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Update On Crazy For Real Membership Site
Thursday, July 31, 2008

Today is the first full day Patrick Pretty's CrazyForReal free Internet Marketing Site will be accepting members.

Here is a News Release from Patrick Pretty on the Crazy For Real site.

http://pluckforever.com/news/CrazyForReal.pdf

You'll find information in the News Release on the concept behind the site.

The goal, as always, is to add value to the lives of readers and customers. Not a day passes when Internet Marketers worldwide don't get a reminder on the importance of placing customers first.

Read the Crazy For Real News Release.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 11:49 AM, , links to this post



CrazyForReal.com: Patrick Pretty's Free Membership Site

You'll find plenty of free goodies inside CrazyForReal.com. The site is debuting today. Registration is free. You'll find lots of high-quality, free information inside to help you build your Internet Marketing business and shape your vision.

http://crazyforreal.com

Simply follow the registration instructions. Soon you'll be inside Crazy For Real -- FREE stuff, GOOD stuff, it truly is crazy for real!



I'll be adding more free stuff in the coming days. Make sure you return to the site to see what it is. It's a good idea to bookmark the log-in page for CrazyForReal.com. You'll arrive that the page after finalizing your registration, so please remember to add it to your favorites.

Internet marketing is about forging relationships and adding value. CrazyForReal.com, my free membership site, is designed to provide information and products you can use to make a difference in your IM business.

The site is sponsored by "Simple PDF News Release Strategy For Internet Marketers."

One of my IM goals always has been to become more and more vertically integrated, to create an environment in which loyal readers are rewarded for helping build my brand. I am 49 years old; I am a writer and editor. My plan is never to "retire." The Internet has created a worldwide market for information products that help entrepreneurs do a better job of running their businesses. There is a world of possibilities. My free membership site will introduce you to some of them, and it's my sincere hope you'll embrace the content and take advantage of the free tools and information resources.

It's hard for me to imagine ever running out of things to write about, which is why the words "retire" and "retirement" don't often pop into my mind. If a person loves what he or she does and finds joy in putting words on paper -- or the electronic equivalent -- there is no reason ever to stop.

My thanks to my friend Will Bontrager of WillMaster.com for creating the software that made my Crazy For Real Free Membership site possible.

Hope you visit CrazyForReal.com today.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 10:16 AM, , links to this post



Patrick Pretty Knol Shortcut
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Hi Friends,

I've created a shortcut page to my Google Knols.

http://patrickpretty.com/ebooktools/

You'll find links to my eBook Guide, Proofreading Tutor And Test, and PDF Media Kit Guide.

Naturally I'll add more links as I add more Knols. Knols are fun. Hope you decide to try them out.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 3:00 PM, , links to this post



Twitter For Profit: New From Dr. Mani

I always enjoy a good tale. How could a fabulous Poster Model and Hollywood A-Lister not?

Dr. Mani has released "Twitter Profit." Hope you have time to check out Dr. Mani's Twitter Profits sales site.

Dr. Mani tells his own Twitter story right on the page. He almost -- almost -- gave up on Twitter. Now he's glad he did not. :-)

Indeed, Dr. Mani and Twitter have been successful together.

Even if you do not purchase the eBook, make sure you read the sales page. Dr. Mani tells his Twitter story right on the page, speaking directly to readers. I always appreciate the straightforward approach.

Internet Marketing can be so impersonal and so full of hype. Dr. Mani lays out his simple tale and lets readers decide if Twitter is for them. It is a pleasant, quick, breezy, fact-based read -- not one of those sales letters that use breathless prose and go on endlessly.

In my own marketing life, I use the storytelling approach and try always to avoid hype. I figure my readers are smart enough to judge for themselves if my products are suited for them. As a customer, I always appreciate it when a marketer gives me credit for having a brain.

Dr. Mani placed a nice freebie right on the sales page; it's yours whether or not you buy. If you do buy, expect to learn. Dr. Mani is known for teaching in economic fashion.

If you've been thinking about adopting a storytelling model on your sales pages, make sure you study Dr. Mani's page for Twitter Profits. Many of you will get the feeling you already know him, even if you've never met him.

View the Twitter To Profit site by Dr. Mani.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 8:55 AM, , links to this post



'How To Make A PDF Media Kit': New Patrick Pretty Knol
Sunday, July 27, 2008

I've been enjoying my time at Google Knol. Today a created a new Knol. It's titled "How To Make A PDF Media Kit."

http://knol.google.com/k/patrick-pretty/how-to-make-a-pdf-media-kit/mmrg9b2akg7n/4#

Why do Internet Marketers need a Media Kit? Well, to help them tell the story about their products, brands, history and business values.

A Media Kit is easy enough to make. Visit the Knol to get off to a good start.

What I know about Knols so far is that I enjoy writing them and adding to the knowledge base. Knols are on the minds of lots of writers and Internet Marketers right now. It's my hope that Knols don't get polluted by sales pitches and that IMers focus on adding high-quality content.

Google Knol is only a few days old. The role Knols ultimately will play online is far from clear. Regardless, I am having a great time writing Knols. They give me an additional platform from which to share ideas and knowledge, and I've enjoyed reading Knols posted by other people.

Knols are about freedom. It's thrilling to know that experts and authors from all over the world can share their knowledge. At one time publishing was limited to publishing companies alone. All of us were limited to the choices publishing companies made.

That's no longer the case.

Traditional publishing companies are going through difficult times. They're in the process of changing models to reflect the changing times, something that has caused uncertainty among the many writers and editors employed full time in traditional publishing.

There are many, many talented people in publishing. Some of them are transitioning from the traditional model and making the switch to publishing online. There is plenty of room for everybody. The Internet gives you the power to open your own publishing company.

This is not to say that traditional publishing no longer has a role; it's to say that lots of people who work inside traditional publishing are feeling the pain of uncertainty and even the pain of unemployment.

No writer ever is unemployed. It's my fondest hope that editing and writing colleagues in traditional publishing embrace the power of the Internet and learn the basics of conducting business online. This is a period of transition, not unlike the switch from the horse to the automobile.

It's not a good time to be a blacksmith if you work in traditional publishing.

In any event, I hope you enjoy my Media Kit Knol.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 11:38 AM, , links to this post



Patrick Pretty Proofreading Knol
Friday, July 25, 2008

Today I created a Proofreading Knol at Google Knol. It's my hope that Internet Marketers and online merchants will find it helpful.

http://knol.google.com/k/patrick-pretty/proofreading-tutor/mmrg9b2akg7n/3#

The Knol officially is called "Proofreading Tutor"; I'll add to it from time to time. Later tonight, after it percolates for a while, I'll give the Proofreading Knol another old-fashioned proofing. :-)

Core proofreading skills are important to business people and Internet Marketers large and small. It's possible that my Knol might raise the ire of some grammarians and purists, but I recommend against correcting certain types of "mistakes."

Read the Knol to find out what I'd correct and what I wouldn't -- and to arrive at your own conclusions.

My Proofreading Tutor includes three tests. Try your hand at them. They'll help you get a better feel for language and the types of mistakes that often creep into sales copy.

Visit The Proofreading Knol.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 6:06 PM, , links to this post



Patrick Pretty Comes Out Of Stands To Seal Bucs' Win

It was pleasant last night in PNC Park in Pittsburgh; I took my usual seat in the Royalty Box behind home plate and waited for batting practice to begin.

That's when I heard the announcement over the PA system: Several Pittsburgh Pirates were down with the flu. It was too late to summon replacements from the AAA farm club at Indianapolis.

Would anybody in the stands care to play for the night?

Well, they didn't have to ask me twice; I've been on thousands of magazine covers and have appeared on TV hundreds of times. I've dined with the Queen and sat in a recording studio with Elvis.

Never, however, had I squared off against Major League pitching. The Pirates naturally batted me in the cleanup slot. They remembered those scouting reports on me from the early 1970s, before I turned my exclusive attention to modeling, teen idol-ing an A-listing.

I went 4 for 4 last night, with two homers, a screaming double in the gap and a perfect, drag-bunt single. I was 20 feet beyond first base before the pitcher even got to the ball.

Seems I'd guessed correctly that the Padres would think I'd try for my third homer of the night. My bunt caught them sleeping. It was easy enough to steal second and third after the bunt. My idea was to try a Jackie Robinson-like steal of home by charging madly toward the plate from third base. Manager John Russell, however, gave me the "stay put" sign from the dugout.

Big mistake. Xavier Nady lined out to the shortstop two pitches later. We could have had another run had John let me steal home.

Oh, well, he's an easy enough guy to play for. In fact, he's a great guy, the best Pirates' manager in years.

Last night I played all nine positions during the game. I'm thinking I'm the only National League player ever to have done that. To the best of my knowledge, only four American League players ever had done it. Bert Campaneris was the first in 1965.

My defensive highlights last night included throwing out a runner trying to steal second when I was catching. Unlike former Pirates' catcher Tony Pena, I did have to emerge from my crouch to fire the ball. My arm isn't what it used to be.

While pitching I changed speeds and concentrated on not getting behind in the count. Steve Blass and Bob Walk taught me that from the broadcast booth. You see, I hadn't pitched in high school, so it was my duty to my game and the team to listen to Blass and Walk. I focused on my palm ball, which I learned to throw by watching Dave Giusti in the 1970s and listening to Bob Prince and Nellie King in the booth.

My palm ball was particularly effective last night, keeping batters off-balance for both innings I pitched. Being ambidextrous helped; I pitched lefty to lefties and righty to righties. I'm thinking the Padres hadn't seen too many left-handed knuckleballs.

I began to tire after my second inning on the mound, even though I had retired all six batters I faced. My fastball dipped from 100 MPH during warm-ups to about 97 during my actual mound stint. Someone later told me Greg Brown had said from the booth that the Juggs Gun might have been a little off. I'm not sure that's the case. I do know I was getting a bit tired.

John Russell was calm and cool about the whole thing. He told the players not to get caught up in my celebrity and just go out and do their jobs. We won 9-1.

Russell asked if I wanted to play again tonight; I respectfully declined. The regulars will be back from the flu, and I'd just be taking up a roster spot best filled by a younger player. I am, after all, 49 years old.

It was nice enough for the Pirates to let me play once and schedule a XM Radio Bobble Head Doll Night in my honor. Gotta tell you, Friends, nothing feels better than wearing the Major League uniform of the team you live for.

Not even dinner with the Queen or shooting the breeze with the King -- Elvis, that is.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In the World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 8:05 AM, , links to this post



Patrick Pretty Publishes First Google eBook And PDF 'Knol'
Thursday, July 24, 2008

Google Knol is now live, a sort of Google equivalent to Wikipedia and wikis in general.

Today I published my debut Google Knol; it's titled "How To Create An eBook Using Free PDF Software And Your Personal Computer."

http://knol.google.com/k/patrick-pretty/how-to-create-an-ebook-using-free-pdf/mmrg9b2akg7n/2#

My initial impression of Google Knol is favorable. It's a free service that permits Knol experts to share knowledge with Knol readers.

At the moment, Google Knol is top-heavy with medical information -- content written by doctors and dentists, for example. But as more and more people learn about Google Knol, it is apt to become a critical online resource. A Knol expert in virtually any field can create content and share it with Google's vast audience.

If you have a gmail account, you also might want to add Knol. Users prepare content with an online WYSIWYG editor. The editor permits you to select fonts, sizes and colors, and arrange the basic layout. It could be a bit more intuitive, but it's brand new. A person with WSYIWYG experience should encounter few problems getting started.

One thing I couldn't quite figure out was how to view a page in Preview mode, a function available with Blogger. After I let my initial Knol percolate for a while, I'll go back and see if I can't work out the kinks. One thing that was particularly impressive was that the Knol published instantly. That's not always the case with Blogger.

Whether instant publishing that will happen once Knol gains a user-base is unclear. For now, at least, content gets published in the blink of an eye.

Knol defaults to a Creative Commons license if you don't change the default settings in your Profile. It's a simple matter of making the proper license choice. You also can choose to have collaborators or to be a sole Knol author.

I chose eBooks as my first Knol. My eBook Knol is very basic, defining what eBooks are and why self-publishing online can be an attractive option for authors and writers and business people worldwide.

So, if you have a moment, check out my eBook and PDF Knol.

Have a nice day, Friend.

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

posted by Patrick Pretty @ 4:37 PM, , links to this post



Listen To The Patrick Pretty Interview On Willie Crawford's Show
Friday, July 18, 2008

Hi Folks,

My interview today with Willie Crawford has concluded. Here's a URL from which you can listen to the show if you weren't online during the live session:

Click here to listen to the interview.

Fellow Internet Marketing Inner Circle member Lucky Balaraman also was a guest on the show.

If you're wanting to know how to get started with Amazon.com's S3 service, Lucky is your turn-to person. His S3 eBook takes the pain out of the learning curve. Amazon's S3 is not as intuitive as I would have liked.

Fortunately I had a copy of Lucky's "Easy S3" ebook, which explains how to use Amazon.com to store your multimedia files. I was up and running quickly at S3 -- something that wouldn't have happened without Lucky's book. :-)

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Patrick Pretty Guests On Willie Crawford's Radio Show

Just wanted to let you know I'll be on Willie Crawford's Blog Talk Radio show today at 11:30 a.m. ET (USA).

The show begins at 11 a.m. today, about 30 minutes from now. Lucky Balaraman will be Willie's guest for the first 30 minutes. He'll talk about his excellent eBook on Amazon's S3 service. I own Lucky's book and used it to get started with S3 seamlessly.

It aptly can be described as the Basic Amazon S3 Guide, written from Lucky's own experience using S3. You'll eliminate some headaches by using this guide as your S3 tutorial.

My segment will be on "Simple PDF News Release Strategy For Internet Marketers."

Listen to Willie Crawford's show on Blog Talk Radio.

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 10:18 AM, , links to this post



Guest Columnist Joanne Mason Shares 10 Internet Marketing Lessons She Learned From Her Grandmother
Thursday, July 17, 2008

(Editor's Note: From time to time guests columnists share their wisdom in this space. Today's guest columnist is Joanne Mason, an exceptionally thoughtful and highly skilled Internet Marketer. Joanne is a member of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle.)

Ten Internet Marketing Lessons My Grandmother Taught Me
Copyright 2008 by Joanne Mason

During my childhood up until the age of about 13 my grandmother was a central figure in my life. I grew up in a single parent home and my grandmother was always there to assist with rearing, providing for and nurturing me.

Her strong influence has helped to mold me into the person that I am today. Her presence in my life is still felt daily. Today, like almost every day of my life, I thought about her a lot.

Today I fondly remembered many of the colorful phrases or adages that my grandmother often used. Strangely, I now see a correlation in many of my grandmother's wise old sayings to internet marketing.

Although she passed away nearly thirty years ago, long before the dawn of internet marketing, I can still use the lessons that my grandmother taught me and use them as words of wisdom in governing my online business.

If you've ever had anyone in your life use creative language like my grandmother then chances are that you'll relate to these sage lessons. Just in case, you don't have a clue what my grandmother was talking about, I'll translate them into modern internet marketing terms that you'll more easily understand.

1. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket -- Create multiple streams of income

2. Procrastination is a thief of time -- self explanatory

3. Birds of a feather flock together -- you will be judged according to your associates

4. Don't bite off more than you can chew -- learn proper time management skills

5. Kill two birds with one stone -- build your list and make money at the same time

6. Two heads are better than one -- you need a JV partner

7. What goes around comes around -- the law of attraction

8. Do unto others as you'll have them do unto you -- also self explanatory

9. If you lie down with dogs you'll get up with fleas -- reminder, you will be judged according to your associates

10. The early bird gets the worm -- launch your product before anyone else

I hope this article gives you a lighter look at internet marketing and maybe you eve had a laugh or two. Maybe you'll also see the parallels in the lessons that you learned long ago and how they can be applied to your business today.

Joanne Mason is an Internet Marketing Consultant and the author of many articles and several ebooks. After more than a decade online she enjoys helping people discover the joy of building a successful online business. Download her free ebook "21 Income Streams -- Multiple Ways to Make Money Online" at http://www.21IncomeStreams.com

Learn more about The Internet Marketing Inner Circle.

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 10:35 AM, , links to this post



'Patrick, What's The Buzz? Tell Me What's Happening!"
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

I've answered the question in the headline a number of times today. :-)

The "buzz," as it were, is about "Simple PDF News Release Strategy For Internet Marketers."

People are talking about it on a couple of IM Forums, even though no big launch is under way. I haven't even done a mailing for it yet.

This will give you some background on the product, which shows Internet Marketers how to create a News Release and use it to create a new profit center.

http://pluckforever.com/news/PatrickPrettyPDFNewsReleaseMethod.pdf

News Releases give Internet Marketers an extra leg up on the competition. Relatively few marketers use them, mostly because they're inexperienced or never worked with News Releases in the brick-and-mortar world. Heck, if the chief executive officer of a big company sneezes, it's pretty much even book that his PR agency will be writing about it.

All kidding aside, News Releases serve a fundamental purpose for companies large and small. If you don't take advantage of them, you're holding your message hostage.

And if you're holding your message hostage, how do customers and the public at large know that you just might have the answer to a problem they're confronting or a challenge they need to overcome?

A marketer doesn't have to outsource News Releases and create a new cost center. They can be done in-house by average, ordinary people at no cost. News Release pay dividends in increased sales and wider brand recognition. They also add a new level of professionalism to you business, something that people appreciate.

Companies of all sizes use News Releases to educate and inform customers and extend the reach of their businesses. One of the great ironies of Internet Marketing is that marketers have a global reach, yet often don't take steps to tell their stories and build brand-name recognition.

The same publicity opportunities that exist in the brick-and-mortar world also exist in the digital world.

Ever think about the power of a News Release? If you haven't been exposed to them and don't know how to create them, the answer to that question is "probably not."

I read lots of News Releases each day. They educate and enlighten me. Information equals power. The government issues News Releases as though they were jelly beans at an Easter party. Every agency under the sun uses News Releases to educate, inform and shape their message.

The public makes determinations based on information contained in News Releases -- and that includes the voting public. Politicians routinely issues News Releases.

Meanwhile, the buying public also makes determinations based on News Releases. People practically camp out at Apple.com to see if the Great Man at the Great Company might just have something to say.

Wouldn't that be a nice outcome for Internet Marketers?

Truth is, it's not likely to happen if you don't recognize the news value inside your own business and share it with the world.

That's why there's "buzz" today about "Simple PDF Strategy For Internet Marketers." Some folks already are digging into our easy-to-digest information product and having a "light-bulb" moment.

Have a good news day, Friends.

Regards,

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

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posted by Patrick Pretty @ 6:35 PM, , links to this post



A 'Sneak Peek' At Patrick Pretty Products
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Can a Poster Model, Teen Idol, Celebrity Golfer, Confidante To Presidents And Political Leaders, Honored Guest and Hollywood A-Lister ever truly feel your pain?

Here's your answer:

http://patrickpretty.com/news/PatrickPrettySneakPeek.pdf

Hey, times are tough out there, perhaps particularly for folks new to Internet Marketing. Lots of people enter this field because they've unexpectedly lost a job or experienced a financial setback.

Even experienced marketers can suffer a reversal of fortune. That's why it's critical to know what you're buying and spend only what you can afford.

My "Sneak Peek" approach will help you do that. Beginning today, I'll be providing a glimpse into my products right inside my News Releases. I'd like viewers to notice the quality of the writing and perhaps get a better idea of what's inside the products by reading some snippets.

These will vary according to product length. My shorter products will have shorter snippets; my longer products will have longer snippets.

I want you to feel safe when you purchase a product from me. Making sure you maximize the value of purchases rarely has been as important as it is right now.

Nobody does it "The Patrick Pretty Way." :-)

Warm regards,

Patrick Pretty
The "Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World" -- 1964

posted by Patrick Pretty @ 2:44 PM, , links to this post