Honoree Corder's Blog, page 7
July 16, 2017
Honorée’s Optimistic Observations: Get Your Act Together!
I’m really interested in people and what makes them tick. I’m definitely a student of human behavior; I love observing people and have always fancied myself a “people watcher.” Today, I’d like to offer my optimistic observations about what works and what doesn’t, so we can all be better.
As a coach, I get to sit in the really awesome position of helping people identify what is effective and ineffective in their lives, define what they want and help them get it! If I have a “job hazard” it is this: I see people engaging in activities that tarnish or even destroy their personal and professional brands, and they aren’t aware of it at all. These same people, I believe, have a good heart and no malicious intent. But the results are the same, nonetheless. People avoid them and doing business with them like the plague. By being too aggressive, condescending, inappropriate, whining about business and/or life, or having a temper tantrum when things don’t go their way, they ruin their chances of getting what they really want: great relationships and more business.
I’m not saying I’m perfect and don’t engage in any of these ineffective behaviors. I am saying I have a good eye for what does and doesn’t work. Here are some of my recent observations and tips for getting your act together, which will without question, enhance how you feel about yourself, and how others feel about you:
1. Define a response time and stick to it. I’m always confused when I email or call someone and I don’t hear back. Ever. {Or for weeks or months.} It tells me that the person is a either {a} disorganized hot mess {best case scenario} or {b} just downright rude {not good either}. If you have an inbox full of unanswered email, you must get a system in place and identify a response time you communicate. The same with phone calls: don’t leave messages unanswered, even if you don’t want the product or service being offered to you, or to have the meeting that was proposed. No is a complete sentence, and perfectly okay to say. I’d take a no over false interest or having to follow-up with someone indefinitely until I finally have to give up.
2. Be relational, not transactional. I’ve met some incredible people in the last few years, and some of them stand out in a fantastic way. They are warm and friendly and make everyone they meet feel special. Whether I hire them or not, I know they genuinely care about me which is such a great feeling. It also inspires me to want to do business with them the first minute I can.
On the other hand, I’ve met some folks who have dropped me a like a hot potato when they didn’t close my business fast enough to suit their fancy. Guess what? Now that I know that’s how they roll, I’m going to forever roll in a different direction. Look, some people have a longer “convincer strategy” which means they need more time to get to know you before they pull the trigger. Be patient. Be caring. Be awesome. It’ll be worth it. I’ve written a book all about this which is coming soon. If you’d like to read an advanced copy, go here.
3. People like assertive, not aggressive. I really dig a confident person who is comfortable in their own skin, easily shares their expertise, and is genuinely nice. That is really attractive, don’t you agree? It goes without saying {actually, I guess it doesn’t}, that you can “own your greatness,” ask for the business you want, and get it. Just like that, too. Conversely, if you’re too aggressive and pushy, that isn’t attractive at all and this is what will happen:
But not with penguins … with actual people. {In case you weren’t connecting the dots. :)}
If you want business from people you’re not getting business from, there’s a reason and this might be it. The only way to truly know is to ask, and be ready for honest feedback.
4. Talk “to” not “about.” Speaking of feedback … if you have a problem with someone, talk to them, instead of about them. Here’s what works better: “I have some feedback for you, if you’d like it.” Or, “When you did/said X, I perceived it as Y. Is that what you meant?” Speculating only leads to false conclusions. If you’re not sure why someone is doing something, ask them. If you think someone is intentionally doing something to make your head explode, ask them if that’s the case. When you talk to others instead of directly to the person you have an issue with, you increase the negative feelings you have {which might be baseless, by the way}, rather than clearing the air. Sometimes one 5 minute phone call can give you a new perspective and a clean slate.
5. Be “on” … “like a Wendy Elder.” Someone I really admire for her consistently positive attitude and upbeat personality is Wendy Elder. She’s a super busy real estate agent, business owner, wife, and mom. She never has a bad day and if she does, the world-at-large doesn’t know about it. She carries herself with grace and poise, always has a smile, pays attention, and is good for an encouraging word. I was hanging with a girlfriend of mine over the weekend, and she said, “This person I met is on, like a Wendy Elder.” No, we weren’t violating #4, these words were said with complete and total admiration, and I (1) knew instantly what she was talking about and (2) wanted to meet this person right away! Don’t you want to be the person who is known for their awesomeness? I know I do.
Being perceived as an “on it” professional isn’t about perfection. It is about doing the best you can and continuing to grow into the person you’ve always know you can be. Have a productive and prosperous week!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here .
As a coach, I get to sit in the really awesome position of helping people identify what is effective and ineffective in their lives, define what they want and help them get it! If I have a “job hazard” it is this: I see people engaging in activities that tarnish or even destroy their personal and professional brands, and they aren’t aware of it at all. These same people, I believe, have a good heart and no malicious intent. But the results are the same, nonetheless. People avoid them and doing business with them like the plague. By being too aggressive, condescending, inappropriate, whining about business and/or life, or having a temper tantrum when things don’t go their way, they ruin their chances of getting what they really want: great relationships and more business.
I’m not saying I’m perfect and don’t engage in any of these ineffective behaviors. I am saying I have a good eye for what does and doesn’t work. Here are some of my recent observations and tips for getting your act together, which will without question, enhance how you feel about yourself, and how others feel about you:
1. Define a response time and stick to it. I’m always confused when I email or call someone and I don’t hear back. Ever. {Or for weeks or months.} It tells me that the person is a either {a} disorganized hot mess {best case scenario} or {b} just downright rude {not good either}. If you have an inbox full of unanswered email, you must get a system in place and identify a response time you communicate. The same with phone calls: don’t leave messages unanswered, even if you don’t want the product or service being offered to you, or to have the meeting that was proposed. No is a complete sentence, and perfectly okay to say. I’d take a no over false interest or having to follow-up with someone indefinitely until I finally have to give up.
2. Be relational, not transactional. I’ve met some incredible people in the last few years, and some of them stand out in a fantastic way. They are warm and friendly and make everyone they meet feel special. Whether I hire them or not, I know they genuinely care about me which is such a great feeling. It also inspires me to want to do business with them the first minute I can.
On the other hand, I’ve met some folks who have dropped me a like a hot potato when they didn’t close my business fast enough to suit their fancy. Guess what? Now that I know that’s how they roll, I’m going to forever roll in a different direction. Look, some people have a longer “convincer strategy” which means they need more time to get to know you before they pull the trigger. Be patient. Be caring. Be awesome. It’ll be worth it. I’ve written a book all about this which is coming soon. If you’d like to read an advanced copy, go here.
3. People like assertive, not aggressive. I really dig a confident person who is comfortable in their own skin, easily shares their expertise, and is genuinely nice. That is really attractive, don’t you agree? It goes without saying {actually, I guess it doesn’t}, that you can “own your greatness,” ask for the business you want, and get it. Just like that, too. Conversely, if you’re too aggressive and pushy, that isn’t attractive at all and this is what will happen:
But not with penguins … with actual people. {In case you weren’t connecting the dots. :)}
If you want business from people you’re not getting business from, there’s a reason and this might be it. The only way to truly know is to ask, and be ready for honest feedback.
4. Talk “to” not “about.” Speaking of feedback … if you have a problem with someone, talk to them, instead of about them. Here’s what works better: “I have some feedback for you, if you’d like it.” Or, “When you did/said X, I perceived it as Y. Is that what you meant?” Speculating only leads to false conclusions. If you’re not sure why someone is doing something, ask them. If you think someone is intentionally doing something to make your head explode, ask them if that’s the case. When you talk to others instead of directly to the person you have an issue with, you increase the negative feelings you have {which might be baseless, by the way}, rather than clearing the air. Sometimes one 5 minute phone call can give you a new perspective and a clean slate.
5. Be “on” … “like a Wendy Elder.” Someone I really admire for her consistently positive attitude and upbeat personality is Wendy Elder. She’s a super busy real estate agent, business owner, wife, and mom. She never has a bad day and if she does, the world-at-large doesn’t know about it. She carries herself with grace and poise, always has a smile, pays attention, and is good for an encouraging word. I was hanging with a girlfriend of mine over the weekend, and she said, “This person I met is on, like a Wendy Elder.” No, we weren’t violating #4, these words were said with complete and total admiration, and I (1) knew instantly what she was talking about and (2) wanted to meet this person right away! Don’t you want to be the person who is known for their awesomeness? I know I do.
Being perceived as an “on it” professional isn’t about perfection. It is about doing the best you can and continuing to grow into the person you’ve always know you can be. Have a productive and prosperous week!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here .
July 11, 2017
Understanding Your Formatting Options
This article was originally published on Amazon’s Author Insights Blog.
You can read it here.
Being an indie author doesn’t let you off the hook when it comes to producing your book. I believe for a book, and an author, to be successful, the book must be indistinguishable from traditionally published books. That means you must put the finishing touches on your book that say, I mean business! To that end, there are four cornerstones of a professionally published book (in addition to having terrific content): cover design, editing and proofreading, book description and sales copy, and interior design also known as formatting. I’m going to tackle the importance of your book’s interior design and formatting in this article.
A book with poor formatting is difficult to read and won’t go unnoticed. A reader who might have become your biggest fan is likely to abandon your book before giving it a chance. Putting in the effort to format your book is a wise business decision. Think of it this way: a carefully crafted book interior contributes to your reader’s experience. How your words look can truly affect whether a reader reads them!
If you’ve ever read a book that wasn’t fully justified, or there were unexpected (and unneeded) characters, it was jarring at most, and an annoying experience at the least. The last thing you want is a one-star review because your Table of Contents is inoperable, or for someone to discount your viability as an author because your formatting isn’t top-shelf.
You have several options when it comes to formatting your book’s interior. You can format it in Microsoft Word. I did this for my first several books, and the results were hit or miss. Sometimes it works out OK, other times not so much. I could turn out a decent (but in no way fabulous) PDF version for the paperbacks, but sometimes I would hear from readers that they had challenges reading the book on their Kindles.
Another option is to use Scrivener, which can export Word, PDF, and MOBI versions. With any of these options, you can control the size of the text, spacing, alignment, text formatting (like bold or italics), URL links, and any graphics or pictures you like! And when I say you can control the “size” of the text, I’m specifically referring to the ratio between the headings and main text. Devices that use MOBI files allow their readers to adjust the text size based on preferences, so there is no guarantee that your digital book will be widow and orphan free.
Another option you have is to work with a professional formatter, which can result in “next level” book interior awesomeness. For what equates to a nominal fee, your book’s interior can be carefully crafted to create a beautiful interior and an effortless read. Here are some tips for working with your formatter:
Schedule your formatting in advance. You probably have a publication date in mind, and you’ll want to allow 10-15 business days for your book to be formatted. With that in mind, and allowing for a proof copy to be ordered, you’ll want to get on the schedule of your desired formatter (like any good professional, they’ll be booked well in advance).
Provide the final version of your manuscript. After you’ve completed the editing and proofreading phases, send the book to your formatter. Remember: most formatting companies do not provide additional edits after formatting is complete (which means you’ll pay again to have your book formatted).
Provide separate high-resolution files for images, graphs, graphics, and your book’s front cover. A professionally-produced paperback book includes a black and white mirror image of your book’s full cover image. Your designer can provide this.
Allow your team to work together effortlessly. Your formatter is responsible for giving your cover designer the final page count to create an accurate spine width. Because they likely aren’t the same person, exchanging your cover designer and formatter’s information will be helpful so that they can coordinate.
Provide a clean layout for your formatter. Bold, italic, underline, centering, fully justified text are all OK, but don’t do any of the following: tab indents, forced next lines, multiple spaces, page breaks, additional empty lines, etc. When in doubt, leave it out! Include highlighting or comments to note areas where you have preferences. For example, if you would like additional space after a section, make a comment in your document for the formatter. Let them know your preferences about spacing, heading sizes, quotes, chapter markings, and blank pages.
Most importantly, if you have any questions, please ask right away. Formatting does take time, and if you are unsure of anything or afraid of something looking a certain way, speak up. If you wait until the project is finished, you might have to pay an additional fee to have it the way you want it.
If your formatter isn’t willing to work with your preferences, then there are thousands of others who will (for the right price of course).
If you’re working with a company that does more than one thing (formatting, graphic design, etc.), then they may not have the same “specializing” options as individual formatters and graphic designers. Individual formatters are experts at creating unique interiors for every author. They won’t just put your book through a template, unless you ask them to. They’ll specialize your book based on the message inside. You can ask them for tweaks on pages, fonts, headings, lines, graphics, or spacing. YOU have the power to create the interior of your book to whatever you want.
Ultimately, your book represents you, and you want it to be as well dressed as it can possibly be. Put a little extra time, money, and attention into your book’s formatting, and I can promise you it will come back to you in the form of many happy readers!
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do–or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Networking: 5 Author Networking Tips—And Why You Should!
~Prosperous Reading: 27 Ways to Make Money as an Author You (Maybe) Haven’t Thought Of
~Prosperous Listening: You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
June 20, 2017
Do You Know How to Get Verified Reviews?
This blog was originally published on Amazon’s Author Insights Blog.
You can read it here .
Every author wants reviews for his/her book, and the more reviews the better! Finding readers for your book might seem like a big hill to climb, and perhaps impossible to get them to read the book and take the extra step to review it.
Let me start by reassuring you that you don’t need hundreds of reviews at the beginning. Just ten honest reviews, left by your avatars (also known as your ideal readers) will help set the wheels in motion of getting even more readers and eventually, more reviews.
The power of reviews
Reviews provide third-party validation and give prospective readers insight about the content of your book. Is it what they want to read? Will it solve their problem, provide a path to happiness, or entertain them in the way they most enjoy? Reviews tell the story about your story and encourage people to “buy now” because your book is just what they are looking for.
The initial goal is to have as many positive reviews that are verified (verified reviews are reviews left by people who have purchased the book on Amazon) as possible. Verified reviews hold more weight with prospective readers because they leave no doubt the book was purchased. The assumption is verified reviews are more honest than perhaps a free book in exchange for a review.
Avoid using friends and relatives to review your book if they aren’t your ideal reader. When they don’t fit the profile, they can skew the data and confuse Amazon’s algorithms about to whom they should show the book.
Over time, you will want to have a constant stream of new reviews for your book. Even a couple of reviews a week over a year’s time will equal more than 100 reviews (and 100 reviews is simply awesome).
It’s easy to get started
The moment you decide to write your book, define your avatar. What are the qualities and characteristics of the person who will love your book? For non-fiction, you can include age, gender, occupation, education, and of course, the other books they love that are similar to your book. For fiction, identify age, gender, and the other books in your genre they like.
Next, identify ten or more people who fit your avatar’s profile. When they buy, read, and review your book on Amazon, the book will be shown to other prospective readers who might like your book.
While you’re in the process of writing your book, keep your future readers apprised of your book’s progress. You can send the occasional email and make a post on social media. You can search for the most popular books in your genre, those like your book, and reach out to the reviewers of those books to see if they’d like to read yours.
Keep in mind that marketing your book is a constant and never-ending process.
Your readers will love to help you
The best way to get reviews is to ask. Keep in mind you’re asking people to use their most precious resource: their time. When your book is finished, let them know the book is available and ask them to buy and read it. Plan to be patient and send the occasional friendly reminder.
At some point, something amazing is going to happen! You’re going to get an “I loved your book!” email from a fan. Of course, you’re going to answer that email (because fans love to get emails from their favorite authors, almost as much as the authors like getting them) and ask them if they wouldn’t mind leaving a review. You’ll be surprised how often they say “Sure!” and leave a great review right away.
Take advantage of Amazon’s promotional opportunities
Amazon has the terrific KDP Select Program, which allows you to either run free book promotion days or Kindle Countdown Deals. If you give away thousands of books, you are highly likely to receive many honest reviews for your book. Selling books at a discount will provide the same result.
You can run multiple promotions until you’ve used your allotment of seven days total. Run a two-day free promotion, and you can run another that is five days, because we are allowed seven. Keep in mind you are unable to run one free and one Countdown in the same 90-day period.
The myth of the 1-star review
Reviews classified as “bad,” 1- or 2-star reviews fall in this category, actually validate your book. Let me explain! A book that only has 4- or 5-star reviews can be looked upon with suspicion. While they might all be above-board, honest, and verified reviews, most people don’t believe any book is perfect or nearly perfect. I don’t fear a negative review, because I know they not only validate the book but they are also seen for their true value.
Sometimes, a negative reviewer does have a point. While negative feedback doesn’t feel good, there are instances you can use a reader’s comment to make your book better. I suggest you note the review but never answer or respond to it.
Reviews, verified or not, are going to help you sell more books. With a steady focus on obtaining them, soon you’ll have great ones that help other readers find and love your book.
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do–or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Marketing: Build Book Buzz offers free book promotion resources to jumpstart your marketing campaign.
~Prosperous Reading: What Makes a 100K Author? 8 Findings Every Author Should Know by Written Word Media
~Prosperous Listening: Is Writing Daily a Necessity? Check out the I Should Be Writing podcast!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
You can read it here .
Every author wants reviews for his/her book, and the more reviews the better! Finding readers for your book might seem like a big hill to climb, and perhaps impossible to get them to read the book and take the extra step to review it.
Let me start by reassuring you that you don’t need hundreds of reviews at the beginning. Just ten honest reviews, left by your avatars (also known as your ideal readers) will help set the wheels in motion of getting even more readers and eventually, more reviews.
The power of reviews
Reviews provide third-party validation and give prospective readers insight about the content of your book. Is it what they want to read? Will it solve their problem, provide a path to happiness, or entertain them in the way they most enjoy? Reviews tell the story about your story and encourage people to “buy now” because your book is just what they are looking for.
The initial goal is to have as many positive reviews that are verified (verified reviews are reviews left by people who have purchased the book on Amazon) as possible. Verified reviews hold more weight with prospective readers because they leave no doubt the book was purchased. The assumption is verified reviews are more honest than perhaps a free book in exchange for a review.
Avoid using friends and relatives to review your book if they aren’t your ideal reader. When they don’t fit the profile, they can skew the data and confuse Amazon’s algorithms about to whom they should show the book.
Over time, you will want to have a constant stream of new reviews for your book. Even a couple of reviews a week over a year’s time will equal more than 100 reviews (and 100 reviews is simply awesome).
It’s easy to get started
The moment you decide to write your book, define your avatar. What are the qualities and characteristics of the person who will love your book? For non-fiction, you can include age, gender, occupation, education, and of course, the other books they love that are similar to your book. For fiction, identify age, gender, and the other books in your genre they like.
Next, identify ten or more people who fit your avatar’s profile. When they buy, read, and review your book on Amazon, the book will be shown to other prospective readers who might like your book.
While you’re in the process of writing your book, keep your future readers apprised of your book’s progress. You can send the occasional email and make a post on social media. You can search for the most popular books in your genre, those like your book, and reach out to the reviewers of those books to see if they’d like to read yours.
Keep in mind that marketing your book is a constant and never-ending process.
Your readers will love to help you
The best way to get reviews is to ask. Keep in mind you’re asking people to use their most precious resource: their time. When your book is finished, let them know the book is available and ask them to buy and read it. Plan to be patient and send the occasional friendly reminder.
At some point, something amazing is going to happen! You’re going to get an “I loved your book!” email from a fan. Of course, you’re going to answer that email (because fans love to get emails from their favorite authors, almost as much as the authors like getting them) and ask them if they wouldn’t mind leaving a review. You’ll be surprised how often they say “Sure!” and leave a great review right away.
Take advantage of Amazon’s promotional opportunities
Amazon has the terrific KDP Select Program, which allows you to either run free book promotion days or Kindle Countdown Deals. If you give away thousands of books, you are highly likely to receive many honest reviews for your book. Selling books at a discount will provide the same result.
You can run multiple promotions until you’ve used your allotment of seven days total. Run a two-day free promotion, and you can run another that is five days, because we are allowed seven. Keep in mind you are unable to run one free and one Countdown in the same 90-day period.
The myth of the 1-star review
Reviews classified as “bad,” 1- or 2-star reviews fall in this category, actually validate your book. Let me explain! A book that only has 4- or 5-star reviews can be looked upon with suspicion. While they might all be above-board, honest, and verified reviews, most people don’t believe any book is perfect or nearly perfect. I don’t fear a negative review, because I know they not only validate the book but they are also seen for their true value.
Sometimes, a negative reviewer does have a point. While negative feedback doesn’t feel good, there are instances you can use a reader’s comment to make your book better. I suggest you note the review but never answer or respond to it.
Reviews, verified or not, are going to help you sell more books. With a steady focus on obtaining them, soon you’ll have great ones that help other readers find and love your book.
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do–or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Marketing: Build Book Buzz offers free book promotion resources to jumpstart your marketing campaign.
~Prosperous Reading: What Makes a 100K Author? 8 Findings Every Author Should Know by Written Word Media
~Prosperous Listening: Is Writing Daily a Necessity? Check out the I Should Be Writing podcast!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
June 9, 2017
The REAL Costs of Self-Publishing
This article was originally published on Amazon’s Author Insights Blog.
You can read it here.
I’m constantly asked:
How much should I expect to pay for
all of my self-publishing expenses?
One of the more overwhelming aspects of self-publishing can be the investment in the services needed to publish a quality product. If you don’t know what you don’t know, you likely will pay the ultimate price: publishing a book people might have otherwise bought and read if it had been done well. You might also pay way too much to a person or company to publish your book unnecessarily.
While there are several important (and unavoidable) costs involved in bringing a quality book to market, you can self-publish a very professional, good-looking, enjoyable read without breaking the bank. And let’s face it: once you have taken the time and effort to write a book, you owe it to yourself and your book to make sure it looks great and reads well so that people will buy and read it!
Some of the most important components of self-publishing are editing and proofreading, cover design, interior design, and copywriting. There are a range of investments you can expect to make with these services and some ideas if you are working on a tight budget.
Cover design
A cover that represents your book well and fits into your genre is important. Spend some time studying the covers of the best-selling books in your genre to get an idea of what you need to fit in and stand out. You want your book cover to look just as good, if not better, than the other covers. Your book cover will be one of the larger investments you make in your book. If you’re going to spend money on cover design, you have a few options for sourcing a great cover:
You can find pre-made covers that cost between $35 and $100. I highly against using pre-made covers, as you don’t want to see your book cover with another author’s name and book title on it!
With a little more budget, you can commission a cover from a wide variety of designers or companies that offer cover design services. Reach out to authors with book covers you admire, or visit a site like 99designs.com and find a design you love. Your investment will be between $299 and $1,299.
A book cover that takes your breath away can help your book’s visibility, and in some instances, convince a prospective reader to purchase your book (and ultimately, hire you). Top designers for these book covers can command between $1,000 and $2,000 for a custom cover design. This will also ensure you won’t see your book cover on someone else’s book, and you will be so proud every time you see it!
Editing and proofreading
There are three basic types of editing: developmental, copyediting, and proofreading.
A developmental or content edit helps you take your good book and make it great by ensuring you have all the necessary elements in the right order.
A copyedit takes your great book and delivers the information in a smooth and precise way.
The proofread turns a smooth and great book into one that is also error-free—or as near as possible.
You can get a professional assessment to determine which types of editing to invest in. Keep in mind that quality editors are in high demand, and you should seek to engage the editor of your choice about three months before you think you’ll be ready. You can expect to invest from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars in your book, depending on the types of editing your book needs and its length. Be sure to have at least one editor and a separate proofreader for your book (the more eyes, the better).
Interior design
Have you ever tried to read a book that was hard to read simply because the formatting wasn’t clean? I have, and after a while, I just gave up. A book with neat formatting has a better chance of being read (and recommended). You can use programs like Scrivener to output a basic file, or you can hire a custom formatter to give your book an extra special something. I use 3CsBooks for formatting because the company offers the custom formatting I want for my books.
Copywriting
Copywriting, also known as sales copy or a book’s description, is how you describe your book on the back cover and your Amazon sales page. Great copywriting sells books and could make the difference between whether someone buys your book or continues to search for his or her next read. Expect to spend between $100 and $300 for a great book description. Alternatively, you can read How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis , by Bryan Cohen, for an expert’s tips on how to do it yourself.
A note on the above: If you are not a trained editor, graphic designer, formatter, or copywriter, I strongly advise you to hire a professional to do the work. Your book will be all the better for it.
Please don’t let a pile of potential expenses scare you away or prevent you from finishing your book! Start with what you can comfortably afford at the beginning of your author journey, and once your book is profitable, you can choose to invest more funds to take it to the next level. I have replaced covers and had several books reedited (and more are in process). Most important is writing your book and taking it to market while doing the best you can do.
***RESOURCES***
~Fit in writing no matter how busy you are!
~I have a new book, The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to FINDING READERS with Brian D. Meeks. More than 110 online and offline ways to find readers for your book. You’ll want to grab a copy!
~Amazon offers “Amazon Marketing Services” a.k.a. ads you can place to sell your book. My good friend and U.S. Navy Vet Dave Chesson has a free course you can take to learn more about how to use them!
~S tart growing your prospective clients/readers list now (and how to do it).
Not receiving these posts in your inbox quite yet? Get everything you need to finally get your book written. Just go here .
June 6, 2017
Do You Have the Keys to Building Your Reader Tribe?
This blog was originally published on Amazon’s Author Insights Blog.
You can read it here.
You won’t be a full-time author without lots of readers, otherwise known as your reader tribe. You might think tribes are for famous authors (like the original tribe guy himself, Seth Godin). Truly, if you’re at the beginning of your author journey, you might not be able to imagine having a tribe of people—superfans, if you will—who buy, read, review, and truly love every book you write. But I promise you, it is possible, and it is possible for you.
A few words of caution: If, by chance, you are looking to build your tribe in record time and go from unknown aspiring author to tribe leader with tens of thousands of readers “in minutes,” slow your roll! My advice here, as in all my work, is from the perspective of the long-tail, slow-burn perspective. You’ll get there, and it will take some time.
Let me use my experience to help you build your tribe in record time.
What is a reader tribe?
Your reader tribe is a group of people connected to each other and led by you, through your books. They might love your characters, or they might find your advice something they cannot live without. They look to you for inspiration or entertainment (or both), and they bond with each other because you have brought them together.
How to build your tribe:
Be your fabulous, authentic self. Tribes are built one reader at a time. It will all start because one person thinks you’re the cat’s meow and decides you hold the key. How does this happen? It happens when you are personal, authentic, and, dare I say, open kimono. We find ourselves in others, and your tribe will find themselves in you.
Ask for help. Your followers want to help. Wouldn’t you do something for someone you admire, and happily so? Of course you would! When people tell you they love your writing, thank them and ask that they leave a review and tell their friends.
Stay in close touch.Remember these words: What you give away, you keep.It’s a philosophy I first heard from Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee when I was building my business. Share everything you can, and the right people will keep coming back for more. Give away free information, and future members of your tribe will come back and purchase the next thing you offer. For example, you give away a free e-book in exchange for my e-mail address. A few months later, you release a new book. Not only do I preorder it, but I also read it right away, leave a review, and buy a copy for a like-minded friend.
Engage with every single reader. I have fans who are fans because I answered their e-mail or responded to their tweet. I’ve heard that some authors just don’t respond (wait, what?!). It might take me some time, but I answer every single message I see (as long as it is nice or isn’t asking for something I just can’t do).
Encourage engagement within your tribe. Hal Elrod has done a tremendous job of creating a community from his book The Miracle Morning.In the beginning, and keep in mind this will last a while, you’ll be spurring on communication, comments, and independent connections between members of your tribe. Eventually, you’ll see leaders step up within the group and create other activity within your group.
Never give up. Your tribe might take a year to get off the ground; it might take five years. Just as you wouldn’t give your child a finite amount of time to learn to walk or talk, you won’t give up on your tribe until you’ve built it. No matter how long it takes, you just keep putting one foot in front of the other (and inviting members of join).
Having readers who love your books is exhilarating and humbling. Treat your tribe with the ownership and stewardship it deserves, and soon you’ll have more than the one thousand true fans you need to be a full-time writer.
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do–or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Networking: Find other amazing writers and authors in The Prosperous Writer Mastermind on Facebook!
~Prosperous Reading: Nick Stephenson is sharing his book, Reader Magnets , for free! Learn how he added tens of thousands of targeted readers to his mailing list here.
~Prosperous Listening: Love me some Amy Teegan! Listen to her co-host on the Sell More Books Show {with Jim Kukral}
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
You can read it here.
You won’t be a full-time author without lots of readers, otherwise known as your reader tribe. You might think tribes are for famous authors (like the original tribe guy himself, Seth Godin). Truly, if you’re at the beginning of your author journey, you might not be able to imagine having a tribe of people—superfans, if you will—who buy, read, review, and truly love every book you write. But I promise you, it is possible, and it is possible for you.
A few words of caution: If, by chance, you are looking to build your tribe in record time and go from unknown aspiring author to tribe leader with tens of thousands of readers “in minutes,” slow your roll! My advice here, as in all my work, is from the perspective of the long-tail, slow-burn perspective. You’ll get there, and it will take some time.
Let me use my experience to help you build your tribe in record time.
What is a reader tribe?
Your reader tribe is a group of people connected to each other and led by you, through your books. They might love your characters, or they might find your advice something they cannot live without. They look to you for inspiration or entertainment (or both), and they bond with each other because you have brought them together.
How to build your tribe:
Be your fabulous, authentic self. Tribes are built one reader at a time. It will all start because one person thinks you’re the cat’s meow and decides you hold the key. How does this happen? It happens when you are personal, authentic, and, dare I say, open kimono. We find ourselves in others, and your tribe will find themselves in you.
Ask for help. Your followers want to help. Wouldn’t you do something for someone you admire, and happily so? Of course you would! When people tell you they love your writing, thank them and ask that they leave a review and tell their friends.
Stay in close touch.Remember these words: What you give away, you keep.It’s a philosophy I first heard from Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee when I was building my business. Share everything you can, and the right people will keep coming back for more. Give away free information, and future members of your tribe will come back and purchase the next thing you offer. For example, you give away a free e-book in exchange for my e-mail address. A few months later, you release a new book. Not only do I preorder it, but I also read it right away, leave a review, and buy a copy for a like-minded friend.
Engage with every single reader. I have fans who are fans because I answered their e-mail or responded to their tweet. I’ve heard that some authors just don’t respond (wait, what?!). It might take me some time, but I answer every single message I see (as long as it is nice or isn’t asking for something I just can’t do).
Encourage engagement within your tribe. Hal Elrod has done a tremendous job of creating a community from his book The Miracle Morning.In the beginning, and keep in mind this will last a while, you’ll be spurring on communication, comments, and independent connections between members of your tribe. Eventually, you’ll see leaders step up within the group and create other activity within your group.
Never give up. Your tribe might take a year to get off the ground; it might take five years. Just as you wouldn’t give your child a finite amount of time to learn to walk or talk, you won’t give up on your tribe until you’ve built it. No matter how long it takes, you just keep putting one foot in front of the other (and inviting members of join).
Having readers who love your books is exhilarating and humbling. Treat your tribe with the ownership and stewardship it deserves, and soon you’ll have more than the one thousand true fans you need to be a full-time writer.
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do–or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Networking: Find other amazing writers and authors in The Prosperous Writer Mastermind on Facebook!
~Prosperous Reading: Nick Stephenson is sharing his book, Reader Magnets , for free! Learn how he added tens of thousands of targeted readers to his mailing list here.
~Prosperous Listening: Love me some Amy Teegan! Listen to her co-host on the Sell More Books Show {with Jim Kukral}
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
June 5, 2017
Get Hired and Referred More Often!
I attended a meeting this morning and one of the people in attendance was talking about his goals for this year. We belong to a group, and he shared that the group provides his business with a substantial amount of business each year. Yet, not everyone in the group has purchased his services, or refers him business.
It got me thinking about why some people get referred a lot, and others not so much. If you’re not getting as much business as you’d like, here are a few questions to consider:
Are you likable? Being likable is a funny thing. I believe being likable means people feel like you like them, and it’s comfortable and easy to be around you. The fastest and easiest way to become more likable is actually to become more likable to yourself. If you have some work to do in this area, don’t despair! You’re not alone, in fact, more people are uncomfortable with themselves then are comfortable. Spend some time working on yourself, and I suggest you start by reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. In this classic tome, Hill addresses self-confidence. A person with an abundance of self-confidence likes themselves, and others, and it shows.
Are you approachable? By approachable I mean, do people feel like you’re someone they can talk to about your area of expertise without being made to feel, for lack of a better term, stupid. Every single profession requires expertise, and as an expert in your field it is your job to increase expertise and the knowledge of what you do to others. My corporate attorney, Adam Fox, is amazingly smart and very knowledgeable. I’m sure I ask lots of questions that reveal my lack of knowledge. But any time and every time I ask Adam questions, he answers them in a way that makes me feel good. I think an expert is someone who is truly approachable, and someone who shares their knowledge freely with those who don’t have the same level of expertise. Is that you?
Are you affordable, and do others know? Just last week, my favorite travel agent Carol Mata shared that her services are free. To quote my favorite bookkeeper, Amorette Maroney, “This is a game changer! Why would you not use her to book your travel? I mean, it’s free!” Indeed, why would someone not use her? In fact, why would someone not use you, even if you are not free? My bigger point is this: do people know the services you offer, how much they cost, and why in particular they should engage you in business? If not, you will want to engage in a marketing campaign specifically focused on educating your clients and strategic partners about exactly what you do.
How others perceive you, and feel about you, informs and influences whether or not they hire or refer you. If you have work to do in any of these areas, join the club! We are all works in progress. I find that success is as much 98% inner preparation, and with a good amount of work on yourself, you will find that a grand amount of success will come in short order.
Learn more about the art of relationships and networking in my book that draws parallels between personal dating and professional relationships, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success . And, it’s just 99 cents for a few days starting tomorrow!
Cool things to ensure your success…
Listen: Coaching-on-demand! Have your coach (me!) in your pocket whenever needed. Get the STMA 100-Day Audio Program here. Offer extended: use code 75success and snag it for just $100!
Read: B usiness Dating by Yours Truly — the only book on business networking you’ll ever need!
Watch: 1 0 Rules for Success by Anna Wintour (Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Magazine, since 1988)
Hack: James Clear has several articles on Productivity (and other topics). You’ll want to check them all out here.
If you enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get two free chapters of my best-selling book Tall Order! 7 Master Strategies to Organize Your Life & Double Your Success in Half the Time.
It got me thinking about why some people get referred a lot, and others not so much. If you’re not getting as much business as you’d like, here are a few questions to consider:
Are you likable? Being likable is a funny thing. I believe being likable means people feel like you like them, and it’s comfortable and easy to be around you. The fastest and easiest way to become more likable is actually to become more likable to yourself. If you have some work to do in this area, don’t despair! You’re not alone, in fact, more people are uncomfortable with themselves then are comfortable. Spend some time working on yourself, and I suggest you start by reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. In this classic tome, Hill addresses self-confidence. A person with an abundance of self-confidence likes themselves, and others, and it shows.
Are you approachable? By approachable I mean, do people feel like you’re someone they can talk to about your area of expertise without being made to feel, for lack of a better term, stupid. Every single profession requires expertise, and as an expert in your field it is your job to increase expertise and the knowledge of what you do to others. My corporate attorney, Adam Fox, is amazingly smart and very knowledgeable. I’m sure I ask lots of questions that reveal my lack of knowledge. But any time and every time I ask Adam questions, he answers them in a way that makes me feel good. I think an expert is someone who is truly approachable, and someone who shares their knowledge freely with those who don’t have the same level of expertise. Is that you?
Are you affordable, and do others know? Just last week, my favorite travel agent Carol Mata shared that her services are free. To quote my favorite bookkeeper, Amorette Maroney, “This is a game changer! Why would you not use her to book your travel? I mean, it’s free!” Indeed, why would someone not use her? In fact, why would someone not use you, even if you are not free? My bigger point is this: do people know the services you offer, how much they cost, and why in particular they should engage you in business? If not, you will want to engage in a marketing campaign specifically focused on educating your clients and strategic partners about exactly what you do.
How others perceive you, and feel about you, informs and influences whether or not they hire or refer you. If you have work to do in any of these areas, join the club! We are all works in progress. I find that success is as much 98% inner preparation, and with a good amount of work on yourself, you will find that a grand amount of success will come in short order.
Learn more about the art of relationships and networking in my book that draws parallels between personal dating and professional relationships, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success . And, it’s just 99 cents for a few days starting tomorrow!
Cool things to ensure your success…
Listen: Coaching-on-demand! Have your coach (me!) in your pocket whenever needed. Get the STMA 100-Day Audio Program here. Offer extended: use code 75success and snag it for just $100!
Read: B usiness Dating by Yours Truly — the only book on business networking you’ll ever need!
Watch: 1 0 Rules for Success by Anna Wintour (Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Magazine, since 1988)
Hack: James Clear has several articles on Productivity (and other topics). You’ll want to check them all out here.
If you enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get two free chapters of my best-selling book Tall Order! 7 Master Strategies to Organize Your Life & Double Your Success in Half the Time.
May 24, 2017
Rock Your Also-Boughts for Bigger, Better Book Sales
I’m so excited it’s Thursday, my writer friend!! Brian D. Meeks and I have penned another book (launching next Monday, Memorial Day), The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to Finding Readers. We promise you’ll find new, innovative, creative and ninja ways to find more readers.
So you want to become a prosperous writer, or a more prosperous writer, and the sooner the better. Well, mastering today’s topic can help you do just that.
“Also-boughts” are the short-hand term for Customers who bought this item also bought on Amazon or More Books Like This on iBooks.
You want your books to show up next to other books in your category or genre, but how do you make that happen? It can happen organically over time, but if you don’t ensure the early purchasers of your book are your exact avatar (a topic I will dive into in another post), you may sell a few, some, or lots of books but your also-boughts won’t serve to find perfect future readers for your book.
What do you do if your also-boughts are populated with other books that are nothing like yours? Here are a three possible fixers:
Do a book promotion with other like/same authors.I recently participated in a 3-day 99 cent promotion for Prosperity for Writers and within two days, my also-boughts showed the other five books in the promotion. This worked because our books at full price ranged between $4.99 and $9.99, which made less than a buck a bargain! People snapped up some or all of the other books in record numbers (I told more than 500 on the first day) and eliminated the odd also-boughts.
Do regular cross-promotion. Similar to #1, putting together a group book promotion can be a little like herding cats. It’s a lot of work, and takes some time to get going. If you’re friendly with other authors in your genre (and if you smart, you are! P.S. Never burn a bridge!), then you can reach out and do quick cross promotions that can get your also-boughts in order fairly quickly.
Update your keywords. Check out the book descriptions of other books, and perhaps their title will help you figure out which ones to use. For example, Chris Fox’s book, Six Figure Author is in alignment with Prosperity for Writers, I could use “six figure author” as a key word. You can also use a cool tool like this to identify keywords, and here’s a great article about it: Complete Guide to Kindle Keywords.
How to avoid this problem in the first place:
Form your Advanced Reader Team with as many people who are the ideal readers for your book as possible. And only with these ideal readers.
Ask them to buy and leave a positive review as close to publication date as possible.
This gives data to online retailers that allows them to help you find other readers–and automatically populates your also-boughts with the other books they’ve read.
Yes, you can fix your also-boughts, but it’s a better idea to influence them intentionally from the beginning.
Next time, I’ll focus more on your avatar and why identifying one ideal reader is a best practice before you even write your first sentence.
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do … or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Marketing: Using Back Matter to Sell More Books
~Prosperous Reading: Successful Self-Publishing {Book by Joanna Penn}
~Prosperous Listening: My author buddy and co-author Brian Meeks on the Sell More Books Show {with Bryan Cohen}
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
So you want to become a prosperous writer, or a more prosperous writer, and the sooner the better. Well, mastering today’s topic can help you do just that.
“Also-boughts” are the short-hand term for Customers who bought this item also bought on Amazon or More Books Like This on iBooks.
You want your books to show up next to other books in your category or genre, but how do you make that happen? It can happen organically over time, but if you don’t ensure the early purchasers of your book are your exact avatar (a topic I will dive into in another post), you may sell a few, some, or lots of books but your also-boughts won’t serve to find perfect future readers for your book.
What do you do if your also-boughts are populated with other books that are nothing like yours? Here are a three possible fixers:
Do a book promotion with other like/same authors.I recently participated in a 3-day 99 cent promotion for Prosperity for Writers and within two days, my also-boughts showed the other five books in the promotion. This worked because our books at full price ranged between $4.99 and $9.99, which made less than a buck a bargain! People snapped up some or all of the other books in record numbers (I told more than 500 on the first day) and eliminated the odd also-boughts.
Do regular cross-promotion. Similar to #1, putting together a group book promotion can be a little like herding cats. It’s a lot of work, and takes some time to get going. If you’re friendly with other authors in your genre (and if you smart, you are! P.S. Never burn a bridge!), then you can reach out and do quick cross promotions that can get your also-boughts in order fairly quickly.
Update your keywords. Check out the book descriptions of other books, and perhaps their title will help you figure out which ones to use. For example, Chris Fox’s book, Six Figure Author is in alignment with Prosperity for Writers, I could use “six figure author” as a key word. You can also use a cool tool like this to identify keywords, and here’s a great article about it: Complete Guide to Kindle Keywords.
How to avoid this problem in the first place:
Form your Advanced Reader Team with as many people who are the ideal readers for your book as possible. And only with these ideal readers.
Ask them to buy and leave a positive review as close to publication date as possible.
This gives data to online retailers that allows them to help you find other readers–and automatically populates your also-boughts with the other books they’ve read.
Yes, you can fix your also-boughts, but it’s a better idea to influence them intentionally from the beginning.
Next time, I’ll focus more on your avatar and why identifying one ideal reader is a best practice before you even write your first sentence.
More Good Stuff…
Your prosperity begins and ends with what you think, say, and do … or in this case what you do, read, and listen to, so try these on for size:
~Prosperous Marketing: Using Back Matter to Sell More Books
~Prosperous Reading: Successful Self-Publishing {Book by Joanna Penn}
~Prosperous Listening: My author buddy and co-author Brian Meeks on the Sell More Books Show {with Bryan Cohen}
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the link below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
May 22, 2017
What would help you move forward with your book?
There are so many topics I could address in these posts but perhaps you need the answer to a specific question on a particular topic or aspect of self-publishing.
There are multiple things to consider when tackling a business book project:
What to do first?
Idea curation
Solo book or series?
What can I expect from a book?
How do I do projections?
How do I effectively title my book?
Who am I writing the book for (identifying your avatar)?
How do I publish a quality book?
Who do I need on my team and how do I know they’re really good?
How and when does marketing factor in?
How do I launch a book? Do I want a bestseller or best earner?
How do I market the book for the long-term?
Where and how do I publish my book?
When is the best time to publish my book?
So, I’d love to know–what specific question can I answer for you?
Send me an email or leave your question in the comments!
{ICYMI}: I’ve started the You Must Write a Book LinkedIn Group. Have questions or need help with any aspect of your book? Join the group and I’ll answer your questions!
Whatever question you have, someone else is mulling it over, too. Be sure to let me know so I can help everyone! If you’d like me to help you strategize any aspect of your book, I have a few strategic book coaching spots available. I’d love to help!
Happy writing!
***RESOURCES***
~I’m live on the Make Publishing Fun Summit! On this interview I talk about how to prepare for an amazing publishing journey. Join me here!
~ How to Navigate Amazon’s KDP & Other Digital eBook Retailers
~ A Tool You Can Use to Research Profitable Book Ideas
~ U nderstanding the How & Why of Book Formatting
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the box below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
Not receiving these posts in your inbox quite yet? Get everything you need to finally get your book written. Just go here .
There are multiple things to consider when tackling a business book project:
What to do first?
Idea curation
Solo book or series?
What can I expect from a book?
How do I do projections?
How do I effectively title my book?
Who am I writing the book for (identifying your avatar)?
How do I publish a quality book?
Who do I need on my team and how do I know they’re really good?
How and when does marketing factor in?
How do I launch a book? Do I want a bestseller or best earner?
How do I market the book for the long-term?
Where and how do I publish my book?
When is the best time to publish my book?
So, I’d love to know–what specific question can I answer for you?
Send me an email or leave your question in the comments!
{ICYMI}: I’ve started the You Must Write a Book LinkedIn Group. Have questions or need help with any aspect of your book? Join the group and I’ll answer your questions!
Whatever question you have, someone else is mulling it over, too. Be sure to let me know so I can help everyone! If you’d like me to help you strategize any aspect of your book, I have a few strategic book coaching spots available. I’d love to help!
Happy writing!
***RESOURCES***
~I’m live on the Make Publishing Fun Summit! On this interview I talk about how to prepare for an amazing publishing journey. Join me here!
~ How to Navigate Amazon’s KDP & Other Digital eBook Retailers
~ A Tool You Can Use to Research Profitable Book Ideas
~ U nderstanding the How & Why of Book Formatting
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click the box below and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
Not receiving these posts in your inbox quite yet? Get everything you need to finally get your book written. Just go here .
May 15, 2017
To Achieve Success, You Must COMMIT
This series of four posts has been all about the psychological pre-sets that must in place in order for you to be successful.
If you’ve missed the first 3 posts, here they are:
What Precedes YOUR Success?
Believe You CAN
Believe You DESERVE It
Let me be clear if you want success:
You have to commit and follow through.
Here’s the truth: 99% commitment sucks. 100% commitment rocks. Being almost fully committed is a nebulous place to be. Yet being in a “pants-on-fire, all-in, no matter what” state opens the door for all sorts of awesomeness. I understand you might be concerned you’ll fail. You might feel if you give it your all, you still might come up short. You might want to avoid putting yourself out there, because you’re afraid you might get hurt. I totally get it, and the truth is this: you have nothing to lose by giving your desires your all!
100% commitment rocks. And … it gets you the results you want. Here’s why:
When you commit to something, in this case a goal you desire to achieve, with your whole heart, soul, and being, you become unstoppable. It’s a simple step, this “being committed thing.” But being 100% committed sometimes isn’t easy because if you’re honest with yourself, there can be a smidge of doubt in the back of your mind. This shred of doubt is what could be holding you back.
So what?
Isn’t the point of a big goal to become a better version, dare I say the best version of yourself? Finding out what you’re truly made of? It is for me! The spoils that come with achieving a goal are just the icing on a giant, delicious cupcake. In the process, you’ll discover another level you might not have known you possessed, learned a lot about yourself (and those around you), and raised your personal standards. Bonus: you’ll never be the same again and you’ll approach new goals with a fierce determination. It sounds kinda fun when you think about it, doesn’t it?
I challenge you to stop standing in your own way and commit whole-heartedly to what you truly want. Step out in faith, faith in yourself, and when you do, the results will surprise you.
The actions that follow the commitment won’t come easily, yet they will come easier than they would have had you kept a little in reserve “just in case.” The more committed you are, literally the easier it will be to follow through on the action steps you choose as part of your plan.
To Commit: I commit 100% to achieving {goal} by {date}.
To Do: Commit to doing your daily actions daily. No matter what. If you’re an STMA-er, that means checking the boxes on your Dashboard every single day.
Having a coach can massively accelerate your success. My clients experience an average of 43% more income over 100 days with my coaching than they did in any previous 100 day period. I’ve retired from 1-1 coaching, but you still have an on-demand option to use over and over! Use THIS LINK for 75% off through Friday!
Before you go, I have a question: Is there a time you said, “What the heck! I’m going to go for it!” and totally surprised yourself with some amazing results? Send me an email or leave a message on the blog.
Cool things to ensure your success…
Listen: Coaching-on-demand! Have your coach (me!) in your pocket whenever needed. Get the STMA 100-Day Audio Program here. Use code 75success and snag it for just $100!
Read: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Watch: You Can If You Think You Can! Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Hack: Have questions about the book you’re working on? I’ve started a LinkedIn Group to answer your questions. Would love you to join!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here .
If you’ve missed the first 3 posts, here they are:
What Precedes YOUR Success?
Believe You CAN
Believe You DESERVE It
Let me be clear if you want success:
You have to commit and follow through.
Here’s the truth: 99% commitment sucks. 100% commitment rocks. Being almost fully committed is a nebulous place to be. Yet being in a “pants-on-fire, all-in, no matter what” state opens the door for all sorts of awesomeness. I understand you might be concerned you’ll fail. You might feel if you give it your all, you still might come up short. You might want to avoid putting yourself out there, because you’re afraid you might get hurt. I totally get it, and the truth is this: you have nothing to lose by giving your desires your all!
100% commitment rocks. And … it gets you the results you want. Here’s why:
When you commit to something, in this case a goal you desire to achieve, with your whole heart, soul, and being, you become unstoppable. It’s a simple step, this “being committed thing.” But being 100% committed sometimes isn’t easy because if you’re honest with yourself, there can be a smidge of doubt in the back of your mind. This shred of doubt is what could be holding you back.
So what?
Isn’t the point of a big goal to become a better version, dare I say the best version of yourself? Finding out what you’re truly made of? It is for me! The spoils that come with achieving a goal are just the icing on a giant, delicious cupcake. In the process, you’ll discover another level you might not have known you possessed, learned a lot about yourself (and those around you), and raised your personal standards. Bonus: you’ll never be the same again and you’ll approach new goals with a fierce determination. It sounds kinda fun when you think about it, doesn’t it?
I challenge you to stop standing in your own way and commit whole-heartedly to what you truly want. Step out in faith, faith in yourself, and when you do, the results will surprise you.
The actions that follow the commitment won’t come easily, yet they will come easier than they would have had you kept a little in reserve “just in case.” The more committed you are, literally the easier it will be to follow through on the action steps you choose as part of your plan.
To Commit: I commit 100% to achieving {goal} by {date}.
To Do: Commit to doing your daily actions daily. No matter what. If you’re an STMA-er, that means checking the boxes on your Dashboard every single day.
Having a coach can massively accelerate your success. My clients experience an average of 43% more income over 100 days with my coaching than they did in any previous 100 day period. I’ve retired from 1-1 coaching, but you still have an on-demand option to use over and over! Use THIS LINK for 75% off through Friday!
Before you go, I have a question: Is there a time you said, “What the heck! I’m going to go for it!” and totally surprised yourself with some amazing results? Send me an email or leave a message on the blog.
Cool things to ensure your success…
Listen: Coaching-on-demand! Have your coach (me!) in your pocket whenever needed. Get the STMA 100-Day Audio Program here. Use code 75success and snag it for just $100!
Read: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Watch: You Can If You Think You Can! Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Hack: Have questions about the book you’re working on? I’ve started a LinkedIn Group to answer your questions. Would love you to join!
BookBub!
Do you like BookBub? This site is crazy awesome and notifies you when books go on sale (think 99 cents). I have an Author Page with BookBub and if you follow me there, they will send you a personal note when I have a book sale. It’s that easy! Click here and hit the “Follow Me” at the top right of my profile.
If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here .
May 10, 2017
How to Get More Reviews
Reviews make
such a huge difference
in the success of a book. I mean, reviews give the all-important third-party validation to tell prospective readers they do need to spend their time and money on your book! And here’s third-party validation for my point.
There are the usual tips:
Develop an advanced reader team. (a.k.a. an “ART” … I gave mine a spiffy name–you can join my “review crew” for my next book here). In exchange for an honest review, they get to read an advanced copy of your book.
Build your list. Your email list, that is. Share your knowledge in yummy bite-sized pieces, ask your subscribers to share (Um, would you mind sharing this newsletter with some writers you know? That would be amazing! Just forward them this edition, and tell them to go here.)
Ask … I just asked you (see #2, above) and you’re still reading. If you were super offended, you’d stop reading or email me and share a few choice words. See how easy it is? I suggest asking everyone who tells you they love your book. Try something like this: Hey, would you mind leaving an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads? Leave an ask in your book’s back matter in the form of a simple question or a whole page. You could even get crazy and post a “hey if you liked my book even a little, please leave a review on Amazon” on Facebook. Some will. Some won’t. So what? Someone wants to…and they will…and before you know it, you’ll have hundreds of reviews which will lead to more sales and potentially nirvana.
But wait there’s more! The thing that has worked best for me is a lot more esoteric and magical in nature. I wrote about my overarching philosophy around this in Prosperity for Writers , but I’ll say it again (in a somewhat different way) here:
***If you want more of something, give it away.***
This applies to hugs, money, love, friendship, and yes, REVIEWS. If you want more reviews, ask yourself the question: are you giving honest reviews to other authors? How many? As many as you want? I know, I know, it takes time to write reviews (especially if you write them on both Goodreads and Amazon) … and then there is the matter of actually reading the books first!
This is so important: If you truly want more of anything, up to and including reviews, read more books and write more reviews. Not because those authors, in particular, will feel obliged to return the favor, because that’s the way the world and the universe works …
Said another way :: What you put out comes back to you, multiplied.
I know this works, for a fact, because it’s how I became Hal Elrod‘s business partner in The Miracle Morning book series.
I wanted more reviews.
I realized I wasn’t eating my own dog food (reading but not reviewing … how could I expect something I wasn’t doing myself?).
I decided to leave reviews for each and every 4- and 5-star deserving book I read (no point in knocking someone down, it’s rude and unnecessary, don’t you think?).
The next book I read was The Miracle Morning .
Long story short, Hal saw the review, reached out with an idea and the rest is history.
What do you want more of? How can you give it away and start an abundance of it coming back to you? I’d love to hear.
Blessings, light, prosperity and abundance in abundance to you …
P.S. Promoting someone else’s work, through reviews or posts or just a mention here and there, costs nothing. But it sows such great seeds and karma can be such a wonderful thing.
P.P.S. Chris Syme is one of my top three favorite book marketing experts, and she has two books in her Smart Marketing for Authors book series: Sell More Books with Less Social Media and SMART Social Media for Authors. For the cost of two Unicorn Frappuccinos (one for you, one for a friend… duh!), you can become a social media ninja. Plus, you’ll want to bone up on her marketing knowledge, cause she has a new book coming soon! To get notification when the book is ready, go here.
One more thing … If you’re not a member of the Prosperity for Writers Mastermind Group on Facebook, please join us (and invite your friends). The more the merrier! I lead writing sprints, ask compelling questions, and all sorts of other cool stuff, FYI.
There are the usual tips:
Develop an advanced reader team. (a.k.a. an “ART” … I gave mine a spiffy name–you can join my “review crew” for my next book here). In exchange for an honest review, they get to read an advanced copy of your book.
Build your list. Your email list, that is. Share your knowledge in yummy bite-sized pieces, ask your subscribers to share (Um, would you mind sharing this newsletter with some writers you know? That would be amazing! Just forward them this edition, and tell them to go here.)
Ask … I just asked you (see #2, above) and you’re still reading. If you were super offended, you’d stop reading or email me and share a few choice words. See how easy it is? I suggest asking everyone who tells you they love your book. Try something like this: Hey, would you mind leaving an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads? Leave an ask in your book’s back matter in the form of a simple question or a whole page. You could even get crazy and post a “hey if you liked my book even a little, please leave a review on Amazon” on Facebook. Some will. Some won’t. So what? Someone wants to…and they will…and before you know it, you’ll have hundreds of reviews which will lead to more sales and potentially nirvana.
But wait there’s more! The thing that has worked best for me is a lot more esoteric and magical in nature. I wrote about my overarching philosophy around this in Prosperity for Writers , but I’ll say it again (in a somewhat different way) here:
***If you want more of something, give it away.***
This applies to hugs, money, love, friendship, and yes, REVIEWS. If you want more reviews, ask yourself the question: are you giving honest reviews to other authors? How many? As many as you want? I know, I know, it takes time to write reviews (especially if you write them on both Goodreads and Amazon) … and then there is the matter of actually reading the books first!
This is so important: If you truly want more of anything, up to and including reviews, read more books and write more reviews. Not because those authors, in particular, will feel obliged to return the favor, because that’s the way the world and the universe works …
Said another way :: What you put out comes back to you, multiplied.
I know this works, for a fact, because it’s how I became Hal Elrod‘s business partner in The Miracle Morning book series.
I wanted more reviews.
I realized I wasn’t eating my own dog food (reading but not reviewing … how could I expect something I wasn’t doing myself?).
I decided to leave reviews for each and every 4- and 5-star deserving book I read (no point in knocking someone down, it’s rude and unnecessary, don’t you think?).
The next book I read was The Miracle Morning .
Long story short, Hal saw the review, reached out with an idea and the rest is history.
What do you want more of? How can you give it away and start an abundance of it coming back to you? I’d love to hear.
Blessings, light, prosperity and abundance in abundance to you …
P.S. Promoting someone else’s work, through reviews or posts or just a mention here and there, costs nothing. But it sows such great seeds and karma can be such a wonderful thing.
P.P.S. Chris Syme is one of my top three favorite book marketing experts, and she has two books in her Smart Marketing for Authors book series: Sell More Books with Less Social Media and SMART Social Media for Authors. For the cost of two Unicorn Frappuccinos (one for you, one for a friend… duh!), you can become a social media ninja. Plus, you’ll want to bone up on her marketing knowledge, cause she has a new book coming soon! To get notification when the book is ready, go here.
One more thing … If you’re not a member of the Prosperity for Writers Mastermind Group on Facebook, please join us (and invite your friends). The more the merrier! I lead writing sprints, ask compelling questions, and all sorts of other cool stuff, FYI.
