Join me at my NEW home on the WEB!

It's 2011 and it's My Year of NO Regrets! The last few weeks I have been implementing what God has told me to do.

On that note, I'd like to thank ALL of you who have been with me throughout the years! I appreciate you.

To better serve you, I have a NEW home on the web...the Official home of The Gospel Writer is - http://www.thegospelwriter.org/.  YES, it's finally here and I love it!

We have extended the blog to an Institute that will benefit not only writers, but all Christians who desire to grow close to the Lord in every area of their lives.

If you receive my posts by email, please Sign Up to my new list to continue to connect with me. You will find the sign up form to the right of this post.
Thank you again!!

See you over at http://www.thegospelwriter.org/.

Implementing the Vision,
Wanza Leftwich
The Gospel Writer

What to Do Daily, Weekly and Monthly to Brand Your Book

"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." - Stephen Covey


Most authors will not become millionaires unless they have multiple works or multiple streams of income that can keep their income level consistent. Otherwise, they will not be able to give up their "day jobs."

But there are ways to build momentum, expand your platform and solidify your brand so you are successful. Most authors tell me, "I don't have time" or "I don't know what to next" or "I hit a brick wall - and I can't seem to get motivated to market anymore."

You can market yourself everyday just by doing these things. When I coach clients, these are the things I tell them to do on an ongoing basis:

Monthly

•  Attend a writers meeting or critique group.
• Ask for reviews or endorsements from those you've given "comp" copies too.
• Attend a civic organization and tell the members what you do.
• Read trade publications like Writer's Digest or The Writer.
• Take a teleclass or attend another type of live internet event.
• Look for contests you can enter or awards you can nominate yourself for.
• Create a YouTube video message or be a guest on a local cable show.
• Hold or plan a teleseminar.
• Update your media list & research for new ones to add.
• Invite a media person you've admired to lunch.
• Participate at an event by speaking, presenting or teaching.
• Write articles and submit to article directories.
• Post reviews of other books you've read on Amazon.
• Write and post press releases.
• Write and pitch feature stories to the media.
• Create and distribute an online or direct mail newsletter.
• Reach out to bloggers and see if you can do a "blog tour" with them.
• Meet with your advisors, mentors or "master mind" partners.
• Add additional information to your website or blogsite (i.e. a blog article, a link).
• Keep in touch with key bookstores that are selling your books.
• Email mini-courses to those who sign up via an Eblast that you send out.
•  Manage back end tasks such as customer support, accounting, sales, etc.
• Look for easier ways to do business. Ask others what systems they use.

 Weekly

• Give someone you meet one of your books and follow up in 30 days.
• Visit an online forum and participate or get some PR coaching.
• Look for new articles to read on internet marketing and joint ventures (Google).
• Listen to podcasts (look for the topic of interest online in a podcast directory).
• Send an eblast to your email list - giving them a tip or link to blog post you found helpful.
• Mail a handwritten note or postcard to someone you met in person or connect with online.
• Post to your blog & add a new feature to "amp" it up (get cues from other blogs).
• Drop postcards or bookmarks at places where you regularly go - bookstores, libraries, hair salons, cleaners, restaurants, coffee shops.
• Update your website or blogsite by adding current "media hits" and interviews.
• Send an email to someone online you would like to connect with.
• Interact with a "group" on Facebook or LinkedIn.
• Get to know the key authors / leaders in your field. Follow their blogs or Google them to see what they are up to.
• Keep track of your stats on your website, blogs and Ezine opens.
• Do at least one blog talk show or at the very least call-in to one.
• Post a bulletin on your MySpace or Facebook and add some new blogs.

Daily

• Write. Write. Write. That's your main job. Content is king!
• Read some trade pubs or read magazines in your niche.
• Comment on someone else's blog.
• Make a phone call to a media outlet you'd like to be featured on.
• Read the daily newspapers looking for topics you can comment on.
• Scan columns by the regular columnists and give feedback their blogs.
• Add friends to your Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn accounts.
• Follow someone new on Twitter or Shelfari.
• Add people to your database that you meet or have not been in touch with (with permission).
• Add an automatic signature to all the emails your answer.
• Twitter by sending a link to your blog, or a favorite blog, or a free report they can download.
• Participate in message boards, chat group or yahoo groups that are industry related. This helps to increase exposure and give your information to stay on the cutting-edge.

For a creative writer and author, time is managed with calendars - not with clocks. What you are doing is leaving a virtual "footprint" everywhere you go - online and offline. These elements can be implemented with little or no outside help.

If implemented correctly and consistently, these mini-marketing tactics can help revolutionize your ministry or business in no time. By continually branding yourself with the key message of your platform, people will come to you for information and expertise.

Remember to have a marketing mindset and let people know why they should buy your book (mention the benefits of what the book will do for them.) Keep the main thing "the main thing" - focus on changing lives and making an impact for the Kingdom.

Building solid relationships is critical at every stage of branding. Don't expect instant results though. Trust is the basis of all relationships. Trust is never freely given - trust is earned. Demonstrate your solid commitment and be willing to stay the course.

Ministry marketing pioneer, Social media strategist and PR Coach Pam Perry helps African American Christian authors garner publicity and leverage online strategies. As a 20-year PR veteran, she is also the co-author of "Synergy Energy: How to Use the Power of Partnerships to Market Your Book, Grow Your Business and Brand Your Ministry." For a free MP3 of "What Every Author Should Know," go to http://www.PamPerryPR.com. She's also the creator of the ChocolatePagesNetwork, a social network for Christian authors and the Chocolate Pages Show on Blogtalkradio. She offers free help at her blogsite: http://www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com with her podcasts, Ezines and teleclasses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pam_Perry

Web 2.0 Recommended Reading List

Here's a list of Recommended books that we gave to those who came to our recent Social Media Success workshop at the Michigan Minority Business offices in Detroit led by Pam Perry, Social Media Strategist.

If you're not really leveraging the power of the internet for your business, any of these books will help you get in position to do so. We want you to have a great 2011!! Get a jump start by reading any of these books.

1. Black Business Secrets: 500 Tips, Strategies and Resources for the African American Entrepreneur by Dante Lee(Smiley Books) 

2. Branding For Dummies by Bill Chiaravelle and Barbara Findlay Schenck

3. The New Influencers: A Marketer's Guide to the New Social Media by Paul Gillin

4.The E Code: 34 Internet Superstars Reveal 44 Ways to Make Money Online Almost Instantly - Using Only Email! By Joe Vitale and Jo Han Mok

5. Advanced Email Marketing: How to Deliver the Right Message to the Right Audience by Jim Sterne

6. Permission-Based E-Mail Marketing That Works!: Everything You Need to Know by Kim MacPherson



7. What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting: Real-Life Advice from 101 People Who Successfully Leverage the Power of the Blogosphere by Ted Demopoulis



8. The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing & Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott



9. Blogging for Dummies: Set up, publish and maintain a blog that draws readers by Brad Hill



10. Be The Media: How to Create and Accelerate Your Message...Your Way by David Mathison



11. Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds for Dummies by Ellen Finkelstein



12. How to Win Sales & Influence Spiders: Boosting your Business & Buzz On the Web by Catherine Seda



13. Success Secrets of the Online Marketing Superstars by Mitch Meyerson

14. YouTube for Dummies: Share Your Home Movies or Videoblog Online by Doug Sahlin and Christ Botello

Check out the Diverse Business Blog

http://www.diversebusiness.blogspot.com/
www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness Hear the show!
http://www.solutionsdrivenworkshops.com/ > New for 2011!

[Get in GEAR by reading these books on Social Media Marketing! ]


God bless you!
Pam Perry
http://www.pamperryprcoach.com/

Deli Style – Part Five Cont.

Deli Style – Part Five Cont.
©2010 Wanza Leftwich

This is the continuation of part five of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read the first part of this series, click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two, click here to read part three, click here to read the continuation of part three, click here to read part four, and click here to read the contiuation of part four.

“Unfortunately, I can not give you an exact time that I will be home tonight. Something came up.” David shook his head as he listened to Ms. Natalie rant about babysitting Alaya. “I will be there soon…and yes, I will pay you tonight.”

David slid his cell phone closed and stuffed it into his back pocket. Ms. Natalie had called four times since he left the deli. David walked onto the college campus. He scanned through the people scurrying to class. He didn’t see Esther.

He knew coming to her school was a long shot but he had to take the chance. “She has to walk by this way to go back to the train.” David said aloud. He sat down on the grass in the middle of the campus and pulled out his handy slim pocket bible to read while he waited.

He read the first page he turned to.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalms 27:14

David shrugged his shoulders and lay on his back. He prayed silently that he was not making a mistake by coming to Esther’s school. Would she think he was crazy? He was too scared to think of the reaction she might give him. After all, he did fire her.

“I may not even have a job after the way I left today.” David looked into the dimming sky. “Can you hear me God? It’s me David,” he chuckled at the thought of his sister reading her favorite book. “Are you there God, it’s me Margaret.” And her name was Margaret. Margaret the avid reader, college track star and dreamer.

Nothing was going to stop Margaret Warner, David remembered. Only something did stop her. The though of Margaret at that time in her life grieved David’s spirit. He longed to talk to his older sister. He wanted to yell at her, to tell her to mind her business and to let her hang up on all of his old girlfriends that she didn’t approve of. He was sure she would approve of Esther.

“I miss her God, I miss Maggie. Why did she have to be taken?”
~~~

Esther scribbled the last answer onto her test and slammed the pencil on the desk. The entire class and the professor looked up. With a weak smile she apologized, gathered her bags from the floor and walked up to the professor’s desk.

Professor Klein rolled his eyes and pointed to the right corner of his desk. Esther dropped the answer sheet and headed for the door.

“She can’t be finished,” a student whispered.

Esther felt within herself that she failed her midterm so it made no sense to take two hours and ponder over it. She smiled at her classmate and exited the room.

Esther was grateful for the cool breeze on the outside. She adjusted her book bag and began to walk towards the train station.

Esther walked briskly, steadying her eyes toward the train. She envisioned her bed waiting for her. She couldn’t wait to drown out the day’s events. Fired by day and failed a biology midterm by night. Not to mention losing a great friend in between. Esther hated to think that she blew her one chance to be with David.

Esther had her eyes on David after their first meeting at the big A deli. He was handsome, well spoken and looked so out of place for the fast paced sandwich and soup joint. Esther saw the vibrancy in his eyes and heard the warmth in his voice as he interviewed her. If she didn’t know any better she’d thought he was flirting during the interview.

“Esther! Esther!” she heard someone yelling her name. She didn’t want to stop for anyone. “Esther!” The voice bellowed again.

Esther turned to see David running across the grass towards her.

“Esther, didn’t you hear me?” David caught his breath.

“David, what are you doing here?” She kept walking.

“I need to talk to you. You left work before I had a chance to explain.”

“Explain what?” You fired me and that’s all to it.”

He grabbed her arm, but she continued walking. “Let me explain.” He stopped walking. “Please, Esther. Let me explain.”

Esther wanted to smile. She was overwhelmed that he showed up at her school. Maybe he does like me, she thought. She shook head and continued to walk. “You fired me. What’s done is done, right? Did you come all the way to Brooklyn to give me my job back?”

“No, but I did come to Brooklyn to tell you that our date had nothing to do with the job. The job is business and Klyde gave the order to fire you, not me.” He yelled.

Esther decided to stop and listen. Besides, she couldn’t have him yelling across the campus as she walked to the train. David caught up with her.

“David, I thought you had my back.”

“I do. It’s just I couldn’t cover for you any longer. Klyde checked the timecards for the past three months. You were late every day.”

“Wow.” Esther looked toward the ground. “I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“I did what I could for Klyde not to find out, but he did.”

“Well, I understand, but I really need that job. I can’t afford not to get paid – not even for a week.”

“Now, that I do understand.”

Esther stood staring into David’s eyes. They had something in common – they both had a serious financial struggle. “Thanks for coming all this way. I just want to go home now.”

“I came out here to tell you something else as well.”

“Oh?” Esther continued to stare at David.

“I love you.” David took her hand and squeezed it. “I love you.” He repeated.

Esther dropped her head and smiled. Maybe today wasn’t a bad day after all.

Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer and speaker. She is an avid blogger and the editor of thegospelwriter.org. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.