BizBook Nuggets

What Makes a Good Biz Book?

Bud Bilanich writes a good blog about an article that reviews (dissects would be a better word) biz books. He reveals some interesting elements that biz books include, as a response to Barbara Ehrenreich's article in the New York Times Book Review Aug. 14, “Who Moved My Ability to Reason?”

Read this blog post for his response to Ms. Ehrenreich's satirical review of “The Five Essential Principles of Business Success Books”. These five essential principles are:

1) The 24/7 Happy Hour – be positive, upbeat and perky;
2) Avoid Victimism and anyone who indulges in it – don’t fall into the culture of blame;
3) Master of the Universe – being positive can change your world;
4) The Mice Come Out Ahead – keep life simple, don’t overanalyze; and
5) Be Passionate – being effective isn’t enough.

What I liked most was Bud's personal stories about how common sense values rule at the end of the day. While his post is a bit long, it is full of wisdom, and is what makes a good blog post.

A Conversation with Dan Poynter, Book Expert

Wringing More Value out of your Work
Wednesday, August 31, 2005, 8:30 p.m. ET
Guest Expert:  Dan Poynter, of ParaPublishing.com

Write it once, sell it forever; there are many ways to sell your Work over and over. You’ve heard of Blogs-to-Books. Dan Poynter started with magazine articles-to-books. Now he turns eZine content into eBooks. He was the first to sell eDocuments and eBooks as downloads from his website. He will describe how to publish, promote and sell eBooks, pBooks (printed), eDocuments, LARGE print books, aBooks (CDs), audio downloads and podcasting. If you don’t make your information available in multiple formats, some hungry customers will not be able to use it (for example, commuters, sales reps and long-haul truckers can’t read your printed book; they want and need audio).  Dan Poynter has the answers.

Dan Poynter is an author of more than 100 books, has been a publisher since 1969 and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). He is an evangelist for books, an ombudsman for authors, an advocate for publishers and the godfather to thousands of successfully-published books. Dan shows people how to make a difference while making a living by coaching them on the writing, publishing and promoting of their book.
He has turned thousands of people into successful authors. His mission is to see that people do not die with a book still inside them. See his Para Publishing website at http://ParaPublishing.com

Register:  www.ConversationsWithExperts.com

Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line
Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

How to Name a Teleclass

Need your feedback, dear readers, on naming a 6-week blog intensive.

Denise and I, along with our colleague Adam Urbanski, the Marketing Mentor guy, are developing a new, hands-on class for setting up and using a blog to drive business.  We would like to get your feedback on some names for the class:

1. Boost Your Biz with Blogs

2. Biz Blog Starter

3. Biz Blog Builder

Please vote for one, by clicking on the comment link in the footer here, and let us know which name appeals to you.

P.S. This is a 6-week intensive 'boot-camp' where we will actually walk Adam through the initial set up of his blog, and then show him how to drive traffic in order to boost business. Participants will follow this process for their own blog design and set up.

Let us know your preference by clicking on the Comment link below and stating which name you feel works the best.  You can let me know if you're interested in attending while you're at it! Thanks!

Best Biz Books for Fall

No, I haven't come out of my summer slumber yet. No good book reviews out of me for at least another 2 weeks.

I'm still just sending you over to 800-CEO-Read Blog for a good list of biz books coming your way this Fall. Jump over there and read this list of good books.

Biz Book Bashing - Easy Pickin's

You might have noticed a lull in my blog posting lately. I'm feeling the lazy days of summer here in Del Mar CA. About the only time I'm moving is when I've got a tennis racquet in my hand and a ball is coming straight at me.

But I digress. Here's an easy way for me to post about a book review: Go read it over on 800-CEO-Read blog! It's a good one! According to this astute reader/writer, when all else fails, it's easier to bash simplicity than it is to analyze complexity...

Hope you're having a great summer too.

A Conversation with Bob Bly

Using Direct Marketing Techniques to Sell Thousands of Copies of Your Book
Wednesday, August 24, 2005, 8:30 p.m. ET
Guest Expert:  Bob Bly of bly.com

One out of three hardcover books distributed to bookstores is returned to the publisher unsold, but you can still make your book a best-seller by selling it through ads, direct mail, and the Internet. In this interview, author and direct response copywriter Bob Bly shows you marketing techniques that can boost your book sales.

Guest: Bob Bly is a freelance copywriter specializing in direct marketing and the author of more than 60 books including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Direct Marketing (Alpha Books)

Register:  www.ConversationsWithExperts.com

Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line
Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

P.S. Don't forget, if you're still wondering whether to start blogging for your business yet or not, Denise & I are leading a class Tuesday 4 p.m. ET through the Business Building Center. For more info, go here, and Start Blogging Now!

4 Reasons To Start Blogging NOW

Denise Wakeman and I have been invited to teach an intro blogging class for the Business Building Center.  We just found out it's open to EVERYONE so if you still haven't started your blog or you know others who are interested, you're invited to join us for an intro to business blogging.

4 Reasons to Start Blogging Now!
Brought to you by: www.BusinessBuildingCenter.com
With Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman

Date: Tuesday, August 23rd - FREE
Time: 4-5pm Eastern/NY (1-2pm Pacific/CA)

Blogs are the wave of the future on the Internet. Learn how you can use a blog to build your business with very little expense. Blogs are being used in big, small and micro businesses as a dynamic vehicle for communication between business and customers to build trust, credibility and awareness.  But not every blog gets results. Join us and learn:

    * What the heck is a blog!
    * 4 reasons you should have a blog
    * Why blogs are such an effective marketing strategy
    * How to start blogging quickly
    * The 3 deadly mistakes you must avoid

To reserve your spot and receive the telephone bridge number send a blank email to:
bbc2005-119451@autocontactor.com.

The Business Building Center is the most comprehensive, research-based online training and resource center for professional coaches. 
Members of www.BusinesssBuildingCenter.com enjoy 24/7 access to:

    * Comprehensive training classes that walk you the proven, step-by-step Coach & Grow R.I.C.H. Practice-building system.
    * A large resource library of downloadable forms, checklists, templates, charts, models, marketing materials, sales letters, coaching proposals and much more that you can customize and immediately start using in your practice.
    * Easily accessible, coaching specific articles and special reports on marketing, sales, branding your business, pricing strategies, cash flow control, making guarantees, case studies, and a host of other topics written by the best minds in the business.
    * The opportunity to attend live teleclasses and monthly community calls at no additional charge.
    * And much more!

Want to learn more about the Business Building Center?  Take a test drive on us!  Click here to activate a f’ree one month trial:
http://www.businessbuildingcenter.com/trial.htm

Secrets of Book Development & Marketing

Brian Taylor of Pneuma Books is sharing his book design and development expertise on our weekely teleseminar Conversations with Experts. Register for the call which will take place Wed. Aug. 17, at 8:30 pm ET by going here.

For more info on the presentation, visit BizTips Blog.

New Books at Goizueta Business Library, Emory University

Here are some interesting selections of best business books for 2005 at the online Goizueta Business LIbrary of Emory University. Some interesting titles on China, the new work force, and ethics. Check it out here.

Best Books for HR Matters

Here's a list of best books from the HR people over at HR Village. There are some interesting titles that have to do about managing people, including two that deal with managing virtually.

This book caught my eye: Simplicity: the New Competitive Advantage in a World of More, Faster, Better...by Bill Jensen.