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Bad luck is just good luck you haven't figured out how to use. Discover Acres of Opportunities
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Table of Contents

1. Editor's Musings
2. Article: Etailers Predicting a Green Holiday Season by June Campbell
3. Internet Sites Reviewed
4. Recommended
5. Freebies and Other Good Deals
6. Joke of the Week

1. Editor's Musings

A Happy Thanksgiving to my neighbours to the south!

A few things to let you know about… a site publisher invited me to look at his site -- it’s an auction site for webmaster products and services. Oddly, the site seems under utilized, despite the potential for bargains and offers. Let's help get this one moving, folks. List your products or make a bid. You might get a good deal. It's at http://magicebid.com/

Next, I've been researching an article this month on the topic of corporate CEOs in North America. I was privileged to interview three excellent sources, two of whom have written books pertaining to business, leadership and ethics. The third is still working on his book. I'll mention it when it's published.

I haven't had the chance to read these books myself yet, but if my experience with the authors is any indication, they'll be well worth the price. Check them out.

1. "Winning Without Losing Your Way: Character-Centered Leadership" by Rebecca Barnett. Barnett's book is based on research and interviews on the topic of organizational integrity. She begins taking orders on Nov. 25, 2002
www.winningyourway.com/

2. "Reclaiming the Ethical High Ground: Developing Organizations of Character" (Reliance Books). By John Di Frances.(www.difrances.com) John's book gets a five star rating at Amazon.
Reclaiming the Ethical High Ground

2.Article: Holiday Etailers Predicting a Green Christmas by June Campbell.

E-tailers and other online merchants are dreaming of a green Christmas! Research findings indicate that ecommerce is predicted to boom this holiday season!

If your holiday marketing promotions are targeting Europeans, there's good news. According to Forester Research, this will be the strongest year yet for European online holiday shopping. It's predicted that 7.6 billion euros will be spent online, a substantial increase over last year's four billion euros.

The UK is expected to be a particularly strong area for online shopping in terms of money spent, but in terms of numbers, more Germans are expected to shop online than other Europeans.

If your promotions involve marketing to Australians, there's more good news. Australia's ninemsn MediaCentre commissioned research suggesting that Australians really, truly hate Christmas shopping. Lines, crowded stores and parking problems take their toll. One in three people get in arguments while shopping, and only 40% of people say they enjoy the shopping experience. Therefore, three out of five Australians who go online regularly found the idea of online shopping appealing. Two in five people with no online experience were interested in the idea.

In North America, Seattle's Atlas Institute conducted a study that shed light on North American's online shopping habits. Based holiday shopping trends in 2000 and 2001, online shoppers have much different patterns than their offline counterparts. For example, weekdays, especially Wednesdays, are the most active for online shopping, The most active hours occur during work time, from noon to three, CST. In 2001, in the US, half of online shopping was done in the workplace. Wednesday, November 28 was the peak day for holiday online shopping.

Unlike offline shopping, holiday shopping tapers off the week prior to Christmas Day, and becomes quite busy shortly after Christmas. Surprisingly, January equals December in terms of online sales. Jupiter Research quotes figures showing that as of November, 2002, online shoppers have become more patient, and are increasingly prepared to tolerate longer delivery times in exchange for free shipping and handling. 53% of consumers said they would be willing to wait, as compared to 18% of online shoppers who preferred to pick up their packages in an offline store.

In July 2002, eMarketer reported research showing a 47 percent rise in online retail spending in the US between 2000 and 2001. Abacus (a division of DoubleClick) reported that the percentage of shoppers buying online is up to 9%. Most frequently purchased catalogue items are outdoor and recreational merchandise (41%), followed by wearing apparel (36%), and auto parts and accessories (29%). EMarketer also reported in August, that online retailers in Asia, Europe and North America, along with niche market e- tailors, were most successful at generating new business. Luxury items and high margin clothing are topping the list.

There you have it. If you're selling online, it's a smart move to study the trends and design your holiday promotions accordingly.

Have a prosperous Holiday Season!

(article can be published upon request, in exchange for resource box.)

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Internet Sites -- reviewed by June Campbell

*** Invest Safe
A good site for information about the pros and cons of various investment strategies.

*** Wendy Tech
Very interesting site with articles pertaining to cyberlaw and technology and law. Take a look at the one called War and Microsoft..

*** The Future of B to B is C to C
Article in the Industry Standard makes the case that the future of ecommerce is not business to business but competitor to competitor..

*** The Future of Non-Profits
This monster.com article argues that to survive, non-profits must make changes in the way they operate.

*** Memo to the Workforce of the Future
The American Society of Association Executives offers career advice to Gen Xers.

4. Freebies and Good Deals

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Simply mailto:IPT@matthew.par32.com .
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c. Where Writers, Publishers & Online Entrepreneurs Connect
Looking for the best ezines to subscribe to? Searching for great articles? Need some awesome content for your web site? Marketing-Seek.com has got it for you! We'll also update you monthly on the latest submissions into the article database - plus, we'll give you two versions to choose from! Just highlight or save the print copy and paste it into any ezine, magazine, or web page. Nothing could be easier! What'cha waiting for? Signup today.
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d. Sentience-- the ezine for coaches, counselors and people interested in self growth. Published weekly. Subscribe

e. Certified Master Virtual Assistant will increase your visibility through traditional and online promotion. Attention: Authors, Speakers and Coaches! Free E-zine with tips for you and entrepreneurs. Contact Susan Valeri at susan@virtualassistantsusan.com Visit my award-winning website: www.virtualassistantsusan.com

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4. Recommended Product: PR Leads

Could You Use Some Media Publicity?

You know the value of publicity to grow your business, or to promote the book you have written, or to attract clients to your professional service. And, one of the best ways to attract publicity is to be quoted as an expert source in the media.

Think about it. What would it cost you to place an ad in Business Week or to run a commercial on a major TV network? I'm thinking there would be quite a few zeroes behind the number.

On the other hand, if you're quoted in an article in the Wall Street Journal, or interviewed by a broadcast journalist, you get similar coverage at no cost. Even better, you generate more credibility than you would with a paid advertisement. The public has become skeptical about ads, but is likely to trust a source who has been quoted as an expert. Later, you can update your resume, your bio, or your business marketing materials and enjoy ongoing increased credibility with potential clients or investors.

The problem, of course, is how do you attract the attention of the journalists and freelance writers who are looking for SMEs (subject matter experts) to quote? And, take it from me, writers are always looking for good sources. Without good sources, we have no story.

This week, while I was interviewing a SME for an article I was writing, he told me about an online service that helps authors, experts, doctors, psychologists, etc., connect with writers who are looking for expert sources for interviews.

I checked it out. According to testimonials, a number of people, including copywriter Joe Vitale had been interviewed for some fairly high-profile media stories after signing up for the service.

At the time, I was looking for sources to speak authoritatively on the trends impacting on corporate CEOs. I decided to try the site as a writer, and see what contacts I would get. I sent my request via email.

Within two days, I had received several leads for interview sources from individuals as well as PR firms emailing me on behalf of their clients.

About half of these messages were inappropriate contacts… people asking me to change my focus to suit their experience, or people who were less knowledgeable than they tried to portray. However, I also received contact information for three excellent sources that I will quote in my article and possibly use again and again.

Based on my personal experience, I'd recommend this service. If you have expertise in a certain area and want the publicity that that goes along with being quoted in the media, I believe that PR Leads will benefit you.

There is a caveat, however. When responding to writer's leads, you must be truthful and realistic about your expertise.

I suggest you take a look at PR Leads

6. Joke: Civic Workers

A passerby noticed a couple of city workers working along the city sidewalks. The man was quite impressed with their hard work, but he couldn't understand what they were doing.

Finally, he approached the workers and asked, "I appreciate how hard you're both working, but what the heck are you doing? It seems that one of you digs a hole, and then the other guy immediately fills it back up again. "

One of the city workers explained, "The third guy who plants the trees is off sick today."

From Daily Humor

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