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Working in the Wrong Order OR How to Stop Building a Writer’s Block

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Melissa’s Story

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Her name is Melissa. Her resume came in a stack of 150 resumes. She was my only interview. She had it on paper — an top-notch education in Instructional Design — and proved it in person — intelligence, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Melissa was a perfect match for the entry-level editor’s job I had to offer. She lived up to it ever day and became a dynamite writer and editor.

While Melissa was training, she and I would meet weekly. When we got to month three, she came in with a problem. “I just can’t get my writing done.” she said. “I get myself and my workspace ready, and then I’m stuck with nothing.”

I asked her to tell me about her day.

Her description wasn’t surprising.

Melissa was working in the wrong order.

Very often without realizing, we send the muse packing. We build our own writer’s block instead — simply by how we order our day.

After a short conversation, Melissa solved her problem. She made one change and never had an issue with getting stuck again.

[Read more…]

Bookcraft 2.0: Book Research at Amazon, the Data Giant

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Hitting the Market

books

Whether your plan is to sell your book or give it as a value-added premium, it’s a shame to invest the time to build a resource that no one is going to read. Book ideas aren’t different from other product ideas. They need market research to validate their worth.

No idea is a great just because someone had it.
It becomes a great idea when we prove it solves problem or meets a need in a new and remarkable way.

If you start from scratch or work from your own blog, a trip over to Amazon for research is the first place you should go once your idea begins to take form. Because I was new to Phil’s blog, it took time to get to that single — Hey this might be it! — idea. So we’re on our way over that right now.

Come along.
[Read more…]

The Persuasive Power of White Papers

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Michael A. Stelzner, Guest Writer

Mochael; Stelzner 2

Information overload. Filters. Time constraints. Limited patience.

Marketing excess makes the task of influencing a chore!

Getting an audience with someone important and presenting vital points have never been harder. It is just plain tough to persuade people if you can’t speak to them.

Fortunately, there is way.

The white paper is often ushered past the guards and into the inner courts of important people.

Why?

White papers are sought after to help readers make decisions. Like the ancient wise man, the great white paper will have a significant impact on its readers.

These informative (and often persuasive) documents tend to contain information that is very valuable.

The persuasive white paper:

  • Identifies problems facing its readers (to build affinity)
  • Discusses trends (to push a need for change)
  • Provides solutions without selling (by speaking broadly and objectively)
  • Suggests what to look for (think key considerations when seeking a solution)

The art of persuasion involves building interest, providing valuable information and directing readers to act in a very specific manner. When applied to white papers, the result is a virtual salesperson that acts in your best interest, all the time.

This article is the fourth in a five-part series on the advantages of white papers. The next article will examine how writers can grow their businesses by writing white papers.

Your action: Learn how to persuade with white papers and watch people respond in ways you never imagined. An excellent resource to help you master this art is the new book, Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged.

—Michael A. Stelzner

How Writing is Like Getting a Nervous Chihuahua to Stop Peeing

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The Chihuahua Story

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One of my favorite writing stories is man against dog story. It goes like this.

A man named, Jack, and his wife shared their home with a Chihuahua, named “Loco.” As Chihuahuas are, Loco was a nervous, little dog always moving and shaking. Loco was even more nervous, when Jack waa around because the little dog was unsure of the big man’s affection.

Every time Jack came near the creature, fearful Loco would run to the kitchen. Next would come the awful, clattery tapping, of tiny Chihuahua-dog nails on the kitchen tile floor and then the stomping of industrial workboots following after. When Jack made it to the kitchen, he would loudly say, “Stop that damn racket. Stop it NOW.”

Loco would freeze at Jack’s command, spread his back legs, and proceed to pee on the yellow and gray kitchen floor.

This event happened almost every day. Jack muttered under his breath as he cleaned it up. Who knows if Loco understood words like That dog has to go . . . if it weren’t my wife’s dog . . .?

Day after day, Loco got nervous. Jack yelled. Loco peed. Jack got mad.

Finally Jack sought help from a friend who suggested that Jack immediately put the dog’s nose in the “event,” tap his nose with a newspaper, and then set the dog outside.

“That,” the friend promised, “would help the dog connect the “event” to doing it outside.” The friend cautioned Jack that it might take a few days, but to keep at it until the dog showed progress.

Jack thought it was worth a try.

So the very next time the dog peed on the floor, Jack followed the plan. He put the dog’s nose in the “event,” tapped it with a newspaper, and threw the dog out the open kitchen window — the one right over the sink. He repeated the process each time with out missing a beat.

The dog learned.

By the fifth day, the dog knew what to do.

He peed on the floor

and jumped out the window.

Readers take from our writing what their experience tells them.

So how do we make our message as clear as possible? Let me show you.
[Read more…]

Luring Prospects With White Papers

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Michael A. Stelzner, Guest Writer

Michael Stelzner 3

Looking to drum up new business? Need to generate some leads?

Finding new business is hard work!

If you want to persuade, white papers are the hot new marketing trend.

Different than the brochure or ad, the white paper is used to plant seeds among prospects early in the buying cycle (think first-time home buyer finds helpful resource guide).

Research by KnowledgeStorm shows that white papers are the most effective form of lead generation – even better than free trials and webinars!

If well written, the white paper provides valuable information to prospects who are searching for guidance. That information has magnetic value to the right readers, creating a steady stream of opportunity.

By giving away some important insight, you establish trust with readers. Trust is the first step toward building a relationship, and ultimately asking for the sale.

This article is the third in a five-part series on the advantages of white papers. The next article will examine how white papers can persuade others.

Your action: Learn the art of writing white papers that generate quality leads by picking up a copy of the new book, Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged.

—Michael A. Stelzner

Create a Viral Buzz – With White Papers

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Michael A. Stelzner, Guest Writer

Mochael; Stelzner 2

Trying to get everyone to beat your drum? Love the sound of others singing your praise? Word of mouth still reigns.

A good white paper is like the Energizer Bunny. It keeps going places you never imagined.

Why?

People like valuable information AND can easily forward it (especially packaged as a white paper).

White papers should present some of your best value in an easy-to-digest package. It should be a free taste of what you have to offer the world (think sample Cinnabon roll).

The carefully crafted white paper sings – mesmerizing its readers and encouraging an encore.

For example, VistaPrint (the inexpensive online business card company), decided to prepare a white paper called “Marketing Your Business on a Shoestring Budget: A Practical Guide to Success.”

The paper provided actionable tips (using VistaPrint’s inexpensive products, of course).

In only 90 days, more than 5000 small business owners registered for the paper, a smash hit!

This article is the second in a five-part series on the advantages of white papers. The next article will examine how white papers can be used to generate business leads.

Your action: Start outlining your viral masterpiece. Get off to the right start with the new book, Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged.

—Michael A. Stelzner