The reason is because I’m finishing up final details on my book, The Reluctant Writer’s Guide to Creating Powerful Marketing Materials: 61 Easy Ideas to Attract Prospects and Get More Customers.

Barring any last-minute surprises, the first copies will be available within the next few weeks. Of course, you’ll know the instant you can get your hands on the book.

Until then, I have a special gift for you.

Last Thursday, Ken Hardison, founder of the Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Management Association, interviewed me to give his members new ideas for generating more leads from their advertising efforts. Fortunately, he agreed to allow me to also release the discussion to my subscribers.

You can listen to the entire recording here: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/ken.mp3.

During the 59-minute interview, you’ll hear me reveal …

• 3 little-known tricks for uncovering specific information guaranteed to appeal to prospects who see your ads.

• The single most important step you must take to ensure you give your ad the best chance of getting read.

• 5 common advertising mistakes that make anything you write invisible to your most eager prospects.

• The drop-dead simplest way to test any ad without spending a single cent.

• 3 easy ways to switch off a prospect’s inner critic so your offer instantly becomes more appealing.

• 5 headline “templates” you can use to write copy that lures eyeballs like moths to a bright light.

• And much more.

Listen to recording here (or right click the link and select “Save Link As” to instantly download the MP3 file): http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/ken.mp3.

You can get more information about Ken and his Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Management Association at http://www.pilmma.org.

However, one medium is growing so fast it’s impossible to ignore — online video. I started complementing my marketing efforts with video about a year ago. My only regret is I didn’t start sooner.

Viewership of online video has never been higher, and its growth is staggering. According to The Nielsen Co., nearly 136 million unique viewers spent an average of 3.5 hours watching online video in July 2009, a jump of 42.2 percent over the previous year.

The top site for watching video, according to Nielsen, was YouTube — with more than 7 billion streams and 104 million unique viewers.

The best news for budget-strapped businesses is getting your videos on YouTube won’t cost you a single cent. Where else can you make your marketing message available to millions without ever opening your wallet?

Earlier this year, I interviewed two of the most well-known names in online video — Gary Vaynerchuk and Mike Koenigs — for an article I wrote about how to get started using this exploding medium.

(You can listen to my 51-minute interview with Koenigs here.)

The following piece originally appeared in the Flagstaff Business News:

How to Use Online Video to Promote Your Business

Consumers’ online video viewing habits are creating big opportunities for businesses willing to incorporate the ever-growing medium into their marketing strategies.

According to eMarketer, a digital marketing and media research firm, 67 percent of all Internet users view some form of video advertising at least once a month. By 2012, that number is expected to jump to 81 percent.

In fact, the popularity of online video has grown so much that YouTube recently surpassed Yahoo as the world’s No. 2 search engine.

“The Web has become increasingly social and eyeballs are shifting from mainstream TV to the Internet,” said Gary Vaynerchuk, whose Wine Library TV show receives more than 80,000 online views a day. “There is an unprecedented opportunity to capture people’s attention by pumping out expert, free content within your niche.”

In September 2006, Vaynerchuk, director of operations at Wine Library in Springfield, N.J., set up a cheap camera in the corner of his office and began recording his commentary about wine. Today, thanks in large part to his online presence, he is a nationally acclaimed businessman and marketing strategist.

The biggest mistake Vaynerchuk sees businesses make when getting started in video is attempting to create a Web show that looks like a television program.

“They spend weeks working extremely hard over-producing video with bells and whistles when they could have pumped out more content and spent that time more productively getting engaged with their community,” he added.

After a career behind the camera, Mike Koenigs stepped in front of it and began recording in his garage using shop lighting. A few years later, he built a four camera, high-definition recording studio — Digital Café — and counts Tony Robbins, Debbie Ford and Deepak Chopra as clients.

He says today’s technology allows anyone to communicate worldwide without restriction or any form of traditional media distribution.

“Just get something and get started,” stressed Koenigs, who has distributed more than 3 million videos in less than two years with his Traffic Geyser product. “Your first video will be your worst video and your second video will be your second-worst video, and after that you’ll start getting a handle on it.”

As for equipment, a Flip Mino set on top of a book can get you started for little more than $100. But Koenigs recommends spending around $250-$300 for a camera, adding a tripod and investing in overhead natural lighting for a more professional look.

For enhanced sound quality, he also suggests using a condenser microphone plugged into your camera.

Once you’re set up, answers to the most frequently asked questions about your product or service can serve as video topics.

If you’re not comfortable in front of the camera, an optional starting point is screen-capture video. Using a screen recording software such as Camtasia (PC) or ScreenFlow (Macintosh), you can narrate and record what’s displayed on your monitor.

“As a business owner, you’ve probably made a PowerPoint presentation hundreds of times,” Koenigs said. “If all you did was snapped on a little microphone, did your presentation and spoke as if you’re in front of an audience, you could have your whole video.”

Once your video is complete, distribution is key to getting noticed. So Koenigs encourages submissions to as many video sharing sites (e.g., YouTube, Viddler, Vimeo), social networking sites and blogs as possible.

For increased visibility, he suggests writing your video title and description using terms people search online to find information about your product or service.

When it comes to video distribution and getting noticed on the Internet, Vaynerchuk says prepare to put in effort and engage with your community.

“Putting out great video content is not enough,” he warned. “Use Twitter, Facebook and all the other essential social media tools. All of these tools are free - you just have to be willing to work your face off.”

For more than 23 years, Drew has taught businesspeople how to use consumer psychology to boost the effectiveness of their ads, brochures, sales letters, websites and more. He’s created advertising for everything from small retail shops to giant, multi-million dollar organizations, including Day-Timers, Faber-Castell Corp., Texaco, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Automobile Association, Amoco, American Legion and many others.

Drew, who started creating advertising at 11 years old, proclaims he can teach you more about how to create powerfully effective advertising than 99% of your competitors will learn in their entire careers.

During this interview, you’ll discover the secrets of advertising psychology that make selling simple, as well as …

• 8 ways you can tap into your prospects’ biologically programmed desires to boost demand for your product or service.

• How to use statistics in your ads so they’re nearly impossible to ignore.

• The one secret newspaper reps will never tell you about putting together an effective ad - and pray you’ll never discover.

• Drew’s “million-dollar secret” for getting inside prospects’ heads and discovering what they truly want. (You’ll be surprised to find out it’s never your product or service.)

• The missing component in many ads that causes readers to ignore whatever is written - even if you have the industry’s best product, price, offer and guarantee.

• Why some of the best ads ever written received some of the worst responses.

• Why ad size rarely matters when it comes to response (and why you should instead focus on the amount of copy).

• An extensively tested ad layout that is remembered best by readers - and what to include so you can gain even greater readership.

• And much more.

So let’s get started.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the following MP3 link: Drew Eric Whitman Interview

You can also read the transcript here: Drew Eric Whitman Transcript

The creator of “The Marketing Action Program,” Jon — who is also a copywriter — has worked with business leaders such as Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki, John Assaraf and T. Harv Eker.

For more than 20 years, he has written words that sell, motivate, inform and inspire. His first years in business were spent writing for Pentagram, Britain’s most prestigious graphic design company, and for Reuters, the global provider of news and financial information services.

Soon after moving to the United States, he became co-owner and creative director of Young Associates, one of Arizona’s premier marketing and advertising agencies.

During this 32-minute interview, you’ll discover marketing strategies specifically for small businesses struggling to survive, as well as …

• The one area of your business that — when compromised because of fear — can instantly cut off your current customers and prevent you from attracting new ones.

• 3 powerful advertising channels where you’ll find drastic discounts that weren’t available just 6 months ago.

• The deadly mistake that keeps companies from having online marketing success.

• The 2 questions your website must answer every day, if you expect people to pull out their wallets and pay for your product or service.

• How to make to your website a lead-capture engine driven by prospects who eagerly await your marketing information.

• Why you should avoid cutting your prices at all costs, especially if you think this strategy will generate more sales.

• Why your marriage could be preventing you from getting more referrals for your business.

• And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the

following MP3 link: http://www.writewaysolutions.com/mp3/jon.mp3

You can also read the transcript here: http://www.writewaysolutions.com/pdf/jontranscript.pdf

After a career behind the camera, Mike stepped in front of it and began teaching his trade by recording his own videos in his garage. A few years later, he built a four camera, high-definition recording studio - called Digital Café - and now counts Tony Robbins, Debbie Ford and Deepak Chopra as clients.

In less than 2 years, Mike has helped distribute more than 3 million videos online using his Traffic Geyser product. He’s also credited for making the “Infomercial Toolkit” and inventing the “Internet Infomercial” for marketing and selling products or services with video on the Web.

Mike has served as a producer, marketer and consultant for Sony Entertainment, 20^th Century Fox, 3M, General Mills, Domino’s Pizza, Ralston and Mazda Motors.

During this 51-minute interview, you’ll discover how to get started using online video to promote your business, as well as …

• How you can instantly eliminate your online video amateur status by making a $30 “sound” investment.

• A common lighting mistake you’ll never notice until after you record your video.

• How to use a “love” exercise to relax in front of the camera and improve your relationship with viewers.

• An easy way to create quick videos without using a camera. (This method is perfect for people who are camera shy.)

• A simple secret for coming up with at least 20 video topics that will dominate the search engines and bring you leads almost effortlessly.

• How to combine keywords and distribution to ensure your target audience views your videos and then visits your website.

• And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the

following MP3 link: http://runningaudio.s3.amazonaws.com/mikevideo.mp3

You can also read the transcript here: http://www.writewaysolutions.com/pdf/videotranscript.pdf

According to eMarketer, a digital marketing and media research firm, 67 percent of all Internet users view some form of video advertising at least once a month. By 2012, that number is expected to jump to 81 percent. In fact, the popularity of online video has grown so much that YouTube recently surpassed Yahoo as the world’s No. 2 search engine. There’s never been a better time to start using video to promote your business.

Click to listen to Click for Clients Radio

Today I was a guest on Click for Clients Radio with Andy Renk and John Ward.

You likely know Andy because of the previous interviews we did about creating effective websites and blogs. There’s no question Andy knows his stuff, having built a $12 million online business in just three years.

A faculty member for Trump University, Jon has worked personally with Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki, John Assaraf and T. Harv Eker. The nationally acclaimed expert on online branding is also the creator of the Marketing Action Program.

During the show, we discussed why some businesses thrive with their marketing efforts and others struggle to survive. In addition to giving several tips for creating an irresistible marketing message, Andy revealed some of his latest and greatest marketing tools.

Click here to listen and download the Growing Despite an Economic Downturn interview here.

I have to say, I was a bit surprised by the response.

I knew Andy provided some great information, but the reaction was even more positive than I expected. So much so that I knew Andy and I had to connect again for a follow-up interview.

As fate would have it, I stumbled across a blog post from Andy that was impossible to ignore. One look at the title and I knew we had a topic for our second interview.

“10 Reasons Your Biz Website Just Might Totally Suck”

See what I mean?

Andy didn’t pull any punches with that post.

Sure, you might have a website that could use a little work, but one that “sucks” takes bad to a whole other level.

During this interview, you’ll discover …

• The strategic foundation you must lay before even considering content or the design of your website. (Skip this step and confusion will cause visitors to race off your website.)
• A $250,000 mistake you can avoid by simply not relying on the “experts.”
• 9 items you must have on your website if you expect to get traffic from the search engines.
• The fundamental question all websites must answer from the opening headline on the home page to the post-order thank-you e-mail.
• How to determine if you’re neglecting your website and squandering your online investment.
• A cheap and easy way to get your website evaluated — using audio and video — by unbiased reviewers from your target market.
• And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the
following MP3 link: http://www.writewaysolutions.com/mp3/renkweb.mp3

You can also read the transcript here: http://www.writewaysolutions.com/pdf/renktranscript.pdf

At the end of the interview, Andy explains how you can access his course, How to Build a Kick-Ass Biz Website in 59 Minutes, for FREE. You could have no knowledge of HTML, graphic design or even the “Internets” and have a website online in minutes using this step-by-step tutorial. After listening to the interview, be sure to click on the following link to watch the video: http://www.clickforclients.com/fjieskk/.

If you missed the first interview with Andy, you can access it here:

http://www.writewaysolutions.com/mp3/andyweb.mp3 (Part 1)

http://www.writewaysolutions.com/mp3/andyweb2.mp3 (Part 2)

http://www.writewaysolutions.com/pdf/andytranscript.pdf (Transcript)

There’s never been a better time to market your business on a small budget … even as banks fail, gas prices soar and consumer confidence dwindles.

In fact, your opportunities to promote your business are even greater today than yesterday, especially if you’re pinching pennies.

What’s more, you’ll have even greater opportunities tomorrow.

But you can’t wait any longer.

Here’s why: http://www.clickforclients.com/blog/2008/10/small-business-marketing-interview-getting-new-customers-on-a-budget/

Click on the above link and you’ll hear me get interviewed by Andy Renk, co-founder of Click for Clients. On Tuesday, he “held my feet to the coals” after I claimed you could pack a business with customers in 14 days or less on a penny-pinching marketing budget.

Failing to market when the economy struggles is like waving the white flag and surrendering your company’s future to luck.

Why take any chances?

http://www.clickforclients.com/blog/2008/10/small-business-marketing-interview-getting-new-customers-on-a-budget/

By the way, Andy’s blog offers a wealth of marketing information. After listening to the interview, be sure to look around a little bit. You’ll especially want to find out if your website is “Chipotle Simple.”

The author of “The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur,” Mike started his first business at 24, moving his young family to the only safe place he could afford — a retirement village. With limited resources and no experience, he systematically grew a multimillion-dollar technology business, sleeping in conference rooms to avoid hotel costs.

After selling his first company, Mike launched a new business the very next day, and in less than three years, sold it to a Fortune 500. With his newest venture, Obsidian Launch, he fosters startup businesses with his “get rich right” approach.

A graduate of Inc. and MIT’s “Birthing of Giants” Entrepreneurial Program, Mike received Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards multiple times. He is a recurring guest on CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, has been featured on National Public Radio, and in the New York Times, Smart CEO Magazine, and other publications.

During this interview, you’ll discover how to maintain a strong mindset in a weak economy, as well as …

• The quickest and easiest way you can transform a down economy into a “golden opportunity” for your business, no matter what industry you’re in.

• The single most important method for generating constructive feedback (no, it does NOT involve surveys), so you can offer products or services your customers will buy over and over again.

• How your friends are damaging your business without you even knowing it.

• The costly mistake many people make when cutting “easy” expenses that can drive your business into a deadly downward spin.

• 2 simple marketing strategies you can use today that target your prospects’ emotions and makes your message nearly impossible to ignore.

• A sneaky strategy Mike used to land 10 appearances on The Big Idea — and how you can take the exact steps to secure your own television spots.

• The secret to building alliances with people who can accelerate your path to success, even if you think they’re “out of your league.”

• And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the following MP3 links:

Part 1

Part 2

You can also read the transcript here. 

Also, don’t forget to visit http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com to learn more about Mike’s book, “The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.” The list of testimonials is impressive, especially the one from self-made billionaire Bill Bartmann.

And if you haven’t already, check out this ABC News clip of Mike explaining why now is the best time to start a business.

Andy is the co-founder of Click for Clients, a training company focused on teaching entrepreneurs how to build web-based marketing systems at minimal cost.

He began playing with the Internet in 1993 while working as a corporate graphic designer. In 1995, Andy saw the potential for doing business online, so he built an e-commerce site — ProjectorSuperStore.com — selling audio/visual hardware.

Not long after the site was up and running, and a few crude search engine optimization techniques later, requests started coming in from all over the world. In only three years, and with just three employees, the company grew from $0 to $15 million in sales.

Since then, Andy has started several other Internet businesses, including Max Podcasting, a site for real estate video podcasts. He has also consulted with scores of small business owners across the country.

During this 44-minute interview, you’ll discover do-it-yourself secrets for creating a profitable website or blog, as well as …

· A simple way to convert “ugly” URLs into web addresses with keywords or phrases that search engines love.

· 3 ways you can stay on top of the latest trends in website design and functionality without spending hours scouring the Internet.

· How to automate the blog writing process and receive content targeted toward your key phrases.

· A f r e e tool that rewrites text so you eliminate the risk of duplicate content on your website or blog.

· 2 online tools that help you identify lucrative keywords with low competition, making it easy for you to optimize your website for the top position in the search engines.

· A quick and easy technique for generating back links that will help push your website up the search engines.

· 4 resources you can start using today to instantly generate traffic and build back links to your website — at absolutely no cost.

· How you can quickly get started using social media to network, distribute your own content and receive cutting-edge information about your industry before anyone else.

· And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading thefollowing MP3 link:
http://www.writewaysolutions.com/mp3/andyweb.mp3 (Part 1)
http://www.writewaysolutions.com/mp3/andyweb2.mp3 (Part 2)

You can also read the transcript here: http://www.writewaysolutions.com/pdf/andytranscript.pdf

Enjoy!

Also, Andy’s social media website, Social Orange, allows you to connect and learn from small business owners worldwide — and it’s absolutely f r e e. Check it out at http://www.socialorange.com.

One other thing … If you haven’t already, be sure to listen to my interview with brandologist Lisa Barnard. She explains how you can use branding to capture prospects and create customers at http://tomtrush.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-use-branding-to-capture.html.