Why You Should Never Hire A Ghostwriter

November 7, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 7 Comments

Why You Should Never Hire A Ghostwriter If You Want To Be Noticed In Your Niche

Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with many entrepreneurs. Most want to cut corners and eliminate as much work as possible and I get it. The whole 4-Hour Work Week theory and such. But I’m going to be completely honest here… Most of the entrepreneurs I know who are making six or seven figures (including myself) who are sharing their special sauce 🙂 with the world are doing it themselves. Meaning that when it comes to their message, what they want to share with their tribe, etc. — they are the creators of that content — NOT a ghostwriter. Not a virtual assistant. Not a hired gun.

The reason why is simple. We all have competition. So if you want to “make noise” amid all the clutter in your niche you have to:

#1 – Be Authentic

#2 – Be Seen

#3 – Be Heard

#4 – Be Trustworthy

#5 – Be Unique

When you hire a ghostwriter to write your articles, your ezine, your ebook, your information product, your signature system, etc. he or she cannot help but write it in their own voice instead of yours because they are not you. The end result may be a polished, well-written, piece of content but it doesn’t sound like you and it definitely will not meet all 5 of the above criteria.

Instead — your content will sound like the hundreds or thousands of other pieces of white-washed content in your marketplace. There is nothing unique about it and that will make you simply….average.

Okay, So How Do I Produce Great Content Regularly Without Outsourcing It?

This is my theory on outsourcing… There are many things that you can and should outsource in your business but your content is NOT one of them. Where you can maximize your efforts is in compilation, distribution, publishing. So for example, you should write a great article solving one of your ideal clients’ problems. Then give it to a virtual assistant to publish to your blog, spin or rewrite it, and distribute it to various 3rd party sites and directories.

Or say you want to create an ebook for some passive income in your business. Take some of your favorite articles on a central topic, make some additional notes on each article, and then give them to someone to compile into a 7-10 chapter book. Someone else has done all the compiling and polishing of your book — but the content and voice is still ALL yours. Still authentic. Still You.

So if you are looking to really stand up and get noticed right now in your niche, write your own content. Do not hire a ghostwriter. Invest your dollars where it matters — leveraging your content – not creating it.

Do Prospects Like & Read Your Content?

October 23, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 5 Comments

Do You Know If Prospects Like & Read Your Content?

Likable Content One thing I know for sure is that you do not have a thriving business if you do not have highly likable and marketable content to attract lots more clients. So one of the first things that I ask my clients who have created blog articles, videos, podcasts, etc. is whether they know if their subscribers and visitors (prospects) like the content that they’re creating AND if they are actually reading it. Many people can’t ever give me a definitive answer. So here are some tips to get you the answers and results you need.

First, you need to be sure that you are creating content that your readers want. There are two solutions for this:

1. Create content that solves a problem for your potential clients
2. Create content that entertains them

Second, be sure that you are addressing the problems of prospects by asking them what they are. So you can:

1. Pay attention to customer service emails
2. Ask them to respond to your content via blog comments, Facebook comments, Twitter, etc.
3. Survey your list and ask them directly what types of content they’d be interested in (Surveymonkey.com)

Third, take notice if you are getting thank you emails and testimonials. People who are enjoying your content will occasionally say thank you. If no one has responded, I’d begin to question if you are creating content that is really “speaking” to your ideal client. Make sure you are:

1. Asking for testimonials. When you are working with a client and they mention a specific result they recently achieved and it’s a good one — make sure to ask their permission if you can take what they said and use it as a testimonial. Writing it for them and getting their approval is a much easier way to ensure that you get them.

2. If your VA handles customer service for you, make sure that they are forwarding all the great fan mail you’re getting. It’s good for morale and it also shows you that you are on the right track with your content creation.

Fourth, take a look at your statistics. Look at things like:

1. Your ezine link clicks. Did people actually click on the article links in your ezine this week? Make sure you take a look at your ezine broadcast stats to see. Publish enough ezine issues and you may start to see a pattern in the types of information that grabbed your readers attention.

2. Your blog stats. Take a look at your blog stats using WordPress Stats or Google Analytics and pay attention to the blog articles that received the most clicks. Of course some of these stats are influenced by the ability for people to find your content via search engines which may not exactly speak to if they liked it — so make sure to pay attention to your bounce rate as well. A higher bounce rate means that people are popping onto your site and clicking off. A lower one means that your site is sticky and that people are staying longer reading content on your blog.

I hope this gets you off and running on how to create more likable & readable content. Remember the #1 key is to actually get it done! Start implementing today. If you have any questions or comments about how to create more likable content, leave a comment below and let’s start a conversation…

Content Marketing Is Popular In B2B

October 21, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 5 Comments

Study Shows Popularity Of Content Marketing In B2B

Cambridge, Mass.—More than 80% of b2b marketers use content marketing, according to a report released by HiveFire Inc., a marketing technology company.

The “B2B Marketing Trends 2011 Survey” found content marketing was more commonly used by b2b marketers than search (70%), events (68%) and public relations (64%).

The survey also found that the top two objectives of content marketing programs are engagement (82%) and driving sales (55%). The study, which drew more than 365 respondents, was conducted online in August.

See the original article: http://www.btobonline.com/article/20111012/STRATEGY06/310129996/study-shows-popularity-of-content-marketing-in-b-to-b

3 Reasons Why I Write

June 4, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 4 Comments

3 Reasons Why I Write

Why Do You Do What You Do?

If you’ve ever had a career change or career evolution, I’m sure you’ve experienced the pangs of self-doubt. It’s common practice to question yourself after you’ve made a BIG move. This happened to me when I decided to step back from traditional psychotherapy and focus on entrepreneurial writing.

Many of my peers or family members who liked saying that I was a psychotherapist wanted answers. They wanted to know why I rather write then do therapy. So here it goes — these are the reasons…

REASON 1
It’s What I Like To Do (Even When No One Is Paying Me)

I have always been a writer. I kept quite detailed journals since about 7 years old. I earned a degree in journalism and worked in that field for several years before going back to school to get my masters. I have always enjoyed writing and sometimes writing is the only way I can accurately express myself. I fall back and lean on writing all the time.

And more importantly, although I am paid well to help others write effectively, I write even when there’s no one paying. Even when there’s no one looking. And that’s really the whole “Oprah” idea I’m trying to get across.

Hopefully your business is something that you would do for free. For nada. Which means ultimately that when you do make money, it will be even sweeter.

REASON 2
Writing On The Web Packs A Powerful Punch

Digital writing a.k.a. ePublishing packs a powerful punch for entrepreneurs. Personally, I think that writing on the web is one of the most strategic ways to build credibility, generate traffic, and make passive income. There aren’t many marketing strategies that you can do and gain that type of traction from them – for little to zero cost at that!

Every entrepreneur and every service professional should have some sort of web presence that is primarily “content based”: articles, blog, ebooks, short reports, e-courses, teleseminars, etc. If you are not establishing yourself, your brand, and your marketing message on the web with content, then you better already be a celebrity, because no one is going to notice among the thousands of other competitors in your niche.

REASON 3
People Kept Asking Me For My Help

Sometimes you just have to look at not necessarily what you think you should be doing, but what people are asking from you. People have continuously asked me for help with writing and tech work — and they probably do because I have put out in the world that I am always willing to help.

I soon realized that I’m always willing to help (back to reason 1) because it’s not really work for me. It’s interesting and fun. And while I am “good” at a lot of different things like every other person, there is a way that I am able to explain a tech issue or pull a good story for an ebook out of some one that is unique to me, and that which many people are drawn too. So why fight the power?

So my advice to those who haven’t quite figured out their life’s work: pay attention to what advice people in your circle ask you for. What do they want from you? What do they refer you to others for? If there is a way you can make money at it — then I suggest you go for it! I did and haven’t looked back since.

Have you found your entrepreneurial passion yet? If so, what are the reasons why you do it? Do you have any other inspirational or common sense tips to pass onto others? Share them here. You could inspire someone today:)

Ebook Sales Increase!

March 22, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 2 Comments

Ebook Sales Increase — Sales Are Still On The Rise!

eBook Month

March is eBook month here at my site. I chose it because the second week of March was National eBook Week and because the weather is so weird on the East Coast of the U.S. during March, I rather stay in and read — a lot of ebooks! Evidently, I’m not the only one. Ebook sales saw a tremendous increase lately. In fact, according to The Association Of American Publishers, ebooks sales rose 115% in January beating out both paperback and hardcover sales during that same month.

Even Time Magazine proclaimed that the E-Book Era is here.

It’s more important than ever to think about writing your first ebook for your business — which is especially easy if you have existing content (articles). Remember your articles can do more than just sit on an article directory or your blog — you can use them to create your own signature ebook. I’ll be talking more about how to do just that very soon so stay tuned!

Book Title Feedback Wanted!

March 9, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 6 Comments

Book Title Feedback

I’m working on my new signature book and would feel much better if I had a working title. Could you please take 15 seconds to vote on the title that resonates more with you?

Here’s the link if you are on your cell phone:

Lisa’s Book Title Survey

eBook Week

March 9, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 7 Comments

Ebook Week

It’s Read An eBook Week this month. March 6 – 12th. That’s right, the ebook is officially 40 years old this year and to all you die hard hardcover and paperback readers, I totally understand. I like the feeling of paper in my hand as well, the smell of a new book, BUT the future of publishing is upon us. And I just as easily fell in love with both my Kindle and my iPad. I don’t want you to miss the boat.

According to Amazon, for the first time since they’ve been in business, they now sell more ebooks then they do physical books. Barnes and Noble’s is selling a great deal of ebooks as well, especially with the release of their revamped eReader – Nook.

Major New York publishers are on the ebook train kicking and screaming – but they’re here. It’s rare now to see a major book release that doesn’t have a digital version of some sort.

Let’s face it, internet marketers were ahead of their time:) Your clients and customers learn through various forms of media and the ebook is one of them – actually the major one. If you’re not on board, it’s time that you get with the program and learn how to write and publish ebooks that your prospects will find irresistible.

The easiest way to create your first ebook is to repurpose articles you already have sitting around on your hard drive, and I’ll talk about this more in depth. So stay tuned!

New To eBooks?
This week is a great time to purchase your first ebook and give it a whirl. If you don’t own an eReader (Kindle, iPad, Nook, Sony) or a smartphone with an eReader app (Android, iPhone) – you can always purchase and read one on your desktop or laptop. You’ll just download the PDF version.

Article Marketing: What Do I Do First?

February 15, 2011 By Lisa Angelettie 4 Comments

Article Marketing: What Do I Do First?

Over a series of articles, I’m going to briefly discuss the components of becoming a successful ePublisher and what you should do first to get on the road towards that success. In today’s article I’m going to talk about one of the easiest facets of ePublishing and that’s article marketing. While I cover a lot of things on article marketing on this site, I think one of the most common questions that beginners will still continue to ask me is “What do I do first?” And I’ve really recently discovered that this is the one question that has stopped a lot of entrepreneurs and marketers from moving forward with their article marketing. They just don’t know where to begin.

So let’s talk about effective article marketing…

The key to making article marketing work for you is to write about things that your readers are interested in and that is useful AND to be consistent about it. If you write about only what you think your readers are interested in, chances are your article marketing will not be effective. If you do write something that your readers love BUT you only write on topics like that when the mood strikes you or one and done — then your article marketing efforts will do little for you.

For some reason, a few bad apples have spread an internet marketing tale, and that tale is that you can retire rich in 30 days when you do whatever it is that they are promoting. That’s simply not true. You will not make a million dollars on the web by not meeting the needs of your target marketing and by not performing some sort of marketing action on a consistent basis. You must.

That’s why I balk when people complain about how many articles they will have to write, the time it will take, etc. The fact of the matter is that generating income takes work. It always has and it always will. Any consistent, targeted effort will provide desired results – and the #1 effort I chose to make on a regular basis is writing articles.

1. Article marketing is easy.

2. Article marketing builds credibility.

3. Article marketing builds links.

4. Articles can be repurposed into many income streams.

5. Article marketing is tested, proven, and works for as long as the article is relevant.

So now that I’ve given you a decent dose of reality soup, I’m sure you’re asking to hear the point of this article – What Do I Do First?

The first thing that any new article marketer should do is make the commitment to write and write consistently. If you are going in this thinking you are going to write 5 articles and then wait for the money to roll in, you are not committed to article marketing.

Next, you should then do the research you need to identify 7 points of interest and/or sources of frustration for your market. What do they need help with? What do they want to learn?

You now have your first seven articles. You first short report. Your first seven video articles. Your first seven podcast episodes. Your first seven feature articles for your ezine.

You are ready to ROCK!

Next Up: Article Blogging: What Do I Do First?

Why You Should Never Hire A Ghostwriter