Not everyone has what it takes to author a book. It takes someone with a range of special talents.
You must have the creative skills to generate a few pages of text on a particular topic, the graphic design acumen to add a photo from iStock.com, and the technical skills to click a button and create a downloadable PDF. That’s not all. You’ll also need Internet access so you can upload your new PDF to a Facebook fan page, and also some friends to “Like” the new book.
Sadly, there are some who don’t have these abilities–infants and deceased people come to mind.
You get the point. In a previous context, the word, “book” could lead one to believe that an actual editor and publisher were involved in its development and that one or more trees were felled in its creation.
Today, the barrier to entry and cost for publishing what passes for a “book” has officially dropped to around…zero. This trend and the has led to a glut of what are referred to as micro-niche titles–some no more than a glorified PowerPoint presentation or Word doc–each aiming for an ultra-narrow slice of the market.
Here are some actual examples of micro-niche books I’ve seen recently:
The Sun Tzu Guide to Management for Left-Handed Female CFOs
How to Plan Your Next Sales Kickoff on an Even-Numbered Sunday
Moammar Gadhafi’s Tips for Helping North African Strongmen Cling to Power
Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Guide to Tweeting One’s Privates to Barely Legal Girls
Idiot’s Guide to Writing Book Jacket Blurbs
The Art of Precisely Placing a Dual-Alarm Clock Equidistant from both Bedfellows So that Neither has to Turn it Off for the Other Each Morning
How to Sell Anything to VPs and Above Named Frank
Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Guide to Denying then Admitting Tweeting One’s Privates to Barely Legal Girls
How to Increase Revenue by Incorporating Fuchsia Into Your Home Page
Congressperson’s Guide to Demanding Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Resignation
Five Steps to Publishing a Bestselling Micro-Niche Business Book…in Baltimore
Bob London is President of London, Ink, a marketing and communications consulting firm based in the Washington, DC area. He can be reached at bob@londonink.com.
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“How to Win 8 NBA Championships by only playing 3 Quarters per Game”
Tom, that’s brilliant. Wish I’d thought of it.
Additional query possibilities:
1. Looking for people willing to abandon all artificial hope after years of ignoring multiple, competing truths.
2. Who out there now finds wrinkles to be the ultimate sign of beauty and distinction? Tell us the secrets of your success at cultivating more.
3. Looking for people with the ability to be struck temporarily, totally, gloriously numb during news segments that are all about titillation for the unreflective voyeurs in the audience.
4. Seeking informed grandchildren who can explain selected segments of pop culture to out of date grandparents.
5. Looking for people who can design and lead complex online Time Management and Prioritization courses on how to find the time to listen to all podcasts, read and respond to all texts and emails, listen and respond to all voice mails, and be up to date on the blogosphere and other key life relationships. Have you ever rushed from one meeting or place to another while noticing people sitting at sidewalk cafes sipping coffee? What do they understand that we don’t get?