Benefits of writing a business book

Business books are becoming increasingly popular in the modern business world. Business books offer a variety of benefits to readers, authors and companies by giving advice on current issues facing businesses today. And exactly how to tackle them. From the incredibly niche to all-encompassing, there is a topic for almost every current or future business person. I’ve written several business books that have offered specific information for small business owners and marketers. It was natural for me to do so since I was already a writer, but I didn’t expect the numerous benefits of authoring these business books. Here are just some of the many reasons why you should consider writing a business book for your own or your company’s business benefit: Want to bust through the fear? Here’s my fear-dissolving course. 1 Gain new business opportunities One great way to promote your company is through the successful marketing of a business book. Business books can be marketed through both traditional and non-traditional means. Selling at least 5000 copies in a week will land most titles on any given bestseller list, which can increase public awareness and draw new customers, all whilst giving you credibility. Now, this is a challenging feat, but even if you sell one copy a week, that is one new lead that you get paid for (rather than paying advertising dollars to attract). The average self-published book sells less than 1000 copies but don’t be disheartened because even that is 1000 warmed-up lifetime leads. Business owners who have published books tend to find that their new customer base is much larger than it was previously. Book sales result in many referrals, clients and new business opportunities which would not have arrived otherwise. My business books, Promote Your Spiritual Business in particular, have helped draw in new customers in a different niche that I ordinarily wouldn’t reach through my existing marketing channels, which are predominantly targeted at traditional corporate brands. 2 Become an industry expert Business books can also help you become regarded as an industry expert, enhancing your credibility and reputation all the more. Business owners who publish books gain expert status because they are viewed as people with valuable knowledge, opinions and insight on important issues within the business world. They are able to gain even more visibility by becoming known internationally or nationally through media appearances, public speaking engagements and other activities related to book promotion. Authors gain instant recognition for sharing their thoughts on current business issues. And people will seek you out once they know your topic of expertise and that you can put together a cohesive argument or collection of information in the form of a book. Read Like A CEO with MentorBox! 3 Gain business exposure Business books also provide businesses— whether large or small— with increased exposure, which can help companies gain new clients and customers within their target market through media features in relation to the content of the books. Businesses may create specialised editions of business books for this reason if they are looking for additional exposure among key audiences who could benefit greatly from specific topics covered in each book. Business owners should consider writing or publishing a business book if they want to generate publicity and obtain greater exposure than ever before. 4 Increase personal satisfaction The process of writing a business book will give you a heap of satisfaction. This is one of the main benefits for me, whether I’m writing a non fiction or fiction book. There is nothing that compares to that indescribable feeling of accomplishment once you’ve put down your 50 to 70 000 words in some sort of cohesive argument. Business owners who write books can feel even greater satisfaction and fulfilment through providing key business information to readers, which can potentially help them achieve success in their own life. When working on big client projects or doing something that initially seems overwhelming, I will often remind myself that I’ve written whole books (10 and counting), so if I can commit to that, I can do almost anything! Plus, the feeling of helping other entrepreneurs or corporates will have you revaluing your worth and sense of community. 5 It doesn’t end with the book You might think that once you’ve published the book and it’s starting to get into the hands of others that it has played its part. But books live on for quite a while! You’ll be able to use any of the book text as repurposed content for your marketing activities— once you realise how much content you’ve actually got at your fingertips, you’ll be thrilled and reinvigorated to keep knowledge-sharing with your community. There’s also the very enticing option of turning your book into different formats, specifically an audiobook. ‘In 2018, non-fiction audiobook sales in the US represented 32.7% of unit sales.’ 6 Better for SEO Did you really think I was going to write a blog post without mentioning improving SEO? As if! Listing your book on your website and optimising for keywords (eg marketing book or copywriting book etc) can help increase traffic to your website and thus help improve your ranking.

What to Write a Book About

When it comes to writing a book, many people feel lost at what to write about, particularly a non-fiction book. There are endless possibilities of what to write about, but narrowing it down to a specific topic can be challenging. So, how do you choose what to write about? Here are a few tips: What are you passionate about? This is probably the most crucial question to ask yourself when deciding on a topic for your book. What topics interest you and make you want to learn more? What issues can you talk about for hours on end without getting bored? If you can answer these questions with certainty, then the chances are that you should write your book on the topic. Whilst you don’t have to write about something that burns from within you, it does help to give you that steam when you reach a point of being sick of writing it, which does happen and is a normal part of the process. What do you know a lot about? On the other hand, if you’re not sure what your passion is or want to write about a broader topic, another option is to focus on what you know a lot about. What are your hobbies and interests? What do you get paid to do in your job or for your business? What do you like to do for fun? What are you knowledgeable about? It might pay to sit down and make a list of all these things so you can see clearly where your knowledge lies. When I wrote my book, Promote Your Spiritual Business, I realised that a lot of people in the wellness industries lacked simple marketing knowledge yet didn’t have the budget to outsource. So I just combined all the knowledge that I could offer them, as if I was having a one on one meeting with someone who knew nothing, and put it in a book that fit their budget. What do people ask you for advice about? Another way to develop a book topic is to think about the topics that people often come to you for advice about. Frequently, people are looking for advice on specific topics because they want to learn more about them. Suppose you find yourself frequently advising friends or family about a particular topic. In that case, you may want to consider writing your book on that topic. And if it’s not a specific topic, do your friends, family, social media acquaintances, and even strangers come to you for something? Do they know you can find something out within half an hour? Do they know how good you are at listening? Can you help problem solve? What do people need help with? Another way to come up with a book topic is to think about what people commonly need help within their day-to-day lives. For example, parents often have questions about parenting and students frequently have questions about school. This doesn’t mean that only these topics are good fits for books. Still, if you can provide helpful information based on what people are generally curious or uncertain about, then this could be another option for creating your book idea. Are there any unanswered questions out there? If it feels like there are a lot of unanswered questions in the world (Do aliens exist? Is time just a construct? Do we need to wear pants?), that might be a sign that you could write a book on the topic. For example, many people are curious about what happens after we die or what life is like on other planets. If you have any answers to these kinds of questions, or if you think you can come up with some reasonable hypotheses, then this could be an excellent topic for your book. What do you find interesting? Finally, if none of the above topics seem to fit, or if you’re still struggling to develop an idea, another option is to simply focus on what interests you. What do you find fascinating and want to know more about? What don’t you know enough about but would like to learn more? If you can answer any of these questions with certainty, consider writing about that topic for your book. No matter what topic you choose, remember that the most important thing is to be dedicated to getting it down on paper. Don’t just leave it to fester in your head. Writing a book can be a long and challenging process, so you want to make sure that you’re excited about the topic you’re writing about and that you’ll enjoy working on it. So, take some time to think about what interests you and brainstorm some possible book topics before starting the draft process. You may just find that the perfect one pops into your head! The six tips above are by no means an exhaustive list, but they should give you an excellent place to start when choosing a topic for your book. So, what are you waiting for? Get brainstorming! If you need help clarifying the many ideas you have or which will be the best topic to turn into a book, consider my personalised and effective book coaching services. Improve your writer’s mindset

Writing a Good Book Blurb

Blurbs are book descriptions, and they are a crucial part of book marketing. A bad blurb can cause readers to pass over your book in favour of another book with a more attractive description, so it’s important for authors to know how to write a good book blurb that will get their book noticed. This blog post is written specifically for self-published authors who want to promote their books but don’t know where to start. Book blurbs can get your book more sales and reviews so don’t delay in writing your best blurb yet! Book blurbs are important for new self published authors Book blurbs can be written by any author using solid sales copywriting techniques but they should always be aimed at readers who might not know about your book yet. A good way to start writing a new one is with this question: “What one sentence would make someone want to buy my book?” When you answer it yourself, think about what’s appealing and different about the story compared to other books out there on shelves/eBooks stores now. The first sentence is everything The first sentence needs to be the most enticing and capture the essence and theme of the book. And you most certainly need to have a hook in the first sentence. The book blurb is the first thing that many readers see, and it’s your best opportunity to hook them. It should be short and concise but detailed enough for potential buyers to know what they are going to get out of reading or listening to your book. What do you want a reader who picks up this book to say? That they read an amazing book filled with suspense? A fantastic book with twists at every turn? Let them know before they buy the book! Writing a good book blurb tips Don’t use flowery language or tell everything about the story (that comes later). You just need a quick summary of themes, characters, setting. You know, the basics A book blurb should not be too long or too short, it needs to include the main points of what you want people to know about the book without spoiling anything. Instead, try something like “In this gripping novel by Jennifer Hillier we find out why Alexis left her hometown in shame twenty years ago.” Now their curiosity has been piqued but they don’t have any spoilers yet. Avoid being clichéd by using phrases such as ‘one man’s struggle to find himself’ or ‘the book will change your life.’ Be specific. Exactly HOW will it change someone’s life? And in what timeframe? Know what to include in the blurb and what to leave out. Sometimes, leaving out the details and getting people to work their imagination can be the biggest seller since our brains just naturally love to fill in the gaps. Writing a good book blurb (step by step guide) Start with the basics: Step one – What is your book about? The best way to answer this question might be in broad terms. For example, ‘a love story set in New York City during the summer.’ Step two – Why should people read it? Get into the mind of your reader and tap into exactly why they will want to read it. Does your book change your reader in some way? Does it reveal a facet of our minds that we are too afraid to face? Will it help them improve their business? Be explicit here. Step three – Who are some of the main characters? This question might be answered with just a sentence or two. For example, if your book has more than one protagonist, then you could say something like ‘The story follows three women: Julia who lives in New York City; Jane who lives in London; and Anaïs from Paris.’ Remember, this is to start with. The following sentence will need to be a contrast, expose the obstacles they need to overcome or the shock to their world. Eg, ‘The story follows three women: Julia who lives in New York City; Jane who lives in London; and Anaïs from Paris. And unearths how their lives or intertwined through a tragic car accident.’ Step four – Summarise Summarise your blurb in one or two sentences that acts a final convincing statement. Eg, ‘A charming book that will ensure readers learn enough about Paris to never have to go there!’ A book blurb is your biggest selling tool (alongside the cover) when it comes to your book. So you can’t afford to skimp on writing a good book blurb. If you need help, let’s talk and get your book selling like hotcakes with my book blurb writing service. Get ready to launch your author career with the international Self Publishing Formula

How to Start Writing a Book

Have you always wanted to start writing a book but not known where to start? Writing your first book can seem like an impossible task, but it’s actually easier than you might think. In this article we will discuss what makes for a good story and how to start writing a book from scratch. We’ll also provide some motivation (and tips) that will help get your creative juices flowing! More than 80 per cent of Americans would like to be an author. Apparently, 97 per cent of people who start to write a book never finish it. People want to write a book for many reasons, but the two main ones are either they have an idea that needs telling or they want to share their story. Some people start writing a book because they want to tell an idea that has been brewing for years and needs to get out; others are driven by the need to share their story, or in some cases, their secrets. A lot of people start writing books simply because it’s something they always wanted to do but never had time. Want to bust through the fear? Here’s my fear-dissolving course. How to find your starting place The start of the book writing process is to find a topic idea. This can come from anything that interests or affects you, but it really needs to be something you want to write about because the whole process will require dedication and energy. It’s also important not to start too big. Choose an idea for a short story before tackling the next great American novel! Or write an article about a non fiction topic before embarking on creating your masterpiece of a book. That way, you can gauge your commitment level and work out if you have enough information or story to complete an entire book. You might like to read my post on five ways to get started writing your non fiction book. How long is a book supposed to be? Books have different word counts depending on the type. A short story is usually less than 5000 words but can be up to 10 000 words. Whereas a novella can be between 7000 and 12,000 words and even all the way up to 50,000 words. Whilst a novel is over 50 000 words. The average word count for a novel is around 80 000 words and can go up to 140 000 words and the genre and audience you are writing for will dictate an ideal word count. For example, commercial thrillers are typically around the 70 to 80 000 mark. Whereas, sci fi fiction can easily extend to around 120 000 words. A non fiction book is usually about one topic and can be as short as one page or as long as over a hundred. It all depends on the subject matter and how much detail the author wants to go into. If you want to sell your non fiction book commercially, aim for 50 000 to 70 000 words. A memoir is about the same amount of words. How to get started writing a book If you start with a book outline, it will help to keep the project on track and make sure nothing is left out. Books can be written in any order that they come to mind or as an answer to prompts from your own creativity like writing based off of images or other works of literature. You might want some paper scraps around for different ideas that pop into your head while you’re brainstorming – these could turn into good scenes later on! Use your phone notes, or leave voice memos for yourself or even good old fashioned post-its! You can start writing your book by brainstorming ideas and structuring them into a story. Find inspiration for a good beginning scene or chapter: this could be from real life, film, TV show etc. Save time by planning the layout of chapters in advance to help you stay on track with progress! How to plan out the writing of your book Take time to start writing your book. You will definitely need to set aside some time consistently over a longer stretch of time to write your book. Unless you’re hiring a ghostwriter, of course. Consider that the average person can type approximately 38 words per minute, it’s likely you will be able to get down about 2000 words in a solid hour’s writing. Now, if you can type solidly for an hour without a pee or tea break, then you are some kind of superhero. Nonetheless, this is what professional authors do. Include in thinking time and deliberation and trying to remember that darn word… So, let’s say a more realistic writing speed is 1000 words per hour. That means you need to set aside at least 50 hours to get down a solid draft of your book. How can you manage that? Can you take a few weeks off work and write every single day? Can you spare two hours ever week for six months? Be realistic about your timeframe and plan accordingly. The key is, planning your book thoroughly before you start writing it. That way you brain will be much more freer to just sit down and write. This means knowing: Experiment with this: Do not start with the beginning or end of your story because you will have a lot of work there and it’s hard to build momentum that way. Start from where you are in the middle, this is usually at the climax point or closest to it. Spend some time crafting what happens before and after this point too so that when readers get here they can follow along easily. How to stay motivated while writing a book Unfortunately, the bad news is that whilst it’s relatively easy to start writing a book, many, many people (professional authors included) have trouble sticking with and finishing a book! The

Get more email subscribers with an ebook as a lead magnet

In the past few years, ebooks have become an increasingly popular lead magnet. This is because they are a great way to get people on your mailing list and build trust with potential customers. In this article, we will discuss how ebook leads can be so effective at achieving business goals and why you should consider using them in your marketing strategy. The ebook lead magnet is a tried and true marketing technique. Yes, it’s been around for decades now but that doesn’t mean ebooks are any less effective than they were back then! Quite the contrary: these days, an ebook can be considered a powerful business asset if done correctly. Okay, brag alert. This year I had a goal to build up my email list for my author brand. I released my first fiction book on Amazon in March 2021, so I had to quickly do some hustling. I started to build the list by using a free short story giveaway. This works incredibly well for this niche as within two months, I had 1500 subscribers and it’s continuing to rapidly grow. They’re easy to create (even as you go along) with tools like Scrivener or Microsoft Word; and they allow your prospective customers to get more info about what you do in one place without having to search through lots of different pages on your website. Plus, there’s plenty of room for customisation when it comes to ebooks too! Don’t just use them solely for sales pitches either – try adding some personal touches like your own tone of voice and language or images. And you can even link back to your website if you want people to discover more information. What is a lead magnet? A lead magnet is a tool that you use to build relationships with potential customers and get them onto your mailing list. This helps you stay in touch, nurture leads, and eventually convert readers into buyers. The ebook offers an effective way for businesses to grow their lists of followers because it’s affordable and easy to produce. In addition, they are attractive; providing valuable information about the business through writing can be more engaging than simple graphics or videos alone. Why an ebook as a lead magnet? The ebook format also allows brands to offer something different from what other companies might have on offer at the same time. It gives users exclusive access to content which could otherwise only be found by subscribing to newsletters. This makes ebooks far more appealing as part of a marketing strategy. When it comes to generating leads, many people say an ebook is the best way to go. This is likely true because they are a great lead magnet and generate sign-ups for your business’s mailing list. In fact, 50% of marketers who start using lead magnets report higher conversion rates. (wpforms) With the three highest performing ways of securing leads for B2B marketers include in-person events, followed by webinar lead magnets and ebook lead magnets. (Content Marketing Institute) Luckily, ebooks are a time-saving marketing tool. These days an ebook is the perfect lead magnet because they’re something you might have on offer at the same time. It gives users exclusive access to content which could otherwise only be found by subscribing to newsletters. This makes ebooks far more appealing as part of a marketing strategy. An ebook can provide businesses with that one contact point for their prospect’s information and it provides them with quality content about your product or service in return. This means that every single person who opts into your email list will also get this high quality content from you all year round. Instead of just once! Ebooks make great lead magnets because: They provide customers with more information and content Ebooks are a cheaper alternative to conferences or events An ebook can be used as incentive for subscription, rather than just being an extra bonus. Ebooks make great lead magnets because they’re so cost effective. They can be easily outsourced if you don’t have time to research, write and produce yourself. They offer something new and exclusive to offer people who might not know about your business yet. Ebooks are a cheaper alternative to conferences or events. An ebook can be used as incentive for subscription, rather than just being an extra bonus. Ebooks make great lead magnets because they’re so cost effective. They can be easily outsourced if you don’t have time to research, write and produce yourself. Most of all, an ebook builds trust between you and potential customers – something no other type of content does quite as well! People will feel safe signing up to your email list if they already have some idea what you’re all about. And finally, ebook lead magnets are just so darn convenient! You can’t make a time-sensitive offer or sell physical products with an ebook (you’ll need to be selling digital content instead). But the fact that ebooks are delivered electronically makes them super easy for customers and prospects alike. All they have to do is put in an email address. It doesn’t even matter if they read the book straight away (or at all!) I’m an enthusiastic and experienced book writer. So why not hire me for ebook copywriting and get your book written within weeks!

Copywriting client case study

Early last year my client, Tanya M Wilson, decided to work for herself full time after briefly working for someone else part time; even though she has been in the industry for a few decades and has run her own business for a long time in the past. Tanya brought me on board because we had an existing connection and knew I was the person that would help make her business thrive (and her life much easier, of course). And, I was thrilled to work alongside her because I’m passionate about what she does in the Adelaide counselling and narcissistic abuse space and could immediately identify ways in which I could catapult her messages. So, the first thing that we did was start an overall marketing strategy for the year which identified her topline goals and how we were going to achieve that with marketing activities. As well as working out which marketing activities were most suitable and effective to reach those goals. We also had to identify her target demographic, both in terms of the people that were already booking in to see her and the ideal people that she wanted to book. Additionally, we also looked at her key messages for her business which underpinned all the content that we did so that her target demographic were seeing the same consistent messages throughout the year without getting confused. This was a vital step in that it helped to strengthen her branding so people know exactly what she does, what she stands for and how they can help other people. This was a vital step in that it helped to strengthen her branding so people know exactly what she does, what she stands for and how they can help other people. Marketing and copywriting execution One of the most fundamental activities that we did together was set up a website. I wrote the website copy in its entirety and did some onsite SEO stuff for her, which enabled the website to go live in the second quarter of the year.  From there, I put into place some other solid content marketing activities that reinforced the effectiveness of the website. They included: email marketing– in the form of a welcome sequence and regular newsletter editorial content plan regular SEO blogging– to really capitalise on her SEO keywords, as well as provide informative and confident resources so that her clients gained that sense of trust and could see she they knew what she was talking about and would be the right provider for them.  Google Ads ghostwriting and copyediting. One of the most thrilling activities (for both my client and myself) that we did throughout the year was write an ebook, which we used for mainly lead magnet capturing, so people would sign up to her email database.  This free ebook is very unique in concept, very helpful and provides a really solid resource for people and is more than just regurgitated content. It’s actually a really special piece of writing that I was proud to contribute to whilst using her concept, ideas and very solid notes and research to create something that has proved life changing for people, as well as a good way to capture interested peoples’ email addresses. 2020 marketing At the beginning of this year, we also did another marketing strategy and editorial content plan to meet and revise objectives. It was incredibly exciting to reflect on the past year and notice the amazing marketing achievements and outcomes in such a short amount of time that my client achieved.  These achievements were: seeing a handful of SEO keywords on the first page of Google (this happened within eight or nine months which is phenomenal) several keywords that have thousands of monthly searches are now rocketing up towards page one of Google going from half client load to a full client load every week booked out weeks in advance with a robust waiting list more than 120 per cent increase in email subscribers Credit where credit is due I have no doubt that most of this is because of what an incredible provider my client is coupled with the reputation she has built and the truly life changing services that she offers. I’ve also witnessed the connection she has with her clients, the willingness to go above and beyond and how she is just an all round wholesome person, which is what makes her successful. But I’m confident in my role of amplifying all those good things about her, her business and her services and I know that’s what I add to the mix. Particularly when it comes to SEO factors. She has some more exciting things in the wings this year and we learnt a lot from last year. I’m very excited to see her implement new helpful tools for people in Adelaide and across Australia. If you want to join the ranks of copywriting clients like Tanya and see real results from copywriting and marketing efforts, then get in direct contact with me today. 

13 creative writing tips

Writing tip #1 Don’t wait around for too much inspiration or imaginative leaps, just get into a rhythm.  Writing tip #2 Make notes or an outline for your next session of writing or have a sentence already half written to flow on with and maximise your time at your desk. Writing tip #3 It’s important for you to articulate what your character is doing in your story. Their actions and dialogue have to be for a tangible reason that is more than just doing it because they feel like it.  Writing tip #4 In between your writing times, make sure you: relax think about writing are doing something else that is not related to writing Writing tip #5 When it comes to writing and creating, there’s an opportunity to trust the unconscious. Recognise its gifts, which can often take place in between writing times. Allow these moments of clarity and these treasures to bubble up.  When it comes to writing and creating, there’s an opportunity to trust the unconscious Writing tip #6 Never be satisfied with a cliché. If you think it’s a cliché, then it probably is. I forget exactly who it was but an Australian author once told me in a workshop that ‘a cliché is a lazy sentence, which is a slippery slope to mediocrity.’ And you’re better off not dropping your standards from the start because every sentence is important and they all matter. Writing tip #7 Be prepared to write the ordinary things. For example, don’t forget to make your characters walk through that door, walk down to the street and catch a taxi to get to where the next prominent scene takes place. The reader wants to know how they got to the party and makes reading a smooth process. Writing tip #8 Silences sometimes need to be written and then deleted, often leaving an implied residue that will make a difference to your writing. You can also try this with dialogue. Writing tip #9 Keep your writing and idea to yourself so that you don’t lose momentum and lose interest in writing it out. Try to resist rereading what you’ve written until you’ve finished the whole first draft. The writer is the first reader. If you tell too many people your story, you’ll no longer need to write it. Writing tip #10 Recognise that the first draft is just that. You can add layers of significance and emotive lines over time. Writing tip #11 Research but don’t over research. Often researching can be an excuse not to write and a crutch to avoid using the imagination. This can be known as analysis paralysis. Writing tip #12 When it comes to process: whatever gets the book out is the best process for you. Hemingway rose at 7am and started writing straight away. Murakami started at 4am. Or Henry Miller declared that you need to ‘work according to program, not mood.’ But really, whatever works for you (as in actually gets words on the page until something is finished) is the best process for you.  Writing tip #13 Think about your message. Why are you writing this story? What are you saying? What are you saying about humanity? Once you are clear on your project’s message, it will be inherently easier to stick to the point of your story and cut out at least some of the overwhelm.  If you love reading, why not check out my fiction books?

Ebooks are pivotal for marketing

Writing and releasing an ebook is a powerful marketing tool that comes with many benefits. Not just that satisfied feeling that you’ve accomplished something that is tangible and braggable. But it actually has real advantages to for your digital marketing. Although it can take some time and energy to write, the effort really pays off.  I advocate for ebooks as a mighty lead magnet (eg, something that entices people to sign up to your marketing list). Mainly because ‘…98% of your traffic isn’t ready to buy right now, and 70% of all website visitors on average will never return to your website.’ So capturing email addresses whilst you can is crucial.  Here are some real world benefits of having an ebook in your marketing plan. Credibility People have revered books for centuries. And for good reason. Books are one of the most influential tools that have ever existed for people. With an ebook you have a tool to put yourself in a locus of influence (for good, of course). Position yourself as an expert in your field so that you are the first name that people think of when considering the services you offer.  Plus, sharing your information in the form of an ebook offers that additional credibility. When people see how knowledgeable you are about a topic, you literally give them the proof that you know what you are doing and have more knowledge that your competitors or someone just entering the field.  Or if you are a startup venture or don’t have an established brand, an ebook is the perfect way to showcase and demonstrate loads of information so that it builds trust.  Control You have a bit more creative control over an ebook (than other forms of communications) and there is no hard and fast rule as to how it looks. You can go full hog and give over all your best information in thirty thousand words or you can keep it tight and enticing with your most favourite salient points in four thousand words and a few images.  More sales As mentioned above, an ebook is an effective lead magnet and attracts sign ups to email distribution list, particularly if it’s free. ‘People like to get things for free. It makes us feel like we’re getting a better value. That’s why all those infomercials on TV double your order for free, or throw in free gifts. It makes something that might seem expensive to begin with seem like a bargain, because of all the “free” things you’re getting. Tap into that same psychological drive by offering an incentive to your customers.’ Upsell An ebook is also an opportunity to sell your services or products even further, either by introducing your target demographic to an additional service that you offer or a more expensive or premium arm of services or products. You can also use it to cross sell or really solidify your businesses key message. Are you really the most creative hairdresser in the area? It’s a relevant and non pushy way to upsell to the people who are already interested in your knowledge. Longevity Ebooks are also great because people can take them away and read them at their own leisure, meaning that you will be top of mind when someone is reading your book in bed at night, on their lunch break or morning commute. Not just when they are Googling you— there is longevity in this type of content.  Value Ebooks immediately create a sense of value in a reader’s mind. Intrinsically, they promise a wealth of knowledge and people really feel like they are scoring a deal when they hand over their email address (or few dollars if you are selling it).  Easy It’s relatively easy to write and create (or outsource). You can easily publish yourself without specialised knowledge and without spending a fortune. You can upload to your site or email marketing list straight away. Do you know what else is great about an ebook? It’s an opportunity to repurpose your content. You can take your existing knowledge, presentation notes, enewsletters or blog posts and rewrite them in an ebook format.  Flexible You can include additional content that supports your key message, not just text. Ebooks— particularly pdfs— are amenable to worksheets, images, charts, hyperlinks, templates and more! And it’s all packaged up in one convenient place, rather than making your reader trawl through stuff on your website. I have always advocated creating a book for your business as part of your marketing plan. Here’s what I said in an interview with Huffpost a few years ago: “Self publishing my book has a lot of intrinsic value. Now I can refer to myself as an author, instead of just a writer. It’s also been a wonderful learning experience and has given me an insight into the publishing and bookselling industry that I might not have seen if I went with a traditional publisher,” Jones said. Don’t wait any longer to get your customised content out into the world and get those elusive email sign ups. Discover how you can get your ebook ghostwritten for you by a professional ebook copywriter now. 

The Best Copywriting Books: What Can You Learn From Them

Copywriting is one of the most important aspects of marketing. It’s what makes people want to buy a product or service from you. If done well, then it can be an extremely powerful tool for any business. There are many copywriting books out there, but not all are created equal. This blog post highlights some of the best copywriting books and why they’re so great! There are a lot of copywriting books out there, but not all of them are created equal. This blog post highlights some of the best ones! What people can learn from these copywriting books. The best copywriting books are often written by authors who have decades worth of experience, which is what makes them so invaluable to any copywriter looking at starting out with writing advertisements themselves. Not only does they contain valuable information on how marketing works, you’ll also be able to see how these techniques were created in the first place! Read through some of the best copywriting books of all time. And don’t hesitate to suggest your own, especially if they are written by a woman. Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy Not all copywriting is the same, with variations like brand copywriting and direct response copywriting. It is the latter of these two that inspired this book recommendation. Sometimes called the father of modern advertising, David Ogilvy is an archetypal figure. Who inspired TV shows like Mad Men and started one of the oldest ad companies in existence. His approach to advertising stems from his analysis of consumer habits and he outlines the best ways to advertise a product or service, as well as some of his own successes. It is considered one of the most influential and important books on advertising ever written. How should you use this copywriting book? This book is great for people who want to learn about how successful ads work and what makes them effective so they can apply these approaches in their own marketing campaigns. The insights are invaluable for any copywriter looking at starting out with writing advertisements themselves, which could make it an ideal gift idea if you know someone’s things fairly well! And even though there have been many developments in digital platforms and advertising since Ogilvy’s time – think social media and search engine optimisation – there are still lots of valuable lessons. Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy It has a really unique approach to selling that leads you through all sorts of techniques from start-to-finish, and it’s very practical with lots of great examples. This copywriting book highlights how what we say should be dictated by the customer’s needs not ours. If you are looking for more information in writing your ad or website then this is where it begins. A rare insight into advertising strategy, The Ultimate Sales Letter has been highly influential among those who consider themselves successful marketers. Dan Kennedy gives us insights on how to write better ads based both online and out there in the real world. It covers every detail of the process, including wording, formatting, and timing. It will help those who write sales pages or items for the Internet in any form to create more effective messages and copy. We’ve listed it as suitable for “less experienced” readers because although it is detailed and informative without being overly technical or long-winded. Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz This is arguably the best book on copywriting. It’s written by a renowned copywriter known as Eugene Schwartz. The book is an exhaustive study of creating a successful piece of writing, and almost every ad writer should read it at least once per year. Schwartz defines a good ad copywriter as someone that takes an existing desire and channels it into their particular product or service. You cannot sell people what they do not want, so you have to find out what they want and offer it them instead! What people can learn from it This book is a must read for any copywriter or marketer! It covers every aspect of advertising with as much depth as possible. You will get a lot of ideas on how to write an effective ad that sells your products or services. The best thing about the book? Schwartz’s blunt honesty when discussing his work and life experiences in great detail (e.g., he discusses using sex appeal). He was one of the first entrepreneurs to really make good money through ads by understanding consumers wants instead of their needs. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini Given the importance of social psychology and human relations for those in marketing, it is recommended that they read the book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. Robert Cialdini is a notable psychologist who examines the psychology behind persuasion. He offers up a number of case studies and anecdotes from his work with businesses, government agencies, schools, salespeople and more to explain six universal principles that can help you succeed in any area where persuading someone else is important (e.g., marketing). Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion has been hailed as one of best selling books ever written. It’s well-known for its impact on other areas like business or advertising due to the revealing insights it provides into how human beings work at their most basic level–how we make decisions based purely on emotion; how our beliefs grow out of what we perceive around us rather than through anything rational or factual; why people will often do something. The Copywriter’s Handbook: a Step-by-step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly This book is a classic that should be on every copywriter’s shelf. For over 40 years, this has been the definitive guide for anyone interested in learning how to write persuasive copy with style and grace. It covers all aspects of successful advertising content including: headlines, subheads, lead paragraphs, offers, testimonials, body text; lists of benefits versus features; problem-solution presentations; plus much more! There are also several chapters devoted

Proofreading, copyediting or ghostwriting?

Ever wondered whether you need proofreading, copyediting or ghostwriting?   It can be hard to tell which of these services you need for your current project. Firstly, I’ll break down what each means and why you might need it. Putting your work on display without seeking the below services is like preparing for the party of the year but neglecting to put on a fabulous outfit.    It’s also important to note that editors and proofreaders are not always copywriters (unless you are multifaceted like I happen to be). ​   Proofreading Proofreading is the detailed talent of going through each and every word and piece of syntax in your written work. It identifies spelling errors and incorrect or missing grammatical marks.   One of the most common things I see when I am proofreading is misspelling words by writing their American counterpart. UK and Australian English use different spelling for the same words a lot of the time. If you are an avid consumer of American culture, you might not even realise [realize] that you’re spelling things differently. ​Proofreading adds a more professional layer and content to your work, which is important if it is public facing.  You need proofreading if you are a writer or have lots of experience writing and just need that final polish to your work before it is published or shared.  Copyediting   Copyediting is the rigorous reviewing of written work. However, copyediting is not just spellchecking. It goes beyond that and it requires skills in knowing how to structure work, how readers think and how to order topics. ​Often, copyediting also involves fact checking of names, dates and titles. I generally recommend what is known as a “hard edit” when it comes to copyediting.    Hard editThe hard edit includes sentence and paragraph structure, thorough proofreading as well as consistency for style, topic order (how the entire manuscript is structured) and correct grammar. This type of copyediting will include improved word choice and readability, consistent tone, eliminate repetitive, redundant and awkward phrasing, consistent language to appeal to your demographic (readers and potential publishers). It will also include suggestions for weak story points and additional points that are suggested to write. An overall structural edit will also be supplied, meaning the order of topics, the flow of the writing and manuscript, chapters and time structure may be changed or suggested differently (where appropriate). This hard edit is also known as a stylistic, line edit or developmental edit and does not include significant rewriting or ghostwriting. Great for: books, manuscripts, larger documents, annual reports, magazines, lengthy writing, essays/academic papers. Who should get copyediting: if you’re a subject matter expert but not a professional writer or editor and have written a long piece of work, then copyediting will refine that piece for you. Also, great for anyone that expects their project to be viewed by the world! Warning: this is a really thorough (and, some may say, tough) editing process and could be quite upsetting when I ‘kill your darlings’ but if your objective is to have your work published or viewed publically, this is something you will have to endure. If you just want someone to tell you whether your writing is good or not, you need a manuscript assessment (for books) or a mentor (for professional writing).   This is an actual example of some of my client copyediting work.   Ghostwriter   Hiring a ghostwriter means that a professional writer creates your work from scratch. It’s often in the form of a memoir or business book but can also be articles or speeches. Quite often, celebrities and well known people hire a ghostwriter to write their books. In fact, around 60 per cent of celebrity books are ghost written.   The ghostwriter conducts extensive interviews, research and data collecting. As well as writing the complete work, emulating the tone of the focal person. Ghostwriting is a lot of work, so is a significant investment- both financially and in time. It’s not just about writing about someone. But working very closely with the person to get to know them, coaching them through the process and the tough bits and eeking out the right information. This is an artform. A ghostwriter service is for someone who has the money to invest. Plus has had an interesting life and wants a professional memoir or business book written. but does not have the time to write it. It’s a terrific service for people who don’t have any writing training or inclination. A ghost written book is a great promotional tool for your business or personal profile. And is an incredible legacy for your future generations of family or mentees.​Most professional writers can take about 100 hours to write a non fiction book, not including research. And it can take years for most people to complete their book.

Indie author interviews – podcast

Recently, I was interviewed by the lovely Amelia Veale on Be the Drop podcast. I talked about my published books, small business challenges and the value of positive risks. If you’re like me and love indie author interviews, take a listen. I love being a copywriter with my own business. So it felt like a natural opportunity to talk to a marketing peer about content writing and writing a book. Take a listen to some previous excellent episodes. 

How to write a brand story

The best way to stand out and get attention in today’s media saturated world is by telling a compelling brand story. Brand stories create a consistent relatable story arc that shows what your brand has to offer by showing what you really care about and what you stand for as a company.  Without a brand story, the rest of your communications not only fall flat but will be inconsistent with each other and be devoid of emotion. I recommend really nailing your brand story before proceeding further with your other communications materials. ​Big corporations like Coca-Cola and Apple have long realised the power of using their unique brand story to build connections with their audience. Below is all you need to know about writing a compelling brand story. Brand storytelling tips ​A compelling brand story should be able to generate consumer trust straight away and not just any story will do. Your brand story should have the right elements to stimulate emotion and connect with the reader. Here’s how you can do that: Brand story personality A brand story is not an impersonal thing like a clickbait or a marketing tool, instead, it is a way of showing brand persona. A great brand story should be driven by your brand’s personality whilst clearly demonstrating who work for you. And don’t forget the people who have been instrumental in your business’s growth and success! Most big tech brands today share their personality by telling the stories behind their creation, think of Steve Jobs and Apple or Jeff Bezos and Amazon.​However, your brand story shouldn’t end up being an individual’s biography. Rather, it should tell the evolution of the brand, showing how it was inspired by an individual’s personality and it should definitely be a relatable journey (at least in the beginning). This way, it provides someone real that your customers can trust, since people are more likely to trust other people rather than an abstract concept or corporation.  Connection through a brand story At its core, your brand story isn’t really about your company. Its goal is to establish a connection with your customers. Therefore, it should be able to tell your customers that you understand them and you’re on their side. It should also be able to make your brand relatable and distinguishable. For example, Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company was able to raise millions of dollars by creating a brand story that connects people to its non toxic household goods products. ‘Research indicates that the human brain responds to the descriptive power of stories in deeply affecting ways, influencing both the sensory and motor cortex. To read a story is to feel an experience and to synchronise our minds with the subject of the story,’ Neil Patel states.  Brand story simplicity A simple brand story is better and easier to tell whereas an overly complex story can erode trust. Every good story has a beginning, a middle and an end and your brand story should follow this fundamental structure. No matter how bulky the description of your brand’s story it should conceptually follow the following process:  Problem: start by explaining the problem that you noticed. Solution: describe the process you followed to solve it. Success: talk about how successful you have been. Brand stories that embody these qualities are more trustworthy. The wildly popular Beats by Dre is a good example. The brand tells a story of how its product transmits the feeling of being in the studio which was rare at the time. Your story should shape your existence A compelling brand story should describe the whole reason for the existence of your company. Explaining why your brand exists builds trust and answers the question of why people should buy from you. Just like the way the TOMS shoe company shows that for every pair of shoes purchased, they donate a pair to someone in need. This explains the reason why they exist, to improve the lives of those in need. It also helps to elicit empathy and altruism in whoever reads their brand story, which is a very powerful motivator within humans.​Remember this iconic television commercial from Chanel No. 5? It employs classic storytelling techniques and has a clearly identifiable brand story that provides the foundation for their infamous product.  ​Remember, by answering the question of why your brand exists with a story, you can build the trust of your customers. It’s also worth refining the tone of voice and getting the structure super clear and readable. Don’t just ramble on with whimsical overwritten blurbs just because they sound fun. ​Overall, a terrific brand story is a powerful way of building a foundation of trust and establishing a business that people want to align themselves to and which breeds loyalty.