Tag: author

The Platform Debate: Author/Speaker Michael Hyatt versus the NSA – Resolved!

In the wake of the National Speakers Association announcement at its annual convention a few days ago that it was renaming the organization “Platform,” some of us, who are passionate fans of Michael Hyatt — the New York Times bestselling author of Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World — have become quite vocal about this poorly researched, dubious decision.
For my part, as I shared earlier (and maybe ranted a little) on this Sugar Shock Blog, when I witnessed this brand roll-out, I became both appalled and saddened.
Michael HyattAlthough I greatly respect the National Speakers Association and its many remarkable members, I cannot fathom how a talented brand-name-search committee — which allegedly spent “two years” on this — could have been so in the dark about the amazing Michael Hyatt, who has branded “Platform” in a big way. Or, worse, if they knew about Michael and still proceeded with this move, it’s simply galling.
Not only has Michael penned his fabulous book Platform — which is, incidentally, a must read for all speakers — but he has created a wonderful Platform University and fabulous Platform Conference.
Although I had initially planned to dedicate much of this holiday weekend to making major inroads on my next book, I felt it important to take time out to stress via comments in the private National Speakers Association Facebook group and in two blogs posts here that Michael Hyatt is the undisputed brand holder of “Platform.”
Please join me to support bestselling author and speaker Michael Hyatt:
Urge the National Speakers Association leadership to ditch the name change by writing to CEO Stacy Tetschner, who invites your comments about it.
Recommend that the NSA apologize to Michael Hyatt.
Do better Google searches and more substantive research before picking another brand name that may already be taken.
And don’t stomp on the toes of someone, who is, after all, one of your own! Indeed, Michael Hyatt is not only a New York Times bestselling author with a huge platform, but he’s a sought-after, world-renowned speaker, who has done so much to help speakers, authors, bloggers, etc. get their messages out to a wider audience.
Also, please post comments on blogs by Daniel Decker, Stu McLaren, Kathleen Ann Thompson, Mike Kim, and Andy Traub, and thank them for coming to Michael’s support.
I also encourage you to read these thoughtful posts about this matter from Ryan Avery and Skip Prichard.
FYI, you can see the explanation here as to why the well-branded National Speakers Association was ditching its name and now calling itself “Platform.”
Now, let the fabulous Michael Hyatt teach you about building your own platform.
Again, please join me in urging the NSA leadership to reconsider this name change, because Michael Hyatt is already the preeminent holder of the brand, Platform. Please share your comments now.

Authors, Marketers & Publicists: 21st Century Book Marketing Conference is the Place to Be this Fall

This post is for Authors, Marketers & Publicists.
Are you confused about what cutting-edge techniques are best to use to help propel your book or your client’s books onto the bestseller lists?
To get up to speed on what tactics are hot and effective, I urge you to attend the 21st Century Book Marketing conference in San Diego on Sept. 25 and 26.
This fabulous event — which I attended last year and highly recommend — will give you the latest information about how to successfully launch your book in the 21st century.
At the 21st Century Book Marketing event, you’ll hear from top publishers, publicists, marketers, social media experts and authors, who will share their secrets and the latest information.
For instance, you’ll gain insights and ideas from high-level executives from HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hay House and Huffington Post, as well as other smart expert speakers, who will teach the best techniques for marketing your books in today’s world.
This wonderful 21st Century Book Marketing conference is presented by two people “in the know,” so to speak — my friend Arielle Ford (a brilliant former publicist and bestselling author) and her partner, Mike Koenigs, a super-successful internet marketer.
For instance at the 21st Century Book Marketing conference, you’ll learn:
* How to get your target market to your website;
* How to sell your books in bulk;
* Which national TV shows every author needs to be on;
* How to use blogs, podcasts and video blogs to make you stand out on the Internet;
* How to use social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to sell books;
* How to get booked by the media and nail the interview once you get there;
* How to make money marketing and selling products;
* How to use a 3-step formula to ace every radio interview;
* How to give a great presentation like Steve Jobs;
* And much more.
If you act now, you can get in at a better price. For half-price tickets now, visit the 21st Century Book Marketing site.
To tell friends about this great event, just send them to http://tinyurl.com/21stCenturyBookMktgConf-Connie
Hope to see you there.

Authors & Aspiring Authors: Bestselling Author Mark Victor Hansen & Other Publishing Experts Tell You How to Sell Your Book, Build a Platform, Become an Author-Preneur & More on the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show

Are you an author or wanna-be author?
If so, you need to attend my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show Tuesday at 3 pm EST? Remember, you can listen live or later.
We’ll hear from experts galore, including the renowned, best-selling Mark Victor Hansen.
Visit my Gab With the Gurus Blog to learn more.

Help Me to Help You — The White-Out Diet Will Be In Your Hands Jan. 2010, Helping You, If You Spread the Word Now

Special Announcement:
Greetings, wonderful, savvy people,
Today, exactly 11 years since I first kicked sugar and refined carbs and got a better life.
And today, I’m launching an unusual pre-book-deal, marketing campaign.
The economy is prompting me to do something really different so that I can get a book deal for my next book, The White-Out Diet, which I know could help many.
Please see this email (below), which I just sent to members of my mailing list.
If you can help, I’d really, really appreciate it!
Anyhow, my goal is to help millions, and I think I can, but I need wonderful people like you to spread the word! Please read on.
Thanks in advance ever so much! See letter below.
Warmly and gratefully,
Connie
Subject: Help me, please… The White-Out Diet, my next book, is coming with your help — benefits galore
Dear [Your Name Goes Here],
Would you like to lose weight for good,
banish fatigue, boost your energy, feel and look
more youthful, get more oomph in the bedroom and
build a life of passion, purpose and pizzazz?
Well, The White-Out Diet, my next book
(the follow-up to SUGAR SHOCK!), is intended to help YOU
achieve ALL of that — and more.
This book, I hope, will come out in January 2010.
But here’s the catch: I need your help so that this book
will become a reality and be available to you through bookstores,
libraries and online retailers.
You see, while this fun, easy-to-read,
friendly, compassionate book can help
you in so many ways, these challenging
economic times are prompting me to
rely on you.
Let me explain.
Like all other industries, the
publishing industry has been hit
by the economic downturn.
Publishers are tightening their belts and making less acquisitions.
So my literary agent explains to me.
More importantly, major publishers only want to make book
deals with people, who are household names
— movie stars, TV personalities, celebrities and so on.
And publishers only want authors with a “Big Platform”
— this means millions (or least hundreds of
thousands) of followers, fans and friends.
Therein lies my challenge.
While editors at publishing houses loved my White-Out Diet
concept and my background as author of an acclaimed
book (SUGAR SHOCK!) from a major publisher (Berkley Books,
part of the Penguin Group), their enthusiasm was dampened
because I’m not a household name — yet.
And while I do have a Big Platform,
it’s not big ENOUGH — yet.
But I’m determined to get The White-Out Diet published so it can help you.
So I realized that it’s time to put the Law of Attraction into action.
And I’d be grateful to you for any help you can give to make this happen.
The White-Out Diet is a great book, and it deserves to be in your
hands next January, 2010, so it can help you.
Ultimately, this challenge presents an
incredible opportunity.
It’s time for me to become pro-active,
creative and what I call “author-preneurial.”
I’m even planning some outrageous, exciting activities
to drum up the necessary attention in The White-Out Diet, because
I KNOW this book can really enhance, improve and change your life.
(Got any clever, out-of-the-box marketing and promotion ideas? Know any celebrities?
Please share this info with me
ASAP, but privately.)
So would you be kind enough to act now (spending only about a
minute or two) to support the campaign to get The White-Out Diet
into the hands of people who need it?
Act now, please. Just go here:
=====>>>>>
http://www.WhiteOutDiet.com