Stumble It!
Rich Author Video #5 Is Here - 2 Simple Things To Create Raving Fans…
Okay, we’re heading into the homestretch of our Rich Author Video Series, and number 5 is ready to go…
Check it out right now.
http://www.automaticbestseller.com/rich_author/
Be sure to tell me what you think about it, by posting your comments on this blog, then, if you have your own blog, or if you’re a member of another blog, post your comments on those blogs as well.
In Video 5, you’ll learn…
–The one make-or-break page where 40% of your prospects will make their buying decision …
–The 3 elements your table of contents MUST have…
–How to build die-hard loyalty by overdelivering on your book’s promises…
–The secret to adding “stickiness” to your book’s content…
–How to properly structure your book to give it that ultra-desirable “can’t put it down” aspect….
–2 simple things you can put into each chapter to create raving fans of your book…
–How to transform yourself from an author to a valued personal coach (it’s easier than you think)…
And a bunch more!
This one is only about 14 minutes long, but the content is amazingly crucial to your book’s success.
Make sure you see this one right away…
http://www.automaticbestseller.com/rich_author/
Best Always,
Chris
All of these book writing secrets will help you write a book, and turn that book into a large, long-term income stream faster than you could ever imagine possible - “IF” you take action!
May 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Wow, I had no idea how important the table of contents was! I never knew how effective it could be to write a detailed and appealing table of contents. That really opens my eyes to this. I have never done this with books that I buy, but I might start now.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
In non-fiction - and even fiction, which is where I plan on becoming a best-selling author - a good, easy-to-read, and accurate table of contents is definitely a must-have item.
As for seeing TOCs in books I buy…I see them all the time. Mostly in non-fiction books, but I think I’ve seen them in a few novels.
May 11th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I think you are spot on the importance of TOC. To me, it is the first door that the reader enters. Having enticed him to enter, the next step to make him stay on is compelling content which hopefully can also address some of his needs.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I think some authors tend to want to make their book be “different” or “special” and they think the way to do that is by not having something like a traditional TOC. They’re overlooking the fact that a TOC is something readers can easily grasp, and if you make your version too hard to understand, they won’t take the book.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I see that all the time Alpha, and I really didn’t think that it would make that big of a difference until I watched this. The things you find out when you open your mind.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:29 am
I think it’s important that you don’t skip out on your table of contents. Make sure that if you do skip it, you’re giving your readers something else to refer to, a good synopsis maybe, or a list of things you’ll be covering.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I absolutely love thinking about being a ‘coach’ rather than just an ‘author’. I find the idea of helping people absolutely amazing, and any money earned will be an added (and needed) bonus.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Chris said that when you give something extra to your audience without advertising it, the more loyalty you are gaining. Have you found this to be true in your past experiences?
I think he has a good point - I love getting more than what I feel I paid for.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I have a question regarding the success stories that he was talking about. He says that each book should have success stories that will really draw in your readers, and enable them to look up to you more. I just don’t know how to go about obtaining these stories.
Do you think that using experiences from e-classes would be a good way to get these?
May 12th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Chris mentioned that a lot of the authors that are big have changed the content in their books, sometimes adding even more success stories as they go. Do you think that this increases sales? Are people willing to buy the same book again with some new content, or is this done just to entice new readers?
May 12th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I feel like Chris just scolded me, but it’s only going to motivate me. He said that people who put their work aside and don’t continue the projects will never achieve the success they could have. He’s very inspirational. I felt like he was talking directly to me. I guess it’s time to pick up the pace!
May 13th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Belinda, I think that changing content is more so to draw in more readers, not necessarily to get the older ones to buy the book again. Just what I see from personal experiences.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I can see some very devoted fans wanting to buy the book again, but I think it can sell to previous customers if you include that something extra that Chris mentioned. Give them something for nothing.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Caleb, e-classes that you run are good ways to get your success stories, but there are plenty of ways. It might not happen right away, but you have to stay confident in yourself. You can also examples from history, like Chris did.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
The Table of Contents does need to attract a reader, and it should be readily available. Like Chris keeps saying, people want a reason to read your book. You don’t want to leave them wondering, you want to deliver.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
When Chris said that it’s important to give people a little bonus, more than what they think they bought, he was spot on. People who feel you went above and beyond giving them what they paid for are more than likely going to come back to you!
May 13th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Loren, I think that every once in a while, all of us need a bit of a boost. Chris is an amazing motivator, and I think it’s good that you felt him trying to get you moving.
May 14th, 2008 at 4:08 am
I like how Chris used a couple different types of success stories. He used a historical example and a modern one to kind of motivate us. It makes me think that a historical example could be used in your book if you thought of something that related to your topic.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Yep, it definitely gave me that boost. Chris is a fantastic speaker, and somebody that I can see influencing many more in the future. I better get to work on some actual writing now. I’m definitely sticking to my schedule much better now.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:59 am
I’m trying to think of myself buying another edition of the same book for new content, and I’m think that I’m going to need a little something extra with it, so I’m going to say that Chris is right. You have to give your buyers a thank you for buying from you.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I’m not sure if this is relevant, or if its the publisher’s doing rather than the author, but I’ve read a few books where, at the end of the book, there’s an additional short story or even novella attached. Is this something along the lines of what Chris says?
May 14th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I know that I look at both the back cover and especially the TOC to see if it interests me or not. So yes, I can see how valuable this is.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
The success stories are very valuable in each chapter, because once again, you are building up your credibility. Readers are better able to relate to other peoples experiences. What a great idea.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Chris is right once again! If we just sit on our work and don’t take the appropriate steps to get it finished, we are only cheating ourselves.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
At the end of listening this video, my first reaction was “WOW”. Chris absolutely knows what he is talking about. It’s like he has studied the minds of readers everywhere.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I am trying to recall the times I have been in a book store and what my approach has been. I basically browse and then picks up something that grabs my attention, then I read the rest of the front cover. Then back cover to get more info aneck the price. I then look at the TOC.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I am sure that I have seen books without table of contents, they used bullet points instead but it is done in such a way that the attention is still captured and retained.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I remember reading a book once by a famous and well author. I just could not put the book down, one of the main thing he used to create ’stickiness’ was to tell the stories of people who had gone through similar situations he was writing about. That was very well done.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I know what you mean, I didn’t even know that was a specific technique. The content was just so relevent, to the point almost personal.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Giving a bonus is definitely a good way to win loyalty and the fact is, it can be valuable without costing you much. As Chris said, I think he gave away an audio of an interview or something like that, but the return from that one act of giving will be great.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Since I have been online, I have come across many internet marketers in various niches and I will confess that the ones who gives out free valuable information are the ones I end up buying from, because I have come to believe in them.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Caleb, if you followed the steps Chris outlined, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get those success stories. You will need to put yourself out there though to actually get this info coming at you. If a person says something to you, ask them to write it down and have their permission to use it.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I am sure they would feel excited about that, even I would want to be a part of a book, if it’s a real personal issue, I would just use a pen name, but still contribute my testimonal.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Chris has stressed in more than one of the video that we need to get endorsements, as much as we can, even if we have to beg…..well he didn’t say that, but it was implied. Especially from a really influential person.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
The tips he gave about how to become more than just an author and becoming a valued respected coach is really something to think about. That way you become your most valuable asset.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I just watched the video and thought that I liked the idea of adding exercises to the end of each chapter. That would really allow me to step out of the ‘author’ role and into the role of ‘coach’.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I think that a good TOC is often so overlooked although it should not be rocket science. Between the covers and TOC, that’s where you’ll find the ’synopsis’ of a book.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
The idea of over-delivering is not a new one, but unfortunately not one that I see too often. It bothers me that more authors aren’t doing it the way that Chris does.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Loren, you have no idea how many times I feel like that.
I feel like Chris really speaks directly to me. It’s almost as if he knows I’m procrastinating. The fact that he puts his videos out there really makes me think that if he has the time to have accomplished so much, the least I can do is get up and start working!
May 14th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
There really has been no motivator that has been as good for me as Chris has been. He’s just so organized and on top of things, I really hope that I am able to help people in the same way.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
The Table of Contents shouldn’t be rocket science, but I think that some people make it harder than it actually is. I don’t know how some writers just overlook it - that’s the outline of your book. Chris does a terrific job of reinforcing this though, so none of us should have any problems remembering to have a ‘meaty’ table of contents.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
How do you think that an effective table of contents can be included in fiction without revealing too much of the plot right away? Chris stresses the value of a table of contents, and I definitely don’t want to disappoint readers.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Everyone likes to get something for nothing, so adding an extra perk to our readers, is more money in our pockets. I love that idea.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Belinda, I agree with you! A good author has to give you more than what you were expecting when you first opened up that book. My favorite author does that in every book of his.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Do you think that there is a good format to use for a table of contents that is a little bit different than the others? I want to follow the advice that Chris is giving us, but I also want to stand out with something a little different.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
For non-fiction, I definitely agree about the table of contents; when choosing between various books, it’s the first thing I look to.
For fiction, it seems a bit trickier. I gone through a table of contents in a fictional book that was designed poorly, and completely spoiled the ending. I don’t know-would you say it’s still important for fiction?
May 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I completely agree with Chris (as usual) on the non-fiction Table of Contents. I don’t think it’s nearly as important for the fiction books though. I think a good synopsis will do the trick there.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I think that a well-written synopsis is important for non-fiction as well, so long as you include the Table of Contents with enough details so that the reader will want to pick up your book.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Do you think that a well written table of contents is just as important for a follow up book? I would reckon so, I mean, it might be the first book by you that some people will read. I guess my real question is, do you think that we need to work just as hard to pull in “old” readers as we do “new” readers?
May 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Sprout, I think that it’s just as important to keep luring in the audience you already have. If you don’t, they may get bored or forget about you, and you don’t want that. I think it’s worth the extra effort, and I think Chris is doing a great job doing it.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
The table of contents, I now realize is much more important than I had assumed. I thought you just wrote the headings or topics of what you were going to write about.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I thought the same thing, I am not an author yet, but that was my perception. I did not realize that at some point persuasive and interesting headings were used as the TOC.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
So know that we have learnt this technique, we will be able to get it incorporated in our book to make it even more interesting.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Chris said that each chapter should be a mini marketing device for us. That is so profound. I would never have thought there was so much power in writing an headline, but I do see how applicable it is.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
In addition to that, I didn’t know that approximately 40% of consumers would flip through the table of contents. I do it subconsciously almost every time I go to buy a book.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
If I don’t go away with anything else from video 5 I will always remember that a good table of contents must have a call to action, appeal to the emotion, and a reason to take action.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Dion you are so right, I am thinking back to the times I have been in the bookstores and the amount of books I have browsed, you really have only a few seconds to CONVINCE the buyer that your book is worth their last dollar.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I have been convinced about books in the book store before and even though I was not able to buy it at the same time, I returned to buy it weeks after. Now that is how I want my book to be, once the person comes into contact with it, they can’t do without it.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
It would really be great to have a book like that. I think if we follow the guidelines Chris gives we should be able to churn out a couple of those.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
How do you reach the point where you are able to become a master of explaining everyday subjects in a more appealing way? This is one of the main things Chris said we need to be able to do. I don’t think I am very good at that.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Hi all, I just listened to video 5 and I am really geared up and rearing to go.
Kenny, you could always practice on the people around you, and see how they respond to you.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Hi Tonya
That sounds like an excellent idea, they will be able to tell you if you are convincing enough or you could simply judge from their reactions to the things you say.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Kenny, You could also try practicing in front of your mirror where you can see you facial expressions and imagine how someone else would read into those gestures.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
You could take at least two to three things everyday and make a concerted effort in explaining them to someone, you could use different persons each time so they don’t get tired of you. lol.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
If you have one or two friends who will allow you to practice on them and tell you honestly how clear your explanations are, so you are better able to make the necessary changes.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Wooow, thanks a lot guys, it seem as if we were living in the same vicinity I would be able to practice on you. I realize it’s very necessary though, since I will have to do public speaking run tele-seminars and stuff like that.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I find it very creative how Chris uses the tables of contents and creates sub headline, that makes it so much more appealing because it appeals to your emotion.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
To be honest I don’t seem to remember a whole lot of book with the TOC like this. I am not saying it won’t work, because I totally understand and agree with his concept. There is just so much competition, you really want to stand out.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Stickiness…Oh how I want stickiness. I have read many a book that had stickiness. I remember as a child when I read Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, I would skip to see how many pages were left for the chapter to end, but it was because I really needed to go bed. Anyway, I would realize I started another chapter when I was on page 3 or so….they we cunning.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Kenia,
I remember those books, it’s like you couldn’t put them down, and when you did , you really count down the minutes until you are able to pick it up again. Even as kids (with short attention span) they were able to apply the sticky concept to our books.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Chris suggested that give a copy of our books to other people to read it. On the surface I am thinking that this might not be a good idea (I have never done it before). Supposed some unscrupulous person steal the book and publish it.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Melonie, that’s a real fear, and that’s why you would only give your book to trusted selected person, so the likelihood of this happening to really far removed.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Plus, it’s an unfinished product so they would have to complete it with a vision that is different from yours. And you would have already been doing tele seminars and question and answer sessions so it will be obvious that it doesn’t belong to them.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:39 am
Melonie, they are correct. Only give your work to those close to you that you can trust. That way you know this kind of thing won’t happen.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
The other thing is to give it to people who you know will really read it and give you a good analysis instead of shelving it until you ask about it.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
The point Chris raised about sharing your success story in each chapter I know will add to the stickiness of the book because depending on what I am reading, that is something that really grabs and holds my attention.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
One of the major challenge I got was that “you can do better” I think with time and the right circumstances, whether good or bad, we can all do better at some of the things we write. So I have been challenged to do my best.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I know what you mean Howard. There are times I do something (write an article for example) and after going through methodically 3-4 times I find that I produce a better piece than when it was first written.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I think the first draft acts as the backbone of written. So it basically acts as a guide to ensure the piece follows a certain direction but the content part of it can be changed to be creative and engaging.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
“Your entire life is determined by an handful of decision ….I know so many would be authors who still have their books inside their head..” What can I say… It’s the first time I am hearing this quotation, but the more I think about it the deeper it sinks.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
That must have slipped by me, because I didn’t hear all of that part, just the last part. But I will certainly agree with that statement. It is food for thought.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I have never really stopped to think about it before but that is so true, we make so many decisions in our lives but there are some that change and mark the course for the rest of our lives.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
When I heard that part I played it a few times to allow it to penetrate my thoughts. I have decided that I will make more focused decisions from now on, especially in relation to starting my book.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
About people with books inside their heads, that scream me, me, me. I have thought about writing so many times before now, I have even jotted down stuff, but to this date nothing.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I like the idea of getting other folks to read your manuscript/draft. That’s like free proof-reading, an extra pair of eyes and from people who have an interest in your subject.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Ever since video #1, I’ve been sharing these videos with my writer friend. He gets very ‘itchy’ when Chris repeats statements about unwritten books in people’s heads. I know that these videos are helping him a lot.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
The stickiness of anecdotes. These little stories are effective because people love to read them. They resonate with us because we can identify with them. Good point again, Chris.
May 17th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Joseph, I love reading anecdotes in books. My grandpa wrote a book once and it had a lot of stories about him as a child, and even some stories about his children and grandchildren. It seems that a lot of people enjoyed his book because they could identify with these anecdotes.
May 17th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Yep, I agree with everything Chris is saying. About the bonuses - how are your potential readers going to trust you if you aren’t giving them something to base their trust on?
May 17th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Thinking of each chapter as a mini-marketing device really helps me lay out the information that I want to use in each chapter, and the ways in which I want to lay the information out. Thanks again to Chris. If these videos weren’t out, I’d be back at square one, not knowing even how to pick up the pen and paper and begin.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Sharing your own success story will definitely make your book ’stickier’. If your reader’s overall goal is similar to yours, they are going to be anxious to figure out what you did!
May 17th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I think it would be a good idea for me to go back through the table of contents in some of my favorite non-fiction books and see what I like about them. I love that Chris pointed this out to me, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have cared so much about it.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:19 am
There are so many of us with the books all in our heads. I wonder how many of us will get our thoughts out on paper (or in type!). Good luck to all with this.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:25 am
It’s much easier to deliver only what you promise, but when you strive to deliver more, there’s no reason for you to fail. Like Chris implies, giving your readers more than what they expect is a great way to get them to want more.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Everyone wants more value for money - so if think I got more out of a chapter or book than I paid for, I’m going to like e author a lot and look out nore for his stuff.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I like the suggestion to let each chapter flow or get linked into the next. This kind of continuity is really ’sticky’ and keeps the reader interested.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
So much of what Chris says is linked all around. This same linking of chapters follows from what he says about organising the TOC and decidw to order the chaptes.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I think people are always interested in getting more than they expected. So the next time they see your name, they’ll think what a good value it was the first time, and be more inclined to buy your book versus someone else’s.
Sort of the reverse of that is, don’t promise things that you really don’t deliver.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
And Marcia, that is what it’s all about. We want to keep the readers attention throughout the book and - to keep them coming back to us for our next projects.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I have alot of information running around in my head that needs to come out onto paper. So yes, once again, I feel Chris was talking to me. I’m taking his methods now and starting to get them down “in ink”.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Constance, I agree with you. You have to give more than what you promised if you really want to leave people impressed. That can bring your relationship with your reader from mediocre to great.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
That’s a good point - you definitely don’t want to promise that you are a miracle worker and your readers will lose 50 pounds just by reading your book. You want to make realistic promises, and make sure that you deliver on them.
May 17th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Promising too much and not promising enough are both bad, but if you do it the way that Chris is suggesting, you’ll be promising slightly less than what will really happen for you readers. This will keep them coming back for more.
May 17th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
You always want your name to be associated with good value, so make sure that you are delivering as much as possible for as little as possible (in the eyes of your customer). Chris makes some great points in this video.
May 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
It’s important to continue drawing in people, but you don’t want to forget that you already have a devoted fan base. You have to continue delivering to them as well.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I agree Peachy, there’s slightly a different angle I am looking at it from. You are going to give them a promise that will grab their interest so it has to be something that is of value to them, then when they do buy you will them them an additional bonus that is also of value.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
In order for you to become a really successful writer and coach, as Luxor said, you have to be associated with excellent material or you won’t have people coming back.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Chantal, you wrote that it is important to continue drawing people, even though you already have a devoted fan base. The reason it is important to continue to expand is because each person’s situation can change, so you wouldn’t want to depend too much on a few persons, so the more the better.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
I see what you are saying, the fans may for some reason decide to switch their interest or their income become limited in some way so they are not able to continue supporting their author.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Not only that, but they may move away and they become engaged in some other activity that will not give them time to read added material. When I started to study the other things I use to read took the back burner.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Wouldn’t you be mad if you were writing for Kissinger and he made you write over the material so many times without even looking at it?
May 17th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I think I would be, because I would feel as if he had wasted my time too. Eventually I would come around and see the value in the lesson he was teaching me.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I would be too, but if I was working for him, I would have come to understand how he works and know that it really was for my benefit. I would get over it.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I know I would be mad, but as you both said, it really would be for my benefit and I would have to come to that realization sooner than later.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Benji, you hit the nail on the head you really need to make your promises realistic and achievable because the more people who read the book or use the program and don’t get good results are going to pass on bad news or reviews to potential customers.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
One of Chris’ main point was that we should make sure that the people we are coaching feel as if they are being coached. I am not sure I know how to do that.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
You will have to become intimate with the material and know exactly what you are doing to coach people, so that when you speak you do it as if you are convinced about it.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Chris also said that we should practice explaining everyday things to people, so if we are able to do that effectively then the coaching won’t be very difficult.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Oh… I remember that section. This will take some time to achieve these desired knowledge. If it becomes absolutely necessary I don’t think it would hurt to use a professional to do the presentations.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Including actions steps in the book itself, this I think is very effective in actually getting the person to move from stage to another, so at the end of it their lives really would have been changed.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Not only that, the life will be changed and you can bet they will tell someone else about it, but because they have already wriiten in the book, they may be uncomfortable in someone reading what they have written so that next person will have to get their own copy.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I think that you both (Fabia and Spanky) got it right when you talked about how your readers keep growing. They may not need your books anymore. You have to try and grow with your readers too.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Dion, Chris also mentioned that the success you get from the book is not from reading it but actually acting on it. That is a profound truth.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Giving away free information throughout the book. I have only seen this in e book and not much either, it’s normally a link to sell something else. Great idea!!
May 17th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Chris said the value of the book is in the credibility not in the cost. For a moment he lost me, but I quickly got it, pretty good info.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Gea, I found the talk of free stuff a little odd too. I mean if you are giving free information each and every time, then it’s not really free is it? I mean you might list it as such but it’s paid for in the cover price just as the rest of the book info is.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
You know ultimately I’m not sure if it matters whether or not it is really free. If the affect is the desired one, then it works and it doesn’t matter. People see free, or special features and they get excited.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:17 am
The Henry Kissinger story made me smile, I am sure that I have had some teachers and bosses just like that in the past. I have made way too many re-writes on some stuff that I thought had not even been read.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Well Antoinette, you know those guys probably helped you to be the best that you can! As frustrating as it was at the time, Chris is right-and there is almost always room for improvement!
You have to just keep listening to the advice that people give you with a humble heart.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:22 am
You know, the reminders to do exercises and so on in a book, sheesh they make me feel like I’m being watched and caught out! I can see what he means about it feeling like you are being personally coached.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Yes Suzette I know what you mean! But it does help with the stickiness as he puts it, to keep people actively involved in your book, as does the linking of chapters one to the next.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:51 am
The linking seems so simple and yet I probably would not have thought of it. I know when I am reading a book it is far more likely to be put down when I don’t have that teaser at the end of the chapter I am reading.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:55 am
The table of contents having more information is a really simple, yet do-able idea. I don’t know why more don’t do that already, especially in this digital information age. People are used to being able to hover over a link and get more information-it makes it seem like a book, without that, is in the dark ages. So the extra information could be truly invaluable.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Yes, I guess that there really is growing competition with the online media sources-it will be hard I think to make a packet without utilising online sources of selling, and of making other products. The online world has really opened up a lot of income potential to us.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Now there’s a thought-competition with the printed word. Already I can see that newspapers are facing heavy competition-I cancelled my own subscriptions to newspapers, because I can get the same news online from the same sources without having to deal with a huge stack of paper waste at the end of each week.
So do you think that the printed book will eventually die out?
May 18th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Never! We’ll just end up carrying books that have; “Don’t panic!” in large, comforting print on the cover! Sorry…gone off on a tangent.
No I think that paper books will have a place in our world, but yes internet media will provide a great deal of support for our books.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:59 am
No, I don’t think the printed word will die out. I prefer using the internet for news (first, it’s easier and it’s free… I can search specifically for what I want to read, and can look through various sources. Second, I hate having all that paper lying around and having to deal with it…), but, when it comes to books, I HATE reading online. If I get an e-book, I print it out. It’s too hard on your eyes, first off. And there’s “just something” about sitting down wrapped in blankets by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate reading your favourite novel.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I see the importance on the table of contents but… it seems a little confusing on how to put it on a fiction book. Any ideas?
Somnilocus, I totally agree with the e-book. It’s just not the same to sit in front of the computer reading a good novel and scrolling down with the mouse as oppose to flipping pages with your finger
May 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I too think that there will always be hard copy books around. As pervasive as the internet is, I can’t see us reading a bestseller novel online.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I think we will see more and more e-books, but I agree that real books will always be available,whether they be fiction or non-fiction.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I’m still having a hard time thinking of myself as someones coach. Is anyone else having problems with this idea? Does anyone have ideas of how to incorporate this into their books?
May 18th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Oh, the good book will never die. And it will be up to us to never let that happen. I love the feel and the smell of a good novel!
May 18th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Jake - if you think about it, you more than likely have being coaching people for a while now. There are things you know that other people are craving to learn from you. Your book is just another media to get this material out to them.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Somnilocus is correct, the printed word will never die-not until such a time as an acceptable alternative comes out and right now we don’t have one. I simply cannot read a large amount of text online, it hurts the eyes.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I too am unsure about the coaching. The only thing that I can think of is to address the reader directly, but what of coaching one to one? I know what I am doing for me, but I am not sure how to impart that.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I’ve done some teaching in the past and it’s really not that hard. The main things are having your facts right-because if you are teaching something that isn’t true then right there and then you lose the person’s trust. So make sure you know your stuff.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I think that ultimately we all find our own coaching style only after we start doing it. Learning to be comfortable when speaking in public takes practise, so don’t be afraid to get started.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I am not so much worried about the speaking in public, but the looking GOOD in public! You know I think I might have to look for some of Chris’ fitness stuff before I think more about this!
May 18th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Antoinette I can’t help but worry about that myself too. It will be hard to concentrate on speaking well when I am too worried about looking fat on the stage.
I need a confidence boost before I get started.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
If you know your stuff then you will be better at speaking. To be confident you have to be able to complete your talks without reading from a cheat sheet, because all the time spent reading will make things really unnatural.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I keep coming back to what you offer as freebies. What is your choice for that-do you just make it like another chapter, or links to free audio files and so on?
May 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
How would you deal with the table of contents and the freebies-would you mention them? That would truly make it a loyalty building surprise if they get to it at the end of the book and it wasn’t mentioned, but it might also be the thing that sells a book to someone who was wavering if you DID mention it in the contents.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Chris mentions not only having it in the contents but having it in a different colour ink-really use it as a selling point. Draw people’s attention to the fact that you are giving them something for nothing.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Sure, making it like an easter egg would be cute and might be nice for keeping customers who do buy, but it’s no good for those who have yet to buy.
Use everything at your disposal.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Right, I mean other things would be pretty obvious-like if you include a CD with audio as a freebie, that would be a huge selling point. It’s obvious-people would see it as soon as they open the book and so that might be the difference between someone buying that book and not doing so.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Now other freebies can be hidden though, right? Like with the links hidden through the book-you wouldn’t make a big deal of them according to Chris, because you don’t want people to just go through the book for the links and nothing else.
So you need something obvious and something not so obvious to keep people going.
May 19th, 2008 at 12:03 am
I think you have a terrific point Antoinette. You don’t want everything to be just obviously laid out there. You want the bonuses to be a prize to somebody for actually reading through your book. Of course in order to achieve that, you have to make sure that your book is “sticky” enough.
May 19th, 2008 at 1:12 am
I am definitely concerned with how I will look when I’m trying to speak in front of my audience. These people look up to me, I want to make sure that I look my best.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:49 am
JakeG, there are tons of ways that you can be a coach to others, but it takes a lot of brainstorming. It’s more about how you talk to your readers than what you actually say, in my opinion.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
The ’sticky’ principle makes me nervous. I am very concerned that I won’t be good enough to keep people turning pages. Let’s hope some of us can pull this off!
May 19th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I am sure that if you have sufficiently good information in your book, and follow the leads into the next chapters that it will help. Otherwise, it will be just down to your writing style.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Writing style is so individual, it might even come down to a person preferring your style over another, competitor author. I hope that ultimately I could win that war!
May 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
It’s hard to keep people turning the pages, but I’m sure that there’s a way to do it. You can ask some of your friends to read your work and then ask them what you can do to make it more of a page turner.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
In terms of how to be a coach to others, I think it’s best to address the audience as if you are giving them a lesson. Don’t be passive, be active, and make sure that you get your message across clearly.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Linking the chapters definitely has its advantages. I mean, it makes logical sense that certain chapters should precede others, and that some should follow. I think that makes it sticky, as well as creates a table of contents that is sure to entice readers.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I thought it was obvious that all the chapters should be in the proper order, but when I heard what Chris had to say about it, I learned a couple new things. I never realized how hard it could be to make a book ’sticky’.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I definitely did take on a new perspective when I watched the videos. I thought that Chris had some very unique ideas, and some interesting insights into the marketing world, especially about things I had never even thought of.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Yes Chris has definitely changed some of my views about internet marketing. I had previously considered it mainly a medium for people to spam, but now I see it as an amazing resource and an awesome tool.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I had similar views Sprout, I had not idea how valuable internet advertising was. I had only considered to be a researching tool. Now I know that it houses a variety of resources right at my fingertips.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I am officially going to be using the internet for everything now. I can do my research, my writing, my selling, and my advertising all on the computer now. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned throughout these videos. I never would have considered these opportunities before.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I’m already using the internet for everything. That’s how I find the videos - searching for ways to market online and how to really get my book out there - once I write it of course.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I use the internet for basically everything too, but I kind of stumbled upon the videos by accident. I sure am glad that I did find it though, I can’t even remember the things I used to think before I watched these.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I found the videos by accident too but I remember what I thought about writing, publishing, marketing, and selling beforehand - absolutely nothing. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned the last few weeks.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I think that we’ve all worked incredibly hard on learning the last couple of weeks, and Chris worked extremely hard making these videos work for us.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Thanks Howard. I really do think that the promises you make are going to make or break you. You need to make sure that your readers are happy with the results, and you aren’t expecting too much out of them.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
That is exactly right Benji. Like you said, people really are paying attention to what you promise them. If you don’t deliver they’re going to be disappointed. If you don’t promise enough, they aren’t going to pick up your book in the first place.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am
With all the competition out there it is important to have the elements that are necessary to make your book sell such as the make-or-break, the table of contents, and building a loyal fan base. Your book really needs to deliver what it promises otherwise you will lose potential next book buyers. This covers all the important things needed to have a successful book.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:34 am
A lot of people make the mistake of trying to make everyone like their book. You are catering to a certain audience, and with the right marketing approach they will find you.
It is extremely important to have a loyal fan base, but it is equally difficult. Be loyal back to them, do not try to go and get others to like your book.
Of course, you should always try to expand your horizons but the idea is that you should have a specific niche.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
One thing about your fan base is that they will tell their friends. I was reading some survey a couple of weeks ago about how people buy products (not books but household stuff) and in every case they valued the good review of a friend or acquaintance over some authority figure. So if people like you, they will bring others.
June 1st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Like so many people posting here I had no thought that the table of contents might be so important. But as attagirl says, you then have to deliver on your promises. Thanks for all the fantastic training you are giving in your videos.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
It really annoys me when a chapter header has a spoiler in it, like, I don’t wanna read “My brides stroke” on the contents page, there is nothing wrong with something as simple as Chapter 1.
That is one thing that can wreck the stickiness of any book, if I get spoiled on the contents page, then I’ll probably pick up something else.
June 7th, 2008 at 11:16 am
When you are writing a certain type of book, there are many times that putting in some sort of testimonials can become beneficial. But there are so many books out there now that are more testimonial than learning material. If you book is for the purpose of teaching then write it that way. If it is for entertainment then make it entertaining. I think that since so many people are out there writing books and there are so many people writing about the same thing it is hard to determine which is really relevant to anything you are looking for.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I love the idea of getting something extra at no extra cost to me, but I’m still wondering if in a novel a TOC is really a “must-do” item. I wouldn’t mind adding a free short story with the novel if it would get readers to go for my book.
Also, what about a snazzy cover?
June 9th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
What attagirl has said is true. One must have the testimonial portion in the book because that will help us knowing the reach. If great people have acknowledged then hopefully it has got some of the best contents. Be precise in giving the contents. Because one may not have the interest in reading 200 pages which is going to teach something.