Storytelling in Article Marketing: Join Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber Me in This Power-Packed Class

I don’t know if you’ve stopped to think about this, but how do people best respond to a message?  Let me show you.

Beware of False Evidence Appearing Real

The other day, I went into the chicken coop to gather eggs. I still have some fake eggs in there from when the hens were babies learning where they should deposit their precious gold-filled jewels. Even though the hens know exactly where to lay eggs, some of them evidently like to feel as if they’re really accomplishing something, because they have moved a number of the fakes into the nests.

The plastic eggs are quite realistic. They’re a little rough, so they don’t seem like plastic. They’re light brown, just like most of the eggs from my brown-laying ladies, and they’re about the size you’d expect any egg to be. But they’re hollow and insubstantial in heft.

So when I approached the nest in the hay bail, the hen whom I call Brrr because of the growly noise she makes told me she had her fortune beneath her and she did not want to give it up. She’s actually a sweet hen but makes a lot of noise when you go for her stash. Laughing, I lifted Brrr off her hoard and discovered she did indeed have a whole pile of eggs.

If you look at them, they all appear to be real. And when a hen has been sitting over them, they’re all toasty warm. So they all feel the same at first touch.

So in order to take only the nourishing eggs home, I have to handle each egg a little to sort the real from the fake. As I went through this sorting exercise, I thought how much it reminded me of doing business online.

See, there are a lot of gurus who appear to have nourishing information. They package it in a way that makes it appear valuable. It’s the right kind of stuff, and it seems appealing. It looks like exactly what you need

As a matter of fact,some people hoard all this information as if it is all a treasure beyond measure, just as Brrr does. It is only when you take the time to study the items that you realize some are heavy, nourishing and true, while others are hollow and misleading.

I know I’ve run into a number of fake eggs in my entrepreneurial journey. I even used to work with one of them. Perhaps you’ve encountered some misleading information along the way as well.

So whenever you encounter someone who appears to have valuable resources that will nourish and strengthen you, be sure to interact with that egg to discern whether or not it’s true!

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What you’ve just experienced is an example of storytelling for business in which I used an everyday occurrence…well, for ME it’s an everyday occurrence…and used it to show you an important teaching  in an unusual and memorable way.

Perhaps you’ll remember the story of the plastic eggs next time you encounter what appears at first glance to be nutritious, healthy resources. And I’m sure that like me, you’ll pick up a fake once or twice and only realize when it’s in your hand how useless it truly is.

Where does storytelling come in to your business? Everywhere! You will tell stories in blog posts, articles, teleseminars, webinars, live events, inside your book, inside your product, in coaching calls, in consultations, in emails…everywhere!

Storytelling for business belongs in all your communications, including articles.

One of the world’s most well-known article marketers, whose own articles can be found on top websites like About.com, Home Business Magazine, Site Pro News, MarketingProfs,MediaPost and thousand more invited me to be a guest expert in his new article writing live-by-phone workshop event starting this week.

I am really excited, because article marketing expert Eric Gruber has grown his whole business around articles, and his approach to article marketing is heart-centered and relationship building. I’ve personally met him at some live events and am truly impressed. He makes writing good articles easy.

I’m so impressed with his system that I am promoting it from inside the pages of The Instant VIP book, which teaches experts how to write a book that prospers your business.

I am excited to join his 7-night event where I will show you step-by-step how to…

Design your story — and use it within your articles

Now, readers will begin to connect with you – as they will
realize that you understand their innermost feelings. They’ll feel deep down that you know what their needs are. People buy from people they trust.

—> Get the details now.

Now, discover how to write articles the right way so you can…

· Articulate the seemingly un-nameable, intuitive work
you do in their business. When you can articulate what
you do, you move into the top five percent of your
field, because most people haven’t figured out how to
talk about what they do and how they do it in a way
that is understandable and compelling.

· Create an engaging, powerful article quickly and
consistently, without losing your true voice.

· Feel connected to your heart and your best clients, so
you know what you write isn’t boring, or mushy.

· Have people notice you purely on the strength of your
content, volunteering to promote your business without
you even asking.

· Control the mind of your prospects and influence them
to buy into your ideas. Using my article writing
system, you can have the power to motivate, influence
and persuade your prospects to agree to practically
any idea you propose.

· Push the right buttons – or more precisely – the right
psychological triggers that gets readers to take
instant action as soon as they done reading your
article.

· Build relationships with your readers as they read
everything you write.

· Command greater fees, charge higher prices, and lower
price resistance among potential clients and customers
just by writing thought leadership articles.

· Gain the respect, attention and support of your peers
and prospects and become known as the celebrity expert
in your market

Yes, this is all possible – if you follow Eric’s article writing
system that he lays right out in front of you, step-by-step
during his new 7-night article writing workshop.

And, if by some chance you can’t join us on the
live calls, you will get the complete set of audio
recordings free!

Yes I’m an affiliate as well as faculty, and I KNOW Eric will provide enormous value to you throughout the workshop. Otherwise, I would not be involved. I care so much about you and your success. I will steer you right.

And, how does saving $100 on the new article writing
program sound to you?

Hurry over to Get the details now.

Don’t wait. This course will change the way you write
articles — and do business online. I promise that Eric and I
will be revealing information during these 7 days, that
no one else is teaching.We’re covering new territory that
no one else dares to touch.

So what are you waiting for?

Hurry on over to Get the details now.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Storytelling for Business: Turning Everyday Events into Powerful Teaching Stories (profitablestorytelling.com)
• What Can the Coca Cola Snowball Fight Commercial Teach You about Storytelling for Business? (profitablestorytelling.com)

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Seeking Story Submissions to Feature in My Upcoming Book: How Has Writing a Book Improved Your Business?

If you are a published author of a print book, you could be featured in my upcoming book, Instant VIP, which teaches entrepreneurs & other business owners how to write a book that increases customers, contacts and profits.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

I am featuring stories from entrepreneurs/business owners sharing how being a published author has changed your business.

If this is YOU – I’d love to include your experience!

You’ll find out how to submit your experience in a moment.

Examples of results attained because of being a published author:

I have already received some fabulous stories from author experts! I’m really excited about each and every story, AND about the wide variety of niches in which they do business. For example:

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• One author in a highly competitive market submitted a project bid. Competition was stiff. He included a signed copy of his book and got the job.
• A pair of co-authors instantly established themselves in a related but new niche by authoring a book.
• Another author uses her book to generate leads for her training program and has seen a dramatic increase in enrollments.
• A coach became an author and finds it easier to attract coaching clients as a result.

These are just a few examples that I’ll be including in my book. Soon I’ll be sharing the names and stories of these authors on the blog – AND, most important – in Instant VIP.

A Flash of Inspiration

I decided to request stories when I was reading my HARO (Help A Reporter Out) update one day. HARO is a fabulous and FREE way to connect reporters with sources.

• Reporters can be reporters for media outlets such as magazines, TV shows or internet radio shows – OR even someone writing a book looking for sources.
• Sources can be experts in any niche or industry seeking ways to share your knowledge.

You never know what you’ll find in a HARO! And lots of people will respond, so you really can select the “cream of the crop” – the best story/resource – for your need.

The description below of what I’m seeking is a modified version of my HARO query.

How to receive the HARO reports

Experts can register to receive requests 3 times per day on weekdays. There can be 30 or 50 or more requests from reporters in each issue.

Why am I including stories from authors about how writing a book has improved your business?

(What I’m about to share applies to YOU as well) Simply take this idea and use it for YOUR niche or need.

• When you see numerous stories about how writing a book improves business, you will build belief that you, too, can get results like that.
• Stories catch your attention more than facts or even step-by-step. It’s part of how your brain works. You’ll remember stories  You’re wired for stories.
• Reaching out to people you don’t know (or don’t know well) as well as people you already know increases your circle of influence.
• People love to see their name in print.
• Someone who shares even a short blurb is likely to tell other people that they’re featured in a book.
• And they’re likely to buy a copy and perhaps cause several or dozens more to be purchased.
• Authors featured in your book may want to promote your book when it comes out.

Promoting the Book

A few of the author experts who responded to my first request have already asked me to let them know when the book is out so they can promote it. Woo-HOO! Build-in promotion partners.

If you use this strategy:

Here are some things to consider when you use this type of strategy. And actually, you’re getting the inside scoop, because I haven’t even told my HARO people some of the cool things I’m doing for them.

• If you’ve worked with me or read this blog before, you know I’m going to say “start with the goal.” What do you want to happen? First, get clear on what you want from the submitters so you don’t have to go back and forth.
• Now for the “cover your rear” piece of advice. Get a signed release that gives you permission to use the material in the work and in promotion of the work. Doing so gives you protection from someone, for whatever strange reason, deciding they don’t want their name and story in your material. I got 1 note back from someone with an AWESOME story who said it just didn’t feel right (to get a whole bunch of free publicity for them and their business). Go figure, but cover your assets.
• Acknowledge the submission in a special way inside your book/project. I’m including all the names of authors whose stories I’m using in the Acknowledgments section of the book.
• Thank the sources for their submission. They’re adding depth and richness to your book or other project.
• Update the sources on the status of the project. I’ll let them know when the book is ready to publish and how to order.
• Give the sources a way to profit from the project if possible. I’ll offer them the opportunity to join the affiliate program. I’m also providing them a special resource to share if they choose.

How to Submit YOUR Experience for Possible Inclusion in Instant VIP:

All you have to do is leave me your blurb (a couple of paragraphs is fine) in the comment box below.

Here is what I’m looking for:

I have a book almost ready for print that teaches entrepreneurs, business owners, speakers, coaches and the like a simple system for how to write a book that explodes your business.

I am including statements from entrepreneurs in various industries who have written a book. What I want is
a statement about how writing and publishing a book has changed your business. Have you gotten more media attention? More referrals? Bigger ticket sales? more long-term clients? Something more unusual? Your story could be selected for the book.

Please share the following information:

• full Name:
• Industry/niche:
• Book title:
• Publication year:
• Logline (1–sentence description of the book)
• How has becoming the author of a book changed your business?

Thank you for enriching my book with your experience. I truly appreciate YOU!

What Happens Next?

Once you submit your information below, I’ll review it. If I select you for the book, I’ll email you a release form to sign and return to me.

Thank you

OK – time to share!

Remember:

• full Name:
• Industry/niche:
• Book title:
• Publication year:
• Logline (1–sentence description of the book)
• How has becoming the author of a book changed your business?

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When Should You Give Free Consultations or strategy Sessions?

The most valuable commodity of any expert is your time. Why? Because as an expert, in only a few minutes, you are able to save someone a huge amount of time and headache by sharing your expertise.

A recent conversation caused me to w

rite you this post to assist you in your own business development. Learn from a mistake I made – and I should have known better!

The husband of one of my affiliates is considering writing a book. That in itself is a good thing! My affiliate told him that I coa

ch entrepreneurs on how to write a book, which of course is very

much true.

I broke one of my own rules, and I will not break it again.

This affiliate has not made a purchase from me. Why I mention this is because I offer a $500 value strategy session with me as a gift inside of my products. That means by the time you meet with me about author coaching or business mentoring or story coaching, you are already a buyer, not a freebie seeker.

Some business mentoring for you:

I don’t sell coaching through a sales page. only offer coaching after I’ve had a consultation. This allows me to decide whether I believe you are a good candidate for author coaching. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not up to the client to choose the coach, it’s important for the coach to screen and select the best clients.

When I worked for someone else, I inherited a LOT of “problem children” because he took anyone who would throw money at him, and many of those people were expecting too much done for them. (One of many reasons I am SO glad I work totally for myself is I get to screen my own clients instead of inheriting people who want me to serve them their completely formed business on a diamond-encrusted platinum platter when they are only paying for a guidebook for how to write a book served in a wooden goblet).

When I Offer A Complimentary Consultation

In the past, I used to offer a strategy session to

1. Anyone who bought a product/service from me.
2. Anyone at a live event with me.
3. Anyone who came via one of my trusted allies.

Now, I typically give free strategy sessions under only 2 circumstances.

1. I include a consultation as a bonus inside a product.
2. We meet at a live event and I give you a consultation/strategy session.

In other words, I do not generally (except that I broke my own rule last week) give a free consult to an ally or affiliate. Experience shows me that these are not necessarily good candidates. I have various ways for people to experience my systems in the form of free gifts, inexpensive products and classes first.

When you develop a system, stick to it!

as I said, I broke one of my own rules to be nice to an affiliate. I know better. Please don’t make my mistake.

Back to the conversation with the affiliate’s spouse. I met with him for about a half hour about his potential book-business. I gave him top-notch business mentoring during this time. At the end of the call, he asked for a discount, figuring he deserved one as the husband of an affiliate.

Warning bells went off in my head.

I should not have given him my valuable time.

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What I should have done was refer him to the Instant VIP Author Multimedia Home Study Program. (those are product links) Why? for several reasons.

The big ones are these::

1. Because he is not a proven buyer; he has not invested in himself and his book-business idea with me yet.
2. Because he immediately asked for a discount as if it were “owed to him” as an affiliate’s spouse, demonstrating he is more of a haggler than someone willing to truly invest in himself.,
3. Because he has not experienced any aspect of the teaching within my system.
4. Because a lot of his questions and concerns would be answered by knowing what and how I teach in the system and beginning to formulate his book idea before talking with me.
5. And remember, he would get a free strategy session anyway as a buyer of either the Instant Credibility ebook or the Instant VIP Author Multimedia Home Study Program. (both of those are links to my products available for purchase). So after either purchase, he would qualify himself to receive a half hour of my valuable time.

And here are a few other considerations as well. Keep in mind that coaching sessions are a half hour long and there is no “done for you” in it:

• I got the feeling what he wanted from coaching was for me to write FOR him or at least do some of the writing with him. That is an increased level of service, not coaching.
• I got the impression what he wanted was for me to read everything he wrote. Again, this is another level of service different from coaching.
• He wanted approval for his work. Deep down, everyone wants approval. However in terms of your book and business, approval is demonstrated by actions such as customers investing in you, media attention, and joint venture opportunities – not by your mentor.
• He wanted me to do his editing. Again, different service. Editing is not coaching.
• In other words, he would have treated coaching as if it were a “do it for you” service. I do offer ghostwriting and “write with you” services at a higher investment, and I am particular about the projects I take on.

What is coaching/mentoring?

For simplicity’s sake, I call the individual sessions where I guide you through writing your book coaching. People understand author coaching but not so much “author mentoring.” Not everybody has had guidance of that nature.

So, what is coaching?

I asked the would-be author if he ever had a child in little league or other sports.

He had.

“Did the coach ever pick up the bat and hit the ball FOR your child?”

“No.”

“Because that wouldn’t be coaching. That would be doing it FOR him. Coaching or mentoring is I teach you and give you the best possible tools, and you do the work.”

When I used to work on someone else’s team, he had a TON of clients who expected to pay for breakfast and be fed for a year. In other words, they bought a coaching package and expected their coach to spend hours and hours and hours doing things for them that they needed to do themselves.

There is no real way to guarantee coaching results, because I’m not coming to your house and forcing you to sit down at the keyboard to do your market research, formulate your business and write your book. Can I do that? Yes, but it will cost you exponentially more than hiring me to coach you. use the contact form to ask me about this extra special service.

the Deeper Issue for Many Would-Be Entrepreneur Authors

First understand that what I’m about to share is NOT a criticism of this person or anyone who feels similarly. Ultimately, this individual wanted things done for him because he lacks confidence in his message. He wants to write a book and simultaneously shrink into the background and hide behind someone else’s skill.

It’s common for a “messenger” who feels a strong desire to share your truth to feel uncertainty. After all, you’re about to be bold and brave and put your thoughts into print. You’re about to “take a stand” regarding what you believe.

Every entrepreneur author needs to develop your expert voice and your confidence. Remember, you are not only writing a book but building a business around it. You will share your message, promote your book, gain customers and in every other way grow your influence.

That means you are in charge of building your platform. Part of developing your business involves developing your expert voice. You gain confidence by speaking/writing/sharing your most important message over and over again.

I only take on ghostwriting or write it with you projects under certain conditions. Generally speaking, if you have an established platform and materials already “out there,” I will let you hire me, because you already have your business in place and your voice established.

The reason is because if I become your voice for you, I will cause you not to grow, and because you won’t have confidence in your message, you won’t get the media attention, instant VIP status, instant credibility, increase of customers and other benefits of becoming an author.

Although I might financially gain from taking on un-confident wannabe authors with no voice and no platform, I would not truly gain – and YOU would lose – because I would short-circuit your personal and business development.

My mission is to guide you through bringing out every ounce of greatness within you out into the light so you can be whom you are meant to be.

I hope that sharing how I re-learned a lesson I should have known will profit you.

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Product Reviews: When Friendship and Business Collide, Which One Wins?

Sometimes you get into sticky situations. Sometimes you get into situations in which friendship and business collide. One of my friends has a product he wants me to promote. It’s not cheap,either. It’s a few hundred dollars US.

So I’m in this sticky spot. I am not recommending the product, but as I write a commentary, I don’t want to name the product either. It’s in the realm of books. So if you’re considering any large purchase in that arena, just write and ask me first.

Let me share what I look for in a product, so you’ll understand how I evaluate what to offer as an affiliate or what to present to potential joint venture partners.

I look for the following aspects in a product:

• GREAT product that people want.
• step by step instructions in it or some sort of easy to follow plan.
• much more use value than cost.
• solves a big problem.
• makes a hard task simple.
• Breaks things down into manageable chunks.
• multimedia.
• value in the PRODUCT itself even without bonuses.
• when I review it, I can honestly say I would refer it without a moment’s hesitation to my closest friend and to my tribe.

So here’s the thing. I got a copy of the product from him and…well…um…I’ll say it this way…it’s multimedia, because there are 5 CDs and a manual.

It’s NOT great. It’s OK. Well, it’s OK if it were about 80% off. If I had to pay full price for it I would have thrown it across the room first and then packed it up to send for a refund.

It is supposed to solve a big problem, but it doesn’t. Not really. It is a hipey more fluff than substance product where the 2 people who did what they did remembered back to how they did it. Out of 5 CDs, 2 are good. 2 are almost duplicates and the last misinforms completely.

There is no step by step. The system has more holes than a pound of Swiss cheese. You couldn’t possibly follow the steps and accomplish what you’re intended to do unless you have a lot of tenacity. And then it wouldn’t be their steps but your tenacity that got you there.

It makes a hard task even harder, because they don’t tell you how to get “the thing” listed where it needs to be in order to use the system at all.

What this product shows you how to do (supposedly shows you how to do) has been done so many times that it has lost its shine. And with so little detail, unless you are already on a path to a solid business, you’d never get the intended result.

One whole CD has a system that is flat out wrong on it. They tell you to do something, and if you know how the company you would be dealing with works, you KNOW it doesn’t work that way. Plus at another point they give wrong information about when changes are calculated in the system.

Someone else I know puts out a truly great multimedia product that gives you a blueprint and makes things simple, requires less of an  investment and gives much more detail, information, and step by step. I’ll make less money per unit promoting this product but sleep well at night knowing I served my audience well.

Although I very much want to support my friend’s product, I cannot honestly do so with a joyous heart and a clean conscience. So, when friendship and business collide, which one wins? Business.

I hope this has helped you consider how you select products and services to recommend.

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Book Publishing Options for Entrepreneurs: FAQ: How Do Write a Book & Get Published

I received this question in a web form after a webinar about how to write a book that explodes your profits:

“What publishing advice would you offer the novice writer?  There are so many options ranging from self publishing to large publishing houses.  As a pre-venture entrepreneur I don’t want to waste my money and more importantly my time on certain avenues if the cost versus benefit ratio is not good.”

I don’t know your name since you didn’t sign the note, but thanks so much for your question.

Since the webinar was about how to write a book for business and that generally means nonfiction, I’m going to assume you’re not talking about a novel.

It’s natural to think about publishing before you write the book, and in fact, it’s a good idea. However, don’t let it eclipse the fact that you need to write a book in such a way that it explodes your business.

I’ll take the question in reverse. And I’ll assume that you are not hugely famous, because if you were, anything you touch would turn to profit and you’d have publishers beating a path to your door.

You asked about cost VS benefit. No matter what publishing avenue you choose, you want to look at what you mean by cost VS benefit.

How are you defining cost? How are you measuring benefit?

Say you choose self publishing. Are you looking to make a dollar (or other currency unit) for each one you spend on publishing?

What is the “apples to apples” measure you are using to consider “cost”? Are you only looking at money currency in the equation?

Here’s why I ask.

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