Being a Guest on OPP - Other Peoples Podcasts to Promote Your Book

"We are expecting podcasting to be additives on both the revenue and profit lines in 2006." Audible.com

Today The WECAI Network™, ™ again hosted a great eWednesday Chat mastermind session featuring Roy Montero, THE SEO Guy (and Verbal Networking sponsor) who discussed "How to promote your books on Podcasts - Being a Guest on OPP - Other Peoples Podcasts to Promote Your Book" without all the work that goes into production.

During our almost two hours together, Roy talked about what podcasting is, what types of programs work best, how to upload them to your site, where else to submit your podcasts, and mucgave some excellent resources to check out (listed below).

I would like to also thank Jerry Leventer of Red Apple Tutoring who shared his expertise on Podpress.org. He showed us some great tools on Podpress that we can use to upload our audio files and more.

In addition, Sheila Finkelstein of EteleTours and Natures Playground deserves a big thank you for once again recording the audio portion of our program. You can access it at: http://sheilaf.audioacrobat.com/download/WECAI-podcasting80807.mp3

Special Thanks to Roy Montero for again hosting the session on Verbal Networking and on his teleconference bridge line. Roy is our #1 Sponsor!

If you attended today's session, you know that there is "homework" for next week. Your assignment, should you decide to accept it (and you plan to attend next week) is to go to Odeo.com and set up an account and record a 30-45 second commercial that you can share with us next week. In addition to that, you are asked to get yourself "booked" on a talk radio podcast show and let us know about it. We will help promote the program during the session and also on this blog.

Now for the resources mentioned:

Book -- Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide by Todd Cochrane

Listen to an interview with Roy on the Let's Talk Marketing Radio Show with Cathrine Franz - it's available on the Let's Talk Marketing Radio Show website. Here's the link: http://www.letstalkmarketingshow.com/. The interview is in archives section on the website.

Free sound editor - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Excellent site listing hundreds of tutorials for audio and video - http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=audacity

For wordpress plugins - http://www.wp-plugins.com/

Free account for recording - http://www.odeo.com/

Google reader to read the feeds from the rss you subscribe to - http://www.google.com/reader/

Feed editor - http://www.aweber.com/

Where you upload your podcasts - http://www.podpress.org/

Roy says, "RSS your home page first and then just the pages that need to be RSS, you don't have to do all the pages, especially if you have 200 or 2,000 pages http://www.wordpress.org/

Load iTunes onto your computer - http://apple.com/itunes

Wave pad sound editor - http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/

A few places to look for shows to contact for interviews:

Lillian Cauldwell – Global Talk Radio http://www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/thelilliancauldwellshow/
The Podcast Network - http://www.thepodcastnetwork.com/
Podcast.net - http://www.podcast.net/
Podcast DirectoryPodcast awards - http://www.podcastawards.com/
Catherine Franz - http://www.letstalkmarketingshow.com/
Coach of the Airwaves - http://www.coachoftheairwaves.com/
World Talk Radio – http://www.worldtalkradio.com/
Heal Yourself Talk Radio - http://www.healyourselftalk.com/

For music to add to your podcasts and recordings:

http://www.podsafeaudio.com/ (free)
http://www.musicbakery.com/ (paid)

OPUZZ.com offers a CD with 10 songs for $59

BE sure to join next Wednesday at 12 noon Eastern Time at http://www.blogger.com/www.verbalnetworking.com for another lively discussion.

If you are writing a book, have written a book or are considering writing a book, then this mastermind group may just be the place for you!

Wishing you a terrific day... and then some.

Heidi

Heidi Richards, Founder of the WECAI Network™,

Promoting Your New book - 13 great ideas!

“Writing a book is a creative act. Selling a book is a business. A finished book is a product.” Dan Poynter, Author – The Self-Publishing Manual


Today, we had our first mastermind session on book writing, publishing and promoting.

Mostly it was about promoting. There was some excellent advice given by many of the women who joined us.

Catherine Franz of AbundanceCenter.com and Let's Talk Marketing Radio Show is an expert Marketing Guru and has helped literally thousands of books get noticed. First and formost she recommends everyone create a marketing strategy for your book. Here was more advice from Catherine:

1. Use talk radio shows as your marketing avenue
2. Create a 15 minute audio, reading part of the book, not necessarily the 1st chapter either and put it on your web site.
3. Sell your book, a license, to a book club that has your type of books, you can sell 5,000 or more copies in one shot instead of one book at a time.
5. Sell your book at your garage sales (don't discount, sell regular price) - autograph them to add value.
6. Tap the library market (must have index and no forms in the book) - The major distributor to libraries is Quality Books, here's how to reach them: Quality Books, 1003 West Pines Road, Oregon, IL 61061, I think their phone number is 815-732-4450
7. Give out flyers in your neighborhood
8. If you have a children's book, go to book stores and unannounced with a few kids and begin reading, other children in the store will join in for sure
9. Do readings at Libraries
10. Read the article 28 Reasons Why Publishers Will Buy Your Book at http://ezinearticles.com/?28-Reasons-Why-Publishers-Will-Buy-Your-Book&id=3354

BTW, you can reach Catherine at (304) 724-8901, or visit her online at http://www.abundancecenter.com/ and http://www.letstalkmarketingshow.com/.

11. Elizabeth McElrath said: I have seen books for sale on ebay in some stores...

12. Jane Carroll said I have books at gift shops and even a dress shop...I have found local festivals are not good...

13. Heidi Richards says, "JOIN a MASTERMIND!"

I'm off to part two - 5pm Mastermind. If you were unable to join us... I will post more tomorrow as well as books by women who attended.

If you are interested in attending future mastermind sessions, let me know by sending me a message to heidi (at) wecai.org with "Book Mastermind" in the subject line. I will send you details.

Warmest regards,

Heidi

Heidi Richards is the Founder of the WECAI Network™, President and CEO of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets, Publisher and President of WUN Publications, Inc., a professional speaker and author/co-author of eight books, five internationally distributed e-magazines, several ebooks, tips booklets and special reports. She is also the Editor-in-Chief for WE Magazine for Women.

Women's Writing Summit Bad News, Good News

The Women's Writing and Publishing Summit is behind us and now the real work begins! Getting our books written, published and sold.

During this four-day event (started out as three days, and experts kept contacting me to speak to our guests) we had 15 women and men share their thoughts on writing books, getting over writers block, finding time to write, writing on the run, working with a literary agent, finding a publisher, planning your book tour, using the laws of attraction to find a publisher, working with a co-author, and so much more!

In case you missed it, here was the lineup:

Partnership Publishing - How and when to use the Combined Forces of Publisher and Author to Produce Your Next Book with Linda Radke

So You Want to Write a Book! with Ann McIndoo

What to Expect When Working With a Literary Agent with Sharlene Martin

Publishing Books - The New Book Model with Dan Poynter

How to Leverage Your Contacts to Promote Your Book with Lynn Waymon

Publishing Options – Which One Is Right For YOU with Sherri McConnell

Are you about to Be Published? Insider "Secrets" to Get into Major Publishing Houses and Into the Hands of Your Readers! with Kim Weiss

The Art and Science of Working with a Co-Author and Writing Children's Books with Debra
Shively Welch

Copywriting Secrets Every Author Needs to Know with Rosalind Sedacca

From Book Signing to Best Seller: An Insider's Guide to Conducting a Successful Low-Cost Book Signing Tour with Jo Condrill

The Busy Author's Guide to Writing on the Run with Linda & Allen Anderson

How to Set up Your Own Small Publishing Company with Betty Dobson

How to Use the Internet to Promote Your Book with Donna Gunter

Let the Universe be Your Guide - Using the Laws of Attraction to Get Your Book Written and Published and So Much More! with Marilyn Jenett

The bad news that it's over and you will have to wait until next year to attend our second annual event.

The good news is that we recorded all the sessions and they will be available as audio downloads early next week ($67) and on CD in the next month ($97). If you are interested in more information, contact heidi (at) wecai.org with "WWPS AUDIO Program" in the subject line.

In addition, we are hosting a couple of additional sessions (for free) to anyone who would like to attend either online or in our virtual conference room - the next one takes place on Wednesday August 1st. If you are interested in attending, leave a comment on this blog.

Wishing you much success in your writing career... and then some.

Warmest regards,

Heidi Richards, Founder & Chief Visionary
The WECAI Network™

17 TIPS to Get the Most Out of RYZE Social Networking

"The pros, the champions, the ones who are determined to succeed (and you're one of them), do the little things right, consistently." Bob Burg

I have been a member of RYZE Social Networking Site since January 2004 and in that time have participated in more than 60 networks. Some of those I am still a member of and some of them I have left for a variety of reasons. What I would like to share with you today are ways to get the most out of your membership in this Network (or any Social Networking site for that matter) – to truly make the time you spend there worthwhile. So here are a few things I have learned in the past 3.5 years. Please feel free to share your ideas as well.

17 TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF RYZE

#1 Participate! The key to success in networking is allowing others to get to know you. That means responding to posts you have an interest in as well as posting items of interest to women.

2. Ask questions! If you have a challenge, need or concern, use your network to seek guidance. With the number of members in this network, there is certain to be someone who can help you.

3. When you post a new topic, please include a specific topic or brief description in the subject line. That way, only those interested will read and respond. It will also endear you to the members because they will know you care enough about them to not waste their time by making them read items that they have no interest in.

4. The length of the message is not as important as the details necessary to get your point across. Given our limited time, IMHO the best posts are those that "get to the point" early in the conversation. Exceptions are when you are selling something. People ask me all the time how long a sales page should be and I have learned from many experts that it depends. It depends on what you are selling, how much it costs, who you are selling to and a number of other factors. Your message should be as long as it needs to be to "tell the story."

5. If you want to post an article that pertains to a specific topic, please post the first paragraph and a link to read the rest of the article. Also, be sure to give proper attribution to the author of the article, especially if the author is you:).

6. Create a signature line to use with your posts. Something that tells us about you or displays your websites. Give people a reason to click on the links. Hint: when you include the http:// in the URL it makes the link clickable on the page.

7. Say hello to other members of the network by stopping by their RYZE (or other Network) page and signing their guestbook.

8. Be open, listen and read other posts and respond in a positive way. I have seen Negativity MULTIPLY on other boards, leading to hurt feelings and withdrawal (or even banishment) from the boards. My grandmother use to say “You attract more flies with honey than vinegar” words I live by and try to model each and every day.

9. Posting MLM opportunities – I have not problem with MLM opportunities, many of them are worthwhile and have made people very wealthy. However, this board is not the place for recruiting your downline. If you want to share a tip that helps other MLM folks, it is welcome. However anything deemed inappropriate will be quietly removed. RYZE has many other networks devoted to Network Marketers. HER Mastermind Network is for learning, sharing, and connecting with other women.

10. When someone on the network has done something nice for you or provided a great service, feel free to thank them publicly. Let us know who you do business with and help promote one another in a positive and supporting way. You will be a hero in there eyes (and ours).

11. Lurking is encouraged here. Until you feel comfortable getting to know the members and the “attitude” of our network, feel free to lurk. However, if you want to get known quickly, the best way is to jump in with both feet and get involved. It is remarkable how much more you will receive out of your membership once you engage in the conversations.

12. Stay on topic. If the post is about relationships, and you have something to add to the conversation, please do. I have seen people “hijack” conversations by changing the topic in midstream, which can demonstrate to others a lack of respect for the poster. If you want to change the subject, please start a new thread.

13. Introduce yourself. After visiting a lot of members it seems they have very little information about them on their RYZE home page. Which means we don’t know if you are married, single, have children or pets, what your hobbies are, etc. The best way to develop rapport and build a relationship is to share personal tidbits over time about yourself. Feel free to include those tidbits here. Let us know what you do professionally and personally.

14. Get organized and keep track of where you are posting by making a folder to store those valuable responses, and keep track of which networks regularly visit. (Submitted by Susan Anderson)

15. Some networks require you to post in certain threads only. You can save those posts as FAVORITES on your computer and then when it is time to post to that thread you have it as a favorite and don't have to look for that thread when you need it. (Submitted by Kimberly "the Eagle" Motivator)

16. Appreciate diversity. Many of us come from different walks of life--some from different countries and I believe we can all learn something from each other. If we feel uncomfortable branching out and getting to know others because they look different, we may be missing out on a grand opportunity (Submitted by Beverly Mahone)

17. Connecting with people via private message is a good way to network if; you are truly looking to expand your circle, you have something to offer and it is clearly stated in the message. In the book "Never Eat Alone" Keith Ferrazzi makes a point of always telling folks what's in it for them before he EVER asks something of them (except a meeting). He makes the offer almost irresistible by doing research on his prospects to find out what hot buttons they are most likely to respond to. (Thanks to Martin Russell for initiating a conversation resulting in this tip)

I also suggest you check out the Frequently-Asked Questions page on Ryze for more ideas - http://ryze.helpserve.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=view

If you have questions about RYZE that the FAQ page does not answer you can also contact support3@ryze.com and ask them!

Building trust takes a lot more time in an online networking environment. You will see the same people posting week after week and month after month. They do this because they know participating on a regular basis helps the members to get to know them. Be one of them and let the other members get to know, like and trust you!


Wishing you a terrific day... and then some!

RYZE-ON!

Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO - The WECAI Network™

Check out the Women's Online Calendar and more!

"The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day."
Gloria Steinem

What are you doing today to create your future? Are you planning a trip? Planning an event? Planning a new business or enterprise? If so, here are three great resources you should know about...

Have you ever heard of KindredSpirits.com? If not, I suggest you stop by and visit it. The vision of Kindred Spirits is to foster inspiring experiences, cultural understanding, awareness of global issues, and empowerment to make a positive difference in relationships and communities throughout the world. They specialize in small group customized tours to destinations around the world offering Volunteer Vacations and Educational and Cultural Tours. You can check them out at: http://www.kindredspiritstourandtravel.com/.

Did you know you can post your events on the Women’s Online Calendar? That's right! If you have an event for women, you can go to Women’s Online Calendar and post it today!

This is a complimentary calendar brought to you by the The WECAI Network™ was created to help women promote their events around the globe.

The WECAI Network™ launching the Women's Global Registry™ in just a few weeks. Be sure to visit http://www.womensglobalregistry.com/ and leave your name. We will let you know when it launches. This free directory will include Business, Executive and Professional Women Around the Globe and and is designed to help promote your websites and blogs to our visitors.

If you are interested in being a sponsor or advertiser of the Women's Global Registry™, contact Heidi (at) WECAI.org with "registry" in subject line for more information.

Wishing you a great day... and then some.

Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO - The WECAI Network™ - “Helping Women Do Business on and off the WEB™”

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Become a Baby Boomer Diva

“There are two things people want more than sex and money... recognition and praise.” Mary Kay Ash

Congratulations to Beverly Mahone on her new Baby Boomer Diva Website and Web of Fame Award! If you are a baby boomer you too can join an elite group of baby boomer women on the Baby Boomer Diva Web of Fame. This is a select group of women who represent what's great about reaching middle age status.

To be inducted, submit your photo and your business. You're in good company (of course you have to be a baby boomer woman to get the recognition).

Take a look: http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com/baby_boomer_diva_web_of_fame.htm

Why should we have to wait until we're too old to be recognized for our accomplishments? Submit your name and information today!


Warmest regards,

Heidi & Suzannah

Virtual Woman's Day Was a Success - THANKS For Your Support!

"I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome." Golda Meir

To all the women (and men) who supported Virtual Woman's Day™ by signing up for our event, showing up, showcasing, sharing your expertise and promoting this historic event to your own circle of friends, we THANK YOU!

We could not have done this without all your help and support. The day was filled with laughter, learning and life! And we want to continue the celebration.

We are posting the interviews with our four guest experts, Mindy Gibbins-Klein, The Book Midwife® who shared her program, "Your Message, Your Magic", Elizabeth Gordon, The Flourishing Business, an Advisory Firm for Entrepreneurs talked about Creating Strategic Alliances to Grow Your Circle and Your Business, Linda Hollander, the Wealthy Bag Lady talked about "5 Ways to Attracting Corporate Sponsors - Do What You Love and Have Someone Else Foot the Bill" and Janice Taylor, Author of "Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal."

If you missed any of these interviews, just click on their names above and listen to what they had to say!

In addition 26 fabulous women "showcased" their products and services. You will be reading more about them on the blog in days to come.

And finally, we need your INPUT. Please take a moment to complete a brief survey about Virtual Woman's Day™

It is located at:
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2269T8XMVWW. Your feedback is important to us and will help us in planning future celebrations. Your name will be included in a drawing for The PMS Principles: Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business by Heidi Richards.

Thanks for stopping by and most importantly thanks for your support! Stay tuned for updates on Virtual Woman's Day™ - in the days to come we will be posting our "showcasers" winner of our Song-writing Contest and we will be making a BIG announcement about our Second Annual International Women's eCommerce Day™ (scheduled for September 2007).

And as you go about your day, remember these words by Donna Fargo: "I really think happiness is very closely aligned with success, and may almost be an interchangeable synonym. Happiness (like success) also comes from doing what we feel called to do in life; however, it's also obvious no one can experience one without the other."

Warmest regards,

Heidi Richards & Suzannah Richards
Co-founders, The WECAI Network™