Meet the Info Crowd

Safely and securely packaging CDs and DVDs is more than likely one of the most repeatedly neglected but requisite practices to come to terms with when duplicating and publishing CDs. Let’s face it: even the smallest factor has the capability to subtract from the overall superiority of the whole undertaking not to mention mess up your effort. DVD and CD packaging is something you really have to get right. So never risk compromising your setup’s trusted reputation by risking delivery of low quality work.

First off you should realize with respect to packaging CDs and DVDs: there is a big distinction between replicating media and duplicating them. There’s a major difference, no matter that they sound the same. Duplication utilizes precisely the same approach go for in your house while you burn DVDs, however at a much faster execution rate. The downside being that this distinct method is moderately more high-priced because it is normally chosen when running small-scale batches close to 10 thousand or fewer. Plus, it offers a considerably lesser value than the complementary process for DVD packaging, namely replication. Thus, do take care you choose your methodology with care. CD and DVD packaging employing replication means the media data is actually copied by imprinting it on the DVDs or CDs. They are then printed and eventually lacquered. Usually, this is done for a lot of discs, and the achievable quality is indeed amazing. You will also want to consider whether or not to utilize conventional cases or maybe the far more expensive digipacks. The traditional cases are the larger recycled plastic types which feature a couple of guides for the cardstock inlets. They come in various kinds. They can hold multiple CDs or DVDs, and they’re actually quite well-liked chiefly they provide a little extra stability to the CD or DVD on the inside. Then again, these are generally more expensive and certainly not green, unless you cough up more for cases manufactured from reused materials. By contrast, digipacks are generally made of pressed paper employing a small pvc fastener on the inside. In a nutshell, they’re quite different: they get noticed and they’re much better for our ecology. Take into account going creative with all your DVD and CD packaging. By deploying the latest technology, you have the a chance to go far further than run-of-the-mill photographic and design work and instead to go for something less unimaginative or even fun for the CD or DVD product packaging. Pop-ups, a multitude of materials used, cut-outs made from paper, in conjunction with other artistic devices could certainly do the trick and help make media products, intel, movies and/or mp3 be noticeable in their respective promotion environment.

In a similar vein, freebies as well as prize draws have also turned into well-liked addenda to common product packaging CDs and DVDs. People love collecting paper prints, vintage photo cards, signed memorabilia, along with other things you could slap on to your DVD. Or maybe add codes consumers can put in over the internet to access secret video clips or music, enter challenges, or maybe get kickbacks.

Product packaging media discs can potentially have a huge effect on products or services sold as well as the opinion buyers form of your DVDs. Be sure that your discs give the best impression by leveraging high-quality product packaging as well as design. This won’t inescapably blow up your costs- you can hire lots of fantastic creative talent on the internet for very little money in other words the option is entirely yours to take.

DVD and CD product packaging is likely to be among the most commonly brushed aside and yet essential moves to take care of when copying and delivering media discs. Let’s not disregard that even the smallest detail could subtract from the fine quality of the total project not to mention destroy your toil. DVD and CD packaging is one challenge you unquestionably should really always get right.

First of all you need to know with regards to product packaging CDs and DVDs: there is a big distinction between the duplication and the replication of media discs. You’ll discover that there’s a major difference, even though they seem to be the same thing. Copying applies exactly the same technology you use right at home as you burn CDs, though at a quicker rate. It’s unfortunate that this specific method is marginally more high-priced since it is largely used when executing small quantities close to 10,000 or fewer. In addition, it features a moderately lower quality when compared with the alternate process for CD packaging, to wit replication.

Product packaging DVDs and CDs through replication means the media data will be transmitted by imprinting all data files on the DVDs and or CDs. They’re subsequently properly printed as well as finished off with special coating. This is typically conducted for a significant lot of DVDs, and the attainable quality is indeed remarkable. For small production runs this is usually not, unfortunately, economically viable.

You’ll also want to make your mind up if you should deploy classic cases or maybe “digipacks”. Standard cases are the larger clear plastic ones having a number of tracks for conventional paper inserts. They come in different variations. They can hold multiple discs, and they are popular as they offer you a little extra stability for that DVD or CD within. Regretfully, they can indeed be quite expensive and positively not particularly eco friendly, if you don’t want to pay more for ones created from reused components. Extra expensive: bio-degradable solutions which has a zero or even a negative carbon dioxide footprint. Digipacks, however, are usually manufactured of cardboard having a small PVC support inside. They are really quite different; they get noticed and typically a lot better for our global climate.

Consider turning resourceful within your DVD and CD packaging. Deploying present-day tools, you have the opportunity to go well further than the usual photographic and design work and decide on something special or maybe fun for that disc product packaging. Popup art, a wide range of raw materials, cut-outs made from paper, together with other artistic styles can work as well making media products, info, pictures or perhaps sound clips jump out on the shelf.

Obviously, freebies and competitions have also turned into very popular addenda to average DVD CD product packaging. People love collecting prints, collectible portrait cards, signed memorabilia, and other items you could add to your CD. Or maybe lap on unique codes customers can easily key in on your current web page to access insider movies or songs, register for prize draws, or, last not least, get discounts.

DVD CD packaging will likely have a major bearing on revenues as well as the personal opinion clients may form of your products. Make sure your CDs or DVDs don’t fail by only going for top notch wrapping and, of course, design.

Safely and securely packaging CDs and DVDs might be among the most repeatedly dismissed but critically important steps to deal with when duplicating and putting out CDs. Even the tiniest attribute may detract from the excellence of the whole undertaking not to mention trash your toil. Planning and carrying out the appearance of your CDs etc. is one area you and your staff members totally have to get right.

To begin with, here is the one major thing you have to realize with regards to CD and DVD packaging - there is a considerable distinction between replication and duplication. There is a tremendous difference, even though both sound the very same. Duplication incorporates the very same method go for right at home once you burn CD albums, but at a considerably faster data transfer rate.

It’s unfortunate that this solution is somewhat more pricey since it is mostly selected when working on packs close to 10k or less. In addition, it delivers a somewhat reduced quality versus alternate method for DVD and CD product packaging to wit production through replication. Hence, make sure you choose your approach prudently. Packaging media discs via replication means the information will be processed by imprinting everything on the CDs and DVDs. Next, they’re run through the printing press in addition to being coated. Generally, this is the method for a large number of CDs, and the quality is indeed exceptional. You will also need to make a decision whether or not to utilize classic cases or possibly “digipacks”. Traditional cases would be the sizeable pvc kinds using a number of guides for your paper inlets. They come in diverse patterns. They can take several DVDs or CDs, and are popular as they provide a little additional stability for the CD or DVD on the inside. At the same time, they are really high-priced and definitely not environmentally friendly, unless you pay out more for cases produced with reused components. A whole lot more costly: bio-degradable products boasting nil or even favorable CO2 footprint.

Digipacks are actually made from card board which includes a smallish pvc support on the inside. They really are totally different: they stick out and are basically better for the ecosystem.

Take into consideration going resourceful with your CD DVD packaging. Utilizing current technological advances, there’s a good deal of opportunity to go way beyond standard photos and graphic work to choose something more special or even interactive for the DVD product packaging. Popup art, numerous materials used, paper cut-outs, and other artistic devices can work equally efficiently and help make your media or data, intel, motion pictures or music be noticed in their respective marketing environ. Going further, freebies or even competitions have similarly turned into very popular inclusions in average product packaging DVDs and CDs. Most people enjoy collecting prints, cherished portrait cards, signed memorabilia, along with other items you can also add to your CD. Or maybe include codes buyers can key in on your company website in order to gain access to mystery vids or sound tracks, sign up for competitions, or get ahold of special discounts. Packaging CDs and DVDs can have a big bearing on revenue along with the opinion buyers may develop of your CDs or DVDs. Make certain your CDs do well by leveraging top notch wrapping as well as design factor. This won’t have to explode production expenses that badly, either: you can find lots of world class design artists via the web for very little money…

Producing an ezine requires a lot of creativity, therefore no one wants to spoil all the work with the wrong e-catalog software. In fact, picking out a software provider is the most important part of producing an ebrochure. It’s not a trite question of just picking a good format for your creation - indeed this choice is important because it may well mean the difference between success of failure for your entire venture. The main feature to look for is, of course, simplicity of use. If you can’t make the software run it doesn’t make a difference how great it is hyped to be! Be sure to test multiple packages before you select a provider for your ezine.

Because hacking and spamming is an issue online, security should be your next consideration after you’ve produced an online publication. Do you know what measures are taken securing your account? How about the content? Is it possible for people to simply copy-paste the newsletter content or has the flash software vendor prevented such things? Is the content secure? Has a business strategy been produced yet? One step in this plan is using networking sites. How is ad-handling placed in the scheme? These things are not absolutely necessary for each publication, but you’ll definitely need one that matches your particular business plan. Advertising this interactive newsletter will likely need search engine optimized content.

When you create digital editions, you’ll have to deal with former editions. Is your interactive newsletter going to be generally available? If it’ll be widely accessible, you’ll need to host your ezine with your vendor. So what plans have you got in mind to publicize this flash newsletter? Lastly, remember to select a flash publishing software host offering easy tech help. Do they offer emergency only tech support? How long will tech-support response time be? How are the FAQ pages? These things might seem minor now, however should there be an emergency, you’ll be happy you thought about this early on.

Consider your choices carefully when picking out your magazine’s digital publishing software supplier. And try googling the terms “create digital edition” to find some more hints.

It’s easy to spoil even the best online magazine, no matter how much energy has been put into it, with a low grade of electronic magazine package. The most important call to take when you’re producing an ebrochure is picking out the software provider you’ll use. This isn’t about merely formatting your ezine nicely - quite the contrary, this is a crucial decision because it can easily make or break your entire venture.

Out of the potential features, ease of use is the main one. The software could be the most amazing you’ve seen - but without being able to actually use it, it’s worth nothing. The e-brochure you’re producing should be important enough to you for you to test out several providers.

In creating an e-brochure you also want to maintain awareness of the menace posed by hackers. Have you been told how your account is secured? Can individuals simply copy and paste the magazine content or has the flash software vendor prevented such things? Is content secured by the publishing software supplier from copying and pasting by the everyday reader?

Once you’ve made an electronic magazine you should outline a commercialization timetable. Whatever your business plan may look like, you should think about such things, perhaps not for every single publication but instead for your business overall. What use are you making of modern media? How are you treating advertisements? Up to date marketing means considering search engine requirements as you edit content.

Is your content only going to be made accessible for free? Think about offering a variety of subscriptions. Will your content be commercialized or is this solely a not-for-profit venture? Will you be providing teasers to market this magazine? What’s the availability of your e-brochure? If it’ll be private you can investigate all your hosting options or is it public? In which case you should probably host directly. What have you planned for as regards back-issues? Before experiencing any sort of emergency you should consider a few additional things, too. What is the tech-support like? What quality is their FAQ page? Is there any sort of tips list which you can actually follow? Do they print their response time? How well staffed is their tech-support line or email address? Tech-support may be the last consideration, however it should be a deciding factor in your choice of provider. When you’ve resolved on creating an online publication such as an electronic magazine, choosing the right vendor may have an impact on determining its success. Consider this decision so you will truly succeed.

Video commercials are a vital tool to expose your firm’s services. Naturally there are lots of other sorts of marketing techniques around from content writing to blogging, from public relations to podcasting. But nothing says “cool, connection, & creativity” like an online video.

Each week more & more companies of varying sizes are producing professional videos about their services. They’re not only just posting them on their company sites, but They’re posting them to their blogs. To gain worldwide twenty four seven visibility, company videos are being added to a lot of video-sharing sites like YouTube and Kwego. And why not ? it is free, easy-to-do, and can have a noteworthy impact, in some cases, on the traffic it drives to your organisations site.

There are many more reasons why promotional videos are a valuable way to promote your firm. If your are looking for a creative agency dedicated to empowering your business with high quality online video marketing, visit www.vidify.co.uk today.

Promotional videos enjoy a large circulation: Videos by their own nature are simple to “package” which makes them just right to be added to a selection of different distribution circulations. You can post them on your site or blog, you can upload them onto your personal computer and show them over and over again at a business shows. You can upload them to dozens & dozens of World Wide Web video-sharing social sites. You can burn them onto CDs & give them away or sell them. You can even distribute them by email.

Videos on the Internet are an effective way to advertise. As our experience with technology evolves, so do the techniques in which business like to cooperate with others. Most people are visually oriented meaning that is how they best understand and interact with their world. This makes videos on the Internet the idyllic business strategy to communicate to today’s customers.

These are just one or two of the countless reasons why videos might be a superb way to advertise your organisation. Learn more about this area to see how you may exploit your valuable time, finances, & energy to speak with your target customers in a pioneering & remarkable way.

Studies show that your word-power determines your earning power, that your skill in self-expression determines your status in life.

The link between your vocabulary and your income is universally recognized. Researchers have discovered that college students with the lowest vocabulary scores usually end up in the lowest income group. So, if you wish to maximize your earning power, it is clearly vital to develop a powerful vocabulary.

Similarly, advancement in your career depends to a large extent on your capacity to express yourself with clarity and precision. Even the most cursory examination of job advertisements shows that employers value employees who can demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.

Within most companies, the people with the greatest command of words generally occupy the most powerful positions.

It is clear then that the more words you understand and can use, the easier you will find it to impress the very people who have the power to fast-track your career.

A powerful vocabulary is a highly-prized asset both socially and in the business world. There are very good reasons for this. Words enable you to conceive and articulate complex thoughts and ideas. The person who can use the right words at the right time enjoys a powerful advantage in any situation.

The words of a salesman can secure a million dollar order. The words of a judge can imprison or set you free.

A powerful vocabulary can make you sound like a genius.

Every day we pass judgement on the intelligence, education, and status of complete strangers simply on the basis of hearing them utter a sentence or two. We accept or reject them on the evidence of the words they use.

Let us not forget that other people judge us in exactly the same way!

A limited vocabulary paralyses your powers of communication. It can even make you feel like a foreigner in your own country - hearing and reading things you cannot understand, struggling to express yourself while your more eloquent friends or colleagues are able to encapsulate every thought and idea with infuriating ease.

Remember that the more words you have, the more ideas you have. The more ideas you can express, the greater influence you will have on those around you. When you improve your vocabulary, you immediately supercharge your powers of expression.

Unfortunately, most people pick up words in a haphazard and serendipitous manner. As a result, their vocabulary is amorphous and demonstrably inadequate to their needs.

Everyday, they see and hear important words that they neither recognize nor understand; and, lost in a fog of confusion, they are at the mercy of word spinners, persuaders, and propagandists.

That’s why it’s so important for everyone to follow a progressive and structured vocabulary-building program.

From ‘15 Hours To A Powerful Vocabulary’
http://www.assignmentsplus.com/vocabularycourse1.html
written by Gerard McLoughlin and published by Assignments Plus Business Publications.

Gerard McLoughlin, author of ‘15 Hours To A Powerful English Vocabulary’, has contributed articles to hundreds of publications and companies throughout the world.

If you want to improve your writing, you probably spend a fair amount of time reading a variety of “How To Write Good Sales Copy” kinds of information.

True?

You probably subscribe to a handful of newsletters like mine… you’ve read a few of the classic copywriting books by Claude Hopkins… John Caples… or Victor Schwab, and… you may have even read some “modern-day” books by guys like Dan Kennedy… Gary Halbert… and Joe Sugarman.

And this is good — you’re definitely going down the right track here.

Keep doing this, because knowledge applied in the right direction, really is powerful.

And in case you missed it…

The key word here, is… “applied”!

Anyway, what I want you to do right now, is to…

Completely Stop Reading These Books!

At least for a while anyway.

You see, you may not know it, but you could learn just as much — if not more — about writing effective sales copy, by reading fun stuff too, like fiction.

No, I’m not kidding, and let’s face it, you also get a lot more involved and emotionally attached to the characters in a good novel, then in a good “How To” book, any day.

Right?

See, I just finished up a few AWESOME novels, and I’d like to show you what to look for when you’re reading a good novel, and how to use this information to easily learn how to improve your sales copy.

Ready?

O.K. then.

The first book I want to tell you about is called “Motherless Brooklyn”, by an author named Jonathan Lethem, who’s actually from Brooklyn.

If you like a good old-fashioned murder / mystery / adventure and suspense book, only one that takes place in modern times, then grab yourself a copy of this book — you won’t be sorry.

It’s like a spy thriller, only there’s no spies in this one — just petty thugs and slick Brooklyn street hustlers.

Anyway, here’s why I loved this book: Check out how well this guy writes, from page 155:

“The four of them wore identical blue suits with black piping on the legs, and identical black sunglasses. They looked like a band that plays at weddings. Four white guys, assortedly chunky, pitched in the face, with pimples, and indistinct. Their car was a rental. Chunky sat in the backseat waiting and when the two who’d picked me up crushed me into the back beside him, he immediately put his arm around my neck in a sort of brotherly choke hold. The two who’d picked me off the street — Pimples and Indistinct — jammed in beside me, to make four of us on the backseat. It was a bit crowded.”

WOW!

I mean, how much cooler do you get than that?

Notice how Lethem’s writing:

Short, stacco sentences!
Lethem’s writing exactly the same way he’d be talking, if he was telling you this story in a conversation, instead of writing it.

Descriptive as all get out!
He tells you what the guys looked like… he gives you a visual and psychological anchor, by telling you they also resembled a band that plays at weddings… and… he also gives you an overview of their physical characteristics.

And the thing is, the physical attributes he’s describing, are vivid and stereotypical enough, that you can start picturing other visual, physical, and personality characteristics typically associated with people who share these same “trademarks”.

This guy’s simply brilliant!

He’s specific!
They’re not just “blue suits”, they’re “identical blue suits with black piping on the legs, and identical black sunglasses”.

Being specific makes the entire scenario much more believable and life-like. (Just the same way it does when you’re writing your sales copy.)

Do you see what my point is, about all this?

If you don’t, then you’re really missing out on a very valuable lesson here.

See, each of these techniques Lethem’s using in his fiction writing, are the same techniques you should be using in your sales copy.

They get your prospects more involved with the message you’re trying to deliver. And, if your prospects are actually taking time out of their lives to devote some mental “shelf-space” to you and your message… it brings them closer to you, and… closer to…

Buying From You!

Another book I just finished reading, is “Holes” by Louis Sachar.

My older son had been after me to read this book, and the truth is, I’m sorry I waited so long.

This was an easy book to digest… a fast read (maybe 2 hours of your time)… and boy-oh-boy, what a joy it was.

The sense of empathy (using very plain-and-simple English), Sachar was able to stir inside you, over the main characters plight, was heartfelt and simply wonderful.

If you can stir up emotions like that in your sales copy…

You’ve got a rock-solid
money-making machine on your hand!

And when you can show a “struggle to success” story the way he did, taking you by the hand and letting you walk alongside his characters as they overcome obstacle after unjust obstacle, your outcome’s going to be fantastic!

Can you do the same thing in your sales copy?

Of Course You Can!

For example, whatever you’re selling, has got to be the solution to some kind of problem… so tell your prospects stories about how you developed your product… or, how your product or service has changed someone’s life.

Either of those stories can be made into “rags to riches” or “struggle to success” stories, no?

I definitely shed a few tears after I finished reading the uplifting and pretty ironic conclusion of “Holes”, and… if you can move your prospects the same way, believe me you’ll make more than your fair share of ducats.

So read as much good fiction as you can get your hands on.

Start thinking about how your authors are painting their characters and bringing them to life for you.

And begin figuring out how the dynamics of the characters relationships are handled, and how YOU can use these same dynamics in your sales copy, to make your sales pitches compelling and “real”.

The bottom line here is, if you do the following three things, you’ll be able to use your fiction readings, to leverage your creative juices so they start flowing like the roaring rapids of the Snake River in Colorado, and not the Black Muddy River of folklore.

Here are these three simple things you must do:

Read!
Read voraciously and read like your life’s depending on it. Pretend each book you read is like a juicy thick sirloin steak, and then imagine…

You’re Freakin Starving!

And start devouring those books!

Think!
As you’re reading, s-l-o-w-l-y digest every single morsel you’re taking in. Discover what’s making your characters tick, and… even more important, figure out what it is about what’s making them tick…

That’s Going To Make Your Prospects TickToo!

Do Something!
You know, last week I saw this bit on one of those prime time television news exposés, about some poor gal who was just so desperate to lose weight.

The only problem was… she was eating enough food in a day…

To feed a small farming country in the mid-east!

Now what’s up with that?

Do you need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that’s NOT the road to losing weight?

I’m not saying it’s easy for someone in her position — NOTHING good is easy.

Anything worth while, is usually worth fighting for, and… it’s also usually incredibly difficult to achieve.

Period.

Sorry, but there’s just no getting around that one.

So if you think simply “reading” and “understanding” everything you must know about “how to write”, is going to make you even one thin dime, then you’re sorely mistaken.

To do this, you’ve actually got to go out and…

Write something!

Be, as Teddy Roosevelt said, the “man in the arena”. Feel the sweat pouring down the sides of your head… bounce back from your mistakes… and then… emerge victorious, baby!

Before I go, check out what Rod Argent said, back in 1968. (Do you know who he is?)

“Really, music is a very personal thing. It’s the product of a person’s experiences. Since no two people have been exactly alike, each writer has something unique to say. That makes anything which is not just a copy of something else, worth listening to.”

So listen to music that moves your soul… read good books that quench your thirst for becoming whole, emotionally… and enjoy creating and basking in the “non-real” things life’s imagination is offering you.

And then, use these gifts to go out and create the very best damn sales letters you can, and… start…

Enjoying… Your Results!

About the Author

Craig Garber is one of America’s Top Direct-Response Copywriters and Direct-Marketing Consultants. For more copywriting tips, go to www.kingofcopy.com
Copyright 2005 www.kingofcopy.com

You might think that selling yourself short is a sure way to not
be a success in the ghost writing field. And your eyes are
probably dancing with the very large figures of money that
you’ve heard ghost writers pull down, in yearly figures such as
$60,000 to $100,000, or amounts such as $15,000 to $60,000 per
each book you write.

This is especially so if you’re breaking into the field of
ghosting for the first time, and if you’re a ghost writer (or
ghostwriter) who has never really ghosted a book for someone
else before. You’re probably thinking big bucks, major book
contracts, large amounts of cash advances from publishers and
huge percentages from the books you will be anonymously writing
for big time authors.

But let’s face some facts. The first time writers, people with
no time to invest in writing a book, and who may have fantastic
stories to tell don’t always have the enormous amount of
financial capital available to hire any such “cheap” ghost
writers. They simply don’t have the money. They’re bound to
enter some psychological difficulties when they see that the
payments to you are the whopper figures such as those listed
above, and that those are the only sorts of prices accessible to
them. By laying out such enormous fees, you could be stuck
losing a huge customer base of clients with fantastic stories to
tell — but without the major wherewithal to pay you to tell
them. What if, say, your potential author, the person hiring you
to write his or her story, has only $5000 to spend?

I know what I’m talking about, and I can create a decent work of
cheap ghost writing in a month for that amount of money. You do
that, and there’s your $60,000 per year! It really isn’t all
that hard.

Most other ghost writers I know are as capable of doing so as I
am, but some of them do charge the higher amounts. The clients
of the latter group tend to be people with enormous sales
potential, not the typical first time authors who have a great
story but often don’t really go anywhere with it - the so called
“sucker market.”

It might be worthwhile to consider charging less, or negotiating
a deal with such a “first timer.” Over the years, I have drawn
the conclusion that there are an awful lot of such people out
there. I have been ghost writing books for people for as low an
amount as $2000 per book, and as I have other sources of income
from other types of writing, I have been finding an immense
amount of personal satisfaction from helping such would be
authors actually obtain what they are looking for in a cheap
ghost writer who charges a reasonable price for the quality and
quantity of work done for them.

This works out to be less “greedy” on my part and more of a
service that I provide for authors who are only dreaming of
getting their books up high on the top of the New York Times
Bestseller list, and who know that such are their dreams, not
necessarily their realities. They are often people who have come
to the end of their ropes when it comes to negotiating a lower
price for their books. They usually have nowhere else to turn
when it comes to putting out their own personal stories, and
they need someone with a willing ear and pen to listen and help
them set down their stories before it’s too late for them to be
told. Also, some of these people simply don’t know what they’re
doing and need a guiding hand to help them, They need their
Letters of Query written up for them, their Brief Biographies
put together and their advancement letters as well, as they are
just dipping their toes into the writing field and getting them
wet for the very first time.

People like that don’t need to face down what looks like to them
to be a million dollar price tag when they are looking for
what’s described as a cheap ghost writer. They want an actual
inexpensive ghost writer who understands their needs, both
budgetary and otherwise, who can sit down with them and
negotiate a fairly low amount of money paid out by them so they
can figure on at least getting some return from their books.
These people are not Presidents of the United States or famous
movie actors, whose books are guaranteed to sell, and many of
them find themselves “stuck” with what used to be called vanity
publishing, nowadays called self publishing. They won’t
necessarily find a commercial publisher who wants to take a
chance on huge returns from their books in today’s multifaceted
but still challenging world of publishing.

These clients need literally cheap or inexpensive ghost writers.
They don’t need to spend a small fortune on their books to find
out they dead ended in a warehouse, didn’t sell as widely as
they thought they would, or otherwise came out on the short end
of the stick.

Help them. Consider bargaining and bartering at a lower price
sometimes, and not at a higher price. It might be worth your
while. Try it and see!

*Article Use Guidelines*

Use in opt-in publications, or on Web sites, but please include
the resource box.

Please send me a copy, if possible. Many thanks.

**

Summary: If you want to sell your writing, you need to get ideas
that sell.

Category: Writing

Words: 650

Getting ideas that sell

Copyright (c) 2002 by Angela Booth

(This article is an extract from my new writing workshop, Writing
to Sell in the Internet Age.)

As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you
can’t make it drink. You can offer your writing too, but if no
one wants it, you’re stuck.

You’ve got to train yourself to come up with saleable ideas, for
specific audiences. Somehow, someway, you’ve got to discover what
people want, and give it to them in your writing. The more
successfully you do that, the more you’ll sell.

==> To get more ideas, write more

In an article, the prolific thriller/ horror writer Dean Koontz
said that when he wrote more, spending six to eight hours a day
at it, he got more ideas. He frequently found himself writing one
book, while making notes for another two or three.

It’s true. If you’re not writing, you won’t get ideas. Your
subconscious mind is lazy. You haven’t convinced it that finding
ideas is important to you, so you don’t get them.

Start a program of writing every day. Write anything, but make
sure that you’re doing it for at least an hour, and that you
force yourself to write. Get your fingers on the keyboard, and
move them. Let whatever wants to come out, come out.

Sounds like work, right?

Sure. At first it is. Then it’s fun. And easy. The first couple
of days you do this, you may feel that it’s pointless. But I
promise you, keep at it, and within a few days you’ll start
coming up with more ideas that you know what to do with.

==> If you want to know what people want, ask them

One way to find out what people are interested in is to read the
bestseller lists. What are people buying? Extrapolate from these
lists. Can you find any new trends?

On the other hand, the best way to discover what people are
willing to buy, is to ask them. Go to the online places where
they hang out, and ask.

For example, let’s say that in your day job, you’re a
nutritionist. You know that diet is a perennially popular topic.
You advise dieters on how to eat, and you’ve garnered a lot of
experience in how and why people put on weight, and ways that
they can safely dump the lard.

You decide that you need to learn what people really want to
know. So you subscribe to a few discussion groups, and after
you’ve read the postings for a few weeks, and have posted
responses to some questions, you ask your own questions.

Be straightforward about this. Just admit that you’re doing
research, and ask for help. Post a questionnaire for people to
fill in. (Assure them that their privacy will be respected.)

After a month of this, you’ll get ideas for products (articles,
books) that will sell.

==> The sure-fire formula for winning, instantly saleable ideas:
combine entertainment and information

You need to be clear about what you’re selling. With non-
fiction, you’re selling information. With fiction, you’re selling
entertainment.

The best way to sell either fiction or non-fiction is to combine
both in your writing.

Mix a dash of entertainment with your information. That is, when
you’re writing an information product, an article or a book, even
though it’s non-fiction, don’t be dull. Check out the wildly
popular For Dummies series of books: good information, delivered
with an entertaining style.

On the other hand, if you’re writing fiction, ground it in real
life with good information. I’m a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s
Outlander series. Definitely fiction, but Ms Gabaldon grounds her
time-travel historical novels in their era with fascinating facts
that make the unbelievable plots credible.

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About the Author

Australian author, journalist and copywriter Angela Booth
has been writing professionally for over twenty years. She writes
business books and copy for businesses.