Update IM Experiment #1: Creating an eBook with Help
This is a follow up to a previous post. You can get the details of the Internet Marketing Experiment #1 here. Wondering what the IM Experiments are? You can see the introduction to the IM Experiment series here. If you have any questions, please do hesitate to fire away with them. Everyone learns through participation and questions.
Greetings Blog Family,
It has been a little more than a week and a half since this experiment was launched. Many of you have been reaching out to me on Twitter and by email asking for updates on the project. Now is the time to give you an update.
Refresher
IME #1- The point is to create an ebook to give away for free on FreddieTaylor.com to my email subscribers as an incentive. The goal is to increate my subscriber count and build my mailing list in the process. The experiment is to ask other bloggers to contribute and article to the ebook. The bloggers are compensated with exposure, links, and my affection.
So, let’s check out what has been happening.
Status
Honeystly, the project is on schedule. It may appear to be s ome set backs from what I originally toled you, but finish the article to see why that is not really the case. And no, I still am not sharing the list of participating bloggers yet.
Articles – 10 of 14 articles have been submitted. One of these articles is mine, so really there are 3 outstanding. I have spoken with all of these contributors, understand their busy schedules, and assured them it was not an inconvience at all. In fairness, I didn’t even asked one of the writers to participate until this past Sunday, so getting it in on Friday will be great.
No eCover Yet - There is no visual to provide yet to get you salivating for this ebook. Again, its all good people, relax. The designer is a busy, big head, mad scientist that is a perfectionist on top of all that. He probably has 12 different mock ups, but don’t like any of them and wants to start over. LMAO! But seriously, he caught wind that I didn’t really need everything until Friday and let me know that it will be returned then. Thanks, Suite J!
A Little Insight
I ran an offline magazine for two and a half years that I founded before getting into blogging and Internet Marketing about June of this 2008. This experience gave me some insight into working with Contributing Writers, or Contributing Bloggers in this case, that they are busy with their own professional lives. What is that insight?
Some material is going to be turned in after the due dates. Life happens!
Groundbreaking, right? The solution is to account for delays in your plans. My plan was to have an ebook in three weeks. Therefore, Week 1 or last Friday I said articles were do. However, in my real plan, I don’t need articles until the end of Week 2 for editing. The final week is for edidting and creation of the PDF, ebook. This step brings all the pieces togther.
I ended up with 10 articles to start editing early. And the other writers still have time to submit their material. Even the logo isn’t needed until Friday. We are still on schedule. (Told you to keep reading.)
Moving Forward
From here, there are a few task that must be completed. And to be honest, I have realized somethings that need to be done while writting this out that I wish I would have thought of last week. I could have been working on them, but that is how the cookie crumbles. Got to get it done anyway, right?
1 – Write my contribution.
2 – Edit all articles.
3 – Formulate PDF internal links and branding
4 – Create Table of Contents
5 – Follow up with Contributing Bloggers and Logo Designer
6 – Create Pitch Page with email submission
7 – Create Light Box, Pop Over and Aweber set up
8 – Create advertisement for sites side bar for sign up.
9 – Create Thank you Page
10 – Welcome email with PDF Link
Many of these items should have been completed already during this down time of waiting for articles, but as I mentioned above, I just thought of many of them. They still must be done…and they will be.
Suggestions for eBook
Do you have any? What are your thoughts and feelings at this point? Understand it is my goal to create an community environment here where ideas are freely shared between you and I. Your input is desired, so if something is on your mind, please don’t hesitate to leave and comment and let me know about it.
Good luck in your endeavors, Blog Family and remember….
First in the Mind, then in Reality!
16 Comments
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10:16 am on November 13th, 2008
Freddie sounds like you’re on the right track, but what about the website you’re going to use as a launch pad? Any plans for it? Particular system? Or were you planning on only using this blog to launch it? Whatever you do, please don’t tell us that you’re going to use BANS!
PS: I love the blog family part!
10:47 am on November 13th, 2008
Delay is an inevitable part of group project, buddy but another 3 isn’t much of an issue I guess. I’m excited to see what kind design Jay comes out with. Good luck and that’s what I can say right now.
Yan
Blog for Beginnerss last blog post..8 Google Lessons I’ve Learned from Garry Conn
10:47 am on November 13th, 2008
Thanks for stopping by the site. I am using this blog to launch it. It is actually going to be free. Giving it away as a bonus to subscribers of my blog. Basically, I needed an ebook, saw this technique for creating one, and decided to experiment with it….and share with my Blog Family. (Glad you like it!)
I take it you don’t like BANS. Why?
Direct message me on Twitter: twitter.com/thinktaylor
You are welcome around here anytime.
PS. I know. I need a Contact button on this site. Working on it.
10:52 am on November 13th, 2008
Hmmm, 3 outstanding you say?
Nota Bene Consultings last blog post..Make $400k In Four Months
10:53 am on November 13th, 2008
@ Yan – “Delay” is part of the territory. I guess that is why I come to view it as part of the process and plan accordingly. Thus I factor it in. Another tip I learned is to ask for more than you need. This way if something extreme happens and you are unable to get a few, you have more than enough to proceed. Worst case, you might have to write an extra article or two. Big deal!
3 of 14 with a weeks notice is great! You should have seen the rate we were getting in the magazine business. LOL!
10:56 am on November 13th, 2008
@ Nota – OUTSTANDING!!! (((clapping hands)))
Especially considering that you are one of those three and I told after the Friday’s “due date”, LOL! So it is really two. Then again, I am working with an OUTSTANDING group of Contributing Bloggers.
Your results may vary.
12:48 pm on November 13th, 2008
Best of luck w/ the ebook Freddie.
Franklins last blog post..How to Lose Subscribers
6:59 pm on November 13th, 2008
Gee, I can’t wait to see who participated.
I’m quite excited about the ebook, though. Definitely waiting to read all the articles since I know a lot of the writers are pros. Woot!
WordVixens last blog post..Win Your Own Business
7:14 pm on November 13th, 2008
Can’t wait to see what this ebook will look like, but I’m sure it’ll be pretty good…You know, I’m a contributor! Just kidding
I’m sure the cover designed by Jay will be totally awesome, no doubts about that.
Glad to see everything is going well…
Ben Tremblays last blog post..Drive sales with offline marketing – going crazy
10:42 am on November 14th, 2008
Freddie,
Can’t wait until this comes out. I look forward to reading it as I know you have selected some great bloggers to participate. That’s right blog family I know many of the participants are you jealous of me yet? Well you should be.
Adam
Adam – Creadivs last blog post..Danny Cooper’s – Blog Comment Blueprint
10:47 am on November 14th, 2008
@ Franklin – Thanks for the support, man. It has been a fun process.
@ WordVixen – I am just like you and wanting to read it all. So far, it is great, but I got to finish reading the remaining articles. Thanks for everything!
@ Ben – Yeah Froggy, I am sure the J-miester will rock out the cover and look as well. The content is top notch because you are participating…right?
@ Adam – Never jealous of you, Blog Family. I am only trying to be supportive. LOL! You should know who is in we talk on Yahoo enough….oh, that will be turning to Skype soon. Muuuuhahahhahahahaha!!!! ((((evil laugh))))
2:42 am on November 16th, 2008
Geez, I never knew an ebook was such a big task – I had always thought all you have to do is write a few thousand words and convert it to pdf format.
Best of luck with it
10:03 am on November 16th, 2008
@ Soccer – Thanks for stopping by the site. Yes, an ebook can be as big or small amount of work as you make it. There a of nuances that goes into everything and if you are aware of them, then take care of them. I think my background in the publishing business is making this more encompassing that it has to be. But, I am having fun and building my relationship with all the wonderful participants.
Be sure to hang around here more often.
10:05 am on November 16th, 2008
Can’t wait to see this Freddie, I just know it’s gonna be one of the best free resources on the market.
Danny Coopers last blog post..Updates at LinkersBlog and around the Blogosphere!
10:18 am on November 16th, 2008
@ Danny – Thanks man! It is going to be great and I have enjoyed the process of creating it. I can’t really take the credit as it is the Contributing Bloggers that make this special!
9:40 am on December 14th, 2008
[...] What I didn’t anticipate was all of the additional ideas that would flow from this endeavor. There is a totally new site that I am building based on the ebook at BlogosphereBigshots.com, but it isn’t ready yet. Coming soon, it will promote the book and expand on the opportunities for bloggers like yourself to participate in educating the Blogosphere with what has worked for you. Stay tuned, I will having a closing blog post on Internet Marketing Experiment #1. [...]