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 Betsie's Literary Page Newsletter . Guerilla Marketing Revealed! 
March 05, 2004 
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Greetings Dear Friends!


Hope your week has been a properous one.

Last week has been a journey of discovery for myself. But I wanted to learn and studied this for myself. The key to any type of marketing is "using" what you learn.

People are under the impression that "gurus" have all the secret tools to obtain success. WRONG!

First allow me to let you in on a vague bit of information:

On Monday morning I sent out 32 emails, then sat back and waited. Tuesday morning I had 16 of those individuals wildly excited. Some sent emails, while others called me direct - asking for information, and ready to jump on the bandwagon. This was without even trying!

To learn how to achieve this same reaction check out Guerilla Marketing made Simple.


in this issue
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  • In the News and More
  • Funny Questions to Ponder?
  • Book Reviews
  • Putting Pen To Paper: A Journal To Publication
  • Guerilla Marketing made SIMPLE!

  • Funny Questions to Ponder?
    .


    - Can you cry under water?

    - When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunkydunk."

    - How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

    - Since bread is square, why is sandwich meat round?

    - Why do you have to "put your two cents in"...but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? Taxes?

    - Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

    - How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

    - Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?

    - If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

    - Why are you IN a movie, but you are ON TV?

    - Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

    - How come we choose from just two people for President and fifty for Miss America?

    - Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.

    - I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!

    - Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press Ctrl Alt Delete and start all over?

    - Just remember-- if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

    - If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!

    - Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever


    Book Reviews
    .


    Title: Every Dream Interpreted
    Author: Veronica Tonay
    Publisher: Collins & Brown; (May 2003)
    Genre: How To
    Paperback: 272 pp
    ISBN: 1843400510
    $14.95

    Rating: Recommended

    March 4, 2004

    REM is more than sleep mode

    Every Dream Interpreted is a mystical, as well as scientific view into the world of dreams. Using research gathered by several psychological dream experts, Dr. Tornay explains how to gain insight into self and others. Through four main theories, developed by Freud, Jung, Gestalt, and phenomenology.

    The views developed by these researches range from dreams representing subconscious sexual aggression, desires, and fears to simply another state of once awareness and expression.

    In addition to theories on interpretation of dreams this author defines the different stages of sleep along with the significance of their importance in maintaining a healthy mental balance.

    With the use f vivid illustrations, charts, graphs, questionnaires, and scenarios from actual real life dreamers this book makes it possible for analysis of many types of dreams.

    Finally, use of the word every always causes an exception, this is the mystery portion of dream interpretation. Perception of the analyzer, meaning the same dream may be perceived differently depending on which theory used and the dreamer. Recommended as adjunct in psychotherapy, counseling, and any individuals in search of self-enlightenment.

    Reviewed by Juanita Reynolds



    Title: Sparkling Together
    Author: Jyoti Ma
    Illustrator: Chandra Devi
    Publisher: Integral Yoga Publications (May 2004)
    Genre: Juvenile Fiction
    ISBN: 0932040543
    Paperback; 92pp
    $19.95

    Rating: Recommended

    February 28, 2004

    Sweet and endearing!

    In this whimsical tale, Rose and Sky Heart are taken by surprise one fall afternoon when a spaceship lands in a nearby open field. An earth-like boy emerges from the ship introducing himself as, Starbright of Planet Om. Instantly a bond of friendship is formed.

    The adventures of Starbright, and his earthling friends, explore many issues and challenges children face today, which make this book intelligent and thought provoking, as well as an instrumental teaching tool for children.

    Author Jyoti Ma, also sets forth a universal ethic. This universal ethic is selfless love, and its immediate manifestation in the family and compassion for all living things. A force inherent in our universe that moves into form, is multiplied, and changes the world.

    With its social overtones, readers of all ages will enjoy these well written, entertaining, and quirky tales. Eye catching, colorful illustrations also help bring these adventures and characters to life, appealing to the imagination of young and old alike.

    I recommend this delightful book as a bedtime story to kindle the spirit of goodness within one's heart or for parent and child as a way to stay connected.

    Reviewed by Betsie


    Putting Pen To Paper: A Journal To Publication
    .


    "THE BESTSELLER: Success Stories From Top Authors and the Editors, Agents, and Booksellers Behind Them" by Brian Hill and Dee Power, Dearborn Trade Publishing

    Getting from a stack of blank paper to a published book can be a daunting experience. Brian Hill and Dee Power will be keeping a journal online so you can read about their challenges and achievements of researching and writing THE BESTSELLER.

    Do you have a favorite author you want to hear about? What's it like to talk with Carly Phillips, Peter Straub, Sandra Brown, Catherine Coulter, or Nicholas Sparks? What questions would you ask your favorite author?

    If you've ever been curious about how a book is born, meeting deadlines, how an author works with an editor, and the all important marketing and promotion efforts, you can now find out first hand. Every week there will be a new journal entry to Putting Pen To Paper: A Journal To Publication.


    February 13, 2004

    Okay panic time!

    I am just not, NOT, NOT going to get everything done! Where did the week go? Where did January go? Last time I looked, I swear it was just a couple weeks after Christmas and now, tomorrow, it's Valentine's Day. Did I enter a time warp? Are there gremlins munching up the hours when I'm not looking?

    I have to work on our current book contract, THE BESTSELLER. Finish the end of our novel, "Inside The Crescent Moon," figure out some way to boost sales of Overtime, our first novel, and, and, and -- Okay, deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. Maybe I should take up yoga?

    Another email from Michael, our editor at Dearborn. They would like to include a few 'names' in the catalog copy for THE BESTSELLER. We have two weeks. I was planning on recruiting authors, agents and editors as we went along, but I suppose I can change course and try to get a few headliners now.

    What we've found previously when asking for an interview is that the person expects to be interviewed immediately. We'll just have to work out the scheduling for the next few months.

    We know who the people are, it's just a case of finding contact information for them. For example, I can put in John Grisham +agent in a search agent and get some sites to check out. Unfortunately for Grisham that didn't work. All I ended up with were sites that said 'if you're John Grisham you don't need an agent' or something to that effect. What did work is reading Publishers Weekly with a keen eye. There was a mention of his agent by name in a recent issue. Did you know that Peter Straub and John Grisham have the same agent?

    In an article in ESPN Grisham mentions he's a Green Bay Packer fan and his favorite player is Bart Starr, so I'll send him a copy of Overtime, our novel and we'll see what happens.

    Dee


    Guerilla Marketing made SIMPLE!
    .


    Ok I've recieved numerous questions and I can't make it any simpler than this!

    You want to know how to drive traffic to your website? How to increase sales? How to attract attention? How to get on radio shows and more?

    Then print this section out, its a win - win strategy!


    What is Hypnotic Marketing?

    Hypnotic Marketing is a 3-step integrated strategy that combines the off-line world with the on-line one to create massive sales.

    The 3 critical parts of Hypnotic Marketing are:

    1. Hypnotic Publicity = create a news angle that gets media to drive traffic to your website. Embedded in the news story is a link to your website. Tie to current news. (what is hot) How can you comment that connects you to it? Think like a reporter. (using tip sheet) example: 7 ways to save taxes this year. To make it work= issue a tip sheet with only one or half of the tips you came up with. At the end of the news release add-to get the other 6 ways go to http://www

    People are curious. People want to know. This will drive people to your site. Reporters will send traffic to your site! Turning into dramatic sales, by using the offline world to go into the online world. Humor befriends the media more than anything else. Create a medium that the media can use to drive traffic to your website! Ask a massive question, but don't answer it! Curiosity will bring them to you.

    The cliffhanger approach, it persuades. So few people know about it and so few do anything about it.


    2. Hypnotic Website = Can be a resource of information or a place to purchase a product directly. The first thing that should be seen on the site is any information sent in the news release, to fulfill the curiosity you stirred up. This in turn will beget sales!

    What do people buy online?

    Top 3 is: food - sex - money

    People will buy that or any part of those! They want anything that's going to give them that kind of thrill!

    Any subsets of those will also sell. Food can also be dieting. Sex can be guitar playing as it is considered sexy. Money can be saving, investing, making, or spending.

    Use hypnotic writing on your website to increase the number of sales.

    Imagine. They want you to Imagine being in whatever they want you to be in. Your brain works in pictures. This word alone "activates" the brain, it get visitors to "imagine."

    People are fascinated with unusual things - they want to know what is new, odd, or popular. You want your site to stand out. It's why reality TV is doing so well! We want to "imagine" being there. These are ways of creating a hypnotic website.

    There should always be testimonials of why they should purchase your product!


    3. Hypnotic Emails = I love email!! Almost no one complains and because I work extremely hard to make them hypnotic.

    Remember at the other end there are always distractions. They probably received a hundred emails at the same time mine arrived. They are overwhelmed, stressed out, and busy.

    In the back of your mind you need to think: "what is it that I'm going to say that's going to nail these people right to the floor? And keep them there long enough to read my message."

    This is tough, no doubt, and not something you can do instantaneously. The secret? Story! Tell them a story. It even begins with -- Dear Friend, which initiates action, and curiosity.

    Stories are a way to make emails very hypnotic. But most importantly you want to build a relationship / trust with these people and sell your product!

    There are 5 types of email styles to use:

    #1 to even get your mail opened = make it conversational, as if to a best friend. Even if it's going to a thousand people - it will come across as personal! This is called "leading."

    #2 Make it seem personal = sounds more manipulative - a fake personality. Example: About the call the other day -- It will get people to open your email. But you have to be careful that you're not tricking them.

    #3 Make it newsworthy = people want to know what's new! Example: Announcing, or At Last or Just Released. This implies there's news. People are curious and want to be on leading edge.

    #4 Benefit oriented = people want to know what's in it for them. Example: A new way to lose weight or How to lose weight. You're starting to talk in terms of the benefit to those people.

    #5 make it curious = there's a power in curiosity and again people want to know more. Example: I was nearly in tears.


    Part 2 - Hypnotic Writing

    Hypnotic Writing is a type of "waking trance."
    It is like "highway hypnosis."
    It is a focused state of mind.
    It's a way of using words to influence people's perception.
    Marketing is a way of manipulating perception!

    Everyone is in a trance; you want to bring them to a buying trance. Do that by focusing on where people are and on what people want.

    At this very moment you are in a trance, hinged on every word I've written here! Ok wake up now ^_^

    The 7 Traits of Hypnotic Writing are:

    These are clues to how you can create hypnotic writing.

    1. Personal
    2. Active
    3. Emotional
    4. Sensual
    5. Commanding
    6. Curious
    7. Hidden

    · How Can the Right Question Bring in 317% More Orders?

    Questions people cannot answer without reading your copy pulls them into a trance. (Above question is good example.)

    Also, use bullet points that promise (every one of these key points uses this principle), that compels people to buy your product or take the desired action you want to find out what that specific thing is.

    Open-ended questions intrigue. It says something very specific. It sounds believable, and builds trust. People will buy your product just to get the answer!

    · What is the 1 thing a letter must have to be hypnotic? A= It has to be captivating. It has to generate "curiosity" to capture attention!


    · Hypnotic Writing check-list?

    There are 21 parts to it, but the first 12 are:

    1. Headline -- captures right audience It's a make it or break it point.

    2. Design of Headline -- Fancy type won't get you more readers. Your killing readability. It needs to be simple.

    3. Headline Promises or creates Curiosity - Meaning that the headline needs to convey something that people want to know more about.

    4. Website Letter Header Logo- needs to builds trust (such as Amazon) / Repetition

    5. Opening Paragraph -- Make it captivating. A one sentence shocking statement! You need to ensnare the potential customer.

    6. Offer -- What are you selling? You need to give a sense they need it.

    7. Advantages -- Why buy? List all of them.

    8. Positive language -- Be enthusiastic when expressing yourself. It's contagious!

    9. Emphasis on important passages - with sub-heads. Here you can get a little fancier with type graphic.

    10. The ego meter -- Focus on your reader! On what they're going to get from your product.

    11. Readability -- Short sentences and simple words, and active phrases. You don't want people stumbling over your message.

    12. Structure -- Your letter should look inviting. Use the same concept on websites, emails, etc.

    If people have to guess, then you're not making any sales. Your potential buyers are in a confused state. The ultimate goal is to get them into a buying trance!


    The four emotions in every human being:

    Self-preservation
    Romance
    Money
    Recognition = this is even more powerful than money!

    These are the 4 key motivators to put anyone into a hypnotic state. Powerful persuaders. Use them wisely! Practice. Learn. There's too much to go into, folks this is just the tip of the iceberg, but I hope this clarifies many a myth.


    ** We appreciate and hope you continue to send us your comments, opinions, articles and suggestions. Remember if you submit any article to our newsletter - include a link back to your site.

    Betsie's Literary Page is where readers are respected, books are cherished, aspiring writers are encouraged and authors are adored.


    In the News and More


    The Passion of The Christ

    Mel Gibson stands to personally make more than $300 million for pursuing his Passion. At the close of its fifth day in theaters, the controversial The Passion of the Christ movie officially grossed $125.2 million, and industry experts anticipate that the international box office sales could hit $650 million by the end of its run.

    Way to go Mel!!!


    "Return of the King" Sweeps Oscars -- HOLLYWOOD, February 29, 2004--Peter Jackson's epic fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings finally got the recognition it's been waiting three long years for at the Academy Awards ceremony at Hollywood's Kodak Theater, where the third installment, Return of the King, raked in a record-tying 11 awards (only Titanic and Ben-Hur won as many).


    HE NEVER PROMISED US A ROSE GARDEN, BUT 9/11? - We're of mixed emotions concerning today's launch of George W. Bush's multimillion dollar advertising campaign. On the one hand, it's great to see the Prez doing his part to boost the advertising economy with an estimated $60 million media budget over the next seven months. On the other hand, we have to question the strategy of his initial flight. And it's not that we buy the notion that W's campaign team is exploiting an American tragedy in the TV spots breaking today. It's that it seems to run contra to good political - or for that matter, any brand's - advertising practices.

    It's a basic tenant that you should avoid associating your brand with implicitly negative imagery, even if the overt message is, "Hey, I'm the guy who's taking control of this situation." But that's exactly what Bush's campaign team has chosen to do by juxtaposing the President with images of the smoldering remnants of the World Trade Center following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Again, we think the footage is fair game, even if Democratic spinmeisters (hey, it's their job) and New York firefighters (hey, it's their right) are up in arms over it. We only question why Bush would want to remind the American public of their insecurities, especially when he is the guy in charge.


    AND THE VERDICT IS - King World's nationally syndicated "Martha Stewart Living" TV show has been nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards. And if the show's host somehow manages to beat her insider trading rap, she should be nominated for an Academy Award. If she doesn't, she may have to miss the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which will be held May 21 at Radio City Music Hall.


    MOVIE REVIEWS

    "BROKEN LIZARD'S CLUB DREAD"
    (2004) (Bill Paxton, Brittany Daniel) (R)

    Rating: 2 out 5 points

    Most everyone knows about the concept of giving second chances to people, organizations or things that have failed and/or disappointed them in the past. Lord knows enough people do that regarding familial and romantic relationships, sports teams and the like. I've always believed in doing the same for movies, filmmakers and performers that didn't exactly succeed the first time around.

    That said, I knew that the collision of the spring break/party resort and horror spoof genres with the filmmaking team responsible for the abysmal "Super Troopers" would test my ability to grant such leniency.

    After all, and despite actually sporting too many entries in their respective genres, those two sorts of films have been run into the ground and/or worn out their welcome, while the aforementioned picture from the comedy troupe Broken Lizard barely qualified as a comedy.

    Unfortunately, the same can said about their second feature effort, "Broken Lizard's Club Dread." Less a movie than a slipshod skit that's gone terribly awry and been padded, stretched and then some into a full- length movie, the supposed comedy falls in line with its predecessor. Meaning it's sophomoric, idiotic, annoying, sloppily made and, in my opinion, not particularly funny, or even that amusing.


    "DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS"
    (2004) (Romola Garai, Diego Luna) (PG-13)

    Rating: 3 out 5 points

    If there's one point where viewers and movie critics regularly disagree, it's over the subject of sequels. While the former often enjoy the return of familiar characters and plotlines, the latter - with a few exceptions - usually see through them as just a moneymaking rather than artistic endeavor.

    When such films don't include the same performers or even characters, that greedy nature becomes all the more apparent. All one has to do is think of films like "Grease 2" to know what I'm talking about. You can now add "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" to that illustrious grouping.

    While technically a prequel - as it takes place in 1958 whereas the original occurred in 1963 - it has very little to do with the first film in terms of related characters or story. That said, it's basically the same film in terms of structure and plot. Set in Havana rather than the Catskills, it features a teen who discovers the joy of the titular activity along with people in another social class that help liberate her from her uptight and socially stuffy parents and environment.

    Considering that the underlying "break free" plot is nearly identical in theme to that in the first film, it's somewhat surprising to hear that screenwriters Victoria Arch (making her feature debut) and Boaz Yakin ("Uptown Girls," "Remember the Titans") based it on the experiences of co-producer and choreographer JoAnn Jansen. Accordingly, it has a bit more of a substantive background/subplot story than the original, but that's not saying a great deal. Beyond getting the look of pre- Castro Cuba pretty much right, however, director Guy Ferland ("Telling Lies in America," "After the Storm") doesn't manage to do much else with that material.


    "TWISTED"
    (2004) (Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson) (R)

    Rating: 2 out 5 points

    A herring is defined as a common name for several fishes, about 12 inches in length, with short dorsal and anal fins and a scale-less head. Not being a fisherman and even with that definition, I don't think I'd be able to pick one out of an aquatic line-up, let alone identify one by its color alone. That is, except in the movies where they're always red. Not like a Soviet era communist, but instead a purposeful distraction designed to draw one's attention away from a central issue.

    While they're often overused and/or badly conceived and executed cinematic clichés, they can be fun if handled with just the right touch. Alas, that's not even remotely the case in "Twisted," a "suspense/thriller" that's not particularly suspenseful or thrilling. It is, however, bad enough and so dated that it's the movie equivalent of old, thawed-out sardines that are really starting to stink up the place.

    Basically a reworking of the old Clint Eastwood cop drama-thriller "Tightrope" as taken from a female perspective and filtered through the screenwriting aura of Joe "Basic Instinct" Eszterhas, the film comes off like one of those bad whodunit thrillers that populated the cinema back in the '80s and '90s. In fact, it seems like it was spit out by one of those early screening software programs from that era that relied on formula for the resultant product's plot construction.


    Wide Releases - Today


    Hidalgo
    Viggo Mortensen and Omar Sharif

    Starsky and Hutch
    BEN STILLER and Owen Wilson


    Wide Releases - March 12

    The Girl Next Door (R) Plot: Eighteen-year-old Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is a straight-arrow over-achiever who has never really lived life, until he falls for his new neighbor, the beautiful and seemingly innocent Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert). When Matthew discovers this perfect "girl next door" is a one-time porn star, his sheltered existence begins to spin out of control. Ultimately, Danielle helps Matthew emerge from his shell and discover that sometimes you have to risk everything for the person you love -- as he helps her rediscover her innocence.


    Secret Window (PG-13) Plot: Johnny Depp stars in the supernatural thriller SECRET WINDOW based on a novel by Stephen King. Depp plays a popular author who, while trying to work out the ending to his latest story, sees it coming true before his eyes.


    Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (PG) Frankie Muniz returns as super cool spy Cody Banks in Agent Cody Banks 2. In Cody's new adventure, a rogue CIA agent has stolen a top secret mind-control device and Cody has to go undercover in London to get it back. Posing as a student at an elite boarding school, Cody has to keep the other kids from discovering his true identity while infiltrating covert hideouts, spying on his sinister target - and going to class. With all-new gadgets, high-flying action, exciting chases, and a wisecracking new handler (Anthony Anderson), Cody's in a race against time - he has to retrieve the device before the world's leaders fall under the control of a diabolical villain.


    Copyright by Betsie, 2004 All contents of this email are for the use of Betsie's Literary Page subscribers and may not be reproduced in any way and/or posted on websites without prior express written permission. If you would like to have friends or associates receive our emails, rather than forwarding this, please have them subscribe.

    Thank You for reading, see you next week!


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