It’s the end of January — how are your new 2012 marketing goals coming along?

Last Wednesday, I gave two presentations about the marketing shift going on with today’s consumers. What I love about talking to groups is you get immediate insight into what’s holding back business owners and entrepreneurs in their marketing.

What I noticed on Wednesday was a common theme …

Many people feel so overwhelmed with marketing options that they can’t decide where to focus their attention. So they often do nothing at all.

This is one reason why I created my Personal Marketing Multiplier Partnership. (Reminder: Partner requests are due this Friday.) It’s also why I deliver so many marketing tips and strategies in my e-mails to you.

Recently, I shared a slew of marketing ideas on Danielle Hampson’s The Business Authors Show. During the 22-minute interview, I crammed in as many tips and strategies as Danielle allowed me.

We covered the most critical (and common) mistakes … fundamental marketing items … conquering larger competitors … using persuasive words … writing effective e-mails … marketing without a budget … and much more.

But you must hurry to hear the interview. Danielle will only keep it on her site for 48 hours. Go to http://www.thebusinessauthorsshow.com.

If you missed my announcement about the Personal Marketing Multiplier Partnership, check it out here: http://archive.aweber.com/wwsnewsletter/56X7A.

How many times have you watched someone conquer one of your most difficult challenges with relative ease?

I’m going through this experience right now while following Alan Rudnick’s activities on social media. Thanks to his involvement on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as frequent blogging, Alan is often featured in major media and has even secured a multi-book deal with a publisher.

And get this … he’s not a conventional social media “guru.” In fact, he doesn’t even work in what many would consider a traditional business.

He’s the pastor at the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa in Ballston Spa, New York.

How cool is that?

I repeatedly hear business owners and entrepreneurs claim social media won’t work for them. Reasons range from the standard “My prospects are different.” to “My industry doesn’t lend well to social media.”

But Alan’s achievements prove these theories wrong.

During my 42-minute interview with Alan, you’ll discover several social media strategies that silence skeptics, as well as …

•    The best defense against falling into “social media fatigue” and how to ensure automated tools don’t cause you to lose your personal touch with followers.

•    The surprisingly simple key to finding the most beneficial people to interact with on social networking sites (and why prospects aren’t the only people needing your attention).

•    How leveraging a certain type of news event in your blog posts can help you boost readership and attract inquiries from major media.

•    The surest way to get a quick response from almost anyone you follow, including industry experts and well-known celebrities.

•    An easy approach to establishing yourself as an authority (and therefore a source media members want to interview) on global news topics.

•    Why having a large audience on social media can sabotage your success.

•    And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the following MP3 link: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/alanrudnick.mp3.

You can also read the transcript here: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/socialmediastrategies.pdf.

Happy Saturday!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I shared with you Charles Gaudet’s secrets for creating predictable profits? He’s the serial entrepreneur and marketing expert known for boosting profits using underused or unnoticed opportunities.

Well, Charles recently turned the tables and put me on the hot seat. And you can listen to the 38-minute interview (or read the transcript) here: http://www.predictableprofits.com/marketing-podcast-interview-with-direct-response-marketing-expert-tom-trush/.

We covered topics such as …

•    Why direct-response marketing is more beneficial than traditional marketing for small businesses.

•    An overlooked mistake that jeopardizes most small business owners’ marketing campaigns before they even launch.

•    How to encourage immediate action from your customers and enhance your chances of them prying open their wallets over and over again.

•    6 customer characteristics you can tap to give your marketing (and your profits) an instant boost.

•    And much more.

Again, here’s the link to listen or read the interview: http://www.predictableprofits.com/marketing-podcast-interview-with-direct-response-marketing-expert-tom-trush/.

Have a great weekend!

Here’s a pre-holiday gift for you …

My interview with Charles Gaudet, founder and CEO of Predictable Profits, is now available for free download.

A serial entrepreneur, Charles is a widely regarded marketing expert who boosts profits using underused or unnoticed opportunities. He’s helped businesses quickly reach some enormous successes, including earning over $200,000 in 24 hours and more than $500,000 in 5 days, as well as experiencing anywhere from 30% to over 1,000% growth in less than a year.

During this 85-minute interview, you’ll discover how to create predictable profits for your business, as well as …

•    Why you’re at a disadvantage when you try to develop the best product or service available.

•    How to use a simple question to create greater demand for your offers, while also developing advantages your competitors can only hope to copy.

•    The most overlooked shortcut to becoming the recognized leader in your industry — even if you’re an absolute newbie, have a minimal budget and your competitors use brilliant marketing.

•    A single task you can do each day that will consistently lead to business breakthroughs and why certain problems in your business are a sure sign of success.

•    2 sneaky (yet perfectly legal) strategies you can use to generate instant income without doing any marketing yourself.

•    The best defense when competing against companies offering the lowest prices.

•    3 criteria to help you determine if your next “good” idea is bad for your business.  

•    And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the following MP3 link: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/predictableprofits.mp3.

You can also read the transcript here: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/predictableprofits.pdf.

Please feel free to share this interview with the people in your network.

My interview with Stuart Selbst, a former computer repair tech who transformed himself into a sought-after business coach, speaker and thought leader, is now available for free download.

As the owner of Stuart Selbst Consulting, Stuart offers executive-level business coaching for managed services providers and value-added resellers. In the last two years, his partners have seen a $3 million average increase in new recurring revenue. In addition to frequently presenting at his industry’s top events, Stuart is a member of the the MSP Mentor 250 and has been named an MSP Alliance Business Advisor and Autotask Rockstar.

During this 47-minute interview, you’ll discover how to become your industry’s obvious expert, as well as …

• The key question you must ask to ensure you’re viewed by clients as the go-to authority who can solve their most pressing problems.

• How to use marketing’s “politicking” approach to put yourself in front of leaders who can help boost your industry standing.

• A surprisingly simple strategy for stimulating creative juices so you can come up with fresh ideas for writing, speaking and discussion opportunities (as well as a quick way to ensure you never forget those thoughts).

• The most overlooked — and often avoided — way to better understand and build enthusiasm for your product or service.

• A simple trick for securing more speaking opportunities at conferences, trainings and workshops

• How to strengthen your presence on social media, including the critical piece to your website that proves your position as an industry expert.

• And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the following MP3 link: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/obviousexpert.mp3.

You can also read the transcript here: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/obviousexpert.pdf.

My interview with Nate Kuiper, my go-to guy for insight into the book printing and publishing industry, is now available for free download.

A former customer service/sales rep at Bang Printing, a short- to mid-run book manufacturer headquartered in central Minnesota’s Lakes Area, Nate now operates his own book printing and publishing consultancy called Compass Book. Nate and I worked together when I wrote my first book last year, and he continues to serve as a valuable resource as I put together my second book.

During this 62-minute interview, you’ll discover the forgotten facts you must never overlook when self-publishing your book, as well as …

• The hidden variables that can drag out the book-publishing process, including the step that almost always creates unexpected corrections and delays.

• They key question you must ask when determining what publisher would work best for your book’s printing and marketing.

• Why package pricing can cause you to overpay and get a poor-quality product when printing your book.

• The common mistake (especially for first-time authors) that can cause you to lose the rights to your book and not be able to fulfill orders from your customers.

• How to determine if your book is too short to publish for e-readers and why the 3 major digital book platforms must play a role in your book’s distribution.

• And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the following MP3 link: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/bookpublishing.mp3.

You can also read the transcript here: http://mktgmaterials.s3.amazonaws.com/bookpublishing.pdf.

This Thursday evening, Andy Renk, Internet marketer and co-founder of Click for Clients, and I will discuss how to avoid the most common mistakes that cause prospects to ignore your marketing materials.

The live interview starts at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET) and you can watch it for free at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Interviews-With-The-Masters/207905445888854. Simply click the “Like” button and tune in on Thursday night.

During this talk, you’ll find out how to make simple changes to your marketing materials, so you can attract attention and generate more leads.

You’ll also discover …

• Why you’re making a massive mistake if you specifically promote your product or service right now.

• How to use the 2 most critical elements in a marketing relationship to subconsciously persuade your prospects without them knowing it.

• A deadly misconception that makes responding to your marketing message almost impossible — even for your most qualified prospects.

• A hidden advantage every business has (and often ignores) that causes prospects to perceive your product or service as being better than anything your competition could ever offer.

• The missing piece in most marketing messages that allows you to establish closer relationships, gain greater trust and, ultimately, generate more sales.

• And much more, including answers to your questions.

Again, the link to “Like” is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Interviews-With-The-Masters/207905445888854.

If you have a marketing question you need answered, send it to me and we’ll work it into the interview.

I hope you’re having a great Saturday.

The recording for yesterday’s marketing Q & A webcast is now available.

When you go to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/time-to-ask-tom, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the link on the left that reads, “Q & A for Marketing Effectively in 2011.” (You can also view the video below.)

The video runs about 80 minutes.

You won’t hear any pitch, sales speak or pressure to buy anything — just tools, tips and techniques for helping you enhance your marketing efforts in 2011.

So what have I left out? Please feel free to share your comments below.

My interview with super affiliate Joshua Elizetxe is now available for free download.

When Josh started his business, he faced a major obstacle. He was only 12 years old, so he had minimal money. In fact, all he had was $10.

Of course, there was no way he could go to a bank and get approved for a loan. So he turned to trial, error and knowledge gained from books to get his business off the ground.

Four years later, Josh has built and sold websites, dominated whole sectors of MySpace and YouTube, marketed rental properties, generated millions of dollars in revenue, taught online skills across the globe, and mastered the exploding field of cost-per-action online marketing.

During this 70-minute interview, you’ll discover how to apply his unconventional marketing tactics to your business, as well as …

• The exact formula Josh used to record one video on YouTube that generated roughly $80,000 in profit. By the way, it only took him 10 minutes to create the video, which was for a health product.

• Josh’s #1 rule for marketing when you’re forced to work with a non-existent budget. (Hint: If you share common characteristics found in most business owners, then you break this rule nearly every day.)

• The single feature most successful offers share and why greater competition can result in a larger — and more predictable — return on your marketing investment.

• 2 sneaky and perfectly legal tricks for getting more search engine traffic to your offers.

• How to properly “bait” prospects so you get them to your website and deliver unmatched value, making it easier to generate sales.

• The single most important weapon in Josh’s marketing arsenal. You’ll be surprised to know you can have one of these by the end of the day and — in some cases — it won’t cost you a single cent.

• Several simple methods for using unusual marketing mediums, such as pizza boxes and gas station pumps, to generate leads and avoid financial risk.

• And much more.

Get this exclusive interview by clicking or downloading the following MP3 link: Joshua Elizetxe Interview

You can also read the transcript here: Joshua Elizetxe Transcript

You may have noticed I’ve been behind on my weekly tips articles.

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.