“Your Book Is Your Hook” Show – Texting Tips and Tools to Sell More Books
December 28th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
Steve Kelley, the founder of MESSAGEbuzz, will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about how authors can extend the content of their books by using mobile messaging.
Mr. Kelley will also discuss why text messaging can help an author to promote their expertise, image and story while also increasing sales. He will share a specific example of how this works, why it is a permission-based marketing approach (by law) and why it is applicable to fiction, nonfiction and children’s books alike.
Shawn Edgington, America’s leading “Texpert” and a cyberbullying expert, will discuss with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov why she wrote her book, Read Between the Lines: A Humorous Guide to Texting with Simplicity and Style, and how she got published.
Ms. Edgington will also talk about how she is using this book as her hook to help generations communicate and connect with one another again using mobile messaging. She will also address some of the cyberbullying issues that have arisen in the texting space and why she is now working on a new book that is focused on this situation for parents.
Host Jennifer S. Wilkov will discuss why text messaging can help authors to target readers who want to continue the conversation with them more often during her Education Corner segment on the show.
Click Here to Listen Now: http://bit.ly/f20vCQ
If you have questions about any of these interviews or the education corner topic included in the show, please put them here in this discussion thread and I’d be happy to answer them.
Sell More Books With Text Messaging
December 27th, 2010
By Guest Blogger, Steve Kelley, founder of MESSAGEbuzz
www.messagebuzz.com
Text messaging is still one of the best communication methods for extending your personality. If you are an author, expert, speaker or coach imparting your knowledge and experience to as wide a group as possible, then text messaging will benefit you. Associated to this post is a radio interview and a case study of an author using text messaging to increase book sales.
To reveal one secret right up-front, book sales are increased by allowing people to easily opt-in via your social media tools, website or the audience you are addressing so they can start engaging with you. A daily connection with your followers encourages 50% more purchases compared to those that are not.
The reasons for using text messaging are plenty. First, text messages are accepted on a permission only basis. This is an extremely valuable aspect because it explicitly says your readers value what you are sharing with them. It is so important that watching your subscriber numbers change in either direction provides you with great insight. Second, text messaging is personal and in fact the cell phone in general is revered as very personal. Your content, your emotions, your personality delivered right to your reader’s hip pocket is powerful. As they say, the pocket is closer to the heart than the brain so include your emotions and convictions and people will respond. Third, people receiving text messages read them at a resoundingly high rate, especially when they come from known sources. Research touts that is it 99%, which I believe is too high but I bet it is 75%.
There are numerous tactics you can apply to connect with your tribe. This list is far from exhaustive and with a good strong coffee and 30 minutes of brainstorming, I am sure you can create tactics to help you achieve to your goals:
- Share content of value daily, weekly or monthly. A self-help author keeping people on track with powerful thoughts, a trainer who would like to reinforce the content of his seminar by sending follow-up text messages to those that attended or a word of the day delivered from their minister before their hectic day begins will ensure that the message is consumed are just a few examples. As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless.
- Text messaging can also be integrated with other communication methods. One of the most relevant is voice broadcasting because some personalities are sooooo big that you just cannot fit everything you need to say within 160 characters. Integrating voice broadcasting, referred to as VB or its big brother IVR, allows you to text your tribe and those that want more can reply. When they reply, instead of another text in return, their phone would ring and your prerecorded message is delivered. Again authors, TV personalities, CFO’s delivering quarterly financials could all benefit from this extended form of communication. Other integration possibilities are websites, social media and calendar.
- Explore Premium Short Message Service (PSMS) which allows you to bill your customers directly on their phone. By combining a package of services, you could enable your customers to sign-up at your next presentation and have the carrier pay you your percentage of the proceeds. Donations are another popular PSMS tool for collecting funds for non-profits. PSMS is a service that needs more explanation than available in this post but if this is of interest, search on PSMS providers on a shared shortcode to take your first step or feel free to contact me, avoidthedart@mobilemarketinginstitute.com. If you are in St. Louis, do not hesitate to participate in one of my no-cost Java Gyms where I would be delighted to answer any of your questions face-to-face, http://www.mainstreetmarketingcommunity.org/coffee.
- Solicit feedback by asking your readers to comment on a particular matter. Examples of this are, questions about how to increase the value of your service, surveys, prayer requests, sweepstakes or to gauge responses to a question(s) delivered during a presentation. I do not suppose I need to expand any further on the value of two-way real-time communication for both parties.
If the value you deliver involves extending your personality, then connecting with your readers via their mobile phones is a critical channel for you to consider. This is further reinforced if you are influencing people aged 14-34 that have grown up in a world of being connected. They are masters at avoiding pushed communication and prefer their mobile phones as their way to communicate.
These are just a few of the many ideas that could connect you with your readers. Taken into consideration with your goals, you will have the power to develop a significant connection and increase sales as a direct result.
If this post speaks directly to your needs, listen to my interview on Women’s Radio, Your Book is Your Hook, http://www.womensradio.com/episodes/Your-Book-Is-Your-Hook%21–Text-Messaging-Tips-and-Tools-to-Sell-More-Books/7926.html.
The Dream of Success
December 27th, 2010
By Guest Blogger, Shawn Edgington
Author of Read Between The Lines: A Humorous Guide to Texting With Simplicity & Style
www.shawnedgington.com
I have to admit, the dream of becoming a successful published author was never included on my bucket list – until late 2008. The fact is, I’m a CEO of a national insurance firm where my company specializes in managing risk and preventing loss for thousands of America’s businesses. I’ve been working in the insurance industry for 25+years, which has NOTHING to do with the book business, let alone the 1001 l things you need to know to become successful within the publishing industry.
I was lucky enough to pitch my book deal to the Milli Brown, the CEO of a small boutique publisher, Brown Books, which is located in Dallas, Texas. Both Milli and her team worked closely with me to get my first book Read Between the Lines written, illustrated, designed and published in early 2010. They are wonderful!
Since then, I’ve joined an author coaching program, attended numerous seminars, teleconferences, webinars, podcasts, joined e-mail lists, purchased a radio coaching program, had my website redesigned three times, turned my book into an E-Book, created The One-Click Safety Series, spoken professionally to thousands of people, completed the manuscript for my second book, The Parent’s Guide to Texting, Facebook and Social Media and attended a publicity summit in New York City where I pitched my books to over 70 producers like The View, Fox News, The Today Show and Good Morning America. I’ve been a guest on more than 80 radio programs over the last four months, appeared on Fox Business, View From the Bay, Channel 4 news and CNN. And, I’m still working feverishly to become a successful author.
In an effort to help my fellow authors striving for success, I’m offering you this small but significant bit of advice that I wish someone would have told me:
- Every aspiring author (unless you’re famous) needs a great platform BEFORE you send your book proposals and/or query letters to the publishing houses. Your platform will include a great website, your weekly blog, social media, speaking events, and anything else that makes sense for your genre. Your website should be branded to you, not the title of your book.
- Writing the book is only 10% of the work. The other 90% comes after your book is published, and it is a full time job.
- The average author sells 300 books, and makes, on average, $1.00 a book. This means you have to be way above average to make a living in this business. Keep your day job, work twice as hard, and don’t expect to sell a million books in your first year unless you’re Sarah Palin or Kim Kardashian. J
- There are great resources available to authors to help you obtain publicity – too many to mention here. E-mail me if you would like a list of where I’ve found success.
- Come up with your treasure map of additional items you can offer for sale on your website besides your book. Example: Speaking, audio programs, electronically delivered items, subscriptions to your services, games, etc.
- Hire a web designer that specializes in working with authors AND monetizing websites. This is critical and will save you thousands of dollars. Check out my site: www.shawnedgington.com. I finally found the right person to get this right, $10,000.00 later. If you would like a reference, send me an e-mail.
Wow, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m learning more and more every day! If anyone has any great tips to share, or would like more information, please contact me at: shawn@shawnedgington.com.
Shawn Edgington, CIC
America’s Leading Texpert and Cyberbullying Expert
Why Text Messaging Can Help You Target More Readers
December 27th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about why text messaging can help you target readers who want to continue the conversation with you more often.
Oftentimes we as authors employ the basic components for a strong platform including a website, a presence on the popular social media sites, and speaking and book signing appearances whenever possible to connect with our readers in person. These components are essential to a platform for every author.
However, many authors have not stuck their toes in the water yet when it comes to adding a mobile messaging component to their overall outreach to their readers.
Text messaging has become an industry unto itself. You may be thinking: yes, I know this. But do you really know?
Here are some staggering facts as of 2008 from the statistics and insights from Nielsen Mobile on the CellSigns.com website. Nielsen Mobile is a service of The Nielsen Company, which directly measures billing activity through an opt-in panel of more than 50,000 personally liable, postpaid U.S. mobile lines across the top four carriers:
US Mobile Content Market = 68.7 million text users
- 86% of the US owns a mobile phone
- 265,000,000 mobile phones users
- 240,000,000+ text enabled handsets
- 65,000,000 text & web enabled phones
That’s just in the U.S. market alone. SMS (Text Messaging) is a breakthrough communication medium as evidenced by growth year after year. As of June 2008, over 75 Billion text messages are sent every month compared to just 18 Billion in December 2006. That number grew by 250% each year for these last two years between 2006 and 2008. And that was 2 years ago.
It has quickly changed the way people communicate and access information.
Think texting is just for the younger generations? Think again. The average 38 year old sends/receives 500 texts a month compared to 200 phone calls. That’s unbelievable… and that trend isn’t slowing down. Consider these other facts:
According to a survey conducted by Tekelec (a messaging company powering telecom operator applications), 60% of 45 year olds were found to be just as likely to use SMS as they were to make voice calls from their mobile device.
In addition, more than 80 percent of respondents across all age groups thought they would get a quicker response from a text than from an email or voice message.
Women preferred to let their fingers do the talking, with 40% describing themselves as ‘mainly texter’, compared to 30% of men. This is significant since statistically women buy more books than men.
Now, maybe you have a parent like I do who doesn’t text but who enjoys reading. That’s where books like Shawn Edgington’s Read Between the Lines: A Humorous Guide to Texting with Simplicity and Style comes in – to help the different generations learn how to text and communicate using this growing technology available on their cell phones.
Text messaging extends throughout the world so you can set up a stream of text messages that your reader can opt in to – and by law, they must opt in. You can be creative and make it possible for your audience at a speaking engagement to instantly opt-in to your email list for your newsletter and at the same time opt-in to receive daily tips from you that are related to your book – right to their phones. The possibilities of what they can opt-in to as a text stream from you are endless.
Most importantly, text messaging gives you, the author, the opportunity to reach out to your reader in a continuing conversation that they’ve asked for while keeping you front and center in their minds each day.
Now that’s a great way to use your book as your hook… to keep a continuous dialogue going with your reader!
Jennifer’s show can be heard every week on Tuesday mornings at 9am when it is broadcast on WomensRadio.com and syndicated on Google News and Live365.com. Each show is archived for replay listeners in different time zones and countries.
For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.
“Your Book Is Your Hook” Show – Branding + “Starting Over in a 140 Character World”
December 21st, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
Michele Mattia, a best-selling author, an inspirational speaker, the renowned blogger of “Michele’s Daily Dash”, and a certified Life Design Coach and Creative Strategist, will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about the dilemma authors face about whether to brand themselves or their books.
Ms. Mattia will also discuss the risks authors take when they don’t brand themselves plus she’ll share the top three things an author must do to establish his or her brand and how to get started.
Michele Mattia is also a best-selling co-author of two books released this past Fall and will discuss with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov how she got involved in these projects and the benefits of being published in a collaborative book with several authors.
Ms. Mattia will also talk about her most recent appearance in the book, The Big Book of Social Media Case Studies, Stories, Perspectives, a collaborative book edited by Bob Fine featuring contributions from select speakers from the Cool Twitter Conference World Tour social media conference last year and this year. She’ll share the story behind her popular chapter entitled “Starting Over in a 140 Character World,” and how she’s using this book as her hook.
Host Jennifer S. Wilkov will discuss why co-authoring a collaborative book could be a quick way of getting published during her Education Corner segment on the show.
Click Here to Listen Now: http://bit.ly/i4wXJN
If you have questions about any of these interviews or the education corner topic included in the show, please put them here in this discussion thread and I’d be happy to answer them.
Be the Brand! Be the Story!
December 21st, 2010
By Guest Blogger: Michele Mattia
Best Selling Author, Inspirational Speaker, Thought Leader, Blogger, certified Life Design Coach and Creative Strategist
www.MicheleMattia.com
Social Media. It’s not a tactic. It’s not a strategy. It’s not about isolationism or the loss of the human connection. Social Media is about expansion, engagement, connection, conversation, and collaboration. It’s the tremendous opportunity we have to learn from one another and affect change. Social networking ignites many to take action. A simple blog post can inspire someone to send an email to the author. This one email can propose a meeting over coffee. A cup of coffee at a café can result in the creation of a collaborative project because a connection was established. Social Media isn’t the loss of the human connection. This is a gift!
Each and every one of us is a brand! What a delicious knowing! As authors, we are the business. We want to make our living, and rightfully so, doing what we love. And just as a company has a platform for their vision, mission and message, so do authors. One of the exciting parts of “being the brand” is the author doesn’t hide behind a logo. It’s very authentic and transparent. We want to connect and engage with our readers. The goal for most authors is to write many books, and although these books might fall under the same genre, or are a part of a series, the common thread is the author. Your audience wants to know the person behind the words.
Long before you launch into the online community, make sure you know and understand the “why” behind your entering into the online/social networking world. Far too often I’ve seen people zeroed in on “I have to be online right away!” or “I want to be a star/celebrity!” The biggest benefit to you and your audience is to know what you want to say, the content you want to provide, and what your fans want to read/hear/know. Ask yourself questions like: What makes my heart sing? What am I passionate about? What do I find myself often talking about with others?
Recommendations on getting started BEFORE you launch:
√ Purchase your domain name right away even if your not ready to launch the website. You want to make sure you get your first and last name, especially if it’s common ~ i.e. JohnSmith.com.
√ Get creative headshots taken! Your audience is going to connect with you and not a corporate logo or book cover.
√ Research. Figure out who your target audience is and where they spend their time online and offline. Determine what content they want to hear and how this is aligned with your message. Discover what content is missing and how YOU are the right and perfect person to fill this gap!
√ Honor your skills and strengths when deciding which social networking platforms you want to launch. For example, if you’re an excellent speaker, definitely consider a YouTube channel.
√ Don’t launch all of your social networks at the same time. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogging, LinkedIn are the fan favorites. Start with one or two networks and use third party websites and software to help organize and manage: SocialOomph.com, HootSuite.com, Ping.fm, NetworkedBlogs.com, TweetDeck
You’re an author and the real you needs to shine online! Just as the words and chapters of your book tell a story, so does your online presence. What story are you going to tell?
Why Co-Authoring A Collaborative Book Could Be a Quick Way of Getting Published
December 21st, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about why co-authoring a collaborative book could be a quick way of getting published
Many writers are searching for opportunities to get their work seen by literary agents and editors at publishing houses. It is very competitive these days to get the attention of these industry professionals – but it’s not impossible!
One strategy that can be easily used in fiction, nonfiction and even children’s books is to join forces with other writers and submit a chapter or short story for a collection of writings in a book edited and published by someone other than you.
This is often done in the fiction and poetry genres through contests. Simply seek out these opportunities to submit your writing for consideration and be aware of the deadlines so you get your work in on time.
A quick search on Amazon reveals that there are 58,095 short story anthologies and collections listed in their book section alone. For you poetry writers, there are 136,875 poetry anthologies listed.
Think short stories aren’t the way to get discovered? Here is a short list of some who were discovered as a result of their short story submissions to magazines, collections and anthologies:
F.X. Toole, the pen name for boxing trainer Jerry Boyd, who at age 69 wrote the stories that inspired the Oscar-winning film Million Dollar Baby, directed by Clint Eastwood. He was published in the literary journal in San Francisco entitled ZYZZYVA.
Annie Proulx, author of the short story Brokeback Mountain which originally appeared in the collection Close Range: Wyoming Stories. She also went on to win the Pulitzer for her novel Shipping News. And The New Yorker won the National Magazine Award for Fiction for its publication of “Brokeback Mountain,” and the story was included in Prize Stories 1998: The O. Henry Awards.
Literary giants including F. Scott Fitzgerald, J.D. Sallinger, and John Updike have also used short stories as rehearsals for their books.
A great resource where you can find opportunities to submit your short story are the hundreds of smaller journals listed from A-Z that can be found in the NewPages Big List of Literary Magazines.
You can also look into the few remaining national magazines like The New Yorker, Esquire and occasionally Vanity Fair that are still publishing short literary works.
In the nonfiction categories, this is a strategy often used with great success to launch the writing careers of those authors who may not have the time to write a whole book themselves, yet still have much to offer in a chapter they can provide for a collaborative book being compiled by someone other than them.
A great example of this is The Big Book of Social Media Case Studies, Stories, Perspectives where Bob Fine, the creator of the Cool Twitter Conferences World Tour decided to solicit chapters from select speakers who appeared during his conferences. He then edited the book together and even got a foreword for the book provided by Sam Feist, CNN Political Director. While the speakers were off doing what they do professionally, that is – speaking, Bob was cobbling together their chapter submissions into a great book that provides a lot of value to the reader while offering greater exposure to the speakers from his tour. This is a good example of an opportunity that arose serendipitously for the speakers to simply write a chapter and be included in a book that is serving so many that they want to reach with their insights and wisdom.
There are also collaborations of poetry, short story collections for children, anthologies of mysteries and more.
Still not sure this is a viable way to go? Even Disney uses this strategy to bring its stories together in the paperback entitled Princess Story Collection (Disney Princess) (Step into Reading).
There are even collections of the classics on audio CD available that include the best short stories from National Public Radio’s Selected Shorts, an award-winning series of classic and contemporary short fiction read by distinguished stage and screen actors and recorded live at the Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City entitled Selected Shorts: Timeless Classics (Selected Shorts: A Celebration of the Short Story). They also have several other collections like this on audio including Selected Shorts: Whodunit?, Selected Shorts: Baseball and Selected Shorts: Lots of Laughs! – just to name a few.
Short stories, individual chapter contributions and poems still have a place in the literary world. You don’t have do it all yourself to get published.
However until you submit your story, poem or chapter, you won’t be able to use your book as your hook.
So get started and write yours today!
Jennifer’s show can be heard every week on Tuesday mornings at 9am when it is broadcast on WomensRadio.com and syndicated on Live365.com. Each show is archived for replay listeners in different time zones and countries.
For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.
