(Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes)
Funny thing. I bought an excellent manual, written by Dave Navarro and Naomi Dunford, about a month ago titled “How to Launch the **** Out of Your Ebook.”
(I totally recommend this manual, and I’ll give you an affiliate link for it later, but we’re on a different mission at the moment.)
As I read through it, I realized, this is exactly the manual I’ve written for publishing blog posts.
I needed a way to keep track of all the tasks necessary for getting a great blog post out there and read. It’s not just about the writing, you have to publish it too.
So what’s in it?
Lots:
- 30 points explaining every aspect of “publishing” a blog post.
- Relevant links in all chapters so you can read in more detail.
- Handy landscape orientation so you can read from your computer screen.
- Handy worksheet appendix with PDF forms. No need to print, fill it out in Acrobat Reader.
- If you prefer to print, there’s space at the end of each chapter for taking notes. If you prefer going paperless, you can add a form in the space provided (with Adobe Acrobat) and take notes electronically.
- Glossary: If you stumble over stuff like “HTTP,” no worries, it’s handled.
- 26 Exercises. Some easy, some hard. You should do them all.
- Color coded hyperlinks for easy navigation.
- Detailed table of contents. Get anywhere in the manual in a click or two.
- Lifetime upgrades: I’ve sold limited releases of this ebook since August 2009. I plan on upgrading twice yearly (at least) to keep up with current trends blogging and advances in technology. Your investment is safe.
Back in August 2009, I made a bet with my friend Walter I could get an ebook written and put up for sale in 1 week. That was the first version. The formatting was crap, so I limited the sales to $4.95 each and 10 copies.
Blog Post Engineering
Then I reformatted, added about 20 pages of new material, and sold another 10 copies for $7 around Valentine’s Day.
Based on the feedback from that version, I’ve added even more material. I’m letting 30 copies go out (15 remaining), use discount code “Mayday” for $10 off (that’s about 50%).
[July 26, 2010: Discount is finished, sold out!]
This is the last pre-release. The release will be a formal launch, fancy cover, buy-as-many-as-you-want-forever.
The usual guarantee applies: 100% satisfaction or your money back. Just send me an email with a copy of the ebook attached, I’ll send you your purchase price via Paypal right away.
Recommendation from a customer (me):
Seriously good book. Packed with solid, helpful content and the writng is interesting, and flows well too. I’m not halfway through yet and I’ve learned a lot that I’ve already applied to my publishing process. Buy it while it’s cheap.
.-= Carlos Velez´s last blog ..How I Got Darren Rowse, ProBlogger, To Record A Video Message For The Pre-Writing Challenge =-.
Just curious: what makes the e-book more fantastic than the body of work any readers can freely have by going through your archives?
1. Worksheet!
2. Everything super-important is collected all in one place.
Jan, truthfully, if someone would prefer to go back through all 300,000 words I’ve written here in the last year, I’d almost prefer they do that! I’ve been going back through it, and there is a lot here!
Did you know you have your own tag? It’s true:
http://website-in-a-weekend.net/tag/geronimo
Heh.
I should bundle all those articles and sell them as “Letters to Geronimo (Jan gets SEO-schooled)”
Thanks for dropping in, always a pleasure when you visit.
lol.. I’m happy Jan asked this question as I was thinking about the same thing. Your posts are insightful and I can’t deny your expertise when it comes to blog building. I’ll be sure to keep this post bookmarked, currently still a bit occupied with something but I’ll be sure to check back. Hopefully Justin (dragonblogger) would write a review about it too.
I only saw your email today, buried in past correspondence. I’ll let you know.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
Ching Ya´s last post ..Tweet Branding- Scheduling and Reply Campaigns with MarketMe Tweet V2
Yeah, I’m here… hunkered down into product mode.
I need to spend a lot of time in your archives too.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Blogcasting- the future of customer communications
I see. Those are compelling reasons to buy your e-book then.
I know, Dave. Tickled me that at my age I can still be a poster boy for something SEO related. Still pining being associated for something like maybe a cure for the latest strain of Malaria? Okay, that’s a clear case of the folly of not applying butt to chair and just write. The mind wanders aimlessly.
Seriously, thanks a lot, Dave.
Jan, I enjoy helping people succeed more than anything else in the world.
I want to be a successful writer. Can you help?
Of course. Start here: http://www.kellydiels.com/2010/09/13/lipstick-mirror-good-for-soul-qfb/
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Repurpose your blog posts – BPE 073 Metholz has arrived
I really like this idea and after running through all my post, I figured I have some pretty good material (well revisable at least) and consolidate them all into one eBook with some added goodies in there. Best thing is that I do not have to start from scratch:) Why did I not think of this before, haha
.-= DiTesco´s last blog ..How To Migrate From Blogger To WordPress: Part 2/3 =-.
I’ve had this as my intention since I started Website In A Weekend. Progress is a little slower than I anticipated!
But progress in inches is still progress.
An organization I’m highly appreciative has as an organization saying (one of many), “Progress not Perfection.
Bob Hayles´s last post ..Merry Christmas…enjoy
Hmm … I’ve had an idea for an ebook for quite some time. I really should sit down and write it before someone else does ;-)
.-= Kim Woodbridge´s last blog ..9 WordPress Plugins to Assist With Supporting a Client’s Website =-.
Kim, I hate to say it, but they’ve probably already written it.
But here’s the good part: It doesn’t matter!
I have 15 books on copywriting. And I’ll buy more, too.
So get it out there, and thanks for stopping by.
Once I get some spending funds, I’ll have to check this out. I like the idea of having everything organized in one place that I don’t even have to be online to access – that’s the convenience of ebooks! Plus the printability, especially for worksheets.
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..8 Ways Businesses Should Use Social Media =-.
Kristi, I think you will really like it. And I’d love to have your opinion on the parts that could use improvement.
Great post. I will be working on an ebook very soon and this is some great stuff. I will need lots of help!
.-= Alex Monroe´s last blog ..Keep On Hustling! =-.
Alex, consider it a permanent reference. Because I’m using e-junkie, I can send out upgrades any time, or send you a replacement copy if you lose yours (it happens).
Bought the book. Can’t wait until the movie comes out.
.-= Ralph´s last blog ..Musing about multi-tasking =-.
eBooks are everywhere. But there’s one eBook I value above all else.
It’s not the greatest content.
It’s not the greatest idea.
It’s not the greatest title.
It’s my favourite because of the format. Gina Trapani has created the book atop a wiki that is constantly – and I mean, always – being updated. So you don’t have to wait for the next update of the book.
This is 21st century publishing. It works, and it’s solid:
http://completewaveguide.com/
Having said that, this one looks pretty rad, too. One for the hipsters, Dave? ;-)
.-= Dave Thackeray´s last blog ..What the tortoise didn’t tell the hare =-.
This is very cool, Dave. I need to take a good look at how she did that.
I read this blog post the other day, but decided not to leave a comment. Now, I realized I need to leave a comment letting you know that I don’t have to buy this BPE e-book as I’m digging some articles in your archives. Though the BPE is said to be more organized, I prefer spending my time here in WIAW. I know the price is reasonable, but I will just recommend this to my readers who just started in blogging. Will send you PM, Dave…
.-= Bert Padilla´s last blog ..iPhone OS 4.0 “Tentpole” Features from Apple Announcement =-.
Mijo… you can spend your time, or you can spend your money… I’ll take either one! Heh.
Comments are open on everything, let me know if you see anything needing fixing.
sure… I prefer spending my time here. I started already. Maybe for those who are just new here in WIAW, better to buy the e-book… sent you an email…
.-= Bert Padilla´s last blog ..iPhone OS 4.0 “Tentpole” Features from Apple Announcement =-.
Many kudos to you on making progress! I have only been here a few minutes and already learned something cool from you.
I had never thought about repurposing my content into whitesheets the way you did. I have been planning on creating an ebook by combining several posts and adding to them, so to see you actually doing it tells me I’m on to something. :)
I’ve always said that you pay for information either way. We usually fall into one of two categories. Either we have more money than time, or we have more time than money. But either way we are paying …and sometimes tiime is much more costly.
.-= Coree Silvera´s last blog ..6 Tips To Writing Publicity Friendly Content =-.
Coree, I’m liking what I’m seeing over on your site.
Not sure what I’m going to do with those whitepapers. They take so much time to produce. Like good whiskey, they’re distilled and aged.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Does Google Think You’re a Dirty Rotten Spammer? (Hint: link anchors matter) =-.
Lifetime upgrades are nice. I have purchased a lot of software over the years only to be lost when it needs to be upgraded.
I usually just submit to some Social Networks for my blogs. Maybe I should be doing more.
Hi Skippy. I’d suggest using a real gravatar and link to a blog where people could be assured of interacting with a person. That’s worked really well for me.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Persistence – the critical trait for success, in any endeavor =-.
Good luck with this, I’m in the middle of a pre launch too.
Re respondent who was asking about the difference between this and delving through the archive. TIME?
I really like the idea of the PDF formated archives as well. Interesting.
.-= Matthew Needham´s last blog ..Lessons from Lady Gaga and Luke Skywalker =-.
“Re respondent who was asking about the difference between this and delving through the archive. TIME?”
Not anymore.
I’m no longer freely posting everything. Some material I send to the newsletter, the rest of it goes straight into Blog Post Engineering. For example, today I added a new Blog Point on a rapidly emerging suite of tools for promotion, and extended the SEO keywords section to include two new benefits of using SEO keywords.
With respect to that last remark, a certain amount of what write here goes against the grain. You either won’t hear it in the Echo Chamber, or I will appear to contradict the Echo Chamber. I don’t care to argue about facts, so I don’t post a lot of that material here.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Secrets of the Tomorrow Blog, Today =-.
Hi Dave,
Two things:
One. Must be sold out … I am being told that the discount code is invalid. But I do have the February edition.
Two. Was on another site earlier this morning – never ceases to amaze me. This blogger, Jonathan Beebe (you may already know him) who makes enough $$$ to not have a job , is doing something similar to your white pages, he’s calling them The Very Small Guide and will be launching the first one tomorrow.
.-= Valentina´s last blog ..Gather Success Challenge IV – Retweet Challenge =-.
Update coming very soon. Just bought a 1/2 pound of coffee and a pint of heavy cream. Productive lunacy will ensue.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Focus on one blog or juggle several blogs?
I might need to get on this! Thanks for the interesting read!
Trinidad´s last post ..Beach highlights done at home… for 4 bucks!
New revision coming out soon, same price, get it now, free upgrades (lifetime subscription).
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Blogging from a Tropical Island Paradise… with Wireless! (Bert Padilla drops in from Cebu)
Hi Dave, I purchased TheInfopreneur ebook and some others over the past few months and I was curious how much new and original “idea’s and content” would churn out from another your eBook.
I am going to purchase your eBook right now to see how it stacks up.
Justin Germino´s last post ..Can You Earn More Running Multiple Blogs?
Justin, awesome!
You let me know anywhere I’m lacking, and I’ll see about getting it in.
The hardest thing I’ve had with it is keeping it short.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Get ahead with Headway theme for WordPress
Hey there.
I’m a bit confused. You’re selling an e-book that is only a rough draft? It sounds like something I could use but… well, it’s a rough draft.
Maybe I missed the point above. Help?
Hi Curtis,
I’m selling it as a lifetime subscription.
It’s been updated 4 times since August 2009.
Thanks for your interest!
Dave Doolin´s last post ..I want to be an Olympic blogger Part I
Dave,
I just tried to purchase the book and the discount code did not stick. Is your special over?
Thanks!
Lynn,
Yes, that discount is over.
The new release is coming on July 27, and I promise it’s worth every penny of $20.
Back to testing…
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Internet Marketers – Who SAYS its time for Bed
Dave, at the beginning of the post, you promised us an affiliate link to “How to Launch the **** Out of Your Ebook.” I seriously need that link! Did I overlook it in your post or is in no longer available?
Owen´s last post ..How to Start a Music Blog
Owen, I’m adding it into this comment reply… and pick up the Upsell upsell. You have probably seen most of that material, but having it all in one place with the worksheets will save you gobs of time.
Pick up your copy of Dave and Naomi’s “How to Launch the **** Out of Your Ebook” long before you plan to launch.
Thanks Dave!
Just got my copy …
I am going to disappear for a while … If you need me you know that I am busy right now… reading!
So, plz don’t bother :)
Hesham´s last post ..Keyword Winner – Pre-Launch Has Started
Yes, you will be busy, definitely!
Just think, a new chapter comes out on October 26, and yet another on November 23. (And that should be it. Maybe. These darn blog networks may rate a chapter as well, not sure yet.)
Dave Doolin´s last post ..7 Scenarios for Blogcasting which one is yours
I highly recommend this as well! Just finished it.
Tom Lambert´s last post ..The 7 Ultimate Online April Fools Jokes of 2011
Hey Dave, first time poster. I’m just reading through the site now and am really finding it helpful.
Looks like I’m also sold on the e-book. Thanks for creating such an awesome site.
Kelly´s last post ..Dragonfish To launch New Site Called Fairys Bingo
Kelly, thanks!
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Content Strategy for Small Business Bloggers part 1