Writing and Publishing

Five Marketing Lessons from the “King of Make-up” – Max Factor

Did you know that Max Factor was a marketing genius? Yep, the Polish-born emigrant-turned-cosmetic-industry-giant virtually pioneered the make-up business as we know it today. And you won't believe the strategies he used to get the rich and famous of his era to clamor for his services and products. But what's even more important is that his strategies can be simply replicated in your business to attract all the new and repeat clients you want. Here is how . . .

Five marketing lessons from Max Factor. Lesson 1 -- Transform ordinary people into dazzling super-stars. That's what Max did -- he turned ordinary people into movie stars. Whether he knew it or if by pure accident, Max tapped into one of the most powerful marketing weapons -- the human desire for fame and fortune.

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Adam Urbanski, our official Information Marketing Expert

How to Really Benefit from Associations (Part 2 of 3-Part Series)

Part II: TIPS FOR IMPROVED NETWORKING IN ASSOCIATIONS

1. Give people a break - - as much as possible! Association folks are just as busy or more so than any other business people. Many are doing double-duty with volunteer work on top of their regularly paid work everyday. So, for example, if someone said they’d call & didn’t, open your next call to that person with something like, “You’ve probably been super busy, so I just wanted to touch base for a sec….”

2. Membership Directory – Two words: USE IT. Call people from it, email them, send them postcards. Jot notes in the margins. Write notes from meetings & other group events in the margins to help describe members; like: “the gent with the cowboy hat who sat next to me.” 

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Diana Barnum, our official Ghost Writer/PLR Expert

Etiquette for International Business Success

In the early 1980's when I started to plan international meetings we thought about freight forwarding, negotiating in foreign currencies, airlines to collaborate with, tax deductibility, finding something for the participants to enjoy while they were in that exciting location and producing a positive experience that would not be forgotten. The most important part of the experience was one we did not pay attention to -- international business etiquette.

Going global was the buzz-word of the day. Companies sought new markets outside of the United States and associations sought new membership. But there was a problem. We didn't think we had a problem. We as Americans thought that all we had to do was the same thing we were doing at home but in a different language. Using that belief we made lots of mistakes. I was on the "learn as you go" bandwagon. At the time it didn't occur to me that I had to hit the library before make the logistical phone calls. My international experience to that point was vacations as part of tour groups -- sheltered from the logistics and allowed to just enjoy the "experience". But now that I had to be the logistical coordinator I knew I didn't have the skills.

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Cynthia Lett, our official Business Etiquette Expert

How to Beat Washington at Its Own Game

Within the last couple of years, Americans have experienced a massive renewal of interest in politics and the workings of government. More and more people have begun to get involved in the political process. One result of this renaissance in political activity is that Americans are more aware than ever that all is not well in Washington. And the more corruption and greed Americans see, the more they want the system to change.

All across America, citizens are meeting together at kitchen tables and on town squares to talk about the ideals our Founding Fathers espoused, and to try to shape our current bloated, lethargic, and unresponsive government into a governing process that is truly of, by, and for the people. Like the revolutionaries of old, citizens are banding together, throwing tea parties to protest the excessive political power wielded by special interests, poll results, and the Almighty dollar.

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Lee Schaeffer, our official Political Reform Expert