Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

How I use tags to sell online

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

tag internet marketing michael angelo carusoTags are fun and very useful.  It’s surprising that so few people use them.

On Facebook, you can use tags to add names to photographs.

On YouTube, you can tag a video with keywords and key phrases to increase views.  I use tags to create viral videos.

To see tags in YouTube, pull up a specific video and click “Show More.”  To change change or add tags to a video you’ve posted, click “Edit Video.”

And I use tags on these blog posts to increase hits.

Some tags are in all  my posts, such as:  Michael Angelo Caruso, Michigan, Detroit, speaker, author, seminar, info product, motivation


These H1 headings are important, too

Some of my tags are unique to that particular post, including:  the title tag (the title of the blog, video or whatever), whatever the H1 tags read (large font headings within a blog post, as above), and special keywords or keyword phrases unique to that post.

On YouTube, I use the special “secret” tags to ensure that most related videos are mine and not other speakers who happen to use similar tags.

If you one of my affiliates or joint venture partners, you may want to copy/paste these tags when you post about me and my info products or seminars.

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Internet marketer

Disaster is on the schedule; have a “Plan F”

Sunday, July 31st, 2011

Options and choices rock!

My clever friend Charlie Wollborg recently reminded me that it’s okay if Plan A doesn’t work.  There are 25 other letters in the alphabet.

Charley’s correct.  When it comes to marketing plans or e-mail Subject lines or which video to post, it’s always better to have choices.

America band Dan Peek Michael Angelo Caruso blog

Dan Peek is on the left

And that’s what the pop band America figured out when one of its founding members left the band just when all their hard work was paying off.

Dan Peek left the America in 1977, when the band was on top of the world, thanks to mega hits such as Horse With No Name and Ventura Highway.

Remaining members, Dewey Bunell and Gerry Beckley decided to press on with something other than Plan A.  They produced many more hits as America and have kept their enterprise alive for decades.

Anyway, Dan Peek died last week, at age 60, but the band plays on, thanks to Plan F.

 

 

5 cool ideas for staying in control

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Michael Angelo Caruso 5 cool ideas staying in controlEverything we do has rewards and consequences.  You can control various forms of this pleasure and pain if you understand the linkage between thoughts, emotions, behavior and reward.

Thoughts, for example, usually lead to emotions.  Emotions drive behavior.  Behavior determines reward.  Do you have complete control over your own thoughts, emotions and behavior? Here are 5 Cool Ideas for being in control.

1.  Own your own stuff and be in control.  Miguel Ruiz writes in his book The Four Agreements that we need to control our own thoughts and emotions.  When we own our own stuff, we can limit others’ control of our stuff.

2.  Own your thoughts. Controlling your own thoughts is based on the concept of free will, which means that you are responsible and accountable for your own thinking.  Not to put thoughts in your head, but this seems like a “no-brainer,” doesn’t it?

If, for example, you study the odds of winning the lottery and decide that you have a very slim chance of winning, you will probably decide not to play.

3.  Own your emotions, including sadness. Thoughts help determine emotions.  If you decide not to play the lottery, you will probably not feel like buying a ticket.  Being in control of your emotions doesn’t mean that you cannot cry.

At my mother’s funeral service, I wept like a child–and I was in complete control of my emotions.  I was in control because it was totally appropriate to cry under those conditions.  To the contrary, if your mother dies and you don’t cry, you may not have control of your emotions.

4.  Be 100% responsible for your behavior. Emotions drive behavior.  In our lottery example, if you don’t feel like purchasing a ticket, you won’t win the lottery.

Of course, no one can make you buy a lottery ticket.  No one can make you do anything you don’t want to do, if you own your behavior. In almost every situation, a person has options.

If a wife insists that her husband quits bowling because Tuesday night is scouting night for their son, the husband has at least two options.  The husband could quit bowling and then hold his wife in contempt because she made him quit.  Another option is for the husband to quit bowling and be happy with the behavior that allows him to spend more time with his son.

5.  Own your stuff and you will own your reward. Believing we don’t have control over our behavior makes it easier to blame others for our own failure.  People who take ownership of their thoughts, emotions, and behavior almost always enjoy more control.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Control is a form of success

If you’re interested in having more success in terms of money, health, and relationships, check out Michael’s one-hour audio CD titled, Creating Success Habits.  It comes with a 30-page e-book on the same topic.

Let’s tax bad tattoos

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

tax bad tattoos  Michael Angelo CarusoEconomic recovery has been moving along like a lumbering grizzly bear, slow and steady, but not fast enough for anyone’s liking.

And more bad news is on the way.  Financial experts predict public pension funds are the next financial disaster.

Sooner or later, nearly all municipalities will have to raise taxes.  A tax increase is the likely solution to the national debt problem, as well.

So I started thinking about creative ways to raise money, while simultaneously solving other problems.  Here are a few of my ideas.


Possible taxes to reduce national debt

- A Tongue Tax for people who talk too much

- An Ink Tax for bad tattoos (and a double fine for the tattoo “artist”)

- A Littering Tax for people who wear sandals but don’t trim their toenails

- A Teaching Tax for boring seminar leaders and bad teachers

- A Breeding Tax for ugly people who have children

- A Literacy Tax for folks who don’t read at least one book per year

- A Tweet Tax for status updates that don’t mean anything


More clever tax strategies

My clever Facebook friends contributed these suggestions:

There needs to be a “chicks with too much make up” tax, a “guy with with skinny jeans rolled at the ankles” tax, and of course a “seriously, pull your damn pants up already” tax.  -Terry Bean, Author, Speaker, President of Networked, Inc.

A Facebook friend tax.  Michael, you’d be screwed!  -Michelle Schroeder

A tax for anyone offering unsubstantiated opinion.  -Randall Dean

A tax for acting stupid.  -Karen Lazarou

How about taxing customer/tech support reps that have such heavy accents that you can’t understand them? Or tax people who give out advice when it isn’t wanted, especially bad advice.  -Steven Donley


Luckily, blog posts are tax exempt

blogging is protected by freedom of speech, which means silly posts like this one won’t cost me any money.   Thanks for having fun with me, all!

Want to get paid for writing?

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Michael Angelo Caruso info products how to write a bookWriting is one of the easiest ways to earn a few bucks.

Surprisingly, few people give it a go, which makes it that much easier for those of us creating content.

Here are some quick tips that may inspire you to join the fray and then, an invitation to attend a terrific live training event on the subject or purchase an audio CD that will help you.


How to get started

Most people begin with a plan to write a book, but it’s more sensible to begin small.  Here are 5 Cool Ideas for making your first buck from writing.

1.  Create at least two Facebook Note pages. This will help you learn more about your writing rhythm and establish some fast feedback loops.  The FB Notes will automatically post as status updates.

2.  Volunteer a couple pieces for your company Web site. This will get you used to writing on deadline and also let your boss know of your interest in writing.

3.  Get familiar with blogs in your area of interest. Thousands of blog sites pay people to create content consisting of 500 to 750 word articles.  To get yourself a gig, post a few complimentary comments on the blog and try to find out who’s in charge.  Then, offer to yourself as a resource and see what happens.

4.  Promote yourself with original content. Of course, anything you write is original content, but the benefits can be far greater when you’re promoting your own brand.  The easiest way to do this is to create a short how-to e-book, which can then be expanded into a … (ta da!) print book.

5.  Read more. The best writers are also readers.


Attend How to Write/Sell a Book, July 12

I’m teaching folks how to create and sell information products, including books at an evening program on Tuesday, July 12 in Troy, Michigan.  At How to Write/Sell a Book, you’ll learn to:

-  Record audio books for little or no money
Help people by providing valuable information
-  Develop a product funnel that practically prints money
Use your book to help your “real” career

-  Use your “real” career to help your book
Develop a member Web site that pays you  in perpetuity
-  Create a powerful Internet presence even without a Web site
Get paid for selling other people’s info products

-  Derive tangible value from your intellectual property
Educate and entertain people all over the world
-  Use Michael’s “speed writing” technique to publish quickly

-  Publish an e-book in 90 seconds
Use a blog to sell your great products and services
-  Create a content-rich newsletter that keeps folks interested
Build and protect your brand
-  Create books even if you’re not a good writer

-  Republish and repurpose your great content
Become a published author without a literary agent
-  Do all this without quitting your day job
- Build lifelong relationships with people you help
-  Think big when your competition is thinking small

Build a distribution list 5x faster than everyone else
-  Sell online and offline
Make money every time you send out bulk e-mail

-  Bundle your information products and services
Create Web sites and blogs that keep people coming back
-  Use social media sites like Facebook & LinkedIn to create sales

-  Compose “The Perfect E-mail”
Use your e-mail signature file to tastefully promote
-  Generate Web site traffic that just won’t quit

-  Get people to say “yes” without tricking them or harming the relationship
Host teleseminars, Webinars and even live events
- And much more!


Can’t attend the live event?

If you can’t make it on July 12, order the 60-minute audio CD, How to Create and Sell Information Products, which comes with a 30-page e-book.  You’ll get all the great content and be able to listen multiple times and share the content with people on your team.

Blogging tip from Derek Jeter

Sunday, July 10th, 2011
Derek Jeter blog tip via Michael Angelo Caruso

Derek Jeter

Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave, you probably know that Derek Jeter recently became the 28th player to collect 3,000 hits.

This amazing accomplishment offers a great tip to writers everywhere.

To achieve three thousand hits, Jeter, a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, had to get about 200 per year for 15 years.

That means no calling in sick, no extended batting slumps, and no distractions.  In short, this achievement requires complete dedication and the application of talent.

This is great advice for writers, too.  If you’re putting together a 180-page book, you need to write roughly 10 pages per week for 18 weeks.

That means no calling in sick, no extend periods of writer’s block, and no distractions.  In short, this achievement requires complete dedication and the application of talent.

If you’re blogging to create a brand or drive traffic to your Web site, you need to post a fresh 500 to 750-word blog three to five days a week.

Not easy, but certainly doable.  The key is commitment and follow through.

One might think these two ingredients are readily available, especially among major league baseball players.  Yet, remarkably, Derek Jeter is only the first New York Yankee player to achieve the 3,000-hit mark.

Congratulations, Mr. Jeter.  And thanks for the blogging tip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to write and sell a book with Michael Angelo CarusoWant to write a book?  Michael Angelo Caruso is teaching a class on it, July 12 in Troy, Michigan.  Register today!

If you can’t attend, order his audio CD, How to Create and Sell Info Products.  It comes with a 30-page e-book.  Your money back if you are unsatisfied for any reason.

Create article content from your presentations

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

michael angelo carusoWe all know that content is king when it comes to Internet marketing.

The bigger conundrum is how to efficiently create content.  After all, you’re really, really busy, right?

Here’ s are simple steps you can follow to generate great content quickly and rather easily by recording your presentations and turning them into articles. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1.  Purchase a digital recorder. You can get a decent piece of gear for about $70 at places like Radio Shack.  High quality is better if you want to re-purpose the recordings.

2.  Record your next presentation. Try to forget you’re recording and speak as naturally as possible.

3.  Save your recording as a .WAV file (for PC) or .AIFF (for Mac). Use a free software program such as Audacity to do manipulate the file as needed.

4.  Convert the file to an MP3. If you need to send it to a team member who is helping you, MP3 files usually transmit faster..

5.  Have someone transcribe the sound file. You can find a transcriber at eLance.com or by just asking your babysitter. Ask the transcriber to create a Word or text document for you.

6.  Edit the document into 500 word articles. You can get more mileage from your content by chunking them down into 500 or 750 word articles.

7.  Post the pieces as articles for the world to see. Celebrate your success by posting the articles as content on your Website, Facebook Notes, .pdf files on Linkedin, and even on article depot sites, such as EZineArticles.com.

——————-

Veteran speaker, Michael Caruso, written countless articles and produced over 75 info products, including books, audio programs and DVDs.  He’s holding an evening seminar on how you can write a book on Tuesday, July 12 at Tre Monti restaurant in Troy, Michigan.

Register for the live class or order the audio CD/e-book, which are designed to help you become a self-published author within 90 days or less.

5 cool ideas for improving your Linkedin page

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Linkedin logoThere’s not much point in being involved with something, if you’re not “all in,” right?  Yet, many people on LinkedIn fail to do five simple things that can help them get more of what they want.

Whether you want to find a job, brand your business, make more money or connect with old friends, here are 5 Cool Ideas for getting more from one of the top three social media platforms in the world.

1.  Thin profiles look fake. Post a profile photo and completely fill out your profile information, if you want Linkedin to work for you.  A thin profile make you look half-interested and one-dimensional.  List schools you’ve attended, places you’ve worked, and at least three Web sites, including your current employer, your Facebook page and maybe your YouTube channel page.

2.  All words are not created equal. Okay, let’s run it down again.  Search engines function on what are called “keywords.”  A string of keywords makes up your elevator speech.  An elevator speech is a type of value proposition and when Linkedin connections recognize your value, you will get more attention.

The most valuable real estate on your LI page is the “Profile Headline” underneath your name.  It appears in LI search results and almost every other time your name comes up on the site.  Choose these words very carefully!

3.  Ask, don’t tell. The “What are you working on?” box or “Status Update” works best when you engage people by asking a question.  Extra points if the question is related to your value proposition, but don’t be heavy-handed about the reference.  When you show interest in others, others will show interest in you.  Be interested, then be interesting when using Linkedin.

4.   A posse makes you look better.  Everyone recognizes Linkedin profiles to be at least part puffery.  It’s natural for people to make themselves look as good as possible.  Most of us don’t list all of our faults on LI!

Remember that when you write how great you are, it’s self-promotion, but when third parties write how great you are, it’s The Truth.   That’s why you should have at least three Recommendations on the site.

Hint:  You may have to write ten Recommendations for others to get three for yourself.

5.  If 100 Linkedin connections gets you “x,” then 200 LI connections gets you “2x.” Do the math.  Add five connections a day to your Linkedin network.  Never miss a day.  Ever.

Bonus idea–

6.  Your top keywords belong in your Linkedin URL. When it comes to Internet marketing, the best place for keyword placement is in the actual Web site address or URL.  You can see your Linkedin URL by going to your LI home page and looking for the “http://www  . . .” thingy at the top of the screen.

If your name isn’t in this URL already, get it there pronto by  going to Profile/Edit Profile/Change Public Profile Settings/Edit (Your Public Profile URL).

My Linkedin public profile URL, for example, is http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelangelocaruso

Before I inserted my name into it, however, it was something like http://www.Linkedin.com/in/5uewbngsoergsjbhgjhshososohgoehrbjkdiyghnshgjskgjehgvhgsjhskhghaeoihyhd.

Do the above five things and you’ll be “all in” on Linkedin!

_______

To learn more, be sure you’re receiving Michael’s free 5 Cool Ideas newsletter, which has great content and announces his live events and webinars.

Weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Friday, October 22nd, 2010
Swedish meatballs.  The food was good, too.
Swedish meatballs. The food was good, too.

Jimmy Buffet, I think, titled one of his songs, The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful.

Scandinavia is awesome!  Having a great time in Copenhagen, Denmark with my two buddies, Duane Scherer and Dan Drotar.

I’m getting lots of ideas for a project I’m working on and getting some writing done as well.

Both guys have an artist’s eye; Duane creates decorative clocks from mixed media.  Dan is a talented photographer.  So our day trip to the Louisiana Museum was extra fun.  Duane like the Anselm Kieffer exhibit and I really liked the Sophie Calle display.

Sophie deconstructed a “Dear Jane” letter she had received and had it interpreted by a police captain, a psychiatrist, a performance artist and others.  Fascinating!

We also spent time in shops and restaurants around the town square.   Tivoli Gardens was a fun night–kind of Disney park.

Leaving for Stockholm, Sweden today for two days, then taking a train ride to Bergen, Norway and finally, Oslo for the weekend.

Dan Drotar’s amazing story is likely to be included in my next book.

Professional speaker speechless

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Have you ever been delivering a speech or a presentation and completely forgotten what you wanted to say?

Well, this even happens to veteran speakers.  Politician, Jan Brewer, recently experienced such a meltdown.  It happened during her current campaign to be re-elected as Governor of Arizona.  The gaffe was televised and the video has become viral.

How embarrassing!  Have a look . . .

How does something like this happen?

Sometimes, speakers forget what they want to say because of an unexpected distraction.  Ms. Brewer, an experienced speaker, seems to have given a little bit too much attention to her clever rhyme.

After getting the unusual introduction out of the way, Brewer gets a very public case of brain freeze.

When speaking, it can be a good idea to open strong, but always practice the transition between your attention-getting opener and the content that follows.  Rehearsing continuity, then, might have kept Ms. Brewer from an embarrassing situation.

Learn more about how to sharpen your presentation.  Listen to How to Give Killer Presentations, an informative and helpful audio CD that comes with a 30-page companion e-book.