Monday, March 27, 2006
[Internet Marketing Solutions] writing a book?
When I list the “Ten most frequently asked questions,” this one would be on the list: “I want to write a book. Should I try to get a publisher, big (like Harpers) or niche (like New Harbinger)? Create an e-book to download? Or pay for hard copies?” The answer (as usual): It depends. What do you hope to accomplish with your book? (1) Traditional publishers: Cons: Expect a long, arduous process to go from proposal to print. Most authors need an agent (and if you don’t have an agent, get an agent or lawyer to look over the contract). You have little control over cover art and jacket copy. You create your own publicity and “buzz.” And unless you create a best-seller, you won’t make a lot of money from the book. Pros: There’s no better way to create prestige. If your book is any good at all, you’ll get media publicity and speaking opportunities. You may not make a lot of money from the book itself. But you can enhance a coaching, consulting, speaking or therapy practice. I owe thousands of dollars to my own book, which is now available as a download. Click here to order. (2) Downloadable E-book Cons: Making money from e-books is more about marketing than about writing. And it’s a formula. You need to identify a market, find a topic, write the book, and convert to pdf, You absolutely, positively need a hard-hitting sales letter. And you need to help buyers fix glitches (preferably automatically). Pros: No delays! You are limited only by your writing time. Once you learn the system, you feel like you’re counterfeiting money. Your ebook can enhance your other offerings as bonuses. And, if you’ve done a good job, some of your readers will turn into clients. Need a resource? I thought I’d have to write my own, but I was excited to discover Jim Edwards beat me to it After paying for half a dozen different resources that gave hit-or-miss answers, I believe this e-book is the best value for getting started Click here to create create e-books. Learn to write copy from the Boot Camp Sergeant herself: Click here and start seeing dollar signs! (3) Hard copy self-publishing Cons: Either the best of both worlds – or the worst. You pay and often warehouse the books in your garage. Don’t choose the cheapest package. Expect to pay hefty fees for cover art. You have to be your own editor. And reviewers tend to regard self-publishers with suspicion, if not disdain. Pros: If you regularly hold workshops and/or speak to large audiences, you can sell your book in the back of the room. Coaching and consulting clients may not care who published your book: they’re just impressed to see a book, period. This article comes from my newest e-book: 101 Truths About Writing Your Book “Cathy, your book was a wonderful resource for every stage of writing a book.” Download now and start planning your book today. |
Web site marketing: Sneaky back-door ideas
Everybody’s sending out ezines. Lots of us hold teleseminars. Add yours and you’re joining a parade down Main Street. But sometimes you can find your clients if you go through the alleys and knock on back doors. Often these options seem amazingly easy – but you have to be strategic. You probably realize you can learn formulas to create effective e-zines and increase the attraction power of your website. But when using these back-door approaches, you have to play by the rules and understand what works. Example 1: Contribute to a discussion list related to your topic. Join a group whose membership matches your target market as closely as possible. You may be eligible to join a group after making a purchase. You may have a mentor group. Or you can get one and search for lists through google. For example: “professional women discussion list” or “work at home dads discussion list.” Once you feel comfortable, you can get information, show off your skills, test ideas, and generally get known among a group of prospects (or people who greatly resemble your prospects). Strategy: Once joined, it’s a good idea to “lurk” for awhile. Get a sense of the group’s mood and style. I’ve gained clients, subscribers and buyers who liked what I said. The challenge is to draw a fine line between contributing proactively and becoming a nuisance. (I must admit I tend to err on the side of enthusiasm myself!) Create a blend of asking questions and providing expertise. Example 2: Write reviews for online bookstores. As an avid and eclectic reader, I began writing reviews for amazon.com just for fun. I wrote about everything: mysteries, business books, nonfiction. To my surprise, many of my clients and subscribers found me through my reviews. When they came, they were highly motivated. Unlike readers of ezines, they came prepared to pay. After all, amazon doesn’t give away books. They typically had a credit card in one hand as they surfed with the other. Strategy: Choose best-selling books related to your topic – but not exclusively. Write carefully, using correct grammar and style. Follow the guidelines concerning what you can disclose about your business. I’ve found that I get the most response by being edgy but thoughtful, and not too long or too short. Often we find our most successful back-door strategies accidentally, just as I discovered amazon reviews as a lucrative accident. For more: Attend a teleseminar: Build your business through book reviews Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., runs Copy-Cat-Copywriting, a resource for professionals and entrepreneurs who want to sell themselves but can't afford to sound sales-y. Click here to discover the 7 best-kept secrets of client-attracting copy |
