One of the core components of a book’s success is its Title.

Let’s face it, titles sell books, plus they make you famous. (Just ask Tim Ferris of “The Four Hour Work Week” fame).  He tested title after title until finding one he felt confident would sell. Things worked out pretty well for him, wouldn’t you agree?

But how do you know if your book’s title is a good one?

It’s a tricky situation.

The story goes that Tim tested his possible titles to his target market via Google Adwords and chose the one that received the most clicks knowing it would be a winner on the shelves.

Although it’s a great idea and seemed to work well for him, it can be an expensive proposition for the rest of us!

I can tell you that “guessing” on a title that sounds good to you and a few friends isn’t a good strategy. In fact it could be downright embarrassing if your title flops.

Now, however, there is a way you can test your book’s title with the help of a group of your peers, plus a book writing and publishing pro, to see if it has potential.

Donna Kozik of Write A Book In A Weekend is hosting a free call centered on the important topic of book titles.  And she’s making it fun with a “studio audience” of our peers voting on potential titles to say whether a title is “hot…or not.”

Donna is calling the free call “Title Idol” and you can find out all the details, plus get access to Donna’s “How to Determine a Winning Book Title” article here:  The Title of Your Book

Donna is promising to make this free call both fun and informative!

Marketing no longer means going to the grocery store. It’s a broad term used by businesses that can encompass everything from letterhead and logos to contests and tradeshows. Is it any wonder that people with great ideas for products or services often get tripped up or discouraged when asked about their marketing plan?

In a nutshell, your marketing plan is the strategy, or actions and materials, you use to attract new customers and sales. Ideally, you develop an ongoing relationship with your customer by building a foundation of trust in you, and in your product. The process can feel complex and somewhat overwhelming at its inception, but, once mastered, can yield amazing results.

The truth is if you have any successful friendships (which I know you do) you already know the basic premise behind building solid relationship foundations. It is that relationship that compels your potential customers to take action and purchase your products and services… again and again.

To help you develop a winning formula and create a successful marketing plan, follow these guidelines:

• Strategize your method of delivery. You have to get your message and your brand into the marketplace. When deciding how and when to deliver your materials, remember that people are busy, suffering from information overload and you have a limited amount of time to capture their attention. (Usually just a few seconds.) Once you pique their curiosity you can provide them with more material but don’t overwhelm them by asking them to digest it all at once.
• Understand your buyer and their needs. Take the time to research, listen to feedback and predict what your customers want and need. Flexibility is the key here. Your buyers might want more from you than what you originally had to offer… figure out how to get it to them and you’ve got a repetitive and reliable customer.
• Highlight your uniqueness. Let your customers know what makes you different and emphasize those differences in your messages. Small differences presented effectively can be the determining factor.
• Concentrate on developing the emotional connection. Invite your customers to get to know you on a personal level. People prefer to do business with other people rather than invisible corporations. Make sure you have a visible and personalized profile. Write about yourself in your blogs and newsletters and include photos of yourself.
• Monkey see, monkey do. There’s no need to start from scratch when developing a marketing plan. Analyze successful tactics from other businesses and mimic the strategies they utilize. Choose a method and modify it to fit the needs of your audience and the products and services you provide.
• Telling versus selling. Connections are easily established when people feel they have something in common. When you market your message by telling a story your audience can more easily relate to you. And besides, who doesn’t love a good story?

Think of your marketing plan as your roadmap to success. Figure out where your audience wants to go (understand your buyers needs), describe why they should go on this trip (tell them a story), emphasize why riding with you is the best option (highlight your uniqueness), select a comfortable and reliable mode of transportation (your method of delivery), find out what they hope to see along the way (give ‘em what they want), choose a route (no need to build new roads to get from point A to B), take some photos along the way (enhance the emotional connection), ask them where they want to go next and remind them of all the fun you had on your trip.

Until next time… happy trails and I hope to see you on the road!

Donna Kozik is a two-time award winning author who has been featured in Woman’s Day, Women’s World, Teen People, The L.A. Times, The Baltimore Sun, NPR’s “Marketplace” and other media. She now shows others how to write and publish a book fast and easy to use as a “big business card.” She does this through “Write a Book in a Weekend” live and virtual events.

To find out more —> GO HERE

Many people want to write a book, yet don’t know where to start or don’t consider themselves “good writers.” These five tips will give you food for thought when it comes to writing yours.

BOOK WRITING TIP 1: Select a topic that’s an “inch wide, mile deep.” It’s easier and faster to write, and readers like books that are very topic specific.

BOOK WRITING TIP 2: Keep your book short & powerful-it doesn’t have to be your version of “War and Peace.” The upside of this type of book is that it’s easier for people to read in one sitting or while on a plane ride.

BOOK WRITING TIP 3: The key to getting finished is getting started! It sounds simple, yet it’s very true. There’s power just in getting started.

BOOK WRITING TIP 4: Start writing where you’re most passionate. It might not be Chapter One and instead could be Chapter Five. Again, the key is to get started and build momentum.

BOOK WRITING TIP 5: Don’t consider yourself a writer? “Talk” your book. Record, transcribe, edit and – wah lah – you have a completed manuscript.

For more book writing and book publishing information, join in a special teleseminar series being conducted by my friend and colleague Donna Kozik. You can find out more here, plus see a cool video Donna put together with a tip on how to build buzz for your book-before you even start writing it!