The Unexpected Value of Free

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

It's one of our favorite words: free. When you write any advertising copy for an email or a social media post or an article, I encourage you to use this word because it will attract readers and keep people reading your material. Copywriters use the word free and sprinkle it into their work.

 

I've used this word frequently in my lead magnets which can be an audio file or a PDF document or a teleseminar. For the reader to get the free resource, I ask them to give me their first name and email address in exchange for access. These types of resources are called lead magnets because they drive people to subscribe to your email list—which is one of the most important tools for a writer to create and control. I've written about lead magnets in the past and encourage you to follow this link to see a variety of images and lead magnets which I am using in this area.

 

Besides lead magnets, writers need to develop and grow their email lists. Recently I spoke with an author who told me that she had 250 subscribers to her email list and that she was working to grow it. I also spoke with another author who had an email list of 60,000 subscribers. It's easy to see which one of these two authors would be more attractive to a publisher. I encourage you to be working to grow your email list through events, promotion on business cards, pop-ups on your website and any number of other methods. If you need more help in this area, I have an inexpensive resource called List Tycoon and hope you will check it out.

 

In other articles about the Writing Life, I've told you about the importance of a book proposal—even if you are going to self-publish. Your proposal is your business plan for your book. I've launched a free page for you to get the Ebook version of Book Proposals That Sell. Here's where you can get this free ebook in whatever version you need (Kindle, iPad, Nook, etc). In the process of getting this free ebook, you will give me your email address. Why would I give away a book which came out last October?

If you download the free ebook and begin to read it, statistically there is a high probability that you will buy the print version of the book at wherever you purchase print books. We've learned about this principle from the actions of other authors like Morgan James author Russell Brunson. All over Facebook (and on his own website—just follow the link), Brunson has ads for Dotcom Secrets and Expert Secrets. The ads say if you send me the postage of $9.95 then you receive a free copy of the physical book. Every year, Brunson gives away 100,000 copies of each title. Not everyone buys his book from those Facebook ads. Some people watch the ad and decide to buy the book in their local bookstore. Year after year, Brunson sells a six-figure volume of books in the bookstore and makes royalties on those sales. I tell this story to show you lose nothing when you give away the ebook version. Instead, you build your email list and potentially drive more people to purchase your print book.

 

Are you giving away your book for free? Do you have other ideas about the value of free? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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What To Do When "Nothing" Is Happening

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Some days particularly in certain seasons like summer seem like “nothing” is happening. As an editor, I'm calling authors who have received contracts but they aren't responding via email or returning my phone calls. Or maybe you are pitching agents and no one is responding to your proposals. Or maybe your agent is pitching your latest project and it is not getting a response. Or maybe you are querying magazine editors about writing articles and not getting responses. Or pitching podcasts or radio stations and not getting responses. You get my idea. You are actively working but getting nothing in response. I have this experience as well and in this article want to give you some encouragement and action-oriented ideas.

 

I've written about the importance of how every author has to continually pitch to get magazine assignments, book deals, podcast interviews, endorsements or anything else in this publishing business. It is a continual part of the process and at times the response is underwhelming or even silence.

 

From my experience in publishing, your consistent actions are important and will pay off for you—maybe not immediately but in the long run. No one reads every blog post when you want them to read it. No one reads your social media posts when you want them to be read. No one listens to your podcasts or radio interviews when you wanted. Or reads your magazine article when you wanted them to read it or reads your latest book release. It is important to keep building relationships and continue to pitch.

 

Several months ago, a fairly high profile podcast sent me an email asking me to pitch and possibly be a guest. It took me about a week to respond and give them what they requested. I didn't get a response. I sent it a second time. Finally I heard they were backed up at the moment from the responses. It was essentially saying thanks but no thanks. OK, on to the next opportunity. This exchange was four months ago. Then last week I got another email from the same podcast saying they were scheduling again with a calendar link to select a time. I chose a time and had a wonderful interview which will be published soon. I tell this story to remind you that we only see the situation from our viewpoint and not the person who is receiving it.

 

I sent birthday greetings to an editor this week via text since I had his cell phone number. We exchanged several texts and it gave me an opportunity to say how I'd love to work with him in the right project. Our exchanges gave me an opportunity to get in his mind for possible future work.

 

Here's some ideas for you when “nothing” is happening:

 

1. Pitch some new magazine articles.

2. Begin a new book proposal or book manuscript.

3. Create a new website to sell a product.

4. Create a new ebook to promote your mailing list.

5. Take an online training course to get new ideas.

6. Read a book about the craft of writing then apply it to your writing life.

7. Pitch some podcasts or radio stations to be a guest.

8. Write a guest blog posts or a pitch to a blog for a guest blog post.

9. Organize your office and pair down the clutter (something I've been doing lately).

 

Yes the list of possibilities for action can be endless. Here's a simple truth that I've learned: if you are stuck and do nothing, then nothing will happen. What actions do you take when “nothing” is happening? Let me know in the comments below.

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I've recently published some articles on other blogs and Richelle Wiseman Buzz on Book Biz released a podcast. I hope you will check out: Writers, Use This Simple Way to Stand Out and Learn Before You Leap into Ads (just follow the links).  These articles may give you some additional ideas about action steps for your own writing life.

 

Tweetable:

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Why I Lost 15,000 followers in 24 hours

Last week I lost 15,000 Twitter followers in 24 hours. For many people that loss would have been devistating and possibly wiped out their following. I went from 220,000 to 205,000 followers. I've been on Twitter since 2008 and actively working every day to increase my following.

What happened?  An article in the New York Times explained Twitter is battling fake accounts and has slashed millions of these accounts. As the article explains, “Twitter’s decision will have an immediate impact: Beginning on Thursday, many users, including those who have bought fake followers and any others who are followed by suspicious accounts, will see their follower numbers fall.”

I applaud Twitter's actions in this area but it has had impact on many users. At one point years ago as an experiment, I did buy some followers and my followers increased over a 24-hour period. Now those followers were fake accounts and I would not expect them to engage with me or be interested in any of my tweets.

Last year one of my writer friends launched a book with a New York publisher (in fact one of the big five). She had a modest Twitter following but in a short amount of time her followers increased to over 100,000–-which looks suspiciously like she purchased those followers rather than growing the following (as I have done). I just checked her followers and now she has 14,500 followers for a dramatic drop.

I want to make several key points from this experience to help you:

1. While Twitter continues to be an important social network, do not try and game the system with buying fake followers. I have written about the five actions I take every day on Twitter. There are good reasons I have a large Twitter following.

2. Don't forget Twitter is “rented” space. I don't own or have any connection to the Twitter company. They could cancel or block my account at any time eliminating my presence. I don't expect this elimination to happen and to my knowledge have been obeying their rules (key for everyone).

If you don't understand this concept of rented media, I encourage you to study Mastering the New Media Landscape by Barbara Cave Henricks and Rusty Shelton.  I regularly speak with authors who have built their entire platform on Facebook or Instagram or LinkedIn or Twitter. Yet these authors have never considered the risk of such efforts.

3. Diversification is important as you plan your presence in the marketplace. Henricks and Shelton talk about this in the final chapter of their book giving six ways to “futureproof” your media presence. The advise is wise and worth your following it. Make sure you have media that you own: your websites, your blog and your email list.  If you haven't read my free ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author, I encourage you to get it here.

There is one safe prediction I can make about the social media landscape: it will continue to shift and change.

What steps are you taking to master the new media landscape?  Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

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Updated One of My Popular Free Ebooks

Do you ever return to an old Ebook and update it? Over ten years ago, I wrote Straight Talk From the Editor, 18 Keys to a Rejection-Proof Submission. It has been one of my most popular free Ebooks. It is also one of the entry points where someone signs up for my email list.

I've worked at three publishing houses as an acquisitions editor plus for several years I had my own literary agency (now closed). I've read thousands of submissions and worked with many authors to contract and publish their books. Also I've published over 60 books for traditional publishers. From this vantage point, I wrote Straight Talk From the Editor.

Whether a writer is brand new and trying to get published for the first time or someone has been in the market for years, every type of writer can gain insights from this Ebook. I detail things not to do and actions to take which will rejection-proof your submission. Each story and detail are packed with practical insights from my experience. Each chapter ends with a summary and action steps for the reader.

Originally I wrote this Ebook for the Amazon Short program (which was stopped years ago). Amazon had the book exclusively for a period of time then it went to a nonexclusive relationship. Recently this Ebook wasn't working and I got that little technical glitch worked out so it does work.

I pulled up the Ebook on my screen. I had not revised this Ebook in four years. Some of the details needed revision and I had some new resources to add to the Ebook. In other places, links in the Ebook did not work and needed to be fixed. The book needed an update—something we can easily do in this electronic world. Admittedly it took a little editing and writing time to revise it. Then I had to do some technical work to upload the revised Ebook. Finally I tested these changes to make sure the replacement Ebook was in the
right place and everything in the book works.

I use this Ebook in a variety of places including on my blog on the Writing Life. Also this Ebook is on the back of my personal business card which I use at events and conferences. Often I am with other writers so an Ebook from an editor is an appropriate gift to others. Also this Ebook is one of the few links in my personal email signature (another way I let people know about it and encourage them to get it).

If you haven't read this Ebook, I encourage you to subscribe. You will have access to the Ebook right away.  Or maybe you read this material years ago as a subscriber and want the latest version, then subscribe again for access.

I wrote Straight Talk From the Editor (and have updated it) because I want you to succeed as a writer. Editors and agents receive hundreds of pitches, proposals and submissions. If they respond, they send a generic rejection letter which gives no idea why it was not accepted. From my experience, writers struggle to get real insights about why their pitch didn't hit the mark and get published. My Ebook is focused on providing information which is not easily accessed from my experience in the publishing world. Even at a writer's conference where you are face to face with the literary agent or editor, it is hard to get this information. I love conferences but editors and agents know the attendees have invested a lot to get to this event and the purpose is to encourage and train rather than give the hard truth. In Straight Talk, I've attempted to be transparent and balanced to help writers succeed with their submissions. Admittedly it is tricky to achieve.

Do you update your Ebooks from time to time? Let me know in the comments below.

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Make The Most of Your Writing During the Holidays

Most of publishing isn’t good at communication any time of the year. Often it takes weeks to hear from an editor or literary agent. This time of year between Thanksgiving until after New Year's Day are an even slower time of year. It is like your submissions go into a black hole with no response.

As an editor, I understand that people are focused on holiday shopping, sending greetings and other events which interrupt the typical publishing responses. At Morgan James Publishing, I'm still processing manuscripts with authors and contracts.  Our publication board meets weekly (instead of the typical once a month) and has one more meeting before the end of the month. In a long-standing tradition, Morgan James will be closed from December 22^nd  until January 2^nd .

How can you make your writing life productive during this period? It is possible for you to be active during this silent period of publishing. 

Last week I had the opportunity to drive to Denver and do an in-studio radio interview about my book, Billy Graham, A Biography of America's Greatest Evangelist. Most of these types of radio interviews are 20 to 30 minutes and I “thought” that was what I was doing. As I settled into my place in the studio, they thanked me for co-hosting the program (which I learned was two hours). I loved the opportunity to talk for two hours about Billy Graham—even if unexpected. Here's a little seven-minute glimpse at that session (use the link to download it and then open it on your computer). 

Here’s six different ways to make the most of your writing during the holidays:


1. Work on building your platform and presence in the marketplace. Use my ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Writer on this topic or something else for some idea starters. Can you take some actions to increase your twitter followers or add to the number of people who are reading your newsletter?

2. Rework or update your website.  I've not reworked my own website in some time and I'm going to use this time to update some of my websites.

3. Write a free ebook for a list generator. Can you take a series of blog posts or articles and turn them into a free ebook that you offer to your mailing list? Use this time to create such an ebook.

4. Create your own event in January. Your new ebook (#3) could be the ethical bribe that you use with this new event. Now is the time to be planning the details of such an event. 

5. Read a book on marketing such as 5–Minute Book Marketing for Authors or Online Marketing for Busy Authors. Follow the links of those books because I wrote in detail about each of these books. When you read the book, apply some of the lessons to your books and writing.

6. Begin a new income stream. Writing has multiple paths and income possibilities. During this quiet time, select a path that you are not currently using such as affiliate marketing, then begin to develop a new income stream. I have a list of writing possibilities in the free sample of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Follow this link to get this free resource.

You may not be able to tackle all six of these ideas but hopefully several of them help you. Notice each of them are something you can do without a connection to an editor or agent.

As a seventh way,I encourage you to polish or create a book proposal. Even if you are going to self publish, you will still need a proposal. The proposal is the blueprint for your book—especially if you are writing nonfiction. If you are writing fiction, you will still need this information for the platform and marketing section. A free resource to learn more insights about proposal creation is at: AskAboutProposals.com.

You can move forward with your writing even during the holidays. I understand this time of year has many things pulling for your attention. It is a matter of commitment and focus to get these actions for your writing in motion.

What suggestions do you have for your writing life during the holidays? Tell me in the comments.

Tweetable:

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Get Answers for Your Book Proposal Questions

For over 25 years, I've been in the publishing business and I continue to learn new information every day. One of the keys (which no one controls) is making the right connection with the right person at the right time and the right place.

While you can't control that element, you CAN be actively working to learn all that you can about how to make the best possible pitch. Also you can get insights and answers from experienced editors.

I want to help deepen your understanding of how editors and agents make their decisions about your proposals and pitches. Remember editors and agents don't read manuscripts. They read book proposals.

Even if you are going to self-publish, you still need a book proposal because this document gives you a business plan for your book. It's true whether you are writing nonfiction, fiction or even children's books. 

As a frustrated acquisitions editor to help writers send better submissions, I wrote BOOK PROPOSALS THAT $ELL, 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS. This book has helped many would-be authors to get an agent or a publisher. This book has over 130 Five Star reviews.

But don't get this book from Amazon. Why?

In recent weeks, I have purchased all of the remaining copies of the book from my former publisher. I slashed the price from $15 to $8 and created new bonuses for anyone who gets this book:

http://BookProposalsThatSell.com

On Tuesday, April 19 at 6 p.m. EST or 3 p.m. PST (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov), I'm going to be answering your questions in a FREE 70-minute teleseminar. You can sign up and ask me any question about proposal creation and proposal marketing at:

http://askaboutproposals.com

In addition, I've created a new FREE Ebook for everyone who signs up at the teleseminar: SOME BOOK PROPOSAL INSIGHTS. For the last few years I've written a column for Southern Writers Magazine. You can gain my proposal insights in this 30-page Ebook packed with content when you sign up at:

http://askaboutproposals.com


I'm excited to help many more writers to be successful 
with their publishing dreams as they read and study BOOK PROPOSALS THAT $ELL) http://BookProposalsThatSell.com). I encourage everyone to ask a proposal question at:

http://askaboutproposals.com

I look forward to speaking with you on April 19th. If you can't make the time of the call, please go ahead and sign up anyway. The entire teleseminar will be recorded and EVERYONE who signs up will receive an email with the replay link. Also if you sign up, you will be able to 
download the FREE Ebook right away. This report is loaded with valuable advice.

Tweetable:
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You Must Be There To Win

I watch the stories with great interest—the current Power Ball frenzy. The numbers are really high and someone is going to win that prize. Yet you must have a ticket to get into the game—and I've not bought a ticket.

I have an opportunity where you can win but the odds are a lot better than any lottery or powerball. Next Tuesday, September 10th, I will be interviewing the publisher at Morgan James Publishing, Rick Frishman.

Rick has an outstanding background in publishing and has worked with many bestselling authors on their publicity campaigns to promote their books. For the last 12 years, Rick has led Author 101 University twice a year. In March it is held in Los Angeles and in October the event is in Las Vegas. Next month, Author 101 will have another outstanding list of speakers and a wealth of bookselling information.

Next Tuesday you can ask Rick a question and if you are on the call (the action you have to take) you can be one of the winners of a free registration to Author 101. 

Yes during the call, Rick will be giving away several free registrations for the event. You will have to be listening to be one of the winners. 

From my experience of attending a number of Author 101 events, I know it can be life changing. I hope you will be one of the people on the live call listening to Rick, who is a wealth of practical publishing information.

Just for signing up for the Tuesday call, you will receive a free copy of Rick’s new Ebook, Agents and the Publishing Industry. Even if you don’t have a question, register and say “no question” when asked for a question.
You do not want to miss this live teleseminar because you could win a free registration to Author 101 Las Vegas.

Hope to see you on the call.

Look for Publishing Insights

Throughout my day, I am reading articles and information about publishing. I gain a great deal of personal insights from each of these sources of information.

Many of them I will point out on my twitter feed and include the link to it. I hope as a resource to your own publishing life, you are reading these tweets and articles on a regular basis.

In this article, I want to point out a couple of these resources for publishing insights. One of them is book shepherd Judith Briles. I've known Judith for a number of years and know her work with authors is excellent. In fact, I saw her personally during Author 101 University in Los Angeles last March.

Recently Judith spoke about creating the platform for your book on her blog. I enjoyed this short video and know it will help you understand this concept of platform. You can watch it here or click the image below to go to the You Tube site. 



For my insights about how an author can build a platform, I've created my Free Ebook, Platform building ideas for every author. Just use the link to get your own copy of this 43–page Ebook and begin using the information right away.

While there are many different people, I want to include Jane Friedman in this post. The former editor at Writer's Digest has a regular blog which I follow. I enjoyed this recent entry called: How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?

I encourage you to use the subscription tool in the right-hand column of the Writing Life and subscribe to these entries—and other people so you receive their insights on a regular basis.

Where do you find your publishing insights? Let me know in the comment section. The main focus that I wanted to give you is to continue looking and absorbing publishing insights—from many different sources. 

Help Drive My Ebook to #1 on Amazon

My newest book is now on Amazon Kindle Book Marketing Success Secrets: The Constant Drumbeat of Every Writer (Conversations About Marketing Interview Series: Volume 1:4) co-authored with Marketing Expert D'vorah Lansky. This 47 page book is FREE--until Midnight PST Thursday, October 18. 

I'm writing to tell you about the book and encourage you to download it right now at: http://amzn.to/RaBsxx

As Kathy H. Porter wrote in her Five Star review: "Today, authors have to be actively engaged at every step of the publishing process. Which means, once the book is written, it's time to bring it to market. If this sounds like a daunting task, it doesn't have to be. D'vorah Lansky knows just the right questions to ask on your behalf during her interview with Terry Whalin, a guy "...who understands both sides of the editorial desk - as an editor and a writer." Whalin explains that an author's marketing message is really an extension of their professional brand which he likens to creating a "constant drumbeat.""

Also Porter, quoted part of my book saying, "Writers have to learn how to beat that drum and beat it all the time, to tell people about their book. I've read and heard over and over that people have to hear about your book probably six or seven times before they actually reach into their wallets and pay money for that book, and decide it's something important that they need. So how many times can you beat that drum over and over to help people realize that?"

Here's how I suggest you take action:

1. Download your own copy of the book at:
http://amzn.to/RaBsxx

2. Tweet about the free book to your friends or
tell others on Facebook saying something like:

Get @TerryWhalin's Amazon Kindle Book The Constant
Drumbeat for Every Writer Reached #1 on
Kindle.FREE at: http://amzn.to/RaBsxx

3. Finally, write a couple of sentences of praise (review) on Amazon along with a Five Star review.

Here's what we're trying to do--and you can help. The Ebook is already #1 on Amazon Kindle but you can help drive the Ebook to #1 on Amazon.

Thank you for being a part of this effort--and downloading the book. I'm eager to help your writing as you read and use the content of this book. Here again is where you can get it:
http://amzn.to/RaBsxx

If you miss the small window of time where the book is FREE, don't worry because the Ebook price is affordable at only 99 cents so I hope you will still get it at: http://amzn.to/RaBsxx

Cut Down on the Publishing Learning Curve

If you have written a novel or a nonfiction book or just have an idea for one, how do you cut down the learning curve and get published?

There are a number of ways that I've learned but one of the most fruitful means is to get educated and connected to the marketplace through face-to-face contact at a writer's conference.

I've written about the details of why you should attend a writer's conference in this article. I've created a new free resource about publishing.

Next Monday, I'm going to be interviewing Rick Frishman who is one of the most knowledgeable publishing professionals that I know about why someone should attend a writer's conference. Rick Frishman is the founder of one of the largest PR Firms in the U.S. Planned Television Arts and now he's a publisher at Morgan James Publishing. 

Also Rick is the creator and host of the popular writers conference Author 101 University, which will be held in late October in Las Vegas. I will also be attending this amazing event. As an acquisitions editor at Morgan James, I'm working with Rick.

Rick is going to be answering your questions about why a writer should attend a conference and more of the details about what happens at these amazing events. You can ask your question and sign up for the event. If you can't make that time, don't worry because it will be recorded and everyone who registers will receive the replay information. I hope you will ask your question—and if you don't have a question, go ahead and sign up. You can simply put “no question” in the question area. 

Why sign up if you aren't going to attend? 

Every writer who wants to get published needs the free Ebook from Rick: Before You Contact An Agent from his book, Author 101 Bestselling Secrets of Top Agents that Rick wrote with Robyn Freedman Spizman. This valuable 36–page resource will help you get ready to meet with any agent or editor—whether you do it face to face at a conference or through email.

With straightforward information, every author or would-be author needs to read this Ebook and follow the seasoned advice it contains. I encourage you to get it—and to pass the information along to your friends.

The Empty Box (That Was Supposed to be Full!)

About a week ago, I ordered another case of Book Proposals That Sell. I speak about book proposal creation at various conferences and bring this book to the event. If you check the link to the Amazon page, you will see this book has over 100 Five Star reviews. The most recent review at this writing was on July 2^nd. I'm thrilled so many people have used the contents of this book to gain a traditional publisher or a literary agent.

Right away my publisher sent the box of books into the U.S. postal system. It arrived and was supposed to be packed with books. Except it had a problem—the bottom of the box was folded and other than a small piece of Styrofoam, it was empty.

The Styrofoam I understand because it normally fills out the little space in the box so the books arrive in perfect condition. The people at my mailbox had never seen such a package arrive in this shape.

I called my publisher—and they had never had this type of thing happen. The publisher is going to try and recover the missing books and will be shipping me a replacement case right away. As you can tell from my forthcoming speaking schedule, I have a number of events where I will need these books.

If you want to quickly get the book and don't care if you read a paperback or the Ebook version, here's where you can get the Ebook. I wrote this book as a frustrated acquisitions editor to help writers produce the type of proposals that agents and editors need. Since I wrote the book years ago, not every detail in it is correct (such as some of the links) and some other information.

Several months ago I updated the contents of the Ebook version but the printed book has not caught up. I've offered the revision to my publisher when he reprints the book but I'm unsure how long that will take to happen—since to date he has not requested my revisions. If you haven't read the book, I encourage you to get the electronic version because it comes with my no questions asked guarantee and a variety of bonuses. Plus you can instantly receive it (no waiting for the mail). 

No matter how you read this book, I'm always thrilled to hear from people who have read it and taken action on the contents—-and gained a book contract or a literary agent. It's one of the key reasons I wrote the book—to improve the quality of book proposals and submissions. 

Writers, editors, agents and even readers of books gain from this activity. Here's to writing the next bestseller.