The TRUTH Will Set You Free - The blog from - Page 90 of 164

Posted on December 9, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

Optimism and pessimism - there's no advertising schism

Optimism and Pessimism ““ Why choose one?

I remember, quite a few years ago, I was in a restaurant with a group of friends who were talking about optimism and pessimism and using the old “glass half empty or half full”analogy. Optimism has been my choice for 99% of my life. But I didn’t like the either/or debate. My thought was”if you’re truly an optimist, and you see a glass with water at the halfway mark, you’ll just be grateful to have the water. You won’t care whether the glass is half empty or half full.

When it comes to advertising, optimism and pessimism can both work for you.

Companies use both all the time. Like when politicians can’t figure out how to work within a budget. You’ll hear commercials saying things like, “In economic hard times like these, when every penny counts, our product will save you time AND money.”

Or how about when you read the latest news and see how murder is rampant? You’ll probably notice more ads and commercials touting the latest advances in home security.

It just makes good sense (and dollars) to play to the pessimism and fears of the buying public. That might sound harsh, but it sure works.

And it’s not all bad news out there.

And companies like Apple and Amazon prove how optimism can be a powerful advertising tool. Apple uses lots of light in their ads. And Amazon even has a smile in their logo. When you watch their “simple”commercials and listen to the light-hearted background music, you’re drawn into feelings like how”

Technology makes your life easier
Wonderful it feels to walk barefoot in a field of grass”
Love can erase tears
Dreamers make the world a better place

So, whether you manufacture balloons or bullets, you can advertise with both optimism and pessimism. It’s just a matter of what your audience responds to and why. Keep in touch with them. Ask them questions. And show them how much you care. That kind of touchy feely stuff works. Ain’t it awful? Need some help?

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
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Posted on December 8, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

Who is the mother of invention?

You know the answer, right? Of course! Necessity is the mother of invention. When a big enough need or problem arises, there’s almost always someone around to invent a solution. And that’s how jobs are “created”. Out of the need to solve problems. One big problem is how data has been hacked so many times”even in companies you wouldn’t think could be hacked. The solution (invention) has been the cybersecurity business.

Everyone appreciates the mother of invention. But”

“prevention (cybersecurity) appears to have only step-mother status right now. According to some stats I just read on LinkedIn, “By 2022, there will be 265,000 more data-security jobs than skilled workers.”

Wow! Over a quarter of a million jobs with no one to fill ’em. Why? Well, cybersecurity ain’t sexy. That’s for sure. In fact, it’s got five syllables in it, and that makes it sound too tough to tackle. But imagine”let’s say you’re a young person who discovers going against the grain is often the best choice. And you dive into cybersecurity with enthusiasm. Then, you discover some cool ways to make it better. Some problems that haven’t been solved yet.

Each problem becomes a mother of invention. And you become the doctor who delivers the baby”the solution(s). What do you think businesses would pay you to deliver those solutions for them, too? See how serving others can put you in a position to move past a mere “J.O.B.”?

There’s nothing wrong with having a job you love. But chances are good you’ll love the pay increase you give yourself when you find a thirsty crowd and give them a drink from your golden goblet.

When you get your ideas together and you wanna tell the world, get in touch. Maybe I can help you spread the word.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
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Posted on December 5, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

I’ve been marching to a different drum

Christmas morning. 1967. And there it was. A large gift-wrapped box with MY name on it. When I picked it up, it felt kinda heavy, and it made an odd sort of rattling sound. But I still wasn’t sure what it could be. So, I tore the wrapping paper off, opened the flaps of the box, and pulled out the most beautiful metal flake blue snare drum I’d ever seen. I was mesmerized and jazzed at the same time. And I’ve been marching to a different drum ever since.

I remember the bright, shining silver chrome rims, two pairs of blonde, maple drumsticks, a set of brushes, a thick rubber practice pad, and an instruction booklet. And I couldn’t wait to beat it up.

Flams. Paradiddles. Single strokes. Single stroke rolls. Triplets. New and exciting terms that would bring out the onomatopoeia in just about anybody. And they were keys to a kingdom that had been locked up, in my head, for most of the years of my life. I was eager to explore. And once I started…

Marching to a different drum took on a whole new meaning for me.

Before I make it sound like the musical heavens opened up and rained rhythmic glory down on me, let me clarify. Not everyone was as happy as me about my leap into the world of drumming. Would you believe…some adults actually didn’t want me practicing my paradiddles at certain times of the day. Like mornings, afternoons, or evenings. The “noive” of some people.

So, I had to sneak in practice time. But sneak I did. And before long I was more than a little percussively proficient. I discovered I had quite a knack for rhythm. In fact, I had a knick, a knack, AND a paddywhack. And beating on that snare drum had the added side benefit of beating on my younger brother less. (In spite of how he feels about it…I didn’t beat on him all that much.)

Of course, you might be wondering why I’m sharing all this with you. Maybe most of you don’t even care about my dive into drumming. But maybe there’s someone who needs what I’m about to say, and who could relate to my analogy. And I do have a point that ties in with my Rhyme and Reason theme.

Most of the world marches to the same drum.

And instead of beating the drum…the drum beats them. Flams become flimflams. Paradiddles turn into paradoxical paradigms. And triplets turn into trippin’.

It’s because that “same drum” is dark and empty. “Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” A drum minus the metal flake blue, the shining silver rims, and the crisp, eye-opening beats. Just a loud, hollow, echoing chamber of unfulfilling, empty dreams.

But the “different drum” is the polar opposite. And if you’ve been following my rhymes and reasons for any length of time at all, you know I’m talking about the drum of life. Given to us by the one, true, living, loving Creator. The source of all music and rhythm. Without whom you wouldn’t even exist. And trusting in Him increasingly requires your willingness to sneak in practice time. Because more and more the world doesn’t wanna hear you practicing on this drum. But I promise, if you do…

Your rhythm will last forever.

Why just beat the air, when you can beat that drum? And remember, life has Rhyme and Reason because God made you.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
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Posted on December 5, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

Is the music cupid talkin’ stupid?

Okay, before I go any further, it’s probably a good idea if I identify the music cupid. That would be me. I know”my header says Rhyme and Reason. But I’m also the music cupid, in order to draw out a point. And the point is”there are a lot of places (translate: websites where they’re either confused or smokin’ some of that stuff I smell as I drive around in the shadow of Pike’s Peak) uh”a lot of places where they say jingles are “dead”or outdated. Guess what? They’re wrong.

Some big brands out there have reached into their wayback machines and brought back their famous jingles. And some naysayers explain them away as mere nostalgia. Sure, they’re nostalgic”at least for those who were around when they were new”but there’s another reason why those companies are using their old jingles. They work!

Guess what?! Your friendly music cupid ain’t talkin’ stupid.

When people say jingles only work in places like radio and TV, they’re just not thinking it through. Online channels like YouTube and all the iTunes Podcast channels are radio and TV times almost infinity. The biggest difference between YouTube and TV is that basically anyone can put together a popular show to watch on YouTube. Not true, TV. That happens to be the biggest difference between podcasts and radio, too.

Other people like to talk about how annoying jingles can be. They call ’em earworms to make ’em sound just plain awful. But I could say the same thing about most any song I hear on the radio these days. Annoying. Formulaic. Same noise, different day. I could say all that. But I won’t. I’ll just mention, in passing, that’s part of what makes jingles so useful. You can’t forget ’em.

Maybe you’ve heard everybody is so, so, so busy these days. Who has time to listen to something as intrusive and annoying as a little earworm jingle? Well, I don’t know if your experience is like mine, but I see plenty of times when people aren’t just thumb clicking from page to page. I’ve seen them actually pause and watch and listen to stuff when it was fun, or interesting, or”dare I say it”catchy.

So”maybe the music cupid IS talkin’ stupid.

If that’s what you think, pay me no never mind. Go ahead and work on more important things like SEO, social media pictures, or whatever else the latest marketing agency says is “in”.

I’m gonna keep shooting my little music cupid quarter notes into the hearts of brands who are working to be remembered. I wanna see them married to a great audience who just can’t get their “annoying”messages out of their heads.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
Follow me on XWatch my videos on YouTube
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Posted on December 4, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

Jingle producer techno reducer emotion seducer

What? A jingle producer with skills and no computer?

Back in the 90’s I was still a full-time live entertainment musician and a local jingle producer in the Denver metro area. I was also very late to the home computer game. My recordings were digital, but they were done on dedicated recording gear, not computers. And I didn’t have a cellphone (basically no one did) so I still made sales calls from my landline using the yellow pages as my database.

I remember getting a crudely made jingles course in the mail, and I still have it as a matter of fact. Don’t remember how much I spent, but I know it ended up costing me nothing. Because I made the money back many times over when clients paid me nice chunks of change to write their 30 and 60 second spots.

A jingle producer, today, has some distinct advantages.

When I was starting out, I recorded jingle demos on my Yamaha 4-track recorder. Since there were only 4 tracks to work with, I had to get good at ping-ponging and dubbing. And once I got the demo recorded and produced, I either had to use my phone hack to call and play the demo for the client over the phone”or I had to make an appointment and go play the demo in person.

Nowadays, a jingle producer can just email a file in a matter of seconds. And potential clients can listen on their phones, or their computers, or even on their TV if they have it set up that way. Talk about easy peasy.

And recording a demo is a piece of cake, too. Even using free software like Garageband, any songwriter has access to virtually unlimited tracks. So, no ping-ponging or dubbing needed. And there are tons of effects and processors to get a polished, professional file.

A couple of jingle production disadvantages:

Recording software and gear, these days, is amazingly affordable and powerful. But the competition for the work has ramped up almost exponentially. Since almost anyone has access to recording software”almost everyone believes himself to be a pro songwriter. But here are 3 ways you can shine your light in that darkness:

Be a copywriter AND a songwriter
Become better at sales
Follow through with customer service your competitors won’t even think about.

I know”they’re not glamorous like being a songwriter. Any questions about any part of those 3 ways to stand out? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I’ve talked about them before, and I’ll go into them again. What do you think? Are you ready to shine your jingle producer light a lot brighter?

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
Follow me on XWatch my videos on YouTube
Find me on Facebook

Posted on December 4, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

System Activation ““ more of the power of music

A few years back, a young teacher, in a school near where I lived and worked, asked me if she could use some of my children’s music for a presentation she was gonna make with her class. I said, “Of course.”After she picked the four songs she wanted to use, I asked her why those four. And she said, “Because those songs really get ’em going.”Without either one of us realizing it at the time, she was talking about system activation. And it was fun watching it in action on the day her class made their presentation to the school. Now, where did I put that video…

Little kids love to sing along and dance to fun and funny songs. There’s more going on there than just kid silliness. It’s almost like they can’t help themselves. Because music causes system activation. In fact, it activates multiple system lobes in the brain.

Auditory system or center: naturally, you gotta be able to process sound
Motor system or center: where your brain processes rhythm
Language system or center: the area of the brain where lyrics are processed
Limbic system or center: maybe the most complex area where emotions are processed

System activation is sort of like manipulation.

If you’re like me (and basically most people), when your favorite song comes on, you almost can’t help yourself. You’ve either got to sing along or tap your fingers or toes. Maybe you even feel the need to get up and dance. Depends on the song that moves you, but you get the point. Words and music are powerful manipulators. And that’s why they’re also powerful brand builders.

When you put your message to music, you can create energy. And energy can give people the feeling of success. When they’re feeling successful, they’re more likely to associate that feeling with you and your brand. That’s part of the limbic system activation I mentioned before. Get someone emotionally attached to you and your brand, and you might just have a customer for life.

Do you disagree? Don’t take my word for it. Ask Apple if emotions work.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
Follow me on XWatch my videos on YouTube
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Posted on November 29, 2019 by TonyMarch 20, 2025

Be angry AND do not sin

There’s a lot in this world that makes me mad. Does that happen with you, too? Have you noticed how people who hate God have gotten a lot bolder these days? And it makes me mad that there are so many of them. More and more each day. But I gotta remember the Bible says be angry and do not sin. And the key word in that sentence is AND. Here’s why it’s important…

Be angry and do not sin is more difficult than it sounds.

But it’s important advice to follow. Because the world needs Christian wisdom. Not just more angry words spoken (or yelled) in a fit of frustration. And it’s always a great idea to do things and live life the way God recommends. Whether you feel like it or not.

Now, look at that sentence again. It starts with “Be angry…” God isn’t telling anyone that anger is bad or wrong. In fact, He’s actually saying it’s ok…sometimes even necessary…to be angry. But at the same time, don’t sin. In other words, don’t let your anger get the best of you or your message. How effective will your message or your Christian witness be to a hurting world, if all they see is a red-faced, angry loudmouth spewing vulgarity? Not very. Right?

At the end of the day, when you lie down in bed, take a little time to just be still and think about your day. Think about what you did you could’ve done better. And consider how you can trust God better. His words can help you endure this world with strength and wisdom. Then, when all is said and done, you’ll be able to overcome this world. Maybe even transform some of it to God. And certainly not be conformed to it.

OK, I’ll let you stew on that a little while. And I’ll see about taking some of my own advice. Because I just read another stupid social media post from a weak-kneed, whiny, wackadoo. Ooh, I’m so mad.

Gotta remember, life has Rhyme and Reason because God made us.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
Follow me on Twitter
Watch my videos on YouTube
Find me on Facebook

Posted on November 29, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

Words are powerful tools. Use ’em more ways.

Wow! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you there’s a ton of competition for consumer attention these days. The good news is there are some extremely effective tools you can use and give yourself the advantage in a noisy world. Maybe you’ve heard of these tools. Words. Yeah, words are powerful tools you can combine with the latest technology to:

Arouse curiosity faster, and
Build relationships better, and
Captivate emotions (and customers) with more credibility.

And words are powerful tools already working on you in your every day life”

Your cool media player, your latest ultra-thin cellphone, your connection to the airwaves for commercial-free radio, and the flattest, baddest, biggest-screen TV available. Every connection you make in this world is done using words. In fact, I dare you to come up with any media where words aren’t used. Even communication with pictures only relies on words because images conjure up relevant and meaningful words. No, you can’t communicate in any way, shape, or form without words.

Your business needs words, too. But not just any kind of words. They need to be persuasive, . And it’s important to emphasize the word “YOU”in your marketing words. Show your audience, your clients, or your customers how your creative ideas, products, or services can help them in more ways because you care about their success. Be real. Words help you do that.

You can get better response and better results when they know you’re real.

I recently built a WordPress website for a client of mine who just opened a brick and mortar business in Colorado Springs. All she knows about websites is that everyone told her she “needs to have one”. But she had no idea what to put on the website. And she certainly didn’t know anything about digital marketing.

So, I helped her say a few words about her new business. And as she talked, I recorded a short promo video and added it to her website. Also, I made sure she had her site connected to a Google business page and Google maps. Because she needs those places so customers could leave reviews. Which they have”5 star reviews in fact. And last time I checked her page views and visits have increased by over 400%. People are finding her online and making the trip to her local shop. Here’s the point”

When It Comes To You And Your Business, Say It, Play It, And Professionally Portray It

You need seen to be seen AND heard so you can stand out. And the right words help you do that. The right words are powerful in”

Websites”“they can look really cool, but without words and you”no sale.
PowerPoint presentations”“Just the facts? Or telling a story?.
Commercials”“some actually work. Know what kind?
Business video scripts”“a perfect area to get down to business, but be yourself.
Business podcasts

Or anywhere you want to say more in more ways. Every place for words is an opportunity to communicate the real YOU. There it is again. But it’s true. YOU matter. And you can do this. And I can help.

I’d like to help you grow your business and increase your sales and profits. I can help you put more YOU in your business. When people get to know you, and not just a list of what you do, you can build better relationships. And relationships sell”not websites, not link programs, and not even search engines.

Online or in your own brick and mortar store the “formula”stays the same. People want to buy from people. Your online content, with the right words, can be a powerful way to talk directly TO people and show them you’re people, too.

Words help you build an audience.

When I first started to produce what used to be called “rich media”online, the internet wasn’t ready for it. Thankfully, you don’t have that problem. Most online visitors, shoppers, and buyers enjoy watching a video or listening to some audio to learn about you and your products or services. So, give ’em what they want.

And they’ll be more likely to buy from you instead of your competition because they’re gonna get to know you. By reading about you or seeing your videos or hearing your personal, relational messages on a podcast.

People want to take action someplace. Make it your place.

And you’re people, too. Take action now. Start sharing more of YOU. You’re gonna love what it’ll do for:

Your business
Website
Products, services, and information”and
YOU

I’m a real guy, so you can even call me to set up an appointment: 719-497-0042. It’s only gonna cost you if you don’t take action. So what do you have to lose, except the hum-drum-usual-normal?

Stay tuned,

Discover my ebooks on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm
Follow me on Twitter
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Posted on November 28, 2019 by TonyMarch 20, 2025

Happy Thanksgiving 2019

Before I share my Happy Thanksgiving 2019 message here’s a little back story. When I was a kid, I had a stepsister whose birthday was November 28th. And even as a young guy it occurred to me how her birthday was sometimes the same day as Thanksgiving. Even though it’s been a lot of years since…and my stepsister is no longer alive, I still make a mental note of when that happens. And, yesterday I checked the digital calendar to find the last time it happened. Turns out it was five years ago, in 2013. So, I decided to see what I wrote (if anything) about Thanksgiving that year. What I said before still applies…

My Happy Thanksgiving 2019 is mostly just like 2013.

“True Thanksgiving isn’t found merely in a bountiful table of food, or being with friends and family for the day. No, true thanksgiving can only be to God. After all…if it wasn’t for Him, no one on the planet would be on the planet. And there really wouldn’t be anything at all to be thankful for or to.

So…on this special day we Americans set aside and call “Thanksgiving” I’d like to say how thankful I am to have so many blessings in my life…

A wife and helpmate who loves, cares, and nurtures
You, for reading my words and listening to my music
Digital tools that make my work so much easier to create and share
A very nice roof over my head
An unquenchable thirst for knowledge and wisdom
And most of all…God…who made a way for me to live eternally in paradise

Those are just a few of my thankful thoughts today. My blessings outnumber my trials and tribulations, and I pray that you can say that for yourself, too.”

Yeah, I still feel the same way about it. It’s important to realize our ultimate thanksgiving is to God. Because He is real, we are real. And because He loves, we can love.

I’ve seen a lot of people attempting to take God and thankfulness out of the picture by calling today “friendsgiving.” While I certainly appreciate friends, I also recognize they didn’t create any of life’s bounty. Friends can do amazing things. And the truly good ones are loving and giving. But they can only give what has already been provided. And that comes from God.

Please remember, life has Rhyme and Reason because God made you.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
Follow me on Twitter
Watch my videos on YouTube
Find me on Facebook

Posted on November 24, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

Custom t shirts online? Are you kidding me?

Way, way back in the 20th century, I was a freshman in college in Manhattan, Kansas. It wasn’t a large city, but I had been living in a tiny town for a year before that. So it certainly had a more diverse and active culture. (hmm…that sounded like yogurt, but I digress). What does any of this have to do with custom t shirts online, you ask? Well, nothing…exactly. But there IS a connection in my head, so read on, if you’d like to see.

Why I design custom t shirts online

If someone had told me, all those years ago, there would one day be a way to sell things online, I would have believed them. Because I always believed humans, with enough freedom, can create amazing things. Back then, we didn’t have the internet and mobile devices for the masses. But we DID have TV, FM radio, and lots of other inventions our grandparents might not have dreamed of.

Stick with me. I’m getting to the t shirt connection.

Anyway…once I got my bearings in my dorm, I discovered a special room down in the basement. Dorm residents could get a key for the room and go lock themselves in the room for some alone time. And even more important…that room contained an actual piano. And I was in the process of teaching myself to play. So, for me, it was like discovering a goldmine.

I’d book time in that room every single day. And I’d take my spiral notebook, bic pen, and lyric ideas down there and bang out a song. Then, I’d play it over and over till I had it memorized. And then I’d move on to my next song. I was determined to have a REPERTOIRE. (cue the heavenly choir music and rays of light)

So, back then I designed words and music.

One day, as I was capturing lightning in a mental bottle, there was a knock on the door. I reluctantly got up from the piano bench, walked to the door, and opened it a little. Another guy (I should say the dorm was NOT co-ed, thankfully) was standing there. And he told me he wanted to use the room, but the guy at the main floor desk told him it was in use. He had waited patiently, but it appeared I was never coming out.

We actually laughed about it, and he told me he’d been listening to me play the song I was composing. He said, “It’s cool to meet a fellow songwriter.”

Magic words…fellow songwriter.

Yes, it dawned on me. I WAS a songwriter, by golly.

I latched on to that title. And I’ve never let it go. Other than being a Christian and a husband, it’s my favorite moniker. Because it taps into my heart and mind and soul. Every other thing I’ve been in life pales in comparison. And nothing else has even remotely been as fulfilling.

And that brings me back to my custom t shirts.

About a year ago, I went through the application process on Amazon and eventually got a Merch account. That’s an account where I can create designs for merchandise (mostly t shirts for now), upload them, and offer them as print-on-demand for anyone in the world to buy.

And one of the first designs I uploaded was for songwriters. Since then, I’ve added several designs with a Christian theme, other musical designs, and even a few designs for clients. I love being able to share ideas and designs other songwriters can tap into to show the world who they are.

If you’re a songwriter (or a Christian) I hope this strikes a chord with you. (pun intended) And if so, click HERE and go get your shirt and claim your title. Don’t wait for someone else to knock on the door.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
Follow me on Twitter
Watch my videos on YouTube
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Posted on November 22, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

This is just for Christian songwriters

So, everybody else just go about your business. Nothing to see or hear here. (Are they gone, yet?) OK, I’ve got some encouragement, admonition, and even merch for Christian songwriters. Especially the ones living in America. Since that’s where I live, I’m more connected. But if you live somewhere else in the world, can speak and/or read good ol’ American English, stay with me.

First, my fellow Christian songwriters, focus on a tool that’s invaluable to your songwriting.

The Bible.

It contains all the key ingredients for you to write and compose songs to help a hurting world. And since the Bible is the Word of God, it’s vitally important to have at least a fairly good understanding of it. And guess what? It’s not just about peace, love, and joy. Gasp! I know. Most people, these days, probably don’t have a clue how much masculine testosterone courses through the verses in the Bible. And even if they do, they’d probably prefer not to emphasize that. But here’s the reason why it’s important…

Jesus is a man. A “he”.

Not a woman. Not a “she”. And certainly not an “it”. God is a triune God in the most masculine form imaginable. Even unimaginable. When you consider what Jesus went through, for the world, it’s impossible to believe a female would have or could have endured. But that’s all beside the point.

Point is…God is masculine. Yes He created man AND woman. But He created man first. So, here’s what Christian songwriters should consider before writing even the first line of lyrics. Do they reflect the one, true, living, loving God of creation? Or are they just coming from an emotional section of your own heart? Something you “feel”. But not something that truly reflects God’s strength, love, mercy, and justice.

If you’re “following your heart” in your songwriting, you’re taking a risk.

I encourage you to get back to the Bible message in your music. And I admonish any songwriters who call themselves Christians who are secularizing the songs. Don’t go there. It won’t end well.

That’s all I’ll say on it for now. But I have some cool things for all my fellow words and music mates. Show the world you’re a songwriter. Wear it proudly.

And remember…life has Rhyme and Reason because…God made you.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
Follow me on Twitter
Watch my videos on YouTube
Find me on Facebook

Posted on November 22, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

3 Ways to Make Money With a Podcast

If you’ve been looking into the possibility of starting one”or if you already have one, you might also be looking into how to make money with a podcast. After all, it’s only natural. Radio and TV programs have been doing that for decades. And podcasts have been sources of income for their owners for quite a few years now. Not all owners”but some. You could be one. Let’s see how”

1. Sponsors might toss money your way if you have an audience

Of course, you might be saying “But I’m just starting. Having an audience doesn’t apply to me.”Well, do you have an audience anywhere else? Your blog? Social media? In the real world? If so, get them to your podcast as quickly as possible, optimize your podcast to be found, and get comments and reviews on iTunes.

Once you have a podcast audience, look for sponsors whose products and services are a good match with your podcast topics. Approach them with your numbers (if you’re a WordPress user, you can use the Powerpress plugin to check stats), and see about developing some serious symbiotic relationships.

2. Make money with a podcast about your own products

If you don’t yet have an audience big enough to attract sponsors, you can still use your podcast to talk about your own products, services, and information. This is an approach I use, and I can tell you it works. Your show can’t be all about hawking products of course. It’s called a podcast, not an infomercial. And informercial versions of podcasts are typically DOA.

But in each podcast episode you can mention a related product you have. Be subtle and casual. And tell your audience where they can find it. Let them know the links are in the show notes. No hard selling. Just simple telling and sharing. When you have something of value, people don’t mind knowing about it. Your podcast can be a great creative advertising tool for you.

3. Affiliate marketing

I don’t think I’ve used affiliate marketing in my podcast episodes. I’ll have to go back in the archives and check to be sure. But I’ve seen stats where some podcasters are “killing it”selling things on sites like Amazon. One guy mentioned making over $1200 in one month just using his Amazon affiliate links. That’s a respectable side stream of income”yes?

There are lots of options for getting affiliate links, but I won’t go into those here. Just know you can probably find dozens of possibilities that would be a good fit for your podcast topic.

I’ve only skimmed the surface on these three ways to make money with a podcast. But I hope what I’ve shared gives you enthusiasm to look into it even more. And if you need help getting started in the podcasting world”

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
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Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
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Posted on November 19, 2019 by TonyApril 16, 2025

Catchy Songs Have Fringe Benefits

Helen’s world had lost its sparkle. A typical day, for her, included hours of staring forward with a blank look on her face. It seemed the only thing she was aware of was that it was daytime. One day Alicia, a music therapist, came to the dementia center where Helen lived, and life began to open up again. Alicia started playing catchy songs, from Helen’s past, on an iPod. And, almost immediately, glimmers of recognition appeared in Helen’s eyes. She even smiled. Something she hadn’t done for a long time.

Music therapists use catchy songs and sing alongs for patients in late-stage dementia and Alzheimer’s in centers all across America. It’s more proof of the power of music. Most of the time I talk about the power of music to help you build your brand and sell more stuff. But the fact that music helps people become more aware of their surroundings is another sign of how it’s a gift from God. Whether you believe in God or not, you should be able to see there’s more than meets the eye going on in a song.

Catchy songs might drive you crazy”

But they can also drive sales. Take this example of a woman who said she’s never had to replace a windshield. She said, when the time comes, she’ll know who to call. One local company’s jingle has been “irrevocably wedged in my brain.”Music is such a powerful advertising tool. I dare you to find three commercials today with no music in them.

Familiar music can reach inside the minds of people whose minds are failing them. Imagine what it can do for you and your healthy audience. Catchy songs strike a chord with listeners. That’s part of what makes them catchy. Why not make good use of music and have your customers singin’ along with your tune? Let’s talk about it, soon.

Stay tuned,

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Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch
Get my Podcast on iTunes ““ OR Google Play OR Player.fm OR your favorite podcast provider
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Posted on November 18, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

Greetings and salutations fellow humans

Dear Mom. Or…Hi babe. Just a couple of ways people start letters and emails these days. No composition or journalistic award winners there. But they get the job done, I suppose. And who cares anyway, right? Well, besides me I guess. I’ve been a fan of language and vocabulary from almost the time I could speak. So, I’m partial to a little more poetry. More rhythm. Sparkle. Depth. Because I think a more thought out form of communication leads to more in-depth thinking. Imagine if our greetings and salutations were more like this…

Greetings and salutations from about 2000 years ago

“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who ccannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Wow! Now, that’s a greeting AND a salutation full of fascination and punctuation.

It’s from Paul’s letter to Titus in the New Testament of the Bible. And in that opening to a rather short letter (by Paul’s standards) is the embodiment of the Christian faith. And if you’d care to know what’s in the rest of the letter, you can read it HERE. Or you can hear me read it by tuning into this episode of the The Power of God’s Love Podcast.

Stay tuned,

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Stay tuned,

Posted on November 18, 2019 by TonyMarch 20, 2025

Sight and Sound - you're bound to astound when you're found

Sight and Sound ““ a great way to be found

The first time I saw a comedienne do the “squirrel joke”, I almost did a spit take. It’s a joke about how attention spans are so short and distracted these days. Kinda like a dog that suddenly spots a squirrel. Focus is one place one second, then a completely different place a couple of seconds later. So, how do you fight that when you’re advertising? Well, instead of losing your readers to sudden video popups, use branded sight and sound and BE one of those distractions.

I’ve been around lots of sight and sound.

I’ve been involved with sound recording, in one way or another, for most of my life. Especially when it comes to voice and vocals. That’s why I focus on it here on my website and on my podcast and social media. And I know, without a doubt, you can set yourself apart with your own audio branding. But even more powerful is the combination of sight and sound”branded videos.

Have you noticed how the most popular video channels on YouTube”in any niche, are the ones where real people come across as actually being real? They’re the ones who allow life’s little imperfections to show through. In fact, many times they play those up. Either with humor, or self-deprecating comments, or some other technique. Why?

People see and hear “the real thing”and they like it.

Face-to-face time is the best way to build relationships. And I believe video to face time can be almost as effective. At least when you’re being yourself and letting that come across. I’ve read some articles saying your business videos aren’t about entertainment. They’re just supposed to enhance or build your brand.

I disagree.

Whatever your brand, if you can entertain your audience and keep them around longer, you have more opportunity to sell them your products, services, or information. And you’re in business to make money. Doesn’t that make sense? Of course, I’m not saying you need to be a comedian or actor or singer-songwriter in your presentations. But adding an entertainment “feel”to them helps establish your brand in a way your buyers will remember.

For example”think about the music in the Avengers movies.

When you just listen to the movie score, it sounds so serious. Sometimes even ominous. But right in the middle of a battle scene, one of the superheroes says something funny. And audiences eat it up. The movie makers used that and ramped up an impressive Marvel movie empire. They combine the sight and sound in a way that appeals to both sides of your brain. If they made everything doom-and-gloom serious, I don’t think they’d be half as successful.

Superman VS Batman proves my point.

Almost every scene is dark. And pitting superheroes against each other is just stupid. But maybe that’s just me. Anyway, unless you’re a diehard DC comics movies fan, I’ll bet the music doesn’t stay in your mind like the score for IronMan.

OK”I didn’t actually mean for this to turn into a comics review or anything like that. I’m just trying to point out how you can put sight and sound together, entertain your clients, customers, or fan base”and create a relationship building machine. Just make sure it ties in well with your brand. And use it on your website, in your social media channels, in your radio and TV commercials, and anywhere else you advertise.

Or don’t.

Either way, you’ll learn something important. And isn’t that how you build better business?

Stay tuned,

Discover my ebooks on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm

Posted on November 14, 2019 by TonyOctober 25, 2022

I’ve been reading, lately, where at least a few Christians are starting to question the merit of contemporary praise and worship music. And before you younger ones try to tell me it’s the old fuddy duddies, this isn’t just coming from older Christians. And I’m glad to see it. Because I’ve listened to just about all the mantra music, in church, I care to. That’s why I’m sharing the words to Holy Holy Holy.

This song isn’t a deep theological study, but…

…it does address certain key points of the Christian faith. The Trinity. Sin. And the fact that there’s only one truly Holy in all of existence. God in three persons.

In the The Power of God’s Love Podcast version of this post I share my updated take on this classic Christian hymn. Yes, I added a beat. And yes, I contemporized it. But I also kept it true to the lyrics. The message is intact. And it’s still as simply powerful as ever.

If you’re a Christian who’d like to see praise and worship get back to supporting the full message from the Bible, let me know. And if you’re a Christian who’s completely comfortable with the touchier, feelier, less theological praise and worship music, let me hear from you, too. We can talk about it. And I can show you where you’re wrong. 😉

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Holy Holy Holy
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy Holy Holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons”Blessed Trinity

Holy, Holy, Holy
Though the darkness hides Thee
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art Holy
There is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, love, and purity

instrumental

Holy Holy Holy
Lord God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name
In earth and sky and sea
Holy Holy Holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons Blessed Trinity

Stay tuned,

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Posted on November 13, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

A little mood music never hurt anybody

Watch any old Western movie, and it’s a good bet you’re gonna see a hootenanny, or a barn dance, or some other sort of soiree “˜neath the big Western sky. And the minute the music starts, folks are gonna dance their boots off. As far as I can tell, the music seemed to put everybody in a dancin’ mood. Well, some of the bad guys might get in a mood to go outside and do somethin’ ornery. But for the most part, everybody was there to have a good time. That’s what music does. It helps create moods. So, in a way, all music is mood music.

The many moods of mood music

When I used to play music every night, for a living, I had a huge repertoire of songs. If you’re one of those who heard me perform live, you know I’m not exaggerating. Matter of fact, there were many times I’d play a four hour show with no breaks. None! And during those four hours I could take the audience on a sailboat ride in the Caribbean, through the blues section of Kansas City, up the Rocky Mountains and back down, and even to a quiet, out-of-the-way jazz bar to smooth out the wrinkles.

It might sound like I’m bragging, but I’m making a moody point. Music sets a mood like nothing else. That’s why it’s so effective in business, entertainment, and day-to-day life. And you’ve got lots of moods to choose from.

You’ve probably noticed I talk a lot about sound and how music for business should be a huge part of your advertising. And you might have heard me talk about the power of audio branding with your own personalized song. But here’s another way of using that personalized song even more effectively. Different versions of it for different moods.

Not everybody is coming to your website or store or social media in the same mood.

So what some people might like about your song, others might find repulsive. That’s OK. Make different versions. Same song but with different instrumentation, a different beat, a whole different feel. Mood music that’s the same only it’s not.

See what I mean?

I’ll bet you’ve heard it done without even noticing. Or maybe nothing gets by you. Either way, lots of successful companies, some entrepreneurs and podcast publishers, sports shows, and movies have certainly reaped some big rewards. Just by adding in here”or taking out there. Or by putting the same version with (or without) vocals in different videos or scenes.

If you wanna try coming up with something on your own, start thinking about your brand. Are you trying to portray yourself as a hero for your industry? Throw some power strings and tasty brass into your audio branding. Maybe you’d like to come across as more friendly and down-to-earth. In that case, you can’t go wrong with a nice acoustic guitar, some bouncy percussion, jingling triangle, and a touch of outdoor sound effects. See how it works?

A combination of sounds becomes mood music.

And a well thought out combination of sight and sound gives you an unforgettable advantage. I’ll take that up later. Right now I want you to start thinking about sounds. Sounds that you believe will sync up nicely with your brand. Then, start thinking about how you can combine them into your own audio branding. And don’t forget to focus on what mood music will help you get across.

If you need some help, you know where to find me.

Stay tuned,

Discover my ebooks on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm
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Posted on November 12, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

Show and Tell To Help You Sell

I was in the second or third grade when I heard about show and tell for the first time. The teacher asked each of us to bring our favorite present we’d gotten for Christmas after we came back from Christmas break. Yeah, they called it Christmas break back then, but I digress. Anyway, the concept was totally new to me. And I listened intently as each kid talked about a train set, or pogo shoes (ask me about that), or cowboy gun set, or easy bake oven. I could see each one of them smile as they showed off their present and told us all the wonderful things it did. Story after story.

How do you show and tell your business or products or services?

Do you put up BOGO (buy one get one) signs in your storefront windows? Are you sharing another picture, out of your day, on Instagram and Facebook? Maybe you’re mailing out fliers to certain parts of town. How about networking with some cool business cards and a plucky elevator pitch? Those things are fine, but they don’t show AND tell in the most effective way. Your smile and joy might not shine.

These days it’s so much easier to share a video about your business than it ever was in decades past. You probably have a darn nice video camera right in your pocket or purse at any time of day. Right? And with a little practice (and a decent video editing app), you can put some decent videos online in front of potentially millions of people. A great strategy, by the way. If you’re not already doing it, at least give it some thought. But when you wanna rev things up”

Show and tell what you sell with audio branding included.

I’ve been reading lots of articles, for the past couple of years, talking about the power and wonder of video. And I agree. It’s a much more powerful way to connect with your target audience than almost anything. And if you and I have seen the information talking up the power of video, you can bet lots of your competitors have too.

But I don’t believe those competitors (or most others for that matter) are aware of how to take their video up to an even more powerful level. At least, as I’ve watched videos (and I’ve watched a lot) by business owners and entrepreneurs, I’ve seen almost none using branded audio. And that spells Opportunity”with a capital Opp.

Not so long ago, jingles were used by many, if not most, major brands to advertise on radio and TV. Unfortunately, time marched on, and I guess people figured there must be some newer, cooler, edgier way to be memorable. Jingles just weren’t so cool anymore. In fact, cool started meaning you went out and got some hip-hop artist to put together an infectious beat with a “feel”that you wanted to spread. Problem with that is”feelings change. From day to day. But like so many great advertising tools from the past”

Jingles continue to work for you even when feelings don’t.

Here’s some quick ways to start coming up with your own audio branding ideas.

Figure out how you stand out
Decide which style of music fits your brand and values
See how you make it original
Plan multiple ways to present it with different “moods”
Be sure your brand awareness is front and center as you entertain and educate

There are plenty of ways to work on building your online and offline empire. I’m just a simple one-man-branding-band with ideas about using audio branding in your videos, websites, and other advertising. It’s show and tell I know will help you sell. I can help you get going if you don’t already have your own writers, voice talent, and studio.

Stay tuned,

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm
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Posted on November 11, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

Creative ads work

Would you believe an internet marketing “expert”, I used to follow, once said in his newsletter to forget about creative ads?! He said creative ads are a waste of time because they veer you from the data. Well, like a dork, I believed him because his online success numbers sure looked better than mine at the time. Even though I had already created some pretty darn lucrative creative ads for clients by that time, I figured somebody with a “high six or seven figure income”knew what he was talking about. But guess what?

Creative ads beat data ads every time.

OK”boom! I said it. And I’m not taking it back. Sure, I know it’s self-serving for me to talk up creative ads. But I wouldn’t mention it at all if it wasn’t true. There’s a successful email marketer named Ben Settle, and he talks about using things like contrast, drama, and pain to create emails that sell. If you’ve never heard of Ben, and you’re an introverted sort of entrepreneur like I am, look up his website and sign up to get his emails. And you’ll get tons of great ideas.

Anyway, using contrast and drama and pain to sell are great examples of creativity at work. Take contrast for example. Ben recently shared an ad, from back in the 50’s and 60’s, that used this headline: “How a bald-headed barber saved my hair.”You’re immediately drawn in, even if you’re not bald, because it uses baldness to talk about saving hair. Now, that’s creative. Imagine expanding that idea into a video and burning it into the brains of your audience with your own branded music and tagline. Some of the most successful brands in history have used strategies like that.

Here’s an example of how a creative Facebook video ad stood out”

A client of mine (Scott) just emailed me about a video I helped him with. He shared this with me: “Hey Tony, I just now closed on a new client, and when I was on the phone with him he said”‘I get a lot of people wanting to promote my business, but your video got my attention, so I responded“˜. So thank you for doing such a great job on it, Tony. Debbie and I are extremely appreciative.”

Maybe what you’re doing online doesn’t need to be creative. If so, then keep doing what you’re doing. I certainly wouldn’t tell you to stop doing what’s working. But I’m confident you can benefit from creative ads that burn your brand into the brains of your audience. Get in touch with me when you’re ready to give it a go.

Stay tuned,

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Posted on November 8, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

Emphasizing Energizing Your Creative Advertising

Wouldn’t you love a way to double the response and conversion rates of your website and advertising efforts? After all; you don’t want to spend more on it than you make back. Business branding with the right creative advertising tools can get you some awesome results.

After talking with my clients, business and website owners, and entrepreneurs from many walks of life, I keep hearing some key things in common”

“My website doesn’t show up in the search engines.”
“The “other guy”doesn’t even return my calls.”
“We’re not even making our advertising money back.”
“I don’t know anything about internet marketing.”
“There are so many “gurus”. Who’s right?”

There’s a key solution to clear up all these concerns.

Get The Customer Who Pays By Using Words More Ways”

Be visible. Be heard. Especially on the internet. Don’t worry about what the search engines and their little “spiders”are hungry for. Give your human visitors what they’re looking for. The search engines will find you. And really”do spiders spend any money”on anything? Naaa

I’m not saying to ignore keywords, meta tags, and all that. Just don’t lose sight that your target market is people.

And what do most people enjoy? Creative advertising

WORDS (written and spoken)
AUDIO (music, books, lessons)
VIDEO (live, recorded, YouTube, Vimeo)
Great Products (and different products are great to different people)
And great “follow through”(without it you’re doomed)

Sure, lots of copywriters can write you a sales letter or a web page. And lots of agencies can put together a marketing campaign for you. And of course there are plenty of places you can find the same kind of music countless other businesses and websites use. But how many sources do you think you’ll find with personalized media available? And how many of those actually have commercial and business branding experience. The choices are even fewer.

Get it all in one place and put on your happy face.

Copy, music, videos, and internet advertising consultation when you’re ready. It’s as easy as A, B, C”

Attract attention faster, and
Build relationships better, and
Captivate emotions (and buyers) with more success

Even your competitors will be humming your “tune”

I’ve Got a Bell To Ring So Here’s One More Thing”

Whether my fingers are clicking the keys of my Apple laptop or controlling the keyboard of my digital audio workstation, I’m busy creating effective, persuasive, and simple attention-getting content you can use to begin, build, and breakout your brand.

Contact me before your competitor does.

Skip past the hum-drum-usual-normal.

Creative advertising has more personality”your personality. Your audience will love it. And you’re gonna love what it’ll do for your business, your website, your products, services, and information”and even you because”You ARE the brand!

Stay tuned,

Discover my ebooks on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Get my Podcast on iTunes – OR Google Play OR Player.fm
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