There are many fantastic new businesses started by young entrepreneurs, from clothing companies and software firms to web content publishers and sports management agencies. But how many of the young business minds out there dream of writing a book as a business?
Well, one entrepreneur is taking on this challenge, and doing it entirely through a WordPress blog. Yes, this is Writing 2.0.
The Book
The book is entitled “How to Get Focused,” and it’s written by a 24-year-old from Southern California named Scott Scheper. I discovered the concept through a link on LifeHacker, a mash-up site of tips on productivity and personal growth. I’ve come to find it’s a must-read for engaged entrepreneurs.
Featuring “chapters” (which are essentially posts on the blog), Scott has some well-written advice for tackling the distractions of the digital age. With Facebook, email, instant messaging, and Twitter all beckoning us away from doing real work, it’s a problem many entrepreneurs battle on a daily basis.
Topics like “The Art of Focused Networking” and “How to Live Without a Cell Phone” are interesting takes from a 24-year-old entrepreneur working entirely online.
The Business
What’s perhaps most intriguing about the concept of Writing 2.0 is its business goals. Writing a book in real-time on WordPress is much different than securing a traditional publisher and going through draft after draft in private.
“How to Get Focused” purports to be completed in just three months, and Scott is following up its online completion with sales of a self-published version of the book. He’s also released a few sub-$10 software downloads that build off the mantra of focusing in this Age of Distraction (like his FocusList product, a simple to-do list for download).
The concept of writing the book in WordPress allows for a few key marketing opportunities a traditional book would not. First off, people can follow along as the chapters are released. A following is built of interested readers, who give feedback on the content and also develop a level of trust with the author.
When the full book is released for sale, it’s likely these readers will be the first buyers. They’ve connected with Scott and the content already online over time, and that’s a different relationship than a faceless author self-publishing a book.
The Young Entrepreneur’s Take
The model of “How to Get Focused” is especially useful for young or unknown authors. It stays true to the “young” person’s world of the Internet, with ease of use and distribution to many, long before you’ve made a name for yourself as an expert or author.
It’s a great way for entrepreneurs to build some credibility and buzz.
Most of all, it can show aspiring minds that there’s even a business sitting behind the most traditional of industries dating back centuries.
Books just went 2.0
Brant Bukowsky is the founder of GrowthPartner.com, a unique firm that provides angel investment and online marketing expertise to emerging companies. A serial entrepreneur, Bukowsky and his team have built three Inc. 500 companies in the last five years. He blogs at Angel Investment Journal. You can view his full profile here.
I had this idea a while back. Why did I sit idle!?
I like this guy’s initative and freshness.
This is a very interesting book. I have to check out “How to get focused” now. Thanks for sharing.
I like this site and it’s a good read.
Focus is important, especially in 2010 with the amount of distractions around.
RSS feeds, email and push-notifications can be some of the worst if not tamed properly!
The traffic cops will love me for this one… There are many people making money online by brokering traffic. You will be a traffic broker yourself. It is a very good gig. As a bonus, you can even obtain all the traffic that you need for your own purposes. Go on and take a look.. http://bit.ly/KlgCZh