Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Think About Your Purpose

I follow several blogs and scan all new Posts quickly to decide if the content is worth my time. Sometimes it is and sometimes, while it might be great information, it is not relevant to me. I received a post today from Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, that struck me as universally relevant.

The theme of his post was, "What if work wasn't just work? What if work was a vehicle to live and share a bigger purpose?" The reason this spoke to me is that so many of my readers and customers work to develop their community cookbooks in order to raise funds for local and very worthwhile charities. I wonder how successful a project could be if "everyone" involved put their likes and dislikes aside, and performed their assigned task with the giving-attitude that the book was meant for?

Michael cited many examples of people in everyday jobs who have found a way to see their sometimes menial sounding work into how it fits into a bigger picture. Perhaps your organization might benefit from a sharing session on the purpose of your book and the good that comes from each person's efforts as they sell and market it.

Please share your thoughts on how this idea speaks to you.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Need for a Platform

Marketing a book in today's fast-paced world is remarkably different from years past. Stop for a minute and just think of the communication differences from today versus just 5 to 10 years ago. Social media has changed our lives. Not only has it changed, but it will continue to evolve and change.

Even just 2-3 years ago the IPad and other notepad devices didn't exist. I read yesterday that the #1 Fathers Day gift this year will be IPad accessories. We now have Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Email, TinyChat and the list grows. OK, if we know all about this stuff what does it mean?

I just had lunch today with a lawyer who specializes in entertainment law. She was talking about the importance of building a platform. The way people buy books has changed dramatically and we now have the ability to get our message to thousands of consumers @ no cost by investing in building a platform. Seth Godin touts building a "tribe". It isn't simple and it does take creativity and time but the tools to do so exist.

Someone within an organization such as a Junior League or a branded property, say a resort for example, already has a "tribe". The key for these entities is to increase the scope of the "tribe". This is accomplished through a blog, a fan page, e-mail blasts, e-newsletter, Twitter and web site. The first task of anyone publishing a book is to find their audience and begin marketing to it by using the tools of social media--and it's fun.

What have you done to creatively build your platform?

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Use Your Time Wisely

We are about to enter those "dog days of summer". Temperatures are soaring and the whole world seems on vacation. Yet, there is still work to get accomplished. One of the toughest things for community based volunteer organizations is overcoming the fact that members, for the most part, take the summer off. That is why it is crucial for key leaders responsible for book sales invest quality active planning time in the summer months.





If a committee starts up in September and then begins laying out a plan for the year the committee is liable to wind up missing the biggest opportunities for sales during the Holiday season. It is imperative that the kickoff meeting in September be a working meeting rather than a planning meeting.










The members of the committee will be more enthusiastic and feel better about volunteer hours if they understand their roles and job expectations-in other words they will feel that their time is being well spent. This will also let the leadership be in a position to delegate and examine results rather than doing all of the work themselves.






We have witnessed first hand individuals attending FRP Cookbook University who use their time wisely. Those individuals who return home and immediately begin laying out a written marketing plan are far more successful than those who procrastinate. The results for sales during the year tell the story and it is always those who use their time wisely to execute a written plan which was developed in the summer months who achieve successful results.










Remember, there are two kinds of people, "those who find a way, and those who find an excuse". Which kind of person are you?