For the last month I have been taking bites from one of the most delightful books on the topic of social media and marketing that I have read in a long time. Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone by Mitch Joel is an easy to read book with plenty of tasty morsels for the small business owner who doubts social media’s power to learn the truth.

Mitch Joel does an excellent job of intertwining digital marketing, social media, personal branding, and entrepreneurship in a clear, entertaining, and instructive manner that everyone can understand and apply. By reading the book we are able to see that in this technological world, we are all really just six pixels apart. This new “closeness” is why the face of business and marketing is changing by leaps and bounds.

I found myself laughing out loud and shaking my head in agreement with Mitch’s realistic approach. There is no way a curious or doubting business owner would not glean a a great deal of knowledge from reading Six Pixels of Separation. It is simply filled  with logical useful information. No “guru” promises or fairy fantasies. Mitch Joel presents the truth and nothing but the truth.

It made me so curious that I found myself digesting his site, Twist Image Blog and the Six Pixels of Separation podcast. There is so much practical information there that I simply breathed a sigh of relief.

Mr. Joel was not trying to sell me anything. He was not making promises about huge numbers or six figures. He was simply providing stuff I can use and resonate with.

About the Giveaway

I was so exited when the folks over at the Hatchet Book Group told me that I can give away 5 copies of the book to the Social Savvy readers.

Are you ready for your chance to win? Really, this is a great book and the rules are pretty simple.

How you can get entries for your chance to win.

• Retweet the post using the hashtag #ssgiveaway or share it on Facebook. There are icons on the top right of this post that sharing on Twitter or Facebook easy.
• Leave a comment and tell me about your biggest pet peeve when it comes to social media.
• Leave a comment and tell me why you think you need to read Six Pixels of Separation

You can choose to do one or both!

Didn’t I tell you that getting an entry for the giveaway was a breeze?  I did not even tell you to sign up for my feed or the newsletter. Of course if you decided to do either, you will get an additional entry but it is not mandatory at all

Please know that the contest will run from January 26, 2010 until January 31, 2010 at 12:00 Midnight EST and is only open to U.S. and Canadian residents

Thanks to everyone who played my launch week games. Seeing your answers was a joy. Ok, so I won’t bother you with too much chit chat. Here are the winners from the week.

Game 1 – Lesa: Prize is WP One-on-One Training

Game 2 – Cee Cee: Prize is the Content Marketing Package

Game 3- Penny Haynes: Prize is 5 hours VA services

Game 4 – Christina Wiley: Prize is Content Marketing Package

Congratulations to all the winners!

If you played a game and did not win, no need to worry because I have something for you too. I am offering each one of you 35% off my services. To redeem just fill out a form on the contact page, letting me know which service you want and add the promo code “iwontoo”. I will contact you within 48 hours.

Looking forward to working with each of you in 2009!

Ok this game is really easy.  Here are the instructions for “I Wish I Wish”:

• Subscribe to the RSS feed to qualify
• Tell me what one service you would wish for from Social Savvy VA and why
• Subscribe to the Newsletter and get your name in the hat twice
• Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/latarahamying and get your name in the hat three times

Have fun! And remember to read my list os services and see what you need from me.

Ok here is another game and this one is all about Twitter. What do you know about the Tweet?

Here are the instructions:

• To qualify be sure to sign up for my RSS Feed
• Using your knowledge of  Twitter or your best guess type your best answers right into the comment box.
• Remember if you twitter about the weekend launch using the hashtag #ssone, or join the newsletter list, I will add your name twice to the hat.
• If you do all three (RSS, Twitter, and sign-up for the newsletter) I will add your name to the hat three times.

Here are the questions:

1. What is the Twitter symbol?
2. How many backgrounds does Twitter offer?
3. How do you locate a URL for a person’s Tweet?
4. What is Twitterfeed?
5. Can you DM a person you are not following?
6. How can you view a person’s timeline?
7. How many characters can your tweet at one time?

These are some easy questions for those who Twitter. For those who don’t start your profile today and start Tweeting!

The prize for this game is 5 Hour VA services.

I have decided to extend the fun until Friday the 19th, so you have plenty of times to enter. Try all the games here.

Have fun!

Ok folks here is another fun game. It is all about who knows me. Even if you don’t take some guesses and you may find that you know me better than you thought

Here are the instructions:

• To qualify be sure to sign up for my RSS Feed
• Using your knowledge of me or your best guess choose the best answer.
• Remember if you twitter about the weekend launch using the hashtag #ssone, or join the newsletter list, I will add your name twice to the hat.
• If you do all three (RSS, Twitter, and sign-up for the newsletter) I will add your name to the hat three times.

Here are the questions:

1. How old will LaTara be on her next birthday?    30 again, 52, or 40
2. What city was LaTara born in?     Spencer, Los Angeles,  or Kalamazoo
3. What is one of LaTara’s favorite foods?    rib tips, macaroni and cheese, or spinach enchiladas
4. What does LaTara call her youngest son?    Mr. Wiggles,  Mr. Man,  or That Boy
5. LaTara has developed what type of manual (hint – About Me)?    How to get and keep a man, how to use social media effectively, or Customer Service Training
6. What group of super smart  moms with businesses does LaTara belong to?     Mom Masterminds, Creative Moms, or  Business Savvy Moms
7. Who is LaTara married to?  Denzel  W., Will S., or Rupert H.

Have fun and if you missed Game 1, there is still time to play.  The prize for this game is the Content Marketing Package.

Look for more games tomorrow.