Build A Better Blog Day 1: The Elevator Pitch

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So, I finished the bonus week from Darren Rowes' Build A Better Blog and I went into the 30 day program.

The first day's task is to make an elevator pitch. 

Here goes:

We Cherish Our Authors,
We Love Our Readers.

Yeah, but how do we cherish our authors? In what way do we love our readers? That could get kinky! Authors and readers...

Sounds like a fetish dating site. Anyway...

Okay so here's the real goal...a real elevator pitch.

My blog teaches authors about the flip side of publishing. 

How's that? Make any sense? What do I mean by flip side of publishing? I mean I'll tell you what other publishers don't want you to know. Like how you can publish a book by yourself. 

So the action item is--make an elevator pitch for your blog. Put it somewhere so readers can know what to expect from you!

Task 7: Breathe Life Into An Old Post

Photo taken by me! Stephanie McKibben

Simple! Go back and update your old posts! 

This option is not necessarily for me on Nose Droppings, but my author blog and publishing blog--maybe. 

This one requires a bit more time. I like going through and correcting errors. It gives me a chance to see my own opinions way back when. 

Sometimes my opinions change. 

It did give me the thought to add to the side bar some links such as "our mission" or "Learn how Troll River Publications began..."

I tried and failed because I need to learn more about how to do that on Weebly. 

But this also gave me the idear that I could update a topic from yesteryear and make it a "I've changed my mind" type of post. That would be interesting to link to an old blog then see how you changed your thinking. 

Link to Task 6

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Link to the Beginning

Task 6: Review Calls To Action

Photo Credit: Parker Fitzgerald via Compfight cc

My ego that was saying, we've done this! And...We totally have this covered!--went hiding at this topic.

I knew I've been missing this. 

- Clickable Buttons (that actually went somewhere)
- Subscription Boxes
- Navigation Links
- Social Media Butttons
- RSS Feed Links
- Email a Friend Link
- Invitation to Readers
-Your contact Form

Okay, so it wasn't as bad as I thought. It's a work in progress. I added Feedburner. Have the social media links and getting the others on there. Navigation Links are everywhere. Have my RSS Feed up. Not too shabby. Okay. 

Again Darren explains what these things are (kinna) in the book. But if your a blogger that's been doing research, you know what these are. One thing I want to add is a html button--meaning a code where other bloggers can put your button on their site so other readers can find you. I was thinking of giving something away, like what Author Marketing Club does, for those who pin my button on their blog.  

Any other suggestions?

Link to The Beginning

Link to Task 5

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Task 5: Get To Know Content SEO

Click HERE to buy the Book!

This section of the book explained a little bit about the importance of: 

- Categories
- Tags
- Meta Tags
- Meta Keywords
- Meta Descriptions
- Custom URL's 

I went into the back end of my blog thinking...I've totally got this! And...turns out I forgot to SEO my blog. Huh. Fixed now!

Boy did I think of some doosies! There was much fun and snickering with filling out the Meta Keywords with But For You, Yes. I mean how much fun can you have with this cover:

Available at Amazon

Oh, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what people searched under Cougar Bait in the Coffee Shop!
End result--people are creative!

Link to task 4

Link to the beginning

Expert Marketer!

In marketing I found it's not so much about who is the "most" expert, but who makes the most sense. 

Who breaks it down in your language and presents it in a way you can understand? 

The reason why I got so confused is because I couldn't determine what was a strategy and what was a tip. 

Strategies encompass wide concepts and will feel vague. I was so confused, that I tried implementing tips without a strategy. 

What does a strategy look like? 

Those are the articles that say--research what people want, then write the book. 

*TANGENT ALERT*

While all good to do research for what the masses want, that's not my style. I don't research what my next book is about in terms of what every one wants but what everyone is NOT talking about. 

My brand is Social Taboos. I write about things people are too embarrassed to talk about. So this "Strategy" doesn't apply to me or many of my fiction author friends. Refusing to believe that my book was down the drain because I hadn't marketed before I put pen to paper, I designed my own strategy. Because I believe in one step at a time. So, I wrote the book. Then got a strategy. That's pretty much the plan. 

Write, then find my readers. Oh so many marketers are going to say I did it backwards. I really don't give a flying spaghetti monster about where the horse goes on the cart because whether the horse pulls or pushes, he's still moving the cart. 

*TANGENT END* 

Have I lost you yet? No matter. What I'm saying is, the huge strategy is:  

- write book. 
- Find readers for book. (Instead of the other way around). 

The "How" is where the tips come in. Those tips include KDP, book blog tours, tweets, free days and being proud of the book I wrote.  

Separate in two columns, strategy and tips. 

Vague ideas=strategy. 
Action items that cost money or time=tips. 

Separate these two things, and you'll have a clear mind on how to promote a book! 

Inexplicable Hikes and Trends In Your Marketing

Listening to the Self Publishing Podcast I had a realization.  But for anyone who hasn't listened to the podcast here's the story behind the epiphany. 

 

Three guys are blah, blah, blah-ing about their other podcast -- cross marketing you know that kind of stuff.  They have another podcast on bad horror flicks.  So they mentioned that the movie they "reviewed" or rather Rock Horror-esk blasted, got a spike in sales. 

 

The people producing this movie might be wondering, what happen?  Why is it being bought now? 

 

Little do they know, a small podcast spiked their sales. 

 

So, next time you see a spike in sales, it might be because they've become a cult classic--in horribleness.  Just saying...

Do Ads Make Your Blog Legit?

Everybody hates ads, except marketers. 

But when I go to a website and I see ads I go through a gambit of emotions. 

The, ugh ads phase. 

The oh! Shiny! phase. 

On to, hmmmm, I might...*click* phase.


Because deep down, if a blog has ads, it's probably worth having a peek--at the blog that is. 

Ads seem to give a website more credibility underneath the first reaction of "STOP SELLING ME STUFF!" -- oh, wait, that's just another blog topic. 

Don't get me wrong, I love blogs with no ads. Serenely show me your bio and the topic--I'm happy! 

But ads do two things. 

1) Gives the website credibility.  
Providing that the ads take up less than 20% of the page.

2) Distract me from the topic. 
I'm a clicker and I'll click right off your blog out of curiosity or need. 
 
So...one half of me doesn't mind ads while the other half looks for the fast forward button. 

Here's the Question:

Should you have ads on your blog? 

Well, I'd say if it's you're product or Google Ad Sense is working for you--absolutely! 

But if your a happy-go-lucky blog that meanders from topic to topic (no we don't know any blogs like that!) then maybe not so much with the ads. 

And Now, One long winded AD:

Speaking of ads...I'll just skip the flashy lights and say my first Shorts-off micro story is on Amazon! 

But, those who sign up for my monthly "Love Letters" email will get the next installment But For You, Yes for free in your email! 

Shorts-off #2 - But For You, Yes is to be given freely to anyone who likes Romantica short stories. 

Go HERE to sign up! 

I won't distract you often, and our conversations of "Love Letters" is private so I won't be sharing your name or email with anyone. 

Those that have signed up, be prepared for a wonderful story about Andre's troubles about telling his girl how he REALLY likes it! Find out in "But For You, Yes". 

Okay, totally cheesy. Did it work? *click*

Self Publishing Podcast

In the spirit of sharing and collaboration, I highly recommend "The Self Publishing Podcast with Johnny, Sean, & Dave".

DW, my dearest, suggested this podcast to me.  Now, I'm no podcast listener, but I'm an audible listener, so a podcast seem to be the cross over drug.  

I love it!  Podcasting is my new sliced bread and this particular podcast is my peanut butter!  

If you know anything about me, I love peanut butter.  I have "Ode To The Peanut Butter" somewhere in my journals.  I explain why peanut butter should be two words and how without PB I would starve.  

So now that you understand what this podcast means to me, you should go listen!  

Now, because I was no podcast listener, I asked my hun, how do I listen?  Oh crap--I'm not going to do the he said she said thing--here's the convo:

"You should listen to this podcast."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Who recommended it?"

"Alex Haddox."

"The personal defense guy?"

"Yeah!  He wrote a book and recommends these guys."

"I don't know how to listen."

"Go to BeyondPod.  Do it on your phone cause you'll listen to it on your phone the most."

"Oh, okay."  I hand my phone to DW.

He punches in beyondpod on my internet connection on my phone.  

"I can listen to it on my computer?"

"Yeah."

"But I want to listen to it on my phone."

"That's what I'm doing."

"Oh.  Okay."

DW hands me my phone.  "Look up self publishing in the search."

Type, type, type.

"Oh!  They have 28 episodies!"  (No that's not a typo, that's a stephonism.)

*giggles*

--"...Welcome to the self publishing podcast where you can publish your book without agents, publishers or other gatekeepers of the traditional publishing world..."

 

 

Small Business Conventions...Is It Worth Going?

I had the honor of being able to go to the Small Business Expo in Los Angles, CA November 8th, 2012.  

Booths galore!  Big business contenders were there such as:

Yelp!                          New York Life

Verizon                     Wells Fargo

GoDaddy                   Staples

Vonage                       Intuit

But there were businesses there that I hadn't even thought possible.  Entrepreneurship galore!  People like the GoogFather, who helps your SEO.  WebcommercialPro, who help you make a commercial for YouTube.  Wow!  People putting it out there and being successful.  Inspiring!

Our sales guys talked to everybody.  People came to us wanting to know what we did and how we could help them.  I did not have the corporate competition vibe.  These were people providing a service and making contacts.  Yes, we made connections.  Yes, we are out there to sell our product.  Yes, these conventions are totally a marketing reach-out.  But what I got the most out of it was the vibe.  

People were very excited about our services.  I got to meet people I never would have known about much less get to market to.  This got me enthusiastic about business.  

We hear so much about how big businesses are doing bad things that you get the feeling that every business is bad.  Except ProspectDB--those guys are cool! (Shameless plug)

But, I didn't get the seedy I just want to sell you shit vibe.  It was energizing to see so many people walking around, coming up to the booth and asking--"What do you sell?  What can you do for me?"  Awesome!  Potential client.  It seemed to be about making contact and looking at options up close.  

Or maybe they were drawn by the candy and pretty ladies!  Yeah, actually that was it!

No Turning Back Now!

So... 

...my website went up.  

Holy shit.  

And the commitment issues side of me says WTF are you doing?  

Organized Stephanie says, you can do it we can make this.  It's possible.  
 
A bunch of back and forth (I should call my blog conversations with myself) and we've committed.  Yes, we as in both stephonavich and Stephanie.  They happen to be the same person but one is a goon with an enthusiastic outlook that has a PhD in orginization and the other is a lunatic artist that needs focus and direction.  The artist side doesn't mind if you call her stephonabitch.    

stephonavich is freaking out.  Stephanie is calmly setting dates, making notes, and kicking ass.  stephonavich is ramming notes in a folder for future stories.  Stephanie is check marking her google docs marketing plan.  stephonavich is thinking of new stories to give the public in a flurry of ideas she thinks has to go out tomorrow.  Stephanie makes a list of all those ideas in google docs.  

One day, I will have a post call Conversations with myself.  

But while my lovely comrades (I mean lovely--as in wonderful--that's not sarcasm) are frantically getting out 50,000 words (which, let's face it, those stories may never see the light of day after this month), I've made a commitment to advance my dreams.  November may be the take a rest from writing month.  The anti NaNoWriMo.  (National Novel Writing Month)

If you are interested, my website is www.stephaniemckibben.com  

I think if it were stephonavich's she'd let it rot.  Good thing it has Stephanie's name on it.   

Bigger Than Life Marketing Plan

You know how things look huge in your head?  Then you put it on paper and think, that's it?  In the beginning, that was my "Marketing plan." 

A few lines, a sketch of a budget and off to writing because that's what authors do best!  

Well, like a year later, I've given myself the deadline of October 15th, 2012 to finish THE draft.  Extended from the October 1st, 2012 deadline.  Which might be extended again.  

Anyway--Marketing--yes that's the subject.  Marketing.  So I started a "real" marketing plan and I realized that the easy going previous cousin was like Hawaii and now "the plan"  has become New York.  

Oh, book trailer, yeah I want one of those.  Oh, crap press release--good idea.  Book blog tour, free?  Then I find a publicist I really like.  

The thing is, none of the money feels like a dump in the toilet.  It's just what marketing costs for building a business.  Yes, writing is a business and I treat it as such.  So all these nifty gadget looking marketing things are rather looking like necessities.  

How much would you expect to spend on your marketing plan?  How much do you expect to spend on starting a business? 

 

Now, I've looked around for specifics on a marketing plan and I found zippo.  So, I started a marketing plan in excel.  It extended to what I need to do for my book as well like, ecover design, audiobook, print cover, print design, formatting all that good stuff.  

Because I couldn't find a specific marketing plan and everyone expects me to know what a marketing plan looks like (because everyone goes to college right?).  So here's another School of hard knocks lesson.  As I write this I'm thinking--hey dorkis, you have a mom and dad that's done this, why didn't you ask?  I'm glutton for punishment?  

Here are things you need to write out in excel, word, google docs, whatever:

THE Marketing Plan -- (Each book is different so give it the books title or working title)

(I put my mission statement underneath: Have Fun.  Make Money.  Avoid Assholes.)

I defined specific GOALS:

1. Sell 200 books.  Yes, it's low.  It's the average amount an eBook will sell--I'm on reality planet not "what I'd like reality to be" planet.  This is my first book.  It's a business.  I'm nobody--right now.  I'll grow.

2. Gain 10 avid fans.  Totally random number.  It's like 5% of the 200 books I sell.  How does that saying go?  If I touch the life of one person it will all be worth it.  Well, I believe you affect each and every life you touch.  I'm hoping to touch 200 but 10 would be great to start!  Not overwhelming but slow grow is constant growth.

3. Write the best possible book I can. My writing abilities are growing.  It's apparent in every new draft. Grandpa told me a story this past Spring about an agent who wrenched the draft from a writer to give to the editor because the writer was working on the book for five years.  G-Pa so identifies with the agent.  I've given in and am finishing the book the way it is.  No longer experimenting on it.  G-Pa is in his 90's--he wants to read it before he dies.  Hang in there BD!  It's a coming!  

Those are the goals.  

Next was the Target Audience:

Janet: 35 yrs. old, rides her bike to work.  Loves horses, and her boyfriend but doesn't have a great relationship.  She's looking for more and trying to find in in books.  Gets her books from Amazon.

Sarah: 26 yrs. old, drives a BMW, has very little time but loves to read.  When she does read she devours a book over the weekend in between doing chores.  Gets her books from Good reads reviewer recommendations.

Carol: 43 yrs. old, is starting to wind down from a successful carreer and has discovered the joy of reading.  She's married and has two young children and plans on spending more time with them after she retires from her job.  Gets her books from Indie reader, Smashwords, etc. 

I just totally made up characters in a book for that one.  I'm blowing it out my ...  So I'm thinking 25-40 market.  This is why I need a publicist.  

Now the fun part!  Social Media strategy:

Set up:

Facebook Author Page
Goodreads Author Page
twitter account
Linked-in page
Pintrest Author Page
stephaniemckibben.com (author website)
Blog Tour (Kindle Nation Daily, eReader News Today)
Triberr

For each I have a date as to when to set them up, AND daily, weekly, monthly actions.  Which are blank at the moment because I've been thinking about getting everything else together.  

As I roamed my friendly neighborhood writing circles other marketing things I had to do for the book appeared:

 

* Google   
* Book Daily    
* Piece of Cake -- Press Release   
* Networked Blogs (http://www.networkedblogs.com)
* Greg Spence--Market your self published book online (http://www.gregspence.net/revealed-how-to-market-your-self-published-book-online/)
* Pump Up Your Book    

* 30 day books

* NovelNook  

And a checklist of what needs to be done after I let go of this monster.  So you see.  Instead of all that roaming my head, I have a checklist and a plan.  But what I'd really like to do is get a power hour with my favorite marketer to set me straight on what my plan needs.  

Do you have a marketing plan?  Would you care to share anything I missed?

Where The Hell Am I Going With This?

The blog of Life

I don't know, where you going?  Don't look at me!   I'm not your destiny guide.  Why are you looking at me like that?  How am I suppose to know? Didn't I point out that this blog is something out of Mary Poppins?  

It's occurred to me that this blog is a wandering conflict of genres.  I have relationship advice to Marketing strategies.  This will never change--for this blog.  This is the hub for all things me.  However, having different blogs for different topics can target an audience you seek. 

Yes, this is Marketing advice.  This blog is an example of How Not to do "it".  It being whatever you want to market.  Branding is important.  Sometimes people have different products to brand.  How do you bring them together?  Sometimes you don't.  Other times, you can find a way to tie each topic together.  Trail riding isn't a far cry from hiking because they both use trails.  Fantasy books aren't a far cry from Sci-Fi books because they share an element that can seem too far fetched (yet seem real).  Mix romance in to those topics and you have a future jumping vampire that goes back in time to save his lady love.  Is that a genre yet?

Stick to one topic.  I've heard this many times.  It's sound advice.  Wouldn't it be great if every man, woman and child wanted your book?  No.  The marketing cost for that project would take more money than God.  Unloading your wad to mass general populace would be indecent exposure.  People get fired or put in jail for that.  Unless you're a porn star don't try this.  Start with the people interested in your book before (if ever) you try mass exodus.  Even the bible started with a small target audience.

Personalization. Do what the heck you want with your blog.  Stick to relevant topics but your voice is unique.  Use it.  If you feel strongly about politics, put it in there.  This BS about being void of opinion solicits the non uniqueness of bland town.  Your writing to an audience who has opinions.  People get offended at milk cheese.  Is your blog aiming to make everybody happy?  The everybody's not a j-hole and life is perfect blog.  Boring.  With one exception--"The Key Class" is the best blog I've ever seen in the category of "let's everybody not be an ass".  But that blog's mission is to help everybody not be an ass.  Yet you still hear the "voice" of The Key Class over the Internet waves.  Even Captain Spock aboard the USS Enterprise had personality.  If a Vulcan can do it so can you.

But if you find you're blog doesn't have one concentrated topic, then call it life.  Or Nose droppings. 

Be Nice To The Gate Keepers

Gatekeepers are perceived as the lowly staff that answers the phone.  

Many companies treat them as "burners" meaning, they don't bring in money like the sales team.  

If you don't have the VP, or Presidents direct line there's a reason for that.  They have a cell phone, you know they do.  

Every sales guys has a cell phone, Vice-president, President, Owner, Principle--all those guys have cell phones.  If you don't have it, that might clue you into something.  What that something might be is up to your interpretation.  

Maybe they don't give out their cell.  Maybe they keep business and personal separate.  Maybe they don't want to be bothered by you so they give you the main number so the secretary can screen the call.  

When you get the bubbly Gate Keeper, frustration could rise at yet another person to blow past to the target.  Oh, dear. 

Sales rule #1: Talk to everyone.  You might think it a waste of your time but gatekeepers can feel that sneer behind the phone immediately.  We've all gone to the school of miming that teaches us confident evasion.  We ask your name and company so that we can get Bill off his other phone call to take yours.  

OR, we can send you directly to voice mail when your treating us like ugly gnomes.  Your voice gives it all away. 

In many cases Gatekeepers aren't treated all that well in their company.  What bonus do they get when the company does well?  Incentives are for the sales guys.  Gatekeepers are thought of as a necessary evil.  

Wow, really?  How would a gatekeeper feel if a President presented it that way?  Crummy.  Why don't you replace the human with an automated machine?  Oh, is that too impersonal?  You want to put forth your company as a personal service company?  Then you need a live person answering the phone and you need a good one.  

Hopefully you get a professional that passed the miming school of confident evasion that can handle the rude voice gestures that come their way.  Those Gatekeepers won't care if you find your prospect unless you happen to treat them like a person.  

Complaining at them is futile too.  What do you expect them to do?  This is why you say hello in a friendly way. 

A conversation I've heard from Sales person "Bill" had a dialogue like this: 

"Hello, what's your name?"
(***********)
"Are you such-and-suches administrative assistant?"
(***********)
"Oh!  Your the Sales manager?  Well I've got something for you too!" 

Yep Sales managers, office mangers, and even Vice President's answer the phone too.  So you're nasty quip trying to bypass the Gate Keeper just proved you're here for a wham-bam-thanks for buying my shit.   

Your perception of the Gatekeeper might be a bit skewed when you find out that administrative assistants know the low-down on the company.  Administrative assistants have cell phone numbers.  Remember that when you get hard-nosed at the Gatekeeper.  

It's nothing off their skin or teeth to forward you to voice mail.  No amount of complaining is going to get them on your side either.  Who knows, if your nice to them, you might have an in that you wouldn't have before.

Market Your Book Your Way

I'm not a gangly overconfident marketer.  I'm introvert.  Yes, I have friends I can be my silly self with, but I don't translate that as an outgoing author.  So, the hang yourself out to dry method of marketing doesn't appeal to me. 

 

People enthusiastically saying "Get out there!" or "You have to expose yourself to get noticed" is against everything in my nature.  

How can I win if I go against my very nature?  The wonderful thing about marketing is, many methods work.  I would rather introduce myself, not expose, not take off all my clothes and announce "I'm here", just a pleasant hello, a smile, see, I'm friendly.  Come approach me because I am not the one to bust in a circle of friends and start asking questions.

 

Maybe you are boisterious, loud and obnoxious and can handle the in your face marketing.  That's okay too!  Sometimes, I don't mind that type of approach, however, I'm not the type to do that. 

 

"Oh, but that's how you have to..."

 

No.  I don't have to anything.  And there are people out there who would appreciate my type of approach.  The here's my book, it's about...(30 seconds of calm explanation) and if your interested it's available...(10 seconds of naming places).

 

What I'm getting at is don't let people jostle you into marketing you don't feel comfortable with.  There is every type of marketing out there.  Marketing is another way of saying creative introduction to a product or service.  

So if you're not the outrageous blaring signals type of person, don't worry.  You can use your own style of marketing.  I'm not saying don't market, I'm not even saying don't be aggressive.  I'm saying do what is natural and go with it. 

 

But, if you don't market, don't expect a huge response. 

Marketing Strategies Of A Not Yet Published Author

As a writer I'm always looking for new methods, expressions and ways of marketing.  I like to bring what I've learned to my peers.  

I've learned, when you find a method to your madness, stick to it!  

I'm not outgoing.  I don't have the gumption to go up to a crowd and hock.  What I do have are written words.  I can express myself on paper.  But marketing takes a savvy of prescribed instruction and self creativity.  

Marketing isn't going to work unless you buy into your own plan.  Yes, a murder-mystery dinner set against the theme of your book might be brilliant!  Unless you're not sold on the idea.  

Before you buy that next book on marketing, use yourself as a marketing tool and think about what things you'd like to do to promote your book.  Because marketing is in essence creative expression of an item or idea you're excited about. 

Synopsis--The Real Reason Why I Want To Self-Publish

Sin-op-sus -- any word with "sin" as the first syllable makes me think I'm doing it wrong.  

Seriously your publisher NEEDS this!  Your agents NEEDS this!  They can be up to 12 pages.  I've seen one that's 32 pages long.  That's like a novella.  

Why can't you jot a paragraph for the Synopsis?  Actually that's a query.  Besides, demon meets girl and falls in love doesn't quite get the mood of a book.  How do they fall in love?  What's the struggle?  Can a demon fall in love?  And what's wrong with her to love him back?

 

Those are the kinds of questions you might be asked.  But instead of a blow by blow it might help to give a two page summary of your book.  

Keep in mind the pinnacle points.  You know, Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3.  Okay tangent time--I truly believe that a book can have more than 3 Acts, but that's for a later discussion.  

What happens in each Act of your book?  What is the inciting incident?  Aside from that what is the struggle, how does the MC cope?  What does the MC learn?  Who helps the MC realize they are being a dick/their struggle is founded.  What makes them keep going, what internal insight does the MC finally reach?  

That's a synopsis.  I'd read that novella!  I just don't want to write it!  Go ahead, call me a coward...(but there actually is a more serious reason as to why I'm going Indie.  That I'll share with you later.) 

 

Nose Droppings Guide On How To Make A Great Review (Of A Book)

I've sometimes read a book, wanted to say something about it, but then I was like, what am I going to say?  So I have these questions I answer.  I don't always go by the formula but it helps when I'm stuck!  It's easy.  See questions below and answer them! 

 1) Who are the main characters and what is their struggle?

2) What line/scene was most memorable about the book?

3) How did the book make me feel or what reflections did I gain?

4) Was this a leisurely read or did it have significant meaning/what was it?

5) What was the deciding factor to buy/read the book?