Biz Tips Blog: Online Marketing, Visibility and Business Blogging Tips

2 Google Gmail Accounts to Give Away

I have 2 Gmail invites to give away!

Today I received an invite from Paul Chaney of Radient Marketing to get my very own Google Gmail account.  If you haven't heard about gmail, here's the scoop:

Gmail is a new search-based webmail service that offers:

- 1,000 megabytes (one gigabyte) of free storage
- Built-in Google search that instantly finds any message you want
- Automatic arrangement of messages and related replies into
  "conversations"
- Text ads and related pages that are relevant to the content of your
  messages

http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/benefits.html

At this time you can only get an account by invitation.  The first 2 people who respond here on the comment link with their name and email address will get an invite.

How to Get Radio Publicity

Here's another tool for your marketing toolbox.  Last week one of my clients was invited to be a guest on a radio talk show to talk about her new book, "Stop Doing What You Hate...Start Doing What You Love".  It was a first for both of us.  I have no experience with radio publicity and do not do PR work.  I usually refer that type of work out to experts.  However, she wanted some tips and I gave her a few common sense suggestions.

The interview went pretty well, she got almost 20 minutes of airtime, but we didn't sell thousands of books.  Sure, we did increase the size of her database by giving away a free sample and that's a very good thing.  We now have more people to market to.  However, we really wanted to sell more books.

So today, I started searching for info about radio publicity. Surprise, I found a website called RadioPublicity.com I usually don't read sales letters, but this guy Alex Carroll had a very good sales message with lots of good info.  Needless to say, I purchased his ebook "The Radio Publicity Manual" and I am not disappointed.

If you have considered radio talk shows to get your message out about your service, book or product, this ebook will give you detailed, step by step info about how to get on shows, who to call, how to put together your press kit, how to pitch producers, and much more.  I don't usually say this, but this ebook is well worth the $39 investment. Mr. Carroll offers 2 other more expensive programs, and as a way to get started, I'd recommend you check out the ebook first.  You can also subscribe to his free 30 Second Radio Tips.

How to make money with your blog

The Washington Post has an article today outlining 5 different ways you can make money off your blog.  I've said this before: you're not going to get rich, and you could at least end up recovering the fees you pay to host your blog, and personally, I think the real way you can make money is through creating expertise and credibility so people want to engage your services.

Check out the article: Make Money Off Your Blog

The five tips are:

1.  Using Google's Adsense (see adds at left hosted by Google)

2.  Use a service like BlogAds (see ads in column before Google ads on left)

3. Advertise affiliate programs you belong to, like Amazon.com

4. Ask readers for a donation they can pay via PayPal or Amazon.com

5. Sell branded merchandise from a storefront like Cafe Press.

Have you backed up your computer this week?

In December I wrote a post about backing up your files on a regular basis.  Have you created a back-up schedule?  Do you need a reminder?

If so, I highly recommend Sallie Goetsch's FileSlinger backup reminder newsletter.  Every Friday you get a pithy email reminding you to back up your computer files as well as great info.  This week's article was all about the history of tape backup.  Huh?  What's tape?

Sallie has also started the Fileslinger Backup Blog with her complete archives.

Sign up for Sallie's newsletter and protect your files and business.

How to Write Killer Blog Posts and More Compelling Comments

BL Ochman of Whatsnextblog.com has written a fantastic post on writing blog posts and comments.  Not only are the tips for better writing applicable to blogs, but I would say you could apply them to most writing, especially on the web and in email.

Link: How to Write Killer Blog Posts and More Compelling Comments.

This is a post that deserves to be read, printed out and taped to your computer when you begin your writing.