Written by You have a message to help your clients get what they want and/or make the world a better place.
You have concerns on how to get your short ebook written so it shows your expertise and your potential clients will love it. I bet you have some of these questions.
How do I get started? Will my efforts be good enough? Do I have what it takes to finish a book? Will I be able to handle the demands on me at work and at home? Who will want to read my book?
I’m a go getter, but don’t know how to write the book my potential clients will love. I’ll need some handholding for my habits of procrastination, perfectionism and other mindset blockers.
As the “Original Book Coach” I can speak to these concerns and show you in my many ebooks and “fast track” consulting and coaching how to let go of your doubts (even leaders have these doubts because it isn’t in their expertise.)
There’s Always Hope and Help
A former student said this to me 20 years ago. I took it as a sign to keep going with my passion to write books to help people. I’ll pass it along to you with my Platinum Rule Book Writing Guide. It’s not about you getting what you want (yes, partly); it’s about giving your ideal audience what they want.
Platinum? Remember the Golden Rule phrase, “Treat others as you want to be treated.” For you business leaders and already successful entrepreneurs, you’ll want to use the “Platinum Rule Writing Guide.”
This guide gives your ideal audience what they want and need. Better results: they are more likely to be your 24/7 fan and want more advanced help from you.
The “Platinum Rule Writing Guide” Preparation Checklist
#1. Research Your Platinum Ideal Target Audience.
Know who they are deeply and where they hang out.
Know their inner beliefs, what keeps them up at night, their values and where they hang out online.
For example, since my ideal audience is consultants, coaches, solo professionals and leaders, I researched LinkedIn groups they would be in. I also created a book writing, self-publishing and marketing book group on LinkedIn 8 years ago, now at 16,500 members at the time of this blog post.
Your audience doesn’t always know what they need, so to start give them solutions to particular problems they want answers for. Then, you can weave what you think they need into each chapter.
Beware of writing for a general audience. Building a book that sells or gets wide distribution requires that you know your ideal audience’s challenges. This gives your book an angle so it will stand out from the crowd.
In each chapter headline that states your ideal audience’s challenge, follow it with answers that serve only them. For instance, fast track entrepreneurs and leaders face daily the anxiety of not having enough time to balance their work and home life. So that problem needs to be solved in your book’s client studies, stories, tips and sidebars. For example, solve this problem by providing productivity and time-saving tools.
Another big benefit of writing to serve your audience is that you’ll write so much faster, letting go of redundant copy. Wordiness is one big mistake that mars our writing. Using a specific Q and A chapter structure, you’ll make it easy for your audience to follow you and get their concerns answered.
#2. Make your Book Journey Easy Rather than Hard
My early research told me that traditional publishing was a slow and laborious way to get your book out and get known for your wonderful work. I vowed to commit to digital products and services I could present by phone. No trips to the post office; no queries waiting to be read in a big pile by one editor in a plethora of editors. All these middle men and women slow us down, so that we lose momentum, our focus and our confidence.
Did you know you can write both an eBook and print book at the same time? (that’s another article.)
The Original Book Coach Recommends…
Start with a short eBook, so you can get the word out fast (35-100pp.) Think 5-7 chapters. You don’t need to write the full on big book that most won’t read anyway. Work the kinks out before you invest a lot of money and effort into a print book.
Myth: Long books qualify you as a real expert.
It’s not the 90’s. We people have busy lives and feel so much overwhelm daily, we don’t need to put extra pressure on ourselves. And many of us read on small devices, so we want shorter copy.
Today’s audiences want easy, clear and simple how tos to solve their specific dilemma, so they can get knowledge to make their lives better in a harmonious world. Does this make sense?
#3. Write out Pre-marketing Actions Before you Write the Chapter.
( I don’t see many book experts advising this.)
“How can I be sure my book will bring me results I want?” You ask.
Here’s my “Essential 10 Hot Selling Points,” excerpted from my signature book, “Write Your eBook or Other Short Book - Fast!” …
- Titles sell books.
- Create an irresistible book cover.
- Write your non-fiction’s thesis.
- Know and find your ideal, target audience.
- Write a short introduction like a mini sales letter.
- Create your selling table of contents that speaks directly to your audience.
- Write all of the book’s and individual chapter’s benefits and features. Know that benefits sell.
- Write your 30 second “tell and sell” for in person exchanges.
- Write your promotional blurbs and web sales letter.
- Get converting reviews and testimonials from the rich and famous.(Your former clients are great!)
What Will I learn in a Book Coaching Session?
In each phone and email coaching session, my client and I choose one of these hot selling points along with a draft chapter we brainstorm a final edit on the 40 minute coaching session.
Usually, I train on the most important ones - The Book Title, The Book or Client’s Ideal Audience and their biggest worries or concerns and the book’s benefits. (Remember features explain; benefits sell.)
Another session will show bulleted benefit statements that help sell the book or the company.
You need to know the business side of your book before you write a word! This is the biggest mistake many book writers make. They wonder why so few sales?
#4. Use Shortcuts to Fast Chapter Writing.
Really, to write engaging chapters you don’t need notes if you write out the questions your readers have about their particular challenges in your book’s topic. (You already know most of the answers.)
For instance, for my own book, professionals and even CEO’s say, “I’m busy and don’t have much time.” “How can I get this important book out to my ideal audience?”
These questions became the chapter blueprint title, “Write Your Chapters in Half the Time.”
In the middle of the chapter, you simply answer their questions. That will really keep your book focused. And, focus helps your readers get what they want. You have to take them by the hand, and lead them to your gold.
If your writing flows, your readers and potential clients will flock to you, if you promote effectively.
Other Samples of Chapter Titles that Became My Table of Contents:
#5. Stop Writers Block.
When you don’t know your ideal reader or client, you’ll get stuck often because you aren’t surefire focused and you struggle to put the words down. Writers block is a tough way to write anything.
It’s common, but why? Writing your book should be fun! That’s what this author has advised and shown clients and book group members how to achieve every year since the late 80’s.
Come to the page that already has some words on it. It’s easier to add things than look at a blank page. Use music to soothe the beast in you.
So tonight, write a few High Level Activities you’ll do tomorrow to move your writing project faster and have fun too.
My question to you…What tips did you get value from here? Just share with your online associates, groups and email me. Feedback is what keeps us all growing!
Take the Next Step!
While this checklist doesn’t address all the pre-marketing tips, you can find the rest will be illustrated in my Fast Track Entrepreneur Author Program.
For now, I invite you to my weekly blog posts that you can learn from and both inspiration and education on how to write a short book that’s attracts your ideal audience to your consulting, or other top service work and extends your streams of income.
Get a free bonus 30 page ebook,”10 Essential Steps to Writing a Book Your Ideal Audience will Love.” When you join my Fast Track Entrepreneur site.
Judy Cullins
Latest posts by Judy Cullins (see all)
- Finish your Book Project Fast - Write High Level Activities - October 3, 2017
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- The BestPlace to Sell Books is Not a Book Store - September 11, 2017