8 Twitter Tips For Promoting Your Ebook

In my free “Work At Home Marketing That Doesn’t Suck” ebook, I mention social media and even more importantly – Twitter. I know not everyone is into Twitter. In fact, I’ve received some email asking me if Twitter is really worth the time and effort. And while I am no expert on Twitter by any means, I do believe it’s a great tool for your business, if used wisely.

There are tons of Twitter resources out there. And in a few days I will post a mini Twitter tutorial about some of the applications I use, some I don’t but would still recommend and a few really good articles, webcasts and whatnot.

But, in the meantime, how can you use Twitter to promote your ebook? Here are several ways:

1) Tweet about your ebook, with a link to the sales or opt-in page. Make sure you shorten your url and also think about how to shorten your whole tweet so it will be re-tweetable. You want to make it easy for others to retweet the link, gaining more notice from more tweeps. Do not, I repeat: Do not keep tweeting about it over and over and over again. Seeing the same thing being pimped out via Twitter multiple times a day is a big turn off. Yes, you can mention it a few times, but space the tweets apart and have other interaction on your Twitter account.

Don’t forget to think of ways to change up how you tweet about your ebook. For example, I thanked contributors to my ebook and mentioned what page their quote was on, along with a link to the opt-in page of the ebook. That way, they got some recognition and could re-tweet if they wanted and others would know about the free ebook…in a less salesy, annoying way.

2) Ask for testimonials using the @ (vs. the DM). This can be before you launch or after. Doing it before you launch helps build buzz. And then you can add the testimonials to your ebook. But doing it after works as well. You can always whip up a blog post that incorporates the testimonials, further extending the ebook love on your site. Now…to build the buzz you need to use the @ so that your Twitter followers will actually see your tweets. If you use the DM (direct message) feature then only the person you sent the DM to will know about your ebook. Sort of defeats the purpose of promotion, huh?

3) Already got testimonials? Tweet them! Obviously you will have to shorten them up, or you may have to say something like “Guess what? @TinaMc loves my new ebook! Chk out what she says: <link>.” People feel better about checking things out when someone else has already done the checking for them. Especially someone they trust, like, etc.

4) Tweet the countdown to ebook launch. If it’s 21 days ’til you launch your ebook, you may not want to tweet about it every. single. day. But, you can tweet “3 weeks until “Best Sales Tactics For Home Bizs EVER” is available” and then update intermittently. The last few days up to launch, remind your followers about the launch. Again, don’t be annoying. Make sure you tweet about other stuff too. And if the book has already launched, but you plan on taking it off the market for some reason, you can countdown that too. Think “Only 2 days left for you to grab the free ebook before page goes down! <link>”

5) Make sure you stay aware of any reviews or blog posts that are written about your ebook. Then tweet about any internet coverage your ebook has received. Again, people like to see what others have to say before they dive right in, especially if we’re talking about an ebook you are selling for $$. So any reviews, mentions, ANYTHING on the web, tweet about it and add the link.

6) Ask tweeps what they think about your ebook. No, not every one of your followers will have picked up your ebook – even if it’s free – but you can still invite commentary by asking what people think and whether they have any questions. It still generates interest and buzz around your ebook.

7) Create a giveaway or contest ONLY on Twitter. Reward your followers and other tweeps with a giveaway of a certain number of your ebooks. Or offer it up as a prize (this works obviously for $$ ebooks, not freebies) to some other tweep holding a contest. People like to win stuff. And people like to re-tweet about the possibility of winning stuff.

8 ) Mention any discounts via Twitter. Better yet, offer a Twitter-only discount. If people can’t win something (see #7) they at least like to feel they are getting a sweet deal. So offering a discount is something that you can tweet about that will likely get retweeted…more promo for your ebook!!

Can you think of other ways to promote your ebook via Twitter? If so, send me an @!!

Little Extras That Your Ebook Needs

It’s easy to throw everything and the kitchen sink into your ebook. And it’s just as easy to go the opposite route and fail to incorporate some really cool additions that can make your ebook shine! So when you are writing that ebook, start thinking about what you can add to spice things up a bit and add value.

Here are a few ideas:

- throw in your bio; Okay, this isn’t an “extra.” It’s a must have. You wrote the book, now make sure you introduce yourself to your readers and go the full mile. Let them know all about you (especially how it pertains to the ebook), give them contact information, a picture and info on upcoming work-related things.

- add a checklist; checklists are great for condensing your information to one page…something that can be printed out and used. (Just don’t forget your url in the header or footer of that checklist page!)

- provide discounts…have a discount to your services/products. Think of it as a gift to your readers. Perhaps you can work out a discount or some sort of special deal with a colleague on their services.

- add testimonials; no, not a kazillion of them. People don’t want to read page after page of how great you are. But a single page with a few testimonials of you and your product/service is nifty. (and it feels good, right?)

- add statistics; do a little research and find some stats out there to support your claims, to bolster your ebook. Make sure you state clearly where the stats are coming from. Or, you can even conduct your own surveys (check out Survey Monkey or Easy Internet Survey).

- add trivia; quotes, fun stats or interesting little tidbits of information that help augment your book can be sprinkled throughout, or added on a bonus page. Here’s a post with a bunch of trivia site links.

- add a FAQ page on your products/services; you get asked the same questions all the time, so head some of your prospects off at the pass by providing a “Frequently Asked Questions” page in your ebook.

- include a “Thank You” page; there are people who have supported you in your work. And here’s where you can acknowledge them. If they have a business and url, mention it and spread the link love!

- add a list; this is different than a checklist. You’re listing a “top ten” or some other number of listed items. You can add a list of web sites that would be useful. You can add a list of possible software resources.

- top it off with some graphics or pictures; some people like to print out their ebook…so I don’t typically recommend overloading your ebook with graphics that suck up a lot of ink. (Sprinkling throughout – good, overload – bad). But, if you have a subject that could use some picture or graphic representation, think about creating specific graphic pages and then referring to them through the text (as in, “see Picture 1-A on page 52″ or “Check out all the photos on page 52″). By having a page or two of the heavy graphics separate from the text, your prospects still get the visual element but can choose whether to print those pages out or not.

What do you think would make a great “extra” for an ebook?

Ebook Promotion: Should I Use Blog Posts or Articles?

I get asked questions all the time. So it sort of dawned on me that I should throw some of these questions on here. Heck, I type up long ol’ answers. Might as well put those answers on here for the greater good, right?

So…I was asked: Should I blog? Or should I write articles? Should I do both? And if both, then what constitutes an article versus a post?

My take?

Typically, blog posts are seen as more superficial, less in-depth as compared to an article. However, you’ll find many comprehensive blog posts out there…so the short answer is that an article is typically longer and typically more in-depth with the information that it provides – but it’s not a hard and fast rule.

Articles are also usually presented in a more objective manner, while a blog post can be very personal. For example,  “While I was drinking my coffee this morning it hit me that I use French Vanilla creamer each and every day. I’m comfortable with that and I know it tastes good. But if we only try the vanilla and nothing else…(and then tie it into blog post message for readers to understand).

But really, you don’t HAVE to have any articles. (shocker!!)

Unless you plan on using article marketing.

But even in the case of article marketing, you can use blog posts to disseminate all the information you want. You can have really in-depth posts or a series of posts on a particular subject. You can post your heart out and never have a need for a separate article. Because to a certain extent, they are interchangeable.  A less personal blog post (more objective) with a minimum of 400 words can be submitted to article directories. I’ve done that and have had clients do that – taking blog posts and submitting them to Ezinearticles, Goarticles and so on. So then your blog posts are doing double work.

So, if you are promoting your ebook (or your business as a whole, for that matter) you can write short, sweet blog posts and then separate articles that are longer and more objective to submit to the directories. However, I would post those articles on your own site as well. The more content, the better. And you should have those articles doing their fair share of the work…maybe even creating a whole ‘nother ebook around a series of articles…

But you can make your blog posts serve multiple purposes. Still whip up those personal posts and let your target market know who you are as a person. But also write posts that are longer and more informative and suitable to submit to article directories.

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.