Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category

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Video marketing gets the word out

Thursday, January 31st, 2013

I’ll show you why video is one of the most effective ways to give a presentation.

As you may know, I teach presentations skills to leaders, salespeople, and customer service reps– skills that one can use in a live, interpersonal setting.  Your work team will always need this type of training.

Yet, when it comes to getting the word out, video is a super-elegant solution that offers tons of advantages.

To see what I mean, watch the following short vid.  Feel free to comment after watching, especially if you like the message. Add your positive spin!

 

 

So what just happened?

Well, the entire clip lasts all of about one minute and 45 seconds, but consider all the “deliverables” to the viewer. 

You get to attend a portion of a lively presentation of an entertaining keynote speaker without traveling or even getting out of your chair.  You learn quite a bit about the world of video marketing. 

You’re reminded of an international service organization called Rotary. 

You learn that it’s a good idea for the President of every company to post a short “welcome” video on YouTube.  Has the leader of your organization done this? 

The video explains that producing this sort of video is easier than one might think.

You also learn a lot about the speaker including his speaking style, tone, pitch, cadence, humor, and that some hair sticks up on the back of his head.  These are things you could never learn from a .pdf or an email or some sort of static link.

Video is kinda fun!

 

Video marketing is da bomb!

Michael Angelo Caruso video marketing Even seasoned professionals occasional flub a live presentation. 

But once you create the perfect video, it plays perfectly ever single time.

Produce most of your videos in “evergreen” format. 

Don’t reference  dates or trendy anecdotes that instantly date your message. 

That way, your vids will be useful and relevant for a longer period.

And did you know that YouTube videos, when posted correctly, can easily outrank websites, blog posts, and Facebook pages?  Bonus!

Don’t get left behind.  Get going on your video marketing today.

Best of luck with your presentations or whatever you’re working on!

 

P.S.  Don’t forget to comment after watching the video or just let me know what you think in the comment area below. 

Referral selling pays affiliates for helping others

Saturday, December 15th, 2012

affiliate marketing Michael Angelo Caruso blogThe best measure of success is happiness. Tweet This

And I’m happiest when I’m helping others. It’s a nice bonus to get paid for helping others, don’t you think?

So it’s fun when you can figure out to create value and be compensated for it.  The second best feeling is to get paid for telling others about someone who creates value so you can get paid for that!

One way to do this is through something called “affiliate marketing.”  It’s a kind of partner program that pays you to spread the word about quality products and services.

 

Referrals are the easiest way to sell

Society has become very savvy about the buying process.  The advent of concepts such as the National Do Not Call Registry proves that people don’t like to be sold to. 

Heck, I teach sales training and can tell you that some salespeople don’t like to sell!

That’s why referral marketing is absolutely the best and easiest way to do business. 

I call it “indirect selling” and it works so well because referrals strip the salesperson out of the formal selling process and replaces him with an advocate that works within an informal selling process.

I’ve been fortunate to build a great career selling personal and professional information products through word-of-mouth.  In other words, people are telling other people about my products and services and everyone involved is being rewarded.

It’s so fun helping people improve themselves! I wish everyone could have this feeling. And now you can!

(more…)

Want free article content for your website, blog or newsletter?

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

Michael Angelo Caruso Author free article contentI write articles so you don’t have to.

Everyone that sells a product or service knows that it’s a good idea to post article content to promote your brand and drive traffic.

But who has time to write?

The problem is even more complicated for people who aren’t writers or aren’t interested in writing. 

So, here’s an easy solution– publish other people’s content.  And you can easily do it with their permission!

 

How to use other people’s articles

Most authors are pleased to grant re-purposing rights as long as you provide attribution.  In other words, just make sure to include what’s called a “back link,” a link back to the author’s website or primary URL. 

Focus on niche articles that would directly appeal to your preferred customer demographics. 

You can also post “wide net” articles that appeal to everyone’s intrinsic desires such as time management, looking younger, being happy, etc.

Caveat:  You probably want to avoid using articles written by your direct competition.

Here’s another hidden benefit to contacting established authors and requesting permission to use their content.  You’ll be establishing connections with the brightest, most connected people in your industry.  (more…)

Speaking tips from Clint Eastwood

Friday, August 31st, 2012

It’s not that the convention was going badly. 

The 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa was chugging along thanks to its state-of-the-art technology, tight scripts, and slick production values.  Then the special guest speaker walked on stage.

There had been an interesting mix of professional politicians and average people at the podium.  Most seemed sincere, although many were reading their lines on the teleprompter. 

Something about reading aloud makes audiences think that the speaker doesn’t really mean what he or she is saying.  Don’t you agree?

Anyway, this special guest speaker works in the entertainment business.  He has a long and storied career as an actor and director.  He’s the legend known as “Clint Eastwood.”

 Mr. Eastwood is not new to the art of making speeches. He’s won a gaggle of important film awards that required him to address large audiences.  His films Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Unforgiven have all won Academy Awards. 

Clint is not new to politics, either.  The actor served one term as Mayor of Carmel, California from 1986 to 1988.  He did quite well, too, by all accounts.

So it was fun to see Eastwood stride to the podium.  Most viewers expected a break in the regular rhythm of the convention, but what they got was one of the most unusual speeches in the history of American politics.

 

Most speakers are average

I’ve given over 2,000 paid presentations, including keynotes, training sessions, and other types of presentations, so I know a few speaking tricks.  When I use the word “tricks,” I’m not referring to deception or manipulation.  I never recommend deceiving anyone. 

I use “tricks” in the way that a professional magician tricks audiences when making a rabbit disappear.  Everyone knows that the rabbit doesn’t actually disappear, so no one is truly deceived. 

The speaking tricks that Clint used caused no harm.  They were only techniques that helped him deliver his message amidst a backdrop of average speeches. 

Here’s another way to look at it.  Most speeches are average, but you can deliver a better speech by employing techniques that are different than those used by other speech makers. 

 

Here are the tricks Clint used

Clint Eastwood Michael Angelo Caruso blogEastwood’s primary motif for the speech involved an empty stool next to the podium.  Clint asked us to imagine that President Obama was sitting in the chair so the actor could ask the President some questions. 

He made us wait for the first question, creating anticipation among viewers and audience members.

Clint used questions that drew attention to Mr. Obama’s unfulfilled campaign promises including the closing of Gitmo and how this administration seems to approve one war more than another. 

There was also a pointed jab at Obama for flying a private jumbo jet to visit colleges to talk about student loans. 

Eastwood employed humor, pretending that Obama was telling him to shut-up. 

Some of his most popular crowd-pleasers were based in personal sentiment, such as:

“I never thought it was a good idea for attorneys to become President.”

“You, we, own this country [applause] … politicians are employees of ours.”

“When someone doesn’t do the job, we gotta let him go.”

 

Not bad for an old man

Critics of the speech charge that Eastwood looked less than vital, that his content was inappropriate and too informal, and that hair was in disarray.  In short, that he looked and acted like an old man.

Clint Eastwood, of course, is 82 years-old.

This was not the best political speech of all time.  It was not even a “rah-rah” speech. 

Low-key and laconic, especially for his late evening time-slot, Eastwood at times seemed to be struggling to find the correct words. It had the opposite effect of a prepared reading, which was probably just what the actor-director wanted.

I know that’s what I wanted.  In fact, Eastwood’s terrific, unconventional convention speech made my day.

Judging by the amazing feedback on Twitter, most other Americans felt the same way.

-Michael Angelo Caruso, from Royal Oak, Michigan

 

This article is available for reprint

Michael Angelo Caruso author speakerYou can repurpose this article on your website, blog or in your newsletter free of charge. 

Simply send us a message stating your intentions.  Provide a link to the page and we might even help drive traffic your way. 

You can say that again!

Saturday, August 25th, 2012

Michael Angelo Caruso speaking and writing One of the easiest ways to improve a speech or blog post is to simply take out the extra words. 

Unnecessarily long sentences can make make your message unprofessional and disorganized.  

Sometimes one can clean up the message just by removing instances of redundancy. 

Here are some common examples of how we tend to repeat ourselves:

• advance planning
armed gunman
• circulate around
close proximity
• completely full

consensus of opinion    
• each individual person
fewer in number    
• final outcome
free gift

• future plans
general public
• invited guests
join together
• large in size

major breakthrough
• my personal opinion
on a daily basis
• past experience
past history

• period of time
predict in advance
• red in color
revert back
• round in shape

firm in consistency
• still continues
sum total
• true fact
unexpected surprise

• unsolved mystery
visible to the eye
• 12 noon (or 12 midnight)
7 a.m. in the morning

 

Save your breath

As an added bonus (get it?), let’s include the commonly used question: “Where are you at?”

Drop the “at” from that sentence and the message retains its meaning. 

 

Want to reprint this article?

You can repurpose this article on your website, blog or in your newsletter.  Simply send a message to us stating your intentions.  There is no charge for this. 

Consider it a “free gift.” 

Automated marketing will set you free

Monday, May 7th, 2012

Michael Angelo Caruso ipad head shot Bill Cowger Acacia Photography Detroit MichiganAs this blog post goes live, I’m not quite home from Thailand and back to work.  

I should be back to work–it’s Monday, but my speaking/consulting/publishing business is on auto-pilot as I traveled in Asia.  

 

During my trip, I used marketing automation to:

1)  Share links  to  helpful articles on marketing via Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

2)  Generate two keynote requests from people who saw my posts. 

3)  Process several orders for my my info products–the money was directly deposited  into my bank account while I was sipping Singha beer poolside in Bangkok.

4)  I’ve “automatically” sent you this message to promote today’s webinar on how you can automate your business (details below).

 

All of the above are automated processes that were put in place before I left the United States.  Best of all, I can tweak the processes a bit and repeat the entire sequence whenever I like.

You can use similar strategy to take an extra vacation this year!

 
 
What biz wouldn’t benefit from automated marketing?
 

Marketing automation has become all the rage lately as businesses try to find the best ways to take advantage of drip campaigns, e-commerce, and auto-responders.  

Think about it.  How can a prospect or client ever forget about you, if they are regularly being reminded about the benefits of working with you?
 
Plus, referrals, almost always the result of good timing, are much more likely to happen for you when customers and partners are always buzzing about you.  

It doesn’t matter if you work for a small business or a Rotary Club.  Automated marketing is your ticket to a more vital organization and a brighter future.  

 
    
You can do this!
 
Today, May 14 at 2PM ET, I’m speaking  on a free webinar with a few of my marketing buddies.  
 
We’ll tell you everything you need to know about automating your marketing and growing your great business.  
Michael Angelo Caruso ipad head shot Bill Cowger Acacia Photography Detroit Michigan
 
We’re all using a nifty piece of software called Infusionsoft. 
As a satisfied customer and affiliate, I can’t say enough about how this great automation system has improved my business and my life.  
 
There is no obligation and no hard sell, I promise.  Just tons of great info on how you can automate your biz and get more time off.  
 
I look forward to talking with you or someone from your team at 11 PM PT, 1PM CT or 2 PM ET time today.
 
Again, to get more info and to register for the free webinar, click on this link:
 
Your work life will never be the same again. 
 
Guess I should get back to work now. 



 
 

Top 13 ways to build your list

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

Michael Angelo Caruso list buidling blog webcam Google guru, Steve Holt and I recently discussed the art of list building on a Google Hangout

I hold this free call every Monday from 4 to 4:30 PM ET.  The call-in codes are posted on my calendar.

As usual, it was a fun call!  I took some notes, too.

 

13 top ways to build your list

1.    Offer of a free report on your website.  Make sure the opt-in window appears “above the fold” in the upper-left corner.  Just ask for the person’s first name and e-mail address if you want the maximum number of people to sign up.  See how I do this on my website.

2.    Collect emails at presentations.  You might have to give something away to get audiences to play with you.  But this kind of permission-based marketing is very lucrative, providing the business cards you collect actually end up in your data base and you don’t chase people off  by sending bad content.  By the way, legitimate bulk e-mail platforms such as Constant Contact and Infusionsoft only tolerate one spam complaint per 1,000 e-mails. 

3.    Advertising opportunities.  People surrender e-mail addresses for tons of reasons.  Honor the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 and most business associates won’t mind you adding their name to your newsletter distribution list.  The CAN-SPAM law requires that people sending bulk e-mail include a physical address and an unsubscribe link at the bottom of all e-mails.

Michael Angelo Caruso list buidling blog webcam4.    Social media is a free way to build your list.  Stop thinking in silos.  Be clever about getting Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and Google + friends to give you their e-mail address.  Again, the trick is to get them to opt-in.

5.    Buy or rent a list.  Neither Steve or I recommended this.  Even if the list contains good e-mail addresses, solid prospects for your business, these poor people will have no idea why you are contacting them.  Since they haven’t opted in, you’ll seem like a spammer, so they will report you as one.  I know I would.

6.    Give people opportunities to share your info.  The easiest ways to do this involve sharing via social media buttons and such.  It doesn’t hurt to encourage people to share, unless you constantly pester people to Like, Share, Add, etc.

7.    Directly ask for additional contacts.  This assertive technique can be fun for everyone if you do it right.  I teach presentation skills, so a lot of my messaging and content is geared for leaders and salespeople.  “Share this with the most successful salesperson you know,” I request.  And people do!  Somehow, it’s easy and fun to identify such a person and comply.

8.    Provide a “Flinstone” sign up list.  Yep.  A clipboard with a piece of paper still works for collecting email addresses.  I urge retail clients to give customers access to a computer so they can do their own data entry or Like my clients’ Facebook page.   

9.   Provide quality content and audience will find you.  Athletes use the phrase, “put the ball in play.”  Amazing things happen when you create, post, and distribute original, high-quality information.  The right people find you.  See how I generate keyword-rich articles for my blog.

10.   Get your articles into existing customers’ newsletters.  When you bother to create short, useful articles people will fall over themselves asking you for permission to publish them.  Be sure to request attribution, which will help you build your list.  

11.   Put a connection offer onto all physical products.  Retail establishments are now putting a “Like our Facebook page” sign on their front doors.  A law firm in Royal Oak Michigan has a bunch of QR codes on their windows.  I spent 15 minutes one cold morning walking around the building scanning the damn things, curious about what info awaited me.

12.   Article swaps and guest blogging.  Remember those articles I mentioned in #10?  Offer related, non-competitive companies a chance to swap articles.  Offer to give them one of your articles even if they can’t reciprocate and you still win!

13.   Place a subtle offer in your e-mail signature.  People forget that your e-mail signature file gets viewed thousands and thousands of times in a single year.  True, many of the people you e-mail are already on your list, but the people they forward your message to are not.  See how I do this.  Click here, then type “Sig file” into the Subject line and I’ll send you my current signature file. 

—–

Michael Angelo Caruso speaks on Facebook

You’re welcome to publish this info!

The above article is available for republication on your blog, website, and in your newsletter.  Simply send a message stating your intent through Michael’s website at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

Jack Nicholson on customer service

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Happy birthday to Jack Nicholson, who turned 75 this week.

The great actor is an ardent advocate of customer service, as evidenced in this classic scene in Five Easy Pieces.

 

 

How many times have you been in a customer service situation when the “policy” made no sense whatsoever?

Perhaps you have one of those policies in place at your business today. 

The best way to know if your customer service program needs an upgrade is to establish systematic dialog with your customer so feedback is readily shared, evaluated, and when necessary, acted upon.   

You can open up communication using real-time conversation with customers and through online channels, such as I do via my website or through various social media platforms such as Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter (my personal links).

You can also do “defensive marketing” via Twitter, for example, by searching #YourCompanyName to see what people are saying about your business.

Urban legend has it that Comcast used to intercept people waiting in their customer service telephone queue who were ranting on Twitter after being place on terminal hold. 


Use Twitter even if you don’t like it

I find it fascinating that so many people refuse to become active on Twitter because they personally don’t care for it.  The above search technique alone can save a business owner thousands of dollars in damage control.

So here’s a toast–and some singed bread, too–to Jack Nicholson and everyone in favor of giving the customer what he wants.

Happy birthday, Jack!

————–


Want more great customer service tips?

Teaching Remarkable Customer Service by Michael Angelo CarusoListen to Michael Angelo Caruso’s Teaching Remarkable Customer Service audio CD. 

All of Michael’s products and programs come with an unconditional, money-back guarantee.

Bad news travels fast these days, so it’s time to sharpen your communication.  When customers have a positive customer service experience, they’ll talk about it both online and offline, which creates loyalty, and referral business for your company.

Remember, it’s easier to re-sell an existing and happy customer than it is to convince a new prospect to buy.  If you’re a leader, the ability to teach remarkable customer service skills to your team is critical to your success.

 

36 speaking tips in one phone call

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Michael Angelo Caruso speaks on FacebookI host a free call every Monday at 4PM ET.   The topic is always marketing.

 Often there is a co-host.  Sometimes we give a lesson to a bunch of listeners at once.  Sometimes we dedicate the call to a single attendee. 

On a recent Monday, a lucky woman named Rosemarie received some serious attention from me and my speaker buddy, Steve Holt.  Steve’s a Google Guru who has developed quite a reputation as a speaker.

Rosemarie was getting ready to co-host an industry trade show and wanted some tips on how to take her presentation skills to a higher level. 

At the beginning of the call, I ad-libbed a little and promised our guest three dozen power tips.  Steve was a little surprised at my bold promise, but we delivered. 

Here are the three dozen tips, all delivered in a 60-minute phone call.

1.    Be on time, hit your marks.  Especially important when hosting an awards show.
2.   Know your stuff.  Memorize your content, rehearse it like crazy. 
3.   Fake it til you make it.  Don’t tell them you only had a little time to prepare.  They don’t care.
4.   Be animated.  Use your eyebrows!
5.    The best facial expression (unless it’s a a somber event) is bemused.  Remember, people will be looking at you the whole time you’re up there.

 

6.   Go with the flow.  Use the comedy ad lib known as “Yes, and…”
7.    Use dress rehearsal to practice everything, e.g, walking on/off.

8.    Sit in the four corners of the room in darkeness and light to see what others see.
9.    Practice.  Presenting is much harder than it looks on TV.
10.  Write your own intro.  Never trust a stranger with your image.  

 

11.    Watch video of speakers who are like you.  Women, watch Ali Brown.  Older folks, watch Les Brown.
12.    Watch my videos on YouTube (search “Michael Angelo Caruso”).
13.    Practice the beginning 10x more than the rest of your presentation.  The beginning is when you’ll be the most nervous.
14.    Forget past reviews.  No one in the audience knows you bombed your 7th grade oratorical contest.

 

15.    Call your own voice mail and practice bits of your speech (Poor Man’s recording technique).
16.    Do your thing in front of a video camera (Rich Man’s technique).
17.    Do your thing in front of a mirror.  NOT the rear-view mirror while driving.
18.    Craft and tell good stories.  Short stories, not tall tales.
19.    Get coaching.  Michael and Steve Holt do speaker coaching via Google Hangout and Skype.

 

20.   Break up your talk with energy shifts, e.g., volume fluctuation, pace changes, physical movement vs. standing still.
21.    Raise the volume occasionally to recapture attention.
22.    Be careful with humor.  Don’t force it.  Remember, all humor makes fun of something or someone.
23.    Everything leads to the Big Finish!
24.    Solicit applause at the end.  Ask audience to give themselves a round of applause.  Do a ticket drawing, whatever.

 

25.    Nervous?  Distract yourself from your own emotions by visiting with attendees.  
26.    Don’t drink alcohol before you speak–especially if the event is being recorded. 
27.    Still nervous?  Remember to breathe.
28.    Never tell people you’re nervous.  Most people don’t know.
29.    Teach the audience something they don’t know.  (Use a statistic or a factoid from history.)
30.    Send a “thank you” note to whoever booked you.

 

31.    Say it right.  Say it once.  No need to repeat yourself or embellish if you’re clear the first time, right?
32.    Keep it simple.   Use short words, short sentences.
33.    Practice how people will join you on stage.  This is a type of dance.  Don’t “upstage” anyone. 
34.    Always end with a “call to action,” e.g., donate, please attend again next year.
35.    Get talented members of the audience involved when possible.  They will make you look better.

 

36.    Have fun!

 

Want more speaking tips?

how to give killer presentations michael angelo carusoPick up Michael’s audio CD, How to Give Killer Presentations

This one-hour program comes with a 30-page e-book and it’s loaded with fabulous tips that will help you be a more effective speaker practically overnight. 

All of Michael’s products and programs come with an unconditional money-back guarantee. 

 

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The miracle that almost went unnoticed

Thursday, March 1st, 2012
Wilt Chamberlain 100-point Michael Angelo Caruso blog marketing

Wilt Chamberlain

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to take a picture, did it fall?

Fifty years ago, this week, Wilt Chamberlain scored an astounding 100 points in a single basketball game.

The Wall Street Journal reports this feat to be the “statistical Everest of sports.”

But here’s the thing–hardly anybody saw this game between Chamberlain’s Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks.

No TV cameras were there. Very few sportswriters covered the event because the last-place Knicks were a non-story.

The game was played in the middle of nowhere– in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Hershey arena was half-empty with only 4,124 fans in attendance.

The only photographer on duty left after the first quarter.

When the game was over, the Warriors won 169-147, Wilt Chamberlain had scored an unprecedented 100 points. It’s a record that still stand today.

A fast-thinking publicity agent scrawled the number “100″ on a piece of paper and had an off-duty Associated Press photographer snap a photograph. This photo is the only surviving documentation of this historical event. Amazing.


Take a photograph every day

These days, it’s much easier to document achievements. Camera phones are everywhere and people reflexively take photos and movies.

But small miracles go unreported every day.  More to the point, your business is remarkably under documented. Why? Lots of reasons, including:

  • • You think people are already aware of your brand
  • • You don’t think you’re doing anything that important
  • • You’re camera shy
  • • You think marketing is not important


Marketing is a discipline

Michael Angelo Caruso image marketing photograph blogYou must constantly fly your flag.  After, all the best way to make sure people remember you is to not let them forget.

Take a photograph of your work team doing their thing.  Take a photograph of your best customer.  Take a photograph of the people who attend your next meeting.

Something important may happen and it will be the only evidence of that moment.

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

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