3 tricks for repurposing content

April 10th, 2011 by Michael

I generate a ton of content!

Michael Angelo Caruso's info productsYou may know that I produce a bi-monthly newsletter, post three blogs a week, and maintain multiple accounts on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.

I also conduct monthly teleseminars, post tons of video on my YouTube and Vimeo channels and have created over 75 information products.

People often ask me how I get it all done.  Sometimes I wonder, too!


My favorite magic trick

One of my “tricks” involves repurposing content.  It’s a useful technique for anyone who works as a leader or supervisor, salesperson, customer service rep or whatever.

When you repurpose your great content, your information becomes accessible to more people in more convenient ways.  When your relevant content shows up in multiple places, YOU become more familiar, and people start thinking of you as an industry expert.  Pretty cool!

Do you ever give presentations?  Here are three easy ways to make your talk available in different modalities:

1) Record your live presentation with a digital recorder like those sold at Radio Shack. Then, import the sound file to a free audio editing program such as “Audacity” and burn audio CDs to giveaway or sell.

2) Record a three-minute highlight of your speech with a Flip video camera and post the clip on YouTube. Be sure to display your Web site on the “bottom third” of the screen to drive traffic to your Web site.

3) Publish an e-book version of your speech. Use voice recognition software to create a transcript or keystroke the speech into a Word doc (if you use a PC) and convert the document into a .pdf.

Oh, and congratulations! When you do #3, you’ll officially be a published author!


Churn out your own info products

For dozens of more tips on this subject and to generate a passive revenue stream for yourself, listen to my 60-minute audio CD, How to Create Info Products.  It comes with a 30-page e-book, too!

Thanks for your interest in self-improvement.  Now go repurpose some of your great content!

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

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Posted in Blogging, Career development, Communication, Creativity, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Information products, Internet marketing, Keynote, Leadership, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling, Seminar, Social Media, Speaking, Success, Training, Weblogs | No Comments »

Return on involvement

April 6th, 2011 by Michael

Most people think of ROI as “return-on-investment,” but thanks to my friend Jerry Van Rossum, I now think of ROI as “return-on-involvement.”

In other words, you get what you give.

This is true for many things in life including love, service clubs such as Rotary and the Optimists, and Facebook activity, too.

Even traditional relationships such as friendships and marriages blossom with a return-on-involvement arrangement.

Loads of research suggests that the best parents make sure to spend quality time with their children.  They know the importance of not being “absent” guardians.

Good salespeople are aware that it’s critical to be involved with the customers concerns and issues rather than make a habit of “drive-by” visits.


A story explains it best

There’s an old chestnut about a window salesman who had finally been asked to leave his low-rent territory to call on the owner of the biggest mansion in town.

The salesman was practically giddy as he pulled into the mansion’s circular drive.  This was going to be the biggest sale of his career!  Why the commission from this sale would be more money than he made the entire first half of the year!

The seller was so focused on his return-on-investment–how much he would be compensated for the time he spent selling his services, that he forgot to focus on return-on-involvement–that if he simply engaged the prospect and gave him the right kind of attention, things would work out for both parties.

It’s okay to pursue an ROI, as long as you don’t forget to be involved.

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Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Leadership, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Rotary, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling | No Comments »

Resume tip–your resume doesn’t matter

March 6th, 2011 by Michael

Readers always write…

Hi, Michael-

I’ve recently had to update my resume so I can upgrade my job.  I consider myself a good writer, but it’s been quite a challenge getting this project done.  I’m still not happy with my resume and wondering if you have any tips for me.  I’ve attached a copy to this e-mail message.  Thank you!

Sara in Bloomington, Illinois

Hi, Sara-

A lot of the best jobs are filled without using the resume process.  The best way to get a good job is through networking, which allows you to become recommended or “pre-approved” by a trusted third-party.  More info on how to do this in a future post.

So now that I’ve told you that a resume doesn’t matter, let me explain how you can make yours better…

Your resume looks very good, Sara!  I’m returning it to you with a few minor suggestions for improved grammar and syntax.  I am also listing my advice on how to “punch up” a resume.

Tips:

-  All the experts recommend a one-page resume
-  Play down past jobs (use one or two lines max for each)
-  Use present tense for present situation, e.g. “demonstrated” should be “demonstrates”
-  Use parallel construction for bullet points; begin each bullet with an active verb

Bonus ideas

Here are a couple of special “Michael techniques:”

/Recycle the exact language from the job posting.

/That way, your resume is more likely to make you look like the perfect fit.

/The resume is a kind of meaningless tradition.  It’s far better to secure the job first and then submit the resume as a required formality.

/So, how does one get the job before submitting the resume?  Use online research tools such as Linkedin and Google to learn more about the company.   Of course, you should visit the company’s Web site, but learn even more about the specific people involved such as:

-  Who will be interviewing you?
-  Who will you be working with?
-  Who will be your boss?
-  Who is your potential boss’s boss?
-  What can be learned from their social media or YouTube activities?

Once you have the names of these individuals, search them online to discover anything you can, such as:

-  Where they live?
-  What church do they attend?
-  Do they blog?
-  What they’ve presented on (presentation pdfs often come up in this type of search)

The idea is to get into the same orbit of one or more of these people so they can get to know you and possibly champion your cause.

Caveat:  Don’t be aggressive or even assertive when doing this.  A sincere compliment when friending someone on Facebook will usually do the trick.  You might contact the person to offer insightful research on one of their
favorite topics.  Don’t necessarily make it known that you are applying for a job.

When you show interest in others, others show interest in you.     -Michael Angelo Caruso, American author and speaker, (1958-present –ha!)

Then, when the moment is right, say something like, “Oh, by the way, the reason for my interest in xxxxx is that I’m thinking of applying for the xxxxx position.”

You’re on your way to a some useful information, an endorsement, a champion, and hopefully, a new job!

Good luck!

Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

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Posted in Blogging, Career development, Communication, Creativity, Internet marketing, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Social Media, Success, Writing and Publishing | No Comments »

Good deeds have a life of their own

February 27th, 2011 by Michael

RYLA with Michael Angelo CarusoIt’s happened again.

I made time for community involvement a while back and it’s turned into something big.  Isn’t that how good deeds are supposed to work?

Way back in November, I dedicated a weekend to teaching about 100 area high school students leadership skills.  It was a tough gig, by most standards.  Over 13 hours of class time, not including prep.

The event was sponsored by Rotary District 6400 in southeastern, Michigan.  They hold this Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) weekend every year and its director, Dr. Jim Karolyi, does a fantastic job putting it together.

Speaking to 100 young people is not exactly my specialty, but I tried to have fun with it.  Well, something just happened that showed me the gig was well worth the effort.

Ron Warren, one of the young people attending the event, was given an award by the Rotary Club of Lincoln Park, Michigan and I just read got to read about it.  The News-Herald, the local newspaper, interviewed Ron and I’ll be darned if the young man didn’t mention my name.  A lot.

Read the interview for yourself and see if it doesn’t make you smile.

I’m grateful for the shoutout, Ron.  Reading about your award reminds me of how impressed I was with the quality of students at RYLA 2010.  Thanks for helping make community involvement so rewarding, Mr. Warren.

So, it’s official; I’m a hero!

And it’s addicting.  Dr. Karolyi has asked me to speak again at his 2011 event.

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5 reasons to blog–even if nobody reads it

February 25th, 2011 by Michael

Michael Angelo Caruso blogging Internet marketingMost people haven’t figured out blogging, yet. That’s because blogging, that is writing, is a discipline like playing the trumpet or flying an airplane.  Or juggling.  It takes time and effort to make it worthwhile.  It also helps to be motivated, which usually happens when one is a little knowledgeable about the discipline.

Here are 5 reasons to blog, even if nobody reads it, followed by a chance for you to learn more from a soccer mom I interviewed who now gets paid to blog for other people.

1.  Search perks. Internet search engines love fresh content.  Since blogs, especially WordPress blogs, are easily updated your company is more likely to be found even if you create a blog post once per week.   Blogs are the new Web sites.

2.  Perpetual value. Time and again, I am contacted by people who tell me they read an old blog post and liked what I had to say.  Some of these folks turn into customers.  Your blog content keeps working for you year after year!

3.  Drip marketing. Periodic blog posts are a great way to keep in touch.  People will never forget about you because they are always being reminded.  Rig your social media sites to automatically post blog articles.

4.  Virtual salesperson. SAP advertises training services in a sidebar on its blog.  Wegmans grocery store blogs about recipes that use their food products.

5.  Massive public relations reach. If your blog is consistently good, you may get picked up by an aggregation service.  When this happens, your lil’ ol’ blog could be read by hundreds of thousands of people!

________

Paula Parisot

Soccer mom and paid blogger, Paula Parisot

A while back, I interviewed Paula Parisot, a soccer mom who now gets paid for blogging.  A non-techie by her own admission, Paula talks about how she does it and shares valuable tips on how you can get started doing the same.  That is, unless you can’t use the money.  Learn more Blogging for Profit by listening to this fun CD.

It was fun interviewing Paula.  She takes a “real-world” approach to things and I think you’ll like her!

-Michael Angelo Caruso

Royal Oak, Michigan

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