The Occult Bot

Press releases and sales letters are key tools in marketing one’s business in today’s professional world. However, many professionals do not seem to understand the importance of enhancing their writing skills.

Few people realize that the written materials they send to clients can make or break their business. A badly written press release or sales letter can make one sound like an amateur to a potential client; but a crisp, well-written letter can prove to a client that you are the best in your field. You can utilize these marketing techniques if you follow a few simple rules.

First, take a minute to analyze your niche market. Who are these people to whom you are sending your materials? What will spark their interest? Use clear and concise words to detail your product or services, but do not treat your clients as though they cannot understand simple examples. Do not use words that are key words in your industry but not widely used elsewhere.

Second, determine what makes your business unique to your niche market. If you are sending your press release to a business magazine or newspaper, focus on the business aspect of your services. If you are sending a press release to a magazine for women, emphasize how your product can help women. Be sure to carefully research the target market of the medium to which you submit your press release. Most editors will not waste their time with your press release if it does not have an impact on their readers.

Third, make your materials attractive. Most people receive a lot of advertisements and “junk mail” every day and are quick to throw away these items without looking more closely at them. Make your sales letter or press release stand out from the rest by choosing attractive designs and interesting fonts. Add your company’s logo and offer a free service if you are able. Think of new ways to make even your sales envelope catch the eye of your client.

Finally, proofread your sales letter or press release before sending it to your clients. Make sure to check for spelling errors or grammatical problems as these errors can reflect poorly on your professionalism. Allow someone else to read your material before you send it as they will have a fresh perspective and may be able to clean up your letter or release for you.

Remember to not be overwhelmed by that evasive sales letter or press release. Follow these tips in order to utilize these important marketing tools. As you become accustomed to sending out written materials, you will become more adept at focusing on your client’s needs. Before you realize it, you will be standing out above your competitors. Start today enhancing your writing skills so you can begin marketing with this low-cost but effective technique.

If you’re ready to start promoting your business through press releases or sales letters, hire a professional. Katie Cruice Smith, a former newspaper reporter, will use her editing and writing abilities to create a professional press release or letter for your business. Visit www.katiespen.com today to jumpstart your professional campaign.

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The Hero’s Journey is THE template upon which the most successful stories are based – ALL of the Academy Award winners (Best Film) of the past fifteen years (at least) are based upon it.

The Hero’s Journey is also simply a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. This is incredibly useful for screenwriters – it is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.

Below are some examples:

In Gladiator (2000) and Dances with Wolves (1990) – both Academy Award Winners Best Film – a Mentor or Supernatural Aid observes the hero from above a hilltop (from a distance, from above, afar). In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Marcus observes Indy from the edge of the classroom. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus tells Neo “he has been watching him.”

Often the Mentor observes the hero engaged in an activity that demonstrates his capability or worthiness to pursue the Call to Adventure. The general observes John Dunbar carry out an extraordinary act of bravery (Dances with Wolves, 1990); Marcus Aurelius observes Maximus in battle (Gladiator, 2000); Marcus observes Indy display his capability as an archaeologist in the classroom Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981); Morpheus has observed Neo’s activites on the Net (The Matrix, 1999).

In The Incredibles (2004) and Star Wars (1977), both heroes are frustrated as they are prevented from following the Call to Adventure by a figure of authority and under the threat of some punishment (the Interdictor); Uncle Owen wants Luke to stay another harvest and Mr Incredible’s boss and the government do not allow Mr Incredible to act on his superhero impulses.

In both the above examples, an intolerable antagonism persuades the hero to consciously agree to the adventure. In The Incredibles (2004), Mr Incredible explodes when he sees an innocent being mugged in the street. In Star Wars (1977), Luke is persuaded after seeing the burnt bodies of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.

The detailed deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.managing-creativity.com

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Everyone can learn to be a good public speaker. Yes everyone!
Giving a presentation is an effective way to communicate to a large group, yet so many people suffer from stage fright. Learn to deliver your message with impact! It is not just a speech or presentation. Your presentation is the vehicle for delivering your message and to create results. A successful presentation is one that moves people to action. You will know that the presentation was a success when people are moved by what it is you are saying and act according to what you said.

The best public speakers make the time to practice. Yes, practice does make perfect. A good presentation does not just happen. It is planned, rehearsed then delivered with flair. A good presenter is one who learns the skills of presentations-not one who hopes for talent to carry them. Public speaking is a skill not a talent. You will be a great speaker if you learn from every presentation you deliver. Go in front of a mirror and study your facial expressions while you are speaking. You just might realize that the facial expression does not suit the presentation.

Tape record your speech and listen to it. You are now the audience. How does it sound? Is your voice monotone? Does it have the right vocal variety? Is there a good rate of presentation?

The third time is truly the charm. Practice at least three times to perfect your opening and closing, your nonverbal language and your intonation.

Think about the purpose of the presentation. You have been asked to speak to this particular group. Why are you delivering this presentation? What message is so important that you must take the audience’s time to deliver this message? Be clear on the purpose of your speech before you write it down. Don’t give the speech just because you “have to.” Don’t waste their time and don’t embarrass yourself. Be sure you have something meaningful to share.

Understand your audience. What do they want? Why would they listen to you? Try to connect to the purpose of the speech. Using humor can be effective. It will:

• Surprise your audience and keep them off-guard so their defenses are lowered

• Entertain and enlighten your listeners so your message is absorbed better

• Break up the monotony of a very heavy content driven speech

• Show your human side which will make your audience bond with you quicker

The best public speakers know that timing is everything. Find out exactly how much time you have and practice getting the timing right so you don’t run out of time. Remember the use of pauses for effectiveness.

The best public speakers know that time passes. Although the first few seconds can be very stressful, your body will automatically relax after you realize that the audience needs what you have to offer!

Tip #1 Drink Water

Before you give a speech, deliver a sales presentation or make phone calls – drink one to two glasses of water. It lubricates your vocal chords, helps your voice and gives you needed fluids that you lose while speaking. Lukewarm water is best. Cool water is OK. Ice water is not good for your vocal chords. Avoid dairy products because they create phloem in your throat.

Tip #2 Move away from the lectern

When you address an audience move away from the lectern (often called the podium). Let them see you as more than just a talking head. You will be both more powerful and more connected to your audience. If you must see your notes then stand beside the lectern – and don’t lean on it. Stand strong.

Tip # 4 Emphasize your name

While introducing yourself to one person or a group, emphasize your name, so they hear it, feel the respect you have for your name and remember it. State, “My name is (short pause) Jayne (short pause) Latz (smile).” Say it loud enough to be heard. Most importantly – say it much slower than you normally do and smile.

Tip # 5 Make your name memorable

If your name is unusual, difficult to remember or pronounce, say it extra slow and repeat it, ‘Latz’. Just like Katz but with an “L”. Or Jayne, Like Mansfield. If you can have fun with your name people will like you. If you make them laugh with you, they will remember you.

Tip # 6 Stand and wait for everyone’s attention

Giving your 30-second presentation at a networking meeting? Stand; stop playing with your chair and wait till you have everyone’s attention before you speak. It might take a second or two. Then when you speak it makes your information seem more valuable – and they will hear you.

Tip # 7 Use action verbs

Telling people what you do? Use action verbs and words that paint pictures of results. Avoid nouns ending in ‘tion’. Don’t say, “We are Speech Consultants.” Instead try, ‘We help people get ahead in business by learning to speak better!.”

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Shooting thru the southern skies like a Comet is the new online article submission website venue and this trend is taking the Internet by storm. Unfortunately like any new innovation it is tearing down the old to bring in the new.

Some professional writers of lesser skill are worried about Going Bankrupt and cannot handle Amateur online author competition on these new progressive online article submission sites.

One professional writer attacked the new writing industry sector aggressively, as these amateurs were making it tough on making money and selling their writing. No offence to this (B-) writer who wrote the most scathing attack on the online article submission category; but she really needs to stop making excuses for piss poor performance and get with the new program and paradigm. Simply slamming something is seriously silly.

She claims that writers using the online article submission sites cannot make any money? Well that first of all is baloney. And who says they are in it for the money anyway; should writers or authors write whatever they want for whatever reason they choose?

Why are professional writers attacking amateur article authors? Are they simply not good enough to make the grade? I hereby ask the question and it is due an answer, but alas I await. Consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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I have been writing professionally for more than two decades and teaching writing nearly that long. Every conference, every writing staff, and every class has always included some writer who asks: “How Can I Become A Better Writer?”

They don’t usually like my answer. “Practice writing every day and read to study the writing of others every day.”

They don’t like the answer for one of two reasons usually. Some people are looking for some quick-fix, magic formula that will make them a good writer in three easy steps. Although my suggestion involves only two steps it is pretty obvious that it is a long-term project. The other group of people will sneer at the first because they consider themselves “real writers” but they don’t like the answer any more than the others. They believe they have a gift that simply needs to be unlocked by the magic key that published, successful writers possess.

The simple truth is that there is no way to improve your writing other than to continually practice your craft. Write every day. Experiment, plan, revise, and revisit. Make challenges and deadlines and competitions. Push yourself and your writing will reward you. I promise. Write something inspired by a writer you admire and then write something completely your own.

However it is not enough to simply write in a vacuum — or an ivory tower. You must also read the writing of others. Read far and wide. Read fiction, nonfiction, poetry and song lyrics. Read argument and persuasion, read informative and biographical, read science and fantasy. Read talented and skilled professionals and read those who are still finding their writing feet.

You are reading to gain inspiration and confidence. You are reading to build your vocabulary and your stockpile of writing tricks. You are reading to learn more about the rhythms and patterns of language. You are reading so that as you write you will be able to develop your own unique voice.

Learning to be a better writer is not the work of a weekend or even a semester. Learning to be a better writer is a life’s work. If you really are a writer then you will never consider your work done. I don’t know a professional writer who sits back and says “I’m done learning now, I’m as good as I’m going to get”. Certainly it need not take a lifetime to reach professional status but you shouldn’t make that your goal. Thinking in those terms can hold you back from becoming the best writer you can be.

For example, perhaps the reason your particular project was rejected had nothing at all to do with your writing but was in fact due to your topic, the particular needs of that publisher, or even the mood of the editor when your submission came across their desk. The truth is that you cannot control when you become a published, professional writer, but you can control your progress toward improving your writing. Believe me, the stronger your writing becomes then the easier it will be to achieve that other goal. When you reach the point that you regularly deliver quality writing then you will find a market. If you write it the rest will come.

Deanna Mascle has been teaching and writing professionally for more than 20 years. Find more articles about writing at Word Craft Online at http://WordCraftOnline.com

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Would you like to know a winning formula on how to make money on the Web from writing articles? Here’s how I do it: I write an article, create 4-5 versions of it, and sell it for use by others in my same profession. In fact, just that one part of my business generates enough income to fully support myself comfortably. Just about anyone in any profession or business can copy this formula.

I write articles for executive coaches and business consultants. They use different versions of my articles in their own newsletters, with their own names in the byline. When they purchase an article, they get reprint rights, but not exclusivity. But since they are in all parts of the country, and the world, they don’t bump into others using the same article. They are also free to change the article.

This formula can be used in any industry. Let’s say you are a veterinarian. You know a lot about pets, and about your vet clinic clients. You can easily write articles that appeal to your customers who are pet owners. You may already write and publish a regular newsletter with articles that appeal to your clients and potential clients.

What’s to stop you from writing your article to suit the needs of other vets who need to send out a newsletter? You post a brief synopsis of this article on your website for vets, offering it to them for a fee. They buy the reprint rights, and it gets used by hundreds of other vets who want to save themselves time and energy on their own newsletters.

That is one way of making money by writing articles on the Web, but here are four more ways, all from the same article.

This same article is revised several times in several lengths. It can be sold in three different lengths, for example, 2000 words to form a 4-page newsletter, 1000 words for a 2-page newsletter, and 600-700 words for electronic email ezines. That makes three more ways to sell the same article.

You also take that same article, change the title, make it more personal adding your own experiences, including your personal details and website links. You submit it to article directories on the web.

This version of your article with your name on it gets picked up – this time for free – by other websites looking for content. Each time another website publishes your article on their site, they link back to your site. The more incoming links you have to your website, the higher value the search engines give you.

This means you will start coming up higher in the search engine rankings when people type in key words in Google or one of the other search directories. That is a fifth way to make money from the same article. This technique is more indirect. Your article is being used for free, but the linking power will drive new customers to your site.

Finally, you can use this same article, or another altered version of it on your own website and blogs, to attract new clients to you. Having quality content on your site and on your blogs will ensure that readers appreciate your expertise and use your services, or buy your products.

Here’s a bonus idea for making money from your articles: compile a group of articles about the same topic, format them into a PDF e-book, and sell it on your site.

You probably have knowledge and expertise in your own field that others would pay for, in order to have quality content for their own newsletters. This method requires good writing skills, or you can hire a professional editor to help you. It also requires you master the art of marketing on the web in order to reach potential buyers of your articles. To market successfully, you can submit your articles to the many article directories on the Web, and quickly build traffic to your websites and blogs.

Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D. of Customized Newsletter Services has a doctorate in psychology and a background in journalism. She is a leading provider of content and newsletter services to executive coaches and business consultants. She licenses her newsletter system to a variety of industries. For information, visit www.CustomizedNewsletters.com

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Writing articles can sometimes take forever most articles I write usually take between 20 minutes to one hour or even longer depending on the topic, now imagine you’ve got 10 articles that you want writing that will take around 10 hours to write and possibly a bit longer.

What if you need a dozen articles each day to promote your web sites? Would you like to find out the easy solution, the fact of the matter is most people outsource?

What is outsourcing you ask well outsourcing is when you pay someone else to do the actual work for you, there is an actual website that will let you write a short ad about what you require and then people will bid on what they think your project will cost, so let’s say you wanted 10 articles written someone will put a bid in for say hundred dollars which is in my opinion too expensive.

You will then get other people bidding lower amounts so let’s say someone bids $50, you can then contact them through the contact board which is sort of like a message between the two of you (emails) but quicker.

You can then give the details of what you require and what I like to do is offer them a little less however you get what you pay for when you pay less so it’s not always best to pay less sometimes it’s best to pay in the middle or sometimes higher.

When you have agreed a fee you then go into elance.com and accept the project, most of the time the person who’s going to do the work for you will require 50% payment and then the 50% payment on completion of your work.

If someone says that they want the money upfront I usually say no, as with anything on the Internet you get a lot of scams, I have been burned in the past through Elance as I paid someone the money upfront and then they only delivered half of the work and I couldn’t get in contact with them. I’ve also had someone I paid the money to for a dozen articles I had written only to find that they went and paid someone else to have the articles written and then passed them on to me.

However elance.com has got real gems, which when you find someone that produces good work, you want to keep them and not let anyone else get hold of their contact details.

The website I’m talking about is called elance.com feel free to check it out to get anything outsourced, below are just some of the things that you can get outsourced;

• Articles written
• website designed
• graphics designed
• books written &researched
• software created

Anything that you cannot do or is to tedious for you then just outsource it, however you will need sufficient funds if you intend to outsource most of your business.

Want Juicy Secrets on how to make money with Adsense, then visit http://www.adsense-instant-profits.com/adsense for more tips, strategies, articles, general discussions, & more Visit Now!

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Public speaking is something most people try to avoid and even dread. At times in my life, I have found myself having to deliver a speech and therefore I needed to learn the best way of doing this. In this article, I write about what I learnt from reading many books about public speaking, advice which has helped me to successfully deliver these speeches.

Many people get very nervous before and during their presentation or speech. This can have a negative affect on our breathing and can leave us out of breath. When you feel nervous it is a good idea to remember to take regular breaths when talking. In my opinion you should be looking to breath every six to eight words. The nerves will make our muscles contract and can make your chest feel really tight. This is a natural reaction and it is a good idea to take a few deep breaths before starting your talk to help you to relax.

When you start your speech, I would ensure that you have a focal point in the room, which can act to give you inspiration. This could be a picture at the back of the room or a window. At times you may lose your focus and may forget what you want to say. This focal point can help to get you back on track.

I try not to look at the eyes of the people in the audience when I give a public speech, as this can put me off. I want them to think that I am though, as it can be a sign of nerves if they think that I am not able to. What I tend to do is to look at an area on their forehead which obviously is not their eyes but which has the effect that I am still looking at them etc.

Even though I do plan what I am going to say, I do not plan it word for word. Instead I write down keywords or key subjects on paper which I keep in my pocket in case I need to look at it. This then ensures I do not forget what I want to say and also allows me to ad lib. The speech will also hopefully now not sound so robotic and boring as it might have if I had memorised it word for word.

I always like to start off the public speech with a short joke, which can then act as an ice breaker. I remember a speech I gave a few years ago, it was my last day at the company where I worked. The people in the office had put to a collection and had bought me some leaving presents. I then had to say a few words of thanks to them. I knew many weeks in advance that I would have to give this speech and I have to say it did cause me quite a bit of stress.

The speech itself would only have to last for about ten minutes and would be in front of around fifty people. This was how I started the talk, I would like to thank everybody who has put to the collection, and anybody who did not put, I will see you outside later. This is quite a pathetic joke however a couple of people did laugh. This gave me a bit of extra confidence and helped to relax me.

I also advise people to talk a bit slower than they normally do when they have to deliver a public speech. This has helped me tremendously over the years.

I hope this article helps you to deliver a quality public speech.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

stuttering information

public speaking advice

quit smoking tips

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If the writing you want to do is work related, it is much easier to decide what to write. You may have a directive to follow and a subject matter that is required for marketing collateral, advertising scripts, or even a white paper. Still, you will need to narrow down the subject matter until it is finite enough to give the attention to detail that is necessary when writing down the information.

Work-related writing will require a study of the message that needs to be portrayed. I suggest that you always take the customer’s viewpoint whenever you write. The customer can be either internal or external, there is no difference. Everyone reads from their own point of view, not yours.

Think about the WIIFMs (What’s In It For Them). No matter what the subject matter, you have to pique the client interest or they will not read your work. The question may now be, “How do I know what the customer wants?”

Customers want information about products and services that concerns their problems. They also want to know the benefits and maybe something about the features. They also want to be coerced.

When was the last time you looked forward to reading a product user’s guide, the tech sheet that came with something you purchased, or the brochure before you purchased anything. The reason is likely there was either hype with features or just the facts, nothing to entice you to read.

So what do you write? You write about what you know. If you know a lot about a product you sell, then write about that product. If you know a lot about managing people, then write about that. The important message here is to write about what you know.

Most often, you will not be required to write something that does not affect you or your job. The subject matter will likely be at hand and if others work for you, then have them avail themselves to fill in the blanks. Writing is easy as long as you are comfortable with the subject matter or can surround yourself with the experts.

If you do not know enough about a subject, then you will have to do some research. That means locating information and reading about it. Getting ideas and keeping track of your sources.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprints for Success – Networking: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprints for Success Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2006. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com.

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You’re sitting there waiting to speak. You feel the tension creeping into your shoulders, your thighs. Your stomach tightens up. Maybe your mouth gets dry. And the confidence and enthusiasm you felt a minute ago starts wobbling.

Now’s the time to get up from wherever you are, excuse yourself and head for any place (even the restroom) where you can have five minutes alone. That’s really all you need–just those few minutes to do these easy exercises and get your blood flowing, your muscles unlocked and your confidence back in place.

Your body, your vocal cords, your brain are all connected in such a manner that tension in one affects the others and makes it difficult to focus on your message. This is not news to you, right? You may already have noticed that if your knees are quaking, your voice may be shaking, and your memory may be forsaking you!

What you want to do is break that connection, which only reinforces the discomfort, in as many ways as you can so that every part of you is supporting, rather than sabotaging your presentation.

If you can spend five minutes in a room by yourself just before you speak, do these simple exercises: (If you can’t, scroll down; there’s help for you, too.)

• Stretch your body up and around, and gently bend over.
• Take some good deep belly breaths. Make your ribs and back work.
• Stretch your face into funny shapes to get it loose and relaxed.
• Make your eyebrows go way up, and your eyes open very wide.
• Sigh deeply several times.
• Hum.
• Stick your tongue out.
• Do tongue trills.
• Pant. (This is particularly effective to release any tension around your middle.)
• Flop–really flop–over as far as you can easily. Be sure your head flops all the way down. Holding your neck and head up creates more tension and is counterproductive!)
• Smile.
• Remind yourself that you are going to enjoy yourself while you’re being terrific!

Now, if you’re at the head table, or firmly planted on the stage or elsewhere, and haven’t a chance of escaping before you speak, there are still things you can do to keep your body from freezing in place. Depending on your situation, you can use one of these breathing relaxers:

• Inhale for a slow count of one, exhale for a slow count of two. It’s easy to look as though you’re listening attentively to someone while you do this.
• If you can get away with it, double the counts to two and four. (Best not to allow your eyes to glaze over.)
• Wiggle your toes.

If you’re lucky enough that the tablecloth extends to the floor, you’re in good shape!

• Wiggle you toes. Do tiptoes. Circle your ankles.
• Put your hands under the table and wiggle your fingers and circle your wrists.
• No matter how long or short the tablecloth is, SMILE!

If you’re in handcuffs, footcuffs, headcuffs and bellybuttoncuffs you may be out of luck. However, there’s always Imagining! Science is telling us that our brains cannot distinguish between a real and a fancied experience.

So fancy for all you’re worth! What’ve you got to lose?

Carole McMichaels, Speaker, Coach, Author: Fearless Public Speaking: How to Get Rid of Your Stage Fright and Prepare and Deliver a Winning Presentation, invites you to join her free newsletter on speaking in public. You may also get your free report, “7 Valuable Tips on Writing a Mind-Gripping Speech”.
http://getridofpublicspeakingfears.com/

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