Getting known in the speaking industry does not happen overnight. You need to work at it bit by bit. The first thing to remember is that you are an unknown in the beginning, even if you possess the expertise required for th...]]>

What are the 5 best ways of getting known in the speaking industry?

Getting known in the speaking industry does not happen overnight. You need to work at it bit by bit. The first thing to remember is that you are an unknown in the beginning, even if you possess the expertise required for the audience. At first you will need to speak to anyone who will listen. Second, you will need to get feedback on how well you did and what the audience liked and what they thought needed improvement. Third, do not take any of this feedback personally; use it as a tool to advance to the next stage in the speaking portion of your career.

Fourth, constructive feedback will provide the basis for making improvements to your talk. You will need to see where there is conflicting comments and make a judgment as to what should be the correct topic. Fifth, you should have every speaking session video-taped, or at least audio-taped. You will need to review everything you said, even the stories of failures and successes. This tool will enable you to make even further refinements. You can even tape yourself without the audience, but it is the audience reaction that you need to hear.

When you first begin, your audience is not likely to be well targeted. The reason is probably that you need to gain the necessary experience to more finely tune who they are. In the beginning you are after constructive feedback, and when you are able to implement the feedback and fine tune the presentation, you are ready to further define your audience.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com

One of the first risks is the usage of time. If the idea of success is to write for one's own satisfaction only, then writing is but a hobby, but if one is interested in being recognized as a writer, then other risk...]]>

If a writer is to succeed he or she must take risks. What are these risks?

One of the first risks is the usage of time. If the idea of success is to write for one’s own satisfaction only, then writing is but a hobby, but if one is interested in being recognized as a writer, then other risks must be addressed.

The first one is the fear of rejectionrejection by peers, rejection by editors, and finally, rejection by readers. The first, can be the most important: if a writer presents his or her work to fellow writers and they are too critical, it can have a detrimental effect on the author, often to the point that the writer abandons his or her dream.

An important rejection is that by editors, but it must be realized that the editor has not rejected the writer, only that particular work. Many reason are possible: not appropriate, not needed at the time, overlooked, and many others. All writers have their work rejected so one must look for another market.

If the work is published, then the reader comes into play. Will they buy and read it? If they do, will they consider it or simply snub it?

Another risk is writing what you believe in. If the writer is to succeed, one must be convinced that what he or she says is important to them. Otherwise, the writing will lack sincerity and authenticity.

Once the work is written, it is important to get it out to readers and that can involve sending it to appropriate publications whether in the trade online or otherwise. Do not give up. If the writer believes that the work is significant then it must be placed before readers.

This mean that the writer must promote it with every means at his or her disposal, and many exist: newspapers, word of mouth, business cards, brochures, web sites, blogs, etc., to name a few.

Probably the greatest risk is believing in one’s self. Most writers have vulnerable egos thus it’s important to develop a positive attitude to one’s work. If the writer believes in his ability and effort then the battle is won.

Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. He has six books published, mainly historical novels.

His website is: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c
His Blog is: http://go1c.blogspot.com

Step One. Get Organized.

Just like anything else, you need to get...]]>

You may already have your web site up. You may be ready to create one. The biggest mistake most people make is that they don’t write their Web site to sell before they contact their web master. Here are five solutions.

Step One. Get Organized.

Just like anything else, you need to get organized first. What do you need to learn to put up an attractive, professional, book-selling site? Start a new folder called “Web Site To Do’s.” Include in a file called “My web site’s purpose.” What I can do for my readers, and what money results do I want? Make another file called “Sales letter for Book” and “Home Page Elements.”

Put these and other topics in your computer files and if you like, hard copy manila folders placed in your “Online Marketing File.”

Author’s Tip: Save only important papers or computer files, which include files on your book and its contents. Your Offline and Online Marketing Plans should be vertical and alphabetical in folders in hard files, or placed within a main computer folder, within which you place different related files.

Step Two. Know your web site’s purpose before you hire a web master.

Do you want to sell products and services, generate leads, generate interest for your book, establish credibility as the savvy expert in your field, improve communications, provide customer service, follow up on leads or sales, and get people to revisit your site to get more information that helps them make that all-important decisionto buy? While it’s good to offer a lot of free content, you must also remember your book is a business and you want to make sales.

Step Three. Preplan your Site for Selling

Think of your web site as your virtual office. You need to design each part of it to titillate and inspire your visitor to locate quickly what they want and eventually buy from you. It needs to be fast loading, and to be easy to navigate. You must know your site’s purpose before you design it.

What is the purpose of your web site? Sales? Build creditability? Show that you’re the expert? What do you want to sell? (All sites want to sell something) Answer these questions in writing now.

What visitors do you want to attract? (target audience)
Will your Web site have a theme? What is it?
What should be your visitors’ action and reaction once they arrive at your site?
What’s challenge or problem does your target visitor have?
What’s on your site such as your book to solve that challenge?
By the end of five months, what do you want to achieve? Money? How much? Clients? How Many?
What’s your technical expertise, and are you willing to learn something new, or delegate it to your inexpensive computer assistant or Web Master?

Step Four. Create an Audience Profile

Do you know who should visit your site? Which of these audiences are yours? -the targeted for your special topic, the one who wants special skills fast and easy, the general audience like The Chicken Soup series who want inspiration, or the online audiencewho are primarily business people, but want all kinds of information. They may want to make a home better designed, build a better relationship, find Mr. Possible, build business income, become healed, raise spiritual awareness, prioritize goals for financial or personal success, build internet marketing skills, and more.

Before you design a word, get a visual, and mental picture of your preferred audience. What do they want? Are they internet savvy? What magazines do they read? What do they spend discretionary money on?

Step Five. Write a Sales Letter for your book and any other product or service.

If you aren’t making the book sales you want, then you either don’t have a sales letter for each book, or your present one lacks pizzazz and motivation. This is the time to leave your “writer of book self” home, and bring out your “writer to sell your book” self.

Author’s story

My first Web site had twenty+ fine books and kits in personal growth, book writing, and marketing. Sales never went over $200 a month. To correct that, I created a new site that focused on bookcoaching to include the ten eBooks I wrote on book writing, self-publishing, online promotion, web copywriting, and marketing. For this second web site, I paid special attention to sales letters (without hype) for each teleclass, eBook, and bookcoaching opportunities to suit each visitor’s income and need.

Sales were $75 the first month, and in four months they reached $2265. The next year they went to $3000 a month. Four years later, sales are over $4500 each month, and I still work only ten months and take four vacations a year.

Your bookcoach learned it all the hard, slow way, but you don’t have to. Just be willing to open your mind to different skills you can certainly learn. You wrote a book, didn’t you? And you experienced a learning curve there too.

You have choice. Put a sales letter on your home page if you only want to market one thingyour book. Or, if you also want to promote a service and other books, put a strong headline on the number one benefit of each book or service on your home page and link it to your sales letter on another page.

Some experts write long sales letters because they think you need to give enough information to help your potential buyer make an informed decision to buy. For email promotion use shorter sales letters and for the web site, longer ones.

Yes, you can post your book on other web sites, but as an author/business person who is serious about promoting your book and creating a web presence, you will eventually want to create your own web site.

Judy Cullins ©2005 All Rights Reserved.

Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people’s lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast,” “The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Targeted Web Traffic,” and “Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, “The Book Coach Says…” and “Business Tip of the Month” at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 165 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.

What is the "unique selling position" in your market? Luck will not propel you to success. Understand the "cause" of your market's problem by knowing your target. Solving their pr...]]>

“Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

What is the “unique selling position” in your market? Luck will not propel you to success. Understand the “cause” of your market’s problem by knowing your target. Solving their problem is the “effect” they are looking for. Corporations have entire departments dedicated to finding out who buys from them so they can hone in on that market segment. They do that by profiling not only who buys from them, but who is their competition. Successful marketing campaigns listen to their market. It’s about connecting a hidden desire or an expressed desire in a market, a target market. Your job is to identify where those minds are, find them and then connect with them. You don’t have to be a corporation. It’s your job to do your own research and it’s available to you through your competition.

Singularly look at writing to one person rather than a group. When you get this one concept down, your copy will stick like glue to the reader because it’s just the 2 of you in the room. It’s a real easy thing to say “everybody is my target market” but it’s not. Your target market is only those potential customers who are suitable for your products or services. You really have to know exactly who you’re talking to so you can provide the solution to their problem. That’s why I demolish those roadblocks for you in my highly acclaimed workbook and audio CD, Red Hot Copy to Woo Your Target Market.

Copywriting is interactive between the reader and the writer. You want him or her to keep reading so you have to engage the reader. When you get in touch with your TARKET, that’s where you really make the sale. You need to know everything about who you’re writing for. In other words, start with the catch in the mind instead of the pitch.

Remember that it’s not about you. Eugene Schwartz, Copywriting Master says, “The creativity is in your market and in your product, and all you are doing is joining the 2 together. And the only way you can get the creativity out of your product and your market is to dig it out. And the only way you can dig it out is dig it out more than anybody else digs it out.“

International copywriting trainer, author and speaker, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero has been a freelance writer and journalist for over 25 years. Her words have made her clients hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now she focuses her vast experience on teaching others the skill of copywriting. Lorrie is the author of a highly acclaimed copywriting course, creator of the Red Hot Copywriting Bootcamp and founder of Copy Campus, a unique membership resource site designed to support copywriters and entrepreneurs on all levels. Visit her site to learn more at http://www.red-hot-copy.com.

Knowing these benefits, you want to create and submit as m...]]>

Submitting articles once or twice a week can yield 15 or more subscribers to your own ezine each time. Read by thousands, even hundreds of thousands, your articles also bring people to your Web site to buy your products or services.

Knowing these benefits, you want to create and submit as many articles as you can. At times, you have the articles complete, but don’t have anyone handy to edit them. While it’s best to get at least two other edits from business associates, you can edit your articles yourself with a little help.

Use this checklist of the ways to edit your own work:

1. Start your introduction with a question or startling fact. You must hook your readers with something that reaches their emotions. Make it “you” centered.

2. Make your introduction only a few sentences. Your readers want to get to the heart of your book chapter or article fast. They want easy-to-read quick tips. Long stories can bring a yawn to your reader.

3. Make all of your sentences short. Since standard sentence length is 15-17 words, make most of your sentences under that number. Complex sentences and multiple phrases make the reading tougher. Make it easy for your readers to get the point fast.

4. Avoid dull, slow passive sentences. Start them with a subject, then follow with a verb to avoid passive construction. “The coach marketed her business and books through submitting articles online” is an active sentence. “The coach’s books were marketed online through submitting articles” is passive. Drop linking verbs such as “is,” “was,” “seemed,” or “had.” Replace them with power, active verbs. Instead of “she is beautiful,” you could say, “Her beauty compels you to stare at her”.

5. Aim for compelling, clear copy. Write for the 8-10th grade reader. Always think “What’s in it for them?”

6. Use specific nouns and names. General references don’t engage your readers’ emotions. Let them see the size, color, and shape. Rather than say, “Write your book fast to make lifelong income,” say “Write and finish your book fast so you can take that long vacation to a Caribbean island such as Tobago.” Money isn’t a specific pull, but a vacation is.

7. Let go of adverbs. Words like very, suddenly, and sparingly, tell instead of show. Use adverbs only at Christmas.

8. Let go of unneeded adjectives. Instead of a super-intelligent person, you can say a genius.

9. Appeal to the senses of sight, sound, and emotions. Telling is not an effective. Instead of “Buy this book today because it is so useful,” say, “Would you like to double, even quadruple your Online income in four months?”

10. Cut redundancies. Don’t talk down to your reader with too much repetition. Be willing to part with your “precious” words. The first edit usually reduces the words by

2. No one else knows the stories of you life quite like you do. Do you want them to tell it?

3. This is an opportunity to share knowledge, wisdom and advice to those who would be inspired to learn from us.

4. When we record something, we remem...]]>

1. No one else will do it for you.

2. No one else knows the stories of you life quite like you do. Do you want them to tell it?

3. This is an opportunity to share knowledge, wisdom and advice to those who would be inspired to
learn from us.

4. When we record something, we remember more.

5. By reflection and recording we are able to gain a deeper appreciation for all the surrounding
happenings that influenced our decisions and experiences.

6. A life examined and recorded is twice precious, first the experience itself and then the memories it
evokes when we read about it later.

7. Everyone has a story to tell. We each have a unique view of history from our own perspective.

8. There is an inner need in each of us to be remembered. To reflect and to see that our lives had
value.

9. We want to be remembered by descendants as a real person and not just a name on a tree.

10. If not recorded, the stories you learned from your grandparents will die with you.

11. The things you did as a child are as remote from children today as Mars is from the Earth.

12. You will be looking at painful memories of childhood with the eyes of an adult and realize that they
no longer have the power to hurt you.

13. You have the opportunity to leave a legacy for friends and family.

14. This is a way to celebrate your own life.

15. It allows family and friends to know you as an individual, not just the role they were familiar with.

16. By sharing how you overcame adversity, it may strengthen another who is facing a hard time.

17. It gives you an opportunity to not only examine events, but feelings and emotions.

18. It allows you the opportunity to say on paper what is sometimes hard to express in person.

19. By writing our stories, we can examine our life’s journey with a wider view.

20. It is very therapeutic to examine the past and then to let old hurts go.

21. It is the ultimate journey of self-discovery, even if no one else ever reads it.

22. You can pass down traditions, standards, beliefs or even recipes that have a great deal of meaning
within the family or community.

23. As you grow older and less verbal, it helps caregivers and others to see you as you once were.

24. You will be respected, envied and praised for doing what most people just talk about doing.

A recent survey taken of a group of elderly people indicated that their major life regrets were in not:

! Taking more risks-choosing the secure over the unknown and the unknown would have been fine..

! Reflecting more, taking time to stop along the way and decide who we are and where we are going.

! Contributing and sharing more feelings, thoughts and emotions with family, friends and community.

By recording your life story, which is a scary step to take, you can accomplish all three.

There is an old African saying that every time a person dies, it is as if a library has burned down.

Just do it, you will always be glad that you did!!!

If you are interested in getting the answers to these and other
questions about life story writing, please contact us at
judywright@artichokepress.com and sign up for a tele-class
and our FREE e-zine: “The Artichoke” - finding the heart of the
story in the journey of life..

©Judy H. Wright, Personal and Oral Historian - www.artichokepress.com

1. Click-throughs from article banks. People read your articl...]]>

Writing articles is possibly the best way to generated free traffic to your site. A short article, submitted to a few places, creates permanent streams of traffic. Here are some of the ways articles bring traffic to your website:

1. Click-throughs from article banks. People read your articles at an article bank, and click on the link in the “author’s resource box.”

2. Search engine traffic. Search “cheap international plane tickets” on Google, and sites with my article will be in the results. Wherever the article is found, readers can click through to my travel site.

3. Other web sites. When my reports show a referral address I don’t recognize, it’s usually a web site that’s using one of my articles.

Article Submission - The Basics

Submit your articles to article banks and newsletters. Article banks usually carry “free-distribution “articles, meaning anyone can use them for a site, newsletter or blog. They just can’t change them, and they have to leave your link active. The link is in the “resource box,” where you say something about yourself and invite the reader to visit your web site.

Post an article once, and it can spread, creating permanent streams of traffic. Why permanent? Here’s an example: I get search traffic for “mexico real estate” on my site HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com because of an article I used. The author gets clicks through to her site, but I get traffic - and revenue - so I’ll never remove that article.

The Easiest Article Writing

Article writing isn’t just for writers. Online articles are short and less formal than magazine articles anyhow, but if you really don’t like writing, try a “list-article.” This is the most popular type of article online, which is fortunate, because it’s also the easiest type to write.

For a site about making money on Ebay, you could write an article titled “The Top Ten Sellers On Ebay.” A short introduction, a list with a sentence or two about each item, a bit about yourself and a link to your site, and you’re done. Write “Six Mistakes People Make On Ebay,” and we need to read that to avoid the mistakes, right?

Some article banks charge fees, but there are many that are free. There are also more ways to generate traffic with your articles. That’s this article’s “tease” to get you to the site.

Steve Gillman writes on many money-related topics. To learn more, and to subscribe for FREE to “Web Site Optimization Secrets,” go to: http://www.TheMoneyMakerSite.com

All of us have this gift that needs to come out. A one line peace of wisdom written on a napkin from the restaurant that comes ...]]>

The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and humanity is the book, the song, the poem the artwork or invention that is locked away within your consciousness.

All of us have this gift that needs to come out. A one line peace of wisdom written on a napkin from the restaurant that comes from the heart has just as much value as a Picasso. Just the right words written by a street person living on the side of the road can have more impact on society than those of a trained phd that has been writing for years. A few scribbles written by a beaten women can change the way other women are treated. A short paragraph in a suicide note can save the lives of others.

All of us have something to write about when it comes from the soul. It has nothing to do with being a writer or a published author. It’s about letting it out and not holding it in, it is a release.

It doesn’t have to be about sad things or struggles either. It is just as important to write about accomplishments and successes. The urgency is the same and before one dies it is important for the ego and the soul to release this energy.

It is the fear that stops one from doing so. I have talked to many people over the years who have confided in me that they have always wanted to write a book. All of them have been afraid to do so. They claim they don’t have the knowledge or skills and they worry about being laughed at or ridiculed. Who would buy my book of poems, my “how to” book, or my child’s story book. There are so many other books, great books and authors and these people devalue themselves and their work before it is even started.

I have to remind them that it doesn’t matter about skills. It is the idea, the experience, thoughts or philosophy contained in the root of the book that is important. Even experienced authors have people that help them published a finished work. I personally don’t know of any writers that have completed their books from start to being published by themselves. Lack of skills is the least important aspect of writing. Getting your thoughts on paper is the only reason for doing it. Once that is done, it doesn’t really matter if the book is ever published unless that is the motive for doing it.

The important thing to note here is that you are writing for yourself and your life has value no matter how you have lived it. Others will gain from the wisdom you have achieved in your life, even if it is only one thought.

After years of writing hundreds of articles, essays and books, I have come to know that I did it all for myself. Most all the things I have written about have come from the heart; they are all my true thoughts at the time I wrote them. I have moved past most all that I have written and some of it seems very immature. I do not have the burden of what these thoughts should mean to me any longer as they have all been worked out on paper and I have moved on.

Most of the time I do not know what I am writing until I have finished and I go back and read my work. Buy the time I have proof read it three or four times I have absorbed the information and refined it to a level that I can live with it. What I have successfully done is manifested another Roy into physical existence on paper.

It does not matter to my soul one way or the other that someone else should read it or benefit by it. It does matter however to the ego. The body would love for someone to know me through my work and gain some wisdom from the experience. Through the course of my work with my web site, I go back into these articles and books and read them each time for the first time. I marvel at how good or how badly they were written, but always I come away uplifted by what I have read. I have written these articles for myself, that I might gain more insight into who Roy is and how he experiences himself in this lifetime. What I am doing in fact is giving myself back to myself; it is the greatest gift of all.

I want to tell you at this point how I starting writing so that you may be able to start on your own and begin to create that masterpiece. I want you to know that you can do it. All it takes is a couple of words, a line of text, a paragraph or two and you are off. The most profound thought or acknowledgement of who we are is summed up in only two words, “I AM.” Even if you can not write or read, someone else can do it for you. I am going to show you how I started and what has led me to this place in my life.

After I finished high school I ceased to read or write except to facilitate everyday responsibilities. I may have read one or two books over the next 30 years or so. I had difficult in reading more than a paragraph at a time because my eyes would dance around the page. In my work there was very little need for either reading or writing. I also believed that I was inadequate or plain stupid in those areas.

Near the age of 50 my attitude changed when I was given a book to read. I liked the title and started to read the introduction. It was difficult to keep my attention because I could not focus on the sentences. I took my time and gradually was able to read a page at a time, then a chapter and now I can sit down and read right through without stopping.

This book was a catalyst for reading others and I started to build up a library. After several months I was hooked on reading. I developed a dislike for TV and videos and I got the urge to start writing my thoughts down on paper.

Even more difficult than the process of reading books again were the first steps to writing. I had a high school education and some skills, but was overcome by fear of my own ability and thoughts of rejection should someone read it.

The process I used to get started was not my own and I don’t remember where I heard about it. Basically the advice was to just start writing and that is what I want to pass on now.

I positioned myself at my kitchen table very early one morning before I could be disturbed by routine morning activities. I surrounded myself with things that I imagined a writer would need, like my morning tea, a pad and a fountain pen. I wanted to emulate the image I had of how a writer would look like when he/she was ready to add words to paper. I sat at the table very comfortably in my house coat starring at a blank page ready to do writing things.

Taking the advice that I was given, I just started writing and it went something like this:

“Well what am I going to write about?”
“The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.”
“Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party.”
“This is stupid.”
“Nothing is going to happen.”
“How long to I have to wait?”
“My cat is funny.”
“Should I start of with a quote?”
“Boy am I going to through this away before someone sees it.”
“I can’t write.”
“Now what?”
“It’s a bright sunny warm summer’s morning and I am sitting at my table trying to be a writer, shit.”

This dialogue went on for a couple of mornings until finally the sentences started flowing and the writing developed a mind of its own and I did not look for anything in particular to write about. I struggled on my own for more than a year, then one morning I started writing a few pages at home and had the urge to take paper and pen to the mail and write there, hoping to find inspiration.

Having bought a cup of tea I found a table away from the others and continued where I hand left off at home. I started writing for a few moments when something amazing took place.

My pen took on an energy of its own and forced my hand forward along the lines of the pages leaving in its wake paragraphs of text. I lost track of time, and it seemed like only twenty minutes of time had passed to write the more than twenty single line spaced pages. My hand was getting tired and sore from the increased speed of the writing. I didn’t want to stop but was also afraid to let it go on. I was sitting back watching myself and my eyes filled with tears as I began to allow fear to fill my presence. I thought that it would not stop and that I could not control what was happening, so I terminated the process.

It has taken me five years to get to this point and the article you are now reading.

The writing comes easy for me, it is the proofing that is the greatest challenge and it is so, because I do it myself. There are others that could help and it’s simply a matter of choice.

I write for myself and I am the majour beneficiary of what I have written. If someone else should benefit from my reading it is because they have placed themselves in the correct time and place to receive that profit. I have made my writing available through my web site in order to facilitate that discovery.

Anyone can do it, no matter how small or large the project. How significant or insignificant it may seem at the time you story must be told.

Each of us has a creation, a story, a painting, a sculpture or poem in us that needs to come out. They are a physical expression or symbol of who we are and we owe it to ourselves and others to bring it into the physical world.

The two most powerful words of expression by humanity are “I AM.” The sentence is complete in its brevity and what follows is the extension of “I AM.” I am a writer, a painter, a sculptor, a poet, an artist and “I AM” going to bring this story out because it is who “I AM.”

Roy E. Klienwachter is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. A student of NLP, ordained minister, New Age Light Worker and Teacher. Roy has written and published five books on New Age wisdom. Roy’s books are thought provoking and designed to empower you to take responsibility for your life and what you create. His books and articles are written in the simplicity and eloquence of Zen wisdom.

You may not always agree with what he has to say. You will always come away with a new perspective and your thinking will never be the same.

Roy’s style is hard hitting and comes straight from the heart without all the metaphorical mumble jumble and BS.

Visit Roy at: http://www.klienwachter.com

I can think of four simple guidelines to follow for build...]]>

Most published writers will admit that there is no secret formula for writing a winning query letter, however, many professionals can share some basic suggestions to help new writers formulate a query that will sell their story idea.

I can think of four simple guidelines to follow for building good query letters.

1) Capture The Editor’s Attention

You must develop original ideas that will stimulate editors almost immediately. Proposals have to provide something out of the ordinary, a unique angle, a new approach or a different view of the common, over-publicized topics that editors and readers are tired of seeing.

Think about how your article can offer innovative insight, inspiring material, or contrasting views of well-worn subjects. You probably have less than a minute to spark the interest of most editors, who receive hundreds of similar pitches every week. Make yours stand out from the rest!

2) Be Concise But Explicit

Eliminate fluff. Use action verbs and effective nouns to explain exactly why your idea will appeal to their readers and add quality to their publication. Give adequate details without going overboard.

Tell the editor why you want to write the article, why he should care about your topic and how you plan to deliver your completed work (estimated deadline and approximate word count etc.)

3) Know The Market

You can spend hours constructing the perfect query letter, but if you send it to the wrong publication, your efforts will probably be wasted and your idea rejected.

The most obvious way to gain knowledge of any market - that many writers may overlook - is to read the publication. I mean really read it. Don’t just browse article titles or skim the written words. Spend some serious time reading what other writers have written and learning about what the readers seem to prefer.

Most publications will provide writers with printed submission guidelines. Request this information and follow it completely. Some editors will toss a query in the trash immediately if it is not written according to their specified format or if it does not include the information required for submission.

4) Be Professional

Consider your competition. If an editor opens one envelope that contains a hand-written, sloppy, wrinkled letter on yellow notebook paper and another envelope that has a type-written, clean, easy to read letter printed on quality paper, it’s not difficult to figure out which letter will be more impressive and more likely to appeal to the editor.

It’s just like going on an interview - you never get a second chance to make a first impression!

Crafting a Creative Query

Paragraph One - The Hook

Your first sentence counts more than you can imagine. Make it informative, interesting, and honest!

Examples:

1 - Start with a question that will fascinate the editor so much that she feels the need to read on just to find out your answer. (How many professional anglers catch hypodermic needles and other fishy items in their nets each week?)

2 - Use a shocking or uncommon statistic to lure the editor into your letter. (Although many national news sources reported that suicide among teenage girls increased dramatically by more than 35% last year, did you know that more than half of those 5,000 young girls were raised without a father for most of their childhood?)

Paragraph Two - The Specifics

Who cares about your idea? Who will be effected by your article? What will your story reveal that hasn’t already been reported? Why is your idea perfect for this particular publication? When can you deliver it? How many words? Who will you interview? What about background, statistics, historical references? Research your topic. Give them the facts accurately, quickly, honestly and persuasively.

Paragraph Three - Your Credentials

Why are you the person to write this article? Where have your writings been published in the past? What similar subjects have you written about? What makes you different, special, unique?

Paragraph Four - The Closing

Thank the editors. Suggest a follow-up contact time. Offer to provide any further details, answer their questions or clarify your query at their convenience. Thank them again and tell them how much you look forward to talking with them within the next two weeks - month - whatever you feel is appropriate (refer to their submission guidelines for tips on this information - they usually provide writers with an estimated response time.)

For more ideas on writing query letters that will sell your work, see the Articles on this page http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1821.asp

Good Luck!

Go research and then go write some query letters.

Do not expect overnight success and do not be disappointed by the inevitable

rejection letters you will receive.

Do be persistent, focused and positive. Do keep sending queries! You have to start

somewhere and it’s hard to get published if nobody hears about your great ideas!

Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp

But article marketers and new article writers are often stumped for topi...]]>

Writing articles is by far the most effective online promotion strategy I’ve come across. If you can write good, readable, original content, you can easily put yourself far ahead of the pack in your field of interest.

But article marketers and new article writers are often stumped for topics to write about. Finding topics that appeal to your readers can be time-consuming but well worth the effort.

Here are no less than eight awesome ways to research your market and find newsy topics that attract loads of traffic and the interest of your target audience.

1. Keyword Research Tools

To write an article that will get you a significant amount of traffic, you need to write about topics that people are searching for.

You also want to know which terms your target audience uses while searching, so you can use them in your article title and copy and increase the chance of being found by search engines.

Two excellent keyword research tools you should always use to research article topics are Wordtracker and Overture’s Keyword Inventory Tool.
http://www.wordtracker.com
http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

2. Newsletters and Trade Journals

Subscribe to email newsletters, ezines and offline publications related to your topic of interest. Reading what others in your field are writing about will give you lots of ideas for your own article topics.

It’s easy to find newsletters that cover your topic online. If you want to write about internet marketing, for instance, you could search for “internet marketing newsletter” and find the most well-read and respected publications in that field.

3. Google News Alerts

Google News Alerts is like a news aggregator that allows you to receive news based on your keyword of choice.
http://www.google.com/alerts

When you subscribe, you’ll receive the latest stories that carry your keyword. Go through them and you may find some gems of information that you can write up into a topical article based on that story.

4. Press Release Alerts

Press releases are an excellent way to find out more about new discoveries or advances in your field. These can make an excellent topic for an opinion piece about that discovery or development.

Search press release sites for the latest releases in the field of your choice. You’ll find a bunch of them listed here.
http://www.onlineprindia.com/press-release-distribution.htm

5. Online Forums

You can get some of your best article topics from other professionals in your field. Online forums provide an abundance of opinions, queries and ideas that might just make that flashbulb go off in your brain.

Visit forums, lurk and read other’s posts or participate in discussions and benefit from the minds of some of the most interactive people in your field.

6. Blogs

Blogs are a hotbed of discussion and opinion. They often carry some very interesting and topical pieces that can help you ideate.

Blog directories, a long list of which can be found at the link below, are a good place to start looking for blogs written on your topic of interest.
http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55/

7. Seminars and Conferences

One of the best ways to keep up with new ideas and developments in your field is to attend seminars or conferences and network with other people.

You can often come away with a bunch of ideas, at these gatherings, and use them to write up articles.

8. Spy On The Competition

Check out your competitor’s business and websites. They may be using ideas or even making mistakes that could give you ideas for articles on what does or doesn’t work.

And finally, always remember to give credit (and a link back) to the news sources that you cite in your article.

_______________________________________________

Priya Shah is the CEO of an online marketing firm and writes an online marketing blog. Visit Article Writing Tips for more article marketing tips and tools.

This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.

_______________________________________________

Discover the easy and free way to promote your book. It's still the number one top way--writing and submitting articles to other ezines and Web sites.

Getting Sta...]]>

Are you a reluctant marketer for your book? Do you avoid the social and selling aspects of self-publishing and promotion?

Discover the easy and free way to promote your book. It’s still the number one top way–writing and submitting articles to other ezines and Web sites.

Getting Started Tips to Create your Selling Articles

1. Use your non-fiction book’s chapter how to’s or your fiction’s juicy chapter excerpts.

2. Keep your articles around 200-800 words each.

3. Keep your article focused on just one thesis or point.

4. Create a hook for your two or three-sentence introduction. Notice this one asked you a few questions to engage you.

5. Forget the old school of writing for print magazines and getting paid. Follow the Internet way– give your article away like Mrs. Field cookie samples, so people will want to visit the site where you sell your book.

6. Keep yourself out of it. Your audience wants to know what you can do for them. Replace those “I” constructions with “you.”
“If you are like me….”

7. Number the main points for clarity. People love easy to read tips.

8. Collect ten well-edited articles before you blast off. Online readers will look at your more seriously when they see you offer more than one quick thing. They will see you as the savvy expert and click to where you sell your book.

9. Leverage one article into five. Change your audience. Change your number of how to’s. Three Tips to… or Five Tips… or The Two Best Ways to….

10. Remember free information is the reason people go to Web sites, so put your articles there as well as in a blog.

Once you get dozens of short articles or excerpts out to no spam ezines or top web sites n your field, you will notice the search engines optimizing your site because they see your important key words that link you, your book, or your service together. Your submitted articles lead to the magic of “viral marketing.” The thing is that this is attraction, natural marketing at its best.

Judy Cullins ©2005 All Rights Reserved.

Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people’s lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Judy is author of 10 eBooks including Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast, Ten Non-Techie Ways to Market Your Book Online, The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Your Targeted Web Traffic, and Power Writing for Web Sites That Sell. She offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, “The BookCoach Says…,” “Business Tip of the Month,” blog Q & A at http://www.bookcoaching.com and over 185 free articles.

Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com
Phone: 619/466-0622 — Orders: 866/200-9743

1. Edit your work ...]]>

   Every writer eventually develops her own unique style of writing. As you struggle to create your own voice, while focusing on the required standards, you may want to consider the following tips for improving your style and establishing a professional formula for success.

   1. Edit your work continuously to eliminate all those extra words. One of the most common mistakes a writer makes is to use too many adverbs and adjectives. You should try to eliminate unnecessary content to keep your crisp and concise. Less is more.

      Example: Does the meaning change if you cut -

      • “past history” to “history”

      • “really unusual” to “unusual”

      • “very impressive” to “impressive”

      • “accurate facts” to “facts”

      • “true reality” to “reality”

      Choose your descriptive words carefully and utilize them in sentences where they will be most effective.

   2. Select uncomplicated language to say what you mean as simply as possible. Writers frequently have a more extensive vocabulary than the average reader does. You will not impress people by using long, uncommon words that they do not understand.

      Example: Does the general public know the definition of the first or second word below?
      

      • exigency or emergency

      • prognosticate or predict

      • contumacious or contrary

      • rancorous or resentful

      • facetious or fun

      Most readers will give up on your writing before they will pick up a dictionary to figure out what you are trying to say.

   3. Construct short sentences. Lengthy sentences are usually more difficult for people to read and equally challenging to write. If you find yourself wondering where to place the commas appropriately or whether to use a colon or semi-colon in your sentence, it is probably too long. Using short sentences to express yourself can eliminate common writing problems, like incorrect subject/modifier agreement or improper parallel construction. Your work will be more readable if you write with a balanced combination of short and long sentences.

   4. Produce original work that shows your individual voice. Avoid clich
      ]]> http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/seven-suggestions-to-develop-a-superb-writing-style/feed/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/five-book-back-cover-mistakes-and-how-to-solve-them/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/five-book-back-cover-mistakes-and-how-to-solve-them/#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:07:03 +0000 admin http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/five-book-back-cover-mistakes-and-how-to-solve-them/ Did you know that your back cover information is, after the cover, the best way to sell more books? And, that most authors, emerging and experienced, miss this opportunity to engage more potential buyers?

      Your book's front cover and sizzling title must impress your buyers in four-eight s...]]>
      

      Did you know that your back cover information is, after the cover, the best way to sell more books? And, that most authors, emerging and experienced, miss this opportunity to engage more potential buyers?

      
      

      Your book’s front cover and sizzling title must impress your buyers in four-eight seconds. If they like it, they will spend ten-thirty seconds or so on your back covera great opportunity to convince them that your book is necessary for their pleasure or success.

      
      

      Does your back cover pass the test?
      
      Five Best Solutions to the Biggest Book Back Cover Mistakes:

      
      

      1. Mistake: Too many non-powerful words and too busy to have a focus.

      
      

      Solutions: A back cover of 6 by 9 inches should have fewer than 60 words. Use sound bites; picture and emotional words; benefits, not features; and testimonials to capture your readers’ attention to keep your message focused. Make every word count and be willing to get five-fifteen edits.

      
      

      2. Mistake: Too much superfluous material on it such a long author’s bio or large photo. Potential buyers want to know how the book will help them, teach them a skill, or entertain them.

      
      

      Solutions: Print only a one or two-line bio on the back cover. Put your photo and more bio on the inside of the back cover. Omit features such as format information, which belong in the introduction.

      
      

      Connect with your buyer emotionally with specific, powerful ad copy. For self-help books use bullets with specific benefits, and enough of the right kind of testimonials (specific benefit driven) to sell your book in 30 seconds. For fiction, modify to include a bit of plot, with a powerful quote or dialogue. Use bookstore models to assist you.

      
      

      3. Mistake: Repeating the book’s title at the top of the back cover.

      
      

      Solutions: Since your potential buyers already know the title and are stimulated enough to look at the back cover, hook them with an emotional question or statement to read on.

      
      

      Create a “Hot Headline” that compels your reader to buy. Notice the headlines in your newspaper. Visit your bookstore and notice other best selling authors’ headlines. “What’s So Tough About Writing?” by word smith Richard Lederer, author of The Write Way; “Imagine Being an Author,” in Dan Poynter’s Writing Nonfiction; “To Age is NaturalTo Grow Old is Not! In Rico Caveglia’s Ageless Living, or “Imagine 1000’s of People Reading your Book Next Month! for your coach’s “How to Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast!”.

      
      

      4. Mistake: Omitting testimonials.
      
      Solutions: Testimonials sell more books than any other information on the back cover. Put at least three up. Contact a variety of people. Use one from a top professional in your field, one from a satisfied reader, one from a celebrity who cares about your topic, and one from a famous media person.

      
      

      In her book, “A Kick in Your Inspiration,” Ruth Cleveland got one testimonial from an ex convict! Jacqueline Marcell, author of Elder Rage, took eight months to get forty testimonials from celebrities. Her book is endorsed by: Steve Allen, Ed Asner, Dr. Dean Edell, Dr. John Gray, Dr. Nancy Snyderman/ABC, Regis Philbin. Jacqueline Bisset, and Phyllis Diller.

      
      

      It was worth the effort, because in April 2001, she made the cover of the AARP Bulletin distributed to over 35 million readers. It included a feature story, some how-tos and contacts and pictures of the author and her book. She had to dance fast, and order 10,000 books to get distributed by the time the piece came out. After it came out, she was inundated with speaking engagements. There’s a problem you might love to have!

      
      

      After you write several books and become rich and famous, you, like other professionals, will fill your back cover with testimonials. You won’t even need to add benefits, because people have already bought your other books and liked them.

      
      

      Potential buyers will purchase when they see people they trust and know recommend the book. Besides filling the back cover with testimonials, you may want to even add extra testimonials in the front pages of the book. The more testimonials, the better!

      
      

      5. Mistake. Independent publishers submitting galleys to reviewers, distributors, and wholesales without ANY back cover information.

      
      

      Solutions: “Make the back cover your first area of concern,” says Susan Howard, Director of Consulting Services at top publishing firm, The Jenkins Group Inc., who write “The Publishing Connection” She adds, “Waiting for testimonials is generally the reason the back cover of a galley is left blank. Failure to realize the value of the back cover seems to equate with the failure to realize that the text for the finished back cover can always be changed before the printing of the book.”

      
      

      It’s important for writers to “market while they write”– To make each part of their book sell copies. The back cover is all-important.

      Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast,” and “How to Market your Business on the Internet,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com

      ]]> http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/five-book-back-cover-mistakes-and-how-to-solve-them/feed/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/what-you-may-not-learn-in-college-part-two/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/what-you-may-not-learn-in-college-part-two/#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:06:08 +0000 admin http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/what-you-may-not-learn-in-college-part-two/ If you become a writer for any publication, private business, public entity, non-profit organization and/or large corporation that employs more than one editor, you may find that your job description, expected contributions, desired writing style and similar "guidelines" for your position - are...]]>
      

      If you become a writer for any publication, private business, public entity, non-profit organization and/or large corporation that employs more than one editor, you may find that your job description, expected contributions, desired writing style and similar “guidelines” for your position - are subject to change daily/weekly/unpredictably - according to each editor’s mood and/or personal preferences.

      
      

      It takes time, but eventually you will learn how to satisfy everyone to the best of your ability. You can help yourself by recognizing which editor you seem to “connect” with from the beginning and then make it your business to go to him/her with questions and/or to send your articles directly to her for editing.

      
      

      Although editors can sometimes seem to not care about anything but “getting the story,” you will probably find one or two, who like your style, see your potential, want to help you LEARN to improve your writing - instead of screaming at you for your inadequacies without supplying any advice to make you a better writer.

      
      

      Be warned - Editors do not usually “play favorites” as bosses in other professions may do. If you try to become “the pet” not only will you hamper your professional relationship with your editor - you will also lose the respect of your colleagues - which you should truly want to earn - particularly when you are first starting out.

      
      

      There are some very important things you need and can only get from your fellow reporters, who are “veterans” at the game - compared to you.

      
      

      Their trained eye proofreading your story before you send it off to the big editor can catch errors that could send your boss into a fury.

      
      

      The rolodex of phone numbers that they store in their head can help you contact good sources, public officials at home, informants, anonymous - but reliable tipsters…

      
      

      Their words of wisdom will usually mean a lot. So LISTEN when they talk.

      
      

      Try to develop a positive relationship with GOOD reporters by working your butt off, requesting their input(without bugging them to death), by treating them with RESPECT.

      
      

      This means NOT

      
      
      
      
      1. stepping on their toes
      
      
      2. stealing their story ideas
      
      
      3. ratting them out for taking long lunches
      
      
      4. eavesdropping on their conversations
      
      
      5. and unless you are 150% positive you’re right NOT arguing with them over topics (like grammar, spelling, issues, quotes etc.)
      
      

      Remember what they’re telling you comes from more experience writing, reporting, interviewing, dealing with people, understanding editors, deadlines, etc…

      
      

      
      5 - If your writing job includes conducting interviews and writing articles/reports/profiles etc….. based upon your interview, you may be shocked by the reactions you get from your sources and/or their colleagues when they read your published work. Some people will be offended by comments the interviewee made and some interviewees will complain about the “accuracy” of your writing and/or accuse you of “misquoting” them.
      This can happen to the best of us regardless of how well we compile the facts and/or how “correctly” we quote our sources.

      
      

      Even if you tape record your interview (with the interviewee’s permission) and type their quotes in word for word from the tape, you may still be questioned about your published work at some point by somebody who’s unhappy, upset, and/or irate about how you wrote your story.

      
      

      Many people do not realize how what they say sounds until they see it in print and/or read it aloud.

      
      

      Defend yourself to the end when you know you’re right.

      
      

      Admit it immediately when you realize you did make a mistake. Always offer to print a retraction and/or correction if your article was truly inaccurate in any way.

      
      

      Your credibility is on the line. If people do not trust you, you will find it difficult, if not impossible, to become a successful writer.

      
      

      
      6 - If you choose to become a professional freelance writer, you will at some point complete an assignment for an employer, who fails to fulfill his promise to pay you $X by a specific date.

      
      

      Contracts are a MUST for freelancers.

      
      

      READ all of the tiny print in every contract you’re offered BEFORE you ever sign anything. If there is any wording/legalese you do not understand, get clarification from the employer and/or request the advice of an attorney BEFORE you sign the contract.

      
      

      It’s more likely to cost you less money to hire on a legal professional to review the contract and/or answer your questions than it will if you sign a bogus contract and/or have to pay a lawyer to represent you in your fight to get an employer to compensate you for your work.

      
      

      7 - Writing is not a profession for the weak-hearted or people seeking fame and fortune.

      
      

      Professionals in almost any field of writing (journalism, PR, advertising, marketing, creative writing etc…..) will probably find that criticism comes quicker and more frequently than praise or big fat paychecks.

      
      

      I believe that you have to believe in yourself, your writing ability and your goals before anyone else will give you credit for what you do.

      
      

      If you expect pep-talks from your bosses, support from your peers, and/or positive feedback from your readers, you will probably be disappointed rather than delighted by a day in the life of real writing professional.

      © Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of the Free Ezine for Writers featuring news, reviews, and continuously updated links to the best resources for writers online like - freelancing & jobs, markets & publishers, literary agents, classes & contests, and more… Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art157.asp

      ]]> http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/what-you-may-not-learn-in-college-part-two/feed/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/format-each-ebook-chapter-before-you-write-it/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/format-each-ebook-chapter-before-you-write-it/#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:06:02 +0000 admin http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/format-each-ebook-chapter-before-you-write-it/ Do you have a problem creating a focus in your chapters? Does your writing slip around, leaving a muddy path to the gold--your unique, useful message?

      Format each chapter in your book. Your consistency, your organized, focused copy will compel your reader to want to read every chapter bec...]]>
      

      Do you have a problem creating a focus in your chapters? Does your writing slip around, leaving a muddy path to the gold–your unique, useful message?

      
      

      Format each chapter in your book. Your consistency, your organized, focused copy will compel your reader to want to read every chapter because they are easy to understand.

      
      

      Most writers start writing before they are sure of their eBook’s main focus or thesis. The thesis is your book’s major answer for a problem your targeted audience has. “Five Ways to Market Your Book Online” has its thesis built into the title, a definite plus. You know by the title you’ll learn five online marketing techniques to overcome your problem of not selling enough eBooks.

      
      

      Before you write any chapters except chapter one, make each chapter title a mini thesis that also answers a part of your whole book’s thesis. For the title “Five Ways to Market Your Book Online” you will have 5 chapters that all have to do with the title. Let’s say one chapter is titled “Market your Book Through Free Articles.”

      
      

      In this chapter you need to sketch out what your format will be before you write a single word.

      
      

      1. For instance, you may open the chapter with a pertinent quote. “Articles are the # One Way to Promote your Books and Services” by Judy Cullins, Book Coach.

      
      

      You may open with several thought-provoking questions or shocking facts. You may even start with a short story or analogy. Any opening needs to hook your reader to keep reading.

      
      

      2. Second, you follow the opening with a success story to illustrate how one person’s articles brought her new product and service sales.

      
      

      3. Third, you will offer a section where you give numbers of tips, how to’s, check lists, or resources. For instance the heading of,

      ]]> http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/format-each-ebook-chapter-before-you-write-it/feed/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/write-your-story-put-it-on-a-website-sell-millions-of-copies/ http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/write-your-story-put-it-on-a-website-sell-millions-of-copies/#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:05:30 +0000 admin http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/write-your-story-put-it-on-a-website-sell-millions-of-copies/ Although he has his own website, John Grisham probably does very little self-promotion. When you have Doubleday on your side, most of the marketing is done for you. There are not too many John Grisham's out there though, so the unknown authors, with small publishing houses, have to be responsibl...]]>

      Although he has his own website, John Grisham probably does very little self-promotion. When you have Doubleday on your side, most of the marketing is done for you. There are not too many John Grisham’s out there though, so the unknown authors, with small publishing houses, have to be responsible for marketing themselves. This is not hard work, but it does take persistence and ingenuity. Follow this model, and you’ll be successful.

      My first novel, The League, was picked up by DNA Press in November of 2004 and will be released in May 2005 (unusually fast work for a publisher). While the publisher works feverishly to put together the cover, the press kit and the final galley, my job is to promote the author, me. In just three months, I secured have five reviews, done a national radio interview with others already arranged, submitted my idea to ESPN for a potential movie, and I’ve already received nearly 1,000 hits to my website, which has been published for just one month. How have I done it? Non-stop hustle, that’s how.

      This is not hard work; it’s actually quite exciting, knowing the fruits of my labor will be book sales. Here’s my plan to get as many people excited about my book as possible, even before it hits the bookstores.

      First, I started sending e-mails to publishers of magazines and websites, whose content is similar to the plot of my novel. I asked them if they would do a review or give me a quote I could use on my novel’s cover. While I was waiting to hear back from the 50 or so people I contacted, I began creating my website. If you’ve never done this, it’s extremely easy and inexpensive. Just visit Register.com for more information. I had my site up and active in one day. Of course, over the next few weeks, I continued to improve it, adding my picture and a picture of the cover of my book.

      Next, I started fishing for radio interviews. There’s a number of ways to do this. I’d recommend starting at home, using a local author angle. I also went to shows that talk about fantasy football, since my plot surrounds this game. This is how I got on a national show, the week leading up to the Super Bowl. That night, 60 people visited my website, and eight of them pre-ordered my book — four months prior to its publication date!

      As I continued to make contacts with media people, I created business cards with a picture of the book, my website URL, and a sentence on the back from the synopsis. I hand these out everywhere I go, and they lead people to my site, which leads them to the synopsis and an excerpt. This gets them wanting more. Your website is your most powerful tool. You want people there early and often. You want them telling others. I have my website beneath my signature on my e-mails. I send hundreds of e-mails each week to colleagues and friends. Again, this gets me hits.

      I sent an e-mail to a colleague, who saw my website URL, clicked on it and looked at the excerpt. He came to me the next day and told me he had an aunt who was a writer for a local paper, and she could review the book for me. I was thrilled, to say the least. All because of a link to my site in an e-mail. The e-mail wasn’t even about my book.

      Finally, I’m beginning to arrange book signings, months in advance of the book’s release. You want people coming out to buy your book, and guaranteeing bookstores customers is the best way to do it. I contact a store’s events manager and tell him or her that I’m going to get 20-30 of my friends and family to attend my book signing. They are almost always willing to sign me up, because they want the traffic in their stores. Best of all, this guarantees that they will have your book on their shelves — an obvious necessity if people are going to buy.

      So, if you want to self-promote, get yourself a website, business cards, interviews and book signings. Then, hit the streets and talk up your work. Learn how I did it at www.sportsnovels.com. And have fun.

      Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. He is also an investment real estate and home loan finance expert. Learn more about his suspense thriller at http://www.sportsnovels.com. Get his free mortgage finance course at http://www.winningthemortgagegame.com

      ]]> http://www.ez2feed.com/writing-and-speaking/write-your-story-put-it-on-a-website-sell-millions-of-copies/feed/