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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #10 March 14, 2018
Publisher: Judith Briles


Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1.   The 5-minute snooze button …
2.   Hot podcasts for the month coming …
3.   Webinars slated through April …
4.   Question of the week … Help my blog has fallen – can it get up?
5.   Book Shepherd Fun of the Week …


This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s® Roof: 

I’m getting ready to do a gig this weekend—celebrating St. Paddy’s day with 20 awesome authors. Yep, I’ll wear some green on Saturday, pass on the corned beef, and definitely deliver a pot of "gold" for my attendees. I’m looking forward to doing the "reveal" of what I thought the dozen-plus ahas were in the Oprah acceptance speech at the Golden Globes earlier this year—ahas that authors can use in their speaking and presentations. This is the weekend that happens twice a year in except in U.S. territories Judith Briles Speaking Unplugged is SOLD OUT. The next one will be held in November. The dates are 9th and 10th and details are on TheBookShepherd.com under Events.

Curious, am I … there are always a few who show up for the Friday phone coaching calls—one at 7 AM Mountain time and other at Noon Mountain time. It’s a great way to exit the "work" week and get ready for the weekend. If you aren’t taking advantage of it—why not? My offices send out a very short reminder on Thursday via email with the phone number and code to use. I will do a reassessment at the end of April to decide if we will continue it. Drop me an email and let me know what you think—Judith@Briles.com.
AND … How’s your week going?
1.
The 5-minute snooze button.
I am a huge fan of Seth Godin. He’s snappy, sassy, salty and very, very smart. One of the things I love is his daily—yep—daily blog. That’s a huge gulp for many of you who are challenged with blogging. Sometimes Godin’s is over 100 words; many, it’s a true shorty—yesterday’s was just 83 words and read:


300 seconds

Not stalling.

Pausing.

How many decisions or commitments would end up more positively if you had a five-minute snooze button on hand?

Esprit d'escalier* isn't as hard to live with as its opposite. The hasty one-liner, the rushed reaction, the action we end up regretting--all of them can be eliminated with judicious use of the snooze button. It's a shame there isn't one built into our computers when we're communicating online...

When in doubt, go for a walk around the "block".


Think about it … haven’t we all put our mouths into gear before our brains had the opportunity to access the situation? How about the times you posted something and regretted it? Or think about the times words spelled out and you wished you could eat every one of them … Godin suggests a 300-second pause—five short minutes. If you aren’t following his blog, suggest you do it here: http://www.sethgodin.typepad.com/


2.
Hot podcasts slated for March.


This AM, Grabbr expert Daniel Langston and I hit the studio to record tomorrow’s podcast for AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing that sets the stage for the webinar we are doing on the 28th on the book marketing tool, Grabbr. Last week, Amazon marketing ads expert Derek Doepker and I set the stage for the upcoming webinar we will do next month to do a visual walk-through of creating and implementing them.


And, if you have listened, support our podcast and post a review. Thank you!


3.
More Webinars are coming … more Webinars are coming


Hold these dates:


March 28th Noon Mountain - Soar your Book Visibility and eMail Grabs with Grabbr and its COO, Daniel Langston.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6918264989997674241

April 17th
Noon Mountain - Game Changer Using Amazon Marketing Ads with Amazon expert Derek Doepker.

Register here:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1915868614250981122


Note: the replay link for John Kremer’s March 13th excellent session on Pinterest yesterday will be emailed out later today.

Details are posted for each on our websites. Remember—you will get the replay post the webinar, even if you can’t attend live. Make sure you are registered so you receive it.


4.
Questions of the Week:


Question:  Blogging is getting to be too much work. Is it OK if I just do it once a month?

My answer: No … no, it is not. Blogging feeds the SEO gods. It adds fresh material to your website. It reminds Google that you are breathing. Three words: get over it. We have all had days when ideas aren’t flowing and the words come out wimpy. Not to fear, here are 50 plus ideas to get your creative juices going if your blog has fallen and needs some help getting up.
Noodle a bit. Look around. Look inside. Look on your shelves. Scan the headlines. Google something, anything. Add the words "weird" "unbelievable" "rip-off" "fun" etc. in front of your keyword(s) and see what surfaces.

1.    Get ready to move from pause to play. The key to building a successful blog is to provide content and being consistent. Here are 52 other ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

2.    Whatever the next phrase/sentence that comes out of your mouth and is thought insert "what if" in front of it … write it down: tweak it and see what evolves and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

3.    Reveal your biggest aha … write it/them down: where did it come from and what happened and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

4.    Divulge an epiphany … write it/them down: who, what, when, where, why and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

5.    Expose a fear or two … write it/them down: what seeded it and how do you deal with it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

6.    What happened when the GOYT Factor entered your life the get off your tush goose; write it/them down and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

7.    Any embarrassing incidents that you can share publicly? write it/them down: what happened, what was the outcome and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

8.    Any belly laugh times out there? … write it/them down: what happened and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

9.    Any failures you can share publicly? … people connect with overcoming disasters. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

10. Problems make the world go round … make a laundry list of common problems you identify in your book, and one by one. Write them down; create a blog on each one, synching with a theme in your book or subject expertise—that’s got be worth at least 10 blog ideas!

11. Turn on the news what’s the lead? Write it/them down and make a comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

12. Watch your favorite TV show(s) … what’s the theme? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

13. TV again and your show(s) … who’s the favorite character and why; write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

14. And TV once again … what show can’t you stand or have you abandoned? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

15. Back to the news … what celebrity is the jerk of the day/week? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

16. YouTube is a terrific resource … what is on the Home page? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

17. Check out Twitter, what is the leading hashtag trending … read a few of them. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

18. Pull a few books off your shelves and read the dust jackets or back cover copy what motivated you to buy them? Write down your immediate reaction and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

19. Create a Cheat Sheet of tips … add a quick story of why you created the Cheat Sheet and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

20. Fess up to something reveal your snafu(s) and "oh-oh" moments. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

21. How-tos are always helpful go through each chapter in your book and create a list of one-sentence statements. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise—that too, has got to be worth at least 10 blog ideas.

22. There’s some type of holiday/celebration every month some months have multiple what is it/are they? Pull a memory from the past; write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

23. Holidays again what don’t you like—a memory, commercialism, bad date night, what? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

24. What delightful, an unexpected event has happened in the past? … tell it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

25. What not so delightful, an unexpected event happened in the past? reveal it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

26. Vacations count … they create events and memories. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

27. Vacations again what was the worst one ever and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

28. Embarrassing incidentswho hasn’t had one, a few, maybe too many? Write it/them down, what happened, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

29. OPB-other people’s blogs are loaded with the material and fair game (and oh so public!) any that you thought rocked? Start writing, comment, link to the source blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

30. More OPB … any that you thought gave awful info? Fair game, too! Start writing, counter it, link to the source blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

31. Go to the movies what did you see? Share, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

32. What TV talking head pushes your buttons what and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

33. Think of something silly what amuses you and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

34. Back to YouTube.com, put in the search box: "fun" and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few videos ("fun" delivers both fun and funny themes). Write the title and immediate reactions down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

35. Fantasy time a combo of "what if" and pure "oh my" and let your fingers move into the creation mode. Write it/them all down, add comments and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

36. Weird holidays are a great leaping point Google the month and day with "weird holiday" after it. Read the background, comment, and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

37. Awards are for anything and everything what have you won (or longed to win), comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

38. Create your own Top 10 list if it works for Letterman, it will work for you. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

39. What are common myths in your industry or field? … debunk them, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10 blogs).

40. Do a Q & A with yourself all those questions you want people to ask/ items you want them to know about your book and topic. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

41. What is the #1 question(s) you wished people would ask and they don’t? ID, write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

42. Do a review of a book, theater production, movie, concert or any event what worked, what didn’t? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

43. Do a Q & A with another expert in your field Tie in their expertise with yours. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

44. Never under-rate sex, sin, birth, and death there’s always something in the news or in the buzz that has one or the other tied to it. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

45. Pick up a copy of the National Enquirer and just read the headlines what tickles your fancy, is appalling or just makes you think "You’ve got to be freak ‘in kidding …" Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise. My all-time favorite was: I gave birth in a snake-infested tree! My immediate thoughts were: Whoa … really? How did she get up that tree with her big belly? What were all those snakes doing in it? Why was she in the tree in the first place? What happened? Etc., etc., etc. Great headlines stir up questions.

46. Use a major event (personal or historical) Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

47. What taboo are you familiar with? agree, disagree, hedge whatever it is—I like to go back to Momisms—those things we all grew up with—that your growing up has agreed with and disagreed with. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

48. Become the source, excerpt your own book Copy/paste key phrase, paragraph, small section. Comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

49. Invite guest bloggers to sub in do an Intro and Final comment that sandwiches the guest blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10 more blogs).

50. Mentors—do you have any? create a blog around the three most important lessons ingrained, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

51. Questions beg for answers create a list of provocative ones and let your subscribers supply the answers. You comment back with each one, always synched with a theme in your book or subject expertise (guaranteed, the answers will breed another 10 blogs).

52. Fads and trends in your field yield a viable starting point what are then? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

53. Get out your magic wand and make some predictions perfect for the year-end, comment, and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

54. Bonus: Pick me, choose me! Look at the variety of Blogs that’ I’ve posted on my sites. Feel free to re-post any of my blog post links and share them with others.

Take #33: Back to YouTube.com, search for "fun" and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few, then comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise ("fun" delivers and fun and funny). I discovered a short video that revealed 10,000 iPhones lined up in a domino snake-type wall.
Three things hit me: where did all those phones come from; how long did it take to set up; and the two-minute video was awesome. And guess what, YouTube has a video on how they made it!

Did I know that I was going to write a blog on creativity that AM? No, I had no idea what I was going to write. Seeing the iPhone video changed that. I was diverted from the "What am I going to write about?" to escaping for less than two minutes to the video—in 15 minutes, I had written a blog on Nonsense or Creativity Starter? Re-read it here.  https://thebookshepherd.com/nonsense-or-creativity-starter.html

For me, it was YouTube to the rescue that early AM.

The final touch on your blog is your headline. Does yours create a response or is it ho-hum? Here’s a trick: check out the "emotional" value of your headline at the Advanced Marketing Institute. Tweak your headline until you have one that pulls in the crowd. http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/

You’ve got plenty of ideas to pull you out of the rut in my list above. Use them all or create your own. Have some fun in the process. Happy blogging-there’s enough ideas here to do two a week for six months.


5.
Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week …
Love it when I find a fun shorty—a quick smile, a laugh out loud, a sip of tea … and back to work—perfect. Here’s three minutes with Jimmy Kimmel and his take on those who send a passive aggressive Text: http://bit.ly/2IpRRQU


That’s my author and publishing news for today … what’s yours?


About Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd

Book Publishing expert Judith Briles, aka The Book Shepherd
® has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. Judith is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing that generates over 100,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.

The Book Shepherd® is a registered trademark
 
 
 
 
 
 


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