Develop a Slogan to Help Your Author Platform

Over at Ad Age, Al Ries wrote a great piece on slogans in relation to political campaigns. Whether you voted for Obama or Romney, Ries shines the light on who had the better slogan--and why. (Click here to read the full article.)

The two main nuggets I got out of the article were:

1. A good slogan cuts both ways. That is, a good slogan builds up an identity (person, company, etc.) while also defining how you're different than the competition. Using Obama's "Forward" slogan as the example, it implies that Obama wants to move forward while his competition wants to go backward. Politics aside (and whether you agree or disagree), that's what the slogan communicates.
2. A good slogan communicates value. If you write cookbooks, your slogan should NOT be: Jane Doe, Cookbook Author. A more powerful slogan might be: Jane Doe, Helping the World Cook Better. Instead of Joe Smith, Thriller Author, try Joe Smith, Keeping Readers on the Edge of Their Seat.

Robert Lee Brewer, Helping Writers Succeed

 

Why Do Slogans Matter?

Writers have so much to worry about that I totally understand if they're wondering, "Why the heck should I care about slogans? Aren't those just for companies?"

Those are fair questions, but here's the thing: Once writers hang their shingles as freelance writers, that makes them businesses. Maybe just one employee. Maybe not super successful...just yet. But a business nonetheless. Still, why does a slogan matter?

For one, a slogan defines who writers are to their target audience--to literary agents, editors, book buyers, and ultimately readers. That's pretty important stuff.

Second, a slogan defines who writers are to themselves. It might seem like common sense, but most writers can't define themselves--especially in a way that explains their value--in fewer than 10 words. That's why developing a slogan is a super important exercise.

Incorporate Into Your Author Platform

Once you have a slogan that communicates value and cuts both ways, begin incorporating it into your platform building.

• Use it--or something very similar--as the tagline on your blog and/or website.
• Include it in the About Me sections of your social media profiles.
• Put it on your business cards.
• Include it in your e-mail signature.
• Work the slogan into any other messaging you can, whether an e-newsletter or print stationery.

Use it and use it some more. Remember: Consistency is key in brand building, and that's exactly what an author platform: It's building your brand as an author. Now, get to work on your slogan.
 
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Check out these other helpful Not Bob posts:

• How to Blog and Make Money Blogging.
• How to Build (or Improve) Your Writer Platform in 30 Days.
• Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012.

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And if you want a way to improve make a super investment in your author platform, check out the latest offering from Writer's Digest: Author Platform Consultations. There are three different levels--from a basic package (that is anything but basic) to an 8-week program that involves 30-minute consultations each week. Click here to learn more.

2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge!

There are things I love and things I detest about November. One thing I detest is Daylight Savings Time. Blech! However, something I love (in addition to Thanksgiving) is the November PAD (Poem-A-Day) Chapbook Challenge that's run on my Poetic Asides blog.

Here's how it works: Each day of November, there is a new prompt posted. Each day, poets from around the world respond to that prompt with their poems. At the end of November, poets should have 30+ poems written which they can turn into a 10-20 chapbook manuscript to submit to me by early January.

The challenge is meant to be fun and productive. Anyway, I thought I'd link to the prompts here to make it easy for Not Bob readers to play along and get caught up (if they want to break a line or two).

Here are the November 2012 poetry prompts:

• Day 1: Matches Poem
• Day 2: Full Moon Poem
• Day 3: Scary Poem
• Day 4: Just Beneath (blank) Poem
• Day 5: Text Message Poem
• Day 6: Left or Right Poem (Two-for-Tuesday prompt)
• Day 7: Circular Poem
• Day 8: Talk Back to a Dead Poet Poem
• Day 9: When He's Gone Poem
• Day 10: Foreign Word Title Poem
• Day 11: Veteran Poem
• Day 12: New Technology Poem
• Day 13: Letter or Recipe Poem (Two-for-Tuesday prompt)
• Day 14: Stuck Poem
• Day 15: Tradeoff Poem
• Day 16: Last Line First Poem
• Day 17: How-to Poem
• Day 18: Glosa Poem
• Day 19: Wheel Poem
• Day 20: Gathering or Letting Poem (Two-for-Tuesday prompt)
• Day 21: Song Title Poem
• Day 22: Paradise Poem
• Day 23: Deep Poem
• Day 24: Truth About Blank Poem
• Day 25: Opposite Poem
• Day 26: Collection Poem
• Day 27: Hero or Villain Poem (Two-for-Tuesday prompt)
• Day 28: Workplace Adversity Poem
• Day 29: Birth Poem
• Day 30: Milk Poem

The prompts will fill in throughout the month. Click on the links above to view the full explanation of the prompt, read my own attempt at the prompt, and read plenty of examples by other poets.

No matter the challenge you're taking on in November (if you're taking one on), please have an excellent time doing so.

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By the way, if you're into challenges (and haven't done so yet), you might be interested in taking on my 30-day Platform Building Challenge. It's free, easy, and has been very helpful for scores of writers already. Click: How to Build (or Improve) Your Writer Platform in 30 Days.

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Also, I don't think I've mentioned it on here yet, but I was called out in the November issue of O, The Oprah Magazine for my Poetic Asides blog. In fact, a direct quote: "I have a poet crush on Robert Lee Brewer." Now that's something cool! Click here to check out the piece, which includes three other important poetry resources.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out these other helpful Not Bob posts:

• How to Blog and Make Money Blogging.
• Top Tweeters for Writers to Follow.
• Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012.

*****

And if you want a way to improve make a super investment in your author platform, check out the latest offering from Writer's Digest: Author Platform Consultations. There are three different levels--from a basic package (that is anything but basic) to an 8-week program that involves 30-minute consultations each week. Click here to learn more.

3 Reasons Why SEO Matters: Improve Search Engine Rankings

This is why SEO matters: If you want to improve search engine rankings, there are two ways to make that happen, and both techniques have to work together. First, you have to write amazing content. Second, you have to employ sound keyword strategy.

I spent last weekend in Hollywood, California. It was a great trip for two reasons:

1. I was able to take a bunch of goofy tourist photos.
2. I was afforded the opportunity to help people understand the importance of SEO.

View from hotel room included the HOLLYWOOD sign.

3 Reasons Why SEO Matters

Here's the brick wall I usually hit when explaining the importance of SEO. Most writers are allergic to numbers and statistics. Some writers are completely against structure (these writers often fight against the idea of using outlines).

However, if they're going to get the most bang for their buck online, writers (and all professionals) need to optimize their websites for search engine. Here's why:

1. SEO leads to discover-ability. Most people who need to know the answer to something now go online to find the answers. Sites that aren't optimized for search engines will not display in the search results. If your site isn't on the first page of results, it's pretty much invisible. In fact, most sites that aren't in the first 3-5 spots on a search page will receive fewer than 5% of all clicks on a given search.
2. SEO leads to higher traffic. A common method for measuring success on blogs and websites is to look at traffic. That makes a lot of sense. One good method for increasing traffic is to post a lot of new content, but it takes a lot of effort for each new page or post. Any even better method is to post content that receives as much (or more) traffic on day 365 as the day it was first posted. This can be accomplished with great SEO.
3. SEO leads to improved content. Many writers point to content as the reason they object to learning SEO. They argue that targeting keywords leads to stilted language. Let me agree for a moment: Yes, it can. In such cases, keyword-loaded posts with stilted language do not perform well in search engine rankings. It takes a combination of great keywords and great content to consistently rank on page one.

Improve Search Engine Rankings

I'm only writing this post because I've seen the power of SEO first hand. I've spent the past two years experimenting with content on this blog, including increasing posts, linking to social media, and optimizing for search engines. Some experiments have worked; others have failed; and I try to share everything with my awesome readers.

As many long-time Not Bob readers know, I was posting nearly every day through the first five months of 2012. I'd driven traffic to my blog to new levels through many strategies mentioned in my 25 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic post. Then, life got in the way, and I was able to run a different type of experiment--a very passive experiment. I was able to see what my Not Bob traffic would be like without new content.

This is only my 2nd post since August 7 and 10th since May 31. In fact, I didn't even post in the month of September. Traffic on my blog actually increased during the months of June through September (October is still in progress) by 44.8% in 2012 over 2011. In the month of September (in which I didn't make a single post), my traffic increased 41.4%.

I'm not sharing these stats to make your eyes gloss over or to boast. I want to emphasize that the traffic to my blog in my absence was not due to new content. Instead, it was mostly through new readers finding me while searching for answers online. My combination of solid content and great keywords helped increase my traffic while I've been away.

Use SEO to Improve Your Platform

Whether you're a writer or business owner (and really, freelancer writers are business owners), search engine rankings are essential to your success online. Lucky for you, I've developed a 30-day challenge for improving your online platform. It's completely free and--from the testimonials I've received--completely effective in jump starting your process. 

Over the 30-day plan, I cover many tasks, including better SEO. I encourage you to start taking the challenge today (or this weekend) if you haven't yet.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out these other helpful Not Bob posts:

• How to Blog and Make Money Blogging.
• Top Tweeters for Writers to Follow.
• Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012.

*****

And if you want a way to improve make a super investment in your author platform, check out the latest offering from Writer's Digest: Author Platform Consultations. There are three different levels--from a basic package (that is anything but basic) to an 8-week program that involves 30-minute consultations each week. Click here to learn more.

What I've Been Up To

If you only know me through this Not Bob blog, then you've probably been wondering what the heck happened to me. The truth is that I've been busy with all the other not-"Not Bob" stuff I have in my life. This blog has become so successful that I haven't had to worry too much about traffic slumping (even as I've focused on other projects).

That said, I haven't just been sitting around doing nothing the past few months. In fact, I'm hopping on a plane tomorrow morning to work the Writer's Digest Conference West event in Hollywood, California. I'll be speaking on a panel (Hardcore Author Marketing) on Saturday. If you can attend, please stop by and introduce yourself.

At an Ohio pumpkin farm with two of my boys.

Last month, I worked as a member of the staff for Writing Away Retreats, which is an amazing event for writers put on my Cicily Janus. Cicily assembles a wonderful staff (agents, editors, authors) and brings them together with what feels like a hand-selected group of attendees. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these events, I highly recommend it.

As a poet, I've had a few poems accepted recently by MiPOesias and The Pedestal Magazine. Since I have only made a few submissions all year, I consider this an incredible achievement. A lot of my poetic energy has been focused on putting together a full-length poetry manuscript, which I'm hoping to start submitting in November.

As a blogger, I've been busy too (though, yes, I know, not here):

• How to Get a Book Published
• Public Speaking Tips
• How to Conduct an Interview
• 7 Ways to Make Extra Money From Home
• How to Write a Blog
• Poetry Magazine Submissions
• Haibun Poems: Poetic Form
• Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 196

I've been working so much in WordPress recently that it feels weird to have such a clean admin experience with Blogger now. (It's kinda nice.)

If you're interested in blogging, check out this excerpt of a tutorial I recorded for Writer's Digest sharing my 50 Ways to Increase Your Blog Traffic. It's sort of like my 25 Ways to Increase Your Blog Traffic post--but it's twice as long and comes with the authoritative sound of my voice.

Hmmm... there are other things I've been doing, but this post is already so terribly long that I'd recommend keeping up with me in small chunks. For instance, you could follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer or find me on Facebook as Robert Lee Brewer. If you prefer, I'm also on Google+ as Robert Brewer.

I'm not going to make any promises about increasing my blog frequency here. It's on my to-do list, but the more important list is always my to-done list (as in this post is nearly to-done). If you want to stay on top of future posts that will help with writing, blogging, publishing, parenting, or whatever else I decide to address, then sign up for e-mail updates over on the right.

In the meantime, check out the following Not Bob posts from the archive:

• The 8 Jobs of Modern Writers.
• 11 Tips for Writers to Find Success.
• Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012.

Get Published This Year!

2013 Writer's Market Deluxe

Make this the year you get published and get paid for your writing by picking up either the 2013 Writer's Market or Writer's Market Deluxe Edition and/or subscribing to WritersMarket.com. I just recently received my desk copies of the 2013 books, and they look great.

Click here to read my post on the WritersMarket.com blog about both books.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out previous Not Bob posts:

• 25 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic.
• The Newest Way to Make Money as a Writer.
• The Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Writers.

The Importance of Word Play

I'm pleased to welcome Khara House to the house (I'm sure she hasn't heard that one before). She's covering one of my favorite subjects: playing with words! Khara is a poet, freelance writer, and educator. She just finished her first year teaching at the university level, teaching First-Year Composition and an Intermediate Poetry Workshop. Khara says, "I have been writing for as long as I can remember, though only recently have I started working to share it more seriously, and more widely. I am currently focusing a lot more on both my poetry and my blog, through which I hope to share many of the rich experiences I have been blessed with through writing." Find Khara online at www.kharahouse.com.

Khara House, poet, freelance writer, and educator

When I walk into my poetry class, I hold a small pile of poems in foreign languages. As class begins, I pass out the poems, tell my students to pick one, and begin translating it. For a moment, I am met with disbelieving glances that tell me my students are officially convinced I'm insane. But then, as I lower my head and begin my own translation, I hear a few murmurs, a collection of giggles and groans, and finally the movement of pens over paper.

Poetic Serendipity
Word play is, for me, one of the essential tools in a writer's toolbox. When I talk about word play in a workshop, I usually also talk about poetic "serendipity"—that is, letting words guide you rather than you trying to guide the words. Too often we, as poets and writers, try to force words—or characters, or scenes—into line when all along the words are just waiting for us to let them do what they do.

There is a story about Michelangelo that I think speaks to this process of letting creative juices flow as they will, when they will. A man came into Michelangelo's studio and found him staring at a block of marble (that, the story says, would eventually become his statue of David). When the man asked Michelangelo what he was doing, Michelangelo simply replied, "I'm working."

When I asked my students to do the translation exercise, I was asking them to become Michelangelo and simply wait on the words within them to form themselves: to stop worrying about what the poem should mean, and instead allow themselves to express themselves freely. An exercise like this, and word play in general, allows us to step outside of the world of sense and engage in a world of play. It practically forces us to accept that sometimes the best poems are the ones that are completely out of our control; they will only settle into what they are supposed to be when we stop trying to force them into being.

Sample translated poem (in Armenian)

Same Poem Different
As the activity ended, my students and I took turns reading our poems. After discussing the prompt's purpose, I revealed my "big secret": despite the fact that they worked with ten different languages, they had all been translating the same poem … and it was one I had written! What made it such a fun surprise was that when I read them the original, one student pointed out that even my translation was different than the original! This only further emphasized the point of the exercise: stepping out of the familiar, and letting the mind run wild.

I encourage you, whether you are a writer of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, to take some time and step out of your writing's way. Free write for an hour. Write a fake dialogue with a character; let yourself be surprised by what he or she has to say. Play with the words you are writing—you'll find they make excellent playmates!

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If you think you have a great guest post to share (on writing, parenting, or better living in general), click here to learn how to get the conversation started. I'm sure if you think it's important, I may too.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out previous Not Bob posts:

• Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012.
• How to Build (or Improve) Your Writer Platform in 30 Days.
• Where Should I Focus My Time? Tips for Social Media Use.

Where Should I Focus My Time? Tips for Social Media Use

As many of you Not Bob regulars know, I unplugged in July. It's something I just needed to do to finish up some projects, spend time with my family, and re-charge my blogging batteries. However, I took my time off very seriously and let my e-mail build and found the following problem hidden in there.

During the summer, I spent time with family.

Problem: Where Should I Focus My Time?

A reader of the Not Bob blog contacted me to let me know he's getting serious about his social media and blogging usage. He already had some social media accounts on Facebook and LinkedIn (with as many as 1,000 connections), but he didn't seem to be getting the traction he wanted. As a result, he was considering joining some other social media sites, including RedRoom, Twitter, and Pinterest. His basic question was, "Where should I focus my time?"

On the surface, this seems like a good question to ask. After all, if site A is more profitable than site B, then it would make sense to spend more time on site A and less (or none) on site B, right? This saves time and energy if you know which site works best.

That's the big IF usually: How do I know which site works best?

Problem: How Should I Focus My Time?

When the reader mentioned the more than 1,000 connections, he let slip that he only really knew about 10% of them. I think this is fairly common for people with large social networks: They know some, but not all of their online connections. So maybe the question shouldn't be where should I spend my time, but instead, how should I spend my time?

Maybe instead of thinking where to go next, think about how you should act once you are on a social network. Send messages to new friends explaining why you friended them, or ask why they friended you. Comment on status updates or tweets. Try to engage your connections and really pay attention to what they have to say.

Sometimes, I think we get so focused on the end result of our investments that we turn into social media robots shoveling information and sales pitches out to our "friends" and "followers," instead of doing the thing that's more important, and that's being human.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out these other Not Bob posts for writers:

• How to Build (or Improve) Your Writer Platform in 30 Days.
• How to Brand Yourself (and Take Over the World).
• The Newest Way to Make Money as a Writer: How to Make Digital Products That Sell.