New Author: Just Waiting for the Big Break!

It only takes one book, it only takes one "yes"...it only...

You've written a book, and it took every last ounce of determination. You are finished, you celebrate, and you look longingly at the manuscript which resides on your computer, or on a bookshelf wondering about you next step. Don't worry, we've all been there. Some of us for more years than we wish to share!

Writing a book can be a dream come true! Now it is time to let others read it (and not just your family). Get feedback from those you trust. Make a plan. And follow through.

If you are serious about getting your book published make a list and follow through:

1. Determine if you want to obtain a publisher or self publish
2. If you decide to obtain a royalty publisher, consider an agent
3. If you decide to self publish find a good, no I mean excellent editor

Self Publish duties:

• Editor
• Graphic Artist
• Interior book lay out
• Cover Art
  
• Printer
• Distribution
• Payment System
• Website/Blog
• Social Media
  

Royalty Author duties

• Agent
• Royalty Publisher
• Attorney
  
• Marketing Strategies
• Website/Blog
  
• Social Media
• Interviews
• Lectures
• Book Trailer
• Other publicity ventures
  

This of course is not an extensive list. But it does give you an idea of what is expected. Writing the book, while at the time may have seemed like very hard works, is the easy part! The process of getting the book into print can all seem overwhelming, which is why many opt to try for a royalty publisher.

Remember, even Shakespeare was an unpublished author at one time!

What is your story? If you are published what was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome? If you are an unpublished author, what is your greatest need...or fear?

Marketing Strategy 9: Black Book of Business Contacts

If you have been keeping up with my other Marketing Strategy Posts, this may very well be the most valuable of all. This is one of my top ten secrets for aspiring authors...that is for those of you who are considering authoring a book. If you already have a book in print don't worry, it is not too late to use this advice to your advantage.

In the world of business there is the coveted "book of business" that contains key contacts. Usually a list is amassed over  the years of doing business. The longer you are in business and are successful the more valuable your contacts become.

A book of business would vary greatly by industry. A contractor's contact list might be different from those of an attorney. While an insurance sales person would have a contact list that was not industry specific, but based upon clients who have purchased from them in the past. Who would be in the book? This may include previous clients, contacts in the media, or people you know who are great at referrals. This list of people would be in your niche market, or those that would be the most interested in your book topic. You are not going to include your plumbers name in the list, no matter how important he may be unless you have a book that is geared to the plumbing industry.

In the world of writing and publishing your book of business may contain some of the suggestions listed below. Don't limit yourself to these categories, and by all means if you have additional suggestions, please share!

Pre-Book Publication:
Writing and Publishing Book of Business Contacts:

Agents
Publishers
Graphic Artists
Editors
Printers (for self-publishers)
Publicity
Book Club Reviewers
Speakers associations
Magazine or print editors
Valuable online contacts
Social networking websites

This list will grow as you slowly get closer to your publication date. I have a list of twelve people I use with each book I print. Does this list vary, yes...but I am so happy the major leg work is over. I know who I am going to use to layout and create the cover of each book, I know who I'll choose to edit, distribute, or help with publicity. I know who I will call to set up speaking engagements, help with promotions and share my information via speakers bureaus and networks. What a time saver!

Do you have a list of people that you will use to help you as your book project grows near completion? If not, begin today.

Marketing Strategy 6: Relationships that Count

Part 1: Relationships that Count

In a Nutshell:

Relationships can make or break a deal. A good relationship has to be earned early on if it is to be beneficial.

I don't have a problem making friends. In fact, rarely does anyone believe me when I explain that I am, in fact, by nature a shy person. It isn't something people think when they meet me, because I have worked very hard to overcome this difficulty. Ways in which I have done this involve attempting to get people to laugh as soon as it is humanly possible. Laughing is always an ice-breaker. Or, if that fails, I launch into a series of questions. People won’t worry about whether or not you are shy if they are busy answering questions about themselves and what they do.

Therefore, when my husband began his business years ago, I was the person to meet, greet and otherwise tell anyone standing still long enough about his construction and remodeling business in order to obtain leads. The majority of our customers were friends, and when we finished their homes or remodeling projects, we were still friends. That was a testament to my husband’s integrity, timeliness, and talent. He received repeat business and from this our company grew. There were several key elements in his business dealings, and many of these points are listed below.

Needless to say relationships are the key in any business. There are seminars that experts charge hundreds of dollars that will ultimately tell you the same thing. You’ve heard the old adage, it isn’t what you know it is who you know. Unfortunately, the people you need to know in publishing are the hardest to get to know. Publishers are protected by their staff and rightly so. Any great company leader is only as good as his staff. I typically surround myself with like-minded people and those I trust to get the job done. The same is true with the selection of author’s manuscripts I choose to publish. People think that publishers tend to go with someone that has a track record. While true, it isn’t always the case. Publishers look for authors who are willing to market themselves and who have a strong social networking presence. Networking is relationship building.

Ask Paula Stevenson who approached me at a state conference with the words, “What if I told you I had the secret for getting your children to tell you everything, all the time.” As a mother of five, she peaked my interest. I quipped, “I have four that tell me more than I care to know, but there is one that doesn’t.” Three sample chapters later, Paula Stevenson was the proud owner of a contract with Media Angels, Inc. Her book, co-authored with her daughter, Sky, “Secret Code Time: Creating an Unbreakable Bond between Parent and Child,” will launch in September, 2009.

The rule book has changed...next...

Public Speaking: Learning is Half the Fun.

In a Nutshell:
Where do you learn how to become a good public speaker?
In front of a mirror, with a small audience and feedback, and professional organizations. Don't forget: having a good dose of enthusiasm helps.

If you are an author the idea is to sell books, and lots of them. If you have a speaker's platform you are ahead of the game. You have an avenue to talk about your passions, whatever they may be, and to hopefully entice the listener to purchase one or more of your products.

Many times speakers don't talk about their book specifically, but perhaps one or more key points contained in their manuscript. How do you obtain a speaking platform if you are an unknown speaker? Just about everyone was an unknown speaker at one time. Developing your seminar is half the battle, convincing someone to let you speak the other. If you have a winning presentation, and can create a digital product, this can help. Give out copies or email it to potential prospects looking for speakers.

In an earlier post I discussed obtaining a platform and some ideas to get you started. Read it again, and I invite you to listen to an audio-interview of Jonathan Jeffus, the web and program designer of our website http://www.ScholarSquare.com. Scholar Square is a video-presentation website where anyone can post a presentation and charge for it, or sell a product with their presentation. The audio can be heard on the Scholar Square website. He covers some key ideas about the value of video presentations.

I recently had coffee with a friend who hosts her own radio show on fiance. She is an expert in the area and at one time was a bank V.P. I asked her how she became so comfortable with public speaking. Her answer? After college knowing she needed to work on those skills to compete in the corporate world, she joined the organization Toastmasters. My own children have completed Toastmasters with great success.

The key elements to a good presentation is multi-fold. I will be interviewing a communication expert, Jo Jo Tabares on my upcoming Blog Talk Radio show on July 6th. If you are interested in learning great speaking techniques, you won't want to miss this show found here: http://www.WritingandPublishingRadio.com

Marketing Strategy 5: Join the Club!

In a Nutshell: Join groups for the ability to network and learn at the feet of those more seasoned and willing to share their knowledge.

Ah...networking. The key to making or breaking deals is the art of communication with customers, those in similar trades or fields, and even those in direct competition with you. How do I know? I belong to many groups, both online and off.

In college (okay, that was awhile ago), I was quickly taped to become the president of my sorority my sophomore year. Why? Because I was so popular? No, because anytime there was any job to be done, big or small, my hand was up. “I’ll do it!” Wisely, the adult, advisor quickly vetoed the idea and it wasn’t until my last semester of my junior year that I took the reigns. I was also the leader of many other on-campus organizations. I'm a joiner, a leader and a hard worker.

A pastor once told me that ten-percent of any given congregation does the work for the other ninety percent. The same holds true for many organizations. But, this is a detriment to an author wanting to become published.

Years ago, when my husband and I were purchasing a piece of investment property, a gentleman nearing retirement gave us some wise advice. He pointed to a young man who brought our paper work in to us, with a smile and an offer to get us something to drink. The banker shared that this young man was not the one who was suppose to bring in our loan documents, in fact, he didn’t even have to offer to get us something to drink. He was a go-getter and when there was something to be done, no job was too big, too small, or too beneath him. The man smiled and said, “That young man is going places.” And, I’m sure he is correct. Are you going places?

If you join a group, ask yourself not only what you hope to get out of it, but how you can be of help. I missed my opportunity as a new author, because no one shared this information at the beginning of my journey. As a newly published author I had my hands full. I was speaking, writing additional publications, more speaking, shipping, finding vendors to carry my product, distribution outlets, etc., etc. It never occurred to me that if I networked with others I would sell more books. In fact, it wasn’t until about two years ago that I joined several Christian publisher's groups. What a difference that made!

Now I was speaking not only in live venues, but online in virtual venues. I was selling books, e-book products and the like. I had hesitated to turn any of my “precious” books into e-book fearing they would be copied and shared. Yes, I’m sure this still happens. Yet, seeing that many, many other authors have e-products convinced me to give it a try. Currently only three of my books are in e-book format, and it has been a successful endeavor.

These groups have been on the forefront of news about customer protection issues, printing savings, editors that offer services for a discount to those who are members of the group. There have been many requests for free items from those in the group, all of this is on a voluntary basis. But, by giving away a “freebie” (and you can be sure my name is in that document, url links to my website, blog, and shopping cart, with additional offers of free downloads), there has been a huge increase in my newsletter subscription, and book sales have increased.

In fact, book sales have been on the increase this year in a down economy. Why? Because, those of us with quality products, those we are passionate about, tend to give 100% and more. I directly answer questions sent via my website. I may not get to them the day they are sent, but you can be sure I answer my customer emails before I chat with a friend online. Customer product, delivery and service need to be impeccable for an author that is self published.

Okay, so let’s say you want to obtain a royalty publisher. No problem. You still need to help your publisher sell, and the groups you join will be author groups, not publisher groups. These groups will help you to see what other authors are doing, join forces with them for book signings and learn at their feet if you are a new author. A friend who wrote a wonderful fantasy book for children went on a book tour with several other fantasy authors. Are these books competition? Perhaps, but if you have a great product you should never fear competitors. As a new author people did not know his name. In going as a group, these authors were able to share expenses, gather larger crowds and obtain great photo ops.

You may not have a book yet, so what? Joining a group is one way to get the word out when you book is completed. It may even give you some friends wanting to read your book and give some honest feed back. But, be careful. Make sure you don’t trust just anyone. I read a blog the other day by a veteran author who saw a newly published book whose back cover copy was very similar to the plot in her soon-to-be released book by a royalty publisher. She just about fainted and quickly ordered the book to make sure the plot lines were different. They were. In the fiction world it is very difficult to be original, especially with the amount of books already published. She was afraid she’d be accused of plagiarism, since the other book was already out.

A last word of caution; if you are a new author I would highly recommend you read back posts, and several weeks of current posts before you jump in with a question or comment…unless it is an area, or field in which you truly are an expert. Otherwise, you will find that no one will answer your post. Not that all posts are answered or commented upon, only that you want to start with your best foot forward.

If you haven’t joined me every Monday afternoon at 3:30 EST on my Blog Talk radio podcast, please do. I am having a blast!

Marketing Strategy 4: Continuing Education

As I get older I realize how much I do not know. I know at heart I am a perpetual student. I love the researching part of the writing. I enjoy the hunt, uncovering little tidbits of knowledge so much that I don't want to start writing the manuscript, no matter what the topic. Maybe you are not like me and you feel learning is a drudgery. I will share with you little short cuts to the learning process and how to make a small amount of time pay off in a big way.

Learning encompasses so many facets of the writing process. Everything from the research needed to set a location in some-faraway-exotic land, to where does that darn semi-colon go in a series...and my favorite when do you use a comma before AND and when don't you! (Don't worry, if you are a grammarian you will enjoy these blog posts for the fun it will give you in finding errors.)

Yet, the learning I'm referring to here is not only to hone your punctuation skills (you can hire a good editor for this and I have 4 right off the top of my head I can refer to you), but also for learning about the publishing process. Even more important is the marketing that is needed to sell that book. I really wish I had known the importance of marketing when I first began. I know to many of you it may seem self-evident, but to most authors just wanting to complete the first manuscript the entire process can seem daunting without adding marketing into the mix.

I am a self-published author who turned down a 4-book contract. I work with authors who are published by traditional publishers and those who are self-published and even authors that I have personally published, through my company Media Angels, Inc. This experience has given me the edge and what I have learned could fill a book, and has. It's title? Information in a Nutshell: Writing and Publishing.

Maybe you are a natural and do not need formal education, but I can't say that about all authors...believe me, some of my own manuscripts have needed major overhauls before they could see the light of day! Not all of us can go back to college and pursue journalism, communication or other writing intensive degree. So, if you have a day job, what are your options?

I thought you'd never ask. There are many options that are surprisingly free on the internet if you know where to find them, and, some that are a small cost and worth every penny. One of the best ways to stay ahead of the crowd is to study internet marketing. I have done this for about two years. I've taken copious notes, listened to more podcasts, CD’s, and watched more DVD’s, than there are grains of sand on Ft. Myers, Beach. Alright, that may be a slight exaggeration, but sometimes it feels that way. And what have I learned? That I have a long way to go in learning about Internet marketing and if I continue to learn, I will be on the cutting edge of technology. The only reason I care about this at all is that it has already proven that it helps to sell books.

My sales have grown exponentially since the first of the year and all of this in a down market. If I used the marketing trends as they are meant to be used, I am sure the sales would increase. One way is to blog daily. The biggest obstacle to blogging that I am still working on overcoming is the realization that every blog does not need to be profound! For that reason I don’t blog daily (yet). I am working toward that goal!

Here is what I have learned and you can implement quickly:

Stay up to date with marketing trends by subscribing to a free e-mail, (or paid) subscription, of Publisher’s Weekly, or other similar literary magazine.

Listen to marketing and publishing podcasts. A good one to start with is my upcoming podcast, Information in A Nutshell on BlogTalkRadio.com. Another one is hosted by Cindy Rushton, also on BlogTalkRadio …The Writer’s Radio Show. Both of these will bring you information you can use, now! Check for times and topics at http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/InformationInANutshell.

Take a free (or subscription) writing course. I have offered a free writing e-course on my website http://www.InformationInANutshell.com that is available online. This course will give you some good information on the writing process and how to hone your skills. I will be teaching several others this year online as well.

If you are serious about your writing you can’t learn too much, especially if you plan to launch your book with a bang. I have done both…launched books with a bang and a fizzle. Believe me, the bang is always a more satisfying feeling. The fizzle translates into books that trickle out the door. If you do your homework and at least one of the things I have encouraged you to look into above, your book launch is sure to be a success!

Marketing Strategy 3: Buy that Domain Name!

How important is a name? Have you decided on a book title, have you created a company name or perhaps have an idea that might sell? Maybe you are like me and have a notebook and folder on your computer bulging with ideas...or maybe not.

But, what if you do come up with a great name for a company (or book) and decide you will have a website by the same title, a blog or even a Facebook follow page. Then when the happy day rolls around and your book is out or your company is formed you decide to go to http://www.domainsite.com or one of the other places to purchase dot com names and guess what? Your idea has been taken, and all that traffic that should be going to your book or website is going somewhere else.

Do you own your personal name.com? I purchased felicegerwitz.com years ago when a friend told me she had lost her name. Ask anyone who has lost their name to a dot.com squatter the importance of purchasing your name. What is a dot com squatter you may ask? Someone who buys a dot com that has expired or of a famous person’s name who has not registered theirs and “sits” on it—reminiscent of land squatters of times gone by. At one time, in the early days of the Internet, there were huge legal firms doing this, squatting on domain names. Other attorneys had a field day suing companies and individuals that purchased names not their own, or purposely purchasing other well known business names. Unfortunately, very few people were able to get their names as domains. But, the ones that did had to either win court cases or paid large legal fees.

When I wrote my book on science fair projects, the name science fair was available. Guess what? I waited to buy it. No, I never was able to purchase that one. At one time it was one of the top 100 words searched on the Internet. I haven’t checked recently to see if this still holds true. Recently my domain name (that I have owned for the last ten years) http://www.Virtual-Field-Trips.com was taken by a squatter and I had to pay to get it back. Thankfully the squatter turned out to be reasonable and I was able to buy it for a reasonable fee (it was my own fault I let it expire!). Yet, others are not so fortunate. One of my business partners lost the name to his unique company name by someone wanting $800.00 for it, he said no.

The lesson here? If you have a book title, or business name idea, check out domainsite.com (or others) and see if you can buy the title. The yearly fee is around $8.99. If you decide after a year that the book is not going to be written, then let it expire. At least you’ll have it if you so decide. I don’t own all the titles of my books, but I do own series titles, for example, InformationInANutshell.com and TruthSeekersMysterySeries.com…it goes without saying that I own the dot coms to all of my company names. Yes, I checked to see if the domain name was available before deciding on my company name.

I have learned the lesson well, the hard way. I only wish I had learned this early on in my writing career. While book titles can’t be copyrighted, business names can. This is something to consider at some point as well. Remember, this little piece of advice may seem insignificant to you right now, but it can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

Marketing Strategy Number 1

In a Nutshell:

1. Relationships via online forums
2. Favorites: FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn
3. Value: connections and recommendations
4. Time: 15-30 minutes daily
5. Time saver: http://ping.fm/


Relationships. We have all heard it said, it is who you know not what you know. Well, I think it is a combination of the two. For the best results I believe it is what you know and who you know in that order. Recently I have received many invitations to speak publicly. How? You’ll see below. For an author public speaking normally translates into sales. What if you only have an idea for a book? What if you don't have a completed manuscript? What if you are just in the middle? What if you are nearing the end or your best seller? It doesn't matter! Start networking now.

No matter what your industry or aspirations relationships often make or break a deal. So, start making relationships using social networking. Everyone has their favorites; my top three are FaceBook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, in that order, although I have other accounts.

The first is to make your connections well, but this depends on what network you are using. Generally I don't connect to someone I don’t know, who does not have a bio or picture (for those who prefer icons such as Cat-in-the-hat, this doesn't pertain to you). Having said this, here are my unofficial rules:

Facebook: I usually approve connections if we have common friends, even if it is just one, or the obvious, I know you! I will connect with anyone in a similar industry or field. I will very rarely accept any “gifts” or join organizations unless I feel passionately about the topic. The same goes for events, I’m just too busy to check into each of these before I approve or say I’ll attend (virtually of course), even if I know the person.

Twitter: I will allow follows (yes, I check each request), if when I read some of the posts to the follower’s account I find it is not offensive (to me), and see they post regularly. It goes without saying that I read their bio and check out their website or blog if they have one. I will only follow those I'm truly interested in learning more about...unlike most people on Twitter, my "follow numbers" are usually larger than those I'm "following".

LinkedIn: try as the participants might...this system is really for those who know or want to know each other via this vehicle. There are groups springing up like "open networker" attempting to side-step LinkedIn’s rules. And, these work to some degree. I have a hard time in just adding numbers without forging relationships my main purpose for networking. In LinkedIn if you don't "know" the person you can only connect by specifying how you know them and in what capacity. There is a way around this, if you request and obtain an introduction via one of your connections.

By far, this website is my favorite in terms of professionalism, questions or surveys taken, and networking payoffs. The number one reason I like LinkedIn is the recommendation feature. If I am working with an aspiring authors as a consultant (or coach), and when they ask for my credentials, I can send them to LinkedIn. Here they can view my work history and my list of recommendations by fellow authors, publishers and editors.

The second mandate is to post regularly. I use a time-saver. Ping. This website allows you to set up all your social network organizations that you want to receive information at one time. You then send out (or “ping”) your remarks from one place. It automatically shortens a website address. It is the command center if you will of all of my posts.

The third and most important mandate, for my own sanity and the fact that God only deemed to give us a 24-hour day, I make it a rule (unofficial of course), to spend between 15-30 minutes on social networking per day. As you can see this doesn’t allow for many of the fun aspects of the social networking scene. This is like going to the cafeteria and eating lunch but not hanging out to talk for two hours afterward. Yes, I’m missing some of the fun associated with these ventures, and believe me when I can sneak a few minutes here and there I do post comments, but am running a business and as such I treat my network time as a to-do on my list.

All work and no play makes Jane dull…right? There has to be a balance and if you don’t “know” about me, check out my profile on Facebook. Okay, back to work. the next post will reflect the deals or leads I have made using each of the social networks listed above. Oh, and by the way, feel free to connect!

In the meantime if you are an aspiring author, take time to write, daily!

Until the next time…


http://www.linkedin.com/in/felicegerwitz

http://twitter.com/felicegerwitz

http://www.facebook.com

Radio Interview Marketing Tips

I had a great time today on the Ultimate Writer's Expo. I presented a seminar entitled 10 Ways to Jump Start Your Market before the Book is Published. When I first began writing all I cared about was completing my book. I had no idea what the entire process would entail. That was in 1992 and over the years I have experienced both the highs and lows of being an author.

I have coached many people through the years (before the term was popular), and found that many came to me for help after they had a product. With a storage room full of books and no outlet to sell, the great idea (the book) was now a problem. What had started out to be a joyful event...publishing a book ended on a soar note.

Well, maybe you don't want to self-publish and are looking for an agent, a publisher, or both. Marketing is their problem right? Not so fast. It goes unsaid that before you write your book you should understand your audience and your specific market. If you think that is up to the publisher, you may be surprised to learn that the publisher will ask you the same questions, or at least want to see something about your market in your book proposal.

I began with a speaking platform. I had an audience that was interested in my topic and hopefully were interested in reading more about the topic at home, via my book. It was a great combination, and giving seminars and workshops usually translates into sales. But, most people don't start out this way. And no, not all authors tour and speak.

One of the first thing I would advise no matter where you are in your writing journey is to learn. Try to learn something daily. I spend at least 15-20 minutes following blog posts, reading articles or researching a particular topic if I plan to give a speech. I have also used mentors, consultants and listened to the advice of other publishers in a similar market. The results have been rewarding.

I am offering a totally free audio presentation 7-Steps to Becoming a Published author and you will receive follow up emails encouraging you in the writing process. These tips are tried and true. If you are interested in jump-starting your writing career, visit my website and sign up for the series: http://www.mediaangels.com/home/writing-and-publishing

In the next few days we'll explore some great ways to market, many that won't break the bank. I'd love feed back as well. If you have a good idea you'd like to share of something that works for you. Drop me a line.