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Writing and Selling Ebooks Online: Diary of My Quest to Publish 50 Ebooks on Amazon in One Year, Part VIII

July 26, 2011

In the last post in this ebook writing series, I told you about how I’d published 13 titles on Amazon. Well now, I’m up to 16 – and I plan to add at least two more this week. FYI, sprinkled throughout this post are some photos (click to see larger views).

Note: See links to all entries in this ebook writing series at the end of this post.

I want to touch on two things this week: (i) a question from an aspiring ebook writer (that I hope you may be able to lend some insight to); and (ii) my ebook writing progress in this “Quest for 50” this week.

Questions from an Aspiring Ebook Writer

A couple of weeks ago, I received a long email from an aspiring ebook writer with a few questions. He wrote:

Hi Yuwanda,

I am so glad I came across Inkwell Editorial last week and want you to know that I have taken your wisdom to heed. There are a few items that surfaced in my mind which I’d like to ask you for help with. First, have you written anything on copywriting? I’d writing my first fiction novel (a transfer from a screenplay I wrote ages ago, which is actually taking a new life of its own) and have no copywrite as of yet. Can I simply tag it with a copywrite claim on the bottom pages, like in your ebook, or must I fill out a form and mail it to Big Brother?

Second, I’ve decided to use a pen name (he mentioned pen name) so that I can maintain some privacy should I actually achieve some level of popularity. That being the case, I am once again concerned with formalities. Does one need to file a form with the government to have a pen name? Any help with these housekeeping items will be greatly appreciated.

And lastly, I am already working on chapter three of my romance novel and have considered loading my first two chapters on Amazon and the other sites to sell for $0.99 each. However, I’m uncertain because I kinda want to have the book complete and polished before releasing anything. But at the same time, I think that releasing it chapter by chapter may very well entice readers to continue buying subsequent chapters as a sort of mini-series in print. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks in advance for your replies and for such great work you’ve done!
Cheers!

My Reply

I answered some of his questions in a quickly fired-off email, ie:

Welcome to InkwellEditorial.com; I too am glad you found us on the web.

As for your questions, a lot of what you’re looking for can be found simply by doing Google searches.
I’ve written on copyright protection (an ebook) and pen names before.

Here’s the post on whether or not to use a pen name as a writer.

Here’s the ebook on copyright protection/copyright infringement.

I’ll address the part about publishing your book in parts in my post in the ebook writing series on Friday. FYI, I’m not a fiction writer, so do a Google search and find the blog of a fiction writer you like and follow their advice.

Again, almost anything you want to know about self publishing can be found online. All it takes is some digging.

Ebook Writing: Insights about If You Should You Sell Chapters Separately on Amazon

I never got around to answering the part about selling chapters separately, so here goes.

First, I’m a non-fiction, “how to” writer. Hence, I have no experience with publishing ebooks in separate parts (ie, chapter by chapter), other than doing pullouts (an ideal way to make more money writing fewer ebooks by the way).

I think I read somewhere that Stephen King did something like this a few years ago – to great success. But, he’s friggin’ Stephen King! He could probably publish the alphabet letter by letter and make a mint.

In my opinion, this can be an uphill battle for an unknown author, simply because you can get whole ebooks for way cheap — 99 cents to $2.99 – from very famous and very well-known authors (eg, JA Konrath).

Hence, you can’t compete on price, which leaves your “writing.” But if no one knows you, it’s that much more difficult for them to discover you (eg, give you a try) if they can buy whole books from other unknowns for so little.

But again, take my opinion with a grain of salt. I’m no fiction writer and know very little about the genre.

The one good thing about self-publishing ebooks via Amazon is that you can change your pricing as often as you like. So, it doesn’t “cost” you anything to give it a shot.

There’s a first for everything – and you just might be the first author to sell one million “ebook chapters,” instead of selling one million ebooks, like author John Locke.

Following are some links to further insight on this:

Prix Fixe vs. A la Carte Publishing: What’s the Upside for Authors?

Discussion Forum on Selling Books Chapter by Chapter

Do you have an additional insight on this? Have you published an ebook chapter by chapter? Know someone who has? Please leave comments below so everyone can benefit from your sharing.

My Ebook Writing Progress Last Week

To recap briefly, last week, I finished the ebook, How to Create Ebook Covers for Less than $5 and uploaded it. Then, I created a cover for an existing title (the SEO writing ebook) and uploaded it.

This past Sunday, I finished How to Sell Ebooks Online via e-Junkie and Set Up an Ebook Affiliate Program (I get quite a few questions about this, my ebook upload service, so thought it was an appropriate title), and uploaded it.

Remember, my goal is to finish at least one new title per week and upload it by Sunday. I was tired as all get out, but I was determined not to let the day go by without uploading a title – and I didn’t.

In My Bathing Suit — In Jamaica – But My Butt Didn’t Hit “a Drap” of Water; NOT. . . ONE. . . DRAP!

Sunday is family day here in Negril, and many head to the beach. And, that was my plan too. My sister and I suited up, packed our beach bags and headed to the next little town over (Little London) to look at some pre-fabricated cottages.

A Home in Jamaica for Less Than $10,000?

As an aside, my sister is looking for a piece of land to buy here because this is where she wants to retire and you can get a pre-manufactured wood cottage for just a few thousand dollars. You have to add on and build out the kitchens and baths, but for literally less than $10,000 you can have a cute-as-a-button, paid-for home here in Negril (not including the cost of the land, of course).

But, I digress . . .

After getting back from Little London, we went to a hotel/restaurant on the beach, had some lunch and planned to work “for a few hours” before spending the rest of the day swimming, gazing at the fine brothers on the beach while yakking and drinking Red Stripe (the national beer of Jamaica).

Well, neither one of our butts hit a drap of water! Not one drap! (I’m from the south and that’s how older people tend to say “drop” of water; they say “drap” instead of “drop”).

I’m talking, I we remained dry as the Sahara Desert. Oh yeah, we could see the ocean – we were working in the restaurant overlooking it – but we didn’t even step on the sand (my sister is a writer too).

But, I had to finish – and so did she (to get her manuscript off to that Broadway producer I told you about meeting here).

Ebook Writing Goes On: My Next Title (Wanna Move to Jamaica?)

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about living in Jamaica since I started the whole Girl a Go Go series about my life here – so I’m putting together an ebook about how to move to Jamaica (Negril) for at least three months.

I’ll talk money, renting, utilities, what to expect – and a whole bunch of other pertinent stuff.

If you want to Live the Freelance Life!, Jamaica is a good place to start because it’s affordable. And, three months is enough time to really assess if this is a place you’d like to live more permanently; also, if you’re not a resident, you have to leave the country every 90 days, so that’s why I’m focusing on this time period. I’ll be VERY specific, so you won’t have any surprises if this is something you want to do.

Note: I’m gonna start updating the Girl a Go Go series again soon. I lost the USB port to my digital camera, so couldn’t transfer photos / videos to my computer. I have one again now, so am able to do this and will start updating the series again semi-regularly.

Lessons about Ebook Writing Learned This Week

Time – Use It or Lose It: A friend of mine told me this week that she finally finished a book she started writing over 20 years ago. She finished it in about two weeks. She said, “You know what Yuwanda, you just have to sit down and write and write and write.”

This is what it takes to get a book done – nothing more, nothing less. And, as more than half this year is gone already, boy do I realize it, which brings me to my second observation . . .

Unplug: I didn’t log onto Twitter all day yesterday and did very little work. I had some errands to do; that was part of it, but the main reason is I needed to unplug for a minute and recharge. I’d worked for two weeks straight without a “day off” and I was mentally exhausted (writing is hard work – don’t let anyone tell you any different).

There’s only so much you can go, go, go before you burn out. So it’s important to take breaks. They’re every bit as important as getting your “ebook writing word count” in every day.

Dreams are Exhausting: Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to give up on this whole ebook writing quest? Tons. Because until the end of the year, I know what my days (and nights, and evenings and a helluva lot of weekends) are going to look like.

So I’ve tried to talk myself out of it by saying stuff like:

“You’ve published more in a month than most ever will in a lifetime, so why push yourself,” or

“You can spread this goal out over two years instead of one;”

Along with a whole bunch of other excuses.

But that’s the thing about dreams – if you want to achieve them, you have to push yourself (at least in my opinion).

I’ve never worked so hard in my life as I have these last few months – but you know what, it’s also rewarding – and makes me realize that most of us are so much more capable than we ever dare push ourselves to achieve.

What dreams are you leaving on the table, and if you’re a writer, how many words have you written today?

Happy Writing!
Yuwanda

Freelance Writing Ecourse: This Online Class Teaches You How to Become a Successful Freelance Writer

July 25, 2011

[See all Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Titles]

How would you like to earn $100, $150, $200/day or more working from home as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor? Thousands are — and you can too!

If you can read and write, and are willing to work hard, you can make a very comfortable living working from home as an editorial freelancer.

Easy Internet Riches

 If you’re looking for an easy way to make money, this course is not for you. This is a REAL work-from-home opportunity.

You will not make $5,000 in 30 days and you will work more than one hour a day.

If you can make $100, $150, $200/day or more, why aren’t more doing it? Simply put, because they don’t know how and/or don’t believe it’s possible. Many turn to the internet looking for easy money, which most eventually discover doesn’t exist.

Quite frankly, this career will probably not make you rich. Although there are those who routinely make $100K or more per year.

There’s no “secret to success” and no magic plan that will bring in thousands. It’s just plain and simple hard work, referrals and repeat clients that lead to success. No more, no less.

This course will show you how to get clients and referrals — hence, achieving success.

A Way to Have a Life Again

What this career provides is a way to have a life. You get to spend more time with friends and family, more time in the comfort of your home, feel less stressed and gain a sense of satisfaction in your career.

And, it can save you money — on commuting, dry cleaning, daycare expenses, vehicle maintenance, lunch, etc. All of these are expenses associated with working away from home.

Imagine how different your days would be if you could work from home? No fighting rush hour traffic, rushing to drop the kids off at daycare, squeezing everything in on the weekends (eg, household chores; grocery shopping; errands; preparing clothes, lunches and synchronizing schedules for the upcoming work week; etc.).

By the time you do all of this, Monday is here again and you don’t feel like you ever have time to really just enjoy life because your job dominates even your time off.

It simply doesn’t have to be this way.

Make $30,000 to $50,000/Year Pretty Seamlessly

The demand is such that if you’re willing to put in the work, you can make a great living comparable to most jobs that pay $30,000, $40,000 or $50,000/year. If you put in the work, you will reap the rewards — guaranteed!

Replace Your Current Job – Make a Full- or Part-time Living as a Freelancer

There are experienced freelance writers, editors, copywriters and copy editors who make $100,000 or more per year — every year. You have to build up to this, but if you’re the average Joe pulling in $30-$50K, this is a career that can easily replace your current job.

A Career for the “Every Day” Person

Age is not a barrier, income is not a barrier and education is not a barrier. If you can read and write, you can start this career.

The best thing about it — it’s a career you can have for years to come. A computer and a willingness to learn basic marketing is about all you need to succeed. With no physical limitations, you don’t have to “retire” if you don’t want to.

The best part of this career? The longer you’re in it, the more clients you get, the busier you become and the more money you make.

You can start slow with no risk because there’s no office space to rent, equipment to buy or certifications to get. You simply decide — and you’re in business.

Work from Anywhere

With a little guidance, which this course provides in painstaking detail, you’ll be well on you way to building a career that you can do from anywhere. The beauty of working as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor is that almost all of your work is done remotely — via email and/or fax.

Work from the Beach in Jamaica

In the spring of 2010, I fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams — to live abroad. I moved to Negril, Jamaica for what was supposed to be one year. But, I now make an  lifestyle out of it — living part-time in the states (I’m American) and part-time in Negril. I work at internet cafes overlooking the ocean, when I’m not on the balcony of my little studio apartment.

It’s a nice life — one you can have also as a “traveling” freelance writer. With a laptop, you can literally turn in projects from around the world!

About The Class

I hate to even describe this as a class, an e-course, etc., because it is so much more. This is a “hands-on, taught from almost two decades of experience, with a detailed, samples-provided-every-step-of-the-way, map to success!”

What’s included in this five part e-course? What will you learn?

You get:

√Personal feedback on your marketing plan (this will make or break your success as a freelancer)

√Sample sales letters

√Sample calling scripts

√The benefit of my experience as an employer and employee in the editorial industry (having been on both sides of the desk, I give insight into what you should and should not be doing to increase your chances of landing a client)

√First-hand information on which low and no-cost marketing methods to use (I’ve tried them all; I’ll tell you where to concentrate your efforts for the most effective use of your time and dollars)

√A marketing calendar (you’ll know EXACTLY what you should be doing every week to steadily bring in clients)

√Tips on on- and offline tools you should use on a regular basis to bring in consistent business

√Suggestions on how to choose a niche market that’s right for you

√Advice on how to market to your chosen niche market (templates of marketing materials will be included so that all you will have to do is plug in your business name and contact information)

√Formulas for figuring out a profitable pricing schedule

√Limited time? This course will show you how to work a limited number of hours, but still attain your financial goals

√Ideas on how to make money from more than just your primary skill

√Knowledge to get repeat clients who will use your services for years to come

√Instruction on how to set up an automatic referral system so that you can count on repeat business

√Mental tips and tricks – 90% of every obstacle is mental. If you can master this hurdle, you can get through anything. The work (10%) is easy. Getting over the mentality of “I can’t/this is hard/I’m giving up, etc.” is what keeps most of us from achieving goals.

I will share with you some techniques that I use on a regular basis to help break the ever-recurring “I can’t” mindset. How do I know they work?

On Thanksgiving Day 2006, I ran my first marathon after having been a runner for over 20 years, never passing the 12-mile mark. When I first set a marathon as my goal, I was scared to death that I would never be able to run that far (26.2 miles).

Hard work (the easy part) and mental toughness is what got me through. And, you know what? It was easier (I didn’t say easy, I said easier) than I ever imagined it would be. Not only did I finish, but I ran the whole thing and did it in 20 minutes less than my target time! And, as of November 2010, I’ve completed four more half marathons!

Trust me, developing mental toughness is as vital to your freelance success as your writing skill.

√Much more — which is impossible to detail here.

 

 

FREE E-BOOKS (with the purchase of this course, you get 7 of InkwellEditorial’s e-books), which are:

 How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer (Reg. $9.95; your cost – FREE!): Straight from the source — Editors, Human Resources Professionals, Managing Editors & Editorial Directors Contributed Valuable Knowledge on How to Get Your Foot in the Door; Skills They Seek & Much More! Read an excerpt.

Advice from Successful Editorial Freelancers (Reg. $9.95; your cost – FREE!).

Get the benefit of first-hand advice from other freelancers! Stories of real editorial freelancers divulging how they got started; why they decided to go out on their own; how they acquire clients — and more. College students, single moms and various professionals all contributed. Read an excerpt.

Medical Editing/Copyediting: An Overview (Reg. $4.95; your cost – FREE!).

Have you ever wondered: 1) How to break into medical editing/copyediting?; 2) How much can I expect to make?; What skills do I need?; What is a typical day like? Editors & Copy Editors with 5-15+ years of experience contributed. Read an excerpt!

How to Get Your Biz on the Web Quickly & Affordably (Reg. $9.95; your cost – FREE!): An Easy-to-Follow Guide in Plain English for Those New to Internet Terminology & Web Technology. Be on the Web in less than a week — really! It’s easy to learn how to get your biz on the Web. Read an excerpt.

The Small Biz Owner’s Complete Marketing Kit! (Reg. $24.95; your cost – FREE!): No matter what type of business you have, you must market to be successful. In this guide, 7 free & low-cost, easy-to-implement methods are discussed. Learn how to increase sales w/very little or no money (samples included every step of the way). Read an unsolicited testimonial.

From Startup to Success (Reg. $3.95; your cost – FREE!): In this in-depth report I answer such questions as how I acquired my first clients, what I did when I lost my biggest client two months after quitting my job, how I financed my first business — and more! Additionally, I outline 7 tips for aspiring & existing entrepreneurs. Read an excerpt.

The Truth about Participating in Surveys & Focus Groups (Reg. $3.95; your cost – FREE!): First-hand details of one participant’s account of making $150 in two hours. Learn what happened, is it a viable opportunity, qualifications necessary — and more! Before you spend $25, $30, $40 or more for this type of opportunity, read this informative report.

To paraphrase my mother, “If you want to do something, find someone who’s already doing it and copy them.” Nothing is more helpful than first-hand advice from a trusted source.

What Makes This E-Course Different from Others

Personal Experience: This course is based on my personal success. Some jobs I got in what might be called a normal fashion; most I did not.

While there are many online writing courses you could take, there are two things you should always look for — a) honesty/trustworthiness/integrity; and b) experience from the person giving the course.

Integrity: If you’re a regular reader at InkwellEditorial.com, you know that I tend to be pretty straightforward.

Via my directness, I trust that a sense of honesty (hence, trustworthiness comes through). I relay personal scenarios so that you can learn first-hand what to do, and perhaps more importantly, what NOT to do.

As a matter of fact, before you sign up, I implore you to spend some time going through the site to get a feel for what I’m like and more vitally, what my experience is. Speaking of experience . . .

Professional Experience: I’ve been around a while and am not going anywhere. I’ve been in publishing since 1987, started freelancing in 1993 and ran an editorial staffing agency in New York from 1996-2004.

I’ve been on both sides of the hiring desk in the editorial industry — so I know what employers are thinking, looking for and what is more likely to get you hired.

There are just certain mistakes that you’re going to make unless and/or until someone tells you why AND how to avoid them. Being a business owner (I’ve owned two) added so much more to my freelancing than being a publishing professional. In this course, you’ll capitalize on this knowledge.

The Technology Factor: My company has been in business since 1996; and its website has been around since 1999 (for better or worse!).

Although I freely admit that I am not the most technologically savvy person around, I do keep abreast enough to be able to market effectively.

The reason this is important is because most, if not all, of your work will be done remotely. You must, must, must be able to navigate the online world to effective as a freelance writer.

The most important reason being a little tech savvy is important — marketing to clients. How can you effectively pitch a client on using you to write their web copy when you don’t know how to write your own?

Freelance writers, editors, copy editors and copywriters must be more than proficient wordsmiths; they must be effective on- and offline marketers. Not only for themselves, but to be able to educate clients (which makes a difference in how much clients are willing to pay you).

Proactivity: This course is for those who want to make a sustainable living from freelancing. To that end, it is PROACTIVE. Many courses are reactive, eg, query and wait. This course sets a plan for you to follow day in and day out — you’re actively marketing all the time.

Target Market: I target the business community — not magazines (where you have to query and wait for months to get paid); freelance job sites (where the competition is so stiff and the pay so low that it’s not an effective use of your time); or tell you to subscribe to popular writing e-zines, magazines, etc. to get jobs.

Location: Whether you live in a small town, or a cosmopolitan city, it won’t matter. You can take the skills you acquire in this course and apply them from anywhere.

Work: If you’re not prepared to do the work (which is not hard, but is in-depth), then this course is not for you. Freelance writing is hard work — and I don’t mean work on projects. I mean work to bring in the projects (eg, marketing). But, once you know how to do this — it makes getting jobs so much easier.

Personal Consultation: I will personally review each participant’s marketing plan and give advice/feedback.

Psychographics: This is simply how people think; what makes them tick. One thing being an entrepreneur has taught me is that people buy based on feeling, not price or experience or education.

In the course, I will explain why this is important and how you can use it to bring in more business.

If you’re really serious about finally making it as a freelance writer, you won’t find a better course than this. I just can’t say it more succinctly.

I hope to see you enrolled and wish you a prosperous freelance career!

ENROLL NOW!

Click here to read instructor biography.

Enrollment: Upon successful enrollment, you will receive an email from PayPal (Inkwell Editorial’s payment processor of choice), which is your receipt for the class. Please keep this for your records (remember, it is a tax write-off).

Class Procedure: The class is dispensed in five sections. You will receive them all at once. You can work at your own leisure – that’s the beauty of email – to a degree.

The marketing portion of the course must be completed no later than two weeks after you sign up. Why? Because I personally review this section of your course – giving you valuable feedback on what might possibly need to be changed, added, deleted, etc. to make it more effective.

Warning! My feedback is extensive. In some cases, it’s run to 12 pages. But, you’ll know exactly what you need to improve on so you can start landing writing jobs.

If you don’t want to take advantage of this free consultation, you can complete the course at your leisure.

All correspondence will be answered by me – and only me – during the course of the class. I will correspond to all inquiries within 24 hours (usually much less, as I’m online practically all the time).

To your freelance success,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Free E-Book for Course Participants Only: 7 Benefits of Hiring a Freelance Writer. You can use this as a free giveaway to potential clients, use it as an incentive to build your subscriber list and/or as a free marketing tool to entice seminar, workshop and/or classroom subscribers. (Delivered at end of course.)

P.P.S.: The #1 Benefit of this e-book: Helping you realize the value you bring to clients — and helping you to get paid for it!

P.P.P.S.: Have an aspiring/struggling/want-to-be freelancer in your life? This course makes a great gift.

Whether you want to start freelance writing to make extra money, embark on a new career, or get to the next level as a freelancer, this course is the best gift you can get — or give!

REGISTER NOW!

Refund Policy: As this is an in-depth web course for which material cannot be returned, no refunds are offered.

How to Sell Ebooks Online via e-Junkie and Set Up an Ebook Affiliate Program

July 24, 2011

PREFACE

I decided to write this ebook for two reasons:

(i) Because I’ve had several people offer to pay me to upload their ebooks to e-Junkie. While I love the site, their setup can be a bit intimidating when you first log on and start to maneuver around in it, so I understand why someone would pay to have it done; and

(ii) My ebooks sales sucked until I signed on with e-Junkie (sorry to be so blunt, but it’s the truth).

 Only $9.95! [See all Inkwell Editorial Titles that Help You Live the Freelance Life!]

Why My Ebook Sales Sucked When I Published My First One in 2004

Even though I published my first ebook in 2004, I didn’t sign up with e-Junkie until 2008. What took me so long?

Well, let’s back up a minute so you can get a full picture of how my ebook writing/publishing career unfolded.

How I Became an Almost Full-Time Ebook Writer / Self Publisher

My first ebook was entitled, How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer. I published it because I owned/operated an editorial staffing agency in New York City at the time and freelancers that my firm hired kept wanting to know how to do it (freelance) – fulltime.

They’d ask questions like what employers look for in freelancers; how much they could expect to be paid; how to find companies that wanted to hire freelancers; etc. As the primary recruiter for my company, I got these questions all the time. So, I wrote an ebook that answered them.

The ebook was very “unofficial;” it didn’t have a cover and it wasn’t offered via automatic download. I just wrote it in Word, converted it to a pdf file and uploaded it to my company’s site (InkwellEditorial.com, the same site that’s been online since 1999).

I didn’t expect many sales – and I didn’t get many either! During those days, I was lucky to make a few sales per month. One of the reasons for this is you had to order, then wait for me to email you the ebook.

Even though I offered a 24-hour turnaround time, this obviously cost me sales.

But, that all changed around 2008/2009. It was around this time that I realized self-publishing was the career path I wanted to pursue fulltime eventually (because my income from it was growing steadily).

Right then and there, I knew I had to “get professional” on all fronts about it (from creating professional ebook covers to offering immediate downloads).

Going from Selling a Few Ebooks a Month to a Half Dozen or More Per Day

One day while surfing the web, I came upon the story of an ebook writer who’d sold close to $3,000 of an ebook in a few weeks that was very similar in subject matter to mine (it was about freelance writing).

I hadn’t sold that much of my ebook in a whole year – and I’d published mine years earlier!

So I looked into what this author did differently, and one of the things that immediately stood out was that she offered automatic downloads (via e-Junkie).

I think I signed up with e-Junkie that same day – and haven’t looked back since. Once I did, my ebooks sales IMMEDIATELY improved.

“I went from selling a few ebooks per month to a few per week. Nowadays, I log daily sales; it’s rare that I go 24 hours without making an ebook sale.”

I routinely sell half a dozen or more a day – just from my site (InkwellEditorial.com). That doesn’t include sales from Amazon (where I have 15 titles as of this writing) and Clickbank, where I just have just one ebook listed.

Why Instant Download Is Critical to Making Money Selling Ebooks Online

As my story illustrates, offering buyers the ability to immediately download their purchase is extremely important to making ebook sales. Within I discuss the main reasons – in my opinion and experience – that instant downloads are important.

Following is a complete Table of Contents of this ebook.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Page 3

PREFACE, Page 5

Why My Ebook Sales Sucked When I Published My First One in 2004, Page 6

How I Became an Almost Full-Time Ebook Writer / Self Publisher, Page 6

Going from Selling a Few Ebooks a Month to a Half Dozen or More Per Day, Page 7

Why Instant Download Is Critical to Making Money Selling Ebooks Online, Page 7

PART I: WHAT IS E-JUNKIE, Page 9

FAQs about Selling Ebooks Online via E-Junkie, Page 9

PART II: FILES TO PREPARE BEFORE YOU UPLOAD YOUR EBOOK TO E-JUNKIE, Page 11

Free PDF Software: How to Turn Your Ebook into a Secured .Pdf File for $0, Page 14

Preparing Your Ebook Files to Upload to E-Junkie: Important Tip to Remember, Page 14

PART III: HOW TO UPLOAD AN EBOOK TO E-JUNKIE, Page 16

Uploading Ebooks to E-Junkie: Conclusion, Page 31

Ebook Uploading Tip, Page 31

PART IV: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN E-JUNKIE STORE AND AN EBOOK STORE ON YOUR WEBSITE, Page 35

My Internet Business Stalker, Page 35

The Importance of Giving Buyers Multiple Ways to Purchase Your E-Products, Page 36

PART V: HOW TO SET UP YOUR E-JUNKIE AFFILIATE PROGRAM, Page 37

E-Junkie Affiliate Program FAQs, Page 42

Is it worth it to set up an affiliate program for my ebooks? Page 42

Over $1,600 in Ebook Sales in Just Two Weeks, Page 43

PART VI: TIPS FOR SELLING MORE EBOOKS VIA EJUNKIE, Page 45

A Note about Digital Thieves, Page 48

How to Block Digital Thieves from Buying Your Ebooks on E-Junkie, Page 48

PART VII: SELLING EBOOKS ON E-JUNKIE – CONCLUSION, Page 50

ENDMATTER, Page 51

P.S.: Ok, I’m ready to start selling  my ebooks on e-Junkie!

 Only $9.95! [See all Inkwell Editorial Titles that Help You Live the Freelance Life!]

A Freelance Writer Has Her First $400 Day within a Month of Doing This: How She Did It – And You Can Too!

July 19, 2011

If you’re a long-time reader of this blog, you may remember “SEO Mary.” She was the SEO writer who allowed us to follow her journey as she went about building a freelance writing career as an SEO writer. To keep her anonymous – so she could share her ups, downs and in-betweens with us as honestly as she wanted to, I gave her that name for the series.

Note: See links to all posts in this series below. 

Meet Cold-Calling Carol: How She Had Her First $400 Day as a Freelance Writer

Well meet “Cold Calling Carol.” She’s the freelancer who’s been sharing her successes (and not too many) failures with us as she drums up freelance writing work during these slow summer months via cold calling. Having never done it before, she’s having some killer success.

Even though neither one of us foresaw turning this into a series, that’s what’s happened. In this post, the fourth in the series, she writes to tell me that she had her first $400 day as a freelance writer — and I answer some questions she sent in.

Cold Calling Carol’s Latest Post

Hello Yuwanda,

Great to see that you enjoyed your (4^th of July) holiday. (Even , if you were working   I hope you don’t mind me giving you an update.  Well, this is kind of an update and a question, hopefully it will be beneficial to your readers.  I  met my daily quota of $400 today!   And that was a result of my cold calling    (Emphasis added)

Speaking of cold calling, it took me an hour to call 30 SEO Firms- Here are the results:

9 told me to send samples,

A few told me they do all the work in house.

1 Firm in Seattle said they were looking to hire an in house writer( I live in Vegas, so if any of your readers are in Seattle, tell them to contact me @ writersluck7@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to pass their information along.

A couple of them interviewed me right on the spot,  asking questions about Keyword Density, H1 Tags, H2 Tags, technical jargon, etc.  So , I am sure you wrote about this before, but hopefully your readers will know how to handle these kinds of  questions.  Because, I think they just throw the technical terms around to “test” your knowledge.

I secured 1 project  that  I quoted $50 bucks.  It’s 2 articles for a fishing vacation type of site. They said they want to try me out, and if they like my work they have much more to come. And this particular company was working SEO before they even had a name for it, plus he worked with names everyone has heard of.

Speaking of  pricing, I am wondering  if I should prepare prices on a sliding scale.  It seems like some SEO companies budge when I say $45 per article, so I lower my rate to $25 per article.  Even though I want the higher rate, I don’t mind accepting the lower payment because:

1:  I believe some money is better than no money

2: I need testimonials and more samples to add to my portfolio

So, do you have any suggestions or links that you can direct me to on negotiation?  Is this a good strategy, just to get my foot in the door?   I know rates can be all over the place due to the amount of research, technical, etc.

Oh , and another  question; Sorry  

Many SEO Firms ask me how much I charge per article,  I quote them the rate of $25, and then after payment, I find out that it’s SEO content for a home page.  How do I handle that issue? 

Thanks again for all of your time and support

MY ANSWERS TO HER QUESTIONS:

Speaking of  pricing, I am wondering  if I should prepare prices on a sliding scale. When I first started, I had a regular rate and a bulk pricing rate.

If a client ordered more than 10 articles at a time, I’d go to $18 or $20 per article (at the time, my regular rate was $25/article), depending on the nature of the content.

In those early days, I even went as low as $15. Whenever I went this low though, it always stuck in my craw, so I rarely did this. When you work for less than what YOU feel you’re worth, (not based on what some OTHER freelancers THINK you should charge), it’s not a good feeling. And you’ll know it; your gut will tell you.

No matter how much I needed work, I learned to never go against this feeling. I always regretted it. But that’s very individual. I’ve always said this and I stand by it – nobody’s going to pay your bills come the first of the month, so if you don’t mind working for $15 per article, then go for it.

I also discuss how I got through some very hard times taking on almost any kind of writing job when I made up my mind to never work for someone else again (back in 2007) in the free ebook, Living the Freelance Life! (subscribe from any page of site to get your free copy).

Sometimes YOU gotta do what you gotta do to get the bills paid. It doesn’t mean you’re stuck at that rate or that your writing is not as good as someone else’s. It just means you settle . . . for the time being.

So, do you have any suggestions or links that you can direct me to on negotiation?  Is this a good strategy, just to get my foot in the door?  

In my opinion and experience, this rarely works out in the freelance writer’s favor. The reason is, if you start low and they give you MORE work, they’re usually going to want a lower rate because they’re giving you more work.

The way I’d handle this is to do a “one-off” project for them at a “discounted, one-time” rate. This could be, for example, 2-3 articles. This way, they could judge your writing. And, if they want to continue to work with you, then you could say something like:

When [always assume the sale; eg, that you'll land them as a client] you place article orders of 10 or more, you’ll receive a XX% discount. Otherwise, our standard rates per article are $XX.

Following are some posts you can reference for further insight on the above:

Advice for Freelance SEO Writers: How to Negotiate Rates When Clients Want You to Go Lower with the Promise of More Work

SEO Writing Rates: How to Determine What to Charge as an SEO Copywriter

Many SEO Firms ask me how much I charge per article,  I quote them the rate of $25 and then after payment, I find out that it’s SEO content for a home page.  How do I handle that issue? 

FYI, this is just a misunderstanding of semantics. When most companies commission a page, it could be for the home page, article directory submission, etc. I ask up front what the content is for. And, if they want to use it for their home page and it doesn’t cost me more time to research, I don’t make a stink and charge them more for it.

You’ll have to decide if this is a strategy you want to work with. But remember, you’re going to have to justify why a home page costs more (and it should). But I just don’t slice those apples; for me, it’s not worth it because I stay so busy.

About as far as I go is differentiating between “easy, breezy” content and “foundational” content, as explained on my SEO writing company website.

You could stick a page on your site that explains if content is going to be for Home page or Other “Main Category” usage, the rate is $XX, then explain why (clients are always going to want to know why).

Can You Help This Freelancer?

How? By  pointing her to more sources on how to more effectively negotiate freelance writing (specifically SEO writing) rates.

Internet has been iffy here in Jamaica today, so I’m rushing to finish this and don’t have time to research more. Reply in comments below please, so everyone can benefit.

Links to All Posts in the Cold Callling Carol Series

Her Initial Query to Me: 3 Reasons Cold Calling Works to Land Freelance Writing Jobs

First Post (June 14th): Initial success with cold calling – garnering a 66% response rate.

Second Post (June 28th): Finding Freelance Writing Jobs via Cold Calling: It’s VERY Effective; Here’s How to Get Over the “Cold Calling Jitters”

Third Post (July 12th): Marketing for Freelance Writing Jobs This Summer? Here’s a Two-Pronged Attack That’s Working for One Freelancer

Fifth Update (August 30th): See “SEO Success Story” from Freelancer #3 at end of this post.

Sixth Update (September 21st):  How One SEO Writer Landed a Job to Write 115 Pages of Content: The Marketing Method She Uses That’s Working So Well

Seventh Update (October 26th):  Freelance Writing Advice for SEO Content Writers: What to Do When a Client Doesn’t Pay (But Keeps Promising to Do So)‏

Eighth Update (November 1):  Freelance Writing Advice for SEO Content Writers: What to Do When a Client Doesn’t Pay (But Keeps Promising to Do So), Part II‏

Ninth Update (November 16):  Freelance Writing Advice for SEO Content Writers: What to Do When a Client Doesn’t Pay (But Keeps Promising to Do So), Part III‏

Tenth Update (December 15): Freelance Business: How and When to Pay Freelance SEO Writers You Outsource Work to When You Have No Money

Eleventh Update (February 2, 2012): An SEO Writer Has Her First $1,000 Day with $10,000 More in Work Already Lined Up – Here’s How She Did It

Best,
Yuwanda

P.S.: Want to write and sell ebooks online for a living? You can! Get the guide that shows you how to start a successful self-publishing career — start immediately.

P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.

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Writing and Selling Ebooks Online: Diary of My Quest to Publish 50 Ebooks on Amazon in One Year, Part VII

July 15, 2011

This week I was a writing machine – and I still don’t feel like I accomplished everything that I wanted. But, following is what I did do. Note: See links to all entries in this ebook writing series at the end of this post.

My Ebook Writing Progress This Week

I created a cover and uploaded the SEO writing ebook to Amazon (and sold one). I was surprised to sell one of these so quickly because I didn’t drop the price. As for the cover, I’d never created an “official” one for it; I just used the graphic that the web designers created for me when I got my site redone in wordpress a couple of years ago.

But, covers are important in selling ebooks on Amazon. I discuss this in the new title I finished and uploaded this week — How to Create Ebook Covers for Less than $5.

So that’s two new titles I added this week, which brings my total ebook count to 13 on Amazon. I’m still behind by one ebook though, which I’m just going to have to find time to make up somehow.

Why/How I Got Behind This Week in My Ebook Writing

I operate a few minisites, and one that had kind of just been chugging along just kind of took off – earning double, triple — and in some cases quintuple — what it had been on an average day. It’s one I operate “in secret,” because of the problems I’ve had with a “business” internet stalker.

$100/Day in Google AdSense Income?

So when this happened, I took some time and started paying more attention to it – creating content, tweaking it, etc. Funnily enough, I almost sold this site several times, but now, I think it’s going to be the one that I make my first $100/day in Google AdSense earnings with.

Karma – What You Put Out Always Comes Back to You

You know, what you put out truly does come back to you and some things truly are a blessing in disguise. When I had all that trouble last fall, I was a little taken aback. So, I went underground a little bit – doing some things that I don’t discuss openly (I can’t tell you guys EVERYTHING!) in order to ensure that I could always earn a living online.

So this little site I started BECAUSE of my internet stalker is now one of my most solid little “passive income” earners (and I put passive in quotation marks because I still have to put work into it). But, it’s not nearly as much as I do with most of my sites.

How’s that for cosmic justice!

Ebook Sales Growing – Part of It Due to “Negative” Publicity

Summer can be intensely slow  for everything “editorial.” This includes ebook sales. JA Konrath, the mainstream and self-published author who’s sold over 300,00 ebooks that I often refer to in this series, even said his ebook sales were down across all sites (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.).

So I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my ebook sales this month overall. I still sell the majority of my ebooks from my own site (this one), not Amazon, and I think a lot of it has to do with some negative stuff that’s been published about me.

July is turning out to be a very profitable month for me – one that’s looking like it’s going to rival March and April, which are two of my biggest earning months. Why do I think the negative publicity has turned into a positive?

Because when people read such wildly disparate opinions on you, they take the time to look a little closer. As an example, if you visit any of my sites and read my material, then you read some of the stuff in the articles on the “Scam” page here, wouldn’t you dig a little deeper if you really, really wanted one of Inkwell’s products?

Apparently so, as the following illustrates. Following is a snippet from an email I received from a site visitor yesterday. Today, he bought one of my ebooks (the one on how to make money placing free classified ads on backpage):

Greetings Yuwanda

I came across a sales pages of yours today in my search for creating an income online. Specifically: How to make money placing free classified ads.

I must tell you that I do not contact the creators of products in this manner, but I felt compelled to do so today because of what my research on you revealed. In a nut shell, it showed you to be a person of integrity. (emphasis added)

I read a number of your articles, perused your sites and was pleased with what I saw and read. Which is why I’m considering purchasing one of your products. And possibly more in the future. I’ve often considered freelance writing.

I responded to some questions he asked in his email and he sent a second email, stating:

Thank you for your quick response to my inquiry. Less than 24 hours is what I call excellent customer service. I will be purchasing your product right after I send you this. The LORD bless you and yours.

 And he did make the purchase, as I stated above.

Jeremey Schoemaker from ShoeMoney.com (one of the most successful “online marketing/make money online” sites on the web by the way) said this would happen, stating in the post Why You Should Embrace Negative Press:

New visitors – Whenever there is a new “shoemoney sucks” or “shoemoney is a scam” post you will notice a ton of new visitors that have never visited your site before. . . . Its like you just launched a PPC campaign…. only its free traffic!  . . . As much as people like to label others as “mindless sheep” people will form their own opinions when they come to your site. And when you have a quality site with quality content… thats the win.

I really think this is what has happened to me over the last few weeks, as the above interaction with a “new visitor and customer” proves.  The last negative article was published about me on July 3rd; the last week has been a bang-up week in sales. Coincidence? Hmmmm . . . 

To bring this back around to ebooks sales – the lesson I take from this is, the more you publish, the more chance you have of encountering some negative publicity. But, don’t let it stop you – just keep doing what you do and know that if you put out quality products/quality content (as Jeremy states above), you will make sales.

Ebook Theft: How Someone Stole Not Only Portions of My Ebook, but My Professional Credentials as Well

A couple of nights ago (Wednesday), I was sitting at the computer all bleary-eyed close to midnight uploading my latest title to Amazon. I got an email notifying me that not only had someone stolen portions of my eboook that they were using to promote their products, but she had stolen my professional credentials as well – passing them off as her own.

Not only that, affiliate earnings I’d earned, she claimed that they were hers (eg, where an affiliate sold $1,200 worth of my ebooks in one day and half was mine).

Yeah, she word-for-word stole it and claimed those were “her” earnings.

And get this – she had participated in the ebook writing tournament back in October where I wrote the ebook she stole content from (How to Write an Ebook in 3 Days).

I was flabbergasted – because I’d corresponded with this person on several occasions. She stole the works of another writer as well, who alerted me to this fraud.

I fired off an email to her blasting her to Kingdom Come and told her if she didn’t remove it within 24 hours, I’d sue the friggin’ pants off her – and I meant every word.

Can you believe?!

She removed it, of course. But, this prompted me to take action.

Steal at Your Own Risk: Copyright Attorney on Permanent Retainer

I contacted three copyright attorneys yesterday – spent almost all day researching, composing queries and just reading up on the legalities of it all. Learned a lot. It convinced me more than ever that I need to put one on retainer.

I’ll be doing a post here next week about copyright infringement (one IP (Intellectual Property) Attorney – who’s also a professor — graciously consented to answer some questions for this blog’s readers).

The reason I want an attorney on retainer is two-fold: (i) I see stuff like this happening more and more, particularly for self-publishers. And, as I write nonfiction, “how to” stuff, I think people are much more tempted to steal it than a fiction novel (although, thieves will steal anything).

(ii) The second reason is, I want damages. That’s why I did so much research. I want a bulldog attorney who will make someone homeless if they have to. Every attorney I contacted, I told them that if/when I file suit, I don’t want to stop at “cease and desist.” I want punitive, compensatory and any other type of damages I’m entitled to.

And when I win a judgment, I want an attorney who will do everything they can to collect – eg, garnish wages, attach liens to homes, take cars away, get tax refunds, etc.

The Walmart Brand of Law: What Every Self-Publisher Should Practice (IMO)

This is what I call the Walmart brand of law. Why? Because Walmart will spend $200,000 in order NOT to pay out $10,000. You see, many people fake falls, etc. in order to get money. For Walmart, $10,000 is not a lot of money, but for a scammer, it can be a good pay day.

But, the retail giant thwarts this by fostering a reputation for not “settling”; not paying just to get someone to go away. Hence, many don’t even try it, and most attorneys won’t even take on cases against them – unless they’re legitimate.

This is the reputation I want to foster as an ebook seller.

You can steal my stuff, but you’d best believe I’m gonna make your life a nightmare if I catch you. I work too hard – and have done so for too long – for someone to just come along and steal 20  years of hard work with one click of the “Control C” (copy) button.

I don’t think so buddy!

Learn more about how thieves are targeting Amazon’s self-publishing platform.

What’s on Tap for Ebook Writing Next Week

Uploading two existing titles this weekend (just have to create covers). Then, starting a new title on Monday.

How’s your ebook writing going? Tell me in the comments section below, and have a great weekend!

Yuwanda

P.S.: Want to write and sell ebooks online for a living? You can! Get the guide that shows you how to start a successful self-publishing career — start immediately.

P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.

Find this post helpful? Share it with others and follow Inkwell Editorial on Twitter.

How to Create Ebook Covers for Less than $5: They’re Professional-Looking, Quick & Easy to Do and Help You Sell More Ebooks

July 14, 2011

PREFACE

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, it’s particularly true when marketing online; and especially if you’re marketing a self-published ebook.

Are You Losing Sales Because You Have a “Home Made” or Nonexistent Ebook Cover?

How many times have you perused a list of ebooks on sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble and overlooked the ones that had “home-made looking” covers?

Or, (shock and horror!) no cover at all?

Almost all of us do it at one time or another. I can’t even begin to fathom how many sales you could be losing (and I most certainly have lost) because of this. This is because it’s easy to tell how many people bought your ebook. But, how do you quantify how many sales you missed out on because your ebook’s cover sucked or was nonexistent?

Let’s crunch some numbers.

Let’s say you sell your ebook on Amazon for $4.95. Your portion of that is 70%, or $3.47 per ebook. If you’re missing out on just 5 sales per day, that’s over $520 per month ($3.47 x 5 x 30 days/month); $6,200+/year.

In three years, that’s close to $20,000 you will have lost in possible ebook sales. Heaven forbid if you’re losing 10, 20 or 30 or more sales per day!

Can you use an extra $520+/month?

Who couldn’t!

So yeah, professional-looking ebook covers are important.

And, this ebook tells you how to make them yourself, very inexpensively, so you don’t lose another sale because your ebook doesn’t look professional.

Following is a complete Table of Contents, and here’s to your ebook publishing success!

Yuwanda

 for Only $6.97!  [See all Inkwell Editorial Titles that Help You Live the Freelance Life!]

Get the Kindle edition of this ebook.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

Are You Losing Sales Because You Have a “Home Made” or Nonexistent Ebook Cover?

SECTION I: SELLING EBOOKS WITH NO COVERS

Why/How I Sold Ebooks for Years with No Covers

Examples of My First Attempts at Creating Ebook Covers

Why I Went So Long Without Getting Professional Covers Done for My Ebooks

4 Reasons I Chose Not to Get Professional Ebook Covers Done Until 2009

SECTION II: ABOUT PROFESSIONAL EBOOK COVER DESIGN

How Much Do Professional Ebook Cover Designers Charge?

Where to Find a Cheap Ebook Cover Designer (Less Than $20 as of This Writing)

SECTION III: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL COVERS FOR YOUR EBOOKS

SECTION IV: HOW/WHY I LEARNED TO DESIGN MY OWN EBOOK COVERS

What I Like about Being Able to Design My Own Ebook Covers

How to Get a Professional Ebook Cover for Less than $1 – Really!

Fashion Story That Illustrates Why Keeping Your Ebook Cover Designs Simple Works

SECTION V: STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS I USE TO DESIGN MY EBOOK COVERS

Stock Photo Sites You Can Use for Free Ebook Cover Design Art

SECTION VI: EBOOK COVER DESIGN TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS

Things to Consider When Designing Your Ebook Cover: Tips from Professionals

The Bottom Line on Ebook Cover Design

 for Only $6.97!

P.S.: Want to write and sell ebooks online for a living? You can! Get the guide that shows you how to start a successful self-publishing career — start immediately.

P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.

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Marketing for Freelance Writing Jobs This Summer? Here’s a Two-Pronged Attack That’s Working for One Freelancer

July 12, 2011

As you’ve read here on this blog ad nauseam probably, summer is one of the slowest times of the year for freelance editorial workers, eg, writers, copy editors (does anybody hire them anymore), graphic designers, etc.

And, that’s because nobody’s focused on advertising, marketing, communications, journalism, etc. – at least not like they are in the fall. All the big whigs who make the budget decisions (that determine whether freelancers get hired or not) at the ad agencies, publishing houses and other are at their summer homes in the Hamptons, or jetting off to Paris for some conference, or spending extended time in the Caribbean with family and friends.

You get the picture.

Has This Summer Seemed Slower than Usual for Freelance Writing (and Other) Freelance Work?

For me it has – and I don’t even market for work. Across the board – ebook sales, inquiries about possible jobs, and site advertising all just seems a bit slower this year than the last couple of years.

Don’t freak out. If you clicked out to the link above, you know that freelancing is cyclical. Things will pick up in the fall.

As you know if you’re a regular reader, I’ve been freelancing for almost 20 years (since 1993) and so it’s just a general feeling I have. I was reading the blog of a popular ebook writer a few weeks ago and he said that his sales were down across the board (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) by 15-20%.

Why Freelance Writing Jobs May Seem Harder to Come by This Summer

I just think that – as far as the American economy goes – we’ve come through a storm. And, although experts say the recession is over, many Americans still feel it and are holding onto their wallets a little tighter – even as things do slowly get better job wise.

Many of us learned the value of overspending and not having a cushion in the bank, so more of us are saving more, paying down debt and examining every purchase closely. Recent news reports bear this sentiment out.

The February 2011 Fox News article, Americans Saving More and Paying Off Debt Faster Than Expected, states:

Americans are putting money into their savings accounts and paying down their debts faster than analysts expected. Three years since the Great Recession started, consumer debt, which peaked at $12.5 trillion in 2008, dropped to $11.4 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2010.  . . . Although American’s newfound habit of opening savings accounts instead of shopping has slowed the growth of the economy in recent months, economists say it’s generally good news that Americans are getting their finances in order.

All of this affects how many freelance writing jobs are available, when and how much they pay.

One Freelance Writer Inspires Another to Take Action to Get Work Flowing In

But, one freelance writer has taken the bull by the horns (both sides of it) and is finding work. This is the same freelancer who wrote in and told me about her initial success with cold calling – garnering a 66% response rate.

She inspired another freelancer to take this route, also.

Following are my exchanges with both of them, which will hopefully show you that there is work out there, but when times get a little tough, you have to get creative in how you get the work to flow in, as these two ladies have.

Second Freelancer Who Was Inspired by the “Cold Calling” Freelancer

She wrote:

Hi, Yuwanda! Things going slow, but I’m about to get on the phone and dial for dollars! 30 calls is my goal. Hold my feet to the fire! . . . Things slow because spent most of June in CA with my folks. . . . Well, off to the phone!

My Response to This Freelancer

Just got an email from another freelancer about cold calling (the one who’s been writing in recently). Following is some of our exchange, which you’ll read in tomorrow’s newsletter. I’m sure you’ll find it insightful.

Be sure to take care of yourself during these difficult emotional times. Yeah, work is important, but not nearly as important as spending time with your loved ones (especially now) and watching out for your own health. My prayers are with you and your family.

Note: As an aside, I happen to know this freelancer has parents who are ill. One of the benefits of freelancing is that you can take much-needed time off to attend to the most important things in life (family) when you need to. Is freelancing tough? Yeah, it can be. Is it worth it? I think this highlights how much it can be – especially when things like this happen.

She Wrote Back, Saying . . .

Yuwanda, you are SO wonderful! You really made my day!

As for the cold calling, yes it’s a necessary evil, I think. Although I’ve enjoyed it so far (haven’t called nearly as many people as I should, though….)

Now, for the updates from the first freelancer who tried the cold calling route.

Cold-Calling Freelance Writer Updates Us on Her Progress

 She wrote:

Hi Yuwanda,

. . . due to the Holiday [July 4^th, Independence Day in America] my cold calling was put to a halt, but I will start back up again next week.  However, I wanted to let you know what happened thus far, maybe it will be beneficial to your readers. 

Out of all the firms I called, I have one SEO Consultant that I bid a $450-$500 project on, he’s getting all the other details of the site together. However, from this 1 consultant, after seeing my samples, he passed my website on to “surgeon advisors/consultants and I just sent them an invoice for $800 to   look over their content, it’s a very simple job, that will probably take me no more than 8-10 hour tops.   

It’s basically just making sure their images match the content, basic grammar, spelling, etc. They work with plastic surgeons so they said if I do a good job, they have a lot more projects like that for me in the work and it doesn’t require writing.   However, I am sure some of this type of work will lead to writing work anyway.

I never heard back from that one guy who paid me for an article, and I don’t see that he put it up on the site yet. But, I will follow up again. I guess the point that I am trying to make is that cold calling is a necessary evil, but it works. (emphasis added) If I didn’t make those calls, who knows, I probably would have been still looking for work in all the wrong places.

Also, I sent an email marketing campaign out a long time ago, and even though I didn’t hear back directly from the website firms I contacted, leads have called me as a result of my email marketing efforts.  The website firms saved my information and had it on file.  So, when your readers think email marketing isn’t working either, it is.  I guess now all I have to do is do more and be consistent with it.  

My 30th birthday is coming soon, and there’s is nothing more I want to do than take a trip to Hawaii.  

Anyhoo, I rambled on enough, I hope you are doing well and enjoying the summer and the beach, and the beauty in Jamaica.  

MY RESPONSE TO HER

Keep plugging away — the combo you’ve got going (calling/emailing) seems to be working. And it’s the slow season now; it’s been much slower this summer than the last few that I can remember. So a little more in the way of marketing is required. But that’s what being in business is all about.

Many think it’s going to be smooth most of the time. It’s not! You’re lucky if it is half the time. The other half, you spend figuring out how to get the business coming in — and that’s why so many fail at business (or are afraid to even start). They’re afraid of the tough times.
 
But, they make you stronger.
 
One day when you look back, you’re going to remember these lessons and they will serve you well — because you’ll have a well of knowledge/experience to draw on that will make you freak out less — especially when things are tough.
 
So keep on my sista — you’re on the right track.
###

That ended my response, but I wanted to add one more thing. I’ve written about this before, ie, clients saving your information and contacting you months – even a few years later – when you contact them (especially via email).

How Consistent Marketing for Freelance Writing Jobs Leads to Work Down the Road

I can’t tell you the number of times in my freelance career I’ve gotten calls “out of the blue” from prospects that I sent emails out to months — and even a few years — ago. They’ll say something to the effect of, “We received that email you sent about SEO writing, well, we have a project blah, blah, blah . . .”

So as this freelancer wisely points out, “So, when your readers think email marketing isn’t working either, it is.” That’s why consistency is key. Keep sending stuff out, even when no one is hiring (at least not right now).

When it does come time for them to need a freelancer, many will go right to the save file of freelancers they have on hand – and if you’ve been the consistent one, you have a much better chance of them “remembering” to contact you first.

Hope you’re having a swell week.

FYI, I’ll be doing a post in the Living in Jamaica series this weekend. I know it’s been a while, but a sista has been busy!

P.S.: Find freelance writing work seamlessly?  Get the guide that shows you the 7 methods I’ve used for years to find freealance writing work in “How to Find Unpublished Freelance Writing Jobs.”

P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.

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Writing and Selling Ebooks Online: Diary of My Quest to Publish 50 Ebooks on Amazon in One Year, Part VI

July 8, 2011

My ebook writing quest has inspired others to jump on the bandwagon. As we discussed in last week’s post in this ebook writing series, one writer has told me that she’s shooting to publish an ebook a week thru the end of the year.

Note: See links to all entries in this ebook writing series at the end of this post.

Just for the record, this just tickles me purple (cuz black people don’t turn pink – at least not the ones of my shade. Anyhoo, I received the following email from this writer about how to price ebooks. I promised to answer in this week’s series, so here we go. She wrote:

QUESTION ABOUT PRICING EBOOKS

Hey Yuwanda,

This is going to be my first week on my quest to publish an e-book each week and I remember reading something in one of your articles about using a price point at around $2.99. Is that because of the new Kindle category of Singles? I see that it’s for 10k – 30k words and I was wondering what you thought about that.

Thanks in advance and I hope you have had a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!

Wendy

MY ANSWER

Actually, my pricing has nothing to do with Amazon and their guidelines. I read JA Konrath’s blog a lot. In case you’re wondering who he is, he’s the “self pubbing guru.” He’s been published by mainstream publishers and started self publishing in 2008. He’s sold over 300,000 ebooks – so that’s why I’m an avid reader of his blog.

Also, he tends to give VERY detailed answers; like this one on ebook pricing. It’s one of the reasons I started playing around with my pricing (my motto is listen to those who are where you want to be).

Some other reasons I’m trying the cheap pricing model on Amazon (eg, 99 cents to $2.99) is that:

Factors to Consider When Pricing Ebooks to Sell on Amazon (for Kindle)

I. It’s a new demographic for me: I know the price points that work well for my site. But the Amazon crowd reads in a new medium. And, many of them are used to to things being cheap. I’m not moving as many ebooks as I think I should be, and I think pricing has something to do with that, so I’m trying that first.

2. New technology: Because Kindle and other e-readers are a new technology that can hold thousands of books, the market is more competitive. But, if your ebook is priced right (ie, cheap), many will try it “just because”; and, if they don’t like it they’ve only lost “a couple of bucks.”

And if they do like it, they will ostensibly go on to buy more from you.

3. Different genre: Although I follow JA Konrath’s blog, his advice is geared for fiction writers. I write nonfiction, of course, and dry, business stuff at that. So, I don’t ever expect to hit his numbers. Although I do, in the words of Jessie Jackson, “Keep hope alive!”

Which Types of Ebooks Sell Better on Amazon: Fiction or Nonfiction?

In fact, I was doing some reading a couple of weeks ago about how fiction sells on Amazon vs. nonfiction because so many of the success stories you hear about are all of fiction authors.

The article states that the average price of the Top 10 best-selling nonfiction titles is $10.40. And, none of them are self-published, which was interesting to note. The average price of a fiction ebook on Amazon was 40% LESS ($6.31); again, very interesting fact.

The article goes on to state:

Self-publishing has traditionally worked best for nonfiction authors with solid information-based books. There is no disputing that a new world of bookselling is upon us, and all the old rules will be scrapped or at least reexamined in the light of new realities.

All of this was encouraging to me  because I don’t need to sell 10,000 or 100,000 (or even 1,000) copies a month to make a good living at $2.99.

I already make a decent living just selling my ebooks from my websites. But, if I can sell a few thousand copies a month on Amazon (and Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc.), then, I’d make much more than I ever dreamed as a self-publisher.

All of these are things you have to consider when pricing your ebooks to sell. And if a price point isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to change it, which you can do at will on Amazon.

Hope this insight helps.

My Ebook Writing Progress This Week

Fell flat on my friggin’ face!

I travelled last week back to Jamaica, and between getting settled (cleaning house, grocery shopping, laundry, buying household goods, etc.) and socializing, which took up more time than I’d planned, I fell behind.

As an aside, met a famous Broadway producer while reading a book at the beach; went out to dinner with him. The nicest guy – and he knows Denzel, and Blair Underwood and Shemar Moore – and all the other fine brothers I’d like to meet in Hollywood!

Looked him up online – THE REAL FRIGGIN’ DEAL!

My sister said, “You should wear that bathing suit again – ain’t no telling who you’ll meet next!” Ohhhhhh, I tell ya, if I still had the acting bug, or was a fame whore, I so woulda gone out with him with a different agenda.

He’s someone though that I feel will morph into a friend for life. Just a really down to earth guy. Anyway, terrible digression. Back to my ebook publishing . . .

I published an existing title today (which counted for LAST week). And, I started a new title today (how to create really cheap (like less than $5) gorgeous ebook covers.

I started doing mine myself a couple of months ago and have been getting some great kudos on them, so I detail how I do it, cuz ebook covers can be expensive. But more and more, I’m seeing that they are necessary (especially on a worldwide stage like Amazon) to making ebook sales.

I will finish this ebook this weekend, which will keep me on track, and if I have the energy left over, will try my best to upload an additional, existing title on Sunday.

11 Titles Uploaded to Amazon: 39 More Ebooks to Go!

With the ebook I uploaded today, I have 11 titles on Amazon. By Sunday, it’ll be 12 (or 13).

How’s your ebook writing coming along? Progress? Setbacks? I’m all ears. Sound off in the comments section below, and have an excellent weekend. I’ll have some fun, but will be working too.

How I Ditched Cubicle Life & Became a Globe-Trotting Freelance Writer

July 7, 2011

Today, a guest post I wrote for JohnChow.com was published. Entitled, How I Ditched Cubicle Life & Became a Globe-Trotting Freelancer, it outline 6 specific things you can do to “take your career on the road and live the freelance lifestyle” if that is your heart’s desire.

Following is an excerpt.
6 Steps to Creating a Mobile Freelance Writing Career

Following are six things I did (that you can too!) to help me realize my dream of travelling while earning a living as a freelance writer.

1. Believe in Yourself: I start with this because, when you do something as “outrageous” as travelling and working, many who may be close to you might be skeptical. This is because most are raised to take the easy, safe road (ie, get or stick with a job – even a hated one).

The fact that you want to become a freelance writer may already have some looking at you sideways. The fact that you want to pick up and visit foreign lands while doing it will make many question your sanity.

Proof?

The article, Why Americans Don’t Travel Overseas, underscores this point, citing that only 21% of Americans even have a passport. Until recently it was just 15% (now Americans are required to show a passport when going to Mexico and Canada, so many have gotten them). This article also lays out some interesting reasons why more Americans don’t pick up and get going.

So the first step is to actually ingrain in your brain that, “Yes, I can do this. I’m not crazy and it’s a good thing.”

2. Cut Spending: I moved to Jamaica almost a year before I’d planned to. I did so because an apartment in a building I wanted to be in that rarely has vacancies became available. Even though my budget was tight . . .

Read the entire post on creating a mobile freelance life.

Free Ebook That Details How I Created My Mobile Freelance Lifestyle — And How You Can Do the Same!

Don’t forget, when you subscribe, you get the free ebook, Living the Freelance Life! How I Live Live Internationally and Have Earned My Living Completely Online (Since 2007) & You Can Too.

Can You Really Earn Money Taking Surveys Online

July 6, 2011

 for Only $4.95!     [View all InkwellEditorial.com ebooks that help you make a living online]

Can You REALLY Make a Living Taking Surveys Online?

Make money taking online surveys is one of the most marketed work-from-home business opportunities. Following are just some of the headlines that I ran across when I typed “make money taking surveys” into my browser.

Make Money Taking Paid Online Surveys

Get paid cash doing online surveys

Make Money by Taking Online Surveys

Earn Money taking Free Paid Surveys Online

Make Money Taking Surveys

Take Paid Surveys Online and Get Paid

Get Paid to Take Free Paid Surveys Online

Questions This E-Pamphlet Answers

Is it a legitimate home business opportunity?

Should you pay money to learn how to do this?

How much can you expect to earn?

How does it work?

How can I tell if an opportunity is legitimate or not?

Where can I find a list of legitimate survey companies?

I decided to write this pamphlet to answer these questions, and relay my experiences with this “make money online” opportunity. That way, you’ll know exactly what it’s all about, and can decide for yourself if it’s something you want to do.

Following is a complete Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Can You REALLY Make a Living Taking Surveys Online?

Questions This E-Pamphlet Answers

My Personal Story: $150 Cash – for 2 Hours of “Work”

Types of Questions You May Be Asked by a Survey Company

Two Types of Focus Groups: Onsite vs. Offsite Surveys

Should You Pay to Get Info about Making Money Online Taking Surveys

How Much Money Can You Make Taking Surveys (Online and/or Off)?

What Qualifications Do You Need to Make Money Online Taking Surveys (Online or Off)

Conclusion: Should You Pay Money to Learn How to Make Money Taking Surveys (Online or Off)

How to Tell if a “Make Money Online Taking Surveys” Opportunity Is Legitimate

List of Legitimate Survey Sites

About the Author

Endmatter

 for Only $4.95!

P.S.: Want to write and sell ebooks online for a living? You can! Get the guide that shows you how to start a successful self-publishing career — start immediately.

P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.

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