Blog Tag Archives: zombies
Part 2: How to Create a New Product with Vervante: Quotes and Content
(Part 2 of our "How to Create a Product From Start to Finish 5-part series) How to Create a Product with Vervante: Part 2 In the second installment of this special series of articles, we will guide you through the next steps once you’ve defined the product you want to create. How to get printing cost quotes Once you've defined exactly what you want to create, you can reach out to our team to find out what it will cost to print it. We provide free quotes, all you need to know when requesting a quote are general specifications. Here are a few examples: Books: Size of book, number of pages, cover type, binding method Card decks or greeting cards: Size of cards, number of cards, packaging Planners or journals: Number of pages, page size, tabs, covers, binding, etc. To request a quote, go to the Vervante website and click on “Get a Quote” in the top right-hand corner. Fill out the required information and you will receive an email response with the quote information. Create a Vervante author account To upload files and order products, you need to create a Vervante author account. It’s free, quick, and easy. Just go to our website and click on Sign Up. Once you’re set up, you can access your Author Dashboard, which is where you can upload files for printing, place orders, and access everything from sales reports to invoice details and everything else you need to manage your account. Writing and creating content No matter what kind of product you are creating - books, planners, card decks, children's books, coloring books, etc. - it's guaranteed that you will need some amount of written content for that product. Content is just as important as design when it comes to creating a product that is both attractive and functional. Here are a few of our tips to give you a head start as you create content for your product: Writing productivity tips: Facing a blank page can be hard, but we've put together a few articles that can help you get into the zone, including: "How to overcome writing obstacles," a fun guide to zombie-proofing your book or product, and our National Novel Writing Month writing productivity guide. The importance of copy editing: Nothing can be more damaging to your products and your reputation than publishing a book or other written product that is filled with typos, errors, and incorrect information. A few mistakes here and there aren't that big of a deal, but consistent misspellings, grammar errors, and incorrect information will distract your reader and leave them with a negative perception of you, your expertise, and the message or information you share. Check out this article to learn more about the different types of editing and how important it is for the success of your product: "The Importance of Copy Editing." Understanding legal issues: Understanding how to protect your unique work and the rules you need to follow is an essential part of being an author and entrepreneur. We've published several resources and multiple blog articles about the most common issues, answering many FAQs that our customers send our way. We've included links below to articles and free guides you can access that will give you a good working knowledge of the do's and don'ts as you create your new product. What to put on your book copyright page: The copyright page is found at the front of the book, usually right after the title page. The format can be varied as there is no single accepted template for copyright pages. Generally, they will contain things like: copyright notice, ISBN, publisher information, contact information, rights and permissions, country book is printed in, author website, credits and disclaimers. Follow the link to this story, "What to Put on Your Copyright Page," and you'll see lots of examples you can use for inspiration. FREE RESOURCES Our Help Page offers a variety of free resources including product videos and guides on everything from design tips to copyrighting. Below are links to just a few of the many guides available: How to Use ISBN, LCCN, and Copyright "Can I Use That Quote?" What Authors Need to Know About Fair Use & Permissions Copyright Permissions and Fair Use How to Write a Children's Book Word Count Conversion Chart Custom-Designed Card Decks How to Create Your Own Coloring Books 7 Steps to Create the Perfect Planner In this section of our special 5-part series, we hope we shared information that has inspired and motivated you to move forward with your idea for a book or special product. Next week, we will cover what you need to know about designing your product, with insider tips to help you through the process. Links to Full Series Article #1: Getting Started Article #2: Creating Your New Product (this article) Article #3: Design and Print Files Article #4: Publishing & Printing Article #5: How to Share & Sell
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How to Zombie Proof Your Books
Emergencies happen. Fires, floods, earthquakes, pandemics. Even zombies. Whether you believe in them or not, we’re big believers in being prepared, so we created the ultimate checklist for zombie-proofing one of the liveliest parts of your business… just in case. Assemble Your Team: There is strength in numbers – whether publishing a book, growing your business, or fighting off brain-hungry hordes. If you can assemble a like-minded group of people with shared goals and dreams - you've got a fighting chance of surviving and thriving! Be sure you have an experienced publisher (like us!) who provides all the products and services you need, AND gives you access to your customers and their contact information (so you can stretegize together about future book releases or zombie attacks, your choice!) Add Human Personality: Don't let your book blend into the mindless crowd. Humanize, personalize and give it life by staying true to your unique voice, branding, and message. Content, photos, graphics, they all need to be true reflections of the real, live you. Injecting personality throughout is always a good idea. True Fact: Good design = zombie repellant: Ever see a well-dressed, stylish zombie? Neither have we. So it stands to reason that great design and beautiful covers repel the living dead. Invest in professional design for the cover and interior formatting that will impress potential readers and make them want to start doing the Thriller dance right along with you. Fortify! Have you ever seen a zombie gently reading a book? Smash-proof your products by using high quality hard covers, binders, and even leather-bound editions that stand up to wear-and-tear and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Get the Word Out: There is strength in numbers, and big sales equal big numbers that give your book – and business – lots of life. Learn how to plan and execute an Amazon Book Launch. Print out this colorful zombie-inspired checklist to breathe new life into your books, products and business Be inspired with tips for sharing the word by reading “17 Strategies for Boosting Book Sales” Learn how to share your message worldwide with “How to Sell Your Book Online.” Elevate Heart Rates: Keep things lively by providing extras with your books such as posters, bookmarks, worksheets, wristbands, t-shirts, anything that elevates heart rates. They can even act as useful protection tools in case of attack. Wasn’t there an episode of Walking Dead where they staved off an attack using distracting adult coloring books, Sharpies, and a big roll of stickers? Automate Your Sales: Life in underground shelters escaping the hordes can really mess with orderly business function. Use a publisher like Vervante that takes care of everything from sales to fulfillment, packaging and shipping so your books can still make their way to customers while you’re off the grid. Plan Ahead: Follow in the noble paths of our government by planning ahead like with the Pentagon’s CONOP 8888 Plan (real!), and the CDC’s official Zombie Preparedness Plan (also real!) Check out the link to their Zombie Novella for a printable zombie preparedness checklist. See the full Department of Defense plan HERE. Or, easiest and best for your business, download our zombie-proof checklist by clicking HERE. Have a Backup Plan: Include a flash drive with your book that has bonus digital files on it. Easy to transport, keeps your files safe, and can be used almost anywhere, like zombie shelters with USB ports. Bonus Step (If you survive): When the dust settles and we emerge from World War Z alongside Brad Pitt blinking in the sunlight, the first thing we’ll need to do is accumulate enough wealth to rebuild. Be sure to request our expert guide with 100 Publishing Tips (click on the "Get it Here" link at the top of this page) to help you get a head start on creating the book or printed product of your dreams. Because when it comes to zombies - head starts are always a good thing! Did you laugh? We hope so. But we hope you also recognized the useful tips and practical ideas we hid in between the lines. Business is serious, but should be fun, too. Thanks for letting us have a little fun with you today. *Brought to you by Vervante: A source you can trust for high-quality, zombie-proof books and products.
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How to Zombie-proof your Info Products
Zombies, zombies everywhere. Turn on the TV, go to the movies and you’ll see – an invasion is inevitable. Even the CDC has an official Zombie Preparedness page on their website. Whether you think zombies are real or not, we’re big believers in being prepared, so we created this guide for zombie-proofing your information products and books … just in case. Step 1: STEP LIVELY: Don't be just another walker in the crowd. Humanize your product and give it life by staying true to your unique voice and message. Content, photos, graphics, they all need to be true reflections of the real, live you. Step 2: CREATE A DISTRACTION: True fact: Great design is a proven zombie protection technique. Invest in professional design for the cover and interior formatting that impresses approaching zombies with color, graphics and branding wow. It’ll make them want to start dancing along with you, Thriller-style. Step 3: ELEVATE HEART RATES: Keep things lively by providing complementary extras with your info product such as posters, bookmarks, worksheets, wristbands, t-shirts... anything that elevates heart rates. They can even act as useful protection tools in case of attack. Wasn’t there an episode of “24” where Kiefer Sutherland took out 200 zombies with a t-shirt, 3 writing pens, and a big roll of stickers? Step 4: PROTECT & FORTIFY: Have you ever seen a zombie gently reading a book? Neither have we! Smash-proof your products by choosing a publishing company that uses only high-quality materials and offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Step 5: HAVE A BACKUP PLAN: Include a flash drive with your info product that has all the digital files for your product on it in. Easy to transport, keeps your files safe, and can be used almost anywhere, like underground zombie shelters with USB ports. BONUS STEP (IF YOU SURVIVE): When the dust settles and we emerge from World War Zombie alongside Brad Pitt blinking in the sunlight, the first thing we’ll need to do is accumulate enough wealth to rebuild. Be sure to download this expert guide about the Top 3 Products You Can Create for Instant Income by clicking HERE, and you’ll have a big head start for your business. Which is always a good thing when it comes to zombies, right?! Bottom line? Whether you believe in zombies or not, popular media seems to think an invasion is inevitable. So we figure, why not be ready? Happy Halloween! **Brought to you by the publishing (and zombie) experts at Vervante: A source you can trust for high-quality, zombie-proof products.
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