Breakthrough Author Magazine July 2022

r o h t Au

Publisher’s Corner Juliet Clark is a six- time author, speaker and podcaster who has spent the last twenty years helping authors, coaches, speakers, and small businesses all over the world build expert audiences.

She started out as a mystery novelist and is best known or her books Gypsy, Granny Heist, and Dead by Dawn, and Pitchslapped. At age 46, she received a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is an avid hiker and golfer.

Talents are best nurtured in solitude; character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world.” ~Johann Wolfgang Van Goethe

Summer is here! Time to enjoy the sun and write on the sunporch, looking out over the ocean. This month is all about power partners and personal relationships to sell your nonfiction books and services.

Power partners are business owners with whom you collaborate and build real relationships.

These are your people who love and support your work and are excited to make introductions to their audience. They may also leverage their lists to help you sell your books. Relying more on personal relationships than clicks will help you sell more books (although keeping a healthy balance of digital in the mix is always a good idea).

This month, we feature the amazing Meghann Conter, who is the founder and CEO of The Dames. She has built a large, profitable organization that is a union of powerful women, at the six-plus figure level, who connect and collaborate via personal introductions. She is truly the queen of connection and building relationships.

Lastly, we highlight author and inspirational speaker Wayne Raffesberger, who wrote a book about overcoming polio. As a young boy, he woke up one day with polio and couldn’t walk. See how he battled his way back to walking, went to law school, climbed mountains, and lived life to the fullest. In the age of COVID, people are feeling helpless and overwhelmed. This story will show us how we too can overcome any obstacle.

Love and Gratitude, Juliet

2

Author

A

s I work with clients supporting them in writing their book, I notice it is very common for a nascent author to question their authority as an author. The words authority, authentic, and author share the same root. Your authority as an author is based on your authenticity. When you allow yourself to be passionately vulnerable, the reader will have a deeper trust in your words. What suppresses the creative juices is nothing more than self judgement, most likely rooted in their subconscious mind.

When I was in English class in tenth grade, I read my paper aloud in front of the class. Suddenly, there was snickering amongst the classmates and when I glanced at my teacher, she was holding back a laugh. I don’t remember what the content was, but clearly I did not intend the paper to be funny.

This experience implanted the belief that I was unable to articulate what I was feeling through writing. I never in a million years thought I would write books and help others to write books.

Outside of questioning their concept and content, many new writers question their writing style. Sometimes they feel it is flat and they are missing the literary flair that gives them a distinction. Nomatter the subject, you need to emotionally engage them in a genuine way. The best way to discover and exercise your distinct writing style is to kill the self-critic and write from the soul. That means allowing the words to come from deep within the well of your creative being – your soul! This is how you use writing as a vehicle to discover who you truly are beyond the mask of your persona.

The best way to discover and exercise your distinct writing style is to kill the self-critic and write from the soul.

AUTHOR BIO Jared Rosen is the founder Of DreamSculpt. As an innovator in digital media publishing, he has published over 50 media enhanced e-books for many best-selling authors and filmmakers and has published dozens of books in print. Jared is the author of three books including the groundbreaking book The Flip. As a thought leader he has presented in venues ranging from TED X Malibu, to McKinsey and Company, Sydney, Australia. In 2000, Jared co-created the Children’s Emotional Literacy Project endorsed by Mayor Richard Riordan and Norman Lear.

Author

3

7 Steps To Calm Nerves & Prepare For Your Public Speaking Tour Whether on a virtual or inperson stage, or even just behind a pulpit in a small breakout room – speaking in front of an audience has an immediate effect. The act of using your voice in a public setting automatically engenders trust. So what can you do to maximize your effectiveness while minimizing your nerves? This article provides key steps to ensure success.

Taken from: https://unsplash.com/photos/ C8Q_zR8PDlA

4

Author

W

hen you’re done writing your book, it’s time to get your precious words into the world.

There are few more effective ways to increase your exposure and gain new readers than through public speaking. So long as you deliver your message with enough presence and feeling, you automatically establish credibility and authority. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to know your message, convey it authentically, and smile!

When in doubt, follow a few simple steps and you’ll quiet your nerves, and deliver a talk that you can be proud of. By following these steps, your audience will come along for the ride with rapt attention.

1. First things first. You must prepare and practice your presentation.

Start by fully outlining your presentation including the main points that you will cover. If you have examples or stories to illustrate your point, use them! Stories create memorable

presentations that your audience will be more likely to remember (and talk about).

2. Don’t spell out every word.

This can be tough for any author, but if you spell out every word, you’re essentially working to recite a script, which adds a lot of pressure to your public speaking event.

If, however, you bullet out your ideas succinctly, your presentation will stay more conversational in tone and you’ll be more likely to keep it fresh, geared to the audience to whom you are speaking. Plus, you’ll be less likely to freeze up in front of your audience.

Your nerves will be less frazzled without the added pressure of remembering each of your lines verbatim. So, keep the pressure low. Remember, you don’t have to approach public speaking as if you were an actor in a play.

to accompany your delivery. As you build your presentation, remember to keep only your highlights on the slide. Focus on showing rather than telling.

Don’t write out each bullet or you may be tempted to read your slides, which is not great for your delivery. The best presentations contain no more than a few ideas or bullets on any given slide, with each communicated in short phrases or single words. Think of these as visual bullets more than spelled-out concepts. You might use iconography, or a picture, to convey your thought or idea.

As you build your presentation, keep asking yourself one simple question: Does this add to my presentation? If it’s not additive, consider it subtractive, and leave it out. Some of the best presentations use only a few simple images. For great examples, watch any Ted Talk.

3. Create a visual presentation (optional).

Once you have your presentation framed out in succinct bullets, you may want to develop a visual presentation

4. Develop rituals that calm nerves and inspire confidence.

This could be as simple as drinking a glass of water or having a mint or two before you go on stage. Each of these

actions conquers dry mouth, and having a lozenge or a mint encourages salivation with the added benefit of fresher breath. Another fantastic practice is to stand in front of a mirror before your talk and spend a moment or two in the Superhero Pose. To strike the Superhero Pose, place your hands on your hips with your elbows pointed out, lift your chest up, spread your legs apart and look upwards (just like a superhero) for two minutes.

Research shows that this pose improves confidence in public speaking, and also performance in a variety of other activities, from performing surgeries to participating in team sports.

5. Remember that your audience is rooting for you!

Have you ever noticed that when you attend a workshop or a talk, you almost automatically respect the person speaking?

The reality is that your audience is there to see you. They are rooting for you and they want to hear what you have to say. From a psychological standpoint, we automatically consider the person speaking to be brave for their willingness to stand up in front of a crowd, often because we lack that same confidence. Be kind to yourself and smile. Pick a few audience members that smile back at you and deliver your talk as if only to them. They are your champions and they will both get more from your talk and be more likely to mention it to friends because they felt so connected to you while you were on stage.

6. Ask questions of your audience to engage them in your talk.

Asking a simple question or two, even if rhetorical in nature, engages your audience.

Have you noticed this tactic in presentations you attended?

What questions did the speaker

Taken from: https://unsplash.com/photos/9ZGVGgwhlds

Author

5

ask to engage you? It’s a great idea to watch a few presentations in your same area of interest while looking for instances in which this technique is used. Emulate what feels natural to you and weave it into your talk. This simple tactic will make your presentation more engaging and memorable.

7. Have fun!

If you love your message, deliver it with enthusiasm, and have fun, so will your audience! They may not remember everything you said during that talk, but they will remember how you made them feel. If they enjoyed the talk they will automatically like you and they will be more likely to recommend your work to their friends, colleagues, mentors, and families. So… don’t forget to smile and enjoy yourself.

That’s it! You’re ready to deliver an exceptional presentation that brings your content to life. Now, it’s time to start pitching yourself and begin delivering the goods to people that want to hear it.

References: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/sites/default/files/ files/public_speaking_I_fear_management.pdf https://thriveglobal.com/stories/superheropose-the-benefits-of-power-posing/ https://www.presentation-guru.com/when-itcomes-to-presentations-less-is-more/

Corinna Bellizzi, MBA is a natural products industry executive who pioneered the growth of the omega-3 giant, Nordic Naturals, from less than $1 million in annual revenues to over $100 million. As a mom of two young boys, podcaster, and executive, and future author of “Audiocasters”, due out this spring. Her mission is to leave the world a little better than she found it, while inspiring others to do the same. Corinna began her broadcasting journey as a guest on many nationally syndicated radio shows and even acted as an MC for fashion shows in her spare time to improve her public speaking skills. As part of her lifelong education journey, she earned her MBA from Santa Clara University, graduating at the top of her class with a triple focus in Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Marketing in June 2021. Corinna launched her first podcast show, Care More Be Better, to share the stories of inspired individuals and conscious companies to show us all that one person with one idea can have a big impact. It now ranks in the top 2.5% of all podcasts globally.* Julie Lokun, JD. a legal eagle and facilitator of dreams, is changing the trajectory of underserved entrepreneurs who are using their voice to make an impact. As a mom of four (4) boys, Julie has learned to leverage her power to lead a bustling household while also serving as the head maven of Crown & Compass Life Coaching. She adeptly “anoints and points” -- directing the strategic growth of businesses and professionals around the globe. Julie has delivered presentations on the big stage, and in virtual events. With a background in law, she teases through complex information and gets to the root of issues, telling deep, compelling stories that resonate with audiences far and wide.

She is a celebrated best-selling author of the entrepreneurial series, Hustle Smart, the owner of The Mediacasters Publishing House which boasts several bestselling titles, and is a 5-star business coach. In the spring of 2021, Julie launched a swiftly growing podcast, Obsessed with Humans On The Verge of Change which is already in the top 3% of all podcasts globally.* In November 2021 these two business besties and podcasting partners (with 6 boys between them) co-founded Femcasters to elevate the voices of women through podcasting, branding and public speaking. In February 2022 they merged this effort with The Media Queens Publishing House to form The Mediacasters. The Mediacasters is a podcast, a community, a publishing house and a launch platform that elevates the voices of inspired people of all ages and identities with the power of “The 3 P’s:” Podcasting, Publishing and Presenting/Performing. *as reported by Listennotes.

6

Author

Avoid This #1 Rookie Mistake When You Write Your Book

T

here’s one very common mistake that new authors, and sometimes even seasoned authors, make when writing their expert books. In fact, it’s the number one boo-boo that will effectively kill your book before you even get a chance to gain some traction.

That’s really bad news for you if you are trying to use your book as a means to build your audience.

What is this mistake? It’s this: focusing on your own expertise rather than on the reader’s experience.

“But I have to show that I know what I’m talking about,” you think. Yes, that’s true to a certain degree. However, readers don’t respond to being bowled over with everything YOU know. They want to learn something that makes a difference in their own lives.

The key is this: readers respond to a transformation that makes their lives easier or better in some way. If your book fails to give them this experience, they will simply move on to another source.

“So, how do I do that?” you ask.

The solution is actually pretty simple: focus your book on one key problem that your book can help them fix and go deep. Give them simple, specific action steps that will improve their lives right now.

Let me give you an example: I ghosted for a chiropractor who wanted to write a book for his business. When I interviewed him, he unloaded all kinds of information on me that I could not relate to at all. I felt completely overwhelmed, and it was clear that readers would feel the same way.

Focus your book on one key problem that your book can help them fix and go deep.

I asked him, “What is the one biggest complaint that brings patients into your office?”

“Migraines,” he answered instantly.

We focused his book on migraines. We wrote about the causes of these awful, detrimental headaches, and he was able to show his knowledge. He also wrote a personal journey story about how he got into chiropractic in the first place.

But then we went deeper into specific things that migraine sufferers could do to help themselves right now, today.

Easy baby steps that could give them specific, tangible results, right now, today.

He also included a section for resources to give people a way to look for real help for this chronic, widespread problem.

The end result? His patients loved it and gave him bunches of testimonials. He was able to leverage that one idea into seven books, each focused on a different complaint that he addressed in his practice.

His practice doubled, and he leveraged that into speaking engagements and guest authoring in other books.

Bottom line: your reader wants to experience a transformation. If you give them that, and help them solve a problem, they will become your raving fans. Win-win.

Kristy Boyd Johnson is an award-winning children’s author, and has ghostwritten over 30 books for entrepreneurs over the years. She is a sought-after developmental editor and transformational book coach. She recently launched Starseed Journey Retreats because she can’t imagine anything better than being a beautiful location with beautiful people who want to reconnect with their deepest selves through writing.

Author

7

Be Your Own Lead Machine Through Personal Relationships With so much to do these days with online marketing and joint ventures, it is time to ask, “Are these marketing tools bringing me qualified leads?” The answer for me personally was a hard NO! It was hurting my business and my book sales.

I

n 2016, I hired a coach to get my company into the digital world. It was a disaster. The webinar she coached me through was more her than me. She also offered sales training. I hired a webinar professional to get my webinar working and authentically me. It was just as awful. I hired another coach to teach me how to close. When I look back, that’s pretty funny, because I used to close multi- million-dollar real estate deals with ease. I was introduced to tools that were far too

8

Author

powerful for my small company needs (but perfect for the affiliate cash the person who sold them to me was getting every month). I hired a person to run Facebook ads at a whopping $4,000 per month without the ad spend. It was a $70K disaster.

Then, I took a step back and thought about what made me so successful in my real estate business.

It was never my website or my marketing. It was my ability to qualify prospects, provide superior service, and build personal relationships. From

that point forward, I went back to what I knew and worked to build an audience with personal connections at every turn possible. I gave up the opt-in with seven emails that asked for a sale at the end. I provided value on every call. I listened to what prospects said and asked questions that helped me pre-qualify if that client was for me. I flipped the script that most company’s worry about. It wasn’t about would they choose me. It became about WOULD I CHOOSE THEM? Choosing your clients is a mindset shift that requires you to think differently about every sales call. You are no longer chasing, you are being chased. It is about screening each potential client and asking yourself hard questions about who you are and who the potential client is.

Here are some of those questions: • Who am I? • What are my goals?

• Am I an action-taker or a nurturer?

• Who is the person that I am talking to?

• What are their goals?

• Is the person I am talking to action-oriented or do they need nurturing?

• How does their personality fit in with the way I work?

• When I ask about past failures, do they take responsibility or blame others?

This mindset also requires that you to provide value on sales calls instead of selling. You could call these informational calls because that is what they are.

WHAT????? You are probably thinking this is crazy. Here’s the deal: if you are really interested in people, they are usually interested back. If you provide advice and expect nothing in return, people are happy to be educated. Being genuinely

interested in people instead of relying on a click builds trust and connection.

This strategy will require you to be knowledgeable and open to questions that build rapport. Here is the other part of this strategy: price yourself well and prequalify.

When I was selling real estate, no one went on an appointment without a prequalification letter. The same is true here.

Be brave and prequalify your clients. Nothing messes up your abundant energy more than talking to broke-ass people all day. Make sure people can afford you before you get started.

Lastly, provide extraordinary service that leaves your clients no choice but to happily refer you. In 2016, my referral rate was about 50%, most of that from affiliate links. Most of that 50% were people who could not afford my services, so not good leads. In 2022, about 95% of my business comes from past clients and power partners. Power partners are relationships you build that are both personal and professional. Be clear with your power partners what you are looking for in a client. Include the money piece. I never refer someone to my power partners unless I know they have the financial ability to retain their services. Don’t make broke people their burden.

A strategy like this will allow your potential clients to sell themselves to you.

Juliet Clark is a six- time author, speaker and podcaster who has spent the last twenty years helping authors, coaches, speakers, and small businesses all over the world build expert audiences.

She started out as a mystery novelist and is best known for her books Gypsy, Granny Heist, and Dead by Dawn, and Pitchslapped. At age 46, she received a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is an avid hiker and golfer.

Be clear with your power partners what you are looking for in a client. Include the money piece.

Author

9

Make Your Book Marketing More

H

ave you heard of relationship marketing?

The way I define it is: using your marketing to build relationships with potential clients, ideal readers, perfect referral partners and more, instead of spraying out a message and hoping for the best.

A common misconception among authors who are having to market themselves (and their books) for the first time is that it’s necessary to post on social media every day. To them, that means, making sure they have something posted Monday through Friday on all the socials so that they can check it off their to-do list.

I’m here to tell you that you can stop doing this right now. It’s not serving you the way you may think and you’re really wasting time you could be spending elsewhere.

Posting on every social media platform every single day and then closing the app and walking away is NOT going to help you develop

relationships which ultimately lead to book sales. Instead, I recommend you follow these steps: Make sure that your messaging is resonating with your ideal reader.

Don’t just post for the sake of posting.

Find out what your audience wants to hear from you so you can provide value and position yourself as an authority.

Don’t use generic photos or captions that aren’t in your voice. When my client Ann and I began working together, we spent 10 minutes scrolling through her Linkedin. I explained why the posts she’d be paying someone to do for her for months were generating an occasional like and zero comments. The posts were not in her brand voice, nor were they speaking to the challenges or successes of her intended audience.

When she began posting in her brand voice, her engagement grew fast.

Engage with your followers. I don’t mean liking a comment that someone leaves on your post. I mean really engage

AUTHOR BIO Melanie Herschorn wants to make your book and brand sparkle online.

As a content marketing strategist for coaches, consultants, and speakers worldwide, she’s on a mission to support and empower her clients to create clear messaging and content that shines a light on their individual experience, skillset, and books. With her unique combination of entrepreneurship, awardwinning journalism and PR experience, Melanie guides her clients to attract and nurture leads and position themselves as industry experts. She also loves to provide book marketing tips on her show, AUTHORity Marketing LIVE!

10

Author

with them. Reply to their comments with questions so that you can have a real, back-and-forth conversation that you can move into direct messages.

Send them a DM or a voice memo thanking them for liking or commenting on your content. Seek out members of your ideal audience and start liking and commenting on their posts.

The goal of your marketing should be to develop relationships with your community online. It takes several touchpoints before someone will take out their credit card. But if you develop a real rapport, the sale is way more likely to happen.

The beauty of social media is that the world is now your oyster. You’re sure to find an audience filled with people you’d never get the chance to meet walking down the street. If you’re ready to start developing your relationship marketing plan, I invite you to book a complimentary strategy call with me at contentstrategycall.com.

Peter Hazzard

B

ehind The Baton is for conductors in the world of music education, and/or community or civic band, orchestra, and chorus. With more than 50 years of conducting experience, nationally known composer/arranger Peter Hazzard has always treated his ensembles, be they high school and college students or adults, as professionals.

Allowances made for their age and abilities, he gives them respect and expects the same from them.

The tips and suggestions offered in this book cover chorus, band, and orchestra including rehearsal techniques, programming, and the standard set up of a concert program. It is in the spirit of ‘paying it forward’ that this book was written.

Behind the Baton is not only a clever title but is also an indication of the substance and wisdom of the writer. Read, rehearse, reflect, repeat. There is much value here not just for the novice. Veterans will find themselves saying, “Why didn’t I do this before?”

H. Scott Campbell, Retired Choral Director and Director of Performing Arts - Farmington, CT Public Schools.

This book is chock-full of great, useful ideas for the beginning conductor. Experienced conductors will get validation for much of what they know already, plus many new ideas.

Thomas R. Martin, Musical Director, Conductor, Composer, Educator, Pianist - Keene, NH

Buy Book: Behind the Baton: Helpful Tips and Suggestions for Planning, Preparing, and Performance - Kindle edition by Hazzard, Peter.

Arts & Photography Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Author

11

Research has shown that customers are much more likely to make repeat purchases from companies that they have a good relationship with. In fact, a study by Bain & Company found that increasing customer retention rates by just 5% can increase profits by 25% to 95%, something Meghann Conter, Founder of The Dames, figured out early on.

Relationship Marketing is beating out funnels because trust trumps everything.

Kick the Funnel Traditional sales funnels tend to focus on shortterm transactions and do not take the time to build long-term relationships with customers. As a result, customers who purchase through a sales funnel are much less likely to be loyal or repeat customers. In today’s competitive marketplace, we have to be willing to go back and look at our brand, through each growth phase, if we hope to scale effectively. And that includes reevaluating our marketing tactics and our approach to sales.

W

As Meghann put it, “People are angry at marketing.

They tell me it doesn’t work, it sucks, and that they’re tired of pouring into marketing and getting no results. I tell them that a 6-7 figure leap is not an easy one. And this is the part where they pause and reevaluate.”

hat is relationship marketing, and why is it more effective than using traditional sales funnels? Relationship marketing focuses on building long-term customer relationships through personalized interactions. This can be achieved by creating customer profiles that track each individual customer’s needs, preferences, and behaviors over time.

Marketing is not a waste of time or money - but when you’re making a leap, you have to be willing to reevaluate. You have to be willing to go back and look at your brand and your strategy - before you start choosing tactics and marketing.

Put That In Action First you need to understand fundamental things about business and what makes you unique in a marketplace of millions. Ask yourself:

12

Author

»» What is my mission? Why am I doing this? »» What are my values? Values are what differentiate us at the core from our competition.

These questions might seem basic, but when we aren’t in touch with our brand, it becomes difficult to promote it because we aren’t sure what to say.

Disingenuous, diluted, confusing brands choose marketing first with no foundation.

Clarity is the foundation for Relationship Marketing.

Core differentiators should be easily identifiable for your brand.

Ask yourself: How do I specifically differ from my competition? Niche it down, as much as you possibly can. When you have that answer, you can start positioning. Then you become indispensable.

Target Market You cannot afford to market to everyone. If you’re trying to target everyone, you will hit no one, unless you’ve got a marketing budget the size of Starbucks. Paid marketing, paid advertising, PR, copywriting, you have to be 1,000 percent clear on who you’re talking to.

“So, when you’re asking yourself the questions we’ve mentioned above, don’t just answer them and move on and forget about it. Build a brand guide from these responses, that covers everything from core messages to colors. And then make this available each time you hire someone to create for your brand.”

Disingenuous, diluted, confusing brands choose marketing first with no foundation.

Sharing the Vision Perception is reality. You might think your brand is one thing - but what does your audience

think your brand is? You need to be able to see with their vision.

A lot of brands really miss the mark because they think they are saying and selling one thing and the audience thinks it’s something totally different.

Trying to sell before you establish trust is another reason people think marketing fails - when really, it’s all about the approach.

Relationship marketing is what works because you have trust before you ever try to make a sale and trust trumps everything else.

“When you send me an email with a cold sale for a course, and one- I’ve never heard of you, and two- your logo is a frog and your messaging is about gurus… I’m not buying. And neither is anyone else. This disingenuous approach cannot compete with relationship marketing, where there’s trust and rapport built in.”

LinkedIn Post: Does your marketing suck?

I hear a lot of authors and entrepreneurs talk about how marketing sucks, how much it doesn’t work and what a waste of time and money it is.

Which brings me to a very legitimate question: is it you or your marketing?

Meghann Conter, Founder of The Dames, got all fired up this week about why funnels suck and what it means to focus on Relationship Marketing.

Our conversation gives a clear path to clear marketing take the path only if you’re ready to hear the truth!

Author

13

Tired of the Love/ Hate Relationship with Social Media?

Content Expert Sara Burke walks us through her morning media routine and how she cut that love/hate relationship with social media once and for all.

C

ontent is the trust- builder that attracts readers and clients. It’s the thing people are looking for when they’re trying to answer a question, fill a void, or figure something out.

It’s the thing people use to try to figure out what you’re all about and whether or not they agree with you.

Are you legitimate? Are you relevant? This is what people are using your online content to determine.

Do they like you? Do they agree with you? This is why it is so important to have a content strategy that represents who you are, as a person and as an author.

14

Author

The essence of a great strategy is also about choosing what not to do. One thing I chose not to do, as I built up my content and social media strategy, was participate in the endless, mindless scrolling that can eat hours of a day. I decided to use my social media time in a conscious and effective way, and I think you should too.

Dedicated Social Media Time More than a content calendar, what I really love is dedicated time. Each morning, while I’m having my coffee - instead of mindlessly scrolling dog pictures or the Johnny Depp trial - I put on an inspirational

You spent your life cultivating that voice in real-world experiences. Let the same thing happen online. Create time for that to happen in your digital ecosystem.

YouTube video. I set a timer and I listen for 5-minutes. It’s really easy to find a video - you open YouTube and you search either Inspirational or Motivational talk or video. You pick one. You play it. It hypes you up and puts you in the mindset to see more motivational stuff or to align with more YOU stuff. Mindset setting is a very effective way to put yourself in a place where your tasks become easier because you’ve mentally set the tone for that to be true.

When that YouTube timer goes off, I open LinkedIn and I set another timer, this time for 10 minutes.

I scroll, and I engage. This is dedicated engagement time. I like, I comment, I follow, and I have a few hashtags I search that are relevant to the work I’m doing, I search those and see what other people -USING THOSE SAME HASHTAGS - are up to….

have to worry about that anymore because I am being intentional and dedicating time to engaging where it is important and relevant to my content strategy.

Intentional, dedicated times of engagement are the backup and support your content calendar needs - this gives you time to respond to people who have engaged with you, to talk to people, to find new people… there is just so much good that comes from creating space for social media in a meaningful way.

Example: #writerscommunity

This time you spend will also start to show you how other people do it, especially if you’re new to posting and sharing content. And the more you do learn, the more inspired you will be to share your own voice and to get in the mix.

That’s why you became an author and a writer. You understand that your voice has power and you have something important to say.

I talk to those people, I share their posts, I save posts that really resonate with me and when my timer goes off, I open Facebook.

I do the same thing for Facebook and then Instagram. I do this for 35-45 minutes, with my morning coffee. This is time I used to spend mindlessly scrolling, which created some guilt around my social media time and usage. I don’t

You spent your life cultivating that voice in real-world experiences. Let the same thing happen online. Create time for that to happen in your digital ecosystem. This is how we squash that love/hate relationship once and for all, by taking back our control and our time, and making social media work for us, as part of our content strategy.

AUTHOR BIO International Content Expert Sara Burke is the Founder of HLCC, a content creation firm dedicated to boosting small businesses around the world. Sara has authored three books, and ghostwritten over 100 books, ebooks and workbooks. Sara recently launched The New American Dream, a podcast dedicated to helping business owners understand how our changing business ecosystem can support their success.

Author

15

Get More Book Sales

Top Tips to Selling More Books by Creating Community with Friends and Family

A

s an author, book sales are essential to your success. A great way to build buzz around your work is to create a community. This can be done by starting a LinkedIn group or an online forum where readers can connect with each other and discuss your books. It will also give potential buyers a place to ask questions and learn more about you and your work. This will get people interested in your services, books, and make them more likely to buy.

Another great way to promote your book is through signings and other events. It is vital to let people know about these events in advance so they can come prepared with questions and purchase your book on the spot! This is an excellent opportunity to meet with potential readers and get them excited about your work.

Finally, it’s important to remember that your friends and family are your biggest supporters.

The people closest to you

are often the most willing to help, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for their help in promoting your book. They want you to succeed and will be more than happy to be the catalyst to help you sell more books.

Here are six tips for selling more books to friends and family: 1. Get them involved from the start - Let them know about your book projects as soon as possible and ask for their feedback and suggestions. Getting them involved from the start lets them contribute and share.

2. Make it personal When you’re connecting with friends and family members about your book, take the time to write a personal note or make a phone call instead of just sending a generic email or social media post.

This shows that you value their relationship.

3. Make it easy for them Set up a dedicated website, blog, or online ordering system through a major retailer such as Amazon. This way people

can buy your books directly.

4. Offer incentives or discounts - Everyone loves a good deal! Offer your friends and family members a discount on your book or throw in some extras, like signed copies,access to exclusive content,10% discounts, or bulk discounts. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that will appeal to your target market.

5. Keep in touch - Be connected with your community, friends, and family after they’ve purchased your book by sending them occasional updates on your writing progress, new book releases, etc. This will keep them interested and invested in your success.

6. Give back - By donating a portion of your proceeds to charity, you can help make a difference in the world. Giving back

AUTHOR BIO Shannon Procise has successfully attained over $3.2M in FREE publicity and is notorious for being the owner of the “Million Dollar Rolodex” and teaching others how to do the same. She has trained and coached thousands of individuals in marketing, event production, business development, and personal growth. Shannon is the creator of a magnetic community, the Business Acceleration Network, where she guides businesses to build a successful enterprise while having fun and making lots of money.

16

Author

will give your readers the chance to be part of a bigger mission, inspiring them to continue supporting you and your work. There are many great causes to help, so take some time to research and find one that you are passionate about.

Then, make sure to let your readers know about your donation to feel good about supporting you and your work. Together, we can make a difference!

Start implementing these strategies today and see how much your book sales will increase. For authors looking for a way to position themselves as an industry expert and generate more traffic to their website, press release syndication is worth considering. To learn more, go to www.

ShannonProcise.com/ superbrand

2022 U.S. The Selfies Award Winner!

A Story of Inspiration, Courage, Overcoming Adversity, and Faith.

Wayne Raffesberger’s book Thank God I Got Polio shares inspiring stories of how polio shaped his life for the better.

W

hen most people think of polio, they think of a crippling disease that leaves some victims wheelchair-bound for the rest of their lives. San Diego author Wayne Raffesberger tells how he refused to let polio stop him from living the most adventurous life. Raffesberger contracted polio at a young age and was told by doctors that he may never walk again. He refused to give up and eventually regained the ability to walk. The book is titled “Thank God I Got Polio: A Life of Adventure and the Adventure of Life” and tells the story of how a disease can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

“This is a story that will break your heart and put it back together again,” states Raffesberger, speaker and writer.

Raffesberger’s memoir includes skiing down a glacier, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and the Matterhorn, working with local politicians and civic organizations, teaching at UC San Diego and the University of San Diego, and competing in the annual Sloppy Joe’s Ernest Hemingway Lookalike Contest in Key West, Florida, nine times. The book also explores his spiritual journey, marked

by a lifetime of denial but ultimately led him back to faith. ”This is an extraordinary book.

Extraordinary challenges, medical care, and determination led to a remarkable outcome - a return to thank the hospital and staff that helped him walk again by climbing the highest mountain in Africa in their honor. If you read one book this year, read this one.” Blair L. Sadler leader, author, and educator. Former President and CEO, Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

The Thank God I Got Polio book is a captivating read that tells the inspiring story of how Raffesberger overcame polio to live a life of adventure. This book is filled with powerful stories and photos that will inspire readers to overcome any challenge they face. This is an important story that needs to be shared with as many people as possible. Readers can purchase his book on Amazon and Audible to join his adventure. Raffesberger is currently available to speak, coach, or consult companies and organizations on various topics from leadership, overcoming adversity, and living a purpose-filled life. Book Raffesberger to speak at www.

WayneRaffesberger.com.

About the Author: Wayne Raffesberger is a retired lawyer, political aide, director of business nonprofits, university lecturer, small businessman, and freelance writer. He has authored dozens of commentaries and opinion pieces that have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the country. Raffesberger’s short stories have been published in local anthologies in San Diego, California, and recognized in the international Lorian Hemingway Short Story Writing Contest in Key West, Florida. His first book, Thank God I Got Polio: A Life of Adventure and the Adventure of Life, was published in late 2021.

Author

17

The Right and Wrong Way to Use A Podcast for Platform Building If part of your author strategy is to launch a podcast, read this first.

L

ess than 2% of podcasts qualify for advertising. I am sharing that, right out of the gate, because I have talked to so many authors who believe they will launch a show, get paid advertisers and then sell a million books.

Is this possible? Yes. Is it likely to happen to you as quickly as you want or need it to, to be an effective marketing strategy?

Most likely not. And in a marketplace where everyone is constantly trying to sell you something, transparency is the best thing I can offer.

18

Author

Tracy Hazzard, truly the queen of podcasting, Founder of Podetize and Feed Your Brand, had no problem airing all the dirty laundry about podcast marketing. Tracy is a seasoned media expert with over 2600 interviews from articles in Authority Magazine, BuzzFeed, and her Inc. Magazine column; and from her multiple top-ranked video casts and podcasts like The Binge Factor, The Next Little Thing, and Feed Your Brand – one of CIO’s Top 26 Entrepreneur Podcasts. Let’s get into it.

If you’re considering starting a podcast as part of your author platform strategy, here are a few things to keep in mind: •

Content, Content, Content When done right, launching a podcast can be an excellent way to build your author platform and connect with new readers.

Just like everything else you create, a good podcast puts out good content, which in turn allows your audience to trust you. Just like any other marketing strategy - trust is the key. And the way you earn trust is by consistently sharing good content that is true to who you are. This gets easier the more you do it, promise.

•

•

Know Your Audience Just like a book - niche is key. Choose an interest area over demographics. If you’re into finance, choose an area of specific interest rather than say women over 50 who are into finance. You need more of a topic and keyword strategy in our digital marketplace today. Define yourself, target your audience with that precise definition (keyword/topic) and don’t be afraid to revisit this as you grow, learn, and pivot.

Clarity Is King Be clearly focused on your audience and clearly serve them. If your show is self-service focused, and you’re constantly pushing sales with little to no value for the listener, your strategy will fall as flat as your show. Free value always brings monetization somewhere else, and those people who buy will tell others to buy too. I hear the 80/20 split everywhere but I really think it should be more 70/30, with 70% of everything you share being YOU connecting to your audience in a meaningful way, and 30% sales.

The only time this doesn’t apply is when you’re just starting out, building your platform. Your time spent on sales should be 0% - yes zero - and your entire focus should be relationship marketing - developing meaningful relationships with people who will eventually buy from you.

Let’s Recap First, make sure you have something unique to offer. There are already a ton of podcasts out there, so you need to make sure you have something special to offer listeners. What can you talk about that no one else is talking about?

What perspective can you share that will add value for listeners?

Second, don’t try to sell too much. Yes, your ultimate goal is to sell books, but it’s important to focus on providing value rather than making a direct pitch.

Instead of just talking about your book, try sharing advice, tips, and other helpful information that will engage listeners without feeling too “salesy.”

Third, be consistent in your content and delivery. Your podcast should have its own unique style, tone, and format so that listeners can easily identify and tune into it. But whatever you do, make sure to stick with it! Creating a regular schedule for releasing new episodes will help build a loyal audience over time.

If you keep these key considerations in mind as you launch your podcast, you’ll be well on your way to building an author platform that attracts new readers and helps grow your business.

Tracy Hazzard Tracy@Podetize.com Tracy Hazzard is a seasoned media expert with over 2600 interviews from articles in Authority Magazine, BuzzFeed, and her Inc. Magazine column; and from her multiple top-ranked videocasts and podcasts like The Binge Factor and Feed Your Brand – one of CIO’s Top 26 Entrepreneur Podcasts. Tracy brings diverse views from what works and what doesn’t work in marketing, branding and media from thought leaders and industry icons redefining success around the globe. Tracy’s unique gift to the podcasting, marketing, and branding world is being able to identify that unique binge-able factor – the thing that makes people come back again and again, listen actively, share as raving fans, and buy everything you have to sell.

Author

19

DreamSculpt m e d i a •

b o o k s

SOUL TO SOMA

Somatic Writing From the Soul Learn how to tap into the infinite intelligence of your Soul and use writing as a vehicle to discover who you truly are beyond the mask of your persona.

Through guided meditative processes, you will experience soul plane awareness and bodily felt sensations and translate that into the written word.

Benefits • Enhance and enrich your writing Facilitated by

Jared Rosen founder and CEO of DreamSculpt Books and Media

• Break free from your self-critic • Explore the realm of the Soul

This is a four-week series delivered on Zoom Thursdays from 4 to 5pm PDT A new group starts each month

Contact Bill@DreamSculpt.com to register for the next group.