ANSWERS from a best selling author.
 

Here are the answers to YOUR questions.

This morning I sat down with Raymond Steinbacher, who's book, Computer Friendly, has sales of 1.6 million copies and counting. Ray has written 5 other books and has been translated in 12 languages.

I asked him the questions you posted here and via email. So I'll start with those and in the order posted/rec'd, fair enough?

Then I'll add his answers to my questions (some of them, we spoke for 2 hours, so I'll have to condense things).

donsonic had 3 Questions:

1. What are the hottest topics/content that sell during a recession? Any way to research this?

Raymond's response: I look for hot topics that can sell at anytime, that are recession proof. I'm currently looking and researching into a HOT topic that has to do with bank security and is in the news. Since I can respond rapidly, I like things that have a wide appeal. It is hard to sell a million books to a small niche. I can tell you that Green Tree Press, my publisber, has survived several 'recessions' and that they publish books that help people either make money, save money or are in someway related to overcoming the "fear" during these times. So I would advise you to look for ideas that will HELP people I just bought some chickens for my 65 acre retreat, and I found that chickens are a HOT topic...maybe I'll write a special report on that.

I do a couple of hours a day a few days a week when I research and I use google and I'm starting to fall in love with bing.com

2. What are the best ways to reach your market today? Use internet only or combination of mailorder, voicemail, email marketing and internet?

My best advice: use every marketing weapon at your disposal. Internet is now a must, but there are lists avaiable that have tens of thousands of names on them, and these people have bought books, so why not use that too? I haven't used voicemail and my publisher doesn't use it, they do have a toll free number which does help. The internet has been minimal but we really haven't tried it that much, but our tests show some potential and Gordon is here to help us analyze this, so we'll probably be doing a lot more online.

3. How do you establish your price and what is the highest amount you could charge today?

My books have sold for 12.95 and the price was established by the publisher, however, he and I are both making a transition and I'm working on more niche specific books that I'll charge more for, but the printed books that will now be going to bookstores, will have competitive pricing. Since my publisher is all Direct Marketing or Direct Response and is one of the best in the business, I leave it in his hands to set the price. Today, I'm looking at doing a 67.00 book which is a competitive price for the information I'll be offering. he general rule of thumb is that the more niched your info, the higher price. Since I have done pretty well with lower priced books, I'll stay with that as I expand into niches.

From Dien: how to choose a hot topic to write about. I've covered some of that, but I like mass market appeals, and topical stuff. I stay on the front end of trend research, I keep on top of my specialty which is computers and I keep an open mind.

Again, it could be what the publisher WANTS me to write about, and he has already done some research or what he thinks might be a good topic. Once I had a book that was selling, then I was able to present more ideas.

what is his specific method of planning and writing a book

I like to use an outline overview, get a big picture concept of what the book is going to say to the market, what I think needs to be covered and then rough out an outline. Sometimes, however, the publisher wants a certain length book so the challenge is how mucr or how little to write. In the beginning I was more verbose, today I'm more concise and pithy, I think a lot of new writers tend to write too much (for these non-fiction type books) so there is editing to do too.

What environment do you like to write your books in? (E.g. do you lock yourself alone in a room, do you write at a cafe, etc.)

Good question. At the start of a project, I'll go to the beach, cafe, park and try to get a good rough outline, then when I start to fill in the details, I DO lock myself in a room, and especially if I'm under dead line, and it is tough.

I don't know about other writers, but it is hard work to get a concise chapter done and it requires some serious angst and downright hard work...don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Also writing can get to be an extremely lonely process when you have to turn in a project. But the start of a project, I'm much more casual and relaxed about it. Hey, write where you can write, what works for me may not work for you.
What do you use to write, specifically?

(E.g. Do you use a computer and word processor, do you write "long hand" with a pen, do you dictate your books then get it transcribed, etc.)

I'm a COMPUTER only writer, can't even read my own handwriting and dictating gives you a different product, tried it, didn't work for me. All computer.

How do you make yourself focus when it is time to write, and not be distracted?

This is when you realize it is WORK. Old friends think you have an easy job, "is that all you do is write"? Well, obviously they have never written under the gun of a deadline. It is WORK and like any other job (I know wannabee writers hate the idea of having a job, but)...when you have to get the job done, the boss won't except any excuses so you sit your butt down in a chair and as Larry the Cable guy says, you 'ger er done'. Nothing magical about it you want to have the royalty checks keep coming in.

Do you try to put yourself in a particular "mood" when you write? A related question... Do you listen to music when you write?

I DO listen to music, almost as a very low background noise and I do like to get into a good writing mood, but I learned very early that the "mood" thing was crutch for not getting work done...and I've found that when I have to get the writing done, I turn off all music, close the door and just write. For me, having to be in a "mood" in order to write was counterproductive. We writers have too many excuses already to not work, so don't create any more. Writers are procrastinators, let me change that, people who want to be writers procrastinate, guys like me who have a book with over a million copies sold, we WRITE...no excuses.

What methods do you use to sell your books?

I'm not self-published, I'm under contract to a publisher and I leave that up to him, but as mentioned, it is primarily Direct Marketing and any other means possible. Some of my books are sold to colleges to be used as text books and there are others sold to corporations, but I'm not involved in the selling process other than to compare my royalty checks against sales. I write and leave the selling to the pros.


How long does it take you to write a book (including research, planning, etc.)?

I wrote my first book the one with over 1.6 million copies sold in about 4 to 6 weeks and it took another month to fill it out and smooth it out for publication. Most of my books are written in a couple of weeks.

From Lindac
His books are not sold in bookstores and you probably have never heard of him.

My question is...Why write the books?

I asked. His one word response. MONEY.

Although he did elaborate. Now, it's more than just the money but in the beginning I was made an offer to write a book, a substantial offer but was told I would not receive any royalties. It was a large amount and I was tempted, but my thinking was, if this guy wants to "buy" my book outright, there must be more money than what he is offering, so I refused his offer, agreed to write for a royalty only and it was the best decision of my life. It has afforded me, at 43, to live a life that most people only dream about and I can do what I want whenever I want.

Today, I write because I can help people I get thanks from people all over the world who have bought my books and have benefitted from them, so although I said MONEY was the reason, and it is the primary reason, now I have some ego involved and like to see my name on a book and I enjoy the respect of banker too, which is a nice side benefit.

But I think a writer should write because she/he needs to, must, wants to but if you're going to write non fiction HOW TO type stuff, why not make a million bucks doing it?

OK. I'll have some answers to the questions I asked the owner of Green Tree Press later this week. This has been an eye-opening visit, plus I get to go to Presque Isle to sit on the beach too...sweet stuff.

Gordon Jay Alexander

Thanks Raymond and Gordon... That was a "keeper"!
 

Hi Gordon and everyone,

Wow... Thanks to Raymond Steinbacher and to Gordon too, that was a pretty "meaty" interview!

That was a "keeper"... I went over it with my "highlighter" to get some of the main points.

I do consider myself to be a writer (among other things), so it was of particular interest to me...!

Here are a few things that "leaped" out at me...

This is great advice. What interests me is that this is the "opposite" advice of some, which advise writing for a small niche. I think it's because, if you focus on a small niche, it might be an easier sale (to people in that niche), because there's less competition. But, you're also limiting your final potential sales. So if you have strong marketing, go for the bigger niche!

We haven't talked about using lists here for a while. It's very sensible advice!

That's a great reminder of how a "niche" strategy should work. Because of the smaller niche market, you have to compensate for lower potential sales by a higher profit margin.

I know a lot of academic books are like this. The most I paid for a book was over $200, for a very specialized quantum mechanics book (back when I was doing physics), published by Cambridge University Press. (It was called "The Quantum Theory of Motion" by Peter Holland. I see it's only around $100 now, but when it first came out, it was more expensive! It was, and still is, targeted to a very narrow niche.)

I also really appreciated Raymond's explanation of his writing process. I've read a little about various writing processes, and it's interesting to compare. I think it also varies according to people's personalities and preferences. However, I agree that "locking" yourself in a room can really help. Though personally, I find it helps if you have a window. Without a window to look out of, it can get depressing! But locking yourself in a room - with a window - works for me too... Though I also like cafes from time to time (thank goodness for laptops!).

This was great. I've also tried the dictating approach, and I agree, it ends up different compared to writing/typing. I find my articles have a different "quality" to them when they are dictated as well.

I find this too... A deadline helps to focus the mind...!

This is great info! It shows you CAN create a book quickly, if you're focused!

I certainly found it valuable, and I added this interview to my "saved" list of information about writing and marketing!

Thanks again to Raymond and Gordon... I'm very grateful for this "insight" into the mind of a successful writer. It's great stuff!

Best wishes :)

Dien

We only scratched the surface Dien.
 

You're welcome Dien.

We had an extensive interview session, over 2 hours, Raymond is an interestng guy. He is turning his 65 acre retreat into "project piddle" central. He just bought a DeLorean for a summer project, is thinking of putting up windmills, has a gas well and may go off the grid with a gas generator...all because he has the TIME and the MONEY to go with it.

Dien, wouldn't you like to snag a million bux or so from your BOOK? I know I would, Raymond got me fired up over the possibilites. OH, and he's also into movie making, I think I can get a part in his first "zombie" movie...isn't that a requirement for new independent film makers?

One part of the interview that I've never heard anyone talk about was how he dealt (poorly at first) with sudden "wealth". His first royalty check was in the high 4 figures, and then for months it was in the high 5 figures and when you're hauling down that kind of money, things can get a little crazy.

He quit a "secure" job that was paying around 30,000 and he made that much in one of the "bad" months with his book.

I'm going to be talking to Raymond again next week, and also Green Tree Press owner Pete Zesinger, so again, if you or if anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to ask.

As an aside, I got to go into the "basement archives" and pulled out ads from the 70's and 80's that were classics. Ernest P. "Bud" Weckesser was a genius at writing ads. If you want, I might be able to post a few and tell what his notes said about the ad.

Anyhow, it was an excellent trip to Erie and I'm excited to go back up and snoop around this amazingly successful publisher.

Now I've got to get busy on my BOOK. How about you?

Gordon Jay Alexander

Re: ANSWERS from a best selling author.
 

Gordon,

Not sure about anyone else, but I would love to see "Bud's" ads. As well as his notes. I think that would be extremely educational and fun.


Thanks for the great interview.

Fishman

Re: ANSWERS from a best selling author.
 

Fishman,

The problem is TIME and VOLUME. There are hundreds of ads, with, perhaps, thousands of variables, thousands of TESTS. Dr. Weckesser was a prolific writer.

He was known to dash out several headlines quickly and then perfected them with testing.

My thinking it is this: it probably would be best to focus on the ads that sold the most products, the control ads, the tests which improved the response...otherwise, what good would it be to have hundreds of ads if we didn't know what they did...right?

I'll be back up in Erie next week and I'll begin to put together the ads in perhaps a chronological sequence and also in a "how they did" manner, starting with the very best sellng ads and going from there.

For me, it is truly LOST treasure. I've found an old Harvey Brody ad that was offering the lists of Joe Karbo and Gene Schwartz for rental. Harvey had one of the very first computer managed list services and his clients were a who's who of direct response marketing.

Just one note. As excited as I am about finding great history (because I believe I can learn from it)...Pete is excited about the TOMORROW of GTP, with his two new divisions coming "online" soon. GTP is very much a NOW company and a TOMORROW company...

I'm the guy who's getting the thrill from this buried treasure....and the insights into Dr. Weckesser's THINKING, well, that's just going to help ME become a better persuader too. I believe it important to learn from success, and for 35 years and counting, Green Tree Press has been and will continue to be successful.

If you have any suggestions on how to ORGANIZE this gold, I'm all ears, OK?

Gordon Jay Alexander

Big Ups for Gordon and best selling author...
 

Gordon,

Thank you and Raymond Steinbacher for the reply to my questions.

I'm wondering now about two things for info-publishing? Would the recession survival market be a good one to enter for selling info? And the Macintosh market seems ready to explode. I'm a 12 year mac user and see that Internet Marketers just whizzing by the Mac market -- missing an opportunbity for some real serious bread. How do I know? I saw the days BEFORE PDF files IM guys were only putting out .exe files. And for software many are still doing this today. I'm wondering... The Mac IM Market could be big Big, BIG! See what you can find out when you have time.

Best Wishes and thanks for listening!

donsonic

Some ideas on this.
 

Right NOW, the Biz-Op field is booming. It is getting to an all time peak. Check out the "money making" magazines at your bookstore, and you'll see they have more pages of ads than at any time in the last 10 years.

There IS a huge market for work that can help people save money, make money, or better their living situations. Home GARDENING is booming, and that plays into your "survival" or "independence markets.

I'm not sure what you mean by Macintosh Market? PDF has become the default for reports, books and many communications. You'd have to elaborate on what Mac users are missing or why a person should buy a mac for their new computer. So, if you'd care to explain a little bit more about what a "mac IM market" is exactly, then we can figure it out.

Gordon Jay Alexander

Re: Some ideas on this.
 

Gordon,

Thanks for your prompt and brutally honest reply. I do appreciate you taking your time to assist in helping a dedicated fellow infopreneur .

1. For what you say, looks like the Biz opp is pretty HOT at this time! What would you suggest as the best way to reach this market? Offline ads in Income Opportunites, Money Making Opportunities, Home Business Opportunities magazines, as well as online websites like Entrepreneur etc?
Interested in marketing a series of reports to help people "Beat Recession."
Looking for cost effective and targeted ways to reach qualified buyers.

2. For the Macintosh market I see there is a huge potential for selling "How To Make Money With Your Mac" types of products. I am quite an expert in using this platform for producing ebooks, videos and websites etc. And have been quietly monitoring the PC based "Make Money Online" market over the past 10 years. And can honestly say the PC Make Money Online market is very dynamic, responsive and profitable. The Mac market has never had an influx of these type of offerings. Yet, from what products I have purcahsed and reviewed, the quality of the PC stuff is not quite up to the standards that we would expect. Yet, the PC based market stuff sells by the boatloads. I can see both a quality upgrade AND an opportunity to sell at a premium due to Mac's higher overall costs. But the benefits result in higher quality output.

Some folks may be to differ what I say about the Mac experience. But it is definitely going to grow by leaps and bounds. Just trying to get an advance foothold before PC competitors figure out the explosive potential. I'm saying this to say that, NO ONE is marketing to this exclusive audience with this type Biz Opp content. I feel it would go like gangbusters and have a key Mac hardware vendor interested in a few JV ideas.

Let me know if we should continue here or PM.

Best wishes for you and yours,

donsonic

Re: ANSWERS from a best selling author.
 

Hello Gordon, I'm new to the SOWPub forum but I'd like to retweet, hashmark or ditto (whatever the protocol de jour) Fishman's comments on the ads...

Take your time, just please do share them.

More info.
 

donsonic,

The fastest way to reach the Biz-Op market is space ads in newspapers. Use ROP (run of press, Stand-By) and place an ad and within a day of publication you'll have answers; either customers or a flop. It is the fastest...HOWEVER, you have to have a lot of work done prior to placing the ad...including the ad itself and the back office part of being able to either receive phone orders, fax orders or mail orders and all that comes with that...processing credit cards, customer service, and fulfillment. FASTEST way AFTER...

you have all the ducks lined up at considerable expense.

DIRECT MAIL...probably the most cost effective...IF you have everything in place...including the product finished, a mail piece ready, a good LIST and that is the most important thing...this is at least a $10,000 route...and maybe as much as 6 months time.

MAGAZINE ads have about a 60 day period between the time you place them and they run...you need to have an ad ready to go, then place your order, WAIT until it runs and be set up to receive orders.

All of the above we are actively doing (I'm working on several Biz-Ops) and it can be a slow and frustrating experience.

The INTERNET gives you the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to go. The problem is getting target traffic to your offer. You could JV, if you want, or begin to develop a list (the standard double opt-in way via a FREE report or something) and get organic traffic or buy traffic. The problem is it is an overcrowded market, with guys with deeper pockets spending a lot more money on the traffic. Still, the Internet is a good way to get started.

There are several people here at SowPub that provide some "models" to follow. Dien Rice has the SeedZine and his own Hidden Business Ideas to look at. Michael Ross has the hotsheetcity.com model, a good plact to place a special report or hotsheet on you subject. Skip Rosell has an excellent "small specialty report" site at www.makemoneyalert.com

I'd suggest you

A) Create a promotion for the first report you are going to offer B) Write the report based on the promotion. C) Set up a web site and start selling it

For the MAC thing. Why not use the above A-B-C and write your promotion, How to Make Money Online with Your Mac or whatever. Write the report based on your promotion C) Start selling it, start with a change of your sig file on all the forums you attend, including any mac based ones, and see what kind of feedback you get.

The marketing method is going to be whatever you choose and can afford. You have to balance speed with costs, lists with traffic generation and consider all the back office costs involved. I'd just go ahead and use the guerrilla techniques, get it up and then keep working on it and perfect as you grow.

gjabiz

Thursday, June 18, 2009
 

I'm in Erie, PA. I'm looking at hundreds of ads over the last 35 years. Pete Zesinger, the owner of Green Tree Press, Inc. and I are going to figure out a "rating" system that very clearly tells you if the ad was the control, what elements were tested, all the different headlines tested...it is going to take awhile to get everything ready...however, it will be worth it.

Also, Pete is about to launch a summer long campaign to find new writers. His new divisions are the Global Digital Divison and the new Green Tree Press ON DEMAND Divison, so he is seeking content and is getting a flood of great ideas to choose from.

I may have something later today regarding this, and SowPub will be the first to know about it.

Gordon Jay Alexander

WOW!
 

Gordon,

Sincere thanks & gratitude for the many years of experience in your reply!

What you have laid out is is a comprehensive marketing plan in a nutshell! As you recommended, I'm going to create the free report to get inquires. After your expert reconnaissance, the plan for both markets is to: 1. Start with the Internet, as it's very affordable. 2. When funding starts to roll in, test classifieds and space ads in print media. 3. When sales & receipts are steady and growing, upgrade to the direct mail route. We already have a good sales letter and am working on the written content as we speak. Like you said, all we need now is a proper" MODEL TO FOLLOW!" From your input and what I have learned here at the forum, it looks like we could have a good winner on our hands!

From your replies, here is what I have learned: 1. You are recommending to go slow and steady with lots of testing, planning and oversight to optimize the marketing dollars for targeting best qualified buyers and prospects. 2. There are several ways to reach the markets we are targeting. Start with
whatever you can afford and go from there. 3. Use guerilla marketing techniques and be conscious of timing, competition and budget.

Please reply and let me know if I have comprehended your marketing strategy and operations plan. I'm 55, and know that... you are my elder. I truly respect you for holding out a much needed hand. Again, I thank you for investing in me and SOWING the seeds of tiding and goodwill on earth for many generations to come. :)

With Utmost Respect,

donsonic

My real recommendations are...
 

donsonic,

I recommend everyone enter the game at their level of experience, knowledge and pocketbook.

Some come in at the million dollar level. Others at 100 grand. They have the means to BUY experience and expertise...and can afford to test Direct Mail or Full Page Space Ads. They expect a higher return on investment...and often want to be "absentee owners"...SO they outsource their business...in effect.

I think, based on my experience for a person with less than 10 grand to get involved in renting lists and testing direct mail pieces, is not a good idea, unless they are under the very watchful eye of an experienced direct marketer.

I'm from the bootstraps school. Spend NOTHING...and if you can't do that then spend as little as possible testing things. I'm OLD school, from a group of people who started by running small classified ads in the back of Popular Science, guys like Joe Karbo, Jerry Buchannan, Bud Weckesser, Jim Straw, Dean DuVall and many others of their day.

They started small and built their business from their profits and when they had a winner (promotion or ad) they milked it for every penny it was worth and this funded many "tests" which often as not failed. Ben Suarez has ample research under his built to state that it takes 7 attempts to find a winner, but one winner will pay for many times that in testing.

That doesn't mean the other six all lose, they may break even, but if you can hit one in 7 out of the park, you're a superstar. And it could be you fail on the first 13 before you get two in a row.

So what I recommend to everyone, is study, learn, test, and act. I've tested a number of things (still got a lot of sh..uh, flack, for some of the tests, but you have to know if your identified market is going to buy what you have to offer.

BUT, I also recommend that people today study ALL the options, not only product development or product acquistion, but become familar with the "secret" side to marketing...like Finder's Fees and TOLL positions, where you get paid for years for controlling a product that someone else markets. I'll be meeting with a man soon, hopefully, who has made several million dollars in the last few years with nothing more than a signature on an agreement. He doesn't manufacture the product, or sell them. He collects a royalty on each piece sold. To the tune of millions of dollars.

It is an area that I am actively pursuing, and one that requires none of the risk of direct marketing or financing.

Deal making is the most lucrative activity in the world.

But in the marketing of a product, a book or even an ebook, enter the game at your risk comfort level. And PLAN out what you want to achieve, then backward chain the events from the finish to the start to see what path and what activities you have to do to get there. Simple? Yes. Easy? NO. It requires hard MENTAL work followed by purposeful activity and a knowing that failure only takes you closer to success, if you can handle it.


Start at the top if you can. That's what I recommend.

Gordon Jay Alexander

PS. I think you have a pretty good plan, write it out, study it, find the markets, know what they buy, then create/acquire your product and launch ASAP.

Speechless...
 

Gordon,

Thank you for giving me the encouragement to pursue my lifelong dreams. And also saying you feel I have a good plan. Makes me feel as though I'm on the path to IM/DM Enlightenment. Just like "Sitting at the Feet of the Masters."

Keep up the awesome work you are doing! And I'll keep my eyes glued on SOWPub for more great ideas from you, Dien and forum members.

It was an honor to get a realtime marketing tutorial from one of today's living legends in "Old School Marketing."

You are the best,

donsonic

P.S. Peace, Love and Prosperity to everyone on this board and beyond...

Let's talk DEALMAKING....
 

Gordon and all those that have knowledge on "Dealmaking" Toll Booths...

...I found a man who doesn't manufacture his product (he has it manufactured by someone else as orders come in), no accounts payable, no accounts receivable, been in business selling this same product for 25yrs(but, been selling similar type products for much longer, he is 75yrs young).

The product is special made to order, no one else does it like he can (others have tried and failed).

He is old, and tired(his words) and wants to sell- his knowledge and the rights to the product and all that goes with it (name, etc.)

His main motivation?

To keep the NAME of his Inventor/Partner of 37 years (now passed away since 1985) ALIVE.

His Invento/Partner invented the "Jaws of Life".

For those who don't know, this tool is used like a can opener to get people out of wrecked cars.

He also invented a number of other automotive related aftermarket parts.

I've made first contact. Here is where I'm needing help. He also wants $250,000 dollars for his "knowledge". However, he has stated that he will stay on as long as necessary to help keep the "inventors" name alive by keeping this product out on the market.

He is flexible. But I think he would need some kind of monetary down paymentl. I didn't get the feeling that it could be taken over any other way.

He stated more than anything that he wants to keep the "name" alive. And, that he was flexible. But, he wasn't going to give up what he knows for a "five dollar bill".

I asked him if an offer was made that made any kind of sense at all, would he be open to it.

He said yes.

So....

...is there a way?

Someone tell me. If so I'd like some ideas.

Is there some kind of "AGREEMENT" "DEAL" that I could structure to make it work.

Also, from my own biz experience, I think I would need to see the financials for the past 2yrs.(Tax returns, Profit and Loss)

Any input would be great.

Thanks Sowpubers for your time.


Fishman

A few questions for you...
 

Fishman,

A few questions. What happens if this gentleman were to die today? What woud happen to the product and his customers? Do his customers rely on this for their business, in other words is it essential to another business? What do the people do who want to buy this and it isn't on the market anymore?

I'm trying to help you figure out the demand for the product. That is going to dictate the "value" of it. There are many of these types of things that have peaked and are on the downside of their market, could this be one of those?

IF you were to "take over" this product, how many units could you sell immediately? What is the size of the market? Is the manufacturer willing to support you? What molding, tools and dies are in place and who owns them? Will they have to be retooled?

Primary question is to clearly identify the market. Why do they buy this thing? Why hasn't someone else been able to "figure it out"? How many have been sold over the years? What support is required?

Is it a consumer item, or a "wholesale" item, or a specialty product to a specific niche?

I think you need to ask a lot of questions, like the ones I just asked you. Get the details. There are many ways to "construct" a deal, lots of avenues to pursue, but you have to know what he wants, clearly defined, clearly agreed upon details and what is going to happen once he dies or if he becomes unable to assit in the "turn over" process.

Gordon Jay Alexander

Re: A few questions for you... Then Study the following...
 

Fishman,

Definitely follow Gordon's advice...

Along with reading and Brainstorming through some of the following Quick research...

There are Numerous and Creative ways to invest and Buy into Baby Boomer and Retiring businesses these days...

Changing Times have caused lack of Takeover interests for Many reasons...

By using a variety of Smart... Creative & innovative methods...

Snatching those Winning Baby Boomer and Retiring businesses...

Could be Easier than most Think in Today's interesting world of endless business opportunities & possibilities... ;)

Not to be taken as Legal advice...

Definitely Hire an Expert accountant and lawyer to Assist you in Finalizing all business dealings & takeovers...

Make sure you Read through the lines and put a real Good Spin on the wheeling, dealing and negotiations...

http://www.fairmarketvaluations.com/...e%20Scales.pdf

THE BOOMERS: Who's taking over the business?
http://www.lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publi...9734&s=societe

Investor Behavior and Baby Boomers... Children Take Over Society...
http://www.capital-flow-analysis.com...lesson_14.html

Selling Your Business - Be Your Own Banker
http://www.smallbusinessboomers.com/...ur-own-banker/

10 Creative ways to finance your small business
http://www.smallbusinessboomers.com/...siness-part-1/
http://www.smallbusinessboomers.com/...siness-part-2/

Phil

HOLY MOLY Phil, you've given someone a great idea...
 

Phil,

The ONE thing I can't do...is to add hours to my day. Cause iffin I could, I'd be all over this one...

You've given someone an excellent start to researching and developing and bringing to market an INFORMATION product that is needed/wanted (by at least Fishman)...and is current and topical.

SOMEONE, please, jump on this. I KNOW a publisher. He would be very open to a book on How to BUY/SELL a business in today's economy.

IF only I could add a couple of hours to my day...it still wouldn't be enough time to get to all the great opportunities that exist out there ( let alone all the great single mommas..he..he!)...

What a great time to be doing business in America.

Gordon

Re: HOLY MOLY Phil, you've given someone a great idea...
 

Gordon,

Glad you like that one...

Although, you may have recognized that I kind of “twisted” that out of an Excellent report purchased and read from a particular SowPubber member around 2007... :)

You probably know Best why that Golden little report had such a short life in the Marketplace...

Always Great to see a few here that can Always read through the lines and see the Big picture...

Unlimited Potential... Possibilities and endless Great opportunities do Truly exist out there...

By the way...

If you can't afford adding hours to your day...

Why not have a little chat with that fellow who wrote that particular report and see if you can convince him to Submit a variety of his Excellent writings to...
http://www.egreentreepress.com/writerswanted.html

I'm assuming we'll be seeing a variety of them in the catalogue once things are set Up and running...

Or maybe Not if it just happens to be a conflict of interest...

Just kind of curious on that one...

And another Quick question...

If things are followed exactly as per the information in your link...

Will submissions possibly be accepted that may be Outsourced, written by a ghost writer, pen names etc. etc... ?

Just thought I'd throw that Question and Curiousity out there as a few others passing through might Also be a little Curious but too Shy to ask...

In case some Newer SowPub members are wondering about that Golden little report I'm referring to...

It just happens to be missing from the following links...

The domain is there But... the actual Fly Low and Collect the Dough has been missing for a couple years...

If you happen to be talking with him, maybe you can ask...

Must be in Marketing heaven just waiting to be Reincarnated... ;)
http://www.flylowcollectdough.com/
http://www.flylowcollectdough.com/flylow/

Phil

Good questions Phil
 

Phil,

Trust me, HE knows and is working his AZZ off (in a lazy SOB, Maynard G. Kreps sort of a way...Work? WERK??!!)...on several projects of his own.

Good questions about the outsourcing. The short answer is YES. I'm in contact with a couple of writers who will write on spec, maybe have expenses covered, if it fits into one of the new lines. ONE line that I'm advocating for heavily is the "Business Success BIOGRAPHY" type of book, one that gives good clues on how to start and build a business.

The "template" I'm using for this is a book called;
"What a Way to ALive and Make a Living...The Lymon P. Wood Story.".

We'll be referring potential writers to this book to see what we would be interested in publishing. I think there are some great BIO's out there, including Bud Weckesser's as well as Jim Straw, Dean DuVall and a host of other successful publishers. Maybe we'll call it "Student of the Masters" collection??

But the best thing for all of us is IF a person has a work in progress or has been selling it as a pdf for awhile, we'd like to take a shot at it for the real world and run some full page ads to see if we could sell it that way too.

FUN stuff for this old worn out geezer who should be walking the beaches of the world by now.

Gordon Jay

Re: ANSWERS from a best selling author.
 

Gordon, I appreciate the effort to get writers and so on.

I have to take issue with the 'must order' the report for ten dollars so we can get writer's guidelines. Since when are writers charged for the guidelines to write for a publisher? Sure, we can buy Writer's Market etc (if we choose to) but this idea of charging for guidelines from a publisher is a trend being started that I don't want to see proliferate. Just my take on things.

Good luck with the recruiting.

Sandi Bowman

Thanks for your take Sandi.
 

This cost thing is strictly on ME. The publisher relectantly agreed. I understand your position. I doubt seriously that you will see a trend started by this. Publisher's guidelines are readily available for writers to follow.

The reason I set this up, is I know the market. I don't need GTP to be inundated with submissions "over the transom" and/or queries about what kinds of books and all that.

Actually, the people are getting a book, a book that has a real world value of 12. 95 plus postage and handling. They can always ask for a refund.

I wanted to very clearly state the reason for the download. So we don't get tire kickers, lookey loos and freebie seekers...which dominate the Internet. It's ok for me to lose out on a few potential writers, there isn't a shortage of them.

I'm sorry you don't like it. And Pete may agree, but for now, I'm going to make at least one hoop for serious people to jump through.

Its the way I want to do it for now.

Gordon Jay Alexander

Re: ANSWERS from a best selling author.
 

I understand where you're coming from, Gordon, even if I disagree on principle. .

I read the book when I was working for someone else in direct marketing. It's a good one.

I'm buried in work so I won't be participating. Thanks for the heads up, however.

Sandi Bowman

Gordon - Questions re: GTP
 

I bought the book with the proposal guidelines, and I have a few questions about it.

1. Nothing was mentioned about what's in it for me. Like % of royalty, or outright payment for a book. Maybe it's negotiated on a per book/author basis?

2. Must the book be completed before submitting the proposal, or can we make a proposal and then write the book only if GTP is interested in it?

3. "Dollars In Your Mailbox" outlines how to publish on your own, so my question is again must the proposals be for an existing and already sold book?

4. Is there a minimum or maximum length, either word count or pages, or is the book judged solely by the value of the information therein?

Thanks,
Bud Riggs

Some very good questions.
 

Bud,

These are excellent questions.

1) It varies and depends. GTP has some "professional" types, MD.s and Ph.D.s and they negotiate their agreements. If it is a book to be tested on spec, in other words, the book can be printed on demand to fulfill, without having to have a large amount run...then it could be on a royalty...and Bud, there is no standard, but I think everyone could be safe if they figured at 5% on the retail price of the book, they'd be safe. So for a 24.95 book, that would be 1.25 on each one sold. But, again, you'd have to reach your agreement with GTP and each one is different.

It is not uncommon for even the smallest of books to sell into the tens of thousands of copies.

2) You can do both. Dien's book is 95% written because he has been publishing the Hidden Biz Ideas for a couple of years, he just has to double check links etc. We've already rec'd proposals for books to be written. In this case, I'll do a market research on the subject. There have been times when an advance is offered, but, I'm going to suggest GTP not do this unless necessary...for some, it will be...but for most, it will be a basic commission only arrangement.

By all means submit IDEAS for books, and we'll help you flesh out the market and see what GTP "team" thinks of the market.

3) They can be for existing work, or for something totally new. IF you have been selling a book, perhaps a digital download, and it has mass market appeal, we'd consider it and weigh things out, on the benefits of having a real book. OR it may fit into the digital books that GTP will publish.

So either new or already written books will be considered.

4) Right on. Solely on content. They have published some very short books, shorter than most of the reports I've written, some only 30-50 pages. Most of their books are under 100 pages, and I don't know about word count, I don't think it matters, unless it gets too long, then we have editors for that. So, short and sweet or a couple hundred pages, all are welcome.

Thanks Bud for those questions.

Gordon Jay Alexander

Re: Let's talk DEALMAKING....
 

I think you should do some very careful research into just what it is he has to sell.

I did a quick google trip and found trademark by Hurst, subsequent sale to B&M, and a couple of other names tossed in the mix.

It could be your guy is collecting royalties on units sold and doesn't really own anything but that. Royalties can be sold, but it's a place where you'd want a top notch attorney with experience in such sales.

His desire to keep the name alive....eeehhh, I don't think so.

Re: ANSWERS from a best selling author.
 

Bozo,

I KNOW what the product is.

I've researched the market.

I've researched him.

I left the DETAILS vague so "others" wouldn't try to "work" the deal.(kinda like you did, looking for info on the product that I didn't tell you)

What I was looking for was this... specific "tactics" on how to do a leveraged buyout. Something along the lines of getting him to do an owner financed type of deal.

You can think what you want, bottom line is this...

I've seen the product in action, there isn't anyone else making it. Each one is "special made" to order.

He isn't collecting "royalties" although since you brought it up, that could be an incentive for him to do a deal.

I tried to give what info I could without giving away the "trick".

Sorry if I confused you or anyone else.

Thanks for the input though. Much appreciated.

Fishman

Ditto what Sandi said
 

Sandi,

I agree.

What's more... while the intention may be otherwise the offer comes across Exactly like those "at home jewelry" deals. You know... buy our kit and make jewelery and Maybe we'll buy it from you. - Buy the publisher's submissions guidelines and maybe we'll buy your book from you.

The "stop looky loos" thing is just sounds-good reason to me. If you can make a few bucks without hurting submissions, then make a few bucks. Profit motive. I prefer the sound of that.

Obviously, GTP has done well for many years Without charging for Guidelines (whether you call it "buy a book and get free guidelines" or "buy guidelines and get a free book" it's the same thing). And this may well be a Gordo Test. And there very well may be no shortage of writers - and if that's how you think of them Gordon, as "who cares, there's plenty more where they come from" then you've missed the mark at step one.

I'm a serious people and this ain't no hoop I'd jump through. (Of course, if I had this incredible urge to be published by GTP then I might. But I have no such urge even though I am a serious people.)

In fact, I'd think Giving guidelines is how you prevent wasters - as the guidelines would contain the "what kind of books" answers etc.

But hey. You do as you please. This is merely my feedback of it for what it's worth.

Michael Ross