How to Interview Your Way To Ebook Success
Most "create-your-own-ebook" advice tells us to write about something we know or are interested in. That's a good place to start, but it isn't absolutely necessary. And if you follow the advice of successful Internet marketers ? "find the market first, then develop your product" ? it might not even be possible. For example, what if your market research tells you that an ebook about teaching ferrets to do tricks would be profitable, but you've never seen a ferret in your life? The answer? Research. And part of that research can include interviews.
If your initial research turns up the name of a noted ferret expert, for instance, an easy way to incorporate that person's expertise and knowledge into your ebook is to interview him. Here's a step-by-step process for conducting effective interviews:1. Decide WHO to interview. Make sure the person truly is an expert in the field and knows what he's talking about. Contact him (preferably by phone) to see if he's willing to do an interview.
Let him know you'll provide the questions in advance. Negotiate a deal that he's agreeable with. Some will do interviews for free as long as you mention their name in your ebook. Some will expect to be paid a fee. Some will be want rights to sell the ebook you create.
If you are unwilling or unable to provide what the expert wants, find another expert. 2. Determine the FOCUS of the interview. In our example, we're interested in writing an ebook about teaching ferrets to do tricks, so we don't care about their mating habits or the quality of their fur. 3.
Once your focus is clearly defined, create your list of interview QUESTIONS. Keep your target audience in mind? what do THEY need to know? What answers are needed in your ebook to provide the readers with the information they're looking for? In our example, our readers would probably want to know the best motivator for ferrets? is it food, petting, play, verbal praise? Put yourself in your readers' shoes: if YOU wanted to know how to teach a ferret tricks, what questions would you ask of a ferret expert?4. Determine the best METHOD for the interview. Interviews can be done in person, on the phone, or even via email. All are effective.
Use the method your expert prefers. 5. SCHEDULE the interview. Make the time (and possibly the place, if doing this in person) convenient to your expert. 6.
SEND your questions to your expert in advance of the actual interview. (Of course if the "interview" is being done via email, this isn't necessary.) But be sure to let them know that other questions may arise during the interview. This allows you to gain two types of information from your interview: the prepared, carefully thought-out answers you need, AND the spontaneous, off-the-cuff remarks that will spice up your copy. If your expert balks at the idea of unknown questions, assure him that he will have final approval on his comments that are included in your ebook. Spontaneous questions are also possible with email interviews.
Once you receive back the answers to the questions, read them over and think of a follow-up question or two? then CALL the expert and ask for clarification. NOTE: If doing interviews via email, always give them a deadline to reply back to you.7. RECORD your interviews -- even if you take excellent notes!. There's no substitute for being able to replay the comments as many times as needed to get an accurate transcription of what was said. Minicassette recorders are cheap, small and easy to carry around.
If doing a telephone interview, there are inexpensive devices that connect the recorder to your phone. NOTE: Some states do not allow recording of telephone conversations without the knowledge and permission of those being recorded. Some people do not feel comfortable having their conversations recorded. Whether doing the interview by telephone or in person, it's always best to ask permission to record it. Just tell them it helps you to get their comments as accurately as possible because your note-taking skills are lacking.
Also tell them that they will have final approval of their comments used in your ebook. This will ease their reluctance to have the interview recorded.8. TAKE NOTES of the interview -- even if you're recording it! Never totally rely on a recorder? the batteries can die, the tape can wear out or end without auto-reversing, the telephone connector might be hooked up wrong, etc. Always get as much down manually as possible to back up your recording.9. TRANSCRIBE your interview as soon as possible.
(Again, email interviews do not apply). This is particularly critical if your recorder failed and you're relying on your hastily scribbled notes ? and your memory to decipher them!10. INCORPORATE THE EXPERT'S COMMENTS into your ebook. This does not have to be done in the typical interview Q&A format, but that is easiest. How you incorporate the comments depends on the writing style of your ebook.
(This article doesn't go into that.)11. PROVIDE THE FIRST DRAFT of your ebook to your expert and ask him to verify the accuracy of the information attributed to him. This is important. The last thing you want to do is misquote him or get some of the facts mixed up. Plus he may even provide additional useful information as he reviews your ebook.
Another added bonus? by getting his approval, you're gaining his trust. If you wish to do follow-up ebooks in the future on the same general topic, it'll be easy to get this expert to assist you again.12. MODIFY the draft to incorporate the expert's comments. 13. FINALIZE and sell your ebook! (This is the really fun part!)14.
FULFILL YOUR AGREEMENT with the expert. Has he been paid? Did he receive his copy of the ebook? Even if he did the interview for free and asked for nothing in return, send him a free copy of the ebook along with a nice thank-you note.See? You don't have to be an expert or write only about what you know. Virtually anyone can write about anything with the right tools. For more information on how to write and sell your own ebooks, visit http://myks.sitesell.com/propelprofits.html.
SmartAcre, LLC launches a new site that allows users to have the final say... on anything.
February 10, 2004--SmartAcre, LLC launches a new site that allows users to have the final say... on anything.
Self-described as "The site that lets you decide what sucks (or doesn't)", SuckList.com lets users create their own lists, and then vote on the issues.
Despite the name's implications, the website doesn't suggest that only negative lists be created.
Users decide what their list is for: it can be for "best...", "worst...", "least...", "most...", you name it.
Best of all, the site provides its services for free, and even allows users to incorporate the content into other websites.Current categories covered include Music, Movies, Politics, Sports, and more.For more information, or to create content for your own site, visit http://www.sucklist.com..
SmartAcre, LLC launches a new site that allows users to have the final say... on anything.
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Incorporate Yourself
At the superficial level, incorporating a business is easy. It includes filing articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State where one is incorporating. However, there are lots of issues that need to be resolved before the process is complete like deciding the type of corporation and the state where one wants to incorporate.
Incorporating requires expert knowledge of business laws and consequences, tax compliances and other regulations. It is wise to seek the advice of a lawyer that has this type of expertise to offer. Some jurisdictions require that
filing papers has to be done through a lawyer.
But under certain conditions, it is possible to incorporate yourself. The state offers assistance in this regard, and there are good books available that explain the steps to incorporate.
There are advantages and disadvantages to filing papers by oneself. If you incorporates on your on, you can save hundreds of dollars that would have gone to...
Incorporate > Incorporate Yourself
WestHost Launches New Personal and Business Web Hosting Plans
Providence, Utah (ContentDesk) March 20, 2006 -- WestHost Inc., a leading web hosting provider (http://www.westhost.com), recently announced the release of completely new personal and business hosting plans. While few shared hosting companies have created an offering tailored specifically to individual or business needs, even fewer are bundling comparable applications without increasing costs.WestHosts new Personal Plans are lower priced, offer a large amount of disk space and bandwidth, and include features geared towards individuals, such as blogging, photo albums, and forums/message boards. Business Plans also come with a generous amount of space and bandwidth, yet incorporate business-specific features like shopping carts, search engine submission tools, advertising credit, SSL security, multiple domain support, and added e-mail.Over two years ago, WestHost shocked the industry by offering Virtual Private Server (VPS Hosting...
WestHost Launches New Personal and Business Web Hosting Plans
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Need New Cooking Ideas? Try Puff Pastries!
If your family is anything like my family, they will be completely tired of eating meatloaf and spaghetti every other day.
Kids need variety in their meals.
The trouble is, sometimes the family cook runs out of ideas of what to serve for dinner!
If this is true for you, you could probably use some new ideas for meals.
If you use puff pastry, you're going to be able to serve a whole lot more choices at the dinner table.
Those of us who like to stock up may even have puff pastry already in our freezers.
Don't be afraid to cook with puff pastry though-- it is delicious and so easy!
Puff pastry is one of the simplest products to work with in the kitchen.
Do you know how to use your timer and your oven?
If so, then you can figure out how puff pastry should be cooked!
Bake it between 400-500 degrees Fahrenheit and watch carefully to avoid burning.
If you pay attention, puff pastry...
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Golf Exercise And Stretch Program For Total Golf Performance
Golf exercise and stretch.
This is a combination I use in all of my golf fitness programs both online and with my personal golf clients.
It's the ultimate combination to improve the golfers swing quickly and efficiently.A fitness program for golfers that does not incorporate a golf exercise and stretch is doing more harm than good.
Golfers need that blend of dynamic strength specific to the golf swing and the range of motion to hold it for 18 holes.So many times I hear a golfer mention stretching only.
This is a big mistake!
Stretching without strengthening does not equal permanent range of motion improvements.
An over-stretched muscle that doesn't have strength opens up the possibilities for injury.That is why golf exercise and stretch is the key.
For every golf exercise, there is an appropriate stretch.
Taking this approach will create a powerful swing with less tension and stress put on the body.An example of golf...
Incorporate > Golf Exercise And Stretch Program For Total Golf Performance
Massage Therapy Meets the 21st Century
San Antonio, TX (ContentDesk) July 20, 2006 -- Massage therapy is more popular than ever due to stressful modern day living, an aging baby boomer population and an ever increasing awareness of the therapeutic benefits of regular massage sessions. Once this age old art was considered a luxury for those with expendable income and time to spare, but today massage therapy is available to the masses because of companies that create awareness in a very different and beneficial way.Massage Heights(R), a San Antonio based company, is increasing awareness in the San Antonio and Austin markets with a string of 10 professional massage clinics. The company has introduced a concept that is both affordable and convenient by offering a unique membership program and flexible scheduling. The membership program allows the consumer to take advantage of the benefits regularly with an affordable monthly fee of $49.99 which includes one, one-hour session each month.Each additional one hour session is $29...
Massage Therapy Meets the 21st Century
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How to Interview Your Way To Ebook Success keyboard
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Payroll Simplified For Small Businesses
Centereach, NY (ContentDesk) June 29, 2006 -- To make processing payroll easier and more affordable for small businesses, Business Know-How today announced an agreement with E-Chx Payroll Solutions to offer payroll services through the BusinessKnowHow.com network of websites. Under the agreement, E-Chx, one of the fastest growing payroll providers in the nation, will offer BusinessKnowHow.com visitors and customers value-added services including payroll processing, check signing and stuffing,...
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Incorporate > Payroll Simplified For Small Businesses
How to Interview Your Way To Ebook Success ink cartridges
PokerUpdates.com Video, Audio, and Blog Combination a Winning Trifecta for the World Series of Poker
(ContentDesk) July 3, 2005 -- With so many sites to choose from with information about the 2005 World Series of Poker one site seems to be hitting on all cylinders.http://www.pokerupdates.com is offering daily video, audio, and blogging coverage that is drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to their site daily during the World Series.Eric Rosenberg founder and CEO of PokerUpdates.com says "We offer real high quality updates. Our Monthly...
How to Interview Your Way To Ebook Success Incorporate
Incorporate > PokerUpdates.com Video, Audio, and Blog Combination a Winning Trifecta for the World Series of Poker
Options for Cheap Health Insurance
There are many people who are looking for cheap health insurance for their family. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have health insurance cover provided by their employer and cheap health insurance is the only realistic option. This would provide the most basic cover but would at least make some provisions in the event of a medical emergency.
Cheap health insurance tends to cover a very limited amount of services but it is worth...
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