Virtual Book Tour
By Sandra Lee Schubert | June 29, 2009
VBT Secrets “Preview Trainings”
Please mark your calendar for July 2nd and the preview call by Alex Mandossian.
That day, Alex will share why “every business is an information marketing
business” … regardless of your expertise.
Q: “Do you own a business card?”
Q: “Do you have a website or blog?”
Q: “Do you maintain voice mail?”
Q: “Do you send thank you letters?”
If you answered YES to any of the four questions above, then you *ARE* in the info marketing business. Writers and artists must do more then create art we also must be able to market ourselves successfully.
On July 2nd, I’m inviting you to find out how to grow your info marketing
business faster, better and easier.
Here’s the access link, please click it: VBT PREVIEW CALL
Speak to you soon,
Topics: How-To | No Comments »
When Fame Fails
By Sandra Lee Schubert | June 28, 2009
fallen flowers
This week has seen the sad passing of three people who have achieved fame in different ways. Ed McMahon was known as the faithful sidekick to Johnny Carson. His career brought him fame but not the mega stardom of others. Farrah Fawcett was known as the blond bombshell who left behind a plum role on Charlie’s Angels to carve out her own unique career path. Michael Jackson is recognized as a child prodigy who took his talents and left his family behind to create his own bright star. Each became an icon their own way. But their fame did not guarantee an easy life. They suffered with poor health, relationship issues and money woes.
Most of us would like acknowledgment for our hard work. We would like to know our efforts mean something and we’ll be rewarded. The allure of fame is the promise of an easy life. It becomes this gift we seek to open.
We can spend endless hours watching the specials about the three people lost this week. But we can’t know what was in their hearts. We don’t know what they regretted or were thankful for in their final hours. Despite fame they ended life in the same way we all will.
Fame is something we may seek,providing us with access to people, places and things that can make success all the more sweeter. Fame fails when it becomes the thing that defines us. Lives can get tangled up in talent and torment. It becomes hard to know one from the other. Fame becomes a burden not a pleasure.
Each of then left behind a legacy of their work. I also learned how kind and giving Ed was, how brave and adventurous Farrah was and how Michael was unique and trendsetting. They pushed past obstacles, achieved success and lived the best way they could. Besides their talents I would say they left behind something more tangible and important. They used their gifts and shared them with us. They each took chances. We could debate the mental and spiritual health brought about because of their fame, but we can’t deny a degree of moxie. They didn’t hide; even the fragile Michael came out into the spotlight.
There is this convulsive grief that occurs when a celebrity dies. We have come to depend on them in an odd way. We explore our talents and fear through them instead of developing our own.
We long for our own fame but are afraid. Celebrities pave the road for us. In our own lives we may only achieve modest fame. We honor our gifts when share them with others. We can recognize fame won’t save us from death and try to live our best kind of life. At the end we can leave behind an honorable legacy of well used talent.
Sandra’s e-course leads people to be their creative best through telling their stories and talking to interesting people on her online radio show-Wild Woman Network: Radio for Creative Vagabonds,Thinkers and Innovators.
She is a creative vagabond, a poet, and a writer who co-facilitates the Wild Angels Poets and Writers Group at the historic Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. Her ecourse leads people to tell their life story-Writing for Life: Creating a Story of Your Own.
Topics: essay | No Comments »
Make one million dollars online, today, right now.
By Sandra Lee Schubert | June 15, 2009
Telling our stories
Browsing the Twitter stream I clicked on an article someone was reading about social media charlatans in the online edition of PC World. Let me admit this up front- I have listed myself as a social media coach on my new business card. Despite the title of this post I promise nothing in terms of money, success, media coverage in my coaching. What made me decide to create this as part of my profile? It was relatively easy. My friends kept asking me for advice. I can sit with you, outline your needs and suggest some possible sites for you. My skill is not so much that I am an expert on things, but, I am a decent facilitator of information.
The ability to point people in the right direction is a skill not to be overlooked. I would never suggest anyone could make lots of money online. Because I have not made a lot of money. There are people who seem to do quite well- I would point you towards them. Do your own research.
What I do online is make friends and talk to people. Occassionally I promote things; my show, an affiliate link or two, a product. Sometimes I post my blogs. I like being here.
I have noticed some new things about Twitter-my private messages are full of people telling me how they can help me get a lot of followers on Twitter and increase my income. Really? If you asked me right now I could not tell you have many followers I have. I could not tell you if my all followers have value or not. I automate part of my Twitter stream and then I follow people who I find interesting as I find them.
The experts may tell me I am doing it all wrong. The online and real world is full of people trying to make a living. Some of us have good intentions, others are out to make a quick buck. As always, we may be victims or victors of some one’s advice. We take our chances. I take mine.
If you are trying to figure all this stuff out then I suggest to do it slowly. Pick something to test out. Sign up for Twitter and just observe what people are saying. Jump in to the conversation when it feels right. Read blogs. Follow people if you like what they have to say. This is just common sense advice- you can find it anywhere for free.
I am no expert but I do have some people you should meet.
Topics: How-To | 1 Comment »
Final Thoughts on BEA 09
By Sandra Lee Schubert | June 8, 2009
Book Promotion BEA Style 09
It is amazing how much there is to write about one expo. I know that I didn’t use BEA to my best advantage. Going in I was not certain how I wanted to represent myself. Did I want to be press, author or publisher? All of these are hats I wear in one way or the other. But press was my easiest access into the Expo and it allowed me freedom in meeting authors and chatting with publishers. I do want my version of a media empire. Given the tools offered now this vision is entirely possible. I consider myself a creative person with multiple interests.
There are many writers I know who don’t have one clue about the publishing world. They fully believe they will be discovered at the counter of a soda fountain, sipping a shake, with their novel in their back pocket. They can’t use the computer, email or up/download anything. They don’t know a blog from a cog in a wheel. Never mind tools like Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin. They will dutifully write and wish for publication and never submit somewhere because the can’t use the Internet.
I understand there are people who operate successfully off the grid. They are happy people and will never read this post. But, if a writer wants publication in the mainstream world now is the time to get a grasp on some basic technology and learn to upload a manuscript and see what the world has to say about your work.
Sandra & David - Be The Media
Which brings me back to BEA and meeting one of the guests on my radio show. David Mathison has a wonderful self-published book called, Be The Media: How to Create and Accelerate Your Message…Your Way. It is over 500 pages long and full of information for every kind of artist, musician, writer, filmmaker….
Be the Media is for anyone who wants to harness technology to spread his or her message or products inexpensively, whether to a global or a local audience. David Mathison
There is a lot of information in this book. GET IT NOW. Especially if you want to build your empire strategically and successfully. You want people, like David, on your side. You want to follow and read about people like Gary Vaynerchuk and Chris Brogan who have real value to offer you.
Unless you have a patron, creating is the first step, and then doing the promotional hustle is necessary to succeed. If someone told you creating is easy- they were lying. I don’t know of anyone who finds writing a book, painting a portrait, or any other creative act, a walk in the park. It can be fun, exciting, thrilling, gut-wrenching and damn scary, but it’s work. Creating, in any form, will kick you out of bed in the morning, drive you to drink a little, and make your heart beat a bit faster.
Here is my interview with David: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SandraLeeSchubert/2009/04/07/Wild-Woman-Network-Radio
Topics: Book Review, Uncategorized, books | No Comments »
Meeting Gary Vaynerchuk at BEA 09
By Sandra Lee Schubert | June 5, 2009
. My learn list included mobile marketing. The book fell into my hands like a gift from above. OK, I was happy.
When I ran down to hear Gary Vaynerchuk I had learned from my missed connection with Chris Brogan. Gary was up in front chatting with someone and I went right up to Gary said hello, give out my card and ask him to be a guest on my show. The fun moment came when Gary said he saw my tweet that morning and liked my logo. The one problem with social media Twitter and other platforms is that occasional feel of disconnection. You don’t always know if you are being heard. Sometimes you say hello and hear nothing back. There is a satisfaction knowing someone has heard you in a crowded landscape.
Like Chris Brogan, Gary is a down to earth approachable guy. Again he seems truly interested in meeting people. I am posting the video of Gary’s talk here > Gary’s talk . You will get more from hearing him then my synopsis of his talk.
.Tomorrow: Be the Media and meeting someone through Twitter.
is good. I have the uncorrected galley the book is published in August 2009.
