THIEVES IN THE WRITING WORLD
Posted by Jo-Anne Vandermeulen on February 24, 2009
Are reader thieves stealing your ideas?
Are traditional publishing trends going the same direction as the large music companies?
Why are these two long-standing successful enterprises in serious trouble?
Ah, the days when I’d enter a music store and purchase a CD (or in my teenage days, a record). Hopping into the next store, I’d purchase a book. (Nothing like curling up on the couch and listening to my tunes while reading an all time favorite.)
Not anymore…
The music is accessible FREE and all the information I need is at my fingertips, glaring at me from my laptop screen. Great for the consumer, but what about the producer? How does a musician or writer not starve if all their material is up for the taking at no cost?
***Both the music and literature industries have discovered they can ‘Conquer All Obstacles‘ ***
Opening internal exposure will keep their products selling. Whether we are talking about CD’s or books, the items are out there for the taking. Musicians and Authors have learned to turn to other techniques to make money in return for their hard work and talent.
Solution for Writers: A Writer Can Generate An Income
1.) Traditional bookstores – Dedicated and faithful fans will still buy your hardcover.
2.) Online bookstores – Over a billion Internet users today. Massive exposure has never been as grand. You must purchase promotional packages or be prepared to spend the time and energy becoming your own marketeer.
3.) Join the rapidly changing technology world – Internet promotion through blogging, licensing your name/books to advertisers, and publishing your own. This is not all bad. Look at this as an opportunity…you will reap greater financial benefits with less pockets open for the taking.
Writers must look at the music industry for ideas. How are musicians handling less compensation for their songs? Every day, their songs are swiped from Napster. Every second, their work easily downloaded by eager teenagers.
Writers must expose themselves to the world wide web. Are you prepared to become a sales person and advertise yourself and your books?
The Facts:
1.) Learn advertising techniques and familiarize yourself with technology. Can you see your content supporting someone else’s products so you can sell your books? All takes a changed frame of mind. You will have to expect time consuming and labor intensive work to take over your writing time and efforts. Are you prepared?
2.) Develop a relationship with your online community. Give away recommendations and solve your readers’ problems. Assist in high-quality content that the consumer finds valuable.
3.) Direct your readers ty teaching them methods they are searching for. You become a mentor–someone they follow. These dedicated fans will want everything you have to offer. This is when your books will sell.
4.) “The Law of Reciprocity” - Your fans trust you and see you as a friend who is helping their lives become better. They respect and support you. They are grateful and want to honor the work YOU have given them.
***You can ‘conquer all obstacles’ and sell your books. You will reap the rewards , more than you could ever imagine. No more accepting 6% profitable income for your books. No more delving out large portions to your publishers and agents. Now, you can control everything! You write, publish, promote, and sell your own books. That means money in your pockets instead of someone else. YOU CAN DO IT!
Other Interesting Sites
mlgreen8753 said
Learning advertising techniques like article marketing and video advertising will do wonders for any type of career. That’s a valuable lesson I learned after learning about sites like Adwido and social networking sites.