Barbara Casey's
"Messages from the Soapbox"
(formerly Niche News Marketing E-zine)

Vol 6, No 10 - August 2, 2007

 In This Issue:

- Book Review: Joe Vitale's Amazing New Book - Zero Limits
- How to Make Copyright Symbols, Bullets, French Accents and More
- How to Make Attractive Flyers with Microsoft Word
- Are You Expert at Something? Show It Off at Squidoo!

Book Review: Joe Vitale's Amazing New Book - Zero Limits

Every once in awhile, a book comes along that helps shift your perception to a new place. This review is about just such a book.

In Joe Vitale's newest book "Zero Limits," he talks about the unusual therapist, Dr. Hew Len, who helped heal an entire hospital ward of mentally ill criminals - without seeing any of them, using a technique called Ho'oponopono.

Joe learned Dr. Len's method for healing, which involves "cleaning" yourself of all negativity in order to see change in others.

It may sound bizarre, but when you take care of your own issues, they disappear in other people, the idea being to "love the problems away."

This method works on other things besides illness. Joe Vitale is a practical metaphysician and an entrepreneur, and wanted to see if this method would work on sales and other bottom line results.

Whenever Joe wrote a new article, he would send love into it.

Whenever he would work on his book, he would keep saying "I love you" in his mind.

And his new book "Zero Limits" became an Amazon bestseller - six months *before* it was published. I ordered my own copy in January... the book was released at the end of June. (It became a bestseller again, when it was actually released.)

The concepts presented in "Zero Limits" represent a new level in awareness after we've figured out affirmations and intentions. It looks like the next natural step after "The Secret," too.

In this book, Joe Vitale teaches us the basics of Ho'oponopono, an ancient Hawaiian system for raising vibration by clearing those shared mass consciousness memories and beliefs that get us into so much hot water - and that hold us back from living a life of
abundance, wellness and peace.

If you're ready to step into living the idea of "oneness" and alignment with Divine energy, you'll get a lot from this book. Ho'oponopono teaches us about complete responsibility for ourselves... and everything that comes into our awareness. If we
notice it, it's ours to claim... whether we like it or not.

When you hear folks saying - "I love you; I'm sorry; Please forgive me; Thank you" - you'll know they have been exposed to the Ho'oponopono teachings.

This is pretty amazing stuff and well worth a look, especially if you feel that you're on the planet to make a difference of some kind.

Click here to read more about Zero Limits.
 

How to Make Copyright Symbols, Bullets, French Accents & More

I love Squidoo!

I just created a brand new Squidoo lens, with information I've gathered over the years on how to make symbols that aren't on the computer keyboard - using the Alt Key and numeric keypad.

These symbols work best in print publications, using Microsoft Word, Publisher and other desktop publishing programs. Most can be used on websites, too, and some will even work in emails.

Did you ever wonder how to make a copyright © symbol? If you write articles, books or e-publications, this is a symbol you need to know.

Many folks use e' when they really want the French accent é.

And an asterisk * really isn't the greatest substitute for a proper • bullet.

To make life easier for other do-it-yourselfers, I've created a new Squidoo lens with a big list of symbols and instructions on how to make them, using your computer keyboard. (You can also use the "Insert" function in Word and Publisher, which I explain, too.)

Here's the link for my Keyboard Symbols Squidoo lens.

How to Make Attractive Flyers with Microsoft Word

If you create your own flyers and other print publications, here's another Squidoo resource you might find useful.

While I normally use Microsoft Publisher for desktop publishing (for flyers, brochures, business cards and ads), I know that many people don't own this program - and prefer to work with Microsoft Word.

I've just created a brand new tutorial on Squidoo with step-by-step instructions and tips for making an attractive flyer using Word. (I don't have the newest version yet, so this tutorial is essentially for folks who are working with Word 2003.)

Here are a few tips to get you started. If you click on the link below, you'll see the whole shebang.

10 QUICKTIPS FOR DESIGNING WORD FLYERS:

(1) White space around your text makes it easier for people to read your flyer's content. Try not to jam too much into one area.

(2) In the same vein, don't place your border too close to the text. If it's hard to read, people will ignore what you're saying. (See more about borders in the lens itself.)

(3) A catchy headline draws people in better than a boring headline. For great headline ideas, get "Tested Advertising Methods" by John Caples. You can get it at your local bookstore or at Amazon (this book belongs in every home business owner's library).

(4) Subheadings make your flyer text easier to read (breaks text into more manageable chunks) and allow people to scan your flyer for pertinent points. Folks should be able to scan your headline and subheads and know what your flyer is trying to tell them.

(5) Make sure you "ask for the sale." If you want people to call you, be sure to say, "Call so-and-so at XXX-XXX-XXXX" or "Call XXX-XXX-XXXX to register before (date) for your early bird discount." Know what you'd like your reader to do... and ask them to
do it.

(6) If your flyer is announcing a class or workshop, make sure all of your contact information is included. Also - the time, place, and cost should be easy to find on the flyer.

(7) UNDO - Learn how to use the "undo" function. If you make a mistake and want to revert to what you had before you made the mistake (or chose a color you didn't like, or placed a border that didn't work, etc.), click on Edit, Undo. You can undo quite a few previous actions by hitting "undo" over and over. Stop undoing when you get back to where you want to be... so you can start over.

(8) To use Word for flyers, make sure you have the right toolbars open (so your shortcuts - represented by those little graphical icons - are visible and handy): Go to View; Toolbars; and make sure these are checked: Standard, Formatting, Drawing, Picture, Reviewing and PDF Maker.

(9) It's easiest to see what your finished flyer will look like if you're viewing it in "Print Layout." On the top line, click on View, then Print Layout.

(10) Choose these "autocorrect" options at Tools, Autocorrect Options, Autoformat: Check "replace straight quotes with curly quotes" and "replace hyphens (--) with dash." I like to UNcheck automatic bullet and number lists, because they pop up when I don't need 'em. I can always add a number or bullet list quickly using the icons on my toolbar instead.

In the tutorial, you'll see pointers and how-to instructions for setting page margins, working with fonts, formatting paragraph and line spacing (and first line indents), working with graphics and photos, including rotating, resizing and wrapping your text around graphics. Also how to place a border around your pictures.

Hope you find my Word flyer tutorial helpful.

This is the direct link to my Word Flyer Tutorial on Squidoo.
 

Are You Expert at Something? Show It Off at Squidoo!

Did I mention that you can make as many Squidoo lenses as you want? Free.

If you have a website already, Squidoo is a great way to demonstrate your expertise at something you'd like to emphasize or explain in more detail than you can on your website.

Plus... a lens is easy to create and update yourself - no need to pay a webmaster.

And... you can link back to your site, which helps you with search engine rankings.

Or maybe you have a hobby you're passionate about - but it doesn't fit with your website's contents. A Squidoo lens lets you show what you know and you can even "point" a proper domain name to your Squidoo lens, so it looks like a real website.

If you don't have a website yet, this is a way to give yourself a web presence at no cost... except for the time it takes to make your lens.

You can use your Squidoo lens as a bio page for the press or prospective clients; as a resume for potential employers; as a how-to page to demonstrate your expertise; as a favorites page to flaunt your likes (or dislikes).

Or make a business lens that gives people a glimpse of your value to them.

Can you tell that I think Squidoo is pretty terrific? And because we're piggy-backing on Squidoo's search engine rankings, we can get ranked higher ourselves, if we choose our keywords well... and if we have something people are searching for.

Have fun browsing Squidoo. Hope to see you there!

Click here to get started with Squidoo.


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Barbara Casey's Messages from the Soapbox:
Inspiration for your vision and tools for the success of your home-based business.

PO Box 86674, St. Petersburg, FL 33738 • (727) 397-2702
Copyright 2007 Barbara Casey
www.newradiance.com