tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23388381537939145372024-03-05T22:35:52.326-08:00MarkRMorrisJr.comMark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-62729278513856871512019-08-24T02:10:00.006-07:002021-01-29T19:02:45.301-08:003 Things Your Marketing Plan Could be Missing if it's Not Delivering Well Quaified Leads<span id="docs-internal-guid-f76bd155-7fff-8fb5-e8f1-ae7ce1fd2fc5"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fire isn’t a “thing” it’s a happening, if you </span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">provide the right conditions, things will burn!</span></h1><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think about it, fire just happens!</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a chemical reaction that happens when heat, fuel, and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">oxygen are combined in the right proportions. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your marketing should be like that. If you’ve truly found a burning desire , filled it with a beautiful solution, and found a way to publicize that message, your marketing will catch fire. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, a wildfire may be the only thing more viral than viral. It spreads quickly, leaves nothing untouched people gather to watch it and talk about it. Think about it, a cow kicks over a lantern in a barn, burns a few houses in Chicago over 140 years ago and people are still talking about it to this day!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to tell you about another fire, not so famous, but maybe more impactful because it led to a huge realization that I think could change things. It happened in a dumpster outside an apartment in Tulsa Oklahoma.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The year was 1992</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 5.4 billion of us that existed at that time were just about to wake up to the internet, Whitney Houston was belting out I will Always Love You, Batman Returns was hitting cinemas and somewhere at sea a shipping container carrying 28,000 rubber ducks, was lost in a storm. They’re still washing up on beaches to this day. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, in Tulsa Oklahoma, there was only one big thing going on that year, James JD Gragg, was inventing the “spinner” hubcap. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s this guy, right here. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Doesn't look very "gangsta" does he?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile, on the other side of town, in a small apartment complex, Kelly K was about to make a scientific discovery of his own. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As many ten year old boys do, young master Kopp, had an affinity for flame, a passion for the pyre, a craving for the conflagration.....Skip that, little dude was a firebug and he was damn lucky he didn’t get charged with arson. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All I know is what he told me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ten year old Kelly’s favorite place to "kick it" was his Mimi’s house. Mimi, as you may have guessed, was Kelly’s grandmother. Mimi was like the cool grandma from the 80's movie.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You know, the one that chain smoked, cussed a little and let ten year old boys pick out rental videos like Rambo First Blood down to the Blockbuster. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, to be honest, she wasn’t just “like” that grandma, those things actually happened. Or so Kelly tells me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, following this trip to the block buster, Kelly was in an adventurous mood, and like adventurers down through the ages, he felt compelled to explore and what better place to explore than a large body of water? Mimi’s apartment, fortunately for our hero, was plunked down next to this long muddy puddle that runs through the “best” part of Tulsa Oklahoma called the Arkansas River. And there, lying on the banks in the red Oklahoma mud, he found a little red plastic rectangle that made his little pyro heart burn.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Cigarette lighter. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As he rolled the magical trinket into his fist and swaggered back toward Mimi’s, Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” playing in his head, he thought, “Oh yes we did.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, ten year old boys aren’t known for their amazing foresight. I know, I’ve been one, have three younger brothers, and I’ve raised four of them. A few steps short of Mimi’s door, Kelly came to a realization. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mimi’s cool, but she might not be ‘ten year old boy finds a lighter down by the river and let’s him keep it to burn things with, cool’ I better hide this”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that thought in mind, he slipped the small plastic gadget into his jeans pocket, adjusted his swagger and turned Mr. Joel down a notch in his head, just to avoid suspicion. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hi Mimi, watcha doin?” </span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me stop for just a minute and address the grownups in the room.</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Listen, if a ten year old boy suddenly becomes interested in what you’re doing and you’re not currently doing something amazingly interesting, like, I don’t know, gutting a fish, you should be suspicious. In nearly every case, they are up to, or contemplating being up to something they shouldn’t be. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, It’s at this point that Kelly’s story takes an unbelievably convenient turn, as if the heavens have opened and an angel has delivered the answer to his unspoken little pyromaniac prayers. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As it turns out, Mimi had been just about to ask Kelly to deliver a stack of drycleaner’s hangers to the nearest dumpster. In case you don’t get that, I’ve got one here for demonstration.Unlike a regular wire hanger, a dry cleaner’s hanger is perfect for Kelly’s purposes, due to this triangle of paper advertising in the center, and Mimi has an armload of them. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he told me this story, I could almost hear the gears turning back through time inside his little skull. The ten year old boy in me, goes “Yeah!” and the dad in me screams “Noooooooooooooooo…..” in slow motion, simultaneously. Then they both become aware of each other in my head, and it gets weirdly, awkwardly quiet. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kelly, of course sees an opportunity, so he takes the hangers and heads off to the nearest dumpster, of which, if you’ve ever been to Tulsa Oklahoma, the apartment complexes have plenty.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s where new tenants get their furniture. It’s included in the $99 move in special, “All the dumpster furnishings you can carry” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, Kelly was no stranger to fire. He’d been experimenting in small ways for a while, but nothing on this scale,and nothing quite so public. So, in his mind, here’s how this was going to go down. He would light the paper on fire, watch it burn for a few seconds, then toss it, harmlessly, into the dumpster, where the tiny flames would dance merrily inside the big, giant, thick, safe, metal box, and then he’d run. Right? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He approaches the dumpster and selects a hanger, flips the Bic, as only one whos’ been sneaking his grandmother’s lighters and cigarettes for a while can, and watches the flame darkening the paper until it catches. Paper hangers burn pretty fast, so it didn’t take long to catch the whole bundle and when Kelly tossed them up and over the edge of the big blue metal wall, he expected they’d go out just as quickly. But that’s not exactly what happened. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although his game seemed harmless, getting caught near a fire he’d just set didn’t seem too smart, so Kelly turned back toward Mimi’s a warm smile on his face and his swagger back in full effect. About three struts later, Kelly was stopped cold by an ominous whoosh from the dumpster behind him... </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He turned, and froze. The tiny flames had somehow grown, and now the entire dumpster was filled with an angry glow and flames were beginning to lick around the top of the dumpster. As he watched, the inferno grew to swallow the dumpster and everything in it, then slowly started climbing up one side, licking greedily at the wall of the nearby apartment. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frozen in his spot, Kelly screamed silently inside as the wooden siden began to blister and peel, and finally lit, the flames crawling steadily up the side of the building. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By this time, others had noticed and started to gather. Kelly was unsure what to do, he couldn’t run, he knew that, but nonchalantly walking away from a literal dumpster fire seemed suspicious too, right? So, he stayed glued to his spot as more spectators joined the growing crowd and sirens started in the distance. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, from his front row seat, Kelly watched in terror as the firemen jumped out, boots crunching, hoses hissing, lights flashing as they worked quickly to tame the dragon he had unleashed. Slowly the flames receded until all that was left was a soggy charred spot on the siding and a hissing pile of charred, smoking furniture, dripping with hose water. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Others walked away. Kelly was still unsure when it was safe to leave, and so, he found himself glued to his spot when the firefighters came to the Q&A portion of their presentation. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Say, kid, you didn’t uh, see anything,did you? Like, maybe, I don’t know, a kid playing with a lighter, or anything?” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Uh, no, uh officer, I didn’t see anything like that.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Huh, what do you think happened?” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Um, I don’t know. Why are you asking me, do I look like a fire expert, or something? But the sun is kind of bright, so maybe, I don’t know, maybe someone threw away a magnifying glass?” </span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kelly has been a dad for a few years, so I asked him. </span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You know they knew, right?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, no doubt, they definitely did.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, we figure, it went something like this, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sarge, that kid did it”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yeah, so what do you want to do? He burned up a box of dildos, a couch with a covered bridge on it, and a half empty bucket of paint thinner. You know what happens if we arrest him for this?” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So he walked, But he learned more than one valuable lesson that day, and now I’m going to share them with you. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, he learned if he was going to be a pyro he needed a better escape plan, because, when you light a fire people show up. Seriously, ever see a fire on a TV, in public, and people are standing around watching it, half a world away? Fire draws a crowd. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, there are two kinds of people who show up to fires, those who wish they’d started it, and want to watch it all burn (kidding, sort of) and those that come to put it out. In marketing, you have to be aware of the second kind. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later, Kelly got curious about fire and discovered something called the "Fire Triangle" that explains the chemical reaction that causes things to burn.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, here’s the formula expressed Heat+Fuel+Oxygen=Fire</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In marketing, its: Need+Solution+Publicity = Fire</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yes, I really think it’s that simple*</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's a few examples!</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s how I launched Social-ism.biz in 2011 and ramped it up to five figures a month in six months with just one partner.</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We saw people struggling with this new thing, social media,</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we invested the time to figure out how to help them set up and get involved,</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and we offered the service through local networking events. That was it. </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s how I started my home improvement business in 1995. And turned a profit on my tools and expenses in the first week!</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I saw older, well-to-do neighborhoods that could use and afford my help</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I put together a list of repairs I knew how to do with my five years carpentry experience</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I printed a stack of flyers and left them door to door (there's very few places you can do this anymore without special permits or permission)</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are small examples, but I think sometimes we over-complicate things. If you’re a freelancer, like me, this may be the only business model you even need. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s where I think we miss it sometimes. We want to do something cool. Seriously. We want to invent the new thing. Right? But look around, what’s new? Social media? Please, it’s just an extension of the telephone and the newspaper and the mail system, right? It’s a global watercooler conversation. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Need-people like to communicate and see who’s doing what</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+ solution-great instant platform where all of this can happen for free</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+means of spreading the message, which also, after early adopters are brought on board, is the same as the solution</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">= Facebook and Twitter. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Need-people need a way to communicate in a global business economy+solution- resume based profile, messaging and publishing tools+existing online environment to spread the word</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">= LinkedIn. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, nobody wants to do the "boring" stuff so, we don’t look for friction (heat) in people’s lives. Instead, we start with “I want to live the Instagram model lifestyle" which, by the way, fits this model too. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Need-people are aspirational animals</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+people who are willing to give you a filtered version of their lives to aspire to</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+a network that becomes self promoting</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">=fire</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even in the most seemingly self serving industries, like professional sports, Hollywood, Nashville, Politics. There is friction in people’s lives that leads to heat.</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They want heros,</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they want to escape their lives,</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they want to believe that someone in charge has their backs. </span></p></li></ul><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Kelly shared this with me, I immediately saw the potential.</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started applying it to my own situation right away to engineer a solution to my transition back into full time freelance and ghostwriting from fiction. (don’t worry, my fiction is still coming) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How did I do that? Well, in the fire triangle, if you remove one of the sides, the fire ceases to happen. It’s over. So, I started looking at my situation. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Need-People need credentials which can be provided by publishing books, blogs, articles</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+Solution-I’ve spent the last ten years learning to write that content, in their voice</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+Publicity (still working on this part, but it’s partly you, surprise!)=Fire!</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that I've discovered my weak point, I'm hammering on it, Gary Vee style, which I should have been doing this whole time, and knew it. Content, content, content. Don't worry, I'll keep entertaining and informing, so you'll welcome me, beg me for more and share me with your friends. (just kidding, or am I?)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, here’s the entire point of this article and there really is only one. If you are not seeing fire in your business, it’s because one of these three pieces of the fire triangle is either missing or lacking in some way. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may have looked for friction and found it, but failed to diagnose it correctly,</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you may have built an elegant solution, but it’s so elegant your target market can’t afford it,</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you may be shouting your head off to spread the word, but your content is selling, not adding value. </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s something I promise you, and you can probably ask any coach, mentor, or entrepreneur you know. If you are not achieving your dreams, or seeing significant movement towards them, one or more of these pieces is lacking something. </span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Need+Solution+Publicity= Burn baby burn, disco Inferno!</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you enjoyed my story, please, leave a like! If you agree, this mindset needs to spread like wildfire, share the article! And I always love a good conversation, so leave lots of comments, I promise I'll respond and return the favor on your content!</span></p><br /></span>Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-59482508668300781852019-08-23T21:05:00.004-07:002021-01-29T19:11:55.046-08:00Hiring a Ghostwriter Should Make You Money <span id="docs-internal-guid-f669d2b7-7fff-89e3-8ad4-571284a81e4d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"> </h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 12pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A ghostwriter should cost you nothing. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s it, that’s all I really want to say, but it requires at least a little explanation, I suppose. Perhaps it’s better put another way. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>A ghostwriter should make you money. </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s right. If I do my job for a client, it should add to their bottom line. Of course, not all of this is within my power. I can create the best content and position it correctly, optimized for traffic and delivering leads and the client may still fail to close the deal. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">That could happen. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But more often than not, the failure is on the part of the writer. A few years back there was a mantra of sorts, “Content is King” and although it’s passed out of usage for the most part, it’s no less true. Whatever style it takes, whatever messaging is required to get it shared, content is still ruling the interwebs. Don’t believe me? Look around. Wherever you find yourself online today, it’s a sure bet that a piece of content pulled you there. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like this article for example. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, will this article pay off? Will it bring a good Return on Investment? For me, the article itself represents about $150 worth of my time. That’s pretty close to the best hourly rate I earn. I’d be happy working for that. But, can I get that much out of this little piece of writing? It remains to be seen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about your content? Is it making your money? Or is it just a huge time suck, spiraling bookable hours down the drain into oblivion? Maybe you’re not a writer. Not all of us are. There are skills I would like to develop, but probably never will. That’s why there’s more than one of us on this rock. If that’s you, a non writer, and your content is costing you (but it’s just time, you say) then why not consider bringing on a partner to help you increase your bottom line and make that content pay you? How does this work? Well, you’ll get out of a ghostwriting relationship what you put into it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Build a strong foundation</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m a writer, not a mind reader. I know words and communication. I can craft blog posts in my sleep. I can incorporate your keywords, tie into trending events and ideas, source royalty free images and sharable data, but I can’t read your mind. I don’t know your business. Not like you do. To make a ghostwriting partnership work, or even to build your own effective content, there are some things you need to put in place. </span></p><ul style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 38pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Establish the voice. The tone and feel of your content should match your brand. If you don’t know what that is yet, a good writer can help you establish it. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introduce your audience. Ghostwriters are flexible artists, it’s what we do. But my best guess as to who your ideal customer is, won’t get the job done. You need to tell me. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decide on a purpose. Some content is for building community, some is for training, some is for brand recognition. They are all very different. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 38pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Set expectations. Whatever type of project you need, there are things like word count, frequency, and deadlines that need to be set in advance. </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most content producers never take these steps. They never decide who they are talking to and why, and it shows. They end up talking to no one and when a piece makes a connection, it’s a mystery as to why. Reaching for a specific audience and having goals as to the outcome is essential to a plan and any plan, even a bad one, is better than no plan at all. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, this is an investment</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you treat your ghostwriter like a ghost, it’s unlikely we’ll make beautiful music together. Even if you’re creating your own content, you’re going to need to trust in the system you establish. As you get better at constructing content that makes sense for your brand, you’ll find yourself spending less time preparing to create and more time executing. The goal should be to trust in that writer to the point that they hit your goals on a consistent basis, leaving you nothing to do but outline new content and respond to audience engagement. </span></p><ul style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 38pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Collaboration is the real power of a ghostwriting partnership. A good writer will help you uncover your brand message and expand on it. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trust is essential. Whether you’re building your own or paying someone like me, build it, publish it, and adjust based on the results. Don’t micromanage. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Garbage in / garbage out, as the old coders adage goes. If you don’t give your attention to building great content, it’s unlikely to happen. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 38pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over time you should find a rhythm. If it’s not working, don’t give up too soon. A dead blog or social presence takes time to revive. </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You get out of any relationship what you put into it. It’s not all up to me. If you leave it up to me, results will be mixed at best. In fact, the biggest problem I’ve had, by far, is being unable to produce content, because clients want to approve what goes up, but don’t want to spend the time to help me understand what that should be. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">You need to hire a generalist</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the biggest mistakes I feel people make when posting listings for writing jobs is being too narrow in their scope. They think they need someone who has ten years of experience in exactly their field. Here’s the problem with that. It’s unlikely that anyone who has served as a writer in your field knows your business as you do. They may talk like it, but you’re going to get a very narrow vein of expertise. </span></p><ul style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 38pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Content needs to be varied and a writer with a wider background will present ideas you haven’t thought of. They will look at your business through fresh eyes. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most specialist will go with the flow, which in this case means producing “best practice” content. It won’t challenge the reader and it won’t differentiate itself from the crowd. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can also find yourself in the back seat with an expert writer. Don’t forget, this is your business, your failure or success is riding on this and you need to stay involved. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 38pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A generalist will bring varied approaches, and it’s a mistake to assume their knowledge is limited. For example, I’ve produced hundreds of in depth pieces across at least a dozen industries. The time I’ve spent researching them often means I know what the audience wants. </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If your content is working, why hire a writer? So, you’re looking for new ideas. You might as well tap into the broadest set of ideas available, right? If you’re in a highly technical field, you can always hire a specialist to do your whitepapers, but much of your client facing content needs to be written in layman’s terms. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">You get what you pay for</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know, I started off saying that your writer shouldn’t cost you a dime. And that’s true. But, the idea is that their work pays you back more than you pay them. There is a definite difference between a truly skilled writer with years of experience, and the cheapest college intern you can find, and the results vary accordingly. </span></p><ul style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 38pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Often more expensive writers will save you money because their expertise saves time and effort. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting immediate results from well crafted content is the goal here, and one thing is certain, even talented beginners have a big learning curve. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think of it this way, with a ghostwriter, they’re playing you to your most important audience. How much is it worth to get that right? </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 38pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the end, you’ll judge the value of the investment on its return, right? I know I’ve wasted money and time on cheap help and poor tools many times, only to end up spending what I should have to begin with. </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While there are definitely some writers who charge through the nose and don’t deliver, in general, a good writer will not be the cheapest. Cheap writers are tempted to cut corners, plagiarize and spend less time and energy on optimization and audience research. I’ve always said this about my own practice, I’m not the best writer in the world, I’m not the fastest and I’m not the cheapest. I write quality content, tailored to your needs, on schedule for a fair price. If my clients didn’t find me a good return on investment, I’d have washed out years ago.</span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></h1></span>Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-44166121324735709262019-08-03T13:21:00.001-07:002021-01-29T19:14:58.277-08:00Hey, I Got a Great New Gig! Plus, Looking to Write a Book? I'm the Guy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">If you've ever searched for a ghostwriter, you've probably run across Gotham. They are one of the top ghostwriting agencies in the world right now. Based out of New York, Gotham is the brainchild of CEO Dan Gerstein after realizing that although there are hundreds of agencies for ghostwriters, none of them were handling long form content writers. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">I've seen their work, and run across several of their authors in the past, even applied once, but my resume wasn't quite up to snuff yet. So, after a few years of producing books with private clients, I decided to try again and I made it! I'm excited for the opportunities this brings my way and hoping to take my own practice to the next level as well. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">I'm taking on new projects!</h3><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I'm almost always open to new projects, but at the moment that means books! In the past five years I've had the chance to work on over a dozen book length projects with a variety of clients, from thought leaders in direct marketing, to public speakers, to real estate investors, and I've loved every second of it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">Getting accepted at Gotham has lit a fire under me, though and I'm excited to find new clients to work with. If that's you, get in touch. Here are a few things I try to make clear to clients. </blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><ol><li style="text-align: center;">Early is better than later. The sooner you contact a professional the more they can help you explore options and design a book you'll be proud of. </li><li style="text-align: center;">Don't prejudge your story. Nearly everyone I meet and talk to is more interesting than they believe they are, it's all in how it's presented. </li><li style="text-align: center;">A well written book shouldn't cost you a dime. Now that I've said that, of course you'll be paying me, but the book will pay you back in sales, contacts, and business. </li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interested? Just find the "contact" button or, email me at MarkRMorris2@gmail.com for a free consultation. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-82372865222804679792019-07-28T01:38:00.000-07:002019-08-24T01:38:15.684-07:005 Ways to Make Your Ideas Heard and Stop Pretending to be Someone Else!<figure class="reader-cover-image--grid relative" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: auto; max-width: 744px; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="reader-cover-image--wrapper" style="align-items: center; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; height: 396px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<br />There are only two choices in life. You can be yourself, or you can be a cheap imitation of someone else. It’s up to you. </h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was August, the year after I was forced to close my own theatre and I was up for a part in Shakespeare in the Park, in Oklahoma City, one of America’s longest running Shakespeare companies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since the last time I’d auditioned for anyone else, I’d outgrown the male love interest and come of age to play fathers. So, small as it was, I was up for Montague in Romeo and Juliet. I stood in the hall, going over the sides they’d handed out for study. As an acting coach, I knew I needed an angle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once I was comfortable with the lines and they were starting to call in actors to read for Montague, I positioned myself as near the door as I could get. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Montague:</span> O thou untaught! what manners is in this? To press before thy father to a grave?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not much to make an impression with, is it? Montague has just lost his wife and Prince Escalus is bringing more bad news on top of it, Romeo is dead. As I listened to the readers, to a man they played it the same way. They raged! I could feel the door vibrate with their shouts of agony. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, if you knew me, you’d know, I’m a shouter from way back. I’m loud. But, I had a choice to make. I could either wade in their and try to beat these other, known actors, at their own game, in their own house, or I could flip the script a bit and do something unexpected, so I chose the latter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my book, there are two American actors who’ve played rage well in my lifetime, one, the inimitable Jack Nicholson in movies such as The Shining and A Few Good Men. Then, there’s Clint Eastwood, in Dirty Harry and Grand Torino, among others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nicholson is a rager. No doubt, had he strolled into that room and lost his shit, they’d have given him whatever part he wanted. But Clint, Clint would have delivered that speech nice and slow, in a growling whisper that would leave you breathless with a tingle down your spine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that’s what I did, and two days later, I had the role. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I was getting ready to write this piece for today, I did a little digging on what Linked In likes. What kind of articles are getting shared? What will help build an audience? I found out a lot of stuff, but I’m not going to share it with you. If you want that route, you can Google it. I used “Linked In Article Statistics 2019” as my search terms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I got a whole bunch of statistics. Some I agreed with, some I thought were misinterpreted, but then I realized, I was about to wade into their theater, with actors the director knew, and try to outrage them all. (translation, I am competing against known Linked In article publishers on their home turf)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m going to share what I think you should do. And it’s mostly because of one really stupid piece of advice I found in one particular article that said: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t get your audience all fired up”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep, turns out, their research has determined that posts that hold no particular point of view at all, neutral posts get shared more, and get more comments. But, I wonder about this. I’m sure it’s true overall, but what about the influencers? Are they neutral? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I looked it up. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found a list of the top 20 influencers on Linked In in 2018, a who’s who of business thought leaders. To be honest, I didn’t know who half of these people were. I should probably find out. I’m sure they’re brilliant and say a lot of amazing stuff, but who did I find at the top of the list? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Richard Branson</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That’s the author of this book</span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way” by Richard Branson</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQFNbQT3zxAeCA/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=SY1-517CBaVoA-vrNsATMzJdfnAZQ_0bBreVjI0Grgc" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQFNbQT3zxAeCA/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=SY1-517CBaVoA-vrNsATMzJdfnAZQ_0bBreVjI0Grgc" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Funny, doesn't sound much like a guy who doesn't get his audience all lathered up, does it?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When you Google Richard Branson quotes, literally the top one you find is this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEatHaPqDX3-A/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=Cw-b2S3bKsNmHr1rZVm4reSv1kN96KxUikubruyHBd0" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEatHaPqDX3-A/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=Cw-b2S3bKsNmHr1rZVm4reSv1kN96KxUikubruyHBd0" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, maybe this is just a coincidence, I'm sure the rest of these folks are pressed down, pinstripe, English executive types with droll little accents who never raise their voices, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I go down the list at little further, and there I find, Gary Vaynerchuk, a man who seems to be trying to single handedly make the F word okay in polite society. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here’s his top quote from Goal Coast</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHAjcVku-cPcA/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=oWJRp69b2u6QvT2NZAc45ylwKTBb8C0vOovdUqM-VFc" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHAjcVku-cPcA/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=oWJRp69b2u6QvT2NZAc45ylwKTBb8C0vOovdUqM-VFc" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PASSION is priceless</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, as I was editing this article, I also found this, that I thought was even more fitting!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHK0_Ogcv6KTQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=vVyf25lsP-AQN_ICnSSI7NGILWPlMG1tudz9bgaQgcI" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHK0_Ogcv6KTQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=vVyf25lsP-AQN_ICnSSI7NGILWPlMG1tudz9bgaQgcI" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think this may be the biggest key to all of this. The site I found my advice on is making their money off of analyzing what people do, not doing.</span></em></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Further down, a guy whose name I don’t care about is the current CEO of Paypal, founded by this guy…</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQH_GYuQLKHeeQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=YdDr1EAn8tg0sF8AlRkaKgGzwCl_GWjMN1m3Kfpppa0" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQH_GYuQLKHeeQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=YdDr1EAn8tg0sF8AlRkaKgGzwCl_GWjMN1m3Kfpppa0" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elon Musk, a man famous for his brashness! Just this past year, he apologized for calling a Thai cave diver a pedophile for his plan to rescue juvenile soccer players in a flooded cave, by carrying them out next to his own body. His mouth is a trainwreck, but when he talks, people listen. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHmzLzhCggfNw/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=JiOHoWmhhok5fbmbX2rXx-sBI4cra8YvtEAp1klIj_0" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHmzLzhCggfNw/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=JiOHoWmhhok5fbmbX2rXx-sBI4cra8YvtEAp1klIj_0" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m sure many of the other fine folks on that list are just as opinionated as these three gentlemen, but they’ll do as examples of what I’m talking about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My point is this, do your own thing. You know your business. You understand the passion behind what you do. You know how to tell your story, so do it! </span></blockquote>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stop waiting for permission to think your own damn thoughts. Aristotle didn’t become famous quoting some stone age monk, did he? No, he branded his thoughts and he had them literally etched in stone. </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s nothing wrong with finding out what people who came before us thought and said. And quoting them can be a great way to get a point across, but I think too many people put an awful lot of stock in the thoughts of a bunch of men and women, who were dead long before the digital reality our kids are inheriting was even dreamed about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The same thing is true about tracking how many letters should be in your headline, or knowing that 8 images is the optimum number you should have to get the most shares of your articles on Linked In!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, what is important? Five things you need to know to make your voice count! </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEQtyL4ujZLxQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=EHFSWjAvln5EnOlqbCfpfDUDmQPv-r5sqphLQj_HDJY" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEQtyL4ujZLxQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=EHFSWjAvln5EnOlqbCfpfDUDmQPv-r5sqphLQj_HDJY" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing a headline that makes people pause is the single greatest skill you can learn. Period. Everything that comes after it is secondary to the headline. Why? Because without the headline, no one will ever see it. There are four main things you can do with a headline. </span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make a promise</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">State a fact</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Draw a picture</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ask a question</span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choosing an eye catching image that will draw people in is the next most important thing you can learn. </span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure your first image is sized properly so it looks good in your newsfeed. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Only use images that belong to you, or you have permission to use, Pixabay is a great source Gratisography.com has amazing humorous images. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choose pictures that add something to your content. They’re not just decoration. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Graphs, charts and infographics are great too, if they really do add something. </span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a brilliant opening paragraph. It’s all that matters in the body of your text. Seriously. Without that, no one reads to the bottom. Ever. </span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Know your audience and their pain points, appeal to one or more. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hint at what you’re going to share up front if possible. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tell a story, hook them in, if they read past the first two or three paragraphs, you’ve got them. </span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You might want to post your videos separate from your article content. Among the statistics, this one was useful. Articles with videos get less love. </span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Videos are best shared as links from Youtube, instead of the native Linked In format. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you follow guys like Gary Vaynerchuk, you know this, but video is a great way to recycle, or upcycle content ideas. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Repeating the same ideas in multiple medias is only valid if you also duplicate the post into another point of connection with your audience.</span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write, write, write. While the entire rest of the world is shrinking down their thoughts, to the point it feels like we are going back to hieroglyphics, Linked In likes 1900 to 2100 word posts. </span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These five things, and consistency! </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ordinarily I would tell you flat out, that this content you’re creating needs to go on your own blog. There are some really great reasons for this. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Reasons your blog should be the hub of your content marketing</span></h2>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 0px 0px 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your website is literally the only piece of real estate online you can control. Everywhere else you publish, the rules could be changed tomorrow and the entire distribution matrix could change with them. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It gives you a central place to share your ideas and drive your traffic. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You have total control of the design and branding for your website. This is true nowhere else. Sure, you can choose headers and avatars, but beyond that, you’re very limited. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, if you don’t already have steady traffic to your website, I’m going to suggest a way of building an audience that may help you.</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Start on Linked In. </span></h3>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 0px 0px 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has a built in publication matrix</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your content leads back to your profile, with your resume and hopefully a link to wherever you actually do business online. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The competition is lower. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Linked In’s Google and Alexa ratings are perfect. It’s a high authority site, so sharing your content here is better than good for business, it’s great!</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the opportunity this represents!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Out of 500 million regular users, only 260 million (just over half) log in each month. Out of those 260 million active users, only 1 million have ever posted an article. That’s significant, what it means is, you’ve got an audience of business people who 91% say they come to Linked In for content, and fewer than half of one percent of all active users are posting any original content besides posts, on the platform itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Won’t you just get lost in the shuffle? </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First of all, that's what your great headlines and images are for, right?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It also turns out, the odds may be in your favor! Last year, of the top 30 shared articles, only half were written by “influencers” like the ones I talked about at the beginning of this article. The rest came from people like you and me! Of the 10,000 top shared articles of all time, only 6% were written by influencers, meaning 94% of the top shared content came from nobodies, who have a better chance of becoming somebodies on a platform like Linked In, with relatively low competition, than almost anywhere else online. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, what about my website?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m getting to that. I’ve always believed in repurposing content, and after reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s amazing slide deck on how he syndicates his content, I’m convinced. So, here is a strategy I’m recommending. </span></div>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Start with a single piece of “pillar” or “skyscraper” content. This is a big chunk of information. It can be written, or video, or podcast on your personal website. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Break that content into smaller, related pieces, shorter videos, a podcast if you start with writing or video, and even quote memes from the content. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Share these pieces, along with links to your larger content here on Linked, and ultimately, back on your website, wherever you can. </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I shared Vaynerchuk’s slide deck on my profile, you can check it out there, or </span><a href="https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/the-garyvee-content-strategy-how-to-grow-and-distribute-your-brands-social-media-content/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background: 0px 0px transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #665ed0; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">go here</span></a><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to get more ideas about how to create your own “viral web” effect. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that’s it. Day two of the content challenge is in the books. Check out my profile for today’s writing prompt and if you’d like a free audit of your content here, on your blog,or anywhere online, PM me for details. I’d love to help. </span><span style="background-color: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: large; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">If you agree that more people need to think their own thoughts, click "like" leave a comment, or share my article. I'll return the favor on your next great piece of content.</span></div>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-869871065635065932019-06-09T21:09:00.000-07:002019-08-23T21:09:41.917-07:00Here are 3 Kinds of Stories You Should Be Telling In Your Marketing<figure class="reader-cover-image--full-bleed relative" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-width: 1128px; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100vw;"><div class="reader-cover-image--wrapper" style="align-items: center; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; height: 596px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">People ask me how I became a writer and if you know many writers, all that really is, is saying, “Tell me a story.” and we will. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">On a hot summer evening, with a window mounted air conditioner pumping out air so cold, you could see your breath if you blew into it, in a small frame house in Beatrice Nebraska, a television died. It was one of those big wooden console units with a tube that you may have only seen on TV shows or in a museum somewhere, with a black and white picture that was a little fuzzy at the edges. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">My dad had been watching news about the Panama Canal and right in the middle of a sentence, Walter Cronkite just disappeared as a puff of black smoke rose from the back of the set. I remember my father’s sigh as he got up from his chair, grunting as he turned the big unit around and dragged it onto the porch for the junk man. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">“We won’t be getting another one,” he said. </span><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">We didn’t, Not until I was in the tenth grade. So, I read, incessantly, everything I could get my hands on, starting with my father’s literature collection from an English minor in college. I read until he took The Grapes of Wrath, suggested maybe seven wasn’t the best age for John Steinbeck, and got me a library card. Over the next ten years, I’ve estimated I read fifteen hundred books of every kind. And that, kids, is how I became a writer. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">I became a storyteller,and if you ask anyone who’s spent much time around me, they’ll agree, Mark likes to tell stories. So, what does this have to do with ghostwriting and Linked In, and you? Everything. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">You see, stories are the best form of human communication, and if you’re not telling them, you’re likely missing out on some great connections. I’m sure I’m not the first person who’s told you that stories, not sales pitches, are the best type of content to share. It’s true. And if you want the best responses, there are specific kinds of stories you can tell. Here are three. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">The underdog</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">You’ve probably heard some old timer say, “Everyone likes to root for the underdog.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">I don’t know how true this is in real life, but it’s certainly true in our stories, so true in fact, we’ve created a cliche’ out of one of the most famous underdog stories ever. Next time you hear of some small person in an epic court battle with a mega corporation, listen for it, I’ll give you two to one odds they’ll say “David and Goliath” story. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">An underdog is someone facing an impossible opponent. David and Goliath, The Karate Kid and the movie Rudy are notable examples. You can tell an underdog story because the odds are not only overwhelming against the underdog, but they’re ominously threatening. If the hero doesn’t seem about to be crushed, it’s not a very good underdog story. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">These stories happen in real life a lot too. You, or someone you know, has likely lived one. You might have been on the small school team that worked hard enough to win their championship, or won a big contract against a competitor several times your size. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">When telling underdog stories, here are some things to keep in mind. </span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The best ones have a good outcome. Whether the underdog wins, or takes home a more valuable lesson, there needs to be a payoff. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">They’re best told in third person, if you were the underdog, don’t reveal that until the end. Your audience sees best through the narrator’s eyes. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tension is the key to keeping an audience glued to an underdog story. Build up the odds, make them uncertain, but make your hero just cocky enough to pull it off. </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">You can find examples of underdog stories in every walk of life and using them as examples in your marketing can help create a brand image that’s memorable. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">Escaping the past</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQFkC-BYzasQlw/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=IpeW28oEuxR--Y3xOLT6NVZBmFVcqyDc69ifzBJitss" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQFkC-BYzasQlw/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=IpeW28oEuxR--Y3xOLT6NVZBmFVcqyDc69ifzBJitss" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">Whether your story is about someone surviving a harsh childhood, recovering from drugs and alcohol, or overcoming any debilitating condition, an escape from the past story can be truly inspirational. I recently completed a book with a client who suffered unspeakable abuse and trauma as a kid, but now runs a million dollar sales team, and hasn’t even reached her thirtieth birthday yet!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">Escape the past stories give us hope. All of us feel that we’re disqualified from life sometimes. Sure, we landed this great job, but without that degree, will we be able to move up? Or, we got the degree, but feel like we cheated. Or, maybe, like my client, we have a past we’d just as soon forget. In any case, escape from the past stories give us courage to face our lives, if they could do it, so can we!</span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choose people whose success is relatable for the best stories. The easier it is to see yourself inside their success, the more it will mean. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The darker the past, the more dramatic the escape. If it’s a true story, don’t lie, but paint the picture in dark colors. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choose heros that remained humble and accessible. Not everyone who succeeds in escaping their past is someone to look up to.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">Reaching the Summit</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQGslaXy-yObRQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=5iOdrZjLWjWRk_wfNuKB0EA7w27NPLYsTWfVGQfSQIo" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQGslaXy-yObRQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=5iOdrZjLWjWRk_wfNuKB0EA7w27NPLYsTWfVGQfSQIo" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">In a summit story, the hero achieves something that is not merely unthinkable for them, but for mankind. It’s a rare feat. Edmund Hillary summiting Mount Everest in 1953 as the first confirmed climber to reach it, or Neal Armstrong stepping onto the face of the moon in 1969. Both of these men had incredible journeys to arrive at those moments. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">There are more “down to earth” examples, of course, Jeff Bezos, starting Amazon and just over a decade later, being declared the richest man in the world comes to mind, but smaller things like achieving a huge fund raising goal, or helping solve a long time social crisis are summit stories as well. </span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hero is not just beating an enemy, or escaping something, but shooting for a very specific, narrowly defined goal that presents obstacles to achieving it. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The story is in how they prepare, what they have to overcome, their courage to continue and finally succeed. The summit moment, ironically, becomes almost an anticlimax. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">What their achievement inspires in others is also a big part of the story. Literally thousands of climbers have followed Hillary, and following Armstrong’s mission with Buzz Aldrin, ten more US astronauts have landed safely on the moon’s surface. </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">The potential is limitless</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">Once you start thinking of stories that inspire, educate and inform you, you’ll find so many to share you won’t run out of ideas. Not only that, but your content will suddenly become sharable, and relatable. That’s not to say you become a master storyteller overnight. I’m still honing my skills and I’ve been an intentional storyteller for most of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">The biggest benefit, in my view, is that it keeps you from just adding more noise to the content soup that is the internet. It gives you something to say that’s worth saying, and if you need help telling your stories, there are always guys like me to help you figure it out. Message me for a free consultation.</span></div>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-89365531204018677912019-05-28T21:00:00.000-07:002019-08-23T21:00:27.520-07:00Microinfluencers Might be the Key to Building Your Audience!<figure class="reader-cover-image--grid relative" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: auto; max-width: 744px; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="reader-cover-image--wrapper" style="align-items: center; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; height: 396px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="lazy-image reader-cover-image__img loaded" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQFt55876V1qeQ/article-cover_image-shrink_423_752/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=Ke3p1d7kVOwjeGBSqOz2cHp9ZLYi-DJVvfeY9xhOuhE" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></div>
</figure><div class="relative reader__grid" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); float: none; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px auto; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;">
<header aria-label="Newsletter header" id="reader-article-header" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="reader-article-header__title t-40 t-black t-normal pv4" dir="ltr" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 16px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 16px !important; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: initial; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you made your last best move, how did you find out about the place you bought that special item, the service provider that changed the game for you, or the tool you needed to get the job done? It’s more than likely, in one way or another, you allowed yourself to be influenced by other users. </span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">Whether you read online reviews, posted a poll on your own social media, or asked within your personal circle for recommendations, for anything more than a quick lunch ( and who hasn’t asked for new dining recommendations?) you probably did a little crowd based research to gain wisdom as to what worked for real people. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">Although we seem to instinctively understand that anyone who will gain from our buying choices may not be the best person to recommend options, we tend to think our potential clients should trust us, based on our say so. So, how do you overcome this? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">With platforms like Linked In, it’s pretty easy. We give each other recommendations. For example, you don’t have to trust me that I know what I’m doing in the creative writing department, because dozens of people in my network have vouched for me. This is great when it comes to inbound marketing, such as social media profiles, where we can ask for reviews, and the like, but what about in our outbound content? How do you make sure your client facing marketing doesn’t assume they’ll trust you, but makes use of the influence of others? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">Enter the “Micro influencers”: you’ve all heard the rumors that some Instagram users (typically celebrities, or content producers with their own built in audience) get paid the big bucks just to suggest things to their watchers. Sure, why not? After all, a big name is often all you need to launch a new brand. But if that’s not quite in your budget, or won’t work for your brand, what then? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">Well, you may be overlooking a valuable source of influencer marketing that’s already “baked in” to your platform. If you’ve been in business any time at all, you’ve likely got dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of satisfied customers, and current and former employees who love your brand, and among them are some “microinfluencers” that could really turn up the heat on your content game. Here are three kinds to look for and how to engage with them. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">Content producers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHmh1Y5jye28g/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=_EBz1XHe_nWyx1az8UMaMsEXHssCXlOaCBhQG95TFsY" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHmh1Y5jye28g/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=_EBz1XHe_nWyx1az8UMaMsEXHssCXlOaCBhQG95TFsY" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">They may not be all star mommy bloggers, but some of your customers have followings, trust me. Building audience is the new making friends, and buried in your contacts are literally hundreds of people who have their own blogs, podcasts and YouTube channels. Sure, they may not have millions of followers yet, but some of them have a loyal fan base that would also be interested in your offerings, and it might not cost you anything at all to get it in front of them. </span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, do a little research and find customers who are content producers</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, check into their content and see if their channels would be a good place to promote your business. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, offer them a proposal. It could be as easy as sending them a thank you gift that they will then mention in their content, or a promotion trade, you bump their blog, they return the favor</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">Content Curators</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQE5sT8nFeVLng/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=3_Sg_5Sama9H6nkyIG0-S38QdcZSyMMBwAnCSlIstpE" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQE5sT8nFeVLng/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=3_Sg_5Sama9H6nkyIG0-S38QdcZSyMMBwAnCSlIstpE" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">This denizen of the social media realms is a consummate sharer. By this I don’t meant to suggest they are indiscriminate. Far from it. In fact, they typically stick to a few topics and they’re following is loyal because of it. They like links to new and wonderful things and Ideas, so your content will need to appeal to them. </span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s more about lifestyle than consumerism, so you’ll need to showcase the benefits of your product or service, in relationship to their everyday existence. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are typically upbeat so, positive pieces will catch their eye first, although in politics, or art, it can also take a dark turn. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since they rarely want to sell your stuff, avoid salesy posting to attract these microinfluencers. </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">The Meme Warriors</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQG9qQw5_l6N8g/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=ulY6yGd5vhHWXEYVZ92w1X1zx9s1NbyREzHSBOAUDAA" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQG9qQw5_l6N8g/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=ulY6yGd5vhHWXEYVZ92w1X1zx9s1NbyREzHSBOAUDAA" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: initial; font-size: large;">This clan is plentiful. You know a few. Their feeds are cluttered with laugh,or rage inducing imagery. They like pop culture and current themes. If you can tie into trending items, and create highly visual content that doubles as social commentary, or humor, you can count on them to do one of two things, share it, or make fun of it. Either can be good. </span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your content needs to be familiar, without duplicating existing content to keep your brand relevant. Use original images whenever possible. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two good examples of meme warrior campaigns are Old Spice and the Dos Equis smartest man in the world campaigns</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You need neutral territory to launch these from, you might want to recruit some of your customers, or employees to share them from personal profiles.</span></li>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-87967150563565383832019-04-16T20:49:00.000-07:002019-08-23T20:50:18.807-07:00You Probably Need to Hire a Ghostwriter,Here's Why<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You've probably heard the term before, but unless you've hired one, you probably don't even know what we do. So, here's a little primer on Ghostwriters. We write. For you. We get paid. You put your name on it. The end.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it really is that simple. Of course there are more steps to the writing, but the idea behind is this, we are writers that specialize in getting your voice right, communicating with your audience in a way that is seamless, so that they never know it's not you, and you get to spend less than 1/4 of the time on your content creation.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, why do I say you need someone like me? Well there are likely a few reasons that apply to you. Here is a list of people that may want to consider hiring a ghostwriter.</span></div>
<ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you started a blog, but just don't seem to have the time to share all of your great ideas, even though you know you get better response across all channels when you keep it updated, you need a ghostwriter.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you've been talking about updating your company's website content to include changes you've made, freshen the content, or just replace the "filler" copy you typed in when the site was new, you need a ghostwriter.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you know you need more marketing content, but never have time to write it. You need a ghostwriter.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you never started your content marketing, after investing all of that time putting together a great plan that you are certain would work, if only you'd get the courage, the time, the skills, whatever, you need a ghost writer.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you think, gee, I really should be posting articles to up my profile and gain industry credentials, but they sit there as half finished outlines in a forgotten folder on your computer, you need a ghostwriter.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, if you're that person who went to a seminar, watched a webinar, listened to a podcast, audio book, or motivational speaker tell you that writing book is the single greatest thing you could do to forward your career, and you still haven't done it, you need a ghostwriter.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, how does all of this work, anyhow? It sounds complicated. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I get that, before I'd penned my first twenty volumes for hire, it sounded that way to me to. But, after working with CEOs, sales people, entrepreneurs, politicians and travelling public speakers over four continents to produce content that is out in the world making them money, I think I've got it down. Every ghostwriter works a little differently, so here is my preferred method.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a complicated five step process that I've developed over time. </span></span></div>
<ol style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You talk, I listen, record and take notes.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I write.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You read, or listen to what we've created, making note of what needs changing.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">We place the work with a professional editor to check for other things we've missed.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I revise the work until we're happy with the finished product. ( I say we, because often my standards are higher than the client's)</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yeah, it really is that simple. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most people are prepared to clear their calendars and devote their lives to producing a book, but it's really not that hard. In fact, most of my work gets done on down time, dashboard time, while clients are in hotels, airports and waiting rooms. Anywhere you've got time that your attention is not directed elsewhere.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You probably already know what you want to say, but you may not. Either way, it's okay. My clients tell me that as the interview process unfolds, they often find that what they wanted to say wasn't the most important message they could convey and I've helped them to realize new things about themselves, their business, and how to connect with their audience.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, what happens after the writing? </span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, it depends in part on the type of content we're producing. If, for example, I'm writing your weekly blog posts for you, after an hour or so monthly meeting, I submit your posts for approval and they get added to your blog, released on the dates you choose. Then, you just respond to your audience.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">With book length content, it takes a little longer and once it's complete, we have several options.</span></div>
<ol style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can create a printed version for a limited audience through a "print on demand" publisher where you only pay for the copies you need.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can publish your book for public consumption on platforms such as Amazon and Lulu.com for ebook and print order by readers at no extra cost to you.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-0 1; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; list-style-type: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can look for an agent and together, you can submit the manuscript to publishers in hopes of getting a traditional publishing deal. (this has happened with several of my authors)</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The way you choose to publish your content is entirely up to you. There are successful people who choose all of these options. The key thing to remember is this, I do the heavy lifting. Once the manuscript is ready for public consumption, the opportunities are wide open.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do we get started?</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">First, let me point out, I'm not the only professional ghostwriter in the world, or even on Linked In. I'm not a good fit for everyone. This is where it starts. We talk. You tell me about your project, I tell you about my process, if it seems like a good fit, we proceed from there.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This type of writing is typically "work for hire" meaning, you pay for my services then own the work and all proceeds that come from it, without sharing royalties. I don't typically take on "spec" projects (write it and get paid if it makes money) or collaborations (write it and get a cut of any profit) because it is simpler for me to allow you to do what you want with the work once I'm done. I'm happy to consult on publishing and marketing, and often work with the client to get their book available.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we have an agreement, we sign a contract outlining the expectations of both parties, payment schedule, delivery schedule, non-disclosure agreement, etc. I want you to know you and your ideas are protected. You are the author, I am the scribe.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other benefits from ghost writing</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My authors often tell me that the content is far from the only thing they get out of the process. Having someone else walk through your experiences with you helps you see it in a whole new light. They often say they see themselves and their work from a new perspective and it gives them a lot of insight into what they do, why, and how they might do it better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, the most direct benefit is the work itself. I've had clients earn double, triple, or more, from their marketing once they have established good editorial practices. One client in particular, used the book we wrote together, to launch his speaking career to the next level and booked an entire eighteen month circuit of appearances within a month of releasing his first book. We're currently working on the second.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Others have done away with other marketing, finding that regular blog content, released through multiple channels, is the best way to share their business, without selling, to an audience that is hungry to learn more about them, their services, products and industry.</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it horribly expensive?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not cheap. Let's just clear that up. That being said, I'm cheaper than most others who write at my level. I find my pricing suits me fine. I can work cheaper and a bit faster than some after twelve years at it, which means I can offer a good deal, and still earn a really good living.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, here's the biggest key. I pay for myself. Seriously. If I didn't, I wouldn't still be in this business. What do I mean? Simple. My clients earn more from my work than they spend on me. The marketing content I provide works. The books pay for themselves, sometimes many times over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For example, the young public speaker sold his first batch of a thousand books (enough to double his money) in the first month through social media and back of the room sales at his events. From there, the book funded his travel for the next twelve months, which helped him get to conferences where he could explode his exposure, and his book went with him, paving the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to learn more, I'm always open to consulting. I'm going to do something here that many won't. I'll give you my personal email. Reach out, let's talk. I always give initial consultations for free. MarkRMorris2@gmail.com</span></div>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-67861288575537321312019-03-06T14:23:00.000-08:002019-08-03T14:24:16.459-07:00Making the Most of Who You Are!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I tend to think of myself in terms of how many people show up for me in daily life. This is probably my fault, as I keep a tight circle, so a lot of people don't engage with me. From time to time, however, I'm reminded there are people out there watching me who appreciate what I'm doing, if from a distance.<br />
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So, what is it that I do? I share my mind. Yeah, sometimes it is obnoxious as hell. Sometimes I get angry and treat someone like a jerk because I think their ideas are garbage. Not the person, their ideas. All people are equally valuable. Think about it.<br />
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When you hear the price of gold is currently $1300 an ounce, or that Bitcoin is just over $4000, it sounds impressive, right? If you look closer, you'll realize the price of both commodities is based on their potential, not intrinsic value.<br />
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<b><i>What do I mean. </i></b></blockquote>
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It's simple, really, think of it like this. If you found yourself on a desert island, with a thousand ounces of gold, but you knew you had to float your ass off that island, what value would it have? None, or maybe even a negative value to you in that moment, because taking on extra 62 lbs of weight you can't eat, drink or even shelter yourself from the sun with makes no sense, does it? Of course not.<br />
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Dig a hole and bury it, and now it has value again. How? Well, if things go well, you can return and claim your million in gold, right? I mean, even if you have to split it with some skipper to sail you back out, it still has potential value.<br />
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<b><i>So, what are you worth?</i></b></blockquote>
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So, what about you? What are you worth? What can you do? What do you know, what do you bring to the table right now? Not in some ideal world, but right here in this one. You'd probably start with your marketable skills, diplomas, certifications, investments. But I'm asking about you. The intrinsic value of YOU. Just you.<br />
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If all you had was the information stored in the gray matter behind your ears, what would it be worth? I have a rough idea of myself, I have some pretty decent skills. I can build things. That's almost always of value, I'm fairly strong, even though I'm getting older, I've spent time in some extreme conditions, so I acclimate well.<br />
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But, we're not on a desert island, are we? Out here in the real world, what sets us apart? What makes you you? It's not your education, or your skills, there are plenty of people who have those. It's not your face, or your body, even if they're damn near perfect, plenty of people have those too. It's your experience, your memories, your stories, your connections, the intangible things of life are what you'd have to rely on if the whole system just went belly up over night.<br />
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Sad thought, though, we don't put much value on those things when life is good, do we? Instead, we use some list that everyone seems to have a copy of. We match up to others and compare ourselves to derive our value from our position in the food chain of people we perceive as valuable.<br />
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<br />Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-87753591935331816452019-02-08T20:55:00.000-08:002019-08-23T20:55:38.648-07:00'Authors, Here's What You Should Know About Ghostwriters!<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are a lot of options out there if you are looking for a ghostwriter. I’m not the only one. I’m probably not the best, or the fastest, or the cheapest. If those are the things you’re looking for, let me save you the trouble, it’s probably not me. But if you’re looking for a good writer, who specializes in getting your voice down so the book sounds like you on your best day of writing, done on time, for the agreed upon price, then I’m your guy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ghostwriters are not one-size-fits-all though, and there are definitely some things to keep in mind when searching the world wide web for that just right ghostwriter. So, from my own business practices I’ve put together a few tips I think can save you time, money and heartache. They’re things I’ve heard from clients and other ghostwriters, and things I’ve also experienced as a self published author. Take it for what it’s worth, here is what I recommend. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Find someone who cares about your story!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sure, there are a lot of well credentialed ghostwriting teams out there. They’ve all got some guy from Harvard, or a New York Times bestselling editor. But, do they really care about your book? The reasons to write a book are so personal. Can you trust them with your story, or will they turn it into another pop-culture, literary fast food piece of junk that will be on the bargain table in a month? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The big firms are like any other big company. They operate on volume. They have a deep bench of writers. They crank out books like Ford cranks out cars, it’s an assembly line. They build formulas and models and templates. Sometimes this can even get you to the top of the charts, but those books frequently don’t have staying power. Are you looking for a flash in the pan, or a well written book that will stand the test of time? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A sure fire way to tell who cares is how long they’ll talk before asking for money. If that’s the first thing, before they even know who you are, or what your story is about, please, do yourself a favor, and disconnect. Block that email, hang up the phone, whatever you have to do but please don’t go down that road. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Find someone who will build a relationship with you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ghostwriting is an incredibly intimate profession. There’s a reason that we sign Non-Disclosure Agreements and contracts and it’s not because everyone is out to steal your story. In the course of helping authors craft their books, I’ve literally been told, “I haven’t even shared that with my therapist,” more than once. In fact, I just had a client share potentially incriminating evidence about an event long ago that harmed no one, but still…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To really write a book, you’ve got to bare your soul a bit. You’ve got to be willing to spill a little blood on the paper, and even if you’re not the one holding the pen, it gets real. It’s up to you who you want knowing those intimate details of your story. Make sure you trust them on a personal level. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure your writer really “gets” you</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sure, a cold, calculated professional can do an adequate job. But, tell the truth, can any surgeon ever approach the beauty of a Michelangelo in their work? Or a Davinci? In my own practice, I choose clients I want to spend time with, because your stories become a part of my life. They haunt me. I’ll be living with the knowledge of your life long past the point your book goes to press. That’s why my first interaction with any potential client is an interview, in which I decide whether to offer my services or not. Yes, I am for hire, but I am not for sale, and I don’t write for people that I do not feel will make the world a better place with their work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Does that mean I have to be moved on a deep level? No, but I need to like you and believe in what you’re doing enough to take on your imagination, see through your eyes, and tell your story with my fingers, using your words and style. And, I’m told I’m really good at that. One reason is likely my background as a theatrical director and actor. I take on each client in a similar way to preparing for a role. I need to embody your story on some level. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get the contract right</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beyond just finding a writer you click with, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re getting. With a solo ghostwriter like myself, you’re probably getting a straight “work for hire”. That means I own nothing. I generally request the right to share untitled samples with future clients for marketing purposes, but once we’ve completed your book, it is yours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some things to watch out for. Some agencies ask for a percentage of sales, or royalties, in addition to their fee. They may also hold a claim over your work, story, or ideas if you decide not to complete the book with them. A true “ghostwriter” will sell you their sword. That’s it. We write, you publish (with our help if you choose) you reap the profit and royalties, we cash the check and find our next project. It’s as simple as that. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pay as you go</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This should go without saying, but never pay in full up front, and don’t pay anything until you have a signed contract outlining your responsibilities and rights as an author, and the services, schedule and methods the writer is agreeing to abide by. In most cases, one third down is fairly standard. You shouldn’t pay the final installment until you have at least the first draft, depending on what services your ghostwriter is providing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I often work with solopreneurs and people starting out in new careers, or expanding into fields such as public speaking. Be sure your contract is flexible enough to fit your ability to pay and availability for the workload. I allow changes with appropriate notice, many ghostwriters and ghostwriting agencies do not. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Read their samples and ask questions</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Any freelancer who’s been at it long enough has likely had their work presented by another “writer” as their own. I’ve been sent articles and blog posts that I know damn well I wrote, from people who were looking for a writer and ended up with a scam artist who sent them my work as samples. Read the samples. Go with your gut. Do you like the writing style and energy? Did the writer provide several samples, of differing style to show use of multiple voices? How did it feel to you? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Never feel pressured to use a writer just because they are with a great company, or have an amazing resume. If the samples don’t feel right, ask for more, or politely decline, but this is your book, not theirs, no matter how many bestsellers they’ve published. Ask them to explain the samples, and if they seem unsure, move on. There are plenty of writers available. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take a little time, but not too long</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I suggest clients at least think about it overnight. It’s a big commitment. You’re going to spend a lot of money (for most people) on this, and you’re committing a lot of time and energy, even though we ghostwriters do the heavy lifting. But, remember, if your writer is good, they’re also in demand. Once you’ve decided to write, it’s best to start, and a good ghostwriter won’t be available for long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, why does it matter if you wait? Waiting a little while is a good idea. See if your writer can wait a day. If they seem desperate or anxious, ask why. If you wait too long, it’s likely you’ll lose the urge. Yes, I know you’ve wanted to do this forever, that’s precisely why it can wait. It’s waited before, but once committed, I’ve never had an author not complete their project with me. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ask questions, educate yourself and be comfortable before you pull the trigger</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ghostwriting is a tough job, not everyone can do it, but, Iike I said, I’m not the only one, and neither is that agency telling you they are. Be sure you’re reasonably comfortable before signing a contract. Read it thoroughly and know your way out if you decide it’s not a good fit. There is always more than one way to get your book written, and although you’ll probably be nervous, you should also be excited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When you find the right fit, go for it. I’ve never had a single client ever say they regretted writing a book. The process is so revealing and enlightening and the outcome brings rewards in ways you’re not imagining now. So, make a smart choice and then jump. You won’t be sorry you did.</span></div>
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-58141246965679738282019-01-08T13:45:00.000-08:002019-08-03T13:45:48.194-07:00Thoughts on Thought LeadershipEverybody wants to be a thought leader, but I wonder, with all of these "leaders" all pitching the same thoughts, who's following?<br />
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I was a thought leader once</h3>
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Honestly, it was more like one of those "I'm not a thought leader, but I play one on the internet" situations. Here's how it happened. </div>
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A friend of mine is a spokesperson in the HR field. She wrote a social media guide a few years back that kind of catapulted her into minor internet celebrity status. I won't tell you who she is, because, well, I'm a ghostwriter. Once this happened, all kinds of interesting opportunities exploded for her and she took on more consulting work than she could manage with a full time job, so she made a career change to consulting and speaking on HR. </div>
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As happens, she got really busy</h3>
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Her consulting took off, and to keep it going, she had a huge need for content. She wasn't in the position to attract high level guest bloggers yet and wanted to establish her own byline, so she turned to me to produce posts for her from her bullet point outlines. </div>
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That's where it gets interesting. Sure, I'm a writer. But the thing is, I've never, like ever, spent any time in a traditional office. I spent about three months one time as a telemarketer, and one of the cabinet shops I worked in when I was young had an HR department. That's the extent of my experience with HR. </div>
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But it didn't really matter, because, as it turns out, being a thought leader really just means synthesizing what others say and having an opinion. So, I followed her bullet points and crafted what she kept insisting was really great content, and apparently it worked, because now she can attract the kind of high profile guests she needs to drive more traffic. </div>
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What's my point? </h3>
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I'm getting to it. Here's the thing, you think you know who you're listening to. You think that pastor, or speaker, or CEO is BRILLIANT BEYOND WORDS! And, maybe, like my friend, they are. It may also be that they have some help from an outside voice in the form of a ghostwriter. Way more of the "bestsellers" than you would believe are not crafted by the "authors" themselves. Neither are the speeches they give at conventions and workshops that draw thousand of dollars in entrance fees. </div>
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Nope, more often than not, it's a guy like me, sitting at a keyboard, wherever he wants to be in the world, synthesizing the information into a palatable form. Of course, without my friend, I'd never have even considered writing about HR, because I lack experience in the field, but with the right resources, even you could become an expert that people will not just listen to, but share with others. </div>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-6950817821118892552019-01-08T08:07:00.001-08:002019-01-08T10:50:55.177-08:00Writers, Hate Editing? Why? You could choose to love it!<b id="docs-internal-guid-d0b9c24a-7fff-9256-134d-7c22a574b97e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Writing a novel is like taking a vacation to a world you know better than anyone, where you can </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">read the mind of every person you meet. It’s an amazing escape from the day to day. Then comes </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the editing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A lot of authors hate it, but here’s my question, why? Did you not write a story you love? I don’t write </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">anything I wouldn’t read, over and over. To me, the editing process is like preparing for guests, that </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I really like, to come over. Sure, it’s work, but it’s not the same as just cleaning the house to have the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">family come home and dirty it again, it’s exhilarating, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I get to meet those characters again, and clarify their actions and words before the audience arrives. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Maybe it’s the stage director in me, wanting the lights, the set, the costumes and finally the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">performance, to be perfect for that audience. I want them to experience it the way I experienced it, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">immediate, and powerful, exploding in the mind, seeing every scene as if they are standing right there </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as it happens in real time!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So, if you ask me to delete my extra “that”s and commas to keep from confusing the audience, great, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">let’s do that! If I need to polish a character’s dialog to make it funnier, more brutal, or just make it </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">make sense, why wouldn’t I be excited about that? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">With every edit I complete, I’m getting one step closer to lifting the curtain, to revealing this amazing </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">world that didn’t just pop into my head, but stayed there until I had no choice but to share it. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What I’m trying to say is this, I think editing is only a chore, because we think of it as being one. When </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">we’re in the creative flow of the first draft, no one’s complaining about the drudgery. No, we get lost </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and spend hours without realizing it, tapping the keys, turning the pages. So, why should our attitude </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">be any different in editing?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I think it’s because we take it personally. Although every well paid, famous writer on earth tells us that</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> the real work is in the editing, and rewrites, we think our work springs out of our butts fully formed and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ready for the Pulitzer committee. Am I right? I think the key may be in thinking of the story as “finished”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">when we type the last sentence of the first draft. That’s silly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">That would be like saying a house is complete because you built the frame. No roof, no walls, no </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">windows, carpets, or hardwood floors, just the outline of a house. The first draft is often like this. If </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">you’ve done this a lot, you may get a lot closer to a finished product in your first draft, but nobody </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">hangs the drapes and touches up the paint, installs that last switch cover, in their first pass on </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">something as complex as a novel. Nobody. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So, next time you’re in that editing mode. Here are two things to try. First, you could try seeing the first </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">draft as laying the foundation, it’s a proof of concept, you’re making sure your story and characters </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">hold up. Second, you could do what some do, and edit as you go. I don’t recommend it, but if having </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">an unfinished product after finishing the first draft is a bummer for you, you might try it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Either way, the one thing you should never, ever do, is insist that the audience just deal with your </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">idiosyncrasies. Sure, you’re unique. You may have a style all your own, and that’s cool and all, but </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">writing it in all caps, and not spell checking, should never be an option, unless you want the well </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">deserved criticism that comes with it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">If you want to be a writer, create a healthy relationship with editing. You’re going to spend a lot of time</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">there. Find a way to make it a good thing. .</span></div>
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<br />Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-6123992385498929592018-12-19T01:40:00.000-08:002019-08-24T02:11:42.768-07:00<br />
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<br />There are only two choices in life. You can be yourself, or you can be a cheap imitation of someone else. It’s up to you. </h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was August, the year after I was forced to close my own theatre and I was up for a part in Shakespeare in the Park, in Oklahoma City, one of America’s longest running Shakespeare companies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since the last time I’d auditioned for anyone else, I’d outgrown the male love interest and come of age to play fathers. So, small as it was, I was up for Montague in Romeo and Juliet. I stood in the hall, going over the sides they’d handed out for study. As an acting coach, I knew I needed an angle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once I was comfortable with the lines and they were starting to call in actors to read for Montague, I positioned myself as near the door as I could get. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Montague:</span> O thou untaught! what manners is in this? To press before thy father to a grave?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not much to make an impression with, is it? Montague has just lost his wife and Prince Escalus is bringing more bad news on top of it, Romeo is dead. As I listened to the readers, to a man they played it the same way. They raged! I could feel the door vibrate with their shouts of agony. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, if you knew me, you’d know, I’m a shouter from way back. I’m loud. But, I had a choice to make. I could either wade in their and try to beat these other, known actors, at their own game, in their own house, or I could flip the script a bit and do something unexpected, so I chose the latter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my book, there are two American actors who’ve played rage well in my lifetime, one, the inimitable Jack Nicholson in movies such as The Shining and A Few Good Men. Then, there’s Clint Eastwood, in Dirty Harry and Grand Torino, among others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nicholson is a rager. No doubt, had he strolled into that room and lost his shit, they’d have given him whatever part he wanted. But Clint, Clint would have delivered that speech nice and slow, in a growling whisper that would leave you breathless with a tingle down your spine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that’s what I did, and two days later, I had the role. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I was getting ready to write this piece for today, I did a little digging on what Linked In likes. What kind of articles are getting shared? What will help build an audience? I found out a lot of stuff, but I’m not going to share it with you. If you want that route, you can Google it. I used “Linked In Article Statistics 2019” as my search terms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I got a whole bunch of statistics. Some I agreed with, some I thought were misinterpreted, but then I realized, I was about to wade into their theater, with actors the director knew, and try to outrage them all. (translation, I am competing against known Linked In article publishers on their home turf)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m going to share what I think you should do. And it’s mostly because of one really stupid piece of advice I found in one particular article that said: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t get your audience all fired up”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep, turns out, their research has determined that posts that hold no particular point of view at all, neutral posts get shared more, and get more comments. But, I wonder about this. I’m sure it’s true overall, but what about the influencers? Are they neutral? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I looked it up. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found a list of the top 20 influencers on Linked In in 2018, a who’s who of business thought leaders. To be honest, I didn’t know who half of these people were. I should probably find out. I’m sure they’re brilliant and say a lot of amazing stuff, but who did I find at the top of the list? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Richard Branson</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That’s the author of this book</span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way” by Richard Branson</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Funny, doesn't sound much like a guy who doesn't get his audience all lathered up, does it?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When you Google Richard Branson quotes, literally the top one you find is this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEatHaPqDX3-A/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=Cw-b2S3bKsNmHr1rZVm4reSv1kN96KxUikubruyHBd0" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEatHaPqDX3-A/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=Cw-b2S3bKsNmHr1rZVm4reSv1kN96KxUikubruyHBd0" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, maybe this is just a coincidence, I'm sure the rest of these folks are pressed down, pinstripe, English executive types with droll little accents who never raise their voices, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I go down the list at little further, and there I find, Gary Vaynerchuk, a man who seems to be trying to single handedly make the F word okay in polite society. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here’s his top quote from Goal Coast</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PASSION is priceless</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, as I was editing this article, I also found this, that I thought was even more fitting!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHK0_Ogcv6KTQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=vVyf25lsP-AQN_ICnSSI7NGILWPlMG1tudz9bgaQgcI" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQHK0_Ogcv6KTQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=vVyf25lsP-AQN_ICnSSI7NGILWPlMG1tudz9bgaQgcI" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think this may be the biggest key to all of this. The site I found my advice on is making their money off of analyzing what people do, not doing.</span></em></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Further down, a guy whose name I don’t care about is the current CEO of Paypal, founded by this guy…</span></span></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elon Musk, a man famous for his brashness! Just this past year, he apologized for calling a Thai cave diver a pedophile for his plan to rescue juvenile soccer players in a flooded cave, by carrying them out next to his own body. His mouth is a trainwreck, but when he talks, people listen. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m sure many of the other fine folks on that list are just as opinionated as these three gentlemen, but they’ll do as examples of what I’m talking about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My point is this, do your own thing. You know your business. You understand the passion behind what you do. You know how to tell your story, so do it! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stop waiting for permission to think your own damn thoughts. Aristotle didn’t become famous quoting some stone age monk, did he? No, he branded his thoughts and he had them literally etched in stone. </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s nothing wrong with finding out what people who came before us thought and said. And quoting them can be a great way to get a point across, but I think too many people put an awful lot of stock in the thoughts of a bunch of men and women, who were dead long before the digital reality our kids are inheriting was even dreamed about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The same thing is true about tracking how many letters should be in your headline, or knowing that 8 images is the optimum number you should have to get the most shares of your articles on Linked In!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, what is important? Five things you need to know to make your voice count! </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="No alt text provided for this image" data-li-src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEQtyL4ujZLxQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=EHFSWjAvln5EnOlqbCfpfDUDmQPv-r5sqphLQj_HDJY" data-media-urn="" src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQEQtyL4ujZLxQ/article-inline_image-shrink_1500_2232/0?e=1571875200&v=beta&t=EHFSWjAvln5EnOlqbCfpfDUDmQPv-r5sqphLQj_HDJY" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 744px;" /></span></div>
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<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing a headline that makes people pause is the single greatest skill you can learn. Period. Everything that comes after it is secondary to the headline. Why? Because without the headline, no one will ever see it. There are four main things you can do with a headline. </span></span></li>
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<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make a promise</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">State a fact</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Draw a picture</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ask a question</span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choosing an eye catching image that will draw people in is the next most important thing you can learn. </span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure your first image is sized properly so it looks good in your newsfeed. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Only use images that belong to you, or you have permission to use, Pixabay is a great source Gratisography.com has amazing humorous images. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choose pictures that add something to your content. They’re not just decoration. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Graphs, charts and infographics are great too, if they really do add something. </span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a brilliant opening paragraph. It’s all that matters in the body of your text. Seriously. Without that, no one reads to the bottom. Ever. </span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Know your audience and their pain points, appeal to one or more. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hint at what you’re going to share up front if possible. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tell a story, hook them in, if they read past the first two or three paragraphs, you’ve got them. </span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You might want to post your videos separate from your article content. Among the statistics, this one was useful. Articles with videos get less love. </span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Videos are best shared as links from Youtube, instead of the native Linked In format. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you follow guys like Gary Vaynerchuk, you know this, but video is a great way to recycle, or upcycle content ideas. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Repeating the same ideas in multiple medias is only valid if you also duplicate the post into another point of connection with your audience.</span></li>
</ul>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write, write, write. While the entire rest of the world is shrinking down their thoughts, to the point it feels like we are going back to hieroglyphics, Linked In likes 1900 to 2100 word posts. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These five things, and consistency! </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ordinarily I would tell you flat out, that this content you’re creating needs to go on your own blog. There are some really great reasons for this. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Reasons your blog should be the hub of your content marketing</span></h2>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 0px 0px 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your website is literally the only piece of real estate online you can control. Everywhere else you publish, the rules could be changed tomorrow and the entire distribution matrix could change with them. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It gives you a central place to share your ideas and drive your traffic. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You have total control of the design and branding for your website. This is true nowhere else. Sure, you can choose headers and avatars, but beyond that, you’re very limited. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, if you don’t already have steady traffic to your website, I’m going to suggest a way of building an audience that may help you.</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Start on Linked In. </span></h3>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 0px 0px 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has a built in publication matrix</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your content leads back to your profile, with your resume and hopefully a link to wherever you actually do business online. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The competition is lower. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Linked In’s Google and Alexa ratings are perfect. It’s a high authority site, so sharing your content here is better than good for business, it’s great!</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the opportunity this represents!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Out of 500 million regular users, only 260 million (just over half) log in each month. Out of those 260 million active users, only 1 million have ever posted an article. That’s significant, what it means is, you’ve got an audience of business people who 91% say they come to Linked In for content, and fewer than half of one percent of all active users are posting any original content besides posts, on the platform itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Won’t you just get lost in the shuffle? </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First of all, that's what your great headlines and images are for, right?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It also turns out, the odds may be in your favor! Last year, of the top 30 shared articles, only half were written by “influencers” like the ones I talked about at the beginning of this article. The rest came from people like you and me! Of the 10,000 top shared articles of all time, only 6% were written by influencers, meaning 94% of the top shared content came from nobodies, who have a better chance of becoming somebodies on a platform like Linked In, with relatively low competition, than almost anywhere else online. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, what about my website?</span></h3>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m getting to that. I’ve always believed in repurposing content, and after reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s amazing slide deck on how he syndicates his content, I’m convinced. So, here is a strategy I’m recommending. </span></div>
<ol style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Start with a single piece of “pillar” or “skyscraper” content. This is a big chunk of information. It can be written, or video, or podcast on your personal website. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Break that content into smaller, related pieces, shorter videos, a podcast if you start with writing or video, and even quote memes from the content. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Share these pieces, along with links to your larger content here on Linked, and ultimately, back on your website, wherever you can. </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I shared Vaynerchuk’s slide deck on my profile, you can check it out there, or </span><a href="https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/the-garyvee-content-strategy-how-to-grow-and-distribute-your-brands-social-media-content/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background: 0px 0px transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #665ed0; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">go here</span></a><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to get more ideas about how to create your own “viral web” effect. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that’s it. Day two of the content challenge is in the books. Check out my profile for today’s writing prompt and if you’d like a free audit of your content here, on your blog,or anywhere online, PM me for details. I’d love to help. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you agree that more people need to think their own thoughts, click "like" leave a comment, or share my article. I'll return the favor on your next great piece of content.</span></blockquote>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-10964775391435208882018-11-21T21:12:00.000-08:002019-08-23T21:13:00.992-07:00Here's Why You Should Hire Me To Write Your Book. <div class="ember-view" id="ember5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="background-color: initial; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my last article, I told you I started writing after the TV died when I was a kid and we didn’t replace it. It’s true. But, the death of a dream led to my professional writing career. I became the opposite of a “starving artist” I did it so I could eat!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In 2008-09, at the height of the housing crisis, I was running a youth theatre studio teaching acting, stagecraft, and theatrical productions. We were putting on about ten shows a year between our youth theatre and community theatre groups. I was living my ideal life, but something changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sh*t hits the fan!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the Summer of 2009, it seemed like people just stopped spending money. We were ready for a big push to increase enrollment when it happened. I had 10,000 glossy, double-sided door hangers, beautifully designed with just the right messaging (I’d been at this for 15 years, I thought I knew what would work) and I had legs. So, I picked the best neighborhoods with lots of kids and enough disposable income to be interested in what we had to offer and off I went. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I put out all 10,000 of those door hangers. In the past, a few hundred paper flyers had been enough to boost enrollment some, but we were determined to hit our highest mark ever. So, I hung the last one and I went back to the studio and waited. The phone didn’t ring. A few emails came, mostly complaining about the hangers. Not one student even asked about enrollment. Not one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After facing the hard facts that the little theatre that could, couldn’t anymore, I took one last look at the stage and studios I’d built with my own hands, and closed the doors. Seeing the for sale sign at the curb was the biggest blow of all. My dream was over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What would I do now?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, I had 8 kids and they had to eat. So, I did what any smart person would do, I started writing. Yeah, it does sound stupid, doesn’t it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the time, the best gig I could find was writing home improvement articles for Demand Media, who were building Ehow.com at the time. That may sound like misery, but for me, it was a life saver. I’d spent years as a carpenter, alongside my theatrical career, and this was easy! Even though they only paid $25 a pop, I could finish 8 to 10 in a day and the editors loved my work! Turns out, I was a natural! Within 18 months, I’d published over 3000 articles with Demand. If you go to Ehow today and search Mark Morris, you’ll find them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over two million words later</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward ten years. I’ve now published well over two million words for hire. I stopped counting at that point. I’ve had over twenty million views of my work. I’ve self published two dozen books and ghostwritten over a dozen more with private clients. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Through the years, I’ve had a lot of interesting writing gigs. I wrote artists bios and product descriptions for an art collective. I’ve written SEO content for body shops, a dumpster company in Australia, Real Estate brokers, Landscapers, Computer Repair Shops, health and wellness brands, medical device companies, dentists, dog trainers, photographers, concrete contractors and business coaches. I was even a ghostwriter for a thought leading HR platform, and my only experience in a traditional office was three months as a telemarketer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In short, I’ve been blessed to have clients across four continents and dozens of industries tell me my work helped them increase traffic and sales. It’s been an interesting ride. Which brings me to right here, right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the past three years, I’ve been privileged to be invited into the lives of over a dozen people who wanted to author books but either didn’t feel qualified, didn’t know where to start, or felt they simply didn’t have the time to get it done. As a ghostwriter, I’ve been able to help them share their incredible stories with the world and I love doing it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although I spent four years in lectures and workshops two decades ago being trained as a creative writer, I didn’t really feel qualified to call myself a writer until I saw that my work was benefiting others. Now I proudly tell people that’s what I do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I was honored to be added to the Gotham Ghostwriters Network, a group of world class writers represented through Gotham providing ghostwriting to clients all over the world, from heads of state to CEOs to celebrities, to retired people who are finally ready to share their story. It’s pretty cool seeing those pitch opportunities in my mailbox and knowing that I’ll be sharing the lives of many more people in the years to come. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'd love to work with you!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, what about you? Why haven’t you written your book yet? If you’re like my clients, you’re probably a mixture of afraid, intimidated, feeling out of your depth, and wondering if you really have anything to say. I’m here to say it’s okay, you’re not and you do! In fact, in today’s modern world, where you can literally publish a book and hold a single copy of your book in your hands mere days later for less than $10, I think everyone should! Why not? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, maybe you need help, that’s cool. I get it. You’ll never see my first attempts at writing books. Ever. And even some of the stuff I’ve got for sale out there is under revision because it was done in a hurry. No worries. I’d love to help you on any level I can. Need encouragement, tips, resources? Those are free, just DM me. If you’d like to discuss coaching, or ghostwriting, I’d love to set up a time to go over your project and see if we’re a fit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know if I can honestly say I’m as happy now as I was in my theatrical days, and I may go back, when I can afford to fund it properly, but I am pretty damn happy with who I am and what I do and I’d love to help you get the satisfaction I’ve had over two dozen times of putting a book out into the world .</span></div>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-11182372391198801012018-10-12T21:15:00.000-07:002019-08-23T21:15:23.547-07:00How To Destroy Your Competition, Without Becoming the Thing You Hate<figure class="reader-cover-image--full-bleed relative" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-width: 1128px; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100vw;"><div class="reader-cover-image--wrapper" style="align-items: center; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; height: 596px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="background-color: initial; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I were to give a single tip to those just starting out in business, it would be this: ignore what everyone else says about the competition. What do I mean by this? Well, I don't mean that the Colonel should cross the road to Churches and hand over his secret 11 herbs and spices, but what I do mean is that the Colonel would be short sighted to think that he could do anything to hurt another business, intentionally, and come out of it better off in the long run.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In The Ten Realizations of a Networking Ninja, I talked about the power of helping others. The Samurai (big business) have a tradition of believing that crushing the competition is the only way to succeed. So, how many of you believe that we are better off with Walmart than the Mom and Pop stores we all complained about?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's time to realize that it is not an “us” against “them” proposition. We believe that we can work for what is best for everyone and achieve our aims quicker. So, here are my networking tips for the day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stop looking at your market as a closed system! Seeing a set number of customers leads you to believe that for every one your “competitor” gets, you get one less. That may or may not be true.</span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, not every customer will do business with you. Your competitor may prefer commercial while you prefer residential, or they may have products you can't offer.</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Second, you might be able to learn a thing or two from the competition, especially if they have been in business a while. If they are not threatened by you, they may be willing to share things, like how to expand your market and find more customers!</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Open yourself up to the idea that there is always more than one way to benefit from any situation! When you do a whole world of possibilities arises. For instance, the person you see as your biggest competition, may not be?</span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may be looking for a slightly different customer than they want. Maybe you can send each other referrals!</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you approach it right, there may be other partnerships available! Perhaps the two of you can serve larger accounts than either of you can handle on your own.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Find a way to help someone else increase their network, or grow their business! Here in the blogosphere that is simple! Start by giving them some networking tips, or try this!</span></div>
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<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ask another blogger to write a guest post for you! Or offer to write one for them, and invite your audience to go read it!</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Share your favorite method of syndication. Especially if you use tribes of any kind, the more the merrier! Invite them to join your syndication team.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Abraham Lincoln said this -The easiest way to destroy your enemy is to make him your friend!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I say this- The quickest way to destroy the competition is to make them a partner!</span></h3>
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Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-41161878505978029482018-07-31T12:00:00.000-07:002018-07-31T12:00:21.109-07:00If You Don't Have a Blog on Your Website, You May be Wasting Your Time!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">If you are trying to monetize your website efforts, for any reason, and don’t have a blog, you’re wasting your time. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGUYUiGbKBUXUCUtlrYvYWoMEK4ICFfHATj7Lz366GodAXmF3vkyJ2q8NWguvvBc-Ah6THkwteVVCZMwpC0OGDWWTUqnaTR6yp8oJSlTy5XT-40AXihyphenhyphenZpJPlVtaf2DIK5WvVFzfirMnI/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGUYUiGbKBUXUCUtlrYvYWoMEK4ICFfHATj7Lz366GodAXmF3vkyJ2q8NWguvvBc-Ah6THkwteVVCZMwpC0OGDWWTUqnaTR6yp8oJSlTy5XT-40AXihyphenhyphenZpJPlVtaf2DIK5WvVFzfirMnI/s640/Untitled-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7c6a44f5-f1aa-bc79-1b4e-8ce5fa17dd65" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In almost every category, sites with well updated blogs come out ahead in the race for eyeballs, and the competition is crazy! With a weekly updated blog, you create over 50 new avenues for potential clients to find your site every single year! How else could you achieve this? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Not only will your customers find and share great blog content, thought leaders in your field will also find and share great blog posts! And in many cases, even your competitors will share good blog content, if it helps their audience understand what they do. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Here are ten essential elements that you can build into your website and content marketing when you start and maintain a blog on at least a weekly basis. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">TRAFFIC: While you’ll hear over and over that “Content is King” (and what better way to produce content than blogging?) TRAFFIC is the goal of all content. Sites with updated blogs get 3 to 4x as much traffic on average than those that don’t!</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">INFORMATION: Anyone who’s ever sold for a living will tell you, a qualified lead is worth more than a dozen cold contacts. Adding information for your potential customers to your website in easy to consume, bite sized posts, is a great way to qualify prospects!</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">AUTHORITY: When we shop for products, services, or training online, we’re basically dealing with strangers. So, unless someone recommended you, how do I know you know what you’re talking about? Easy, I read your blog and see you put it in action. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">SEO: Search Engine Optimization, is still the biggest buzzword in Search Engine Marketing. Making your site easy to find, and providing relevant, keyword rich content is the number one way to optimize your site for TRAFFIC!</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">BACKLINKS: To get the best search engine results, you need backlinks. Backlinks occur when other sites share links to your website content. Blogs are one of the easiest to share types of content on the web today, and one of the most durable types of backlink.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> FRESHNESS: Search engines love new content. They give it preference in almost every case when relevance is equal. How else will you update your content on a regular basis, without spending a lot of time, money, or both?</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">DRIVES SOCIAL MEDIA!: You’re already sharing content through social, right? If you’re not, we need to talk, but without a blog, WHOSE CONTENT are you sharing? An active blog allows you to address any topic of interest to your audience and share your own branded content across all channels!</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">HUMANIZATION: In the world of digital media, it’s easy to feel we don’t know anyone. It’s all cookie cutter listicles and infographics. Your blog is the place to set yourself apart. Incorporate your own personality into your work so visitors feel they know you, before they even engage with you to do business!</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">BRANDING: This term is often misunderstood. In short, it’s the flavor you leave in a visitor’s mind. Visual elements, tone, and messaging should match across your brand. Sharing your own branded content will put your branding on steroids!</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">CONNECTION: Whether you’re running a business, or building a platform as an inspirational speaker, sometimes it’s hard to maintain that connection to why you do what you do. Writing and creating content around your brand on a regular basis is a great way to maintain this connection and push yourself to keep doing your best!</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This is what I do, so I understand there’s a lot of baggage to unpack around the idea of writing your own blog, but that can be overcome. Whether you need someone to help you write a content calendar to generate ideas for great content, teach you how to write your first blog post, or take over and manage your blog content from helping you ideate, to writing crisp, intelligent, thought provoking content for your site, I can help. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Email me at: </span><a href="mailto:MarkRMorris2@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">MarkRMorris2@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> for more information!</span></div>
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-42996705883592843132017-08-24T01:42:00.000-07:002019-08-24T01:42:58.981-07:00Your Story is the Only Intrinsic Value You Bring to Life<figure class="reader-cover-image--full-bleed relative" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; min-width: 1128px; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100vw;"><div class="reader-cover-image--wrapper" style="align-items: center; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; height: 596px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<header aria-label="Newsletter header" id="reader-article-header" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="reader-article-header__title t-40 t-black t-normal pv4" dir="ltr" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 16px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 16px !important; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />It’s not that hard to be the sharpest knife in a drawer full of spoons. </h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are times in life when everyone else thinks you’ve got it all figured out. You’re on the court, you’re in uniform and although you secretly feel like a fraud, you think you’re about to win until you pull the dumbest move in the history of team sports. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here’s how it went down. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I grew up all over the midwest, the son of a preacher man, as the song says. I went to four different grade schools, in four different states. We landed here in Oklahoma, just after my thirteenth birthday. I’ve been here, 35 years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I was thirteen and in seventh grade, I went to a small private school, and because I’d reached the height of 5’11” a couple of years earlier, everybody assumed I’d be a basketball player. I wasn’t. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I mean, I could dribble with one hand, make a lay up and shoot a free throw, but I’d never really played, didn’t understand strategy, couldn’t even begin to grasp defense. I was basically useless unless my size just intimidated the opposing player. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I made the B squad, and I was a starter. </span></h3>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Until it happened. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were three games in to the biggest “B” team tournament in our league and playing against a school called “Christian Heritage Academy”, which was ironic, because although their junior high was twice the size of ours, they were cheating by starting their first string JV forward on their seventh grade “B” team roster. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, we were getting our butts kicked. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be fair, we sucked pretty hard and probably wouldn’t have done much better against their seventh graders, but it was the principle of the thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, one of our parents was able to get the forward disqualified, they took his points off the board (not sure what rulebook that came out of) and we ended up one point down, with thirty seconds to play. We had a chance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our star forward, a kid named Frank Plumlee, who was also a pitcher who knocked me cold trying to prove I couldn’t catch his fastball ( a story for another time) took the ball down the court on a fast break and I made a beeline for the lane, “posting up” or that’s what I thought I was doing, I don’t know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Frank sees me open, looks for anybody else, anyone at all, and finally, with a look of disgust, makes the pass. I receive it at chest high, back to the basket about a third of the way up the key. </span></blockquote>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, what I honestly meant to do next was pivot out, rock back, and put a short jumper in the net. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wrong. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Without even looking at the basket, my hands dipped below my waist. and to my horror, as if in slow motion, I watched myself take the ball up, over my head, backwards, without looking, and lob it in the general direction of the backboard. </span></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even as a non athlete, I was horrified. Laughter swept the stands, with more than a few boos from our section. It was three weeks before Frank could look at me. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Did I mention I was not a basketball player? </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This scrawny kid with curly hair -the guy who’d replaced the ringer- who was maybe 5’2” -with his sneakers on- swept past me, grabbed the rebound, pounded back up the court and sank the last basket of the game from the free throw line. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a solopreneur, I’ve had to wear a lot of hats. I love hats. You may have noticed. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over time, I’ve learned that there are some hats that don’t fit me well. Put me in a creative role, and I’ll nail every detail. But, in general, I’m a big picture guy. I can offer suggestions on other areas, and often spot problems because I’m a connections thinker, but when it comes to implementing solutions outside of my sandbox, it’s hard for me to do it hands on. </span></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just don’t care. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There, I said it. The big reason that I’ve been self employed and run my own small businesses for 25 years. So much of what passes for important in business, just escapes me. </span></blockquote>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t get why you need a strict dress policy in a world where people wear jeans to weddings and funerals</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can’t feel you on the need to scold grownups for clocking in five minutes late from lunch. </span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It blows my mind why you’d spend six months searching for the perfect candidate, then micromanage them into an early exit by insisting they forget all the great reasons you hired them in the first place. </span></li>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">My bliss is a good conversation, where you tell me a great story, and we find a way to make that make you money.</span></span></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">See, they wanted me on their team, because I looked like a knife in a drawer full of spoons. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among a group of people who trend on the low side of 5’6”, I was a giant. They were impressed, but they shouldn’t have been. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This carries into my life as a writer and creative too. When you find yourself surrounded by people who don’t create for a living, it’s easy to impress them with simple suggestions. I can phone it in and still land the gig. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the problem is, if you’re selling to spoons, and I’m thinking like a knife, there’s going to be a huge disconnect. If I’m playing to my own audience of one, instead of understanding your market, I feel great, you may be wowed, but the people who really matter? They’ll ignore us both. </span></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knives dig steak and chopping vegetables. </span></em></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spoons feel awkward at a barbecue until the condiments and baked beans show up. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s easy to think being a knife is somehow better, until the Maitre D delivers that hot bowl of delicious soup. Then you’ll wish you were a spoon. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That’s why, through years of acting and directing, I’ve had to train to step, temporarily, into the heads of other people. People who are not remotely like me. And, I’m told, portray them convincingly. As an acting coach, I can help you do the same. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m not saying that to brag. After all, for 25 years, that’s basically all I spent my time thinking about. I’m a knife in that way, and if you’re a spoon, that’s a foreign concept. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, you break out a spreadsheet and start talking ROI and profit margins and things get fuzzy. </span></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m a pretty smart guy, I know the terminology, but you’ll probably lose me somewhere around the third column. It’s not that I don’t get it, I dig the measurement of success this represents, I’m just not the guy to explain it to. </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No, I’m the guy who hears the end result, and goes back through the process to figure out where the disconnect is. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To me, it seems, it’s our job in life to figure out which role we play. In some scenarios, I’m the knife, in other places, I’m more like a spork. But, the idea is to feel it out and play to your strengths. This doesn’t mean we aren’t flexible and can’t learn new things, hell I’ve had to, just to survive. I’ve even got paid to learn new things from time to time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What I’m talking about is being so in tune with yourself that you provide what’s needed from you in whatever environment you choose to plug into. You might not be the best at scooping soup, but a knife can dish out condiments too. </span></div>
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<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s that essential character, that “youness” that should flavor whatever role you put yourself into.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Notice, I did not say “get put into” because we’re all grownups and you chose your job. You put yourself there, and even if it’s traditionally a role for forks, but you feel more like a melon baller, your job is to just bring that baller attitude to bear and fill that fork’s role with a melony zest! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or, better yet, find the opportunity that truly utilizes all that melon balling badassery to its fullest extent? Cool? </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I may, or may not have mentioned yet that I’m a dad. Not just a dad, but one of “those” dads who has eight amazing kids, no twins, all with the same woman and never having been a Mormon or a Catholic. Yes, I know what causes it, and that my friends, is a story for another day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, as a dad to 8 human beings -half of whom now run their own lives quite successfully so far- and the oldest of seven children, I’m a mentor by default. So, here’s my take on this, from one dad’s point of view. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That <em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">thing</em>, that makes you a melon baller, or a dessert fork, or a sorbet spoon. Your essence. It’s way more powerful than you think or imagine. It is. Not only that, but it is the key ingredient to your real success. When I say crap like, you can be yourself or a cheap imitation of someone else, I’m not just being a wiseass. (yes I am, no wait… okay, maybe a little) </span></div>
<h3 style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 2.4rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m sharing something I believe deeply from the bottom of my heart. </span></h3>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">We never pushed our kids. Ever. </span></em></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Before you yell at me, the first one is in vet school, the second is a YouTuber who ranks about number three for VR gaming content (8BitNinja) the third is a junior working on her bachelor’s in photography, and already getting paid over a $100 an hour to shoot weddings, and the fourth just paid his first semester’s rent after covering his way to film school with his scholarships. </span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We set what we thought were reasonable expectations and we maintained them, but we didn’t push them. Instead, we encouraged them to find out who they are, and take that as far as they possibly can!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why? </span></h3>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because that’s what we’ve done with our own lives. And we’re happy. </span></em></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve spent my entire life telling stories from the age of eight when my third grade teacher handed me the assignment of writing a Halloween story on a single sheet of Big Chief paper that turned into three sheets, with accompanying illustrations. </span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve done it: </span></span></div>
<ul style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a clown</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As an actor</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a public speaker</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a director</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a theatrical designer</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a playwright</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a freelancer</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a social media manager</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As an author</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2.4rem 0px 2.4rem 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now as a ghostwriter</span></li>
</ul>
<blockquote style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 3.6rem; margin: 4.8rem 120px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My wife followed me into the theater, which equipped her to do the work she does now, educating women on intimacy issues and managing a team of badass female entrepreneurs who will sell over a half million dollars in product this year. </span></blockquote>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our successes haven’t always been measured by our bank account, but we’ve got lots of time and we’re getting there. </span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But, here’s what I want to say to you. If you don’t get anything else out of what I’m spitting here, get this. Are you ready? </span></div>
<h3 style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 2.4rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your unique story is the only intrinsic value that you personally bring to the marketplace. </span></span></h3>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know for some of you, this feels like a slap in the face. You want to know if I think your MBA, PHD, or CPA is some kind of joke. No, I don’t. But listen to what I’m saying, your intrinsic value isn’t wrapped in a diploma, or a certification. It’s baked in. It’s in all the moments you’ve lived, and laughed and loved and cried, and died a little. </span></div>
<blockquote style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 3.6rem; margin: 4.8rem 120px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And for many of us, that’s sad, because we don’t use it. We put it on the shelf for special occasions, and only those people closest to us really see the “Real Me”. </span></blockquote>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t care if you play a knife at work. If you’re a spoon, it’s going to show. And if it doesn’t, it’s going to dig at you from the inside out until you break. </span></em></div>
<h3 style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 2.4rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s not that hard to be the sharpest knife in a drawer full of spoons. </span></span></h3>
<h2 style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.33333; margin: 2.8rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, if you’re a spoon, that’s your drawer. Own it!</span></em></h2>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading my article, if you agree that our perspectives are hugely undervalued, please take a moment to like this article, or share it with your own network. I'd also love to read your comments.</span></em></div>
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</div>
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-78288714732778590882017-02-23T16:23:00.000-08:002017-02-23T16:23:13.028-08:00I'm Going to be The World's Most Famous Author, Here's How You're Going to Help Me!Move over James Patterson, Stephen King, JK Rowling and EL James, there’s a new kid in town. Well, maybe not so new, but on the way up and I wanted you to be the first to get a chance to know. I am on my way to the top and I will not stop until I’ve become the world’s most famous author. Sounds crazy, right? Okay, maybe it is, but here’s a question, if you wanted to be known for your fiction writing, why would you stop before you were the world’s most famous author?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN72VhHw_gyw5u8AbO1h0MJbT8Un6eYFlptwHyVMzgPZcK7d0l4liHWqZI1L3EIhZrT52uqHNX_UfyQ6qVJ7wGeq-H9Ky0M1lmdW6V6ZM4afUzdY8Pd5BPuYJrxQohNpuo52VTVwdlaAU/s1600/book+jacket+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN72VhHw_gyw5u8AbO1h0MJbT8Un6eYFlptwHyVMzgPZcK7d0l4liHWqZI1L3EIhZrT52uqHNX_UfyQ6qVJ7wGeq-H9Ky0M1lmdW6V6ZM4afUzdY8Pd5BPuYJrxQohNpuo52VTVwdlaAU/s640/book+jacket+pic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When you think of it like that, setting the top as your goal is the only thing that makes sense. Obviously, you'll become an NYT bestseller along the way, and make movie deals, and all the rest, but why settle for just half the enchilada? Even if you never quite reach everybody, why not invite one more person to buy your book, one more reader to find out if you have what it takes to win them over! So, that's why I decided, I'm going to be the World's Most Famous Author! <br />
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So, what would it actually take to become the world’s most famous author? I intend to find out. Stephen King and JK Rowling are tied at 673,000 Google searches for their names monthly, to give you some idea, that’s about 5x what famous author James Patterson got, and more than double what the inimitable Mark Twain collects monthly. EL James doesn’t even really register with just 90,000 searches, but they all pale in comparison to the master of the Attention Economy, the great orange one.
Are you ready to be sickened? Donald Trump’s name is searched 16,000,000 times a month, over a dozen times more frequently than Rowling and King combined, while Jesus Christ is only searched just under 250,000 times each month.<br />
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I am sure there are a lot of factors involved in search volume, for instance, not too many who claim to follow him search “Jesus Christ” on Google with any frequency, since their source material likely doesn’t require a name search, and Mr. Trump’s recent victory is, no doubt, skewing the odds a bit. Meanwhile, the outgoing president, Obama, is still pulling a million and half searches a month.
My campaign to become the world’s most famous author has a two step plan so far.<br />
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The first step, you are a part of right now, write a post called, “I’m Going to be the World’s Most Famous Author” step two also involves any of you that want to be involved. I’m daring you to find out if I’ve got what it takes. The first of my scifi series, “The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Saving the Multiverse” Is going on 99 cent countdown special starting tomorrow, and here’s where you come in!
I dare you to prove me wrong. See if I’ve got what it takes! Get the book and read it, let me know what you think. I think you’ll love it, but some of you won’t and that’s okay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rx3PzTTPVOXtzkN6ZCNC46btSOaFKHCF1CEYQ-FLZhzB0Xk5MQ7WyQ820eGMWalJA3iSOYLi_KJ7gBNnDGyEikZ_-q6eMG0p5cO0zkyk1uicY7UYrOa7d8EfBqnC1UNRyaSR5AntbVcP/s1600/beginners+guide+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rx3PzTTPVOXtzkN6ZCNC46btSOaFKHCF1CEYQ-FLZhzB0Xk5MQ7WyQ820eGMWalJA3iSOYLi_KJ7gBNnDGyEikZ_-q6eMG0p5cO0zkyk1uicY7UYrOa7d8EfBqnC1UNRyaSR5AntbVcP/s640/beginners+guide+cover.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2lLlzXE"><span style="font-size: large;">Download the book here!</span></a><br />
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When you’ve finished reading the whole book, and please, not before, leave me a review. After all, I’m on my way to becoming the World’s most famous author and your opinion matters. I’d give you the book for free, but I know two thirds of you wouldn’t finish it, so for less than a McDonald’s coffee, you get in early on the trending literary conversation of the next decade, Mark R Morris Jr, World’s Most Famous Author.
Some of you may want a piece of this fame in the making, and I’m prepared to share!<br />
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Here are a couple of ways you can get in on it. Get yourself an Amazon Associates account, share my books on your blog and earn commissions! Bam! Can’t beat that, you get to be part of the rise of the World’s Most Famous Author, and you make some money to boot! Some of you will see the benefit in connecting with me and for those, I’d love to do an interview for your blog, or podcast, just message on the form at the top of the page!<br />
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For those who think I’ve lost my mind, well, I’m out here trying to earn money as a writer, because my stage directing career took a dive, so thanks a lot Captain Obvious, now, either help me get ready for the big time, or stop bothering those of us who are working to make me the World’s Most Famous Author!
Comments? I know you’ve got one! Leave it! I’ll love it! Find me on Facebook, with the button below, get your own Amazon Associates account here! And I’ll be looking for all of you on my many world tours as the World’s Most Famous Author!
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-72928999289859476542017-02-22T06:54:00.003-08:002017-02-22T06:54:55.027-08:00Tracking my Promotion, Including Some Great Author Promo Tools!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Good morning fair reader! Well, the promotion is going
slowly but surely. With no list and no leadup, I managed to generate 25
downloads on the first day, and I’m looking to triple that today. So, in the
interest of giving you some ideas of how to move your book from flatline toward
the first sale, here is the anatomy of my campaign. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img alt="Mass Planner" height="120" src="https://www.massplanner.com/wp-flksdentisuz/uploads//2014/12/massplanner-logo.png" title="Mass Planner" width="640" /> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I start with
<a href="http://www.massplanner.com/">Massplanner</a> as my hub</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve mentioned it before but it’s the central pin of my
entire operation. It allows me to be promoting while I’m writing this. It gives
me the ability to create a network of “people” that share my posts and links.
It’s great. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Massplanner is an automation dashboard that works
differently than any other automation tool. It allows for the use of multiple
accounts to share content across a wide variety of social media outlets. I use
five Facebook surrogates, accounts I have logins for that allow me to post my promotional
information through them. (I didn’t tell you to make a second Facebook account,
just so we’re clear, wink wink)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These accounts are also linked into blogs, Google plus,
Pinterest and more. When I set up a campaign, one post might be shared by five
people across a half dozen platforms. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So, here were my
results from yesterday</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, you need to hack your Amazon traffic. You can’t KNOW
how many people visit your sales page, Amazon will not tell you. But, if you go
to Bitly.com you can create a custom, shortened (great for Twitter) trackable
link that will count not only the number of hits, but the sources of the traffic.
Use your Bitly link exclusively when promoting to allow you to calculate your
promotional CTR and conversion rate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I shared my promotion in 130 places yesterday,
including about 100 Facebook groups for book promos, and readers. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>From that, I got about 85 clicks on my link, so
2/3 of the groups (approximately, no way to know this for sure) earned me at
least one click, I’m sure some were more effective and some got 0. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Out of 85 clicks on my link, I earned 25
downloads, or about a 30% conversion rate, again, not bad for starting from
zero. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Promoting to lists of
locations will help you fine tune your strategy</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I create promotional lists of groups, profiles and pages that
I want to post to, that way I can see which parts of my campaign are the most
effective, so that I can repeat them again and again. The lists that don’t bear
great results can be edited and tweaked to improve the conversion rate. I also
make sure I am serving the same content to all of the lists of locations to
make sure I am comparing apples to apples. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So, how long does all
of this take?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The set up is the most time consuming part. Gaining access
to profiles you can use, then inputting them, and adding them into your promotional
groups on Facebook, Google Plus, etc, is the most time consuming part. Once
that’s done, campaigns take very little time to set up and zero time to run. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Use images whenever possible and mix them up. I
use book covers, but I also create illustrations of various aspects of the
story. Any program you use to create ads or memes will work for this, I use
photoshop. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Make your text fun, funny and engaging. Lure the
reader in. Make them want to comment, or click on your link. One line that gets
some good response for me, is to guarantee double money back on free downloads.
It always gets comments and clicks. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Whatever tool you use to automate your campaign,
input your posts and choose the locations to send them to, then start it up and
get ready to respond. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Make sure you engage
with the audience. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If someone comments, or shares your promotion, like their
comment, or post. Comment in return. Ask questions, engage them in
conversation. Posts with conversation are more likely to catch attention and
will rise to the top of the group newsfeed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Use your surrogate accounts to like and comment
on each other’s posts. You can start a conversation with yourself if you’re
creative, making it appear there is even more interest. This always draws a
crowd. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Be polite, even if someone is rude. The audience
is watching your response, if you manage to defuse a heckler, they will be on
yours side. If someone is harassing, simply delete their comments, rather than
responding in kind. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Commenting and liking also makes posts appear in
your notifications on Facebook, giving you even better tracking over the
conversation. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t be afraid to
claim credit for rankings!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amazon has split the rankings between free and paid
downloads. Don’t lie, but when you reach the top ten in ANY category, screen
capture it and promote it! People like success. They like things that are
perceived to be popular and the more you promote your success, the more others
will be willing to share and promote it too. They want to be associated with
winners. Be one!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One more tool that I
used on this campaign to date</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sign up for Copromote. It allows you to boost a Tweet or
post so that other users can retweet, or share your content. It expands your
audience and gains you new followers. I’ve only used the free version, but I
have a friend that swears by the premium version as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-63143632832913347842017-02-21T20:48:00.000-08:002017-02-21T20:48:28.257-08:00Tracking my Origin Dime Chronicles Promo, Part One<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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It was a long day, but I think I made a dent in some much
needed promotion. So, here’s what I’ve been up to. I finally came to the
conclusion that to move into a better paying platform ( Gum road, or Payhip) I
needed to leverage the audience building power of Amazon to sell enough books
to make the transition. For whatever reason, people will spend money on Amazon,
even at a slightly higher price, than on these other platforms. So, I’m moving
full bore Amazon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfocfr7ni2aQi6mY0fOr0_d3o2B8MUsbJyHJbtNgEmGT1m02Fm2HvLKdgM2dObMD04rKoWJM7wUPZRI06mP8_mcW2xV8hspEGppHkvOuVtJZBkO33rVkqiYx1oiTc0_yJJwZQqSo8aY5ht/s1600/Origin+Dime+banner+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfocfr7ni2aQi6mY0fOr0_d3o2B8MUsbJyHJbtNgEmGT1m02Fm2HvLKdgM2dObMD04rKoWJM7wUPZRI06mP8_mcW2xV8hspEGppHkvOuVtJZBkO33rVkqiYx1oiTc0_yJJwZQqSo8aY5ht/s640/Origin+Dime+banner+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the moment, I’m promoting my Origin Dime Chronicles
series, a collection of three novellas that all add up to one novel sized
collection, The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Saving the Multiverse. Through the
magic of Kindle select, I have two types of promotion at my fingertips and I’m
using them both. I can only use one for each book, so here’s what I determined
to do. First: a <a href="http://amzn.to/28NmqAp">2 day give away of “Jacked</a>” (part one of The Complete Beginner’s
Guide to Saving the Multiverse) </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, a Kindle Countdown deal on the whole enchilada!
Starting Thursday, The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Saving the Multiverse,
formerly titled All Jacked Up until I realized there was too much competition
for that name and it also said nothing about my story, for 99 cents! The hope
is that the bite sized sample of the 80 page JACKED will lure readers into the
larger purchase of The Complete Guide, for a cash price. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since Amazon stopped promoting free books, even when they
hit #1, getting a book to paid download status, is the key to getting ranked.
Also, the Kindle Countdown program has its web pages, where the countdown
volumes are listed separately for readers to find. So, what’s the benefit? Same
as the benefit of being sold in a small book store, less competition for
eyeballs! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So far, I’m up to #8 free in Time Travel scifi and hoping to
break #1! Then, when The Complete Guide moves to Kindle Countdown, I’ll shift
the second novella into free give away mode to keep the traffic coming. The
final piece of the puzzle, book three, will not go up for discount or free
giveaway, making the novel length “omnibus” containing all three novellas, the
best deal and hopefully a sure fire seller. So, while I may not make much off
the 99 cent sales, hopefully, I will move up in the rankings. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll keep you posted! Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to share
my blog if it interests you and I love comments! Like to learn more about any
phase of self-publishing? Message me at <a href="mailto:MarkRMorris2@gmail.com">MarkRMorris2@gmail.com</a>
with your questions! Thanks!</div>
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-587499619148562492017-02-21T14:51:00.002-08:002017-02-21T14:51:44.730-08:00Two Day Giveaway on Some Awesome New Scifi! Multi-verse Fans, Get it Now!Jacked Part of The Complete Beginner's Guide to Saving the Multiverse<a href="http://amzn.to/28NmqAp"> is currently on free giveaway on Amazon</a>,
today and tomorrow! This is leading up to an Amazon countdown deal on
the whole first book in the Origin Dime Chronicles! So, get the first
novella and take a free sample. You're going to love it! Then come back
on Thursday to get the novel-sized portion for 99 cents!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_17HtzfVpaj67SuVehZe0x2G72rxFLCKtMPaK9BOsZH5hCdL70wYmoUJn-E1NkPbsJNtH8fC-uSlOI0V5fwjO2hyphenhyphen63ljTxrZL62GqgDB7B6KaW1xfQrjPhfdJRAzXmlU44rUMS4kTJRzO/s1600/beginners+guide+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_17HtzfVpaj67SuVehZe0x2G72rxFLCKtMPaK9BOsZH5hCdL70wYmoUJn-E1NkPbsJNtH8fC-uSlOI0V5fwjO2hyphenhyphen63ljTxrZL62GqgDB7B6KaW1xfQrjPhfdJRAzXmlU44rUMS4kTJRzO/s640/beginners+guide+cover.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When
I write fiction, I do it to change the world, and the Origin Dime
Chronicles is no exception. Sure, it's filled with twists and turns, and
laughs and gasps, and great heroes and cool tech, but it's also going
to make you think and feel and reconsider your own existence in new
ways. So, why not check it out? You might just find your new favorite
author right here on a blog you thought was just about freelance
writing!Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-27367812266191091302016-12-07T21:55:00.003-08:002016-12-07T21:55:50.078-08:000 to 60 Book Sales in 60 Days Challenge, Day 3, IFTTT strategy. Today is day three of the challenge and I managed to accomplish a little. I got the <a href="https://gumroad.com/l/ditHg#">second podcast episode</a> up today, with some strategy for IFTTT automated syndication networks to spread your blog traffic across the web with every single post! Go check out the <a href="http://www.indiepubacademy.com/2016/12/0-to-60-book-sales-day-in-60-days.html">specific strategy for IFTT</a> and a link to an applet building tutorial, here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXmC4Bqklu-CODFnfwpefRosMP8g3DWr0zIHaraEBOK1-JWCtx5uG6qTlqg0QZ5Koat4uLOEOCwwglQUT59duXpm0RYo2txkrfvpjGCeAiUjkucAzP2iJZDUnDZwFgE4qEOAqII9G98ms/s1600/ifttt_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXmC4Bqklu-CODFnfwpefRosMP8g3DWr0zIHaraEBOK1-JWCtx5uG6qTlqg0QZ5Koat4uLOEOCwwglQUT59duXpm0RYo2txkrfvpjGCeAiUjkucAzP2iJZDUnDZwFgE4qEOAqII9G98ms/s640/ifttt_logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Following the strategy outlined in this post, you will create over 800 backlinks from your blog per year, or, blog daily and increase that to over 5000! just by posting on your blog! That's right, one time set up, and forget the rest.<br />
<br />
So, day three didn't go exactly as planned, but we are gaining some momentum, I got over 60 new Twitter followers, and was added to four large lists yesterday, just through sharing this challenge.<br />
<br />
So, I need your votes on the Gumroad.com or Payhip.com platforms to sell from. For now, I'm on Gumroad with the podcast, because the platform offers me the ability to add a file for each episode, and you can access the whole archive just by leaving an email to sign up.<br />
<br />
In addition to the Twitter followers, we gained a few likes on our Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IndiePubAcademy/">which is here</a>. Please take a moment to go like it and comment. Thanks!<br />
<br />
So, we are on our way and tomorrow I'll share some blog numbers so far and more on the IFTTT network building !Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-34887654533997869602016-12-06T20:30:00.002-08:002016-12-06T20:30:42.489-08:000 to 60 book sales in 60 days, without Amazon, day 2!60 day challenge, day 2 was a success! The first episode of the Indie Pub Academy podcast is up and <a href="https://gumroad.com/products/ditHg/edit#" target="_blank">ready for download here!</a> It was a bit of a learning curve, since I've never produced a podcast before. I do however, have a ton of audio engineering experience from my theater days, so it all came out in the end.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTwKIuTr1-LtccdpKk6ntNEK0ugwEP0IwFElXfdQcYlEcfVB2Cv3pbMfL6W-FNCcL28boSjT6oOBUPaedQtnwU7xrRpvo1NxHmehuu9Y45RausamQFU6ry9EK-7nb1Wq4uXCSllGGX2bT/s1600/drunk-1013898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTwKIuTr1-LtccdpKk6ntNEK0ugwEP0IwFElXfdQcYlEcfVB2Cv3pbMfL6W-FNCcL28boSjT6oOBUPaedQtnwU7xrRpvo1NxHmehuu9Y45RausamQFU6ry9EK-7nb1Wq4uXCSllGGX2bT/s320/drunk-1013898.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>I really wanted to get it up on Youtube</b><br />
<br />
In fact, this was my plan, from the beginning but I had a tough time finding a video editor that would do what I wanted, that I could afford on my zero budget. So, after spending the afternoon dinking around trying to solve this problem, I finally came to the realization that it wasn't a problem and I needed to launch it from one of the platforms I'm considering for the challenge, so, there it is folks, ready for download.<br />
<br />
<b>I've set the cost to $0+</b><br />
<br />
As the show progresses, I will probably add a price to access the archive, so get in early and you'll get the premium stuff for free once we get going. If you find the information helpful, or would like to support our quest, please contribute generously, every penny helps.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>So, here's what's next</b><br />
<br />
Next on my agenda for the next day or so will be setting up a syndication network for the Indie Pub Academy blog using a tool called <a href="http://ifttt.com/">IFTTT.com</a> . If you've never hear of it, you should really take a look. Not only is it free, it is the single most powerful automation tool online, and that is no exaggeration.<br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
For our purposes, I'll be setting up some relays to broadcast every post from the Indie Pub Academy blog into several dozen other platforms. I'll set up some repeater blogs, a few bookmarking sites, and some social media automation as well, so don't miss it! You'll learn a lot.<br />
<br />
By the way, if you'd like to read one of my books, they are on sale for Christmas! $0+ pricing on all volumes <a href="https://payhip.com/MarkRMorrisJr" target="_blank">on my Payhip store</a>, so check it out!<br />
<br />
If you ever have publishing, or writing questions, please leave me a comment, and don't forget to vote, <a href="https://gumroad.com/l/ditHg#">Gumroad.com</a> or <a href="https://payhip.com/MarkRMorrisJr">Pahyhip.com</a> for the 60 day challenge platform? Every comment will be entered to win a free membership in Indie Pub Academy when we go premium, so start talking! <br />
<br />Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-77497430060382095102016-12-05T21:49:00.001-08:002016-12-05T21:49:35.558-08:00Going From 0 to 60 Sales a Day Without Using Amazon, in 60 Days! Can I do it?I'm frustrated. Amazon is a cool site, don't get me wrong, but when it comes to selling books, there are some serious drawbacks and other platforms can help fix them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFzWvSkzyvkGPKudRDOcYyfT9Ge7uxN2dVfleqmT9DbYckDQxWCf6HnXc2m2rYUFPn6jblZaeBkiKwqdOe-YBoINxEvK9OkUaqVqYhrnaBT6U9kiGt991ncPHd8eKXY24FRY1jLEEo6nH/s1600/books+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFzWvSkzyvkGPKudRDOcYyfT9Ge7uxN2dVfleqmT9DbYckDQxWCf6HnXc2m2rYUFPn6jblZaeBkiKwqdOe-YBoINxEvK9OkUaqVqYhrnaBT6U9kiGt991ncPHd8eKXY24FRY1jLEEo6nH/s640/books+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Low commission, the best you EVER get is 70%, and that's if it sells on Amazon, and it's priced right!</li>
<li>No analytics, so you have no clue how well your offers are converting, no traffic numbers, equals flying blind. </li>
<li>No contact information, your buyers are really Amazon's buyers, unless you convert them to a mailing list. </li>
<li>Changes are complicated, discounts are limited, and giveaways are extremely controlled. </li>
</ol>
So, I am launching a new challenge. I want to take my books and sell 60 copies a day on a platform other than Amazon. The first thing I'm going to do is choose a platform. I've narrowed it down to two choices, and I'd love your opinion!<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Payhip.com, instant commissions, earn 90% on every sale, super simple uploading and changes, price changes, give aways, coupons, affiliates and more. </li>
<li>Gumroad.com commissions paid weekly, more advanced interface, with product selections based on keywords, and a market place where they share your content with shoppers. </li>
</ol>
So, which one would you choose, and why? Leave me a comment, today is Tuesday, by Monday I need to decide which one I'm going to use, so add your comment and find me on Facebook to talk more about it.<br />
<br />
For more details of the challenge, my rules, what part you can play, and more, check out my latest post on <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1302084977139295874#editor/target=post;postID=2862130927883273720;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname" target="_blank">Indie Pub Academy</a>. Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-33282703658520031132016-12-02T17:14:00.000-08:002016-12-02T17:14:16.762-08:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV7h_9XeDRQTKsYv7xW-TDU4qKDWW-cOkoSgG-7SDcukV0wkiPya-zKelUnxpUEZNDh6HzT_6ly3nj6eWEPF9LlRBPOFE3L1DbDIkPYwsTfzqW-MJ-y8yvhA-T8RQbQwCWCq87Wlglk1u/s1600/Future+You+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV7h_9XeDRQTKsYv7xW-TDU4qKDWW-cOkoSgG-7SDcukV0wkiPya-zKelUnxpUEZNDh6HzT_6ly3nj6eWEPF9LlRBPOFE3L1DbDIkPYwsTfzqW-MJ-y8yvhA-T8RQbQwCWCq87Wlglk1u/s320/Future+You+cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://payhip.com/b/yaL9" target="_blank">Buy the book</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338838153793914537.post-18991188832810335872016-12-01T08:23:00.001-08:002016-12-01T08:23:21.961-08:00I Found a Really Cool Indie Pub Book! You Won't Believe What's in It!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When it comes to Indie Publishing, you have got to find a
way to stand out from the crowd, really make people pay attention. We live in a
post-consumer age now, and we are really on the edge of developing an almost
entirely attention driven economy, where those that have, get more and those
that have no audience, shrivel up and blow away! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU9LEtiKwqF5-yC6IFjvYNRctZcs-VzXOrGqQVNWNjadRDGUrGlGw3Ab7YiMw1304XtuM5Un-Y-HhwE6F9hfVRK2rsPkHuvFduv1cjDqbYMQp-5LtVNQIuAPN7XDKhXPTi0tf_5bn90Q1/s1600/Future+You+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU9LEtiKwqF5-yC6IFjvYNRctZcs-VzXOrGqQVNWNjadRDGUrGlGw3Ab7YiMw1304XtuM5Un-Y-HhwE6F9hfVRK2rsPkHuvFduv1cjDqbYMQp-5LtVNQIuAPN7XDKhXPTi0tf_5bn90Q1/s640/Future+You+cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not about talent, or substance, it’s about style. It’s
about making people want to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be a part of
something. Involving them in an “experience!” right? So, in book marketing, how
do you achieve that? Well, in my searching recently, I stumbled across this
Indie Pub genius, who calls themselves “Future You” and has put out one book so
far, <a href="https://payhip.com/b/yaL9">“A Message From Your Future Self”.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s going viral!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last I checked, the social media tools I use said over 15,000 people had shared or liked it so far, and the number keeps going up. Well, when I
saw it, it was on a friend’s Twitter and I asked her what was in it,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but she would not tell me. So, finally, I
broke down and bought it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here’s what I
learned!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, I’m not going to tell you what’s in it, it’s
inspirational, that’s all I’ll say, and it was a really great little read. But,
I’m going to play Future You’s game and go along with it, for now. Why? Because
I like what they’re doing and they are standing out from the crowd with
something unique. There are no sales pitches, nothing to keep this chain going,
just a simple, inspirational book. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They got under my
skin!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to bed, and started thinking about it again. I wish I
could show you the order page,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but I
didn’t screen capture it, it must have been three in the morning when I broke
down and ordered this book and I’m glad I did. It really did speak to me, but
mostly for the simplicity of the marketing the boldness of the message!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kudos to Future You!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well done, whoever you are, and if you get the book, and
find out, don’t tell me. Of course, if it was really my future self sending a
message back, I’ll know eventually, right? LOL</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://When it comes to Indie Publishing, you have got to find a way to stand out from the crowd, really make people pay attention. We live in a post-consumer age now, and we are really on the edge of developing an almost entirely attention driven economy, where those that have, get more and those that have no audience, shrivel up and blow away! It’s not about talent, or substance, it’s about style. It’s about making people want to be a part of something. Involving them in an “experience!” right? So, in book marketing, how do you achieve that? Well, in my searching recently, I stumbled across this Indie Pub genius, who calls themselves “Future You” and has put out one book so far, “A Message From Your Future Self”. It’s going viral! The last I checked, the social media tools I use said over 10,000 people had shared it so far, and the number keeps going up. Well, when I saw it, it was on a friend’s Twitter and I asked her what was in it, but she would not tell me. So, finally, I broke down and bought it. Here’s what I learned! First, I’m not going to tell you what’s in it, it’s inspirational, that’s all I’ll say, and it was a really great little read. But, I’m going to play Future You’s game and go along with it, for now. Why? Because I like what they’re doing and they are standing out from the crowd with something unique. There are no sales pitches, nothing to keep this chain going, just a simple, inspirational book. They got under my skin! I went to bed, and started thinking about it again. I wish I could show you the order page, but I didn’t screen capture it, it must have been three in the morning when I broke down and ordered this book and I’m glad I did. It really did speak to me, but mostly for the simplicity of the marketing the boldness of the message! Kudos to Future You! Well done, whoever you are, and if you get the book, and find out, don’t tell me. Of course, if it was really my future self sending a message back, I’ll know eventually, right? LOL Here’s the link. " target="_blank">Here’sthe link.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Mark R Morris Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18131827107628951443noreply@blogger.com0