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I learned the other day that someone died, and I am sad. Though I never knew him personally, this man had a tremendous impact on my life which continues to this day.

His name was Gary Halbert. He was a tremendous copywriter, many feel the best on the planet (an opinion Gary himself shared). I know I for one could never stop reading whatever he wrote.

For years the famous Gary Halbert letters provided me an amazing education in copywriting–and writing in general. He posted them free on the Internet. His generosity, outrageous persona, amazing ability to keep me reading, all are memorable to me.

I learned much about marketing and copywriting from him. Not nearly as much as I wish, but a lot.

Yet Gary Halbert touched my life in another, deeper, way. Through his Letter, and some circumstances that unfolded afterward, I met a person who is now one of my best friends on the earth.

It was Gary’s powerful way with words that got my friend to write to him a heartfelt letter about how his words moved her. Her words touched him, as well, and he called upon people to respond to this person.

I was one of the ones who responded. And through the connection, initiated by Gary Halbert’s words alone, this person and I became close friends who have helped each other in countless ways. She and I have not yet met in person, either. But we talk on the phone nearly every day, email each other often, and help each other with our respective businesses.

It all started with the words, posted on the Internet for all to see, of Gary Halbert. If it were not for Gary’s letter (and of course, current technology), I would never have met my new friend in a million years.

I was able to tell Gary about what happened. His e-mail answer was short (and note, I remember it): “Cool.” But, busy as he was, he did answer. I’m glad I told him.

The power of words, folks, is incalculable.

This week’s brand-new Your Book Publishing Coach article is about the quickest and easiest way to write your book.

If you have a book idea and don’t know how to begin, here’s your answer.

If you’ve started your book and got stuck, this will help.

The approach I describe is not only the quickest and easiest, it’s also the very BEST way to write your book, because of tools that are now available that writers could hardly have dreamed of even 15 years ago.

(How I love the Internet!)

I also give you some extra resources, such as the updated list of 50 ezine directories, all linked.

An alert reader of my blog and website commented on something I said on the page where I mention why I’ve started to my articles and not repeating the content in my newsletter.

Jim Lillicotch is a website designer, promotion and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expert, who says that he doesn’t believe that there is a duplicate content penalty. “There is a bit of controversy on the issue, but everyone that I have confidence in says there is not now and has never been such a thing,” says Jim. “If it were true all of the people republishing your content all over the web would hurt you and not help you.”

I think he’s got a point. Are there any other SEO experts out there who want to weigh in on this? Is this idea of duplicate content just another “Internet urban myth” without any truth to it?

What about the question about whether you should submit to as many ezine article directories as possible,to get traffic back to your site?

These are pretty important issues. Weigh in with your comments–just click “comments” below and share your expertise! (Thanks, Jim, and anyone else who responds. Your reward is a link!)

I just posted a new article called “Build a Business–through Articles!”

Read it to find out how articles can help you:

• promote and establish yourself as an expert
• discover what your market really wants so you can give them more of it
• give people a taste of what you have to offer
• get them interested in your book, other product or service
• drive them to your Web site to learn more about you
• make connections with people you never would have met otherwise (sometimes leading to lucrative joint ventures and/or wonderful relationships)
• even get the media to call you.

I also suggest some further resources if this interests you, such as free teleseminars by Jeff Herring, “the Internet article guy,” and a free Special Report by one of my mentors on how to build a whole business from “small reports” (which are just expanded articles).

One more resource: I updated my list of ezine article directory sites. Instead of 28 there are now 50! The links are all clickable, and you’re free to copy this list for your own database of sites to submit to.

I recently came across two pieces of software I like a lot. Each has helped me get more done and helped me be more organized.

Even better–both are FREE!

The first is an add-on from OpenOffice.org. It’s called EverNote. It’s extremely simple to use (great for certain tech-challenged people I know). Basically, you put info into this software that is one big file (one long note). Then you search by any keyword you might remember, or by categorie. Boom! You’re instantly on your note.

What’s also cool is it shows you where the note origintated, so with a click you can get back to the email, file, Web site, whatever.

For instance, I put a note in with the words “Free Internet tools to blog about:” and the links. I typed “EverNote” into the search box and in half a second was at the note, where the keyword I typed in was highlighted.

This is comparable to the MS Word OneNote, only it’s FREE. (Of course, there is a paid upgrade version, but so far the free one works fine for me.)

The second tool is called TimeLeft. This cool tool is a desktop utility you can use as a countdown clock, reminder, clock, alarm clock, tray clock, stopwatch, timer, sticker, auction watch and time synchronization utility.

The main feature of TimeLeft is a powerful customizable reminder, which can show a message, play music (any formats including mp3) or open a link, document, execute an application, turn off your monitor or shutdown your PC.

Try them–I think you’ll like them!

(What favorite free tools do you like? Post your comment!)

Hope your weekend is going well. I have a couple of suggestions to make it even more fun.

First, I want to let you know that the PDF document containing all of March’s Your Book Publishing Coach articles (four full ones in all) is now ready.

You’ll notice that I am not putting up the whole newsletter to read online, as I used to. The explanation will give you a useful tip for your own search engine optimization of your site.

You can, as usual, print out the PDF of the whole issue and read it at your leisure … especially if you haven’t gotten around to reading the
articles yet. There’s even one about when procrastination is GOOD!

Also, another reminder that the Simpleology book launch is still going on. Apparently so many people went to the site that the server couldn’t
handle it at times. So if you tried but couldn’t get to the page, try again:

Even if the book doesn’t interest you (and it really is rather interesting in itself), check out how Mark Joyner is going about his book launch. What ideas does this spark for you?

Final suggestion: If you, like me, prefer to order enough from amazon.com to not have to pay shipping … and either of my books interests you
… why not order Abundant Gifts and/or MotherStyles along with Simpleology? (Remember, Mother’s Day is coming up, and MotherStyles is
the perfect gift. Abundant Gifts is perfect for any time!)

You can also preview 5 stories froom Abundant Gifts in a cool Digital Web book that opens up like a book on your computer, AND download a really cool Digital Web Journal you can write in on your computer, visit http://www.abundant-gifts.com first.)

See how simple I’ve made things for you? (I learned it from a certain course called Simpleology.)

Well, this should keep you a bit busy this weekend. But it’s fun busy, I hope you’ll agree!