Benjamin was my illustrator for the school safety book Students Can Help Keep Schools Safe.  I gave him written instructions as to how I wanted each illustration to appear. There after he had full artist’s imagination to create each image in the best way that he saw fit.

I am thrilled with the illustrations that Benjamin made; his art carries the book in more ways than one.  The topic of school violence is a difficult one to address with young children.  Benjamin made each image realistic, detailed oriented, real to life, and non-threatening.  This is a huge undertaking; Benjamin did this in a professional, flawless manner.  His work is superior because he is a gifted artist and really enjoys the creative process.  He is the perfect illustrator for any project that you may have.

~Julie Federico,  Author of Students Can Help Keep Schools Safe

Students Can Help Keep Schools Safe: A Student/Teacher’s Guide to School Safety and Violence Prevention

A school violence prevention book for student’s 3-8th grade. This book will teach students about what to do if they encounter an intruder in the building or know of students planning violence. This book offers a partial solution to the school violence epidemic sweeping our nation. If you are looking for a solution to school violence and school safety look no further! Students Can Help Keep Students Safe will help keep your children safe from harm.
The subject matter of this book is overwhelming, but the material is delivered in a non-threatening, simple straightforward way. School safety has never been within the reach of every educator and parent until now. This book is published by West Bow Press. 

30 Common Website/WordPress Mistakes by both Novices & Pro Authors

1. Allowing your content to be author-focused instead of reader-focused
2. Using WordPress.com instead of self-hosted WordPress (.org)
3. Using a generic or defective theme
4. Not designing for mobile use
5. Not optimizing pages and images for SEO
6. Not properly integrating social media
7. Not setting up the permalinks properly (A.K.A. ugly permalinks)
8. Too many categories, not enough tags
9. Letting it be too design heavy or too boring
10. Overwhelming your visitors
    Too many navigation links
    Too much on the home page
    Too many pop-ups and moving graphics
    Too many ads
11. Not using video to the best of your abilities
12. Not making it easy for visitors to connect with you on social media
13. Not making your book’s buy-now button easy to find
14. Not offering an easy way for visitors to get on your list (appealing incentives?)
15. Not using effective calls to action (where are you leading them?)
16. Not taking full advantage of the scripts that are available such as
    Google XML Sitemaps
    Contact Form 7
    Akismet
    All in One SEO Pack
17. Running too many unnecessary scripts
18. Trying to run e-commerce plugins on WordPress
19. Not posting on the blog often enough
20. Not having a regular backup of your database & site files
21. Not using Google Analytics
22. Not using Webmaster tools to get your site indexed
23. Ignoring Google Authorship Markup
24. Not using a Gravatar (Globally Recognized Avatar)
25. Not customizing the Favicon
26. Not taking advantage tools like CDN and CACHE that help your site load faster
27. Ignoring WordPress updates
28. Going with a faulty hosting company just because it is cheaper
29. Not taking steps to further “harden” your WordPress site (here are just a few)
    Not using proper security plugins
    Not changing the default username from “admin”
    Not changing the “wp_” prefix of your database table

30. Not talking to your website designer about all of this!

Contact Cherished Solutions today to discuss your website and WordPress needs.

• Is your message clear?
• Are you confusing your audience with multiple messages?
• Your brand logo and your book cover need to be easy to read for every occassion, whether as big as a billboard or as small as a business card.

Consistency

• From cover to cover, and everything in between, does your book follow the same theme?
• Beyond your book, does your overall branding have the same core “look” as it is expressed across multiple markting outlets (website, blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.)
• Over time, your fans should be able to recognize your books and your brand because of its consistency.

Professionalism
A professional presentation is a must. Nothing screams amateur more than these five pitfalls:

• Low quality photo or illustration used for your cover. A snapshot from your last beach vacation might not be the best option. A good photographer or illustrator pays attention to composition, horizon placement, drama, light and dark, film grain, color selection and more.
• Boring or irrelevant visual composition. A photographer, illustrator, or designer can take your concept and develop something custom that is unique to your book.
• Low resolution. It is imperative to start with a high resolution photo or scan for every image used in your book and your marketing materials. Using proper software to layout your project will keep
• the resolution high when it is sent to press.
• Pre-press errors. While printing is not an exact science, there’s a
• lot that has to done to the file in order to get the most optimal print quality possible. Failure to do any one item poses the potential for a complete printing disaster. A professional designer knows exactly what needs to be done in order to get your book (or any printed material) to be the treasured keepsake it was meant to be.
• Fonts. Font selection is important. There is an unpublished library of fancy fonts that are overused and abused. You will recognize many of them since they come preloaded on your computer. If you want to make your designer cry, pick one of these notorious fonts:
  
  Trust your designer to help you pick fonts that are fresh and in alignment with your branding message, there are hundreds of top-notch fonts to choose from.

Memorable (there’s no shortage of average books) 

• Pull your audience in with unique visuals.
• Connect with your audience’s emotions.
• Keep their attention with compelling copy.
• Show them something they haven’t seen before.

One of the best ways to sell books is through the one-on-one contact that occurs with book signings. That’s why we’re recommending you check out P. A. Ritzer’s instructional guideon how to sell books at a bookstore book signing. P. A. Ritzer has sold thousands of copies of his first book, the award-winning historical Western Seven Ox Seven, Part One: Escondido Bound, at over 175 bookstore book signings (over 165 at Barnes & Noble stores alone). He has written Love and the Art of Bookstore Book Signing as an answer to authors, bookstore personnel, distributors, and others in the book business who have sought to know how he does it.

Ritzer does not just detail a method but goes to the heart of the matter. He exposes the real basis of his success in interacting with customers and the people who help him sell books. In Love and the Art of Bookstore Book Signing, Ritzer shows that an author need not be a celebrity to make book signings rewarding for himself and the stores and their customers. Rather, he can create the kind of experience that inspires customers to buy his book and managers to invite him back for 18 or more successful signings of the same book at one store.

Reviews

“This is a one-of-a-kind book on jumpstarting your book sales. P. A. Ritzer has achieved remarkable success in bookstore book signings. In ‘Love and the Art of Bookstore Book Signing’ he shares the principles and practices that have led to that success. It is a valuable read and resource for any who would like to make their book sail up the charts.”— Dan Poynter, author, The Self-Publishing Manual

“If P. A. Ritzer is open to sharing his passion for bookstore signings, we should listen carefully. His signings are a phenomenon the likes of which I have not seen in my 35 years in publishing and book distribution.”— Chris Bell, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Midpoint Trade Books

“P. A. Ritzer, author of Seven Ox Seven, is one of the best authors for a book signing for many reasons. First and foremost, he has a terrific work ethic. . . . He becomes and is a presence in the store. . . . Mr. Ritzer is versed in the art of a book signing and wields his knowledge and experience well.”— Joel McCree, Store Manager, Barnes & Noble, Colorado Springs, CO

“P. A. Ritzer has the art of author bookstore signings down to a science. His consistent sales results through in-store book signings are truly remarkable.”— Alexander M. Kampmann, Director, Trade Sales of Midpoint Trade Books

“P. A. Ritzer is an author, yes, but it is because of his great ability to engage our customers like a neighbor and a friend that he is also a regular bookseller in our store. I wish all authors would approach and sell to customers like he does. He has been by far the most successful author to sign and sell books in this store. He knows how to move books, and that is what the retail environment needs from authors today. Because of his gifted ability to sell, P. A. Ritzer has been and continues to be a tremendous asset to our team.”— Eric Welch, Store Manager, Barnes & Noble, Fort Collins, CO

Login & Demo Here

• Using the Wizard
• Working with text
• Working with images
• Working with tables
• Working with hyperlinks
• Managing your site pages
• Modifying your site design
• Creating a photo gallery
• Creating a blog
• Configuring your settings
• Creating a feedback form
• Creating a voting poll
• Configuring your E-Shop
• Creating an E-Shop category
• Creating an E-Shop product

Client Review:”I use Cherished Hosting. First Cherish beat my other providers on cost. Then she de-mystified some very complicated tech issues and has helped me grow and expand my web knowledge. Where I was told I ‘couldn’t’ do this web stuff on my own before, Cherish assures and assists me so that I can. Cherished Hosting offers a great cost effective web solution with a heart and a brain, for small one-person / many-hat business people like me!” – Ché Rippinger, Relationship Humorist

Ché Rippinger is a relationship humorist who’s produced Touché! Cartoons for 15 years and has also written and illustrated her “Dating And Hand Grenades” column and Q&A version. She also has a southwestern gift shop with her mother, the El Rancho Trading Post, the gift shop of the Rockies nestled with the historic El Rancho Restaurant near Evergreen, Colorado.

HiptheHoopla.com

ToucheToon.com
DatingAndHandGrenades.com

————————————-

If you would like to be listed as a featured client,
please e-mail Cherished Hosting your 2 sentence bio,
the reasons why Cherished Hosting works for your business.

————————————-

Featured Client Sites:

• anneemmons.com
• bluelionart.com
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• catt-alyst.com
  
• gwenda.com
  
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• rossboone.com
• touchetoon.com

Cherish Flieder is a talented, versatile, exceptionally well organized, highly educated artist. Savvy in business, along with possessing a breadth of visualization skills that range from exceptional ability in the traditional artist’s materials to a robust understanding of the workings of the computer, its design software and practical applications, Cherish Flieder is a dynamo of ability and thoughtful creativity.

Artlandia® SymmetryShop® is a feature-rich plug-in that fully automates the workflow of creating repeat patterns in Adobe Photoshop. The plug-in gives the user full control over all pattern parameters and easily produces pattern designs from scanned hand-painted motifs, high-resolution photographs, and other complex raster images.

If you haven’t had a chance to play with this little online program, you might want to put down your mouse and have some fun typing keywords into Worlde.

This little program will automatically generate designer-looking word clouds of any words that you enter. The more your enter a word, the larger it will appear in the grouping. Looking at a group of words together can really convey a message all its own and give you a greater appreciation for the language you employ.

Try your family members names, your mission statement, your favorite poems, quotes, speeches, blog posts, website categories, friends . . . the list of possibilities goes on and on.

Shake it up by letting it randomize the fonts, colors and positioning. Try customizing the settings too for even more control. Perhaps it will inspire you on a design you are working on that needs a little extra push.

This sample is from somethingtocherish.com. Now it’s your turn to worlde: try it out at : wordle.net.

Many of the solo professionals whom I coach are people who offer services. They’re coaches, consultants, creatives. And many of them are also beginning to sell information products on their Web sites. They’re smart to offer a lower-priced alternative to hiring them, and to sell a product that can gain them passive income.

But here’s the problem: I see many of them trying to sell their e-book, tutorial, etc. on a regular Web page. They list a paragraph about the info-product and give the price, and they expect a slew of sales.

Wrong.

You need a special sales page that has a “slippery slope” sales letter.

Remember that game Chutes & Ladders? If you landed on a space that had a chute on it, you just went down, Baby. No turning back. That’s how your sales letter should be – a “slippery slope” that pulls in the reader because it’s so compelling and interesting.

Here’s a basic outline of the 13 elements you want to include. To see an example of them all in action, visit MY own sales page at www.BoostBizEzine.com.

1. Limit your navigation.

The visitor should not be distracted by links that take her to your bio, other products, etc. The idea is to keep her on this page, reading your copy and leading her to order. So on this page, only have navigation that relates to the product (e.g. FAQs, Order now).

2. Give a powerful headline.

Your headline can make or break your sales. If it’s not compelling, your visitor will click away. Here’s an easy headline formula: “How to _________ So You Can ____________.” Make sure the 2nd part gives a big benefit, for example, “double your business” or “gain peace of mind.”

3. Discuss the problem the prospect has, or incorporate your own story.

Marketers call this “pushing the ‘ouch’ button.” First discuss the problem or pain that the reader has, and then lead in to how your product will solve it. Or share your own failure-to-success story that the reader can empathize with.

4. Tell us who you are.

If I’m going to buy your stuff, I’d like to know why you’re qualified to write about this topic. Give me the feeling that you’ve learned a lot about this topic and want to share it with me.

Even add a picture of yourself and an audio greeting, like I did. These help the reader instantly feel like she knows you better, increasing the “trust factor.” And people buy from those they feel they know, like, and trust!

5. Use bullets like mini headlines.

Lay out everything I’ll get from your product. Don’t just list your table of contents verbatim! Turn each point into an exciting secret. For example, suppose your e-book features 5 tips on how to save money on groceries. That bullet could read, “Revealed: 5 ways you can save hundreds of dollars on your monthly grocery bill.”

6. List plenty of testimonials.

Show your prospects they won’t be the first to buy. It’s more effective to weave-in testimonials throughout your sales letter than to have a separate section for them. Give each person’s full name and Web address, and for extra power, post their photo and an audio testimonial as well.

7. Tell us why your product is such a great value.

How does the price of your product compare if I hired you one-on-one? For example, your manual is a great value at $49 if an hour consultation with you would run me $250.

8. Throw in a few great bonuses.

Offer special bonuses (preferably created by you) that are so good you could sell them alone if you wanted to. It could be a list of resources, a collection of articles, extra tips on a certain subject, or a free consu1tation.

9. Give an unconditional guarantee.

This puts your prospect at ease, giving her no reason to NOT buy. A few turkeys will take advantage of your generosity, but the amount of sales you GAIN from this strategy dramatically outweighs the risk.

10. Request immediate action by having a limited time offer.

Some sales pages use trick scripts to make it seem like the offer always ends on that day at midnight, but I find these insulting. If you really will be raising your price soon (and you always should be), list the exact date and stick to it. Otherwise just say it’s an introductory, limited-time offer.

11. Make it ABSURDLY CLEAR what to do next.

Nothing bothers me more than when I’m at a Web site, I have my credit card ready, and I can’t find the $%#@& order link! Make your order process idiot-proof. Example: “Cl1ck below to 0rder n0w on our secure server.” Also sprinkle in order links throughout your page — some people will be ready to buy before they get to the bottom.

12. Make one last plea.

In your P.S., right after your signature, emphasize that I should act now. For example, “Don’t miss out on this great 0pportunity. Remember, you can buy n0w and change your mind at anytime.”

13. Don’t forget your contact information!

Readers WILL have questions, so provide an e-mail address on your site that you or someone else will check at least daily. Also, don’t you feel better buying from a Web site that lists a real address and phone number?

Want More Detailed Step-by-Step Help, With Examples You Can Model?

See my quick-start audio program, “The Secret, Simple Formula to Writing Web Copy That SELLS”.

© 2003-2006 Alexandria K. Brown

Online entrepreneur Ali Brown publishes the award-winning ‘Highlights on Marketing & Success’ weekly ezine with 36,000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.AliBrown.com

PeopleBrowsr is a simple visual dashboard that adds more power to Twitter,
your other online identities and those of your friends.

• Jump to the site,
• Add your IDs,
• And have fun.

This free service allows you to automatically convert your recent blog posts into Twitter posts.

for fabric printing

www.zoo-inK.com/ZOOINK/zooink.html
for fabric screenprinting (small runs available)

advanced Digital Textiles

www.silkscreenframes.com screenprint supplies and will also burn screens for you

Licensing

http://www.artisticbrandmanagement.com/Home_Page.html

shows

www.printsource.com

www.directionsshow.com

http://www.surtex.com/

Design tutorials

lynda.com

Books

Craft, 101 by Mateo Ilasco

Design Your Own Repeat Patterns : A Quick and Easy Approach By V. Ann Waterman

Our Cherished Solutions Facebook artist pages are now direct linked!

For Painting for Life  check out: http://www.Facebook.com/paintingforlife and for Something to Cherish visit http://www.Facebook.com/somethingtocherish.

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• Need more Facebook Fans? (techtalkformoms.com)

https://www.createspace.com

This is crazy easy to make and sell physical products and digital
products on demand and make a healthy royalty with little or zero cost
to you.

WOW! Check it out and let me know what you think. I havn’t seen the
print quality or anyhting yet, but it sounds like a wonderful program.

Authors
Musicians
Filmmakers

Books on Demand
CD on Demand
DVD on Demand
Kindle
at dtp.amazon.com
MP3 Download

If you go in this direction, I would love to help you get your
graphics formatted and files set up with them so you can start selling
on Amazon.

Something to think about . . .

PART 1 – by Robin Wood

PArt 2 – by Robin Wood

Although the credit crunch is still weighing on millions of people, it doesn’t mean the end for every small or medium-sized business. In fact, this is a great time for savvy entrepreneurs to grow a business and prosper by thinking creatively and strategically. To make sure your business thrives during the downturn, you need to take a good hard look at your business.

Here’s how you can flourish during difficult times. It just takes a bit of creativity…

1. Trim the fat. Now’s the time to review your company finances in a calm and collected manner. Be sure to look at what is being paid on time. Then look for waste and how you can save – there are sure to be a few places where this is possible. Eliminate expenses that aren’t essential to your core business.

2. Know your customers. Spend time with your customers and find out more about their needs so you can deliver what they want when they want it. Also consider sending out a customer satisfaction survey to gain additional insights. Continue offering great service and going above and beyond so that every customer feels as if they are getting the VIP treatment.

3. Stay ahead of the competition. Researching your competition is invaluable so you can make sure you’re competitive with their quality and service. Also remember that during a downtown, some of the people who are laid off may start their own businesses. Monitor the market for newcomers, but remember that you have a head start.

4. Enhance your offering. Cutting prices is one way to make your product or service more attractive, but it’s not the only way. Once you lower your prices, it can be hard to raise them again. Think about adding other incentives like reduced delivery times or added bonuses instead.

5. Adapt to the market. If you notice that sales are declining in one area, focus your efforts on areas that are seeing more sales. Don’t waste your time on sectors that are in freefall. If your business is focused on a single product, consider repositioning it and be ready to cater to people’s changing needs.

6. Invest in you. Now is the perfect time to build on your knowledge, skills, and talents by attending conferences, taking a professional development course, or investing in a business coach. It will help position you as an expert in your field and give you a competitive edge!

7. Make more noise. Continue advertising if you can afford it, but look for other inexpensive ways to get the word out. Perhaps start a blog, join web forums in your field, or write a column for a trade publication or local newspaper.

8. Prepare for the good times. Remember that a recession is a periodic event, but it doesn’t last forever. Resist the urge to run for cover. Instead, keep doing business.

Come out fighting and energize your business to ensure that you don’t go the way of the dinosaurs. The good times will come again – this is your chance to make sure you’re a part of them.

© 2009 Ali International, LLC

Online entrepreneur Ali Brown publishes the award-winning ‘Highlights on Marketing & Success’ weekly ezine with 36,000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.AliBrown.com