Not all Lawyers are the same: How a published book will increase your net worth and build your brand

On Monday morning, America’s Favorite Lawyer® and best-selling author, Alexis Martin Neely appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America.

You may ask, Who is Alexis Martin Neely?

Well, less than 2 years ago she was a lawyer who owned a successful law firm. Her life looked great from the outside, but she was very unhappy. Like many service-provider professionals, she fell into the trap of working in her business and not on her business, which resulted in working insanely long hours. Alexis felt she was not producing the financial and lifestyle benefits she deserved. She quickly grew tired of this “trading hours for dollars” business model, and decided she needed to think and act BIG.

Fast forward to today.

Alexis Martin Neely is a sought-after legal expert who has appeared on the Today Show, Fox News, CNN, O’Rielly Factor, and Good Morning America, just to name a few. She has sold her law firm, and works from beach-front home in SoCal, giving her the ability to spend quality time with her two children. Additionally, Alexis heads up several million dollar entrepreneurial companies, and now earns more money in one month than she used to make in one year!

What happened?

Alexis wrote a book.

Alexis’ bestselling book became a significant tool in her marketing efforts. She leveraged her book to build her brand, secure media and public appearances, and diversify her business with new commercial ventures, including business coaching, Internet marketing, public speaking, and the Family Wealth Planning Institute.

This woman is on fire, and I encourage you all to follow her example if you want to turn your “trading hours for dollars” business, into a more scalable model.
____________________________________

NOTE: As a book marketing consultant, I helped Alexis Martin Neely become a best-selling author when her book, Wear Clean Underwear: A Fast Fun, and Friendly Guide to Legal Planning for Busy Parents, launched in 2008. The campaign was a complete success and I am happy to be a part of her journey.
“… because of Alicia’s hands-on book marketing strategies, my book, Wear Clean Underwear: A Fast Fun, and Friendly Guide to Legal Planning for Busy Parents became an Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble bestseller. I couldn’t have done it without her!”
–Alexis Martin Neely, America’s Favorite Lawyer® and best-selling author

Important, life-changing secrets for Authors, Business Owners and Entrepreneurs – Market Your Message, Build your “Celebrity” Brand, and Make More Money — Fast!

(NOTE: There’s a new time and date of  preview call!)

8/25/2009

Dear Fellow Entrepreneurs

Alicia Dunams

Oprah, Tiger Woods, Suze Orman, Tim Ferris, David Bach, Kathy Ireland and other celebrities have capitalized on their brand to build multi-million (even billion dollar) businesses and platforms, based on product creation, corporate sponsorships, licensing, television and live events. I want to encourage you to take just 2 minutes to read how you can achieve similar status in your own business or with your own product.

I contacted my good friend, and publishing and branding expert, David Dunham, to help me create a mentorship program where we would consult with, and coach, serious business men and women, entrepreneurs and even artistic professionals who want to take their talent, their product and their expertise to a higher level, helping them reach more people with their product, extend their brand, and, of course, make more money.

David was intrigued by my idea, particularly because of my own web-based marketing and publishing expertise and after a few hour brainstorming session we came up with some killer ideas on how to help people like you create more exposure, PR and even product development concepts and ideas.

And, some creative back-and-forth discussions — and almost two months! — David said yes, and agreed to partner with me in this exciting venture.

Now we are ready to offer a unique program to help you market your message, build your “celebrity” brand, and multiple your PROFITS.

How do we do this? Through our proven and practical marketing and branding system which you can easily apply to your business through the creation of books, information products, and practical tips and strategies for online marketing.

David Dunham

First, let’s tell you a little about ourselves….

David Dunham has 34 years experience in the publishing and entertainment industry. He has worked with some of the top talent in the country, in various capacities — publisher, manager, agent, etc.— including the likes of Bill Cosby, television personality, Susie Coelho, Dr. Stephen Covey, Kym Douglas, Michael Savage, Wolfgang Puck, Dave Ramsey, Isaiah Washington, Ricky Skaggs, and hundreds of others. He specializes in helping talent build their brands through publishing, television, film, licensing and corporate endorsements including conventional book publishing, QVC, infomercials and other direct-response mediums, direct mail and web-based marketing. Throughout his four decade experience, he has published hundreds of books and produced over 50 bestsellers — including 25 on the New York Times list.

I specialize in helping business owners write and publish their books, as well as show them how to market their message and brand — especially through social networking such as Face Book, Twitter and YouTube, and MySpace. By adhering to my book marketing strategies and coaching, my clients have garnered national media bookings, such as CNN, Good Morning America, 20/20 and The New York Times, and have added thousands of dollars to their bottom line – all by leveraging their published book.

Together, David and I bring a rare combination of talent to create great synergies for our clients —he, through traditional and more conventional strategies, and me (20 years his junior!) through highly-effective web-based social networking and publicity skills.

The great thing about us is that we are both “outside the box” thinkers (and doers) — so at 10am PST, September 8th, 2009, David and I will be holding the free preview call “5 Steps to Build your ‘Celebrity’ Brand and Increase your Net Worth,” to give you a 5 powerful strategies that will take your business and brand to another level.

Now, to get involved in this free, info-packed preview call, fill in your name and address below and we will be contacting you with the details.

Sincerely,

Alicia Dunams

P.S. You don’t want to miss out on this valuable information, because NOW is the time to learn these important tips and secrets to unlocking your intellectual assets and leveraging them to increase your net worth, your brand and your market share.

His published book got him on ABC’s 20/20

Controversy Sells!

SeekingArrangement.com has released Seeking Arrangement: The Definitive Guide to Sugar Daddy and Mutually Beneficial Relationships. My client, author Brandon Wade, the founder and CEO of SeekingArrangement, says the new book will serve as a guide to anyone curious about or already practicing the ‘mutually beneficial’ lifestyle.

I actually met Brandon Wade when I was a member of SeekingArrangement.com. For those of you who’ve read my book Goal Digger: Lessons Learned from the Rich Men I Dated, you already know that I joined “Sugar Daddy” websites, namely SeekingArrangement.com, as well as matchmaker and millionaire dating services, to meet successful, eligible men. (Full Disclosure: Any man I went on a date with knew I was writing a book.)

Whether or not you agree with the lifestyle, I think there’s a significant marketing lesson that business owners can extract from this particular case study: a published book will get you on national TV, help you market your message, differentiate you from your competition, and make you more money. The online dating market is flooded with “Sugar Daddy” web sites, but my client is getting the lions share of media attention and their website is being inundated with new memberships – all because they are leveraging their published book. (Case in point, their website traffic has 10-fold since publishing their book).

Other marketing lessons from this case study are 1) controversy sells and 2) you can use a book to lend legitimacy to your product and service, and address common sales objections. (Stigma and controversy are perfect examples of sales objections for my client, SeekingArrangement.com.)

So whatever your industry or niche expertise, business owners should easily see that publishing a book is an important marketing tool for the growth of their business and/or brand.

17 Day Book Challenger’s Book Featured on Today Show

Today Show Appearance August 16, 2009

Earlier this summer, Sanyika Calloway Boyce, a.k.a. Financial Fitness Coach, completed the 17 Day Book Challenge, and her new book, Give Yourself Credit,  has already been featured on the Today Show. Although her book is not officially out, Sanyika is giving her book the essential pre-launch publicty and buzz it deserves. Congratulations Sanyika!

Here is what Sanyika says about the 17 Day Book Challenge:

“It’s been four years since I wrote, published and promoted my last book and honestly if I hadn’t taken Alicia’s 17 Day Book Challenge who knows when I would have gotten it done despite all my good intentions! The challenge is great because it takes what seems like a huge mountain and breaks it into daily molehills that you can conquer on the way to getting your book complete – fast!”

-Sanyika Calloway Boyce
Author of Give Yourself Credit

What Does a Ghostwriter Charge?

Since many business owners are too busy to write their own book, they want to explore the opportunity of working with a professional ghost writer. As a business book writing coach and project manager, it’s part of my job to interview ghost writers and find the best writer for the job. But before I even move to that stage, one of the first questions my client asks is, What does a ghostwriter charge?

Unfortunately, there’s no one answer to that question: writers’ fees are all over the map, and there are no fixed industry standards. A preliminary Google search turns up fees anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000 for an average-length book (300 printed pages or 60,000 words). Yet online job sites show writers accepting work for as low as $800 a book. Some employers offer even less; just today I saw a job paying $2.00 per 500-word article. Two dollars!

As an Independent Contractor, a writer has to pay taxes, maintain equipment, and pay a finder’s fee to a job site or agency.  Even at $3000 a book, a writer is working for less than minimum wage. Who’d work for less than minimum wage? Believe it or not, young writers just starting out are so gung-ho, they frequently do, which is unfortunate for the more experienced writers.  It’s common sense that a fledgling writer isn’t as skilled as one with a number of published books under her belt and 20 or 30 years of experience – and I don’t only mean experience with writing. A person who’s been around the block a few times is familiar with a wide variety of subjects, and probably has at least some passing knowledge of your field of business. You do get what you pay for in this world!

With so many writers working freelance, it can be confusing to decide who to hire, especially sight unseen.  Ideally, you’ll want to, at least, see some previous work to find out if you like someone’s writing. A legitimate writer is glad to provide samples, and on sites like Guru.com or Elance.com you can access them before you even contact the writer. These sites also post feedback on the writer’s performance from previous employers. Here you might even get an idea of the kind of pay the writer is accustomed to – frequently less than what she or he initially asks for. This doesn’t mean you should low-ball them. Hidden resentment from an underpaid writer can lead to conflict during the work process. On the other hand, a happy ghostwriter is a good ghostwriter, so paying well is in your best interest. Which brings us to:

FAQs:
How much does it cost to ghostwrite a book?
The fee for a 200-300 page manuscript to be completed in 3-6 months starts at around $10,000 and goes up to $20,000-plus. The more you provide in the way of extensive notes, outline, or rough draft, the lower the cost. Other variables include timeline, length, and publishing assistance. If the writer has to conduct research, for instance, the fee will be higher.

For subjects that require knowledge of specialized language, such as finance, law, or any other specialty, cost is normally higher: $25,000 – $40,000. If the client has a written draft, the price will be on the lower end; if more time is needed to produce a book based mainly on verbal communication, it will be higher.

What does the ghostwriter’s fee cover?
The fee to ghostwrite your book covers all interview time between writer, client, and any other participants necessary to obtain the required information. It includes all research time, writing, editing, rewriting, and it can include finding an agent to represent you, or even finding a publisher. The ghostwriter’s fee does not include travel or lodging, although travel time is included.

How are fees paid to the ghostwriter?
Most writers require an initial deposit of one-third the total to begin work, another third paid at the mid-point of the project, and the final third upon completion. Some writers prefer monthly payments after an initial deposit at the start.

How long does it take to complete a book?
A well-organized, average-length book usually takes from three to six months to complete.
A faster turn-around may be possible, but can also raise the fee. If you have a draft of your book, or extensive notes and sketches, the work can go faster. If a lot of research is involved, then more time is needed.

Does a ghostwriter use a contract?
The ghostwriter is an Independent Contractor who usually wants a signed contract with the first payment. The contract should include the working title of the book, amount and schedule of fees, copyright agreement, and confidentiality. Additionally, stipulations are usually included regarding termination of contract, arbitration in case of disagreement, and miscellaneous matters such as complimentary copies and deadlines for portions of the book, if any. If the writer does not have her own contract, one can be obtained from a writers’ organization like the National Writers Union or the Editorial Freelancer’s Association.

Important, life-changing secrets for Authors, Business Owners and Entrepreneurs – Market Your Message, Build your “Celebrity” Brand, and Make More Money — Fast!

8/4/2009

Dear Fellow Entrepreneurs,

Alicia Dunams

Oprah, Tiger Woods, Suze Orman, Tim Ferris, David Bach, Kathy Ireland and other celebrities have capitalized on their brand to build multi-million (even billion dollar) businesses and platforms, based on product creation, corporate sponsorships, licensing, television and live events. I want to encourage you to take just 2 minutes to read how you can achieve similar status in your own business or with your own product.

I contacted my good friend, and publishing and branding expert, David Dunham, to help me create a mentorship program where we would consult with, and coach, serious business men and women, entrepreneurs and even artistic professionals who want to take their talent, their product and their expertise to a higher level, helping them reach more people with their product, extend their brand, and, of course, make more money.

David was intrigued by my idea, particularly because of my own web-based marketing and publishing expertise and after a few hour brainstorming session we came up with some killer ideas on how to help people like you create more exposure, PR and even product development concepts and ideas.

And, some creative back-and-forth discussions — and almost two months! — David said yes, and agreed to partner with me in this exciting venture.

Now we are ready to offer a unique program to help you market your message, build your “celebrity” brand, and multiple your PROFITS.

How do we do this? Through our proven and practical marketing and branding system which you can easily apply to your business through the creation of books, information products, and practical tips and strategies for online marketing.

David Dunham

First, let’s tell you a little about ourselves….

David Dunham has 34 years experience in the publishing and entertainment industry. He has worked with some of the top talent in the country, in various capacities — publisher, manager, agent, etc.— including the likes of Bill Cosby, television personality, Susie Coelho, Dr. Stephen Covey, Kym Douglas, Michael Savage, Wolfgang Puck, Dave Ramsey, Isaiah Washington, Ricky Skaggs, and hundreds of others. He specializes in helping talent build their brands through publishing, television, film, licensing and corporate endorsements including conventional book publishing, QVC, infomercials and other direct-response mediums, direct mail and web-based marketing. Throughout his four decade experience, he has published hundreds of books and produced over 50 bestsellers — including 25 on the New York Times list.

I specialize in helping business owners write and publish their books, as well as show them how to market their message and brand — especially through social networking such as Face Book, Twitter and YouTube, and MySpace. By adhering to my book marketing strategies and coaching, my clients have garnered national media bookings, such as CNN, Good Morning America, 20/20 and The New York Times, and have added thousands of dollars to their bottom line – all by leveraging their published book.

Together, David and I bring a rare combination of talent to create great synergies for our clients —he, through traditional and more conventional strategies, and me (20 years his junior!) through highly-effective web-based social networking and publicity skills.

The great thing about us is that we are both “outside the box” thinkers (and doers) — so at 10am PST, September 8th, 2009, David and I will be holding the free preview call “5 Steps to Build your ‘Celebrity’ Brand and Increase your Net Worth,” to give you a 5 powerful strategies that will take your business and brand to another level.

Now, to get involved in this free, info-packed preview call, fill in your name and address below and we will be contacting you with the details.

Sincerely,

Alicia Dunams

P.S. You don’t want to miss out on this valuable information, because NOW is the time to learn these important tips and secrets to unlocking your intellectual assets and leveraging them to increase your net worth, your brand and your market share.