Thursday, September 12, 2013
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein Interviews Marketing Strategist Don McCauley For 'Authors And Technology' Site
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, founder of ‘Authors And Technology’, recently interviewed marketing strategist Don McCauley, facilitator of the Free Publicity Focus Group. The interview centered around how authors can more effectively get in front of their target audiences.
Dr. Holstein believes that using technology such as Skype, teleseminars, chat or webinars to bring authors into libraries, schools, and book clubs, even if thousands of miles away, opens the world up in amazing ways. However, many people do not understand how to use technology to accomplish this and so, for many, that opportunity can be lost. Dr. Holstein created 'Authors And Technology' to help authors gain the knowledge and skills to take advantage of these opportunities.
For a child in a classroom, a simple Skype session with an author, whether he or she be an astronaut, a fiction writer, a scientist, a poet or a mystery writer, can inspire them to develop interests, hobbies, even possible careers they may never have felt were within their reach. As authors visit libraries virtually, they can bring information and discussions to people of all ages and stages of life. Little ones can sit in awe as an author reads her picture book aloud, while seniors can listen to an expert author on the details of preparing for retirement.
"Technology helps us overcome many obstacles," stated Dr. Holstein, "and allows people to come together in ways never before possible. It's easy when one learns how to use the available technology.”
'Authors And Technology' provides specific discussion groups on nearly every subject. These groups include, but are not limited to, speaking in public, social media, video, blogging, Skype, podcasts, teleseminars, virtual worlds, newsletters and much more.
'Authors And Technology' also gives authors and publishers the opportunity to upload photos, bios, book covers, video and book videos. The site also offers discussion forums, segmented special interest groups and allows for event listings. Each author can develop a personalized page. In addition the site allows for integration with Facebook and Twitter.
More information, including the recent interview with Don McCauley, is available by visiting the 'Authors And Technology' site at www.AuthorsAndTechnology.com. Questions about 'Authors And Technology' should be directed to Dr. Holstein at drbarbara@enchantedself.com. Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below.
Profile:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist, is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for increasing happiness. Dr. Holstein has been a school psychologist for over 25 years. Dr. Barbara speaks regularly on radio programs around the country, and appears on television in New York and New Jersey. Her inspiring audio shows and podcasts can be found on the web, along with hundreds of her articles and stories. She has been a contributor to Heart and Soul, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, Time on line, and Family Circle Magazine.
Her pathfinder book ‘The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy’ was published in 1997 by Harwood Academic Publishers and is now in its second printing through Brunner-Routledge. Her second book ‘Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!’ has received rave reviews as a wonderful inspirational story book. ‘DELIGHT’, Dr. Holstein’s third book is available in two versions, paperback and a CD-rom that includes music, art, and Dr. Holstein’s voice.
Her book, ‘The Truth, (I’m a girl, I’m Smart and I Know Everything)’ is a first in positive psychology. It is a fiction book for girls, tweens and teens. Her second book in The Truth Series is 'Secrets: You Tell Me Yours and I’ll Tell You Mine…Maybe!’
Don McCauley serves as facilitator of the Free Publicity Focus Group. He is a contributor to regional and national print and electronic publications. He serves as host of The Authors Show radio program. He is an Inbound Marketing Certified Professional and is a member of the Internet Marketing Association. He is the co-founder of Book Marketing, an educational site dedicated to all things related to marketing books.
Contact:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
www.AuthorsAndTechnology.com
drbarbara@enchantedself.com
732-571-1200 Leia Mais…
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Internet Marketing Firm, Free Publicity Focus Group, Produces New Video 'The Best Marketing Strategy Ever'
The Free Publicity Focus Group, a top ranked Internet marketing and publicity firm, recently released a video entitled 'The Best Marketing Strategy Ever?' The video demonstrates how to create Internet marketing success. The video cautions against using outbound marketing strategies in an inbound Internet marketing environment.
"Many Internet marketing approaches," stated Don McCauley, facilitator of FPFG, "fall into one of three categories - advertising, social media approaches or inbound search engine marketing. Of the three, inbound search engine marketing likely holds the most value for small businesses or those marketing individual products. Content marketing has become the dominant strategic approach used today. Searchers in the buying cycle demand pertinent information in the decision-making phase. Search engine marketing presents the best opportunity to present that information in powerful ways. Most people do not look to advertising or social media to provide the information needed to make a purchasing decision"
The Free Publicity Focus Group offers marketing consulting services to authors and publishers, small business and service business clients. The company specializes in marketing strategy development. The range of specific services includes search engine marketing, search engine optimization, Internet marketing and publicity and a host of other services that assist companies and individuals in the implementation of marketing strategies that produce results.
"Content driven, search engine marketing approaches are not new of course," McCauley continued, "but the takeaway point here is that this marketing approach will not fade away or end up as yet another fad. Content marketing is a complete transformation of the marketing model. It's here to stay. Those who hope to achieve a high level of success will need to implement this type of strategy or risk failure."
The company offers no charge ebooks, reports and video training at the Free Publicity Focus Group website. These can be downloaded and put to use immediately by those hoping to create success by utilizing proven, common sense marketing methods, tools and strategies.
Don McCauley is available for media interview and can be reached using the information below. More information is available at the website. More information is available at no charge at the group's website. 'The Best Marketing Strategy Ever?' video can be viewed at the company blog at http://www.FreePublicityGroup.com/blog.
Profile:
Don McCauley is a marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience. He helps individuals, small businesses, authors and service professionals create low cost and no cost publicity and marketing campaigns to increase sales. The primary goal is to demonstrate how anyone can develop an effective marketing and publicity campaign for little or no money. This is accomplished by utilizing cutting edge strategic marketing and publicity resources. He serves as facilitator of the Free Publicity Focus Group. He is the co-founder of 'Book Marketing - The Authors Marketing Powerhouse', and serves as host for several of 'The Authors Show' radio programs.
Contact:
Don McCauley
Free Publicity Focus Group
http://www.freepublicitygroup.com Leia Mais…
Monday, March 4, 2013
Internet Marketing Firm, Free Publicity Focus Group, Releases Statement On How To Market A Business In 2013
The Free Publicity Focus Group, a top ranked Internet marketing and publicity firm, recently published several articles and blog posts related to implementing successful Internet marketing approaches in the year 2013. One idea central to these informational pieces is the necessity to avoid using outbound marketing strategies in an inbound marketing environment.
"There are many approaches to Internet marketing," stated Don McCauley, facilitator of FPFG, "but nearly all fall into one of three categories - marketing through advertising, social media marketing or inbound search engine marketing. Of the three, inbound search engine marketing likely holds the most value for small businesses or those marketing individual products. This is because content marketing has become the dominant strategic approach. Buyers naturally desire and demand information while in the decision-making phase of the buying cycle. Search engine marketing presents the best opportunity to present that content in powerful ways to buyers. This 'content approach' allows the provider to build much more credibility than advertising or social media marketing approaches."
The Free Publicity Focus Group offers marketing consulting services to authors and publishers, small business and service business clients. The company specializes in marketing strategy development. The range of specific services includes search engine marketing, search engine optimization, Internet marketing and publicity and a host of other services that assist companies and individuals in the implementation of marketing strategies that produce results.
"Every target market profile is very specific in regards to age, gender, geographic region, wants, needs and preferred approach. Developing an effective inbound marketing strategy in the Internet marketing environment is every bit as difficult as building a marketing strategy for a traditional business in the physical world. Our goal is to assist clients in navigating the minefield of options out there and to develop and implement marketing strategies that produce sales."
The company offers no charge ebooks, reports and video training at the Free Publicity Focus Group website. These can be downloaded and put to use immediately by those hoping to create success by utilizing proven, common sense marketing methods, tools and strategies.
Don McCauley is available for media interview and can be reached using the information below. More information is available at the website. More information is available at no charge at the group's website at http://www.freepublicitygroup.com.
Profile:
Don McCauley is a marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience. He helps individuals, small businesses, authors and service professionals create low cost and no cost publicity and marketing campaigns to increase sales. The primary goal is to demonstrate how anyone can develop an effective marketing and publicity campaign for little or no money. This is accomplished by utilizing cutting edge strategic marketing and publicity resources. He serves as facilitator of the Free Publicity Focus Group. He is the co-founder of 'Book Marketing - The Authors Marketing Powerhouse', and serves as host for several of 'The Authors Show' radio programs.
Contact:
Don McCauley
Free Publicity Focus Group
www.freepublicitygroup.com
don@freepublicitygroup.com
Leia Mais…
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Book Marketing - An Interview With Lois W. Stern
Book marketing is fast becoming a very specialized sub-set of Internet marketing. I recently had the opportunity to speak with author Lois W. Stern, editor-at-large for MakeMeHeal.com and author of several books on the subject of cosmetic surgery.
Lois is a writer who has experienced success in regards to marketing her work in today's Internet marketing environment. She knows what must be done and she does it well. In this interview she gives us a glimpse into what she has done to achieve her current level of success.
How many books have you written - Tell us about them
I’ve written two books for adults and four books for children. My most recent books include Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery, which is an in depth look into the emotional undercurrents to cosmetic surgery. My second book, Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour explains what to expect (and not expect) from the many non-invasive and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures that proliferate today.
What was your goal in writing these books?
The goals for these two books were very different. Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery was a blending of research, interviews (with over 100 women), and memoir. I know the common perception out there is that women who undergo cosmetic surgery are motivated by vanity, but I really didn’t find that to be the case. There are many other misperceptions floating about and taboo topics that I felt should be brought to light and did just that in SLCS. Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour is packed with valuable, hype-free information about the non-surgical aesthetic treatments available to us today.
What have you found to be your greatest marketing challenge?
As authors, we write because we have something important to say or to satisfy a creative urge. Most of us give little thought to marketing our books until after giving birth to them. It wasn’t until my proof copy - that beautiful newborn baby - arrived in the mail, that I first began to focus on the next step - how to market my book. BIG MISTAKE! It’s absolutely essential to start building that platform early on, but so hard to do so before one has the credentials of a published book. It’s a catch 22 for most of us. Authors really need to work just as hard at building a brand for themselves as they do at writing their books - maybe even harder.
What is the key to successfully marketing books in today's environment?
Don’t get discouraged. If plan A doesn’t work out for you, be ready to move on to plan B. I contacted many radio personalities in the hopes of getting on the air - mostly with discouraging results. But after having many of my requests ignored or turned down, I struck gold with Patty Kovacs, host of the Health and Beauty Revolution Show out in California. Patty has interviewed some of the most famous plastic surgeons, dermatologists and New York Times best selling authors, so you can imagine my excitement in learning that I was going to be a guest on her show! That interview went very well, and we became friendly through a series of coincidences. We worked together on several writing projects, and here’s the most amazing part of the story. We are now partners and dear friends - with our own website and newsletter - without ever meeting in person!
What has been the most successful book marketing method you have used?
For me, giving live presentations and interviews seems to work well. Sometimes I seek them out, but at other times I am approached first. A journalist called to ask: “Do people tend to treat you differently after cosmetic surgery?” We talked for awhile and 3 paragraphs about me ended up in her article “Hey, It’s Still Me in There” on the first page of the Sunday edition of the Style section of the NY and LA Times. My Amazon sales went through the roof for the next few months.
Here’s another idea that has worked for me. I did a panel presentation for an authors’ conference called “Authors Helping Authors”. I try to live that motto as I do believe there are so many little ways we can help one another. If I particularly like a book written by a fellow author, I write a review and post it on Amazon with a 4 or 5 star rating. I have also made good connections leading to bulk sales for a couple of authors.
I do find it very satisfying to extend a helping hand to other authors and recommend a buddy system. But be forewarned, there is no free lunch. No one will continue to reach out to the author who is just a taker. We all have to think in terms of reciprocity, not just what’s in it for me!
What has been the least successful book marketing method you have used?
I agonize over the details too much and tend to lose sight of the big picture. Sometimes I just have to step back and say to myself: “Hey, what do you really want to accomplish here and is this the most expedient path to that goal?”
Do you follow a formal marketing plan for your book?
No, not really. But I do keep a notebook with an itemized list of tasks I want to accomplish each week. I feel so good when I can check something off as a task completed - especially if it has worked out well. That list keeps me focused and on target. I don’t always start at the top of my list and work my way down. It’s more a matter of what excites me that particular day, because I know if I feel energized, I’ll do a better job.
Does the level of competition for the buyer's attention (on the Internet) concern you?
I don’t know if ‘concern’ is the right word for what I feel, but the level of competition is certainly a reality. I am keenly aware of it. No doubt my job would be much easier if those numbers were cut in half, but there is no point in fretting about things I can’t control.
What do you see in the future for the small independent book store?
I worry about them. So many of the independents have gone out of business and I find that so sad. Even the gigantic B & N near Lincoln Center in NYC has announced that it’s closing it doors. Amazon offers books at such low prices that the brick and mortar stores simply can’t compete. I support our local independent, Book Revue, as much as I can because they and others like them offer services that Amazon can’t provide. I did two author presentations at Book Revue and so has just about every best selling author you can name, including an impressive list of celebrities and politicians.
At what point would you feel you would be able to say 'I've made it'?
I guess that depends on one's definition of success, doesn't it. When I receive e-mail messages from readerstelling me of the profound effect Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery has had on them, that's an unbelievably rewarding experience! Here are two examples: I received one e-mail with the words, "Greetings From Switzerland" in the subject line. This woman wrote that she had purchased 12 books on cosmetic surgery in preparation for her own facelift. Yet with all those books at her disposal, Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery was the one that she and her hubby kept going back to post-surgery because it told it all with such honesty and candor. (She even shared it with her plastic surgeon, who now recommends it to his English speaking patients.)
Another woman, who was emotionally overwrought post-surgery, wrote to tell me that in desperation she googled the words: "Sexual attraction toward your plastic surgeon", discovered SLCS, and wrote to tell me how much my book
helped her understand and work through her own emotions - so much so that she then ordered a second copy for her plastic surgeon with a note suggesting that he pay particular attention to chapters 5 and 6. You see, she had tried to discuss this topic with him, but his inadequate response actually exacerbated the issue.
What are your feelings regarding e-books and electronic book readers?
I just returned from the Infinity Publishing annual writers conference where their CEO, Art Glutz talked at length about the huge impact e-books are already having on the book publishing market. Other speakers voiced similar opinions. Jerry Simmons, twenty plus year veteran executive with Time Warner Books has been touting the coming impact of e-books on the publishing industry for several years. No one has that crystal ball,but at least we should be aware of what the experts are saying.
What advice would you give to other authors just entering the book marketing arena?
Treat rejections and disappointments as an opportunity to learn and grow. Don’t retreat. Just move on. The name of the game is perseverance.
Along with that I would add, trust and follow your instincts. I knew I couldn’t write Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty On Your Lunch Hour - a book of considerable scope and information requiring considerable expertise, without the help of a variety of aesthetic professionals. Do you know how I recruited my experts? I simply called, introduced myself, explained my mission and asked.
Lois Stern is editor-at-large for MakeMeHeal.com, the largest Internet site worldwide for news, articles and products relating to cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Along with Patty Kovacs, host of the Health and Beauty Revolution Show she publishes a monthy newsletter entitled Coast To Coast - Eye On Beauty Newsletter.
During her twenty years as an educator, where Lois W. Stern took an active role in her field as a frequent presenter at state and national educational conferences and served as Co-president of Suffolk Reading Council and subsequent Regional Director of Nassau and Suffolk LI Reading Councils. A number of her articles have been published by ERIC (U.S. Department of Education - Office of Educational Research and Improvement), parent newsletters, Newsday and the New York Times.
Stern continued to pursue her love for writing, and soon became co-editor of a Long Island Internet web-zine, LI EYE. As she created and authored the column Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives, she discovered her special niche of investigative journalism, and put those same talents to work in her book, Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery, where she was able to gain the trust of over one hundred women while interviewing them about some of the most intimate aspects of their lives. Lois worked along with 11 nationally renowned experts to write her second book, Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour. Stern received a Bachelor of Science degree from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in Sociology. She holds one Masters Degree in Elementary Education and a second in Reading and Special Education.
Lois Stern
www.sexliesandcosmeticsurgery.com
cosmeticsurgery@optonline.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Book Marketing - An Interview With Carolyn Vines
Book marketing is fast becoming a very specialized sub-set of Internet marketing. I recently had the opportunity to speak with author Carolyn Vines, author of black and (A)broad: traveling beyond the limitations of identity.
Carolyn is a woman with a message that resonates with many diverse groups of people. She is also extremely well versed in marketing concepts. She knows what must be done and she does it well. In this interview she gives us a glimpse of what she feels it takes for authors to be successful in an Internet marketing environment
How many books have you written - Tell us about them
To date, I’ve written one book, a memoir entitled black and (A)broad: traveling beyond the limitations of identity. It deals with how traveling and living abroad have transformed my identity as a black woman.
What was your goal in writing this book?
Because traveling within the US as well as abroad was instrumental for my internal journey, my goal was to inspire (black) women to do the same. I believe that many of the challenges black women in the US face boil down to an internalized racist ideology. Once we step beyond the geographical and ideological boundaries of our country, we begin to understand just how cultural that racist ideology is and that people in other cultures don’t subscribe to it. It’s the vital first step toward creating a healthy and authentic self-image.
What have you found to be your greatest marketing challenge?
There’s so much information out there that I felt lost trying to decide which direction to follow. My background is in literature, which isn’t a very practical field, so the learning curve was quite high. I still don’t know how effective my marketing is or will be so I’ll have to wait for book sales. If they’re high, I’ll know to keep doing what I’ve been doing. If they’re low, I’ll have to start all over.
What is the key to successfully marketing books in today's environment?
I think it’s letting people in your target group know that your book is out there, which means you have to know how to reach that group. Unfortunately, groups are not homogenous even if the one thing the individuals have in common is that they’d benefit from reading your book. You must create a variety of platforms to reach the individuals in your market.
What has been the most successful book marketing method you have used?
That’s hard to say at this point since my book was just released, but if I had to make a guess I would think my blog. Traffic to my blog has been consistent for the last 3 years but, unfortunately, it’s low. On the other hand, my blog has been key to helping me build my network, and a strong network is invaluable for effective marketing.
What has been the least successful book marketing method you have used?
Probably sitting around and hoping that people will buy my book! Ithink that everything I’ve done in terms of marketing – social media, media releases, blogging, networking, speaking – will yield book sales, some more than others. It’s hard to pinpoint one the other as being more or less successful because the one depends on the other. Blogging is more effective together with Twitter and FaceBook is useless (in my opinion) if you don’t have something worthwhile (like topics related to your book) to post.
Do you follow a formal marketing plan for your book?
No, not a formal one. As I wrote my book, I made a list of ways I could market it once it was done. Some of those actions I could take during the writing process and others made more sense only once the book was done.
Does the level of competition for the buyer's attention (on the Internet) concern you?
No it doesn’t. Early on in my writing process my husband gave me a brilliant piece of advice. He asked me if there was anything I could change about the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of books out there. When I said that I couldn’t, he asked me how I would benefit from worrying about it. After replying that there was no benefit, he told me to focus that on energy on the things I could impact, which were to write a best seller and then let as many people know about it as I could and trust that they would also inform their network about my book. That’s what I did.
What are your feelings regarding ebooks and electronic book readers?
They’re brilliant. They’re here. They’re the most effective way to distribute books.
What do you see in the future for the small independent book store?
I don’t really know. There are still lots of people like me who love the feel of a book. I love seeing books in my book case and then passing them along to others. Unfortunately, ebooks and electronic book readers are convenient. Books are literally at your finger tips, which means you don’t have to wait a day or two to read one. Convenience is as American as apple pie and what could be more convenient than downloading a book to your computer or book reader within minutes?
At what point would you feel you would be able to say 'I've made it'?
When I’ve sold 10,000 copies of black and (A)broad: traveling beyond the limitations of identity.
What advice would you give to other authors just entering the book marketing arena?
Get help. Don’t try to do the marketing by yourself, unless you have a strong background in the area. Find a few things that work
Carolyn Vines hails from Indianapolis, USA. Her passion for language has led her to teach Spanish, English and literature at universities in America and The Netherlands. It has also led her into a career as an author, editor and translator. Her work has been published in local Dutch English language papers and The Telegraph. She speaks Spanish and Dutch and last year translated a novel by a critically-acclaimed Curaçaoan author. As the result of her life experiences, she believes it is possible to travel beyond identity and offers inspiration to travel beyond limitations.
Ms. Vines’s website was the 2009 Black Weblog Award Winner for Best International Blog. Her book is available at Amazon, Amazon UK and Barnes and Noble.
Contact:
Carolyn Vines
www.blackandabroad.com
carolynvines@yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Book Marketing, The Authors Marketing Powerhouse, Announces Writing Contest For Authors
Book Marketing is making the writing contest available to all authors including self published authors. Writers and authors will have an opportunity to take home book trailers, a marketing strategy analysis, 100 books printed at no charge and much more
Book Marketing, The Authors Marketing Powerhouse, is sponsoring the "Why I Write" challenge for new members. The challenge offers a prize package worth over $1300 and includes an array of services from some top providers.
Each participant is invited to enter the challenge by submitting a 300 word essay entitled "Why I Write". The winner will be chosen by drawing. The author of the winning entry will receive:
* An up to 2 minutes in length book trailer, produced by eBroadcastMedia.com. ($490 value)
* A Marketing and Publicity Strategy analysis provided by the Free Publicity Focus Group and a multimedia release package for a book or event chosen by the winner. ($389 value)
* 100 BOOKS, printed at no charge by AA Printing, the authority for book printing and self-publishing for over 30 years ($400 value)
* A copy of Dan Poynter's 'Writing, Producing and Promoting Your Book In The 21st Century' DVD set, offered by AA Printing ($50 value)
* An interview on The Authors Show to be broadcast on the main show page for a 3-day weekend and archived for 30 days.
* A written transcript of that interview, featured on Book Marketing - The Authors Marketing Powerhouse for 30 days.
* The 2 minute book trailer will be featured on Book Marketing: The Authors Marketing Powerhouse for 30 days.
* A hardcover edition of 'Damn The Rejections, Full Speed Ahead: The Bumpy Road To Getting Published' by Maralys Wills. A college novel-writing teacher for 22 years, Maralys has published twelve books and offers a treasure trove of sage advice in easy-to-digest and fun-to-read anecdotes ($24.95 value).
* A softcover version of '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading', produced by The Authors Show, featuring 50 writers who are making their mark in the world of publishing today. ($24 value)
* A copy of “The Trilogy of Networking” book 1, “Networking: Why Do It?” by Danielle Hampson, Executive Producer of The Authors Show, and “Live Every Day Motivated, Successful and Happy”. Like any other business owner, authors must network. In her book, Danielle covers all the reasons why networking remains one of the best marketing tools (value $32).
* In addition, all new members will receive a copy of 'The Top 8 Tragic Marketing Mistakes Authors Make', ebook version.
SUBMISSION
To submit an entry, first sign in at www.TheAuthorsMarketingPowerhouse.com.
A link to the entry form will be sent to the email address provided by the new member.
Submit the entry using the form. The top entry will be chosen by random drawing. The contest ends December 24, 2010. The winner will be notified by email on December 30, 2010.
For more information or for specific questions visit Book Marketing - The Authors Marketing Powerhouse at www.TheAuthorsMarketingPowerhouse.com or email Don McCauley directly at don@freepublicitygroup.com.