I’m a big fan of TV competition shows to find the next Food Network Star and the next design star. So you know I’d love it when someone takes that great idea and brings it to a level that you and I can benefit from. So let me tell you about my friend Linda Claire Puig and her great idea.

She’s hosting a contest called “Next Top Newsletter Showdown.”

I love this idea!

Here’s an excerpt from her pitch letter:

It’s not only a contest with some great prizes and exposure, but it’s also the kickoff to nearly a month of newsletter-related, events, learning, prizes and exciting opportunities related to newsletters and creating newsletters — easily — that can massively affect your business growth.

If you have a newsletter, enter it THIS WEEK in the contest. (I’m entering mine!) Nominations close Sunday, July 25, at 9 pm Pacific, and voting is the following week with winners announced August 2.

If you don’t have a newsletter (YET!), definitely go anyway. This is a SUPER-RARE opportunity for you to see what your peers are doing with their newsletters and to take advantage of Linda’s free resources and expert newsletter information.

You’ll get educated. You’ll get inspired. And my hope is you’ll get into ACTION!

http://ow.ly/2da29

ALSO, be sure to register for the free webinar that Linda’s giving on August 2. In addition to announcing the winners and exploring WHY they’re winners, she’ll also reveal some of the newest trends affecting newsletters and let you know about some BRAND NEW resources that will help you get going (easily!) with your own newsletter.

So head on over to the “Next Top Newsletter Showdown!”
http://ow.ly/2da29

Here’s why I love this idea:

When you host your own contest, you will be perceived as a leader in your field.

Following Linda’s model, you’ll get these additional benefits
1. Build a list of people who are interested in your topic.
2. Build credibility with that audience.
3. Build trust.
4. Get a lot of great ideas from seeing the entries.
5. Network with the contest entrants.
6. Create a news story for the media.
7. Become an expert source for the media.
8. Get new clients.
9. Charge higher fees.
10. Set yourself apart from competitors.

What contest could you hold? What partners can help you promote it? How will get the word out? What will the winners receive? How can you make money from the people who follow the contest? How will you get the word out to the media so you can be seen as the thought leader?

Answer these questions and you’ll be closer to being seen as the leader in your field.

Dan Janal is a very successful entrepreneur, professional speaker and marketing coach who helps clients build their businesses by improving their strategy for using publicity, marketing, Internet marketing, e-commerce and sales. To see how you can improve your business, go to http://www.prleadsplus.com

This article can be re-printed on your website, blog or ezine.

The books you read will have a profound impact on your life, your business and ultimately your bottom line.
Because of that, I really, really felt I needed to share this one with you and encourage you to get yourself
a copyóespecially today.

The book is called Marketing in the Moment: The Practical Guide to Using Web 3.0 Marketing To Reach Your Customers First.

Are You Ready for Web 3.0 Marketing? This book reveals how to plan and execute a breakthrough Web 3.0 marketing campaign.

Both consumers and businesses have shifted the way they purchase products and services, but more
importantly, they have shifted the way they research and find these products and services both online and off.

While marketers cling to the familiar online resources the next wave ñ Web 3.0 ñ has swept past, and left them high and dry.

This book serves as a complete, practical, no-fluff desk reference to next generation online and mobile marketing.

Today is the official launch of the book, and because of that, you’re in for a great treat and some amazing bonuses.

Anyone that buys the book today is going to get bonuses from some of the top marketers in the world including
Jay Conrad Levinson, The Father of Guerrilla Marketing.

And to top that, anyone that buys only five books will receive a ticket to attend Michael’s next live event.

http://marketinginthemomentbook.com/launch <- Go here to get a copy now

Companies of all sizes can learn to successfully utilize the web, mobile marketing, and social media. Tasner
helps marketers, entrepreneurs and managers move beyond hype and high-level strategy to proven tactics and
successful ground-level execution. He distills all of todayís new options into the key trends that offer the
greatest opportunities for todayís marketers. Each chapter lists an explanation of the topic, the opportunities,
specific methods to implement, a case study, to-do list, as well as tips for success.

Inside Marketing in the Moment:

ï The Mindset Shift: From Web 2.0 to Web 3.0
ï Are You Ready for Web 3.0 Marketing?
ï Content Marketing: Understanding and Capitalizing on the Drastic Shift Taking Place
ï Mobile Marketing: Tapping into Billions of Cell-Phone Users
ï Virtual Reality Worlds: The Hows and Whys to This Unique Marketing Universe
ï Video Marketing: Taking Video to the Next Level
ï Web Applications: How to Effectively Use Apps in Your Marketing
ï Open-Source Code: How to Find and Use Othersí Hard Work for Maximum Impact
ï Collaboration: Connecting and Sharing Data at Lightning-Speed Paces
ï Web 3.0 Companies
ï Your Action Plan: Putting it all Together and Taking Action

Today is the best day to grab the book so you can snag the bonuses and the live event offer.

http://marketinginthemomentbook.com/launch <- Go here to get a copy now

This month, we had a large number of alumni clients re-start their PR LEADS subscriptions. While we’ve always gotten new clients during this recession, and we  always had a few alumni resume, this month clearly showed a great trend.

Why? Many reasons, internal and external, with lessons that will help you grow your businesses:

1. This newsletter. I started this a few weeks ago after no having any consistent communication with my clients. Why did I stop writing the newsletter several years ago? Maybe I got lazy. Maybe I got complacent. Both are not good attributes. Perhaps just putting my name in front of people reminded people that they should get back on board. Maybe you should do some kind of communication with your clients.
2. The economy is improving. Stock market is up. Consumer confidence is up. GM is repaying loans faster than anyone thought possible. Home buying is up. Sure there are rough spots out there and the new economy has changed some business models, but things are definitely looking up.
3. Market consistently. There’s always a new gimmick and people grab at it. But 100 years of research has shown that doing the right things consistently always works if you keep on doing them, day after day, month after month. So do your PR, write articles, do webinars, teleseminars and speeches; and stay in touch with your  clients, prospects and alums, and get referrals. It all works.
4. Competition. Sure, we’ve all had competitors enter our space in the past two years. Looks like people have tried the rest and are coming back to the best. Remember that quality always wins in the end. Continue to offer great service to your clients and they’ll stick with you.
5. Marketing. I’ve started writing more articles, appearing on more teleseminars, webinars and Internet radio shows as well as offering helpful advice on Linked In, Facebook and Twitter. The result is that many people who sign up for PR LEADS put “web” or “Google” or “Internet” as the referral source. Online marketing actually works. Try it.
6. Listening to great advice from Alan Weiss, Mark LeBlanc and Christian Mickelsen. When you pay for great coaching, you are investing in yourself.
7. Law of Attraction. ‘Nuff said.

I’m sure the answer lies in all these factors and probably a few more that I’m too blind to see. So hang in there. Good times are coming!

Many consultants and entrepreneurs spend hours asking “How can I improve my search engine optimization” with Google and other search engines. Then they spend countless hours optimizing their pages with keywords and content in the hopes that Google will notice their site and rank it higher than competitors.

Did you know that press releases can help you improve your SEO rankings?

It’s true, but most small businesses fail to realize that press releases can help improve a  web site’s ranking on major search engines.

Three Ways to Improve Your Web Site’s SEO with Press Releases

Use keyword analysis find out what people are looking for when they search and write a press release about that term. For example, they might look for “how do I hire a consultant?” You could write a press release that announces you have a white paper or special report on the five steps to make sure you hire the right consultant.
Put keywords in the subject line. Search engines look for relevant info that their searchers are looking for. Think of the terms and words your prospects would use to find your site and put those words in the headline. Since headlines have a very limited amount of space, you might focus on the keyword that describes your market, like “chiropractors” or “financial planners.” Or you could focus on the benefit that your service offers like “make more money,” “reduce stress,” or “have a healthier body.” If you can combine the target audience with the main benefit, you’d be in great shape! For example “New study shows how financial planners can reduce stress.”
When using keywords in headlines or in the press release, be careful to make sure that proper grammar and logic are applied. If you use a keyword too many times, or use variations of the keywords in illogical syntax, it will read poorly to prospects and the search engines will figure out you are trying to game the system.

If you follow these tips, you’ll get better rankings on search engines and more people will learn about you.

Do you want your press release picked up in major media? Read my special report “How to Get Your Business-Oriented Press Release Printed on Top Tier Media Sites – Guaranteed,” by visiting http://www.prleadsplus.com/toptiermedia/

Publicity thought leader Dan Janal is Founder and President of PR LEADS PLUS which offers a variety of do-it-yourself tools to help small businesses get publicity, including media lists, press release writing and targeted article marketing services and press release distribution. Dan Janal also offers coaching and consulting services to small businesses and professional service providers.

Most entrepreneurs consider it a lucky day when they make a sale. Even better if the client buys a recurring program, like a subscription to a service, like PRLEADS or a coaching program that meets every month.

But many entrepreneurs don’t realize they might be leaving money on the table.

Growing Your Business

“Most of your prospects, even your customers are not aware of all the services and products you have to offer,” says Mark LeBlanc, a small business success coach based in Minneapolis and author of “Growing Your Business” and the soon-to-be released “Never be the Same.”   “They do know about the product they bought, but that’s about all the know. Many small business owners fail to let clients know about all the ways they can be of good service.”

4 Reasons Clients Don’t Know What You Can Do

1. They are focused on the one product or service they bought from you.
2. You focused on selling one solution and they bought it. Everyone was focused on that one service.
3. Talking about multiple products can lead to confusion. The confused mind does not buy. So most entrepreneurs keep the discussion focused on one product or service that the client needs most.
4. You didn’t tell them that you can do other things.

While it is important to keep the initial sale focused so the prospect makes a buying decision, entrepreneurs should realize this is the start of the relationship, not the end.

3 Reasons Clients Want to Buy More of Your Services

1. People like to buy from people and companies they trust. Since they are using your products and services, they will trust you. Capitalize on that trust.
2. Companies like to buy from a single source. It is easier on their bookkeeping systems to have a single-source vendor.
3. As you get to know the client, you will uncover new ways to help them.

So why don’t entrepreneurs try to sell more services?

Three Reasons Entrepreneurs Don’t Make More Sales

1. They are afraid of appearing “pushy, greedy or salesy.” These thoughts are all misguided. Think of how you can add value to your clients and you won’t focus on these negative thoughts..
2. They are lazy. It’s easy to count the money and rest on your laurels, so you don’t tell the clients about new services.
3. They are afraid of being rejected.

How can you ring up more sales by selling more services to your current clients?

Three Ways to Get the Word Out So You Make More Sales

1. Tell them. If they don’t know, they can’t buy.
2. Get over your fears of failure, rejection or being a pest. Instead, tell yourself that you are doing your clients a favor by letting them know about all the good things you can for them and all the great ways they can benefit. An old sales maxim says “the first sale you make is to yourself.” If you believe in your services, you will find it easier to tell your clients.
3. Practice. The more times you say your message, the easier it will be to communicate with clients.

You can let clients know about your new services by email or by phone calls. You could even do a teleseminar or webinar so you can communicate with many people at one time. If you record the session, you can post it to your website so it can help explain your services.

“It’s a constant educational process to keep your customers aware of your entire menu of programs, products and services,” says LeBlanc.

If you follow these steps, you’ll do more than make more money – you’ll help more people!

Find out about OUR new services at PRLEADSPLUS.com

Publicity thought leader Dan Janal coaches entrepreneurs and small business on how to build profits withlow-cost Internet marketing and publicity tactics via individual and group coaching sessions. For information go to www.PRLEADSPLUS.com

Are you sabotaging your publicity program?

Many people shoot themselves in their feet when it comes to creating and executing their publicity programs.

After 9 years of running PR LEADS and dealing with more than 4,000 people, I’ve seen it happen time and time again for many different reasons.

Join me in the 45-minute teleseminar to learn how to overcome the 12 self-sabotaging shortcomings that speakers, authors, entrepreneurs and small business people do day after day.

By attending this session, you’ll be able to conquer the inner fears that have been holding you back from getting publicity. You’ll also develop essential skills in getting the publicity you deserve to sell more products and services.

Here’s the info:

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009

Time: 1 p.m. Central Time

2 p.m. Eastern

Noon Mountain

11 a.m. Pacific

Length: 45-60 minutes

Investment: $10 fee will go to the Humane Society of America or other “No-Kill” Animal Shelters.

If you can’t attend, we will send you an MP3 file with the complete recording.

Click here to register:

http://www.prleads.com/stopsabotage/register

About your instructor:

The Los Angeles Times called Dan Janal an “internet marketing expert.” He’s written six books on publicity and marketing for John Wiley. An in-demand keynote speaker, Dan Janal has spoken everywhere from Beijing to Budapest. He has taught at Stanford and Berkeley. He is an award-winning daily newspaper reporter and business editor and was on the PR team that launched AOL. Other clients include the National Football League, IBM and The Reader’s Digest. He provides coaching and consulting services to a select number of qualified clients.

Did you miss the call I did last night with Rob
Goyette?

If so, you missed an amazing 60 minute, content-rich
session.

You can sign up for the replay here:

http://www.HowToMarketBetter.com/dan

Rob Goyette taught a special teleclass for you called
"Four Simple Steps You Can Take To Double Your Website
Sales".

Rob’s an expert with Google Adwords, SEO, Affiliate
Marketing, Consumption, Testing and Tracking,
Copywriting, and a whole lot more. But he’s simplified
online marketing success down to just four factors.

Sign up for the teleclass replay right now and you
will get a copy of his free report where he tells you
what the four factors are:

http://www.HowToMarketBetter.com/dan

During This Powerful, Content Rich Recording, You’ll
Discover…

=> How to define the path a visitor should take from
when they first visit your site to becoming a lifelong
customer. Hint: you want to make this process as
frictionless as possible.

=> The three secret ingredients to moving people along
the path so that they keep their wallets out and have
fun along the way.

=> The free and easy tool from Google (it’s not
analytics) that will help you test, measure, and
improve the process of moving people down your
marketing path.

=> The very best ways to drive massive traffic to your
site. Rob will specifically focus on teaching you the
most critical things you need to know about Google
Adwords, Search Engine Optimization, and Joint Ventures
while touching on other very powerful traffic
generating methods.

Get all of the details here…

http://www.HowToMarketBetter.com/dan

Register now if you want to automate your marketing
and send massive traffic to your site.

Yanik Silver just held his third “Underground” Internet Marketing Conference and it was truly one of the best events I’ve ever attended (and I’ve been at many, many events as a speaker and as an attendee.)

Have you ever gone to a conference and run out of business cards?

That’s what happened at this conference.

I met lots of great people who are achieving high goals.

I went to learn — and learn I did, from masters like Ted Nicholas, who gave me great ideas about client retention strategies when we chatted in the hallway. I really appreciate that a big name like Ted, who could easily be anywhere and do anything, stayed at the conference long after his session was over so he could help people. Many big-name speakers come and leave. Ted came and gave, gave, gave. Thanks, Ted!

Prophetically, at the first session, I sat next to Tom Kulzer, president of Aweber and a PR LEADS Alumni Member. He asked me what I wanted to get from the conference and I said, “to learn new ideas.” And I did!

He said he was here to meet people. I hadn’t really considered the networking aspect. But it was really critical. There were lots of great people to meet and share ideas with. I had several in-depth discussions with Leo Quinn, Matt Gill, Warren Whitlock, Terry Kozlowski and others.

Plus I saw PR LEADERS Kevin Gianni, Tim Ferris, James Lange and Alum John DuCane. It is a small world when you go to a conference and a handful of attendees are your clients!

One of the highlights was when I attended Yanik’s MasterMind luncheon where I took the hot seat and got grilled by his clients making seven figures and more. They shocked me out of my complacency and forced me to look at things differently. I am truly grateful for their insights and their spirit of giving. One guy gave me a terrific idea that could launch yet another successful business!

Oh yeah, several people, including speakers, signed up for PR LEADS so it was a profitable venture as well!

I highly recommend you attend Yanik’s next Underground conference next year. It is a great place to learn — from the speakers and the attendees.

Dan Janal
Your Fearless PR LEADER
PR LEADS Expert Resource Network
http://www.prleads.com/