SHARING THE LIMELIGHT

Another great way to connect with books that rank higher than yours and are in your genre is by writing "So you'd like to . . . Guides." A "So you'd like to . . . Guide" is an article about a subject you are an expert in. For example, I might write an article titled, "So you'd like to be a published author guide." When I write my article, I link to my book so the cover appears prompting anyone who reads my article to buy my book. But I also have to add another title as per Amazon's requirement. So I will select some books that rank higher than mine and are in the same genre. I try not to select too many so my book will still stand out. A key philosophy of social networking is to be social. We must collaborate with others - even competing books - to sell our own books.

This is not asking the enemy how to win the war, it's plain common sense; unfortunately not many people see it that way. In fact, I bet you that 80% of those who read this blog will be thinking "no way I am going to share my page with someone else..." but networking is alive and well and it works.

Maybe another example that I should post here is about three very well known female writers, Nora Roberts, Lisa Gardner, and Julie Garwood, who got together during a large book signing in the East Coast and shared a table signing their books and speaking to the crowds about their work. Now THAT is called networking! Would you dare to do that with tho other people that write about the same genre that you do? Those three well-known writers who have become household names in this country were not afraid to share three hours with the public. they got where they are now because they write extremely well and have the intelligence to recognize that they are not the only ones who do, and are not afraid to share the limelight.

Would you like to send me your thoughts about this theme? Please do. I'll be waiting to hear from you.

From HOFFMAN LION DEN - A reading group.

People who read at least seven business books a year earn a reported 2.3 times more than people who read only one. That stat, floating around the Internet, has been attributed jointly (and separately) to the U.S. Department of Labor and a survey conducted by Yahoo!
Whether that information is strictly reliable or not, executives and avid readers everywhere will attest to the value of professional reading—for personal development, leadership training, continuous learning and company innovation. This value can be increased exponentially if businesses get groups of employees on board with the idea of professional reading and facilitate and encourage discussions in reading groups. Reading groups go beyond boosting knowledge, too, to offer improved morale and productivity.
For small businesses, internal company reading groups may be difficult to facilitate due to smaller staff sizes. But that shouldn’t stop you. Consider instead community-based discussions, focused on business issues. Partner with other local businesses or professional associations, perhaps through the library or your local chamber of commerce, to host a book club. Sounds intriguing?

I am the owner of a smallish business (have 6 employees in site and 3 home-workers), and we have created a group in our hometown that get together once a month and discuss different issues. As a consultant for small businesses, I bring up the themes and we talk about them.

I am using a booklet that OMNI Book Publishing printed On Demand for my company, and we use it as our guide. Having a book (or, as in my case, a Booklet) helps the group and also sells it - and that is the end result I wanted.

I appreciate my associates and friends who took this idea so easily, and suggest it to others that have something to say regarding an X theme or discussion.

I have nearly ran out of copies and am printing more, but the new version will have ideas gathered from those meetings. This will show my readers and clients that the ideas given are good and that they work when we put our brains together in gear. The original booklet was 66 pages... the new version I am preparing will have 90, and I figure that in six more months I will be able to expand it to a full book.

Thank you OMNI Book Publishing for allowing me to add to your blog! One hand washes the other, and both wash our face.

Deb Sutton, hoffmanbooks@hotmail.com