Blog Tag Archives: books
Overcoming Writing Obstacles: 6 Strategies for Staying On Task
Admit it. You more than likely have some little Achilles heel. Whether it’s “Downton Abbey” or Facebook or some sort of App addiction (Angry Birds, anyone?), it’s innocent enough, right? But what if it’s those very same diversions – or even mistaken assumptions – that are standing between you and your dreams? If you have a writing dream you’re just itching to share with the world, take stock of your opportunities then weigh them against the distractions or assumptions that are holding you back from OWNING those opportunities. Is fear your biggest obstacle? Often people, especially perfectionists, put things off, fearing they won’t meet expectations. A good cure: put your dream in writing, set daily goals, and find a trusted friend or mentor to cheer you on and help you hold yourself accountable. Can’t find time to write? Just do it! Success expert Brian Tracy said the greatest key to success is self-discipline. “It is the difference in winning or losing; between greatness and mediocrity.” If you really want to write, make writing your job. Pen it into your daily schedule -- with exclamation points! Schedule it like an important appointment. And when it’s time to “clock in” plan to stay put for some serious butt-glued-to-the-chair writing. Is too much structure a roadblock to your creativity? If the rebel in you requires a brainless “mindsuck” every once in a while, building downtime into your writing schedule should help you stay focused while allowing the freedom and flexibility your free spirit craves. Is electronic media standing in your way? Unplug! (Your dream is worth it!) Turn off the phone or tablet. Disconnect the Internet. Set a goal to check email, the news, or social media accounts only after you’ve met your productivity goals for the day or a set time period. Too many interruptions? If you find your writing going nowhere due to distractions from friends and family, take control! Put a sign on your door or a message on your voicemail telling the world you’re hard at work. If that’s not enough, co-op a little babysitting/petsitting trade-off with a family member or neighbor or offer older kids a reward if they’ll hole themselves up elsewhere in the house to allow you at least 30 to 60 of uninterrupted writing time. Plagued with too many ideas? Don’t overdo it! Cramming too many topics into a writing session can hamper the free flow of thought and interfere with your ability to produce high-quality work. Do yourself a favor (and save a headache!) by limiting yourself to just one subject per writing session. Your non-exploding brain will thank you. By implementing these strategies, not only will you be amazed at your increased productivity and zest for writing, you’ll also develop greater confidence in your ability to meet your goals and achieve your writing dream.
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6 Secrets for a Successful Amazon Book Launch
Your book is written – now is the time when thoughts often turn to an Amazon book launch. But where to start? Is there a secret formula? Seeing your book in print is a big deal, but seeing it posted on Amazon is even bigger. However, you can’t just post a book on Amazon and hope that it does well. After years of helping our clients with Amazon book launches, we’ve learned that there are 6 essential elements that form the secret formula for a successful online debut. Preparation Is Key: In order to organize an effective book launch on Amazon, it is absolutely essential that you plan ahead, creating an organized timeline of 4-6 weeks of preparation that builds in enough time for every step of the process in order to get the results you are looking for. Choose a date for your launch that coordinates best with your goals and does not land on a weekend, holiday or day before a holiday. Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays are usually the best.* Establish Amazon Mission Control: In order to track results on Amazon, be sure to create an “Author Central” page where you can log in to watch sales statistics and more. It’s also a good idea to set up an “About the Author” page ahead of the day of the launch as well. Niche Yourself: Choosing a niche category for your book is essential to becoming a best seller on Amazon. For example, instead of designating “Gardening” as your category, go deeper into your niche and choose “herb gardens” or “tomatoes.” This greatly increases your potential to achieve coveted “bestseller” status. You do not need to sell thousands of books to become an Amazon bestseller. With a niche category, you may only need to sell 100 to reach your goal. Create Win-Win Relationships: Many authors leverage joint-venture or affiliate relationships to support marketing and sales before and during their Amazon book launch. You can do this on your own, or consult with a professional who already knows the ropes and can assist you in this part of your launch. Post Reviews Ahead of Time: Once your book is listed online, but before the official launch day, send copies of the book to a select group of readers and ask them to post their reviews directly on the page. This way, on the day of the launch, potential buyers who may be on the fence will see them right away. Provide Extra Value for Your Readers: The way that Amazon is set up, there is no way for you to know who is purchasing your book unless they tell you themselves. Here’s a great way to provide even more of value to your audience, while also giving you the ability to capture their contact information: On the day of your big launch, instead of sending potential readers directly to Amazon, direct them to a landing website page you have set up where they will opt in to receive a free offer or bonus product and then be directed to the Amazon page to complete their purchase. This is a win-win-win situation. Your readers get a free bonus – you have now captured their contact information AND you’ve boosted your sales to reach your goal.
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The Ultimate Book-Publishing Checklist
When you're ready to publish your next book, be sure to access this information-packed ultimate checklist to make sure you're prepared and ready to go. (Love it? For a printable version, click here)
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How a book can boost your bottom line
Having a well-written and professionally published book can give a huge boost to your business bottom line. As a business professional, writing a book puts you head and shoulders above your competition. You now have a unique and powerful competitive edge. Publishing a book can help you: Gain credibility and influence. Become known as the expert in your field. Expand your business and get the competitive edge over your competition. Demonstrate your passion and commitment to your business. Receive invitations to speak: As a published author your chances of being booked for speaking opportunities increases and with it the opportunity to share your message and your book from the stage. You may also command higher speaking and consulting fees. Back of the room sales: This goes along with public speaking. Often you can negotiate the right to feature your book for sale at the back of the room where you are engaged to speak. Guest appearances: These are not just for the Oprah crowd anymore. Reach out to online radio and talk shows, webinar producers, YouTube channels and more that focus on your topic and offer to share your knowledge, insight and information about your book with them. This is a great way to address new audiences and boost your visibility. Host paid webinars: Using online or conference calling systems, your book offers you a platform from which you can offer your insight or expertise online to those desiring a closer connection and extended insights from you, the author. Writing a book gives you a quality product to use in building a new career or enhancing the one you have. Your book will add an extraordinary dimension to your life. Moreover, your book can also open the door to speaking, publicity, consulting and other new opportunities. By leveraging your status as a published author, your book can be a powerful marketing and promotional tool for you and your business. Once you have a manuscript ready to go, look to print-on-demand (POD) publishing as an immediate and cost-effective solution. With POD publishing, you can offer your book for sale or distribution through a website, retail channels such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble or in-person at special events. POD can be used for many different scenarios, such as: A large corporation order for several thousand handbooks for the next annual meeting. A family reunion where 50 copies of great-grandfather’s life story will be shared. Several hundred copies of a marketing lead-generator booklet to be used as a complimentary gift at a special event or as a gift-bag goodie. A speaker’s back-of-room sales book, with enough ordered to meet the needs of each individual speaking event, no matter the size or location. No matter whether you are a community cookbook author or a Vegas-headlining motivational speaker, POD publishing is definitely worth taking a closer look at – and channeling to help you achieve your goals and dreams.
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