Blogs

 Yesterday afternoon a good fashionista friend of mine had a Facebook status that read, "A woman’s best accessory is her smile". I was really feeling that status, because so many ladies feel like they have to pile on the accessories, the make-up, the shoes, etc. in order to be accessorized to the max and clearly that's not the case.  The summer is here and no one really has time to primp and prep in the smoldering heat, so ladies, when it comes to summer time make up, ten minutes will usually do the trick if you follow these simple steps.

Step 3: Apply a concealer. Do not apply too much concealer or else it will appear caked on. Also, make sure your concealer is the correct color for your skin tone.

Step 4: Continue with the foundation. Remember, it’s the summer time and you don’t need as much coverage. You can use a light coverage foundation or you can simply wet your make-up sponge with water and apply your normal foundation. Remember to only put foundation in the areas that need it most.

Step 5: Apply loose powder to seal your foundation. Do not apply too much loose powder, remember we’re going for an effortless, light summer look.

Step 7: After you’ve applied the bronzer you want to focus on the eyes by simply sweeping a golden colored eyeshadow across the upper lid. A cream shadow may be used, but if you have oily skin a matte color may be best for you. When applying the gold eyeshadow to the upper lid, be sure to focus on the tear duct area. Focusing on the tear duct area will give your eyes a more intense look.

So many writers and authors have questions about writing a book, publishing a book, getting the exposure they need. Being a published author of six books, I  know what it's like to be in that type of situation. Take a moment to check out Literary Career Moves. I can help you with the hundred questions you might have about publishing your first book!

www.literarycareermovesonline.com

Thanks, Dominique

Six Week Workshop for authors and writers. Click the link above to find out!

As business owners and ministry leaders, we have to do what is best for staying connected. We have email, snail mail and text messages. We need to connect to our clients, customers and ministry followers. How can we do that w/o overwhelming them or ourselves? We send a text message!

Yes, keep with the changing times of technology and send a daily or weekly message via text!

 Sign up with me for free: https://www.dialmycalls.com/signup/97046990/

If you don't want to send a text but receive one from Fam 4 U Breakthrough Ministries for daily messages, please send an email with your cell number to info@fam4ubreakthroughministries.org

• Successful business owners
• Actors, Actresses and Entertainers
• High Profile Sports Figures
• Sales People
• Coaches
• Speakers

1. Develop and maintain business
2. Project a positive image
3. Project confidence and authority
4. Earn more money
5. Establish relationships with decision makers
6. Establish trust and credibility
7. Establish authority
8. Attract more business opportunities
9. Get publicity opportunities
10. Establish your brand
11. Enhanced confidence and self respect
12. Feel at ease in social situation

System #2: Customer Relationship Management

Good morning,

I just sent out latest What's Happening Now Info. Did you get it? Do you know today is the last day for our Twitter Party? Hundreds of women are networking and making new connections during our ALL Weekend Party.

Share your stuff and come and ask questions. URL - http://tweetchat.com/room/bbwo.

Remember to go here: http://mim.io/4df911 and if you are not getting the What's Happening Now messages sign up here.

LaShanda Henry, Network Founder

May is my birthday month, and I want you to celebrate with me! How? By getting 25% off any Mocha Writer service!

Services offered include bios, editing, press kits, press releases, website content and more! For additional information, writing samples, testimonials and more, please visit my website, mochawriter.com, or contact me: jamiefleming@mochawriter.com.

Thanks for your support : )

Job Title:        Project Graduation Coaches – Part-Time/Temporary (NO BENEFITS)
 
Reports To:    Manager, Leadership & Education
 
Project Description:Detroit Parent Network has developed a comprehensive new program called “Project Graduation,” which is aimed at significantly increasing high school graduation and college enrollment among at-risk students by creating a supportive and knowledgeable family environment.  The project will target youth in all six areas of the Good Neighborhoods Initiative, assisting parents and their children ages 13-17 to develop specific goals and an action plan to graduate high school and go to college.  During this project period, DPN will work in collaboration with parents (or other caring adults), students, schools, community organizations, and others in the community to develop partnerships that capitalize on the assets of area resources and institutions.
 
Summary of job:  Coaches will work to maintain 1 to 1 parent/student contacts for 150 parents through home visits.  Administer surveys to parents and students twice a year.  Accurately and timely collect data report cards from Project Graduation enrollees.  Track parent and student contacts.  Work to timely and accurately relay concerns and parent barriers to Project manager and relay resources to that parent.
 
 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Support the Project Graduation Initiative to meet goals and objectives in the area assigned.
Must have reliable transportation.
Meet monthly with families to provide individual coaching by establishing parent. and student’s goals as it relates to high school graduation and going to college.
Help develop an educational plan for child and parent.
Connect parents to needed resources working with parent support department.
Manage data base on participants & maintain files on each child & parent.
Research and inform parents on admission and financial aid to college.
Be familiar with Skillman’s Good Neighborhood Initiative, Highland Park and Hamtramck and state efforts to reduce drop out rate and increase college enrollment.
Be able to work evenings and weekends to meet with parents and students.
Monitor evaluation of program and assess successes and areas that need improvement.
Organize staff development opportunities to ensure high level quality service delivery.
Be available to attend Project Graduation forums and events.
Submit all reports timely.
Other duties maybe assigned.
 
Competencies                                
Candidates will have strong analytical skills with the ability efficiently track and maintain contact with program participants.  Candidates should be sensitive to various types of community issues and social issues,non judgmental, streetwise, mature, and paying attention to detail and social issues.  Candidate should be aware of college preparatory financial aid, Michigan high school graduation standards, knowledge of NCLB, education policy and the best practice models used to increase graduation rates. Candidates should be socially astute and, will have experience in working with various communities successfully. Candidates should have knowledge of case management, how to set educational goals for youth and working with parents. Candidates should be passionate about work and enjoy working in a fast-paced, dynamic community organization in which expectations are high on the quality and speed of work.
 
Education and/or Experience:
                                             

Graduate student at a four-year college or university with a major in Social Work, Psychology, or Education.
Experience working in diverse and challenged communities dealing with parents and students.
Must have access to working vehicle and cell phone. 
Familiarity and knowledge of Microsoft Office.
 
Application Process:
Applicants should submit cover letter and resume to 7375 Woodward, Suite 1100, Detroit MI 48202 or fax it to (313) 309-1451; or e-mail it to rallen@detroitparentnetwork.org
 
The Detroit Parent Network does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, religion or disability.
 
 

http://ning.it/mo3W6H
You are receiving this email because you are a member and/or friend of DPN and the Listen Up Mayor! campaign.

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Our mailing address is:

Detroit Parent Network
7375 Woodward Ave.
Suite #1100
 

Getting endorsements for your book from published authors or experts in your field is key to establishing your credibility, and we advise that authors start soliciting endorsements as soon as possible.

Benefits of endorsements:

• They lend credibility to your work
• They pump up your publicity
• Bookstore buyers consider them when deciding whether to place orders
• Consumers look at them when deciding whether to buy a book

Step 1: Evaluate your contact network.
Consider experts in your field. Do you know any potential endorsers? If not, do you know anybody who can put you in touch with a potential endorser? Look at the bestselling authors in your genre. Do you have some way of contacting them directly? If all else fails, you can try contacting them through their publishers or agents.

Step 2: Determine which celebrities or experts are appropriate for the book’s subject.
The most effective endorsements are from other authors, particularly bestselling authors. Celebrity endorsements may also be helpful, but only if the celebrity is known to have an interest in the subject matter of the book. For business books, well-known business leaders are also good endorsers. Consider the different audiences for your book and work toward a variety of endorsements that, together, speak to all of your readers.

Step 3: Request endorsements by preparing a clean copy of your manuscript or an ARC along with a cover letter.
It’s a common practice to write a sample endorsement or two and include them in the cover letter. Indicate that it is a sample endorsement, and the endorser is welcome to use it, modify it, or write an original endorsement. Pre-written endorsements not only improve your chances of receiving an endorsement but also help emphasize the selling points that you’re interested in publicizing. Keep endorsements short and sweet. A couple of sentences is an ideal length to capture readers’ and buyers’ attention. 

Rochelle Carter is the President/CEO of Ellechor Publishing House. Ellechor is a publisher of Inspirational Christian books, including Adventure and Romantic fiction, and non-fiction/devotionals dealing with Relationships, Suicide Prevention and General Self-Help.

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Are Good Manners Taboo in Today's Business World?

Have you noticed a theme about manners and etiquette lately?  There seems to be a question about the importance of polite behavior.  More and more people are asking:

• Are good manners a thing of the past?
• Is it important to be nice?
• How do you spell "respect"?
• What difference does it make if you know which fork to use?
• What is all the fuss about a firm handshake?
• If I am good at my job, what does it matter how I dress for work?

What do you say?  Please be diplomatic.

A few months ago, I went to a business meeting and it was very interesting. The featured presenter was there answering questions from prospects and he was taking 7-8 minutes to answer each of them! He would even get off track and lose focus of the question he was answering. And as I sat there, a bit annoyed by his tangents, I realized that ANYBODY can build a business! This guy literally makes MILLIONS of DOLLARS a year and all he does is just talk to people. He goes off on random bits of information, and gets so excited it seems he can't even breath but yet HE'S SO SUCCESSFUL! So, the key is to be yourself. Yes, we should study our business and know the "ins and outs", etc. But just being yourself and allowing people to relate with you is a huge factor in building a successful business.

That's a big part of Internet Marketing as well. Although you're not meeting people face to face, they need to and want to like you before they decide to do business with you.  That's why it is important that you understand the concept of "branding" yourself. In a nutshell, you want people to be attracted to you. You should include photos on your website and offer training videos taped in your house so they can see you in your regular habitat. Give them ways to gain easy access to you. This makes people feel more comfortable with you and want to do business with you. Let's face it, we only have the friends we have today because something about them attracted us to them. Whether it was their personality or something they had to offer, that's the bottom line. Therefore, you have to do the same on your website to make people like you and want to do business with you! Market yourself on social network sites and leave your business cards with people you meet. Those simple things (to start) will help you get exposure to people that need your services.

Tamara Garrison-Thomas

www.garrisonproperitysolutions.com

www.crazygood.com/refer/whywait

Once you have identified the contact, develop your pitch. Your pitch needs to provide a clear, single-sentence hook that will set up the premise or angle of the interview. The hook should answer the following questions for the reporter:

1. Who are you?
2. What value can you provide to my readership?
3. What sets you apart from others in your field?

This hook is what you will use to open up your cover letter. Attached to your cover letter will be your press kit, which will give the media contact everything they need to determine whether you are a good candidate and will serve as a great starting point for them to develop their questions and angle.

Interview Tips/Basics

1. Develop Talking Points: Most interviews will focus on a few basic points and angles. This means you can walk into any interview prepared, but you will also have to be ready to shoot from the hip if necessary. Keep your answers short, to the point, and free of technical jargon so a broad audience can understand them.

Basic media questions include:

• What is the title of your book?
• What is your book about?
• Why did you decide to write this book?
• Who should read this book?
• Why should they read this book?
• What authority do you have to write on this topic?
• Where can people find out more about you / your book?

Once your book is ready for market, sit down with your publicist and/or your marketing team and hash out your talking points and sound bites. Learn them so well that you can easily integrate them into any conversation. Revisit them frequently to make sure they are still relevant and timely and remember: always mention the book and where to find it.

2. Presentation (Physical Appearance, Tone, Pace): Whether it’s for television, radio, print, or an event, if you are in person and in view of the public, you always want to look your best:

• Choose a professional outfit that is appropriate for the venue. Wear solids on television whenever possible.
• Practice good hygiene!

• Be kind to everyone. Whether you are speaking to the receptionist or the host, it is imperative that you be kind. Oftentimes the person in charge will ask for feedback from everyone who came in contact with you. Plus, today’s assistant is tomorrow’s boss, so don’t chance your future by assuming someone isn’t important.
• Arrive on time. Being early will get you everywhere. Even if you have to wait, it’s better to be on time and considerate of their schedule than missed completely because you weren’t where you needed to be.
• Keep it short and sweet. Whether on air or in print, media outlets only have a limited amount of space for your content. Respect their time allotments and keep your answers succinct to the point (which is why its so important to develop your talking points ahead of time). In broadcast, never—ever—speak past the end of your countdown.
• Send a thank-you note. Show gratitude after the fact with a handwritten note (if possible) or a quick email. Again, keep it brief, but be sincere.

Rochelle Carter is the President/CEO of Ellechor Publishing House. Ellechor is a publisher of Inspirational Christian books, including Adventure and Romantic fiction, and non-fiction/devotionals dealing with Relationships, Suicide Prevention and General Self-Help.

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Hello Ladies,

I'm looking for website, magazine, blogs etc  that feature or interview business owners on their events. If you offer this service, please leave your website link or how to inquire for the feature or interview.

Thank you so much!

Dominique

Publisher/CEO From A Writert's POV

Literary Mentor & Consultant

• Create your profile to match your target audience.
• Highlight your expertise and the benefits of connecting with you.
• Ask for recommendations from former employers, colleagues or clients
• Make sure you convey a polished and professional image
• Examine invitations to connect before accepting to ensure there’s a match with your profile

• Add RSS feed of your blog to drive traffic back to your website.
• Include links to your Facebook, Twitter and other social network sites.
• Stay in contact with your members by sending a message on a regular basis.
• Include keywords about your business in the description of your group.

• Search for resumes. Some job seekers will post their resume and it gives employers an advantage of scoping out a candidate in advance.
• Change your status to ‘hiring’ as this will alert candidates that you are currently hiring. This allows them to freely seek your company out.

• Become a fan of ‘National Association Women on the Rise:’ http://bit.ly/9qqvWW
• Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/sylviabrowder
• Are you LinkedIn? http://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviabrowder
• Join ‘National Association Women on the Rise’ on LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/dsd5E0
• Join our community on NING, www.nawomenrise.com

• Publishing professionals (e.g., your editor, publicist, or agent)
• Booksellers in your genre
• Other writers
• Members of industry or trade organizations to which you belong
• Media personalities (e.g., reporters, radio hosts, or producers)

The Author Power Team

As an author, you are always on the lookout for new ways to improve your marketing strategy and grow your platform. One of the best ways to do this is by developing your power team.

What’s a power team? A familiar term among business networking professionals, a power team is comprised of individuals and/or businesses with whom you share common goals or a common client base.

How can it help you as an author? The members of your power team can help you improve your strategy, connect with more readers, identify more opportunities, hone your message, and expand your reach.

Let’s look at key members of an author power team and how they help you build your career.

• Publisher: Your publisher is an industry insider. If you have chosen wisely, your publisher should have a track record of producing successful books in your genre and should be able to provide you with tips and insights to help you get on bookshelves and in front of readers. Keep your contacts at the publisher in the loop so they are aware of all of your marketing and publicity efforts. This helps them keep your book stocked when and where it needs to be available. They can also give you feedback on publishing best practices.
• Publicist: A publicist helps you develop your marketing strategy and puts you in front of big media—radio, television, print, and online. A publicist also helps you hone your message and clarify your brand so you can reach readers. They have spent years cultivating relationships with media and industry professionals and have access to contacts you may not be able to reach on your own.
• Other Authors in Your Genre: Wait—they’re your competition, right? Not necessarily. If you have differentiated yourself well, your work will stand out when compared to other authors’ work. Each author has something unique to give to the reader, but authors in the same genre share the same audience and are marketing to the same people. If you have been growing your platform and marketing your book, you should already have a following. Pull your efforts together with another author doing the same and you can double the strength of your platform and gain twice the reach.
• Bloggers: Bloggers who write about your topic or genre also share face time with your audience. They often have an open dialogue with a following that listens to their advice and trusts their recommendations. Develop relationships with bloggers in your category and offer to write guest posts, send them a free review copy of your book, share links, or come up with cross-promotional activities.
• Industry Gurus: No matter what topic or genre your book covers, there will be some movers and shakers already commanding a strong following in the same area. Cultivate a relationship with these people. They’re connected and know what your readers are looking for. They can get you into events and speaking engagements that will put you directly in front of your target audience.

These are the primary members of your power team, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box while choosing members. Each book and genre has special needs and interests that are served by many people. Aligning yourself with those people will help you engage your audience and, in turn, sell more books.

Remember, just as with your audience, be willing to provide value before you ask for anything from your power team in return. You are looking to cultivate relationships, not just take what you can get. Here are a few key things to remember as you build your team:

1. Be sincerely interested in the other person.
2. Find ways to help them meet their goals.
3. Be willing and able to promote and/or endorse them.
4. Relationships are a series of meaningful interactions. Make time to check in and see how they are doing, without looking for something in return.

Above all, treat them as you would want to be treated. If you are truly interested, considerate, and helpful, they will reciprocate.

Keeping Track of Opportunities

As an author, you’re constantly chasing down opportunities to share your book, speak to a crowd, serve as a resource, and perform other platform-building activities. People will often say no to your first request—but don’t let that discourage you or stop you from pursuing a lead after the first contact!

It takes at least six points of contact for a message to sink in—six—yet more than 75 percent of the time, people stop pursuing leads after the first point of contact (Good Day 2009). Sometimes authors stop pursuing because they receive a no on the first try, other times because the number of leads to manage is overwhelming. Cultivating relationships is crucial to your career, but it doesn’t need to take up all of your time.

The first thing you need to do is gather contact information. Every time you meet a lead or come across someone in a search, collect his or her contact information or business card right away. Enter them into a simple database such as Microsoft Outlook, PlanPlus, or Salesforce. Spreadsheets and Rolodexes can be hard to manage effectively, but databases like these allow you to classify your contacts, set up reminders, add notes, and keep track of all interactions. You can also consider adding new contacts on LinkedIn if you feel you know the person well enough to engage them online.

Next, you want to categorize your leads. Not all leads are created equal, and each group requires a different type of interaction. Here is a simple way to classify your leads:

1. Hot or “A” Leads: These are people interested in having you speak or scheduling you for some other event. These contacts are ready to go and need to receive frequent, personal contact in order for the relationship to develop into an event or opportunity. These contacts go to the top of your list.
2. Warm or “B” Leads: These are people who showed interest, but who have not yet decided whether they want to work with you. You will need to provide them with more information and work to cultivate the relationship.
3. Cold or “C” Leads: Cold leads are people with whom you have no rapport, such as those you find on the Internet or find out about through third-party sources. These contacts are usually managed through what is called “drip line marketing.” Drip line marketing consists of things like newsletters or emails you send out to a distribution list on an infrequent basis. You may need to send an introductory email and then a reminder a few months later or add them to an informational newsletter until they opt out or say they are not interested. Setting up a drip line campaign is to help you cultivate those six points of contact and to educate potential clients who may turn into A or B leads.

Sorting your leads into these categories will help you better identify and manage opportunities as they come. Don’t forget to provide value first, and remember that your leads are people. Treat them with respect and consideration, and always show your appreciation for their time.

Rochelle Carter is the President/CEO of Ellechor Publishing House. Ellechor is a publisher of Inspirational Christian books, including Adventure and Romantic fiction, and non-fiction/devotionals dealing with Relationships, Suicide Prevention and General Self-Help.

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"Books are a Business" Webinar is coming to From A Writer's POV June 29th! Author, Publisher and Career Expert Stephanie C. Harper will be speaking about the details in her book "Books are a Business". Interested?

Read the press release and get your name on the list to find out how to attend: http://www.prlog.org/11485947-books-are-business-w ebinar.html