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Soulati-'TUDE!

Are Google+ Communities A Thing Of The Past?

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English: Google+ wordmark

English: Google+ wordmark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today is the day I pull the plug on Bloggers Unite, the Google+ community I so eagerly and quickly established to build a place for we bloggers to qvetch, klatch, and ‘raderie.

It worked. For a bit.

In the beginning, as with most things new on the Interwebz, the sharing and energy around Google+ was #RockHot. Everyone wanted in on the action, and my community became a friendly place for peeps to read new material and cascade a few plusses around the sphere.

After that, the invasion of the non-English bloggers happened overnight. One day, we all knew one another, and the next folks from Latin America, Europe, and South America joined and posted blogs in their native tongues.

As owner of this community, it became challenging to support and share blogs I couldn’t read. Yes, someone did inform me to use Google Translation; however, my time is limited.

Segue.

It’s All About Time

What did Google+ communities offer beyond a Facebook group or LinkedIn group? The chatter wasn’t different (in my community, at least). We who jumped in together were already connected on other social channels.

Although I did try to jump start the conversation, it seemed bloggers posted something and took off to greater confines where the engagement was more robust. I get it, so did I!

Amber-Lee Dibble, kindly accepted the role as co-manager of the community, and then she got swamped on a wild horse adventure (no kidding, she lives in the Alaska interior).

Are Other Google+ Communities Thriving?

Like you, I joined some really robust communities back in the day. When I was publishing my first book a year ago, Writing With Verve on the Blogging Journey, (if anyone wants a free copy in exchange for jumping onto my list, let me know!), I joined APE The Book managed by Peggy Fitzpatrick for Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch. With 3,400 members, it’s easy to get lost and lurk.

After I gleaned all I could (it was crazy with information), I had to turn off notifications as it became too much sensory overload.

Viveka von Rosen owns a community of 600 members about LinkedIn, her specialty, and I still see those notices rolling in my in box.

Maybe that’s the ticket to success for a G+ community? Specialty topics everyone wants to learn about?

Could be! And, what do you think? Are you still involved in any #RockHot Google+ communities?

Please list them here and tell us why as I’m now seeking a new home to visit!

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The Happy Friday Series: Positively Peggy

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Peg-Fitzpatrick.jpgWhen I launched this series on Jan. 11, 2013 quite by happenstance, I had no idea where it would go, what it would become, or how I would write on happiness every Friday. I instinctively invited the very happiest person I know online and with whom I’ve never spoken or met, to kick off the first official guest post for the series.

She accepted my invitation with relish, and did me and us justice; The Happy Friday Series was official and rolling.

Every Friday since January, I’ve been jazzed with a cadre of #RockHot guest authors. People who have shared their most personal thoughts and feelings, and people who have shared their passions about what puts smiles in their hearts. The series hasn’t been off the hook giggles; it’s been about life and the pursuit of happiness. Sometimes we find that happy in odd ways, with one little bit of graciousness and generosity.

As the series has continued and my invitations to many to author here have become more sparse and peoples’ time has become less to commit, I’m turning the tables to you.

This series is taking a turn; it’s my turn to thank each and every one of you for your generosity of sharing and caring right here.

And, so, today, I thank Peg Fitzpatrick for her spirit and generosity for kicking off this series right here.

Peg, Positively Peggy, writes a blog that is always generous. She’s a teacher extraordinaire, she shares happiness for real with her community, and if you don’t follow her, you’re truly lacking.

Peggy is one of those sincerely genuine nurturers and givers. She puts herself last, she puts her community first.

She’s a managing partner at 12Most.com, she manages the Google+ community for APE, The Book by Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch, she is on all social channels, and she’s writing her own book. If you link to that blog post of hers, you’ll get a positive sense of this woman’s creativity and how she teaches you with relentless giving.

May I say, she’s forever in smiles, too?

Please give Peggy a nod your way; she will imbue positivity and inspire creativity — promise.

Peg Fitzpatrick, thank your for your Happy Friday. You are #RockHot!

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New Blogging Tips Book by Jayme @Soulati

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Photo Credit: Jayme Soulati via iPhone 4S on AA flight to LA

On this blog since its start in March 2010, the topic of blogging has been a favorite of its author, Jayme Soulati. When it became time to look toward business development and making digital marketing a priority, Jayme pulled three years of blog posts about blogging from the archives and fashioned her first book.

by Jayme Soulati is now available for advance sale. The hard-copy easy-to-digest book is 130 pages featuring eight chapters, takeaways, teachings, notes, and #RockHot tips. The blog posts Jayme selected are original and remain live on her blog, Soulati-‘TUDE!

Members of this community are included in the book by name and often by blog post. Anyone featured in original posts remain in the content and thus the book. Where applicable, “Jayme Notes” update the original content.

Why Write a Blogging Book

The impetus for the book came from the desire to craft an e-book as content for business development. Upon seeing the plethora of posts Jayme wrote about her own blogging journey, she knew it had to be a true, printed book.

When bloggers launch their journey into blogging, there is intense pressure to be successful right away. So many books on the topic are oriented to monetizing a blog; this book is not about that. Jayme shares true passion for blogging with tips about the basics — voice, community, content, inspiration, the echo chamber, and the back end. The book is easy to read and written in her always personable style.

A blog is one of the most important aspects of social media. It is owned media — you write and control and own the message. Putting people on the right path to becoming an authority and influencer begins with a blog that resonates with authority and influence.

Self-Publishing

Jayme selected a regional press to assist in her publishing experience, one that did much of the legwork she didn’t wish to do. David Braughler of Greyden Press in Dayton/Cincinnati was extremely responsive and helpful throughout the self-publishing experience.

She used the free book template from Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch to put her manuscript into layout. When Guy and Shawn wrote and published , they invited people to download their template in exchange for a tweet on the book.

and Jayme invites your feedback, comments and review of her first title in a business book series.

Who Should Buy

One of the frequently mentioned tips Jayme offers in Writing with Verve on the Blogging Journey is to stay the course for 12 months before making changes.

She recommends that these folks consider getting a copy:

  • Anyone interested or planning to blog
  • Anyone on the blogging journey less than 12 months
  • Any blogger writing more than 12 months
  • Any corporate blogger wanting a few tips to infuse energy in a blog
  • Students and friends

 

 

 

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Self-Publishing Infographic Via Shawn Welch

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One of my favorite books of late (for business reading) is APE The Book by Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch. These two authors are readily accessible in Google+ Communities, on Twitter chats and via Alltop. Look at this awesome infographic shared by Shawn Welch about the reasons why you should self-publish your book. I’m heeding their collective counsel all the way to Amazon…are you?

And, just so you know, Shawn Welch is author of three books, including:  APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur — How to Publish a Book, From Idea to App and iOS 5 Core Frameworks, speaker, iOS Designer/Developer.

Artisanal Publishing

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Book Review of APE By Guy Kawasaki

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Guy Kawasaki, American venture capitalist and one of the original Apple Computer employees responsible for marketing of the Macintosh in 1984. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Content marketing for business development purposes is critical. Businesses need to draft authentic and fresh content and make it available via calls to action on a website which turns into a landing page and then a thank you page and everyone’s happy.

My first e-book was written in December; a collection of blog articles I’ve written about blogging — one of my favorite topics.

And, then this monkey book came to my attention. I am screaming from the rooftops:

RUN AND BUY NOW!

If you don’t already know about APE, uhmm, well perhaps you’re under a rock? No offense…this book is everywhere on all the social media channels and being reviewed by everyone. I would be remiss not to join in and share the excitement for this book. If you have any designs whatsoever, even if it’s a germ of an idea, to become an author, then please, please go get this book.

I downloaded this book by Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch and read its 500+ pages over a few nights all the while highlighting and bookmarking pages for future reference on my Kindle  Fire.

I knew, prior to finishing the book, I had to go back to the drawing board with my e-book which I’ll share about in another post. This book is that good; it’s making me take the time to redo and do it right to become a self-published author.

Why You Should Read APE

This book is written in a friendly and easy-to-understand style and tone. It has a ton of detail about all aspects of publishing books. Although I am only interested in self-publishing, the book is a great resource for traditional publishing, too.

Each chapter addresses the basics about writing, formatting, designing selling, and working with publishers. What it does extremely well is tell the truth about the quagmire that is self-publishing.

This industry is nascent, and there are no real standards yet. People who self-publish should really consider using Adobe InDesign publishing software (used by professionals and $$), and they also need to learn and understand the various formats for the various booksellers. I never knew a thing about MOBI, EPUB or PDF file formats. I also never knew there are four major players with which you can work to sell your e-books (via Google Play, iBookstore, Kindle Direct Publishing, and Kobo).

How about pricing a book? Don’t forget how much it costs to design a cover, proof and edit a book, too!

APE-Book-CoverFor serious authors, this is probably a piece of cake; for first-timers like me, it’s a nightmare…time consuming and fraught with tech issues one can’t control. Did you know that each file format handles tables of contents differently? Don’t even think about having nice images, tables or bullets in your manuscript without ensuring they look decent in the final form…these don’t import well, either.

 

That’s why this book is worth every penny. Each and every one of the issues above are addressed in this book. Even if you merely want to publish a PDF book for downloading on your website, you still want to read this book. Who knows? That PDF book might become hugely popular, and then what should you do?

The other good news about this book is the website the authors built for the book, Upon going there, with one share on social media, you’re privy to tools and downloads that help you write and self-publish your own book. Guy and Shawn self-published APE, and it’s offered on Kindle Direct Publishing. How cool and clever is that?

You know what else is awesome? is featured in the book with her own chapter! She’s the and of 12Most.com, and she also manages a (by request only), too. It’s really wonderful when the people who have guest starred on this blog show up in nationally acclaimed books.

Run, as I said, and get this book. Its a top read for every would-be author.

 

 

 

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