Should You Write a Book?Written by Steven Van Yoder
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The idea is to see your book as a launching pad for new business opportunities. Barbara Hemphill used her book Taming The Paper Tiger to develop a multi-pronged branding strategy. Hemphill offers organizing skills services designed to reduce stress and increase productivity. Her business is based almost entirely on her book. Barbara has used her book to develop Taming Paper Tiger software, gain an endorsement by Pendaflex, and found Hemphill Productivity Institute. Her company now employs more than 70 Paper Tiger authorized consultants across U.S. and Canada. You can write a book! Me, publish a book, you ask? Yes, you. It is easier than you might think, and you don't need to be a seasoned writer to become a published author. Writing a successful book is not easiest thing in world, but it is entirely possible. The talents and expertise you bring to your clients can form basis of a successful book. If you know your subject area, and can communicate your ideas in a clear, compelling, organized manner, becoming a published author is within your reach. A strategy that works for many is to break process into smaller steps by writing a series of articles. They then become basis for a book. Or, you can work with a talented freelance writer to help you express your ideas clearly and with conviction. The most traditional route is to find a publisher who will handle production, marketing, promotion and distribution. This involves up front work (you write a detailed proposal, a table of contents, sample chapters and a market overview). Then you shop proposal around to potential publishers, either on your own or with help of a commissioned agent. Self-publishing has many advantages over traditional publishing, most compelling being greater financial returns for author. "When you self-publish, you keep all profits," says Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual. "Additionally, you get into print quickly, own copyright, and take all applicable tax breaks." On downside, self-publishing can be expensive. You pay up front for all production and distribution costs, and if your book does not sell, you will be stuck with leftover inventory. However, if your book is successful, you will not only have satisfaction and advantages of being a published author, you will make more money. Whatever publishing route you choose, Internet provides a global marketplace for your book. Never before has it been so easy to market a book if you are willing to invest time and energy to write one.
Steven Van Yoder is the author of Get Slightly Famous. He teaches small business owners how to duplicate his success and become a "slightly" famous author in your field. Visit www.getslightlyfamous.com to claim your FREE Slightly Famous Marketing Plan Workbook and learn how to attract more business with less effort by creating your own information empire.
| | Stop Sabotaging Your SalesWritten by Bob Leduc
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Tip: Review what you usually say in live sales presentations and what you include in your web pages and other sales messages. Look for unnecessary diversions you may have included - and get rid of them. 3. Presenting Unpleasant Surprises Avoid including any unpleasant surprises in your selling process - especially near end. For example: Many websites do not mention shipping charges until very last screen of shopping cart. This unpleasant surprise is one of major reasons why customers abandon online orders. You can avoid this by always including shipping charge wherever you list price. Tip: An unpleasant surprise can kill a sale. But a pleasant surprise can help close a sale. For example, adding an unexpected bonus immediately before your prospect takes last action to complete a sale will usually eliminate any last minute hesitation. Don't ask your prospects to make unnecessary decisions. Avoid diverting their attention away from your selling presentation. And don't alarm them with any unpleasant surprises. It's hard enough to get a prospective customers attention once. If you distract them unnecessarily with something else you may not be able to get their attention again ...and you will lose a sale needlessly. Bob Leduc spent 20 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales. He just released a New Edition of his manual, How To Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards ...and launched *BizTips from Bob*, a newsletter to help small businesses grow and prosper. You'll find his low-cost marketing methods at: http://BobLeduc.com or call: 702-658-1707 After 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV
Bob Leduc spent 20 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales. He just released a New Edition of his manual, How To Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards ...and launched *BizTips from Bob*, a newsletter to help small businesses grow and prosper. You'll find his low-cost marketing methods at: http://BobLeduc.com or call: 702.658.1707 After 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV
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