Archive for the ‘Book Review’ Category

WINNING WEDNESDAY — Win 1 of 3 Copies of Transforming Fate into Destiny!

Posted on: March 27th, 2013 by carolyn

I began to follow a self-help, inspirational, motivational and personal growth path when I was 18.  Each one of the books, seminars, workshops, tape sets (yes, I am dating myself!) I read, attended or listened to, changed my life in one way or another.  (Many of my favourite authors and teachers can be found on my Attracting Luck page.)  In January, I did my annual blog post on the twists and turns life took in 2012.  Something I didn’t talk about was one the main tools I used to keep my head above water when all I wanted to do was drown; Robert Ohotto’s Soul Connexions Radio Show.

teacher

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Advertising and Marketing Law in Canada

Posted on: November 26th, 2012 by carolyn

A month ago, the Fourth Edition of Advertising & Marketing Law in Canada was officially released.  This is the second edition of the book I have been lucky enough to review.  (Read my review of the Third Edition here.)  Unlike the previous editions I used either as research for my book You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter, or just as a handy reference guide when writing blog posts or consulting with clients, I decided to read this edition more in-depth.

As it is 540 pages with over 22 chapters, I did not read it cover-to-cover, but as a marketer I found the chapters on Social Media and Mobile Marketing interesting.  As a consumer I found the chapters on Cosmetics Advertising and Labelling, and Food Advertising and Labelling fascinating.  It goes without saying I always read the chapter on Contests and Promotions.

Since at least 1/3 of the contests I enter on a daily bases on are entered via Facebook, I was glad to see the chapter on Social Media contained a section on contests.  It covers the legal requirements of hosting a giveaway on Facebook and Twitter.  They also advising companies on how to limit liability when running social media contests including online voting!  I would prefer if companies didn’t hold voting contests at all as it is the person with the biggest online reach that wins, not necessarily the best entry.  I have also seen rampent cheating from some of the entrants in voting contests.

Cheating is pretty obvious to both fellow contestors and contest sponsors.  All online contests are checked for cheaters before the official winner is declared.  There is no point in cheating as you will be discovered and all your entries discarded.  Your energy is better spend entering fairly and honestly.  It makes the hobby more fun for you and the promotion smoother to run for the sponsor.  It’s a win-win, and we all like those.

That said, the book outlines tips on how companies can avoid both the consumer and legal hassles of running voting contests.  For example: limiting the number of times a registered voter can vote, or making voting only a part of the selection process to determine the official winner.  I have seen a voting contest or two that took these tips into account.  I thought they were well run and encouraged social media sharing of the giveaway without alienating or polarizing the entrants.

This book may not be for everyone, but if you own your own business or are in marketing, Advertising and Marketing Law in Canada is a must read!

ENJOY!

Advertising and Marketing Law in Canada

Posted on: January 16th, 2010 by carolyn

Pritchard_AdvMkgtLawCda3e

The 3rd Edition of Advertising and Marketing Law in Canada by Brenda Pritchard and Susan Vogt was officially released on January 14th at Gowlings’ head office in Toronto.

Read the rules is the #1 tip I give entrants.  Have airtight rules is the #1 tip I give to contest sponsors.  I give that tip to companies because most people do not realize that the rules are a legal and binding contract between the sponsor and the entrant.  If a contest’s rules do not properly follow Canadian promotional laws, a company could find themselves in legal hot water.  Chapter 8 covers Contest and Promotions.  Brenda and Susan discuss topics such as: the Criminal Code, the Competition Act, no purchase entries, skill testing questions and the Regis des alcools, des courses et des jeux.  Sometimes the law, and legalese, can be complex and difficult to understand.  With that in mind, they have written their book with the corporate advertiser and marketer in mind.  It is easy to read and quickly grasp the important points of each section.

Of course, I do find myself bias to Contest and Promotions chapter, as I quoted several sections in my book You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter, but as a marketer the other chapters are also very relevant to me depending on the project I am working on.  Advertising and Marketing Law in Canada is their largest edition to-date (532 pages) and covers a myriad of topics such as: basic principles, false advertising, advertising claims, Worst Case Scenarios, pricing in advertising, User Generated Content, Green Marketing, Advertising To Children, packaging, labelling, Drugs and Natural Health Products, cosmetics advertising, food advertising, regulations of specific market sectors, trademarks, marketing communications, Privacy Law in Canada, Uniquely Quebec Issues, advertising agencies, and more…  If your job function touches advertising or marketing in any way, or if your business runs contests and sweepstakes, Advertising and Marketing Law in Canada is a must read.

I also had the pleasure of finally meeting both Brenda and Susan at the book launch!

Brenda & Carolyn

Susan & Carolyn

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

Ready, Click, WIN!

Posted on: May 21st, 2009 by carolyn

Sharon Elaine and I are kindred spirits.  We both love entering and winning sweepstakes.  We both believe in the Law of Attraction and we both enjoy sharing our fun and excitement with others.  Sharon has shared her winning secrets in Ready, Click, Win! How to Find and WIN Legitimate Online Sweepstakes and her Law of Attraction secrets in The Book of Affirmations.

As a college computer teacher, Sharon has used her teaching skills to make Ready, Click, WIN! a wonderfully easy book to read and understand.  Sharon only talks about online sweepstakes.  She begins by introducing readers to the hobby, for the “newbie”, through; how to find sweepstakes, how to enter, how to win, and how to stay safe online.

Chapter 2 is titled Rules of Thumb. Here are the tips that every sweeper should follow:

  1. Don’t check the odds!
  2. YOU go looking for the sweepstakes, don’t let them come looking for you.
  3. Once you enter it, LET IT GO.
  4. Get your mind right!
  5. Be patient.
  6. HAVE FUN!!

Sharon’s #1 tip is to expect to win.  When she goes off to enter her daily sweepstakes she says, “I am off to WIN!”, not “I am off to enter.”  No wonder Sharon wins so many online instant win prizes!

Sharon is an active member of Sweepstakes Advantage.  You can find her in the forum, ready to help others win, or on her website Unleashed Minds. Sharon was also a guest on my online radio show With The Contest Queen on Monday May 18th. Listen here.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN!!

Portable Vision Board

Posted on: January 26th, 2009 by carolyn

If you have seen the movie The Secret, you know the story John Assaraf tells about his experience with putting visual images of his goals on a board and meditating on them every day.

Well, Eric Mack found a product called Road ID and used their product to create a “portable vision board”.  He now keeps his goal list with him at all times and he can focus on them whenever he has a moment.

What a great idea!

(Notice, he originally posted his goals December 2007.  He managed to reach all of his 2008 goals except 4 & 5.  As Helene says, “There is no failure. Only a delay in results.”  I am sure he’ll reach those goals this year.)


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