Tim Ferriss: How to Create a Bestseller

Leo Babauta has a good interview with 4-Hour Workweek author Tim Ferriss on his WriteToDone.com blog. Tim delves into the route he took to turn his book into a bestseller.

Here are my four big takeaways from the Q&A:

1. Your title is crucial. It can make or break the success of your book. Take time crafting and testing to find the best one.
   
   
2. Get to know bloggers -- but don't push your book too hard. Be human.
   
   
3. It's visible retail placement and not the mainstream media that usually propels a book to the bestseller lists.
   
   
4. Focus on making yourself a credible expert vs. pushing a book (which ties back into #2).

Tim also outlined his publishing story on his own blog here.

Interesting reading.

-Bob

How to Create a Major Book Buzz Online Get a front row seat as I show you how to use the Internet to fuel word-of-mouth marketing. Learn more ...

The Do-It-Yourself Author Interview

Sure, it would be great to get magazine and newspaper feature writers to interview you, say glowing things about your book, and run your life story in print. But if that goal is slow in coming, don’t give up. Do it yourself.

Here's how ...

Imagine your ideal interview. What questions would you like the interviewer to ask you? What sort of fascinating answers would you provide to amaze and inspire readers? Have some fun thinking this through.

Next, write out your fantasy questions and answers. But don't ramble about everything under the sun. Stay focused on your author identity and why people should care about you and your book. Make your responses lively, interesting, and maybe even a little shocking and controversial.

Take this self-produced Q&A and put it in your press kit and on your web site, or use it as a stand-alone item sent to the media. Journalists will use it to learn more about the author behind the book, and they may very well use your quotes in the articles they write about you.

-Bob

10 Ways to Promote Your Book on the Internet

I was checking my web logs last week and noticed I was getting some hits based on the search strings "promote your book" and "how to promote your book." I ran them through Google and was surprised to see they both came up #2. Way cool!

The only thing was, it linked to a page on a site I haven't updated in eons (you know how that goes). On that page was a great article by Roger C Parker that I published years ago. But it didn't link to my current FullTimeAuthor.com site and made no mention of my recent work helping aspiring authors.

But, even after a few years, it's still a great article. So I'm keeping it on the same page to lock in the Google ranking. But I just updated the layout to reflect the newer Full-Time Author design.

I encourage you to read How to Promote Your Book on the Internet. These ten timeless pieces of advice will help you market and sell a lot more books.

And while you're at it, take a look at your own web logs and find out it any of your outdated pages are getting traffic. If they are, update them quick!

-Bob

P.S. Get FREE access to my Self-Publishing Confidential report filled with my best book publishing advice. Go grab your free report now.

Steve Pavlina's Hilarious Bonus Offer

This is too funny. If you need a good laugh to relieve any stress you might be feeling because of the economy, this is the answer to your prayers.

Steve Pavlina is a prolific and successful blogger who just came out with a new book called Personal Development for Smart People. In one recent post he listed a bunch of free bonuses that readers would get when they buy now.

We've all seen these ridiculously long list of freebies dangled in front of our noses to inspire us to buy now. Heck, I'm guilty of using them myself to inspire sales.

But Steve has a hilarious take on this tactic. I'll turn it over to him now ...

Free Bonus With Your Book Order

I forgot to mention that if you order my book this month, you'll receive several free bonuses. I think you'll agree these are truly awesome. Their combined value is so incredibly high that I can't possibly put a price on them.

Some authors try to convince you to buy their books by tossing in a bunch of crappy e-books you'll never read. But obviously such a scheme is unworthy of a "smart person" such as yourself.

So I had to come up with something much more beneficial to you, something that would complement the book and add some serious value to it.

It took a lot of effort to develop these bonuses, but I think you'll agree they make this offer absolutely irresistible.

Here's what you'll receive:

Bonus #1: Love and Gratitude

You'll receive my unconditional love for helping to support my work (or is that conditional love?). Every day I take a moment to cast out love energy to everyone who's read my book. The sooner you read the book, the more love energy you receive. In addition to the free love bonus, I also send out feelings of deep gratitude, so that's like a bonus on top of a bonus. :)

But wait -- there's more!!!

Bonus #2: Heightened Awareness

This book will significantly increase your awareness. Even if you don't do any of the exercises, I guarantee this book will change the way you think about your life — for the better. You'll be able to amaze your friends and family with your newfound enlightenment.

And that's not all!!!

Bonus #3: Pass It On Value

After you read the book, you can pass it on to someone you think would benefit from it. Then it becomes a powerful gift you can bestow upon another human being. I don't earn any money when this happens, but who cares? These ideas are meant to be shared.

Hold on -- we're not done yet!!!

Bonus #4: Free Consultation

I can't believe I'm including this, but here goes… With your order I'll include one free astral consultation. Just go to sleep tonight and come visit me on the astral plane, and I'll personally consult with you for free. Best of all, since there's no time in the astral realms, you can take as long as you want! Just make sure you're fully lucid; otherwise you may not remember any of it.

Still not convinced -- it gets better!!!

Place your order within the next 10 minutes, and I'll double your bonuses! That's right -- double! You'll get double the love and gratitude! Double the awareness! Double the pass it on value! And double the consultations!

This offer is absolutely unprecedented!!! You'd better act now before I regain my sanity!

Operators are standing by… :)

Funny stuff. Thanks for the laugh, Steve! I needed that.

-Bob

How to Create a Major Book Buzz Online Get a front row seat as I show you how to use the Internet to fuel word-of-mouth marketing. Learn more ...

Why Do You Write?

Here's a refreshing perspective on the role of writing in your life.

Steve Pavlina was interviewed over on the Zen Habits blog. When asked to list some of the things he's passionate about, Steve included this gem:

"Expressing Ideas - I love creatively expressing ideas through writing, blogging, speaking, podcasting, and more. The specific media I use isn't important. I just enjoy the artistry of turning intangible ideas into some form of tangible expression. To me this feels like I'm sharing a piece of myself with the world."

What a profound thought. And it's one that I've expressed many times in recent years.
People ask me all the time about book publishing and marketing. Or why they should blog or bother with Facebook or Twitter. Not to mention getting publicity or doing public speaking.

To me, it's all part of your grand mission. You have something to say. You have an idea that needs to be shared with the world. Something that has the potential to educate, entertain, or enlighten a certain group of people.

Your goal then is to spread that message by any means necessary.

Don't get side-tracked obsessing about the tools or the technology. Focus more on the idea you have to offer and who needs to hear it. Then use every avenue at your disposal to reach as many people as you can with your message.

That's profound. Make that the main reason you write, speak, publish, promote, and sell yourself and your books.

-Bob

P.S. Get FREE access to my Self-Publishing Confidential report filled with my best book publishing advice. Go grab your free report now.