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Little to No Words can Generate Traffic

By Judy-Haughton-James Filed Under Publishing › ›

Launching out as a Blogger will prove to be a good test about what it means to be versatile. You may have no doubt that you are a writer and you want to be able to write a variety of posts, some long and others short. When the words don’t flow you immediately feel that a bad case of writer’s block has taken control. However there is absolutely no need to panic. Grab a camera and start snapping pictures that you think may draw attention. It could be pictures of nature, buildings, your family, pets, an unusual occurrence and so much more.

Bloggers need not shy away from posts that call for little or no words. You will be in for a surprise at the amount of traffic you can get from such posts. Give it a try and check your traffic statistics. They will also come in handy when you are short on time. It is at times like these that the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” takes on special meaning for you.

‘Wordless Wednesday’ numbers among such posts. Be ready to link up with the numerous Wordless Wednesday Blog Hops that are hosted by other bloggers. You can even choose to have one of your own. In some instances these hops are posted a number of hours before Wednesday arrives.

‘Silent Sunday’ is another Blog post that you can participate in. Weekends can be quite hectic. Many persons need to catch up on time with the family and get a lot of chores done so then again you can choose to post an interesting picture.

You do not even have to link up in a Wordless Blog Hop that others are posting although that is when you may get the best traffic. You can decide that at least once a week you will have a post titled ‘PIC OF THE WEEK’ or something similar.

Photo challenges are also a way for bloggers to keep regular posts going without many words. You can start a series of photographs based on a specific theme. Let us say you are a collector of bird figurines, you can do a bird series featuring items from your collection.

So when those days come around that you do not have a lot of words, make the pictures do the talking. Be creative and keep the traffic flowing with some amazing shots. While it is the era of pictures with colours, a black and white shot can create a sensation.

Getting The Headline Right

By Judy-Haughton-James Filed Under Publishing › ›

During one’s career as a Journalist, writer or Blogger there is going to be the need to write a headline. A good report, article or post can lose many readers if it does not have a headline that draws attention. This is what is called a catchy headline. It is the first thing that the reader sees and it will determine if they read more.

The worst thing you can do is have a headline that bears no resemblance to what the story is about. A reader sees your headline and then after reading the story not once but twice can not see evidence that relates to what the headline is saying. Some readers can be left with the impression that it is a deliberate attempt to mislead or influence readers without the evidence provided. Even worse it could be seen as incompetence.

The headline sets the mood of the story. The reader should be able to tell if this is about a serious matter or a light one. It could also be a reflection of the character of the medium and writer.

So you have your report, story or post all written up but now what is the headline to introduce the story. The headline must highlight the most important point of the story and be guided by the lead. Some headlines will not be hard to decide on. You may even have a clue of what it could be before you start writing.

Here is the real test. A time comes around when your story is ready but the choice for headline has you a bit puzzled. You are pressured for time and need to get it quickly. Read your story a few times and consider what you regard as the most important point that you have written. Once you have identified that write a few headlines, then read the story again. Your choice must be the one that gives the most punch to the story.
A headline is best when it appears fresh so make an effort not to write one that could appear on just every day of the week. Find an angle to your story that has not been rehashed. For example an in-depth look at road accidents in a number of countries could be placed under a headline such as “No Spills, No Thrills: Just Death On The Road!”

We have heard so much about the effect of smoking on the smoker but what about non-smokers. You draw attention by writing “The plight of non-smokers.” The reader will be curious about what is this plight that non-smokers face. Another article giving health information could be titled “Turn down the volume and save your health.” Be specific and you will be on the right track.

On The Research Trail

By Judy-Haughton-James Filed Under Publishing › ›

When a journalist is doing research the information gathered can come from persons in a variety of fields and from all walks of life. Some persons will not mind you quoting them and take pride in knowing that they contributed to your work. There are even some who welcome being interviewed on camera. However never forget that in some instances persons eagerly share information only if they know that you will not be quick to reveal your sources. Once you develop a good reputation with the latter they will be first to share information with you instead of you having to go in search of them.

If you intend to write or call names make sure that you have them right and that includes the spelling. Names are spelt in a variety of ways so do not just assume that it is the spelling that you are accustomed to. A wrong name or spelling could lead to a wide range of problems including legal action. A person’s initial is certainly not good enough. So you do not write J. James. Make sure that all names are written out.

In many countries today when politicians hit the campaign trail and utter statements media houses have journalists who are assigned the task of checking the facts and presenting them as part of their news package. If an editor calls on you to be the one to check the facts make sure that you know exactly where to find the accurate information that with confidence you can state what is true or untrue. This will mean gathering information from impeccable sources.

Some clips of politicians will help to show how much you have really researched an issue. In this process you will not only help to spread truth but will put politicians on their guard. Hopefully you will number among those persons who are ready to remind those seeking public office that long gone are the days when they can get on a platform and make wild statements and have any chance of getting away with it. If politicians want true support especially from the uncommitted they will be forced to stick to the facts.

After you have proven your worth re knowledge on a particular niche many persons will keep coming back to your medium. You would have now become a knowledgeable source on a particular subject. In this process you will be happy for the knowledge you have gained and the ability to impart it and win a good audience.

Consider Do-it-yourself Book Publishing

By Steve-Dudley Filed Under Publishing, Self Publishing › ›

Digital technologies and Do-it-yourself options provide new possibilities for writers. No longer do writers need to offer their work to the public via the conventional methods of the past. For some writers, Do-it-yourself book publishing is the way to getting started and making a name can be done using the various self publishing methods online or print book options. For now, the traditional methods still dominate the introduction of new books. However, do-it-yourself book publishing, also known as self publishing, is growing in popularity daily.

There are many benefits for writers who use do-it-yourself book publishing, especially for newer writers. A writer that self publishes a book will be able to let the market determine the quality of the work, instead of a publisher hesitant to take a chance on an unknown writer. Self publishing can save the writer many years of hard work, attempting to find a publisher to put the book in print.

Traditional publishers do not necessarily offer a wider introduction for new books. This is especially true when a new work is published as excerpts online. Do-it-yourself book publishing, gets your book published almost instantly, compared to the amount of time it takes to be noticed, selected, formatted and printed by in the standard manner.

By taking the do-it-yourself book publishing route, you cut out months or years of rejection. If your work becomes noticed, you will find it much easier to approach traditional publishers, if you chose to do so. When the time comes to negotiate a contract, you could be in a much stronger position than an untried, untested new writer.

Although self publishing has increased markedly in recent years, it is not really a new idea. There are a lot of successful writers who self published a book at some time in their writing career. Self publishing also saves you a lot of upfront fees that traditional publishers charge new, untested writers. Your money is spent on preparing and printing books that can go directly in front of the public reading eye.

Another benefit for writers who use the do-it-yourself book publishing method is the increased revenue you, as the writer, will get from each book. With traditional book publishing, there are at least six different people wanting a piece of the revenue from your book. Traditionally, the writer will receive 6 to 8 percent of the sales price. With the do-it-yourself book publishing method, the writer can expect to make 25 percent from the sales price of each book.

The extra money earned can be used for promotion and wider distribution of the book. If it is well accepted, follow up printings can have more attractive and better bindings. However, buyers of self published books do not seem to mind the less expensive book prices from less fancy bindings.

In today’s world, any time you can do something faster, better, and less expensively it is worth serious consideration. That is the case with do-it-yourself book publishing too. The benefits for the writer of good books can save time and increase the amount of money that can be made.

Self-Publisher: Typesetting when Designing a Book

By S.J.Asher-Ori Filed Under Publishing, Self Publishing › ›

Sample: Before & After Page Design

Typesetting is important when designing your book as a self-publisher. You have little room for trial and error and certainly do not want to loose money unnessarily.

When self-publishing we recommend replicating what you see is working in the industry of accepted print. If possible, try to replicate the professional quality you see on the shelves of local bookstores.

Most professionally print books will include a title page, several chapters, and copyright information page so readers will know you have created the book and that you do not give anyone permission to distribute it.

Self-Publisher: Typsetting when designing a book

Sample: Before & After Page Design

The Title Page

Start typesetting by creating a title page for your book. The title page actually is comprised of two pages: the half title page and the full title page.

The half title page simply contains the book’s title. Most books have this information centered in the middle of the page. Use the same fonts that your cover designer uses on your cover if at all possible to make your book look more like a professional, finished product.

After you’ve created the half title page, it’s time to make the full title page. The full title page includes the name of the publisher as well as the name of the author, and some full title pages contain an illustration of some sort. If you don’t yet know the publisher’s name, leave some blank space to put it in under the title and author of the book. Otherwise, put it at the bottom of the page, under any illustration. Again, use the same fonts as you used on the cover.

The Book Chapters

Skip a page after the copyright page and then begin typesetting the book. The text within the chapters of your book must be justified. You have to be careful of certain things when you do this.

When you justify text, sometimes you get huge gaps of white space. This is because lines that have less text need to line up with those that have more text, so typesetting programs often put lots of extra space into these lines. This can make your paragraphs look strange or ugly. To solve this problem, make your paragraphs shorter. Putting some text into a new paragraph often solves problems with extra spacing.

In addition, you have to be careful of hyphenating text when you justify it. If a word is too long for a particular line, programs such as MS Word may break the word into two parts and put the second part on a new line, separating the two with a hyphen. This is fine once in a while, but your text won’t look professional if the majority of your lines are hyphenated. To fix this, you may have to move some words onto the next line. Do this by creating a soft return instead of a hard return before the word in question. Put the cursor to the left of the word and hit the “shift” key while hitting “return” or “enter” to move the word over to the next line.

The Copyright Page

The back of the full title page contains copyright information. It’s fairly straightforward to typeset this portion of the book. Simply list the copyright information, ISBN numbers and Library of Congress number. Left-align all information. If you are writing fiction, you should include a disclaimer underneath the copyright information stating that the work is entirely fictional.

If you are unfamiliar with the look of a copyright page, find a published book that will be simialr as your and review the information included. Some, will usually include some or all of the following:

The year the book was firt published
The publisher name (this would be the name you have creating for your publishing company)
The name of the copyright owner (i.e. ‘Copyright © Your Name 2012′)
The ISBN
Where the book is being printed (i.e. United States, Canada, United Kingdom)
If the book is Fiction – the statement that the work is fiction (i.e. This novel is entirely a work of fiction, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is coincidental, etc.)
A statement of Rights – letting the reader know the book cannot be copied, reproduced, stored, transmitted or distributed by any means without your (the publishing company’s) consent.

Self-publishing: Book Distribution Channels

By The Watts Publishing Group Filed Under Marketing, Publishing › ›

The publishing industry is not complete without the strategy of marketing and distribution services; therefore, you need to find out more about the distribution channels available for self-publishers.

If you have written the perfect book and have adopted a distribution channel that does not target the readers you want to sell your book to, the book can land up in a loss.

The publishing industry is very important to understand including the various ways in which a person can market their books well. In the earlier times, manual marketing and distribution was the key reason behind the success of a book. Nowadays with the advent of technology, science and the internet, book publishing and distribution has reached new heights.

Talking about the most sought after channels of distribution when it comes to book publishing, one has a variety of options to choose from. Here is a brief description as to how these vivid channels can be helpful in raising the sales of a book:

Sales Agents – There are many options when it comes to hiring sales agents that will help you to market your books to relevant audiences. These sales agents are marketing professionals that are proficient in drafting plans that can bring up the sales of the books. In addition to this, they are in a position to judge the target readers and cater to them effectively.

Publisher Representatives – These are representatives that are appointed by publishing companies to visit the book stores and market books. As a self-publisher you may be responsible for hiring your own representative.

Amazon.com – This is one of the most lucrative sites that has brought internet and online marketing relevance to the book publishing and distribution industry.

Libraries – These institutions have always been the primary hub for most books. It is still the most preferred channel of distribution when it comes to book distribution. Local libraries can be targeted for small level distribution. A larger number of people are expected to go through the books if they are well marketed in the library.

Online Stores -The latest and the most popular way to distribute books for a publishing house is through the online stores. There are many online stores that have been operating with the objective to showcase a variety of books for all sorts of readers. You can target a particular group of readers and advertise book in specific categories.

Academic Institutions – A very prominent way to distribute your books is to target educational institutions. Most publishing companies publish books in a variety of categories.

Advertising – Book distribution can also be initiated with the help of advertising. A good and constructive advertisements can be in the form of online and offline.

Seminars – can aim at providing knowledge to specific groups and book sales can aid in distributing the referenced knowledge as well as the full details of the topic. This is a good way to drive direct impact to your target audience.

Sample Distribution – Is a popular and effective way to market your books to target audiences as well. A limited number of free copies can be circulated to your target audience to raise interest in the books. This is a good way to produce a tangible effect and demonstrate what the book has to offer.

Newstands – this is the oldest and the most convenient form of book distribution and has been in use for a long time. This methodology was adopted by publishers in order to distribute the books to a wider audience and also to generate quick sales, which proved to be big business.

Top Companies to Self Publish your Book

By WordSmith Filed Under Publishing, Self Publishing › ›

self-publishing-your-books Self-publishing has become a popular and convenient alternative to traditional publishing. Included is a list of the top companies to self publish your book.

Self-publishing is defined as the publishing of a book or other media, by the author. The publication of the work is established without involvement from an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible for the entire process including design, format, price, distribution, marketing, public relations, and rights. This work is performed by the author or the author could outsource parts of the work to other companies that specialize in self publishing services such as those listed within this article.

Getting the Process Going

Many of the self-publishing companies have chosen to adopt the print on demand policy (POD). With print on demand services, a copy of your book is stored by the publishing company and is only printed and shipped when an order has been made. Very convenient, don’t you think so? Further, self-publishing allows you to keep all the rights to your book as opposed to the traditional in-house publishing which dint allow you to have all the rights. A good self-publishing company should be able to offer you with pre-publishing and publishing services. Some very good ones will also offer you promotional services as well. They should also be able to offer additional paid services and have a wide book selling reach. It goes without saying that the self-publishing company should be able to give you all the help and support you need during and after publishing. Most, self-publishing companies basically have the same principles but their prices may differ due to the different approaches they use.

Lulu

Lulu is not just a publisher; it is a digital marketplace where you can use some of their tools to format your digital work. The good thing with Lulu is that the traditional entry barriers are eliminated and you are able to reach your audience directly. You get to earn 80% of the revenue generated from your book. If you are worried about marketing your book, you don’t have to be because Lulu has a dedicated market place ensuring that you work is available to as many people around the world as possible.

Xlibris

This among the pioneers in the industry and it is mostly publishing traditional books although they offer full color print. Apart from data entry they also offer other services such as alteration and correction as well as indexing and copyediting.

Blurb

The most outstanding feature is probably the advanced book designing software that allows you to add text, pictures and artwork to you book. They also do not restrict you to use their templates; you can either make your own or use their readymade ones. Unlike most publishing companies who insist that you should order books in bulk, Blurb will allow you to order as little as a single copy at a starting price of$12, 95. Your book can be sold through blurb’s website If you open it to the public.

iUniverse

Apart from self-publishing services, iUniverse offers editorial and marketing services to its authors. This ensures that you can get what you would expect in a traditional publishing house and more. There are different packages available that come at different rates.

CreateSpace

This is a self-publishing company belonging to Amazon. It is not meant for authors alone but filmmakers and musicians too. The best thing about it is that you can use their publishing wizard that will take you through the publishing process. Their wizard will also help you design the book cover meaning that you don’t need to hire a designer.

AuthorHouse

This company has been around for more than 14 years and they have published more than 40,000 authors. This means that they are reliable and that they have specialized in this line of expertise. There are many useful tools that allow the author to have a wide range of choice. The author also gets to retain all the rights and editorial control.

Wordclay

A young self-publishing company that can serve you well if you are under a strict budget. Though it only prints in black and white, it has three different formats for the paperback. They have a provision where you can set your book’s price and earn each time a sale is made through their channels and retailers.

WEbook

A real self-publishing giant and it even claims to be the largest in the industry. It is possible to co-write books through social media which is integrated using the online text editing feature. What makes it unique from other publishing companies is the fact that it is free but you are not assured of getting published. There are usually 3 cycles throughout the year when you can submit your work to be published. As an author you get 50% of the profits.

MyPublisher

Founded in 1995, MyPublisher, offers affordable, high-quality custom-made books for personal and creative outlets. Their intuitive and innovative software has made the company one of the leading publishers of photobooks in the world. They have sold more than 5 million photobooks since 2002.

Shutterfly

This is a great place for those seeking to publish a photo book. If you are publishing a travel diary, a baby book, a recipe book, a wedding book or a pet book, you will receive customized editions. It is a popular destination for professional photographers.

Literary Agents: What They Do For You?

By Crystal Watts Filed Under Publishing, WPG › ›

Do you know a Literary agent or what it is the literary agent can do for you? In a nutshell, the Literary agent is the voice of reason between writer, publisher, and contract. For many, self publishing is becoming the preference; however, the literary agent should be considered an may be well worth the investment.

So what will a literary agent do for you? A Literary Agent will assist you with the launch and ongoing maintenance of your publishing career. Agents are people with many insider connections with publishers and editors within the industry in which many newbie writers do not. Agents are in continual connection with the right people or know who to contact to find out who the right people are and know what it is that publisher or editor is looking for. In short, they are the people that are educated with “the know how” to get your book sold. Unlike newbie writers, agents know the do’s and do not’s of the profession. In the complicated world of publishing, an agency can steer a clear path to reaching the top. Agents are typically educated in the entire process of book publishing, from the basics of with whom to market your book to throughout the complex steps involved in promotion and rights. A Good agent will know what to do to make the process as simple as possible.

We have provided a brief list agents that were found to be highly recommended:

Ethan Ellenberg Agency – is known for developing professional writers, best-selling authors, and career novelists. The agency serves their published authors by representing rights on behalf of literary estates as well as publishers.

Paul S. Levine Literary Agency – has served the publishing industry for 28 years. He is both a literary agent and attorney. He offers an array of unique services including literary legal services.

Andrea Brown Literary Agency – known as a “small” agency. They maintain this reputation to give their clients the assurance their company’s focus is to cater to the needs of their clients. Their style is hands-on and person.

Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency – provides the assurance that the company will always available for their writers. This is not a simple statement but it is supported with assurance that they will guide the author from inception through publication, this agency offers a hands-on approach, focusing proposals throughout polishing of manuscripts.

Diana Fox of The Fox Literary agency – is a boutique style literary agency that represents a variety of commercial fiction with wide appeal. A query letter along with 5 manuscript pages of the publication is required before an assessment is made in regards to what needs to be done and how the agency will fulfill the process.

Claire Gerus – offers a great deal of publishing experience, she is the Editor-in-Chief for two major publishing houses, is an exceptionally successful New York literary agent that has sold millions of copies of her book on health. She provides professional publishing assistance and advice on which books are the best choices that will pass standards. She is also a book development consultant and gives advice on what you will need to to reach your success goals.

Sandy Lu – is an agent with the L. Perkins Literary Agency. This agency is known to be strong advocates for e-publishing services. They believe every book should be published in both print and digital formats. This agency ensures authors are successful in both the digital and print arenas to reach a wider range of readers.

Sam Hiyate of The Rights Factory Literary Agency – this agency has achieved much success in managing intellectual property rights for many entertainment works. They serve their customers through licensing rights on a commission basis.

Peter Rubie – literary agent and CEO of FinePrint Literary Management – focuses on a wide array of high quality non-fiction and fiction work. His service is to help authors with promoting themselves through providing a step-by-step direction on how to get it done the right way. Simultaneously, they also manage the subsidiary rights and the other basics needed to create a publishing success.

Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown LTD – holds a reputable background in the industry of literary arts. She represents for British rights. Along with her company’s publishing agents, they have accomplished 50,000 contracts of inception. What makes their service unique is they are one of few agencies that handles and provides ancillary rights in-house for their authors.

There are numerous literary agents emerging within the industry. If you have chosen finally a literary agent is right for you, be sure to do your own due diligence besides the resources provided and research to make sure you are finding the right agent for you.

You may also be interested in QueryTracker.net which is a free database of Literary Agents and Publishers. You can use their extensive database search tools discover the ideal agent for your work.

What have your experiences been with finding a Literary Agent? Let us know what you’ve experienced and/or if you know of any other resources that will be of value to this community of readers. Please add comments below.

J.K. Rowling to Publish Novel for Adults

By Crystal Watts Filed Under Publishing News, WPG › ›

J.K. Rowling recently closed a new deal to publish a novel for adults. Rowling is the author of the popular selling “Harry Potter”

series, published between 1997 and 2007. The Potter series has sold more than 450 million copies worldwide, has been translated into 74 languages, and has been turned into several blockbuster films.

Details of Rowling’s new book — including title, subject matter and release date — were not revealed but will be released later this year. The long running Potter series can to an end in 2007 with the seventh story. The Potter series, published by Bloomsbury in Britain and Scholastic in the U.S, broke record sales around the world.

With a new literary direction and new audience in the works, the author has chosen to launch her new book with new publisher Little, Brown.

“She is one of the best storytellers in the world,” said Little, Brown Publisher David Shelley. “…I am looking forward enormously to helping bring her new novel for adults to her fans and admirers, and to introducing her writing to new readers the world over.”

In a statement released by Little, Brown, author J.K. Rowling expressed,

“The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life.”

As one would expect, a J.K. Rowling publication is sure to be a top seller. Moreover, she comes with an major following of readers among all ages and has earned major recognition among major publishers for showing the world children’s books were not just for the young but also for the young at heart — with a little imagination. The new novel will be published in both electronic and print formats.

Get the Harry Potter Paperback Series Set (Books 1-7)

What is (SEO) Search Engine Optimization?

By The Watts Publishing Group Filed Under Web Publishing › ›

In order to increase website traffic received from search engines, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the active process that initiates this attention from search engines. The attention levels website owners give to this process can vary; while there are some that take a general approach, there are others that take on a highly specialized focus.

Since there are many elements that intertwine in SEO, optimization a website for search engines require looking at many unique elements. This article will describe the features of SEO – from establishing keywords and phrases that will generate traffic, to link building, and marketing the unique benefits of the website’s offerings.

Why is SEO important?

Major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo drive the majority of website traffic. You will miss out on the major benefits these sites can provide if they are not able to find your site and if they cannot index your content into their databases. In other words, the billions of users accessing the web to search for products, services, and information – will not be able to find or access your site if your site is not included the databases of these major search engines.

For almost all internet users, search engines are the primary method of navigation. Users type in billions of search terms and phrases everyday to find sites that provide products, services, and information. The amount of traffic a website receives that significantly make or break the success of a website. Search engines carry extraordinary value, they are the key to finding targeted visitors which can provide more exposure and more revenue for the website’s organization. The ROI for SEO can generate exceptional publicity, benefits, and most importantly success.

The internet is becoming increasingly competitive and those the perform SEO are gaining a greater advantage in website traffic increase. Like business, the major search engines are always working towards improving their technology; however, there limitation to how search engines can operate on their own and that is why and where SEO efficiency comes into play. SEO allows the search engines to crawl website more deeply and return more relevant results to users. In other words, the right SEO strategies can yield thousands or even millions of visitors and attention; wrong or no SEO attention will generate minimal or no visibility at all. In the internet space, SEO attention boosts a websites ranking with the major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo making it easier for searchers to find the products, services, and information they are looking for.

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