The Third Stage

Book Review #22 The Pickle-Smith Trunk-Warmer

Book reviews from The Third Stage is our blog series devised to recommend marketing and networking books that could help with your business.

Ok well not strictly true this time around, however The Pickle-Smith Trunk-Warmer is an illustration of the writing capabilities of a great friend of ours, James Daniel of Earthmonkey, a fine copywriter and SEO guy. TPSTW showcases some of James' talent, and if you are a student of marketing also take a look at the campaign behind the book on Twitter / Facebook and at the website www.picklesmith.co.uk.

But down to serious stuff. TPSTW is a ripping yarn for pre-12 children telling (hopefully only the first installment of) the story of Indigo 'Indy' Pickle-Smith. Indy is a serial inventor of such impressive gadgets as the Pickle-Smith Alien-Translator TM, and the Pickle-Smith Kung-Fu-Matic Robot TM. This story focuses on his fight to get recognition for the Pickle-Smith Trunk-Warmer, a design to prevent elephants from getting trunk frost when skiing. Despite attention from the vile Hugo, cannibals in Africa and a cat on a hang-glider Indy......but that would be giving the story away wouldn't it :-).

TPSTW is beautifully written and the cartoon illustrations are great. We can unashamedly say  "Go here and buy it" if you have a youngster in your family - it is great fun and they will enjoy it thoroughly.

Cool Stuff #53 Fiverr

Cool Stuff is The Third Stage's blog series is to help you out by telling you about useful websites and applications that can help you and your business.

So you have reached the point where your social media strategy is ready and you are looking for content for your website or Facebook page or to send to your followers on Twitter. Take a look at fiverr.com. For $5 (yes really that is all), you could get a video testimonial in Spanish, a new avatar, your name written in the sand, a plan to help you cope with a zombie invasion (personalised to you), or our favourite, your url written into the blank box in the middle of a tattoo on a model's back.

We seriously think that Fiverr is cool and useful, and full of practical things that can help your business. It is also addictive and an awful lot of fun. Be prepared to lose at least an hour of your life browsing and giggling the first time you visit. Here's one Phil, our leader got done - it cost him $5 (£3.28 at the time).

The Third Stage derives no financial benefit from featuring Roundpic in this series. If Fiverr is useful to you please comment and/or share this entry.