Radio Interview on FSN

I got interviewed tonight on FSN Radio.

www.financialsurvivalnetwork.com is a great source of news and opinion hosted by Kerry Lutz in FLA, USA.

Day 2 and I've got a bestseller

I even beat Jim Cramer.

Books for Sale!!

The book is now live for sale.  "Real" softcover editions are available from the site by going to the 'Buy the Book' tab.  They can also be found on Amazon.com.  Amazon.ca coming soon.

Kindle editions are available for all Kindle stores worldwide.  This is the easiest and cheapest way to get the book and FREE Kindle reader apps are available for all mobile devices and computers.

I have put up links for the US and Canadian store but it is also available in all other Kindle stores worldwide.

Cheers

Dave

Getting it ready for Sale, What I've learned about Amazon, a look at the hardcopy

I've been doing a lot of research lately about Amazon and how it works.  I've decided to make some changes in my plan for launching and promoting the book.

The more copies are sold via Amazon, the more highly rated the book will become and the more often Amazon will recommend the book to people via e-mail and other on-screen promotions.

I'm thinking about using the available promotional tools to do a big launch and try to get my facebook and Linkedin connections to buy copies of the book.  Maybe I'll offer a discounted price for Kindle downloads in Canada for next weekend.

Hopefully this will give me a big push.

I've also learned that good reviews are important.  Amazon keeps 'score' of its top reviewers and if they buy my book and give it a good review this adds credibility and will also help to push the book up the rankings.

Stronger books keep getting pushed up, weaker books keep falling lower.

I'm learning so much its making my head spin!!

BTW, here's a look at the printed proofs that CreateSpace sent to me...

Final cover- box opening video coming soon.

Here is the new cover I ended up going with.   No copyright issues with the image because I made it myself *chuckle.

I got the proof copy in the mail and read through it last night.  I found a few typos so I've made the changes and have uploaded more files for review.

I think we're done now.  Next I'll get it available for sale and let you all know about it.

I'm getting excited about the promotion part.  I think this book will be a real eye-opener for some people who don't enjoy fun with calculators like me ;)

dave

Send them Post Haste!

Ok, the final, final, final files have passed review and now I can order my proof copies.  I paid extra to get them by Friday.  I'll upload a video.

Final version is 150 pages which means the title and my name will be on the spine.

I'm so excited.

Also, heard back from the accountant.  Turns out my marginal tax rate is about 40% so if I go through all the hassle of avoiding the US withholding tax, I'll just pay the money to the Canadian government.

So I just won't bother with all the paperwork.  I can deduct what Uncle Sam takes against what I owe Ottawa.

Dave

Final, Final changes

Last set of revisions and now off to CreateSpace review.  150 pages in the final design and I'm happy with everything... Finally.

dave

Smashwords and a custom URL

So last night while doing publishing research I discovered SmashWords which will allow me to put my book into multiple e-marketplaces with one stop.  This will allow me to get my book into Barnes & Noble Nook machines which foreign authors have no access to.

So here's my plan for distribution:

• Use CreateSpace for printing and 'real-world' softcover distribution throughout the world
• Buy some of the books and sell them via this blog, this way I can avoid withholding taxes to the US government.  Also, I think I can get the book to fit with Canada Post Lettermail so the postage won't be too high.
• I will use Amazon to sell the book to Kindle users
• I will use Kobo to sell to Indigo/Chapters Kobo and international Kobo users
• I will use Smashwords to sell to everyone else in the e-book universe.
• I will sell .pdf and .epub myself to try to keep royalty cuts to a minimum.

Once the distribution is all in place, then I can start the  promotion of the book.

Also, I learned that while I do have the rights to the image on my cover art for promotion uses, I can't use the image on an item I will be selling.  Therefore I need a new cover and will likely go with one of Create Space's standard covers since I don't feel like going out and getting a photo made that I'm sure will not violate someone's copyright.

Wow, am I ever learning a lot.

Dave

Layout and final changes

Okay, its been a busy day entertaining the kids but I managed to get a bunch of work done on the book after bedtime.

I completed the remaining sections on the 7 asset classes.
I shortened the 'about the author' section to two pages by deleting a lot of fluff.
I added systemic risk to the risk section
and I put the whole thing in a template that I downloaded from the CreateSpace website so I'm sure it will fit nicely into a book.

I also took some time to write a blurb for the cover:

Invest Local is a peek into the thoughts of local deal-making expert David Barnett.  His experience and education in business brokerage, small business financing and capital markets gives him an insight into what’s wrong with the common financial planning advice available today and how you can make superior investment returns while mitigating risk and helping your local community.

This is not a book about social enterprises or charity.  It is a book which guides you on how to find and obtain superior returns in the community where you live, far, far from the promises of Wall St.

Barnett offers step-by-step guidance on how to earn three-digit returns by doing car leases, secured loans, inventory financing, buying accounts receivables, financing mini and mobile homes, operating leases on machinery and more. 

High yield investing does not have to mean high-risk investing.

I'm getting excited because I think the time to send it to print may be quickly approaching. I'm thinking more and more about promotion and I can't wait to speak to my Clarity expert next week.

Have a great weekend.

dave

Final Stretch to Finish

Ok, so I got some more feedback.  This time from an actual published author.  The consensus is that I need to shorten the 'about me' section of the book. Done.

Now to finalize my plan for publishing.  I need to get it onto Kindle and Kobo and CreateSpace.  I have found an expert that I can call up via clarity.fm and I'm going to arrange to call him early next week to get some advice. The guy publishes several books a month on behalf of others.

I just want it to be out there and available for everyone to see.  I'm really happy about how this project has turned out.

Dave