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Posts Tagged ‘michael Angelo Caruso’

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.

Tags: america, dan peek, dewey bunnell, e-mail, gerry beckley, horse with no name, Marketing, michael Angelo Caruso, plan a, plan f, post, Subject lines, ventura highway, video
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

How to sell without seeming pushy

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Readers always write …

I very much enjoyed your Present Like a Pro DVD.

Thanks for all of the great tips, I’ve already put your advice to work and it’s only been two days since watching the video! Tweet

On another subject, do any of your programs talk about promoting your business to friends, neighbors, family, etc. without coming off as pushy or smothering them with info?

The last thing I want is for a friend to see me coming and then duck around the corner because he thinks I might try to sell them.

I need to find the right balance in this area. Will you please point me to the right info product in your line up? Thanks again for all of your help and wisdom.

-Richard in Ohio

My response

Hi, Richard- Thanks for the great compliment! The issue of not pushing too hard is important for all the reasons you describe.

Ideally, we marketers want to establish a mindset among our prospects and customers that behavioral psychologists refer to as “top-of-mind awareness” or TOMA.

Caruso family, circa 1996, left to right: Penguin, Dave, Rob, Mickey, Joe, Michael

By the way, I’ve not been very successful at selling to my family members (above). They seem to like special arrangements where no money changes hands. Works for me! There are three good ways to help folks achieve TOMA. Tweet
Each has its strengths (S) and weaknesses (W):

1) Autoresponders are systematic, automatic emails that goes out to your list.

S: Dependable and targeted. W: It can be time consuming to set up the sequence; recipients may get irritated and opt out.

2) Social media platforms such as FB and LI are easy, affordable mechanisms for achieving TOMA.

S: Social media is an indirect form of marketing that is well tolerated, but make 80% of your posts social and only 20% business related.

W: It can be a challenge getting key customers and prospects to “friend” you online.

3) Electronic newsletters are the overall best solution to achieve TOMA.

S: Targeted and regular, quality newsletters make it almost impossible for someone to forget about your services because they’re being regularly reminded. Even if subscribers only read the Subject line, e-newsletters are doing a big part of their job.

Quality e-newsletters deliver great informational content and not just a sales pitch so they are not only tolerated, they are welcome!

W: It can be time-consuming to produce fresh content every on a regular basis unless you know some tricks. Also, people on your list will even quit a free e-newsletter, if you don’t consistently provide value.

Summary

If you’re assertively selling your products and services, it is likely that the occasional person will be offended. Sometimes that person will be a family member or friend. Monitor that person’s feedback and back off, if necessary.

What’s a better goal– to never, ever offend anyone when selling and make a little money or to occasionally make someone a little uncomfortable and make a lot of money? Choose one of these two options. Tweet

I hope this helps, Richard. Let me know if you’re interested in my teleclass on how to produce effective e-newsletters.

Meanwhile, listen to Selling More, Better, Faster, my audio CD on the subject. It comes with a nifty 30-page e-book!

Tags: autoresponders, dave caruso, dvd, e-newsletter, electronic newsletter, how to produce newsletter, how to sell to friends, Joe Caruso, michael Angelo Caruso, newsletter, Present Like a Pro, publish, Rob Caruso, Selling, selling to friends, TOMA
Posted in Selling | No Comments »

5 cool ideas for staying in control

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Everything 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.

Tags: 5 Cool ideas, audio, behavior, CD, emotions, four agreements, free will, ideas, michael Angelo Caruso, miguel ruiz, success habits, tips
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Get bigshot Facebook friends to help you promote

Monday, July 18th, 2011

Note: Michael Angelo Caruso will be giving his favorite Facebook marketing tips at a special evening program at Tre Monti Restaurant in Troy, Michigan on November 8, 2011. Come have dinner, laugh, and learn!

If you don’t live in Michigan or can’t attend the dinner, you can order Michael’s audio CD and e-book on social media success.

________________________

Facebook is the biggest communication revolution since the invention of the telephone.

Initially known as “a good way to meet chicks,” Facebook is now a solid promotional tool that moves millions of dollars in products and services all over the world. And for the most part, it’s free.

You’d think people would be adding people to their FB network like crazy, yet the average FB user only has around 165 friends. Amazing.

Friend people with more friends than you

If you’re too lazy to build your own network, there is another strategy you can use. Hitch your wagon to people with bigger wagons, by friending folks with large networks. I’ve even started a Facebook sub-list I call 3K, which indicates which of my FB buddies has at least 3,000 friends.

By the way, I probably have a bigger wagon than you, which means that by connecting with me, you are increasing your marketing reach without even taking time to build your list.

Like I’ve indicated, this shouldn’t be your “Plan A,” but it works.

You can get into my airspace by connecting with me here:

Facebook

Find me on these four pages:

http://www.facebook.com/michaelangelocarusoFanPage

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-the-Word-Out/114088268614250

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Angelo-Caruso/50675712794

http://www.facebook.com/pages/5-Cool-Ideas/162724357106753

As a favor to me, please Like my Troy Rotary Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/TroyRotary

Linkedin

http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelangelocaruso

Twitter

Twitter is more powerful than Facebook and Linkedin combined!

http://twitter.com/MichaelACaruso

YouTube

Watch a fun video, then subscribe and join my growing network here, too!

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=michael+angelo+caruso&aq=0

Just do it!

Connecting with me via all of the above links will introduce you to thousands of my friends and allow me to easily tag you in the future. Do this with your other friends who are well connected, as well. I hope all this new attention won’t go to your head. lol

Welcome to the social media revolution and remember, don’t drink and type.

From Royal Oak, Michigan-

Michael Angelo Caruso

Tags: best speaker in michigan, facebook, Internet marketing, linked, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, royal oak, Social Media, twitter, youtube
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Personal Development, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Social Media, Success | No Comments »

Let’s tax bad tattoos

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

Economic 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!

Tags: best speaker in michigan, funny speaker, humor, Keynote, michael Angelo Caruso, motivation, new york times, Social Media, tattoo, tax, tweet
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Want to get paid for writing?

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Writing 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.

Tags: audio CD, blogging for cash, create info products, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, troy, write a book
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Free marketing advice every Monday

Monday, July 11th, 2011

A while back, I did something most business people never do.

I started giving away my products and services. And it’s the best thing I ever did for my consulting business.

Every Monday at 4:00 ET, I jump on a conference call to dispense advice on everything from Internet marketing to event planning. The call-in codes are below.

People call in from all over North America.

Many callers have booked me to speak at various conferences and fundraisers. I help them save time, increase attendance, promote their events, and get the most from their marketing efforts.

My seminar fundraiser program has so far raised over $150, 000 for Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, and other non-for profit organizations.

Some callers have yet to do business with me. They are prospects who often convert after being on the call.

You should consider giving away your products and services. If you cannot afford to give away any of your current products, think about developing a product that you can make available.

“Set the hook” by sample selling

Fisherman know that you have to “set the hook” when the fish nibbles at the bait. Setting the hook is that small jerky motion that pulls the hook through the fish gill. The hook is a reversed-barbed piece of metal that makes it difficult for the fish to escape once he takes the bait.

That’s what free information and free products do. I call it “sample selling” because its like giving folks a free sample of what you do so they become interested in spending money with you.

It’s an easy marketing strategy to implement and everyone wins.

Free call and great marketing advice

You can hear how I do this and get yourself some terrific marketing advice by being on the call this Monday, from 4 to 4:30 PM ET. And did I tell you that the call is free?

Use call-in number: 218-339-3600, access code: 686134#

What does your company give away to promote business?

Tags: best speaker in michigan, free, free call, Internet marketing, Marketing, michael Angelo Caruso, Rotary, sample selling, setting the hook
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entertainment, Entreprenuers, Funny, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Rotary, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling, Social Media, Speaking, Success, Training | No Comments »

Blogging tip from Derek Jeter

Sunday, July 10th, 2011

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. Tweet this article.

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.

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

Want 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.

Tags: author, blog, blogging tip, derek jeter, kalamazoo, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, new york yankees, tip, writing
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Create article content from your presentations

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

We 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.

Tags: 500 word, article, California, content, digital recorder, elance, ezine, Florida, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, mp3, presentation, royal oak, wav
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When is a hot dog not a hot dog?

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

Another fabulous Fourth of July weekend is upon us. Happy Fourth!

This year, we’ll blow up scads of fireworks and consume countless burgers and hot dogs–all commodity items that defy much serious expectations.

So when is a hot dog, not just a hot dog?

When it’s an event.

This is because of something called product differentiation.

Product–or service–differentiation can help consumers tell you apart from the competition. When people appreciate the difference they become interested in doing business with you.

George and Rich Shea

Yet, differentiation can be a challenge, especially when it comes to mundane products such as hot dogs. Brothers George and Rich Shea have brilliantly differentiated the Nathan’s brand of hot dogs by holding an annual hot dog eating contest.

The contest, started in 1961, is now televised on ESPN. Every year, publications such as the New York Times run articles that provided thousands of dollars in free advertising.

When is a hot dog not a hot dog? When it’s the featured product of a televised hot dog eating contest–every July 4. Brilliant!

Have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend!

Oh, and tell me, how do you differentiate your hot dog? With mustard? Catsup? Onions? Chili?

Tags: best speaker, espn, george shea, hot dog, july 4, marketing idea, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, nathan, new york times, not dog eating contest, product differentiation, rich shea, service differentiation
Posted in Communication, Creativity, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Marketing, Sales and Marketing, Selling, Success | No Comments »