Best Seller

Where Do The Smart Web People Meet?

warrenwhitlock — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:43:01 +0000

There are many seminar events where you can learn more about learn about blogs, online marketing, speaking, writing and publishing, but one group stands out for having the best group of veteran web people who have been working in the trade for as long as it’s existed

The education choices at PubCon are emended, but make sure you attend the expo, the parties and mingle with the people outside the sessions too. Easy to meet people who have worked full time on designing the web for 15 years, or bought and sold multi million dollars companies.

The networking is what makes any such event. Pubcon is founded on that. It literally started as a conference in a pub when WebMasterWorld folks decided to get together to strengthen relationships formed online and help each other build better performing sites.

If you ever had a job like this, you know about PubCon. If you are new to business on the Internet, Pubcon is a great place to mingle and learn fast. That why I’ve attended for many years, and why I’m speaking at Pubcon again this year.

Come Join Me And Save 20%

When you come to Vegas, let’s plan to meet. Click on the banner above and use Code: rc-4514615 to save 20% on your already reasonably priced ticket when you order now. Then drop me a note and let me know you are coming. We can meet after my session, or at one of the tweet ups or parties.

Tweet me at @WarrenWhitlock or a comment below to let me know you will be here.

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Remember When Books Used Paper?

warrenwhitlock — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:59:39 +0000

I’ve been commenting on the supposed “game changer” iPad device that getting so much press this year. My quip is that it’s not going to be that significant.. that we’ve been seeing dozens of reports of other devices to read book on, some replace laptops, others upgrade the Kindle, and a few we’ve reviewed will do totally new things.

Here’s a current page from Borders. None of these are from Apple, B&N or Amazon. All we soon be available where you used to shop for old school books.

Is your book out in ebook format?

Velocity^® Micro Cruz^TM Reader

Velocity^® Micro Cruz^TM Tablet

Kobo e-Reader

Aluratek Libre

Sony^® Touch

Sony^® Pocket

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Best Selling Authors Add Instant Value

warrenwhitlock — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:37:51 +0000

My friend Michael Port has been posting fascinating videos like the one below.

Here he talks to Bob Burg, best selling author of “Endless Referrals” and “The Go Giver” series about the similarities of these two authors books.

Selling books is not a competition. With webcam technology, you can put two authors on the screen and explain concepts from each others work with very little cost in time and effort.

If you’re not getting enough interview requests for you book, maybe it’s time you learned one of these systems and started asking other authors. I know dozens of authors, big name best sellers and up and coming smart experts who are anxious to share.

Got a video or radio interview program? Let me know. I’d like to feature best author interviews on this blog, especially topics that will help other authors. And by the way.. I’m available for interviews too :)

Michael Port and Bob Burg on Relationship Building, Book Shrinking, and More… from Michael Port on Vimeo.

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Seth Godin Learns that Publishing is Dead

warrenwhitlock — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:01:21 +0000

Authors need to have a tribe to read what they write.

Publishers don’t build tribes, they print and distribute books. This business model has served them well in the past when there were limits on ways authors could reach readers. All authors and publishers would do well to study Tribes

Seth announced his intentions on his blog

Authors need publishers because they need a customer. Readers have been separated from authors by many levels–stores, distributors, media outlets, printers, publishers–there were lots of layers for many generations, and the editor with a checkbook made the process palatable to the writer. For ten years, I had a publisher as a client (with some fun self-published adventures along the way). Twelve bestsellers later, I’ve thought hard about what it means to have a traditional publisher.

Traditional book publishers use techniques perfected a hundred years ago to help authors reach unknown readers, using a stable technology (books) and an antique and expensive distribution system.

The thing is–now I know who my readers are. Adding layers or faux scarcity doesn’t help me or you. As the medium changes, publishers are on the defensive…. I honestly can’t think of a single traditional book publisher who has led the development of a successful marketplace/marketing innovation in the last decade. The question asked by the corporate suits always seems to be, "how is this change in the marketplace going to hurt our core business?" To be succinct: I’m not sure that I serve my audience (you) by worrying about how a new approach is going to help or hurt Barnes & Noble.

We know that publisher can still serve an author. If you have build a two way dialog with your tribe (say, you are on TV but have never blogged) then a large check from someone betting on your title to click with their distribution is a no-brainer.

Seth has been teaching us to build a tribe for years. Now he’s broke ties with the old model that used to serve him. No doubt he’ll do well.

What’s your strategy to build a two way dialog with your readers?

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Getting Attention Can Make People Hate You

warrenwhitlock — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:28:29 +0000

The following rant is dedicated to my friend Jim Kukral. His new book ATTENION! This Book Will Make You Money will tell you the right way to get attention and you should order a copy right now from Amazon … (go ahead, I’ll wait)… NOW! Then post your full name in the comments below and I will read it to Jim when he comes on Social Media Radio on 8/20… Did you do this yet? … I’m serious, this is the right way to start a dialog with a famous author. Buy his first book before he gets too famous. He will love you for it and remember you later.

I admit it. I’m an attention seeking, self promoting, Twitter loving maniac.

Will I do ANYTHING for attention? Of course not.

And neither should you.

Talking To Me Like You Know Me (which is okay if you do)

Here’s one that really bugs me lately. I’ve had some very good friends. NAME authors that you’d recognize, include in Tweet, and tag me in NOTES on Facebook. One went as far as to pepper a sales letter disguised as an article with the names of 15 thought leaders and TAGGED each of us. My name appeared with others in one sentence paragraphs like “Don’t you agree? Warren, John, Dick & Harry”

I won’t show you that one. When I contacted the big name guy he promptly fired the real writer and promised to never let anyone fake being him again.

I will show you this.

Several times a day I get spam tweets with little more than my name and a link from someone that does not FOLLOW me and to whom I have absolutely no connection.

The one pictured is is an especially obvious spammer. None of the people mentioned are really being addressed, a BOT put the Twitter handles in to make it appear when you look at the victim’s profile.

I don’t follow beapretz and doubt there such a person. Like I said this one was easy.

How NOT to Be Seen As a Spammer

I also receive dozens of well meaning tweets from people that don’t know me well enough to be asking me for a favor or presenting a personal question like “Want to loose weight?” Most of these are from some that just wants attention for a new blog post and was taught that adding a bunch of names is like cc’ing the famous people. No, it’s a good way to look like an annoying spammer.

Here’s some tips to keep you out of hot water.

Get to know people before even considering asking for a favor. If you tweet anything to me that has @WarrenWhitlock in mentioned, I will bend over backwards to try to find a way to answer and engage in a conversation.
Don’t make me bend over backwards. If you tweet “Good morning” “I see you” “Is it hot in Vegas” or an other such greeting I will assume that you want to talk BUT have not idea what you want to talk about. I used to go find a profile, links to blogs, do a Google search or look people up in my customer database. I’m just that crazy about conversations… but most people won’t research to see who is saying “Waz Up” … Make sure you get to the point in one line
Be specific. As much as I crave having a conversation with each of the tens of thousand of connections I have online, I get turned off by “Can you give me some feedback on my web site?” and if I’m in a particularly snide mood I will reply with “Here’s my feedback. Don’t promote by asking for feedback” If you really want to know what I think. Ask “Do you like the font on my order form” or something VERY specific. My opinion on your font choice will be just as valid as a “nice site” comment you want and either way, I’m not going to email you a list of tips and suggestions for your site.
NOTE: I love reviewing sites for clients and writing long emails with punch lists of things I see can improve your traffic, conversions, search engine positions and give you the life you always wanted. Key word here is “client” FREE advice is given in blog posts, tweets and rants like this.
Don’t drop names. Don’t cc: someone so people will think you know them. The beauty of modern media is that big time authors will talk to you. They want to engage their readers just as much as you do.
Avoid putting more than one name in a message. The Twitter game #FollowFriday is an excuse for people who want to look like they are helping to send out a tweet that make them feel good, and not much else. If you like someone, they deserve the whole 140 character to themselves. Think about the last service group activity you worked tirelessly on. When the president says “Thanks to everyone who came or worked on the event” at the next luncheon meeting it doesn’t feel like much. If she reads a list, not much better. You didn’t do the work just for the recognition, but you sure do appreciate when she give you 10-15 meaningful words of praise from the podium. Adding a lot of name looks spammy and people know you just threw everyone in a list.
Don’t expect much. If your read #4 and though. Great idea. I’m going to get @Oprah to talk to me, you are likely to be disappointed. I know hundreds of authors who will answer anyone who tweets to them. Then there is that friend I’ve known for 10 years who didn’t answer my last email and has all his phone calls redirected to a voice mail box that says “This line not monitored”… when I see him, he says “I thought you were going to contact me”
Build Up Your Karma This one should go at the top of the list, (that’s both true and a note from converting this later to a book chapter). The more you give, the more you get… so to get more results, you don’t need a magic pill or a secret handshake, you need to GIVE MORE. I like the math from Chris Brogan and Julian Smiths book “Trust Agents” where they suggest TWELVE acts of sharing for every time you self promote. I have a lot of stuff I’d like you to read, so I’m promoting others at least 100 times a day.
It’s Work. You want to be a best selling author? Start acting like one. The big name multi millionaire authors I know are busy working. When you see a program, seminar, networking event, tweet up and think “I can’t sell any books there” you are really being way too short sighted. The “over night successes” I know got there from years of work. They didn’t say “but no one knows me” and they didn’t ask “what’s in it for me?” very often.

Another plea to get your ATTENTION for your own good: Did you go buy Jim Kukral’s book when I told you to? … when I say Get on Jim’s good side now while it only costs you the price of a book you ought to buy and read anyway.. I really mean it. Jim is going to be one of those overnight success stories. How do I know? He’s been working this for years. He’s a giver, smart, and fun to hang out with. Don’t wait on this one. Buy that book now, put the comment in below and start looking for where Jim will be in person. Go up to him and say “I bought your book from a post on BestSellerAuthors.com and I’m so glad I did” (those exact words if you really like me) and if expect at least a warm smile of gratitude and likely a big hug. Trust me on this one. This really works.

Speaking of comments. That should be on any good list about Attention. Leave a comment here and EVERY time you read a blog post. You get a link back to your site, your name in lights and most important, a CONNECTION to the writer. I notice when you comment and tweet about my work. I appreciate it and whenever I can, I find some random act of reciprocal kindness.

Karma dude. KARMA.

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Freaking Out About Your Facebook Author Page?

warrenwhitlock — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:04:05 +0000

Don’t worry about the big changes coming from Facebook next week.

Watch this video and see how easy it is to change your Facebook Page.

Every author needs a page for their book. You know that, right?

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How to Be a Super Competent Author

warrenwhitlock — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:09:52 +0000

Laura Stack’s new book came out today and while she is already established as an author, she know the market and pulled out all the stops to have a fabulous launch day.

My gift will be one of the many bonuses you find on Laura’s book site.

She didn’t stop there. As we suggest, she has a presence in social media.. a real presence with two way conversation and a lot going on. Plus a lot more than just a book with bonuses over at her site.

Here’s a bit about the book.. read more at her site

In this competitive economy, just being able to do your job is no longer enough, and competence is expected. To be successful in the business world and reach your full potential in life, it’s not enough to be simply competent. Our modern, super-competitive world is full of opportunities for the go-getter, but to take advantage of them, it’s essential to become "Super Competent." The SuperCompetent person is one that companies fight to get, fight to keep, nurture as team players, and see as future leaders in their business growth.

But SuperCompetence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something that you can learn, no matter where your strengths lie or what industry you work in. In SuperCompetent, productivity expert Laura Stack identifies the behaviors that build leadership skills, boost organizational efficiency, and blast high-potential producers to the top of their fields. With Stack’s Six Keys, you’ll be able to consistently improve your performance, develop the confidence that will propel you forward, and achieve breakthrough results in your career:

Activity: the value and importance you place on your tasks
Availability: your mastery of your schedule
Attention: the capacity to focus intently and concentrate on your work
Accessibility: the ability to organize the inputs and outputs in your life
Accountability: the extent to which you take personal responsibility for your actions and outcomes
Attitude: your motivation, drive, and proactiveness

SuperCompetent will give you proven methods to reach your maximum potential and achieve breakthrough results.

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How To Be A Rich, Best Selling Author

warrenwhitlock — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:24:27 +0000

I’m reading posts from New York Times Best selling author Ramit Sethi on his blog named after the book.

Like many modern authors with a tech background, he’s naturally doing many of the techniques I teach.

I could list them here (I have in other posts) but today, I think it’s best to say “Go watch this guy, model what he does and BE RICH”

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Author Pays Models to Read Her Book

warrenwhitlock — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:24:32 +0000

I think this is a wonderful idea.

Clubs pay people to stand in line. Restaurants invite diners in to fill the tables. I teach authors to stage a book signing. The publicity from these events is the goal, not book sales directly.

What are you going to do to make your book stand out?

From

Novelist Jennifer Belle decided to be proactively hands-on with the publicity for her latest release, The Seven Year Bitch, by hiring actresses to read from it in the subway and various NYC landmarks. Belle’s publicity strategy garnered the attention of The New York Times, The NY Post, Judith Regan‘s Sirius radio show, and several blogs.

Belle requested that respondents be ages 25-75 and possessed infectious laughs. More than 600 actresses applied for the job sending headshots, resumes, and cover letters with anecdotes about their "compelling laughs."

Some of those "laughs" were recorded and uploaded online with links provided for Belle’s viewing pleasure. A smart few professed a love for the author’s previous publications and were brought to the top of Belle’s list. The actresses were hired for an hourly salary of $8.

read the full article here

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How to Get the Media to Love You

warrenwhitlock — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:45:00 +0000

In almost every field, there are people who are extremely good at getting publicity.

The media loves them and they’re regularly on radio/TV shows and written-up in print publications.

They not only know how to get a ton of free coverage, but also how to profit from the coverage in the form of increased sales, name recognition, speaking engagements and more.

To discover how these "publicity superstars" do it and how you too can use their strategies, join Steve Harrison this FREE WEBINAR

Here’s just some of what you’ll learn on Thursday:

Advice from a former NBC producer who booked guests for the Today Show and Dateline NBC on how to become a regular guest on national TV and/or even get offered your own show (think Dr. Phil).
How to brand yourself for the media in a way that celebrates your uniqueness while also separating you from all the other experts in your field.
Three things Donald Trump does to speak in compelling sound bites.
How Jennifer became a regularly-featured lifestyle expert on Fox News Channel and the Early Show as well as scoring coverage in hundreds of print media outlets including O the Oprah Magazine, Redbook, US Weekly, Success and Entrepreneur.
Why most authors and experts fail to make the leap from just getting local publicity to scoring big-time national media coverage.
Why your credentials don’t matter as much as you might think, but what DOES matter when the media is deciding whether or not to feature you.
"The Book Plus Strategy" and how an unknown self-published author used it to become a regular on radio, making a six-figure income doing phone interviews.
The hook that helped a nutritionist score so much media coverage it generated over $60 million in sales of his books and information products.

Click to register for this FREE WEBINAR

I’ve worked with Steve Harrison for years and can endorse the programs he recommends because I have seen the results.

You will see that Steve’s free training such as this seminar give you a ton of actionable information… regardless of whether you sign up for his paid programs. (Imagine how much more you get when you do though :)

Don’t miss out on this chance to learn some of Steve’s secrets

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The Future of Ad Online

warrenwhitlock — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:06:00 +0000

Twitter, Linkedin and Zynga (makers of Farmville and MafiaWars) have business models that do not rely on advertising.

Marketing and advertising in the future will not be interruptions.. we expect that users will be able to engage with useable content the want to view.

So much opportunity here. Half a billion people on Facebook, 100 million playing Farmville, Movie releases get 5-6 times as much Twitter buzz with an ad.

How are you planning to use online ads for your book or business?

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What Famous Author Writes Like You?

warrenwhitlock — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:33:53 +0000

Every time I see a site that will analyze my writing style, tell me how search engine friend I write or judge my vocabulary level, I get mixed emotions.

A bit scared that I’ll be found out.. my skills put down by a machine that tells me I don’t measure up in some way. :)

But MOSTLY excited… I love getting tips to write better.

I Write Like told me that a recent blog post was like Dan Brown.

I don’t quite get it.. but it was 30 seconds of fun.

I think Mrs.. Preston, my 4th grade teacher nailed it best. I once told her that I couldn’t write. She kept me in from recess, made me do the assignment and told me “you can write.. you’re just lazy”

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Do You Dig the New Digg?

warrenwhitlock — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:35:44 +0000

I’m playing with the Alpha version of the new Digg.

It has some nifty buttons to allow a connection to Facebook friends and Twitter connects. Both have not worked for me, but hey, this is an Alpha version, right?

The feel of this new site is much more like newer sites, which I hope allows the masses to use DIGG more. Over the years I’ve found some great content there, but never quite got into the community.

Of course.. I would love to get in that community. When they like a story, it goes nuts and breaks servers. Don’t we all want so many reader that our server breaks? :)

Now adding BestSellerAuthors feed with the Key c7a5503de7d840b59fde7984238a3ccf Tried it elsewhere and got an error (me, or the Alphaness, who knows?)

Have you tried Digg? What value do you think it has for the average book author doing book marketing?

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Talk TO Your Peeps — Never AT Them

warrenwhitlock — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:59:12 +0000

Guest Post by Alan R. Bechtold

The best way to create and publish anything worth sharing — whether you’re writing a book or yakking on the social networks — is to focus on your ideal audience. Someone you can relate to. Someone eager to hear what you have to share.

In marketing, everything begins with focusing on your target market. Publishers and authors often forget this, simply publishing what they figure people who will be interested in and hoping they find it, one way or the other.

Is THIS woman your target audience?

That’s a great way to be a starving artist, but if you also keep a marketing eye toward what you’re doing, you can easily turn every tweet, every Facebook post, every email and every blog post you put out into hard-edged highly effective marketing that pulls people toward you.

This is a central key in moving from the starving artist column over to the successful creative entrepreneur.

I suggested in my best-selling book, Will Work for Fun, that you make yourself your target audience. Focus on a niche that truly interests you. Better still, it should FASCINATE you to the point that you are as voracious about gathering data and information about the subject as anyone on the planet.

Do this correctly, follow the steps I outline in my book, and you can easily do all the marketing research you ever need by simply looking in the mirror now and then.

Your readers and followers will naturally need whatever it is you need, too.

Here’s another tactic that works equally well, ripped straight out of creating characters for fiction:

Find a photo…in a magazine or newspaper, or on a blog or Website…of someone who absolutely LOOKS the part of your ideal targeted reader or follower.

Give the person in your photo a name — preferably one that someone who reads your work or follows you WOULD have (note — children’s names run in historical cycles…Elmer isn’t so popular any more, Heather once was. What was popular for YOUR character when he or she was born?

The more authentic and real your character feels, the more effective this technique is.

Now list your character’s hobbies or interests OUTSIDE of your chosen niche — especially those that would be directly related. Make sure these interests match your target audience’s general tendencies for interests they would list in the "other" column, as well.

Next — stare at the photo a bit and imagine the typical life history and current life situation of your ideal audience member. Build out the background details about the person in your photo.

Use whatever data you can to fill in the details — personal experience, research results, conversations with your current readers — whatever it is you know about your target audience. The character you are creating for the person in the photo you’ve selected should be someone you honestly would enjoy being with and spending time with. You should find yourself wishing you had 10,000 more like him or her reading what you put together. 10 million would be ideal!

Then, before you write or start gathering materials to publish ANYTHING, sit down and stare at the photo for a few minutes. Five maximum. Get to know this person you’ve created — this character who matches your ideal audience so perfectly.

Run all the details about this person’s life and history through your mind while you look deeply into the picture. Imagine his or her wants, desires and needs RIGHT NOW.

Then — write or gather information that fulfills those needs.

You can even write whatever it is you have to say TO this fictional person. Address it like a letter to a very dear friend and SHARE like you would with someone you know and love.

This works very well even if you’re NOT deeply affiliate with the niche you’re reaching out to at the time. The photo with this post, for example — she could be ANYONE’s target audience, depending on the background and life you give her.

As you search for information to gather and bring to this person, keep in mind what he or she would want to know right now. Also remember what he or she would most definitely NOT want to hear at this point.

Then get writing or gathering.

In this age of social publishing, you’ll miss the boat more often than not if you just put your tweets and posts out there with no real clear-cut idea of who you’re trying to please.

When you focus on WHO you are writing to this way, your writing will shift totally way from the "me" focus we so often see in blogging today, to a "YOU" focus that targets exactly your ideal prospect. You’ll also find that writing directly to the person you created will make your writing more appealing.

You’ll definitely find yourself "delivering the goods" more often and you’ll grow a devout following that wants whatever it is you have to offer!

Alan R. Bechtold is the best-selling author of Will Work for Fun: 3 Simple Steps for Turning Any Hobby or Interest Into Cash from John Wiley and Sons books. He’s been successfully publishing and marketing for more than 35 years — more than 25 years online — and now shares all of his wisdom and guidance on Uncle Alan’s Info-Publishing and Marketing Portal.

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How To Get My Coaching FREE (one time)

warrenwhitlock — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:27:12 +0000

I help authors sell books, build a business and take their messages to the world.

We do that in two ways here.. a lot of free information on the web, and high paid clients. Unless I get a crazy idea to test new software and give away the paid consulting.

I am trying out a new webinar system for my private coaching sessions. So you get this same ME, hopefully a great show, and the fun of watching me bumble through with new technology (OK.. you can get that anytime)

The only catch.. I’m just doing this ONCE.. it will NOT BE RECORDED (no evidence if I screw up) and it is on SHORT NOTICE.

Friday at Noon Eastern (9am Pacific) on July 16th (yes, that is tomorrow.. I did say SHORT NOTICE)

Grab a slot here –> Warren’s free coaching session

I’m going to share some new tests from what is working on FACEBOOK, how partners are getting 10x the publicity on the MEGA SUCCESS DAY promo for next week and other freebinarific advice. I may talk about Twitter if you twist my arm.

I will answer ANY question… show any secret site.

You can still ask your question in a comment, on Twitter or whatever.. but you won’t get the real live me with a mouse in my hand showing you exactly what YOU need to succeed unless you register here

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