Sam101: Sales, Advertising and Marketing Data|

Creativity can help you reinvent yourself.

The more ideas you have the more solutions you have available to you.

New ideas open new worlds and new options.

New ideas create new beginnings and new perspectives.

Creativity can reinvent your life.

Creativity can reinvent your company.

Creativity can turn your world and life around.

Now is the perfect time to reinvent yourself, your world, your company, your relationships etc…REINVENT!

You may find that some of these tips are easier than others. Challenge yourself. Make it a point to practice them. In time they’ll all become second nature to you.

Networking Tips: networking is also personal marketing. Master networking and you’ll have a dynamic marketing method at your fingers tips!

Networking Tips: always start with a positive attitude. Your goal is to
establish relationships - no one wants to spend time with a whiner or negative attitude.

Networking Tips: have a prepared introduction. This is referred to as your “commercial”. It should contain a brief 2 or 3 sentences outlining what you do and your name.

Networking Tips: be interesting. A strategy – know what the current topics are for the day and in your area. Ask open-ended questions that cause the other person to interact in the conversation.

Networking Tips: be on time. Hold your head up. Make eye contact. If crowds make you nervous find someone standing alone and start a conversation.

Networking Tips: your handshake should be firm, that goes for both sexes, not bone breaking! Hold your drink, plate or anything else in your left hand so your right hand is always free, dry and ready!

Networking Tips: when in a conversation “LISTEN” to what is being said and react to it. Pay attention.

Networking Tips: when in a conversation make eye contact, look at the person the majority of the time.

Networking Tips: when in a conversation stand still, don’t fidget, rock back and forth or play with hair or clothes.

Networking Tips: when in a conversation be aware of your posture, sitting up straight or even leaning toward the speaker.  No slouching.

Networking Tips: when in a conversation the most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.

Networking Tips: when in a conversation, how do you do?  How can you improve?

Networking Tips: you must be genuinely interested in others. Listen, acknowledge what has been said and make eye contact.

Networking Tips: the point isn’t just to introduce yourself, give out business card, and leave. The point is to make personal connections with others.

Networking Tips: work the room. Mingle. Don’t stay with the same person or group all night. Make plans to follow up with them and circulate. Challenge yourself to meet between 3 to 5 new people.

Networking Tips: give and get a business card to everyone you meet. Offer your card and ask for one if it isn’t offered.

Networking Tips: be sure to make notes on the back of each business card to remind yourself of what you discussed, hobbies, travel, interests, nicknames etc.

Networking Tips: be sure to follow up on any promises you made. Also be sure to follow up with everyone you meet within 24 hours of the event.

Networking Tips: networking is about being authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others. Not just seeing how they can help you.

Networking Tips: set objectives for each networking event. Have a plan. Are you there to learn, volunteer or is it strictly making business connections.

Networking Tips: visit multiple networking groups that spark your interest. Before joining ask: Is the group leadership effective?  Are the members supportive? Professional?

Networking Tips: once you join a group volunteer for a position to stay visible. This will help you become known as a powerful resource.

Networking Tips: establish yourself as a strong resource (expert) and people will turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc.

Networking Tips: by establish yourself as an expert everyone knows you and every one wants to know you…you create your own buzz.

Networking Tips: in order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you and articulate it to others.

Networking Tips: be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you.

Networking Tips: follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given.

Networking Tips: when you’re given referrals, your actions are a reflection on the person giving it. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow. Disrespect it and they dry up.

Increasing Your Sales: – In this economy almost salesperson can feel defeated. Don’t! Success doesn’t just happen you must plan for it!

Increasing Your Sales: “Get a plan - write down your goals.” Those are words from my mentor Jackie B. Cooper (The Automotive Sales Superstar!)

Increasing Your Sales: Not everyone is cut out for sales, if your not, hire an expert – your business depends on it!

Increasing Your Sales: If your doing your own sales define your process – know the steps needed during each phase. If a step isn’t working tweak it!

Increasing Your Sales: Information is important so manage your data.

Increasing Your Sales: You must know your market to grow it! Who? Where? How? When?

Increasing Your Sales: Know your benefits and features - How are you different from your competition? Does your market know the difference? Tell them!

Increasing Your Sales: Stay in front of your market.  Don’t let them forget you when it is time to buy.

Increasing Your Sales: Look at your web site, marketing materials, company brand, message etc - would you buy from you? If not, change it now!

Increasing Your Sales: You can tell your client but when your clients tell your clients – BAM! Ask for testimonials they are gold to your market.

Increasing Your Sales: Get out there and network, network, network. Did I say, “get out there and network” – GO!

Increasing Your Sales: Be proactive, make a sales call, network, offer to speak to a local civic group. How can you get out there? Do it!

Increasing Your Sales: Become an expert by publishing a blog, write articles, let others post your articles to create buzz. Release press releases. Work it baby.

Increasing Your Sales: Define your sales goals. Be realistic. Don’t defeat yourself. As your sales skills grow let your goals grow. Stay with it.

Increasing Your Sales: Reward yourself so you get to know the feeling of winning, you’ll need to recall that feeling when you’re having a dry spell.

Increasing Your Sales: Review your progress. Review your plans. What worked last month might not work this month. Change what’s not working.

Increasing Your Sales: Start on your plan right now so you can take control over your sales success!

Increasing Your Sales: Outsourced what you can. It’s hard to do everything in the office and focus on sales too.

Increasing Your Sales: Before you hire a full-time salesperson consider - straight commission, a draw against commission or a salary plus bonus.

Increasing Your Sales: Just getting started in business, don’t have the ability to hire an experienced professional – think intern.

Increasing Your Sales: Contact the local college students often work for free a few hours a week in exchange for the ability to list the experience on their resume.

Increasing Your Sales: Define your sales call objectives. Know what the objectives are for each phone call, meeting, or written communication.

7 UP, “The Uncola”
AT&T, “Reach out and touch someone”
Aflac, “Ask about it at work”
Alka-Seltzer, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing”
Allstate Insurance, “You’re in good hands with Allstate”
Apple Computer, “Think outside the box”
Bic, “Flick my Bic”
Bissell, “Life’s messy. Clean it up! ”
Burger King, “Have it your way”
Brylcreem, “A little dab’ll do ya”

Read the full list at A Brand Identity

Atlanta, Ga. — February 9, 2009 — Sam101.com… today announced the beta launch of A Brand Identity offering unbelievable benefits for entrepreneurs and small businesses to help stretch their purchasing power and marketing budget. A Brand Identity, or “aBi,” stretches marketing budgets by offering sensible flat rate designs.

“We offer flat fee menu pricing on most of the startup marketing pieces a new business needs. We also offer bundling options with a menu of product choices at discounted prices, allowing clients the freedom to create their own custom bundle of products while saving up to fifty percent or more off street prices,” said Diane Carter, founder of A Brand Identity and sam101.com…. “Working closely with entrepreneurs and small business owners, we can deliver creative designs that convey their company’s character and personality to help gain immediate recognition in the marketplace.”

For the first time, aBi gives entrepreneurs and small business owners the opportunity to interact directly with designer and not through a third party. They define the process so there is no guessing or surprises. Client Nick Perry, owner of Georgia Insurance Options sums up his interaction and new brand design with aBi, “You hit a home run with this logo! I am absurdly thrilled.”

A company’s brand is one of the most important tools in the marketing arsenal, used in creating and sustaining a dynamic impression of their business in the market. With A Brand Identity’s sensible priced flat rate designs there is no more wondering what the final design cost will be or having to deal with last minute surprises. A company knows what the cost is, how the process works, what aBi’s roll is and how the roll they play in creating their final design.

A brand from aBi will help communicate your company image, promote company awareness and create client loyalty. “Humans are visually driven. Be sure you offer your target market a dynamic brand that stimulates to drive and build your business around,” said Diane.

About A Brand Identity
Building on years of experience A Brand Identity creates dynamic brands with a designer who has specialized in logo design for 27 years, you’ll get a high quality brand design every time and in your budget. For more information, visit abrandidentity.com.

About Sam101.com…
Sam101.com… is a renowned sales and marketing knowledge based studio located in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. With more than twenty-seven years of experience, Diane Carter has spent 19 years of her career as an entrepreneur in sales, advertising, marketing and branding. She understands the needs and budget restrictions of entrepreneurs and small businesses alike. For more information, visit sam101.com.

Diane Carter

PR Contact
Sam101
PO Box 333
Marietta, GA 30061
770-499-0127

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by Fern Reiss, CEO, PublishingGame.com… and Expertizing.com…

In the last four weeks, one of my clients sold over 10,000 books, without ever hassling with bookstores. Here’s how your book can generate this kind of quantity sales this quickly:

Background
It all started when Stuart Ballan attended my Publishing Game Workshop. According to a Harvard Business School report, 84% of books in large US bookstores sell 2 copies or fewer each year; only 2% sell 10 or more copies in a year. In addition to these dismal statistics, Stuart was stymied by another complication: He lives in Israel, rather than the US, so marketing books in the US was sure to be more complicated for him. So Stuart decided, with my encouragement, to temporarily ignore US bookstores for his children’s book, “Who Invented Vegetables?”

Put the books into a non-bookstore venue
Stuart was intrigued by my anecdotes of selling my Publishing Game books into Boston-area coffeeshops and movie theatres. Non-bookstore venues have several key advantages: They pay better (60% and up, instead of 45%), they pay upon receipt (rather than 60-90 days later), and they don’t return books. Most importantly, however, there is no competition—because unlike a bookstore with hundreds of thousands of titles, coffee shops, movie theatres, and other non-traditional venues generally don’t sell books. Once the decision was made to ignore bookstores, the question became, where would Stuart’s vegetable book sell in quantity?

Focus on the meta-customer
Rather than trying to sell to millions of end-customers, Stuart decided to focus on those who had the most to gain by selling the subject of his book: Vegetable exporters and retailers. The largest retailers of vegetables, he realized, are the major supermarket chains. And the chains are much easier to focus on than the thousands of individual vegetable stands.

Give them a reason to buy now
Not only did Stuart want the chains to consider stocking the book in their grocery stores, he wanted to give the chains an impetus to buy the book immediately. Since the Jewish holiday of Shavuot is associated with vegetables, he presented it to the chains as a timely item, that would sell best if in the stores in the last few weeks of May, just before the holiday.

The results
Stuart approached the largest supermarket chain in Israel. Within a week, his book was available in over 150 supermarkets across the country. Not content to rest on his laurels, Stuart then approached the major vegetable growers and exporters, and offered the books as a holiday gift item for children of employees and clients. For orders over a certain quantity, he would even put logos and personalized messages on the inside cover.

Results? Over 10,000 copies sold in a matter of weeks. Proportional to population size, that would be the equivalent of over 500,000 book sales in the US.

And because of the tremendous sales records, Stuart was then able to approach a US supermarket chain with his idea—so in a few months, you’re likely to see Stuart’s vegetable book in your local grocery store.

So think quantity sales, think outside the box venues, and think creative.

If you’d like to explore how your book could generate quantity sales outside of bookstores, call Fern for a one-on-one consultation. Fern Reiss, CEO of PublishingGame.com and Expertizing.com, is the author of The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days (book promotion), The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days (traditional publishing), and The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days (self-publishing). You can sign up for her email list on publishing and book promotion by clicking here.

The “Asking Productive Questions” series was designed by Diane Carter, sam101.com…’s founder, to help you change your life by changing the questions you ask yourself. You’ll find more than 3000 questions to help you dig deeper, start conversations, improve your critical thinking, network easier, test you limits and much more.

Each volume is ONLY $4.95

For a limited time you can purchase volumes one through three for $9.95 and we’ll GIVE you volume four FREE - our GIFT to you for having the desire to make change happen in your life today!

Author Beth Densmore is a Personal Life Coach and understand the power questions can have on your life. “Do you have a self-development toolbox? Do you have a standard set of instruments or mechanisms that you use to delve into your inner self? Just asking yourself those questions makes you think, doesn’t it? That is because questioning is the most powerful tool in your self-development toolbox. When we start on the self-development path it is usually because we have asked ourselves a question: who am I, what is it I want, why am I in this position, when can I change, where will this happen and how can I make it happen? Questions can be about us or about others and are used as identifiers. Who do I want to be? Who is standing in the way? Who will support me in this? Who can provide information?

We bring clarity to our quest by asking What. What is standing in the way of resolving this issue? What can I do about this? What is my next step?” Answering the What questions moves us another step forward on the path to change.

If you have ever been in the presence of a three year old for any length of time, you know that their favorite word is Why. The Why question brings them new information and helps them to understand the workings of a world that is new to them. It can be the same for us in the self-development process. Why do I feel this way? Why do I react like that? Why does this seem hard? Why can’t I get motivated?

To take action we need to ask the When question. When will I start? When will this happen? The answers to When questions create timetables and guidelines to follow. When putting a roast into the oven we need to know when it will be cooked. Knowing when the roast will be done moves us to have the table set and the vegetables cooked at the appropriate time. When questions motivate.

Where do we want our self-development quest to take us? If we don’t know where we want to go we will surely have a hard time getting there. And, if we don’t know where we have been how will we know where we want to go. Where questions raise our awareness. Where do I want to be one year from now…five years from now?

Once we know who, what, why, when, and where we need to know how. How can I accomplish this? How should I start? How will I feel when I am there? How questions help us to create a plan for action.

Trial lawyers always say, “Never ask a question you don’t know the answer to.” It is exactly the opposite in the self-development process. Queries you don’t know the answer to are the ones that will bring you the most new information about who you are, where you are and who and where you want to be in the future. Questions can stimulate a deep thought process and can bring us to places of discovery and revelation we wouldn’t otherwise reach.

If you want to: make a change, find a solution, clarify your thinking, identify a goal or learn more about the real you, just delve into your toolbox and pull out the questioning tool. It works every time!”

Volume One $4.95

Volume Two $4.95

Volume Three $4.95

Group Purchase of all three volumes $9.95

Marietta, Georgia (PR) September 3, 2008 – The Republican National Convention (http://www.gopconvention.com/) in Minneapolis-Saint Paul got a rocky start this week. Hurricane Gustav took the limelight and forced the GOP to suspend Monday’s activities.

Like the Democratic National Convention this marks the formal end of the primary election period and the start of the general election season.

While both the Democratic and Republican parties’ gear up for the general election it is important that we the American people look at all of the candidates health care beliefs and plans for all Americans.

McCain’s “Call to Action” can be downloaded at www.johnmccain.com….

McCain’s web site tells us, “John McCain believes the key to health care reform is to restore control to the patients themselves. We want a system of health care in which everyone can afford and acquire the treatment and preventative care they need. Health care should be available to all and not limited by where you work or how much you make. Families should be in charge of their health care dollars and have more control over care.”

Republican vice-presidential candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has very little on her health care policy resume from her short time in office.

Why should health care be a big issue during the election? According to U.S. Census Bureau, a substantial increase in the number of seniors will occur during the 2010 to 2030 as the nation’s baby boomers age. By the year 2020, 12 million older Americans will require long-term care services. By 2030, 72 million Americans will be over the age of 65 or one out of every five Americans.

As the U.S. population continues to age about 80 percent of seniors have at least one chronic health condition and 50 percent have at least two. Arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and respiratory disorders are some of the leading health struggles they will face.

The baby boomers are also living longer than any generation before them. Studies show that as our population ages, the more services they rely on from the health care industry. The baby boomers; especial the tail end boomers could live to see 100 plus years; health care demands will dramatically increase and put pressure on health care services. So the health care beliefs and plans of the candidates, our next President, are very important.

While the cost of health care is out of the ordinary American’s hands we can take control of our own personal medical history. Knowing, tracking and recording your personal medical history is a critical must.

Did you know that most states only require your doctors to keep patient records for an average of 5 to 7 years? So what happens to your records when you really need them? What if your doctor retires, changes practices or moves to another state? Do you really want to fight to recreate your medical and drug history in an emergency? Wouldn’t it be more sensible to prepare now and keep a running record of your medical and drug history, contact numbers for doctors, family and ICE, pharmacies, insurance companies, personal inventory, directives and much more.

The MedicMinder provides peace of mind for users – the knowledge that all pertinent medical and drug history is documented in one comprehensive, easy to use system. No second-guessing in an emergency – having this vital information in immediate reach reduces guesswork and stress so often felt during times of medical crisis.

About The MedicMinder
Simply stated, the MedicMinder is “Trusted by Caring Families.”

About The Sam101.com…
Sales. Advertising. Marketing. Tips, advice and design help in one stop.

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Diane Carter, PR Contact, http://www.themedicminder.com, Post Office Box 333, Marietta, Georgia 30061, 770-499-0127

Marietta, Georgia (PR) August 29, 2008 – MedicMinder has been upgrading our site over the past week, sorting, better descriptions, and adding a new RSS reader widget, the “MedicMinder Health Watch”.

This is a customized RSS health newsreader widget. The RSS reader was developed and introduced by Fox Interactive Media in November 2006, it is called SpringWidgets.

With the “MedicMinder Health Watch” you’ll find helpful information regarding medical issues and news, seniors, prescription drug alerts, health insurance, as well as general health related news.

Read multiple health feeds with this one widget. So go grab the widget (http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/54965) and put it on your home page or pop it into the desktop launch pad today.

About The MedicMinder
Simply stated, the MedicMinder is “Trusted by Caring Families.”

About The Sam101.com…
Sales. Advertising. Marketing. Tips, advice and design help in one stop.

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Diane Carter, PR Contact, http://www.themedicminder.com, Post Office Box 333, Marietta, Georgia 30061, 770-499-0127

Marietta, Georgia (PR) August 26, 2008 – Barack Obama introduced Senator Joe Biden to the nation as his running mate, telling supporters that he is “a leader who is ready to step in and be president.”

While both the Democratic and Republican campaigns gear up for the general election season it is important that we look at all of the candidates health care beliefs, policies and plans for America.

A quick visit to Biden’s web site (http://www.biden.senate.gov/) and you’ll find, “The Biden Plan: A Prescription For A Healthier America.” His plan indicates that he is committed to reducing the number of uninsured American’s and improving American’s access to essential health care services. He also talks about giving uninsured Americans 55 and older the chance to buy into early coverage under Medicare.

Interesting idea considering that the cost of health care in the U.S. is expected to continue to outpace inflation and gobble up more of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to an analyst by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Spending in 2006 surpassed $2.1 trillion for the first time, can you image where it is headed?

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) economist Sean Keehan, one of the authors of the government’s annual health care projection report said, “Health care is expected to consume an expanding share of the U.S. economy over the next decade, meaning policymakers, insurers, and the public collectively face some difficult decisions about the way health care is delivered and paid for.”

Medicaid spending in 2008 is projected to grow 6.8 percent and reach $361.2 billion. For the next decade, it is expected to grow at an average of 7.9 percent per year, reaching $717.3 billion, or 16.8 percent of national health spending, by 2017.

By 2015, spending on the elderly will consume nearly half the federal budget, through Medicare and Medicaid, pensions for federal workers and military retirees, veterans’ health care and pensions, coal miners’ benefits, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, heating and housing assistance, and other programs for the elderly, according to the Brookings Institution.

Why should health care be a big issue during the elections? Because according to U.S. Census Bureau, a substantial increase in the number of seniors will occur during the 2010 to 2030 as the nation’s baby boomers age. By the year 2020, 12 million older Americans will require long-term care services. By 2030, 72 million Americans will be over the age of 65 or one out of every five Americans.

As the U.S. population continues to age about 80 percent of seniors have at least one chronic health condition and 50 percent have at least two. Arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and respiratory disorders are some of the leading health struggles they will face.

Someone recently said that baby boomers; especial the tail end boomers could live to see 100 plus years; health care demands will continue to dramatically increase and put pressure on our health care services. So the health care beliefs policies and plans of the candidates are very important.

While the cost of health care is out of the ordinary American’s hands we can take control of our own personal medical history assuring us better medical care especially in an emergency. Knowing, tracking and recording your personal medical history is a critical must and truly becoming more your responsibility.

Did you know most states only require your doctors to keep patient records for an average of 5 to 7 years? What happens to your records when you really need them? What if your doctor retires, changes practices or moves to another state? Do you really want to fight to rebuild your medical and drug history in an emergency? Wouldn’t it be more sensible to prepare now and keep a running record of your medical and drug history, contact numbers for doctors, family and ICE, pharmacies, insurance companies, personal inventory, directives and much more.

The MedicMinder believes all America’s should that’s why we provide peace of mind for users – the knowledge that all pertinent medical and drug history is documented in one comprehensive, easy to use system. No second-guessing in an emergency – having this vital information in immediate reach reduces guesswork and stress so often felt during times of medical crisis.

About The MedicMinder
Simply stated, the MedicMinder is “Trusted by Caring Families.”

About The Sam101.com…
Sales. Advertising. Marketing. Tips, advice and design help in one stop.

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Diane Carter, PR Contact, media@themedicminder.com…, http://www.themedicminder.com, Post Office Box 333, Marietta, Georgia 30061, 770-499-0127