Guerilla Marketing Weapons: 100 Affordable Marketing Methods For Maximizing Profits From Your Small Business by Jay Conrad Levinson

I’ve been a fan of the guerilla style of marketing for many years. It is the type of marketing approach I used for years and I was pleasantly surprised when I found the Guerilla Marketing website. That gave me the chance to find other marketing techniques that I could use in my promotional work. In these tough economic times – it is more important than ever to find inexpensive and effective ways to market our businesses.

First – you may be wondering: What is Guerilla Marketing? (Visit the official website for Guerilla Marketing)

The concept of guerrilla marketing was invented as an unconventional system of promotions that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional; potentially interactive; and consumers are targeted in unexpected places. The objective of guerrilla marketing is to create a unique, engaging and thought-provoking concept to generate buzz, and consequently turn viral. The term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing. The term has since entered the popular vocabulary and marketing textbooks.

Guerrilla marketing involves unusual approaches such as intercept encounters in public places, street giveaways of products, PR stunts, any unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources. More innovative approaches to Guerrilla marketing now utilize cutting edge mobile digital technologies to really engage the consumer and create a memorable brand experience. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_marketing

As a business manager, business owner and promoter – I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive ways to promote – for my clients and myself. Let’s take a look at the table of contents:

Chapter 1 – The More Weapons You Use, The More Profit You Make

Chapter 2 – Weapons for the Outset – (The Building Blocks to Get You Started)

Chapter 3 – Weapons Not Recognized as Marketing – (Misc Items that Will Represent Your Business to the Public)

Chapter 4 – Weapons That Begin With Attitude – (Elements of Business When You Interact With Customers)

Chapter 5 – Weapons Overlooked By Non Guerillas – (Creative Ways to Get Promotional Exposure for Business)

Chapter 6 – Weapons That Make You Easy to Buy From – (Ways to Make It Easy For People to Buy From You)

Chapter7 – Weapons That Are Frequently Misused – (Tried and True Ways to Promote – That Many People Use Wrong)

Chapter 8 – Weapons That Produce Instant Results – (Many Ways to Interact With Your Potential Customers)

Chapter 9 – Weapons That Have Extra Fire Power – (Weapons That Cost More About Can Generate More Results)

Chapter 10 – A Strategy For Using the Weapons – (Details On The Most Effective Way to Use These Tools)

Those 10 chapters contain an arsenal of promotional weapons for your business. The book lists 100 weapons that you can use – and on page 12 – there is a list of 50 FREE promotional tools. Any and every business person should review that list before completing their business plan – these weapons are THAT important.  Each and every weapon is explained throughout the pages of this book.

If you want to use unique, creative and inexpensive marketing for your business – this is a book that needs to be in your office. I’ve had my copy for some time and it is dog eared – like all great books. It is a very easy read, easy to understand and even though it has been on the market for years — the information is invaluable. It will also give you some great insights into the sorts of things that are Guerilla Marketing tools. I would bet you have used many of these weapons in your business – and you may not have considered many of these to be promotional weapons. Realizing that they are part of your promotion could help you to use them more effectively.

Mommy’s Little Girl by Diane Fanning

Mommy’s Little Girl: Casey Anthony and Her Daughter Caylee’s Tragic Fate by Diane Fanning

I’m one of the people who followed the tragic case of Caylee Anthony from the time her disappearance was finally reported to the police. I kept up with the online posts and of course, Nancy Grace who covered the case week after week and keeping it in the news for months.

So – I’ve heard the jail recordings, heard the breaking news nightly, etc – but I still learned some new tidbits from this book. I was curious if I would find anything new – and Diane came through for me It was also nice to read the story in chronilogical order along with Fanning’s scenario of what happened from the day Caylee “disappeared” until the story was covered aggressively by the media.

Anyone I talked to who followed the case – was familiar with basics of the case, felt bad for Cindy and George Anthony. Who wouldn’t be heartbroken for the loving grandparents who lost their granddaughter? There is Lee Anthony who seemed to be the caring brother and uncle – frantic to find his neice and to protect his sister. Over time, my impression of the Anthony’s changed. While I agree wanting to help and protect loved ones, I felt myself agreeing with Cindy’s frustrated family members as I read the book.

We will each draw our own conclusions about how Caylee died, about Casey’s guilt or innocence, whether the other Anthony’s have any knowledge of what really happened and much more. But Diane Fanning’s book is a great way to sort through all the media reports and to clearly see the timeline and the events as we know them to be at this time. Once the trial gets under way, I think it will also be helpful to have this “pocket guide” to verify or dispute claims made by the attorneys and witnesses. I have my own thoughts about what happened to poor little Caylee, but my heartfelt hope is that the person responsible for her death are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

How Obama Governed by Earl Ofari Hutchinson

In these days when many people are sick and tired of most people in the media just recycling the words fed to them by the White House – it is very refreshing to find a political analyst who thinks for their self and who substantiates their comments. This is one of the things I really like about reading any of Earl Ofari Hutchin’s books and I’ve read many of them.

I never started following politics until I met Dr Hutchinson about 2 1/2 years ago. At that time I read his book on The Latino Challenge to Black America and I was floored by how much I learned about race relations in the US. As a white woman from Virginia, most of the topics that were discussed were new to me – but he helped me to have a deeper and more compassionate viewpoint about two of the major ethnic groups in the US. That started me thinking and I’ve read all of Dr Hutchinson’s books since then and a couple of earlier books

So – the timing was perfect to follow the seemingly never ending primary season that led up to the 2008 presidential election. As he released new books, I continued to learn current details – but to also understand the history of politics in our country. To say that I’ve learned more about government by reading Dr Hutchinson’s books than I ever learned in Government or Civics class in high school – would be a huge understatement.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson’s last book was How Obama Won and it evaluated all the topics and issues that led to Barack Obama’s presidential victory. Again, he included plenty of historic details to substantiate his conclusions. You find the same unbiased and well documented details in How Obama Governed. Recently, I spoke with various bloggers to ask them to post some information about this book and many (predictably) said they would only participate if he agreed with their stand. Almost every one commented on how they were surprised that political party and stand were not an issue for them. People of many different political affiliations participated. In this year of partisan upheaval – I was very impressed with that conclusion.

This is the table of contents for How Obama Governed by Earl Ofari Hutchinson

How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge

Introduction: How Obama Promised to Govern

1. The First 1000 Days, Not 100 Days

2. Waging Bush’s Terror War

3. It’s Still the Economy, Stupid

4. The Red President

5. The GOP Counterinsurgency

6. The Limbaugh Strawman

7. Obamacare-The Right or Wrong Prescription

8. The Civil Rights Backburner

9. Afghanistan is Obama’s Vietnam

10. The Gates Train wreck

11. Progessive’s Obama Quandry

Conclusion: How Obama Will Continue to Govern

Throughout the time I paid attention to people who talk about politics – they seem to know as much as the weatherman and are often as wrong as the weatherman in their conclusions. However, I’ve found that almost without exception, the conclusions that Dr Hutchinson shares – are right. Could this be because of his extensive knowledge and background in politics? I think it is – he is willing to pose the tough questions and to give an honest evaluation.

How Obama Governed deals with all the hot button topics that the Obama Administration have faced and they are still facing many of these issues. Take another look at the table of contents – that is all the topics in the news each week. For a balanced commentary on these topics, how the affect Obama, and how they will affect each of us – you need to read this book. Its a quick read – but packed with all the topics that are on the mind of the people of the US and other countries who are concerned about what has already happened in the first year of the Obama presidency and what will happen in the next three years. For anyone who wants to cut through the usual pundits’ BS – needs to read this book.

About Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Dr Earl Ofari Hutchinson featured interviews and comments on race and politics have appeared in: Time Newsweek New York Times ABC’s World News Tonight. He has been a guest analyst on: Fox News John Gibson Show, O’Reilly Show, Hannity & Colmes, Glenn Beck Show, PBS Lehrer Report, NPR’s Talk of the Nation and CNN News Shows. He is the National Political Writer for New America Media and a regular contributor to: the Huffington Post

His three most recent books are:
* How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge
* How Obama Won
* The Ethnic Presidency: How Race decides the Race to the White House

To book Earl Ofari Hutchinson for an interview and/or commentary on the promise and pitfalls of Obama’s first year in office. Call 1-323-383-6145 to schedule. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a nationally acclaimed author and political analyst. Hutchinson is the author of ten books on race and politics in America.

Title – How Obama Governed
Author – Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Author’s website link – http://www.howobamagoverned.com
Publisher – Middle Passage Press
Genre or category – US Politics
ISBN-10: 1439259925
ISBN-13: 978-1439259924
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/How-Obama-Governed-Crisis-Challenge/dp/1439259925

The New Rules for Mortgages by Dale Robyn Siegel

When I think of some of the biggest decisions we can make in our lives – I think of things like getting married, having children, starting a business, and buying a home – to name a few. These are major things we do in our lives and these things affect our lives for many years to come — so they are the kind of things that we should think about very carefully and thoroughly before we do them.

So why is it that so many people have no idea about the mortgage on their home? I could ask many questions about the other major decisions, but that would be different books.

How many people do you know that have a 30 years (or longer) mortgage on their home, but they don’t understand the terms or anything else about the loan? I admit that I’m incredibly careful about spending money and especially when it comes to a purchase of that magnitude — so I can tell you that I discussed the details with my loan officer – I asked so many questions, that I didn’t know if we would still be friends. But I understood what I was signing and I felt very good about the loan. Can you say the same about your mortgage?

If you have a mortgage and you don’t understand it, if you are looking for a mortgage or if you just want to understand the current mortgage market – The New Rules for Mortgages is for you. Dale Robyn Siegel is an insider – she is in the mortgage business and she has been for years. She understand what is needed to secure a loan, she knows the things you need to know long before you walk in to fill out that application and she know the dos and don’ts of getting the best mortgage for YOU. And, she knows what will keep you from getting the home of your dreams. These are all reasons why you need to read The New Rules for Mortgages.

I am not a financial guru and I admit that many of the terms my mortgage officer used were foreign to me – but Siegel walks you through the entire process. These are some of the chapters in this book — how many of these topics are things that you don’t understand?

The All-Important Credit Score

Income Yeah, You Need That!

Money Matters

A Good Look at the Property

What Mortgage Is Best for You?

Where to Get the Best Mortgage

The Loan Process

Interest Rates, Closing Costs, and the Closing

Types of Property

Protecting Your Homeownership: Divorce, Dispute and Death

You Are a Homeowner

Whether you are a first time home buyer, self employed, under employer, an investor or most any other home buyer – this book has the details you need to make educated decisions when it comes to buying a home. Let an industry insider give you the information you need to get the best possible mortgage for you.

Negotiate Your Commercial Lease by Dale R Willerton

Are you a business person who will lease a space for your business? There are so many things to research and plan with a business and especially when starting or moving a business. So, a lease might not be something that we make a priority. But, signing a bad lease and not understanding the details of a lease can cause a business person long term problems. That is why this review focuses on a book about how to Negotiate Your Commercial Lease.

Leases are something that many people think are simple. In some cases, they couldn’t be more wrong. A lease can be a nightmare if you don’t know or understand the details. Signing the wrong lease can also cause you all sorts of problems over the follow year or two or more.

When people look at a property, they usually are shown the property by a realtor, the owner, or an agent. I’ve personally been burned by details that were told to me verbally, but that didn’t make it to the final lease. Thankfully, my lease negotiations have gone well, but after reading this book, I’ll never look at this part of business the same.

The book is packed with great information. Here are some of the chapter titles –

1 – Commercial Lease Agreement.

2 – Selecting the Best Site for Your Business.

3 – Determining Square Footage.

4 – Selecting the Best Lease Term.

5 – Negotiating Strategies and Tactics.

6 – Negotiating Operating Costs.

7 – Negotiating the Rental Rate.

8 – Negotiating Free Rent.

9 – Negotiating the Tenant Allowance of Leasehold Improvements.

10 – Negotiating the Lease Deposit.

11 – Negotiating a Rent Reduction.

12 – Other Negotiating Points.

13 – Hiring Professionals.

I have to tell you that I am a very good negotiator, so I’ve never considered hiring a professional to negotiate anything – mainly because I wouldn’t trust them to negotiate with me, so why would I hire them. But after reading this book – if I was going to lease a place, I would take a look at the lease and if it was complicated, I would hire a professional to at least review it for me. One thing I really would’ve liked in the book is a glossary of lease and property terms.

Otherwise, I was very impressed by the depth and breadth of the information in this book. It Is a fairly quick read and the table of contents lists all subtopics, so you can zero in on specific information quickly. If you are going to lease a property for your business – you really need to read this book. I was amazed after 10-15 rental negotiations of my own, to find the number of topics in this book that didn’t sound familiar to me. If a topic isn’t familiar – the chance of getting a satisfactory resolution for yourself is almost impossible.

The author has been a certified lease consultant for over 15 years and has extensive experience with lease negotiating and consulting. He gives weekly seminars throughout North America and he is a consultant for tenants. On the back cover- the blurb says to read the book once if you are renewing a contract and twice if you are negotiating a new lease. Yes – there is that much detail and that much great information packed into less than 100 pages.

Cover of the Year – Asking for Your Vote

I just scanned the covers for Cover of the Year on Erin Aislinn’s website and saw a lot of familiar covers – many were on my Judge A Book By its Cover blog last year

I invite you to visit http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheYear2007.htm and I hope that you will vote for Lady Lightkeeper which is one of my covers and it is listed as the winning cover for September.

If you prefer the easier route – feel free to email webmail@erinaislinn .com and put “VOTE for Lady Lightkeeper” in the subject line. I appreciate every vote

Nikki

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The Appeal by John Grisham

I enjoy John Grisham’s book and especially the legal books. It seems like a long time since I’ve read one of these, so I was looking forward to this one. I enjoy books that deal into subjects that I don’t know a lot about and that applies to much of the legal system and especially appeals. So, I enjoyed the subject.

The reader learns about a husband and wife legal team who have quite literally “risked it all” for a client who has lost her husband and her son due to the negligence of a large corporation. I feel the reader is brought even deeper into the story as they learn more about the repercussions for the town because of things that were done by this corporation. It was nice to see that the attorneys didn’t resent their situation (which I have seen in other characters – real and fictional).

As a reader, I wanted to reach into the book and help some characters while I wanted to strangle other. The art auction was a nice way to show the stark differences between the corporation owner and the people who his company hurt.

The plan that is implemented in part two seems very plausible and there have been elections where it seemed this sort of “campaign” is being executed. The detail in the planning and the specifics for an interesting array of characters was enjoyable.

I won’t give away the end, but I wanted the new justice to have something happen to him and the “incident” worked very well for the book and seemed appropriate for John Grisham who is very involved in youth baseball.

It was great to read a new Grisham legal book – I’m looking forward to the next one

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

The Latino Challenge by Earl Ofari Hutchinson

I worked with Mr Hutchinson to promote The Latino Challenge in the fall of 2006. I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and many of the situations mentioned in Mr Hutchinson’s book aren’t every day happenings in this area. Although, the Latino population is growing in nearby communities. While I lived in a local city that has a large number of turkey plants, I was much more aware of the growing Latino population and how that affected the residents.

As a single, white woman in her early 40′s, I don’t experience the problems mentioned in The Latino Challenge. But, I feel that the information can help anyone understand many of the stories in the news. Media reports often mention which ethnic groups are involved in skirmishes or problems, but they don’t give listeners background. I really appreciated learning more about what has taken place between black and Latino residents in the US.

We have all heard of the problems in large cities – Los Angeles, New York and many other large cities. We hear the news reports of murder, gangs, school problems, racial tension and many other problems. The Latino Challenge gives historic details about what has caused these problems, what has magnified the problems. It also explains how these problems will change and grow as the Latino population has become the largest minority in the United States.

The problem isn’t just an immigration problem – there are many other undercurrents that can and will affect everyone. If you have children in school, if you use public services, if you live in a city or town with a growing Latino population – there are issues in The Latino Challenge that will help you understand what is happening.

The Latino Challenge presents the idea that it is time for black Americans and Latino Americans need to have a serious conversation. The increased tensions and problems can hurt each of these ethnic groups.

I found the content in the book enlightening and educational. Don’t think that the content isn’t important if you aren’t black or Latino – there is something to be learned for everyone in the US. As Mr Hutchinson mentioned to me, by reading the book before these situations are a big issue in my area, I’ll be ahead of the learning curve as things change near my home. I’m the type of person who likes to be informed and to understand things happening in my area. I now have a much better understanding of news stories near my home.

I look forward to finishing Mr Hutchinson’s latest book The Ethnic Presidency. I’ll post a review about this very timely book soon.

Nikki Leigh – www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

Baby Be Mine by Diane Fanning

I’ve been a fan of true crime books for many years and have several favorites that I read. However, in March of 2006, I met Diane Fanning when I moderated a panel she was on at the Festival of the Book. To prepare for our panel discussion, I read two of her books and I was hooked. She takes the true crime book to a new level that I appreciate.

She doesn’t just give the well publicized facts of the case, but she digs deeper. In Baby Be Mine, she gave a lot of information which some may consider to be unnecessary and I was a little confused at first. However, as I continued to read, I realized she was giving us information about the collateral damage that was caused by this act of violence. The repercussions were felt by many people in many areas and not just the immediate family of the victim.

I found the information she wove into the book about similar crimes to be very enlightening and it gave more depth to the Bobbie Jo Stinnett murder. For this case, murder does not seem like a sufficient description of the crime perpetrated on her. I appreciated the additional information that was included in the book and feel it made the content even more compelling. I have two other books of Diane’s in my to be read pile and hope to read them soon.

Review By Nikki Leigh – www.nikkileigh.com

Cape Cod by William Martin

This is a wonderful version of the settling of Cape Cod. The story begins before the boats arrive in the New World and follows a family’s struggle through the present time. The history is interwoven with his fictional town. I read this after I visited Cape Cod for the first time and loaned my copy to a friend from the area. It didn’t find its way home and I bought another copy. Highly recommended. The flashback chapters which are worked into the story and the present day chapters may be confusing, but stick with it, this is a great book. My novels are set just north of Cape Cod on the Cape Ann coast and I’d love to read his take on Cape Ann.

review by Nikki Leigh – www.nikkileigh.com