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Posts Tagged ‘Write a book’

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!

Before you read the grand finale on affiliate marketing, be sure to go back and read Parts 1-4, if you haven’t already.  They’ll help you tie up any loose ends about the common mistakes people make as well as the wonderful benefits and expert tips for affiliate marketing success.

Here are the two questions people ask me all the time:

“What is the best tip you can give me, Melanie, about affiliate marketing so I can start making some money?”  And “What’s the best way to start?”

The answer to both those questions is the same. You need to focus on finding the RIGHT people to promote and recommend to others.

GET TO KNOW potential affiliate partners first.  Follow them on Twitter, befriend them on Facebook, communicate through emails, attend some of their free teleseminars, opt in to their list, and read their blogs.  Observe what they are doing and how they conduct themselves to decide if you resonate with them or not.

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There’s a little parrot that sits on my shoulder that criticizes me ALL the time.

Okay, I’ll admit it.  I’m neurotic.  I’m a perfectionist.  So what?  There’s got to be at least ONE other person like me on the planet!

I take my writing (blogging) seriously.  Is there something wrong with that?  I know I’m not writing a novel, an essay, or a resume.  Oh, darn, there goes that pesky parrot sounding off again …

“Maybe you’re just not cut out for this blogging thing.”

Wrong.  You’re dead wringer wrong.  I AM cut out for this blogging thing.

I just happen to think that proofreading, editing, and re-writing makes for a better blog post.  I might add that proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling count in my book, too.

So is THAT a sin?!

Uh-Oh.  I really wish I hadn’t asked that question.  Too late.  Here comes an unwelcomed remark from that blinking bird …

“Oh for the love of God! It’s just a blog post.”

I’ve been listening to this parrot forever and when I sit down to start blogging, I’d like to shove an old dirty sock in its mouth!

Oh, brother.  I knew it.  I could feel it coming.  As always, the parrot’s got to have the last word …

“You can’t be serious.  You’re not going to publish THAT, are you?”

Do you have a parrot sitting on your shoulder?  An inner critic?  Or am I the only one?

Some of the most prolific writers, speakers, marketers, coaches, and bloggers, like Chris Brogan, invite you and encourage you to think about the importance of story in your life.

Take a deep breath, go out on a limb, gamble a bit, and tell your story.

Unmasking what’s behind your programs, products, and services is the most compelling piece of marketing strategy you own.  Nothing is more powerful than chiseling away at the exterior to reveal the human spirit within.

Business building aside …

When I crossed over that scary imaginary line and decided to stop keeping my story a big fat secret, I felt a genuine sense of relief.  Not to sound cliché, but the process was very cathartic.  Afterward I realized it was really what I needed to do all along.  I needed to stop fighting the reluctance and the resistance and find the gumption to just do it.

Courage is a strange animal and an even stranger phenomenon.  Once you embrace a tidbit of courage, bucketsful seem to emerge.

I can tell you emphatically, vociferously, and vehemently that telling your story will take you directly down a path to “finding your voice”.  It will literally cement you in to a whole new way of thinking, working, engaging, and living your life.

What’s the importance of story in your life?

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!

I sent a Facebook message to Donna Kozik of “My Big Business Card” and “Write A Book In A Weekend” on Friday. She responded quickly. I wrote her again on Saturday. Got another reply. Sent her a note of thanks and appreciation. Received a warm, genuine compliment in return and a promise to send me some new, exciting affiliate promotional materials soon. Trust me, they’ll be in my mailbox in a jiffy pop!

Every single time I reach out to Connie Green of “Build An Online Empire With Connie Ragen Green”, I not only get a timely response, I get the most beautiful words of encouragement. Imagine that!? I don’t have to question Connie’s intentions, I know she sincerely gives a hoot about her affiliates.

I felt as proud as a peacock when Cathy Goodwin of “Copy Cat Copywriting” actually thanked me, publicly, for my loyalty on one of her Thursday copywriting Cat Chats. Does it get any better than that!?

Michael Katz of “Blue Penguin Development” and “E-Newsletter System” is another story. When I saw the exceptional value of what Michael had to offer (and his refreshing sense of humor), I went looking for his affiliate sign-up page. There was none. So I started sending him messages – pronto! He wrote back to tell me that he had turned off his affiliate program. Long story short. I gave him the proverbial “nudge” and he re-opened it again. He emailed me to say “thanks” for giving him the push to light it up again! He added a little compliment by saying that I was “convincing”.

Jessica Swanson of “Shoestring Marketing” makes me feel like I’m the most special Twitter follower in the whole wide world … the whole world wide web! Enough said.

I recall when I wanted to become an affiliate for blogger extraordinaire, Denise Wakeman, of “The Blog Squad”. At the time, she was re-vamping her affiliate program. But … she religiously followed up with me over a period of time and made certain that the sign-up process went smoothly. She checked, double-checked, and triple-checked in with me. Amazing.

I could go on and on …

However, are you seeing a pattern here? As an affiliate, HEARING from the online marketing experts you’ve aligned yourself with is a good sign that you’re promoting the right people.

If you’re looking for worthwhile affiliate programs and professionals that will treat you with dignity and respect (plus great follow up), go to the top of this page and click “Melanie Recommends”.