Shanda Trofe's Blog, page 3
May 23, 2015
7 Self-editing Tips to Polish Your Writing
“Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.” ~Stephen King My last blog post was about Increasing Writing Speed and Unlocking Creativity. In that article I encouraged you to write freely for a minimum of one hour each day without stopping to second guess word choices, grammar and punctuation; however, these things are […] Read more...
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May 20, 2015
7-Day Challenge to Increase Writing Speed and Unlock Creativity
When we allow ourselves to write freely without stopping to second guess word choices, punctuation or grammar, in turn, we unlock our creative mind and allow the words to flow authentically, thus our writing is more genuine and heart-based rather than ego-based.
Have you ever experienced a time when you’ve been in the flow of creativity only to go back later to read your writing and find that the words on the paper (or computer screen) are almost unrecognizable to you? Have you found yourself saying, “Did I really write that? That’s pretty darn good if I do say so myself!” Surely you’ve had an experience like that, right? If not, then you’re in for a treat! Read on…
Now, I’m not saying that we don’t need to be conscious of word choices, punctuation and grammar. We certainly do, but there is a time and a place for it and it’s not during our dedicated writing time. That’s what the editing and revision process is for, and that comes later.
Here’s Your 7-Day Challenge:
I challenge you to write freely for a minimum of one hour each day for seven days. Every day, try to surpass the prior day’s word count. Why? When we resist the urge to stop and second guess ourselves, go back and make changes, and edit as we write, we unlock our greatest potential and our creative mind can more freely express itself, but first we must silence the ego because that’s when our best writing happens.
Are you up for it? I challenge you to try this for one week. If you will commit to this exercise for an hour each day for 7 days, I am willing to bet you will not only increase your writing speed, but you will find your writing is far more creative and heartfelt than ever before.
Ready to give it a try? Here’s how to do it:
1. Grab a notepad to keep near your computer or dedicated writing space. You may also elect to use an app on your phone if you’re tech savvy. There are many websites and apps that you can use to record your daily word count, but for the sake of keeping things simple let’s start with a notepad for this 7-Day Challenge.
2. You will need to time yourself for one hour each day. Be sure to schedule your writing time when you will be free of distractions. You may have to leave your house and find a nice cafe our park to do your writing. I tend to do my daily writing early in the morning when I’m the only one awake in my home. Schedule your daily writing time into your calendar for one week and commit to one hour of writing during each session. Now, you may choose to continue to write beyond the hour, and if so, by all means…write on! But I want you to break at the one hour point to record your word count. For this you will need a timer.
3. Grab a stop watch, hour glass, kitchen timer, whatever works. Something to alert you of the one hour mark. I use the stopwatch on my iPhone. You may even use an alarm clock if you must. You will likely be deep into your writing so be sure that whatever gadget you choose will send an alert when your hour is up.
4. Record your daily word count on your notepad. The goal is to not only meet the prior day’s word count, but surpass it by a few words each day. Slowly you will begin to write or type faster; you will get out of your head and write from your heart. And when you write from the heart, that’s when your best writing unfolds.
Tips for success:
Choose one project to work on for the duration of the 7-Day Challenge such as a book, short story or article. Resist the urge to jump from project to project during this challenge.
Each day stop writing mid-sentence, so when you pick back up the following day you will not stall to get started. By stopping in mid-sentence today, you are setting yourself up for success tomorrow.
Turn off your spell/grammar check during your hour of uninterrupted writing. Don’t worry, you can turn it back on when it’s time to revise. Sometimes those red lines under our words can be a distraction and many find it hard to resist the urge to correct as they go.
BONUS: Once you’ve completed the 7-Day Challenge email me and share your experience with me. Tell me what you’ve learned, if the challenge was effective, and what you thought of the exercise. If you complete my 7-Day Challenge and send me your results, I will personally send you a FREE gift. No questions asked. And who doesn’t love freebies? I know I do!
To your success,
Shanda Trofe
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May 6, 2015
Thinking of Joining my next 8-Week Book Writing Intensive?
“At a time in my life when I really wanted to take my writing to the next level, I found this 8-week intensive online through The Spiritual Writers Facebook Page. It felt a little meant to be! I was excited and fearful all at the same time. It’s a leap of faith to go from writing in a private journal to declaring the dream out loud to become an author. I actually prayed ahead of time that I would find a professional setting that could take a novice like myself to the next level. I really needed someone to walk me through all the steps necessary to launch a book. From the very beginning and all the way through module 8, I was very impressed with the professionalism. They pay very close attention to detail, and most importantly, they nourish the souls of the writers. The private Face Book Group was fantastic tool for everyone. It gave everyone a safe place to forward questions, share inspirations and express all the feelings that come up with trying something new……excitement, joy, fear, and gratitude. I can’t say enough about this experience. It was awesome! Even when I felt overwhelmed and my pages weren’t coming fast enough, I was able to go at my own pace. I super appreciated the break in the middle. The phone conference also seemed quite timely. Finding this intensive has helped me find my wings. I feel fortunate and grateful. I also appreciate that the information from modules are available to refer back to. I would definitely recommend friends to this program. Whether it’s recreational writing or someone is looking for a path to publish a book, this intensive is a well worth the time and investment. The best part of this intensive is the heart of this program. I immediately felt like it was a safe place to land and learn! Cheers to providing a program that has depth and soul! I loved it! With Gratitude…”
~ Krista G., 8-Week Book Writing Intensive alumni
***
“This class is Intensive and it’s emotional as one discovers hidden truths that they may have buried. This class helped me release a lot of fear based idea’s that I had allowed to take over. This was deep and it was personal. This class helps one grow both emotionally and physically as you release negative energy as well. Only love, positivity and encouragement. There is no pressure with this class. I am one I have to do things at my pace for what’s comfortable for me and what I feel I can do at that time. This class was a Blessing. I highly recommend this class to anyone looking to learn new idea’s on writing and looking to just “let go” and grow. Amazing!”
~ Annie K., 8-Week Book Writing Intensive alumni.
***
“I had a great idea for a book, but no knowledge of what my next steps should be. Then I took this 8 week book writing intensive, and in 8 weeks I gained knowledge, tools, and the courage to step by step begin to write and market my book. As a result, my words began to form into my story, And now I am using this knowledge attained from the intensive to fuel my vision and hopefully get my book published in the near future”
~ Debbie V., 8-Week Book Writing Intensive alumni
***
“I had never participated in any writing endeavor such as this one, so I didn’t know what to expect when I signed up. Priceless! That’s how I’d describe the experience. In a short period of time, I learned so much and have seen my writing evolved to new levels. I went from “wanting to write a book,” to having an almost complete manuscript. And beyond the writing benefits, the connections made with an incredible group of women writers that are not part of my writing family.”
~ Pat R., 8-Week Book Writing Intensive alumni
So what are you waiting for?
Register for the next 8-Week Book Writing Intensive Starting June 15th, 2015 here: http://www.bookwritingintensive.com
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December 28, 2014
Join My Affiliate Program and Start Making $$$
Do you know someone who might benefit from participating in the 8-Week Book Writing Intensive?
Join our affiliate program and start earning money for every sale you send our way! Simply create your account, place your linking code into your website or send in an email and watch your account balance grow as your visitors become our customers.
The 8-Week Book Writing Intensive Affiliate Program pays 20% commission!
Payment Structure:
Early bird (now-11:59pm on December 31st) – Cost $357 (if paid in full) = $71.40 commission
$398 if paid in two monthly payments of $199 = $39.80 commission x 2
After early bird (Jan. 1st – Jan. 9th) $497 = $99.40 commission
How Does it Work?
The process is very simple:
1. Visitor clicks on an affiliate link on your site or in an email.
2. The visitors IP is logged and a cookie is placed in their browser for tracking purposes.
3. The visitor browses our site, and may decide to order.
4. If the visitor orders (the order does not need to be placed during the same browser session – cookies and IPs are stored up to a configurable amount of time), the order will be registered as a sale for you and you will receive commission for this sale.
5. Commissions are paid weekly via PayPal on Sunday.
Please visit my Affiliate Page to sign up and get started sharing today!
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December 17, 2014
Become a Published Author in 2015!
Have you always dreamed of becoming a published author but don’t know where or how to get started?
Do you have a book or message within you that you’ve been meaning to share, but have yet to find the time to sit down and write it?
Have you started writing only to abandon the project in fear that you just aren’t good enough?
Have you been told you’re a good writer but feel you lack the training and knowledge to write a book?
Are you looking for accountability and structure to outline your goals and see them through to completion?
Have you thought about hiring a writing coach or joining an accountability group to help you achieve your writing goals?
Are you a writer with a desire to hone your craft and take your writing to the next level?
If you answered YES to any of the above questions, Write from the Heart’s 8-Week Book Writing Intensive may be right for you!
What does The 8-Week Book Writing Intensive entail?
In this 8-Week Book Writing Intensive, you will work with writing coach, Shanda Trofe, and other participants to develop your story idea, brainstorm and outline your manuscript, develop your writing skills, sharpen those writing skills, build an author platform, learn how to market your book, and tackle the polishing and revision process with the option to have your work critiqued in a closed group of writers just like you. And… as an added bonus, those who finish the program will also have the opportunity to pitch their book proposal for a chance at publication!
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Exploring Your Publishing Options Part Three: Digital Publishing
You might decide that you want to take advantage of the eBook boom and put your book in digital format. Many authors are making a good living from eBooks alone, and Amazon pays 70% royalties of eBooks priced at $2.99 or above. Ebooks are often priced lower than print editions, but the quantity of sales could be higher because of the lower price point, so you will have to decide if strictly going eBook without print is right for you. You can always add the print edition at a later date if you so decide.
You will also have to decide if you are going to publish the eBook yourself and learn the formatting guidelines specific to your desired platform such as KDP or Smashwords, or if you will enlist the help of an eBook format and design service. Learning to format eBooks can be a tedious process, so you will need to determine if you want to put the time and effort into getting it right. Nothing is worse than having your eBook not formatted properly, so if you do it yourself, be sure to study your platform’s publishing guidelines. Again, unless you are experienced in graphic design, hire a professional to do your cover.
You can see you have many publishing options available to you and now it’s time to get busy on your homework. Do your research on all three options before making a decision. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of each. You and only you can decide which option is right for your book, so learn to navigate this process, and don’t forget to ask questions. Your manuscript is your baby, and you should not give birth to your project until you are 100% ready and confident in your choices.
Note: There is a difference between having your manuscript “converted” and having it “formatted” for digital publishing. If you decide to publish your manuscript as an eBook, be sure you either learn how to properly format for digital publishing or hire a formatting service to do it for you. Check out Transcendent Publishing for a quality digital design services.
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December 16, 2014
Exploring Your Publishing Options Part Two: Self-Publishing & Independent Publishers
For some, being published by a top publishing house isn’t as important as getting the message out into the world, so for them self-publishing might be an option. The perk of self-publishing is that you don’t have to wait 12-18 months for your book to be published and you receive your royalties directly, which are usually much higher than the payout of a traditional publisher. For example, Amazon.com pays out 35-70% royalties, depending on your book’s price point. No middle man takes a cut after Amazon gets their standard percentage. Many self-published authors are doing rather well for themselves through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other book retailers. If you produce a high-quality book and are active in your marketing efforts, your book has a good chance of finding success.
If you decide to self-publish, you can use platforms such as Amazon’s KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) for your eBook or CreateSpace for your print publishing, which are both powered by Amazon. If writing is more your thing and you don’t want to focus on formatting and design, you can always hire a format and design service to do the work for you. I can’t stress enough the importance of hiring a professional to do your cover art unless you are proficient in graphic design. Unless you are an expert in many areas, there will likely be a monetary investment involved with self-publishing—if you want your book done right, that is.
Here is a list of some of the things you might need to invest in to successfully self-publish:
Writing Software (e.g.. Scrivener or Word)
Professional Editor(s)
Interior Format and Design
Book Cover Design
SEO for Book Description
Marketing and Advertising
Independent Publishers
Perhaps you want to find a happy medium between traditional publishing and self-publishing. You like the idea of maintaining control over your project with self-publishing, but you’d like a smaller publisher to handle the cover design, formatting interior layout, editing, and assist with marketing. If this rings true for you, an independent publisher might be just what you’re looking for.
As Editor-in-Chief of OptiMystic™ Press, when we take on a author we consider it as a partnership. We are an independent publisher, smaller than a traditional publishing house, so we can give our authors individualized attention and expedite the publishing process. Often with traditional publishing the author loses control over the choice of book cover, title, interior design, and it can often take over a year for the book to be published. The upside to working with an independent publisher is you still have control over your book, in most cases. As with any publishing option, I urge you to research your independent publisher’s record and ask questions before making a commitment.
Below I’ve added a list of recommended questions you should ask if you decide to pursue an independent publisher. If it is an honest company that does business with integrity, they should be able to answer each of these questions, in detail, in a timely manner. These aspects of the agreement should be decided upfront and outlined in your contract before production begins. Be sure there are no hidden costs you might incur at a later date.
What is your average publishing turnaround time?
Will I have a say in my cover design?
Will my title be changed?
Do you offer professional editing services?
Is there an extra cost for that service?
What is the cost of each publishing package?
How many pages does that include?
Does that include illustrations or color interior if needed?
What would be considered an upgrade or add-on after production begins?
Will I receive a PDF proof prior to publication?
If so, will I be allowed to make minor changes at that time?
Upon publication, how do you assist with marketing efforts?
What is my royalty percentage of retail sales?
What is my royalty percentage of web sales?
What will be my wholesale cost per book?
Do you have an order minimum for wholesale orders?
Do I receive a discount on bulk orders of 50 or more?
Will my publishing package include an eBook as well as print?
Will my book be softcover or hardcover, or both?
The above is an excerpt from my book, Write from the Heart: A Step-by-Step Writing Guide to Get Your Message from Idea to Publication.
Watch for Exploring Your Publishing Options Part Three: Digital Publishing.
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December 15, 2014
Exploring Your Publishing Options Part One: Traditional Publishing
Once you’ve finished your manuscript, you will find many publishing options available to you. You should first decide if you want to self-publish, pursue traditional publishing, or select an independent publisher. All three offer their own pros and cons and you have some homework to do to decide which option is best for your book.
Tip: Become active with Writer’s Digest and Writer’s Digest University. They offer many great online workshops, webinars and books with information on honing your craft and getting ready for publication.
Traditional publishing can be tough to break into, but for some being picked up by a top publishing house is the most desirable option. If that is your goal, you might want to consider pursuing a literary agent. Many of the top publishing companies will not take unsolicited manuscripts unless they come from a literary agent. Again, you can learn the art of querying from Writer’s Digest and pick up a recent copy of the Writer’s Market for a list of literary agents and publishers.
Here are a few tips for getting picked up by a traditional publisher:
1. Consider whether you will need a literary agent. Some traditional publishing houses will not accept unsolicited queries. If you have a publisher in mind and through your research you’ve found they do not accept unsolicited queries, you should find it helpful to find a literary agent to represent you. This has both its pros and cons. Yes, they can help you get your foot in the door with top publishing houses, but you are going to pay them a percentage to represent you. If you decide to seek out the help of a literary agent, find an agent that prefers to represent your genre. For example, you would not want to query a literary agent who has a strong interest in sci-fi for your personal memoir. Most agents will list their preferences on their website, and you can find a list of agents along with their contact information in the latest copy of the Writers’ Market. Be sure to study your preferred agent’s query requirements and follow them. You might consider reading some related-subject books or taking a workshop on the art of querying before continuing.
2. Develop a strong book proposal. You can find many books and websites out there that will walk you through the layout of a book proposal. Be sure the information you are reading is up to date. You also want to make sure your proposal is free of grammatical errors, has proper punctuation, and is in the correct format. Keep in mind that each publisher may require different criteria. If you are not going to use an agent, it is best to seek out your desired publishers by thoroughly researching their specifications.
3. Be Professional. Once you start sending out queries and proposals, make sure each communication with the contact person is conducted in a professional manner. Don’t get too comfortable with your point of contact. Watch for punctuation, grammar and always start and end each email with the proper greeting and closure. If you make an appointment to speak on the phone, make sure you are available at that time and prepared to answer questions about your project. It is important to stay in contact, follow up and meet deadlines.
4. Be persistent. If you are going to work at getting published by a traditional publisher, you are again going to have to develop a thick skin. If you receive a rejection, don’t let it get you down or cause you to lose faith in your gift or lose sight of your goal. It could just mean you weren’t the right fit for that particular publisher and a better opportunity awaits you just around the corner. Be prepared to hear several NOs before you hear one YES. Set realistic expectations and recognize that it is tough to break into the publishing world. Above all, be persistent.
The above is an excerpt from my book: Write from the Heart: A Step-by-Step Writing Guide to Get Your Message from Idea to Publication
Watch for Exploring Your Publishing Options Part Two: Self-publishing.
The post Exploring Your Publishing Options Part One: Traditional Publishing appeared first on Shanda Trofe.
December 12, 2014
Marketing Your Book – Excerpt from Chapter 7 of Write from the Heart
You’ve completed your book and now it’s published. By now you have likely let out a big sigh of relief and rewarded yourself for all your hard work. But don’t rest just yet, because there is still plenty of work to be done if you want your book to be a success. It’s time to market your book.
Hopefully you started working on your author platform during the writing process as advised earlier in the book. If so, then you already have established an audience who is waiting to hear about your book launch. Book marketing strategies could fill a standalone book on its own, so this chapter will cover several options for marketing your book upon publication to get you started on the path of success.
Announce it on your website/blog
Now you can finally add that products page to your website, and don’t forget to update your bio to include published author along with the title of your book. You can start promoting your book launch with your blog even before publication by utilizing teasers, and once your book is published, add a blog post with an excerpt to entice readers. Be sure to add a link at the end of the post for those interested in purchasing the book.
Social Media Blasts
Social media is more a place to build relationships than to hard-sell products, but there is nothing wrong with announcing your book release to your social media communities with a picture of the cover and a link to the sales page or to your website. Don’t go overboard by posting it too often, but a few posts strategically spaced out over a period of time won’t hurt. After all, you’ve earned bragging rights, haven’t you? Show off your accomplishment and your hard work to your fans!
Do you like those inspirational photos you see shared on platforms such as Facebook and Pintrest? You can also take quotes from your book and place them on pictures to share from your social media pages. I edit and add text to my photos through a free downloadable software, Google Picasa. A word of caution; be sure you own the rights to use the photo or buy low-cost stock photography to post. I buy my stock images from www.123rf.com and then add text through Picasa. Remember to add your website/blog URL on the photo so those interested know where to find you. And if your quote or photo is clever enough it could catch on and easily go viral! This means that coveted exposure for you and your book.
Newsletter
Remember that opt-in form we talked about setting up on your website? Hopefully you’ve started collecting email addresses by now. These represent people who have taken an interest in you and want to stay informed on what’s new in your life. Take this opportunity to write up an email campaign to send out to your mailing list announcing your book release. Consider taking pre-orders as well. Prior to a book release I will send an email announcing the publication date, followed by another taking pre-orders about a week or so later. Then on publication day, a final announcement with a link to the book’s sales page.
It’s a good idea to mail to your list often, so the recipients become accustomed to hearing from you; however, you don’t want to overdo it. Once per week is a good rule of thumb. I try to send mail-outs to those on my list at least once per month so they are familiar with my emails coming in and don’t think its spam. Aim for a weekly or monthly newsletter, and you should reach your goals.
Guest Blogging
A simple Google search for popular blogs within your niche should return some quality leads. In the search bar, use the keywords from your area of expertise and include the word “blog” at the end. Search for respected bloggers with a large audience and become active on their blog by commenting often. Be sure your comments are professional and constructive, never negative or unprofessional. Once your book is released, contact the blog administrator from their contact page. Write an email informing him/her that you have been following their blog and you are a published author in the same area of interest and can offer a positive contribution as a guest blogger. It’s also helpful to pitch your article idea. Write about a topic within your selected niche yet related to your book. Usually when you are a guest blogger the administrator will allow you to include your bio, where you will include the title of your book and a link, of course.
Forums
You can easily find forums in your niche online by doing the same type of search as listed above, but incorporating the word “forum” into the search along with your keywords. Follow some popular forums within your area of interest and comment when you can make a positive contribution or offer helpful information. In the signature line, be sure to include a link to your book or website.
Book Signings
Contact your local bookstores and notify them that you are a local published author. Ask if they would be interested in hosting a book signing at their store. There is also a good chance they will agree to carry your book on their shelves, and getting into your local bookstore is always a good idea.
Meetup Groups
There are likely many Meetup groups near you related to your interests. You can do a simple search for local Meetups on www.meetup.com. There are also many book clubs and author Meetup groups in every locale. Become active in these groups and network with a like-minded community.
Public Speaking
What better way to get the word out about your book than by being a guest speaker at upcoming conferences and events within your subject? Let’s say, for example, your book topic is women’s empowerment. Do an online search for upcoming women’s events in your area and contact the organizer to ask if they are in need of speakers. Be sure to mention that you are a published author. They might also allow you to rent a booth where you can sell your books before and after your speaking engagement or they may even offer you one for free.
Tip: Nervous about public speaking? There are many ways to polish your public speaking skills and a search for a local Toastmasters group is a good start. By joining Toastmasters, you will start by speaking to a small group who will offer constructive criticism before you ever set foot on stage. To find a group near you, visit www.toastmasters.org.
The above is an excerpt from Chapter Seven: Marketing Your Book in my book, Write from the Heart: A Step-by-Step Writing Guide to Get Your Message from Idea to Publication.
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December 10, 2014
Start to Build an Author Platform by Setting up a Website/Blog
If you are an aspiring author, one of the most important things you can do right now is start to build your author platform. Once published, you will need an audience to market to, and this applies to any aspiring author, whether you plan to self-publishing or go the traditional publishing route. Now more than ever publishers are looking to sign authors with an existing platform in place. First things first, you will need a website and/or blog.
You don’t have to hire a professional web developer to get started, unless of course you would rather have someone else build your website so you can focus on your writing. But if you have the means, are tech savvy, and can spare some extra time, you can easily start your own website for very little in start-up fees, if not for free.
Tip: My suggestion is to have an author website with the option to add a blog. A blog serves many purposes for an aspiring author. As writers, we should practice the art of writing each day. Having a blog gives you a creative outlet while you build your audience and online presence.
Your website will list your services, credentials, writing samples, and links to any published work you may already have. Your blog will develop your audience and serve as a platform to drive traffic to your website.
There are many free do-it-yourself website design services you can access to create your author website such as Weebly or Wix, which will also host your website on their platform. This is a good option if you just want to get a website up on the internet and don’t want to invest any money.
If you want something with more functionality, I highly recommend installing a WordPress site with your own web hosting. When you install a WordPress site through your paid hosting account, you will own your blog, as opposed to having it hosted on a free site like those mentioned above. Free hosting sites like Blogger have been known to delete blogs and this can be frustrating for a writer who has put much time and effort into building an online presence. A paid hosting account on a platform such as Bluehost will only cost roughly $10 per month and you will own your blog.
Bluehost is where I host all my websites, but HostGator is another popular option. Check them both out to determine which option is right for you. I have many high-volume websites, and I have never had a problem with hosting each of them on my Bluehost account. Plus, it is easy to buy domains and install WordPress to my sites hosted with Bluehost. This is easily done through the CPanel once you sign up for hosting.
For those of you who would like more detailed instructions on setting up a WordPress site with Bluehost, I have added four easy-to-follow steps below.
Set up a WordPress site with Bluehost:
1. Register a Domain: A domain will cost around $9-13 per year. If you would like your domain registration information to be kept private, meaning your information will not pop up in a whois.com search, then you will simply add the domain privacy policy for an additional fee of approximately $10 per year. When choosing a domain, keep in mind the following pointers. For search engine optimization (SEO), your domain should contain two or three keywords from your niche topic. However, if you are an author setting up your personal blog or your book’s blog, your personal name or book title is a good option when selecting a domain. You may have to play around with this a bit if your domain listing is already taken. The goal is to find a domain that is either your name, your book title, business name, or two to three keywords from your niche topic. By rule of thumb, you should stick with domains that end in .com, .net, or .org, with .com being the most desirable choice. Try to steer clear of .info, .me, .co, or .biz.
Note: You can either buy a domain from www.godaddy.com and point the namesavers to your new hosting account, or you can buy your domain directly from your hosting account.
2. Set up Web Hosting: Go to Bluehost.com and click the “Get Started Now” button. Select a hosting plan ranging from $4.95—$14.95 per month, depending on your future needs. I would suggest the middle of the road option for now. This will allow you to add more sites to your web hosting account in the future and will give you unlimited space for your website and email. You can always upgrade to the business plan later, if needed.
Another perk of paying for your hosting is that you can set up a professional email address for your name or business. For example, although I have a Gmail account for my name, I use that most often for my own personal use. For business, having your name or niche topic as your actual email address looks more
professional. For business, I use: info@shandatrofe.com and coaching@shandatrofe.com.
3. Install WordPress. From your CPanel of your hosting account, scroll down to “Website Builders” and click on the WordPress icon. Click on the “Install” button and follow the prompts. This can also be done through Fantastico or Mojo Marketplace when using Bluehost. Once you have installed WordPress, bookmark the login page for easy access from your web browser. Voila! You now have a WordPress site with a blog set up and ready for you to sign in, choose a template and design.
Note: You can set up WordPress as a static site if you do not wish to add a blog at this time.
4. Start adding content. You don’t need more than a few pages to get started. The main components are your: home page (an introductory page welcoming your visitors), about page (information about you including your bio and credentials), contact page (email address and/or a contact form so your readers can get in touch with you), and a products & services page, if you need them. If you don’t have products or services to offer, don’t worry, you can leave that page unpublished. Later you can add your books, mp3’s, webinars, teleclasses, coaching services, testimonials, and other options. The sky is the limit! Your website will grow over time. For now, you just want to get it started.
TIP: Be sure to add an email signup form to your site so you can start collecting contact information for your mailing list. When your book is published, you can send out an announcement via email to an audience who is already interested in what you have to offer! This can be done through Aweber, Constant Contact or MailChimp. I personally use Aweber but there is a monthly fee of around $19 and for me it’s well worth it. If you are looking for a free option, MailChip may be right for you. Once you set up your account, you can build an opt-in form that is easily integrated into your WordPress site through either a plug-in or sidebar html text widget.
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