The biggest mistake most authors make

Authors write books. It's what they do and what they love. Many authors, especially the self-published authors, are falling victim to one of the most dangerous mistakes known to the publishing industry: not having a platform.

As an author, having a platform is crucial to the success of your book. You should use your book to build your platform which in turn will create other avenues in which you can earn money. Most authors fail to take the time to learn what their platform is, and therefore, miss out on hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

What is a platform? An author's platform is what you are doing to reach those people you want to buy your books, or how you plan to reach them. It is that thing you are doing to get people to relate to you. An example of an author platform would be a single mother who has published a book. Though her book may be fiction, the fact that she is a single mom who has accomplished her dream of becoming a published author can be used as a platform to reach other single moms and women in general, whether they be parents or not. This same author can now garner speaking engagements from groups that host events in her area, and may be approached by various radio and television shows for interviews. At the engagements she will most likely be offered an opportunity to sell her books. And during her radio and television interviews, she will be asked to tell people where they can get copies of her book.

Your assignment is to take out a pen and paper and make a list of topics that you have experienced personally or have knowledge of that you would be willing to share with your readers to gain their attention and support. People like to feel that they can relate to someone. This in turn builds trust. Once you have gained the trust of your potential readers, they are no longer just readers; they become fans, and in turn, they become loyal supporters of you and your work.

Until next time,

~Sandra~

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A big misconception about self-publishing

There are many misconceptions about self-publishing. One of the biggest things I hear aspiring authors say is that they have been contacted by a company that has promised to help them self-publish a book and all they have to pay them is (whatever the amount may be). In true self-publishing, you don't pay anyone to publish your book for you. You pay out money to different companies to handle the various aspects of you bringing your book to market. For instance, you will find a printer, and you will pay that person to print your books for them. You will find someone to design your book cover for you, and you will pay that person who will create a cover for you. There are many details that goes along with putting together a good quality book, and each week, I will uncover and shatter the myths that go along with publishing your own book. This is the truth about self-publishing. It's not just a book you're putting out there. It's a business.

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Change is Good

Change is Good. It allows us to embrace new things about our lives that can make us a better person. I made a change for the better when I decided to become an entrepreneur. I decided that it was time to change the old way of doing things, like working long hours for very little pay and not getting where I wanted to be in life. I worked hard but I barely made enough to pay my bills. Now, I still work hard, but I love it. I can take time off when I want to and do things that others only wish that they could do.

Another change I was made was deciding that it was time to go full force with the marketing for my book, "Foolish". This book is a tool that though it be fiction, is being used to educate people about the dangers of being in a toxic relationship. I say toxic because the wrong relationship can prove to be dangerous to both parties involved. The reality is that someone could lose their life. In the book I share the signs of an abusive partner, as well as how to tell if someone you love is being abused.

My hope is that you realize what needs to be changed in your life and then take the needed steps to make that change happen. Trust me, your life will improve dramatically.

Change is Good.

~ Sandra Peoples~

How to choose the right business structure

When deciding to embark on the road to being an entrepreneur, it is crucial to take some time to decide what type of structure you are going to organize under. There are three main types of business structures common among entrepreneurs: Sole Proprietor, Corporation, LLC (Limited Liability Corporation or Company).

Sole Proprietorship is a business structure that many entrepreneurs choose. There are two main reasons of which they do so:

•  It's inexpensive to form (in Michigan, the fee is only $10.00)
• There's less paperwork involved

While forming a sole proprietorship may prove to be the least expensive and simple to form, there are three major reasons why I suggest you don't go this route:

• You are personally liable for everything
• If someone decides to sue your company, they are actually suing you, because you are liable for all of the business debts as well as your own. If the person is awarded a judgment against you, that judgement will appear on your personal credit report.
• Sole proprietors often find it more difficult to borrow money to start or grow their businesses because lenders fear that if something were to happen to the business owner, the debt will not be repaid.

Corporations are often expensive to form, however, the major reason people form them is because these business owners can enjoy limited liability. In other words, they are only responsible for their own personal debts and not those of the business.

• Corporations are heavily regulated by the state, and owners face double taxation. Double taxation means that the profits of corporations are taxed twice.

The LLC, or Limited Liability Corporation (Company) is fairly simple to form. LLC owners are taxed like partnerships, which means you only pay taxes on your own personal income. A big plus of the LLC is that its owners enjoy the benefits of limited liability as does the corporation.
So, which structure is for you?
To sum it all up:

• The sole proprietorship is the easiest and least expensive to form but the owner is responsible for all debt.
• The corporation is the most expensive to form, but the owners are only responsible for their personal debts. Corporations are also heavily regulated and double taxed.
• LLC's are fairly simply to form, are taxed only on personal income and owners enjoy some of the same benefits of a corporation.