16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Too bad it's titled just to target authors. A gem of a self-promotion book that is equally applic to consultants&public speakers, April 6, 2009
This review is from: Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform (Paperback)
I liked this book. There certainly is lots of meat in it. And it is well organized and well written. It tells the reader how to be successful at self-promotion so one can become a recognized expert or noted authority. It is often said that if you want to become known as an expert or authority you need to write a book. But often times to get your first book published by a third-party publisher who will get your book distributed through the big book chains you need to get known as an expert or authority BEFORE your write your book. This book tells you most of what you should consider doing to get that publisher to sign you up.
The book is split into three parts. First we are told how to pick an expertise or what authority to become. Secondly, we are told about many of the marketing tools and techniques available to establish yourself as an expert or noted authority. And lastly, we are told how to pull all those marketing efforts together into a package (or platform) in order to self promote oneself. Basically the book falls together as follows:
Part I. WHAT EXPERTISE OR AUTHORITY?
>>Platform basics (chapters 1-3)
>>Niche development (chapters 4-6)
>>Audience identification (chapters 7-9)
>>The write attitude (chapters 10-12)
>>Mission acknowledgment (chapters 13-15)
Part II. MARKETING TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
>>Join in (chapter 16)
>>Connect with others (chapter 17)
>>Volunteer up (chapter 18)
>>Teach to learn (chapter 19)
>>Make an appearance (chapter 21)
>>Host something (chapter 22)
>>Get articles in print [& online] (chapter 23)
>>Offer a service (chapter 24)
>>*Establish an Amazon presence by reviewing books
>>*Write an ebook or ebooks
>>*Create a popular ezine
Part III. PULL IT ALL TOGETHER INTO A PLATFORM
>>Create a killer Web site (chapters 25, 29 & 34)
>>Definitely include a testimonials page on your Web site (chapter 32)
>>Work one or more blogs that promote your killer Web site (chapter 33)
>>*Social media marketing (chapter 28?)
>>*Get connected in the blogosphere (chapter 28?)
>>*Continue to promote using the marketing tools & techniques cited above
I would have liked the book more if the three points I star under Part II above had been included. If an author writes and sells ebooks that become popular, then that fact goes a long way in convincing a publisher to take you on. If you have a popular ezine (defined as one with a large mailing list), then that will go a long way in convincing a publisher to take you on. And if you establish an Amazon presence by reviewing books similar to your ebooks or the one you seek to have published, then you will be on the road to establishing yourself as an expert or authority. See "Sell Your Book on Amazon" (ISBN: 1432701967) regarding your Amazon presence.
I would have liked the book more if the three points I star in Part III above had been included or better explained. It's one thing to make blog posts. And it's another thing to get connected in the blogoshere. See "Pro Blogger" (ISBN: 9780470246672), and "Secrets of Successful Blogging System" (ISBN: 0978806018). And I didn't see any real coverage of Social Media Marketing. Definitely give "Social Media Marketing" (ISBN: 9780470344026) a look to get an action plan together.
This really is a gem of a self-promotion book. There is a ton of great content included. The tools and techniques are inexpensive or free if you ignore the time commitment. It does a better job of covering the material than a similar book entitled "The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform" (ISBN: 1884956823), but it still falls short to garner a 5-star rating from me. 4 stars!
>>
Sell Your Book on Amazon: The Book Marketing COACH Reveals Top-Secret "How-to" Tips Guaranteed to Increase Sales for Print-on-Demand and Self-Publishing Writers
>>
ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
>>
Secrets of Successful Blogging System
>>
Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day
>>
The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform: Leveraging the Internet to Sell More Books
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome new addition to book-writing scene, November 28, 2008
This review is from: Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform (Paperback)
Writing is a hobby for me which I occasionally turn into a profession by getting articles accepted for publication. Last year I secured my first book contract and have a book coming out in May from Viking Press. It has been quite a learning process and I have had books to guide me all along the way-- from finding an agent to writing a book proposal, etc.
But the one aspect of book-writing I found challenging was the notion of a platform. It was one of the first questions my agent asked me and it has followed me throughout the process. I am by nature rather introverted and the notion of having to do all that networking and marketing was not too appealing. I was fortunate, though, because my article writing and my teaching and training programs (however unintentionally)served as a platform.
I discovered this book through a writer's blog- it was praised for the valuable new information it provided. I immediately found the book and literally read it in one day- constantly marking it with notes and sticky-tab reminders to return to certain sections, follow the instructions, etc.
In the field of books about writing, where many titles and topics stumble over one another offering the same tired advice, Ms. Katz's book is a bright new light providing new and valuable information. If you're a writer or thinking of becoming a writer, run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore, or click the order button here at Amazon and get it. Unless you're already a marketing whiz, this book will open up new avenues and strengthen what many consider the most important part of any book proposal- your platform and marketing plan.
Good luck to all wanna-be (and already are) writers out there-- success is possible and this book will greatly help.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great guide for building your business -- writing or otherwise, October 31, 2008
This review is from: Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform (Paperback)
Writing may be an art, but getting published is a business. This is the first book I've read where the author not only understands that, but also makes it easy for the reader to take action. Christina Katz defines a platform as "...all the ways you are visible and appealing to your future, potential, or actual readership." Substitute the word "clients" for "readership" and in this book you'll find everything business owners need to learn how to position and promote their companies or their first book. Plus, the info is presented logically, in easy-to-understand-and-implement chunks, without the hype that pads so many self-marketing books. There is an incredible amount of practical advice and real-world tips packed into 260 pages, along with encouraging statements to convince even the most self-promotion-phobic readers that, "Yes, I can!" I'm glad "Get Known before the Book Deal" came out in November because it's going to be a stocking stuffer for every writer and entrepreneur on my list!
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