In networking groups, we’re often asked to describe our ideal client so others know who they should refer to us. Marketing advisors tell us to create a persona for our ideal client so we know how to market to them. For years, I’ve said that our ideal client is a successful businessperson who wants [...]
There’s no value in forcing adults to apologize for anything, even when they’re wrong Part of parenting is teaching your children to say please and thank you, and sometimes making them apologize for something they’ve done. There’s a good chance those forced apologies were accompanied by shuffling feet, a bowed head, and total insincerity. [...]
Amazon KDP is a wonderful resource for indie authors. It lets us publish our books on the Amazon platform and make them available to potential buyers around the world at no cost, other than what we spend to write and produce the book. Unfortunately, the online world is rife with Amazon KDP scammers who [...]
Years ago, a client gave me the draft of the dedication of his book. His goal was to recognize and express his gratitude to a friend and colleague who had recently died. After several sentences of well-deserved praise, he ended with, “I was honored to call him my friend.” When you think about that, [...]
How do you feel when you’re reading an article, listening to a speaker, or in a conversation, and someone makes a reference to something that flies over your head? I still vividly remember a conversation I had with one of my congregation’s matriarchs decades ago when I was a new Christian and had attended [...]
Some common sense tips for protecting yourself from litigation In an online self-publishing support group, a member posted that they had finished their manuscript and needed an attorney to review it to be sure the author wouldn’t get sued. The responses to the post ranged from questioning the need for such a review to [...]
We should charge and pay for value, not time Time is one of our most valuable commodities, and that it’s a non-renewable resource makes it even more precious. But knowledge is also a valuable commodity. If you offer a service, are you balancing time and knowledge when you determine your fees? We’ve all heard [...]
There’s a great new free Chrome plugin that any author who sells books on Amazon should check out: WriterWatch. It’s from the makers of Publisher Rocket (a tool I use and enthusiastically recommend) and Atticus. Here’s what WriterWatch can do: Daily price checks on your books, whether you changed the price or someone else [...]
What’s stopping you from getting that project written? Merriam-Webster defines writer’s block as: A psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece. Dictionary.com’s definition is a little less intimidating: A usually temporary condition in which a writer finds it impossible to proceed with the writing of a novel, play, or other work. [...]
It doesn’t pay to try to game the system Let’s begin with a full disclosure: I don’t have any special inside knowledge about Amazon. What I’m going to share here is based on what I see in the industry, the stories I hear from other authors and indie publishers, and simple common sense. Amazon [...]
