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Wrote an ebook for new dads... now what?

by RaisingDaddy
14 replies
Hey all,

I'm just looking for some advice to point me in the right direction, but I feel I should give you an abridged version of my situation that lead me here, so hopefully I can receive the proper help with my ebook.

The completion of my ebook has taken some time, as I first promised myself to write it after my mother died from cancer. I spent my daughter's first birthday in a hospice watching my mother die, and thats when I sarcastically thought to myself I could write a great book about dads surviving their child's first year... considering I had to juggle these brand new responsibilities along with taking care of my mother being ill with terminal cancer.

During my grief after my mothers death, I challenged myself to write this book... I figured it was silly... me writing a book... but I desperately needed a distraction and went for it. Over the course of a year and change, I was able to write when I got the chance, and eventually created a book I was quite proud of.

Shortly after I completed my ebook and was having it formatted, my son was diagnosed with autism. At this point I became an emotional wreck and no longer cared about my book, telling myself on my darkest days it was a stupid idea anyway. Life became quite difficult for the next year, but in the back of my mind I kept thinking about my promise to myself to publish this ebook.

I wouldn't say things are easier now (more manageable perhaps), but I feel like the time has come to see this through. I need to find the courage to just do it and thats why I'm here today, seeking help about where to begin - and what to do.

I have my ebook formatted for Kindle and I also had a cover done. Everything is basically ready to upload on Amazon. What I need to know is, once I have uploaded it, what do I do next?

I know my ebook needs promoted, but because of my situation with my son, I will have maybe a couple hours a day to do so, and basically no budget. I would guess using social media to promote my ebook virally is about the only legit option I have...? I don't have a Twitter or Facebook account, however.

So I'm starting about as bottom the barrel as possible. I wish I wasn't, but I am.

However, even if I just reach a few new fathers and help them, this will have been worth it to me.
#dads #ebook #wrote
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve L
    Originally Posted by RaisingDaddy View Post

    Hey all,

    I'm just looking for some advice to point me in the right direction, but I feel I should give you an abridged version of my situation that lead me here, so hopefully I can receive the proper help with my ebook.

    The completion of my ebook has taken some time, as I first promised myself to write it after my mother died from cancer. I spent my daughter's first birthday in a hospice watching my mother die, and thats when I sarcastically thought to myself I could write a great book about dads surviving their child's first year... considering I had to juggle these brand new responsibilities along with taking care of my mother being ill with terminal cancer.

    During my grief after my mothers death, I challenged myself to write this book... I figured it was silly... me writing a book... but I desperately needed a distraction and went for it. Over the course of a year and change, I was able to write when I got the chance, and eventually created a book I was quite proud of.

    Shortly after I completed my ebook and was having it formatted, my son was diagnosed with autism. At this point I became an emotional wreck and no longer cared about my book, telling myself on my darkest days it was a stupid idea anyway. Life became quite difficult for the next year, but in the back of my mind I kept thinking about my promise to myself to publish this ebook.

    I wouldn't say things are easier now (more manageable perhaps), but I feel like the time has come to see this through. I need to find the courage to just do it and thats why I'm here today, seeking help about where to begin - and what to do.

    I have my ebook formatted for Kindle and I also had a cover done. Everything is basically ready to upload on Amazon. What I need to know is, once I have uploaded it, what do I do next?

    I know my ebook needs promoted, but because of my situation with my son, I will have maybe a couple hours a day to do so, and basically no budget. I would guess using social media to promote my ebook virally is about the only legit option I have...? I don't have a Twitter or Facebook account, however.

    So I'm starting about as bottom the barrel as possible. I wish I wasn't, but I am.

    However, even if I just reach a few new fathers and help them, this will have been worth it to me.
    Congrats on completing the ebook and sorry to hear about the hardships. Regarding your marketing, I'd setup a website to sell your ebook and drive traffic to it. Keep your ebook on Amazon but I'd only promote your Amazon page with an exit pop-up on your main website. This way visitors who don't want to purchase your ebook on your site are presented with the exit pop up when they head for the back button. The exit pop-up of course lets them know they can also purchase your ebook on Amazon if that is their preference. This way you're driving customers to an asset you own; your website and generating sales there, which allows you to build a customer email list and you leverage Amazon at the same time without shooting yourself in the foot.

    I hope that makes sense I'm about to head to bed so I'm pretty tired!
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    • Profile picture of the author RaisingDaddy
      Originally Posted by Steve L View Post

      Congrats on completing the ebook and sorry to hear about the hardships. Regarding your marketing, I'd setup a website to sell your ebook and drive traffic to it. Keep your ebook on Amazon but I'd only promote your Amazon page with an exit pop-up on your main website. This way visitors who don't want to purchase your ebook on your site are presented with the exit pop up when they head for the back button. The exit pop-up of course lets them know they can also purchase your ebook on Amazon if that is their preference. This way you're driving customers to an asset you own; your website and generating sales there, which allows you to build a customer email list and you leverage Amazon at the same time without shooting yourself in the foot.

      I hope that makes sense I'm about to head to bed so I'm pretty tired!
      Hey Steve,

      Thats the plan I'm heading towards if I can start to turn a little profit to help pay for the hosting and autoresponder.

      Right now I have to start really small, just using social media and Amazon to sell the ebook. Thats basically the strategy Im looking at trying for now, to keep the costs at nothing (we just can't afford for me to dump money into this project because of my son).

      Do you know anywhere I can find good, honest information on starting a viral campaign to sell an ebook? I know I can't just throw it up on Amazon and buyers will magically appear.

      Thanks again for your help and time.
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      • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
        Originally Posted by RaisingDaddy View Post

        Right now I have to start really small,
        Do you know anywhere I can find good, honest information on starting a viral campaign to sell an ebook? I know I can't just throw it up on Amazon and buyers will magically appear.
        Have you thought about a PR?

        If the book is good and you can share your story of hardship without coming across as too needy then you should spend your time on writing a good press release and developing a strategy to approach influential media.

        If you can afford to produce a few hardcopies via createspace you might get some milage by approaching local media companies like local newspapers, radio, TV etc.

        It helps to have a physical book.

        In 1998 I used a strategy to get publicity for the Australian Boomerang Association who at that time had less than $600 in the bank and needed to send a team to the Boomerang World Cup in St Louis.

        Foster's Brewing had sponsored the Americans to the tune of around $250K to put on the event and run demonstrations across the US to promote boomerang throwing because of the upcoming Olympics due to be held in Sydney.

        The association was nearly broke and at the time it was about 45 cents Aussie to the US dollar so no Aussies could really afford to travel to the US to compete.

        The breakthrough was one headline and an accompanying story that was FAXED to every media organisation I could push it to.

        The Headline:

        "No Aussies at the Boomerang Throwing World Championships"

        The Copy:

        Despite Foster's Lager sponsoring the US Team and Qantas sponsoring the Swiss Team the Australian Team had no sponsor and could not attend the Boomerang Throwing World Championships.

        . . . etc . . .

        Within 24 hours of sending out that fax I had local press wanting to write a story and I also had a major national Broadcaster ask me to go on the National 6pm News the following night.

        I got Three and a half minutes at 6.10pm on the number one TV News Channel across Australia.

        By 6.30pm I had a promise from one sponsor of $25K

        The following evening we went on National TV again accepting the giant check from the sponsor.

        That is not the only time I've generated immense interest through a PR and it would be one of my go to recommendations for anyone who has a newsworthy story.

        IF your book is good AND you can tell your story via expressing it to a few journalists THEN you can generate massive LEVERAGE.

        That is why you need a few physical copies and be prepared to act.

        You may like to study the presentation Dennis Yu did in Sydney to the Warrior Forum members on a method to leverage journalists via Facebook.

        The approach outlined in that presentation ideally matches your situation.

        It was somewhere in the Warrior WAMA Forum but I can't find it.

        One of his presentations that was closest to it is this


        Maybe seek it out and take a look because you can influence a group of influencers then you will get the viral type result you are thinking about..

        Best regards,

        Ozi
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        • Profile picture of the author RaisingDaddy
          Originally Posted by Oziboomer View Post

          Have you thought about a PR?

          If the book is good and you can share your story of hardship without coming across as too needy then you should spend your time on writing a good press release and developing a strategy to approach influential media.

          If you can afford to produce a few hardcopies via createspace you might get some milage by approaching local media companies like local newspapers, radio, TV etc.

          It helps to have a physical book.

          In 1998 I used a strategy to get publicity for the Australian Boomerang Association who at that time had less than $600 in the bank and needed to send a team to the Boomerang World Cup in St Louis.

          Foster's Brewing had sponsored the Americans to the tune of around $250K to put on the event and run demonstrations across the US to promote boomerang throwing because of the upcoming Olympics due to be held in Sydney.

          The association was nearly broke and at the time it was about 45 cents Aussie to the US dollar so no Aussies could really afford to travel to the US to compete.

          The breakthrough was one headline and an accompanying story that was FAXED to every media organisation I could push it to.

          The Headline:

          "No Aussies at the Boomerang Throwing World Championships"

          The Copy:

          Despite Foster's Lager sponsoring the US Team and Qantas sponsoring the Swiss Team the Australian Team had no sponsor and could not attend the Boomerang Throwing World Championships.

          . . . etc . . .

          Within 24 hours of sending out that fax I had local press wanting to write a story and I also had a major national Broadcaster ask me to go on the National 6pm News the following night.

          I got Three and a half minutes at 6.10pm on the number one TV News Channel across Australia.

          By 6.30pm I had a promise from one sponsor of $25K

          The following evening we went on National TV again accepting the giant check from the sponsor.

          That is not the only time I've generated immense interest through a PR and it would be one of my go to recommendations for anyone who has a newsworthy story.

          IF your book is good AND you can tell your story via expressing it to a few journalists THEN you can generate massive LEVERAGE.

          That is why you need a few physical copies and be prepared to act.

          You may like to study the presentation Dennis Yu did in Sydney to the Warrior Forum members on a method to leverage journalists via Facebook.

          The approach outlined in that presentation ideally matches your situation.

          It was somewhere in the Warrior WAMA Forum but I can't find it.

          One of his presentations that was closest to it is this

          Facebook Marketing For Business & Video Marketing Tips 2017 by Dennis Yu - YouTube

          Maybe seek it out and take a look because you can influence a group of influencers then you will get the viral type result you are thinking about..

          Best regards,

          Ozi
          Hey Ozi,

          Thanks for taking the time to reply.

          I'm not sure if that angle will work as my mom's death is what inspired me to write my book, and my son's diagnosis brought me down so far that I didn't have an interest in doing it anymore until lately.

          I basically just tried to explain my situation as to how I got here and why I can't put much money into this project now. I'm not sure if my story is anything special that journalists would care about and in fact has anything to do with my target market... new dads.

          I do have a section in my book explaining the mental game a new father needs to have, and briefly discussed the pressure I felt taking care of a sick mother and newborn daughter. I just don't think thats something most new fathers will identify with enough for journalists to care...

          Ie its only a small section of the book, and the rest covers what challenges any normal new father will typically face and how to overcome them.

          Hopefully that makes sense...
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        • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
          Originally Posted by Oziboomer View Post

          Have you thought about a PR?

          If the book is good and you can share your story of hardship without coming across as too needy then you should spend your time on writing a good press release and developing a strategy to approach influential media.

          If you can afford to produce a few hardcopies via createspace you might get some milage by approaching local media companies like local newspapers, radio, TV etc.

          It helps to have a physical book.
          <snip>

          Here is a thread that will help:
          All-In-One: Creating & Publishing Short Reports
          admin


          This is a list of more threads considered to be some of the best of the best:
          All-in-One Threads
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          In the minute it took me to write this post.. someone died of Covid 19. RIP.
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          • Profile picture of the author RaisingDaddy
            Originally Posted by Jeffery View Post

            Here is a thread that will help:
            All-In-One: Creating & Publishing Short Reports
            admin


            This is a list of more threads considered to be some of the best of the best:
            All-in-One Threads
            Hey thanks Jeffrey, that looks like it could give me a good head start.

            Originally Posted by IGotMine View Post

            Get on social media and share your story there. Look for parenting type groups you can participate in.
            This is basically my plan, its just I need to figure out how to use social media, and how to use it effectively.

            I believe I will enjoy the hell out of doing this, once I figure out what to do... a sound gameplan if you will.

            I just don't want to waste time on methods that aren't effective, obviously.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve L
        Originally Posted by RaisingDaddy View Post

        Hey Steve,

        Thats the plan I'm heading towards if I can start to turn a little profit to help pay for the hosting and autoresponder.
        It's possible to have a free static site with custom domain using Netlify hosting. Even includes free HTTPS.

        For autoresponder, you can get 1,000 free subscribers with MailChimp!


        Right now I have to start really small, just using social media and Amazon to sell the ebook. Thats basically the strategy Im looking at trying for now, to keep the costs at nothing (we just can't afford for me to dump money into this project because of my son).

        Do you know anywhere I can find good, honest information on starting a viral campaign to sell an ebook? I know I can't just throw it up on Amazon and buyers will magically appear.

        Thanks again for your help and time.
        There's no way to predict what will go viral unfortunately. All you can do is make sure more people have heard about your ebook today than did yesterday. The best way I know to do this is thru digital advertising and content marketing.
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        • Profile picture of the author RaisingDaddy
          Originally Posted by Steve L View Post

          It's possible to have a free static site with custom domain using Netlify hosting. Even includes free HTTPS.

          For autoresponder, you can get 1,000 free subscribers with MailChimp!


          There's no way to predict what will go viral unfortunately. All you can do is make sure more people have heard about your ebook today than did yesterday. The best way I know to do this is thru digital advertising and content marketing.
          Hey Steve,

          I was thinking of doing some content marketing I feel could go viral... some hot button stuff that really gets conversations going and would be related to new fathers... Ie breastfeeding in public, vaccinations, spanking, etc.

          I'm just trying to figure out the best place to publish the articles and how to use social media to get eyes on it... and I could promote my book in the bylines or pickup Twitter followers this way... something of that nature.
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          • Profile picture of the author Steve L
            Originally Posted by RaisingDaddy View Post

            Hey Steve,

            I was thinking of doing some content marketing I feel could go viral... some hot button stuff that really gets conversations going and would be related to new fathers... Ie breastfeeding in public, vaccinations, spanking, etc.

            I'm just trying to figure out the best place to publish the articles and how to use social media to get eyes on it... and I could promote my book in the bylines or pickup Twitter followers this way... something of that nature.
            Nice! I'm a huge fan of static site generators for blogging like Hexo & Hugo. They load really quick out of the box and you can host them for free with custom domain using Netlify and Github Pages. That's where I'd publish your articles, but I'd also repurpose the content as Youtube Videos, Instagram posts, etc.
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            • Profile picture of the author RaisingDaddy
              Originally Posted by Steve L View Post

              Nice! I'm a huge fan of static site generators for blogging like Hexo & Hugo. They load really quick out of the box and you can host them for free with custom domain using Netlify and Github Pages. That's where I'd publish your articles, but I'd also repurpose the content as Youtube Videos, Instagram posts, etc.
              Hey Steve,

              Is there a guide that talks about this method. I get the gist of what you are saying, but never heard of Hexo and Hugo, etc.

              Apologies, but I'm pretty raw. Thats why I'm here though... for help.
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  • Profile picture of the author IGotMine
    Get on social media and share your story there. Look for parenting type groups you can participate in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
    You may "think" your target market is new dads but I would suggest it is more likely two other targets.

    Women who are pregnant or already have children

    Soon to be or already Grandmothers. - Mother of the Dad

    Guys generally don't jump out and buy parenting books but their partners and their mothers do usually as a helpful gift.

    You may find you want to direct your targeting toward the female market who will see it as a good guide to get for their partners.

    Best regards,

    Ozi
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    • Profile picture of the author RaisingDaddy
      Originally Posted by Oziboomer View Post

      You may "think" your target market is new dads but I would suggest it is more likely two other targets.

      Women who are pregnant or already have children

      Soon to be or already Grandmothers. - Mother of the Dad

      Guys generally don't jump out and buy parenting books but their partners and their mothers do usually as a helpful gift.

      You may find you want to direct your targeting toward the female market who will see it as a good guide to get for their partners.

      Best regards,

      Ozi
      Hey Ozi,

      Ya, I have thought of that as well. I suspect the core of my buyers will be new dads partners, which only makes sense as my wife gave me my first book on babies. Of course, it was geared towards women, but thats part of why I wrote my book... to give a new dad the information he needs to empower himself from day 1, from the perspective of a guy already in the trenches of fatherhood.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Are there forums or blogs about dads surviving and raising a new child? You have to make sure that the niche exists before you can promote it to people for a favorable response. Have you checked advertising keywords to see if dads (or people) are looking for information about being a dad and making it through the first year?

    You never want to create a product and find people to sell it to. Always find the niche first, then bring the solution to the exact area where these people are and sell it to them. Your response rate will immediately go up.
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