Getting out of a slump is not difficult, though it often requires persistence. The problem is that most people either don’t realize what they have to do to reverse a slump, or they are not willing to do it. I have developed a 3-part strategy for overcoming a slump that works for both business and personal setbacks. The problem is that the formula is so simple -- it contains … [Read more...]
Radio PR Secrets
The worst thing you can tell a radio talk show host when answering her question is “It’s in my book.” “I have found that some authors are reluctant to share the meat of their book with their listeners, hoping the listener will run out and buy the book,” says KTKK Radio host Linda Strasburg. “The outcome is usually the opposite. When an author doesn’t share some of his or … [Read more...]
What Really Works in Online Marketing
A colleague recently said to me, “No one has found the winning formula for successful online direct marketing yet.” I disagree. A number of companies know exactly what works and are making small fortunes with it. The primary concept is that online marketing works best when you e-mail to people who already know you. Therefore, successful online marketers build their … [Read more...]
Finding A Good Idea For Your Book
The journey of a thousand manuscripts pages (or even 150) begins with a single idea. Here's how to find one. Many people who attend my book publishing seminars already have a book idea in mind. Others, however, have a strong desire to write a book, but are stuck on coming up with a suitable topic. If you fall into this category, here are ten sources of ideas for books you … [Read more...]
Positioning Your Book for Success
You can easily adapt "positioning," an advertising sales technique that will make submissions stand out on the editor's desk--and in the editor's mind. When I worked as a technical writer for an industrial equipment manufacturer I decided to write a book of tips for fellow technical writers. Such a book hadn't been done before. Or so I thought. Visits to bookstores and a … [Read more...]
The Bulletproof Book Proposal
Publishers ask five key questions about every project they consider. Here's how to make sure your proposal gives all the answers. You have a great idea for a nonfiction book. Your wife thinks it's a great idea. Your parents think it's a great idea. Even your neighbor who hates to read thinks it's a great idea. But will a publisher think it's a great idea-enough to pay … [Read more...]
Packaging Information for Maximum Profit
The packaging of your information product has a huge effect on perceived value, notes self-publishing guru Dan Poynter. For a book, binder format has the highest perceived value. But binder products are more expensive to produce, more difficult to store, and harder to ship. Publishing your book as a traditional “bookstore book” has more prestige – people revere book … [Read more...]
The Making of a Winning Book Proposal
A successful book proposal contains these sections: Title Page A cover sheet. The book's title and the name of the author are centered in the middle of the page. In the upper left corner, type Book Proposal. In the bottom right, type your name, address and phone number (or, if you have one, your agent's). Overview Summarize what your book is about: the topic, who will … [Read more...]