Thursday, March 27, 2008 Toral: Blogging, e-commerce and going international By Janette Toral Digital Filipino
THIS summer, I will be launching two books using a self-publishing model.
The first one is the book, Blogging from Home.
This is a book where I intend to share insights and experience of being a home-based blogger.
What motivated me to write this is to respond to the need of some Internet users who would like to explore blogging as a medium to share information, whether personal or business, and those who would like to explore making this a full-time profession.
I will also impart insights on generating revenue online through blogs.
While writing the manuscript, I take the perspective of a home-based blogger—wherever home is—who has several blogs, a small content writers network and blog advertising network.
This book was supposed to be launched last year.
However, the scope and title that I’ve given to it then was too broad.
Last Easter Sunday, I was thinking of combining my old blogging book manuscript with another one.
However, while reading through the manuscript, the title struck me and prompted me to register the domain name, bloggingfromhome.com.
The book will tackle topics on being a blogger, blog strategy, dealing with blog readers, making money through blogs, creating a blogging network and blogging advocacy.
I have also included a sample template guide for each chapter to help the blogger visualize how I created mine.
The second book I’m working on is E-Commerce for Entrepreneurs. A stock of my earlier book, DigitalFilipino E-Commerce Workshop E-Book, is nearly finished.
A few college and MBA professors are relying on it as a reference book.
This prompted the need for me to publish an updated version.
Fortunately, a lot of developments have happened in this area since 2004, such as the explosion of social networks, blogs and more payment alternatives for individuals, making the new title just right for it.
The challenge for me is to create a live example of an e-commerce project to show that it is, indeed, doable, whether the entrepreneur is using a social network, a blog or a full-fledged website to sell products and services online.
The two books are meant to be sold internationally and to be given for free to my e-commerce community, DigitalFilipino Club.
To avoid the impression that the book is purely Philippine-based, I need to consider changing the name of the community and make it more international sounding.
This can also lead the growth of the membership base outside the Philippines.
It won’t be easy and I hope the right one will hit me soon.
