Have you ever dreamed of writing a book that would establish you as an expert worthy of attention? Have you seen authors get attention at seminars or on TV and thought, “I wish that was ME”? Writing a book is easier than you think when you know a few insider secrets. One kind of book above all others is the easiest to write, and you’re about to discover how to write it–a TIPS book.
You probably already know that authors get all the attention. It’s because people innately trust authors. So if you are an expert in your niche, or if you are a business owner (which still makes you an expert) without a book, it’s time to write one. In fact, becoming an author is essential, and it should be moved off the “someday I’ll” list and onto the “Do it now” list.
Anything is easier when you have a system, so that is what I am about to share with you. I’m giving you the “easy button” steps to write a book. And remember, you don’t have to write 300 or even 200 pages to be the author of a “real book.”
You are an expert in something (probably several “somethings”), and no doubt you know some of the insider strategies or shortcuts that people crave. Everyone wants the easy way, right? If you have ways to save someone time, make something simple, or improve results, you have the makings of a tips book.
The easy path is to write a “tips book.” This is simply a whole list of tips with a few paragraphs about each one. I’ll show you how, step by step, right now.
I am going to give you a step by step trail of breadcrumbs to follow, but first, I know you have this question, because just about everybody does…
“How long does my book have to be?”
The answer is, “It’s up to you.” There is no Law written somewhere on stone tablets saying “this many pages maketh a book.” One of my books is 152 pages. Another is 32. They’re both books and they both make me officially “an author.”
If you go to an online bookseller and put “tips” into the search box, you will discover there are no rules. Whether you have 101, 369, 365 or 88, it’s still a book.
Example: A gifted cook could write a book sharing 65 simple baking techniques your grandma never taught you. Each page would have the tip and a few paragraphs of explanation. Why is this method for how to write a book so powerful?
Because – You have all the information you need already. There is no research. – It doesn’t take much time. You can write a tips book in a weekend if you wish. – When your book is done (which will happen in a very short amount of time), you will prove to yourself that you can write a book.
How to write your tips book, step by step:
1. Write the tips.
You may decide to use your word processor or use more “old timey” methods like a pad of paper or a stack of index cards. Just write each tip, in full or in your own shorthand.
2. Write the tips book.
Write each tip at the top of a page. Leave a few blank spaces and then write the explanation. You decide the length, but tips are by nature quick. So don’t get carried away.
Insider writing secrets – Write to one person not to “you guys.” Only one person is reading the book. – Make sure you give your reader a reason to visit your website, such as a free downloadable gift. – The end of the book is the beginning of a relationship, so make an irresistible offer to your reader at the end of the book.
Congratulations! You are on your way to becoming an author and being perceived as an Instant VIP. Get more guidance at TheInstantVIP.com/laborday.htm.
Did you ever feel just a little bit jealous of the experts who get interviewed on prestigious TV talk shows or news magazines? Perhaps you’ve noticed that one thing in particular sets these guests apart from others in their field: They are all authors of books. Now you will discover an easy way for YOU to see your own name on the cover of your very own book simply by answering frequently asked questions (FAQs)
People innately trust authors and esteem them more highly than non-authors. So if you are an expert in your niche, or if you are a small business owner (which still
makes you an expert) without a book, it’s time to write one. In fact, becoming an author is mission critical for any business owner.
But maybe you don’t have any idea how to write a book or think that it will be hard. Like anything else, writing a book is easy when you have a system. While there are many ways to write your book, I am going to share one of the easiest ways, and I am going to walk you through putting together your own book so that you can be a published author.
Since you already “know your stuff” thoroughly, no doubt you already have a good handle on the biggest or most common questions people have. You can probably rattle off a dozen of them without scratching your head. So why not write a Q&A book?
Before I show you how, step by step, I know you want to know this…
Question: “How many do you need?
Answer: It’s entirely up to you. There is no standard length for what makes “a book.” For the most part, you want your book to be under 200 pages, and preferably much less than that. People want “the easy button” these days, to whatever length you choose, make your book as easy to read and follow as possible.
How to Write a Question & Answer Book
There are a couple of good approaches you can use to assemble your book.
Approach #1: Write a list of the frequently asked questions you get in your business. These will become the chapter titles for your book.
Approach #2: have your customers TELL you what their biggest questions are so that you can answer them in your book.
Example: If you are writing a book about growing prize-winning roses, you will sit down and write all the questions you typically get about roses, soil, fertilizer and so forth. Or you will put up a simple webpage or use a pile of index cards and a submission box to poll your current customers.
Now for the “how to”:
Phase 1: Make a list of FAQs (frequently asked questions) for your book.
1. Give yourself a half hour to an hour of uninterrupted time. 2. Write down all the common questions you typically get from customers and prospects. You can either write each question on an index card, write them all on paper or write them into your word processing program. I recommend using index cards because you only have one small piece of information later, and you can so easily organize the cards into themes. 3. Once time is up, leave the info where you can easily add to it later. 4. The next day, give yourself a half hour. Read over your list and add to it as needed..
Phase 2: Organize the questions into a meaningful “flow”.
1. Put all your questions in front of you and ask yourself, “How can I organize these in the simplest possible way?” 2. Put the questions into a sensible order. 3. Look for “chunks” of related questions. Perhaps your book will have Part 1, 2, and 3 with related questions in each section.
Watch the video about this at http://screenr.com/uxR
Phase 3: Write your book
To write your book, simply follow the “outline” you have created with these questions. Since you are the expert, there will be little if any research. You might find it helpful to give yourself a target page range for each chapter, such as three to five pages. Or you may simply let yourself write until it feels like “enough.” That is up to you.
Remember – Write in a friendly style as if you are talking to a good friend over a coffee.. – Give enough information to answer the question but not too much. – Never try to edit while you write. Those are two completely different processes in the brain.
Congratulations! You now know how to write a question and answer book that sets you apart as the go-to expert in your field, niche or community. Please accept my gift to you – a 10-part multimedia mini-course on how to write a book that boosts your business at ProfitableStorytelling.com/writeabook.
Did you ever feel just a little bit jealous of the experts who get interviewed on prestigious TV talk shows or news magazines? Perhaps you’ve noticed that one thing in particular sets these guests apart from others in their field: They are all authors of books. Now you will discover an easy way for YOU to see your own name on the cover of your very own book.
People innately trust authors and esteem them more highly than non-authors. So if you are an expert in your niche, or if you are a small business owner (which still makes you an expert) without a book, it’s time to write one. In fact, becoming an author is mission critical for any business owner.
But maybe you don’t have any idea how to write a book or think that it will be hard. Like anything else, writing a book is easy when you have a system. While there are many ways to write your book, I am going to share one of the easiest ways, and I am going to walk you through putting together your own book so that you can be a published author.
How to Write a Question and Answer Book
Since you already “know your stuff” thoroughly, no doubt you already have a good handle on the biggest or most common questions people have. You can probably rattle off a dozen of them without scratching your head. So why not write a Q&A book?
Before I show you how, step by step, I know you want to know this…
Question: “How many do you need?
Answer: It’s entirely up to you. There is no standard length for what makes “a book.” For the most part, you want your book to be under 200 pages, and preferably much less than that. People want “the easy button” these days, to whatever length you choose, make your book as easy to read and follow as possible.
How to Write a Question & Answer Book
There are a couple of good approaches you can use to assemble your book.
Approach #1: Write a list of the frequently asked questions you get in your business. These will become the chapter titles for your book.
Approach #2: have your customers TELL you what their biggest questions are so that you can answer them in your book.
Example: If you are writing a book about growing prize-winning roses, you will sit down and write all the questions you typically get about roses, soil, fertilizer and so forth. Or you will put up a simple webpage or use a pile of index cards and a submission box to poll your current customers.
Now for the “how to”:
Phase 1: Make a list of FAQs (frequently asked questions) for your book.
1. Give yourself a half hour to an hour of uninterrupted time. 2. Write down all the common questions you typically get from customers and prospects. You can either write each question on an index card, write them all on paper or write them into your word processing program. I recommend using index cards because you only have one small piece of information later, and you can so easily organize the cards into themes. 3. Once time is up, leave the info where you can easily add to it later. 4. The next day, give yourself a half hour. Read over your list and add to it as needed..
Phase 2: Organize the questions into a meaningful “flow”.
1. Put all your questions in front of you and ask yourself, “How can I organize these in the simplest possible way?” 2. Put the questions into a sensible order. 3. Look for “chunks” of related questions. Perhaps your book will have Part 1, 2, and 3 with related questions in each section.
To write your book, simply follow the “outline” you have created with these questions. Since you are the expert, there will be little if any research. You might find it helpful to give yourself a target page range for each chapter, such as three to five pages. Or you may simply let yourself write until it feels like “enough.” That is up to you.
Remember – Write in a friendly style as if you are talking to a good friend over a coffee.. – Give enough information to answer the question but not too much. – Never try to edit while you write. Those are two completely different processes in the brain.
Congratulations! You now know how to write a question and answer book that sets you apart as the go-to expert in your field, niche or community.
Since I work with authors, I have a lot of opportunities to read new books and often to give a gift to contribute to the success of a book launch. I enjoy reading a variety of books and am not afraid to read books by people whose perspective differs from my own.
How much time and energy do you put into your personal development each day? Do you read, study and improve yourself? If you are not currently doing so, I urge you to spend at least a few minutes each day reading a book or listening to a recording that empowers you to expand yourself.
Reading stories of people who raised themselves out of difficult situations and change lives everyday is one of my favorite passtimes. The book I review today
Kenneth Brown, author of LIFE: 6 Principles for Living In Freedom Everyday, lived his early life in poverty. Yet he had a dream of owning his own restaurant. Naturally, he did not effortlessly move from dream to fulfillment. He faced numerous challenges along the way. Only once he gained the right mindset and associations, a sense of vision and purpose for his life and took responsibility for his circumstances did he discover the meaning of freedom.
in LIFE, Kenneth Brown walks you through a journey of self discovery that will help you connect with what I would call your passion and he calls your calling. This is a book for those who appreciate a Christian perspective and/or who hold the belief that God directs your life.
He says in the book that when he first tried to borrow money from family to live his dream, the deal fell through because he used “earthly currency” and because he had not been made ready. After gaining skills working in McDonald and other restaurants, he discovered a passion for leadership and a clear sense of what God was calling him to do..
The guiding principles he talks about in the book are:
Faith in God
Vision of success
Purpose ordained by God
Passion and energy
Ownership of your life and situation
Associations that strengthen you
The book is written in a very friendly and accessible style. Kenneth uses some of his own stories, Biblical tales and stories of people he knows throughout the book.
If you feel a desire to understand God’s purpose for your life or you wish to deepen your faith, this book will definitely inspire you.
One of the great stories he tells is about the importance of your associations. He shares a time when he nervously started a horseback riding lesson. The instructions given to him reminded him of his wife. No, he does not liken her to a horse, but the instructions a rider gives a horse are like those of a good accountability partner. Sometimes you give a gentle direction with the reigns, and when you want the horse to go, you kick him in the stomach. While the contact does not hurt the horse, it gets him moving. That’s what Brown says his wife does for him at times.
One of my favorite stories is in the section on vision. Brown coached a businessman whose company was failing. While the man talked about wanting his employees to buy into his vision, and while he had created excellent training materials for them, his vision statement was not posted anywhere either in the manual or around the offices. How can anyone buy into a vision when they do not know what it is?
Brown shares an unfortunate truth in the book, which is that most people do not have a written vision statement or written goals. He created a simple yet powerful guiding vision statement for his restaurant. This single sentence stated the vision so clearly that all he had to do to demonstrate to an employee that they were not in alignment was to point and say, “Read the vision.”
I really appreciate Brown’s use of stories throughout LIFE. This isn’t surprising, since I’m definitely an advocate of connecting with people through storytelling. His stories poignantly guide you into an understanding of how to improve your life in the 6 arenas he covers in the book.
While there are no specific “exercises” in the book, there are many questions for you to consider and suggested actions you can take to raise yourself up in each of the 6 areas. You will find this book easy to read and powerfully pertinent.
Give yourself the gift of LIFE Tuesday, Jan. 26 and receive some life-changing gifts from Kenneth and his promotion partners right here..
He did all the writing for Impact and I helped him shape the material. He said his team of editors at Career Press only made 4 minor changes, one of which was a peculiarity of theirs that I could have incorporated had I known ahead of time. It seems th
ey don’t want you to say something is “like” something else. You have to say “similar” or some other synonym rather than like. Strange. Go figure.
I was thrilled that my involvement in the project made his life and theirs so much easier. Unfortunately, I never saw any message from Career Press asking who Ken’s capable editor had been and how to reach her and another offering to hire me as a book consultant or editor, but such is life!
For Ken’s next bestseller (yes, that is our plan), we are weaving together our own in-depth contributions plus the stories of our co-authors. Whereas other multi-author books are nothing more than an anthology of articles pasted together under a common theme, The Story of Impact will be a story of its own with co-author contributions that I will integrate into the book. They will not be stand-alone articles.
The Story of Impact will have its own “story arc” as any novel has, because the book moves you from where you are now into a deeper understanding of how to purposefully and systematically create an impact in whatever arena you desire.
Having an impact can be a fuzzy, nebulous thing, however, Ken McArthur took a year of his life to study impact and devise a system for how you go about having an impact in a directed manner. He put it to the test in 2008 when he assembled the Impact Bootcamp and a cadre of experts to teach them the tools of impact, such as creating buzz and leveraging contacts. Although Ken McArthur has shared what happened with his Impact Action Team at live events, this will be the first time he will reveal what happened in a book.
I am so excited to share the story of the Impact Action Team and how they reached over 19 million people in a month for SpeakUpSaveLives.org.
Here’s a video about the Impact Action Team and SpeakUpSaveLives.org. They reached 1.9 million people
Right now, Ken and I are researching, writing, and planning the structure of the book. I’m also telling the stories of our co-authors. The interviews with these extraordinary people are fun and enlightening.
If you want to keep up with The Story of Impact, I encourage you to register at TheImpactStory.com.
Debuting a new system is always an interesting process. The first fun part is watching people who are true experts check out your program. I was so happy to find a testimonial message from someone whose opinion I value very much. He is someone who knows how to write an entrepreneurially sound book and turn it into a bestseller.
Before you can have a bestseller, you have to write a good book. I see so many authors leave piles and piles of money on the table because they don’t use the book to cause the reader to desire doing business with you. So the way I teach entrepreneurs to write a book is all about tying it to your business and setting the necessary tools in place so that people will get onto your email list and purchase other products from you.
My friend and colleague Jason Oman is the #1 bestselling author of Conversations with Millionaires, which you may know is one of the recommended books I feature here on this site. He has already brought his first book to #1 bestseller, so I was eager to find out what he thought of my Instant VIP System for writing a profitable book.
What he said is so phenomenal – and I can hardly wait to see it on the cover of the print version of the book. here’s what he called into my toll free hotline:
And here it is in print:
“This is Jason Oman, #1 bestselling author of CWM, and I called to tell you how impressed I am with your Instant VIP system for writing a profitable book. I took pages and pages of notes, and I will be applying everything I learned from your fabulous system in all my upcoming bestsellers.
“I’ve seen a lot of programs about writing books, but I have never seen anything else that teaches you the insider secrets to ensuring that your book truly boosts your business. Great job, Ronda!”
WOW, thanks so much!
Jason is getting another book ready for print in the coming months, and I can’t wait to see how he applies the Instant VIP System. If someone like Jason, a savvy businessman, took pages and pages of notes while going through my system, I feel I’ve done something very right!
If you are any kidn of expert – entrepreneur, small business owner, speaker, coach or visionary – you absolutely need the credibility and prestige that being an author gives you. I would dearly love to be the one who helps you write your business-boosting, profit-producing, credibility-creating, media magnetizing book.
An email from Mark Joyner inspired this post. He made a bold prediction with regard to being a bestselling author, and I’d like to invite Mark to an open discussion about it here on my blog and in any other venue he wishes. I feel it is an interesting and valuable conversation to have for anyone wondering how to wr
Amazon.com logo
ite a book and make it a bestseller.
Mark made a bold prediction in the email:
“I think that 2010 may be the last year that calling
yourself a “best selling author” will have much
weight.
I may be off by a year or two, but this reality is
likely coming.”
Is he right?
The landscape is changing rapidly for authors. Personally, I don’t think an author who only publishes an ebook or Kindle book will ever have the prestige and credibility a print book author will have. maybe I’m wrong. I guess the coming years will tell the tale.
But will being a bestselling author lose its allure?
Before I answer that question, I need to fill you in on some of the changes in publishing and how people read books.
Changes in the World of Publishing
The traditional publishing model is one of the sickest systems out there. There are so many layers of people to be paid, and the author takes a ridiculously low royalty. Worst yet, the author loses all rights to her own work. Even though the author should leverage the book into sales of other products and services, traditional publishing has gotten ridiculous.
Assuming you WANT to lose rights to your own work, breaking in is unimaginably difficult. A new author can’t get in the door with out an agent, and a new author also is hard-pressed to get an agent.
And let’s not forget that for most books, it will take a couple of YEARS before your labor of time, sweat, agony and love hits shelves. So time isn’t on your side if you want to leverage the credibility and product sales that being an author can give you.
Small press publishing is definitely a much better option. If you can get a publisher interested in your work, you are likely to keep all the rights to your work. The lead time will be much less (perhaps only 2 or 3 months). So if you don’t care about having an established big-house publisher, this could be a way to go.
Print on demand publishing is definitely making it easier for anyone to write and publish a book. When I first started my entrepreneurial adventure 3 years ago, the prevailing attitude of many writers was, “if you can’t get a REAL publisher to look at you, then you’re not much of a writer.” Then those with that belief faced the harsh reality of trying to get a “real” publisher to look at them. Suddenly, POD publishing didn’t seem so bad.
Now that it’s easier than ever to become a published author, the way people read books is changing in a big way.
I was thinking about college textbooks this afternoon and wondering if students will invest in a book reader and pay a small amount for each of their books, thus changing forever the large amount of money, space and time devoted to buying, reading, and selling back textbooks.
Books are Changing
I will always love a print book. I adore going into a bookstore and spending hours pouring through the books. I love everything about books – the feel, the smell, the excitement of being an author. Even though I often read audios because I’m legally blind, I love to be able to hold a book, underline things, make notes, etc
. Now, portable devices like Amazon’s Kindle are making it possible to hold a whole library in your hands without hauling around 5 steamer trunks Now that I have a phone with an mp3 player in it, I can transmute PDFs into audio and read books while I’m on the go. I admit it’s easier to carry 5 books in my phone than in my bag, but nothing will replace print books for me.
over 2.5 million Kindles have been sold to date, and the machines are only getting better and more “techie.” Now you can get books online right from the Kindle.
It’s no doubt we are in an era where we want what we want when we want it, and we will let nothing stand in the way. Just last night my friend Rhonda said to me she wanted to read a book but didn’t want to wait to order it or find out if her local bookstore had it in stock, so she looked for a PDF.
And when I went into a bookstore with my friend Pam, she was astonished when I told her that a book that had been out for more than 6 months wasn’t likely to be on the shelves unless it was a bestseller. She couldn’t believe it.
Are books becoming paper dinosaurs?
Torn as I am about loving the smell and feel of a real book in my hands VS the joy of carrying a library in my purse (assuming I could actually turn every book into audio so I could read it from a Kindle or similar machine), I think there will always be a place for the print book.
And, I must admit that electronic books are a greener solution than tearing down trees to print books.
The Power of Being an Author
As things stand now, you’re not a real author if you only have an ebook. Think of it. How many times do you hear an expert introduced on a morning TV show as, “author of the ebook…”? It never happens. If you are an ebook author and you tell your local media you’re an author, they won’t credit you as an expert to the same degree they would with a print book. They may not interview you unless you’re a big deal in your area.
Will this all change in the coming years? Will being the author of Kindle book or even a “garden variety” PDF ebook be enough to give an author credibility with the media and with customers?
Perhaps, but in my opinion, for at least ten years you’ll still be more prestigious if you’re the author of a real book printed on ink and paper – and all the better if you also have Kindle edition of your book!
The Fall of the Bestselling Author?
Now, back to mark Joyner’s prediction, and my own.
Well, ebooks are going to kill the print author.
It’s already happening right before our eyes.
But here’s the big irony:
It’s easier now to become a “best selling author”
than at any point in history.
This is a paradox, but also a huge opportunity.
The average guy simultaneously has the ability to
become a bestselling author (literally anyone can
do it) *and* he will get all the “street cred” that
goes along with it. The street cred that may not
be available next year.
Interesting.
I have some additional thoughts on being a bestselling author. One of my friends is absolutely convinced that he is the first person to figure out how to become an Amazon #1 bestselling author. It’s probably between him and Joe Vitale. I don’t know (or even care) if he’s right. These days, several people can show you how to be an Amazon bestseller, and for those savvy about marketing, it’s not even that big a deal. It’s just a matter of finding the right partners and blowing the roof off sales for a particular hour.
Remember, I’m talking right now about being a bestseller on AMAZON>COM. I’m not talking about other lists here.And sure, who wouldn’t want to be a #1 Amazon bestselling author, because it still gives you a huge amount of “street cred” with the media and with the average customer or potential customer. It’s still a great accolade to have. Yes, I’ll be going for it myself very soon with The Instant VIP, which is currently available in PDF form.
Nothing – and I mean nothing – gives you the same jolt to your status and credibility as being a bestselling author, no matter which list you name. Being an author already puts you in a whole other class from all of your competitors. Being a bestselling author puts you in the stratosphere, and being a #1 bestselling author puts you in orbit high above the rest.
Mark Joyner said it this way in his email: “If you are a bestselling author, you can catapult your brand quickly to the top of the heap.”
Mark and I are both in agreement that you absolutely, without a doubt, MUST write a book and take it to bestseller on the list of your choice.
We even have complementary courses.
Before you can take a book to bestseller, you have to write a good book – and not just a good book worth reading, but a good book that also produces profits and compels people who read it to do business with you.
The Instant VIP System is the system I created based on the experience of coaching a couple hundred entrepreneur authors and studying what makes for a profitable book. You’ll discover how to make sure the book is your best lead generation, media magnet and customer attraction tool ever. Currently, the whole system is available as a downloadable ebook with various bonuses to make it easy for you to follow a recipe for a profitable book.
Mark Joyner’s Bestseller Blueprint is a fine addition to his line of products, and like everything he does, it is easy to follow with plenty of step-by-step guidance. I am proud to be an affiliate for this program. I am currently reading it and preparing to take my book to bestseller using his system.
His Simpleology program is something I recommend to every single client or prospecting client. Bestseller Blueprint is based on his own experience of taking 4 books to bestseller, sometimes against remarkable competition.
I’ve reviewed a number of products for authors, and I’m impressed, as always, with how his material is organized. You won’t dive in only to realize he forgot a step or didn’t tell you how to make something happen. And for clarity’s sake, I am sharing my opinion freely; I didn’t get any special perks or other compensation for saying nice things about Bestseller Blueprint.
Mark Joyner says the “Great Window” is now open – but not for long.
He says that the time is right now – but not for long – that being a bestselling author will still carry weight.
But you have to do it or you’ll always be nipping at
the heals of those who have.
This is what I call “The Great Window.” These
windows only open up once a generation or so, but
those who jump through it are “set.”
mark, I’d like you to say more about this Great Window. Why do you believe it’s just about now or never for “bestselling author” to be an esteemed title? I agree it’s an important and highly desirable distinction – and perhaps being the bestselling author of a print book will evolve into a different kind of bestseller in the next couple of years. What makes NOW the critical moment?
I really would love to create an open dialogue with you about this. We both teach an important aspect of being an author. My system is how you write the book and his is how you take it to number 1 bestseller.
Special offer from me and Mark Joyner
Mark Joyner is offering his 12 interviews with bestselling authors to anyone who picks up the Bestseller Blueprint right now. I don’t know for how long (that’s the truth – I don’t). One of the authors will share how he can get himself onto bestseller lists at will. That alone is worth the price of admission, because if he can do it, so can you or I.
Pick up The Bestseller Blueprint right now, then drop me a note and I’ll tell you how to get Mark’s special gift. Email me or use the contact form on this blog and I’ll hook you up right away. While you’re writing your book (hopefully using my system), you can start preparing the way for bestseller using his blueprint.
My gift is only being offered to my subscribers and those who read this blog post. And I am making it a time-sensitive offer. Since it’s my product, I know exactly how long you can have this offer. When you invest $37 in the Instant VIP System, I’ll give you one of the modules from the Instant VIP Multimedia Home Study Course.
So you’ll have the complete system showing you how to squeeze the most possible profit, credibility and leverage out of your book AND I’ll give you a audio training that gives you specific strategies for making the most out of the experience of being an author. I’ll be offering the modules separately very soon. My offer ends Jan. 31, 2010.
Commit to becoming an author
As an expert, it is Mission Critical for you to become the author of a profit-producing book. Don’t guess or try to figure it out yourself. Follow a proven path – a simple recipe – and commit to becoming an author this year along with some of my clients, such as Zna Trainer, Steve Holmes, Anne Holmes, Rhonda Cort, Sohail Khan, Gina Gaudio Graves, and others.
I’m always reading at least one book, so I’ve decided to share what I’m reading with you. If you’ve read the book, please feel encouraged to add your own thoughts about it as well.
I just finished reading the Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield. This is a story of intuition, insight and beauty. Instead of the author sharing his teachings in a nonfiction book, he chose to share them in a novel. This is the first of 4 books teaching the Insights that empower people to live from Source/beauty and stay connected wiht the divine power no matter what is happening around you.
The story begins as a restless former teacher hears from an old flame. She tells him about secret scrols and lost teachings in Peru that are being rediscovered, and every time she thinks of the scrolls, she thinks of him. Thus begins his H
ero’s journey and a huge adventure.
When John arrives in Peru, he discovers that government and church officials are trying to suppress the prophecy that he is now compelled to discover.
This hybrid story/study guide for living connected with Source/divinity will hold your attention and give you something to think about as well. If you’re like me, you’ll gain a fresh appraoch to look at familiar understandings.
I am a person who has always let intuition guide me and someone who is aware of the energy of life around and within everything. It’s fun to find a book that teaches people a way to live from intuition.
This book was a runaway bestseller, on the lists for 3 years. I first encountered the Celestine Prophecy because of the movie, which I watch several times a year. I actually found it at a WalMart, which surprised me for whatever reason. You can rent it from Netflix or your favorite rental place.
I am adding this to my recommended books section because I believe there are powerful insights that will help anyone along your path. The journey begins by understanding the power of meaningful coincidences that are truly messages.
The other insightstake you through a progression of adventure and understanding of how to awaken wisdom.
Most of the time, the book is better than the movie. I want you to read the book and see the movie, and in this instance, I feel the movie is better. And in the book you will gain some specific practices you can do yourself, revealed in the pages of John’s adventure.
Authors are always asking me how to sell more books. So I’ve made a quick list of 12 things you can do starting right now. In fact, I just sent these to an author I know who has only a book and is wondering why he’s not selling very many. It’s because figuring out how to write a book is only the beginning. Not only do you have to write it, you also have to get the word out about it.
Because of this author and so many exactly like him, I need to briefly get on my “soap box.” Before I share these book marketing strategies, I have to say something very VERY important.
The reason most authors fail to sell many books is because you’re chasing small change. Most authors have nothing more than a book and a desire to do some speaking, or if you’re really on top of things, maybe you also have a 1–CD audio presentation. Whoopie. Wow, now there’s a way to make a REAL living!
Your best option as an author is to offer other products and services to a hungry market who wants them. No guessing. No stab in the dark. Discover what they want and serve it up. Go hang with them, find out what they want and sell it to them. And it has to cost more than $20 bucks or even $100.
I’ll cover some ideas for additional profit streams for authors in a separate post.
For now, here are 12 ways to promote your book right now today.
1. Have business cards made with your book cover, website etc. On them and have them with you at all times. Give them out liberally. Plus, always have a copy or 3 of your book on you.
2. Think of where your book would be a good fit for customers – besides the usual local bookstores, you can look into specialty bookstores, shops selling things your audience would also like, organizations, book clubs..
3. Is there a charity for whom you could offer a buck per book and have them invite you to their function? You could do a signing and perhaps speak. Invite them to start a discussion series around your book.
4. Go where your people are hanging out. Find out who the key influencers are and start getting to know them.
5. Get bloggers to review your book, interview you or run an article on their blog. Find blogs talking about your stuff and offer them a PDF copy to review.
6. You might even host a blog tour and get 10 or 12 bloggers within two weeks or a month to write about you., (book review, interview or post an article) And keep a list on your blog.
7 Enter your book into contests. There are several for published books. This will bring exposure.
9. Look under relevant categories on .BlogTalkRadio.com for shows where you would be a terrific guest. Hosts can display your book in the show notes and it will give you greater exposure.
10. Sign up for Amazon’s free Author Central, amazon.com/authorcentral so you’ll have a more complete author bio. Be sure to link up your blog.
11. Start developing a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Find the influencers in your niche and start getting to know them. Converse, ask how you may be of service.
12. Find someone known in your niche with whom you can co-create a product.
John Kremer has a great newsletter about marketing tips BookMarket.com and he has a book called 1001 Ways to Market Your Book. I call this the book author’s bible. Pick 3 or 5 and delve into these.
I hope that get you off to a great start marketing your book.
Resource
I really love #1 bestselling author Sally Shields’Author Publicity Secrets Revealed Course. Yes, I am an affiliate, and I promote this product because Sally does such a brilliant job of breaking everything down into very simple strategies you can use immediately. She used every strategy she teaches to promote her bestseller The Daughter-in-Law Rules.
A couple things I shared here are tips she shared on a live call we did as a bonus for those who invest in the Instant VIP Multimedia Home Study Course. They are also part of her Publicity Secrets Course.
If you are a published author of a print book, you could be featured in my upcoming book, Instant VIP, which teaches entrepreneurs & other business owners how to write a book that increases customers, contacts and profits.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
I am featuring stories from entrepreneurs/business owners sharing how being a published author has changed your business.
If this is YOU – I’d love to include your experience!
ebook cover- Instant VIP
You’ll find out how to submit your experience in a moment.
Examples of results attained because of being a published author:
I have already received some fabulous stories from author experts! I’m really excited about each and every story, AND about the wide variety of niches in which they do business. For example:
One author in a highly competitive market submitted a project bid. Competition was stiff. He included a signed copy of his book and got the job.
A pair of co-authors instantly established themselves in a related but new niche by authoring a book.
Another author uses her book to generate leads for her training program and has seen a dramatic increase in enrollments.
A coach became an author and finds it easier to attract coaching clients as a result.
These are just a few examples that I’ll be including in my book. Soon I’ll be sharing the names and stories of these authors on the blog – AND, most important – in Instant VIP.
A Flash of Inspiration
I decided to request stories when I was reading my HARO (Help A Reporter Out) update one day. HARO is a fabulous and FREE way to connect reporters with sources.
Reporters can be reporters for media outlets such as magazines, TV shows or internet radio shows – OR even someone writing a book looking for sources.
Sources can be experts in any niche or industry seeking ways to share your knowledge.
You never know what you’ll find in a HARO! And lots of people will respond, so you really can select the “cream of the crop” – the best story/resource – for your need.
The description below of what I’m seeking is a modified version of my HARO query.
How to receive the HARO reports
Experts can register to receive requests 3 times per day on weekdays. There can be 30 or 50 or more requests from reporters in each issue.
Why am I including stories from authors about how writing a book has improved your business?
(What I’m about to share applies to YOU as well) Simply take this idea and use it for YOUR niche or need.
When you see numerous stories about how writing a book improves business, you will build belief that you, too, can get results like that.
Stories catch your attention more than facts or even step-by-step. It’s part of how your brain works. You’ll remember stories You’re wired for stories.
Reaching out to people you don’t know (or don’t know well) as well as people you already know increases your circle of influence.
People love to see their name in print.
Someone who shares even a short blurb is likely to tell other people that they’re featured in a book.
And they’re likely to buy a copy and perhaps cause several or dozens more to be purchased.
Authors featured in your book may want to promote your book when it comes out.
Promoting the Book
A few of the author experts who responded to my first request have already asked me to let them know when the book is out so they can promote it. Woo-HOO! Build-in promotion partners.
If you use this strategy:
Here are some things to consider when you use this type of strategy. And actually, you’re getting the inside scoop, because I haven’t even told my HARO people some of the cool things I’m doing for them.
If you’ve worked with me or read this blog before, you know I’m going to say “start with the goal.” What do you want to happen? First, get clear on what you want from the submitters so you don’t have to go back and forth.
Now for the “cover your rear” piece of advice. Get a signed release that gives you permission to use the material in the work and in promotion of the work. Doing so gives you protection from someone, for whatever strange reason, deciding they don’t want their name and story in your material. I got 1 note back from someone with an AWESOME story who said it just didn’t feel right (to get a whole bunch of free publicity for them and their business). Go figure, but cover your assets.
Acknowledge the submission in a special way inside your book/project. I’m including all the names of authors whose stories I’m using in the Acknowledgments section of the book.
Thank the sources for their submission. They’re adding depth and richness to your book or other project.
Update the sources on the status of the project. I’ll let them know when the book is ready to publish and how to order.
Give the sources a way to profit from the project if possible. I’ll offer them the opportunity to join the affiliate program. I’m also providing them a special resource to share if they choose.
How to Submit YOUR Experience for Possible Inclusion in Instant VIP:
All you have to do is leave me your blurb (a couple of paragraphs is fine) in the comment box below.
Here is what I’m looking for:
I have a book almost ready for print that teaches entrepreneurs, business owners, speakers, coaches and the like a simple system for how to write a book that explodes your business.
I am including statements from entrepreneurs in various industries who have written a book. What I want is
a statement about how writing and publishing a book has changed your business. Have you gotten more media attention? More referrals? Bigger ticket sales? more long-term clients? Something more unusual? Your story could be selected for the book.
Please share the following information:
full Name:
Industry/niche:
Book title:
Publication year:
Logline (1–sentence description of the book)
How has becoming the author of a book changed your business?
Thank you for enriching my book with your experience. I truly appreciate YOU!
What Happens Next?
Once you submit your information below, I’ll review it. If I select you for the book, I’ll email you a release form to sign and return to me.
Thank you
OK – time to share!
Remember:
full Name:
Industry/niche:
Book title:
Publication year:
Logline (1–sentence description of the book)
How has becoming the author of a book changed your business?
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