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Creating an iPhone App for Your Book or Author |
I was originally going to include this story in my weekly newsletter, but it became too long to include in a newsletter you want people to read (I have found that if the person can't read the email newsletter quickly, they will file it away for later reading which, in my experience, never happens).
With the coming Apple iPad, having your own iPhone app has become really important. A lot of people already use the iPhone or iPod Touch to access information from the Internet. An app is an easier and snazzier way to access information, make decisions, and have fun.
The top two genres for iPhone apps right now are games and books. There are more than 27,000 iPhone book apps right now. Is one of them yours? It should be.
You can create your own app by hiring a programmer, thinking through the interface, testing and most testing, and then submitting it to Apple with the hopes that they will approve it. That's the complicated way.
Or you can use one of the following services:
My App Creator: http://www.myappcreator.com -- 1151 Eagle Drive #325, Loveland CO 80537; 970-776-8506; 888-293-0512. Allows you to easily create an app by incorporating a news feed, twitter feed, blog feed, and audios or videos. You can use one of their standard templates or apply your own custom design. Once completed, your new app gets uploaded automatically to the iTunes AppStore. The cost? $297 for set up and $27 per month for hosting. You could have an iPhone app in just a few minutes or hours (depending on what feeds you already have set up). For an extra $97, you can monetize your app with Google ads and track usage via analytics. This service was created by Joel Comm, developer of the bestselling iFart app.
iPhone App Quotes: http://www.iphoneappquotes.com -- Get three free quotes from iPhone app developers who can create the app for you.
RevMobile: http://www.runrev.com/products/revmobile/overview -- This beta program allows you to create an iPhone app in as little as 3 hours while simultaneously developing for the Windows Mobile platform as well. When this software is released later this year, it will sell for $999. An expensive option that may be most useful to those who are already comfortable using programming software.
The AppWizard Custom iPhone Development Suite: http://www.appwizard.com -- Claims you can create an iPhone app in less than 30 minutes (probably not a great app, but one suitable for giving away free). Also allows you to create a more custom app. $99.95 plus a monthly hosting fee.
AppMii: http://www.appmii.com -- You can try it out for free and see how you do in creating your own app. $19.95 per month to create and host an app. $499 one-time fee for professional design plus the monthly hosting fee.
App Breeder: http://www.appbreeder.com -- They have app kits for bands, realtors, businesses, events, legal, teaching, restaurants, etc. You can create an ad-supported free app or paid iPhone apps for $99.95 publishing fee plus a $10 to $40 per month hosting fee.
Check out the various services and decide which one works best for you. You can test drive many of them before paying.
Note: Apple is currently clamping down on cookie cutter apps that are de facto RSS feeds or glorified business cards, so be sure to incorporate more than RSS feeds into your new iPhone app.
Because Apple is so heavy handed in what it allows and doesn't allow and can be very controlling, don't put all your apples into one basket. Some of the above programs, like App Breeder, allow you to develop apps for other mobile phone platforms like Android or Blackberry.
As the Electronic Frontier Foundation noted recently, “If Apple's mobile devices are the future of computing, you can expect that future to be one with more limits on innovation and competition … than the PC era that came before. It's frustrating to see Apple, the original pioneer in generative computing, putting shackles on the market it (for now) leads.”
Because of Apple's tendency to be so controlling, be sure to develop for the other platforms and learn how to market to mobile phones in other ways.
Meanwhile, StomperNet is now offering a new program on how to market via mobile phones using texting and mobile instant messaging. You can watch their first two free videos about the new program here: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=I3biZeRxyMw and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=48HjxVioizs.
Here are a few of the points people have made based on the first few videos:
* Mobile phone manufacturers have done a good job realizing that a mobile phone is a tangible symbol of lifestyle.
* In the next two years, mobile marketing will explode.
* When consumers are waiting for a train or standing in line somewhere, they look to mobile to fill time.
* Make sure you have campaign-specific landing pages for your mobile-marketing campaigns.
* Just because you have a mobile marketing campaign going doesn't mean anyone will participate. Get proactive.
* Trends: By 2010, an estimated 2.3 Trillion text messages will be sent and delivered globally.
* Monitor what is working and make changes as necessary. Mobile feedback comes fast. React fast.
* If you're sending an ad to a 20-something on a Friday night at 11, recognize they are probably out and about.
* Think it's tough to keep someone's attention on TV? Try getting and keeping their attention when they're on the phone.
* Align what your target market wants with your desired outcome.Labels: iPad, iPhone apps, iPod Touch |
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John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
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Writing Is a Business |
Are you writing as a hobby, profession, or business? Your answer makes all the difference in the world.
Self gratification comes from a hobby.
Wages come from a profession.
Profit comes from a business.
It's your choice. One must understand the ramifications of the choices. Don't believe for a moment that you can do one and get paid as the other. It really doesn't work that way. No matter what Tooth Ferry you believe in.
Here are insights from publishing industry insiders about the business of writing.
"In today's market, writers can't just be writers. They have to be performers and publicists as well." - novelist Joshua Henkin, "Writer with a Roadshow", New York Times, July 5, 1997
"Publishers lavish promotion on books likely to sell, written by bestseller writers." - Jeff Lippman, Wall Street Journal, September 2, 1997
"Everyone else pretty much has to fend for himself." - Robert Crais, author of the Elvis Cole mystery series, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, September 2, 1997
Many artists are confused about the model they are using and wind up operating their art as a hobby and wondering why they aren't making any money. I made this mistake for many years. You don't need to.
To change your income, first, change your operating basis.
Click here to read the elements of fiction writing, starting with a discussion of the writers product.
-- Richard A McCullough, the Rich Writers Coach, is the creator & editor of http://www.write-better-fiction.com, the fiction writer's source for writing better fiction faster and selling more of what you write.Labels: book authors, book promotion, writing books |
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John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
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How to Close More BIG Sales, by Getting More Smaller “Yeses” |
The following article is courtesy of Eric Gruber, the article marketing expert.
In just a couple weeks, I am going to be proposing to my girlfriend, Kristina Jaramillo. Now, I am very respectful and old-fashioned, plus I know the fact that she is extremely close with her family — so during the past weekend, I asked her family for their blessings.
First, I asked her sisters — which I got my first yes.
The next easiest target was the grandmother. I got my second yes.
Now, I already went through the process twice. I already got 2 yeses. And, although I was quite nervous (I paced up and down) before I spoke to the parents, it was still 1 million times easier.
Why? Because I already got 2 smaller yeses.
Closing More Sales is a Series of Yeses!
Just like I went through a series of “yeses” to get the “yes” I really wanted — you need to go through a series of “yeses” with your customers in business.
Many article marketers try to promote a high-priced product or service in the bio box. Then they wonder why they’re not getting website traffic or sales.
So, How Do You Get More Prospects to Move Forward and Say That First Yes?
1. Offer prospects a free special report or sneak preview in the bio box.
2. Be sure to include a reason why they should go to your website to get this free incentive.
3. Send prospects to a focused squeeze page — with no outside distractions. This way, it will be easier for prospects to say their first “yes.” For example, check out: http://www.www.FreeArticleCreationTemplates.com. This is where I offer you three free instant article writing templates that will help you write articles in 30 minutes or less.
Once you enter your name and email address, you are taken to a page where you can download the free templates. You are also given an offer to get my complete collection of article templates that can be found at: http://www.TheArticleTemplateGuy.com.
Let’s say you choose to get my article templates (this means I already got 2 yeses!), I upsell you and offer you supplementary products like my Complete A to Z Article Marketing System that can be found at: http://www.broadcastyourarticles.com/bookmarket.
I then have my virtual assistant follow up with my article marketing product buyers to offer them a free strategy session with me. At the end of the session, I invite them to take advantage of my article marketing services or my article marketing coaching program.
Notice, I start off with a free offer — then to a low priced product, to another product at a higher price point. Finally, I get them exactly where I want them — investing in my article services or in my monthly article marketing coaching program that you can become part of at: http://www.getarticlemarketingcoaching.com/bookmarket.
See, if you want to close more sales, then you have to go for a series of yeses — and not for the BIG yes right away.
Now, wish me luck as I have one more “Yes” to go — the most important one of them all. I now have to ask Krissy in a couple weeks if she will marry me.
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-- Eric Gruber, Your Article Marketing Expert, http://www.TheArticleTemplateGuy.com
Cracking the Article Marketing Code -- http://www.crackingthearticlemarketingcode.com/bookmarket
Online Article Marketing Course -- http://www.onlinearticlemarketingcourse.com/bookmarket
Article Submission Site Database -- http://www.articlesubmissionsitedatabase.com/bookmarketLabels: article marketing, book promotion |
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John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
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How to Sell Your Novel Like a Pro multi-media course |
I've just completed a new program called How to Sell Your Novel Like a Pro - Advice to First-Time Authors Who Want to Become Bestselling Novelists (or Children’s Book Authors).
This is a multi-media course on how to market novels and children's fiction/picture books. It includes a beautiful 200+ page ebook, a 4-hour seminar audio, 4 other audios, and 3 Q&A teleseminars where you'll be able to ask questions related to marketing your novel.
I will be selling this multi-media course for $97 starting in March, but you can get it for only $57 by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/7qd4FC
Note: When you buy this program, you will also get all the updates to the book, audios, and related materials.Labels: book marketing, book promotion, novel marketing, selling your novel |
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John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
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Networking Miracle |
The following blog post was originally written by J. Steve Miller, author of Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It. He offered to let me repost it here.
Get out there. Keep meeting new people. Take an interest by asking what they do. Offer your assistance or help. It's called networking, and there's something very mysterious about it.
So last night I almost skipped a networking event - a local alumni gathering for the university my wife attended. But I went because I always seem to meet someone I need to meet at these type meetings. Also, they offer free food.
So the first few people I met were interesting, nice, and I felt like I was able to encourage or offer some direction in their pursuits. We exchanged business cards. It's always fun to be useful to someone.
The fourth and last person I met was a financial planner, so we naturally hit it off - my latest book is on personal finances. He mentioned that he was raising two boys, trying to help them toward independence, so I mentioned that getting my own 7 boys independent inspired my recent research and writing. Finally, I offered him a free copy, thinking he might find it useful. And, who knows, he might could recommend it to clients or when he teaches seminars or something.
So he says, "Hey, my wife works with a textbook distributor to schools. I'll let her see it."
I thought, "A textbook distributor to schools? A TEXTBOOK DISTRIBUTOR TO SCHOOLS!!!"
It just happens that my top marketing goal for this year is to figure out how to get my book into schools. I don't have a distributor to schools. I need one.
This is so bizarre that it almost defies imagination. On the way home, after giving him a copy (always, always, keep copies of your books in your car), I looked at all the lights of stores in Kennesaw and thought, "Out of the 30,000 people in Kennesaw, Georgia tonight, what are the odds that one of them works for a book distributor to schools? And what are the odds that I would meet that person's husband at a random event that had nothing to do with book marketing, and that the meeting would occur in the very month I was prioritizing marketing to schools?"
Coincidence? Because of my faith, I have to believe that this was a God thing. As someone once said, "a coincidence is when God works a miracle and decides to remain anonymous."
On the other hand, there tends to be a human part in miracles - someone prays, someone is out helping the needy, then God shows up. Networking gurus would say that miracles tend to happen more around people who are out there doing something, rather than to people who are sitting on the couch eating nachos and watching TV.
Whatever you make of this, I think it pays to get out there and meet people. I help them; they help me. That's when miracles happen.
-- J. Steve Miller, President, Legacy Educational Resources
Author of Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It
The money book for people who hate money books.
http://wisdomcreekpress.com/press_kits.htmlLabels: book marketing, book promotion, networking |
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John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
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How to Conduct a Successful Book Signing Event |
The following blog post was sent to me by Sally Watkins, author of Change Your Mindset, Not Your Man . . .
As a brand new somewhat introverted author with a very small platform It took trial and error before I got the hang of conducting a book signing event. How as an unknown can you sell yourself and your book in a public place? How do you nab passersby in the bookstore or vendor exhibit hall and get them interested in your book?
Dress up in a professional outfit and wear a badge with a picture of your book, your name and the word “Author” in big letters. I also have a poster with my picture and the book cover that is positioned by the books, and in addition have a huge banner of the book cover in a banner stand. Business cards with a picture of the book and contact information are also a necessity. All of these items I ordered from Vistaprint, an inexpensive online resource.
Then decide what your hook will be to interrupt people as they stream by. I’ve discovered that you can’t tell a book by the cover and you can’t decide who is appropriate for your book by how they are dressed. Many very upscale, successful, well read, intelligent, and educated people will be wearing sweatpants, old t-shirts, and be poorly groomed so don’t write off anyone on the way they look. Even though my book is targeted to young and middle aged women I found that older women bought it for friends and daughters and men bought it for wives and girlfriends so I didn’t rule out anyone.
The best hook that worked for me is to hold a copy of the book and stand by the stack of books and banner and say, “I’m a visiting author today and this is my book, Change Your Mindset Not Your Man.”
Since my book falls in the self-help genre I would continue, “I’m a psychotherapist and giving free advice today and talking to people about their relationships.” If I got their attention and they were either looking at me or taking a copy of the book I was offering them, I would give a monologue about the value or benefit of the book. It is important not to allow silence or wait for the person to ask questions. This is your opportunity to give them a two-minute commercial about the book.
I figured out how to respond to common reactions:
For the woman who said she was long married and had no need of the book, I remarked that she learned these things herself over the years but maybe she had a friend or daughter who hadn’t figured it out.
For the woman who said she wasn’t in a relationship but was just dating, I showed her how these ideas would help her focus on her own needs and not just form around what a guy wanted.
For the staunchly single woman I allowed that she probably had friends bending her ear about their man problems.
For the newly married I explained that this book would keep things on the best footing.
For the person on the fence about whether to stay or go, this book would give a lot to consider before making that decision.
For the guy, I would say that many men liked the book and it gave them insight into how women think and feel. You get the idea.
I found it helped rapport if I told people a little about my life and why I wrote this book. “I grew up in a family with lots of problems. I was like many women who dreamed of a perfect guy who was going to rescue me. Self-help books and therapy and going back to school helped me become the person I am today. I lived this book before I became a therapist and helped others.” It humanizes me, makes me more like them.
For people who decide to buy, offer them a generic autograph beside your printed name or a personalized inscription. For the latter, get the correct spelling of their name and add something like “best wishes” or better yet a phase that might relate to your book. I like “For Mary: star in your own life!, or “For Gina: Your relationship with you comes first!” Then sign and date.
For people who decide not to buy and are ready to walk, offer the business card, with the website and the option of reading the first chapter online. Encourage them to read your blog, view your videos, read your reviews on Amazon.
A trap to avoid is those people who are interested in writing a book or publishing and want to talk to you about your experience and how to do it. These people usually won’t buy your book and they can tie up a lot of your time while many would-be buyers are passing by. It’s very seductive because you naturally want to talk about your path to publishing and enjoy their interest but if you are there to market your book it’s better to stay on task. Give these writers your card and invite them to email you.
At the end of your time, ask the bookstore manager if they want you to autograph the books left to sell later. Be sure and write an email of appreciation to the bookstore for the opportunity.
Marketing books requires a different skill set than writing them. I hope these pointers are helpful to other new authors.
-- Sally B. Watkins, psychotherapist, life coach, and author. Visit her at http://www.sallywatkins.net or http://www.healingwords.net.Labels: author appearances, book marketing, book promotion, book signings |
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John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
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Books and Cereal Do Go Together |
Books have been given away before via cereal boxes, but Irish publisher O'Brien Press is taking the giveaway a step further. O'Brien Press has partnered with Kellogg's cereal company and Hughes and Hughes Bookstore to give books away to kids who cut out vouchers from Rice Krispies boxes.
The difference? There are two ways to redeem the vouchers. One, mail the voucher in with a small postage & handling fee. Or readers can simply walk into a Hughes and Hughes store to pick up their free books.
Nice to see Europeans doing something innovative with drawing people into bookstores.
As the publisher noted in a recent blog post, "What I really love about this one is that it’s Irish: many multi-national brands don’t seem to make any real effort to appeal to their local audience, preferring to rely on their international muscle to do most things on a multi-national level. Kelloggs, however, have arranged this locally with an Irish-owned chain retailer and an Irish-owned publisher to appeal to Irish kids, and have put a lot of thought and effort into it – well done them, I say."
You can read his complete blog post at http://www.obrien.ie/blog/?p=420.Labels: book marketing, book promotion, Kelloggs, O'Brien Press, premiums |
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John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
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