If working from home is new to you, you're probably realizing that it's not everything Instagram made it out to be. You know what we're talking about: Fresh croissants, fancy coffees, spotless offices, and children and pets that quietly entertain themselves in the background. If you're laughing right now, you get it.
Life has thrown us a curve ball, but we're confident that we can all rise to the challenge and create a "new normal" that works. So if you're getting a little frustrated and trying to figure out how to make this whole work at home thing work, we're sharing a few tips our staff swears helps them to stay sane, be productive, and even enjoy their days a little bit more.
#1 Have a Designated Workspace
If you don't have a home office, find a space in your house and declare it as "officially yours" while you're working from home. It can be the breakfast bar, a writing desk in your living room, or the unused fancy dining room table. The idea is to use it just for work and nothing else. Creating a designated work area solely for the purpose of completing work-related tasks is critical for increasing productivity and reducing distractions.
# 2 Know Your Peak Performance Times
Are you a morning person? A night owl? We all have certain times in the day when we're more productive. Working from home gives you the freedom to adjust your hours to fit your peak performance times. For example, if you are best during early morning hours, head to your "office" at 5 a.m. for a few hours of creative writing before the kids get up, then schedule exercise, conference calls, social media and other breaks from work for later in the afternoon.
#3 Get Outside/ Get Active
Fresh air does wonders for your mind. A little bit of cardio will do even more. Take breaks from work by stepping out into your backyard to soak up some sun, or taking your dog or kids on a quick walk. Mother Nature gives us plenty of space to be outside while still social distancing. Plus some of the benefits of exercise include boosting energy, creativity, focus and productivity.
We’re not going to beat around the bush here, the best way to publish your book or product is to FIRST sell from your site, THEN use Amazon Marketplace to pick up a few more sales. We suggest that you drive all of your social media promotions, advertising, email campaigns, etc. to your site so that you process the order and have access to all information - including who your customer is. We’ll take it from there to print and ship your book or product to your customer.
Building a Strong Author Platform
To put it very simply MORE PEOPLE = MORE SALES. You need to develop and nurture an audience filled with interested and loyal fans who will buy from you, promote for you, and sustain your sales both during a launch and for the long-term.
Successful authors understand the importance of building an audience BEFORE they launch – and keeping their audience active and involved for sustained sales and growth when it comes to their books, products and business.
Vervante is the only publisher that encourages our authors and customers to sell directly from your site so that you process the transaction, make more money, and more importantly – capture the customer data and build your email list.
(Amazon DOES NOT share that info with you. When you publish using Amazon’s program KDP, they consider the person who buys your book as THEIR customer, not yours, so they don’t share.)
Easy Book Sales & Processing
We set up your listing on Amazon, we receive orders directly from Amazon, we process, print and ship those orders quickly and efficiently. All the details (except the email address because Amazon doesn’t share this with us) are posted to your Author Dashboard so you can check anytime and from anywhere. You can be confident that the entire process is being handled by professionals, and devote your time and attention to what matters most (writing your next book, nurturing your author platform, playing with your kids, etc.)
Bigger Royalties
We can list your book using the Amazon Marketplace option, which offers much better royalty rates than using Amazon’s publishing program KDP. While KDP takes a 40% commission, Marketplace only takes 15% commission.
We also have a strict policy against marking up postage or charging inflated “handling” fees. Some of our competitors add a markup of 33% on postage! Just think how this can really add up over time. We charge exact postage fees and no mark-ups.
More Control
SELL WHERE YOU WANT: Using Amazon Marketplace gives you the ability to also sell your book in other locations like your own website or other online bookstores. Keeping control of your book sales in this way gives you the ability to have the best of both worlds:
A listing on Amazon that establishes your professionalism and credibility
The freedom to be creative with special events and sales offers on your own website through bundles, coupons, promotions, etc. (also great for building your author platform).
CUSTOM PACKAGING: The Amazon smile box is nice, but we can ensure your book stands out from the crowd with custom packaging and personalized packing slips. We offer a wide range of packaging from boxes to bags to creative options that you can customize to make your book or products really stand out. And every package we send out includes a packing slip that you can customize.
GLOBAL SHIPPING: Don’t hold back! We can ship your book anywhere in the world and keep you up to date on its status. Shipping confirmation emails are sent to recipients with tracking information. And all order information such as status and tracking numbers are posted to your account online.
If you have more questions about how Vervante can help you list and sell your book through Amazon in a way that benefits you - the author - we're here to help. Email us at [email protected] or schedule a call with one of our publishing experts using our online calendar.
The coaching industry has never been hotter than it is now! The problem with big growth, however, is facing the challenge of how to stand out among your peers. No matter what type of coaching you offer – business, life, health, fitness, finance, relationships – most experts agree that focusing on 3 strategic elements is the key to elevating your presence in the industry: 1) You, 2) Your Audience and 3) the Unique Results You Get.
If you are a coach and you want to stand out from the crowd, we have exactly what you need to shine a spotlight on these 3 things and give people a taste of your unique brilliance.
#1 (YOU): NOTHING IS MORE PERSONAL THAN A BOOK
If there was just one perfect place to share your thoughts, ideas, strategies, tips and everything that makes you “you,” then it would be a BOOK.
As a coach, you are a huge part of your business brand, especially when you’re starting out, that’s why it’s important to differentiate your brand based on how YOU are different. One way to share “You” is to let people experience you in a format that’s easy to share – a book.
Books and booklets are still one of the best ways to establish your authority, create a product for generating leads, support business growth, and so much more. “Free Plus Shipping” offers providing readers with free books for just the price of postage are just one of the ways to leverage a book to grow your coaching business.
#2 (YOUR AUDIENCE): WOW THEM WITH A CURATED VIP BOX
Another way to differentiate your coaching business is to strategically identify and connect with your audience. You must show them that you are in touch with what they need, understand their desires, and can help them reach their goals.
A great product to help you connect with your audience in a very personal way is a VIP or SUBSCRIPTION BOX. Custom printed boxes filled with items can be used for a 1-time gift, an introductory offer, to welcome a new member of a program, or as an entry-level product to let people get to know you better.
These boxes will wow as your clients or customers will be treated to a carefully curated assortment of goodies you decide on. Here at Vervante we can help you create a customized box with beautiful graphics on the outside, and products that can be included such as journals, daily planners, notepads, stickers, USB flash drives, card decks, and more.
#3 (YOUR UNIQUE RESULTS): DAILY PLANNERS NEVER FAIL
Every coach has their own “secret sauce,” that special way they connect with people and help them take action and get results. It’s your secret sauce that can help you stand out big time, and inspire people to work with you more.
One of the best products we’ve ever seen for sharing a message, helping others to take action and get results, and letting your own style and personality shine through is a DAILY PLANNER.
A daily planner is easy to make, share and sell. We’ve helped hundreds of coaches create their own, or customize our unbranded ones, and help them set up to share and sell through Amazon and their own website.
Daily planners are great for showing how you work, providing support for action and goal-getting, and sharing your special sauce throughout in the way you do it. Daily planners are great for establishing your authority as someone you can trust. It not only provides your clients with space for daily planning but also keeps your coaching front and center in a positive and memorable way.
If any of these ideas strikes your fancy and you’d like to learn more, we’re here to help. For questions email our publishing pros at [email protected]. For brainstorm sessions, schedule a 1-on-1 phone call with our CEO, Cindy Tyler, by clicking HERE.
If working from home is new to you, you're probably realizing that it's not everything Instagram made it out to be. You know what we're talking about: Fresh croissants, fancy coffees, spotless offices, and children and pets that quietly entertain themselves in the background. If you're laughing right now, you get it.
We’re not going to beat around the bush here, the best way to publish your book or product is to FIRST sell from your site, THEN use Amazon Marketplace to pick up a few more sales. We suggest that you drive all of your social media promotions, advertising, email campaigns, etc. to your site so that you process the order and have access to all information - including who your customer is. We’ll take it from there to print and ship your book or product to your customer.
The coaching industry has never been hotter than it is now! The problem with big growth, however, is facing the challenge of how to stand out among your peers. No matter what type of coaching you offer – business, life, health, fitness, finance, relationships – most experts agree that focusing on 3 strategic elements is the key to elevating your presence in the industry: 1) You, 2) Your Audience and 3) the Unique Results You Get.