I’m often asked about the name of my business. What does it mean? And what is a “sherpa,” anyway? So, here goes…

I fell into business ownership, rather than set out for it, which is something I think happens to many freelance writers. I didn’t do a business or marketing plan or any other kind of getting-started stuff that business-minded folks do. I just hung out my shingle and started winging it. So, my business never had a name.

Three years ago or so, I wanted to start taking it more seriously and needed a name–an identity. At the time, I was focusing most heavily on ghostwriting (rather than editing or copywriting). Ghostwriting is a collaborative effort that takes both parties (me and my client) through a monumental and arduous process of writing a book. It’s kind of like climbing a mountain, right? Even if it’s your job, you remember each trip and the things you learn along the way. Plus, I wanted a business identity that would stand out against all the other ghostwriters.

A sherpa is, literally, a person from a mountainous region in Nepal who is employed as a mountain guide. They know the mountains, make decisions about how to proceed, and carry much of the heavy equipment. When I chose this as my business name, I was hoping to conjure the image of an experienced and supportive professional who helped aspiring authors achieve the milestone goal of getting their book done. As a ghostwriter, it felt right because the ghostwriter has to do all the heavy lifting (the writing work).

Now that I focus just as much on teaching people how to write a book, the sherpa image of an experienced guide works even better. My programs are the path that will lead my clients to success.

Cool, eh? Well, at least I thought so.

If you’re working on a book, make sure you get a free copy of my “Jump Start Your Book E-course!”

If you’re self-publishing your book, building your author platform will help you sell books. And if you’re interested in getting a publishing contract with a commercial house, platform will make you and your book more desirable to agents and editors. Your author platform is, basically, your ability to reach your audience. And one way to build your platform, as well as establish your expertise, is getting quoted as an expert in the media.

How do you know when a reporter is looking for an expert in your field? Here are two resources to add to your publicity plan.

1. Help A Reporter Out

2. Reporter Connection

Both these resources are e-mail lists of media inquiries that go out at least once a day. Sign up, read them every day, and watch for expert requests that you’re qualified to answer. Then put your best foot forward in a pitch that makes it as easy as possible for the reporter to quote you.

Do you know of any other great publicity resources? Please share.

I am excited to share some details with you about an upcoming FREE telesummit sponsored by the National Association of Entrepreneur Moms.

The second annual Back to School = Back to Business Telesummit began on Tuesday, September 7^th and runs through Wednesday, September 15^th.  There are twelve speakers scheduled over the two-week period, covering a variety of topics essential to growing your business.

I will be the featured guest speaker on TOMORROW at noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT), talking about–you guessed it–writing a book, and would love it if you would join us!

There are two calls every day–one at 9:00 a.m. PT and the other at 11:00 a.m. PT.  Even if you can’t make it live, by registering you will receive the mp3 download to listen at your convenience!

To register for this telesummit, go to http://bit.ly/8gyWjw. “See” you on the call!

Whether you’re working on a book or your next blog post, writing is a practice. It’s not about being good or bad—it’s about constantly seeking ways to improve, no matter where you are with your skills. Every time you write, it gets a little easier. But at the same time, diligent writers collect skills and tricks they can use to make their writing stronger and more compelling.

Here are five of the simplest and most powerful writing tips you can add to your collection.

1. Make it Reader Friendly
Writing is about making a connection, and you have to communicate with your readers. That means positioning your message in a way that is most meaningful and compelling to your readers—not to you or your friend or anyone else. How do your readers need to hear what you have to say? What’s going to strike their favorite chords? Even if you are not the world’s greatest writer, making your writing reader friendly will greatly improve the effectiveness and readability of your work.

2. Use Active Verbs
One of the biggest mistakes people make when writing is using the passive voice, or passive verbs. This complicates their sentences and makes them hard to understand, which is definitely not reader friendly. Look for ways to rewrite sentences that use passive to-be verbs, like “is,” “was,” and “were.” They can’t always be reworked, but oftentimes they should be. Active verbs will make your writing more engaging and clear.

3. Be Concise
Saying what you mean in as few words as possible is another key to improving your writing. After you get your message down, go through your writing and take out every unnecessary word. Kill your darlings, in other words. If a word, sentence, or phrase does not serve to illustrate your point, take it out or replace it with words that work.

4. Write Toward Your Goal
If you want your writing to have meaning, you need to have a clear goal or message for what you write. Always decide exactly what you want to accomplish with your writing and make sure every word helps reach this goal. Be direct; tell your readers what you want them to do. If readers have to guess, they will either stop reading or miss your point.

5. Break Up Big Projects
If you have a particularly large writing project, break it up into smaller segments. For example, don’t sit down and say to yourself, “I’m going to work on a chapter of my book on management.” Instead, be more specific and tell yourself, “I’m going to write an introduction to chapter three.” Working on a smaller scale will keep you motivated, prevent you from getting lost, and give you a sense of accomplishment every time you finish a part of the project. And it will prevent you from feeling discouraged because the entire project is not complete yet.

Improve Your Writing Today
No writer ever gets to the point where they can stop improving their craft. And even if you think you’re a good writer, you should always look for new tools to add to your writing tool box. Successful writing depends on many factors, including organization, simplicity, and conciseness. If you follow these five tips, your writing will improve and your message will be clear in whatever you write, every time you write.

Comments? When was the last time you made an effort to improve your writing skills? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Imagine a crowd of people—your ideal clients and readers—reading your book and loving every word of it. Imagine them devouring every page, reading it again, telling everyone they know about how fabulous and life-changing it is, and then passing your book on to their friends and colleagues. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

This is what every author wants—a crowd of dedicated, raving fans who can’t wait to work with them. And, believe it or not, every author can have it. Connection is the key.

As a writer, the most important person in your work life is your readers—the people who pick up your book, buy it, and take the time to read it. Your readers are your audience, the people you are trying to reach, educate, and persuade. Therefore, you should always keep your readers in mind as you write.

Some writers feel this stifles the creative process—believing that if they just write what’s in their mind, the audience will follow. And I can see how profiling your ideal reader for a creative type of book, like fiction or memoir, might not be as important. But even then, a writer needs to understand where every sentence they put on the page leads their reader. For self-help, business, and how-to books, though, knowing your reader is a critical piece of creating a book they love.

So what does that mean? Well, first you have to know your ideal reading audience. These are the people who need the information you can provide. Who are they? What are they struggling with? What’s keeping them up at night? What do they need? What can you really do for them? Did they struggle with a problem that you overcame in your past? Regardless of what you’re writing about and who you’re writing for, you can ask yourself these questions about your audience and write in a way that speaks directly to their needs and wants.

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, get out there and talk to the people you want to serve. Go to places they gather and hang out, and ask them about their biggest challenges. Do your homework and profile them. You may find you know more about them than you think.

Then as you write, you have to step into their shoes and look at the information you’re presenting from their perspective. Keep their biggest, most stressful problems in mind, and write about how your ideas and strategies can ease their pain. Make sure everything you write about in your book relates to solving their most important problem. Communicating well with your audience will make your information resonate with readers. They’ll feel like you truly understand what they’re going through and you wrote your book just for them, which is exactly what attracts a crowd of dedicated fans who are dying to work with you and can’t stop talking about your book.

Comments?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps aspiring self-help, business, and nonfiction authors get their books done, so they establish expertise, achieve their goals, and share their message in a powerful way. Get a free copy of her Jumpstart Your Book E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Would you like to get rid of your paper piles…once and for all?

Is your desk buried in your paper documents?

Has it been a while since you last saw the bottom of your
inbox?

If yes, then don’t miss this upcoming one-hour teleclass from organization expert, Jennifer Hollander. “How to Get Control of Your Documents So You Can Find Them!”

In this one-hour teleclass you will learn:

• How to determine your document zones
• The 7 basic steps for file sorting and organizing
• How to organize all of your financial documents
• Creating a Command Center & Action File – Keeping track of time sensitive information, so you have WHAT you need WHEN you need it!
• Paper Clutter Combat Rules – Maintenance tips to battle the madness BEFORE it begins!
• How to prioritize your “Hit List” – Getting and STAYING focused on your “First Things!”
• To MAKE a Plan, ACT on it, and CELEBRATE the Outcome!

With her help you can end the feeling of overwhelm and be more productive as you write!

For details and to register, click here: http://bit.ly/documentclutter

How productive is your writing time? Many writers struggle with distractions and productivity, which is why I’m so excited to announce my friend Meggin McIntosh’s new FREE resource for writers of all types and genres: Top Ten Productivity Tips for Writers.

Each week, subscribers will receive a quick, practical, and positive set of ideas to use right away so they can maximize their writing time and effort. Topics include getting unstuck, writing formulas, productivity techniques,proofreading tips, editing tips, being interviewed about your writing, questions to ask yourself when writing, and many more.

Full disclosure: I’m a contributing writer–so watch for tips from me, as well as other writing experts.

To get your free productivity tips for writers, go to Top Ten Productivity Tips for Writers and click on the sign-up link.

And please share your favorite productivity tips in a comment!

A press release is a great method for informing the public about your book, whether it is hot off the press, holding a book signing, or have other important news. An effective press release will catch the attention of readers and spread the word about your business. As with any other type of business writing, there are certain things you should do and certain things you should avoid when writing your press release to make the best impression and effectively convey your message.

The following tips will help your press releases—and your book—stand out.

1. Start with Your Contact Information

Because your press release serves to publicize your book, you should include your logo (if you have one) and contact information prominently at the top of your press release. Make it obvious what is being announced and give readers a reason to look further.

2. Include a Compelling Headline

Your press release should also have a compelling title that clearly states its purpose and catches the reader’s attention. If you want your press release to get noticed you have to give readers a reason to look and a great title can do just that.

3. Provide the Most Important Information in the Introduction

As with any type of writing your press release needs to be concise as well as interesting. Make sure the first paragraph grabs the reader’s attention and gives them a reason to stay interested. You should include as much information as possible in the first paragraph without overwhelming the reader by using technical language or lengthy sentences.

4. Keep it Short

You should also try to keep the rest of the press release short and to the point by including one idea per paragraph and expanding enough to get your point across without rambling. Readers are more likely to read a press release in its entirety if it is short, even if a lengthy one contains more information.

5. Emphasize Information, Not Promotion

A press release needs to be factual and informative—and while you should try to portray your book in the best light possible—a press release should always be accurate and not include any misleading information. Even though one of the purposes of a press release is to promote your book, it should not read like an ad. Rather it should provide unbiased information in a more news-oriented manner so readers get information to draw their own conclusions.

6. Make Your Book Stand Out

You should not try to promote one specific product in your press release; rather announce your news in general. A good way to get readers interested in your book is to include information on how it solves a problem or addresses a concern.

Making Media Headlines

A press release is a great way to get the word out about your book, whether it’s new or not. If you your book is hot off the press, a press release can be one of the most effective advertising methods available, if you write one that is effective and that reaches a wide audience.

Remember to be clear about the reason for your press release and to stay concise. Use simple language that is easy to understand and keep your press release factual and informative. When you use these tips for crafting compelling press releases, your book will attract the media attention it deserves!

Comments?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps self-employed professionals, coaches, consultants, and speakers write and publish to establish expertise, attract a following of ideal readers and clients, and make more money. Get a free copy of her Write Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

The purpose of writing a business communication is to effectively express your message to your reader, whether that is a potential customer, associate, or a person interested in joining your business. In business communication your message must be clear, concise, and compelling to get the most favorable response. To make sure your business writing is effective in whatever goal you are trying to achieve—whether that is to make sales, recruit members, or inform the public about your business—you can use the following strategies.

1. Know Your Audience

The first and most important consideration to make before you do any form of business writing is your audience. Knowing your audience is the best way to decide what type of language to use, how to format your message, and what the best approach is to getting your desired response. If your audience is a lay person or the general public, your writing should be much different than if you are targeting people in your field.

2. Avoid Jargon and Industry-Specific Terminology

Although you usually want to sound intelligent and professional in business writing, you should stay away from industry-specific or complicated language if your target audience is not from your technical field. Using big words and technical jargon may make you seem smart, but readers are much more likely to respond favorably to writing that uses familiar words. Using language that is common and easily understood will make your message easier for readers to understand—and enjoy.

3. Keep it Simple

The complexity of the language you use is important, which is why concrete terms that will have a meaningful impact are better to use in your business writing than vague and abstract terms, no matter who you are writing for. Don’t be tempted to use a lot of snazzy adjectives to describe your product or business, stick with concrete terms that will leave a specific impression in the reader’s mind.

4. Say What You Mean in as Few Words as Possible

Another key to successful business writing is to use as few words as possible to get your message across. It may seem like the more copy you have the more impressive your message will be, but readers will quickly tire of reading fluff and your message will be lost. Make the most of the words you use by choosing powerful verbs and only using adjectives when necessary. Keep your sentences short and make sure the message you are trying to convey comes through in every sentence.

5. Know Exactly What You Want to Say

The last thing to remember for effective business writing is to have a goal or message in mind before you start writing. Decide what you are trying to accomplish and develop a plan that compels the reader to take your desired course of action. If your goal is to inform your reader, your writing should be different than if you are trying to sell something to your reader.

Informative copy should be designed to be highly interesting and give the reader a reason to notice your product or business—features. If your goal is to sell something, your copy should peak interest with features, as well as give the reader a compelling reason why they should buy your product—benefits. In either case, end with a strong call to action that tells your reader exactly what you want them to do next.

Better Business Writing in Your Future

Business communications must be clear, concise, and easy for your audience to understand—as well as compelling enough to entice your reader to take action. When you use these five strategies for improving your business writing skills, your written business communications will get results!

Comments?

About the Author: Melinda Copp helps self-employed professionals, coaches, consultants, and speakers write and publish to establish expertise, attract a following of ideal readers and clients, and make more money. Get a free copy of her Write Your Book Quick-Start Mini E-course when you sign up for her weekly e-zine.

Interview with Jennifer Hollander, Simply Organized, Certified Family Manager Coach and Organizing Consultant

Melinda: Tell us a little about what you do and how you became an organization/time management expert.

Jennifer: I’ve always had a passion for organization and productivity, and I always thought I’d pursue an advanced degree in organizational psychology so I could help companies be more productive. But as many of us know, life tends to lead us in other directions, and I ended up working in sales and marketing for twelve years. Over time I found myself wanting to use my organizing and networking skills in a business for myself. Once I became a stay-at-home mom, I finally decided to begin my dream of building my own business, and Simply Organized was born. Two children and four years later, hear I am.

I work mostly with busy moms and home-based business owners who want to create happy, productive, organized homes and offices. I find great satisfaction in helping others create management systems based on their priorities and needs. It is quite rewarding when the “light bulb” turns on for my clients and they are able to maintain an organized space and life simply because they are open to and ready for change!

M: Based on your experiences, could you estimate how much time people lose per week to being unorganized?

J: Well, if you spend just ten minutes a day looking for misplaced items, you’re wasting sixty hours per year. This is just a minimum—each person’s situation and habits are different so this number could easily be higher for many people.

Are you one of these people? Just think of how much more writing you could do in sixty hours per year! And if that were 100 percent productive time spent in an uncluttered space—a space that inspires your creativity—you can get a lot more done. Cluttered spaces create cluttered minds!

M: One of the biggest challenges my clients face is finding time to write materials to market their business (blogs often get abandoned and unfinished books get set aside). Do you have any time management tips that might help people make more time to write and market their business?

J: One of the first things to think about is whether you’re more analytical or visual in your day-to-day activities. Most creative types are visual, therefore they need to develop time management and organizing skills that compliment their personality, rather than try to be too rigid in their systems. Trying to force too much structure makes it more difficult to follow through with your organizing solutions. But just as being to structured can stifle creativity, so can being too unorganized.

A few Time Management Basics to implement on a regular basis could be:

Build in time buffers.

Life is predictably unpredictable, so always allot a little extra time for tasks. If you think something is going to take you thirty minutes, schedule forty. Sometimes you will need every minute you have planned for, but often you’ll arrive early or complete the project ahead of schedule and have a few minutes to do one or two quick things on your to-do list (what I call The Daily Hit List).

Set deadlines.

Deadlines are the best guarantee a job will be done. Jot down on your calendar the time or day you want to have a task completed. If need be, ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable.

Make appointments to get things done.

Don’t wait for time to free up. If you have a big project to accomplish, like writing a book, schedule work appointments with yourself in thirty-minute or one-hour blocks. Be serious about this time like you would any other appointment. Before you know it, you’ll have the project licked.

Organize your marketing efforts.

With all the different types of social network marketing available to market your books and services, it easy to lose track of what type of marketing to do and when to do it. Create a basic chart for tracking your marketing efforts monthly. Down the left side column list all the marketing tools you use for promoting your business, (i.e. web site, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter). Across the top list all the marketing events/tasks you want to promote that month, (i.e. blog, newsletter, teleseminar, ebook). Feel free to e-mail me if you would like to receive a sample form.

M: Thanks so much for sharing these tips! Where can readers find out more about what you do?

J: To learn more about my organization and administrative services you can view my website at www.jenniferhollander.com. E-mail me at Jennifer@jenniferhollander.com for a copy of Prescription for Procrastination. At my web site, you can also sign up for my Simply Tips newsletter and receive my report, “3 Keys to Managing Your Time Rather than Letting It Control You!”

Comments? Where is your clutter most limiting your productivity?