Selling Greeting Cards Online With a Subscription

I still want to sell my art as ecards, online. Today I found someone with a good plan, selling the cards with a paid membership to the site. Ojolie offers a free account, to send the ecards she offers without charge. But, I think, I would rather make the ecards a subscriber only thing. Art online is just too easy to rip off. At least I could get a year’s subscription before giving access to the art. Of course, I still don’t know what software to use. Something like a catalogue, but then it needs to send a png file, or pdf. I think I would include envelopes too, a bonus should people print the cards. So much to consider when you start to think about all the details.

This (see below) is a screenshot from Ojolie, how her pricing works. I’m mainly posting this for myself. So I can look back and remember what I thought I would do.

Packaging a Presentation

What’s in your package?

Do you have:

business cards

stationery

brochure

media kit

website

professional clothes

and

an office?

Plus, of course, your work itself. All organized in clips, articles, or the books themselves (depending on which medium you use).

Do you have a package?

Of course, we all have a package to present to the world. But, have you done much with yours? Have you put effort into making it professional and available?

You can have a home office. Something simple, organized and some kind of oasis where you keep clutter to a minimum and your writing time separate from your business time. Yes, you do need some time for the business of writing.

Business cards and stationery are part of an office set up. They don’t cost an entire arm and a leg. You know you can go for good paper stock and save bucks on less fruity fonts. Just keep it simple and very easy to read.

Business cards and stationery can be mini-brochures. Space is strictly limited (especially on cards) but you can give out the basics: name, address, website, email, phone number, a logo or illustration from something you have done, office/ contact hours, sales or prizes worth bragging about, your upcoming project, quote from a great review, professional degrees or memberships in professional organizations, the name of your business and the year you started. Eliminate some and add others depending on your niche and your special talents and ambitions. But, on the business card you really want to keep it to a minimum – it’s a card, not a book. Save your long winded guns for the brochure itself.

Of course the website is a brochure too.

Publishable and Practical

You’ve got the greatest idea! It’s sure to be a billion dollar blockbuster, rivaling Stephen King and that other writer whose name you can’t quite remember though it’s on the tip of your tongue.

But, is your idea a good one, really? Some of our ideas seem really super charged at the time, when we have that first burst of passion as the idea evolves. But, not every idea is going to be publishable and practical.

Here are guidelines from Cheryl Sloan Wray and her book ‘Writing for Magazines’. (Paraphrased by me).

1. Are you really passionate/ interested enough to spend the necessary time developing, researching and writing this idea?

2. Can you narrow the focus? Some ideas need to be broken into smaller chunks to suit the market/ publisher you are aiming for.

3. If your idea is already narrow, or would appeal to a small, exclusive percentage of the reading public, can you bulk it up? Can you add more points, bring in another slant or find more sources?

4. Can you market this idea to several publications? You want to have a selection of publishers to choose from so you aren’t twiddling your thumbs if the first of them aren’t keen on it.

5. Imagine yourself as the reader of the publications you have chosen. Are you sure their readers will be interested in your idea? If not find other publications to appeal to, or slant your idea in a different, more appealing direction.

6. Describe your idea in 15 words or less. Then, in another 15 words, tell why readers will be interested in your idea/ topic.

7. Will this idea be expensive to research or take up a lot of time to develop? Is it going to cost you more than it will bring in for you? You can’t forget your bottom line after all.

The last point is the best I think. How many of you keep track of your expenses? Do you know if you actually clear more than you spent on each article/ manuscript? Don’t skip your time either. Time is money and that includes you!

Hope this helps bring you some clarity, focus and profit from your greatest ideas. Keep them churning!

Start Networking

Have you really worked on networking? Really gotten serious about your contacts and your contact’s contacts? Who do they know that you don’t know, yet.

Think of the six degrees of separation theory. It’s not who you know right now that counts but who you could get to know through your cousin Pat’s hair dresser. You might have a connection to a big wig editor at Harlequin and not even know it. You won’t know either, until you start networking.

Plus you can always build your network. Join relevant or related groups to whatever your area of writing is. If you write fiction find authors groups and readers groups too. If you write about squirrels join groups that go on nature walks. Not only do you have sources of information and inspiration but you have future buyers and readers too!

Be careful to keep things organized. Don’t lose an important name or number or email address. Keep a contact notebook handy. Keep two even! Have one for your purse or pocket and another for your car. Wherever you would be able to get them when you need them. This is why backpacks and whopper-sized purses are really great. In spite of the teasing of your family and friends. What do they know? Are they writers of greatness?!

You Need a PIM

Do you remember that woman you emailed about writing that article? You know, the one you met on that website the other night. Remember, she had that really cool email address, you were sure it would be easy to remember, it’s on the tip of your pen… if only you had kept track of that information.

Been there? Been there a few more times than you care to admit? Me too. Let’s do something about it.

Let’s work on getting organized. If we do it together it won’t hurt quite so much. Yes, I’m lying but just pretend you don’t know that.

Start with contact management. I know you have a whole pile of papers you’re itching to sort out right away, all those great ideas you intend to make into that really great and ever so useful idea folder which we discussed in a previous newsletter. But… let’s work on managing your contacts today. If you can remember who you promised what to and their email address you’re ahead of the game. Plus, you won’t drive yourself crazy wondering what you missed among the clutter on your desk and in your brain.

I found a freeware contact manager/ address book last night. It looks good, really good. Plus it’s freeware, how can you go wrong with that? (Shh, I like some illusions). You can find it at JB Enterprises. I’m including a link below with the newsletter. It will also be with my current BW column once I get that far.

Another program which seems to offer more than contact management and is geared to writers is The Literary Machine. I haven’t done more than download that one. But, it sounds worth an exploration. That link will also be below.

Check around yourself for other contact management and PIM (personal information manager) software. You might get lucky and find something exceptional. I just look for the freeware, that’s the kind of grrl I am.

Setting up a Home Office on the Cheap

Not everyone can decide to freelance write and then go out and buy up a storm. Likely those are very few and far between. So, for most of us we are looking for ways to cut corners without leaving out something or making ourselves feel we are second rate.

First, consider what you really need versus what it would be nice to have. You can always get those nice extras later, like when you have a first real profit to show for your efforts, buy something slightly extravagant for yourself then. Meanwhile, make a list and cross off those things you can treat yourself to later.

I think the main essential in the computer age, is a computer, printer and matching software. But, don’t think you must invest thousands of dollars. Try thrift stores, ask family for copies of software and look online for freeware. Word processing software comes with new computers, likely you have a CD with MS Word or Lotus Notes. I use Lotus Notes myself.

Although we tend to back away slowly from computers and other hardware at thrift stores you should take a look, try plugging it in, booting up and seeing how it runs and what’s been left in it from the last owner. Printers and scanners are especially cheap (and plentiful) at GoodWill. Thrift stores aren’t likely to let you return a computer but you can test drive it before buying. Also, consider your needs, if you’re just using a computer for word processing and email you can manage without a new, souped up one for gamers and hefty music/ movie downloads. Check the software bins too, you may be amazed at what you find. Make sure software is compatible with your computer and check how old it is. Some software will have free updates online but that won’t help you if it’s too ancient to run on your computer to begin with.

Beyond the computer situation you need basic office supplies and reference books. These are often found at thrift stores, second hand bookstores, flea markets, garage sales, library cast offs, family and friends and office supply stores going out of business, back to school sales in the Fall, etc. Beyond the standard dictionary and thesaurus look for books about writing including grammar, word usage, style guides, editing and publishing. See if you can find general reference books for fact checking and research.

You won’t need a lot of pens and paper with a computer. But, consider having some kind of file system, a way to keep organized with story ideas, story submissions, publishing contacts, invoicing and whatever you use for self promotion and marketing. Find a system for keeping everything organized and work on maintaining it.