The Priceless team would like to wish you and your family a Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas. May the New Year bring everyone prosperity and happiness!

It’s a beautiful time of year when everyone seems more willing to help out a stranger and most people are more aware of the amazing gifts in their lives.

As people all around the country give thanks, we’d like to take a moment to do the same here in our little corner!

It’s been an eventful year and it’s hard to believe that it’s almost over! I’m thankful to have a happy and healthy family – 3 terrific kids who love to learn and a wonderful husband to stand beside me.  I’m excited to have had the opportunity to connect with some excellent clients this year and to explore new creative avenues within my career.

The rest of the holiday season is sure to be action-packed and I can’t wait to see what the new year will bring – I’m happy to have the chance to share the excitement with the ones I love!

I hope your holiday season is full of joy and surprises – wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, a merry Christmas, and a prosperous New Year! ~ Danielle

I am thankful for the health of my loved ones, especially my mother, who was given the ‘thumbs up’ for remission earlier this year after completing grueling leukemia treatments. I am thankful she had exceptional medical professionals and a strong support system by her side.

I am thankful for all the love in my life – my parents, brother, nephew, grandmother, my extended family, and my best friend/soul mate, Kevin.

I am thankful to have settled into an ever-evolving niche that speaks to my talents and passions, where I get daily opportunities to expand my knowledge (and get paid doing it). Also, ecstatic that it’s possible to become your own boss… and make a decent living while dressed in your pajamas.

I am thankful that technology allows me to keep in contact with family, friends and clients without ever having to pick up the phone. The online connections I’ve made over the years have been priceless…which brings me to my business partners – thankful to have met up with Samantha and Danielle – who have unknowingly helped me grow as a writer and individual over the years. Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Yona

I’m so thankful that the people I love are happy and healthy – my two children and the love of my life, Dwayne.  I couldn’t go a day without their smiles and the fact that I can get a hug or share a laugh with them anytime I want really makes me thankful – I know there are some people who don’t have that option with their loved ones.

I’m incredibly thankful that I can work at home, doing what I love – writing!  As I work each day with the amazing clients that have come into my life, I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to do something different and challenging each day.  I’m also thankful to have such an amazing support system and friends in Yona and Danielle – and the best business meetings in the world, by the way!  Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Samantha

The three of us hope that you are enjoying the holiday with the ones you love – and some amazing food.  Leave us a comment and let us know what you’re thankful for this year.  We’d love to hear from you and share in your joys.

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” –William Arthur Ward

Have you ever left your home and then had a funny feeling later that you may have left something on? Keeping your home safe while you’re traveling out of town for your business not only gives you peace of mind, but also protects your possessions and privacy.  Before traveling out of town for business, get rid of ‘that’ nagging feeling before you leave by taking a quick walk around the house with a checklist to remind you of the essentials. Make sure you:

• Turn off all appliances and electronics you wouldn’t normally leave running, like your coffeepot, stove, DVD player, computer monitor, and toaster.

• Lock all the windows and doors in your home.

• Don’t forget to set the alarm as you leave (if you use one.)

While these things are pretty standard things to check, there are a few other tips and tricks you can use to keep your home safe while you travel. Thieves are very good at paying attention – especially on holidays and times when people travel, they are watching for empty houses that promise a lot of loot! Don’t fall victim to burglars – use the following simple tips to help prevent a tragedy.

1) If you have a few reliable neighbors, make them aware of the fact that you will be traveling. Most neighbors won’t mind keeping an eye on your home to be sure that there is no strange activity. Although the chances of being robbed or having your house vandalized while you’re gone are small, being safe is always better than being sorry. Another great thing you can do is leave a few lights and a television or radio on so that your home doesn’t appear to be completely empty. This will make a sketchy stranger think twice before entering your home with bad intentions.

2) If you can, have a neighbor, family member or friend pick up your mail daily. Thieves can often get the most from you without even entering your home. A bank statement, credit card statement or other financial report hanging out in your mailbox is like a payday for a thief who takes the time to investigate unattended mailboxes. They can easily obtain some of your most personal information just by swiping the contents of your mailbox. Prevent this from happening by making sure nothing is waiting for them while you’re away on business.

3) Have your grass cut while you’re gone, especially if you will be gone for a while. Hire someone in advance and ask them to cut your grass on a certain day. In the wintertime, have your snow shoveled while you are out of town. This way, everything will be neat and tidy – eliminating another clue that you’re gone which potential robbers can pick up on easily.

When you take these extra steps to make sure your home is safe while you travel, you will have more peace of mind and less to worry about. No one wants to spend their entire business trip worrying about what’s going on at home. So, go on and seal that business deal – knowing everything’s OK on the home front!

Image Credits: vikush (top); flaivoloka (eye); Ambrozjo (postcard)

Online networking takes your business to an international level of competition.

Are you tired of hearing about Twitter and Facebook? I was a skeptic too, but soon learned that it’s hard to overlook or underestimate the power of online interaction on a social level. Millions of people are congregating on the Internet and you don’t have to leave the comforts of your computer chair to tap into this networking energy.

I encourage you to dip your hand in the honey pot and you’ll be surprised at some of the golden opportunities waiting just around the corner. While it isn’t a guarantee you’ll become a success story overnight or even in a couple of months, smart social marketing campaigns have resulted in increased sales, new customers or web visitors, and at the very least, cost-effective advertising.

On a personal note, I’ve been introduced to a wide-range of business professionals, as well as leisure indulgences. From recycled journals and cheap magazine subscriptions to gourmet taffy, I’ve purchased items advertised on Twitter that I would have never found browsing my typical online haunts.

Still wish to resist current trends? There’s more to business networking than just Facebook and Twitter. Other networking platforms to explore include:

LinkedIn: More than 40 million professionals have already established their online identity with LinkedIn without worrying about their next Tweet or updated vacation pics. You can connect with past colleagues and classmates, but your interaction is not on display for the rest of the world to see. Industry experts are available to lend a helping hand, but for the most part, I see this professional network more on the minimalist side of business networking.

StartUp Nation: Expect helpful advice and networking opportunities geared towards small businesses. From getting feedback on a new website design to asking burning business marketing questions, StartUp Nation is an explosion of effective community resources. Set off on a fact-finding mission or simply mingle with like-minded entrepreneurs. Forums are constantly filling with new ideas to spark your own creativity and send you off in the right business direction.

Biznik: Network with indie business owners in a community-wide general discussion forum or ask questions of fellow participants. Unlike LinkedIn, Biznik doesn’t focus on posting resumes and credentials, but instead – concentrates more on the sharing of ideas and building support systems for entrepreneurs.

Ecademy: Allow Ecademy to bridge the gap between you and the next entrepreneur. Gaining access to this online network opens many doors in the business world with the help of blog posts and message-board chats. For a more rewarding experience, the site offers an exclusive BlackStar membership program.

Focus: Sometimes you need a little help obtaining the goods and services to make your business ventures truly shine. With Focus, you gain the necessary assistance in an online community atmosphere to make important business decisions, conduct efficient research, and benefit from the expertise of others.

NetParty: If you live in cities like Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Orlando – then NetParty offers an opportunity for you to mingle both online and offline. Connect with qualified, thirsty-for-success professionals across the Net and then reconnect at happy-hour events about town. Dust off those business cards and get ready to pitch new job openings. Visit the website to find additional participating cities.

Photo Credit: nookiez

Most agencies do not accept unsolicited materials.  The query letter allows you to introduce yourself to the agent, pitch the idea of your novel and make that agent want to read more.  The hard part is fitting all of this into one page and making it interesting and informative.  There are a few different parts of a query letter that are important.

Introduction

Remember that literary agents receive tons of query letters each day.  It’s important to make your own stand out from the crowd.  You have to hook the agent with the first few sentences of the query letter the same way you have to hook the readers with the first few paragraphs of your novel.  Tell the agent why you’re writing, why you feel the novel is a good fit for their agency, and what the word count is.  It might look something like this…

Dear Ms. Agent, (Remember to include the agent’s actual name.  Don’t leave the introduction generic – show that you’ve researched and are willing to take the time to address each individual agent.)

My name is Vulnerable Writer and I’m writing today to tell you about my completed manuscript, ‘Great American Novel.’  It’s a fiction/drama and weighs in at 90,000 words.

Now, you’ve managed to introduce yourself and your novel in just a few sentences, which is great.  Use the least amount of words possible to get an idea across, because agents are busy and you want them to continue reading rather than tossing the query letter into the trash!

Summary of the Novel

Next, you want to include a short summary of the novel that will pique the agent’s interest and get him or her excited about reading the full manuscript.  This is very important if the agent’s going to ask for sample chapters or the whole manuscript.  Think about the summary for a while, write and rewrite it until it’s perfect, and then have a few friends read it.  It should be no more than a paragraph or two, and include the most important elements of the story.  It might look something like this…

Megan is an ordinary girl who wakes up one day to find that her whole life has been one big lie…literally.  She discovered it when she found the papers in her mother’s drawer.  Her identity is false.  To make matter’s worse, the guy she’s been in love with for the past two years lets her know in no uncertain terms – and in public – that he doesn’t share her affection. Megan’s brother, who is not really her brother, is the only one she can count on.  Together, they embark on a journey to discover who Megan really is…and the truth shocks her to the very core.

Once you have the summary polished, you’re ready to move on to the next section.

Short Bio

In this part of the query letter, you’ll want to include some details about yourself.  You don’t want to make this part boring, so include only information that the agent should know.  For instance, if you’ve been published in the past or if you’re a new writer, the information should be in the query.  Any relevant education, credentials or groups that you’re a member of might also be great information to include.

Example:

This is my first fiction novel and I’m excited to share it with you.  I’ve researched your agency and feel that you’re the agent who can find my book a home.  I am a member of the Fiction Writer’s Group and possess a degree in journalism from University.

With this part out of the way, you can include any research, statistics, facts or information that you’ve gathered about your novel’s genre.  You might include what books are currently on the market that are similar to your book, but also how your book is different and stands out. Your agent is going to want to know where the book belongs in the store, and what the chances of success with the book are, so include what you know.

Example:

I feel that my book is similar to the wildly popular ‘Amazing Book,’ in regards to potential fan base and the human struggles within the book.  However, ‘Great American Novel’ is also different in that the characters are more defined and individualized.  In a survey where I asked 200 readers of similar genres to look at a summary of the book online and tell me whether they would be willing to purchase the book, 95% said they would be willing to pay the price to read the book.

Closing

The hard part of the query letter is over and now it’s important to close it properly.  Simply thank the agent for taking the time to read the query and let them know that you hope to hear from them soon.  It’s that easy.

Example:

I want to thank you for taking the time to read this query and I would love to send you some sample chapters or the full manuscript if you’re interested.  I hope to hear from you soon and am excited at the possibilities of working with you to bring ‘Great American Novel’ to other readers.

Sincerely,

Vulnerable Writer

Don’t forget to include all of your contact details so that the agent can get in touch with you if he or she wants to request sample chapters or the full manuscript.  If you’re sending the query through e-mail, you need to paste the query into the body of the e-mail.  Most agents will not open attachments unless they specifically request them.

Other Tips for Writing a Query Letter

• You shouldn’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in the query letter.  If your book is a comedy and you’re naturally a humorous person, a little light humor couldn’t hurt.  However, it’s important to remember that the query letter should be professional and you shouldn’t speak in the letter as if you’re familiar with the agent.

• Once you’ve sent the query letter, there is nothing to do but wait…or craft query letters for other agents.  Do not call or e-mail the agent asking about the query letter.  You can be sure that real literary agents will review all query letters and if they’re interested, they will get back to you.

• Proofread the query letter before sending it.  The last thing you want is for an agent to notice misspelled words or grammatical errors in the query letter…they will be dreading the book and the mistakes that must be present in it.  If needed, have a friend read it or hire professionals to proofread it for you.

Getting Rejected

It’s inevitable.  Most wildly famous and successful writers have received at least one rejection.  So, what do you do when you get rejected?  Politely thank the agent for their time and send out two more query letters.  Eventually, if you’re persistent and your work is good enough, you’ll make it!  Good luck.

Photo Courtesy of RichardDooling.com.

Committing social marketing no-nos and don't even know it?

If you’re on the computer very often, you’ve almost certainly heard the terms ‘Web 2.0,’ ‘Social Marketing,’ and ‘Social Networking.’ In fact, they are a very important part of doing business online in today’s world. However, it seems that many business people and website owners aren’t quite sure what they should be doing in the Web 2.0 world.

Here are 5 things to avoid while taking advantage of social networking.

#5 – Do Not Neglect Your Social Networking ‘Friends’

These are the people you’ve added to your MySpace, Facebook, Digg or other social networking site. A lot of times, business or website owners will just add a ton of people in order to get their friend count up – and then ignore them. These are the people that will be voting for your site or blog. If they send a shout or recommend a page, take a serious look at it and let them know your thoughts.

This way, you can be sure that they will do the same when you send a page or a shout. Rather than adding a gazillion friends right off, look through the profiles and add friends who have similar interests as you. This will cut down on the chances of you getting pages or recommendations of things that you are not interested in at all.

#4 – Do Not Leave Generic Comments

When leaving comments on pages or blogs, read through the information and leave a comment that really adds to the conversation. If there’s one thing that irritates most social networkers, its comments like ‘nice post’ or ‘good job.’ What’s even worse is when you just get a little smiley face. Then you don’t know if they really even read the information.

Leave meaningful comments or comments that actually add some thought to the post. If you don’t have time, don’t leave a comment at all. Just return to the post later when you have a few minutes to actually comment in the correct way.

#3 – Don’t Get Too Personal

If you’re taking advantage of social networking sites in order to drive traffic to your business, you should maintain a professional image. Getting too personal is really not a good idea. I’ve read arguments, insults and some very colorful information while browsing through profiles and it’s not attractive. I kept thinking that I wouldn’t hire these businesses for anything – especially since they don’t know how to maintain professionalism in their own business.

If someone has written something that you don’t agree with, simply don’t comment. Or, comment in a professional way. Rather than telling the person how wrong and stupid they are, find something in their comments that you agree with. Then you can use a professional approach by telling them that you agree to an extent.

#2 – Never Post Something that Doesn’t Belong to You

People do it all the time – find an article that is well-written, remove the current links and add their own links back to their site. Never use someone else’s work at all without getting the proper permission. Not only does it make you look terrible in the online business world, but it is very illegal. Write your own content or hire a professional writer to do it for you.

#1 – No More Spam!

Do not spam your social networking friends with business information over and over again or leave spammy comments all over the place. This is one way to become quite unpopular in the social networking world. If you do it enough, you can even get your profile locked. There are ‘report this user’ buttons with each social marketing platform and since spam is the most annoying thing in the world, people will most likely report you. Only send valuable links or pages to people and never the same one more than once.

By avoiding these things in your social networking ventures, you can have a better chance of succeeding and really becoming a valuable and respected social networker.

As a freelance writer, I’ve sent requests for interviews and other notices through the email hundreds of times. I’ve always expected responses to safely arrive in my Inbox, but after anxiously waiting for a confirmation code, I soon learned the hard way that spam filters are not 100% accurate.

Usually, I ignore my spam box, as it can accumulate up to 1,000 pieces of cyber-garbage in one week, including mail with a send date of 2038. Upon further investigation, I discovered registration information, Facebook alerts, and replies to important business emails drowning in a spam wasteland.

I started to panic and recalled all the times I didn’t receive a response to something significant. My heart also sank to think of all the people who thought I was ignoring their emails.

I feel completely relying on a spam filter is foolish. Just with every technological wonder and advancement, there is always room for error and the potential glitches. I have now gotten into the habit of checking my spam box on a daily basis…and like clockwork…I have found relevant emails every single day. I can only imagine the information, potential job opportunities, and business-related details that I have already missed over the years.

If anyone has had an experience with a reliable and effective spam filter, please share in the comments section.

Here’s to collaborations yet to come and success yet to be achieved!

As you can tell from the gap in blog posts, this is a busy season for writers!  Marketers and businesses want to get their holiday and Christmas marketing in full swing, so the Priceless Writers’ girls have been brainstorming, researching and writing away.  Along with all of the magic, a new trend is in the air – ‘written Christmas gifts.’

With the awareness of global warming and the health of our planet increasing, individuals are stuck thinking of new and inventive eco-friendly holiday gifts.  There are many different options, and among them are written gifts; gifts that will not create more waste and that loved ones will cherish always.  In the spirit of the season, here are 7 unique and written Christmas gift ideas.

1. Write Your Loved One a Poem – sure, this isn’t a very original idea but it’s a great one.  This is an especially great gift for guys to give their sweethearts or for children to give parents.  Spend a little time thinking about what your loved one means to you – and capture it in words.

2. Create a Book of Memories – This is a fun and creative idea for a written holiday gift.  Using a beautiful blank journal, create page titles and allow members of your family to write down their favorite memories about the recipient.  Think grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles for this gift!  Some subtitles could include:

-          Favorite Family Vacation Memory

-          Favorite Holiday Memory

-          Favorite ‘In Trouble’ Memory

-          Favorite Trait about Recipient

3. Pay Homage to Your Loved One with a Website – If you’d rather go really green with your written Christmas gift, create a beautiful website tribute to the recipient.  If possible, buy their personal domain name or a domain name which is somehow related to them.  Most websites have builder tools which allow non-techie individuals to create a great site quickly.  You may want to include pages like these:

-          Childhood (with facts about their past and upbringing)

-          Favorites (a page about their favorite things)

-          Family (pages with pictures and info about family members)

4. Write a Song for Your Loved One – What a beautiful idea for a written holiday gift!  If you know someone who could put the lyrics to music, this would work even better.  Whether you want to create a sentimental and sweet song for your loved one or a funny and humorous one – it’s a wonderful present that the recipient will never forget.  Oh, and go that extra mile and actually sing it for them.

5. Create a Personalized Book for Your Child – This is a very cool idea for your own children or children in your family.  Write a story featuring the child and some of his or her favorite activities, toys or hobbies.  Then take the pages to your local printing company and have it bound!

6. Write a Book of Memoirs – This is an increasingly popular written gift that many individuals are attempting to write themselves or are hiring ghost writers for.  A book of memoirs is a touching and lovely gift idea that is perfect for grandparents, parents or others in your family or group of friends that have led extraordinary lives.

7. Create a Cartoon Strip – Another unique and fun written Christmas idea is to create a cartoon strip for a family member or friend.  Do you have memories of someone that are really funny and great to remember?  Write the memory in the form of a comic strip!  If possible, work with an artist to create the pictures – or simply do it yourself.  Then, have the comic strip framed and present it to your loved one!

Imagine your loved one opening a personalized written holiday gift this season!  Not only does it carry much more meaning than traditional, store-bought gifts – but it is better for our planet and your loved one is sure to remember it long after other holiday gifts have been thrown in the closet or eaten.

If you’d like a little help with your written Christmas gift, contact Priceless Writers – we’d love to give you a hand creating something wonderful for your sweetheart, your parents or some other special person in your life.

When you start to taste that sweet, exciting flavor of success, the feeling is indescribable.  However, as you grow your business and become more successful – beware the bloated ego.  Here are some of the dangers of letting your success go to your head!

Getting Too Comfortable In Your Success –

While success is the thing every entrepreneur, business owner or company hopes for – gaining it also increases vulnerability.  It’s very easy to become comfortable in your success and when this happens, you’re not far from forgetting that you can fail.  One success after another and before long, a business individual can feel invincible.

When you become comfortable and feel invincible, this opens up a weak spot for the competition to feed on.  At the beginning of a business or a new deal, most individuals work tirelessly to achieve success and are excited about what the future can bring.  At this point, it’s easy to see how success can be drawn to those individuals.  When you let that fire go and become too comfy cozy, a host of problems can threaten to overtake you.

Becoming Closed-Minded –

If you ask my grandmother why she mixes her bread from scratch and lets it rise for hours before baking it, she will say, “Because that’s the way I’ve always done it and it works.” 

It does work (and is delicious, by the way) but for just a few dollars she could purchase the frozen bread that rises in an hour and tastes just as good.  She would shave several hours off of her preparation and would be a lot more efficient with her time.  Becoming closed-minded about the way you do things is another danger of letting your success go to your head.

If you refuse to see the advantage of trying new ways to complete a project or sell your products, your business will never stay on the forefront of your industry.  There are other businesses that are doing things more efficiently and you must stay competitive if you want to stay successful.  By staying a step ahead of the competition and keeping your processes and methods innovative, you can hang on to that success!

Forgetting about the ‘Little Guys’ –

I’m one of those people who will brag and brag about a company I love and if I’ve had a bad experience, I will tell everyone!  For instance, recently my family went out to a nice restaurant for dinner.  After our drinks came, we waited more than an hour for our waitress to come and take our dinner order.  There were two other parties there besides ours – and we waited an hour!  Assuming there was a crisis in the kitchen that demanded all available hands, we went ahead and ordered dinner. 

After a mediocre meal with no drink refills, we left the restaurant.  A few days later, I discovered that my credit card had been charged not once, not twice but THREE times for the same meal.  When I called the owner, I received an attitude and a half-hearted offer for a free meal.  It was a terrible experience and we never went back.  My entire family and all of my friends had to live through this story of the restaurant from hell and not a single one of them visited.  Knowing my family and friends – I’m sure the story was passed around.

Your customers should never be forgotten. As you’re experiencing your success, don’t forget about the people who have helped you get there.  Without your customers – you are nothing, so take it to heart when they purchase from you or remain loyal to you. If you truly appreciate their business, let them know with great customer service and rewards!  Losing one customer may not hurt your business, but word of mouth continues to be the most powerful form of advertising – so make sure that advertising is good and not bad!

In closing, success is wonderful but it’s a double-edged sword.  Stay on your toes with your business and refuse to allow success to force you into complacency.  Keep in mind, there is always another company with services similar to yours waiting to fill your shoes and do the things you neglect to do!