Are you frozen in fear?

For writers, being frozen in fear can manifest itself in lots of different ways.  Some people call it “writer’s block” – and it can be that. But it can also be something else – something deeper and more difficult to deal with.

Being frozen in fear can also mean that you’re unsure about what to do in your writing career or with your writing business.

After all, we’re going through some pretty tough economic times. And it seems like every time you pick up a newspaper, turn on the television or go online, you hear about people losing their jobs, their homes and their life savings.  And that’s pretty scary stuff, right?

The problem is, right now is NOT the time to get frozen in your tracks, worrying about which way to go, or what to do next when it comes to building your writing business.

When you do that, you take on what I call the “herd mentality.” You’ll know exactly what I mean if you’ve ever driven in a canyon in the mountains at dusk, because that’s when small herds of deer come out of the trees to find food and water.  And you really have to pay attention when you’re driving, because quite often if you catch one deer in your headlights, not only does it freeze, but so will all the others – or worse, if you scare one, it will start running across the road – and all the others will mindlessly follow. Which increases your chances of hitting one, as even the ones who are safely in the trees will follow the crowd.

Are You Worried About The Economic Crisis?

It’s precisely because of the craziness of the current economy that you can’t afford to be “one of the herd”.  In fact, now, more than ever, it’s important that you take charge of your writing career!  The power to do something – to take responsibility for your financial security – rather than being dependent on anyone else – is in your hands right now.

You can make money from your writing. I’m doing it, and so are many other writers.

Here are three tips to help you take the first step to getting unstuck, and to get out of the fear mode that’s had you frozen, so you can start moving forward again.

Step 1: Start Treating Your Writing Business Like a Business. In my copywriting business, I often remind my clients that their customer’s perception is their reality.  You have to see your writing as a business rather than a hobby, and treat it that way. Profitable businesses have a business plan.  In Module One at the Writer’s Business Academy curriculum, students are walked through the process of creating a business plan.

Now I know what you’re thinking.  If you’ve ever tried to put together a business plan in the past, you already know that it can be pretty complicated – and lots of people get stuck (frozen in fear again), either because they don’t understand the process, or because it was just too overwhelming – and yes, I know, there’s so much information required in a business plan, and it can take a really long time.

Which is why we broke it down into simple, easy to follow steps – and rather than making you go through a bunch of stuff that doesn’t really have anything to do with your writing business, the entire curriculum has been written specifically for writers and authors. (So it also works really well for artists and coaches and other creative businesses.)

But even if you’re not ready to join the Writer’s Business Academy yet, you can find plenty of books at your local library about how to write business plans in general.  Just remember this – having a business plan for your writing business is an absolutely vital first step - and it is a valuable tool for helping you to move forward if you’re frozen in fear and not sure what to do right now.

Step 2: Identify your niche. If you’re an author, you may have already done this by choosing the type of books you’ve written or want to write.  If you’re a writer, you have to decide what type of writing you want to focus on and what type of clients you want to work with.

In Module Two, we walk you through the steps you need to take to choose a profitable niche, define your market and create a platform that will help you reach your audience.

You can do this on your own – but be careful! There is so much information available – on the Internet, in books, CDs, and from different people, it’s easy to start drowning in information overload – which leads right back to that “deer in the headlights” feeling – with the end result that you are still frozen in fear, not sure which way to go.

Step 3: Create a plan for marketing your business and start making money on a regular basis. Arguably, this is the hardest step of all. Certainly it’s the step where the majority of authors and writers seem to get stuck and frozen in fear.  Why? Maybe it’s because writers, authors, coaches, artists – we’re all “creative” types.  Our work sometimes feels as if it comes from inside us – it’s personal, it’s important, it matters – and it’s difficult to put that out there – put yourself out there – and sell it like a comodity.

Also, if you’re not a salesman, it can be hard to know where to start – and what to do on a consistent basis.  Plus, how do you know what works?  And then of course, nobody like rejection. So how do you create a plan that is cost-effective, actually works to set you apart from the crowd – and gets results – fast?

You’ve probably heard that old saying “Success leaves clues”?  Well, it’s true. The fastest and easiest way to become successful is to do what successful people do.

Which is why in Module 3 we start teaching you proven methods to market and promote yourself and your writing business. (For example, I’ll tear back the curtain and let you come behind my own successful writing business.)  I share my marketing methods – the same marketing methods I still use right now, to create an ongoing stream of clients – clients who come to me, rather than me having to go out looking for them.  And I share all my processes with you – all the “backend” of my business that has basically put it on autopilot, and makes it easy for me to get more done in less time.  I even give you my rolodex, so you can access the same people and tools I use.

But we don’t stop there.  Because we realize that it’s not “one size fits all” when it comes to your business.  And what I do might not be what you want to do, or are comfortable doing.  So we bring in other experts, people who are at the top of their game, who do what they do extremely well.  And I interview them for you, get them to “spill the beans” and tell you how they do the voodoo that they do so well.  And you can take their tips, strategies and information – decide what you can use, and tweak it, so it becomes yours, and you can use it to market your writing business and start making money – and continue to make money – right away.

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Operation Teen Author is a program designed to take 50 ordinary kids and walk teach them how to become best-selling authors.  They’ll each be writing a chapter of a book that’s based around a central theme.  And then collectively, working with adult mentors, they’ll promote the book – with a goal of making it a best seller.  But even more important (at least in my eyes) than becoming an author, are the real world skills each one of these kids are going to be learning.  They’ll be improving their writing and editing skills, but also they’ll be learning:

• Effective Public Speaking
• Leadership
• Sales and Marketing
• Public Relations
• Working with the Media
• Networking
• How to Build their Self Confidence
• Website, Blog and Page building (HTML, etc.)

Now that is a bright idea!

If you know me, you know that I’m a big supporter of programs that involve kids and teach them the kind of skills that will help prepare them to become leaders for their generation.

And as a writer myself, I think it’s fabulous to give teenagers the leg- up they need when it comes to becoming an author.  I’ve decided to do some volunteering with the group – who, by the way are coming together virtually from all over the world – and provide some marketing and promotional training workshops for them.  When I was a VISTA Leader, one of my projects was working with teenagers from two counties and helping them to create, manage and run community volunteer projects – and I’ve missed their energy, creativity and passion, so I’m really looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to know the kids of Operation Teen Author.

In the meantime, here’s the link for the radio interview – I hope you can make it, and maybe call in and ask questions, or give your comments and feedback!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Don-Alan/2009/03/28/Becoming-A-Best-Selling-Teenage-Author

And stay tuned – because the Writer’s Business Academy Radio program will be starting very soon as well – and each week we’ll be interviewing real authors and writers who have found success and are building profitable writing businesses – and they’ll be sharing their secrets, resources and expertise with you too!

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There are some people who try to make it seem like writing a media release is somehow a “big secret” – or they’ll try to tell you that you need to hire a professional to put together a good publicity campaign.  And that’s just not true.

On the other hand, just like any other type of professional writing, there is a structure and strategy to writing media releases – and if you don’t know them, you can wind up making some big mistakes.  And again, that’s the point of this article!

So let me ask you something:

• Does the thought of writing a media release (also known as a “press release” or “news release”) to promote yourself or your writing business make your mouth dry, your stomach turn over and your hands shake?

• Are you worried about how to do it, what to say or who to send it to?

• Do you wish the floor would just open up and swallow you whole rather than try to promote yourself and your writing business?

Well, then stay tuned, because that’s why I’m writing this next series of articles for you. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll understand exactly what to do, how to do it and why – in short, you’ll come across as the consummate professional – and increase your chances of getting publicized.

Let’s get started by talking about the biggest mistakes that people make when writing a media release – because if you’re making them too, I can pretty much guarantee your media release is going to be thrown in the trash can and won’t even be read!

Biggest Mistake #1: When you’re writing a Media Release, don’t call it a “press release” or the media will know you’re a novice, and chances are, they’ll drop it in the trash can without even reading it.  You can call it a “Media Release” or a “News Release” if you want.  Press Release was the term used by the media before the internet got involved.  Now that “electronic” media is used these days, you need to know – and use – the proper lingo.

Biggest Mistake #2: Use mixed case. NEVER SUBMIT A MEDIA RELEASE IN ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS. As you can see, it’s much more difficult to read that way, and as we know from writing on the Web, writing anything in uppercase letters is the electronic equivalent of screaming at your reader.

Also, make sure you always follow the rules of grammar and style. Errors in grammar and style affect your credibility. Excessive errors will cause your media release to be rejected. If you’re not sure what style a particular media source uses, you’ll want to get familiar with it before submitting your media release.

With a little online research you can find out everything you need to know before you send your next media release.  You can also find stylebooks at your local library, bookstore or Amazon.  For example, the Associated Press Style Book is updated every year.  http://www.apstylebook.com/ and it’s used in most journalism and adult writing courses.

Biggest Mistake #3: Don’t add html language or links in your media release. Most of the time, online distribution services don’t allow links (except in the resource box, of course.) Which means if you include them, your media release is going right into the trash can, not the distribution list.  Also, if the service does allow links, only put links that are relevant and give the reader valuable information. (See the link I gave you in in Mistake #2?)  Remember – your media release is NOT a sales letter.

Biggest Mistake #4: Not putting enough information in your news release. If you can say everything you need to say in only a few sentences, then chances are you don’t have a newsworthy story. (*Note: You may hear that your news release should “never” be more than one page long.) I have found that a media release should be as long as it takes in order for you to tell your story.  So if that means one and a-half or two pages, then that’s how long it should be. Do your best to keep it short and sweet, but don’t take out important information just to make it fit on one page.

Include a summary paragraph for online submissions. Some online news services request that you include a one-or-two line summary of your press release. This is because some distribution points only receive your headline, summary and a link to your media release.  Which means, when you’re submitting to online services, not including the summary paragraph may reduce the effectiveness of your media release. (On the other hand, a summary paragraph usually isn’t necessary with print, television or radio media.)

Glaring Mistake #5: Not formatting your media release in the right way.  Like everything else, there are “industry standards” when it comes to writing – and even submitting – your media release.

If you’re not sure what the industry standards for a media release are, then stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, because I’m going to go through them all for you.

If you can’t wait, you can sign up for our Free “Breakthrough” Report Series and learn How to be a Partner, Not a Player with the Media.  Otherwise, I’ll be back tomorrow with part 2 in our series on the, “Biggest Mistakes People Make When Writing Media Releases” – and show you how to format your media release the right way.

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As I sang along, I thought of Ten Ways Any Writer Can Make More Money in their Writing Business. So if you’re tired of struggling financially, just sing along…

“The problem is all inside your head
She said to me
The answer is easy
If you take it logically”

So, let’s look at the problem logically for a minute. There are really only four main ways you can earn more money from your writing:

1. You can charge more for your services or book or other products.
2. You can sell more of your services, more copies of your book or more of your other products to your existing clients, customers or fans.
3. You can find additional clients, customers or fans.
4. You can find ways to cut back on your business expenses.

So let’s start with saving money…”You Just Slip Out the Back, Jack…”

If you’re on a shoestring budget (and who isn’t these days?), then obviously you need to do everything you can to save as much money as possible, and make as much money as possible – and do it all as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Here are some simple ideas you can use:

1. Know your target market. Who are your “ideal” customers, fans or clients?
Where do they shop? What do they read? What solutions are they looking for that your business provides? The more you know about your customers, the better you’ll be able to target your promotions towards them, which will increase your bottom line two ways – it will save you spending money on advertising that doesn’t work, and it will increase your sales, because you’re offering your customers what they really want.

2. Get double duty out of any contact with your customers, fans and clients. If you’re selling a book, ebooks, special reports, audios or how to videos, put your contact information on everything – your products, the shopping bags, invoices and sales receipts. Make it easy for everyone to find you. Give away something free. If you have a Website (and if you don’t, then get one), give your customers something for giving you their contact information. Free Ebooks, reports, or software are all good choices (just make sure it’s relevant to your customers). Anytime you send your customers anything – a product, a newsletter, an invoice –why not include a coupon or information about your latest products or services? To save money on postage, if you have a brick and mortar store or have a company that sends out real products, put a copy of your latest newsletter or an informational flyer in your customer’s bag or in the box you ship their products in after each sale.  If you don’t, think about creating cross promotions with other entrepreneurs who are marketing to the same people you do – and find ways to promote each other.

3. Reward your best customers, fans or clients. Set up a reward program. Offer them a reward for anyone they refer who becomes a customer. Or give your customers a free gift when they spend $50 (or whatever amount makes sense in your business). When they’re eligible for the free gift, offer them an upgrade to something bigger or better for a few dollars more. Start a customer loyalty program. Provide “customer only” sales, or promotions. Let your customers earn points, or “magic money” that they can use to redeem your products or services.

4. Get ready for your close-up. When you’re brainstorming about creating a promotion or advertising campaign, don’t forget about your local cable TV channel. You may be pleasantly surprised by how low their rates actually are. Create your own television commercial or infomercial. Although you may not be ready for prime time, you can still target your ad to reach your customers.

5. Get involved in your community. Find a nonprofit organization that is doing work you believe in, and either publicly support their program, or be one of their sponsors for an upcoming event or fundraiser.  Use the advertising spot to let people know about the fundraiser (and, incidentally, your business). You could put together an inexpensive ad campaign that will help those in need, increase your visibility and let your potential customers know that you’re supportive and aware of the needs of the community.

“Make a new plan, Stan” (Business Planning Basics):

6. Beef up your business plan. If you don’t have a business plan, make writing one a priority. Your business plan is more than just a way to interest investors. It’s a road map that will help you get from where you are now to where you want to be. It also helps you to focus on how much money you want to make - or how much more money you want to earn from your writing than you are right now – and gives you a plan to achieve your goals!  That old saying, “If you fail to plan then you’re planning to fail” really is true when it comes to building a successful writing business.

“No need to be coy, Roy” (Ask your customers):

7. Get testimonials from your satisfied clients. But don’t stop there. What about creating your own television commercial that you can run in your store or on your Website? (With a video camera and a little ingenuity, you could even create your own infomercial that shows customers how to use or get the most out of your products or services or provides them with “inside information”. If you’ve got a Website, put an audio testimonial on there. (And don’t forget to include pictures).

8. Speak up. Again, keeping in mind who your ultimate ideal customers are and what their most pressing problems are, write an article, offer a free seminar, or offer to be a speaker at local chamber of commerce or other organization or community meetings. Being perceived as an “expert” is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to get the word out about your business, and bring in more customers.

“Just hop on the bus, Gus” (Expand your business potential)

9. Create joint ventures. Although your primary business probably isn’t a brick and mortar one, you can still create a joint venture that will help you save money by sharing the costs for advertising with someone else. What about creating a special “sidewalk sale” with other business owners in your neighborhood, community or niche? (If you’re online only, why not try a “virtual” sidewalk sale? Or finding businesses with complementary products or services to yours, and creating a “package deal”? You can also look for ways you can partner with other businesses – maybe you could create solo ads and promote each other’s products or services in your mailing lists. There are a lot of ways you can save money and increase your client base if you’re willing to get creative.

“Just drop off the key, Lee” (Provide the key solutions)

10. Let your customers, clients or fan know you know what their key problems, needs or desires are. It’s sad but true that your customers don’t care how good your products or services are. They only want to know two things: do you understand what their problems are; and can you solve them?  Give your customers the “key” to their problems, and you’ll end up with evangelistic fans who come back again and again.

And there you have it…1o Ways you Can Make More Money From Your Writing. Chances are, you’ve thought up other ideas than I mentioned here – if so, I’d love to hear about them – leave a comment below!

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• How To Make Money As A Writer (Part 1) (0)

The first thing I want to clarify is that you don’t have to have been in business for any length of time, or have a specific degree, or even have taken a writing course – to be a successful writer.  And the second thing I want you to know is that you CAN start making money as a writer – from the very beginning.

At the Writer’s Business Academy, one of the biggest barriers we see a lot of our new students blocked by – is the feeling they have that they somehow have to “pay their dues” or build a big portfolio, or have a long list of clients – before they can start making money from their writing.

And in reality, nothing could be further from the truth!

Let’s start with your perceptions about your writing business. Answer these three questions:

1. Do you really see writing as a business?
2. Do you see yourself as a business owner?
3. Do you believe that you’re a good enough writer to be able to make money from doing it?

If your answer to any of these questions is “No” – then you need to stop what you’ve been doing up to this point. You’re going to need to take a little time and figure out what you can do to change your answers to “Yes”. Because the truth is – unless you have the right kind of mindset – and believe in yourself, believe that writing is a business – and that you are a “real” business owner with a real business – you’re just setting yourself up to fail.

If your answers to the questions above were “yes” – then it’s time to figure out how to start making money as a writer.  And to do that, you need to know the answer to three more questions:

1. What kind of writer are you?

2. Why are you in business?

3. What is your vision for your business?

We’re going to go into the next steps you can take to start making money as a writer in part two of the “How to Make Money As A Writer” series.

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• How to Earn More Money From Your Writing Part 2 (0)

When you enroll with the Writer’s Business Academy, you become so much more than “just a student.”  You become part of a tightly-knit community of like-minded students, teachers, support staff – even our visiting lecturers – who are all focused on one common goal – your success.

Creating Connections

Studying online on your own schedule doesn’t mean being isolated and alone.  You’ll find all the support you need in the Writer’s Business Academy Student Center, where you can connect with your mentor, the professors, even other students through our own chat room.  Here you’ll find support, friendship, constructive feedback – and have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded adults and create connections that last a lifetime.

Mentoring

 We don’t leave you on your own to try and figure out how to do something, find answers to your questions or learn where the resources you need are located. Because you’re paired with a mentor – right from the start – you’re safe in the knowledge that you have a dedicated partner all along your educational journey – who is committed to helping you access the tools and resources you need to succeed.

Curriculum

You can expect an educational experience that is focused, challenging and relevant.  The curriculum for our program is updated regularly to meet the exacting needs of today’s writers and authors.

You can take classes whenever it works for you. This gives you the maximum scheduling flexibility based upon your schedule and your life.  Because all the curriculum is online, you can take classes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll access recorded audio lectures, view video presentations and download the written supporting materials and assessments – all with just a few clicks of your mouse.

Technically Speaking

And speaking of technology, it’s simple to attend online classes at the Writer’s Business Academy.  All you need is a computer and an internet connection. We provide everything else. (Including tech support, in case you ever run into a problem or have questions.) If you want to know what the recommended system requirements are, just click this link: Student Requirements.

Your Own Website

During Module 2, you’ll learn everything you need to know about creating your own Website (and in fact, by the time you finish with Module 2 Lesson 5 – you’ll actually have your own working Website, for everyone to see).  But don’t worry – even if you’re technologically challenged and have never been able to do it before, you’re walked through the entire process! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is, thanks to Dan’s expertise and willingness to take you through it step-by-step.

And the best thing is, after you’ve finished this module, you’ll always the have the knowledge you need to create anything you need – download pages, thank you pages, shopping cart pages – and add new content and updates whenever you want. (And knowledge really is POWER.)

By the way, you also get a lot of technical bells and whistles with your Website – the things that make your site completely Web 2.0 friendly – so your clients, customers and fans can find your Website, quickly and easily.  You get things like a “no-tech” support desk, XXX.

FireWalker Mastermind Group

After you’ve finished Modules 1-3, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in your own Mastermind Team, to help you grow your business even faster. Each team is handpicked and chosen based on a number of factors.  Once assigned to your team, you’ll be able to interact with each other in a number of different ways – sharing ideas, creating your own business building goals, while learning from each others’ experiences and feedback, and receiving support and encouragement along the way.

Business Tools, Resources and Research Libraries

You’ll also get access to a full range of helpful business tools, information, resources and research libraries.  This includes monthly lectures given by experts in their fields who have created presentations designed to help you achieve success faster.

As you progress through each module, you’ll be given access to the tools you need – so there’s no information overload, nothing gathering “virtual dust” on your hard drive that you download and then never look at again.  You get personalized guidance, feedback and support that helps you build your business faster.

To find out more visit our School Information Center.

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Overview of Social Marketing Course

Have you every wondered how some people are able to create blogs and Websites that receive hundreds or thousands of visitors a month?

Why some writers – who are no more talented, no smarter and not better at their craft than you are – are able to command such high fees for their services – and are always busy – no matter what’s going on with the economy?

Who The Program is For:

• Writers
• Authors
• Coaches and Consultants
• Entrepreneurs

What You Will Learn:

At the Writer’s Business Academy we teach you which are the best social networking sites for writer’s and authors, and how to use them to your best advantage.

Areas of Study:

• What is Web 2.0 and Social Networking and Why You Should Care
• What are the Best Web 2.0 Sites for Writers and Authors
• Building a Business – not a Tactic
• Checklist for Making the Web 2.0 Work for You
• What NOT to Do to Build Your Business
• Traffic Generation
• Turning Leads into Customers
• Website Critique

We also teach you how to create true expert status in your niche, so that you set yourself and your writing business apart from your competition.  

To find out more visit our School Information Center.

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Overview of Advanced Marketing Course:

Our advanced online and offline marketing course gives you a significant step up the career ladder, or will help you to become a better marketer for your own writing business.  

You will build your knowledge of strategic marketing, promotion, pricing, distribution, sales, and other advanced marketing principles. When you complete this module, you will be a better marketer, with a stronger focus, increased effectiveness and complete understanding of what you need to do to market yourself and your writing business.

Who the Program is For:

• Writers
• Authors 
• Entrepreneurs
• Coaches

What You’ll Learn:

Your program will be flexible and self-paced – so there’s no cookie-cutter program that you have to slug your way through to get to the material you need for your business.  In the advanced course you are also paired with your own mastermind team, and the course material is provided based on what you need to achieve your business goals.  This is a fast-paced program and participation is required on a weekly basis.

Areas of Study:

• Language and Communication
• Fundamentals of Business Marketing and Communication
• Publicity 201
• Creating an Effective Online Media Presence
• Handling Interviews (includes taped practice sessions)
• Working with the Media
• Building Your Portfolio
• Case Studies, White Papers and Advanced Article Marketing
• Creating Multiple Streams of Income
• Advanced Marketing Technics for Promoting Your Book or Business 

Pre-Requisites for Advanced Marketing:

• Completion of Modules 1-3
• Completion of Basic Marketing Module 4
  

To find out more visit our School Information Center.

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 Overview of Basic Website Marketing Course:

One of the biggest complaints we hear – time and time again – from new students – is that their marketing strategies aren’t working.

They’re not getting loads of traffic to their blogs, they don’t have clients lining up at their door, begging them to take their projects, and they’re frustrated that they’re not making money from their writing.

Well, the truth is, there is a process to marketing yourself on the Web. You have to walk before you can run, and there really aren’t any shortcuts to success.

However, once you learn what the so-called “secret” is to marketing your Website – and you learn the step-by-step process, most of our students are amazed at how easy it is, and how quickly it works.  We don’t teach theory, we don’t waste time teaching outdated strategies that worked once but don’t any more.

Everything you’re going to learn will be long-term, proven methods that get results.

Who the Course is For:

• Writers
• Authors
• Coaches
• Small Business Owners

What You’ll Learn:

This course covers the basics of marketing, and teaches you what you need to know to be able to start marketing your writing business.  It is provided through a variety of self-assessments, lessons, videos and audio lectures.  The module is self-paced which allows flexibility in completing each lesson based on your schedule.  Assignments are turned in online, and if you need additional assistance or resources, they will be provided for you.

Areas of Study:

• Marketing Basics
• Ethics
• Consumer and Industrial Behavior
• Marketing Research
• Defining Your Niche
• Using Web 2.0 Tools and Strategies Effectively
• Pricing Your Writing Services
• Promoting Yourself and Your Writing Business
• How to Create an Online Presence
• Building Credibility
• Article Marketing
• SEO Tactics, Technics and Strategies

Pre-Requisites for Basic Website Marketing:

Module 1, Module 2

To find out more visit our School Information Center.

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Using the latest technology and Web 2.0 strategies, you’ll learn how to create a completely optimized blog that sets you apart from the crowd, shows you as the expert in your niche and brings traffic to your site.

To find out more visit our School Information Center.

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