Audio Recording St. George

I have the good fortune of belonging to an informal business support group. We meet for breakfast to talk about how we are using social media to publicize our companies. For the gathering this month, I suggested we learn about Search Engine Optimization – a concept generating a lot of buzz these days. I don't know much about Search Engine Optimization, but marketing gurus insist it is the pathway to a successful website. Anything related to the internet boggles my mind, so I thought Search Engine Optimization for Dummies seemed like a good place to start http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/search-engine-optimization-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html Generally speaking, SEO refers to the visibility each website has for search engines such as Google. The name of the game is to get the highest ranking possible on a given search engine to increase the chance of people clicking on your website. Using effective keywords and including lots of links in your ...

Writers looking for a place to talk about their craft and learn from others in the field can take advantage of a podcast called Write on America http://writeonamerica.us/ The show is hosted by Adam Scull and Amy Phillips Penn – both seasoned entertainment corespondents. Scull spent 10 years working as a staff photographer at the New York Post. Throughout his career, Scull covered numerous red carpet events and photographed celebrities at the world famous Studio 54. Scull's portfolio includes photos of people like Eartha Kitt and Muhammed Ali, Woody Allen, Andy Warhol and Truman Capote http://PHOTOlink.net/ . Phillps Penn also worked at the New York Post, serving as a society columnist. As a polo enthusiast, Phillps Penn has written a book on the subject titled Diosa: One Mare's Odyssey on the Planet Earth http://www.amazon.com/Diosa-Mares-Odyssey-Planet-Earth/dp/1438918682 . Using Skype, Scull interviews authors from all over the world...

Writing novels is a long, lonely process. It's easy to feel discouraged, isolated and frustrated. I should know because I'm currently trying to hammer out the manuscript for my next audio book. In an attempt to increase my level of enthusiasm, I jump started the process by scheduling a work session with Cindy Clemens, a life coach, writer and motivational speaker. I gained a lot of useful tips from our meeting, a few of which I'd like to share with other writers who might also benefit from them. For starters, Cindy recommended I set a time limit for when I'd like to have my manuscript completed. Things tend to get done quicker if there is a deadline. I calculated what steps needed to be taken, careful not to overwhelm myself with unrealistic goals. Cindy suggested I dedicate a specific time to write each day, keeping that period “sacred” and free of distractions. I have a tendency to feel guilty when I don't live up to my own expectations. ...

Like many writers, I find the world of virtual marketing overwhelming and confounding. I was happy to discover Rock Star Marketing by Linda Leon to help build a virtual platform. Leon lays out a marketing strategy in seven steps, using the analogy of the seven major keys used in music. Internet marketing is great for writers because they can take advantage of so many freebies. The problem comes with how to effectively use these mechanisms. In simple, concise terms, Leon explains how to leverage the tools offered through Google and Alexa to promote a book. The concept of Search Engine Optimization is also explained along with tips on how to use it. Although I read a physical copy of Rock Star Marketing , I think this would actually make for a better e-book because Leon includes so many important links. These include links to organizations who support writers, some of the top blogs for books, contests and sites for press release distribution. As a bonus,...

Leave it to radio personality January Jones to round up ten people who have a legitimate reason to whine but choose not to. In her new book, Priceless Personalities, Jones finds the inspiration behind the tragedy www.januaryjones.com Readers will meet people like Tawana, a woman born without arms. Tawana shares her story about how JFK came to her rescue and the challenges that she has faced since that time. A guest named Jeannie uses the gift of laughter to help her recover from sexual and mental abuse. And then there's Sydney, also known as the Mayflower Madame, who found a way to move beyond the scandal to become a business coach. Jones is no stranger to trauma, having become a widow with two young children when she was just 25 years old. Rising above the grief, Jones has authored many books including Thou Shalt Not Whine . . . The Eleventh Commandment http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=thou+shalt+not+wh...

Like many authors, I'm constantly searching the web for new opportunities to promote my audio books. I decided to try something called a virtual book tour. I found several companies who offer these tours, most of them at a very low cost. The first thing I discovered is that it was my responsibility to provide content to the websites that signed up for the tour. This entailed me composing five lengthy blog pieces on subjects not necessarily related to my audio book. In addition, I was required to fill out a Q & A form that had twenty items. Although this was a lot of wok on my part for a service that I was paying for, I do understand the need for blog owners to pick and choose what they put on their websites. For the sake of comparison, I booked virtual book tours with two different companies. I was treated differently by both groups, but ended up with pretty much the same results. The first company was headed up by a woman who obviously books a lot of ...

As the owner of an “indie” recording studio called Straight to Audio Productions, I'm often approached by writers who want to know if they should turn their novels into audio books. The popularity of audio books is on the rise so there is definitely an audience for this form of media. However, there are a couple of things I would encourage writers to consider before heading down this path. Authors who are working with an agent or publisher should consult with their representatives before making any plans to produce an audio book. For self-published writers or those who don't have a broker, there are a few key matters to deliberate. First, decide who your audience is. This might sound like a silly issue, but the answer will give you a better understanding of how to best proceed. For example, if you have written a short story which may only be of interest to a small group of listeners, you might want to record it yourself. If you believe your story ha...