How to Succeed as a Blogged Book Author

We live in a period of history when the lines between technology, information access, business expertise and customer expectations have blurred or been obliterated. This unprecedented confluence has enabled individuals to tap into their creative side and become bloggers, writers, authors, and speakers. It’s enabled you to not only write a book but to blog  a book. But to paraphrase a Tale of Two Cities, “It is the best of times and the worst of times.”

I am a serial entrepreneur with 30+ years of comprehensive business experience. I’ve participated in the creation of the personal computer industry, the advertising information industry, the online music industry, and democratization of information in the real estate industry. I’ve seen how the deployment of technology has radically changed these industries– from vendors to suppliers to producers to distribution to consumption.

This type of radical change has come to the publishing industry and, consequently, radically changed your responsibilities as an author. Let me explain.

In the past, the business rules for authors were owned by publishers and agents. Individuals created the content, and these organizations controlled editing, printing, financing, marketing, sales, and distribution. The book business world was essentially a “funnel” wherein aspiring writers submitted their passions to publishers through agents. They controlled thee fundamental elements in the process: access to production (printers); access to distribution (book stores); and access to customers (marketing, advertising).

Today the business rules are different. To have a financially successful, long-term career as an author it is no longer “enough” to have a great book. Successful authors needs to think of themselves as entrepreneurs and of their books is their products. You don’t have to master all the elements, but you need to know how to navigate the waters of this unfamiliar sea.

To help you do so, let me identify the 8 categories of entrepreneurship with which you should become familiar. Doing so ensures that you will have a financially successful blogging, writing and publishing career:

1. Development – The tools of the trade. What tools should you use to effectively use your time?
2. Human Resources – The best ways to select the people with whom you will surround yourself. Without others, you can’t succeed.
3. Finance – The business models have changed (and are continuing to change). You need to stay abreast of these to maximize long term residual income.
4. Operations –  As the demands of your time grow, you need a plan to keep yourself on track to accomplish your goals.
5. Production – The tools to research, author and publish your passion. For example, blogging a book.
6. Marketing – You now have the responsibility of understanding the ways of getting people to know about you and your book.
7. Sales – You now have the responsibility of deploying the tools necessary to sell your product in “non-traditional” ways: social media and website sales.
8. Support – The mechanisms for staying in touch with your readers and keeping them interested in books or other services you might want to produce.

But here are the two BIGGEST tips I can provide to help you to be a successful author-entrepreneur. These are the foundation upon which you can build the “ship of your dreams” – a sustainable business with residual income:

• Define and own your “why” – Your “why” is the organization of your values, your vision and your mission. Together, they are the rudder that will guide you on your voyage to success.
• Create a mindset of success – As the boat of your writing and publishing business sails, the waves of fear, uncertainty and doubt will throw you. To navigate these swells properly, you’ll need to identify and repeat your personal affirmations of success.

Using these tools, put yourself “out there” and sail the sea to your success.

About the Author

Jim Herrera is a serial entrepreneur with 30+ years of business experience working in world-class organizations like Apple, Creative Labs and Arbitron. He has also started six entrepreneurial ventures in various industries including: computer technology, entertainment, advertising information, and real estate. Jim works with entrepreneurs to define their vision, purpose and goals and provides ongoing strategic decision-making and marketing mentoring.

Jim is also executive producer of a series of educational symposiums called “Make America Prosperous: Empowering Entrepreneurs to Rebuild Our Economy” (MAP). MAP is a practical, hands-on education service that employs entrepreneurial expertise to growth-oriented entrepreneurs. The next 2-day education symposium is on May 19th and 20th. Day 1 is Entitled “Experts Platform Building for Entrepreneurs” and will teach you how to  easily write your book, become a well-known expert in your field and build your expert platform online and off. Day 2 is entitled “Entrepreneurial Fundamentals” and will guide you through the steps necessary to build an on-going, successful business around your book. For more information about the MAP conference visit MakeAmericaProsperous.com or to register, click here.

For more information about entrepreneurship and building your powerful “Why” visit PerceptiveInsights.com.