Social Storytelling Through Book Reviews Promotes Shares

Book reviews can add great content to share in social media and your blog, especially when the books are written on a topic that relates to your customers. But after many years online, I can testify that reviews written without thought can be boring. Don't write a "book report." Let your readers know why the contents of the book resonated with you and how it can help them.

As an online writer -which YOU are- it's your duty to develop content that attracts people and make them want to share. A short (emphasis on the word short) video review can tell a story and be fun to watch. Check the example below posted by +John Lawson for my newly published eBay Business All-in-One For Dummies which he posted yesterday during his Google Hangout. It's a fun take on a serious title.


I hope, if you took the 3 minutes to watch the review, you might want to click the link above and buy my book. Its for any eBay seller, or e-Commerce business who wants to ramp up to professional grade. I'm sure it will give you enough tips to justify the purchase.

Social Media Commerce: Make it Easy for Your Customers to Do Business with You

December 4th, 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST  - Live Chat with Marsha Collier

Are you struggling to gain new customers or earn repeat business from existing customers? It could be because you’ve made the process of doing business with your company too difficult – everything from product discovery to customer service to ordering, payments, delivery and merchandise returns. Join us to discuss how social media commerce can make doing business with your business easier for customers. 

Submit your pre-chat questions, and add the event to your calendar so you don’t miss the conversation. The conversation will take place at the Endicia Thinking Forward Website on December 4th, at 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST.

This Live Webcast precedes the publication of my latest book, Social Media Commerce For Dummies. It's one that will help your business build revenue and customer base through social media. Please join me - and be sure to post some pre-chat questions on the Endicia website.

Live Webcast Chat: How to Mine $ocial Media

Tuesday, October 30th, 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST

Can social media be used to help you make money? Yes it can. I've learned a lot while writing my upcoming book, Social Media Commerce For Dummies and I want to share with you. Submit pre-chat questions or ask them live. Let's share strategies and tactics to help your business make the most of social commerce.

Live broadcast by Ustream

The conversation will take onthe link above on October 30th, at 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST.

via thinkingforward.tumblr.com

 

Seniors Mastered the Art of Friending & Likes at my Microsoft / AARP Get Connected Workshop

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Mastering the art of social media - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube - is something many have conquered, but now more and more seniors are jumping on the social bandwagon as well.

For seniors "liking", commenting and defriending are foreign concepts but at AARP's Get Connected event held in Spokane Thursday, 350 seniors took the plunge to learn how to master social media.

Nancy Pritt was among those who wanted to take the plunge online. "I want to learn more, I want to get involved and do it," she said. "I'm pretty empowered about the whole thing ... I'm ready to start."

She, along with other seniors like her, are getting some help from Marsha Collier, the author of "Facebook And Twitter For Seniors For Dummies."

"It's a great way to build your life as you get older it doesn't have to get smaller it can get bigger," Collier said.

While it might be scary at first, Collier says it's time to dive in

"They just need that little extra push to get people online, stalk your children thing, I stalk my daughter all the time," she said.

A study recently found people 65 and older are the fastest growing age group in the State of Washington joining Facebook. And while Nancy Pritt might not have a Facebook account yet, she already knows the lingo.

"A comment would be I saw you on at the AARP session of Get Connected ... you look great and I'd go "like" it," she said.

Then there's friend requests …

"That means you want to ask them to be invited into your program."

… and of course a "Like."

"To like something means you agree with that comment or statement it's a thumbs up."

With the lingo down, now Nancy is ready to get connected on her own online.

"I've got some shopping to do so … right after this I'm looking forward to get going with it," she said.

via kxly.com

 

Help Mom & Dad Get Connected at my Free Microsoft/AARP Workshop in Spokane 12/1

Do you want your parents to know more about social networking, what it is and how to use it safely?

Join AARP, Microsoft and Marsha Collier, author of “Facebook and Twitter for Seniors for Dummies”, at the Spokane Convention Center for a free workshop on Facebook, Twitter, Video Chat and Safer Socializing on the Internet.

The event is designed for new or experienced computer users and will be held on Dec. 1, from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center (334 West Spokane Falls Boulevard – Ballroom 100A).  Doors will open at 9 a.m. for refreshments and resource information.
 
This workshop will show you how to connect with old friends, make new ones, get connected with AARP and communicate with the grandkids. You’ll get tips on safer socializing on the Internet and learn how to make your computer easier to see, hear and use.

“While some people may shy away from new technologies, our members have been clamoring for information on how to log in to the social media world,” said AARP Communications Director Jason Erskine. “”We’re excited to offer this opportunity with Microsoft on Dec. 1.”

Attendees on Dec. 1 will also get a continental breakfast, lunch and plenty of free information and resources. The event is free, but space is limited. Register by calling toll-free 1-877-926-8300.

AARP/Microsoft "Get Connected" Workshop on Social Media: Twitter & Facebook for Seniors

Are you tired of being the social media support for your parents (grandparents)? Want to get them up to speed on how to use Twitter and Facebook? Next week will be my first workshop for those "of a certain age" at the Microsoft campus in Redmond on October 20. The next workshop will be in Spokane at the end of November ... more cities to come - stay tuned!

Redmond is sold out, but the event wil be livestreamed on the AARP Facebook Live stream page. Have your parents stop by for the live stream or I'd love to meet them when I visit their city.

A special thank you to Diane Brogan from MomPopPow for reviewing my Facebook & Twitter for Seniors For Dummies on youtube (which is the intro for my presentation).

20 Years of Publishing Magic. For Dummies: Technology for the Rest of Us

When people mention the For Dummies series, one hears a lot like: "I'm not a Dummy!" But just as Dr. Ruth Westheimer was won over to be a Dummies author, millions of people worldwide love the series of plain talking, humorous books. There's no better way to learn a topic than from a For Dummies book. Did you know that you could set 5,700 stacks of Dummies titles next to the world's tallest building in Dubai. (The stack of my books alone is over 5 feet)!

It's been an honor to write for the For Dummies series for over 14 years. eBay For Dummies started my career. My latest social media book in the series, Facebook and Twitter For Seniors is selling to a whole new market. 35 books later, and over a million of my books sold... I still look forward to writing my next one.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, buy any “For Dummies” book between March 1 – 31, 2011 and receive a five dollar rebate with this mail-in rebate.

Interview at Book Expo America