MarketingMoment

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Laughter is the best medicine, or so people say, and, in light of this being a bleary-eyed Tuesday I thought I’d share some of my favourite headline howlers (which, believe it or not, are taken from actual newspapers):

1. Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
2. Miners Refuse to Work After Death
3. Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
4. Safety Experts Say School Bus Passengers Should Be Belted
5. Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case
6. Survivor of Siamese Twins Joins Parents 
7. Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge

Do you know any other howlers? Or perhaps, on the flip side, you’ve been suitably impressed by a newspaper’s headline… Please share using the comments link below. I hope to compile the best (and worst!) ones for a future post.

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Tags: headlines, English grammar gaffes, headline howlers, funny headline 

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According to internet marketing master Marlon Sanders, the top six ways to drive traffic to your websites are:

1. Getting affiliates to promote your products to their lists.
2. Article marketing — see http://bit.ly/9eMN3j and http://bit.ly/9KpIfn for more information.
3. Buying ads in other people’s ezines.
4. Search engine optimisation (SEO) — to generate more organic traffic.
5. Google Ad Words — and other pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.
6. Banner advertising — once dismissed, now making a comeback.

Here are a few others you might want to try: joint ventures (JVs) … co-registration … social media/networking … PR … postcard marketing … blogging.

Source: Bob Bly email, 1/7/09

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Once upon a time, before I managed so many businesses (www.MediaMinister.co.uk and www.advantageinc.co.uk being the chief ‘runners’), I was known to donate a lot of my time helping other entrepreneurs and business-owners. Perhaps too much time, in retrospect.

I’d take on voluntary roles and tasks, and always be ready to offer help and advice to those that sought it. But lately, I’ve had to be a bit, well, mean…

As nice as it is to meet interesting people over coffee (if you’re lucky) or lunch (if you’re REALLY lucky), I’ve had to put my foot down and say no to those who want to meet up to ‘pick my brain’ (what a horrible image that conjures up!). I simply don’t have the time or the energy. Besides, I wouldn’t expect my lawyer to give me free and impartial advice in exchange for a few hours of my undying attention. Actually, I can almost hear his response: “Of course you can pick my brain . . . for £250 an hour.” 

Psychologists and behaviorists have observed that women in business tend to fall into the trap of giving away our time and ideas for free because we’re afraid to ask for compensation. Being the ‘carers’ in society (and presumably in business), we are almost conditioned to WANT to help people. But ultimately there is the danger that we end up feeling overwhelmed and undervalued — especially if we try to be everything to everyone, or simply give too much of ourselves away.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I’m too busy to help people full stop. I still relish the idea of being able to share my opinions, knowledge, ideas and experiences in the hope it will make a difference to someone’s life or business. That’s why I publish a newsletter and am active on social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. It’s why I do teleclasses/workshops and produce business-building tools. It’s why I always try to help as many people as I can. And it’s why I am a blogger.

It’s a well-worn, clichéd ‘win-win situation’ for everyone — my ‘reach’ is extended so more people benefit and my ‘life-balance’ is a little kinder thanks to the freed-up time I have stolen back from no longer partaking in ‘pick-my-brain-for-free’ meetings. 

What about you? How do you deal with the ‘brain-picker’? I’d love to hear your thoughts — especially if you are a fellow consultant or freelancer.

• Related post: Are You Investing Your Time Wisely?

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Sometimes, it can seem as if the world is conspiring against you and your marketing efforts. But not if you use a time-tested powerful headline.

In the world of marketing communications, both online or offline, your headline can lead to marketing success … or failure. Copywriting and marketing pros alike turn to certain headline formulas that they know will always work well.

In the lead article in MediaMinister’s latest newsletter, Communiqué for Success,  I present my favourites, and show you how you can use each one in your own marketing. To read “Top Proven Headlines to Boost Sales” as well as the rest of the ezine, please sign up first. (You can unsubscribe at any time, and I NEVER abuse my subscriber’s email address. Your details are safe with me.)

Subscribe here.

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For every 80p spent on health promotion and intervention programmes, £4 can be saved due to reduced absenteeism, temporary staff and improved motivation, says The European Network for Workplace Health Promotion.

Which is one of the reasons The Sussex Active & Healthy Workplace Initiative has launched the ’small grants scheme’. This has been set up specifically to help Sussex-based businesses improve the health and well-being of their workforce, and to “support employers to make a positive change by increasing the opportunities available to employees throughout Sussex and working towards improving the health of the local workforce”.

These businesses will also be supported through the Active & Healthy Workplace programme giving them access to many additional benefits.

For more information or to apply for your grant, visit www.sussexsport.org (all grant applications must be received by Friday 30 April).

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There are only 24 hours in the day, and yet there seems to be more and more demands placed on us as every day passes.

In order to be successful, not to mention enjoy a good work-life balance, it is crucial that we manage our time effectively — especially if we are sole traders. But how many self-employed workers can honestly say they are winning the time game?

As we all know, time is money. And once your time has been used up, it’s gone for ever; there is no  way of getting it back. So make sure you have control over your time, rather than time controlling you.

Start by ‘compartmentalising’ your days, mapping out time slots for each task you have to accomplish. The most important stuff should take priority over non-urgent or non-profit tasks. Don’t forget to include your personal appointments and absolutely make time for ‘quiet time’ and ‘creative time’ in your diary.

Ten to 15 minutes of daily ‘quiet time’ is essential for your overall wellbeing and can help with productivity (you always approach things with a lot more zest after a break, right?). Try gentle yoga or gardening, or read a book, or do some deep-breathing relaxation exercises or meditation. Ideally, keep your ‘quiet time’ at the same time each day.

Your working week should incorporate an hour or two of uninterrupted ‘creative time’, where you contemplate the ‘big picture’ — think about what you want for your business and your personal life, and try to come up with ideas how to start living the future you want.

***Need to be accountable to someone, or need help with your marketing goals? My mentoring programme can help you start off – and keep – on the right track.

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From time to time, I like to post a little inspiration on this blog…

Today, in memory of my wonderful mother, whose light went out in this world ten years ago today (yet who still lives on forever in my heart and my memories), I would like to share this lovely little movie clip:

http://www.thedashmovie.com/

Wherever you are today, I urge you to please take some time out to reflect on who or what matters to you most, be grateful for all the good things you have in your life, and make a pact to start living it with the passion it deserves.  :)

The holidays are nigh upon us. Have you done your Christmas shopping yet (smug? Moi? Actually, I haven’t managed to get it all done. Still a few bits and pieces to get yet. Heyelp!)? If not, for last-minute gifts for people anywhere in the world you can’t beat ‘flexi’ vouchers. Click here to read more: http://tinyurl.com/y2cfce. 

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I used to sell air once. Some people say I’m sometimes full of the stuff (ah, they love me, really!). But I can fill it rather nicely, too.  :)

If you need effective script-writing or editing services for films, videos, radio, telemarketing and speeches, then you’ve come to the right place.

I can provide copy for all of the above and offer creative direction, too.

Find out more, request samples or book your project in at: www.mediaminister.co.uk

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The latest guidance from HMRC means every business in the UK will have to take even greater care with their financial records, thanks to a swathe of new ‘penalty’ measures being introduced from 1 April 2009 (and, before you ask, no, this is not an April Fool’s joke, unfortunately).

Any error made in your financial returns, for instance, dating from the April 2008-2009 tax period will have to fight its corner if it is to be spared penalty. Once-innocent errors could now be simply errors that are open to attack. As an example, “failure to take reasonable care” with the current tax year’s tax return could result in an automatic penalty of 15-30% of any additional tax due.  

I’m not an expert, but I do see a potential problem with interpretation. 

The new penalties apply initially to Income Tax (including Self Assessment), VAT, employers paying PAYE, National Insurance contributions, Corporation Tax, Capital Gains Tax and the Construction Industry Scheme. 

My advice? Seek the advice of a good accountant, or pay extra care and attention to your records. 

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