Archive for the ‘books’ Category

This image is from my time with adult coloring books last year – trying out colors, experimenting. I love symmetry, but then I also like something a little unusual….which is where I am right now as I approach a new project. I really need to develop  more sources for passive income. I’m taking a free class right now from Convertkit on Product Creation – great ideas, and after two weeks of reading the information (a daily lesson), I decided to start at the beginning and develop a series of products that are useful to others. Hence, Organizing for Marketing.

The title is going through some revisions – still not catchy enough for me. But I already have all this content – in an iBook that isn’t selling  – and yes, I really haven’t done much to market it in the three years it’s been available (or is it four? Funny how time stretches out when you’re not teaching….).

So this is my first brainstorming at trying to make sense of what I want in this ebook product. I am very good at marketing and creating and organizing, so it makes sense to focus right there. When I reviewed the book last night, there is enough information to make it into three or four smaller ebooks and develop a continuous stream of ideas and techniques for people.

The first key is targeting my market. I work in fiber and textiles – pretty much a niche market when looking at the art world, although we are slowly making progress into mainstream. Thus I want to focus this on those of us who do art that is generally out of the mainstream. What can we do to get our work looked at, sold, appreciated?

Here’s my accountability checklist for this coming week, ending Tuesday, May 16, with my initial thoughts:

• Determine revised structure of the ebook. I need to break up the information in the original book into smaller segments for action, and increase the information included in each of the segments.
• Determine my ideal customer for this book. Who is my audience…artists without a lot of money to spend on marketing, artists with unique products, artists who have issues getting organized and accomplishing tasks.
• Write two additional blogs this week – what questions do you want answered in a marketing book for those of us working in a niche market, and how would this be different from all the other marketing books out there? I need to make sure I start getting feedback from folks to help direct my work.
• Evaluate ebook publishing sources and ease of use. CreateSpace seems mostly for print; research it more fully. Kindle seems easy and quick to do. IBooks seems too limiting, although I do have experience with that platform.
• Plan for a “bonus” for people who buy this ebook. Already thinking about many of the blog posts I’ve already done in my Top Ten series. I think these could be manipulated into a bonus, once links are checked, and focus determined. Happened to just think about expanding ideas for Top Ten for other Bonus offerings.
• Keep playing with title ideas. Suggestions certainly welcome! Organize, marketing, niche products…….
• Determine launch date for the ebook – probably beginning of August.

Feel free to give me ideas and help keep me accountable to this project! You can be in the book with your website and product for helping out.

ORIGINAL BOOK

Ready, set, go – give me feedback!

Another week, and this time not as much time spent on line, as I really felt the urge to get back to sewing. Lots going on, and I have at least three projects to start. But I did find some interesting things.

First up from Cindy Needham, pictures of a quilt show she attended in Australia. Really amazing eye candy!

From Letters of Note, a wonderful letter about reading from the amazing Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird – one of the best books EVER. Toward the end of the letter, you find out how the title fits.

From Cool Hunting comes some interesting laser-cut wood vases.

from the 365 Project comes more great eye candy.

Deep Blue by Aaron

So today the Facebook account was evidently hacked, and as I was going through Google Reader, I found a post by wonderful Tara Reed about protecting your account.

Here’s the headline to Emily Hauser’s blog post: “The best video on human sexuality ever – my 13-year-old son. You can’t resist a headline like that….and it’s a great video.

Best quote from the video: But what’s really important is that we trust ourselves and we understand ourselves, and we love and respect ourselves, and we grant that same understanding and respect to the people around us.

From TEDx – we are used to TED talks, but this link takes you to 14 different TED presentations, all with movement. And here’s Anudori – a contortionist since age 6.

If you like TED talks, here’s a link to the 20 Most Watched TED Talks So Far.

And with the last entry you are bound to find at least three most talks to inspire you! Have a great week!!