Why Ian Dainty Says B2B Content is So Important for Non-Fiction Authors

Ian Dainty

Ian Dainty

There is a lot of information on this blog that caters specifically to individual authors; but, until today, there wasn’t much here for the business authors—the executives who produce non-fiction books as part of their corporate marketing strategies. That’s why I was so grateful to connect with Ian Dainty on LinkedIn recently. As a CEO, business-to-business (B2B) sales and marketing coach, strategic business advisor, speaker, trainer, and B2B blogger, Ian is the perfect person to fill this “content void” on the PPG Publisher’s Blog.

I’m sending out a special thank you to Ian for allowing us to share this recent post from his own blog titled ‘Why B2B Content is So Important’ as it provides a fresh perspective (including relevant statistics) to back up so much of the other information here. Not only is it valuable to have a book published and available online nowadays, but it is also crucial to have a diversified platform to promote that book through because, as Ian states below, “…People gather information from mixed sources. So you need to put your content on a few social media sites. Blogs, LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube and Google+ are relevant for B2B buyers.”

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Ian Dainty on content marketing

Ian Dainty on content marketing

Everyone is telling you that you need more and more content in order to grow your business.

But you’re not sure why it’s so important, and how to ensure you are getting the right content in front of your potential clients.

And there is so much content on the web that you wonder if your content is going to matter, and will the right people see it?

Let’s have a look at why B2B content is so important, and how to ensure the right people see it.

Importance

The reason B2B content is so important is because that’s how your potential clients are judging you, and more importantly, finding you now.

Here are some significant statistics for you to know.

1. 90% of B2B buyers say when they’re ready to buy, they’ll find you. (Earnest)
2. 94% of B2B buyers report conducting some degree of research online before making a business purchase. (Acquity Group)
3. Content creation is marked as the single most effective search engine optimization (SEO) technique. (Marketing Sherpa)
4. Most buyers are 50-60% of the way into the buy cycle before they’ll talk to you (Earnest)
5. 80% of business decision makers prefer to get company information in a series of articles versus an advertisement. (CMI)
6. 81% of B2B CEOs believe that the importance of marketing has increased, and 46% of them say significantly. (Stein IAS)
7. 73 percent of tech buyers surveyed said they consume two to eight assets (articles, videos, eBooks, pdf’s, etc.) before they purchase. (Eccolo Media)

Ensure Your Content is Relevant & Distributed Properly

The other side of the marketing coin is to ensure your content is relevant and distributed to the right platforms for maximum viewing and effect. Here is why that is so important.

1. 66% of B2B marketers with a documented content strategy feel they are effective, vs 11% of B2B marketers who don’t have a content strategy. (CMI)
2. 78% of CMO’s think custom content is the future of marketing. (Ragan)
3. Peer reviews matter. Ensure you have case studies and testimonials that sell. Customer testimonials are the most effective form of content marketing. (SocialTimes)
4. People gather information from mixed sources. So you need to put your content on a few social media sites. Blogs, LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube and Google+ are relevant for B2B buyers.
5. 87% of B2B marketers use social media to distribute content. (CMI and Marketing Profs)
6. The average content length for a web page that ranks in the top 10 results for any keyword on Google has at least 2,000 words. The higher up you go on the search listings page, the more content each web page has. (QuickSprout)
7. 83% of B2B marketers invest in social media to increase brand exposure; 69% to increase web traffic; and 65% to gain market insights. (Social Media Today)

Click here to view the original post on Ian’s blog. It was republished here with his permission.

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IAN’S BIO:

Ian Dainty is the CEO of Maximize Business Marketing. Ian has close to 40 years’ experience in B2B marketing & sales. Ian started his career at IBM, in the large systems division, in 1974. He has owned, operated and sold two successful businesses in the technology field.

For the past 20 years, Ian has been working with B2B companies, helping them increase their revenue by 25% to 100% over forecasts, through better marketing and sales strategies and techniques.

With the advent of the Internet, and all of its many platforms for reaching people, Ian has become a student, researcher, advocate, coach and mentor, helping companies use these tools wisely, as well as more traditional marketing and sales strategies, to help B2B companies grow.

Ian has a good grasp of the marketing capabilities of websites, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, PPC, and YouTube.

Ian also has over 40 years of B2B selling experience. He has trained and coached thousands of sales people, marketers, executives and business owners in how to sell their products and services.

Ian has developed, through his years of experience and also through extensive research and interviews, a methodology for growing your current accounts. The methodology is Strategic Account Management or SAM. It is taught to you and your team through extensive training and coaching.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iandainty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iandainty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/iandainty

© Ian Dainty 2017

All https://blog.polishedpublishinggroup.com guest posts from before 2017 were included in Diary of an Indie Blogger VOL 1 which can be downloaded from Amazon, Kobo, or E-Sentral free of charge. All other guest posts from the original PPG Publisher’s Blog have been moved here: https://polishedpublishinggroup.com/category/guest-bloggers/.




3 Solid Reasons Why Small Books Sell Better than Big Books

3 solid reasons why small books sell better than big books ... one of which even James Patterson openly agrees with

3 solid reasons why small books sell better than big books … one of which even James Patterson openly agrees with

How long should a book be in order to be considered a legitimate book by readers? 30,000 words? 60,000 words? 90,000 words? Even more? How many chapters long should it be? 10, 15, or more? Which old wives’ tale has you filling your manuscript with extra (not necessarily useful) information just to meet someone else’s theoretical and unsubstantiated recipe for success? Here are 3 solid reasons why small books sell better than big books … one that even mainstream author James Patterson openly agrees with.

3 Solid Reasons Why Small Books Sell Better than Big Books

With non-fiction books of any kind, your number one priority is to understand your readers’ question/problem, and then answer/resolve it for them as clearly and simply as possible. Where fiction and poetry are concerned, you want to entertain readers and help them escape from reality for a while.

No matter what kind of book, the trick is to stop people running through their busy lives and pay attention to your message. In this day and age filled with distractions in every direction, brevity is your key to success.

Reason 1: You’ll Appeal to a New Audience of Non-Readers

Even mainstream thriller author, James Patterson, has jumped on this band wagon with his BookShots line. His reason for publishing small books is discussed in Alexandra Alter’s New York Times article titled “James Patterson Has a Big Plan for Small Books.” It’s all about appealing to a new audience of non-readers.

…Mr. Patterson is after an even bigger audience. He wants to sell books to people who have abandoned reading for television, video games, movies and social media.

So how do you sell books to somebody who doesn’t normally read?

Mr. Patterson’s plan: make them shorter, cheaper, more plot-driven and more widely available.

…He aims to release two to four books a month through Little, Brown, his publisher. All of the titles will be shorter than 150 pages, the length of a novella. (Alter, 2016)

I suspect Mr. Patterson knows another great reason for releasing multiple small books every month. One of the greatest keys to success for any author today is this: prolific publishing.

Reason 2: You’ll Improve Your Author Ranking Online

There is a form of book sales and marketing, known as “rapid release” publishing, that many of today’s independent authors are using to sell literally thousands of books every year. This system utilizes the power of SEO to organically increase your author ranking on ecommerce sites like Amazon in much the same way businesses increase their website ranking on search engines such as Google.

Some of these authors are earning six-figure incomes from their ebook sales alone. Many of them use this program to sell multiple fictional novels in a series, much like James Patterson is doing.

In my research, I’ve found that non-fiction authors are also great candidates for this form of book publishing. Why? Because of your diverse demographics (e.g., seniors, adults, teenagers, children, males, females, et cetera) and the varied subject matter you can cover within your respective industries.

Here are just a few examples:

  • Caterers can recommend different types of foods (e.g., canapés, fruit appetizers, vegetable appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, kebabs, deep fried appetizers, et cetera) for all types of events.
  • Health and fitness entrepreneurs can write endless non-fiction copy about different muscle groups, exercises, food groups, diets, et cetera.
  • Interior decorators can make countless recommendations about floor plans, lighting, artwork, framing, Regency, Georgian, et cetera.
  • Hairdressing professionals can cover long hair, short styles, curls, braids, updos, colours, et cetera.
  • Online and distance educators can repurpose weeks of lesson plans for do-it-yourselfers who prefer a more solitary learning environment. Turn your lesson plans into ebooks or audiobooks for sale online.
  • Automotive service technicians can advise readers on vehicle maintenance and repair for all kinds of different makes and models, various automotive parts and how they work, et cetera.

The list goes on and on. The possibilities are endless for business owners who wish to publish non-fiction books to expand your client bases.

Reason 3: You’ll Open Up More Cost-Effective Printing Options

Authors who wish to sell physical books through local retailers have to factor each retailer’s profit share into your manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). Retailers and wholesalers buy publishers’ books at steep discounts in order to turn their own profits. They also expect your title to be marked as “returnable” (for a full refund) in case it doesn’t sell.

For professionals who sell books and merchandise at speaking events, printing costs are par for the course. Large print runs may save you on a cost-per-unit basis, but what you save in printing you end up paying in storage fees.

All things considered, it’s easier and more cost-effective to mass-produce smaller books, particularly when you stick with standard book sizes. For example, does your book have to be a perfect bound paperback? Or, have you considered a square-backed saddle stitch before? Sometimes, the latter option not only makes more sense; it can save you production time and money. The right printer will be able to recommend various options to you.

How About a Picture Book?

No time to write? Or simply don’t enjoy writing?

Children aren’t the only ones who can enjoy a picture book. Picture books containing “how-to” illustrations or graphics throughout (e.g., exercise routines, hair styling techniques, before and after automotive repair examples, et cetera) can be very helpful to adult learners.

It’s time to change your thinking on what constitutes a legitimate book, a useful book. The way the world reads is changing, and the way books are written and published is changing along with it.

You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.
As a user of this website, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute the documents on this website so long as: one (1) the document is used for informational purposes only; and two (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2019 Polished Publishing Group (PPG). All rights reserved.




Why Blend E-Learning and Classroom Learning Tools?

Why blend e-learning and classroom learning tools together on one platform?

Why blend e-learning and classroom learning tools together on one platform?

Why blend e-learning and classroom learning tools together on one platform? Because everyone learns differently. This is a great way to appeal to a broader audience of learners.

In 2016, I travelled to Hua Hin, Thailand, to study and obtain a TESOL certification in a classroom setting. Following course completion, I taught English as a second language at a school in Bangkok for one term. This was a lifelong dream realized, and I’m so glad I did it. In fact, I shared this powerful experience with dozens more people from around the world. I gained many new friends and fond memories during that month in Hua Hin. Every time I think about it, I smile.

The Pros and Cons of E-Learning and Classroom Learning

One of my closest friends from that time is a fellow Canadian named Christine. She not only studied the TESOL course in our Hua Hin classroom. Actually, a month earlier, she had studied the same course via XploreAsia‘s online learning portal. She said the online course had been a good primer for what was to come. But she enjoyed the classroom setting so much more. Here are some common thoughts about the pros and cons of each learning style that echo Christine’s perspective:

E-Learning Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    – self-paced, flexible scheduling
    – student-centred instead of instructor-centred
    – flexible location and content (study with anyone around the world)
    – unlimited access to digital course materials
    – information is easily stored on a cloud and accessible from anywhere
  • Cons:
    – lack of immediate, personalized feedback
    – no one else around to bounce ideas off for inspiration

Classroom Learning Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    – feedback sharing with the instructor and other students
    – shared energy and ideas is motivational
    – sense of community in a social environment
    – close friendships formed with other students
    – printed materials (e.g., booklets, certificates, diplomas, awards) for students to take away and display on home or office walls
  • Cons:
    – instructor-centred instead of student-centred
    – scheduling and location constraints
    – more expensive lesson delivery model (printing costs)

Companies like XploreAsia are smart to offer both e-learning and classroom learning options for students. But I’ll take it a step further than that. As someone who produces both online content and print materials for a wide variety of clients, I say don’t offer both separately; blend them together to ensure continuity in branding and course materials. You’ll reach both audiences more effectively and efficiently this way.

Why Blend E-Learning and Classroom Learning Tools?

Just as some students prefer a social classroom setting to a student-centred e-learning setting, there are still others who prefer to hold physical materials in their hands. They want to write with a pen, feel the paper as they turn the pages of a book. For these people, the receipt of a physical certificate of completion or award is a more fulfilling conclusion to all their hard work than a virtual report card on a computer screen. But there are even more great reasons to blend the two tools.

Make Your Tools Screen-ready and Print-ready

Many people create their own training manuals, booklets, worksheets, or other marketing materials using programs like Microsoft Publisher. They may save .PDFs of these files to their websites for long-distance learning students to download and print locally. Unfortunately, they’re often perplexed and frustrated when these documents look different in printed form than on their computer screens.

Colours are complicated. Professional documents require more finesse to ensure proper printing—to ensure the branding continuity that all businesses want. Since most educational institutions use digital printers, and most individuals use ink jets at home, long-distance learning materials should be designed to print well on both. The best way to ensure this is to hire a professional graphic designer who understands printing to produce these print-ready .PDF files. Unfortunately, not every designer does.

Work with Professionals Who Understand Both Worlds

When you put your entire e-learning and classroom learning program into the hands of people who understand both worlds, you’ll be dazzled by the results. So will your students.

When one team designs all the artwork for your ebooks, audiobooks, and print materials plus helps you with writing, editing, and every other part of the publishing process, things will run more smoothly and efficiently for you. When that same team is highly experienced with both profitable online selling plus all the nuances of professional graphic design and all types of printing, you’ll save time and money in the long run. You’ll earn more, too.

Your Personal Library of Blended E-Learning and Classroom Learning Tools

Over the next year, I’ll be producing a variety of books covering all the topics represented in the icons above. These materials will contain ideas for how you can blend your current e-learning and classroom learning tools in cost-effective ways, so you can reach more students.

I’ll cover audiobooks, ebooks, paperbacks, podcasting, and webinars. Each lesson will also contain some great print-related ideas, including branded items you may want to offer on your online store along with printable study materials. You’ll also receive advice on how each item should be designed to ensure it’s screen-ready and print-ready for every student.

You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.
As a user of this website, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute the documents on this website so long as: one (1) the document is used for informational purposes only; and two (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2019 Polished Publishing Group (PPG). All rights reserved.




What is the difference between offset printing and digital printing?

What is the difference between offset printing and digital printing?

What is the difference between offset printing and digital printing?

It used to be that, whenever a book was published, there was automatically a large quantity of 1,000 or more copies printed. All these books were then stored away in large warehouses by the publisher and/or its distributor(s). Long run printing was done because there was only one type of printer available to publishers back then: offset. An offset printing press is “old-school printing” in that it uses liquid ink, is the most cost-effective option for higher print quantities, and offers better colour control than today’s digital printers do. The downside is that offset presses cannot be used for short runs. This is because the set-up cost is far too high to print only a few copies at a reasonable price.

What is the difference between offset printing and digital printing?

Today’s publishers (and self-publishers) have more choices available to them. If you want to print 1,000+ books straightaway and pay the lowest possible cost per unit, you can still use offset printing. Alternatively, you can choose to print smaller quantities of books using two different digital printing solutions: print-on-demand (POD) and short run printing.

A digital printer is what every business has in its office. These printers use dry toner rather than liquid ink and can run smaller quantities at a cost-effective price. The turnaround time for digital printing tends to be faster than offset. This is not only because of the smaller quantities but also the quicker set-up time for each job.

The difference between the digital printer at your office and one you’ll find at a professional print shop? The latter offers “bigger, stronger, faster” technology. Also, it is run by trained operators who know exactly which settings to use for each individual print job.

What is print-on-demand (POD) printing?

Ecommerce retailers, such as Amazon, utilize POD and short run digital technologies to sell physical books online. In other words, they won’t print and store any physical copies of your paperback book in a large warehouse anywhere. Instead, they’ll store only the digital cover and interior files that you’ve uploaded to their site. And they will print, bind, and ship only as many copies as someone buys from them at any given time. This saves you from having to print any upfront copies whatsoever. If someone buys ten copies of your book, ten copies will be printed, bound, and shipped to that buyer. If another person buys only one, then Amazon will print, bind, and ship only one—hence the term “print-on-demand.”

You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.
As a user of this website, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute the documents on this website so long as: one (1) the document is used for informational purposes only; and two (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2019 Polished Publishing Group (PPG). All rights reserved.




Why did my paperback print in a different colour than what I saw on the computer screen?

Why did my paperback print in a different colour than what I saw on the computer screen? Colours are much more complicated than you may realize. How something looks on your computer screen may look completely different in printed format. There are many different reasons why.

Why did my paperback print in a different colour than what I saw on the computer screen?

Why did my paperback print in a different colour than what I saw on the computer screen?

RGB versus CMYK Colours

For starters, RGB (red, green, blue) colours are what you see on your computer screen. They are created using light. CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) colours are created by mixing inks/toners together in varying percentages.

When you are creating an ebook only, it’s okay to use RGB colours in your design. But if you plan to also print a paperback or hardcover version of your book, you should design it using CMYK colours. Otherwise, your printer may not be able to match the colours you’ve chosen since printers have a smaller colour gamut available than computer screens do.

Coated Paper Versus Uncoated Paper

Yet another thing that can affect the way your colour will appear after it’s printed is paper stock. In fact, the same colour can look completed different when it is printed on coated paper versus uncoated paper. I show examples of this inside 3 Book Printing Tips for Indie Authors: Consider This Before Printing Any Books.

Digital Colour Versus Offset Colour

A digital printer is what every business has in its office. These printers use dry toner rather than liquid ink and can run smaller quantities at a cost-effective price. An offset printing press is “old-school printing” in that it uses liquid ink, is the most cost-effective option for higher print quantities, and generally offers better colour control than today’s digital printers do.

Another thing that can affect how your colour appears in print is the type of printer being used. Digital prints will usually appear more “shiny” and bright whereas offset prints will appear slightly duller. This is because toner is glossy whereas ink is not.

You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.
As a user of this website, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute the documents on this website so long as: one (1) the document is used for informational purposes only; and two (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2019 Polished Publishing Group (PPG). All rights reserved.




Adventures in Publishing with Sheri Fink: Why I Chose to Go Independent

Sheri Fink: Best-selling, Award-winning Children’s Author

Sheri Fink: Best-selling, Award-winning Children’s Author

One of the biggest decisions today’s aspiring authors make is whether to go the traditional route with a publisher (whether large or small) or to explore the independent publishing path. I chose to go independent and many writers have asked me about my decision. So, here’s the scoop:  when I made a commitment to myself six years ago to bring The Little Rose children’s book to life, I had limited experience with self-publishing and was beginning to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the variety of publishing options available.

I attended writers’ conferences and networking events with writers. I asked both traditionally published and independently published authors about their experiences. I learned so much and decided to independently publish The Little Rose for several reasons:

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Passion and Speed – I felt a burning need to get the uplifting message of The Little Rose to children quickly. I didn’t have the time or patience to woo an agent, find a publisher, go through the whole process, and then wait for a slot on their release calendar several years later.

Control – I wanted to be 100% happy with the final result of all of my hard work. I wanted to choose the right illustrator to bring my story to life and to influence the ultimate look and feel of my book. Even though I published independently, having a high-quality product was really important to me and I knew I could find the right partners to make that goal a reality.

Entrepreneurial Spirit – I’ve always been very entrepreneurial and I was excited about the possibility of building a business around doing something that I absolutely loved. I also learned from other authors about the value of the rights tied in with a book and felt like I would be able to make those decisions for my brand better than a big publisher could. And, my background was in marketing. I believed that I could leverage my knowledge and skills to be successful.

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Happiness – When I talked with other authors, the happiest ones tended to be the self-published authors. They had control over their destiny, their schedules, their agreements, their rights licensing, etc. That really appealed to me.

My best advice for authors who are exploring traditional vs. independent publishing is to talk with successful authors who have already done it. See what their experiences were like and what they would do differently knowing what they know now. Find out who’s happy and why. Writing and publishing my first book was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve done. Since the successful debut of The Little Rose, I’ve independently published six additional books across three genres.

Independent publishing is exciting and easier than it’s ever been before (although it’s still not an easy business), but it isn’t the right solution for everyone. Only the individual authors can truly decide what’s right for them, their books, and their careers.

About Sheri Fink

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Sheri Fink is an inspirational speaker, a #1 best-selling author, an award-winning entrepreneur, and the creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” brand. Sheri writes books that inspire and delight kids of all ages while planting seeds of self-esteem. All five of her children’s books have become #1 best-sellers, including The Little Rose which was a #1 Amazon Best-seller for over 60 weeks.

CBS Los Angeles selected her as one of the top three authors in the local area, a distinction she shares with Dean Koontz. Sheri’s brand is the recipient of the prestigious Gold Mom’s Choice Award for the best in family friendly entertainment. She was recently named an inspirational beauty by supermodel Cindy Crawford’s “Beauties Give Back” campaign.

Sheri’s newest adventure is a contemporary romance. She was inspired to write Cake in Bed, her debut novel, to empower women to be their authentic selves and to not settle for less than they deserve in life or in love, because everyone deserves to have their cake and eat it too … preferably in bed! Discover more about Sheri and her books at www.SheriFink.com.

© Sheri Fink 2017

All https://blog.polishedpublishinggroup.com guest posts from before 2017 were included in Diary of an Indie Blogger VOL 1 which can be downloaded from Amazon, Kobo, or E-Sentral free of charge. All other guest posts from the original PPG Publisher’s Blog have been moved here: https://polishedpublishinggroup.com/category/guest-bloggers/.
You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.




[The Law of Plenty] Everything You Need is Within Your Reach

The Law of Plenty by Nestor Eguez

The Law of Plenty by Nestor Eguez

As a writer, my first story took me almost ten years to complete. You can imagine all the things, good and bad that happened during this long period of time. I specifically remember one occasion, I was very frustrated and close to giving up the whole project. Suddenly, I received an email with the below article from a close friend. Apparently, it was extracted and adapted from an old book. After reading, it definitely changed my perspective a lot.

To tell you the truth, it wasn’t a magic recipe that gave me ideas and eased my long road I had ahead. But rather, it simply opened the barriers inside my mind.

In my case, I want to write a story, right? Well, I have an idea, a piece of paper and a pencil in front of me. What more do I need? Nothing, only time and the desire to do it. Is the story going to be good or average? Is it going to touch and inspire people? I don’t know, and I’ll never be able to find out if I don’t try.

I hope that for those of you who are in the same situation with your dreams right now, that this article could help you as helped me years ago.

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The Law of Plenty: All the things you'll need, are at the reach of your hand...

The Law of Plenty: All the things you’ll need, are at the reach of your hand…

                Have you heard of the Law of Plenty? This is the maxim that states whatever we could need or want, we have already. Even if we don’t literally have something plunked down in front of us, we certainly already have access to the raw materials in our lives right here and right now, available and ready to be put on the task.

                In order to use this rule to our advantage we have to be willing to see and understand what we have at this moment. This goes beyond taking inventory of our possessions; it is an inclusive, honest, open understanding of everything we are and have access to.

                To do this, we have to quit nay-saying, cut out the complaining and thinking we’ll never have enough, or that we’ll never amount to anything. We have to get innovative and be able to see new possibilities within the old scenarios, to understand how and when to recycle and renew our resources to get the absolute most out of them.

                In the process, we’ll achieve a wonderful balance that engenders a new thrilling freedom. All without spending a dime.

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This is the story of Kalima, a young zebra born in a corner of the jungle of Kenya. She is the last descendant of a very special breed called The Guides, well know for being protectors of the herd, and always staying alert. She has recently been made an orphan due to a lion attack that killed off her mom. Her grandmother becomes her caretaker, as she is an old and wise zebra who holds great knowledge. Kalima loves flowers, chase butterflies and play with her friend Norba, the youngest member of the elephant pack. But as one of The Guides, soon she is going to receive a big responsibility, keep a very important secret hide in the jungle. Unfortunately, looks like she doesn’t have any clue about it. The first of a trilogy, this book introduces to Kalima’s journey. Beginning in the jungle, her homeland, the little zebra is going to confront the ancestors heritage and her dreams in the process to find her destiny. The first of a trilogy, this Fantasy YA book, ingeniously explores humanity’s perception of its respect to nature and animals rights.

© Nestor Eguez 2017

All https://blog.polishedpublishinggroup.com guest posts from before 2017 were included in Diary of an Indie Blogger VOL 1 which can be downloaded from Amazon, Kobo, or E-Sentral free of charge. All other guest posts from the original PPG Publisher’s Blog have been moved here: https://polishedpublishinggroup.com/category/guest-bloggers/.
You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.




What is a Full Bleed Image?

What is a full bleed image? In printing, the term “bleed” refers the portion of an image that must be trimmed off because it extends past the page’s borders. Here is an example of a full bleed image on a book cover. All four sides of it must be trimmed to fit the page.

This book cover contains a full bleed image on it.

This book cover contains a full bleed image on it.

When you create any page (whether it’s an interior page or a book cover) with a full bleed image, you must leave room for trimming. Most printers will recommend allowing for a 1/4″ (quarter inch) bleed on all sides of the image when designing it. That way, nothing important will be trimmed off by mistake.

Floating Images With (or Without) Borders

Sometimes, you don’t want a full bleed image on the page. Instead, you may prefer that image to “float” in the white space around it. Here is an example of a floating image.

This book cover contains a floating image on it.

This book cover contains a floating image on it.

In this case, there is no need to account for trimming on any part of the image. So long as it is a print-ready file (300 DPI or better), it can be sized to fit the page however you want it to.

Preparing Graphic Files for Your Book

A graphic is defined as any picture, illustration, chart, image, logo, or graph you would like placed either in your book interior or on your book cover.

Colour Graphics

All colour graphics must be submitted to PPG in either .jpg (.jpeg) or .tif (.tiff) format. They must have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI, using the CMYK colour model.

Black and White Graphics

All black and white graphics must be submitted to PPG in either .jpg (.jpeg) or .tif (.tiff) format with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI. For best results, these images should be sent as grayscale/monochrome files. (CMYK colour images will not reproduce as well in black and white as grayscale/monochrome images will.)

What is a Full Bleed Image?

Truly, there is no right or wrong when it comes to using full bleed or floating images for your book. Much of this is subjective and all about personal preference. But keep in mind that printing a book filled with full bleed images will tend to be more expensive. These images use more ink, and there is also more time and labour involved regarding trimming the pages precisely.

You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.
As a user of this website, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute the documents on this website so long as: one (1) the document is used for informational purposes only; and two (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2019 Polished Publishing Group (PPG). All rights reserved.




Reflections on Indie Authorship from Warren Brown

Warren Brown

Warren Brown

A special thank you to Warren Brown for this guest post on what it is to be an indie author…

The First Story Which Made an Impact on My Creativity

The first story I read which made an impact on me was “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story was filled with action, adventure and suspense. I always look for adventure and excitement in the books I read. This has in turn made me want to keep my readers gripped from the beginning of my stories as well.

Writing Influence

My Dad is a writer. He had a great influence on my writings.
I grew up in Calcutta, India and being of British-Indian (mixed-race) origin, it has also had a major influence on my writings.

I belong to the Anglo-Indian or Eurasian community, which originated in India over 400 hundred years ago, when British and European soldiers and merchants married and had affairs with Indian women. The children of these unions came to be known as Eurasians or Anglo-Indians.
The Anglo-Indian community is the only race in India whose Mother-tongue is English, who have a British Ancestor on the male side of the family and who are Christian by faith. The Anglo-Indian community in India has declined in numbers over the years.

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The Writer’s Journey

I first started writing poems, research articles and blogging, when I was seventeen years old. It is now 30 years since I have been writing and publishing on the web.

The Art of the Book Cover

The cover needs to reflect the essence of the story in my opinion. Cover design is an art, which I am still learning about. The cover should be able to generate interest in the mind of the reader. The cover is the first visual hook which the readers sees even before the title. The title comes next in the reader’s view and mind.

The Importance of Social Book Marketing

I use my blogs and my author website to do my book marketing, as well as the usual social bookmark sites on the web. I even have an e-newsletter to keep my readers updated on my writings. Twitter is now my favourite social site for spreading the word about my writings. I find Twitter very useful as there are so many authors who offer other authors support and encouragement with their writings.

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The Story behind “Travelman”

My latest book “Travel Man” is based on the freedom of the imagination which we all have, but which remains hidden. In the case of the character in the book, his mind and his vivid imagination play an important role in his survival.

Human imagination does have a very active role to play in our lives, but it possesses the power to change our lives and the history of mankind.

An Indie Author on Amazon Kindle Publishing

I enjoy the freedom of indie publishing. I am able to have full control over almost every aspect of getting my work published and ready for my readers to enjoy. I like the speed and the extensive outreach of writing and indie publishing. I have so many ideas for the future and I feel that indie publishing gives me the freedom I need to express my creativity.

I publish my short stories, novellas and novel on Amazon Kindle publishing. I give my books free to readers, which has helped me to grow my reader base. I promote my books on Twitter and other social sites.

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The Greatest Joy of Writing and Publishing

My greatest joy of writing and publishing is that I have the opportunity to give life to my ideas and to express my creativity. Completing and publishing a book is an exhilarating experience for me, every time.

Treasure Your Readers

Every artist needs someone to appreciate his or her work. My fans are most important to me and I owe it to them to keep on writing and publishing more exciting and thrilling books for them. Thank you fans for liking my work.

The Storyteller Series

The Storyteller is an adventure fantasy series about a man who discovers that he possesses the powers of Story, with the ability to craft and weave stories to fight crime.

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On Becoming an Author and an Entrepreneur

Every author needs to become an Entrepreneur. I have always been interested in advertising and marketing. This has got be involved in blogging and promoting my books on social media. My strategy is that I first write and publish my books, after which I spend one week doing social media promotions on sites like Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

I have also joined a number of author sites on which I promote my published books. I enjoy writing, publishing and marketing. I wish that I could publish one or two books a month. With the help of Amazon kindle publishing, I can now publish more than one short story a month, which is just fantastic for any author.

Website: http://www.warren-brown.com

Blogs:

http://warrenbrown.blogspot.com

https://warrenbrownauthor.wordpress.com/

Amazon Author Profile:

UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Warren-Brown/e/B003AN10UI

USA

https://www.amazon.com/Warren-Brown/e/B003AN10UI

Book Machine

https://bookmachine.org/bb_project_tag/warren-brown-amazon-author/

Goodreads Author Profile

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5399385.Warren_Brown

Facebook Author Page

https://www.facebook.com/warrenbrownauthor/

Authorsdb

https://authorsdb.com/community/15322-warren-melvyn-brown

Travelman

http://selfpublishingadvice.org/iaf2017covers/travelman/

© Warren Brown 2017

All https://blog.polishedpublishinggroup.com guest posts from before 2017 were included in Diary of an Indie Blogger VOL 1 which can be downloaded from Amazon, Kobo, or E-Sentral free of charge. All other guest posts from the original PPG Publisher’s Blog have been moved here: https://polishedpublishinggroup.com/category/guest-bloggers/.
You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.




Workplace PTSD Awareness Deserves its Own Week

Workplace PTSD Awareness

Workplace PTSD Awareness

Why would I write a piece about workplace PTSD in November? After all, I’m one month late for Healthy Workplace Month in Canada. I’m six months late for Mental Health Month in America. And the month of June, when Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness is highlighted for both countries, has long passed. Well, I’m writing this because of the current economic conditions where I live. Recent layoffs, and threats of more to come, are a prime trigger for PTSD. It’s a conversation we all need to have, to help each other through these times. In fact, I think “Workplace PTSD Awareness” deserves its own special week of recognition.

How Shareholder Primacy Compounds Workplace PTSD

The Oxford dictionary defines Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as “a condition of persistent mental and emotional stress occurring as a result of injury or severe psychological shock.” Most of us imagine soldiers and first responders when we think about people who may suffer from PTSD. The truth is, this condition is far more common in corporate workplaces than many would like to admit. I believe shareholder primacy not only compounds it; it is one of the primary causes of it.

…The idea that businesses exist primarily to benefit shareholders — also known as shareholder primacy — took hold in corporate America in the 1980s. In 1997, the Business Roundtable embraced the idea in a document outlining governance principles.

The concept has been criticized for leading to a fixation on short-term results and helping fuel the rapid increase in executive pay. (Bloomberg, August 2019)

My parents’ generation had more job security than my generation (and younger ones) have ever known. Long gone are the days when anyone got a job out of school and grew with one company through to retirement. I graduated from high school in 1989 and business college in 1993. I’ve only worked under this shareholder primacy ideology; it’s all I’ve ever known. For 25+ years, I’ve experienced the constant stress and uncertainty caused by corporate buyouts, restructuring, and the inevitable resulting lay offs at pretty much every company I’ve worked for. Everyone I know has experienced the same. It’s commonplace now. But that doesn’t make it any easier on the human psyche.

Workplace PTSD and the Constant Fight-or-Flight Response

I got my start in newspaper advertising years ago after Conrad Black’s Hollinger Inc. took ownership of all the daily newspapers across Canada. I can still recall hearing about the day he arranged for Saskatoon StarPhoenix staff members to meet at a nearby hotel. They were divided into three groups and herded like cattle into different conference rooms, so the story goes. One of those groups (approximately 80 people) lost their jobs that day and were forbidden from re-entering the business premises again; their personal belongings would be couriered to them. The others were told that 80 of their friends had lost their jobs that day. Then they were sent back to work. Conrad Black ripped the proverbial Band-Aid off, decisively cut costs, then brought in fresh (e.g., younger, cheaper) labour like me two months later.

Workplace PTSD Awareness

Workplace PTSD Awareness

That sounds like a cruel and insensitive form of shareholder primacy, doesn’t it? Maybe. I’ve experienced the opposite extreme where, one by one, over a period of several months, my colleagues received The Call from Human Resources. Some companies preferred to do that on Wednesdays; others did it on Fridays. If our phones rang on those particular days, all our hearts would skip a beat. We all lived in constant fight-or-flight response which is both mentally and physically exhausting: “Who’s next? When will it happen?” Personally, I prefer Conrad’s “rip the Band-Aid off” form of psychological shock.

I’ve been the person walked out that door. And I’ve also been the one called into the meeting room and told my friend was just walked out that door. As a matter of fact, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve experienced this kind of trauma during my career. I’m somewhat desensitized by it all now. I suppose that’s a survival mechanism.

Here’s the Good News

The world seems to be shifting now. I see our collective priorities changing in so many ways, and I think this is a good thing. I was thrilled to read the following article earlier this year, and I sincerely hope it comes to pass:

Jamie Dimon and dozens of other leaders at some of the world’s largest companies—including United CEO Oscar Munoz, Abbott CEO Miles White and Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg—said they plan to abandon the long-held view that shareholders’ interests should come first.

The purpose of a corporation is to serve all of its constituents, including employees, customers, investors and society at large, the Business Roundtable said Monday in a statement. (Bloomberg, August 2019)

Husky Oil laid off hundreds of people this past month. Encana is moving its head office from Calgary to Denver which will, no doubt, result in more layoffs there. Our premiere, Jason Kenney, unveiled Alberta’s new budget which will result in “the elimination of more than 2,000 public-sector jobs” over the next four years. The list goes on, and I feel for every single person who is affected by these latest cuts. I honestly feel your pain, because I’ve been in your position before.

I hope you nurture your mental health at this difficult time and never take what is happening around you personally. In reality, it has nothing to do with you. Our world is in flux, trying to redefine its priorities and figure out how exactly to “serve all of its constituents, including employees, customers, investors and society at large.” It’s one thing to say this change should happen, but an entirely different thing to actually do it.

Hang in there. Have hope that it will someday happen.

Related reading:
On Failure and Faith

You might consider syndicating this content on your own blog. If you do, make sure to attribute the original source so neither of us gets dinged on the SEO front. You can do that by including this line at the bottom of the article: This content first appeared on the PPG Publisher’s Blog and has been republished here with permission.
As a user of this website, you are authorized only to view, copy, print, and distribute the documents on this website so long as: one (1) the document is used for informational purposes only; and two (2) any copy of the document (or portion thereof) includes the following copyright notice: Copyright © 2019 Polished Publishing Group (PPG). All rights reserved.