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Writing a Business Book

A Review of the Book: Niche Down

August 16, 2018
Best Books, Writing a Business Book
2 Comments

How to Become Legendary by Being Different

by Christopher Lochhead and Heather Clancy

Niche Down

Some books in the business genre are how-to books and others are more inspirational. Although How-to is in the title, I would say that Niche Down is more inspirational than how-to. However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t value the book.

The whole premise of the book is that in if you want to be seen in the business world today, specifically being known online, you must have a very specific niche that you own. As Hal Elrod, the author of The Miracle Morning said in the forward, it wasn’t good enough that he was a good generic motivational speaker, author and coach, he had to be known as “The Miracle Morning” guy. You must be known for a niche that you own. You must determine how you are different.

You must be original.
You must break new ground.
You must be unique.

The authors Christopher Lochhead and Heather Clancy bring their own stories into the book. They have experience with this concept.

Christopher is a podcaster and a writer. According to Lochhead, “I prefer to collaborate with amazing people.” Heather Clancy was a journalist who, Lochhead admits taught him the business. According to Lochhead, he wrote this book because data showed that we are at the lowest levels of entrepreneurship in America history. He wanted to change that.

Clancy started her career in New York and specialized in writing about businesses like IBM and Bill Gates. She spent 20 years following the information-technology revolution. She took freelance assignments that focused on entrepreneurs because as she states, “they are fascinating, independent and creative.” When print media collapsed in 2007, she niched down and follow companies that had ecological ties.

The thesis of the book is if you want to become legendary in business, you had to declare and define a niche. The book explores individuals, and entrepreneurships that create their own niche and to become legendary in that niche. It revolves around identifying a problem that people have, create a solution, and capitalize on that solution.
The book isn’t just about theory, but demonstrates how numerous other individuals found problems, created solutions, and capitalized on that solution.

Although the book says that it is a “how to” in the title, if you’re looking for a how-to book, you’re apt to be disappointed. However, if you want inspiration for developing your own niched down entrepreneurial business, then this is definitely a must-read book.

Ten Ways to Market a Local Business Anthology

April 30, 2018
Best Books, The Marketing Focus, Write a Book, Writing a Business Book
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main street

On last week’s article, I discussed how a community could develop an anthology to promote the businesses in their community. (Read it Here) Such a book would not only help develop community relationships but could be a tool for new comers to get a better idea of what the community, especially small communities or specific communities within larger cities.

Promoting A Local Anthology

1. Before book is put together, as part of the submission project, include within the cost of the submission the cost of one copy of the book.
2. Include the ability to pre-order also at retail price, offer to sell them additional books for their family, or friends.
3. Give the businesses the option of buying more books to sell or give away when their supplies have diminished.
4. Once the book is written, published and copies are purchased, here are ways that a community can optimize its use of an anthology book written. Sell copies from your chamber of commerce.
5. Sell books at local and regional events where promoting the community would be beneficial.
6. Have a free pdf offered online from your chamber of commerce website.
7. Sell the book on Kindle and other online digital and print book sites.
8. Encourage business owners to sell copies of the book from their businesses.
9. Sell copies of books at the library bookstore, the local historical society bookstore, and at community events where people from outside the community may attend and purchase the book as a souvenir.
10. Sell copies to regional and State agencies that promote tourism of your area.
I am certain that there are probably other ways to sell your local anthology that could unify the community and benefit local tourism and business.

Explore Writing a Book to Promote Your Community

Write a Book and Ignite your Business_red

If businesses in your community would like to investigate writing an anthology for your community, please contact me at cygnetbrown@gmail.com for a consultation.
Intrigued by the idea of writing a book to promote your business, but aren’t sure what exactly would be involved? Check out my book: Write a Book and Ignite Your Business
Available in Print
http://www.lulu.com/shop/cygnet-brown/write-a-book-and-ignite-your-business/paperback/product-23373303.html#
And on Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NWLTSP

Why Your Community Should Create an Anthology

April 23, 2018
Best Books, Uncategorized, Write a Book, Writing a Business Book
3 Comments

main streetDuring the last several weeks, I shared articles about why you as a business owner should consider writing a book. If you’re a business person, and writing a book sounds like a good idea, but you don’t want to write a whole book because you either don’t have time or you don’t think you have can afford someone who can ghost write one for you, perhaps you could convince your community into creating an anthology in which you include an article about your own business.

A Unique Type of Anthology

A lot of anthologies have been written by professional writers. These anthologies might be a collection of short stories written by local authors or even a collection of stories of history. One very well-known anthology series is the Chicken Soup of the Soul series of books that have come out.
Small business communities could easily benefit from an anthology that promotes their community. I believe that communities could easily produce anthologies of stories and tip articles in the form of a book that they can sell to local citizens, home-comers, and to new comers interested in their local. These same anthologies could also be given away as a PDF on the local chamber of commerce site.
Imagine a book that mingles the elements of storytelling and tips into a book that contains numerous articles written by numerous business people who are willing to share some basic information about what they do. In addition to contact information, the local fire department chief could write about home fire safety and how to keep a small grease fire from becoming a full-blown house fire. A local police officer could share information about bicycle safety. The school principle could share what a newcomer needs to know about how to get a child into a new school. Local historians and high school students could tell stories about how the town started, stories about local sites, and interesting people of the town’s present and past. In addition, the plumber could write an article about what a person should check before calling a plumber. An electrician could write about the dangers of not calling an electrician. People from the local farmer’s market could write about the advantages of buying produce locally. In addition to telling about the children’s reading circle and the availability of Wi-Fi at the library, the local librarian can share information about the local readers’ club and local writers’ group.

The Benefits of a Community Generated Anthology

An anthology like the one suggested would bring community members closer. It would be a win-win-win for in the community. It could be a benefit to everyone in the local community from the chamber of commerce to the small business owner to the newcomer. All that needs to be done is to get each person to write (or have written for them) a chapter in the book, get it published and share it with those in the community via events, at the local businesses, or through the local chamber of commerce. It could be a pride of the community.

Explore Writing a Book to Promote Your Community

Write a Book and Ignite your Business_red

If businesses in your community would like to look into writing an anthology for your community, please contact me at cygnetbrown@gmail.com for a consultation.
Intrigued by the idea of writing a book to promote your business, but aren’t sure what exactly would be involved? Check out my book: Write a Book and Ignite Your Business

Available in print
http://www.lulu.com/shop/cygnet-brown/write-a-book-and-ignite-your-business/paperback/product-23373303.html#
And on Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NWLTSP

How to Market a Business Owner Expert Book

April 16, 2018
Best Books, The Marketing Focus, Write a Book, Writing a Business Book
2 Comments

Create the Business Owner Book and Publish It

office building

In the first blog post this month, I explained why a business owner should write a book to promote his or her business. Check it out here. Last week I explained why I thought that a book created by that same business author should self-publish and use a print on demand business to print the printed copy of the book. If you haven’t read that one, read it here.

How to Market Your Business-Related Book

We ended our post last week with the business buying just one copy of the book. To market this book, I suggest start sharing it with your best customers at your brick and mortar location as well as your family and friends. If you were the business person who wrote the book, you could tell the customer that you need a certain number of books by a certain date (within a couple of weeks) that you want to order and ask if they want to get one of those books, autographed by you, of course. Ask them to pre-buy the book. If you don’t already have it, ask for their email address so that you can let them know when the book arrives. Wait no more than a couple weeks before sending in your order and let everyone who pre-bought your book when you send in the order. In addition to getting the books you sold to your family and customers, invest your profit back into more copies of your book for future sales. Once they have the autographed copy of your book, be sure to let them know how much you appreciate their business. By starting the process selling books to your family friends and current customers through pre-order, you might just be able to have the book pay for it’s own marketing.

Growing Your Local Reach

Now that you have your book out, its time to grow your book’s reach locally. One place you could go first would be to the local library and libraries in nearby towns. A lot of times, a library doesn’t want to take books that are from local authors because most local authors write fiction books. This business—related book would different because it is nonfiction and written by someone everyone in the area knows as someone in that business.
Next, if there’s a local bookstore, go visit them and see if you can set up a local book signing with them. Then go back to your family, friends and best customers and tell them that you will be signing books at the local bookstore. Ask them to help you invite people to visit you at the book store. Ask them to be your street team and start by sharing your information on social media.
Now go to, call, or email your local newspaper and let them know that you have a book out. Be sure that you have a press release to share with them about who you are and why you wrote the book. You can also do this with your local radio station and even your local television station. This publicity that you get locally should not only help get you free book publicity but will also help get you additional business from your main business.
While you’re getting your local publicity, you should also be building a following online. This means connecting with print and digital bookstores online. You can do this via YouTube videos (promoted via social media), developing a newsletter, having a website, having a blog, and writing online articles. You may have some of these already online. Others you might need to develop. You also might need help from someone within your business or even outside your business to help with many aspects building your online presence.
If they tell you they can’t afford a print copy, direct them to buy the book on Kindle. Let them know the value that they will get from having the book. Get your book distributed on all the major online bookstores.

Going Online

To build business beyond your local environment, you may want to distribute your books through trade shows both book trade shows and trade shows directly related to your business. In addition, you may want to advertise in trade journals.

Get Your Copy of Write a Book and Ignite Your Business Today!

Write a Book and Ignite your Business_redThere are many other marketing options that you may want to consider as you develop your book marketing as it relates to developing your business. For more information about the ways that your business can use to market your book to promote your business, please contact me at cygnetbrown@gmail.com for a consultation.
Intrigued by the idea of writing a book to promote your business, but aren’t sure what exactly would be involved? Read my book: Write a Book and Ignite Your Business

Available in print
http://www.lulu.com/shop/cygnet-brown/write-a-book-and-ignite-your-business/paperback/product-23373303.html#
And on Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NWLTSP

Why a Business Owner Should Not Plan to Use a Traditional Publishing Company to Publish a Book

April 9, 2018
Best Books, Write a Book, Writing a Business Book
3 Comments

christmas-books

In my last post I wrote about why I thought that business owners should write a book related to his or her expertise. If you have not read it, here’s a link back. I would hate for you to miss it.

In this post I am going to explain why I believe that once the business owner has written the book, that book should be self-published, and then that book should be printed by a print-on-demand book publisher.

Why Self-Publish?

So What is self-publishing? To self-publish, does not mean that the author does all the work alone. It simply means that the author has complete control over the publishing and distribution process.

A business owner should self-publish his or her own book for several reasons. One reason is that unless the business book author is already famous, this author will have a difficult time getting big publishing companies to take on their publishing project.
Another reason expert business authors should self-publish is because when the author sells out to a big publisher, that author often sells all rights to that publisher. When an author self-publishes however, that author keeps all rights to the book. If the author wants to sell copies of the book in his book and mortar, the author can. If the author wants to sell digital books, the author doesn’t need to ask permission to sell his or her own book on Amazon. If the author wants to create YouTube videos based on information found in the book, he can do it without violating a contract with the publisher because the author IS THE PUBLISHER. A final reason to self-publish is that the publishing process can take just a couple of months of hard work rather than spent waiting up to two years for the publishing company to get around to publishing your book.

Why Use a Print on Demand Service?

I believe a business owner who writes a book to promote his or her business should also consider using print-on-demand for the printing of his or her business book. The reason is this. No one wants to have boxes of books in their basement or garage that they can’t give away!
A print on demand printer offers the ability to get thousands or just book printed. Therefore, you can buy just enough books to sell during a specific period so that you don’t have to store thousands of books.
Here’s what I suggest. Get just one copy of the book and put it on display at your business and show all your customers. At this point you will start marketing your physical book. More about how to market your book in my next post.
For more information about how to self-publish and where you can have your book self-published as a self-publisher, contact me at cygnetbrown@gmail.com. Not only can I help you with this information, but I can help you format your book for print and digital format, show you where to get a cover made, and get your book printed via print-on-demand.

Learn More About Using a Book to Promote Your Business

Write a Book and Ignite your Business_red

Don’t Yet Have a Book to Publish? Have a book to Publish, but need more details on how to publish and how to market that book? Check out my book: Write a Book and Ignite Your Business.

Intrigued by the idea of writing a book to promote your business, but aren’t sure what exactly would be involved? Read my book: Write a Book and Ignite Your Business

 

Available in print

http://www.lulu.com/shop/cygnet-brown/write-a-book-and-ignite-your-business/paperback/product-23373303.html#

And on Kindle 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NWLTSP

April is Small Business Author Month!

April 2, 2018
Best Books, Uncategorized, Write a Book, Writing a Business Book
4 Comments

me_on_the_laptop

Write a Book and Ignite Your Business!

 

This month we are going to discuss why you should write a book if you own a business. So why should you write a book? That is the question we are going to address today.

Become Your Industry’s Expert

First reason that you should write a book to promote your business is because you have expertise that the world needs to know about. If you have been in business for any length of time, you have expert advice that you can share with others about well, just being in business. You also have expert knowledge in the service or product your business provides as well. If you’re a farmer, you have knowledge of the type of crops or animals that you raise. If you’re a plumber, you have expertise in plumbing. Are you an electrician? Are you a real estate agent? Are you an accountant? Are you a public speaker? Are you a teacher? Are you a doctor? If you do any of these things (or are good at doing anything related to your business!), you have expertise that can benefit potential customers with knowledge about specific subjects that relate to your business.

In my book: Write a Book and Ignite Your Business, I show how you can share your expertise to your customers that will benefit you and the customer in ways that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to share with them.

Promote Your Expertise While Encouraging DIY

You may ask “How, if I sell my business secrets, how will I make money with my clients? Won’t they just do it themselves?”

Sure, they might, but the truth is, they probably won’t. There might be a few things that they would do themselves. For instance, if your client bought your book about plumbing, they might be able to do a few things themselves like unclogging a drain or changing out a water strainer on the faucet, but when it comes to the difficult jobs like plumbing the whole house, your clients will be less likely to go to your competition because you wrote the book on the subject and since they have read your book, they know you much better than they do your competitor! When you have a book out about your business, you elevate your own self-worth as an expert above your competition.

In your book, make sure that you explain to any potential DIY customers when seeking expert advice is imperative. Show them what they can do on their own to save money and describe when it is necessary to get a professional. For instance, when someone is building a house, the DIY person might purchase the necessary materials (based on a chart in your book), help with the electrical work by drill the holes in the studs, running wires through the wall and then having you, if you’re the electrician, finish the wiring process and setting up the electrical inspection with the proper authorities.

Extend your Sphere of Influence Beyond the Local Economy

By writing a book about your business expertise, in addition to blowing away the local competition, you extend your expert advice beyond your normal sphere of influence. You can only be in one place at a time, but your book can spread your knowledge beyond your community. You bring income from other parts of the country into your town.
A book can create an income when you normally wouldn’t have one. I know that many people in the building profession have slow times during the winter months. If during that slow time you write a book and work at marketing that book, you can develop a following and an income during that time in the year.
A lot of self-help books are purchased during economic downtimes. In addition, many new businesses are started during these times as well. If your professional business takes a hit during these down times, marketing your book when your professional business isn’t doing as well can help you get through that economic slump. You could even license your book out to competitors outside of your own local business area and make even more! (contact me and I will explain how this works!)

Write a Book and Ignite your Business_red

Intrigued by the idea of writing a book to promote your business, but aren’t sure what exactly would be involved? Read my book: Write a Book and Ignite Your Business available in print http://www.lulu.com/shop/cygnet-brown/write-a-book-and-ignite-your-business/paperback/product-23373303.html#

and on Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NWLTSP

 

Cygnet Brown’s Christmas Gift Book Give-Away

December 23, 2017
Best Books, Christmas, Living Today, The Locket Saga, The Productive Writer, Writing a Business Book
2 Comments

December 23, 2017

My Christmas Gift to You

I did this last year and I decided to make this an annual event. Here it is, Cygnet’s Annual Christmas gifts to all of my readers. Pick up your copy now and book you choose OR You can pick ALL of the titles below for free from midnight December 22, 2017 until midnight Christmas Day 2017! You don’t have to wait until Christmas Day to open your gifts either. Start reading today! Enjoy!

 

Book IV of the Locket Saga: Sailing Under the Black Flag

Jonathan Mayford wants to join the Patriot Cause because he wants to prove that he’s a man. Despite his parents’ misgivings, they allow him to join his father’s privateer, the American Elizabeth.

Jonathan befriends an old sea cook, Finis Henderson who teaches him about the sea. Later, he also becomes friend with a young African American boy.

Jonathan’s young friend, James Forten, though born a freedman, does not realize what freedom means until he experiences it as a privateer. He, also, did not realize the treachery of slavery until sees individuals of his own color in chains on the auction block.

The relationship that takes Jonathan from boyhood to manhood began when he met the red-headed Lowri Howell, a daughter of Welsh nobleman. Jonathan dreams of the day that he will become worthy of her affections. He hoped that in winning this war, he might have a chance at capturing her heart, his greatest prize of all.

Both Jonathan and James discover fighting in the war is not what makes a man. They learn that becoming a real man requires integrity and character.

https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Under-Black-Flag-Locket-ebook/dp/B01IIXO6CI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1513088769&sr=1-1&keywords=Book+IV+of+The+Locket+Saga%3A+Sailing+Under+the+Black+Flag

 

Book V of the Locket Saga: In the Shadow of the Mill Pond

B) In the Shadow of the Millpond

Fifteen-year-old Lacey Mayford has been infatuated with Matthew since she was a little girl. Matthew, a half-breed Indian, doesn’t see her as anything more than a little girl cousin. How can she convince him that she is growing into a beautiful young woman he should consider?

In the frontier town near the turn of the century, Matthew Thorton is blamed for Luther Hannibal’s murder after an altercation with Luther over stolen furs. Lacey defends Matthew with the help of a teacher, Felix Grackle. They look into other suspects who could have killed Luther Hannibal. Matthew’s father Luke and his best friend Jacque Pierre are looking for the person responsible for stealing the furs. They believe the thief might have something to do with Luther Hannibal’s murder.

Will Lacey be able to clear Matthew’s name? Will Luke and Jacque Pierre find the man who stole the furs? Will the vigilantes stop the Whiskey Rebellion without bloodshed? The truth is far more sinister than anyone could imagine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XKFCPQK/ref=series_dp_rw_ca_5

 

Book VI of the Locket Saga: The Anvil

Robert McCray dreamed of the day when he would marry Lillian O’Hare. He went north with his father, Uncle Luke, and Cousin Isaac to Northwestern Pennsylvania. He built a shed behind the cabin to set up his blacksmith shop. The only tool that he needed was the anvil. Little did he know that in a matter of hours, all his dreams would come crashing down.

Judith Campbell was the eldest of Duncan Campbell’s three daughters. After her father lost his farm in a rigged land grab, he decided to take up the US government’s offer to Revolutionary War veterans to settle on lands at no cost in unsettled parts of the country. Duncan and his family become neighbors to the Thorton and McCray families. There the three families bind together to survive the hardships of the wilderness. What does the future hold for Robert and Judith?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076RTBP45/ref=series_dp_rw_ca_6

 

Living Today, The Power of Now

Cover B

What if you only had one day to live? How would you live your life differently?

You really do only have one day at any given time, and that day is today. You cannot live in the past. You cannot live in the future. Today is your day to shine.

Today, and only today, you have the power of now, and it is strongest when you know that you are on the right path.

From Living Today, the Power of Now, discover:

  • Awareness and Focus on the present moment.
  • Tips for obtaining fire starting focus
  • Change bad habits to good habits
  • Creating a Time and a Place to dream
  • What “Don’t Worry” really Means
  • Learn How to Build on Past Experiences
  • Overcome Fear and Find Faith
  • Letting Go of the Past
  • The value of forgiving yourself and others
  • And much more

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072WFW3HZ

 

Write a Book and Ignite Your Business

Are you a business owner looking for surefire way to get the edge over your competition? Thanks to social media, the advertising world is changing. People can connect with you and your products like never before. They want to see the face behind the product. In addition, people want to know what is in it for them. They don’t care about the features so much as they want to know how what you do will benefit them. Writing a Book related to your business opens doors like nothing else can.

 

Writing a book can help you:

  • Offer more than just your business card to your high end clients
  • Demonstrate to your clients that you are an expert in your industry
  • Go places you would never have dreamed of going
  • Provide numerous chances for free publicity and even publicity that pays you!
  • Find the ultimate marketing tool!

No longer is it necessary to send your book out to a traditional publisher to publish your books. You don’t have to depend on vanity presses either. Today, it is possible to publish using a system called self-publishing where you do the work of writing your book then prepare it for publication, have copies printed using print on demand technology, then market the book yourself. This book not only tells you why you should write a book to ignite your business, but it gives you a step-by-step guide that shows you how to go through the self-publishing process from an author who has been through the process numerous times.

https://www.amazon.com/Write-Book-Ignite-Your-Business-ebook/dp/B076NWLTSP/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1513089312&sr=1-1&keywords=Write+a++Book+and+Ignite+Your+Business

 

What Would I Like in Return?

What do I want in return? I am not asking for anything. I am not asking for your email address or anything like that. As I said, this was a Christmas gift to you.

Share this post If you would like to give me something in return, you don’t have to, but I would love if you would Share this post on your Twitter or Facebook page.

A Review on Kindle Also, after you have finished reading, I would really appreciate  if you took the time to  return to the page where you picked up the book(s) and offer me a good review of the books you read and enjoyed. That would be better than any other Christmas gift or card you could give me.

I wish you a Very Merry Christmas

And a Happy, Happy New Year!

Why a Business Owner Should Self-publish a Business Promotion Book

October 16, 2017
Writing a Business Book
2 Comments

Recently I read a story about a young realtor who wrote a book about “What every ‘for sale by owner’ homeowner needs to know to sell their house”.  He self-published that book. He gave instructions on step by step instructions of everything that an owner needs to know to complete the sales process on their own. He then would go around town looking for “for sale by owner” properties and knock at the door, introduce himself and give them one of the books. Although he eventually sold a number of books, his goal wasn’t to sell books but to promote his expertise as someone who knew how to sell a house. Many of the homeowners, who he gave his books to, did actually use the book to sell their own homes. When their friends wanted to sell their own homes, but didn’t want to sell it themselves, the homeowners who had the book knew that of a realtor who knew his stuff and recommended the one who came to their door and gave them the book.

Others, however, after reading the book many homeowners realized that they couldn’t go through the red tape needed to sell their house so they knew that the realtor who gave them the book with no strings attached was their realtor of choice. This realtor ended up with more business than he could handle himself.  If you own a business that you would like to grow, having a book out that is related to that business may be the marketing tool that can also put you over the top.

The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing for Business Owners

At first, a business owner might think that their best bet might be to go with a traditional publisher, but there are advantages in self-publishing. Self-publishing has its benefits: more control, more agility and speed than traditional publishing. You can focus on writing and publishing, instead of waiting around to hear if somebody wants to publish you.

But it also has its risks: you need to have a well-designed book, a nice looking website, and you need to set up a marketing funnel, but if you’re already in business online, you’ve already got a start. You also have some idea who your readers are and how to reach them. Luckily, it’s never been easier, so if you’re willing to learn and spend some money, you can give your book every chance at success. That said, the average author spends $2000 to $5000 to publish their books, and few authors earn any money. (Books get cheaper to publish the more you learn. Publishing doesn’t cost me anything, because I format, edit and design myself… but I am also in the author business). Less than 10% of independent authors sell more than 1000 copies in the lifetime of the book.

You can spend much less if you want to, but it’s hard to get quality work done on the cheap. However, it’s also possible to have a smash hit with a mediocre cover. A lot of that depends on how you intend to use that book to market your business.

What Book is in You?

Now that you know that self-publishing is an option for your book, it’s time to start thinking about what book topic would best serve you and your business. What do you wish your customers understood about what you do? Pay attention to the questions that your customers ask you. Those questions could be the keys to the subject of your book. More about this later. For now, just think about what your book’s subject.

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