It’s Crowdfunding Unplugged!
Is there a Kickstarter in you? Should there be? Would you like to know savvy tips to be successful?
Find out and determine exactly how to create, use and succeed with any crowding funding activity.
Whether you need $1,000 or $100,000, crowdfunding is an option.
There’s money in the cyber clouds and Author U’s first regular Saturday pops with a topic that authors want to know about … where to get money to support, create, publish and market their books.
Crowdfunding: Raise Capital To Fund Your Creative Project
Crowdfunding is “the” method for creative thinkers to raise capital for their businesses and projects. It enables anyone the opportunity to raise money for anything, without going to a publisher, VC, or bank. In this workshop, Leigh Lepore, Founder of Crowdfunding Strategy & Information, will walk through what crowdfunding is, which type of crowdfunding (e.g., donations, rewards, debt, or equity) is ideal for which situations, and how to set up a successful campaign. We will discuss in detail the key steps for engaging an audience, presenting your project to the market (including creating the right video), and hitting your goal.
- Would you like money for your Book Project?
- Would you like to expand your book empire using OPM—other people’s money?
- Would you like to learn the how and why of how to do it?
- Would you like to learn about crowdfunding from someone who creates the strategy and copy for crowdfunding projects?
- Would you like to learn how to create your own crowdfunding project?
We’ve got the answers to all of the above and much more. See you Saturday morning for a late Brunch and Learn at Author U.
Author U is switching to a Brunch and Learn format after the recent survey with our members.
Leigh Lepore is a crowdfunding strategist. She raises funds for products, creative ideas and causes. Leigh has raised a total of $40K for her personal campaigns and has researched, blogged and trained with top platforms and crowdfunding partners to assist in the raising of mega thousands for authors and entrepreneurial projects.
Leigh is the Founder of Crowdfunding Strategy & Information. She advises small businesses and creative individuals on raising money for their projects through crowdfunding. Leigh has successfully raised $40K for her personal campaigns and advised others on campaigns of over $100K. She is passionate about helping others and being socially responsible. She is focused on crowdfunding especially for those who cannot fundraise for themselves and believes in a communal yet competitive approach to achieve success.
She began her career in crowdfunding while in San Francisco where she trained with the top funding platforms and worked with industry partners. Since then, her passion for democratizing funding and empowering others has led her to raise thousands of dollars and help people around the world.
Leigh started her career in Environmental Engineering and Strategy Consulting with a top global consulting firm. She later transitioned to work for a Fortune 200 financial services corporation until fulfilling her entrepreneurial spirit and successfully reinventing an antique African art business in San Francisco.
When: Saturday, June 15th from 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Hilton Garden Inn, DTC
Cost: $30 members | $40 nonmembers
What Authors Need to Know About CrowdFunding and Why You Should Care
Get ready to dust off any preconceived ideas that you have about crowdfunding. This WebinarGold will tell and demonstrate everything you needed to know about crowdfunding but were afraid to ask.
Cost: FREE to all AuthorU members
Time: 7 pm Eastern to 8 pm
Register: On AuthorU website under Events or go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4918103785740100609
October 26th Salon:
Everything You Need to Know About CrowdFunding and You Didn’t Know to Ask … Start Building Your Campaign Tonight!
There’s nothing like having cash to fuel your book project. You can use your own; you can borrow it; you can have a massive garage sale … or you can do it the OPM way—other people’s money.
Judith is going to walk you through how to create a CrowdFunding campaign, step-by-step. She’s worked with several authors who have all succeeded. Yes, it’s work—but how else are you going to get moneys that you don’t have to pay back? If you don’t think you have the ultimate winning lottery ticket, here’s where to start.
Don’t miss this Salon for GOLD and BestSeller members only. You will have extensive handouts with it.
Must have to participate in this session: Your laptop, images that can be used to enhance any slides you start to create—the more the better. If you have key phrases and quotes that link to what your expertise is and your book is about, have them already written in a file. You will get video tips as well. Expect a few hot seats.
When: Monday, October 26th DINNER INCLUDED
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Where: Judith’s Offices, Aurora
Cost: $30 – You are encouraged to get Judith’s book on Amazon and bring it with you that night, The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers.
HOT new webinar on Wednesday, March 9 ( 6 ET, 5CT, 4MT, 3PT).If you want to sell thousands of books on Amazon, there are a few things you need to do to make it happen. One of those is to get BOOK REVIEWS.
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5310974687142252546
You need far more than a handful of them.
Book distributor and AuthorU Board member Amy Collins recommends 25 REVIEWS within one week of your launch date. Gulp … do you have at least 25 on your Amazon book page right now?
How would you like to find the most powerful influencers on Amazon to goose your book sales … and do it for free?
If you can eventually amass more than 100 legitimate reviews, Amazon becomes your cheerleader. It will consider paying for Google pay-per-click ads, and ads on Facebook and other sites, to pull people onto your Amazon sales pages. AuthorU member Steve Snyder (Shot Down!) garnered three special email blasts from Amazon recommending his book (that would have cost him thousands of advertising dollars … he got them for free. How? He had a 747 plane load of BOOK REVIEWS posted on his book page from happy Amazon buyers. Amazon’s mighty robots knew it had a winner in play.
What this means is that you should be contacting as many Amazon reviewers as possible–and not just the top 100 or even the top 1,000.
In other words, more social proof = more books sold. Simple, yes?
Here’s the problem: Sifting through all those reviewer profiles to find the ones that would be interested in your book can take days—weeks even.
There’s a much easier way.
I’m hosting a free webinar with online marketing expert Debbie Drum. She has published more than 50 books under various pen names, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 9th, on “How To Find Powerful Influencers on Amazon to Review Your Books and Help You with Your Marketing–for Free.”
Debbie will explain how to find reviewers quickly, pitch them correctly, and avoid many of the landmines, like review swapping, that can cause major trouble for you and force Amazon to close your account. She’ll also introduce you to a powerful tool that’s helping authors crush it by collecting dozens of Amazon reviews super-fast.
Register for the free training here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5310974687142252546
P. S. Think about how many times you read reviews before you buy anything online, visit a restaurant, or see a movie. Book buyers LOVE BOOK REVIEWS …
I’ll be there … will you?
Details
What we’ll do in August is a great month. There’s the beauty of both the day and evening … and there is the “prep” planning that leads to the huge Fall book selling season. You will get a “what’s old and what’s new” strategy throughout the morning.
This Saturday is the perfect time to take just three hours for you to get your brainstorming and masterminding hat in the publishing ring and kick off the coming out of winter. Besides the answers to the “What I Need to Know Before I Go” that is posted on the Flip Chart, you will come away with:
* Transition from the CWO to the CMO.
* Re-launch a tired book and add sparkle to your push.
* How to use social media to master book marketing. * Learn about must-have adds for you and your book.
* Learn how to add “juice” to what you are currently doing.
* Learn new author tools to add to your success.
* Always … get any questions you have answered.
Springtime in the Rockies delivers a split weather personality–we could have a little snow; some rain; or sunshine as the day begins. Inside, there will be plenty of HOT NEW ideas that will flip what you think and turn your head and attitude about what works and doesn’t work in today’s publishing arena. All gatherings start with a flip chart and a question: what do you need? The morning is then off … who knows what paths it will take? Is there a book in the works? Are you stuck? Curious about the various publishing options? Ask your questions … AND participate.
The value of the group is to GIVE and SHARE ahas, insights, and techniques, not just TAKE. If you are a taker, Author YOU is not for you. The AuthorYOU participants are hungry for new information and delighted to share what works for them … and what doesn’t. The SALONS created will expand your projects and the breadth of your success. If you want to make your book happen … here’s the inner circle that has ideas and experience to kick start it, goose it and just get the launch started that The Book Shepherd Judith Briles leads each month. Your answers are in the room. AND … it’s MONEY FREE to attend … with two strings attached: Bring a healthy snack to share AND some new socks. Judith is a Sock Ambassador and part of a team that distributes to the Homeless and Kids in Need–, your ideas, questions, an open mind and meet other authors. No question goes unanswered! –come at 9, stay til noon– See you Saturday, August 10th. Hot Coffee and Teas are ready for you.
Warning: if you are a “no-show,” you get two passes; after two misses, future participation will be based on availability.
• What to bring Bring a snack to share and some NEW socks to give.
Register here: https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/events/260321129/
June opens to warming weather on the outside… and sizzling ideas on the inside. Let’s dump what isn’t working and reveal new avenues for your author success… about you; about your book… what else? It’s part of your expanding author infrastructure. See you Saturday a 9.00 a.m.
This Event is exclusively for AuthorYOU Members.
To Join AuthorYOU, visit https://authoru.org/join-author-u/why-join-author-u.html, and sign up for a VIP AuthorYOU Membership.
• AS ALWAYS, All gatherings start with a virtual flip chart and a question: what do you need? The morning is then off… who knows what paths it will take? Is there a book in the works? Are you stuck? Curious about the various publishing options? Ask your questions… AND participate.
The value of the group is to give, not just take. The Author YOU SALON participants are true masterminds. The SALONS created with expand your projects and the breadth of your success. If you want to make your book happen… here’s the inner circle that has ideas and experience to kick start it, goose it and just get the launch started. Your answers are in the room.
There is no charge for AuthorYOU Members. No question goes unanswered! –come at 9, stay till noon if need be.
For AuthorYOU members only.
It’s an ONLINE Saturday AM gathering for the AuthorYOU Salon community. Grab a COOL beverage–who knows how hot it will be outside? Bring your questions … you get answers. Catch up with old and new friends. August is often a “laid back” month… get ready to rev up your marketing engines for Fall time. What are you going to position yourself for the prime selling season?
REGISTER HERE: https://www.meetup.com/AuthorU/events/rrbcjsycclbsb/
