Marketing yourself or your business through books
Picture this. You’ve just heard the most dynamic speaker. At the conclusion of his talk, you rush to the back of the room to purchase his book. At home, you settle into reinforcing what you learned by opening the book. As you begin to read, you’re appalled that this eloquent speaker didn’t even appear to take time to edit his book. There is no flow to the text and you discover numerous grammatical and spelling errors.
If you want to be taken seriously as a writer, be serious about your writing. At the very least, invest in a good dictionary (minimum 1,500 pages) and a comparable thesaurus. Buy a stylebook (Chicago Manual of Style) and other writing reference books, then use them. Do not, I repeat, do not rely on Spell Check. It doesn’t catch synonyms and many other grammatical or spelling errors.
The quality of your product is reflective of the time and effort you put into it. Most people don’t have a lot of time on their plate. If that’s the case, hire a competent ghostwriter or editor. Grammar plus proofing equals professionalism.
Have something to say
Don’t write a book for the sake of writing a book. If you don’t believe in the message, why should a reader? What experiences can you share that might help or encourage others? What is your expertise? Why would someone be interested in your story?
Find a niche. What do you do that is different from everyone else? What advice do you get asked for all the time? What are you most known for? What are some of the challenges you faced while growing your business? What do you say to those just starting out? What isn’t being said about your industry?
Getting Started
If you have an idea of what you want to write about, take the time to map out a plan before you put your fingers on the keyboard. You need an outline and a business plan. What message do you want to send? What do you want the book to accomplish? Who is your audience? How will you market? What’s your timeline? What will you research? Who will you interview?
Looks are everything
Hire a professional graphic designer to layout the book and create its cover. Save a lot of time and money by having a vision of how you want your book to look. Check out other book covers (front and back) and layouts. Sometimes you’ll have three or four examples of each. Maybe sketch out a rough layout. That, with the samples you provide, will help the designer come up with a something very close in just the first draft.
Next time you visit a bookstore, pay close attention to covers. Stand about ten feet back from an aisle and take note of which book covers jump off the shelf. The cover is more important to the sale of a book than its contents.
You can never spend too much time editing. Read your manuscript at least seven times both onscreen and in printed form. Reproof again after the designer lays it out and again from the digital blue line. Read until the thought of reading it again makes you ill.
Give your book professional credibility by applying for an ISBN number. This is an international book numbering system that costs nothing if you live in Canada and a small fee if you live in the United States. Your book absolutely must have a barcode. Printers that know book publishing will insert it at the time of printing upon request. Without it, you limit your marketing efforts severely. You can’t have a barcode without an ISBN.
Your book is your marketing tool. It offers you instant credibility. Taking the time and effort to ensure it looks as good as it reads is something you will never regret.
About the Author
Debbie Elicksen is Canada’s Publishing Expert and the author of the bestselling Self-Publishing 101 (Self-Counsel Press) and offers publishing support to publishers and authors, which includes books and product, training, one-on-one support. You can reach her through her Website: http://www.freelancepublishing.net/.
Dee Doanes Part 1 – Social Media, Viral Marketing, SEO, SEM, and E Books
|
|
76:14 $2.25 Understood in any language, across any time zone, Global Communication tolls for the human spirit which knows no boundaries. As one of the most significant releases to cross the ambient currents of the ’90s, 76:14 places itself alongside benchmark electronic releases from Brian Eno, the Orb, and the Future Sound of London. These synth-dominated ventures allow the armchair traveler to indulge in at… |
|
|
The Seven Principles of Public Speaking $22.95 Frequently cited as the number one fear among A proven, gimmick-free lesson guaranteed to business executives, public speaking doesnât make anyone a better speaker and come naturally to most people. Pitching an idea, presenter. selling a product, or presenting a program doesnât have to be a stomach-clenching experience to be struggled through. It can be an opportunity to relish and … |
|
|
Effective Meetings [VHS] This course prompts consideration of different types of meetings, shows how to set objectives and explains how to keep a meeting on course. It gives advice on all aspects from preparation to dealing with people to writing minutes. The videos are produced by Taylor Made Films. The first video contains a series of in-depth case studies. The other video is a high-quality drama video illustrating the … |
|
|
Functioning in Business [VHS] This video is available to accompany the students’ book, which concentrates on listening and speaking skills, aiming to develop recognition and production of key functional phrases and to expand students’ basic business vocabulary. “Functioning in Business” uses as its context international business negotiations to present the language needed to present the language needed for typical business sit… |
|
|
Functioning in Business [VHS] This video is available to accompany the students’ book, which concentrates on listening and speaking skills, aiming to develop recognition and production of key functional phrases and to expand students’ basic business vocabulary. “Functioning in Business” uses as its context international business negotiations to present the language needed to present the language needed for typical business sit… |
|
|
Presentation Zen: The Video (DVD) $17.50 Best-selling author and authority on presentation design and delivery Garr Reynolds invites you to create provocative presentations with solid designs and Zen simplicity. In this personal, one-on-one video, Garr expands on his ideas from his popular book, Presentation Zen, and blog, presentationzen.com, and challenges you to go beyond the conventional slide presentation style and think more creati… |
|
|
Mandrake the Magician $8.50 The comics’ crimefighting prestidigitator comes to the screen in this thrill-laden serial, as Mandrake (Warren Hull) and his African sidekick Lothar (Al Kikume) help a noted scientist protect his radium-energy machine from a sinister criminal genius known as the Wasp. Doris Weston, Forbes Murray co-star. 12 spell-casting episodes; 3 1/2 hrs. Standard; Soundtrack: English; poster gallery; biographi… |
|
|
Marty Neumeier’s INNOVATION WORKSHOP: Brand Strategy + Design Thinking = Transformation, DVD $23.70 BRAND STRATEGY + DESIGN THINKING = NONSTOP INNOVATIONIn this DVD video, brand guru Marty Neumeier presents concepts from his three bestselling “whiteboard” booksâTHE BRAND GAP, ZAG, and THE DESIGNFUL COMPANYâto give you the tools you’ll need to thrive in the new economy. Using memorable principles and simple exercises, he’ll lead you and your team on a lively jour… |
|
|
New-E7 Touchscrn/QWERTY Smartphone – E7BLUE Nokia E7 – Business-class touch and full keyboard device with stunning 4 display. Powerful mobile office with computer-like experience. Inspiration for business and personal life. for Exchange ( Exchange ActiveSync): E-, calendar, reachs, tasks ?consistent with Microsoft Outlook, Easy setup of embedded client, Direct access to Exchange Server. Communicator Mobile: Microsoft Communicator Mobile is … |
|
|
New-E7 Touchscrn/QWERTY Smartphone – E7SILVER Nokia E7 – Business-class touch and full keyboard device with stunning 4 display. Powerful mobile office with computer-like experience. Inspiration for business and personal life. for Exchange ( Exchange ActiveSync): E-, calendar, reachs, tasks ?consistent with Microsoft Outlook, Easy setup of embedded client, Direct access to Exchange Server. Communicator Mobile: Microsoft Communicator Mobile is … |
Related Articles
No user responded in this post
Leave A Reply