Mya Kay's Blog: Self-Pub Swag , page 2
June 17, 2014
Securing Management for Your Author Career, Part 2
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.netYesterday, we touched on some very important topics including, when do you know you need management and what to look for in a manager.
Today, we'll focus on:
should a female client sign with a male managerwhat contacts your manager should have if you're an authorcreating a contract with your managerwhy working with friends may not be the wisest ideaFirst, when it comes to management, I don't think gender matters. However, if you are a married woman or your manager is a married man and you're single, just consider how much time you'll be spending with them and make sure the respective mates agrees with it.
Remember, you'll be spending a lot of time with your manager. For authors, it probably won't be as much as if you are a singer or actor, but it's still a significant amount of time that you don't need any drama surrounding your career. As a single woman, I actually always seem to deal with a team when I was considering management. There was only one case where it was a guy and I felt very comfortable with him. He is very business minded.
There were several of my friends that I thought would be a great manager just because they had business degrees and were looking to branch out into entrepreneurship. But I never made the call. I personally don't think you should mix friendship with business. You don't need any extra reasons for you and your friend to bump heads.
I had a friend who was the Vice President of my mentoring organization while we were in college. Whenever I tried to correct her, I felt she took it personal. Once, she hung up on me. That's not cool because as the President, if I'm calmly addressing an issue, why would you handle it that way? So I've learned to not work with friends on that level.
Plus, it may be hard for your friends to separate the business side of you from the personal side of you. They have to know not to base decisions based on your personal life, but from a business perspective.
So, what contacts should your manager have if you're an author? I'll use myself as an example. I write children's fiction, from picture books to young adult. I wanted someone who had contacts at schools, the Boys & Girls Club of America, other non-profits that cater to youth, especially young girls and churches.
That was important to me. And my management team has that. One, my mother has a degree in non-profit management and she has done massive research on non-profits. We also have strong ties to churches in my hometown. My west coast manager has ties to non-profits, colleges and education systems. The first conference call we had, she emailed my mom and I a document with all the college radio stations from A-Z in the country. That's being resourceful.
If you are a non-fiction writer who writes about health and fitness, you want someone that has connections in the health and fitness world. Having a manager who manages actors may not help you much. Or if you write about animals and animal health, you may want to get someone who has strong ties to PETA or animal hospitals. Trust me. You don't have time to help someone build their Rolodex. As you go along, you guys will add contacts, but they should definitely come with a strong list upfront.
Now, here's the tough part.Creating a contract. If you sign with a company, they will already probably have contracts set up. But if you just sign with an individual, there are some things you want to make sure are clear. One thing that steered me away from one management team is that they wanted me to sign for two years. Why? "Because the first year, we're just getting to know each other and nothing may happen in the first year, year and a half."
Sorry. If it takes you a year or more to book one speaking engagement for me, I'm good. I'm not looking for microwave success, but I don't want that slow global warming success either. I do agree with one part they said - it does take some time to really get to know someone. Even in a relationship, it can take 6-8 months before you really feel like you know your significant other.
Since contracts are so important, I'll touch on this with a more extensive blog post next week.
Questions or comments about securing management for your career? Have you found management? What was your journey like? Comment below or shoot me an email.
June 16, 2014
Finding Management for Your Author Career
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.netAfter searching for months for a manager to help me book speaking engagements and help me with my branding, I finally found someone who has my back and who will always be there for me - my mom. I know that sounds crazy but my mom never really crossed my mind as a full time manager. She's always helped me sell books and even while I was in Korea, she did a few events for me, but she has a full time job.
But somehow after we spoke about it a few weeks ago, she agreed to do it. Why not give my mother the 20% for each booking as opposed to someone who will probably do what I can do on my own? So, we formed Douglas Management Group and I touched base with one of my PR colleagues in LA and she joined us. So I have West Coast Representation and East Coast Representation.
We created a Gmail email account and grabbed a Google Voice number and got started. That way, nobody's personal information is out there and everyone involved gets the emails and phone calls because it's forwarded to the email.
So how do you go about securing management for your author career (or any kind of career involving the arts)? How about we start with do you even need management? Here's five ways to find out if you are at the level where you need management.
1) You are getting emails from people asking you for advice on how to get started in their career or asking would you be willing to speak at their school/organization.
2) You are reaching a level where you can only focus on your writing (or whatever your artistry is) and you don't want to handle that side of the business.
3) You can afford to have someone take 15-20% of everything you book.
4) You have books (products), fiction or non--fiction, that speak to society and personal topics that make people think "self-help".
5) You are at a place where you truly feel you've done all you can on your own.
Now, if you've hit at least three of these, I'd say you can start searching for management. Now, below are tips that you need to secure the right management for you. Remember, it's like a marriage. This person will know everything about you, including your social security number. You need to be able to trust them.
1) Do massive research. Don't just take the first person that says they want to help you. I talked to three different managers/companies and finally, found my way back to my mom because she honestly had the best answers.
2) Don't go for someone that already has a whole lot going on. Now, my mom and our West Coast partner has a full time job. However, with the three of us, it's going to be a lot easier. And, we all have the desire to be full time entrepreneurs one day. If you find someone who works full time, ask them these questions:
How will they be able to make/take calls on your behalf if they have a 9-5? Do they have a flexible job that will allow them to have conference calls? I doubt it. However, my mom and our West Coast partner can. They have very laid back jobs. Are they trying to do management on the side until they can leave and do it full time? If so, ask them for a written plan upfront of how they will work around that and help you out. Now, you have to be fair. Nobody is going to quit their job for a career that technically doesn't pay upfront. Remember, you only pay when they book you, in most cases. We'll talk about retainer agreements tomorrow. Will they be willing to travel with you (or can they) with a full time job? Some people have vacation/personal days that they have to take or they might actually be the CEO of the company. 3) Make sure that person is going to work. I tried someone out for a week. The only thing that he suggested was to post a flyer that I had made in different cities on Craigslist, one a day. I was thinking "And what will you be doing while I do this?" I'm not about to pay someone 20% to give me the tasks while they sit on their behinds. If they have other clients, make sure you talk to them and ask where they were in their careers before they started seeking management and then ask how management has helped them grow their careers. If the growth is noticeable, then move forward.
4) Don't go or a music manager if you are an actor. They might be in entertainment and I'm sure they know people in Hollywood, but will they really focus on you like they should? Don't go for the person whose trying to be a jack of all trades. Even if they know the president of the United States, it doesn't do you any good if the president is looking for someone to sing the national anthem at his birthday dinner and you're an actor. Maybe the music manager can connect you to someone in Hollywood.
5) If you are someone's first client, make sure you check up front if they want a retainer. Typically, I feel that manager's shouldn't collect a percentage and a retainer. So if they do one, they shouldn't do the other. That's my opinion. Now, let's say my booking fee is $1,000. 20% of that is $200. And if that manager is doing a great job, we can get booked two-three times a week. That's $400-600/week and $1600-2400/month. That's not a whole lot, but that's a nice amount for someone who may be doing this part-time for now.
Come back tomorrow where I'll discuss retainer options and what your manager should be doing for his/her 15-20%. I'll also touch on:should a female client sign with a male managerwhat contacts your manager should have if you're an authorcreating a contract with your managerwhy working with friends may not be the wisest idea
November 13, 2013
Don't Pressure Your Dreams
We all have one. Or two. Maybe even five or six.
A dream that whenever we wake up, it's on our minds. When we go to sleep at night, we dream about our dream. We literally eat, drink and sleep our dream.
And the ones who know where that desire came from, spend time with God to make sure they aren't taking a single step without him.
Since I've returned from South Korea, I found myself doing a little more than planning, preparing and patiently waiting (which is what you should be doing to see your dreams manifest).
Because I couldn't (and haven't) find a job and my business stream is going slow, I started to put unnecessary pressure on my dreams. For all of my fellow writers out there, you know that being a fiction writer and pitching agents/publishers is the hardest, most daunting thing that you have to do before the real process begins.
I write all the time, and I write in different mediums. From January to March of this year, I completed two feature film screenplays. A month later, I completed a pilot script. And a month after that, I completed a spec script for Scandal for the Disney ABC writing fellowship.
I was living overseas and found writing to come fluidly. Writing 2500 words a day was nothing while I was living out there. Oh. Did I mention I also finished my first middle grade novel while living there? So yes, it's safe to say a change of environment certainly helps you to clear your mind and get your creative juices flowing.
But something happened between my travels home (flew out of Korea August 15). Besides the untimely death of my grandmother, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I wasn't able to write as freely as I had been doing all year.
Here's what happened: I had put in close to 60 resumes/applications (since July) and started my freelance writing business on September 7th (re-launched it). My funds from Korea were dwindling and I wasn't getting any call backs for interviews, had been denied unemployment (twice) and we all know what's going on with Congress and the food stamps.
So I began to write to finish another novel. I planned to write one short story a day so I can submit to literary magazines that I knew were paying for short stories. I started plotted, planning and outlining. Then NaNoWriMo was in sight and I started plotting how if I finished this novel by the end of November (which would make it my fourth novel), then I could query by April (after of course getting it professionally edited and doing a massive rewrite).
But NaNoWriMo came and to date, I have about 2,700 words written. I stopped. Here's why:
My dreams aren't meant to be pressured by my current financial struggles. Our dreams are a gift from God. Those desires you feel tugging at your heart day and night were placed there for you to pursue and enjoy the journey along the way. Your dreams should never fall victim to your current circumstances. Or your bank account.
And that's why I want to encourage you all NEVER to put pressure on your dreams. Don't let a bill, a late notice (or shut off notice), a slowly growing business or ANYTHING put unnecessary pressure on your dreams. Once they manifest, you'll be working harder than ever before. Why rush that process? Enjoy the lessons you are learning on the way to achieving your most profound dreams. And keep dreaming.
But go after them everyday. Keep your vision in front of you and remember why you have it in the first place.
For my writer friends out there, keep writing. Even 200 words a day count to something. Don't pressure yourself.
Check out this Balls of Steels post by Jeanne V. Bowerman on Scriptmag.com. Stay encouraged and dreamers everywhere - don't ever stop. Don't ever settle.
With Love,
Mya Kay
PS Please like my new facebook author page, www.facebook.com/AuthorMyaKay. Help get me to 100 likes before the year is out! XO
A dream that whenever we wake up, it's on our minds. When we go to sleep at night, we dream about our dream. We literally eat, drink and sleep our dream.
And the ones who know where that desire came from, spend time with God to make sure they aren't taking a single step without him.
Since I've returned from South Korea, I found myself doing a little more than planning, preparing and patiently waiting (which is what you should be doing to see your dreams manifest).
Because I couldn't (and haven't) find a job and my business stream is going slow, I started to put unnecessary pressure on my dreams. For all of my fellow writers out there, you know that being a fiction writer and pitching agents/publishers is the hardest, most daunting thing that you have to do before the real process begins.
I write all the time, and I write in different mediums. From January to March of this year, I completed two feature film screenplays. A month later, I completed a pilot script. And a month after that, I completed a spec script for Scandal for the Disney ABC writing fellowship.
I was living overseas and found writing to come fluidly. Writing 2500 words a day was nothing while I was living out there. Oh. Did I mention I also finished my first middle grade novel while living there? So yes, it's safe to say a change of environment certainly helps you to clear your mind and get your creative juices flowing.
But something happened between my travels home (flew out of Korea August 15). Besides the untimely death of my grandmother, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I wasn't able to write as freely as I had been doing all year.
Here's what happened: I had put in close to 60 resumes/applications (since July) and started my freelance writing business on September 7th (re-launched it). My funds from Korea were dwindling and I wasn't getting any call backs for interviews, had been denied unemployment (twice) and we all know what's going on with Congress and the food stamps.
So I began to write to finish another novel. I planned to write one short story a day so I can submit to literary magazines that I knew were paying for short stories. I started plotted, planning and outlining. Then NaNoWriMo was in sight and I started plotting how if I finished this novel by the end of November (which would make it my fourth novel), then I could query by April (after of course getting it professionally edited and doing a massive rewrite).
But NaNoWriMo came and to date, I have about 2,700 words written. I stopped. Here's why:
My dreams aren't meant to be pressured by my current financial struggles. Our dreams are a gift from God. Those desires you feel tugging at your heart day and night were placed there for you to pursue and enjoy the journey along the way. Your dreams should never fall victim to your current circumstances. Or your bank account.
And that's why I want to encourage you all NEVER to put pressure on your dreams. Don't let a bill, a late notice (or shut off notice), a slowly growing business or ANYTHING put unnecessary pressure on your dreams. Once they manifest, you'll be working harder than ever before. Why rush that process? Enjoy the lessons you are learning on the way to achieving your most profound dreams. And keep dreaming.
But go after them everyday. Keep your vision in front of you and remember why you have it in the first place.
For my writer friends out there, keep writing. Even 200 words a day count to something. Don't pressure yourself.
Check out this Balls of Steels post by Jeanne V. Bowerman on Scriptmag.com. Stay encouraged and dreamers everywhere - don't ever stop. Don't ever settle.
With Love,
Mya Kay
PS Please like my new facebook author page, www.facebook.com/AuthorMyaKay. Help get me to 100 likes before the year is out! XO
November 7, 2013
Design and Color Trends for 2014
I took part in Interior Designer Chat on Twitter about a month ago. It's a twitter chat that takes place every Tuesday at 6pm EST (#IntDesignerChat), bringing together designers from all over the world to chat about key topics relating to the industry.
I'm a writer with a focus on the Home & Design industry, so I find it valuable to try to take part at least twice a month.
I gathered a few tips when Sherwin Williams was a host. I decided to provide anyone who may not have been able to take part with the information that was provided (PDF link is below).
Home Designers from everywhere engaged in conversation about color schemes and what colors would be the trend for 2014.
I took three of my favorite colors that came up in the conversation and inserted them with my own point of view of why these colors will dominate in 2014.
Gray is the new black.
I heard this a few years ago when I was working at Express. Gray has always been one of my favorite colors. It goes with everything and even can set off any other color you choose to use when decorating your home. photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Purple color family.
I have always felt soft purples were a great way to enhance an already beautiful layout or room. A dark purple as a frame could make an interior more compelling.
photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Orange and rust tones stand up in strong light.
Rust colored bathrooms and kitchens have always been a favorite of mine. Browns make a room flow with life. And when the light goes on...
photo credit: MillenniumLuxuryCoaches via photopin cc
Here is the Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014: Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014
Enjoy! Let's talk colors. Feel free to add your pinterest photos and let's have a colorful conversation.
[image error]
I'm a writer with a focus on the Home & Design industry, so I find it valuable to try to take part at least twice a month.
I gathered a few tips when Sherwin Williams was a host. I decided to provide anyone who may not have been able to take part with the information that was provided (PDF link is below).
Home Designers from everywhere engaged in conversation about color schemes and what colors would be the trend for 2014.
I took three of my favorite colors that came up in the conversation and inserted them with my own point of view of why these colors will dominate in 2014.
Gray is the new black.
I heard this a few years ago when I was working at Express. Gray has always been one of my favorite colors. It goes with everything and even can set off any other color you choose to use when decorating your home. photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Purple color family.
I have always felt soft purples were a great way to enhance an already beautiful layout or room. A dark purple as a frame could make an interior more compelling.
photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Orange and rust tones stand up in strong light.
Rust colored bathrooms and kitchens have always been a favorite of mine. Browns make a room flow with life. And when the light goes on...
photo credit: MillenniumLuxuryCoaches via photopin cc
Here is the Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014: Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014
Enjoy! Let's talk colors. Feel free to add your pinterest photos and let's have a colorful conversation.
[image error]
Design and Color Trends for 2014
I took part in Interior Designer Chat on Twitter about a month ago. It's a twitter chat that takes place every Tuesday at 6pm EST (#IntDesignerChat), bringing together designers from all over the world to chat about key topics relating to the industry.
I'm a writer with a focus on the Home & Design industry, so I find it valuable to try to take part at least twice a month.
I gathered a few tips when Sherwin Williams was a host. I decided to provide anyone who may not have been able to take part with the information that was provided (PDF link is below).
Home Designers from everywhere engaged in conversation about color schemes and what colors would be the trend for 2014.
I took three of my favorite colors that came up in the conversation and inserted them with my own point of view of why these colors will dominate in 2014.
Gray is the new black.
I heard this a few years ago when I was working at Express. Gray has always been one of my favorite colors. It goes with everything and even can set off any other color you choose to use when decorating your home. photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Purple color family.
I have always felt soft purples were a great way to enhance an already beautiful layout or room. A dark purple as a frame could make an interior more compelling.
photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Orange and rust tones stand up in strong light.
Rust colored bathrooms and kitchens have always been a favorite of mine. Browns make a room flow with life. And when the light goes on...
photo credit: MillenniumLuxuryCoaches via photopin cc
Here is the Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014: Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014
Enjoy! Let's talk colors. Feel free to add your pinterest photos and let's have a colorful conversation.
I'm a writer with a focus on the Home & Design industry, so I find it valuable to try to take part at least twice a month.
I gathered a few tips when Sherwin Williams was a host. I decided to provide anyone who may not have been able to take part with the information that was provided (PDF link is below).
Home Designers from everywhere engaged in conversation about color schemes and what colors would be the trend for 2014.
I took three of my favorite colors that came up in the conversation and inserted them with my own point of view of why these colors will dominate in 2014.
Gray is the new black.
I heard this a few years ago when I was working at Express. Gray has always been one of my favorite colors. It goes with everything and even can set off any other color you choose to use when decorating your home. photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Purple color family.
I have always felt soft purples were a great way to enhance an already beautiful layout or room. A dark purple as a frame could make an interior more compelling.
photo credit: coco+kelley via photopin cc
Orange and rust tones stand up in strong light.
Rust colored bathrooms and kitchens have always been a favorite of mine. Browns make a room flow with life. And when the light goes on...
photo credit: MillenniumLuxuryCoaches via photopin cc
Here is the Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014: Sherwin Williams Color Mix 2014
Enjoy! Let's talk colors. Feel free to add your pinterest photos and let's have a colorful conversation.
Engaging as a Strategic Plan
I had a conversation with a friend this week. He's a businessman and has a new product that he is ready to launch to the world.
In the midst of the conversation, Twitter came up. I noticed that he hadn't been tweeting from his personal account in the past, so I asked him about the account for his new product. I didn't even know he had one.
I asked him "Have you been tweeting and engaging with people on Twitter yet from that account?" His response, "No. I don't know what to tweet. I need to have a strategic plan in place first."
And the violin playing begins. Here's the thing:
Don't let a strategic marketing plan that hasn't been written or implemented yet stop you from engaging with PEOPLE.
At the end of the day, it's PEOPLE who invest in products and businesses that they love. To be honest, PEOPLE aren't thinking about how you strategically placed your tweet and tweeted it at a certain time because the volume on Twitter would be higher and how you keep up with social media trends and blah, blah, blah.
Let me make something clear: I am in no way, shape or form saying that you should just hop on Twitter and tweet anything that pops into your head. That would be social media suicide. What I am saying is, having a Twitter account with no followers because you're waiting for that perfect time or perfect tweet to send out, is ridiculous.
Don't let "marketing" overwhelm you and cause you to over think just talking to people. I may not have thousands and thousands of followers on Twitter, but every follower that I do have came from talking. The truth is, nobody wants you to tweet about your product all day, everyday.
What they want to know is that you're human. Building relationships builds revenue. [image error]
In the midst of the conversation, Twitter came up. I noticed that he hadn't been tweeting from his personal account in the past, so I asked him about the account for his new product. I didn't even know he had one.
I asked him "Have you been tweeting and engaging with people on Twitter yet from that account?" His response, "No. I don't know what to tweet. I need to have a strategic plan in place first."
And the violin playing begins. Here's the thing:
Don't let a strategic marketing plan that hasn't been written or implemented yet stop you from engaging with PEOPLE.
At the end of the day, it's PEOPLE who invest in products and businesses that they love. To be honest, PEOPLE aren't thinking about how you strategically placed your tweet and tweeted it at a certain time because the volume on Twitter would be higher and how you keep up with social media trends and blah, blah, blah.
Let me make something clear: I am in no way, shape or form saying that you should just hop on Twitter and tweet anything that pops into your head. That would be social media suicide. What I am saying is, having a Twitter account with no followers because you're waiting for that perfect time or perfect tweet to send out, is ridiculous.
Don't let "marketing" overwhelm you and cause you to over think just talking to people. I may not have thousands and thousands of followers on Twitter, but every follower that I do have came from talking. The truth is, nobody wants you to tweet about your product all day, everyday.
What they want to know is that you're human. Building relationships builds revenue. [image error]
Engaging as a Strategic Plan
I had a conversation with a friend this week. He's a businessman and has a new product that he is ready to launch to the world.
In the midst of the conversation, Twitter came up. I noticed that he hadn't been tweeting from his personal account in the past, so I asked him about the account for his new product. I didn't even know he had one.
I asked him "Have you been tweeting and engaging with people on Twitter yet from that account?" His response, "No. I don't know what to tweet. I need to have a strategic plan in place first."
And the violin playing begins. Here's the thing:
Don't let a strategic marketing plan that hasn't been written or implemented yet stop you from engaging with PEOPLE.
At the end of the day, it's PEOPLE who invest in products and businesses that they love. To be honest, PEOPLE aren't thinking about how you strategically placed your tweet and tweeted it at a certain time because the volume on Twitter would be higher and how you keep up with social media trends and blah, blah, blah.
Let me make something clear: I am in now way, shape or form saying that you should just hop on Twitter and tweet anything that pops into your head. That would be social media suicide. What I am saying is, having a Twitter account with no followers because you're waiting for that perfect time or perfect tweet to send out, is ridiculous.
Don't let "marketing" overwhelm you and cause you to over think just talking to people. I may not have thousands and thousands of followers on Twitter, but every follower that I do have came from talking. The truth is, nobody wants you to tweet about your product all day, everyday.
What they want to know is that you're human. Building relationships builds revenue.
In the midst of the conversation, Twitter came up. I noticed that he hadn't been tweeting from his personal account in the past, so I asked him about the account for his new product. I didn't even know he had one.
I asked him "Have you been tweeting and engaging with people on Twitter yet from that account?" His response, "No. I don't know what to tweet. I need to have a strategic plan in place first."
And the violin playing begins. Here's the thing:
Don't let a strategic marketing plan that hasn't been written or implemented yet stop you from engaging with PEOPLE.
At the end of the day, it's PEOPLE who invest in products and businesses that they love. To be honest, PEOPLE aren't thinking about how you strategically placed your tweet and tweeted it at a certain time because the volume on Twitter would be higher and how you keep up with social media trends and blah, blah, blah.
Let me make something clear: I am in now way, shape or form saying that you should just hop on Twitter and tweet anything that pops into your head. That would be social media suicide. What I am saying is, having a Twitter account with no followers because you're waiting for that perfect time or perfect tweet to send out, is ridiculous.
Don't let "marketing" overwhelm you and cause you to over think just talking to people. I may not have thousands and thousands of followers on Twitter, but every follower that I do have came from talking. The truth is, nobody wants you to tweet about your product all day, everyday.
What they want to know is that you're human. Building relationships builds revenue.
October 31, 2013
How To Make Your Content Work for You
Content is character.
Why?
When your content is directly related to you, what you know and how it can help your audience, you're working off character.
Character and content go hand in hand. Here's how: If you don't know what you are talking about and you lie your way through your post, it will show.
I'm an upfront, genuine person. So you'll never find my blog filled with long, overdrawn terms that I don't know the meaning of when it comes to marketing. I share what I know as I go along and I make it relatable to my audience.
That doesn't mean that marketing jargon has no value to me, because as a content writer, I do understand how it balances out the industry I'm in.
I read and stay in the know to make sure what I do write is able to help my readers in some way, especially if I've learned something and have been able to apply it to my business model.
With that being said, here are 4 ways to make your content work for you, keeping in line with content being character:
1) Be genuine. Straightforward, honest and relatable beats fancy and flowery prose. If that's not you, your audience will pick up on it immediately.
2) Know your facts. Write what you know applies here. If you don't know enough about what you want to write about, then ask yourself, "What do I know under the topic I'm interested in sharing and how can I convert it into a powerful blog post/white paper for my audience?"
3) Write clearly in your voice. Your audience knows your tone and style, because they've become adapted to it. Maintaining your voice is very important. Even when getting someone to write your content for you, they should know your voice and style of writing so that is sounds and feels genuine to your audience.
4) Keep content updated, but not overwhelming. I write two blog posts a week. Simply because that's all that I really need to write to maintain my audience base, keep my readers engaged and not overwhelm them at the same time. I've read some blogs and can tell that some people are just writing 3-4 posts a week to keep their blog filled. Keeping content updated is great and a minimum of 2 strong written posts a week can do that just as good as 3-4 mediocre ones.
Keeping these in mind, there's no way your content can be written without character. Stay true to who you are, what you know, learn more and learn to combine all of these to create content that can and will work for you.
[image error]
Why?
When your content is directly related to you, what you know and how it can help your audience, you're working off character.
Character and content go hand in hand. Here's how: If you don't know what you are talking about and you lie your way through your post, it will show.
I'm an upfront, genuine person. So you'll never find my blog filled with long, overdrawn terms that I don't know the meaning of when it comes to marketing. I share what I know as I go along and I make it relatable to my audience.
That doesn't mean that marketing jargon has no value to me, because as a content writer, I do understand how it balances out the industry I'm in.
I read and stay in the know to make sure what I do write is able to help my readers in some way, especially if I've learned something and have been able to apply it to my business model.
With that being said, here are 4 ways to make your content work for you, keeping in line with content being character:
1) Be genuine. Straightforward, honest and relatable beats fancy and flowery prose. If that's not you, your audience will pick up on it immediately.
2) Know your facts. Write what you know applies here. If you don't know enough about what you want to write about, then ask yourself, "What do I know under the topic I'm interested in sharing and how can I convert it into a powerful blog post/white paper for my audience?"
3) Write clearly in your voice. Your audience knows your tone and style, because they've become adapted to it. Maintaining your voice is very important. Even when getting someone to write your content for you, they should know your voice and style of writing so that is sounds and feels genuine to your audience.
4) Keep content updated, but not overwhelming. I write two blog posts a week. Simply because that's all that I really need to write to maintain my audience base, keep my readers engaged and not overwhelm them at the same time. I've read some blogs and can tell that some people are just writing 3-4 posts a week to keep their blog filled. Keeping content updated is great and a minimum of 2 strong written posts a week can do that just as good as 3-4 mediocre ones.
Keeping these in mind, there's no way your content can be written without character. Stay true to who you are, what you know, learn more and learn to combine all of these to create content that can and will work for you.
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How To Make Your Content Work for You
Content is character.
Why?
When your content is directly related to you, what you know and how it can help your audience, you're working off character.
Character and content go hand in hand. Here's how: If you don't know what you are talking about and you lie your way through your post, it will show.
I'm an upfront, genuine person. So you'll never find my blog filled with long, overdrawn terms that I don't know the meaning of when it comes to marketing. I share what I know as I go along and I make it relatable to my audience.
That doesn't mean that marketing jargon has no value to me, because as a content writer, I do understand how it balances out the industry I'm in.
I read and stay in the know to make sure what I do write is able to help my readers in some way, especially if I've learned something and have been able to apply it to my business model.
With that being said, here are 4 ways to make your content work for you, keeping in line with content being character:
1) Be genuine. Straightforward, honest and relatable beats fancy and flowery prose. If that's not you, your audience will pick up on it immediately.
2) Know your facts. Write what you know applies here. If you don't know enough about what you want to write about, then ask yourself, "What do I know under the topic I'm interested in sharing and how can I convert it into a powerful blog post/white paper for my audience?"
3) Write clearly in your voice. Your audience knows your tone and style, because they've become adapted to it. Maintaining your voice is very important. Even when getting someone to write your content for you, they should know your voice and style of writing so that is sounds and feels genuine to your audience.
4) Keep content updated, but not overwhelming. I write two blog posts a week. Simply because that's all that I really need to write to maintain my audience base, keep my readers engaged and not overwhelm them at the same time. I've read some blogs and can tell that some people are just writing 3-4 posts a week to keep their blog filled. Keeping content updated is great and a minimum of 2 strong written posts a week can do that just as good as 3-4 mediocre ones.
Keeping these in mind, there's no way your content can be written without character. Stay true to who you are, what you know, learn more and learn to combine all of these to create content that can and will work for you.
Why?
When your content is directly related to you, what you know and how it can help your audience, you're working off character.
Character and content go hand in hand. Here's how: If you don't know what you are talking about and you lie your way through your post, it will show.
I'm an upfront, genuine person. So you'll never find my blog filled with long, overdrawn terms that I don't know the meaning of when it comes to marketing. I share what I know as I go along and I make it relatable to my audience.
That doesn't mean that marketing jargon has no value to me, because as a content writer, I do understand how it balances out the industry I'm in.
I read and stay in the know to make sure what I do write is able to help my readers in some way, especially if I've learned something and have been able to apply it to my business model.
With that being said, here are 4 ways to make your content work for you, keeping in line with content being character:
1) Be genuine. Straightforward, honest and relatable beats fancy and flowery prose. If that's not you, your audience will pick up on it immediately.
2) Know your facts. Write what you know applies here. If you don't know enough about what you want to write about, then ask yourself, "What do I know under the topic I'm interested in sharing and how can I convert it into a powerful blog post/white paper for my audience?"
3) Write clearly in your voice. Your audience knows your tone and style, because they've become adapted to it. Maintaining your voice is very important. Even when getting someone to write your content for you, they should know your voice and style of writing so that is sounds and feels genuine to your audience.
4) Keep content updated, but not overwhelming. I write two blog posts a week. Simply because that's all that I really need to write to maintain my audience base, keep my readers engaged and not overwhelm them at the same time. I've read some blogs and can tell that some people are just writing 3-4 posts a week to keep their blog filled. Keeping content updated is great and a minimum of 2 strong written posts a week can do that just as good as 3-4 mediocre ones.
Keeping these in mind, there's no way your content can be written without character. Stay true to who you are, what you know, learn more and learn to combine all of these to create content that can and will work for you.
October 25, 2013
The De-stress Strategy
When some people think of a strategic marketing plan, they start to sweat when they realize their degree isn't an MBA. It's refreshing for anyone reading this to know that I didn't get a degree in Marketing, Business or even Finance, yet, I think I'm pretty savvy when it comes to marketing. I read and study the industry to continue to gain the necessary knowledge, but even before considering marketing, I came up with some eye catching tools to market products I had.
I self-published two books, one of which I'm re-releasing. With each, I created some cool ideas to market and promote them. I realized the importance of a de-stress strategy (idea, implement and relax).
In the first part to this blog series, I'll share with you what I did for the first book and how you can use some of those same ideas for your marketing. Next week, I'll share what I did for the second (you're gonna love this) and again, give you some ideas on how you can use those ideas for marketing.
One thing I've learned about marketing is that, everything doesn't have to be so tedious and it doesn't have to be a 20 page strategic plan. While everything should be carefully thought out, some of the best marketing ideas I've come up with have been ideas I thought of at the moment, implemented them immediately and saw some pretty cool results.
As you read, remember results aren't measured in quantitative ways. Some of my best online relationships came from people I'd build a connection with through my book promotion, even if it didn't result in a direct sale.
My first book was titled, Speechless: Short Stories (and is now available as a free digital download when you subscribe to my newsletter, The WRITE Way). I had just moved to Atlanta about eight months before I published it, but I had met some pretty cool celebrities down here. Here was my plan and exactly what I did over the course of about six weeks.
Note: I had a pretty quick launch. Since it was four short stories, the book was only 65 pages total and the stories had been written, edited and re-written long before I came up with the idea to publish them.
Step 1: Use your mouth if you have the gift of gab (if you're in marketing, you should have it)
I asked Terri J. Vaughn from the Steve Harvey Show, All of Us and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns if she would read the stories and give me a review. With her busy schedule, she had time to read one of the stories and sent me a beautiful review the same day. I also asked Rodney Perry, comedian, co-host from the Monique Show and Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family to do the same. He read the whole thing and his review actually left me speechless.
Using two well known celebrities, people I had already built relationships with, was pretty strategic. I didn't come at them with this mapped out marketing plan about how it would get them all this great stuff in return or how if my sales shot through the roof, they'd get some percentage. I just asked. And they said yes.
Step 2: Make it visual as best as you can
I originally launched the book just on Kindle, so there was no print copy. But after some prodding and wanting to see it in print, I went ahead and published through CreateSpace and came up with the idea to have a book signing with two of the short stories acted out by some of Atlanta's up and coming actors.
It turned out pretty cool and I even had someone do video for the signing (they are available here on Youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-FzjLTnv2I).
Having something visual to go with your product (even if it isn't a book) could really help your target audience get an idea of how much the product could help them (or why it's so important).
I believe the people who purchased the book that day felt a connection because I had created skits to go along with my book. It was like giving them a taste of it, without actually giving away something for free.
Step 3: Throw an event
Of course, most book signings have a book release event. But in this day and age of digital technology taking over, many authors do blog tours in conjunction with book signings at local libraries and bookstores, with the few good chains we have left. I wanted the feel of an old-fashioned book launch, so I had the actors do the skits at my release. People came to support, buying the books (I sold out) and we had a pretty good time doing it.
Don't underestimate the value of a small event when launching a new product. I know it sounds ideal, but you'd be surprised at how many people rely strictly on online communication to launch a new product. Remember, building relationships is all apart of it. People want to talk to the person behind the product. Your product may get their attention, but it's you who keeps it.
I self-published two books, one of which I'm re-releasing. With each, I created some cool ideas to market and promote them. I realized the importance of a de-stress strategy (idea, implement and relax).
In the first part to this blog series, I'll share with you what I did for the first book and how you can use some of those same ideas for your marketing. Next week, I'll share what I did for the second (you're gonna love this) and again, give you some ideas on how you can use those ideas for marketing.
One thing I've learned about marketing is that, everything doesn't have to be so tedious and it doesn't have to be a 20 page strategic plan. While everything should be carefully thought out, some of the best marketing ideas I've come up with have been ideas I thought of at the moment, implemented them immediately and saw some pretty cool results.
As you read, remember results aren't measured in quantitative ways. Some of my best online relationships came from people I'd build a connection with through my book promotion, even if it didn't result in a direct sale.
My first book was titled, Speechless: Short Stories (and is now available as a free digital download when you subscribe to my newsletter, The WRITE Way). I had just moved to Atlanta about eight months before I published it, but I had met some pretty cool celebrities down here. Here was my plan and exactly what I did over the course of about six weeks.
Note: I had a pretty quick launch. Since it was four short stories, the book was only 65 pages total and the stories had been written, edited and re-written long before I came up with the idea to publish them.
Step 1: Use your mouth if you have the gift of gab (if you're in marketing, you should have it)
I asked Terri J. Vaughn from the Steve Harvey Show, All of Us and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns if she would read the stories and give me a review. With her busy schedule, she had time to read one of the stories and sent me a beautiful review the same day. I also asked Rodney Perry, comedian, co-host from the Monique Show and Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family to do the same. He read the whole thing and his review actually left me speechless.
Using two well known celebrities, people I had already built relationships with, was pretty strategic. I didn't come at them with this mapped out marketing plan about how it would get them all this great stuff in return or how if my sales shot through the roof, they'd get some percentage. I just asked. And they said yes.
Step 2: Make it visual as best as you can
I originally launched the book just on Kindle, so there was no print copy. But after some prodding and wanting to see it in print, I went ahead and published through CreateSpace and came up with the idea to have a book signing with two of the short stories acted out by some of Atlanta's up and coming actors.
It turned out pretty cool and I even had someone do video for the signing (they are available here on Youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-FzjLTnv2I).
Having something visual to go with your product (even if it isn't a book) could really help your target audience get an idea of how much the product could help them (or why it's so important).
I believe the people who purchased the book that day felt a connection because I had created skits to go along with my book. It was like giving them a taste of it, without actually giving away something for free.
Step 3: Throw an event
Of course, most book signings have a book release event. But in this day and age of digital technology taking over, many authors do blog tours in conjunction with book signings at local libraries and bookstores, with the few good chains we have left. I wanted the feel of an old-fashioned book launch, so I had the actors do the skits at my release. People came to support, buying the books (I sold out) and we had a pretty good time doing it.
Don't underestimate the value of a small event when launching a new product. I know it sounds ideal, but you'd be surprised at how many people rely strictly on online communication to launch a new product. Remember, building relationships is all apart of it. People want to talk to the person behind the product. Your product may get their attention, but it's you who keeps it.
Self-Pub Swag
All things self-publishing and why you can do it too...
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