Authorize

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Nearly every time you go to your mail box, there it is another letter saying you are pre-approved. Should you take it? Are you really pre-approved? Or is it just nothing more than the standard junk mail? Well, it could be any of the above. Before most companies send you a pre-approved letter through the postal service, they have a pretty good idea of your credit history.

Generally, you have filled out some form in the past, was denied perhaps, or even approved, and the company has knowledge of this. Thus, the offer for pre-approved credit cards start arriving. Even if you have less than perfect credit, you could still qualify for these pre-approved credit cards. The pre-approved credit cards offer you get will depend on your credit. These offers may be secured or unsecured.

If you have bad credit, it is likely your pre-approved credit cards will be secured. This will mean you have to pay a deposit in order to have any sort of credit line. Furthermore, your credit line will never be more than your deposit amount. The amounts you can deposit will be stated on your pre-approved credit cards offer, typically between $250 and $1,500. These pre-approved credit cards will have high rates of interest and little to no benefits to speak of.

If you have good to perfect credit, your pre-approved credit card offers will be unsecured, which means no deposit is typically required and you could benefit from a wide variety of benefits, great interest rats, and rewards.

Either way you go, rather you have good or bad credit; you can still obtain offers for pre-approved credit cards from lenders. For those with bad credit, you have the opportunity to work on rebuilding your credit and improving your credit rating with the secured pre-approved credit cards.

Make sure before you accept any pre-approved offers, you check out the company, its reputation, and make sure it a valid offer, from a valid company. Never offer up your personal information without first checking out the credentials of the company, otherwise you could walk right into a fraudulent offer.

Originally published here.

Traditional Publishing

Just about every author would like to be published by a major publisher with a major global distribution network. However, only a few authors ever achieve such success. If your work is taken on by a traditional publisher you will be expected to be involved in the marketing effort. For this, you will be paid a royalty of between 2.5% and 7.5% of the book’s selling price and based on the number of book sales per month or quarter.

Some publishers will negotiate an advance payment to the author based on expected sales. Many new authors expect big sales, but when results show sales fewer than 5000 books over 6 or 12 months; the small royalty payment soon diminishes the joy of being a published author.

Traditional publishing:

Is very competitive ? a publishing company must be careful to manage the financial risk of publishing a new author
Today there are fewer major publishers releasing less numbers of books per year. Because of the financial constraints the publisher will expect the published author to ?get out and sell books.’ They might manage the marketing and promotion strategies. But the author must put legs to it.
Even if you are among the fortunate few who have their work published by a major publisher ? the royalty value will be low and the cost of promoting your book will be high. You must commit to a costly (in time, energy and money) marketing plan.
To have your book published in the traditional way is like winning lotto ? the chances are against you.

Self-publish! Not only can you then control the marketing, sales and distribution?You can also make the full profit!

Self-publishing offers higher returns on the sale of your book. However, you will also need to ?get out and sell it’. Many authors have watched their dream of fame and fortune perish in the uncharted jungle self-publishing can become. However, many have become successful self-published authors. If you decide to self-publish, the place to start is with a strategic business plan. Your book is both a business and a product and must be a financially viable proposition.

To self-publish, you will need some computer skills in graphic design, editing and marketing. You will also need administrative skills and some knowledge of the legal obligations involved with publishing. Obviously, you will need to outsource expertise. As with starting any business, you will need to research, plan and outsource professional expertise to ensure you are building a quality product and a sound business project. Never go into self-publishing lightly. It has the potential to be either a dream fulfiller or a living nightmare.

Using a Book Producer

A book producer (sometimes called a Publishing Consultant) is usually an experienced author and self-publisher. One who knows their way around the world of publishing as well as potential traps and how to avoid them. Engaging a Book Producer is a viable option for any new author who decides to go down the self-publishing route. They can save you money, time and mistakes. Book Producers usually have a team of professionals to work with you. They can create your book from the manuscript phase to a finished printed book and assist you with the marketing effort.

Another benefit for the new author is they are not alone in the self-publishing minefield. They have a helper to answer questions and bounce ideas off. Yet the new author can still maintain full control over their book and the profits.

Book Producers are not cheap and the new author will need to research and allow the investment as an essential part of their development budget and business plan. A professional book producer will include a book marketing plan and a publicity package as part of their service. If you want peace of mind and a fast way out of the awaiting self-publishing snares. Consider engaging a book producer to save you the pain and uncertainty of doing it yourself.

A word of caution, make sure you are engaging a professional book producer and not a vanity publishing operation. Vanity publishers usually offer print-on-demand services and entry into their on-line catalogue. Authors have been known to pay Vanity Publishers high prices for very little service.

Originally published here.