Save Big on Black Friday / Cyber Monday with these
invaluable Development and Marketing Tools

Check out this message from Copyblogger about sales on StudioPress Genesis Theme Framework and Premise Marketing Products for WordPress.

Hi gang, it seems that our CEO Brian Clark has been bitten by the Thanksgiving bug.

In honor of Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) he’s decided to drop the price on a couple of our products lines, just for the next few days:

———————————————–
1. Save $70 on Premise
———————————————–

Premise is our complete sales and lead generation software, made specifically for WordPress publishers like you.

Premise normally goes for $165, because it gives you the ability to easily:

• Build rock-solid membership sites with WordPress
• Create custom landing pages, complete with graphics
• Take recurring payments with automated access management
• Automatically drip member content out over time
• Securely sell ebooks, software, and other digital downloads
• Learn conversion strategies that work via ongoing educational seminars
• Confidently create private forum areas with bbPress and vBulletin
• Quickly set up password-protected content libraries
• Write better copy with our integrated copywriting assistant
• Easily build check-out pages for PayPal, Authorize(.net), Braintree, 2Checkout, and Stripe (with more coming soon)
• And much more than we can list here …

During our Thanksgiving sale, you can get Premise for only $95 (save $70), but you MUST click this link to take advantage of that special price:

This deal ends promptly at 5:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, November 26, 2012.

———————————————–
2. Save 25% on StudioPress
———————————————–

Yep, that’s 25% off *everything* over at StudioPress (even the All Themes package) for the next few days.

Whether you’re building your first WordPress website, or you’re a pro that simply wants to take advantage of this incredible discount to beef up your portfolio, we’ve got something great for you over at StudioPress for 25% off this week only …

• Get the Genesis Framework for only $45.
• Pick up a Genesis child theme design for less than $20.
• Snag a Genesis / design combo and save close to $20 (or more).
• Wipe the entire shop clean by getting our Pro Plus All-Theme Package. Get Genesis plus all 46 current designs, plus every design we make in the future, and save over $950 off the retail price of just the existing 46 designs!

This deal ends promptly at 5:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, November 26, 2012.

Best Regards,

Brian Gardner
Founder, StudioPress
Chief Product Officer, Copyblogger Media

This morning, Brian Clark is going to announce a Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion that includes a 25% off discount code good for everything at StudioPress.com.

Take advantage of this awesome  25% off sale by
simply using the code “THANKS” at check out!

Get the Genesis Framework for only $45.

Score most Genesis for WordPress Designs / Combos
for a song and save close to $20. 

Wipe the entire shop clean and get the StudioPress Pro Plus All-Theme Package. Get Genesis plus every design they’ve made, plus every design they make in the future, and save more than $74 off the regular price and over $875 off the retail price — and that’s just the existing 43 designs!

All you need to do is use the code THANKS when you check out and you’ll save 25% on anything and everything at StudioPress.com.

This deal ends promptly at 7:00 pm Pacific P.S.T. on Monday, November 28, 2011.

So what are you waiting for? Hurry up and claim your new WordPress theme before the code expires!

As eBay constinuiously raises it’s rates, small and micro business people are giving up on the auction giant. It used to be possible for small businesses to make a little money on eBay by selling extra merchandise and clearing out excess inventory. These days eBay’s price increases are making it more difficult for businesses that don’t sell junk or in bulk to make a decent profit. 

Example: Saeler Enterprises recently sold an unused motherboard for $49.95 with free shipping. By the time the ebay fees were added up (just a pic, reserve and the buy now), we made around $19. – Not Good considering that the board was worth over $80 on NewEgg.com

Fortunately there’s an alternative – GozBay started by a computer geek sick of getting the eBay pocket picked.

Zachary Gosling was just 13 when he starting building an auction website that would be supported by advertising and sponsorships, rather than by the big fees charged by giant auction site eBay. Within a year, the site, GozBay.com (pronounced Go Z-bay), garnered honors from the Future Business Leaders of America, an education association for high school kids that prepares students for careers in business and business-related fields. Zach’s site won second place nationally in the FBLA competition for e-commerce.

After some technical issues, the owner of a successful IT company contacted GozBay regarding their future. With his help along with the backing of Angel Investors they put an exceptional team together capable of providing the security, scalability and resources required to make GozBay a successful auction website.

On June 1st 2009 GozBay released an extremely aggressive new website. Our #1 goal and attention was directed towards site stability and usability, after which we focused on additional design enhancements and feature requests. GozBay is now running stronger than ever and is gaining new users every day.

I just happen to live near an Albertson’s so I figured I’d share this really Obvious Secret. I can’t tell you how to win a cash prize or a grocery prize, but I guarantee you can win two more tickets (P.S. Albertson’s Marketers please feel free to contact me for consultation on how to run an effective game campaign) if the prize is right.

Albertsons Yahtzee Game Scratchers Prize “Two New Tickets” Easy Win!

I’ve tried hundreds of variations, but the only patterns to emerge are the two new free tickets. If you find another pattern, post a comment so others can benefit.

The first step is to scratch off the Yahtzee Game Piece prize box, if it doesn’t say two new tickets, stop reading this post! If on the other hand it does say that you won two new game tickets, then keep reading.

The key is that whoever designed the game made the free ticket winners zigzag. 

If you get a Four in Row A Column One, then follow the pattern below:

Remember, this pattern is only a winner if you scratch the prize off and it’s “You are playing for two Albertsons Yahtzee^® Game Tickets”

If you get a Four in Row A ColumnTwo, then follow the pattern below:

Remember, this pattern is only a winner if you scratch the prize off and it’s “You are playing for two Albertsons Yahtzee^® Game Tickets”

There may be more variations that win two Yahtzee tickets, but once you turn in your Albertson’s Yahtzee Game Tickets – well there’s no knowing what lies beneath the scratcher surface.

For More Info On the Albertson’s Yahtzee Game Scratchers Check out this blog that explains the Albertson’s Yahtzee Game.

Albertsons Yahtzee Game – Winning Ticket Update!

The following YouTube video shows a winner for 100 count bottle of equaline asprin; this may or may not be another winning pattern. But if it’s not, there must have been a lot of retakes filming the Yahtzee Game Tickets being scratched off.

This one caught my attention as I was channel surfing past The Colbert Report and as such was worthy of being included in the blog. The Black Belles who sound like an 80′s punk band (reminiscent of the Dead Milkmen) have this great marketing tactic. Not only do they have a retro 45, they have a retro garage band style flyer advertising their single “Charlene II (I’m Over You)” performed with Steven Colbert (Vocals) and produced by Jack White.

The flyer looks like a for sale notice you would see on a telephone pole, complete with tear offs. But instead of a phone number on the tear off it’s the web address haveyouseenourcat.com.

The title “Have you seen our cat?” grabs your attention. After all, who doesn’t want to help someone find their missing cat? Once they have your attention, you notice the pitch “ And do you want to buy our record”.

Obviously teaming up with Colbert would boost anyone’s name recognition, but the flyer takes it a step further by allowing the fans to spread the word. Anyone who types in the domain from the flyer tear offs is redirected to their Labels store where you can buy the record.

The only mistake this band is making is that they lack a cohesive web marketing strategy. The concept is brilliant, possibly dreamed up by Colbert’s marketing team, however it will eventually fall short. There will be a bit of buzz from their performance last night, but once the link is removed from The Colbert Nation website and the novelty of the flyer wears off, the Black Belles will have to rely on their own web presence. At the time of posting that presence consists of a simple website with limited social networking integration (only MySpace) and no interactivity – A.K.A. limiting your target market.

A target market is a group of customers that a business has decided to aim its marketing efforts and ultimately its sale of products or services.

If you live in the state of Illinois and have been a member of the “Affiliates Program” you will need to find an alternative. Due to yet another new plan to spend their way out of debt the cash strapped state of Illinois has enacted a new tax law that requires eCommerce companies like Amazon to charge sales tax even if they have no physical presence in the state; the new law qualifies Associates as representatives of the company making them subject to the same sales tax requirements as the brick and mortar retailers in the state.

In theory this law protects small mom and pop businesses – well at least that is what the Politickers said. In reality this new law is hurting small mom and pop internet entrepreneurs. Not only can they no longer receive revenue from Amazon (others certain to follow) but their websites are probably loaded with links that will now earn money for Amazon and nothing for themselves and their hard work.

While this law hurts Internet Entrepreneurs it benefits the Big Chain Retailers who have stores in Illinois and lobbied for the legislation and now –  a lot less competition. While they might be irritating to consumers and affiliates, the actions of these big box retailers were no more diabolical than the action Amazon.com has taken to protect their bottom line.

Unfortunately, as a whole, those who live in Illinois have no one to blame except themselves for hiring (electing) fiscally irresponsible politicians out to buy votes with the public trough. By refusing to cut spending and enacting new tax laws the state is forcing companies like Amazon to leave.

Actual eMail sent to Amazon Associates in Illinois

Hello,

For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of Illinois residents. Unfortunately, a new state tax law signed by Governor Quinn compels us to terminate this program for Illinois-based participants. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers – including but not limited to those referred by Illinois-based affiliates like you – even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state.

We had opposed this new tax law because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It was supported by national retailing chains, most of which are based outside Illinois, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that its enactment forces this action.

As a result of the new law, contracts with all Illinois affiliates of the Amazon Associates Program will be terminated and those Illinois residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned prior to April 15, 2011 will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule. Based on your account closure date of April 15, 2011, any final payments will be paid by July 1, 2011.

You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of Illinois. If you are not currently a permanent resident of Illinois, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account here. And if you relocate to another state after April 15, please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.

To be clear, this development will only impact our ability to continue the Associates Program in Illinois, and will not affect the ability of Illinois residents to purchase online at www.amazon.com from Amazon’s retail business.

We have enjoyed working with you and other Illinois-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to Illinois residents.

Regards,

The Amazon Associates Team

If you haven’t seen it already, hurry to Google and check out the Les Paul Memorial Doodle.

“Due to popular demand, we’re leaving the Les Paul doodle up in the U.S. for an extra day. Thanks for jamming with us!”.

Google tweeted early this morning.The doodle, in honor of musician and electric guitar pioneer Les Paul, featured the strings of a guitar in the shape of the Google logo. That logo, however, was actually playable—strum it with your mouse and it played a song. In the U.S., meanwhile, users could record a 30-second snippet of their creations and share with friends.

Was sorting some old photos and came across this funny one. Sometimes, it doesn’t really need to be said!

Photo Walk – Photowalking is the act of walking with a camera for the primary purpose of taking pictures of things that the photographer may find interesting. It’s a communal activity organized by camera clubs or other interested communities or groups usually in the form of a walking tour. Often the aim is to practice and improve one’s own photography skills rather than a specific focus on documentary photography.

WD’s Photo Walk with renowned photographer Bruce Dorn will take place on Wednesday , October 27, 2010 in New York City. Spend two hours with Bruce exploring New York’s CENTRAL PARK and photographing points of interest.

Click here for contest details