NetWorldingBlog » Chicago speakers

#5 of Top 10 Mistakes Authors Make

Melissa — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:11 +0000

Mistake #5: Become Too Attached to a Title

Another mistake I’ve seen authors make is to become too attached to a particular title that they won’t even consider anything else. Sure, it is important to include a catchy or insightful title (and subtitle) with your book proposal. You want to capture that literary agent’s immediate attention. However, chances are that title that you’ve spent so much time creating and soliciting advice about from friends, family, and acquaintances won’t make it past the initial publishing committee. Obviously, your book’s title is going to be one of its first selling points. Because of this, publishers spend hours upon hours in meetings devoted to titling your book. Believe me, I’ve been there. Titling meetings are among the most boring and oftentimes frustrating experiences that any acquisitions editor or publisher has to endure. But it is a very necessary evil.

It typically works like this. Your acquisitions editor asks you to brainstorm four or five additional titles that might work. He or she then brings your list into the titling meeting, which usually consist of the publisher, the sales directors, marketing and publicity manager, your publicist assigned to your book, and often the cover design team as well. They go back and forth, hem and haw, and come up with some suggestions of their own. Your acquisitions editor then goes back to you with the title options the team has created and solicits your opinion. More often than not, the title of your published book will not be the one you had originally proposed. However, I have seen occasions where after all this work, the team agrees that the initial title will work after all and runs with it.

This can be very frustrating and very time-consuming. Remember, although the material is your own, the publisher reserves the right to make all final decisions about how your book is titled and packaged. If you are adamantly against a particular title, be able to articulate why. It is in your best interests do so without sounding too defensive. Ultimately though, everyone wants you to be happy with any decisions made about your book…including the title. Publishing is a very pseudo-collaborative process and generally, when all is said and done, things work out nicely for all parties involved.

Just remember: the title is one of the most important selling factors for your book. As frustrating as the process often is, the best thing an author can be is flexible. That way, it’s a win/win situation for everyone.

If you missed them…

Mistake #1

Mistake #2
Mistake #3
Mistake #4

Jon Malysiak is part of the Networlding Publishing Team. He works with me to support our ongoing efforts to educate thought leaders on the best practices for success in this new world of publishing.

You can also find him at: http://author-on-the-town.blogspot.com

Well, Here’s How Amazon Publishing Will Get Its Books Into Barnes & Noble (wall-notes.com)
For A Few Self-Published Authors, Kindle Exclusivity Pays (paidcontent.org)

How Much Time Daily Should We Devote to Social Media?

Melissa — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:09:20 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

Being a successful Networlder creates sustainable connections. The social media phenomenon we live in allows us to do that. As this week’s webinar by

Image via CrunchBase

HubSpot on the “5 steps for Awesome Social Media Lead Generation” simply put it, “Follow. Friend. Connect”. Some people may spend less than 30 minutes a day following these steps that are few mere clicks away. Hootsuite and Buffer allow for excellent staged tweets. Others spend a range of an hour to several hours a day engaging on different platforms that include commenting on blogs, writing their own post, mingling on Twitter and questioning others in LinkedIn groups.

The question is, how much time should we devote on a daily basis to build sustainable connections?

I sent a query to the Networlding Group on LinkedIn earlier this week to have them weigh in. The answers in fact do vary! (See form if you would like to add your two cents which we will update in the comments section or, share you comments, below):

“2 hours per day: half an hour in the morning to re-invigorate yourself; half an hour at the end of your working hours; one hour after dinner and family time so you can participate in forums with the needed tranquility”

Time: 20 Facebook + 20 Linked in + 30 Own Blog + 50 Other blogs = 2 hours/day

-Luís Cochofel of dPe
www.luiscochofel.com
luis @luiscochofel.com

=========

“Maintaining Social Media presence varies based on VALUE Gained from involvement, Business Style and VISION of how you see the importance of your online IMAGE. It’s hard not to spend less than 10 minutes a day leveraging the tools of the internet if you’re trying to Create Powerful Entertainment”

-Deremiah *CPE, Inspirational Speaking Star + Author of “52 GREAT WEEKS”
http://www.deremiahcpe.blogspot.com/
@ Deremiah_CPE

=========

“It is really dependent upon the person and their desired outcomes. You can’t pigeon-hole one set of standards for the masses. Like fitting a square peg into a ROUND hole. Never works! I say for myself, an hour a day is most I could spend. That might change each week, depending on my own personal schedule”

Time: Facebook 10 + Twitter 20 + LinkedIn 30 + Own Blog 15+ Commenting on blogs 5+ Other 5 = 85 minutes/day

-Lisa Day, Physician Financial Liaison, St. Mary’s Hospital
lisaday07 @ comcast.net

=========

“The goal is provide valuable content to those who would gain value from it, highlight individuals making the world a better place, and help connect individuals who would benefit from knowing one another”

Time: Twitter 10 + LinkedIn 10 + Blog (own) 35 + Commenting on other blogs 5 + Other 5 = 85 minutes/day

-Anita Brick, Director of Career Advancement Programs at University of Chicago
abrick15@gmail.com

=========

“The ideal is whatever makes sense for the individual and the goals he / she has set. But, I would expect that 30 to 60 minutes per day would be reasonable. However, what is ideal for me may or may not be ideal for others.”

Time: Facebook 10 + Twitter 10 + LinkedIn 10 + Blog (own) 10 + Commenting on blogs (10) + Other 10 = 1 hr/day

-Gerry Parran, Partner, The Material Source LP
gparran@aol.com
www.thematerialsource.com

==========

“I frequently commit several hours per day to maintain my presence and follow others; however, this is atypical (as I am currently an expat trailing spouse) and would not recommend it as ideal, unless it’s to support your work. Realistically, I think you can/should spend 1-2 hours per day with a focused message and only 2-3 apps to manage (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.). The more applications you use and the less focused your message, the more time you’ll need! It also depends on the number of friends / connections – and their average number of posts. If you write a blog, add at least 1-2 hours or more per week per post.”

-Shawn Haugen, DOX Communications, Independent Consultant/Senior Technical Writer/Editor & Business Analyst
shawnhaugen@hotmail.com

http://ch.linkedin.com/in/shawnhaugen

===========

“When you really want to be present, it is a full time job, engaging everywhere, anytime”

Facebook 30 + Twitter 30 + LinkedIn 30 + Own blog 90 + Other 20 = 3.5 hours/day

-Henk Overbeek, Accountants Bulgaria
http://aidosbg,com
henk @ aidosbg.com

============

“I view social media as an aspect of continuing education with a dose of personal and professional marketing. Using that approach, 15-30 minutes daily is ideal with a more intense session one time per week.”

Time: LinkedIn 60 + Other 120 = 3 hours

-Steve Silvey, Managing Partner at Athena Attorneys at Law, LLC
www.athena1.com
stevesilvey @ athena1.com

============

Time: Facebook = 30 + Twitter = 20 + LinkedIn = 20 + Blog (own) = 0 + Commenting on blogs = 15 = 85 minutes/day

-Barbara Bentley, Owner, Bentley Business Solutions
barbara _ bentley @ comcast.net

=============

If you or someone you know would be interested in contributing to timely questions I ask in the future, please join the Networlding group here on LinkedIn!

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Networking Versus Networlding Contest: Join Us!

Melissa — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 07:00:16 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Networking connections are flimsy because they lack support. Networking relationships are often one-sided, transactional verus relational, opportunity limiting versus opportunity expansive. One particular situation binds you together, and as soon as this situation disintegrates or disappears, there’s nothing left of the relationship to keep it strong enough to survive.

Networlding, on the other hand, start you connecting authentically with the intention of really engaging with the person you are meeting to learn what matters most to him or her. Quickly and convincingly, you exhibit a values-based approach, and when you do so, people who resonate with your intent will respond. If someone responds positively and you are able to establish a Networlding relationship, you can reap tremendous benefits. Your new partner will not only do more for you in terms of opportunities but in providing an empathetic ear and a source of fresh ideas.

Join Us!

Can you build relationships faster that anyone you know? Want to show the world? Follow these steps:

Video yourself (no more than 3 minutes) connecting with someone you don’t know–perhaps at a social event or a business networking event. Show off your great connection skills!
Upload your video to your You Tube account.
Make sure the title of the video is: Networking versus Networlding.
Get your friends to view your video and, hopefully, vote for yours.
Get your friends to tell their friends to view your video and vote.

I’ll keep searching for the “Networking versus Networlding” videos on You Tube until the contest end which will be September 1st of this year.

I will promote the three top, most-viewed videos and choose one I think is best among the three.

The winner will win $200 and ten of my Nanosecond Networlder books to give to the top ten in their “Networlding” circle.

You can have up to three entries per person. Have fun and good luck!

Networlding Steps #1 and #2 – Social Networking on Steroids (networldingblog.com)
Social Media Innovation in Oprah’s Network (networldingblog.com)
Publishing, Teams and a New World (networldingblog.com)
How Social Media Is the New Educator (blogcritics.org)
Why influence on Google+ is more than a popularity contest (venturebeat.com)
You’re Hired! Social Networking Is the New Resume (blogcritics.org)

I Dreaming of a . . .

Melissa — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 19:04:09 +0000

In this big networked world, I just wanted to take a moment and recognize the very basics in life–a yearning to be connected. We are losing connection, most of all, with ourselves that, often, we don’t even recognize what is happening.

What does this picture to the right say to you? I see a dog who wishes companionship (by the way I know the owner and she would agree). He sees another dog (which is really himself) but he THINKS there is another dog there but just can’t connect with it.

Do you ever feel that way–like you are not connected yet you have a network in the hundreds or like me, thousands? And where are we going with all this “connectionholic” stuff as I call this activity? Are you hoping for yet MORE connections next year? Will more connections lead to more business or a better career?

We are so much in pursuit of more and more connections, what will happen if we . . . . just . . . . stop . . . for awhile?

I’m dreaming of a quieter, happier, more loving and connected year next year. What about you? Want to connect with me on that dream?

Networlding and Oprah: Building a Power-of-Ten Circle

Melissa Giovagnoli — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:57:55 +0000

Many people who don’t really understand the power of networks and Networlding get insight when I share with them that Oprah has built a great Networld. When Malcolm Gladwell wrote The Tipping Point he referenced the scientific reality that we can’t communicate with more than 15 people regularly at any one time.

In Networlding I make it even more simple for building a network by taking that network down to ten people and referring to it as a your “Power-of-Ten” Circle. Sociologists (which I am one) refer to this circle as your “primary circle.” So to bring your Power-of-Ten Circle to life think of Oprah and her circle. Who would be in that circle or alliance network? How about:

Suzie Orman - financial sage and the author of nine books, including her latest, Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan
Nate Berkus – Nate Berkus is a featured design expert for The Oprah Winfrey Show and a regular contributor to the pages of O at Home.
Lisa Kogan – 40 something columnist for Oprah’s magazine.
Dr. Maya Angelou - hailed as a remarkable Renaissance woman, a beloved poet and best-selling author, Dr. Angelou has the unique ability to captivate listeners through the vigor and sheer beauty of her lyrics and words.
Dr. Katz – nationally renowned authority on nutrition and chronic disease prevention and columnist—is here to help you digest it all. O, The Oprah Magazine
Adam Glassman – the creative director of O, The Oprah Magazine tells you what your best friends won’t. Adam fields questions from readers on everything from age-appropriate clothing to how to be comfortable and still look great during a long airplane flight.
Martha Beck – life coach and O, The Oprah Magazine columnist Martha Beck has the blueprint to stress-free living.
Bob Greene - Bob Greene is an exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer specializing in fitness, metabolism and weight loss.
Dr. Oz - Dr. Oz is the health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He is chief medical consultant to Discovery Communications and has hosted several shows, including Second Opinion with Dr. Oz and Life Line.
John St. Augustine - He is the author of Living an Uncommon Life: Essential Lessons from 21 Extraordinary People and a sought-after speaker on human potential and purpose. Now, John’s hosting his own show on Oprah Radio, interviewing some of the world’s most influential thinkers, leaders and experts on personal empowerment. (Networlding Note: John was connected to Oprah through someone from Networlding and that is how he made the great connection. He is one of my favorite people and the best talk show host. I met John years ago when I was on his radio show after writing Angels in the Workplace).

Of course there are others, but realistically there is still the phenomenon that exists in the science of networks called “The Law of the Few” which essentially states that it will be the few people you know that will really make the difference in your life. Gladwell refers to people as “sales people,” “mavens” and “connectors.” In Networlding I say that people can have all three abilities. When they do I call them “Networlders.” Also, note that I believe people can also learn and build these skills. Of course some people won’t be as good as others but then they can always surround themselves with a Power-of-Ten Network or Networld as Oprah has.

Playing out this real power network even further by folding into it the element of values-based networking, you don’t have to wonder too much whether the above ten people in Oprah’s network have similar and complimentary values which is what I have found is needed to leverage a successful network. From what I know of the above ten they are all true leaders and create additional value by being part of Oprah’s network and vice versa.

So now ask yourself who should be in your Power-of-Ten Circle? Want to start a circle yourself? Email us at info@networlding.com and we’ll help you get started.

A Dynamic Speaking Duo

Melissa — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:50:52 +0000

Look no further to find two great speakers who truly can change the lives of a audience in one day.

From Jobbies to Businesses: Strategies for Irresistible Success

In this inspirational and educational interactive hybrid panel-presentation-“tv talk show” format, Liz Strauss and Carol Roth will discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, explore the importance of being irresistible and creating the irresistible offer that will keep customers coming back and teach participants how to use leadership and discipline in their endeavors to enhance success in their interactive businesses.

The audience will be challenged to adopt new behaviors for success, regardless of whether they are pursuing a “jobbie” (a hobby disguised as a business) or creating a bona fide growth company. The presentation will encompass strategies and tactics for the participants to implement in their businesses and end with a specific call to action for each attendee.

Audience members will take away insights and action items for their businesses including:

*The dirty little secrets about entrepreneurship
*The difference between a jobbie, job business and a bona fide business and the impact of these on their goals and business growth
*How to make their brand and business irresistible to their customers/clients and attract new customers/clients
*How to bring leadership and discipline to their business, even if they have a one-person business
*Six key behavior changes they can make to increase their success and make more money

Bios

Carol Roth

Carol Roth (www.CarolRoth.com) helps businesses grow and make more money. An investment banker, business strategist and deal maker, she has helped her clients, ranging from solopreneurs to multinational corporations, raise more than $1 billion in capital, complete hundreds of millions of dollars in M&A transactions, secure high-profile licensing and partnership deals and more.

Carol is a frequent radio, television and print media contributor on the topics of business and entrepreneurship. Her blog at CarolRoth.com was recently named as one of the Top 10 Small Business blogs online. The Entrepreneur Equation, Carol’s book on evaluating the realities, risks and rewards of business ownership, is due out Q1 2011.

Liz Strauss

Liz Strauss (http://www.successful-blog.com/) is a brand strategist and social web community builder and is perhaps the most influential “real-ebrity” on the Internet. Liz has over 2 of international print, software and online publishing expertise. She’s been named to the Top 100 Social Media & Internet Marketing Bloggers, NxE’s Fifty Most Influential ‘Female’ Bloggers, The Invesp Top 100 Most Influential Marketers of 2008 and again in 2009, 50 of the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Social Media. The WordPress Plugin Liz Comment Counter by Ozh was named after Liz to celebrate her dedication to responding to reader comments on blog.

Where Is Your Company’s G-Point?

Melissa — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:09:13 +0000

In “The Failure of Marketing” author Jack Trytten helped companies learn what, for whatever reason, they were missing around what they were doing wrong in their marketing efforts.

Now he is back with an even more provocative and spot on analysis of what companies can do to get to the “G-Point.” That’s the “Growth Point.” With one amazing story after another Jack helps you and your organization clearly SEE those things in your organization that can actually be changed . . . improved . . . LEVERAGED, to get your company moving up, not down.

Even more, some companies are what Jack calls “Growth Machines.” How can you turn your company into one?

Check out the following video for some great ideas and then . . . contact Jack. Tell him Networlding and Melissa G (really, that’s what my friends call me!) sent YOU!

Social Media, The Good Karma Network and Creating Trust in 30 Minutes or Less

Melissa — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:49:45 +0000

When Christian Gray and I spoke this week I had no idea that we would be having a very rich, deep, purposeful conversation. This was the first time we spoke and within 30 minutes we were able to get to a place of trust. In fact on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being a very high level of trust, it was easy to see this person was at the 5 level.

So what did he do to create trust so quickly. Here is an overview of his philosophy:

Talk more about “who” you are and “what” you stand for rather than “what you do” Christian began by very quickly telling me what matters most to him–his children, helping kids who are disadvantaged getting books and learning to read, getting healthy (he wants to keep to his established exercise schedule and forming an alliance network of people who have similar and complementary values and skills
Asked what mattered most to me. In Networlding we call it “The Exchange.” It’s not about just giving. Givers end up actually with less than they intended usually. It’s also certainly not just about taking. Takers end up with lots of connections but poor or mediocre opportunities on an ongoing basis. Exchangers get the most out of their work by spending time exploring “mutually beneficial” opportunities. It’s not an easy thing to do but the results are so much more effective. So when Christian asked me what my five top goals are this year, we were then able to talk about our mutual synergies–where we could work together and where we might refer or introduce one another.
Deliver a “WOW” offer. I will never forget our first meeting as Christian’s “WOW” offer was to give back what he calls his 10X. Take a look at his social networking article on this offer that he has now turned into a signature offer of his that differentiates him greatly from thousands of others I have met.

What signature offer have you created to differentiate yourself from others? How can you both make a living AND make a difference? Who do you know who has made a WOW gift to you like Christian did?

What Do Your Values Reflect?

Melissa Giovagnoli — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:53:45 +0000

What does it mean to have a system for networking? I created a method to change random, “one-shot” networking into mutually beneficial and consistently productive Networlding. There are seven steps in total that once mastered will allow you to be an effortless Networlder. The steps will be presented individually because each step must be completed before moving onto the next. Take time with each step and make sure the your responses and truthful and valuable for you.

STEP NUMBER 1:

Create Your Values Foundation.

We all have values, but what are your top four and, if you can, what are they in level of priority?

Carol had been what we call in Networlding “baseline networking” for years. She was at the top of her game working as Director of HR for a large organization. However, the long hours and an intense travel schedule left Carol feeling that her personal life lacked balance. From layoffs and career changes to being sought out for competitive executive positions, Carol had been through all of the ups and downs of corporate life.

As she began thinking about what she wanted her future to look like she thought more about her childhood dream of being a physiologist. Carol appreciated valued-based business and aspired to start an individual psychology practice of her own.

With these goals in mind Carol took the first step in Networlding and identified her top four values:

• Spirituality
• Connection
• Making a difference
• Achievement

With these values in mind, Carol decided to leave her six-figure salary and return to graduate school. By understanding her values Carol will not lose sight of them through her process. With her values in mind she is more apt to meet others with similar values and build a network of people around her that will help maintain these values. She will also vocalize her values more often and make requests to be introduced to people who hold similar and complimentary values.

Four Best Networking Tools for Inbound and Outbound Marketing: The 20% that Yields an 80% Return

Melissa — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:29:15 +0000

Wondering what works and what doesn ‘t when it comes to “push” or outbound marketing or “pull” or inbound marketing? As Malcolm Gladwell mentions in his third book, Outliers an expert is someone who has had more than 10,000 hours of study in one particular area. Online marketing is my area and there really are very a smaller group with similar time put into their respective areas of expertise whom I admire, follow, implement their ideas and, certainly, recommend.

Following is an overview of these tools:

Website Grader – Useful tool for measuring the marketing effectiveness of your
website, get a free custom report in seconds with advice for your website

MarketingProfs – A great resource for case studies, insights, and best practices from
peers and experts in marketing

HubSpot Internet Marketing Blog – Articles about business strategy and inbound Internet
marketing

Web ink now – Online thought leadership and viral marketing strategies from award-
winning author David Meerman Scott

HubSpot – Internet marketing software that helps you get found by more prospects and
generate more qualified leads and sales

CrowdSpring – A site offering custom designs that you choose from actual custom designs, not bids. The average project gets
a whopping 80 entries. They have a money back guarantee
25 entries or a full refund, including the small fee for the services. The site boast over 46,000 creatives.

Zmags – The next generation in online publishing. The site is great. Take a look at my ZMag! For more information, view the zmags blog.

What do you think? What are your top ten or fewer favorites of the year?