Selling Like Hot Cakes

Amazon has almost sold out of copies of Time Management For Dummies. Not surprising as the price has now dropped still further. There's one last remaining copy in stock, as I speak but I'm sure more will be arriving soon. It's been dipping in and out of the top 100 for the last couple of weeks, which is encouraging and hopefully helping to raise it's profile and subsequent sales.

If you're thinking of buying a copy or recommending it to others - do use the link on my website, as that will also enable me to make a contribution to Cancer Research.

I'm taking a stock of books with me for tomorrow's IFA Adviser event.

October Newsletter - Getting Published

My latest newsletter is just out. This month's main article is about getting your own book published.

Several people have asked me about the process of writing the Dummies book, presumably with a view to getting their own book published either for business or personal satisfaction. If you want to write a book, start writing. Anything will do, newsletters, articles and your blog. ...

If you want to read the rest of the newsletter, just sign up on my website and you'll receive the latest issue and free Power Time Tips.

Yeah! I'm On The Best Seller List

Blink and you'll miss it but just noticed that Time Management For Dummies has just come up as #100 in Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Self Help.

Off to do a little dance round the room.

Amazon Bestseller

... most authors will admit to checking their rankings more frequently than is good for their mental equilibrium - so says a Times article on getting your book in the Amazon bestsellers list.

You won't catch me doing that! Well, OK, maybe just a little bit ... only every hour when I'm working, because that's how Amazon calculate their bestsellers.

It hasn't made it into the top 100 so far. My ranking peaked at 3889 has hovered between 10-30,000 on most days but dropping slowly but surely down the rankings as it competes with new releases like Warren Buffett's book, the usual clutch of cookery books and autobiographies from the likes of Paul O'Grady, Dawn French and Julie Walters.

Other then encouraging you all to buy on one particular day, it's going to be hard to compete with all the other books out there to get Time Management For Dummies into the best seller list along with Eat That Frog and two of Mark Forster's books which are top of the Time Management best sellers slots.

However, a quick check on the Wiley Authors site and I'm delighted to see that it's already sold over 1000 copies since it's release a month ago!

Not bad! :)

Book Spotted

I was at a Utility Warehouse event this weekend and spotted my book on display. Pleasantly surprised and delighted to see it.

They'd sold 16 copies when I asked - a good sales rate for them ... and me.

Time Management Book Launch

Last night's launch went well. I did wonder at 6.30pm where they all were but running true to form and considering that it was for a launch of a time management book, several people turned up late - some almost missed the whole thing! :)

I didn't mind at least they were there. It was all fairly low key and I had plenty of friends there to join me in celebrating the launch of my book and share a glass (or small plastic cup) of wine. I was competing with three other events in and around Brighton last night, so was hardly going to be packing Borders to the rafters.

Book sales at the event went well, in fact there was a comment that even John Gresham doesn't sell that many copies in a day. They usually expect a 50% sales rate and I exceeded that, so thank you to everyone who came along and helped me to mark the occasion. I will now claim to being a Borders bestseller ... at least for one day and in one location!

The Importance Of Google

Since my book came out, people often ask me how I managed to get my book published and how I managed to get into the Dummies brand. In fact I've just given a talk this morning to my local Chamber on the whole book publishing process.

Well, it was pretty much down to Google. A few years ago, I attended a PR course and there are two things that have stuck with me from that course:

1) Journalists like to take the easy option and when up against a deadline to produce an article or do research, where do they go? Google.

2) If they contact you - get back to them immediately.

I'm often contacted by journalists - for the last couple of years I probably get half a dozen calls each year. How do they find me? They search for time management expert/coach and my name comes up on Google - either my website or my Ecademy profile. So they contact me and of course, I get back to them as soon as I receive their email or pick up their phone message, if I'm not able to answer it at the time.

When Wiley publishing were looking to commission the UK Edition of their Time Management book they googled and found me, read my articles and sent me an email to see if I might be interested in writing the book. The result of that initial contact is now up on Amazon and hopefully hitting the bookshelves soon.

Now, I'm no SEO expert and I've learnt an awful lot from many of the SEO experts I have in my network. My website is not necessarily going to win any prizes and there's always room for improvement but it's been enough to get me noticed and after all that's what's important.

I had a call yesterday morning from another journalist - she's calling me back on Monday for input into an article she's writing for December.

I was called in July by a journalist writing an article for BT Upload magazine - I'm in October's edition.

If you have an area of expertise - write articles, be seen, get noticed and Google is definitely going to help.

The 12 Step TM4D Programme

For all of you who don't have time to read the book!

Step 1 - Click here to order the book - and make an added contribution to Cancer Research by using my link.

Step 2 - When Amazon confirm the order, make a note of the delivery date

Step 3 - Book 10 minutes out in your diary on said delivery date (lunch break or when you finish work).

Step 4 - Book arrives - take the opportunity for a break. Spend 10 minutes (that you've already booked time for) reading the Table of Contents and the Intro - this will take about two to three minutes. Spend the remaining time making a note of which Chapters are most relevant to your immediate needs.

Step 5 - Decide how many Chapters you need/want to read to make the biggest impact. There are 18 chapters in all, two of those are in the Parts of Tens - so shorter and not all may be relevant.

Step 6 - Now set aside 30 minutes in your diary each day (or every other day) for the Chapters you need/want to read. Either at the very beginning of the day, before you get going or at the end of the working day - you might think of relevant points you want to address. Prioritise the most important chapters first.

Step 7 - Read first 'most relevant chapter' - decide on one key action you're going to take or a tip that you can apply from what you've read.

Step 8 - Take action. Apply the tip or take the necessary action as soon as possible.

Step 9 - Next 30 minute slot - read the remainder of the existing chapter or the second 'most relevant chapter' (Rinse and repeat steps 5-7, as necessary). Some chapters are a little longer and may have actions and checklists that you need to complete. Set yourself a target for when you plan to complete the book. (Ch1)

Step 10 - Take the book with you everywhere, so you can put the tip in Ch17 into action and keep reading when you've got a few minutes spare.

Step 11 - Give yourself a pat on the back (Ch10).

Step 12 - If you're having trouble with any of the Steps 1-11 - give me a call.

Holiday Inspiration And Focus - September Newsletter

My latest newsletter is just out. This month's main article is about maintaining the inspiration and motivation we often get on holiday, there's also a special offer on the new book - Time Management For Dummies.

I’ve often found that holidays can be a great opportunity to not only take a break from your business or job but to think about the things that are really important to you and get a new perspective on life and triggers some of those light bulb moments of clarity. As a result of my holiday breaks, I’ve changed career (twice)...

If you want to read the rest of the newsletter, just sign up on my website and you'll receive the latest issue and free Power Time Tips.

Time Management For Dummies

Today, the day it's actually published and I finally get a copy in my hand. Well, I have to say - I'm pretty chuffed and had to go and show it off at a local network meeting, despite still having a head full of cold, so not totally able to celebrate.

It's available to order on both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com - get your copy now while stocks last!

www.clareevans.co.uk/timemanagementfordummies.htm

Edited Chapters

Just got the first batch of chapters back from the publishers full of edits, underlines, bits crossed out and comments scattered throughout. Like the electronic version of the red pen on your homework. Doesn't look nearly as bad when the 'Track Changes' is switched off ... fortunately.

Will now be sending the rest of the week checking the edits, making the updates and getting them back to the publisher by Monday week.

Peacehaven Home And Business Showcase

I'm just back from attending the first Peacehaven Home and Business Showcase organised by the local Chamber, of which I'm a member. Taking place in not the most salubrious of surroundings of the Meridian Centre, which is currently undergoing refurbishment for the soon to be re-opened Co-op supermarket.

The Chamber team had put a lot of work into this first event and it showed. Although we could have done with a few more visitors, there was plenty to inform and even entertain throughout the day and with one lucky winner getting a signed copy of my book (when it's released) I managed to attract a fair number of subscribers. There were almost 30 stands at the show and a series of seminars throughout the day to attract people in. Visitors seemed to vary from passers-by wondering what was going on to existing clients who'd been invited along by their provider.

I spent alot of time talking, standing and handing out leaflets and sweets (always popular) but had a great and productive day and needed this evening's yoga session to unwind and take the weight off my feet.

Hurrah! Finished at last.

Well, that was certainly a greater challenge than I thought it was going to be. I've just spent most of the Bank Holiday weekend and today finishing off the final few chapters of my book. Despite the sunshine outside and the temptation to do something else - I had a deadline to meet. I did manage brief bursts of other activities but the book was my main focus.

My perfectionist tendencies came to the fore as I tried to get everything just right, added another paragraph here and there, thought of something else to say, went back and tweaked a previous chapter, until finally I was happy and sent it off - one chapter at a time over the past five months.

There'll be more to come in a few weeks - it's just off to be edited, so I have no idea what to expect and whether it will have the equivalent of red marker pen all over it.

All very exciting.