Tag Archives: social media marketing

Catch-up Time

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“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” ~ Confucius

The most fulfilling thing as a parent is to know that the child you have raised is successfully moving along in his or her own life. This blogsite will remain quiet for a little bit as my husband and I witness our son graduate from college! I don’t know where the last 22 years have gone, but it has been an honor and a priviledge to raise our son, from newborn to an independent filmmaker! Wow!

If you are a first time visitor to this blogsite, don’t turn away so fast! There is a lot of independent publishing help and hints on this blogsite provided especially for you! Check out our previous blogs about –

  • Developing a great, absolutely free marketing technique for selling your book or film – Your Elevator Speech.
  • Check out the video on our Blog News Page about the gowing independent publishing industry.
  • Learn from our blogs, the latest trends in on-line marketing for independent publishers.
  • Find out how independent publishers can focus on the tasks of writing and publishing by outsourcing order fulfillment and e-marketing.
  • Consider the words of wisdom provided on this site about living a fulfilling life through the creative industry of independent publishing.
  • Check in on some independent books & films featured on this blogsite.
  • Last, but not least, there is some good tutorial information on the internet about independent filmmaking. To check it out, visit: 

            http://bit.ly/b0Rind            http://bit.ly/2mPX

When I return, there will be lots to share about order fulfillment for independent publishers and some exciting upcoming events! Stay tuned and until then, keep writing, reading, watching independent films and fulfilling your life through creative industry!

 

 Photos of our son Marc R Leonard filming his first documentary film in 2005 – Slidell, Louisiana  “Louisiana Lives: Life in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”

 This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Seeking the Unknown

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“My task which I am trying to achieve is by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel–it is, before all, to make you see.”     ~ Joseph Conrad 1897

Living life with clarity can be as difficult to achieve as writing with clarity. From time to time, we live with absolute clarity knowing where we want to go and what we want to achieve. At other times throughout our lives, we are in a state of disarray, not knowing exactly where we are headed or how we are going to get there. Writing with clarity sometimes alludes us. At other times, there is no fuzz, we are lucid and free of ambiguity. For those who think in abstract terms, clarity in writing is more difficult to achieve.

When you write without organization, your message is unfocused, the reader has to do too much work to grasp and interpret the message, and the reader often looses interest. In business writing, in essays and in non-fiction writing, abstract writing is infrequently used and clarity is needed most.

Sometimes, however, it is good to live our lives spontaneously! When every detail of our life is not planned, we become engaged in experiences that are exciting, unexpected and delightful. Such is the case with creative writing! Letting our thoughts swirl and soar can result in writing with novelty and artistry.

I have a plan in mind! I have made a promise to myself that I intend to keep. As soon as I can, I am going to take a creative writing course. It is a little bit scary, a lot exciting! It will be like letting the dog off the leash, not knowing where she is going to roam!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.              

Do You Know How to Grab Them?

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“When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.” ~ George Washington Carver

Not all small business owners, and that includes many independent publishers, are able to hire a public relations firm. There is a basic PR tool that every entrepreneur, speaker, author, CEO or other business professional should know how to use,  and how to write. It is the staple of the PR industry and it is referred to as a news or press release.

If you do not know how to write a press release, there are many articles on the internet that are valuable and free. You can learn how to write a press release that is compelling, how not to turn off the media by being too self promotional, why writing a good headline matters and why size counts. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/bqeTi5.

For authors, speakers, CEOs and entrepreneurs who handle their own public relations, there is a wealth of information available in Pam Lontos’ and Andrea Brunais’ book “I See Your Name Everywhere.”  This terrific resource is concise, easy to understand and is filled with tips on how to get your name and your product out there, through newspapers, magazines, radio appearances and television. To order this softcover book, and to read about the credentials of these two seasoned public relations professionals who have written this book, please visit www.ISeeYourNameEverywhere.com.

Isn’t it time you used the media to your advantage to jumpstart your sales, your career and attention to your product? Learn how!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Shutterbug Surprise!

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“Our dreams are made of real things, like a shoebox full of photographs.” ~ Jack Johnson

Go ahead – have a crack at it! Jump on the Shutterfly sensation, and publish a print-on-demand, hardcover family photo album! The other day, I received one that my sister had compiled for a Mother’s Day gift. It chronicles, through family photographs, our family tree. The gift was originally meant for our Mom, but she decided to have extra copies printed, one for me and one for each of my brothers and our families. That is the beauty of print-on-demand. Print as few or as many as you wish!

Although the work in putting together a Shutterfly photo album can not be compared with a full scale independent publishing production of text writing, it is still a worthy project for those who are not inclined to write, but love to be creative with photography and scrapbooking. Shutterfly provides the perfect opportunity to combine both! You incorporate your favorite digital images and design with creativity, the empty spaces around the photos, much like you would a scrapbook, as extensively or basically as your skills allow. What a nice surprise gift for family or friends and to commemorate a significant event. For more information, please go to www.shutterfly.com/photo-books

While we are on the subject of surprises – Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC will have a number of surprise events coming up this summer! We will reveal the details to all of you when the final plans are put into place. Stay tuned, and thanks as always, for  your interest in this blogsite and in our company. The industry that we serve is ever changing, improving and evolving – keeping us on our toes and knee deep, in serving the needs of independent publishers!

 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Volunteer & Vacation All at Once

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“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion as the things which renew humanity.” ~ Buddha

Schools will soon be letting out, and millions of Americans will be taking to the highways and byways for their annual summer vacation. One of the hottest trends in vacationing, voluntourism, is becoming a subject that many want to read about! Independent publishing is a great way to share, with others, unique experiences you have had through travel.

Voluntourism is becoming increasingly popular for those who are looking for a vacation experience unlike any they have had before. Volunteer vacations can be fulfilling, fun and sometimes, a less expensive way to travel. Retirees and senior citizens represent a large segment of people who have jumped on the bandwagon and are participating in this new travel trend.

Service vacations are often good values for seniors on a tight budget. They provide unique and active vacations rather than spending time on golf courses, on beaches or on a cruise ship. The travel living conditions may include shared accommodations or family style food arrangements, but, for those that ordinarily would not be able to travel, it is a great alternative to staying home and growing old. For more information on this growing trend of service vacations, please visit http://bit.ly/bQ4X9j.

Retirees, is becoming a published writer on your “bucket list” of things to do? Perhaps you have been part of this new trend in travel aimed at renewing humanity,  having fun and seeing the sights, all at once! Share with others, through independent publishing,  how a service vacation enriched your life. Anyone can become a published writer, thanks to the independent publishing industry! What are you waiting for?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Pitching the Book

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“The intelligent man is one who has successfully fulfilled many accomplishments, and is yet willing to learn more” ~ Unknown

Not all independent publishers, for various reasons, are able to travel the country promoting their books. Fortunately, the hot trend in marketing independently published books and films is through the internet. It is the best way to reach large communities of people who may be potential book buyers, at a relatively low cost.

However, no one can sell a book as well as the author. The author has the deepest personal investment in and connection to their publication, they have the best knowledge of what the book communicates to the reader, and can best share his or her own reasons for writing the book.  People are always interested in what led someone to write a book!

If you are an independent publisher who finds it difficult to travel to promote your book or film, don’t despair! One of the best ways of marketing, at absolutely no cost, is to develop an outstanding elevator speech. Watch this quick video to learn how you can, at no cost, share your “pitch” with everyone you encounter, no matter where you are! It will be the best no cost advertising and marketing you can do!

After you have developed your elevator speech about your book or film, give it a test by entering it on the comment section for this blog. I would love to hear it! Come on, don’t be shy! You have to start somewhere and I could very well be one of your potential book buyers!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Fold Your Hands

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“Faith makes all things possible…Love makes all things easy” ~ Unknown

Today is the National Day of Prayer. In my opinion, the disappearance of prayer being allowed in public places, in schools and at ceremonial events makes it even more important to stop and observe this day. The founding fathers of our country used prayer to guide them, protect them, and strengthen their resolve, as they put into place the documents that helped to create our nation and our freedoms. Our society has strayed much too far from the basic foundation and principles that were put into place for the well-being of our country and ourselves.

Now, more than ever, prayer is needed, to guide our country. One does not have to regularly attend a church, temple, chapel, cathedral or synagogue in order to worship. Prayer is communication with our own God, heavenly father or Higher Being, in our own private way. It can be well expressed through music, singing, words, clapping, dancing or through quiet meditation.

There is an enormous amount of evidence, testimony, medical and scientific research that prayer has many benefits. Prayer relieves stress, anxiety, calms fears, and helps in overcoming problems such as addiction, relationship issues and health concerns.

On this National Day of Observance, take a few minutes, lighten your load and ask your Higher Being for help, understanding, protection, guidance and to hear your prayer. And remember to listen, too.

 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Artists, Is it all about fulfillment?

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“Your work is to discover your world, and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” ~ Buddha

Artists are inspired in all different ways and by all different things. The imagination, everyday life, seeing works of other artists and art in other forms such as books, films or music might inspire an artist to create. Something as simple as a color or shape might set in motion, the creativity of an artist.

Most artists are led by their hearts and emotions rather than being led  by  market trends,  but market research never hurts. Looking at the practical side of things, the goal of most artists is to sell their work.  Even placing art work in galleries appropriate to the genre of art that an artist offers, can mean the difference between selling the work or not.

Artists – what do you think? Is it worth giving up personal fulfillment to paint only what the art market wants ?Or do you paint only what inspires and delights you? We would like to hear what leads you to your subject?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Being Tortured!

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“The world does not have to change…the only thing that has to change is our attitude.” ~ Gerald Jampolsky

I am being tortured and I am in a snit! Old Man Winter will not leave me alone! Does he not realize what month it is? Does he not own a calendar? It is Friday, the last day of the month of April and I am calling “May Day, May Day.” I need help! Old Man Winter has messed about with me all too long! Snow has come back to haunt me far too many times in the past few weeks.

I have made a decision. It is for the best. Here is my plan of action:

  • I am not going to hang around with that Old Man Winter any longer.
  • I am going to hang around with others that have a positive influence on my life, instead of the negative.
  • I’ve decided there is no one that can bring about change, other than myself.
  • I am replacing the negative with the positive!
  • I am going to associate myself with those that give me energy and motivation, not someone that drags me down.
  • I am going to change my mental picture!

It is time to lighten up!  I will show you who I will be hanging with, so you will know I’ll be in good hands. Join me! We can share! Take a look!

This blog brought to you by www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com.

 

 

Cultural Understanding

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“Things go wrong because people build walls instead of bridges”   ~Unknown

For those who do not work in the arts industry, understanding the value of a creative industry is difficult to understand. When you understand the scope of how many are employed in creative industry, how the Arts help to build the fabric of community life, how arts education touches the lives of children and how Art provides for cultural exchange between countries, supporting Americans for the Arts Action Fund www.artsactionfund.org is not a hard pill to swallow.

Mayer Michael Nutter recently testified about  the importance of the Arts in his city of Philadelphia. His testimony and arguments for the importance of the Arts, could be echoed by cities, big and small, across America. To listen to Mayor Nutter’s testimony, please go to http://bit.ly/bZetCV.

Even in small cities, like Steamboat Springs, Colorado (population 9600), the Arts are very important. The Macedonian Mission for Humanity (Colorado based non-profit organization 5013(C) is focused on humanitarian assistance and cultural exchange between Macedonian and U.S. artists.

On May 15, the non-profit will be hosting a Concert, at the United Methodist Church in Steamboat, between an international award winning concert pianist, Kalina Mrmevska from Macedonia, and soprano soloist, Keri Rusthoi from the U.S. It is bound to be a beautiful evening of entertainment between two artists who come from very different backgrounds.

All proceeds from the concert will go toward the expense of shipping no longer needed medical supplies from the U.S. to Macedonian children’s hospitals. For more information on this non-profit, please visit http://bit.ly/askllQ.

The Macedonian Mission for Humanity is building bridges between culture and humanitarian needs. What vision this represents!

 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.