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| by Expert Copy Strategist, Charlon Bobo |
Another inspired week is upon us. To empower you with direct resources to increased, measurable results, this week's features include:
Charlon Bobo is the founder and team leader of EditCopyProof | Wordsmithing and Editing Solutions -- Transforming Words Into Profits. Proficient in many diverse writing roles, her expertise spans more than 25 years. This solid foundation offers you a single and final destination in your quest for extraordinary press-ready services including copyediting, copywriting and proofreading. Visit us TODAY at EditCopyProof to submit your Request For Proposal. |
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Calling all authors and aspiring authors! Expert shares insider perspective of publishing industry
I had the true pleasure recently of
interviewing Lynne Klippel (pictured at left)
of Business
Building Books.
She is yet
another wonder woman who has such diverse
interests. She has multiple Web sites
offering an interesting range of products and
services. I encourage you to check out
Lynne's offerings at her Web
site.
As an author, I was particularly interested in tapping into Lynne's expertise as it relates to writing books and the publishing process. If writing a book is in your future, look no further than Lynne. She's a one-stop shop with expertise to get your book published! Here's our interview. Charlon: Lynne, please tell me more about your business. Lynne: I help coaches, consultants, speakers, and small business owners write books that grow their businesses. We focus on creating expert status via print books and other information products. People know such. The valuable information they possess can create additional income streams, be used as a client attraction tool, and help interest the media in their business. C: What services do you offer? L: Book development, topic selection, book shepherding on the process of writing the book, book publishing, web design, book marketing strategy- I have a full array of services for anyone who wants to write a non-fiction book to grow a business. Details at www.businessbuildingbooks.com C: How did you get into the book publishing industry? L: I wrote and self published a book in 2003. Soon friends and associates were asking me to publish books for them and help them create information products. My first paying job was in a library and I am a big book worm so it only makes sense that I would work with books in this way. Since then, I've written several others books, done a bit of ghostwriting, taught a couple of hundreds folks how to use a book to build a business, and published 14 books. I pride myself on taking exceptionally good care of my authors, giving them individualized attention and lots of support. C: How has the industry changed in the last 5 years? L: Authors today must have a web presence. In fact, the most successful authors create blogs, mailing lists, and websites long before they write a word of their book. This is a challenge for most authors but can be a great opportunity to create a book in a community instead of in a vacuum. The other change is that books are not a big money maker. A book is like the first date. If a reader likes your book, she will be interested in other information products and services from you, like home study courses, seminars, teleclasses, and audio products. If you can successfully plan these 'second dates' while writing your book, you will have a much greater chance of achieving book success. C: What is your daily motivation in helping female entrepreneurs as it relates to your expertise? L: As a woman entrepreneur and primary breadwinner for my family of five, I've had some remarkable mentoring and support from other women. I believe that women are successful in business when they use their head and their hearts in tandem. While I enjoy working with my male clients, I especially enjoy helping a new female author find the courage to write a book. It is empowering and life changing to see your name on the cover of a beautiful book. C: What are your 3 biggest challenges as a publisher? L: Helping authors see the importance of a professionally designed book- you must invest time and effort in expert editing and a great cover design or your book will not succeed. Getting attention in a crowded marketplace. There are many new books being published each year so it is important that new authors write books that are unique and of interest to their target market. If a book is too general it will get lost. For example, a book on stress management doesn't seem very cutting edge. However, a book on stress management techniques to use while taking your driver's test might be an ideal read for a new 16 year old. Not aiming for Oprah, almost every new author wants to sit on Oprah's couch. I love Oprah but her show is not a good fit for most new authors, especially at the beginnings of their career. In fact, if I was on Oprah like I planned when I wrote my first book, I would have been a disaster! Working with the media is a skill that is developed with time and practice. I encourage all new authors to set big goals but to start locally. Get some experience in local radio, television and newspapers. Branch out to your region and then grow to national media outlets. You will be a much more successful guest if you start locally and work your way up to the big leagues. C: What are the 3 biggest challenges for new authors? 1. Finding time to write 2. Planning the book marketing 3. Creating a strategy for your business. A book should supplement and support your business as an income stream. If you write it in the proper way, a book can become a business card on steroids - a great way to share your message, passion, and expertise so that people come to your business already convinced that they want to work with you. C: What general input do you have for new authors? 1. Have a clear plan 2. Work with a great editor so that your book is an excellent representation of you and your business 3. Embrace the internet and work there to build a list and interest in your book asap. C: How do your services make the process of publishing easier for new authors? L: I'm delighted to provide services and products that help new authors create business building books from start to finish. I love the process of creating a book and related products from the knowledge base that my clients already possess. I believe everyone has a great story to tell...and that story can become a key tool in your business marketing efforts. C: What is the impact of sales on a non-edited book? L: A non-edited book will not succeed. When you get an email pointing out mis-spellings or grammatical errors in your book, you want to crawl in a hole. I know. This happened to me with my first book. I was cheap and had a friend edit it for me. The book did not sell well because I was embarrassed by the errors, even after I had it reprinted and corrected. The author's confidence will be significantly diminished if the book is not well edited, which means the author will not be able to sell the book and still feel a sense of integrity. Readers who buy a book with poor editing get a negative impression of the author and the author's business. This is the kiss of death in business. I tell my clients that if they won't invest the time and money in a professional edit of their book, they are throwing away their time and money. Lynne has generously offered an exclusive special offer for you -- a copy of her Book Vision and Marketing Plan... a tool that blends inner tools and publishing questions to create a firm foundation for a successful book. This is her most popular book tool. Get it here. |
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| Charlon Bobo |
I don't have a big budget for copywriting or copyediting. Can I still get input from a pro or am I wasting their time and mine?
Answer: It completely depends on the
copywriter.
Personally, I never consider a small budget a limitation... just a situation that requires a more creative approach. Fortunately, finding creative resolve is both fun and an innate talent. I see nothing -- even clients who don't have large copywriting budgets -- as limiting. So, say you have a monthly budget of $200. That's about 1-1/2 hours of my professional time. For a 1-1/2 hour commitment, you can experience the benefits of having a pro on your team who adds to the professional image you are constantly projecting to your customers and clients. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Keep in mind that this list is only the beginning of the many tasks we remove from your busy entrepreneurial plate so you can focus on growth. We can: * Proofread your 1-2 page monthly newsletter so it is proof-perfect * Consult on a specific project to give you fresh ideas and insights leaving you excited and inspired * Provide expert business advice for a new direction based on real-life methods that work * Search for a newsletter article with emphasis to reach your target market so you don't have to write content from scratch * Rewrite your 25-word company description to increase sales and exposure * Develop a monthly theme schedule for your bi-weekly blog posts leaving you lots of time to focus on other tasks * Outline an article for your newsletter that not only offers rich content, but highlights your products and services with subtle but effective neuro-linguistic techniques As far as wasting my time - although as a business owner I must be smart about investing time in places that produce the best ROI (return on investment) - there's no such thing. It just doesn't exist in my world. Clients are often surprised to hear from me after they have indicated they cannot afford my services. I provide suggestions of how we might still work together and it leaves an impression of unlimited possibility. From that point - with two open and willing participants - we negotiate until a well-balanced and mutually-beneficial arrangement is reached. Sometimes we discuss workable payment terms... with a credit card on file and a written agreement to follow, of course! Other conversations include working "backwards" from the amount of the budget; I tell clients what I'm able to do for them based on their copywriting budget. Measures of success are many. I pride myself on establishing long term relationships based on reliability and results. To me that is success. Creative approaches possess the potential of being even more beneficial and satisfying than working relationships based solely on rigid business practices. Life's just too short. My mission is to share my talents and expertise with as many entrepreneurs as possible to ensure their continued growth and increased sales. That cannot happen if I offer a one-size-fits-all pricing and terms package. Business life requires flexibility and creativity; two of the most beneficial tools in your personal entrepreneurial toolkit. |
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| Charlon Bobo |
Live Recorded Copywriting Q&A this Wednesday
I have been thinking about creative ways to
be more
accessible to you. I want to support you in
the success of your business and genuinely
desire to give you tools to make that
happen.
Because my passion is changing the world via increasing the effectiveness of your marketing materials, I thought one way of providing you direct access to my years of copywriting, copyediting and proofreading knowledge is for us to meet on a 1-hour recorded call. Please email me with your intent to participate and you will receive a confirmation as well and call-in details. If you have specific questions, please include those with your email. I will attempt to answer all emailed questions during the call. If there is additional time, your live questions will be answered as well. Take advantage of this F*R*E*E call on Wednesday, January 16: 6 PM (Pacific) 7 PM (Mountain) 8 PM (Central) 9 PM (Eastern) For those of you who are not able to attend live, an audio of the call will be available as an MP3. A link will be included in the 1/28/08 UNnewsletter. "See" you on Wednesday! |
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| Charlon Bobo |
What to do when life doesn't follow your time schedule
I've done a lot of deep breathing and letting
go lately. I
have very specific plans for 2008 and spent
the past 6 weeks lining it up.
That being said, there's a crucial component of my plan that isn't coming to fruition on my time table. It's just not flowing. I've done EVERYTHING in my power to bring it about and yet... NOTHING. So, I'm at a Y in the road. I can go left or right, but clearly there's no indicator of which path to take, which is highly unusual in my life. The other option is to set down my knapsack and wait at the "Y" until a clear direction is indicated. Yep, that's feels right. So, what advice do I have for you when circumstances aren't responding to your deadlines and timeframes? 1. Don't waste your energy trying to make things happen 2. Breathe deeply 3. Know that all is well 4. Trust in the process of evolution 5. Be still 6. Be attentive and ultra-aware for subtle indicators of the next action item(s) 7. Hold firm to the knowledge that orchestration IS taking place behind-the-scenes on your behalf 8. Remain occupied with other tasks that are moving ahead In Sisterhood, Light & Love, 
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