Woohoo!! The Free Marketing Ebook is here!!!

The Work At Home Marketing That Doesn’t Suck ebook is finally here!

And it’s FREE!

Over 50 pages of marketing tips specifically for the work at home professional, with tips from some of your colleagues sprinkled throughout!

There’s even a bonus section written just for the parents who run home businesses!

Download it today! Free!

Just fill in the form, click on the “Subscribe” button and you will get sent a confirmation email (gotta weed out the nasty spammers) and then you will get the link to the ebook. Yes, it’s that easy!!

Coaching Packages and the In-depth Explanation

So, the coaching packages are up but I know that some people like more explanation. A little more wordiness. Especially when they’re spending money.

I get it.

So here’s the deal on the coaching stuff…

The coaching (whether it’s part of a package or a la carte) is for anyone contemplating writing an ebook, in the midst of writing an ebook, has written an ebook and then doesn’t know what to do with it, and so on. I help people on the following:

- brainstorming up ebook ideas

- nailing down what should be included in the ebook

- actual formatting and structure of an ebook

- coming up with ways to promote the ebook

The coaching is individually tailored to you and your needs. If you already know what you’re writing about, then great! If you already know how you plan to promote your ebook, that’s cool! There is no “one size fits all” coaching. That’s why the best coaching is typically done in one-on-one or group settings.

And right now, all live coaching is one-on-one.

So, you and I talk. We figure out where you’re at and what your needs are and then we go from there. And I give you as much (or as little) support as you need along the way.

Heading into a coaching situation is always a little scary. I know. But it’s also worth it! I have a coach (yes, I put my money where my mouth is) and I can’t tell you how helpful Trish has been and how it’s pretty freakin’ nifty to have someone to hold your hand when you need it, make you accountable, pat you on the back and in general, be on your team!

If you want to hear me talk about writing ebooks and get an idea about me and what I’m about, check out one of these Blog Talk Radio interviews I’ve done. I give tips and my background…and how I talk on the air is pretty much how I talk, period.

“Awesomeness Inspired By Awesomeness” (aka a blatant plug on my awesomeness)

Last year I was crazy enough to hold a contest for a 25 page ebook. FREE. Ghostwritten by yours truly. And winner Carlin Comm (whom I strongly urge you to follow on Twitter) brought me his project.

Carlin, a veteran of Desert Storm, had written a diary during the war. And he had letters from Americans who had participated in the whole “Any Servicemember” letter writing campaign back then. He wanted to get it all into a book. And he thought he needed my ghostwriting help.

Carlin was wrong.

I remember the day Carlin told me he wasn’t sure he had 100 pages worth of material to fill the book.

Carlin was wrong again.

But these are the good kind of “wrongs” in that it turned out Carlin needed a coach and editor…not a ghostwriter. And he didn’t have 100 pages worth of material…he had 300 pages of material!!

Carlin worked on his diary entries and then sent them to me. I cleaned them up a bit, working to keep his voice intact while keeping the grammar in check (sorta like how I write on this blog - winky wink). And then I formatted it all up pretty and stuff.

And Carlin had his book. That he wrote all on his lonesome. And instead of an ebook, he went and published it!! Very, very cool stuff!! (By the way, another strong urge of yours should be checking the Desert Storm Diaries book out over at Amazon).

It was an experience that in large part brought me to coaching in addition to writing and editing. Because, really, there are plenty of people out there who are completely capable of writing their own book, they just need some guidance, some accountability and all that.

And along the way you may just find yourself having fun! Carlin and I had some great conversations, and really, the whole process wasn’t this blood, sweat, tears deal. Which is nice. When you’re tossing about 10-20 emails back and forth in a given day on the last little changes you have for your book, you want to be able to do so with a sense of humor.

I asked Carlin for a testimonial. I was going to throw it on the new Coaching Packages page. You know, gotta show the peeps I know what I’m doing and all that. But what did over-the-top Carlin do?? He wrote an entire post about my awesomeness. How cool is that??

To wrap up this post about awesomeness…the main points you should take away are:

1 - Carlin is awesome and you should check out his book!

2 - Carlin thinks I’m awesome and who am I to disagree?

3 - You may not need a ghostwriter but you may need a coach to give you a good kick in the rear.

4 - If you go with the whole coach thing, find one you can have fun with. Because it SHOULD be fun!

All About Ebooks on Diva Talk Radio

Oh, technology. On Friday I wrote up an ultra-cool post to you, bragging about working poolside at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson all day (Oh, I could get used to such work environments, dangerous!!!). But then the laptop battery died…ugh…obviously, I had been working too long and sucked the laptop dry.

But more important than my poolside work ethic, earlier in the week I was the giddy school girl who got interviewed by Kelli Claypool of Diva Talk Radio…we talked all about ebooks, my client/friend Carlin Comm talked about his Desert Storm Diaries book I edited, I talked about some ebook tips…you know, the good stuff!! Did you miss it? No worries - you can listen to it now:

Can You Write An Ebook Out Of Nothing?

Uh, almost.

I think pretty much everyone has a book in them. The difference between an ebook and a book-book? Well, ebooks are better suited for non-fiction. And maybe not everyone has a non-fiction book in them.

But most business owners and entrepreneurs have an ebook just simmering inside…

So, yeah…I would say you could write an ebook out of nothing.

I used to make tombstones for a living. Yes, those granite memorials you see in the cemeteries. (Hold the “people must be dying to see you jokes” - I’ve heard ‘em a kazillion times). Immediately a couple different titles come to mind:

- How to Market Your Memorial Business to the Masses Without Turning Them Off

- How to Handle Emotional Customers Through the Sales Pitch and Beyond

The marketing book would obviously be a very defined niche, only interesting to those within the industry…but guess what? Sometimes the niche titles are best!!! You have a clearly defined audience and that makes it easier promote and sell.

The Emotional Customer ebook will have a wider audience, but it’s still a good topic. I’m sure I could think up other industries that experience customers who are crying, or are pissed off at the world.

So…if you’ve been tossing around the idea of writing an ebook, here’s what you do:

Think about what you know. Ideally it relates to something you are doing NOW. Because your ebook will either be a marketing piece for your business, or it will be a sales product. And there’s no point in creating a marketing piece on something that doesn’t not relate to your biz. And it’s easier to sell something that has to do with your active work. (Point in case, my WAHM Agent series…yeah, I’m still licensed as a real estate agent and I still work a transaction here and there…but you don’t see me updating a real estate site, or talking real estate all the time. Yes, I’ve sold some ebooks…but it would be oh so much easier if I had written something that actually pertains to what I do on a daily basis - writing and managing a writing/coaching business.)

Think about who could benefit from the information. There are people out there in the world who want to know what you know. Seriously. By unlocking the vault of information in your head (trust me, you DO have something in that noggin of yours) you are helping others. Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy? Something else that might make you feel all warm and fuzzy is the traffic driven to your site from a free ebook you’re giving away, or the sales you make off your ebook while you’re sound asleep in bed. VERY warm and fuzzy.

Think about how you can provide the information to your audience with a “twist.” This is especially important if there are other books out there. What angle of the subject can you provide that is different? Nobody wants to read the same ol’ stuff over and over again. They want something new, something fresh. You need to give it a twist!

Think about how you can present the material in a way that makes sense. This means structure. Start jotting down the various points you want to make in your ebook. I’m an outliner. But some people like to use mindmapping. Do what is comfortable for you, it really is a personal thing. Brainstorm yourself silly. But in the end, you need to organize all those ideas and thoughts and place them into an understandable, logical order so readers can follow.

Guess what? Out of “nothing,” now you have something…the beginnings of an ebook. Now all you need to do is keep writing…

Listen up! I’m Gonna Be on Diva Talk Radio!!

Next Wednesday, May 27th I will have the pleasure of talking to Kelli Claypool and Regina Smola at Diva Talk Radio!!

We’re going to talk about writing, business stuff…and of course everything ebooks!!!

Have any particular questions you want answered about ebooks? Then leave a comment here and I’ll make sure we talk about it!

Does Your Business Have A Pink Spoon?

I remember as a kid I loved walking by the Baskin Robbins. I could always convince my mom or dad to walk inside the ice cream shop and try one (or more) of the 31 flavors. I would walk up, point to the little pink spoon on the counter and ask for a sample of some flavor. And sometimes, I would ask for more than one sample.

I also knew that my parents wouldn’t stop at the pink spoon sample. I knew it was the little nudge they needed to go full out and get a couple of scoops, some hot fudge and whipped cream. Yum!

Baskin Robbins must’ve known that suckers like me and my parents would be drawn in by the pink spoon. Who can stop at a little taste?

So…what does this have to do with ebooks?

A whole helluva lot, actually. Because even if you don’t plan on using ebooks as a passive income strategy, you can certainly use them as your pink spoon, no matter what your business.

People like samples. People like a little taste of what you got to give. And you need a way to suck them in, leaving them wanting more.

Or, at the least, letting them know that you are the authority in your field…so no reason to seek out anyone else (or any other pink spoons).

Here are a few ideas:

• - An author can provide a chapter of her latest book
• - A jewelry designer can give tips on how to care for handmade jewelry
• - A business coach can provide guidance on starting a business
• - A quiltmaker can explain how to properly wash a quilt
• - A daycare operator can provide worksheets to prepare children for school
• - A photographer can pass along the tricks of the trade on taking pictures on the fly
• - A real estate agent can help prospective homebuyers understand the financing process

Starting to get the idea? Any ebook can be written that will provide more information about you and your business, or show the expertise you have in your field. It’s a little taste of your work…it’s your little pink spoon. Okay, maybe not as tasty as Baskin Robbins…but you get the idea. Set up your sample bar, give people a little taste and they’ll come back for more.

How Often Should You Update Your Ebook?

You’ve written your ebook. You’re sending out free copies. You’re using it as marketing material. Or maybe you’re selling ‘em and making cash hand over fist.

It doesn’t really matter WHAT you are doing with your ebook - the fact remains that you should keep in mind that updating your ebook can be a great way to keep your name, your business, in front of your peeps.

One of the best things about ebooks is that they are timely. They can be whipped up in days and then available to the public. No months of waiting for a  book to go to print. And then worrying about information being out of date by the time the book is available to the public.

Ebooks take that concern out of the equation.

But don’t assume that once you create your ebook you don’t ever have to update it again.

Okay, well, depending on your topic, maybe you don’t have to update it. If your ebook is a very specific topic then maybe you fully intended it to be a one-time hit to the market. Make your money and move on. But if you want your ebook to stand the test of time, you may think about updating it from time to time.

Weekly updates are pretty time-consuming and actually, silly, when you think about it.

Monthly updates are more manageable, but still - work on your part.

I suggest quarterly updates. Every 3 months or so skim through your book and take a look. Are any of the links outdated or broken? Is any of the information stale? Has anything happened since the last publication to necessitate new dialogue?

Sometimes, you may find everything is fine and dandy. Cool. But other times, you may find that an update is the right thing to do.

If the ebook is a freebie, then it’s easy enough to update and then use that update as a way to generate new interest in the ebook. People like the latest in info, especially when it’s FREE!

But if your ebook is a sales item, then you need to think about your options:

- provide the update FREE to previous buyers of your ebook

- provide the update at a discount to previous buyers of your ebook

- charge both new and old buyers for the newly updated ebook

If you go with option 3, you may find some disgruntled previous buyers. And that can hurt you in the long run. So I suggest going with options 1 or 2 to save face and make nice with the peeps.

YAY! The Ebook Cover is Ready!! So…Where’s The Ebook, You Ask?

Yes - the Work At Home Marketing That Doesn’t Suck ebook is still in the works!! Unfortunately, the project was forced onto the back burner so it will be launching a little later than I anticipated.

But I wanted to show you the ultra cool cover that was designed by Vince Gonzalez. Vince did a great job! This was done with very little input by yours truly. Sometimes, I have some ideas and other times, well, I give Vince little to nothing to go on. And then he pulls out something ultra cool like this ebook cover (and like my Beyond The Pen logo, too)!

As soon as the launch date for the WAH Marketing ebook is determined, I’ll make an announcement…but I’m shooting for mid-March!

Audios, Videos, Ideas…Oh My!

In the coming weeks and months there will be a shift here…and I’m giving you a little teaser right now…there will be some insanely awesome announcements…and yeah, I’m a little excited. No, REALLY EXCITED!

I’m a writer at heart. I love words. I love to write words. But there are other ways to use words to your advantage. While I love me a good ebook, I also love me some good audio files and videos. And I’ve decided to start adding them here. Everything from an intro to podcasting to ideas on how to use audio to give that extra zing to your ebook. And you’ll be privy to some truly lovely videos from yours truly (uh, yeah, you’re hearing sarcasm in your head). The videos will shed some light on using video to again - supplement your writing materials - as lead-ins, as stand alone marketing pieces, tutorials, you name it.

The ideas - well, I got lots of them, baby! And they will be brought to the site along with a new look. The ideas are rampant and in serious development and as I unleash them here you will have the chance to get some writing or coaching services at crazy bizarro pricing. Because I’m a fan of the whole “Grand Opening” thing that stores do. So in the next couple of months you’ll be seeing some “re-opening” specials - brace yourself!!!

Keep your eyes peeled for some great collaborations with some wonderful writers, a chance to learn more about how to write ebooks on your own, e-courses, teleseminars and more.

It’s gonna be big.