Bob Eckstein just recommended our fair blog on his busy and interesting blog, Freelancers’s Lament - he wrote up a nice post on Freelancing Tips 101. Good stuff! Thanks, Bob.

By the way, if you see yourself as a freelancer this is a fun, factual and lively site with a sense of humor and humility about all things freelance. (I also love Bob’s great site Today’s Snowman about all things snowman.)

OK, so you live in the country. And you’re unable to swing the 10K it will cost to snake the village’s DSL line through the woods (underground) to your house. So you get a dish … and you get humbled really, really fast.

Especially if you have a teenager. Or two, like I do.

And they insist on downloading software upgrades, and songs, and movies and AAAAAARRRRRGGGGH! Because yes, there’s a limit to how much bandwidth you get to download at any time in satellite-land. Even with the best package I could find (SkyBlue) … that’s a jumbo 75 gigs per month of bandwidth. What can I tell you? There are a lot of users around here …. With high needs!

Reader Adrienne Webb posted this, regarding the restrictions on Directway/Hughes own bandwidth policy. I used to use them … and bitch about it here. Thanks for your further clarification Adrienne!

A new comment from “Adrienne Webb” was received on the post “Bad, bad Direcway/HughesNet” of the weblog “Suzanne Falter-Barns’ Painless Self Promotion“.

She wrote: “We have had Direcway/Hughesnet for about 4 years. At first, quite good, then they implemented their Fair Access Policy. They implemented another change to this policy in 2007. We have 3 Macs. Because of this policy, we are now unable to perform a system software upgrade, the Mac OS part of the upgrade is 480MB. After the 200MB limit is reached, the Mac Software update goes into slow mode, and eventually fails. Hughes suggests 1) using a download scheduler. There is none available for the Mac, or Apple’s Software update program. 2) Staying up until the witching hour of midnight, or 3) upgrading my account. At this point, it is unreasonable to expect me to use my internet service, but NOT to keep my system software current, download MS Office, HP printer, or Adobe updates; or download from itunes, podcasts, youtube or any of the other commonly used websites. And all because they won’t put money into bandwidth. I’m on the wait list for SkyHigh WiFi, and it can’t come soon enough for me. BTW, has anyone else noticed the Tech Support hold song (yes, there’s only one) has been the same ONE for at least 3 years??? (Spanish Lullaby). Surely that cassette tape must break soon!

Personally, I go to the local library with the fast DSL to do upgrades, FYI. (SFB)

For your big calls, we always rent from Ed Shea (coachimago@aol.com ) It’s $20 for one hour, 250 people. You have to do your own recording. And what I’ve learned in the years of doing these free calls which regularly get upwards of 500 listeners is that only a fraction, probably fewer than 100, show up for the call. UNLESS it is an ‘action oriented’ call in which it’s important to be there live. So 250 for a bigger group is usually just fine.

For the smaller, program calls, we’ve been using http://www.thebasementventures.com/

This one has call recording included and you can turn off the entry chimes, get a head count, etc. Lots of bells and whistles for this free service.

Enjoy!

“Have you (or a client) found marketing success using Digg,Del.icio.us, Furl, StumbleUpon, Sphinn, Reddit or other socialbookmarking tools? Looking for case studies that demonstrate increased traffic, sales, signups, etc. to profile in new book (sequel to best-seller), and in blog and podcasts.”

Good question … have you? Does this thing really work to build a business? If so please let me know and I’ll post it here … which is, of course, good for your traffic.

Did I mention that leading workshops and getting those links out on google and yahoo to your events is a GREAT way to build platform?

For the next nine days or so - until midnight on Aug 27 EST — you can walk off with my full Joy Facilitator’s Training for far less than just about any other such work on the Web. AND it really is the only one on the Web that allows you to take my material and morph it to suit your own needs. So you have a template to work with - a starting to place to invent your own workshop business.

Save $100 on the Full Facilitator’s Training and save $50 on the LITE version.

Become a Joy Facilitator and you get all the tools you need to create, book, fill and lead your own creativity workshops - I even share copious marketing secrets in the full version, too.

Check it out … this event ends on August 27 at midnight EST. Here’s where to learn more and buy…

Full Joy Facilitator’s Training - Save $100

LITE Joy Facilittor’s Training - Save $50

And if you have questions, don’t hesitate to drop me an em at sfb@getknownnow.com

Here’s to all the creativity breakthroughs you have delightfully waiting ahead of you!

Here is an invaluable free service that uses the powerful tool of fun to make an impression again and again in your email inbox, while it helps you get all kinds of publicity.

Basically it’s a free way to get lots and lots of notices about experts/sources/ideas working reporters, broadcasters, producers, authors, bloggers and editors are looking for right now. And if you happen to be one of those experts being sought … well, here’s a hot lead for you.

Unlike paid services like P R Leads - an excellent service I’ve recommended here many times - this does not presort the leads into categories specific to your needs. You must wade through them all. BUT, they are organized in an efficient way that makes it easy to do that.

What’s cool about HARO is that Peter begins each email with a fun, interesting juicy little tidbit, or quip, etc that’s fun to read. AND manages to sneak in a plug for a sponsor in each issue. It’s really very well done. Please note, there are ALL KINDS Of leads here - from people thinking about writing a book to seriously major media. So you have to do the sort work, but it’s quite entertaining, all the same.

I’m hoping to interview Peter on how he’s built this impressive business - he currently represents more than 20,000 media leads - in a short amount of time. Waiting to hear back on a good date, hopefully in Sept..

Stay tuned! And drop by to give this baby a whirl: Help a Reporter Out.

But the truth is that every era has new demands, new forces of change, new sets of needs - so these are the sculptors of new ideas. Remember, necessity is the mother of invention! And that makes me think that in every era there are new ideas, they just get reshaped and repeated from generation to generation.

For instance, my daughter, a guitar player, wants to take the silver posts off of the fretboard of one of her guitars and play it in a whole new way. She got this idea from a class mate at her music conservatory who’s unconventional technique now has him touring with a star this summer. I mentioned the idea just last night to a friend who’s made some unconventional guitars. He declared that just that very thing had been done by a jazz guitarist in the 60’s to great acclaim.

See, no new ideas!

BUT, says Janet Goldstein, my friend in ideas … the best thing to major publishers and the marketplace in general are ideas that are ‘10 percent new.’ They are familiar enough to be proven, but new enough to be refreshing. ENTIRELY new ideas take work and time none of us have, right?

Keep this in mind as you scout out what’s new out there … what do you think?

A last reminder: Janet and I will lead an upcoming three part teleclass in August, Coming Up With the Killer Idea. There are now only about 10 seats available - don’t hesitate … join us!

We covered the essentials of What Is a Breakthrough Idea. What are its hallmarks?  That would be an idea no publisher can resist because it’s a money-maker and because it’s relevant in the here and now. Media folks, meanwhile, are looking for an emotionally relevant idea, one that conveys sense of urgency to their readers while piquing their interest. So both groups’ needs converge nicely, meshing into a ‘killer idea’.

Here’s what Janet had to say what makes a killer idea. It:

• Has an identifiable audience/defined market
• Has an appeal people would pay money for
• Has a credibility hook so it seems trustworthy
• Meets a craving that market needs badly
• Is presented by the right person at the right time
• Pulls together lots of these ideas
• OFFERS SOMETHING NEW

Also, this was interesting. Major publishers want to know that that concept you want to use has already been tested.

• They don’t want the book to be the way you figure that out
• They don’t want the lack of credibility that comes with that

And why? Because they can’t, in turn, sell you to the media. This is a critical link in how publishing operates. They need to know you’re the ‘real thing’. But do bear in mind they are generalists who really rely on your niched expertise to make their business successful. (In other words, you don’t have to come in with massive degrees, etc., but just some provable life, study or work based expertise.)

I’ll run some more on this tomorrow … meanwhile, if you’d like to listen to my call with Janet, feel free to jump on to the recording:

http://suzflt.audioacrobat.com/download/killeridea.mp3

And learn more about the upcoming three part teleclass Janet and I are leading in August, Coming Up With the Killer Idea. We’re down to 14 seats left … can you come?

So Janet and I spent an edifying hour on Monday going over just what goes into a ‘killer idea’, because when you get right down to it the currency today in business begins with big ideas. Especially if you want to build platform that attracts media - AND especially if you want to publish with a major publisher.

Here are some of the ideas that Janet and I covered in our hour together …

1. There are approximately 150K book titles published every year, up from 50K ten years ago. Why? Because the Net makes it easy for anyone, anywhere to sit down, write a book and self publish. Yet more major publishers are publishing more tightly niched titles as well

2. Why not just self publish? Why bother with a major publisher? Because, friends, your idea - as bold and great as you think it is - needs to be vetted by ‘those who know.’ Why? Because ….

• They know the market. They have a relative sense of who’s out there, what’s good, what’s bad, what’s hot, what’s not - since they read TONS of material being pitched all the time
• They want to find the next big idea - ALWAYS! They’re hungry for it!
• They go into the book stores, read reviews and book media all the time so they’re always honing their sense of what will sell
• They get no’s from the media constantly so they know what the media thinks is relevant
• Idea improvement is their specialty

I’ll run some more on this tomorrow … meanwhile, if you’d like to listen to my call with Janet, feel free to jump on to the recording:

http://suzflt.audioacrobat.com/download/killeridea.mp3

And learn more about the upcoming three part teleclass Janet and I are leading in August, Coming Up With the Killer Idea. There are only 25 seats available and they’re going fast so jump in!

1. Women need to wear solids. Simple lines. Simple colored blouses in cream, white, electric blue, well pressed under a jacket. It screams ‘I am a professional.’
2. No white stockings! Ever! Unless you’re a nurse! Wear nude – wear the color of your leg. No black unless it’s eveningwear. Black could be black funky tights, but only occasionally.
3. Men - wear the socks that match your trousers. Blend in, and make sure they go up really high. Don’t want to see your naked shins when your pants ride up while you’re sitting down, especially on TV!
4. Men wear black shoes for grey and black. Buff, brown tones need brown shoes.
5. Women, no super high heels – for play only.
6. Leggings are not for women over 25 and are not pants.
7. Women don’t have to dye their hair. If you don’t want to go grey, don’t. But if you do, then do go with it.
8. Pick colors accordingly if you choose not to dye your hair. You lose pigment from lips, eye color, hair color, etc … you may feel as if you’re washing away. That is just when you need to apply tips like these on credibility dressing.
9. Even men are wearing makeup now – even those who are not appearing on TV. Concealer under eyes, for instance, to cover dark bags.
10.  Look in your closet. We wear only 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time.
11. Put aside tighter clothes in your ‘fat periods’. You want your clothing to drape. Men, you need to button your jackets. Women, you, too. They should all be able to be closed. No bumps and rolls around the bra line on tight sweaters — wear a silk cami in between. Or get bigger sweaters.
12. Use Spanx. The modern woman’s girdle that are like little biker shorts. They feel like leotards that come just above the knee – they take you down a whole size. Great if you gained during the holidays! (They can even be used for modern day back support if you have lower back pain, too, and tend to be swaybacked.) Don’t get a size too small!

Kim’s got an awesome e-book about this called The Credibility Factor. It’s a primer at 70 pages – everything she’d cram into a personal stying session. She helps you figure out who you are. What’s the baggage you carry with you into your closet? Kim helps you unplug that bad info and re-think your entire approach to how you dress, by going through your closet and understanding what each piece will or won’t do for you. She calls this editing the closet. How to shop without anxiety.

Dressing is easier with The Credibility Factor. Find it at www.kimfoley.com

She’s also got an online assessment that helps you clarify for yourself what you need. www.kimfoleystyle.com.