Publishing

Whether a business perspective, a personal tale or work of fiction, publishing will elevate your status

Are you thrilled, intrigued by the idea of authoring your own book? I’m fascinated by storytelling.

You will feel empowered with my guided approach to create your own book project. “I’m not a writer” you may say, but that does not mean you don’t have a story to share. Let me ease the overwhelm or procrastination you may have experienced, delivering a sense of accomplishment and pride when you hold you own published book in your hands, have it to share with friends and family, and generate revenue from sales.

What excites and motivates you? What would you love to share with the world? What lessons have you learned? What rolls around in your imagination?

My publishing services includes time management, editing, layout, cover design and marketing for your book project.

It could be a 12 page lead-generation marketing ebook to share with prospective clients. It could be a 60 page, short chapter novel. It could be a 200 page biography, that gets shared through print, digital and audio.

Sales of published book projects will be the onus of the author. I include marketing materials, such as Facebook ads, for the author’s self promotion needs.

Connect with me to start the conversation about your book concept.

Business Plan(ning)

I honestly love to write business plans. Even if they are not my ideas or go nowhere, I love the mind play that goes into the step-by-step expansion of an idea.

Much of this starts out on my chalkboard wall, with a thought web. From the central concept, I’ll draw out Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Product & Services, Target Market, Competition, Market Strategy (Advertising, Public Relations, Direct Response, Interactive Communications, Sales Promotion, Personal Selling, Event Marketing & Sponsorships), Location, Management & Legal Organization and Human Resources. These are the key points that all need elaboration before you can start to play with numbers. And play with numbers is just that – they are projected figures that in no way guarantee that’s the financial position your new business will land you in right off the bat. How easy it is to get caught up in those numbers! You’ll need statements of Projected Cash Flow for the first 2 (two) years of your business, as well as 12 (twelve) Projected Income Statements, 1 (one) for each month of your first year of business.

A former co-worker, turned friend, recently had a major step move forward with her organic dog biscuits business. Almost 2 (two) years ago, she shared her need to make more income and the idea to expand on her dog biscuit making, whom so many of her friends and co-workers’ dogs were enjoying. We met periodically to work on a business plan outline I shared with her. I know she was overwhelmed at first, that I suggested she create such a detailed essay, but I assured her it was okay not to have all the answers right away, and to just let the format sink in. A good business is not rushed; the ideas and inspiration flow once you allow the seed to grow at its own pace. Surely, she completed the outline. A graphic designer herself, she designed all of the packaging and promotional materials herself. She has an Etsy page: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/MamaDeesBakery?ref=search_shop_redirect which allowed her a Location, that did not cost rent, and allowed secure online ordering, and custom delivery instructions per order. She rents a table at the local Farmers Market monthly, and has most recently secured her first retail shelves at our local Global Pet Foods, here in Grande Prairie. With a fair price of under $10/box, no preservative ingredients and ease of purchase, she is building brand loyalty, garnering many fans, and getting to know people’s pups and their individual needs. I believe she has accomplished her initial goal, and reaped many unexpected rewards at the same time.

This is the type of joy I love to share with people, and why I love being an idea builder.

Skills and SWOT

In early 2007, I enjoyed a single semester at Grande Prairie Regional College. I enrolled in Introduction to Accounting, Introduction to Marketing, and Small Business Management (a course which had a prerequisite for 2nd year business students by the next year). I really enjoyed each class, each for their own special reasons, but all of which I knew were going to give me increased knowledge of the small business world, the tools for entrepreneurship; a better business skill set.

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Introduction to Accounting, Instructor: Tim. I was reminded that I should have followed every rule my mother every taught me about money! It was embarrassingly simple.. a first indicator of my stubborn tendencies, especially towards people closest to me. I do now keep really good monthly books, but hire a professional to prepare my tax documents. 2013 will be the first full year I have required a business tax number. EXPOSURE began in 2011.

Introduction to Marketing, Instructor: Bill. My brain was firing off in new exciting directions! Ultimately, as much as I appreciate a good marketing mind, I saw my talents lie within the advertising realm, and now branding. I especially enjoyed reading case studies! Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.. Product, Price, Place, Promo.. Tools, Tactics, Time, Tenacity.. how resourceful, creative business minds work is a fascinating thing.

Small Business Management, Instructor: Gwen. The text book I most often refer back to and recommend for others building business plans is from this class. For it was with this class, that a business plan was the final exam. A business plan including a cover letter, table of contents, executive summary of the business (description of business, vision statement, mission statement, products & services, the opportunity) and the business operations (target market, competition, marketing strategy, location, management & legal organization, human resources), the financial section (projected cash flow for first two years, projected income statements for the first year), any rate cards, client data, contract samples, relevant forms, and personal resumes.

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What I wanted to get to was case studies. goROGUE, the community app, first released on May 24, 2013 (though not launched until August 15, 2013), is now a great case study. I remember in the midst of it, I felt I would really benefit from a focus group, that I needed to see what I was doing wrong and what I was doing right – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. I probably knew most of the answers myself, though I didn’t want to hear from other people, especially about issues I was aware of and felt I didn’t have the resources to do anything about.

Now, for a proper case study format:

COVER PAGE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

BODY

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

Perhaps, in the future, I will share my goROGUE case study through a downloadable pdf, as I’m in the beginning stages of creating the essay.

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Entry thoughts for near future posts:

1. Some initial thoughts in review of the app:  I will be reviewing how I envisioned each of the 8 sections of the magazine to flow in the future, but one thing is for certain – weakness wise, Sales and Relationships are where I felt a lot of anxiety.

2. It’s a time of reviewing for me, it seems, as I also start to analyze EXPOSURE, the parent company. goROGUE was a publication produced by EXPOSURE. It has been in operation since 2011, and serves a great variety of businesses, large and small. What do they all have in common? People. In life. I photograph utility workers, realtors, pub/club atmospheres/environments, artists at work and their artworks/portfolio copy work – painters/potters, chefs, families, computer developers, municipal employees, live musicians, business owners and their products, authors, writers, and brokers. Many times, my design skills are incorporated into the projects as well. There is a feeling of expansion being on the horizon for EXPOSURE, in a manner I’m not sure I ever could have fathomed. Exciting things for the future.

3. Theme seems to be: Keep taking risks. Do all things with love.

Peace and love to you!

Ellen 🙂