Dear Friends,

People want to see you. Your clients and customers want to meet you face to face. I remember one client saying to me, "I want to smell your sweat." While that's not the most elegant way of saying she'd like to consult in person, I got the message.

Since I and many of you have clients that live as far away as England or Aucklund, and have newsletter subscribers from Katmandu to the Caribbean, they want a chance to do their own (perhaps more sanitary) sniff test. They can get a glimpse of your personal touch when you put videos of yourself on your website. It's the next best thing to meeting you.

If you haven't already, you can "meet" me by clicking here where you can see me talking about "Get a 6 Figure Book Advance" and here where I did a testimonial for The Infomercial Toolkit, the latest technology for promoting yourself on the Internet.

By the way, this isn't scripted, (and neither was the 6 Figure video), but totally off-the-cuff. Mike Koenigs and I were shooting video footage for several days on my client's site for their new website and at the end of the day he asked me to say a few words about the process. We're using the The Infomercial Toolkit in a variety of ways which you'll be able to see on my client's new website in a few weeks (I'll give you the URL in the next newsletter so you can see for yourself the various, fun, imaginative things you can do with this "film school in a box").

As I get busier and time more precious, I want to make sure I stay in touch more personally with all of you. The Internet can be a great excuse never to visit the great outdoors again, but my friend Amy Glin reminded me of how important it is to stay skin to skin with people, when she sent me the following: from NOW on PBS excerpted from the interview with Kurt Vonnegut, which is also a story from his new book....

"I told my wife I was going out to buy an envelope and she says, 'You're not a poor man. Why don't you go online and buy 100 envelopes and put them in the closet.' I pretend not to hear her and go out to get an envelope because I am going to have one hell of a good time in the process.  I meet a lot of people, see some great looking babes, and a fire engine goes by and I give it the thumbs up and ask a woman what kind of dog that is and I don't know, the moral of the story is we're here on earth to fart around, of course the computers will do us out of that. What the computer people don't realize or don't care is that we're dancing animals. We love to move around. And we're not supposed to dance at all anymore."

I think we can dance on the computer as well as around the block. It's the difference between a waltz and hip hop. I like both.

Warmly,

Susan

P.S. Tell me how you've danced through publicity or on or off the net on my blog.

5 Ideas to Create Your Own Website Infomercial--with the Infomercial Toolkit

Though traditional TV infomercials of the past had the taint of tawdry, they now have the stamp of public approval. They are no longer just for the Tae-bo, Turbo Cookers or the Bun and Thigh Rocker, but are currently sanctioned by respectable authors, celebrity chefs, and speakers--and people like you. With the advent of Internet geniuses Mike Koenigs and Rocket Helstrom, a whole new generation of infomercials, called online direct response video, have come of age--on websites.

With more than 120 million homes worldwide accessing the Internet through high speed broadband connections you no longer have to give away half of your earnings to a big infomercial production company. You can do it yourself, in your home or office, and keep all the profits. Here are 5 ways that you can use this state-of-the-art technology as your new sales letter strategy.

1. Do a talk show demo.

Many TV show producers and bookers want to see you live before booking you on their show--especially at the level of Oprah, The View or Good Morning America. You need to be a proven commodity as producers can't take a chance that you'll freeze, ramble or bore their audiences. Your demo should have the camera trained on you, in a professional looking setting, with a few shots of the interviewer asking you precise questions. Make sure your answers are about 15 seconds and leave no doubt that people won't reach for the remote.

2. Do a mini-course.

As an alternative or in addition to your newsletter you can give a course over a month, a year or anything in-between. A mini-course is a way to let viewers get to know you leisurely, to trust you over time. One of my clients decided to do a series of 3 minute talks that can be downloaded once a month for a year. Once she's shot them all she can give her viewers the option to buy the whole course on CD instead of waiting for the monthly tip. You create an instant product that puts money in your bottom line. If people want the information gratis they wait. Their choice.

3. Do an interview.

Want prospective clients to know more about you, your business, your book, your product or your cause? Do an in-depth interview about all the aspects of what you're selling that would be of importance to your audience. You can cover both obvious and hidden objections, tout benefits, inform, entertain and instruct in a few short minutes. You can do a live FAQ and speak directly to your viewers. Seeing you eye to eye gives people confidence. I don't know about you, but I never trust a website that doesn't have photographs of the people running the company or of the staff. I want to get an image, an impression of the person I'm dealing with. With video, you give people a chance to get a gut reaction and make a decision as to whether they want to do business with you.

4. Do testimonials.

Having other people use your product or service and expound its virtues is perhaps the best way to influence your audience. For Kathan Brown, founder of Crown Point Press, the world's premier printmaking/etching studio, I interviewed artists on-camera who had worked in her studio producing etchings of the finest quality. They simultaneously discussed their experiences working at Crown Point Press and how Kathan made a space, both physically and creatively, where ideas could live and breathe. The artists each talked about the process of how the art pieces they produced came into being with the help of Kathan's master printers. You got both the insider's view from famous artists and a look at their own inner creative process. We shot the artists in front of the work they were discussing so the viewer could have a visceral experience of both. The result? Very exciting.

5. Do a product demo.

One of my clients is going to set up a demo for his product so he can show prospective customers every aspect and detail of how his patented product works. His market is Walgreens and Walmart as well as direct consumers so he can reach a range of prospective buyers. In fact, he's already in negotiation with QVC to do a TV infomercial. So it can work both ways, especially since the TV buying audience may not be the same as the Internet buying audience. You can have an infomercial on your site and have a TV infomercial, too. Double exposure, double profits.

Get the Infomercial Toolkit

My colleagues, Mike Koenigs and Rocket Helstrom, developed this 5 volume DVDs "Film School in a Box" for any netpreneur. You'll get guidance from an award-winning TV infomercial producer, writer and creative director who gives you the "secret formula". I know these words have been overused--but there really are formulas for packaging yourself professionally. One thing I love about this kit is you don't have to know how to write a script--the software walks you through it. You'll also learn how to be a professional presenter as well as how to stage, light and direct. Then there's the "kick start" that shows you how to get your infomercial made and online in less than a day, and sometimes in less than an hour. Get started today!

Note: The price increases $100 every week Thursday at 12 noon CST until February 16 where it holds.

Who needs a media make-over?

I'm going to do a media make-over of a famous person every month on my blog. I'll take a well known expert, author, celebrity or star who I (or you) think needs a make-over. Send or post it on my blog, about anyone you think needs that make-over and tell me why. Put "Media Make-over" in the subject. I'll choose the one I think I can help. You'll get credit for your suggestion as I'll post your website in my newsletter as a thank you for taking the time.

Hear me on MomsTown

Join me live on the air, Wednesday, February 15th from 11am to 12pm PST on MomsTown Reality Radio. (If you miss it live, the archives are available 24/7 at MomsTown.com.

MomsTown Reality Radio, with hosts Mary Goulet and Heather Reider, (these 2 movers and shakers were recently on Dr. Phil) is where moms who want it all are tuning in. Each week Mary and Heather bring their fresh perspective on being a mom. You will learn how to turn passions into profits, how to get organized, how to get your body back, how to think like a girlfriend, and how to put a fabulous dinner on the table. (I'm not much for getting a gourmet dinner on the table, but I can teach you how to make enough money through publicity to have a personal chef do it for you). That will be my focus for the hour...

Call in to speak with Mary, Heather & their guests, on the air!
Toll Free (US & Canada): 866-254-1579
International (All other countries): 760-918-4300
UK HayHouse Caller line: 001-760-918-4300
Australia: 001-1-1-760-918-4300
The Netherlands: 00-1-760-918-4300
Mexico: 001-760-918-4300

Hear Me on Christian Work at Home Moment

Jill Hart of Christian Work at Home Moms and Author Diana Ennen of Virtual Word Publishing bring you motivational and expert tips on working at home. I'll be on March 5th to talk about promoting yourself without selling your soul. Join us for the "Christian Work at Home Moment" Sundays at 6:30 p.m. CST on KCRO 660 AM, Omaha or listen anytime.

Come Meet Me

Anywhere in the World
MomsTown Reality Radio
February 15 2006
11am to 12pm PST
Call in: Toll Free (US & Canada): 866-254-1579
International (All other countries): 760-918-4300
UK HayHouse Caller line: 001-760-918-4300
Australia: 001-1-1-760-918-4300
The Netherlands: 00-1-760-918-4300
Mexico: 001-760-918-4300

Anywhere in the World
Christian Work at Home Moment
March 5 2006
6:30pm CST on KCRO 660 AM
KCRO 660 AM, Omaha or listen anytime

Anywhere in the World
Q&A to Get on Oprah & Other TV Talk Shows Teleclass
1 hour
Download it at no charge

Anywhere in the World
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance Teleclass
Anywhere in the World
1 hour
Download it at no charge

Anywhere in the World
Become a 60 Second Sound Bite Genius
(For Pitching, Producer calls, Networking or Presentations)
1 hour
Download it at no charge

Anywhere in the World
April 10 2006
6:30pm EST
ICF (International Coach Federation)
Triple Your Coaching Practice:
Using Secrets from Consultants & Coaches
Earning $150,000-$500,000+ Per Year
1 hour 30 minutes
TBA (Members of ICF only--sorry)

For further schedule information and course descriptions please visit us.

NOTE: Some new classes do not yet have descriptions. Your patience is appreciated.

Quote

Dare to be naive.

~Buckminster Fuller