Listen to Ellen Reid

For a Competitive Edge ... Online or on the Street

Doing business can be an “Open Sesame” or a blank wall.

A lot has to do with your product/service and pricing, of course.

You may be selling the greatest thing since sliced bread, at a competitive price, yet nothing will happen until your target market sees it for what it's worth.

Smarketing will take what you have and make sure it will seek its proper level. Talk to us and we'll tell you how and why.

Smarketing is a Los Angeles-based company serving clients nationwide. We specialize in boosting sales and bottom lines with branding and positioning for small businesses, providers of professional services, and entrepreneurs.

We also provide the unique service of Book Shepherding - assisting and consulting with regard to taking a self-published author from manuscript to print.

Ellen Reid does more than just assemble a topnotch team. Her direction of the entire creative process is what makes each book a real masterpiece.

Authors often have an idea of what they want their book to look like and how they want it to be presented. There are many people who can take that idea and execute it, so the book you end up with matches the picture in your mind.

Ellen Reid adds her experience and creativity, so you end up with much more than simply a book produced the way you think you want it.

She listens to you and gets a clear picture of your vision.
Based on her extensive experience with the publishing market, she expands your vision beyond what you think you want to a book that is capable of producing what you really want.
Then she assembles a copy writing, designing, and editing team, and participates with them to make this expanded vision a reality.
Throughout, she drives the process and inspires the team to give you more than what they might create on their own.

When authors hold their completed book in their hands, they consistently comment that it is far better than anything they could have imagined. Great copywriters, designers and editors notwithstanding, the real reason for the outstanding end product is Ellen Reid.

Hi Ellen, When Connie and I decided to self-publish, it was clear to us that we needed to hire a professional guide to the process of publishing since it was our first foray into this field. When we were ready to write the book we immediately hired an editor to "instruct" and guide us in the writing process. Now we needed someone who had the knowledge and first rate contacts to give us a final product that was first rate. Personally, I have see so many self-published books that look unprofessionally done. So it was important to us to find you, Ellen. You have the knowledge, expertise, and first rate contacts to guide us to create the package that matches our content. I must say that I'm very pleased with the people I have worked with to date and look forward to working with the rest of your team. Also as a business and life coach, I know how helpful it is to be that guide in someone's personal or professional life. When the fears, anxieties or uncertainties arise there is that point person that I can call for clarity or information that helps smooth out those jagged edges. Personally, I've noticed my fear comes up it when I read the contracts because the language is new to me. I fear I'm don't have enough information or knowledge in the field for due diligence. I begin to second guess myself and my choices. So I trust Ellen enough to say yes because this is her field and her team. Plus it's great to have one person that knows the big picture of the process. It is one less thing I have to manage in my busy life. Warm regards, Phoenix Phoenix Djukic Life Dynamics Say "Yes" to an Extraordinary Life Santa Barbara
"Thank you, Ellen, for helping me with things I didn't even know that I didn't know! The book production process was completed on-time to support my speaking schedule, and I'm proud of the quality of the final product. I couldn't have done it without you!" Dick Stieglitz, Author Taming the Dragons of Change in Business www.dickstieglitz.com www.dragonsofchange.com
"Ellen is a gift you want to give yourself. Her professional knowledge, team, production values, and personal caring greatly helped enable my first novel, Call of the Forbidden Way, not only to be published with great success, but to win three national book awards. If you’ve gone through all the effort to write a book, don’t stop when you’re ready to present it to the world — invest in making your work the best it can be through using Ellen to do it right!" Robert Owings
"I must first thank Ellen Reid, the person most responsible for turning my manuscript into a novel. Ellen assembled a great team, kept me focused and on target. If you find any enjoyment as you read this work then she is the one that deserves the credit. My heartfelt thanks for helping me to put it into your hands. She has been my mentor and my sensei and I am her humble grasshopper." Children of the Anunnaki by Mark Barnette
"Ellen Reid helped me mold my story into a beautiful book by placing me with excellent professionals to design the cover and interior, write the cover material, and print the final product. She gently led me through all the steps for registration, advising me, so that we produced a book we can both be proud of. I’m just beginning the marketing process and find that buyers are deeply impressed with the quality of this book." Susan Edwards McKee, Days Like Floating Water
"Exactly one year ago this week my husband decided I needed to write a book. We had no idea how to even start the process. My husband attended a seminar on writing books and felt it was too confusing and stressful. We had dinner with a dear friend a few days later. Doc mentioned this to our friend and he had the perfect answer. He said he had written a number of books and would only use Ellen Reid Book Shepherding. I contacted her office, and Ellen called me for a consultation. I told her I not only had no idea where to start but could barely use a computer. Ellen asked a bunch of questions and then explained different ways I could go about it. We decided on one way and I proceeded. Over the next year, Ellen helped me almost daily anytime I needed her she was a phone call or email away. Her team was wonderful. I know in the background things get crazy (as in any business), but Ellen never let me know anything was anything but perfect. Ellen was very encouraging ALL the time. I practice a particular type of Acupuncture and with this book Ellen will help me help thousands of people in the years to come. Ellen also helped me grow and reach levels I never dreamed of in many different areas of life. Ellen, thanks a million!" With love and gratitude, Debra Gaffney, AP
"Working with Ellen Reid was a wonderful experience. Her suggestions definitely improved the quality of my book. It was comforting to know that I could call on her experience when I had any questions." Dr. Steven M. Melemis Toronto www.makeroomforhappiness.org
"Independently published books sometimes have the look and feel of 'second-cousins' to traditionally published books.One sure-fire way to avoid this syndrome is by working with Ellen Reid. As the Book Shepherd, she puts you and your book through a rigorous process. But what emerges is a book that rivals books published by the Majors. She sets a new standard of excellence." Mara Purl, National Award-Winning Author
“Ellen, thanks for applying your artistic talent and publishing expertise to my project. The impact you have made is substantial.” Jim Hirshfield, author of Fortune & Freedom
"When I completed writing a manuscript detailing my relationship with an elderly Holocaust survivor, I realized that attempting to publish in the usual method would take far too long and might never come to fruition. Ellen Reid showed me how to successfully produce my own work into an edition in which I could take great pride. Her expertise and support through the entire process of learning the publishing business was unwavering and priceless to me. "Ms. Reid's advice and enthusiasm made pleasurable what could have been an exhausting project. Ellen's contacts are reputable and efficient, her publishing savvy remarkable and her instinct superb. I had the opportunity to choose from a wide range of possibilities when selecting materials and deciding upon the style of my book. Ms. Reid worked with me on every aspect of publishing and provided information I could never have obtained on my own. Throughout our relationship she maintained a level of quality in service, while adhering to my budget. Ellen tackled each challenge with immediate solutions and represented my best interests from start to finish. "The subject of my manuscript wept when I placed in her hands a professional and beautifully bound book. This would not have been possible without Ellen's invaluable guidance. I would encourage any writer interested in self-publishing to enlist Ellen Reid's Book Shepherding skills. "Put quite simply this woman gets the job done and does it gracefully." Colette Waddell, author of Through The Eyes of a Survivor
"Ellen's expertise in the publishing industry is legendary! Her phenomenal team is responsible for some of the most professional and well-designed books in the United States today. Ellen will help you hone your message into a product you can be proud of. Highly recommended for any author that is interested in becoming a small publisher." Jeff Keen, President & Publisher, JPX Media
"Ellen Reid is the Penny Marshall of the book industry--the individual who produces the best books, the most attractive books, the most powerful books, the most influential and award-winning books. Whatever you need to make your book a reality, from consulting on your project to the creation of your own publishing company, Ellen makes it happen...easily, powerfully, and affordably." Michael Levin, www.BusinessGhost.com, www.CelebrityGhost.com
"Ellen Reid is a savvy book publishing professional who understands not only the book business inside out, but also the needs of new authors becoming independent publishers. She assembled the right creative team for bringing my books to life and made sure that the published products could compete successfully against any other book in their genre. Many, many thanks, Ellen!" Iris R. Bell, MD PhD Author and publisher of Chew on Things - It Helps You Think: Words of Wisdom from a Worried Canine and Chew on Things Workbook for Fellow Worriers Creative Bookworm Press www.creativebookworm.com
"Ellen took my book from manuscript to masterpiece with finesse. Her experience, marvelous suggestions and guidance were invaluable. The teamwork and synergy of our collaboration, along with her strong connections to industry genius, took the mediocre to the marvelous." Marian Snow, Stop Sitting on Your Assets
"Ellen Reid has taken us from small time book publishers to a very professional production of our latest book WINNING THE PAIN GAME. Ellen and her team make her the ideal choice to enlist for producing, publishing and printing your first, second or next books with pizzazz and aplomb. Without question, Ellen has taken us to the next level, and we have a book of which we are proud." Dr. Bill Code and Denise Code, Winning the Pain Game
"Ellen Reid is a 'walking publishing encyclopedia' of information and contacts. She helped me get two books and a CD published and printed-all which I am delighted and proud about the finished products. Along the way she saved me over $6,000 in selecting the best PR firm for me and another $1.200 in negotiating with her contacts to get me the best services. In her guidance I felt protected, empowered and nurtured, so I could focus on the quality of the products." Relly Nadler, Psy.D. Leaders Playbook and Leadership Keys Field Guide www.truenorthleadership.com
"Thank you for all your help in getting my book out there to the world. Your advice has always been sound, you have always been kind and attentive, and the project would definitely not have been as good as it is without you. I’d still be pushing the manuscript around, in fact. "So what did Ellen do for me? I am a dietitian and yoga teacher with a program teaching people about healthy weight. Ellen was the one who told me that the stories of people taking my workshop were not hokey, but were indeed central to my book. She fixed me up with different editors and designers to get the book rolling in the direction I’d hoped. She ‘got’ me from day one, I have to say. We connected right off. She wanted to work with me and my book, and I wanted to be guided through the process the first time. I’d interviewed a number of shepherds, and Ellen is the one I connected with, and the one who seemed most quickly to understand what I was trying to do. "When things inevitably went wrong, Ellen was there to correct them. There was some difficulty with my content editors, and Ellen released them, which saved me cash and time. "As I worked with Ellen, I thought of it as hiring on a senior publishing professional to be part of my team. Ellen is a creative, non-linear thinker–so giving her that space and thinking of her as a team member kept my expectations realistic–unpublished authors can be a pretty dependent crew, I imagine–and emotional! "Overall, Ellen was essential to this book getting on the shelf. I really could not have done it well without her. Ellen is a lovely person and unquestionably knows her stuff. When she on your project, she is fun to work with, creative, and gets things done. "Oh, a word about the money. Was it worth it to hire her? Definitely, yes. Authors need to make sure that they have funds available to produce the book, pay for Ellen’s counsel, and do the post-production follow-up, which is not small change for most writers. But, if someone is already a successful professional, it’s a no-brainer. I think the value of the title she and her creative copy writer came up with just may be worth the whole service. "I have a much more professional and cohesive book than I would have had if it hadn’t been for Ellen. "I’d hire her again in a snap." Annie B. Kay MS. RD. RYT Every Bite is Divine
"I just received a big order from Baker and Taylor and one from BookCH as well. Each time this happens, or someone asks about the publishing process, I am reminded of why I chose this path with you and am thankful that we came together. "Have a great day!" Annette Januzzi Wick Author, I'll Be in the Car www.Illbeinthecar.com
“For the 16th edition of The Self-Publishing Manual, I turned to Ellen Reid for help. She put together a team of editors, designers, typesetters and proofreaders and produced the book in record time. Ellen can take your good book and turn it into a great book—one your readers will admire and one you will be proud of. I plan to work with Ellen again and again.” --Dan Poynter, The Self-Publishing Manual
"I thought I was paying Ellen for her time in advising and consulting with me on getting my book done. Then, when we started winning awards and I started seeing book sales, I realized it wasn't about 'time.' Sure, when everything was totaled, Ellen had put in more hours, on average, than our agreement called for. But her real value was in those split second flashes of creativity, insight and inspiration that kicked up my book from merely well done to excellent. You just can’t put a price on what those are worth. Ellen Reid is truly the Mercedes of Book Shepherds. There are lots of competent people out there who can make a book look good. Ellen made my book stand out from all the rest." This came in from one of my wonderful authors and I wanted to share it with you. Book "shepherding" is definitely my calling...I do feel I am a midwife of people's dreams." With gratitude, Ellen
Ellen is really wonderful. I am a businessperson and probably work 14 -16 hr days, seven days a week. When I hire or contract someone for a job, it is hard to find people that can be reached at any time or have the kind of work ethic that Ellen has. I was in contact with Ellen through many holidays, weekends and at all types of times of the night. She really helped create a Rolls Royce product for my company; it was my first book and it looks as if I have been in the publishing business for many years. She will save you time and money, when all is said and done, because she holds your hand through the whole process. The only thing is that she doesn't guarantee a bestseller that is your part, but as far as creating the right product, she's the best. Ata Gonzalez, G Publishing
If the pages of my book were sheet music, then Ellen Reid is the conductor of the orchestra that makes beautiful music out of the words in my book. Ellen's knowledge has guided me through the learning process of how to self-publish my book. She has been professional, patient and concerned through every step of the way. She has made sure that my book has become the best it can be, both inside with my words and outside with the cover design and all aspects regarding the producing of a grand looking book. I am very happy with Ellen's work. She is the consummate mentor. Respectfully, Marc J. Stockwell-Moniz, www.georgewashingtonsunsungheroes.com
"A very special thank you goes to my book consultant, Ellen Reid, without whom this book simply would not have happened. Your gift at being able to discern who I am and what I wanted to bring forth with this manuscript are without equal. It took me awhile to find you this time, Ellen. Next time, I'll begin with a conversation with you and save myself the aggravation!" Daniel Holden, author of Lost Between Lives: Finding Your Light when the World Goes Dark. Spring 2004.