Writing on the Web from Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

Book Publishing: What you need to know first

How to Get Your Book in Print Without Breaking the Bank

August 23, 2007, 3:00 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET)

Blogging and Beyond with The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., and Denise Wakeman
With Guest Expert: Adam Witty, CEO of Advantage Media Group,

You may have written the greatest book in the world, but it doesn't get edited, formatted AND printed, it doesn't exist. Today there are a lot of choices for authors to get published, including self-publishing and print-on-demand. Being fully informed can help you avoid costly mistakes that will kill your book and break your budget. Learn the pros and cons of traditional, self and on-demand publishing with Adam Witty of Advantage Media Group.

Use this link to listen live on the air at 6:00 p.m. ET on August 23.

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August 23, 2007, 3:00 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET)

Blogging and Beyond with The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., and Denise Wakeman
With Guest Expert: Adam Witty, CEO of Advantage Media Group,

You may have written the greatest book in the world, but it doesn't get edited, formatted AND printed, it doesn't exist. Today there are a lot of choices for authors to get published, including self-publishing and print-on-demand. Being fully informed can help you avoid costly mistakes that will kill your book and break your budget. Learn the pros and cons of traditional, self and on-demand publishing with Adam Witty of Advantage Media Group.

Use this link to listen live on the air at 6:00 p.m. ET on August 23.

White Paper Seminar in San Diego: last day for discount

Don't be caught telling your next prospect you don't have one yet, when they ask to read your company white paper.

NEWS FLASH: You must have a professionally written white paper that gives in depth information in your field if you want respect and credibility.

Want to learn how to write one yourself so you don't have to pay the high ticket price to a white paper writer? Today (Wednesday August 22, 2007) is the last day for the early-bird discount for Michael Stelzner's White Paper seminar in San Diego, on September 21.

To learn more, read my previous post here with all the details including a registration link. (Tell Michael I sent you and I'll buy you a frappucino...)

P.S. It's a great excuse to come visit me in San Diego and stay on beautiful Mission Bay at the Hyatt...

Blog Writing: How to Avoid Negative Comments

Denise posted this week over at Build a Better Blog about negative comments. It's amazing how many professionals express this fear. I'm reminded of the old Hollywood press agents' response about "any press is good as long as they spell your name right."

Of course, if you really want to avoid people saying anything negative about you or your business, all you need to be is bland. Or try to be perfect. Or never express a strong opinion. In other words, be boring.

On the other hand, if you want readers to pay attention to what you have to say, write with passion and purpose: be strong.  Take a risk and say something controversial.

Yesterday I expressed doubt about the effectiveness of email newsletters in today's email environment, yet nobody responded.

So what? I probably don't get hordes of vociferous commenters to this blog anyway, but that doesn't stop me from making a strong statement that has many sides to it.

Lord knows, I love ezines and have built a business providing customized newsletters for consultants. I don't want them to stop. But if blogging or white papers are more effective, then I want to be among the first to announce it.

Our business blogging clients often complain about lack of comments to their blogs, and I say: "When's the last time you came out with a bold statement and dared readers to disagree or take a side?"

If you're afraid of negative comments, then maybe you shouldn't be blogging. Try to find a place where you can hang out and be perfect, or bland, or boring.

Here's an excerpt from an excellent post I found on How to Avoid Negative Comments by British blogger Mark White:

Core Message of this Blog: Writing Great Ezines & Blogs

Writing for your online business is one of the most important tasks you have. The style of writing is always evolving for the Web, and it's important to learn how to write effectively for your business. No other marketing task will involve you as much as writing for your business.

One of the things we teach in our blogging and online marketing classes is to know your audience and know your core message. I am student for life and have always found the best way to learn something is to teach it. So I am always learning these things over and over and each time I go a little deeper.

When I started this blog (September 4, 2004), it was to have a platform to write content for an ebook, Secrets of Successful Ezines. Since then, I discovered the power of blogs for professionals who want to get their message out to people. Blogs or ezines, blogs AND ezines - it doesn't matter if you do one or both, as long as at least one is a blog!

In the next phase of evolving an online business, I realized the importance of interesting, relevant, keyword-rich content: articles, information products such as special reports, tips, white papers, and ebooks.

Online marketing must include other pieces of writing for the web: landing pages, sales letters,

Got a New Subscriber? 7 tips for writing a great first message

What do you say to a new subscriber to your ezine? That first email may be one of the best times to communicate to a new prospect. It's certainly one time they open and read your message.

My advice? Skip the canned and expected confirmation message that everyone sends and write in an original voice. Be friendly and clear about what they can expect next, and give them an unexpected bonus.

Here are 7 other tips from the Email Experience Council:

1. Use a recognizable "from" line and a subject line that includes the brand name.

2. Fulfill email subscriptions quickly.

3. Be clear on "what comes next" in terms of content and frequency.

4. Ask them to add your address to their address book.

5. Offer something of value for signing up.

6. Use a series of onboarding emails to introduce them to your offerings.

7. Don't be afraid to include promotional content in welcome emails to capitalize on the high read rates.

15 Ways to Find Content for Your Blog

Denise and I kicked off our first advanced blogging class yesterday, Better Business Blogging, with a select group of 10 professionals all eager to improve their blogs. It is so great working with a small group of passionate people, as opposed to spouting the blog gospel to the hordes on large bridge lines.

Each week we highlight several of their blogs and give suggestions for improvement. We're following our CODA system for blog improvement: paying attention to Content, Outreach, Design and Action. Yesterday we worked on blog content issues.

Here's my list of 15 ways to find content for writing your blog posts:

Finding Content for Your Blog

1. Set up Google Alerts for your topics and subtopics
2. Set up Technorati WatchLists
3. Monitor your blog feeds of your favorite blogs
4. Use other people’s blog posts as inspiration and jumping-off points to write your own post
5. Use a poll tool such as Vizu.com and set up a vote from readers on biggest challenges,

Things to Do When You're Brain Dead

Check out this viral site, where you can get mashed up and dance just for fun...

http://www.paloozahead.com/1526286-9375-231902

Publishing Your Book: Here's what you need to know first

How to Get Your Book in Print Without Breaking the Bank

August 23, 2007, 3:00 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET)

Blogging and Beyond with The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., and Denise Wakeman
With Guest Expert: Adam Witty, CEO of Advantage Media Group,

You may have written the greatest book in the world, but it doesn't get edited, formatted AND printed, it doesn't exist. Today there are a lot of choices for authors to get published, including self-publishing and print-on-demand.

Being fully informed can help you avoid costly mistakes that will kill your book and break your budget. Learn the pros and cons of traditional, self and on-demand publishing with Adam Witty of Advantage Media Group.

Use this link to listen live on the air at 6:00 p.m. ET on August 23.

Merge Your Online and Offline Marketing Tactics for Better Results

Save and Simplify: Merge Your Online and Offline Marketing Tactics for Better Results

August 16, 2007, 3:00 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET)

Blogging and Beyond with The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., and Denise Wakeman
With Guest Expert: Janis Pettit, owner of SmarTrack and http://www.smallbusiness-bigresults.com/

Offline or online, that is the question. "Both" is the answer. You need to apply similar strategies to market your products and services both off and online.

Learn how professionals and entrepreneurs can merge their online and offline marketing to save money, work more effectively, and generate more targeted leads. The Blog Squad interviews Janis Pettit, a veteran of small business successes and owner of www.smallbusiness-bigresults.com.

Use this link to listen live on the air at 6:00 p.m. ET on August 16.

August 16, 2007, 3:00 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET)

Blogging and Beyond with The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., and Denise Wakeman
With Guest Expert: Janis Pettit, owner of SmarTrack and http://www.smallbusiness-bigresults.com/

Offline or online, that is the question. "Both" is the answer. You need to apply similar strategies to market your products and services both off and online.

Learn how professionals and entrepreneurs can merge their online and offline marketing to save money, work more effectively, and generate more targeted leads. The Blog Squad interviews Janis Pettit, a veteran of small business successes and owner of www.smallbusiness-bigresults.com.

Use this link to listen live on the air at 6:00 p.m. ET on August 16.

Power Writing Series with Liz Strauss

9 + 1 Things Every Reader Wants from a Writer

by Liz Strauss 
Where to Start

It can seem complicated to write for a readership that includes beginners to experts. I’ve done it for over two decades. It can seem like there’s too much to consider to meet them all at their own level.

Yet my experience is that beginners and experts are not that different when they read. They might choose to read different things, but we all do. Beyond that difference of content, beginners, experts and those of us in the middle — every reader — wants the same things from a writer.

9 +1 Things Every Reader Wants

Basically there are 9 things every reader wants, plus one for blog readers. Let’s imagine I’m one of those readers. Actually I am one. I’ll tell you the things readers want as they’ve been telling me for over 20 years.

1. Pick an idea that intrigues you. If it intrigues you, I’m likely to be intrigued by it too. At the very least, I’ll be curious about what it was about the idea that captured your interest and intrigued you.
   
2. Trace out a simple structure. Use the structure to cut a path through your idea. Then it’s easy for me to follow you.
   
3. Write for someone who’s like you, but doesn’t know what you know about the topic. Trying to write for everyone is like trying to talk penguins and parachutes at the same time.
   
4. Make clear decisions about what to include. Look things over and be lethal about taking out what doesn’t need to be there. Believe me, I’ll remember that you don’t waste words when I decide I want to return.