The Internet offers a wealth of free tools for your marketing design needs, and as a public service, I present five items that are totally free for you to download and use without (very much) restriction:
1. Photos: FreeRangeStock offers royalty-free, searchable stock photographs free of charge (funded by unobtrusive site advertising) for you to download. All you have to do is register with an e-mail address and password. Although the quality of these photographs is less than some other stock photography sites, you can't beat the price.
2. Fonts: Most quality typefaces are copyright-restricted for non-commercial use unless they have been purchased; however FontSquirrel has searched the Internet for quality free-for-commercial-use fonts created by top designers.
3. Photo Editing Software: Can't afford Photoshop but have to edit photos? Try Paint.net, a powerful freeware photo editor that you can download in just minutes at no cost!
4. Business Chat Software: Volusion.com, an Internet sales company, offers a totally-free Internet business chat function that can be set up in minutes, embedded in your site using basic HTML, and that requires no software to be uploaded to your server. This is the chat software I use on MillerDesignStudio.net.
5. Advice: The usual advice is "You get what you pay for," but on the Internet, good advice is given out free of charge. Check out DuctTape Marketing for an unmatched collection of short articles about marketing techniques, new marketing software, and the principles of successful small business marketing.
September 30, 2009
September 21, 2009
Q&A on Self-Publishing (Part 2): Judging a Book by Its Cover
This post continues the previous questions and answers about self-publishing. For more information on self-publishing, listen to Sylvia Hubbard's interview with me on the Michigan Literary Network show. Visit our online author resource center at millerdesignstudio.net/mwn as well.
We've discussed a few aspects of modern print-on-demand self-publishing, but one aspect I've spent little time about is designing your book cover. After you read what I have to say, be sure to read this Writer's Digest article that points out several cover considerations.
Q. What is essential to a book cover?
A. Although every book is different, most book covers require very basic information: on the front, the title and the author; on the spine, the title, author, and publisher; and on the back, a short summary of the book designed to attract readers, a short author bio, the publisher, and the UPC/ISBN information. In addition, of course you want to provide strong images that convey the message of your book.
Q. How should I choose a cover style?
A. Browse the bookstore -- new, not used -- and look at the new releases, particularly in your genre. Book covers change with the times, and it won't take long to detect the patterns that the New York publishers and others are using for their book covers. By no means am I suggesting that you blindly imitate their cover design, but you should be aware of it.
Choose a style that will resonate with your reading audience. For example, if you're writing for men, you won't use soft images of flowers on your cover. Or you shouldn't, anyway!
Q. What are the top 3 things you look for in a book cover?
A. First, I want to know the answers to the big questions about a book -- the title, the author, the subject. So that all should be very clear to anyone reading it. Some big authors with a loyal fan base can get away with hiding that information, but most can't.
Second, I want the book to visually "grab" me. The image doesn't have to be overpowering, but it should be gripping.
Finally, I am looking for unity. Many people work very hard on their front cover and spend little time designing the spine and the back cover -- both very important parts of the book for marketing purposes.
We've discussed a few aspects of modern print-on-demand self-publishing, but one aspect I've spent little time about is designing your book cover. After you read what I have to say, be sure to read this Writer's Digest article that points out several cover considerations.
Q. What is essential to a book cover?
A. Although every book is different, most book covers require very basic information: on the front, the title and the author; on the spine, the title, author, and publisher; and on the back, a short summary of the book designed to attract readers, a short author bio, the publisher, and the UPC/ISBN information. In addition, of course you want to provide strong images that convey the message of your book.
Q. How should I choose a cover style?
A. Browse the bookstore -- new, not used -- and look at the new releases, particularly in your genre. Book covers change with the times, and it won't take long to detect the patterns that the New York publishers and others are using for their book covers. By no means am I suggesting that you blindly imitate their cover design, but you should be aware of it.
Choose a style that will resonate with your reading audience. For example, if you're writing for men, you won't use soft images of flowers on your cover. Or you shouldn't, anyway!
Q. What are the top 3 things you look for in a book cover?
A. First, I want to know the answers to the big questions about a book -- the title, the author, the subject. So that all should be very clear to anyone reading it. Some big authors with a loyal fan base can get away with hiding that information, but most can't.
Second, I want the book to visually "grab" me. The image doesn't have to be overpowering, but it should be gripping.
Finally, I am looking for unity. Many people work very hard on their front cover and spend little time designing the spine and the back cover -- both very important parts of the book for marketing purposes.
September 18, 2009
Q&A on Self-Publishing (Part 1)
For more information on self-publishing, listen to Sylvia Hubbard's interview with me on the Michigan Literary Network show.
The Internet has ironically precipitated a radical transformation in hard-copy publishing. Advances in printing technology make it possible to print a book at a time, so it is no longer necessary for the self-published author to order 1,000 books before he or she has made a single sale.
But, the new self-publishing industry is still in its infancy, so it is important for authors to know how this industry works and what it means for them. With that in mind, I present some common questions and answers about self-publishing:
Q. What does self-publishing cost?
Although you can self-publish your book free at Lulu and CreateSpace, quality self-publishing will actually cost you more. The great temptation of self-publishing is to leave essentials like editing and design behind and just get something -- anything -- printed. An unedited, poorly designed book will either drive readers away or (if you're a good salesperson) make the reader feel as if he's been cheated.
That doesn't mean you have to break the bank to self-publish. You don't have to hire a New York editor or a Montreal graphic designer; often you can find a local person who does quality work for an affordable price. [Personal plug: check out MillerDesignStudio.net for information on our $99 publishing pack.]
Q. How much will I make?
With many self-publishing services, you choose your own price for the book; however, a common complaint about self-published books is that they cost $5 to $10 more than books published by major publishers. As a very general rule, you can probably expect to make at least $2 to $5 per book, and even more if you're willing to buy in bulk and sell personally.
Q. Who will sell my book?
Almost all of the major self-publishing services make your book available on Amazon.com and their own sites. Of course, you can also sell the book on your personal website and through personal interaction.
Many local bookstores have a local authors shelf as well.
Q. How do I format my book?
Most self-publishing services accept Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. Be sure you check the individual specifications regarding size and page numbering.
Q. Where can I find out more?
Writer's Digest has a wealth of information on self-publishing, including "An Insider's Look at Self-Publishing" and other articles.
The Motown Writers Network offers resources and education to Michigan authors.
Request your free Miller Design Studio author resources packet.
The Internet has ironically precipitated a radical transformation in hard-copy publishing. Advances in printing technology make it possible to print a book at a time, so it is no longer necessary for the self-published author to order 1,000 books before he or she has made a single sale.
But, the new self-publishing industry is still in its infancy, so it is important for authors to know how this industry works and what it means for them. With that in mind, I present some common questions and answers about self-publishing:
Q. What does self-publishing cost?
Although you can self-publish your book free at Lulu and CreateSpace, quality self-publishing will actually cost you more. The great temptation of self-publishing is to leave essentials like editing and design behind and just get something -- anything -- printed. An unedited, poorly designed book will either drive readers away or (if you're a good salesperson) make the reader feel as if he's been cheated.
That doesn't mean you have to break the bank to self-publish. You don't have to hire a New York editor or a Montreal graphic designer; often you can find a local person who does quality work for an affordable price. [Personal plug: check out MillerDesignStudio.net for information on our $99 publishing pack.]
Q. How much will I make?
With many self-publishing services, you choose your own price for the book; however, a common complaint about self-published books is that they cost $5 to $10 more than books published by major publishers. As a very general rule, you can probably expect to make at least $2 to $5 per book, and even more if you're willing to buy in bulk and sell personally.
Q. Who will sell my book?
Almost all of the major self-publishing services make your book available on Amazon.com and their own sites. Of course, you can also sell the book on your personal website and through personal interaction.
Many local bookstores have a local authors shelf as well.
Q. How do I format my book?
Most self-publishing services accept Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. Be sure you check the individual specifications regarding size and page numbering.
Q. Where can I find out more?
Writer's Digest has a wealth of information on self-publishing, including "An Insider's Look at Self-Publishing" and other articles.
The Motown Writers Network offers resources and education to Michigan authors.
Request your free Miller Design Studio author resources packet.
September 8, 2009
Smart Marketing: Giving away Valuable Information Free
A routine trip to Bank of America today turned into a smart marketing object lesson. A brochure distribution rack at the entrance had booklets as usual, but the content was different. Instead of the usual sell sheets about their savings accounts, mutual funds, car loans, or credit cards for college students, these brochures were magazine-type booklets that contained tips for managing one's money and maintaining a home as an investment.
Prepared by the editors of Money Magazine, both of the booklets I perused exhibited the usual financial savvy found in a Money article. Both booklets were easy to read, visually-attractive, and offered real value to Bank of America customers -- free!
Of course, both booklets also contained advertising for Bank of America, a double-whammy!
Customers are seeking value when they come to your business, and free information offers serious value to them, particularly in this economy where consumer spending has dropped drastically.
When you offer your customers free information -- e.g., a mechanic offers a Do-It-Yourself Car Maintenance booklet -- you solidify your reputation as an expert in your field and gain integrity for having the customer's best interest at heart. A local plumber went a step further and instructed the homeowner on how to complete the cosmetic work in the bathroom -- thus saving the homeowner several thousand dollars as well as gaining a repeat customer.
Bank of America purchased article reprints from Money Magazine, something you can do as well. Or, you could just write your own information and have it printed. After all, who knows your business like you do?
Here are three things to consider when giving away valuable information:
1. Make it valuable. Don't waste your customer's time -- or yours -- by giving away information that doesn't matter. In the above example of the mechanic, he should really offer simple job steps for changing oil and changing the fuel filter -- not "Tip #1: Get your oil changed at Mike's Garage every 1,500 miles."
2. Make it accurate. Nobody will be so touched by your generosity that they won't care about the content. Be sure that the information you are giving away is correct.
3. Don't give too much away! In most businesses, this isn't much of an issue. Even step by step instructions on rebuilding a transmission won't persuade people to do it themselves! But it is important to remember that you are still communicating for a business, and unless you're a non-profit organization, there's no need to give away the farm.
Those small touches make a huge difference in this economy!
Recommended Reading: Entrepreneur Magazine on Free PR
Prepared by the editors of Money Magazine, both of the booklets I perused exhibited the usual financial savvy found in a Money article. Both booklets were easy to read, visually-attractive, and offered real value to Bank of America customers -- free!
Of course, both booklets also contained advertising for Bank of America, a double-whammy!
Customers are seeking value when they come to your business, and free information offers serious value to them, particularly in this economy where consumer spending has dropped drastically.
When you offer your customers free information -- e.g., a mechanic offers a Do-It-Yourself Car Maintenance booklet -- you solidify your reputation as an expert in your field and gain integrity for having the customer's best interest at heart. A local plumber went a step further and instructed the homeowner on how to complete the cosmetic work in the bathroom -- thus saving the homeowner several thousand dollars as well as gaining a repeat customer.
Bank of America purchased article reprints from Money Magazine, something you can do as well. Or, you could just write your own information and have it printed. After all, who knows your business like you do?
Here are three things to consider when giving away valuable information:
1. Make it valuable. Don't waste your customer's time -- or yours -- by giving away information that doesn't matter. In the above example of the mechanic, he should really offer simple job steps for changing oil and changing the fuel filter -- not "Tip #1: Get your oil changed at Mike's Garage every 1,500 miles."
2. Make it accurate. Nobody will be so touched by your generosity that they won't care about the content. Be sure that the information you are giving away is correct.
3. Don't give too much away! In most businesses, this isn't much of an issue. Even step by step instructions on rebuilding a transmission won't persuade people to do it themselves! But it is important to remember that you are still communicating for a business, and unless you're a non-profit organization, there's no need to give away the farm.
Those small touches make a huge difference in this economy!
Recommended Reading: Entrepreneur Magazine on Free PR
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