Batson Group Marketing and PR

20 Things PR Clients Should Know

2011-12-27T11:32:00.000-05:00

Want to be a good PR client? Here are 20 things every PR client should know.
By Elizabeth Friedland | Posted from PRDaily: December 21, 2011

Refill the cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and know you're not alone.

1. No, we don’t know every journalist everywhere across the universe—not that it matters. Even journalists whose weddings we were in will turn down our pitches occasionally.

2. A good publicist doesn’t have to be based in New York or Los Angeles to be effective. Ever heard of this crazy thing called email?

3. Few things actually warrant a press release …

4. … And a creative PR professional can still brainstorm ways to achieve your goals without one.

5. Stop insisting we call the media. Most of them hate this and specifically request we contact them exclusively via email.

6. PR is not free advertising. PR is not free (or cheap), period.

7. Don’t ask us to pitch an idea and then not be available for an interview. If you want the press, we need you to be ready to talk to the media at a moment’s notice.

8. What matters most to you may be totally irrelevant to a journalist. Remember that it’s what they—not you—think is important that matters in the end.

9. Publicists cannot control the end product. It is unethical for us to ask, to see, or to proof a copy of the story beforehand, or to dictate what the reporter can and can’t say. Doing so will backfire—trust me.

10. Social media is more than Facebook and Twitter.

11. If you insist on running all tweets and posts past your legal department, don’t expect results from your social media strategy.

12. If a journalist says he or she is not interested in a story, that person means it. Reaching out again will further annoy the reporter and guarantee you’ll be ignored the next time.

13. Don’t measure your PR results in ad equivalency rates. Do you want to know you had $500,000 of ad equivalent value in negative press, or would you rather know 80 percent of the press you received was positive in tone and accurate in its messages?

14. No, we’re not writing any more “…pleased to announce...” ledes.

15. Ditto for “We’re so excited/thrilled/happy” CEO quotes. Pretend you’re explaining the story to a friend over drinks, and then give us that quote.

16. There’s no need for a logo and boilerplate for anyone who so much as breathed in a room where the project was discussed.

17. PR is a process. You know who hits it big overnight with a story on the “Today” show? Criminals, naughty celebrities, and shark-attack victims. Do you want to be one of them?

18. You can’t “make” something go viral. That’s why it’s called “going viral.”

19. An ethical PR pro is not a spin doctor. Do not ask us to lie, spin the truth, evade the press, or hide your dirty laundry.

20. We love you. You’re our favorite client. You’re the only one we work on all day.

Elizabeth Friedland is a senior public relations manager at Bandy Carroll Hellige in Indianapolis. She also blogs for Talent Zoo Media, where a version of this story first appeared.

Wishing You a Happy, Healthy and Joyful Holiday Season

2011-12-21T13:42:00.001-05:00

C. Hope Clark: If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster

2011-11-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

C. Hope Clark: "If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster." - Clint Eastwood.

I love Clint Eastwood. Tell me he directed a movie, and I'm there. There's something about his self-assurance. Even at 81 years old, he's a presence. If you read anything about him,you realize he liked to take a stand and strike out firmly with it. He makes a goal and pours 110 percent into it. Most writers fear doing so, in need of guarantees or assurances that their attempt will reap reward. Risk isn't in their genes.

You may say that Clint Eastwood can afford to take risks. Once up on a time he couldn't afford it. And he's a huge believer in instincts and being true to yourself. I actually got caught up in his bio, because it showed quotes from him along with many of his beliefs, again, demonstrating a man of substance.

People love it when those in the limelight take a tasteful stand on subjects, admitting who they are, without walking on the heads of those without the same opinion. As I stated earlier this week, it's a Live and Let Live attitude - knowing who you are while accepting who others are.

But taking stands can be pricey. You may commit to a vampire novel, because you have this unique take on the breed like they hover or can read weak minds yet not strong ones or can swim underwater during the daylight and be protected from the sun. Or they run for President, or form a union, or run the largest international bank which impacts the entire global economy. However, when you mention it's a vampire book, you instantly receive winces, because the character has been done so many times in so many ways.

Do you continue with your project, taking a gamble? Or do you follow through, fearless that you will make this formula work?

Other un-guaranteed moves as a writer:...[visit her blog post for more]

Study: LinkedIn top social media site for journalists

2011-09-04T16:35:00.000-04:00

By Kristin Piombino - editorial assistant for Ragan.com

When 92 percent of journalists have a LinkedIn account, there has to be a good reason. There is, and business leaders, representatives and PR pros should pay attention.

A new survey from Arketi Group found that the percent of journalists on LinkedIn has increased from 85 percent in 2009. Why?LinkedIn provides an easy way for reporters to connect with sources.

Read the full article at Ragan.com

Kristin Piombino is the editorial assistant for Ragan.com. Before joining Ragan Kristin briefly worked for Liberty Suburban Newspapers, Glancer Magazine, the Chicago Children’s Museum and a public relations firm. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Journalism and a minor in French. She is also an avid baker, and likes chocolate chip cookie dough more than the actual cookies.Follow her on Twitter @KristinPiombino.

Author Tip: Up Your Book Sales Before Publishing

2011-08-30T10:09:00.000-04:00

You want your book to be a bestseller. Maybe you have an agent, even a publisher, but how to help your book or ebook reach the top of a bestseller list?

There are tons of books, blogs and web sites with articles on marketing strategies, using the correct marketing mix, tips on writing, and, well, you get the idea.

Here is one tip:
Get feedback from people for whom the book is written!
No, your book is not for everyone. Who are your prospective readers? Women, mothers, men, men in the military? Whether you write sci-fi, non-fiction, fiction, young adult, your manuscript must appeal to the readers in that market.

The only opinion that really matters is the opinion of your prospective reader. Not your family, not your editor - your reader. Don't be so busy writing you don't take the time to get feedback.

What are your best tips to market your book or finding your audience?

6 Tips on What Your Social Media Marketing Specialist Should Be Doing for You

2011-08-21T13:08:00.000-04:00

Often I am asked "What should my Social Media VA be doing for me?"

Here is a short and I hope useful answer to that question

The classic social media responsibilities are:

1. Creating a voice that represents the brand

2. Monitoring trends and competitors

3. Participating in Twitter conversations

4. Maintain client social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and key platforms.

5. Write and post regular updates to the social media accounts. (Client and VA need to determine what regular means!)

6. Work with client to determine optimal content to post.

In any event, be sure to agree on the duties, actions and reports you want your VA to provide.

Hope this helps!

Like to hear what your tips are!

Hope Clark Shares Important Info for Writers on Social Media Use and Groups

2011-08-16T10:49:00.000-04:00

LIMIT YOUR GROUPS

Great advice from Hope Clark for writers (and business owners.) Hope's newsletter is a useful tool for writers.

"I was online recently when a writer said she was starting
a group that would help writers to stay organized in their
profession. I raised both eyebrows, recognizing someone who
most likely enjoyed the feeling of bring a writer, but not
the actual writing. I expressed non-interest, reminding
her that too many groups, while fun, are subtle enemies
of your writing.

A string of memberships does not a writer make. I don't
care if they are MWA, RWA, SFWA, SCBWI, or any other
alphabet organization. When I see someone who belongs to
a long list of groups, I wonder how much time they write.

That's part of the reason that writing conferences rotate
their organizers. Takes a rare breed to annually organize a
conference and still take writing seriously. While we need
those organizers, they are sacrificing their writing in
order to help other writers. Noble, but disabling for the
actual writing effort.

Same goes for Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and so on. Yes,
social networking is a necessity. Yes, they can consume
your writing time. It's a careful balance. You need the
network, but you also need to write. What's a network if
you can't get words on paper, much less polish them
properly.

I've been known to join a group, try it out, and not
renew. If the group benefits me, rejuvenates me, and doesn't
suck the life out of me, I'll stick around. I also will
allow no more than one group to be a priority for me.

FundsforWriters networking is my number one. I hope to
join Mystery Writers of America once my suspense is published.
Thank goodness my publisher is a recognized name in their
ranks. I belong to two critique groups. Past that, I'm a
back-of-the-room member of anything else. No, I'm not
lazy. Quite the contrary. I know myself. I'd be in the thick
of things wanting to be a mover and shaker. So I limit myself.

Watch the reaching out. It's needed for networking, but all
too often you forget to retreat long enough to get your
best writing done."

Hope Clark

THE BLOG - http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
ABOUT.ME - http://about.me/hopeclark

Love to hear from you. How do you manage your groups?

Why Isn't My Book Selling?

2011-07-15T17:49:00.000-04:00

You're a writer. You worked hard on your manuscript. Hopefully you have engaged an editor, your cover is unique and a real grabber, as is your title. The finished book actually looks like a traditionally published one and you have taken the time to get some reviews before you rushed to print.

You thought writing the book was tough. Well get ready...

When it comes to marketing, there is no silver bullet, no magic wand, no cure-all pill. It takes work. Let's assume for a moment you have written a good book. It is vital to understand that all the PR, advertising, promotions, web sites, social networking, book signings and talks won't guarantee you a bestseller. But if the following elements are not in place, it is a sure-fire bet the chances of your book selling beyond some of your family and friends is slim.

To improve your chance for success make sure you have these key elements in place:

1. A Budget
2. A Marketing Plan for the Book
3. A Publicity Plan for the Book
4. A Web Site for the Book
5. An Effective Web Site
6. The book is listed on Amazon and Amazon Kindle
7. Have a message your readers can relate to. What is the WIIFM? (What's In It For Me) This is the benefit that will drive the reader to purchase your book.

There are many books, seminars, workshops, and blogs that have useful information, but none are in lieu of having the above in place.

What successful actions have you taken to increase the sales of your book?

How to Get Your Book Top-Rated on Amazon

2011-07-11T12:10:00.000-04:00

Lee Kessler’s popular novels White King Rising and White King and the Doctor hit #1 and #4 on Amazon Kindle top-rated political fiction list ahead of Vince Flynn, George Orwell and Tolstoy.

Here are 2 tips you can use!

1. Have as many people as possible purchase your book on the same day and hour. Rankings on Amazon are influenced by the number of purchases made during a given hour. This takes a coordinated effort as well as lots of friends and fans.

2. Encourage folks who have purchased or read your book write a review and post it on Amazon as well as give the book a 5-star rating if they find your book deserving. A 5-star rating is the best and it carries a lot of weight.

Read the press release here.

What are your best tips for book promotion?

10 PR Trends That Are Always in Vogue

2011-06-07T11:20:00.000-04:00

Be professional and be personable if you want your story to be printable.
By Susan Young

Trends come and go. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about cars, TV shows, haircuts or plug-ins.

Public relations is no different. Elements of a strong news story rarely change. The medium and technology through which the story or message is delivered can change, but not the core of what constitutes a good story. The importance of relationships with reporters has also stood the test of time.

With 26 years of news, PR and
here are 10 PR trends
that are always in style.

1. Thank the reporter for listening. Even if they are rude or rushed, say thank you. Chances are you’ll have to reach out to them again. Remember, you don’t know what you may have interrupted on their side. If you saw all the irrelevant and lousy pitches reporters get hit with day after day, you’d want to stick a fork in your eye.

2. Know your pitch inside and out. If you’re not fully prepared to answer minutiae questions about your story, and all the elements it encompasses, you’re not ready to pitch it. Keep doing your homework.

3. Communicate a succinct message. Whether it’s a voicemail, e-mail pitch, Tweet or press release, make your point with the fewest words or characters possible. Oh, you’ll have to be compelling and punchy, too. Choose every single word with absolute care. Perfect your writing skills. Consider yourself a wordsmith.

4. Find the human factor. Statistics are powerful, but the emotional connection we experience as human beings is key to any good story. News is about people, and people love great stories.

5. Respect the clock. Deadlines are gospel in newsrooms. Avoid reaching out to daily print reporters late in the afternoons. Don’t call TV assignment desks and radio newsrooms as they are preparing to go on the air (top of the hour).

6. Love your story. It doesn’t matter if you’re pitching a novice blogger or CNN. If you don’t love your story, they won’t either.

7. Build rapport with them. Reporters and news decision makers are people, too. In fact, they were people before they began working in news and social media. Don’t ask for favors and help all the time; ask how you can be of assistance to them with resources, a fresh angle or interview. Give more than you take.

8. Offer an exclusive. Everyone likes to feel special.

9. Deliver what you promise. Whether it’s details to follow-up your lead in a press release, or sticking to the interview you’ve arranged, keep your word.

10. Make yourself available. From black, clunky rotary phones that were attached to the wall to mobile phones with snappy apps and ringtones, the news does not exist in the 9–5 vacuum. When reporters reach out to you, it’s all about them.

Let me know if I missed something.

Susan Young is President of Get in Front Communications, Inc. She's a news, PR, and communications expert who works with organizations to increase their publicity, credibility, and revenues. Susan also works with people who want to improve their communication skills and self-confidence.

Six Writers Tell All About Covers and Blurbs

2011-05-02T16:06:00.000-04:00

Do book blurbs and cover art matter?
Yes, a lot. They can turn a book into a bestseller. Endorsements should be sought many months before creative work on the cover begins. The cover should be eye-catching and illustrative of the book's topic. Take my word for it, and take the words of six authors who spoke to The Awl and revealed the truth about blurbs, cover art, dealing with publishers, and who decides what.

Thanks to Steve Harrison for the link to Mathew Galloway's article in The Awl.

"Writers by definition spend a lot of time on the inside of books, which is why what happens on the outside—namely, cover art and blurbs—can feel precarious and daunting. Often these elements are beyond an author’s control or expertise, which can be painful to admit, particularly when the "expertise" of graphic designers and marketers seems so subjective or at odds with an author’s “vision” for a book.
To get some advice on navigating these issues, we [The AWL] asked a handful of writers—including Kate Christensen, Bennett Madison, Stefanie Pintoff, Mark Jude Poirier and Tom Scocca—who have been through the process these questions: read more ...

What are your thoughts??

Don’t Fear the Feedback: Social Media Can be Powerful PR Tool

2011-04-24T14:57:00.001-04:00

I welcome Terrie's insights and share them with you. Terrie Mavros is electronic marketing specialist at the $332 million Bellwether Community Credit Union in Manchester, N.H.

Don’t Fear the Feedback: Social Media Can be Powerful PR Tool

BY TERRIE MAVROS

Is the fear of negative comments keeping you from social media endeavors? Are you concerned that if you put your brand “out there”, you might have feedback that is less than stellar, for all to see? If you already have a page or two, are you quick to delete anything that could be perceived as negative, because you are worried that others will see it?

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn? Fear not! Look at these as opportunities to not only tout your brand, but to engage in conversation with members, embrace opportunities to serve, and show the world how you make your members a priority and solve their problems.

Here’s an example of how a negative comment could actually work in your favor. We recently encountered a member post on our Facebook page. The member had waited for what he perceived to be too long for a new ATM card. He posted his displeasure on our Facebook page on Thanksgiving Day, and I (thankfully!) happened to check the page that afternoon.

I immediately responded that I understood and would be lost without my own card, and that I'd have someone from our contact center get in touch with him first thing Friday a.m. I made sure that happened, and they got him a new card right away. Well, he came back and re-posted on the page how great we took care of him and that he was “all set”. So- every single person that "likes" our page got to see how we made a member a top priority and solved his problem to his satisfaction. PRICELESS PR!

Social media is about having conversations, establishing your business as “the” expert in its field, and getting yourself in front of new, potential customers. But it can also be an opportunity to show how much you care about your current members. It is not only a marketing tool, it is a chance for you to learn what is important to those members and perhaps even learn about areas in which you can improve.

5 Key Customer Loyalty Trends for 2011

2011-04-19T17:44:00.001-04:00

Here are a few insights from Mark Johnson, CEO of Cincinnati-based Loyalty 360—The Loyalty Marketer’s Association for how best to engage customers in the coming year. He wrote 11 here are five.

“In today’s crowded marketplace, creating loyal, engaged customers is more important—and more challenging—than ever,” says Johnson. “That is why we are going to see a number of key trends unfold over the next year.”

Here a few key trends he predicts will dominate the loyalty marketing industry in 2011:

1. Focusing on engagement and building long-term relationships. Loyalty is not a program — it is a journey & a strategic business goal.

2. Loyalty will focus more on emotions rather than on rational, incentive-based initiatives It’s the emotional side of the decision-making process that creates connected, passionate, & engaged customers. Behavioral economists tell us that economic decision-making is 70% emotional & 30 % rational, which is why incentive-based loyalty programs that engage the emotions of your customers will work better than rationale based ones.

3. Relevancy will be a key driving force of customer loyalty and engagement. Today’s customers want loyalty programs to be “about me”—individual, relevant, meaningful, etc. Ipsos Mori and The Logic Group found that 48% of people surveyed said “Personally relevant deals are the second most frequently chosen reason for spending more with a company.” As business owners we need to strategically use the data we collect to show customers we’re listening & give them what they’re asking for.

4. In-the-moment marketing - how best to use all customer touch points, including mobile. This is certainly not a one-size-fits-all communication channel. The most successful loyalty initiatives will be those that are relevant in terms of both messaging & communication. Take a more strategic, generational look at how you can most effectively use moment marketing, including mobile.

5. Cause-related marketing/corporate social responsibility programs that are aligned with strategic corporate goals will effectively drive loyalty—especially with Millennials. That marketing segment of 18- to 34-year-olds. According to a recent survey by Cone, interest in cause-related marketing grew among the general population between 2008 & 2010, with social & environmental causes having a significantly greater influence on the purchase decisions of Millennials than any other generation. If marketers are looking for 18-to 34-year-olds’ receptiveness to branding, social and green issues are a good place to start—85% of respondents said they would switch brands because of such marketing, while 73% said it would get them to try a new brand.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS: Focus on...

THE LONG TERM
ENGAGING CLIENT EMOTIONS
BEING RELEVANT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS GOALS, BELIEFS, CAUSES
BEST WAYS TO USE IN-THE-MOMENT MARKETING

WRAP UP

The goal of customer loyalty initiatives will be to engage customers. With engagement comes loyalty, advocacy, trust, passion—the soft side of the customer relationship that directly impacts the bottom line.

What actions are you taking to create loyal customers?

10 Marketing Trends for 2011

2011-02-20T12:29:00.000-05:00

From geotargeting to mobile apps and social media, here's what you need to consider now.

Susan Gunelius, CEO of KeySplash Creative Inc., an Orlando, Fla.- based marketing communications company, and the author of Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps, shares info on the

10 marketing trends that small businesses should incorporate now to be positioned for success from the start.

Building reliable brand advocates. The idea that you need tens of thousands of Twitter followers, blog subscribers, LinkedIn connections and Facebook friends to build your business via social media is dead. Quality connections with those who are loyal to the business and the brand are far more helpful to spread your message than large groups of connections who disappear after the first interaction.
Excelling in one area rather than being all things to all people. This will be a year for small businesses to focus on their unique niches and position themselves as the definitive source for information, products and services related to the specific places in the markets where they operate.

Read the Susan's full article here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/217849

What do you see as top trends?

Before Your Next Speaking Engagement

2011-02-13T19:01:00.000-05:00

"How can you immediately connect as a speaker with your audience? Start talking to them - before your speech. Via email, a website poll or in person, ask the meeting planner and event attendees what they want to learn from you. Sometimes I'll create a web survey with SurveyMoney.com and ask the planner to email it to some attendees so I can customize my presentation based on their feedback. One way or another, try to uncover their hot button issues as well as problems and questions they have. Use all that homework to craft your speech and, where appropriate, even name the people who communicated with you. They'll appreciate the compliment."

Thanks to Steve Harrison of the Reporter Connection

What are your best tips??

What's Your Reputation Worth?

2010-12-16T17:45:00.000-05:00

by Olalah Njenga, Marketing Strategist & Author, owner of YellowWood Group and Carolina Business Connection Columnist

For several years, we were “that” house in the neighborhood. “That” house is the house where neighborhood kids congregate on the porch. Kids you don’t know show up bumped, bruised and bleeding looking for a kind word and a first aid kit. “That” house is the house where neighbors show up with dog on lease, key in hand, a feeding schedule and a sticky note of emergency phone numbers in case something happened to the dog, the house or both. How did we become “that” house in our neighborhood? Reputation!

Over the past 10 years, we’ve changed how we connect with each other, how we define friend and how we vet vendors and employees. In fact, over the past decade, we’ve changed nearly every aspect of how we live, work and play and that includes how we build our reputations. Now, more than any other time in history, our reputation is framed by more outside influences than ones we directly control. Before we ever meet people face to face, they’ve likely “googled” us to see what we look like, who we know and what we do for a living. With all of this going on in the background, have you ever contemplated whether your reputation online reflects your reputation offline?

Our offline reputation is typically comprised of the relationships we’ve built with people. Whether friends, colleagues, contacts or customers, we’ve put time and energy into cultivating relationships that allow people to feel good about being in association with us. In fact, it’s refreshing to meet someone who, upon your introducing yourself, says immediately, “I’ve heard such great things about you.” We all want that comforting feeling.

The very same people who are framing your reputation offline are also doing it online, whether you know it or not. That’s right! They are mentioning your name in online conversations. They are tagging you in blog posts and pictures. They are referencing you in articles and videos. In fact, your online reputation is equally as important as your offline one. So . . . how do you manage your overall reputation when you don’t know it’s happening in the background and you can’t control it? That’s easy . . . software!

Reputation monitoring tools are software programs that proactively find out information about you and who’s saying it. Don’t you want to know what is being said about you, who’s saying it and why? Your reputation has social and professional equity. It lingers long after you’ve left a job, a community, a group, a church, even a marriage. In fact, I would argue that your reputation, whether online or offline, is your most valuable piece of collateral. Protect it at all cost.

While I don’t have a favorite, there are several reputation monitoring tools to choose from with varying degrees of complexity. For example, on the simple end, Google Alerts will email you notifications when your word alert criteria is matched. Social Mention works similarly. Neither of these programs offer deep analytics. I’d say they function more like “listening” tools. Think of listening tools as a third ear that allows you to hear what’s being said about you online.

On the comprehensive side, there are tons of options. Meltwater, a very sophisticated system with analytics that can “learn” if mentions of you are “good”, “bad” or “neutral”. Another choice is Trackr, which offers robust analytics and detailed reporting.

The point is not to overwhelm you with software choices. The point is to stress that evolving technologies have blurred the lines between living, working and playing. Our fingertip ability to find out hundreds of pieces of information about each other in mere seconds means monitoring and managing your online reputation is just as important as the handshake relationships that we’ve cultivated over the years.

Because of my own reputation monitoring, I’ve discovered I was nominated for two achievements, mentioned in several blogs, tagged in scores of photos, quoted in an article and, if you can believe it, had a meeting – which I apparently forgot to put on my calendar. Thank goodness the woman I was meeting was so excited to meet with me that she chatted about the meeting online with a friend.

If your reputation is worth anything to you, than the notion that people will talk about you whether you are listening to them or not should make you just uncomfortable enough to take your online reputation as seriously as the one you’ve worked so hard to create offline.

Olalah Njenga, YellowWood Group, LLC

Olalah Njenga is the CEO and Senior Marketing Strategist at YellowWood Group, a marketing firm that specializes in helping companies align marketing strategies with sales goals. She is also the creator of the Marketing With Ease™ System and the author of 37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing. As a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), Olalah speaks nationally on business impacting topics, including strategic marketing, entrepreneurship, business planning, differentiation, social media and branding. In 2009 and 2010, Olalah was honored as a Stevie® Awards Women In Business Finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category. Olalah sits on several advisory boards and serves as a volunteer counselor for SCORE. SCORE, the “Counselors of America’s Small Business Owners”, is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses.

Contact Information:
Olalah Njenga, Columnist
Carolina Business Connection
YellowWood Group, LLC
www.YellowWoodGroup.com
onjenga@yellowwoodgroup.com
919.783.4101

http://www.YellowWoodGroup.com

Thanks to Olalah and Carolina Business Connection for okay to share this article

Tips for Creating a Complex Password

2010-11-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

Looking forward to your ideas and comments!!

The tough part about creating a strong password isn’t making it up … it’s remembering it. So the challenge we all face is creating passwords that are both hard to guess *and* easy to remember. These tricks are ones that security-minded geeks like me use to create effective passwords that are both memorable and strong.

Start by creating a base word by using one of the following ideas:
1. String together the first letters of a familiar group of words. Song lyrics, poems and famous quotes work great.
2. Connect small, unrelated words together.

Once you have your base word, modify it by using some of the following ideas:

Capitalize a few letters, while leaving the rest lowercase.
Substitute numbers and symbols for similar-looking letters.
Add some symbols to the beginning or end of the word (this can help if your word is too short to meet password length requirements).

Here’s how it comes together:

For my base word, I’ll use the idiom: “Life is not a bowl of cherries.”
String the first letter of each word together to form the following base-word:
linaboc

Modify it by capitalizing some letters (A and C):
linAboC

Make some numeric/symbol substitutions (i=!, l=1)
1!nAboC

Finally, add a symbol (?) to get the final password:
1!nAboC?

Here’s another example:

Let’s string “bat,” “toe” and “up” together to create the following base word:
battoeup

Capitalize some letters (O and P)
battOeuP

Substitute some numbers and symbols (a=@, t=7)
b@77OeuP

And add a symbol (!) to finish the password:
b@77OeuP!

If you always use consistent modifications, you’ll be able to remember how to reform the password.

For example, you could…

Always capitalize the third and last letter of the word.
Always substitute @ for a, 7 for t, ! for i and 1 for l. (Be aware that these examples are frequently used substitutions, so it’s best for you to come up with your own.)
Always add a question mark at the end (or two, if that’s what it takes to get to the minimum password length requirement).

Emma

Become A Social Media Master In 5 and 1-Half Steps

2010-10-31T13:29:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Olalah Njenga, Marketing Strategist, Author and Columnist for Carolina Business Connection. Visit http://www.olalah.com/ and http://carolinabusinessconnection.com/

Social this. Social that. But what does it all really mean? Here’s the short answer; to some it means absolutely nothing; to others, it means the world has changed forever. As a marketing strategist, I see the social space as a relevant environment for business growth. Varying opinions about what to do and what not to do in the social space continues to cause confusion. The truth is “best practices” for social networks are difficult to define because everyone who participates in the social space has their own agenda.

Whether you’re jumping into the social media space as a novice, or you’re a social media maven, I’ve outlined a few ways to help you get more out of the social experience. My hope is that you’ll see both the relevance and the value in the business of being social.

Here’s 5 ½ ways to master the social space:

1- Have A Purpose
If you don’t know why you’re doing something, how will you know if it’s working, or not? “What’s your purpose for using social media?” seems like an obvious question to me, but you would be surprised how many smart people look at me like I have two heads and respond “Because everyone else is”. That’s simply not a real answer. Knowing what your reasons are for having a presence in the social space is critical to leveraging a strategy and choosing the tactics to support your purpose. If you’re using social platforms for business, have a clearly defined purpose for doing so.

2- Know The Platform
Every social platform has an environment to respect. Spend a few weeks observing (sometimes called lurking) the behavior within the social networks. Watching the exchanges between people will give you insight into the environment of each social network. Observing also gives you insight into the micro-environments that exist, (sometimes referred to as cliques). Social platforms have an ebb and flow that is unique to their own eco-system (as I like to call it). When you know the platform, the nuances of it, and in some cases the unspoken rules of engagement, you’ll discover ways to add value to the environment.

3- Develop A Content Strategy
If I had a nickel for the number of well-intended business people who call me excited about social media, but don’t have a clue what they want to post, I’d have enough to buy the BMW 325i that I’ve had my eye on for months. While it’s acceptable to post to social networks ad hoc, having a content strategy gives a frame to your thoughts and your efforts. If you intend to use social platforms to support your business goals, then take the time to create a content strategy. A basic content strategy outlines which social networks you want to leverage, what the key topics are, how often you will post content and in what manner you want to post the content. If it seems like work, you’re right. It is!

4- Don’t Miss The Metrics
What’s the point in using a tool if you don’t measure the impact of it? If you’re using social platforms to support your business goals, then measuring your efforts is critical. What you measure will depend largely on your purpose for having a presence in the social place (see point #1). There is, however, some basic information to consider capturing. For example, measure the number of interactions, the number of inquiries, the number of mentions and the number of re-posts. This can help you determine which content gets the most traction. There are tons of software options to help you manage and monitor social media metrics and effectiveness.

5- It’s Called “Social” For A Reason
In the excitement (and the confusion) of having a presence in the social space, it’s easy to forget the most elemental component of the social space – they are social networks! People post. People tweet. People share. People read. People engage. People buy. If you’re going to have a social presence for the purpose of doing business, remember that people are not targets. People are people and they deserve to be heard, respected and valued.

5 ½- Keep the “social” in the social media.
When doing business in the social space, don’t make every post about your business. We’re all people and by nature we’re simply social.

About Olalah Njenga, YellowWood Group, LLC
Olalah Njenga is the CEO and Senior Marketing Strategist at YellowWood Group, a marketing firm that specializes in helping companies align marketing strategies with sales goals. She is also the creator of the Marketing With Ease™ System and the author of 37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing. As a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), Olalah speaks nationally on business impacting topics, including strategic marketing, entrepreneurship, business planning, differentiation, social media and branding. In 2009, Olalah was honored as a Stevie® Awards Women In Business Finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category. Olalah sits on several advisory boards and serves as a volunteer counselor for SCORE. SCORE, the “Counselors of America’s Small Business Owners”, is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses.

Batson Group Marketing and PR invites you to visit our website at www.BGMPR.com

What are your tips for mastering the social media space?

Press Releases Aren't Just for The Press Anymore

2010-10-22T11:26:00.001-04:00

David Meerman Scott wrote the award-winning BusinessWeek best-selling book The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Blogs, News Releases, Online Video, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly so I thought I'd do a quick share on key take-aways from his eBook.

Read on to see how you can get your free eBook on the New Rules of PR

Why you need to learn the new rules

Today, savvy marketing professionals use press releases to reach buyers directly.

While many marketing and PR people understand that press releases sent over the wires appear in near real-time on services like Google News, very few understand the implications for how they must dramatically alter their press release strategy in order to maximize the effectiveness of the press release as a direct consumer-communication channel.

The media has been disintermediated. The Web has changed the rules. Buyers read your press releases directly and you need to be talking their language.

This is not to suggest that media relations are no longer important; mainstream media and the trade press must be part of an overall communications strategy. In some businesses, mainstream media and the trade press remain critically important and, of course, the media still derives some of its content from press releases.

But your primary audience is no longer just a handful of journalists. Your audience is millions of people with Internet connections and access to search engines and RSS readers.

The new rules of press releases

• Don’t just send press releases when “big news” is happening; find good reasons to send them all the time.
• Instead of just targeting a handful of journalists, create press releases that appeal directly to your buyers.
• Write releases replete with keyword-rich copy.
• Create links in releases to deliver potential customers to landing pages on your Web site.

• Optimize press release delivery for searching and browsing.

• Drive people into the sales process with press releases.

Want to learn more?

Get David's free ebook on the subject visit http://www.bgmpr.com/ and click on USEFUL LINKS.

How have press releases helped you or your business?

The Power of Social Media

2010-10-11T10:21:00.000-04:00

I have the great fortune to live in Raleigh, NC and able to know world class professionals in a variety of industries; Deidre Hughey is one. "The Power of Social Media" by Deidre Hughey was originally posted online at Carolina Business Connection (CBC). Thanks Diedre and Tim Moore of CBC for the okay to share.

The Power of Social Media
By Deidre Hughey - Social Media Strategist and Radio Show Host

Last week, I sat down with a client to go over a strategic plan for his social media activities. As I was going over the details, a friend of my client’s walked into the room and stated, “I just don’t get it, I mean, seriously, social media is a complete waste of time.”

It’s true. Social media is a complete waste of time… (I know, you weren’t expecting a social media strategist to say that, were you!)

Wait! Let me finish the statement.

Social media is a complete waste of time…if you don’t have a strategy in place that you’re following.

Planning for a Trip
Think about it. If you decided you wanted to drive to Encino, California, would you just hop in your car and start driving? Most likely not (unless you’re a teenager…they do some pretty crazy things). As an adult, there’s some planning involved. You need to schedule time away from work, decide how long you’re going to be gone, pack your clothes, hire a dog sitter, plan your route, pack some snacks, etc. You don’t just hop into the car and start driving because it would be irresponsible.

Planning for Trade Shows
Let’s shift gears and talk about business. If you decided that you wanted to participate in 3 trade shows over the course of the year, would you just pick the first trade show that you saw and register? No, of course not! You would want to know some things about it. Who is the trade show marketed toward? What type of vendors are going to be there? Has this been a successful trade show in the past? Does it work into my schedule? What are the costs involved?

Not Planning for Social Media
A business person is told (sometimes, over and over) that they should get involved in social media. So, they start a blog or sign up on a social networking site and start typing. Unfortunately, many people jump into social media with little thought. Before you know it, the business person is frustrated and discouraged by the amount of time spent in social media without having monetary results to show for their efforts.

They start shouting, “Where’s my ROI?”

I shout back, “Show me your plan!”

Free Still Needs a Plan
Just because it’s free, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan. And, don’t get me wrong, social media shouldn’t be your marketing plan. Social media should be a strategic piece of your marketing plan.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

1) How much time am I willing to dedicate to social media per week? Per day?
2) Is there any part of my marketing plan that social media may be able to replace?
3) Do the demographics of my clients match the demographics of the platform that I’m considering using?
4) What would my clients and prospects want to hear from me?
5) What action do I want my prospects to make as a result of our interactions?
6) Am I ready to be transparent in an online community of people that I don’t know?
7) Am I ready to spend the time to understand the social etiquette involved in social media that will allow me to get results?
8) Am I ready to be a “pull” marketer rather than a “push” marketer?

Take the time to ask yourself questions. Take the time to map out a plan. Know what you’re going to do when you show up. If you don’t, maybe your time would be better spent elsewhere.

However, with the right plan in place, and an understanding of what your prospects are looking for with your involvement in social media, you could develop a very loyal client base over time. A loyal client base that is able to let their connections know (quickly, I might add) how great it is to be your client.

Ah. There it is.

The true power of social media.

So, go ahead.

Get a plan in place and build a BUZZ about your business!

About Deidre Hughey
Deidre Hughey is the owner of The Buzz Builder and a Social Media Strategist and Online Relationship Expert. She helps people spread the word about their business without spending a lot of money. She is also a columnist for Women’s Edge Magazine, Vice-President of Women’s Business Owners Network (WBON) in Cary, on the board for the Knowledgeable Network of Women (KNOW) in Morrisville, founder and facilitator for Triangle Women’s Connection, a trustee for inSide919.com, and an avid, dynamic speaker.
Contact Information:
Deidre Hughey
The BUZZ Builder
Social Media Strategies That Make Sense for Speakers and Authors
(919) 924-3675
Website: http://thebuzzbuilder.com/
Author BUZZ: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/deidrehughey

What's your best social media strategy?

PR – Public Relations, Pet Rock, Perceived Reality

2010-10-01T18:32:00.000-04:00

Who are you and why are you unique?

Without PR rocks from Mexico would have remained unknown.

Rocks – yes rocks. But, not just any rocks–Pet Rocks. Smooth gray colored stones about the size of an egg. Remember them?

So if you think I have rocks in my head talking about Pet Rocks, in a blog about PR, let’s take a look at how a bunch of smooth gray rocks from Rosarita Beach made advertising executive Gary Dahl a millionaire in 1975.

It’s a simple recipe really. Dahl took one bright idea, married it with clever copy, press releases that alerted the media and a marketing plan that created want in the public that made folks part with $3.95 to buy these non-descript stones in their cute little house-shaped boxes.

You would think getting these unloved and unknown marvels of nature well known, well thought of and the must-have object to those of us wearing mood rings, dancing to the Bee Gees and wondering whose bright idea was it anyway to put the US on the Metric System, had to be a challenge. Not so much, remember Dahl knew the value marketing and PR.

Dahl introduced the Pet Rock at the August gift show in San Francisco and then in New York. Neiman-Marcus ordered five hundred. He sent out homemade news releases of himself accompanied by a picture that showed him surrounded by boxes of his Pet Rocks. Newsweek did a half-page story about the nutty notion, and by the end of October Gary Dahl was shipping ten thousand Pet Rocks every Day. He appeared on "The Tonight Show," twice.

By Christmas when, two and a half tons of rocks had been sold, three-fourths of all the daily newspapers in America had run Pet Rock stories, often including Gary Dahl's tongue-in-cheek revelations about how each rock was individually tested for obedience at Rosarita Beach in Baja, Mexico, before being selected and boxed. A million rocks sold for $3.95 apiece in just a few months, and Gary Dahl - who decided from the beginning to make at least one dollar from every rock - had become an instant millionaire.*

What are the take-aways:

1. Be or have a product or service that is unique or present it in a unique way.

2. Know your customers and take advantage of events that will move you forward.

3. The media, show bookers and producers are looking for stories, so get the word out with releases that provide info in an interesting manner and are not a sales pitch.

4. Be Timely. Reporters are hungry for information that is timely and relevant. What are the current trends in your industry? How does your product/service relate.

So when thinking about PR, remember: It’s not about the rocks, it’s the story on the box.

* Thanks to Encyclopedia of POP Culture, by Jane and Michael Stern. Harper Perennial Press 1992 for the history.

What successful PR capers have landed you in the spotlight?

Role of Social CRM & Its Impact on Lead Generation in B2B Sales

2010-09-24T10:28:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Carolina Business Connecton and Michael Rodriguez, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marketing Elon University For access to printer friendly version CLICK HERE

Introduction – Overview of Social Media
The phenomenon of social media use has exploded in the last few years. According to the Cone Business Study 60% of Americans use social media, with 59% of social media users interacting with companies on social media sites (2008). The study also found that 93% of social media users feel companies should have a social media presence. According to Forrester Research, social media spending will grow from $716 million this year to more than $3.1 billion in 2014 (Bunzel 2010).

Social media technology, such as Linked-In, Facebook, and Twitter, has enabled customers to express their feelings of a product or service they have purchased. With this feedback, businesses can improve decisions on how to serve clients and create more informed solutions, thus increasing customer loyalty (Myron 2010). Social media, also known as Social CRM, is still working its way into business to business (B2B) sales (Lager 2009).

Results by ES Research Group (2009) show that only a small percentage of sales professionals use social media tools in their sales process.

The purpose of this article is to present some leading thoughts on utilization of Social CRM and its potential role in B2B sales. We then highlight some of the challenges sales professionals face in the current environment and discuss best practices in integrating Social CRM in a B2B sales process.

Challenges of B2B sales
Business-to-business (B2B) sales face a number of challenges in today’s environment: a slow economy, increased competition, complex sales cycles, and qualified, lead generation. The B2B sales process can be viewed as networks of relationships of both internal and external contacts (Gummesson 2004).

One of the challenges in B2B sales is not only discovering the decision makers within the network of external stakeholders, but also finding the right type of clients through prospecting efforts. In Heinonen and Michelsson’s (2010) study on creating customer relationships, their findings indicate prospect initiation is more challenging and is significantly different between Business-to Customer (B2C) and B2B relationships.

Prospecting, the first of the seven-step classical approach to sales (Moncrief and Marshall 2005), is the most important first-step of the sales cycle. Sales organizations lose customers every year for a variety of reasons and there is a constant need to expand the customer base by building the sales pipeline (Jolson and Wotruba 1992). Sales professionals need to capture detailed information on prospective clients in order to gain a better understanding of their needs, discover key buying influences, and understand their buying process.

Once all the information is obtained, the next and equally challenging step is to qualify the prospect. By qualifying prospects, sales firms can focus on ideal clients that fit their business model and, as a result, may minimize time wasted on less than ideal customers and decreasing the sales cycle time.

Sales-intensive organizations have invested in state-of-the-art customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, to help manage prospect information and improve customer relationships in order to increase sales force productivity. Though past research has supported the impact of CRM on managing client information and managing relationships, CRM technology does not assist with the first most important step of the sales process –prospecting.

Social CRM may benefit the B2B sales process because this new approach of social media seeks to route communication, influence dialogue, and connect sales professionals to firms and individual who are already interested in a firm’s product or service. In other words, using content to pull in interested parties qualifies organizations as prospects.

This new era of sharing content and creating conversations results in greater engagement with the customer and, in turn, means creating deeper, meaningful relationships with people and the community

Utilizing Social CRM in B2B Sales
Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sales is defined has being more transactional and also as having a shorter, more straightforward sales cycle (Shih 2009) as compared to B2B sales. For commoditized products many companies may focus more on marketing efforts than on a sales strategy. One thing both B2C and B2B sales share is that customer engagement first starts with mutual trust. Trust is especially important for higher-priced, more complex items. A salesperson’s relationships and expertise play a much bigger role in the B2B sales cycle. It’s important to remember that though sales people are dealing with entire organizations in B2B, these organizations are made up of individuals who are key decision makers, from the gate keeper to the end user to the person who signs the check.

With every step of the sale cycle, the sales professional must first build credibility with each of these individuals. Clara Shih, author of The Facebook Era, explains sales professionals can utilize Social CRM tools to “accelerate the process of building trust” (2009, p. 65). Similar to customers sharing reviews on books or restaurants on sites such as Amazon.com or Zagats, social networking sites are becoming a common place for business professionals to share product information as well. More professional use of Social CRM tools, such as LinkedIn to provide online testimonials and recommendations for other business professionals to review and share. Organizations can also raise brand and product awareness through Social CRM. Founders Insurance Group, a Connecticut-based insurance organization, for example launched a multipronged, social media campaign to build its company profile.

Cindy Donaldson, director of marketing and sales, started a blog, launched an e-newsletter, and created both a Facebook page and Twitter account to share information with targeted organizations. By raising brand recognition and product awareness, Founders' social media campaign resulted in a 20% increase in sales within one year (Baldwin 2010).

Wang (2008) noted that when peers and experts make recommendations it builds attitudes in consumers’ mind. Once a positive attitude is formed it will directly support behavior intent on the part of the individual. Thus, Social CRM can also be utilized in the first step of the sales process -- prospecting. Social CRM can be used to qualify leads early in the sales cycle by researching the profile of the ideal target prospect (Shih 2009). Facebook and LinkedIn provide detailed information on a prospect and enable sales to share information of their products that would greatly increase the chance of being a better fit for the prospective client. Knowing more about the prospect makes the first call less invasive since the interaction and pitch are more targeted to the prospect’s profile.

Aster Data Systems, a technology solutions firm based in Silicon Valley, for example, used LinkedIn to dramatically grow its business. Senior management asked all employees to tap their social networks for prospects by searching for the words “data warehousing” in their contacts’ title or functional expertise. Within months, Aster Data Systems was able to identify and qualify those who may be interested in their database solution and successfully signed more than a dozen B2B clients (Shih 2009).

Best Practices of Implementing Social CRM
Adding a Social CRM strategy is critical to doing business in today’s conversation-based economy, especially when prospecting for the ideal B2B customer. With the growing use and popularity of social media technology, a Social CRM strategy will become a “must-have” for many B2B organizations. Social media, as an extension of traditional CRM, requires planning in order to make it an effective part of a firm’s sales strategy.

The following are some of the best practices on how to implement Social CRM in B2B sales.

First, pinpoint where it can help improve interaction with clients. Many firms, for example, have created white papers on important topics to use as an enticement to get a prospect interested in their product or potential solution. The target here is primarily attracting new customers, therefore organizations should write about what other organizations want to know and publish information to pull in people, not intercept them as they go about their business.

Second, businesses need to think differently of how they communicate with prospects and customers. Lager (2009) suggests creating a two-way conversation on the white paper vs. mass emailing documents to a prospect database, a "pull" strategy versus a "push" strategy. For many firms, this fundamental shift away from a “resource allocation” perspective towards a “resource attraction” outlook will prove difficult, or require investments they are unwilling to make, notably time. However, organizations can accomplish this by coordinating webinars between the firm and prospects in order to share ideas on a specific topic and create a conversation. Webinars provide a means whereby customers can interact via social technology, enabling “them to feel like they have immediate and direct access to the company” (Lager 2009, pg. 32). Webinars are also a powerful tool in distributing important content and attracting prospects that are seeking specific products or services.

Third, companies can engage clients in conversations via their own websites and blogs. Firms need to be able to get out of the typical approaches and “feel comfortable with being a participant in conversations with social customers, and be ready to let them decide where the conversation goes” (Leary 2008, pg. 7). Social CRM prospecting will require posting in order to engage others and create a more in-depth opportunity for both parties. This is engagement well beyond having an email address or contact number to call. Today’s customers need to interact and engage businesses via other means of communication.

One more recommendation might include discovering what your current customers are doing in social media. What Twitter accounts or blogs are they following, personally or collectively? A firm can develop direct relationships with influential bloggers who can help share information with prospective clients. “It’s important to tap into the valuable information your best customers can provide you. Not only can they help you understand how they are currently using social tools but what they are using those tools for” (Leary 2008, p. 7).

Fourth, as with the CRM phenomenon, it is important to be patient when implementing a Social CRM initiative. When firms started spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on CRM technology, they expected increased sales, revenue growth, and market share overnight. Businesses must learn from the past and know Social CRM will take time. Firms need to understand the tools available to engage and interact with customers. Often people start out being voyeurs, looking for a non-interactive or non-personal experience because they are engaged in search inquiries. However, if satisfied, these individuals will often move towards personal and interactive communications that will facilitate education on the part of the consumer. Through interaction, organizations can provide vital information to prospective buyers and build credibility within a community. As a result, not only will the social community grow but the opportunities to generate more sales will as well.

Fifth, it is very easy to get excited about the possibilities of Social CRM and the Web 2.0 phenomenon but it is important to keep in mind that Facebook and Twitter are not replacements of traditional CRM but an extension of it (Leary 2008). Traditional CRM activities such as accessing customer information, tracking sales activities and managing sales processes are the foundation for building and managing the relationship with the customer. Social CRM adds a new dimension by recording the interaction, and conversation, with the client. Organizations need to capture the most relevant and valuable information from social media and integrate with the firm’s current CRM workflow. Companies should look to add new fields or modules within their existing CRM to track and store social media interactions such as tweets, Facebook, or LinkedIn updates. Capturing this type of information will enable sales departments to track new leads, opportunities, competitors, or key influencers, and potentially leverage these connections in creating new business.

By making Social CRM an intricate part of the marketing and sales strategy, companies will develop deeper relationships with customers, increase collaboration via the two-way conversation, gain incredible customer insight, and as a result achieve a true 360-degree view of their customer. In the end, social media isn’t about you, it’s all about them.

About Michael Rodriguez

Michael Rodriguez is Assistant Professor of Marketing and teaches Professional Selling, Principles of Marketing and Customer Relationship Management courses. He earned his Ph.D. in Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology, where he won Most Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2009. His research interests include Customer Relationship Management, Sales Leadership and Sales Management. Dr. Rodriguez has been published in the Journal of Selling and Major Account Management and International Journal of Innovation and Business Research. He has also developed and facilitated sales training programs for corporate clients. Prior to joining Elon, Dr. Rodriguez worked on Wall Street for 14 years selling market data and trading platforms to investment banks, asset managers, and hedge funds.

Koury Business Center 249
(336) 278-5942
mrodriguez4@elon.edu

Michael Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Chandler Family Professional Sales Center
Love School of Business, KOBC 249
Elon University
Elon, NC 27244
Office: 336-278-5942
mrodriguez4@elon.edu

What is your best tip for Social Media CRM?

Article References
Baldwin, Heather (2010), “The ROI of Social Media," Selling Today. http://www.sellingpower.com/content/newsletter/article.php?ia=9078, June 14th.
Bunzel, Tom (2010), “The Best of Both Worlds: How to Effectively Leverage Social Media Relationships with Real Time Collaboration Tools," Webinar, April 14th, 2010.
ES Research Group (2009), “Survey Results: Do The New Social Media Enable B2B Selling?”, ESR/Insight, ESR Research Library, pp. 1-25.
Gartner Group (2010), The Gartner CRM Vendor Guide, Webinar, August 13th.
Gummesson, Ever (2002), Total Relationship Marketing, Butterworth-Heinemann/Chartered Institute of Marketing, Oxford.
Heinonen, Kristina and Thomas Michelsson (2010), “The Use of Digital Channels to Create Customer Relationships," International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 1-21.
Jolson, Marvin A. and Thomas R. Wotruba (1992), “Prospecting: A New Look at this Old Challenge,” Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, Vol. 12 (4), 59-66.
Lager, Marshall (2009), “No One’s Social (Yet)," Customer Relationship Management, June, p. 29 – 33.
Leary, Brent (2008), “Social CRM: Customer Relationship Management in the Age of the Socially-Empowered Customer," A CRM Essentials, LLC White Paper, October, p. 1 – 9.
Moncrief, William C. and Greg W. Marshall (2005), “The Evolution of the Seven Steps of Selling,” Industrial Marketing Management, 34, 13-22.
Myron, David (2010), “Embracing Social CRM, Engage Your Customers, Don’t Manage Them," CRM Magazine, Webinar.
Sellingpower.com, April 2009, http://www.sellingpower.com/content/newsletter/article.php?ia=3057.
Shih, Clara, (2009) “The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social Networks to Build Better Products, Reach New Audiences, and Sell More Stuff”, Boston, MA: Prentice Hall.
Wang, Alex (2008), “Consensus and Disagreement between Online Peer and Expert
Recommendations," International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, v4(4), 328- 349.
Warfield, Bob (2009), “A Social CRM Manifesto: How to Succeed with the CRM Virtuous Cycle”, Webinar conducted by Bob Warfield, CEO of Helpstream, November, 2009.

What Is RSS? RSS Explained

2010-09-21T13:18:00.001-04:00

Thanks to http://www.WhatIsRSS.com/ for this info.

RSS Primer: One Page Quick Introduction to RSS

What is RSS?

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it.

Why RSS? Benefits and Reasons for using RSS

RSS solves a problem for people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site's email newsletter. The number of sites offering RSS feeds is growing rapidly and includes big names like Yahoo News.

What do I need to do to read an RSS Feed? RSS Feed Readers and News Aggregators

Feed Reader or News Aggregator software allow you to grab the RSS feeds from various sites and display them for you to read and use.

A variety of RSS Readers are available for different platforms. Some popular feed readers include Amphetadesk (Windows, Linux, Mac), FeedReader (Windows), and NewsGator (Windows - integrates with Outlook). There are also a number of web-based feed readers available. My Yahoo, Bloglines, and Google Reader are popular web-based feed readers.

Once you have your Feed Reader, it is a matter of finding sites that syndicate content and adding their RSS feed to the list of feeds your Feed Reader checks. Many sites display a small icon with the acronyms RSS, XML, or RDF to let you know a feed is available.

The four things you need to know about RSS
by Seth Godin

1.RSS is a stream of updated information. It comes from a blog or a website or some other content application and allows an RSS Reader to know an update has occurred.

2.When the reader sees an update, it grabs the headline or the headline and some of the content, or the headline and ALL of the content and displays it for you.

3.This means that once you set up a feed (more on that in a bit), you've got a direct, permanent, updated connection to a source of content. No more surfing!

4.So, this kills email marketing and it makes it easy for you to have anticipated, personal and relevant communications to (or with) whatever content sources--like companies or people or calendars or databases--you want.

Hike for Hope - Pretty in Pink Foundation

2010-09-19T13:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday Jon and I participated in the Pretty In Pink Foundation's Hike for Hope. Pretty In Pink Foundation provides financial assistance and support to underinsured and uninsured North Carolinians with breast cancer.

Jon was the MC for the event and scheduled the performers. Bernadette Pickles and Penny Lauricella and all the volunteers pulled off a great event. Join them on Facebook

I was inspired to write a Haiku honoring the hikers:

Shadows seek a path

Fallen twigs fracture softly

Dried needles cushion.

Some pics of the event:

Book Review: Happiness Is Growing Old at Home

2010-09-19T12:33:00.000-04:00

I had the good fortune to catch an interview on Book Watch that featured Maria Tadd. I sent her a note via Facebook and we exchanged comm. She asked if I would review her book and I gladly agreed. Here is that review:

Maria Tadd’s book Happiness Is Growing Old at Home is the ultimate manual that aging parents and their adult children should own and read. The material in each of the six chapters addresses and answers questions I didn’t even know I had, validates the things I have done and am doing right, points to areas I need to be more cognizant of, and does it all in a warm and engaging style. Her informative, guiding words made me feel I was in a personal conversation with her traveling down a path many of us are walking. As my 89 year old dad lives alone in the home my parents shared for the past 30+ years, I am bolstered by the fact that he and his friends watch out for each other and he participates in activities that keep him young in spirit. Many thanks to you Maria for helping us all by sharing your wisdom and your heart.

The Media Owes You Nothing

2010-07-27T13:37:00.001-04:00

By Guest Blogger Olalah Njenga, YellowWood Group, LLC
Courtesy of Olalah Njenga and Carolina Business Connection

Like it or not, nothing boosts business like a little publicity. Despite the swirl of information about how social media has changed business, social media doesn’t seem to quell the need for good old fashion publicity. Many of my clients understand that submitting a concept to the media does not mean it will be picked up. But every once in a while, a client will get annoyed when he/she sees a competitor being featured or quoted in a news story or publication. It is in those moments of angst I find myself gently reminding the client, like it or not, “the media owes you nothing”.

So what is a business professional to do when he/she wants to become a media darling and scoop up some well-deserved publicity? Answering that question has more to do with what not to do. Being relevant to the media requires a high level of consistency and tenacity; something that many people struggle to maintain. However, if you’re the type that likes to see things to the end, you’ll find these tips helpful as you navigate the media maze.

Don’t Get Caught Making These 5 Media Missteps:

#1 – Shopping your news to every media outlet.
It’s not uncommon for a reporter to ask you where else have you submitted your news story, if the reporter is mildly interested. If you have simply “shopped” your story to any and every available media outlet, you are not doing yourself any favors. Reporters are people. They want to feel like they are working a fresh story, not a story that has been tossed around (and sometimes tossed over) by other media sources.

#2 – Trying to disguise a sales pitch or ad as news.
Media folks are pretty savvy. They’ve seen a lot of things and they’ll quickly see through your cleverly disguised sales pitch. Do yourself a favor and stick to the story without the glossy embellishments. If a reporter wants more information, he/she will ask for it and most likely schedule a time for an interview.

#3 – Tooting your own horn. Loudly.
A little humility goes a long way, even in the eye of the media. Reporters are easily turned off by boastful rants and self-serving hyperbole. It is absolutely acceptable to share awards and achievements if they are relevant to the story concept, but a laundry list of “look how great I am” items is sure to get your story intentionally overlooked.

#4 – Ignoring lesser known media outlets.
We all want to be media darlings (Okay, most of us anyway). Who wouldn’t want to make the front cover of an industry publication, or be the featured expert on a major network’s special segment? On the road to national publicity, don’t discount the local media outlets and their corresponding social platforms. Your impetus to national media just might come via a small, hometown newspaper that no one has ever heard of. Before you ask . . . yes, it happens.

#5 – Believing that a 1 time mention is all that you need.
Eileen Batson, a local PR professional who provides publicity services for speakers, authors and entrepreneurs, and I, often marvel at the thinking many business professionals have when it comes to publicity. Despite how often we tell people that a one-time mention will not catapult their business to national stardom, people want to cleave to that expectation. I’m not saying that it can’t happen. I’m merely saying that it does not normally happen that way. For example, a Florida-based gift basket company got mentions through local and regional media fairly regularly. It wasn’t until a feature in the Wall Street Journal that she saw a significant boost in sales. When interviewed about her seemingly overnight success, she chuckled and said “It took three years to become that.”

Navigating the media maze for well-deserved publicity can be a rewarding experience and give your business or brand a boost that few other vehicles can offer. Respect the media professionals, rather local or national, and understand that it is their role to share stories and information that is relevant to their audience. The role of the media is not to make you a star, despite the fact that in many cases the impact can do just that. At the end of day, the simple truth is that the media owes you nothing and they make no apology for that fact.

About Olalah Njenga
Olalah Njenga is the CEO and Senior Marketing Strategist at YellowWood Group, a marketing firm that specializes in helping companies align marketing strategies with sales goals. She is also the creator of the Marketing With Ease™ System and the author of 37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing. As a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), Olalah speaks nationally on business impacting topics, including strategic marketing, entrepreneurship, business planning, differentiation, social media and branding. In 2009, Olalah was honored as a Stevie® Awards Women In Business Finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category. Olalah sits on several advisory boards and serves as a volunteer counselor for SCORE. SCORE, the “Counselors of America’s Small Business Owners”, is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses.

Contact Information:
Olalah Njenga
YellowWood Group, LLC
http://www.yellowwoodgroup.com/
onjenga@yellowwoodgroup.com
919.783.4101

2010-04-25T11:09:00.001-04:00

8 Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers by Annabel Candy blog http://ping.fm/aWjFz

Become An Expert In Three Easy Steps

2010-04-25T08:24:00.000-04:00

Become An Expert In Three Easy Steps
by Jessica Swanson

One of the threads that ties successful small business owners together is the fact that they are considered "experts" in a particular niche of their industry. As experts, they exude leadership qualities that naturally attract a base of loyal followers.

Unfortunately, this concept escapes many business owners who are desperate for success. They feel that they either don't have an area of expertise, don't have the right qualifications, or don't possess a formal "degree" in order to effectively lead a group of people.

The interesting fact is that all experts, at one time or another, took time to "learn" their field. There are countless ways to become an expert in your field. Some small business owners go back to school for a formal degree, others attend seminars and workshops, while still others teach themselves.

Both Albert Einstein and Earl Nightengale declared that if an individual dedicates just thirty minutes each day to studying a certain topic, they will become an expert on that topic within one year's time. Obviously, if you study for an hour every day, you can conceivably become an expert in six months time. Not too shabby!

Your expertise will be one of the most important components to the overall success of your business in the long-run.

Here's a very simple three-step formula to develop expertise in your field:

1) Identify Problems. First and foremost, you must find an area within your industry that is in need of expert advice. One of the simplest ways to do this is to make a list of problems that your customers and prospects face in your industry.

What frustrates or angers your prospective clients and customers? Do they need to lose weight? Are they sad or depressed? Do they need marketing help?

No matter what small business you operate, there are problems that your prospects' face on a daily basis.

2) Research Solutions. Once you have identified problems in your industry, begin researching possible solutions. Read online articles, visit your local library, attend classes, seminars and webinars. The main goal of your reasearch is so that you can eventually offer tangible solutions to your prospects.

3) Educate Your Prospects. You can turn your knowledge into a special report, short e-book or 10-day e-course. The main objective is to offer your prospects a sample of your knowledge base. Once you begin packaging your knowledge and offering it to others, you'll be surprised how quickly you will develop a group of followers that are eager to learn from you.

If you take the time to identify the problems in your industry, research the solutions and then educate your prospects, you will soon find that you have more business than you can handle!

------------------------------------------
Jessica Swanson, Founder and President of Shoestring Marketing, Inc., has helped entrepreneurs, all over the world, explode their businesses using cutting-edge, proven and completely free marketing strategies. To receive your FREE Shoestring Marketing Kit, that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, just like you, learn the exact techniques for marketing their businesses for no-cost, visit:www.ShoestringMarketingKit.com

Tips for Marketing a Book through Companies and Organizations

2010-04-20T10:10:00.000-04:00

I caught the following post "Tips for Marketing a Book through Companies and Organizations" by Lisa Tener on Tony Eldridge's blog. Tony Eldridge is the creator of Marketing Tips For Authors http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/. Writers and Authors check out his blog! Hope you find this useful.
~ Eileen

Tips for Marketing a Book through Companies and Organizations
By Lisa Tener

When Tony asked me to write about book marketing for his blog, I thought to myself, "It's been a long time since I've marketed a book!" My second thought was, "Lucky for me, many of my book-writing clients and students are published authors and they're all up to interesting things."

I figured I'd interview a few of them for the article, but once I interviewed Kathy LeMay, author of The Generosity Plan (published by Beyond Words and Simon & Schuster's Atria Books), I knew I didn't need to go any further than Kathy to blow your socks off with her vision, strategy and brilliance.

How would you like to have big corporations and nonprofit organizations bringing you in as a keynote speaker and buying books in bulk to give out to their customers, employees, donors or board members?

You've probably seen tons of tactics all over the internet—"Become an Amazon bestseller," "Start your own radio show,"—these tactics can work for you if they fit in with your strategy and vision and you execute them properly, but they're not a marketing plan.

We all know that the days of multi-city book tours in bookstores are going the way of the stegosaurus and that the internet provides a huge venue for book sales, but there is something about seeing people in person to get a buzz going—in the same way The Secret created buzz both through Unity Churches and other groups, while going viral on the internet.

Kathy's main strategy has been to work with corporations and organizations as a keynote speaker, have them buy books to give out or sell, raise interest and awareness in audiences about the idea of generosity—changing the world through strategic giving of time, talent and treasure—even helping folks start generosity clubs.

You've probably heard that publishers will focus on distributing your book into bookstores (and possibly some publicity) for three months and that's it—unless it hits the charts big time. One of the reasons Kathy chose Beyond Words as her publisher was that they "got" the book and were in it for the long haul.

Cynthia Black, President and Editor-in-Chief of Beyond Words Publishing, told Kathy that she and her staff anticipated that The Generosity Plan would do for generosity what The Secret did for gratitude. Cindy shared Kathy's vision that The Generosity Plan would become a movement:

For all people—no matter what their income or budget or time— to see themselves as philanthropic and able to make a difference
For people to be strategic about the type of changes they want to create in the world
To carry through long-term on their philanthropic vision by giving generously of their time, talent and treasure
And to transform our world one step at a time

A big vision calls for throwing convention to the wind. Here's how Kathy and her assistant Emilia Stoneham made it happen.

Kathy said, "People have so much on their plates. It's too small a return to cold call people. Rather than cast a wide net, let's go deep into the networks I've built in the past 15 years. We went through all our nonprofit clients, donor clients and corporate clients for my business, Raising Change, and created a master list that said how we'd approach each relationship and why.

"We put ourselves in their shoes and asked, 'If I were a top executive at a financial services firm, what's the benefit for me? Given their specific responsibilities in their job—what they're trying to achieve—what can we bring them that helps them meet their goals and benefits their company?"

For financial services firms, Kathy and Emilia saw that they could help these firms distinguish themselves among their client base: not just caring how you invest your money, but how you give the money you do. By bringing Kathy in as an expert, having her share her expertise, answer questions and share the book, the financial services firms helped their clients think of their financial picture in a holistic way. This helped deepen the relationship and make their firms stand out in a competitive field.

With nonprofit organizations, such as YWCAs, Kathy asked, "How do we fit into something that's already in place: an annual dinner, luncheon, or other way to meet their needs?" Again, putting herself in the place of the organization's leaders, she positioned her services as "How does this book and Kathy's presence help you advance and deepen your relationships with your clients, donors and customers?"

It worked: Emilia and Kathy have not been turned down by anyone they've approached. In fact, every host has said they'd like to have Kathy back to do it again and, in every audience, someone has come up to ask Kathy, "Can you do this for my organization (or company)?"

Here are Kathy and Emilia's 6 Tips for Marketing a Book through Companies and Organizations.

Deepen your own network rather than start with cold calling people.
Look at the value you can bring to an organization that fits their goals, priorities and needs.
Make it easy and effortless to work with you. Get them what they need when they need it.
Have a plan and an agenda that works for you. Stick to it.
In your presentation, slam it out of the park. Make them look great. Your success is their success.
Ask folks you're working with, "When this event is over and everyone has left, what are they leaving with that they didn't come in with?"

After more than a dozen events, Kathy has eight more planned already in the next two months. As the events create buzz, she and her publisher expect the movement to grow. Generosity will be the new gratitude.

---- National book writing coach Lisa Tener helps authors write a nonfiction/how-to book and get published. Her clients have been featured on CBS Early Show, Oprah and more. Lisa has been on ABC World News with Peter Jennings, PBS-TV and interviewed in Glamour, Body and Soul Magazine, WebMD and many others. Lisa serves on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School CME publishing course. Get Lisa's book writing and publishing blog, her bi-weekly book writing and publishing tips, and her free one week e-course to get started writing your book.

Kathy LeMay wrote The Generosity Plan in Lisa Tener's 8 Week Book Writing Program: Bring Your Book to Life. Says Kathy, "My book wouldn't be what it is without the feedback I got from Lisa and from students in the course. In fact, I'm not sure I would have even finished it without Lisa's step-by-step program."

2010-04-19T07:48:00.001-04:00

Get the Skinny on Healthy Dark Chocolate April 24 in Chapel Hill http://ping.fm/zeI9s

58% of Bloggers Say They Are Better Known In Their Industry Because of their Blog. Are You One Them?

2010-03-29T12:37:00.000-04:00

Attend the introductory Blogging for Business Workshop with Writer/Editor Alice Osborn and Marketing/PR Specialist Eileen Batson, March 31, 2010, to learn the what, whys and hows of blogging.

Raleigh, NC, March 29, 2010 – Offering an introductory blogging workshop bi-monthly and a more advanced workshop in May, Marketing/PR Specialist Eileen Batson and Writer/Editor Alice Osborn, help Triangle part-timers, self-employeds, managers, mompreneurs and writers understand the how, why and importance of blogging to reach their goals.

When Business Week’s cover proclaimed “Your customers and rivals are figuring blogs out”; their advice was “catch up…or catch you later,” businesses large and small felt the need to join the blogosphere.

“Blogging is big!” said Eileen Batson, owner of the Raleigh based company Batson Group Marketing and PR. “Want to be seen as an expert in your field? Want to engage your customers and increase retention and sales? A blog gives you the opportunity to easily share what you know with people across town and around the world who are interested in who you are and what you offer.”

Batson went on to say “In the 2008 Social Media White Paper by New Media Lab in Austin, statistics show Blogger.com grew 68% in 2008. In the US alone 26.4 million new blogs were started, 60.3 million people read blogs, and American bloggers spend 3.5 times longer on the web than watching TV. In the 2009 The State of the Blogosphere by Technorati, Matt Sussman wrote that ‘Part-Timers, Pros, and Self-Employed Bloggers are blogging as much as or more than ever (73%, 76% and 80%, respectively).’”

Alice Osborn, an award winning published poet and creative writing instructor, advises bloggers that “while there are many different elements and components to a successful blog, having compelling and engaging content on a consistent basis is key.”

The next introductory Blogging for Business Workshop is March 31, 2010 from 7:00pm-9:30pm at Calm and Sense in the Glenwood Village Shopping Center, 2603 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Seating is limited to 25 attendees and costs $30. Register online at http://budurl.com/BlogWkshpMar31/

About Eileen Batson
As the owner of Batson Group Marketing and PR for 20+ years, her clients cover a broad spectrum of industries and locations. She helps clients “think outside the box” when they want to be well known, well thought of and well remembered by providing media/press releases, marketing research, a variety of marketing collateral and help with blogging and social media. She consults, holds workshops and speaks on social networking, PR, marketing and blogging. In 2009, Eileen produced the Raleigh House Concert Series and is on the steering committee of the 2nd Annual Women Helping Women Expo in Raleigh. She sits on the Board of Directors of Women’s Power Networking. BatsonGroup@yahoo.com 919.327.5021
http://www.batsongroupmarketingandpr.blogspot.com/

About Alice Osborn
Alice Osborn (M.A., English, NC State) is an award winning published poet, creative writing instructor, seminarist and the author of Right Lane Ends (Catawba, 2006). She is an Artist in the Schools writer-in-residence for the United Arts of Wake County and is also a former Raleigh Charter High School English teacher, a freelance editor and writes for Wake Living Magazine and “Our Lives” in the News & Observer. She is currently working on her next collection of poems and her first novel. http://www.aliceosborn.com/ Alice@AliceOsborn.com 919.971.9414

Media Contact
Eileen Batson - Batson Group Marketing and PR - BatsonGroup@yahoo.com - 919.327.5021

###

Olalah Njenga Reveals 37 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Business

2010-03-28T11:56:00.000-04:00

37 What Were They Thinking Moments in Marketing, a light‐hearted, irreverent account of Olalah Njenga’s career as a marketing professional, is now available at Amazon. Is your ‘oops’ moment here?

Raleigh, NC - March 28, 2010 – YellowWood Group, LLC announces the publication of one of the more unique and humorous business books: 37 What Were They Thinking Moments in Marketing by award-winning CEO and Marketing Strategist Olalah Njenga.

In 37 What Were They Thinking Moments in Marketing, Olalah Njenga shares moments of blunder, amusement and disbelief as she highlights the marketing missteps that even savvy business professionals have made.

We try so hard to be professional and yet we’re guilty of doing things that make us look less than professional, sometimes in front of the very people whose respect we seek to earn. said Olalah. Though we know better, we don’t do better. Regardless of how many years we’ve been in business, we’re all capable of having a ‘what were we thinking moment.’ With equal parts tongue & cheek and lessons to be learned, 37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing is certain to make you chuckle, even if it's at yourself.

In her review of the book for SmallBusinessTrends.com Margie Zable Fisher, President of Zable Fisher Public Relations says, It’s hard not to take personally the lessons learned in “37 What Were They Thinking Moments in Marketing” After reading this book, I realized that it’s impossible to have a business and not make mistakes.

37 What Were They Thinking Moments in Marketing is available now at Amazon.com
Book Details
Paperback: 214 pages
Publisher: YellowWood Group, LLC
ISBN-10: 0615345581
ISBN-13: 978-0615345581
Retail: $15.95

ABOUT OLALAH NJENGA
Olalah Njenga is the CEO and senior marketing strategist at YellowWood Group where she helps growing and mid-size companies align marketing strategies with sales goals. Olalah is a 2010 Business Leader Media Top 50 Entrepreneurs award winner and a 2009 Stevie® Award Women In Business finalist. A champion for small business success, Olalah is a columnist for CarolinaBusinessConnection.com and is a proud SCORE® volunteer. The author of 37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing, Olalah is also the developer of Marketing With Ease™, a marketing system designed for small & solo business owners. In addition to her efforts on various business advisory boards, Olalah speaks and provides training on a variety of business topics including entrepreneurship, market penetration, differentiation, branding and social media. YellowWood Group 919.783.4101 info@YellowWoodGroup.com http://www.YellowWoodGroup.com/

CONTACT:
For media inquiries, appearances, and bulk orders please contact: Eileen Batson — Batson Group Marketing and PR – 919.327.5021 – BatsonGroup@yahoo.com
###

Olalah Njenga, CEO, Author and Keynote Speaker Adds Feature Columnist to List of Accomplishments

2010-03-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

Tim Moore, editor of The Carolina Business Connection, selects Olalah Njenga, CEO of YellowWood Group, to his team of business columnists for 2010.

Raleigh, NC – Carolina Business Connection is one of North Carolina's top sources for what’s happening in business. Each business day, they deliver an e-mail to their subscribers summarizing the latest business headlines and events in the area.

Published by Dancing Elephants Achievement Group, in association with WingSwept and S &A Cherokee Company, Carolina Business Connection supports business owners by providing a “one stop shop” to get the word out about what’s happening in their business, events they are hosting, and a central place to find out about seminars and workshops.

“One of the activities I most enjoy doing is passing on what I have learned with businessmen and women that will move them forward to achieving their goals. Being asked to share the Featured Writer space with business and community leaders Asa Beavers, Bill Alexander, Gary Tomlinson, Jim Vogel, Karl Murphy, and Matt Archer is a honor.” stated Olalah.

“Each week of our one of CBC’s business experts will offer their insights and opinions on different areas of focus for business.” commented Tim Moore, editor of The Carolina Business Connection. “The team we have assembled for 2010 is an extraordinary group.”

Read Ms Njenga’s recent article “Is Social Networking Influencing Background Checks And Other Vetting Processes?”

About Olalah Njenga, YellowWood Group, LLC
Olalah Njenga is the CEO and Senior Marketing Strategist at YellowWood Group, a marketing firm that specializes in helping companies align marketing strategies with sales goals. She is also the creator of the Marketing With Ease™ System and the author of 37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing. As a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), Olalah speaks nationally on business impacting topics, including strategic marketing, entrepreneurship, business planning, differentiation, social media and branding. In 2009, Olalah was honored as a Stevie® Awards Women In Business Finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category. She sits on several advisory boards and serves as a volunteer counselor for SCORE. SCORE, the “Counselors of America’s Small Business Owners”, is a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses. http://www.yellowwoodgroup.com/ onjenga@yellowwoodgroup.com 919.783.4101.

About Carolina Business Connection
CarolinaBusinessConnection.com is North Carolina's source for business headlines, news and events. CarolinaBusinessConnection.com is published by Dancing Elephants Achievement Group, in association with WingSwept and S & A Cherokee Company. Each business day, they deliver an e-mail summarizing the latest business headlines and events in the area. And as an added bonus, they also deliver a weekly e-mail highlighting upcoming business events for the week. http://www.carolinabusinessconnection.com/ info@carolinabusinessconnection.com

5 Tips for Promoting Your Book with Social Media

2010-02-21T18:47:00.008-05:00

5 Tips for Promoting Your Book with Social Media by Jesse Stanchak on February 17, 2010 on SmartBlogs.com

In the age of the Kindle and the iPhone, text is more ubiquitous than ever, but that doesn’t mean users are lining up to pay for content. Readers often need a push, in the form of a strong personal brand, to get them to open their wallets.

Social networks can provide an ideal platform for budding authors looking to bring their brand to the masses. A recent Social Media Week panel brought together a best-selling author, a literary blogger and a pair of publicists to discuss how social networks are changing the way authors promote their work — and how writers of all stripes can use social tools to get ahead.

• Make connections before you need them. You can’t start a Twitter account the day your book launches and expect to be an instant success, said Natalie Lin, online publicist at John Wiley & Sons. You need to start developing your audience long before you have something to market to them, she said. New writers have the most to gain from social networks, said literary blogger Levi Asher, since a social presence can help an up-and-coming author prove to a publisher that their work has an audience. Asher cited author Tao Lin as a rising talent who is gaining a cult following through his use of social networks.

• Join conversations that aren’t about you. You can’t build meaningful connections with fans by just talking about yourself all the time, Lin said. If you want to make authentic relationships, trying joining in conversations about other topics that interest you, she suggested. Lin also suggested using your social presence to reach out to bloggers and other influencers that you respect. Asher agreed, noting that when an author approaches him about reviewing their book, he’s more likely to consider the request when the author can send him a personal note and demonstrate a little familiarity with his work.

• Use social media to feed your work. Your Twitter account isn’t just a promotional vehicle, said A.J. Jacobs, author of “The Year of Living Biblically” and other memoirs. Your social-networking experiences can actually help you develop ideas. Jacobs recently tweeted about his wife waking up in a bad mood after she had a dream about him flirting with another woman. Jacobs told the panel that after he sent this message, several of his followers responded that they’d had similar experiences with their spouses. What seemed like a freak occurrence at first might actually be a common problem that Jacobs could explore in an article.

• Use your social presence to support other promotions. Asher said he doesn’t see social media as a platform for driving direct sales so much as for building buzz and promoting events. The publishing business is changing, and part of that transformation may mean that Web events and nonbook merchandise may become a larger part of an author’s income, he noted. Publicist Meryl L. Moss said having a strong social presence can make it easier for an author to score a guest appearance on a TV or radio program. Moss pointed out that when new authors have a strong YouTube video under their belt, it can go a long way toward allaying a television producer’s fears that they won’t be able to hold up their end of an interview. Several panelists pointed out that many of the bulwarks of traditional publishing — media appearances, live events and even books themselves — are in a state of flux or even decline. Having a healthy personal brand online may a vital part of surviving and adapting in this new publishing environment, they said.

• Stick with it. Shifting from the private process of writing a book to the public process of promoting it can be a jarring experience for a writer, said Asher. Many writers become frustrated when they don’t develop an online following right away, he noted — or worse yet, when the people they connect with first aren’t fans, but harsh critics. Developing a real following takes time, and even then, your fans may still be critical of your work. Jacobs said he routinely received notes from fans alerting him to factual errors in his books. Authors need to be willing to open themselves up to critics and trust that their fans will take care of them in the long haul, Lin noted. “You need real stamina to make it work,” she said.

ABOUT JESSE STANCHAK
Jesse Stanchak writes and edits SmartBrief newsletters on leadership, entrepreneurship, social media and other topics. Before joining SmartBrief, he worked as a Web producer at Congressional Quarterly. His work has also appeared in Slate.com, MSN.com, the Washington City Paper and other publications. http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/author/jstanchak/

Client News Release: Has Author Lee Kessler Uncovered the Ultimate Asymmetrical Weapon in “White King Rising”?

2010-02-08T19:36:00.001-05:00

Readers of Lee Kessler’s novels, “White King and the Doctor” and “White King Rising,” are finding the answers they seek to the question “What’s happening to America?”

Los Angeles, CA – February 08, 2010 – The concept of asymmetrical war and weaponry has been with us since before the time of the Greeks and Romans. It is a term utilized by insiders, military strategists and some media pundits to describe the assault on America by terrorists.

When asked about asymmetrical warfare, Lee responded, “It is exactly the type of warfare implemented by the real life terrorists in my novels, White King and the Doctor and White King Rising. A thumbnail definition of this type of warfare is when one side uses its strengths to overcome its opponents’ weaknesses. Such struggles often involve strategies and tactics that are unconventional and may not necessarily be militarized. The term is rarely used or even seen by the average citizen.”

She went on to say, Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW) is conflict characterized by a blurring of the lines between war and politics, soldier and civilian. It is a type of warfare that weakens one’s will to win using a number of elements including terrorism, direct attacks on the enemy's culture, and highly sophisticated psychological warfare—especially through media manipulation and lawfare. Lawfare is a type of asymmetrical warfare waged via the use of international law to attack an opponent on moral grounds, with an objective of winning a public relations victory.”

In White King and the Doctor and White King Rising, Lee Kessler exposes the fourth-generation warfare tactics and the asymmetrical weapon used by terrorist Ayman Al-Zawahiri to bring down the United States from within. Ex-CIA analyst James Mikolas and Andrew Weir, his young Grand-master chess champion partner, together with Brian Washington Carver, a star collegiate football player and computer “gamer,” work out a plan to stop Zawahiri from triggering his doomsday scenario against the United States—set to launch June 30, 2011.

For more information about Lee Kessler, read a preview, and watch the televised interview, visit http://www.whitekingrising.com/ White King Rising and White King and the Doctor are available in bookstores and online.

About Lee Kessler
Lee Kessler is a television actress, author, playwright, and stage director. Her career in Hollywood and New York spans 35 years and includes dozens of guest starring roles in episodic TV, mini-series and movies-of-the-week and was submitted for Emmy nominations for her starring roles in Collision Course and Which Mother Is Mine? She co-starred with Peter O'Toole in Creator. Her play, Anais Nin - the Paris Years was produced in New York and Los Angeles, with a subsequent tour on the West Coast. She directed the West Coast premiere of A.R. Gurney's Who Killed Richard Cory? Visit http://www.whitekingandthedoctor.com/ and http://www.whitekingrising.com/ Fan Lee at http://www.facebook.com/LeeKesslerStoryteller

Media Contact:
Eileen Batson | Batson Group Marketing and PR | 919.327.5021 | BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

Raleigh Small Business Experts Eileen Batson and Alice Osborn Conduct Blogging for Business Workshop

2009-12-27T14:30:00.001-05:00

Triangle businesses owners learn value of blogging from Writer/Editor Alice Osborn and Marketing/PR Specialist Eileen Batson at January 13, 2010 workshop.

Raleigh, NC, December 27, 2009 – Offering an introductory blogging workshop bi-monthly and a more advanced workshop quarterly, Marketing/PR Specialist Eileen Batson and Writer/Editor Alice Osborn, help Triangle business owners, C-level execs, nonprofit directors, mompreneurs and writers understand the how, why and importance of blogging to reach their goals.

When Business Week’s cover proclaimed “Your customers and rivals are figuring blogs out”; their advice was “catch up…or catch you later,” businesses large and small felt the need to join the blogosphere.

“Blogging is big!” said Eileen Batson, owner of the Raleigh based company Batson Group Marketing and PR. “Want to be seen as an expert in your field? Want to engage your customers and increase retention and sales? A blog gives you the opportunity to easily share what you know with people across town and around the world who are interested in who you are and what you offer.”

Batson went on to say “In the 2008 Social Media White Paper by New Media Lab in Austin, statistics show Blogger.com grew 68% in 2008. In the US alone 26.4 million new blogs were started, 60.3 million people read blogs, and American bloggers spend 3.5 times longer on the web than watching TV.”

Alice Osborn, an award winning published poet and creative writing instructor, advises bloggers that “while there are many different elements and components to a successful blog, having compelling and engaging content on a consistent basis is key.”

The next introductory Blogging for Business Workshop is January 13, 2010 from 7:00pm-9:30pm at Calm and Sense in the Glenwood Village Shopping Center, 2603 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Seating is limited to 25 attendees and costs $30. Register online at http://budurl.com/B4BJan2010 or call 919.787.1799.

About Eileen Batson
As the owner of Batson Group Marketing and PR for 20+ years, her clients cover a broad spectrum of industries and locations. She helps clients “think outside the box” when they want to be well known, well thought of and well remembered by providing media/press releases, marketing research, a variety of marketing collateral and help with social media. She consults, holds workshops and speaks on social networking, PR, marketing and blogging. In 2009, Eileen produced the Raleigh House Concert Series and was on the steering committee of the Women Helping Women Expo in Raleigh. She is active as an organizer of the Women’s Power Networking Group Coffee and Contacts. Visit Eileen on Facebook/EileenBatson, Twitter@ebatson and her blog http://www.batsongroupmarketingandpr.blogspot.com/ and her FanPage at http://budurl.com/BGMPRFanPage Contact her at BatsonGroup@yahoo.com or 919.327.5021

About Alice Osborn
Alice Osborn (M.A., English, NC State) is an award winning published poet, creative writing instructor, seminarist and the author of Right Lane Ends (Catawba, 2006). She is an Artist in the Schools writer-in-residence for the United Arts of Wake County and is also a former Raleigh Charter High School English teacher, a freelance editor and writes for Wake Living Magazine and “Our Lives” in the News & Observer. She is currently working on her next collection of poems and her first novel. Visit Alice at http://www.aliceosborn.com/ Contact her at Alice@AliceOsborn.com or 919.971.9414

Media Contact
Eileen Batson - Batson Group Marketing and PR - BatsonGroup@yahoo.com - 919.327.5021

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NEWS RELEASE: "White King Rising" Book Signing with Internationally Known Author and Actress Lee Kessler

2009-12-13T18:21:00.000-05:00

At book signing, December 19 at 4pm in Clearwater, FL for “White King Rising,” the anticipated sequel to “White King and the Doctor,” actress and novelist Lee Kessler will discuss - Is there a Fifth Column at work undermining our culture?

Clearwater, FL - December 13, 2009 – Artists in Action Fine Arts Gallery, 400 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Florida will host internationally known author and actress Lee Kessler on Saturday, December 19th at 4:00pm. Kessler will sign and discuss her latest book White King Rising - a fascinating suspense novel taken from today’s, and possibly tomorrow’s, headlines.

White King Rising is the story of ex-CIA analyst James Mikolas and Andrew Weir, his young Grand-master chess champion partner. After discovering the location of the world’s second-most-wanted terrorist—Ayman Al-Zawahiri and what strategy he would use to bring down the United States from within; Mikolas, "The Kid", and a most unlikely ally, devise a game plan to outmaneuver "The Doctor" and save "The White King."

When asked how she came to write the books Kessler replied, "Subsequent to the events of 9/11, I held the paradoxical hope that the devastation of that day might be the saving grace of our troubled country—that Americans would become more united. Instead, we have become more divided than at any point in my lifetime. I asked myself what could be at work here? Was there possibly a 'Fifth Column' in the United States whose purpose was to destroy our solidarity? A visit to the FBI’s 'Most Wanted Terrorists' site revealed a provocative omission. I decided to probe it. The result was White King and the Doctor and the just released sequel White King Rising."

The book-signing event is free and open to the public. The afternoon event will include a discussion about the wide range of sociological phenomenon that appear to be undermining our culture – are they connected and could this story be true? For more event information contact Marcy Sanders at 818.400.1667.

Visit http://www.whitekingrising.com/ to see the book trailer and take advantage of the holiday special.

About Lee Kessler

Lee Kessler is a television actress, author, playwright, and stage director. Her career in Hollywood and New York spans 35 years and includes dozens of guest starring roles in episodic TV, mini-series and movies-of-the-week and was submitted for Emmy nominations for her starring roles in "Collision Course" and "Which Mother Is Mine?" She co-starred with Peter O'Toole in "Creator." Her play, "Anais Nin - the Paris Years" was produced in New York and Los Angeles, with a subsequent tour on the West Coast. She directed the West Coast premiere of A.R. Gurney's "Who Killed Richard Cory?" Find out more about Lee Kessler, White King and the Doctor and White King Rising at http://www.whitekingrising.com/. Be her fan on Facebook at http://budurl.com/LeeKesslerFanPage

About Artists in Action International (AIAI)

Artists in Action International is a dynamic organization that firmly believes in using art; whether it be paintings, sculptures, music, poetry, literature, dance, film or theater to literally impact the world. AIAI believes, artists have one of the most important jobs in society – to imbue our culture with life. AIAI is the vehicle to help artists accomplish their goals. Visit http://www.artistsinactionint.org/ Gallery Address: 400 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Fl.

Media Contacts:

Eileen Batson, Batson Group Marketing and PR to schedule Ms. Kessler for book signings and interviews - 919.327.5021 BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

Artists in Action International – Jack Potter - 727.812.8982 - info@jbpotter.com

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CLIENT NEWS RELEASE: Olalah Njenga, CEO YellowWood Group, Honored as Finalist in 6th Annual Stevie ® Awards for Women in Business

2009-11-17T19:48:00.003-05:00

Olalah Njenga, CEO YellowWood Group, was named a Finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category in the 6th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, and the companies they run – worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards.

Raleigh, NC -- Nov 17,2009 – YellowWood Group, LLC, CEO and Marketing Strategist Olalah Njenga was honored as one of six Finalists in the Lifetime Achievement category in the 6th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards were presented in 54 categories including Best Overall Company, Best Executive, and Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program. More than 1,100 entries were submitted for consideration.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, and the companies they run – worldwide. The Stevie Awards (Stevies for the Greek word “crowned’) have been regarded as the world’s premier business awards.

The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Cheryl Casone of Fox Business Network served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. The event was broadcasted live nationwide on radio by the Business TalkRadio Network.

In addition to Olalah Njenga’s leadership at Yellowwood Group, Olalah is a volunteer business counselor for SCORE®, an Advisory Board member for the Business & Industry Services division of Wake Technical Community College and serves as an entrepreneurial Advisory Board member for the Women’s Business Center in Durham NC. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and served as an entrepreneurship coach for the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

"I’m deeply honored to be recognized as a Stevie Award Finalist. Though I’ve been chosen as a Lifetime Achievement finalist for my personal accomplishments; it’s really about teamwork at YellowWood. Our talented and passionate professionals share our commitment to excellence and take our philosophy to heart; do business with integrity, honor relationships and look for the 3-way win.” said Njenga.

She went on to say “The category winner, Jennifer Openshaw, Founder & President of WeSeed and Women's Financial Network is an exceptional businesswoman, I’ve admired Ms. Openshaw for many years as she is a long-time advocate for families and working Americans and a nationally known financial commentator and advocate. I am privileged to be a finalist in a category with her.”

Finalists were chosen by business professionals worldwide during preliminary judging. Members of the Awards' Board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors and their staffs selected Stevie Award winners from among the Finalists during final judging.

“Being named a Finalist in The Stevie Awards for Women in Business is an important achievement,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. “It means that independent business executives have agreed that the nominee is worthy of recognition. We congratulate all of the Finalists on their achievement.”

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business Awards. Details about The Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at http://www.stevieawards.com/women.

About Olalah Njenga -- Olalah Njenga is the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Marketing Strategist at YellowWood Group. She works with growing and mid-size companies that want to align marketing strategies with sales goals. She is the creator of the Marketing With Ease™ http://www.MarketingWithEase.com marketing coaching system for small business owners, which was featured in the book “Perfecting Your Pitch”, by Office Depot® advisor, Nancy Michaels. Olalah is a member of the National Speakers Association and conducts workshops, provides training and speaks professionally on a variety of business topics including strategic marketing, market penetration, differentiation, brand equity and profitability. Her book, “37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing”, is scheduled for release in late 2009. YellowWood Group 919.783.4101 info@yellowwoodgroup.com http://www.yellowwoodgroup.com/

About The Stevie Awards -- Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com. Sponsors of the 6th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business were the Business TalkRadio Network, Covario, Inc., Key4Women and KeyBank. Localization partner of the 2009 Stevie Awards was Lionbridge.

Media Contact -- Eileen Batson | Batson Group Marketing and PR | BatsonGroup@yahoo.com |
919.327.5021

PR: Secrets of College Selection, Admission and Affordability Revealed at Free American College Planning Foundation Workshop

2009-11-02T18:14:00.001-05:00

Miles and Letha Costin of Innovative Advisors host free College Planning 101 workshop Nov. 9 in Raleigh to help Triangle families negotiate the maze of college planning and funding.

Raleigh, NC -- November 4, 2009 – College bound high-school students and their parents are invited to attend the free American College Planning Foundation workshop at the Millbrook Exchange Community Center, 1905 Spring Forest Rd in Raleigh. The workshop runs from 7:00-8:30pm.

The American College Planning Foundation partnered locally with Innovative Advisors to provide the free 90 minute workshop in order for parents and students to get the vital information they need regarding college planning in today’s competitive admission process.

Miles & Letha Costin, of the Raleigh based company, are the Regional Directors for American College Planning Foundation in the Piedmont, NC area.

“While most college planners simply try to help parents save more, Miles and I look for ways to make college cost less. One of the cornerstones of our philosophy is making sure that the student is looking at the right colleges for the right reasons.” stated Letha Costin, Vice President of Innovative Advisors, Inc.

Miles Costin, Certified College Planning Specialist (CCPS) and President of Innovative Advisors went on to say, “When it comes to college admissions, our motto is ‘The more you know, the less you pay.’ Students and parents learn how to navigate the college maze and avoid costly mistakes.”

The November 9 free workshop will cover:

* Selection, admissions, and funding issues with in-state and out-of-state public & private colleges;
* Using personality & career assessments to select majors that match students’ interest, abilities, and values;
* Getting scholarships and other free money from your community service hours;
* Critical information you haven’t heard about completing financial aid forms;
* Reducing out of pocket college costs when you don’t qualify for financial aid;
* and much, much more

To reserve your seat for College Planning 101 call (919) 841-0170

Together, Miles and Letha Costin create a "dynamic duo" as they provide both the education and tools for clients of all ages to safely reach their college, lifestyle, and financial dreams.

Innovative Advisors “Where the future looks bright!” can be found online at http://www.innovativeadvisors.net/

About Innovative Advisors, Inc.
Miles & Letha Costin are Regional Directors for American College Planning Foundation; a non-profit organization. As volunteers of the ACPF, they provide college planning workshops, personality assessments for college bound students, and college cost estimates for parents free of charge. In business for over 10 years, Innovative Advisors helps their clients find creative ways to make the most of their assets, while paying for college and/or saving for retirement. Services include one-on-one private coaching for students, essay writing workshops, essay reviews, student and parent guidance for college appeals, college funding plan designs and more. Address: The Forum One 8601 Six Forks Rd. #400 ~ Raleigh, NC 27615 T: (919) 841-0170 Email: Miles@InnovativeAdvisors.net

Eileen Batson
Batson Group Marketing and PR
(919) 327-5021
BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

Media Release: Raleigh Master Stylist Luis Rios Conquers Frizzy Hair with Keratin and Collagen Rich La Brasiliana Hair Treatment

2009-10-30T19:20:00.000-04:00

Luis Rios, NY/London trained master stylist at Raleigh’s award winning hair salon, Douglas Carroll, transforms dry, frizzy hair to shiny, smoother, more manageable hair with La Brasiliana Keratin treatment with Collagen.

Raleigh, NC -- October 30,2009 -- If you are one of those folks whose hair frizzes up and out in humid weather, welcome the La Brasiliana Keratin treatment with Collagen. This restorative hair treatment replenishes the condition of the hair without damaging it and can be used on all hair types - curly, wavy or straight. Bleached, highlighted, permed or straightened, any chemically treated hair can especially benefit.

“Keratin is a natural substance and the primary protein in hair, skin, and nails. Since La Brasiliana is keratin based, the process gives hair the ability to return to its original healthy, shiny, smooth state while the collagen improves the hair’s elasticity.” said Luis Rios, master stylist at Douglas Carroll Salon, Spa and Boutique.

Rios went on to say that his clients find that “styling and caring for their hair after a La Brasiliana is much faster and easier - practically effortless. No matter the humidity or weather they love their frizz free hair and how it makes them feel!! As clients repeat the treatment every few months, they will be able to observe the continuous improvement of their hair.”

To introduce the new service Rios is offering a 50% discount for first time clients. The treatment includes the supporting shampoo and conditioner for at-home care. The standard salon fee depends on the length of hair, but is no more than $250. For more information, contact Luis at Douglas Carroll Salon (800) 774-0193, or (919) 876-5411 or LRios4@nc.rr.com

About Master Stylist Luis Rios
NY and London trained with more than 37 years experience, Luis is among the best in the world. His passion is working with his hands to ensure people look their best and feel confident about who they are. Rios specializes in cutting, styling, advanced treatments and color techniques for men and women, as well as special occasion styling and up-dos. Contact Luis at the salon (919) 876-5411 or (919) 302-0636. Email Luis at LRios4@nc.rr.com. Se habla español.

About Douglas Carroll Salon
Douglas Carroll Salon is an award winning hair salon, full service day spa and unique clothing boutique. Totally dedicated to their clients and all aspects of their profession, they stay in tune with the latest fashion and beauty trends from all over the world; offering a combination of talent, creativity, good sense, and continuous education in product and technical knowledge. The N. Raleigh salon is located in the Sutton Square Shopping Center, 6325-61 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27615. Visit online at http://www.douglascarrollsalon.com/ Call (800) 774-0193 or (919) 876-5411

Eileen Batson
Batson Group Marketing and PR
(919) 327-5021
BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

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MEDIA RELEASE: Sustainable Furnishings Council’s GREENleaders Program Accredits Denise Whitley of Interior Concepts

2009-10-11T10:28:00.000-04:00

Denise Whitley, of Interior Concepts Raleigh, NC; Interior Designer, Certified Re-Designer and Home Stager, has added GREENleaders Accredited Professional to her certifications.

Raleigh, N.C. – October 11, 2009 – With over 17 years experience in the Interior Design Industry, Denise Whitley is now one of a handful of Triangle designers to offer sustainable design practices to her residential interior design, re-design and home staging clients.

“The Sustainable Furnishings Council’s (SFC) GREENleaders training program I recently completed is the most comprehensive one available in green home furnishings. The curriculum provides manufacturers, reps, retailers and designers with the knowledge and credentials to differentiate us as experts in sustainability.” commented Denise Whitley.

Denise went on to say, “With the current situation in our country, I feel it is more important than ever to surround ourselves with beautiful, sustainable and livable spaces. By re-designing just one room, you could bring harmony and balance to your home. It will take just a few hours to start enjoying what you have all over again.”

Jeff Hiller, President of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (www.sustainablefurnishings.org), and GREENleaders developer, says “As an organization we are particularly proud to offer the first substantial educational content for our industry. With this program, we in the home furnishings industry have the opportunity to understand not only the detrimental effects we cause to the environment, but perhaps more importantly, the solutions for mitigating these effects through our practices.”

SFC is a Chapel Hill based non-profit and is considered the leading organization in green home furnishings with the best opportunities for education and networking.

About Denise Whitley of Interior Concepts
Interior Concepts is a full-service interior design firm designing residential interiors from luxury homes to individual casual spaces. Denise is a One-Day Stager and Re-design Professional, an Associate Member of the Interior Design Society (IDS), a Certified member of GREENleaders and One Day Decorating Alumni Association (ODDAA) and an Affiliate Member of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County, NC Visit http://www.intconcepts.net/ Contact Denise at Denise@intconcepts.net or call (919) 345-0040

MEDIA CONTACT:
Eileen Batson – Batson Group Marketing and PR (919)327 -5021 BatsonGroup@yahoo.com
Susan Inglis - SFC/Executive Director (919) 967-1137 susan@sustainablefurnishings.org

# # #

PRESS RELEASE: Is the terrorist plot revealed in “White King Rising” by Lee Kessler fact or fiction?

2009-09-21T16:25:00.001-04:00

White King Rising, Lee Kessler's sequel to White King and the Doctor continues to connect the dots that could lead to America's demise in the War on Terror.

Los Angeles, CA -- When Lee Kessler first wrote WHITE KING AND THE DOCTOR she knew she was on the right track about how terrorists think and the dangers we as Americans face when Steve Luckey, International Counter Terrorist Specialist and Security Consultant wrote, "Lee Kessler gets it! She connects the dots."

"Sam" Warner, former NASA Public Affairs Officer & Strategic Communications Consultant, Fairfax, VA says, "In WHITE KING RISING, Kessler's sequel to WHITE KING AND THE DOCTOR, Lee Kessler again displays her depth of intellect and immense talent for seamlessly weaving fiction amidst real-time factual events and people in the current War on Terror. Her ability to connect seemingly random unrelated "dots" delivers a chilling shiver at the absolute plausibility of this back story aimed at America's total demise. You cannot help but ask the frightening question, IS it fiction? ...WHITE KING RISING should be required reading for all those in the military and intelligence communities. And anyone concerned with our nation's security, indeed its viability, needs to read Kessler's brilliant and revealing work."

The "dots" refer to signs of a massive Fifth Column activity imbedded in the United States which has unwittingly been aiding Al-Qaeda. Kessler uncovered something so important she felt that the outcome of the War on Terror depended on it being known.

Major General Paul Vallely, Retired US Army, Chairman of Stand Up America and former Senior FOX NEWS Military Analyst, told Kessler that WHITE KING AND THE DOCTOR, gets it right on how and why Al-Qaeda is dividing America.

In a Fox and Friends interview with Kessler and Vallely, show Co-Host Gretchen Carlson commented that WHITE KING AND THE DOCTOR is a "must read for military commanders." Vallely agreed and went on to say that he told Lee she "had to complete the book because it is a novel based on actual events about the second in command . . . 'the Doctor' who masterminds the operations that have been carried out by Al-Qaeda. So I think every American should read this book ... and those from the Middle East... to understand what happened with Al-Zawahiri and find out who the White King is."

WHITE KING RISING promises to capture the reader and complete the story in an unexpected manner.

As one of only 121 Dazzling Daughters of the American Revolution, Lee Kessler’s passion to ensure America’s freedoms remain intact, and that the country her forefathers fought for and founded remains a free Republic, drives her writing.

Keep an eye out for WHITE KING RISING in the upcoming weeks.

About Lee Kessler

Lee Kessler is an Emmy nominated television actress, author, playwright, and stage director. Her career in Hollywood and New York spans 35 years and includes dozens of guest starring roles in episodic TV, mini-series and movies-of-the-week and was submitted for Emmy nominations for her starring roles in Collision Course" and Which Mother Is Mine? She co-starred with Peter O'Toole in Creator. Her play, Anais Nin - the Paris Years"was produced in New York and Los Angeles, with a subsequent tour on the West Coast. She directed the West Coast premiere of A.R. Gurney's Who Killed Richard Cory? Find out more about Lee Kessler, WHITE KING AND THE DOCTOR and WHITE KING RISING at http://www.WhiteKingandtheDoctor.com

Media Contact:

Eileen Batson | Batson Group Marketing and PR | 919.327.5021 | BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

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Guest Blogger: Anthony S. Policastro

2009-09-18T10:57:00.000-04:00

By Anthony S. Policastro

Eileen, thank you so much for helping me with this blog tour and your support.

Both of my novels,DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM and ABSENCE OF FAITH, both mystery/thrillers, were written out of fear, universal fears that I believe all of us consider at one time or another.

DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM is about Dan Riker, a computer security expert whose family is kidnapped by digital terrorists who take over the power grid and cell phone network and hold the United States hostage. Dan is the only one with the know-how to stop them, but the hackers have his family and he must decide to save his family or save millions of people.

While I wrote this book the fear of losing my own family pervaded my thoughts and I wrapped a plot around this fear using the latest wireless technologies and a lot of imagination. I still have my family and the thought of losing them is unimaginable. This was the fuel for DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM.

Dan's life is well planned, predicted and uneventful like most of our lives and I wanted to see how Dan would react when all of that is shattered in an instant when his family disappears.

Does Dan have the courage to save his family or will he just give up because he never had to face such insurmountable odds? Will he save millions of people whose lives are threatened by the terrorists or will he save his family? The book is not just about technology.

These are some of the questions I addressed in the book and when or if you read the book you may ask yourself these same questions and maybe better understand your own capabilities.

ABSENCE OF FAITH also addresses universal fears when residents in a highly-religious small town have horrible near-death experiences and wake up with burnt skin. They believe they went to hell and that God has abandoned them. Matters get worse when a local Satanic cult emerges and wins over many residents.

My fears of losing all hope and all faith in the face of a downturn in life is what spawned ABSENCE OF FAITH. Again, I was interested in how people would react if you stripped them of all hope and faith. Would they pick themselves up and continue their lives? What would they do when this great fear overtakes them.

These are the questions I address in ABSENCE OF FAITH.

Bestselling author and psychic Sylvia Browne writes in her book, Prophecy, that, "...our beliefs are the driving force behind our behavior, our opinions, our actions. Without faith, without our beliefs, we're lost."

I have always been interested in religion and why and how it has such a powerful hold on all of us and what would happen if it were taken away.

I not only wanted my books to entertain, but I also wanted them to inspire, educate and leave readers with something to think about after they put the book down for the last time. I wanted the books to be relevant to people's lives today and some of the problems we all face in the journey of life. I hope my books are that and more.

Both DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM and ABSENCE OF FAITH are available as paperbacks from Outer Banks Publishing Group, Amazon.com and as ebooks from Smashwords.com and the Amazon Kindle.
Both books will soon appear on Barnes and Noble's new ebook site.

Visit my blogs for tips on writing, publishing, and books, WRITING IS ABOUT PUTTING YOURSELF TO WORDS and THE WRITER'S EDGE.

Interviews can be found at

The Lulu Blog
Ask Wendy - The Query Queen
Gather.com

Republic or Democracy - See this video "The American Form of Government"

2009-09-14T19:25:00.002-04:00

Sometimes we should market America!!
What are your thoughts?

Best Tool to Shrink URLs

2009-09-13T19:03:00.001-04:00

What is BudURL? A cool tool for compacting long urls.
What kind of power would you have if you could not only shrink a long url, but also add notes and tags along with detailed analytics like you have on your website? Detailed statistics is marketing nirvana, but your website statistics only cover your website. What about social networks, emails, print marketing materials, presentations, etc. The list goes on and on! BudURL gives you the power to quantify this traffic and make decisions that were once a shot in the dark.
http://www.BudUrl.com BudURL. Shrink. Track. Grow.

Which compacting tools do you like?

42 Web Site and Blog Marketing Strategies

2009-08-29T13:12:00.006-04:00

This great list of website strategies was found at Maureen McHale's blog. She noted it was originally written by Steven Spenser and posted Pete Hollier's SEO Wizardry blog . My thanks goes out to them.

1. Most would top their list with SEO, but that’s putting the cart before the horse. You only get one opportunity to make a great first impression, so even before SEO I perform a Web-site usability analysis that examines graphic design, navigation, and whether the marketing copy is filled with the right kind of content to be effective.
2. Interesting, useful content that refreshes sufficiently to keep attracting return visits.
3. SEO and then submissions to search engines
4. Including URL and any sort of (newsworthy) offer or service in a press release; create separate social-media version and video news release
5. Disseminating the press release using wires and online distribution services (this can often generate multiple pass-along postings)
6. Cross-promoting the (newsworthy) offer abd; URL via pitches to traditional media: TV, radio, wire services, newspapers, consumer magazines, trade pubs–and their associated Web sites
7. Mass-media advertising that includes the URL, especially billboards & buses
8. Getting listed in expert-source directories for journalists
9. Setting up link exchanges with as many allied sites as possible
10. Securing listings on portals such as MSN and Craigslist
11. Securing listings in directories such as Yahoo, DMOZ, About.com
12. Placements in Web sites of local media (papers, TV, radio)
13. Placements in (national) city guides (CitySearch, AOL CityGuide)
14. Listings in professional-resource or association/trade directories (online and offline)
15. Generating traffic by writing contributed articles and/or online columns for other sites, as well as print media (including op-eds with URL in the bio tag) and securing TV/radio interviews
16. Generating traffic by becoming a subject-matter expert at About.com and imitators
17. Create a Wikipedia entry
18. Write and promote an e-book
19. Target news aggregators such as Mixx and social news platforms such as Newsvine
20. Secure listings in social bookmarking sites (such as Delicious) and social-recommendation sites (such as StumbleUpon)
21. Including URL in my e-mail signature
22. Offering value in news groups and mailing lists, where my signature will be seen
23. Secure editorial placements in topically relevant e-mail newsletters, printed newsletters and niche print pubs
24. Design and promulgate a useful (software) widget that will point users to my site for more services
25. Promote the site on MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, et. al.
26. Promote the site on microblogging channels
27. Promote the site via podcasts
28. Promote the site via blogs with RSS feeds
29. Promote via vlogs, v-casts (video podcasts) and promotional videos on YouTube and other video-sharing sites
30. Get listed in video search engines
31. Promote URL in newsletters optimized for mobile platforms
32. Create a mobile-optimized version of the regular site, formatted to display on mobile devices
33. Secure listings in mobile search directories
34. Create a logo with URL that can be downloaded as wallpaper to mobile devices
35. Create vlogs for mobile devices
36. Create video viral content for aggregators such as ViralBank and ViralMonitor
37. Purchase placements in Google’s AdSense platform for games
38. Purchase placements in virtual multiverse communities such as 2nd Life
39. Pay manufacturers for billboards inside 3-D virtual reality games
40. Pay manufacturers for promotional placements in standard computer games
41. Pay Web microcelebrities to recommend the site/service on their own blogs and videos
42. Use nontraditional advertising to reach captive audiences: Elevators, taxis, restroom stalls, dentists’ ceilings and/or video monitors, airports & other departure locations, gas-station monitors, sporting arena , ATMs, vending machines and digital reader boards.

About Steven Spenser: Steven Spenser, principal of Praxis Communication in Seattle, specializes in Internet marketing, public affairs and nonprofit PR. Steven has directed corporate communications for a Redmond software company and is an award-winning former editor and writer with The Associated Press and the The Seattle Times. His clients have included the government of the Russian Federation and Seattle E.coli victims organizing against Jack in the Box. Steven can be reached at PraxisPR@comcast.net View Steven Spenser's LinkedIn profile.

About Maureen McHale: Maureen McHale is a Central Florida resident seeking a marketing management career. Ms. McHale has over 13 years of traditional and internet marketing experience. Maureen has a passion for the internet, new technology and writing. For more information regarding Maureen McHale's qualifications and to see her full resume, please visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/MaureenMcHale.

Any you'd like to add or comment on?

Social Media Marketing Industry Report

2009-08-24T17:27:00.005-04:00

Social Media Marketing Industry Report by Michael A. Stelzner

http://marketingwhitepapers.s3.amazonaws.com/smss09/SocialMediaMarketingIndustryReport.pdf

"We set out to uncover the “who, what, where, when and why” of social media marketing with this report. Nearly 900 of your peers provided the kind of insight that previously has not existed. In this report you’ll find:

The top social media marketing questions marketers want answered
How much time marketers are investing in social media
The benefits of social media
How time invested impacts results
The top social media tools
And much more! "

Get it FREE and pass it on! Learn more here http://www.whitepapersource.com/socialmediamarketing/report/

Love to hear back from folks on what tools you use and how social media is working for you!

Do Your Children Have Goals?

2009-08-17T11:18:00.008-04:00

A friend of mine sent me an email describing what she has been up to and I thought it very useful to pass the content on.

She has been delivering a series of workshops to school kids for several years. One of the questions she asks them to to is to write down their goals in life.

Sadly, more than once, she found herself surprised when a child said he has no goal. They come to school because that's what kids do or because their parents will be angry with them if they don't. They go through the day suffering because they are forced to do things without any understanding, and without having any idea as to how it will really contribute to their lives.

After working with thousands of children, adults and businessmen, she observed that when a boy/girl, teenager, or an adult has no goals in life - they get bored easily. From this point on, the person's interest declines and the individual begins to look for games and "interesting" things to occupy themself.

With the lack of goals and without encouragement and guidance in their life about how to set worthwhile goals, the person - feeling emptiness - goes hunting for excitement. And this is the shortest road to violence. It starts with teasing others, using dirty words and cursing and moves on to strikes, alcohol, drugs, stabbing and worse.

Children and youths passively stare at TV and assimilate violence or play violent digital fights on their computer games. These are the values our environment gives them. Finally, an undesired goal is reached, a cemetery, or life without interest, full of boredom, hopelessness and despair.

She saw all this with her own eyes and also saw how it gets cured. There is a solution. You don't have to believe in it, just try it for yourself. Here it is below:

When youths are encouraged to observe and clearly write down their goals, they suddenly start to create a future. This is how it gets started.

Afterwards they, themselves, will explain to you why they need to study English and they will demand to be taught properly. They will explain to you why it is important for you to interpret things for them. If you will let them express themselves while observing that, they will see what is good for them and what won't contribute to longevity and a happy life.

She wanted me to share with you the goals Ortal wrote. She is an eight grader:

"My goals: I want to succeed in school until the 12th grade. I want to join the army - to be in the air force. After the army, I want to travel through South America and Mexico. I want to study photography, painting and sculpture, acting, fashion design, to be a writer with a column in a newspaper, and more things I would like to deal with.

I want to get married at the age of 24 and to have a house and a car of my own. I want to have 3 children. A girl, a boy and a girl with 5 year age differences. I want to succeed in educating my children in the best way possible.

I want to know 10 languages: English, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, and Japanese.

I want to travel all over Europe and the USA. I want to continue swimming and succeed in it.

I want to publish at least two books."

So who said kids don't have great goals to work for? Can you imagine this girl, knowing now so clearly what she wants from life, to easily give all that up?

If you, dear reader, doubt this, I recommend you do a little exercise and ask yourself, "what personal goal did I fail to reach?" I'm sure you will find at least one. Maybe you weren't encouraged to reach it too?

As a parent or an educator, your faith in their goals is what brings children to be true leaders for themselves, their environment, their family and country.

Believe in them, and they will grow to be capable people who will carry out their goals. And as a society, we will all benefit from that.

~ From an email from a lecturer of The Way to Happiness: A Common Sense Guide to a Happier, More Successful Life

For a free DVD and copy of The Way to Happiness go to http://www.thewaytohappiness.org/#/freeinfo"

The Way to Happiness Foundation International
201 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: (800) 255-7906 or (818) 254-0600 Fax: (818) 254-0555
Main Web site: http://www.thewaytohappiness.org/
Email: info@twth.org

Triangle TRACKS For Tools Resources Activities for Carolina Kids visit http://www.triangletracks.com/

As always, comments are welcome!

Raleigh Author Jon Batson releases “Encounter in a Small Cafe and Other Short Stories"

2009-08-03T14:59:00.003-04:00

Fans follow Award winning author Jon Batson's short story series. His descriptive narrative style is engaging and makes for entertaining reads.

Raleigh, NC, August 3, 2009 – No matter which type of fiction you enjoy reading, you will find a favorite in the short stories that make up the Summer Reading Book Series by award winning author Jon Batson.

“Readers will find a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor in some of my stories, while other tales are downright frightening, fact-based fiction.” said Batson

The August release of Encounter at a Small Café features 12 light fiction stories. Some romantic, some with a touch of mystery, there is even a charming flash fiction parable called "The Stone."

Encounter follows on the heels of his June book release of the 134 page dark fiction collection Murder at Thompson Bog and Other Short Stories which Batson describes as "five stories of dark and sinister intent. If you can't sleep, this won't help.”

For science fiction fans, late August brings six sci-fi shorts in his book Doll Bodies. Could stories in this sci-fi anthology be a future fact?

Batson’s blog “Maunderings of the Author” features the serialized version of his short stories; one episode per week updated on Thursday. http://jonbatson.blogspot.com/. The current story "Luna Nightmares" is from Murder at Thompson Bog.

Encounter at a Small Cafe and Murder at Thompson Bog are now available through Amazon in print http://tinyurl.com/Encounter-Book or Kindle http://tinyurl.com/Encounter-Kindle.

About Jon Batson

Award winning songwriter and author Jon's historical fiction tales have won him first place twice in the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society’s Short Fiction Contest and Honorable Mention for his sci-fi tales in Writers of the Future contest. He lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife Eileen. Contact Jon through Midnight Whistler Publisher at info@MidnightWhistler.com

Media Contact For Interviews and Appearances:

Eileen Batson – Batson Group Marketing and PR 919.327.5021 BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

Rant - What are the North Carolina legislators thinking??

2009-07-29T18:15:00.002-04:00

What are the legislators thinking – we’ve got money lying around in sacks, just to pay more tax? We have to balance our budgets by adjusting our personal spending habits; it’s time they did as well.

I’d like to see some transparency in how our dollars and cents are spent – actual amounts and on what. A million here, a million there – "show me the money!" If they don’t know how to be less selfish with funds for their favored programs they should watch the budget-cutting scene in "Dave" at their own expense.

Here’s an idea – how about a series in the N&O devoted to what’s happening in government with a line item budget breakdown and accountability. It should not be too difficult to get the info, after all we still have the North Carolina public access law and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled citizens seeking public information don't have to identify themselves. Would make for great investigative journalism.

If our elected officials want more pork for themselves I suggest they visit a local farm.

The Power Behind iSnare: How Article Marketing Can Take You to the Top

2009-07-03T13:39:00.005-04:00

I thought this article by Zeke Camusio was worth passing on. He is dead on about getting articles posted online. Writing white papers is also key to getting on the radar.

"If you aren’t submitting your content to article sites, then you are missing the boat when it comes to article marketing. Article marketing goes beyond just link building – it puts your company’s name out there to a mass audience while increasing both traffic and rankings.

How can this be done? Check out the power behind iSnare(http://www.isnare.com/) and how you gain MORE exposure by submitting to multiple article directories at ONCE!

How Does iSnare Work? For only $2, iSnare exposes your content to over 270 sites and thousands of readers and opt-in publishers—what a bargain! Think about your return on investment. For the amount of time that it takes you to submit to 200 plus sites, you could be concentrating on other projects. So $2 is definitely worth the small amount to pay to gain that kind of HUGE exposure!

iSnare’s article directory site allows anyone to register and submit original articles to it’s directory listing. There are many publishers on iSnare who need quality content to post on their sites.

iSnare’s submission process is user-friendly:
• Open up an account
• Upgrade to the Platinum level (or buy distribution credits)
• Submit articles and wait for editorial approval (from human editors!)

iSnare also submits to top article sites such as GoArticles and ArticleBase. iSnare doesn’t submit to EzineArticles ( http://www.ezinearticles.com/ ) – the top market leader in free article directories. Make sure to post articles to EzineArticles to reach an even BIGGER audience!

Benefits of Article Marketing If your traffic is slacking off and you’re falling behind in search engines, it might be time to increase your article submissions.
• Draws mass audiences to your site – By submitting to article directories, your content gets blasted out to thousands of online publishers. Those online publishers have millions of worldwide subscribers that expose both your content and site to these users. Watch as traffic increases and sales grow!

• You are seen as an “expert” in your niche – Another perk to article marketing is you become well-known as an expert in your industry. People grow to trust and respect your opinion because they find value in your content.

• Increases rankings in search engines – Articles include a source/bio box where you can include a link to your site. It’s very likely that people will click on your website link to learn more information. As those links grow so will your search engine rankings. When you market articles related to your site, you don’t have to wait for traffic. Results are immediate! Also, since you have quality content this only helps your chances in the future with increasing PR (PageRank).

• Effective marketing/advertising tool - Consumers don’t always purchase products or services immediately. Create articles as an information resource –customers learn more about your products and services and can make a better decision. As a result, they click on your site and choose your product or service to buy - MORE sales!

• Doesn’t break the bank! – The best part is that article submission sites are FREE and/or inexpensive. You don’t have to shell out big marketing dollars to market your company – just the time it takes to write and submit articles!

If you liked this article, please tell your friends about it. If you really liked it, feel free to publish it on your blog or website (please don't forget to mention http://www.TheOutsourcingCompany.com/blog as the original source)."

What sites do you post on or visit?

Award-winning writer Jon Batson releases first of Summer Reading Series: Murder at Thompson Bog and Other Short Stories

2009-06-22T11:22:00.009-04:00

Raleigh author Jon Batson’s collection of short fiction fills three volumes – each it’s own genre. His descriptive narrative style is engaging and makes for an entertaining read.

Raleigh, NC, June 22, 2009 – The diverse nature of Jon Batson’s short fiction writing has won him awards for sci-fi to historical fiction.

“I ascribe to the adage ‘writers write’. I began and still am a songwriter, but felt a creative pull to write more than songs and musical theatre to tell a story. One morning I woke up with a dream running through my head based on an article I read about identity theft. I ran to the computer to get it down. The result was the action/adventure novella The Rands Conspiracy. That’s how it all began for me.” said Batson.

Batson’s writings range from micro, flash fiction, and short fiction to novels – Deadly Research written in 18 days for the annual NaNoWriMo Contest and a sci-fi saga currently titles The Trasaron Chronicles.

The tales of the Summer Series are organized by type of story and released monthly. “From a relentless summer night in New York City to the chilly mist over Thompson Bog, five stories of dark and sinister intent. If you can't sleep, this won't help” describes the June release of the 134 page read Murder at Thompson Bog and Other Short Stories. July will bring Encounter at a Small Café -- 12 light fiction stories and in August be ready for the six sci-fi shorts that make up Doll Bodies.

You can follow “Luna Nightmares” the serialized first story of Murder at Thompson Bog at http://midnightwhistler.blogspot.com/ or purchase the hard copy and eBook at lulu.com or the Kindle version at Amazon.

About Jon Batson:

A storyteller at heart Jon has been writing songs and performing since his teens. Upon his move “back home” to North Carolina in 2005, he began his career as an author in earnest. His historical fiction tales have won him first place twice in the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society’s Short Fiction Contest and Honorable Mention for his sci-fi tales in Writers of the Future. He lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife Eileen. Contact Jon through Midnight Whistler Publisher at info@MidnightWhistler.com

Media Contact For Interviews and Appearances:

Eileen Batson – Batson Group Marketing and PR 919.327.5021 http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/EileenBatson

###

Women’s Center of Wake County Receives $2,000 Donation from Coffee and Contacts

2009-06-22T09:36:00.004-04:00

Raleigh, NC, June 20, 2009, -- Coffee and Contacts: Power Networking for Women celebrated the success of the Women Helping Women Business Expo at their awards luncheon Friday with a $2000 check to The Women's Center of Wake County.

On hand to receive the check for The Women’s Center was Mary Lou Parsons, director of ABBEYGAIL’S Re-chic Boutique on Hillsborough Street, the Center’s up-scale women’s resale shop.

“This is fabulous. Thank you all for your hard work and generous donation. These funds will help us to assist the community through our programs and services that provide homeless women and children with support, basic needs and affordable housing.”

The Expo held earlier this month hosted over 70 professional women who showcased their products and services in a 3-hour event. Over $4,000 in gifts were raffled off with a grand prize of a 3-day cruise to Nassau on Carnival Cruise Lines compliments of Diane Bean of CruiseOne. Raleigh publications Women’s Edge and Skirt Magazine!,Costco Wholesale, The Wake County Shrine Club, Total Wine and a host of businesses lent their support as sponsors.

Sallie Matlack, head of the Expo steering committee made up of Cyndi Bulka, Dotty Bryn and Eileen Batson said, “We knew in our hearts we would accomplish our goal because our team of women worked tirelessly together to make it happen. Kudos go to our incredible organizers Shannon Saharski, Ingrid Beckman, Laurice Hewitt, Monique Wooley, Michele Little, Allison Auerbach, Denise Whitley, Yvonne Hanks, Jenna Boyd, Dawn Gupton, Claudia Acosta, and Monique Ruvido. A special thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors, attendees, and the extraordinary women of the Women’s Center. It would not have been the success it was without your support, dedication, time and effort.”

Related Links: www.WCWC.org www.CoffeeandContacts.biz

About Coffee and Contacts, LLC: Coffee and Contacts was co-founded by Jean Hedges and Jeanne Moyer in the spring of 2007. The women's networking group has grown from one chapter in N. Raleigh to 12 chapters throughout the Triangle and beyond. The primary aims of Coffee and Contacts are to help women grow personally and professionally and provide a base to network within to further the success of their business through referrals while creating durable friendships. Visit www.CoffeeandContacts.biz

About The Women’s Center of Wake County: The Women's Center of Wake County started over 20 years ago. Over the last 12 years, the Center has shifted focus in response to the most critical needs of women, addressing the growing issue of homelessness for single women with children. The board, staff and direct service volunteers have become strong advocates and service providers for those who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. For more information, visit www.wcwc.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For Coffee and Contacts: Eileen Batson Batson Group Marketing and PR 919.327.5021

For Women’s Center: Jean Williams 919.829.3711

###

Coffee and Contacts' Women Helping Women Business Expo a huge success

2009-06-07T09:27:00.012-04:00

Came upon a great magnet I'd like to share... "those who say it cannot be done shouldn't interrupt the people doing it."

Thanks to the team of determined women who pulled off this incredible event

Jean Hedges for the idea for a "vendor blender" that took on a life of it's own after the Executive Committee, Sallie Matlack, Dotty Bryn, Cyndi Bulka and myself, Eileen Batson got our hands on it.

The Raffle Coordinator Claudia Acosta and Director Monique Ruvido
Room Set-up Coordinator Monique Woolley and her Team - Jenna Boyd, Denise Whitley, Yvonne Hanks

Volunteer Coordinator Dawn Gupton and her Team - Letha Costin, Diane Moore, Phran Gatcher, Fay Sanders, Tonya Palmer, Chanda Tunstall, and so many others selling raffle and wine tickets and jumping in wherever they were needed.

Everyone who worked on getting sponsors especially Allison Auerbach, Michele Little, Sallie Matlack, Dotty Bryn.

Bless Laurice Hewitt for handling the financial end of this extravaganza and making sure the bags made it to the event.

Ingrid Beckman for the beautiful eye-catching postcards and poster designs.

Shannon Saharski for keeping track of the vendor signups

Jeanne Moyer for putting info up on the Coffee and Contacts website and taking photos with Alice Osborn at the event.

The Women's Center of Wake County for all the great work they do and especially Jean Williams, Jane Tobia and Holly Gray.

Our sponsors Costco, Skirt Magazine, Women's Edge magazine, Total Wine, Diane Bean of CruiseOne, and The Wake County Shrine Club

And to all the vendors and attendees who without their support nothing would have happened at all!!!

www.CoffeeandContacts.biz

www.WCWC.org

Love, health, prosperity and wisdom to you,

Eileen Batson
Batson Group Marketing and PR
Raleigh, NC
"Promotion Resistance Equals Non-Existence"

Gift Card Tips for Business and Personal Gifting

2009-06-02T12:11:00.007-04:00

Gift cards are the most desired gift among women, and third-most desired gift among men, according to a survey by Needham, Mass.–based Tower Group. They are attractive to both givers and receivers for their ease of use.

Rich Killian, a past president of the Incentive Gift Card Council (IGCC), says...

* The best way to give a gift card is as an unannounced spot reward;

* Do it in person and in front of peers;

* Communicate the gift so that other workers see some reward;

* Personalize the gift card, put a letter with it;

* There's some trophy value with a gift card. You can share it with family or a friend, and say, 'I earned this for doing a good job.' You don't share with a friend that you got a cash bonus or how much that was. There's more lasting value if you can share it with more people."

Other tips
* For an alternative to the on-the-spot gift card presentation, post gift card on the company bulletin board and declare that the first employee to close a major deal would receive the prize.

* One of the reasons for corporate executives to hire an incentive professional is that they can and should monitor issues like a card-issuer's financial health.

* When an employer can tailor their incentives to the specific preferences of each employee, they increase their ability to attract and retain great staff. Of course, the employer also has to be doing all the other things right as well, in terms of providing an environment where an employee wants to work, to ensure the employee remains motivated.

* Gift cards create a memorable experience associated with the company.

To wrap up -- A gift card is best used as an incentive, And of course, the gift should be presented in person with an explanation of what the employee did to deserve it.

Eileen Batson
Order My Gift
Referral # 1645620 KEY: BAT
OrderMyGift@yahoo.com

Fun, Friends, Food & Fundraiser for Women's Center of Wake County

2009-06-01T11:25:00.008-04:00

Coffee and Contacts: Women’s Networking is hosting a fundraising event for the Women's Center of Wake County June 4th at the Shrine Club on Lead Mine in Raleigh. Over 70 professional women are showcasing products, services and providing valuable raffle items including a 3-day Cruise to Nassau.

Raleigh, NC -- The women’s networking group Coffee and Contacts, LLC announced that proceeds from the organization’s first “Women Helping Women Business Expo” will benefit the Women's Center of Wake County. The expo will be held at The Wake County Shrine Club 6015 Lead Mine in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 4, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00pm.

The Women’s Center of Wake County assists the community through programs and services that provide homeless women and children with support, basic needs and affordable housing.

“We are pleased to have the support of Coffee and Contacts,” said Jean Williams, executive director of the Women’s Center of Wake County. “The hard work by the women of Coffee and Contacts in planning, promoting and holding this expo is appreciated as it helps the Women’s Center to service our clients and expand our visibility in the community.”

Over 70 professional women will be showcasing their products and services in the 3-hour event. Over $3,000 of gift items valued at more than $50 each will be raffled off with a grand prize of a 3-day cruise to Nassau on Carnival Cruise Lines compliments of Diane Bean of CruiseOne.

International award-winning Raleigh author
Diane Chamberlain, will be available to sign
her latest book Secrets She Left Behind from 5-7pm.

Raleigh publications Women’s Edge and Skirt Magazine!, Costco Wholesale, The Wake County Shrine Club, The Design Mill, and Batson Group Marketing and PR have lent their support as major sponsors of the event.

Donations of gently used upscale clothing and accessories for women and children are being accepted at the event for sale in the Women's Center resale shop Abbeygail’s.

“What started out as a simple ‘Vendor Blender’ for Coffee and Contacts’ 130+ chapter members has grown into a major fundraising event in the Triangle. Steering committee members Sallie Matlack, Dotty Bryn, Cyndi Bulka and Eileen Batson have done an exceptional job pulling all the elements together with the help of member volunteers.” stated Jean Hedges, co-founder of Coffee and Contacts.

Co-founder Jeanne Moyer went on to say, “Without the teamwork of the women of Coffee and Contacts an event of this size could not be pulled off in three months. It is a daunting task and our women are committed and making it happen.”

Everyone – men and women - are invited to attend the Expo and join the community in support of local women entrepreneurs and the important work done by the Women's Center.

Purchase tickets to the event online and at the door for $10 which include a beverage (wine/beer) and light hors d'oeuvres. Raffle tickets to the win the grand prize cruise are online as well. Go to http://CoffeeandContactsExpo.eventbrite.com/

About The Women’s Center of Wake County: The Women's Center of Wake County started over 20 years ago as a grass roots movement. The Center has responds to the changing needs of women, expanding and providing services as indicated by the women in our community. Over the last 12 years, the board, staff and direct service volunteers have become strong advocates and service providers for women and children homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. For more information, please call 919.829.3711 or visit online at www.wcwc.org.

About Coffee and Contacts Coffee and Contacts, LLC was established in March of 2007, by Jean Hedges, a Senior Loan Officers with Prime Lending, and Jeanne Moyer, a realtor specializing in Green homes with CityGate Real Estate Services. The women’s networking group is built on women who invest their time and efforts to get to know each other and help each other grow personally and professionally. For more information go to www.CoffeeandContacts.biz email info@CoffeeandContacts.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For Coffee and Contacts: Eileen Batson | Batson Group Marketing and PR | 919.327.5021
For Women’s Center: Jean Williams | 919.829.3711

###

A Quotable Quote

2009-05-29T09:30:00.002-04:00

Thought this was noteworthy....
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." ~ Ellen Goodman, American journalist (1941 - )

What do you think normal is?

Guest Blogger: Stacy Cochran author of CLAWS

2009-05-19T07:48:00.008-04:00

Thanks so much, Eileen, for letting me guest blog at your place to help promote the release of my new novel CLAWS. I am five days into a 45-day blog tour, and I’d like to talk today about an interview I did on Saturday with an online call-in show called podioracket.com

First though, a few words about CLAWS. The novel is a thriller set in Arizona that concerns a wildlife biologist who gets drawn into a Tucson police investigation when two of her best students at the University of Arizona are found dead early one morning on a golf course. The biologist suspects they were killed by a large mountain lion.

I need reviews at Amazon.com more than anything else. Also, I’m offering to interview for my TV show anyone who buys five or more copies at Amazon.com. As you know, Eileen, my show is broadcast to some 90,000 homes in our area as well as on YouTube to a global audience.

Which leads me to today’s discussion. So on Saturday, a friend of mine suggested I get in touch with the folks at podioracket.com. I did and I ended up speaking by phone with one of the show’s hosts. After the call, I downloaded Skype for free from the Skype.com website as per her suggestion, and about an hour later I had my first Skype call.

I guess I was surprised at how easy this was to do and how free it was. It looks like the folks at podioracket.com are using WordPress for their website, and in six weeks, they’ve already built up a thousand+ subscriber base. They interview all of their guests using Skype.

One of the challenges I’ve faced with an interview TV show is that I have to physically have a guest in studio. And while I think the video image is more compelling than audio only, a programming model that allows authors to call in via Skype from anywhere in the world would have some very distinct advantages. Plus Skype is able to facilitate video calls, too, though podioracket.com isn’t using this feature yet.

It was inspiring.

And it made me wonder what other kinds of topics you could have for a call-in show like podioracket.com and how best to drum up subscribers and interest. I’ve been batting around the idea of an online literary magazine that uses new-media technologies to tell stories and write book reviews. A video-rich and audio-rich magazine that redefines what a literary mag is in the 21st century… a sort of online TV network/radio show/literary magazine.

As with all new business ideas, figuring out the revenue source is a primary concern. Online advertising has come a long way in the past five years, but it still has a long way to go. And while I’ve made over a thousand dollars in advertising pay producing the howtopublishabook.org site, I’m not sure that’s enough money to build what I have in mind. I guess you have to start somewhere.

At any rate, the point of this post is to say that the tools are in place to create what I’m calling a “New Media Network.” An online amalgam that uses video, text, and audio content, draws its revenue from advertisers, and broadcasts a specific kind of content (e.g. ESPN has sports, Food Network has food, Ovation has Arts). What do I have in mind for content?

Well, you’ll just have to stay tuned!

Thanks so much, Eileen. Now, go write a glowing review of CLAWS at Amazon!

LINKS YOU SHOULD VISIT!

CLAWS on Amazon

CLAWS on Kindle

How To Publish a Book Website - Follow Stacey's Blog Tour

PRESS RELEASE: "Secrets She Left Behind" Book Signing with Award-Winning Author Diane Chamberlain at Women Helping Women Business Expo

2009-05-10T19:44:00.007-04:00

Secrets, surprises, and suspense are hallmarks of Diane Chamberlain's novels. Meet the author at the Coffee and Contacts fundraiser for the Women’s Center of Wake County June 4th at the Shrine Club in Raleigh.

May, 2009 RALEIGH, NC – Secrets She Left Behind is Diane Chamberlain’s 18th novel and is set on Topsail Island. From 5:00 – 7:00pm Diane will autograph books and talk with attendees at the expo about the story that revolves around a teenage boy whose mother says she's going to the store--and never returns. For more information about the book go to http://www.dianechamberlain.com/pdfs/Secrets-She-Left-Behind-release.pdf

The "Women Helping Women Business Expo" to benefit the Women's Center of Wake County is hosted by Coffee and Contacts, LLC a women’s networking group. The expo will be held at The Shrine Club of Raleigh 6015 Lead Mine Rd, Raleigh, North Carolina on June 4, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00pm.

"Over 60 professional women will be showcasing their products and services in the 3-hour event. A wide selection of gift items valued at more than $50 will be raffled off with a grand prize of a 3-day cruise to Nassau on Carnival Cruise Lines compliments of Diane Bean of CruiseOne. We appreciate Raleigh publications Women’s Edge and Skirt Magazine! for their support as sponsors of the event." said Sallie Matlack, head of the event committee.

Everyone is invited to attend the Expo and join the community in support of local women entrepreneurs and the important work done by the Women's Center.

Purchase tickets to the event online for $10, which includes a beverage (wine/beer) and light hors d'oeuvres. Raffle tickets to win the grand prize cruise are online as well. Go to www.CoffeeandContacts.biz or http://CoffeeandContactsExpo.eventbrite.com/

About The Women’s Center of Wake County:

The Women’s Center of Wake County assists the community through programs and services that provide homeless women and children with support, basic needs and affordable housing. For more information please call (919) 829-3711 or visit the Web site at www.wcwc.org.

About Diane Chamberlain
Diane Chamberlain is an award-winning author of 18 novels published in more than 11 languages. She writes complex stories about love, compassion and forgiveness. Her books, which are often set in her home state of North Carolina, feature a combination of family drama, intrigue and suspense. Diane lives with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca, and her shelties, Keeper and Jet. Email Diane at Diane@DianeChamberlain.com. Visit her on the web at http://www.DianneChamberlain.com

About Coffee and Contacts:
Coffee and Contacts, LLC was established in March of 2007, by Jean Hedges, a Senior Loan Officers with PrimeLending, and Jeanne Moyer, a Realtor specializing in Green homes with CityGate Real Estate Services. The women’s networking group’s model is to provide a platform for women to expand their business and help each other grow personally and professionally. For more information go to www.CoffeeandContacts.biz info@CoffeeandContacts.biz

Media Contacts:
Coffee and Contacts: Eileen Batson – Batson Group Marketing and PR, 919.327.5021 BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

Diane Chamberlain - Tori Jones Clove Marketing 910.619.9449 Tori@CloveMarketing.com

Women’s Center of Wake County: Jean Williams (919) 829-3711

Moving Mantra Yoga Studio Supports Inter-Faith Food Shuttle with Karma Yoga Day Fund-Raiser

2009-05-04T10:47:00.000-04:00

With charitable giving under a strain, Cyndi Bulka of Moving Mantra Yoga Studio has a way for Triangle residents to give so it doesn’t hurt with a fundraiser for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

Raleigh, NC, May 4,2009 -- May 30th is a special day at Cyndi Bulka’s N. Raleigh’s Moving Mantra Yoga Studio on Sawmill Road. Nearly 20 Raleigh businesses have pulled together, offering a variety of products and services to benefit the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle on Karma Yoga Day.

"I believe it is vital for all of us to share what we can and pull together, especially when times get tougher. How we act and what we do for our community is what Karma is all about. Since the concept of Karma is a spiritual one, I felt what better way to express this spirituality than to create an event that benefits people of all faiths through a fundraiser for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle." said Bulka.

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a food-redistribution effort that has fed thousands of people in the Triangle and surrounding area for nearly 20 years. In the belief that hunger is unacceptable, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, alleviates hunger by developing systems to recover, prepare and distribute wholesome, perishable food for the area's poor, hungry, undernourished and homeless. Volunteers drive 11 trucks across the Triangle every day to deliver nearly six million pounds of food to 200 agencies in the course of a year.

Karma Yoga Day kicks off at 8am with Yoga classes that anyone can participate in for a $10 suggested donation. Attendees can take advantage of $1 a minute Chair Massage, Ayurvedic treatments & Foot Reflexology, $5 Paraffin hand waxes. $10 haircuts with master stylist Stephen Gauquie of Troutman Beauty Affaire and more.

Jewelry, food, beverage, t-shirts and raffle tickets for amazing prizes donated by local merchants will be available for purchase. Supervised activities for children 4 and up are available so everyone can have a good time in a fun, inviting atmosphere.

Celebrate a day dedicated to giving back to our community Saturday, May 30th, 8am – 12pm at Moving Mantra Yoga Studio, 200 Sawmill Road, Suite 101 in N. Raleigh. For more information and to make donations contact Cyndi Bulka at (919) 449-0530

About Cyndi Bulka and Moving Mantra Yoga Studio
Cyndi is the owner and director of the Moving Mantra Yoga Studio. She has been practicing Yoga and meditation for nearly 20 years and teaching as a profession for more than 13. She earned her advanced teaching certificate under master teacher Esther Meyers and has studied extensively with several other master teachers, which has helped her integrate her experiences and knowledge into a loving, intelligent, relational approach to teaching. She founded Moving Mantra Yoga Studio in 1999 to create a loving, nurturing and safe environment to support inward journeys. Moving Mantra Yoga studio offers a variety of Yoga, meditation and movement classes to suit a wide array of people and specific needs. In the true spirit of Yoga, she hopes to foster a sense of community amongst students, teachers, and our larger community. 200 Sawmill Road, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27615 (919) 449-0530 http://www.movingmantrayoga.com

About the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
In 1989 by two women, Maxine Solomon and Jill Staton Bullard, witnessed breakfast sandwiches being thrown away in a fast food restaurant because it was time to put out lunch items. From that inauspicious beginning, the Food Shuttle has grown to be a powerful hunger relief organization providing food for thousands every day. The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has many programs to meet the needs of people in Wake County and beyond. 1001 Blair Dr. Raleigh, NC 27603 P.O. Box 14638, Raleigh, NC 27620 (919) 250-0043 Monday-Friday 8-5. http://www.foodshuttle.org/

Media Contacts:

Cyndi Bulka – Moving Mantra Yoga Studio, Raleigh, NC (919) 449-0530
Jason Boone - Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Raleigh, NC (919) 250-0043

For Immediate Release: Author and Certified Coach Betsy Smith of E. L. Smith Consulting Helps Women Reclaim Their Strength and Confidence

2009-04-15T17:08:00.000-04:00

With economic conditions in flux, more women are facing situations that demand greater self-confidence. Certified Coach Betsy Smith, PhD, ACC helps women find and apply their strengths to maximize their personal excellence through one-on-one coaching and workshops.

Raleigh, NC, April 15,2009 - Coaching has become one of the leading means used to help people focus on what matters most. Through regular coaching sessions, men and women identify and learn to focus their thoughts, words, and actions, to align with their personal and professional goals to achieve the lives they really want and love, no matter what their age.

"Each of us is gifted with talents, strengths and skills – yet too often, we fail to make the most of them in order to succeed." said Betsy Smith Co-author of the soon to be released book Second Blooming for Women: Growing a Life that Matters after Fifty."

She went on to say, "Today, women who live to 50 without cancer or heart disease, have a life expectancy of another 40 years. As a group, Boomers pulled women out of traditional roles. These women are the first generation to have built a variety of skills outside the home and are accustomed to planning their own lives and have no role models to look to in this ‘second half of life.’"

Smith, a 50+ woman herself, coaches clients to draw out the best in themselves and others by observing communication styles and the relationship building processes. She focuses on the differences between people and concentrates on what is special and distinct about each person.

Her upcoming workshop in the Raleigh area May 7th is based on a chapter in Second Blooming and uses the book and assessment Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath. The assessment highlights a person’s top five strengths and talents – themes - that Smith helps clients put into practice and utilize to boost/strengthen weaker areas.

For more information on coaching and workshops go to http://www.second-blooming.com/

About Elizabeth. L. "Betsy" Smith, PhD
Betsy, a well-known speaker, facilitator, and seminar presenter began E. L. Smith Consulting in 2005. In her role as Executive Leadership Coach, Smith holds certification from the International Coach Federation and is an Associate of the Strategic Executive Coaching Alliance. She has a number of published articles covering women in business, retirement issues and leadership. She is co-author with Kathleen Vestal Logan, M.S., M.A., of their upcoming book Second Blooming for Women: Growing a Life that Matters After Fifty. Reach Betsy at www.ELSmithConsulting.com Phone: 919.521.4734 betsysmithphd@gmail.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Betsy Smith: E. L. Smith Consulting, Raleigh, NC For interviews and speaking engagements PH: 919.521.4734 betsysmithphd@gmail.com

Eileen Batson: Batson Group Marketing and PR, Raleigh, NC PH: 919.327.5021 BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

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List of Some Sites of Interest

2009-04-09T13:06:00.000-04:00

In the interest of acting on Day 2 of the #31 Day Challenge (31DBBB) from http://www.problogger.net/ Here is my list of sites some known, some not but should be, that I feel are worth checking out. I invite your comments. What are some sites you like?

FOR TWITTER:
http://www.twitip.com/10-twitter-tools-that-help-you-work-smarter/

INTERNET MARKETING
http://www.realwebmarketingblog.com/

SPEAKER SITES
http://www.speakersite.com/

MENTAL HEALTH SITES
http://www.TeenScreenTruth.com/
http://tinyurl.com/AltMentalHealth
http://www.ablechild.org/

SURVEY SITE
http://www.surveymonkey.com/

GAMES
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/games/#ignore
http://www.spintop-games.com/index.html

TV and MOVIES
http://www.hulu.com/

HEALTH and WELLNESS
http://www.betterlifeunlimited.com/
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.nutrilite.com/

SCI-FI FANS
Firefly and Serenity Fans (and if you’re not you should be)
http://www.scifi.com/firefly/about/
http://www.breakingatmo.com/
Dr. Who
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

POLITICAL OPINIONS and NEWS
http://www.beverlye.com/
http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/
http://www.freedom21.com/
http://www.americanpolicy.org/

EDUCATION
http://www.beverlye.com/
http://www.edwatch.org/
http://www.elearnaid.com/rivera.html
http://www.elearnaid.com/hoedliprhoca.html
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/

GOOD READS AND AUTHORS YOU SHOULD KNOW
http://www.jonbatson.com/
http://www.beverlye.com/
http://www.dianechamberlain.com/
http://theresefowler.blogspot.com/
http://www.aliceosborn.com/
http://www.maureensherbondy.com/
http://www.staceycochran.com/

Beverly Eakman Author and Education’s Whistleblower to be Featured Interview on KAJO Radio

2009-04-03T14:01:00.000-04:00

Beverly Eakman author of four books exposing the "dumbing-down" of our children will be interviewed live on KAJO radio April 8,2009. She will be discussing the real purpose behind mental health screening tests.

April 3, 2009 / Washington, D.C. -- Interested in what’s going on in the Mental Health Industry and Mental Health Screening? If so, tune into best-selling, award-winning author Beverly Eakman’s live radio interview by Scott Jorgenson on KAJO, the leading news and talk show station in Southern Oregon.

Beverly Eakman was invited to the show after her article "Marxism Comes to America" was published and appeared in NewsWithViews. A sought after speaker and author of many op-ed articles on what is happening in America today, Eakman’s views always lead to a lively show.

"I take issue with teaching methodologies whose primary purpose is to target the emotions rather than challenge the intellect. Teachers do not exist to strip away a parent’s belief system from children in their classrooms, and to then transmit "new" values to them. Today parents are waking up to see children who are nothing like them – people they don’t know and who don’t even share what few values they have left." stated Ms. Eakman.

She went on to say, "In my most recent book WALKING TARGETS, I reveal an agenda that begins with government-controlled child-rearing and force-feeds young people a pseudo-education under the cover of ‘mental health,’ ‘safety,’ ‘jobs,’ and something called ‘lifelong learning.’ I explain how and why, under the cover of educational and mental-health testing, opinions of schoolchildren are being used from the earliest years and show how psychographic techniques, once confined to market research, have been retooled for data-mining purposes."

The interview takes place Wednesday, April 8th, 9:30-10:30am PST (12:30-1:30 EST). Listen online live at http://www.kajo.com/ or at 1270 on the dial in Southern Oregon. Call-in line 541.472.1270. Visit http://www.BeverlyE.com.

ABOUT BEVERLY EAKMAN:
Beverly K. Eakman is a former speechwriter for the Voice of America (under the U.S. Information Agency) as well as for the late Chief Justice Warren E. Burger when he chaired the Commission of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, and then a writer for the U.S. Dept. of Justice. Since retiring from the federal government, she has won numerous awards and is a sought-after speaker and lecturer with over 700+ interviews and over 150 speaking engagements. She is the author of three best-selling books on education policy, mental-health issues and data-trafficking. She is a free-lance columnist with dozens of feature articles. You can find her articles in NewsWithViews, Education Week, Chronicles Magazine, The Washington Times, National Review, Crisis Magazine, Vital Speeches of the Day, and The Washington Post. She began her career as a teacher, where she first got wind, in the 1960’s and 70’s, of what was about to happen to classrooms nationwide. Her writings citing that period are considered historically important today and have earned her nationwide recognition.

Contact info: bkeakman@gmail.com Find her on Myspace and LinkedIn. Order her books at http://www.newswithviewsstore.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Beverly Eakman For interviews and speaking engagements Tel: 301.946.5395 bkeakman@gmail.com

Eileen Batson - Batson Group Marketing and PR - Raleigh, NC BatsonGroup@yahoo.com

Tel: 919.327.5021

How Interior Designer Helps Triangle Home Owners Beat the Recession.

2009-03-18T14:25:00.000-04:00

Raleigh interior designer Denise Whitley helps homeowners minimize the faults and maximize the attributes of their home with solutions that work whether Staging to Sell or Residential Re-design

March 18,2009, Raleigh, NC - Tired of the same old look in your home, but on a budget? Trying to sell your home in the current market? Depending on your needs, Staging to Sell or Residential Re-design can be your perfect solution!

Denise Whitley, owner of Interior Concepts, is an interior design professional who offers full-service interior design and specializes in home staging and Residential Re-design.

She is certified by The Metropolitan Institute of Interior Design, an Associate Member of Interior Design Society, Certified One Day Stager, Member of One Day Decorating Alumni Association and is the Lead Designer for Cary based Town & Country Realty.

"Proper staging is all about increasing the potential selling price while reducing the length of time your house stays on the market. The dollars you invest in staging your home could reap substantial rewards upon selling. Staging to sell can turn your house into a showcase home!" said Denise.

She went on to say that a number of studies support the value of home staging. A U.S. Housing & Urban Development study found professionally staged houses sell, on average, 17% higher than non-staged houses; a Home Gain survey revealed that sellers who spent up to $1000 staging their house recovered almost 200%of the cost in the sale of their house; and 2007 and 2008 statistics released in February 2009 by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) proved that professionally staged occupied homes sold 46% faster in 2007, and up to 89% faster in 2008. Staged vacant homes previously on the market sold 68% faster in 2007; 85% in 2008.

Whitley is unlike other interior designers. Her use of your existing furnishings in new and creative ways brings a sense of harmony and balance to your home with economy and flair. When new items are needed, she knows where to find great design at affordable prices. Interior re-design focuses on a formula that establishes where and how to place what you already own while accenting and displaying those items that make your home unique to you.

For information about Denise Whitley and Interior Concepts visit http://www.intconcepts.net/

About Denise Whitley of Interior Concepts
Interior Concepts is a full-service interior design firm designing residential interiors from luxury homes to individual casual spaces. Denise is a One-Day Stager and Re-design Professional, an Associate Member of Interior Design Society, Certified One Day Stager and Member of One Day Decorating Alumni Association. She is the Lead Designer for Cary based Town & Country Realty. Visit http://www.intconcepts.net/ Contact Denise at Denise@intconcepts.net or call 919.345.0040.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Eileen Batson – Batson Group Marketing and PR BatsonGroup@yahoo.com 919.327.5021 Raleigh, NC
http://www.linkedin.com/Eileen
# # #

Louise Griffin elected President of Raleigh Woman’s Council of Realtors

2009-03-02T15:56:00.001-05:00

Full time RE/MAX United professional Realtor® Louise Griffin is the 2009 President of the Raleigh Woman’s Council of Realtors®. She works closely with current residents and people relocating to the Triangle to find the areas and homes that fit their needs and lifestyle.

March 2,2009, Raleigh, NC ~ As 2009 rolled in many changes were in effect across the nation. Most notably in the real estate market. For some, the news presented problems too challenging to confront and handle. Not so for Louise Griffin, newly elected President of the Raleigh chapter of the Woman’s Council of Realtors®.

The Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) is a community of real estate professionals whose mission is to help their members create business opportunities, develop skills for the future, and to achieve individual potential for success. As a network of successful REALTORS® the WCR believes in empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The Raleigh chapter is affiliated with the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors and represents members in Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston Counties.

"The best thing about the WCR is being able to help other real estate business women, and men, in our community to grow personally and professionally and enhance their reputation in their community. We strive to bring about success through the power of relationships, participation, and diversity. The ideas and successful actions I learn when networking at national and state conferences I’m able to bring back and share with our local members." commented Griffin.

As President of the Raleigh Chapter, Griffin takes the lead in program and speaker development. There is a full calendar of presentations featuring personal business and skills development, area knowledge, and cultural diversity; fundraising provides scholarships for members to attend professional development programs; and their largest event, "Realtors On Parade" enable members to network and learn about the diverse areas of the Triangle.

Through "That Woman is a Success" the chapter honors a woman in the community, not necessarily in real estate, who has made an impact on women in business and to the larger community through charitable work.

For more information on Louise Griffin go to www.BreezeWithLouise.com.

About Louise Griffin
Located in "Inside the Beltline" in Raleigh, NC, Louise is a full time professional residential Realtor, Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) and ePro® with specialized training in home valuation. She enjoys working with people who have environmental concerns. Her goal is to personalize the selection of a home to fit the needs and lifestyles of her clients and to make the buying or selling of their home a positive experience. Contact her for a free market analysis and to make your experience "a breeze." For more information on Louise please visit www.BreezeWithLouise.com

About WCR

Women’s Council of REALTORS® is a nationwide community of more than 19,000 real estate professionals who include many of the best and brightest in the business. WCR is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. For more information on WCR, please visit http://www.wcr.org/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Louise Griffin – T: 919.796.3470 Louise@BreezeWithLouise.com www.BreezeWithLouise.com
Eileen Batson – Batson Group Marketing and PR 919.327.5021 BatsonGroup@yahoo.com