there but in a way that promotes ones confidence in their own work.

The overall theme of the book was to offer self improvement in many key areas, but it seemed to focus on how to respond to situations, not how to create them.Maybe I'm wrong.Maybe I should finish reading it.

A Great Book - One of a Kind
In the work place, we all know that we are good and believe that is allthat it takes to get ourselves promoted, automatically. Mr. Rye does anexcellent job of pointing out that this may not happen unless you takeaction to promote yourself every day. He gives you well over 1,001 ways todo that. I use it as a daily reference book and it has already helped meget the promotion that I have always wanted. I'm already working on my nextpromotion, thanks to Mr. Rye's advice.

It open my eyes to the corporate live!!!
The corporate live is not always easy. This book is the best i ever read,it show in a simple vocabulary, what you have to do to be the best, and tobe notice in your office. This book is plenty of examples and tips you canuse to be promoted. Read it, it is a must read book if you want to scale inthe corporate ladder.

I read, and ia have to give thanks to Mr. Rye forhelp me in this way. Its sure i will be promoted soon!!!!!!!

A real eye opener
This book really had some good ideas about getting ahead. Most of the time it seems as if you get promoted by some strange luck. But this book was able to outline do-able and realistic strategies that can improve yourchances of promotion. It's a good buy! ... Read more

Product Description
How do you go about promoting your book successfully after all the time and effort spent writing it? Literary Publicity: The Final Chapter offers solutions for new and established writers seeking to create and execute a publicity plan to obtain the desired media coverage. It explains the differences between media roles, and teaches readers how to view their product in the same manner as the media, then plan the most effective publicity plan accordingly. Tips on how to write for presentation, and how to create the necessary collateral material for all types of media outlets, are enjoyably presented. The book describes the publishing venues available to writers today, and how can get most from local, regional, and national media attention! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Great Resource For A Literary Publicist
I have been in business for many years as a literary publicist, but I am constantly
on the lookout for good reference books for publicity for myself and my staff.
This book is one of them. I highly recommend it.
Sherri Rosen
sherri Rosen Publicity LLC
NYC

Finally! One man dares to altruistically promote the truth!
As if the process of completing a literary work were not enough, Mr. Marich clearly illuminates the most treacherous path of promoting that work once it is complete. Having tried unsuccessfully to navigate this path on my own in the past, this book became a true beacon in my career. His insightful, witty comments make this book both a great read as well as an invaluable tool for anyone who ever had the courage to take the bull by the horns and promote themselves with the same energy as a PR firm. I know that on all subsequent endeavors I will gladly return to the core lessons found within to ensure my ongoing success.

Pros and Non Pros this book is a great PR tool
I own a small PR agency in Chicago and am always looking for tools to help our junior staff be more effective and efficient. This book is great! Everyone of my employees now has their own copy of Literary Publicity: The Final Chapter. It's got everything a professional needs to know -- and, even better, what a non-pro needs to know to help make their book successful. I also like how Marich uses humor to make his points. I recommend this for any writer or any beginning publicist.

I can go back to writing with peace of mind
Mr. Marich has cured my writer's block. I realized after reading this incredible "BIBLE" that the root of my writer's anxiety was my fear that I would never be able to get my work to the public, press or broadcast media. I know now that there are tried and true ways to get my work noticed. After finishing Mr. Marich's book, I went right back to my P.C. with new inspiration. How very unselfish of Mr. Marich to share his experience and know-how with other writers. Anyone who is even thinking about writing for public consumption should read this book. No agent in the world could do in one year what Mr. Marich has done in one incredible book.

A Great Help
As an author, I am quite familiar with the search for publicity. This book was an enormous help, very clearly organized, and, most surprisingly, fun to read. The author obviously has a lot of experience in the field, and shares his trade secrets. It should be very helpful for beginning authors as well as more established ones looking to further their literary careers. Highyl recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Dubinsky and Skinner have uncovered 13 drivers of discretionary effort, or why employees go above and beyond what is expected of them in the job.If you are aware of these drivers, and if you use their prescription to recruit, manage and retain employees with these attributes, you can realize a company of High Performers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Soild Effort!
This is a very short book and most of what authors Alan J. Dubinsky and Steven J. Skinner have to say seems like straight, plain common sense. That is so rare in books about human resource management that this seems like a small gem. Most of its content consists of vignettes of high-performing employees who go out of their way to serve customers. But the authors have arranged their material well as they discuss boosting employees who do good work in lower-level management or staff positions. Each chapter covers a trait that motivates top performers and includes succinct tips for managers. The authors also outline, on a matrix, the relationship between performance motivation and managerial initiatives. While you can easily read this book in less than an hour, putting its recommendations into effect will be the work of an organizational lifetime. We believe it will be work well rewarded. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduction to Online Market and Industry Research provides workable search strategies and valuable data source information to both inexperienced and experienced industry researchers.Market research strategies offer business managers a precise picture of the environment in which they operate and thus supporting informed decision making.Critical data source reviews lead to cost-effective purchase decisions for research managers.Like all the titles in the Business Research Series, this book is conveniently divided into four sections containing a number of business research applications that can be used for both in-house research training and reference.Internet research can be quick, easy, and abundant — but also challenging. Research sites sometimes come and go, and sources can be questionable. The Business Research Solutions Series provides comprehensive business and financial research reference guides and online training manuals to bridge a major gap in the field of online research methodology. This resourceful and innovative multi-series of reference guides teaches readers how to approach a research problem, how to select the best online sources, and how to effectively use these sources. It also suggests alternate low-cost solutions for many standard questions and problems. A must-have for professionals involved in business research, these invaluable tools provide step-by-step advice on how to analyze, interpret, and present data for informed decision-making. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Technically abundant
Good research book or text for a course of the same subject matter.I learned a few tricks of the trade, and have made use of the material in the book.

Glad I read it.Its a welcome addition to my reference shelf.

The down side is that this material will be dated, as it relates to online resources.Time marches on, and technology will eventually make this book obsolete ... Read more

Product Description
Want the world to know who you are, what your company offers, or the urgency of your cause? With the popularity of the Internet, it's never been easier for an ordinary Jane or Joe to use publicity to spread the word.Whether you want to attract new business, establish yourself as an expert, build your company's reputation, or introduce a new concept to the community, free publicity is the cheapest, most credible way to do it.

This thoroughly updated edition of 6 Steps to Free Publicity includes detailed tips and techniques for utilizing 21st century grassroots publicity techniques--from blogs and social media to viral videos and podcasting-along with the basics of earning ink or air time. It also covers:

* Getting started--how to overcome fears, feel comfortable with fame, and think up newsworthy publicity angles.
* How to write tip sheets, pitch letters, articles, and news releases that roll out your message and keep you in people's minds and files.
* How to perform on radio, TV, or the Web like a pro.
* Publicity writing tips that ensure you'll be easily found online through search engines.
* Strategies for building an audience of fervent fans online or within a geographical or special-interest community. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

The The Best Book on Getting Free Publicity I've ever read, BAR NONE!
I originally purchased 6 Steps to Free Publicity back in 1994 before Ms. Yudkin's principles were famous.At the time, i thought it was the best book on getting free PR i had ever read.Since 1994, i have used a lot of her tips and suggestions to stand out with the media.It works!I've been on CNN, CNBC and dozens of other local, regional and national media outlets.

Recently, i heard that she had put out a 3rd Edition of this wonderful book in 2008.I bought it last week and just finished reading it tonight.My first thought is that she isn't charging enough for the valuable information in the book.I think i paid $15.95 through Amazon, but the information is worth at least double this amount.As they used to say on Saturday Night Live, "What a Bargain!"

What i like about it is that she has MUCH more than just ways to stand out with the media.She also has many, many tips and suggestions on doing live TV interviews (i.e. sitting on the edge of the couch, so your breathing and voice is normal).She also describes how to do a good radio interview, how to not get on the wrong side of the media's ire and a lot of practical knowledge.It really is also a book on handling yourself in the media's presence when you are fortunate enough to have the media call you.

As a result of reading the 3rd Edition of this wonderful book, i bought the current version of Writer's Market.Buying that through Amazon got me a 1 year free subscription to Writer's Market online, an optional service that i was planning to buy separately anyways.So basically, Ms. Yudkin's recommendation for this book paid for itself instantly as the Writer's Market book has a net cost to me of about 1 buck, plus i got something (lagniappe as the Cajuns would call it) as a nice bonus.

Ms. Yudkin has a wonderful, informative style of writing and I can't recommend it enough.READ THIS BOOK and you will agree that it is worth at least $29.95.Use her strategies to get media attention and you will get it!What a great book!

Great Promotion Tips and Useful Ideas for Promotional Angles
I couldn't believe how much useful and relevant information was packed inside that book, especially for the price.For me, that was like finding a treasure.

It was a great read, and best of all it was interesting and not dry.
Gives confidence that you can utilize the hints and suggestions that are outlined in the book for business promotion.

Gives some great ideas on how you can sculpt your promotion angle to fit that a real world story need while relating examples to personal experiences.

There are also so many applications that it can be used for in life which also makes it such valuable information.

Overall, great for the do-it-yourself person or business looking to generate new ideas for creating promotion and steps to go about doing it.

Thanks to the author for creating such a compact and wonderful book.
6 Steps to Free Publicity (Awesome English)

Great introduction to publicity
I almost did not pick this book up because of the negative reviews on this site, but I decided to go for it anyway. I'm glad I did. This is the first book I've read on the subject that I haven't thrown away in frustration. I've been through 5-10 books on marketing/publicity and most of them are completely useless and written half-heartedly.

Yudkin offers a lot of real-life examples and different strategies for building your product's visibility on a limited budget. The point is that I learned something from this book, even though I was expecting to know everything in it already, which is usually the case with books in this genre.

As to the self-promotion, Yudkin refers to her own business as an example. This example recurs throughout the book, that's understandable, as she knows the most and has the most to say about her own experiences. I did not find this book to be an advertisement for her business. It reads well and I recommend it to someone who is starting out in building publicity or someone like me who is brushing up.

some good points but overwhelmed by the self selling in the book
Gives some good ideas about getting free publicity, for example tip sheets. But there was so much self promotion in there that I got really turned off; actually the book should only cost 1/3 of the price, the other 2/3's was the author talking herself up or someone else up (whom I assume she owed a favour to). There's a fine line between talking about your major accomplishments and embellishing minor things that you do everyday as great.

If Only I'd Read This Book First! Essential PR Text
I've just finished reading 6 Steps to Free Publicity (Awesome English) by Marcia Yudkin. For $15.99 I could have saved myself hundreds of dollars in pay-per-click ads and print advertising.

Not only is publicity FREE (aside from the time you put into it), it is more respected by prospective clients. The public assumes that your message is worth more because you didn't pay for it. It's news-worthy

6 Steps to Free Publicity (Awesome English) gives a step-by-step process for getting your name, your business, and your message onto blogs, television, radio and in print. The book is written in a straight-forward and at time, humorous, manner. Learn how to write your way into newspapers and magazines, schmooze with reporters, avoid common pitfalls, write a sparkling press release, and become known as an expert in your field.

As a new business owner, this book is a gem. She helps you stay on the "good side" of the media with a list of reporters and editors top pet peeves.She includes examples of press releases, public service announcements and testimonials. There is also a section about the difference between writing for search engine optimization and writing for print media. For example, while the term news release is commonly used in the media, it won't move your news release to the top of a Google search. Most people still use press release when looking for news about you or your company.

The resource list in 6 Steps to Free Publicity (Awesome English) is worth the price of the book alone. One suggestion - keep a notebook on hand as you read. There are so many great tidbits that dog-earing pages stopped working for me. In fact, it's a book I expect to re-read several times over as I hone my PR skills.

My only regret? I regret not having this book years ago. As an executive director of two small non-profits, wearing the PR hat would have been much more comfortable after reading 6 Steps to Free Publicity (Awesome English). While I managed to get coverage for events, I didn't know the ins and outs of maintaining and developing a relationship with the reporters who covered them.

She helps the reader move past the worry of "bothering" reporters by giving real-life examples and sure-fire ways to keep your name in the news. Are you ready for more than 15 seconds of fame? Read Marcia Rudkin's book, 6 Steps to Free Publicity.6 Steps to Free Publicity (Awesome English) ... Read more

Product Description

Blog Schmog takes a look at the blogging phenomenon and its impact on politics, writing, marketing, public relations, publishing, journalism, and all other forms of communication. Written from a skeptic's point of view, Robert Bly holds blogging up to close scrutiny, giving practical, easy-to-use tips that can help you master blogging and its application.

This book cuts through the hype surrounding blogging, enabling you to get a true and accurate picture of blogging's potential as well as its limitations. Inside you'll discover how the blogosphere operates along with real-world advice from blogging experts on how to write an effective, reader-oriented blog. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good, but missing some key points
Robert Bly's writing style is terrific. He quotes some well-known experts in the direct marketing industry. (Does that make them experts in the blogosphere?) While he's clearly taking the contrarian view in this book, he makes many good points -
- Businesses flock to the latest online fad hoping to find a silver bullet to extend their marketing budgets.
- The effectiveness of blogging in creating sales is over-rated. But he misses a major reason for this. Most of those who are hoping a blog will help their business have no clue how important it is to write the content in a particular way.

Blog writing can help your company achieve higher sales because -

1. Consumers love Google - 70% of all searches for products and services happen on Google.

2. Google loves blogs - Because of the code structure of a blog, Google can crawl them easily. And, Google loves fresh content.

But that's not enough. Your blog must follow a key phrase strategy. If it does, it will better intersect with your prospects. And even that's not enough: you must earn your success on the Internet. There are no silver bullets. You've got to keep at it for months and years.

Bly's book is not wrong in it's approach. For instance, in Rule #11, he states that not every business needs a blog. I agree, but most would benefit from claiming real estate here.

This is all explained and continuously discussed on my blog at Ion Leap dot com.

Interesting
Also hilarious, but I've learned a lot in this book and will consider it one of my references. Thanks.

A pitch for his own blog
Mr. Bly is a marketing genius. It is not because he has anything of quality to say. It is because he can get so many people to purchase his marketing pitch. As if paying for a product isn't enough, this is pretty much a big advertisement for you to go to his website and blog which are "conveniently" listed more than a few times in the text.

This book is not actually anti-blog. He just uses that as a platform to cause controversy (which increases his sales) and to get people to go to his website. Some of the conclusions he draws from statistics show that this book is not intended to be an honest evaluation of whether a company should create a blog. It seems more of a book that he wrote to sell.

An example of misleading a reader is found on pg.5. He writes, "A study conducted in November 2004 found that thirty-five million Americans read blogs." His conclusion: "That means that more than 80 percent of Americans never read blogs." Sorry Mr. Bly, I fail to see how that is proof that that many people NEVER read blogs. I would be more likely to believe that these people only read a specific blog when it has the information they are seeking. Similar to reading an article on someone's website when it comes up on the search engine. Either way 20% of the population is rather large.

This book is not entirely amiss. There are some helpful hints about utilizing a blog. His marketing background assists in some of these hints.

Overall this book can be skipped. Mr. Bly advocates his direct-marketing methods and down-grades "branding". After reading this book I find Mr. Bly's brand to lack quality. This book is results oriented - measured in book sales and new traffic to his website and blog. Unfortunately he does this at the expense of quality writing.

Some books are said to be worth their weight in gold. This is not one of them.

"Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it."(Voltaire)

Those who are about to read this book need to keep in mind that in it, Robert Bly shares his thoughts about what blogs cannot do (nor be expected to do) as well as what they can do. Over the years, he has earned and deserves his reputation as a master of reasoning, reading, and writing skills...whatever the given genre may be. Among his previously published books, my own favorites are The Copywriter's Handbook, his Guide to Freelance Writing Success, and most recently, The White Paper Marketing Handbook. In his latest book, Blog Schmog, he focuses on "the strategy of using blogs as a business-building and marketing tool, explaining how your time is best bent on strategy, not fooling around with programming or design." Bly then goes on to explain, in the Introduction, that his book "is written from the point of view of a blogging skeptic and doubter, not one who has bought into the whole blogging fad without holding it up to close scrutiny... And my conclusions about blogging, unlike those of [blogging consultants, enthusiasts, and evangelists], are not always favorable; my positions on blogging are highly controversial within the blogosphere." He urges those who read this book to share their comments ideas, techniques, and/or success stories with him at rwbly@bly.com or to visit www.bly.com.

Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? Probably, those in need of expert advice on how to start their own blog, and, those who have done so and are dissatisfied with the results thus far.

Time Out: There are significant differences between personal blogs and institutional blogs. Therefore, those who are about to launch either a personal blog or an institutional blog should first answer the six questions posed on Pages 55 & 56 in Chapter 2, "How to Start Your Own Blog." (Bly cites Elisa Camahort's Worker Bees as their source. Her Web site is workerbeesblog.blogspot.com.) Moreover, I think that those who have already launched a blog and are not satisfied with results thus far should also answer these six questions. For those with a special interest in institutional blogs, Bly provides an insightful analysis of do's and don'ts in Chapter 7.Then in Appendix E, he identifies "Business Blogs Every Blogging Newbie Should Know" and provides links to them.

To me, some of the most valuable information and counsel are found in Chapter 3, "Blogetiquette: The Rules of Blogging." He shares his responses to a number of frequently asked questions. For example:

Is "selling" a person, a company, or a product acceptable in the blogosphere?

How to treat copyrighted material in a blog?

Why are corporations afraid of blogging?

What is the "bloatosphere" and what's wrong with it? (Note: Bly cites Steven Streight, president and CEO of Streight Site Systems, as his source for much of the response provided.)

What is "ghost-blogging' and why does it occur?"

What about other types of blogs such as "simulated," "drivel," "sleazy link," "fictional persona," and "link farm?" What does Bly think of each?

Throughout his narrative,Bly inserts a series of "Rules"(also listed in Appendix B) and provides a context for each. (I highlighted each of them to expedite periodic review of them later and suggest that other readers do the same.) He concludes this chapter with Rule 8A: "To be effective marketing vehicles, blogs should be relatively free of marketing. They should contain useful content and the truth, not hype or sales talk. To violate this rule not only costs you sales and credibility, but it also incurs the disdain and wrath of the blogosphere." He makes essentially the same assertion about white papers in an earlier book, The White Paper Marketing Handbook.

In the final chapter, He shares a number of opinions whether or not blogging has a future and many of these opinions are certain to generate controversy. (Bly urges those who disagree with any of them to contact him at rwbly@bly.com. He plans to share feedback with readers of the next edition of this book.) I strongly recommend, however, that the first nine chapters be read with great care, first.I cannot think of a better way to conclude this review than to share the conclusion to Bly's book:

"So blog if you want to. If you don't like blogs, don't bother.And if you think the advice in this book is great, and you want to let me know, or if you think I don't know beans about blogging and that my advice is useless, you can certainly say so - on my blog.

"Best of luck to you in the blogosphere - and outside it!"

Should I Start a Blog?
Finally a business book that is unpretentious.Blog Schmog is not one of those books that takes one good idea and then tries to stretch it beyond its boundaries just to get a specified page count.

Bob Bly is a direct mail copywriter and by his own admission does not buy into the blogosphere hype.But he decided to delve into the world of blogging and find out what it was all about (probably so he could write a book).The fact that Bly is not a blogging expert is exactly what makes this book valuable to someone thinking of starting a blog.

This book gives you an unbiased view of starting a blog from scratch and leaves out the sales pitch you would get from a blogging guru trying to sell you the latest patented system for starting a blog.

BS is short on technical advice but does give you resources and plenty of website addresses to get you started.What you will get out of this book is why you should start a blog (if you should) and what is the most effective way to write a blog.If you are already a seasoned blogger, this book is probably not for you.

If you are thinking of starting a blog, or just trying to get more comfortable writing one, I recommend this book.You won't be an expert after you read it, but you will have a better perspective of blogging. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

EASY TO READ FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
Just starting a business can be quite intimidating. There is so much to learn about all facets of the business. Not having worked in public relations, this book helped me understand all that goes into promotions andpublicity. It was easy to read and easy to follow. A must for businessowners who don't have a p.r. staff.

A valuable resource for novices and pros.
Everyone Remembers the Elephant in the Pink Tutu is the best no-nonsense how-to book Ive ever read on the subject of promoting a business.The book is filled with practical tips and effective ways for everyone with something to sell to gain free publicity and public relations success.I highly recommend this gem to both novices and pros, who are certain to find the books easy-to-follow techniques a valuable resource. ... Read more

Product Description
An exclusive insider's look at the art and science of direct mail creative technique--copy approaches, design, formats, offers--unlike anything ever before assembled. In addition to the successful mailings shown and described in this updated edition of Million Dollar Mailings, new topics include killer fundraising letters, the illustrated history of the magalog, and using direct mail to make money on the internet.This insider's look at the art and science of direct mail also contains an overview (complete with illustrations) of new trends in direct mail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

READY FOR THE NEXT UPDATE
I have been a Denny Hatch fan for years. Bought this book and was not disappointed with the content.GREAT appendix questionnaires for anyone in the business.Successful samples galore! Looking for the lastest update from '04 through now to study the maturation of the internet/direct mail complementary relationship.If you are a student of advertising, save your beer money for a month and get this book.If you are an old timer in the trade get it for your shelf reference library.

AN AWESOME MUST READ
Dennison does an excellent job of laying out multiple examples and giving the visual aid that helps get your creative juices flowing. I think the book is excellent for any aspiring direct mail marketer. The book lays out fair history of the art of direct mailing and how you can immediately begin working on your own campaign.
Only downer was I look for an extended updated version of the book that covers utilizing these concepts online.

Andre J Benjamin
Author
CONQUER THE RECESSION

[...]

How to SPAM successfully with snail-mail
The title is accurate - these ARE million dollar
mailings - direct mail pieces that are sent to very
broad markets.As such it is a useful study source
for the pro.For the person marketing his or her
own start-up or small business it may be of lesser
usefulness.

This book will probably be of most interest to
those interested in how highly-polished direct mail
offers are written and designed:

Omaha Steaks,
Gevalia Coffee,
Magazine subscriptions...

Primarily this book shows how the most successful direct
mail pieces get the reader to open the mail, comprehend
the offer, and make a decision.This is no small feat -
these pieces are by-and-large interuptive marketing.
For example: you get an Omaha Steaks mailing because
you are on a list as a buyer of low-end luxury goods.
The mailer makes a wild guess that you are likely to
be a meat eater and mails to you with no knowledge of
your dietary habits.

If you market online you will in general have to
interpret how to transfer direct mail concepts to
websites. The nearest online equivalent to most of
these mailings is marketing to big ezine lists or
outright spamming.These pieces are the most successful
pieces of junk mail in recent years.

What comes through in many of the letters is how
subtly cunning and targeted at their ideal customer
they are. Much online copy is more expansive, with
exhausting bullet-lists and what Stephen King calls
"literary elephantitis"- a luxury not permitted
by the weight restrictions of direct mail.

Much of the persuasive value of these direct mail offers
is hinged upon the safety of buying on approval, often
from a familiar brand.As such they are instructive
in how the massive marketing systems of corporate America
function.

This is not a basic copywriting text by any means - the
lessons herein will require diligent study and thought to
apply.I don't have any doubt owning this book will make
you abetter copywriter.Compared to a lot of other "swipe
files" you can buy today it's diverse in terms of
mailing formats, product types, and copywriting styles.

A great resource for advertising professionals but definitely not for beginners
If you're looking for a step by step how to guide on how you can create Million Dollar Mailings on a shoestring budget, then skip this book.

On the other hand, if you're an advertising professional charged with the task of effectively spending your client's money on marketing and advertising, then by all means, buy this book.This is your chance to look over the shoulder of a seasoned professional as he looks at some of the most successful direct mail pieces in history.

As for the cost of the book... a course on "marketing" at your local community college costs more and won't provide 1/10th of the information contained within this book!

Wow what more can I say
Wow says it all. Read the prior reviews. Pound for pound this book is worth more than gold per pound to anyone who writes copy. A life time of learning for way less than $100. Have spent 10X as much for a fraction of what this book will give you. Thanks Mr. Hatch ... Read more

Product Description
We all want to get our message heard. And in Bang!, marketing gurus Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval tell us how. They and their talented colleagues are the brains behind a host of memorable and highly successful ads, from the enormously successful AFLAC duck to the irresistibly sentimental “Kodak Moment” to Herbal Essences’ outrageous “Totally Organic Experience.” In Bang!, Kaplan Thaler and Koval offer proven strategies for creating a loud, clear, attention-grabbing message about and product or service.

Full of entertaining anecdotes and inspiring accounts of campaigns that have propelled revenues and dramatically increased market share, Bang! shows managers how to create a marketing campaign that cuts through the message clutter and creates a genuine marketing explosion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

One of the best marketing books
This book is definitely a keeper.One of the best marketing books I've ever read.The book is insightful and truly worth its bang for every buck you pay for it.

Because of this book, I now wish I am working in advertising.

Marketing People: Get This Book
Great book for today's busy (and noisy) world.Lots of insightful tips about how to approach things in the business world a little differently. A must read for marketing people.

A Positive Message in "Down" Times
Business is tough these days. I have to say, I really enjoyed reading a book whose message, in essence, is - the right message can make all the difference.Now, the question is, which message is going to send my small business brand over the top?!Definitely worth a read!

Lisa

Great use of your time
It only took a few hours to breeze through this book. As car alarms were going off outside my window, I read about how to get my message heard in this very, very noisy world.

The suggestions are helpful and excellent and memorable examples are provided. (I know it's lame to think I'd never thought of rehearsing a presentation in advance-- stupid, stupid-- but I didn't and the book woke me up by showing how it's important to be better prepared than everyone else and dare to do what the other lazy people are not.)

Don't be lazy! Pick it up.

Creativity pays
Seeing an ad for the movie "17 Again" got me thinking about this book. Do we need yet another movie about an adult who finds himself in a kid's body? But then again, there's a good chance the movie will make money, so then the answer is "Yes - we do." Sometimes it does seem like playing it safe, avoiding originality and risks, does pay off.

But Bang! does an excellent job of showing that the monster successes actually embrace risk and originality. Yes, people go to sequels, but what they really want is something new and exciting (whether they know it or not). This is especially important in the media and arts, but I'd recommend Bang! to anyone in pretty much any job. ... Read more

Product Description
If you want to stop an eight year old boy from smoking – who is he most likely to listen to? parents? teachers? the government? or Nike? If that same boy’s parents are buying him a Christmas gift, which will they chose? Sports shoes from the company that only promotes its brand? Or shoes from the company that also uses its brand to promote anti-smoking?In Good Business, the authors argue that in the 21st century, the successful companies will be those that use their power and influence to work for social progress. And they’ll do it because making the world a better place will also be the best way to make money. This is social marketing and is the core idea behind Good Business.Amazon.com Review
While working on an antiracism campaign for Saatchi & Saatchi in 1994, Steve Hilton and Giles Gibbons had an epiphany: corporations could use their clout to change the world, as well as to sell their products or services. Good Business, named after the London-based consultancy they founded to help companies do just that, presents a forceful argument for incorporating such thinking into a contemporary corporate battle plan. But this is no ranting manifesto. Rather, the authors truly celebrate capitalism and the way it could turn this concept into a positive factor for both individual companies and the world at large. (For example, they suggest that the youth-oriented Adidas athletic shoe company could convey antismoking messages to its young audience that ultimately might help curb the habit in addition to making parents feel more favorable toward the brand.) After explaining their heretical view of the positive place that even giant multinationals can occupy, Hilton and Gibbons address the social responsibility movement now attracting many businesses and the leadership role accepted by a select few. The book's longest section then analyzes how any firm can utilize its key strengths--including brand, operations, presence, and fiscal resources--to succeed commercially and socially. Some North American readers may have difficulty identifying with the litany of European business examples drawn largely from the authors' own work, but their points still cross the Atlantic relatively unscathed and should serve as an excellent foundation for further discussion and eventual action. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Simplistic but sometimes useful
I found it extremely hard to keep my mind on this book. I felt exactly the way the average customer feels when confronted by a high pressure used car salesman. These people were here to sell me something - and anything goes if it clinches the sale.

Having said that, there is value in the book as it demonstrates areas in which business and customers can work together to find arenas of social activity that are to their mutual advantage. It also puts forward good examples of why it is to the advantage of a company to engage in these sorts of activity and that they can turn a profit out of it as well.

The first two chapters are better forgotten. They set up the least sophisticated of the arguments against globalisation as a sort of straw man that they then tear down with decidedly simplistic and statistically dubious arguments. (It is one of the banes of this very important debate that each side presents totally 'authoritative' statistics that 'prove' the exact opposite of each other. However, these authors argue that the gap between rich and poor is not growing wider, which *really* requires some fancy definition bending.)

In the rest of the book, it is necessary to ignore the underlying theme that anybody who criticizes an aspect of business practice or the current global system is antibusiness and because some business is doing things well and responsibly all business is therefore beneficial. Neither extreme position is true. This leaves the possibility of becoming interested in the examples that they cite of good practice and thinking, with them, of how these examples could be spread and expanded. There are clearly many opportunities and it is equally clear that the authors' particular promotional skills will often be useful in identifying these opportunities and working out effective ways of getting them accepted and implemented.

Business Can be Good . . . and Save the World
Enron. WorldCom. Tyco. And the list goes on. Capitalism is practically a dirty word. Conversations in board rooms, executive suites, universities, and other environments of though wrestle with how corporations can pull themselves out of the quicksand of questionable integrity. Hilton and Gibbons have a few suggestions.

The authors are the founders (1997) of a British consulting firm that specializes in social marketing. They've built an enviable track record already working with a range of clients including Coca-Cola and Nike. Their position is that companies should start becoming the solution to the world's problems instead of being seen as the cause. By using their power for social good, they can influence environment issues, human rights, and social justice.

Seven chapters carry the message: Orthodoxy, Heresy, Responsibility, Leadership, Anatomy, Possibility, and Unity. Intrigued? Prepare to read an interesting book filled with examples and stories about how business became so unpopular, but really isn't so bad after all. The heresy chapter tells the other side of the story that is pounded at us through the media: globalization makes the poor richer, corporations are good for human rights, and we can close sweatshops and end child labor. Under Responsibility, the authors explore how corporations respond to all this criticism and how they can be truly socially responsible. Leadership is needed-real leadership, not just lip service. Commercialism, profit, and social good can all live together in harmony. The authors offer some ideas about what business could do to make a real difference and how ordinary citizens can join the movement for common good.

This is an almost conversational book that is comfortable to read. You'll gain some new perspectives and perhaps some inspiration.

Has a very direct and candid message
Good Business by Steve Hilton and Giles Gibbons (co-founders of Britain's first social marketing company, "Good Business") has a very direct and candid message: "If you want to change the world, then do it through business. If you want to help your business, then help change the world." Written in direct response to anti-globalization protests, Good Business demonstrates how globalization can help people everywhere and make the poor richer. But only if the virtues of globalization are used in the right way; companies must take responsibility for the profits and global well-being of tomorrow, and those who champion social justice and environmental protection need to ally with business rather than make it their enemy. Highly recommended for entrepreneurial and social activists, Good Business offers a superbly argued presentation of how business and economic forces can potentially shape a better world for us all. ... Read more