Reaching your goals, multiple websites

Why would you need to have multiple websites?

This is a reasonable question. There are so many websites out there, how are you going to attract people to your particular website? And wouldn't that split your traffic to send them to a bunch of different websites?

Well, yes and no. By having a website targeted to each of your markets you can reach each of them and then point all of them to a central website.

That is why it is so important to secure domains you might need to do this-and secure them BEFORE you need them.

How will I keep the content relevant?

This will require some consistent effort on your part but you can consider simple things link integrating twitter in to your website and posting as you find articles of interest to your target market.

You can interview people whose opinion would interest your readers.

You can also write articles based on your experience and research.

Content should be the easiest part....we are, after all, writers.

How can I build traffic?

Build your readership by offering something they want to see. Write your blog and point people to articles and content on your website. Then on your website point to your newsletter. Your newsletter can provide short articles monthly and point to archived posts on your blog. You don't want to make everything a duplicate [in case you have people who check out all three]. Make sure each place has something the other two things don't provide, but it is okay to use content from each in the other.

I am personally using mailchimp and I love it. Here is a link to check them out.

MailChimp

I am not a computer person, so at first some of the work with the templates confused me. However, once I looked at the quick tutorials [most lasting no more than a minute or two] it gave me AWESOME looking newsletters. [so be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter]

What I really like is that I can either go monthly [starting at $15/month] or I can pay $15 to get 500 mails. This is great while I'm building my lists. It also allows me to work in this system for clients without relying on them for sign ups etc.

They have a free trial offer with 500 free emails so go to the link and play around with it. See what you think. If you get a newsletter, email me through my website with a description of the newsletter and we'll tell others.

Of course there are other programs but I have told you that I only tell you about what I've directly seen results from. This doesn't mean there aren't other great programs out there; this is what I'm using and I'm thrilled with their product.

Reread Tuesday's post and today's post and start to think bigger about your marketing efforts. And if you'd like help my monthly coaching program is $30/month. We can delve in to specifics for your particular writing goals and put something together

But keep moving forward. We're going to get you to your dreams.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Reaching your goals, establish a web presence

Last Thursday I taught a webinar on Writing for Small Business Owners. One thing I emphasized is the importance of establishing and maintaining a web presence. That is important for writers. Since we work with words this should be easier for us to create something that will keep people coming back...but how do we do that?

Creating blogs are always the first step. They are free and easy to update. Make sure you have a clear focus and provide consistent content that will interest people and keep them coming back.

The next thing you need to do is secure a domain. I personally use doteasy.com because I've found them very affordable and very easy to work with. They run specials from time to time but to simply buy a domain is about $25 for a year. Click this link below and check them out.

Doteasy.com

"But I don't want to start a website yet!!"

I didn't say start a website, I said purchase a domain.

I'm sure as you grow as an author you'll encounter many people who find their domain gone when the time comes to build their website. Purchase the domain so you have it in a year or two when you need it.

If you have domains that relate to the topic of your kind of writing, secure that too. "RegencywithRayann" or "SuspensewithSam"

You get the idea. I own about 4-5 domains that are not currently developed because I know that I will need them soon-and I don't want to miss out.

So, we will talk about actual websites on Friday, but for now go to that link and find out the availability of domains [it's free to check availability], secure a domain [or topic, like I'm writingcareercoach.com ], and start to think of ways to plan for success.

Don't wait until you think you'll need it, start planning ahead.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

This one is still pursuing her goals...

Today I'm pleased to have one of the individuals in my coaching program, Katt Anderson, share a bit about writing, what she's done to grow as a writer and how she is working to take her writing to the next level. I hope you will enjoy this post. I will have a couple others throughout this month as we focus on goal setting and following through.

WCC:What is one thing you have done recently to improve your craft?

Katt Anderson: This past year I have changed a lot in my writing. I always take to classes that ACFW offers and I have heard of others that I have taken. I have been working with Tiffany for over a year now and I do recommend her classes, especially the one-month intense class. It really brought my thinking to the center. Last year I attended two seminars, Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and October Writers Retreat. When I was there, I met a lot of authors and I have been networking with some of them. Conferences are a great way to meet people and don't be afraid to ask them questions.

WCC: What are some things you're doing to market even before you're published?

KA: That's a good question and one I am getting started doing. I do several things. I'm a member of the Church of Christ and most of the churches have Ladies Day. That is a time where ladies from different congregations get together for a day of worship, just women. I have spoken at our Ladies Day and we are preparing for another one in May. I am also open for any other speaking engagements. I'm always introduced as a writer and I tell my progress. Another way is to write for publications, newspapers, anything. Right now I do not have anything published, but I am working on them. You can also speak to different local organizations. This has been swimming around for a while in my head and I'm ready to take the leap.

WCC: What genre do you write and how did you become interested in it?

KA: I write historical romance. I have always loved history. My best subject in school. The town I live in is very old and there is a lot of history from 1775 and on. When I was in elementary school, a historian of the town would come to our classes and tell us stories. I enjoyed it very much. Then my grandmother was raised in the coal mining towns in Southwest Virginia. She told me so many stories about the early 1900's. Her father was a sheriff and he also told me a few.

WCC: If you had to give one piece of advice to someone just starting out as an author, what would it be?

KA: One piece of advice is hard. There are so many things to do such as classes, conferences, etc. My one piece of advice is to read well written novels in the genre you want to write. Study those books when you read them and learn how the author says and explains certain things. How does she/he show emotion? How do they do back story? There is so much to learn and reading is a good way to do that. Wording is different in each era.

WCC: Do you have a blog/website? What is the theme and the address?

KA: I do have a website and a blog. The address is www.kattanderson.com. My blog is www.kattscribbles.blogspot.com. The theme is the journey of writing. I do have guest interviews and the last one was with Amanda Cabot discussing her book Paper Roses. It is a historical romance.

Tiff, thanks so much for interviewing me. You know I love to talk, so I have enjoyed telling about my journey. Life is a journey and each day is a different page or scene. We make it what we want it to be and I have decided to enjoy it. Thanks so much.

Thanks for sharing from your heart, Katt. Tomorrow I'll spend some time talking about ways to build your writer's platform. I hope to see everyone there.

Setting up for success

I have never been a volleyball fan. Despite being a varsity gymnast in high school I found volleyball too brutal of a sport to be any fun.

One thing I did learn from Volleyball, however, was the power of coordinated effort. One of the positions in volleyball is called the setter [or at least I think that was what the position was called. Shows you how much I love Volleyball. ha-ha]

Okay, I love college football. Let's go with that. [The Fiesta Bowl was heartbreaking for this Buckeye!] When they call a play everyone has to know what position to go to, who to line up against and where to watch. The defense has to try to read the play and prepare to stop the person from running the ball in to the end zone [clearly, I love football more than volleyball].

As writers and business owners we have our own end zone. Our goals will determine the plays we run. We will also encounter opposition.

We must always be on offense calling out play after play...making little movements a few yards at a time until we hit the end zone PUBLICATION.

Then immediately we go RIGHT back where we started from and do the same thing all over again. Sometimes rejection will push us back and the other team will score against us [the other team being our own negative self-talk] but we still end up BACK at the 50 yard line.

I can't call your plays for you. You have to do that. Determine what your goal is. What you'll have to do to get there. And, most importantly, don't give up. Keep pushing incrementally forward.

For me college football is wrapping up. The bowl games are over. In August the teams will come out again. The winners will have to once again prove they have the stuff. The losers will have a chance to come back and have their time to shine.

As writers every day, every week, every project we prove ourselves again and again. The book is simply the culmination of years of sweat and tears.

Where will you be next year? That will be determined by what you do in the next 12 hours. And the 12 after that. and the 12 after that. Well, you get the picture.

Don't forget to share your opinion in our poll. It will only be available a few more days.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Weekly tracking guide

Good morning,

As writers there are many skills we must master. There is craft, characterization, marketing, editing, proposals and query letters...and accepting rejection graciously.

It can feel like we are making no forward progress.

Sometimes it is true, sometimes it is because you're basing success on word count.

The best solution is to keep track of what you're actually doing to advance your writing career. Students of my monthly coaching received this already [if you are in my coaching program and didn't receive it, email me and I'll get a copy right over to you.]

If you'd like to write one of your own think about the various aspects of being a writer and rank them in order of importance. Then give each a 'point value'. Determine how many points you'd like to earn each week [or how many points you NEED to earn each week if your on a deadline] and then start working.

It is simple things that reap huge dividends in our writing. Sometimes things as simple as a to-do list or a tracking sheet are enough to give us the accountability we need to move forward.

Don't allow yourself to get discouraged in 2009. Make this the year that you reach your goals.

More importantly, make this the WEEK that you reach a milestone on the path to your goals.

The webinar I'm teaching on Thursday can be accessed here. If you cannot attend, the ProVision Network will be recording the presentation and it will be available for sale at a later date.

I have also posted a poll on my blog. I know most of you read these directly in your email but take the time to give your thoughts on this new feature. Click straight to the blog here.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

You know what to do, but how???

Happy Monday!!

I truly mean that every time I say that. I love being a writer and I love coaching other writers and helping them to be all they can be.

So many people make New Year's Resolutions [although I haven't heard as much of that this year...guess it's because I quit listening to the News all the time.]

I don't make Resolutions because it is no more effective than making a declaration.

I make decisions and I follow them with action.

If that is you, then you're in the right place. Last week I called you all to make January a foundational month. Not only am I encouraging you to do that, but I'm going to help you with that.

We're going to lay the foundation for a successful new year in your writing business. Over this next month I will not only suggest steps to take but I'm going to allow a few of the people I coach to tell you some of what THEY'RE doing to grow their business. Some of them have ideas identical to me, others have taken what I've taught and forged their own path.

Either way, 2009 can be an opportunity for you to meet those goals.

Our economy is in a time of flux. Our government is in a state of transition.

Uncertainty can be scary.

But, history has shown us that the people who adjusted TO change are the ones who sky rocketed in growth.

Make this your month to grow!

Many of you have emailed me to ask about my coaching program. It runs 3 months starting from the day you register [so if you register January 15th it will run until April 15th] so you always get 3 full months.

Yes, if you own one or more of the products you do get a discount on that first month.

And I have a few more spots for January [only 8] so if you'd like to sign up for coaching this month, do it quickly.

One final thing, if you have high school students [homeschool, public school or private school] and they're dreading that term paper I'm teaching a semester long class on mastering the term paper. It is $30 for the SEMESTER [yes, it is a crazy cheap deal. I love teenagers and want to see them succeed]. I only have a few spots left so email me directly if you'd like your student to have the private tutoring. Or if they want to purchase the product without tutoring. I no longer do the e-loop so all tutoring is private tutoring.

See you tomorrow and we'll delve in to the year your business exceeded your expectations!

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.

Molding with change

There has been a huge hubbabaloo on a email loop I'm a part of. The group is ACFW which is a group of writers who are, or hope to be, CBA fiction authors.

The basis of this conversation rests on a NYT Article.

I'd encourage you to go read it [I linked to it above], but if you can't, here's a summary. The author talks about buying used books online. Then claims that this is leading to the decline of bookstores and back lists.

I may not be very old [early 30s]-so maybe there's something I'm missing- but what is the point of fussing about something we can't control?

Nothing.

We cannot go out and force people to purchase new books for $15 when they can get an old one for $3. It's called common sense.

So, our role as writers is to recognize this reality and find out how to build our writing income in the current environment.

Negative: Sales of back list books are down from publishers.
Positive: Sales of back list books continue through online retailers.
How we can use this: People are still buying books. The decreased cost of resale allows people who might not otherwise want to purchase our book the opportunity to buy our book.

Negative: Amazon is taking over the world.
Positive: Innovations like Kindle and Sony's version offer the opportunity to eliminate the lost revenue of the previous negative.

Negative: Brick and Mortar stores are closing.
Positive: The establishment of online purchases allows authors the opportunity to link to websites that sell their books. Instant gratification as well as increased personal interaction between author and reader.

Negative:Online resellers are driving second hand bookstores out of business.
Positive: The power of the internet allows people who previously could not earn money selling books the opportunity to resell their books. These people use their proceeds to pay gas bills, eat food and, yes, buy other books. As long as we keep money flowing in the economy we are able to keep the gears of industry moving. This is necessary to avoid depressions, recessions and other yucky things.

So, instead of trying to find ways to STOP the inevitable-we need to adapt.

For far too often people have tried to block things they don't like. UAW factories say no "foreign" cars on their property while their domestics are full of foreign parts. Oops. In France they tried to legislate the percentage of foreign language entertainment allowed on their airwaves. Now you can buy a Big Mac in the streets of Paris.

It is the innovators who rise above. Do you want to be an innovator or a Chicken Little pointing at the sky?

Find out about my coaching, editing and products from my website and make 2009 your year of innovation.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.
Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.
She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.