Category: Uncategorized

Self-Publishing, Uncategorized, Wendy Speaks

HUGE MISTAKE: Using “Traditional” Business Cards as a Coach/Speaker

Today’s post is by publishing industry expert, Wendy Stetina.

You’re an AMAZING speaker. You know how to work the room when you’re in front of an audience. Once your  presentation is over, though, you make a HUGE mistake. This one is really big, but no one told you what you were doing wrong: you hand out a business card. That sounds harmless enough, right? Not if you’re a coach or speaker.

A business card can’t portray the true value of a speaker’s knowledge in their field. Last week, I presented at Kathleen Gage’s New Horizon’s Telesummit on the topic “Your Book – Your Business Card“. If you haven’t published a book, you are doing your business (yourself) a great disservice. Think about how easy it will be to attract/retain clients and book speaking gigs if you had a published book —

  • Your audience can get to know more about you and your business
  • You can share your expertise with your target customer and others in your field
  • Coaching is intangible. A book allows the client to touch the coach via the book.
  • A well written content rich book will validate the author as an expert. Experts get to charge more.

Okay, I’m sold. I know I need to publish a book to build my business. How can I get started? If you decide to self-publish, it’s not as difficult as you think. There are some companies that offer self-publishing packages for coaches and speakers, including Outskirts Press. Packages like these are designed for busy professionals that are always on the go. If you think self-publishing is right for you be sure to choose a self-publisher that can accommodate your marketing and distribution goals. Truthfully, creating the actual book is the easiest part. Make sure that you are maintaining the rights to your material and that you have control over your retail piece and your trade discount.

Some authors don’t want to pay to publish their books. In cases like these, you may consider going the “traditional” publishing route. Remember that you will be selling your rights to the book, but you will still be responsible for promoting your book after the process is complete. Also, publishing your book this way could take months or even years (if it’s accepted).

It is important that you weigh the pros and cons of each option and decide which one works for you.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stentina can put you on the right path.

 

DISCUSSION:As a coach or speaker, how have you used your book to build your business?

Uncategorized

Self Publishing Advisor: New Name – Same GREAT Advice!

Some of you may have already noticed that Self Publishing Advice has now become Self Publishing Advisor! We have matured quite a bit since we first started, and our new name more appropriately defines the role we intend to play. We want to be your advisor in everything related to the self-publishing industry.

Our domain has changed as well — you can now find us more easily by visiting http://www.selfpublishingadvisor.com. Don’t worry — if you forget to update your bookmarks, the old domain will still bring you to the site.

You’ll continue to find all of the self-publishing advice you’ve always expected in addition to the following:

  • Regular posts from recognized industry experts
  • More consistent content delivery
  • Expert interviews on the weekly podcast
  • Regular book marketing clinics
  • Self-publishing book review posted each week
  • Newsletters and eBooks to help authors

Also look for contests, promotion opportunities, and more! Stay tuned to the blog to find out more!

DISCUSSION: What feature would you like to see on our blog?

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Uncategorized

Self Publishing Book Review of the Week: The Gift of Schizophrenia by DJ Cushing

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’t know about it? Paired with other book marketing efforts, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us let the community know about a great book. So, without further adieu, here’s this week’s book review:

The Gift of Schizophrenia book cover

The Gift of Schizophrenia: A Testimony

DJ Cushing

Outskirts Press (2010)

ISBN 9781432763565

Reviewed by: Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (2/11)

From a psychological viewpoint, Schizophrenia is misunderstood and often treatment by non-educated therapists provides more crises for their patients. Author DJ Cushing describes his own journey through discovering his life falling apart, being diagnosed with Schizophrenia, and how others viewed him.

One theme that I noticed throughout the book was that doctors or therapists first hospitalize then they try to diagnose and help. As the author states, many times the information received is hard to understand, much less try to overcome. When one is hospitalized for psychiatric reasons they lose their identity-they become a label and have to follow everyone else’s rules.

Cushing’s journey is well written, easy to follow and understand. His writing gives readers an opportunity to get into the mind of those who are diagnosed with mental illness. His honesty is truly a gift to see what individuals experience every day. Sometimes these individuals are never given any hope of recovery and this adds to their stress and anxiety.

There needs to be more educational awareness on Schizophrenia. Individuals with this diagnosis, as with other mental health diagnoses, do not have a tail and two horns; they are not dangerous when on medication. Before we judge we need to learn the facts. DJ Cushing has provided us with his personal story in The Gift of Schizophrenia: A Testimony.

Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Uncategorized, Weekly Wednesday Podcast

Wednesday Weekly Podcast: Virtual Book Tours for Self-Publishing Authors

Tired of spending all of your money on traveling to promote your book? What if your tour stops could come to you? This week the topic is the Virtual Book Tour, which allows self-publishing authors to do just that — stay at home and let the tour come to them.

We will cover:

  • What is a Virtual Book Tour?
  • Why are they beneficial?
  • What can an author gain from Virtual Book Tour?
  • Who can host me on Virtual Book Tour?
  • How do I contact them?
  • What do I need to do going forward?
  • How do I promote my Virtual Book Tour?

 

DISCUSSION: Have you ever taken a virtual book tour? What success have you seen from it?

Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

Your Book – Your Business Card: Upcoming New Horizons Telesummit Session with Self-Publishing Expert Wendy Stetina

You’ve finally freed yourself from cubicle land and become a consultant. The problem is, you’re having a hard time finding clients because you haven’t proven yourself. What if you could do have a business card that would tell potential clients all about your business? What if you had written a book about the very service you are providing to clients? Wouldn’t that make you the best resource? What if you could use your book as your business card?

As an author, you can enjoy the ultimate reach. Potential clients have  the opportunity to get an excellent snapshot of your expertise and familiarize themselves with your skills without you saying a word.

You can join Wendy Stetina (publishing industry expert and Outskirts Press Director of Author Services) on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 1:30 PM Pacific Time. She will be discussing the following:

  • How to determine if self-publishing is right for you
  • How self publishing differs from traditional publishing.
  • What is “print-on-demand” and why is it advantageous.
  • How much should you plan to invest?
  • How pricing and distribution works in the publishing world and how it will affect the retail price (and royalties) of your book
  • The self-publishing process and typical timeline.

The best part is – listening to Wendy and other experts at this telesummit is 100% Free! You can register HERE.

If you can’t attend, don’t worry, I’ll be there to take notes for you to use for future reference. I will post them to the blog very shortly thereafter.

DISCUSSION: How have you used your book to catapult your business?