It’s hard to believe summer is soon coming to an end – at least in my neck of the woods. What a great summer it has been! Since life is about opposites, while summer comes to an end here, winter will be coming to an end in other parts of the world.

Over the last few months I have enjoyed lots of time “digging in the dirt!”, riding my bicycle, taking day trips to the ocean, sharing time with family and friends, and overall just having a great time.

Recently, I told someone I was going to dig in the dirt and they had no idea what I was talking about. All it means is working in my garden.  One of my favorite pastimes is planting flowers and enjoying the fruits of my labor.

The flowers that have grown incredibly well in my garden this year are my Brown Eyed Susans. Absolutely gorgeous. I know I must be doing something right when neighbors will stop by to tell me how lovely my garden is.

When we moved into our farmhouse a little over a year ago, there was virtually no landscaping. In the time we have been here we have added three flower gardens, a small barn, fencing around several acres of the property. Each of the gardens has its own character and theme.

Four Legged Friends
My four legged critters are very happy here. Speaking of four legged critters, we recently adopted, or should I say, we were recently adopted by Gypsy, a young cat. Gypsy was abandoned on the side of the road with her five kittens. A kind-hearted neighbor took them in. Within a short period of time, Gypsy took a liking to our home and decided this is where she wanted to put her roots down.

The neighbor was kind enough to take care of her initial shots and got her spayed. Even though the neighbors knew they couldn’t keep Gypsy they wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to get sick nor contribute to the over-population of stray cats by having more kittens. Once we found out how much Gypsy liked it here, we talked to the neighbors and they were ecstatic that we were willing to adopt her.

What’s amazing is almost every pet we have is a rescue. There’s something special about taking in an animal who really needs a good home. The bond seems to be exceptional. 

Mentoring Course
Last week I completed yet another of my Fast Track Mentoring Courses. What a great group of people participated. Be looking for my next course offering of the 4-Week Fast Track Course. This is a great course for anyone who wants to learn a lot of great information about using the Internet in your marketing, how to develop product and how to gain visibility within your market.

Or, if you are interested in a more in-depth process, my Street Smarts Platinum Mentoring Course may be just what you seek. This is a six-month program in which on ten very serious minded professionals will be invited to participate. You must fill out an application and be interviewed before you will be considered for the training. (Seven of the ten spots are filled already).

If you are ready to turn what you know (your expertise) into money-making information products, programs and packages then you will want to be a part of my upcoming Street Smarts Marketing Six Month Platinum Mentoring Program.

This Program is Not for Everyone
I will tell you right now, not everyone is a fit for this program. The fact is I’m not looking for just anyone. I am looking for 10 visionary, committed folks who are ready to do what it takes to live their dream. I am looking for a core group of spiritually based professionals who realize their purpose is to make a difference in the lives of others through their books, information products, seminars, teleseminars, coaching and mentoring programs.

If you are ready to create the success you deserve, then you are ready for my Street Smarts Marketing Platinum Coaching Program. It is an intensive hands-on program designed to help you create multiple streams of revenue while following your heart.

The Street Smarts Platinum program will serve two functions. The first is learning. I’ll deliver advanced teachings that, up to this point, has been reserved for my very high paying one-on-one clients. Clients who have paid me thousands of dollars a day for my knowledge.

The second purpose is to help you achieve more of your goals, faster and with greater profits than ever before.

Not only will you get very focused training to achieve your goals faster than you ever thought possible, you will also be able to network with other professionals who are as serious about their success as you are.

You will have the opportunity to form Joint Venture relationships with other professionals who are in my Platinum training. I will personally teach you how to optimize these relationships so that you create win/win outcomes.

This will be, by far, the most focused and extraordinary experience you will ever have. I guarantee it.

Here are some of the advantages of joining in:

• Access to me that most people do not have.

• Networking opportunities with like minded professionals

• A systemized approach to achieving your personal and professional goals

What The Program Is and Is Not
This program is not designed to make you the next Internet Guru. Rather, it is designed to teach you proven strategies on how to package your expertise in a way that you can market your products and services to a niche market and make real money from this.

If you are ready to learn more about this right now, email me at kathleen@kathleengage.com  and I will send you an overview. I ask that only those who are ready to make a substantial financial and time commitment request this information.

For a peek at what the program is about be sure to register for my free teleseminar series on how to package your expertise into moneymaking products and services. This FREE series begins on September 4^th and runs through the month of September.

www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/4partteleseminar.htm

During the four weeks free series, I will be introducing my Street Smarts Platinum Mentoring Course.

Wishing you a great month to come and inviting you to live with all the passion and joy you can.

In success,
Kathleen Gage

What You Don’t Know About Publishing A Book Can Take You From Dream To Nightmare Overnight!

By Kathleen Gage

Do you have the dream of becoming a published author? Are you thinking of writing a book to promote you, your services or your company? Prior to launching into a major project, do your homework. It can save you time, money and frustration.

Almost daily I receive an inquiry from someone who has spent a small fortune getting their book published by a company that promises them the moon when it comes to the success of their book. Unfortunately, in 99% of the cases I hear about, the results don’t at all meet the promises. Often the author approaches me after much heartache, disillusionment and wasted expense.

My most recent inquiry came from a man who had a 56 page document published as a book by what appears to be a subsidiary publisher. The publishing company has a retail price of $19.95 on the book. Actually, in many cases a 56 page document may not be considered a book, but more of a booklet.

Needless to say, the author has had a difficult time selling the book to people who see it and those who buy it sight unseen are disappointed with the minimal number of pages.

Many people dream of becoming a published author yet lack enough information to make the best choice for their particular publishing needs. Although there are numerous reputable publishing companies, there are also just as many companies that take advantage of an aspiring author’s dream and lack of knowledge. The best thing an aspiring author can do is to learn as much as possible about their publishing options before “signing on the dotted line.”

For the purpose of clarification, here are some simple publishing definitions from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia:

Self-Publishing
Self-publishing is the publishing of books and other media by the author(s) of those work, rather than by established, third party publishers.

Vanity Press
A vanity press or vanity publisher is a book printer which, while claiming to be a publisher charges writers a fee in return for publishing their books or otherwise makes most of its money from the author rather than from the public.

Print on Demand (POD)
Print on demand or publish on demand (POD) is a printing technology in which a copy is not created until after an order is received.

Regardless of how a book is published, the author will have to proactively market the book in order to sell copies.

Many people are under the impression or led to believe the publisher will do the marketing for them. If a publisher provides such a service it is usually minimal at best. Perhaps a press release or two, a listing on Amazon, a posting on a website, a simple website, etc. If a company does provide an effective marketing and promotions campaign, there is usually a hefty fee that is attached to it.

Many vanity presses make a big deal out of getting the author a listing on Amazon.com and offering a website as part of the publishing deal. The fact is that just a listing on Amazon.com and having a website will do little good. The author will still need to find a way to drive traffic to those locations.

It’s like anything you buy. No matter how good something is, if people don’t know about it, they can’t buy it. No matter how good a book is, how great the title, how big the market, without a very proactive approach to marketing, books do not sell. Marketing and promotion is an ongoing process and is absolutely essential to the success of a book 

I am an advocate of self-publishing in the truest sense of the word. It means I oversee everything. This doesn’t mean I do all the actual work myself; rather, I hire it out.

Areas that you could hire out would be:

•  Cover design

• Copy editing

• Book layout

• Marketing (some or all)

You can even hire out some or all of the writing. I personally do all my own writing, but the other areas such as design, layout, and editing I contract to others.

The world of book selling has become incredibly competitive. In my experience, the best way to sell a book is to have a very proactive online approach as well as selling through speaking engagements.

You can find some marketing ideas in my free recordings at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/marketingaudios.htm

You can learn some extremely effective online marketing strategies with my eBook, The Truth About Making Money on the Internet at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/free-ebook.htm

You can also get many of your questions answered by joining two excellent Yahoo Groups for self-published authors.

• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/publishingandpromoting/

• http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Self-Publishing

You post a question to the group and if people have an answer they will usually respond in a timely fashion.

I would highly recommend you get books on publishing, marketing books and self-publishing by the following authors.

• Dan Poynter

• John Kremer

• Tom and Marilyn Ross

I highly recommend obtaining books on publishing, marketing books and self-publishing by these great authors: Dan Poynter, John Kremer and Tom and Marilyn Ross.

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your book published. But without the correct information your dream can quickly become a nightmare. Before making any decisions do your research. You will be glad you did.

Kathleen Gage is an Internet Marketing Advisor for Speakers, Trainers, Authors, Consultants and Entrepreneurs. Access her eBook The Truth about Making Money on the Internet at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/free-ebook.htm

5 Must-Knows to Develop Article Titles that Get Read
by Kathleen Gage

Does the title of an article determine whether or not the article gets read? In most cases, yes. Readers are drawn to an article (or not) based on how compelling the title is.

Think about your own reading habits - especially online. It is likely you skim over titles before deciding to spend time reading the entire piece.

Whether you receive something in your inbox, visit an article directory, or get a blog announcement, within seconds you make a decision whether to hit the delete button or read the article.

If you are using article marketing as part of your overall online marketing strategy it is essential your information be written in such a way as to establish your credibility and expert status. An aspect of establishing your credibility is to catch the reader’s attention. To do this you must have an appealing title.

1. Intrigue the Reader
Titles need to intrigue the reader and convey some type of benefit. The following words in a title have proven to be very effective.

• Secrets to …

• How to …

• What if…

Think of titles that have caught your attention. What about them did so? Experiment with various types of words to draw readers in.

2. Use Subtitles
Adding a subtitle enhances the power of the title. For example:

• How To Train Your Boxer Dog

• What you need to know to have a well-behaved companion

3. Make it Hot and Timely
One of the most effective strategies for developing titles that draw readers in is to write on topics that are hot and timely. Keep current with what is going on with your market and industry in order to be viewed as leading edge. If your titles are outdated, chances are people will view your information as outdated.

4. Time is of the Essence
Writing a catchy article helps to retain the attention of your reader. You only have a few seconds to this. What your readers see first is your article title.

5. Discover What Readers Want
A great way to find out what people are interested in is to visit forums and find out what people are inquiring about and talking about. This will help you to craft catchy titles guaranteed to be read.

Regardless of what your article is about your title is what will get people to read it. Take time to develop a title that appeals, entices and intrigues.

Kathleen Gage is an Internet Marketing Advisor for Speakers, Trainers, Authors, Consultants and Entrepreneurs. Access her eBook The Truth about Making Money on the Internet at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/free-ebook.htm

Recommended resources 

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This month I recommend the following books. Both are written by outstanding gentlemen who daily make a difference in the lives of many through their commitment to excellence and integrity.

These books are a great addition to your personal library and make an excellent gift for friends, family, colleagues and clients.

Spiritual Selling; How to Use the Attractor System to Create Abundance in 

By Joe Nunziata

"Discover the Power of the Revolutionary New Attractor Sales System that is the Complete Opposite of Everything You Have Ever Learned About Sales"

What do you do when all the formulas and techniques, methods and strategies don’t seem to be working? What do you do when you feel stuck?

You stop the insanity!

Spiritual Selling is not about religion. It’s about working from the inside out to transform your energy and create the results you desire.

In his new book Spiritual Selling, Joe will show you how to clear the unconscious negative energy and old beliefs that are holding you back.

His new Attractor Sales System will show you how to become a magnet for new business and opportunity.
 
It's Not Just What You Do...It's How You Think and Feel

For a limited time when you order Spiritual Selling you will receive a Special Invitation to a Life-Changing Tele-seminar Series and dozens of other great gifts. Learn more and order today at www.spiritualsellingbook.com

 

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Remarkable Leadership; Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time.
By Kevin Eikenberry

My colleague Kevin Eikenberry has written a new great new book on leadership. This book is practical, inspiring, relevant and real.

It helps you work on 13 leadership competencies, as the title says, one skill at time.

And while it is a leadership book, and will help anyone regardless of their leadership experience become more effective, it isn't just for leaders.

This is a book for all of us, because all of us are leaders. And as Kevin says in the book, when we become better leaders, we become better humans.

When you buy the book you will receive more than 50 tools and bonuses from Kevin's expert colleagues (including ME!) from around the world that all will help you become a more remarkable leader. Go, take a look.

www.remarkableleadershipbook.com/bonuses.asp

Bonuses are on a limited time offer.

 

Attention Speakers, Trainers, Authors, Coaches and Consultants: Learn how to package your expertise and start making money faster than you thought possible! FREE Street Smarts Marketing™ Teleseminar Series

Learn what you need to do to package your information to  develop multiple streams of revenue   Discover how to position yourself in order to gain massive  exposure via the media Find out what you really need to do to build a  responsive, money-making opt-in subscriber list   Discover proven secrets to market a book with little or no cost     Begins September 4th and runs through the month of September. Even if you can’t be on every call be sure to register so you can get the recording. www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/4partteleseminar.htm    On 12th September 2007...   Alex Mandossian Shawn  Casey Stuart  Tan Simon  Grabowski Yanik  Silver Kathleen  Gage "An Elite Group Of Speakers Will Raise Hopes And Funds For Children Battling Life-Threatening Illnesses." And more "You, Too, Could Be A Wish-Granter And A Life-Giver Simply By Simply Lending An Ear During The Charity Tele-Marathon Of The Year!" Learn from some of the leading thought leaders in the world of Marketing and Internet Marketing while making a difference in the life of another. Register now. www.supertelethon.org       Attention Speakers, Trainers, Authors, Coaches and Consultants: Learn how to package your expertise and start making money faster than you thought possible! FREE Street Smarts Marketing™ Teleseminar Series   Begins September 4th and runs through the month of September. Even if you can’t be on every call be sure to register so you can get the recording. www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/4partteleseminar.htm