Thread: Help: Advice Needed

Simple....Exclude the word diet from the book
Once people hear diet, they freak out

Maybe label it
How to eat to be healthy, strong, and thin.....or something...

I wont include the 4 letter "diet" word ...although the South beach Diet and Atkins Diet seem to be doing well.

thanks cat!

Yea but you gonna remember the atkins has been around for what
50 years...and its just NOW getting popular?

Originally posted by DrChiro
I wont include the 4 letter "diet" word ...although the South beach Diet and Atkins Diet seem to be doing well.

True, but look how long it took for them to catch on and how much resistance they're STILL getting. Title it something like "Fun ways to eat yourself healthy."

the "average dieter" wants to be promised the world but in my opinion unrealistic claims discredit many books like this and may lead to feelings of failure for the dieter. the problem is - i suspect the outrageous promises help sell books just the same.

it's like people know better than to believe they'll lose 20 lbs in a week - but want to make sure this time it isn't for real....

I dont want to make crazy claims or use flase advertising...I think people need to be told straight and hopefully enough of them are ready for honesty to make this semi successful.

Like you said "they know better"...hopefully by showing them that they do know the right way and guiding them in a way that makes sense they can lose weight once and for all, the right way.

Idealistic I know, but I am trying to stay positive about this and have a little faith in people.


(good points albob and mycat)

Originally posted by DrChiro
I dont want to make crazy claims or use flase advertising...I think people need to be told straight and hopefully enough of them are ready for honesty to make this semi successful.

I'm glad to hear you hold your personal integrity in such high regard. The problem you're going to run into though is, before you can tell them the TRUTH, you have to get them to buy the book. That's why I suggest a title that's completly non-threatning and, hopefully, will entice them with a "mild" promise of enjoyment.

Originally posted by myCATpowerlifts
Simple....Exclude the word diet from the book
Once people hear diet, they freak out

I agree, that is one word that needs to be eliminated from the American vocabulary.

Diets do not work, period.

One of the good aspects of Bill's "Body For Life" is he stressed that your need to make a lifesyle change, you have to permanently change your eating habits in a way that you can live with forever, NO diet!

You guys are hitting it right on the money...the hardest part for me at the moment is deciding a good, ethical, marketing strategy and a good title that will be appealing and not misleading.

Originally posted by DrChiro
You guys are hitting it right on the money...the hardest part for me at the moment is deciding a good, ETHICAL , marketing strategy and a good title that will be appealing and not misleading.

Oh damn. *TAG* I'm out. Sorry Doc.

lol...you aren't out yet Albob...just try and pretend you are ethical...i need your help!

The best method is shock therapy. When they open the book have a twinkie on one side and something healthy on the other side. When they grab the twinkie it shocks the hell out of them. From then on they will associate twinkies with being shocked and will choose the alternative. Of course this would have to be a 1000 book series to break everyone of all the snack cakes, candies etc.

In all honesty you are wasting your time trying to sell the truth, these folks want to be told that they can lose 100 Lbs. in a month, they want to be lied to so that when they fail to meet even the smallest of their goals they can blame it on the lies they were fed. They want a magic machine that they can blow $100 buck's on use it twice and then it folds neatly and fit's under the bed until they have a garage sale where they give it away for $10 buck's. They want a bottle of pills that they use for 2 day's and then complain that they feel jittery or too hot.

Marketing and Ethics?

Oxymoron?

Is this going to be an ebook, or a published paperback book?

I am looking into both marketing arenas. I guess I am still "old fashioned" but I like to see the actual product rather than have an e-book. But there is much to be said for the low costs of producing an e-book.....possibly I will attempt a bit of both...not sure yet.

Marketing and Ethics?

Oxymoron?


It would seem that way at times...I hope to change that.

maniclion
I like the way you think....we can call it pavlov's twinkie...actually it's not a bad idea.

I think we should set up buffet swat teams...we would pose undercover at golden coralls...we could be armed with stun guns and shock people who load their plates with too much fried chicken and ice cream.

Originally posted by DrChiro
I am looking into both marketing arenas. I guess I am still "old fashioned" but I like to see the actual product rather than have an e-book. But there is much to be said for the low costs of producing an e-book.....possibly I will attempt a bit of both...not sure yet.

Much cheaper to get rolling, and ultimately you would probably make more money simply because the profit margin is higher and unfortunately you do not have a celebrity name which seems to be needed these days to sell a paperback book.

One of my best sellers is
Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto. He only sells it as an ebook. He used to sell a hard copy but stopped and now only offers it in ebook format.

I do not know how much he makes, but he has one of the best selling ebooks on the net (number one at Clickbank), so I am sure he is raking in several thousand a month from it. (I would not doubt that he makes around 10K a month).

I would base the book on slowly changing habits and strategies for doing so.

Robert- the whole ebook marketing is new to me...any suggestions about how to go about it?

since i am not targeting the audience that seems to frequent this board I doubt this would be a good forum for it.

maniclion- good insight...thanks

Originally posted by DrChiro
I was hoping to get some feedback on what you guys would like to see in a diet book

I would like to see all our names in it

Seriously? I would like to see a detailed chapter about where I can get more information.(sites, books ...)

Originally posted by DrChiro
Robert- the whole ebook marketing is new to me...any suggestions about how to go about it?

I think I would say write the book first, worry about marketing after it's complete.

In the beginning of the book, have a page where they sign a pact or Covenant if you will. With your sig on it as well. You can can only meet them as far as they are willing to meet you...you've don't your part with the book. Encourage them to tear it out and stick it on the bathroom or something like that. It is all to easy to start books and never finish, but if a commitment has been made, it is more likely to be finished and used. As for the markieting part, beats me. lol

And if you put recipes in it, be sure you got some that don't cause a single guy to make a damn mess of the kitchen. lol

Heres a sure selling title "Home Lipo-suction for Idiots."

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by maniclion
Heres a sure selling title "Home Lipo-suction for Idiots."

That is just too weird.. I fell sleep today thinking about this insane possibility.

Originally posted by DrChiro
I am currently collaborating with some people on a diet/excercise book...not for us bodybuilder/figure types...but for the average person. Something like a Body For Life but much better...and not by Billy Phillips.

I was hoping to get some feedback on what you guys would like to see in a diet book, what you dont like seeing in diet books, any suggestions you may have.

I have alot of good ideas and research already but sometimes a different perspective makes all the difference.

I know there are alot of very intelligent people on this board and I value your input....please feel free to comment on anything (like this really has to be said...lol)

Thanks!

a section on the endrocrine system. it would also have to include info on how the foods ingested have a direct effect on the endocrine system and how that effects weight gain/loss. of course you would have to dumb it down a lot for the layman..

Amen.. How common health issues (not necessarily clinical/diagnosed) can affect weight loss and what to do about it.

EX: slight thyroid slow-down due to excess dieting (or Wilsons)
EX: IBS and how not absorbing nutrients relates to weight loss
EX: anxiety/stress/depression and weight loss
EX: insulin resistant but not diabetic? how do u know?
EX: if you truly feel some type of health issue is holding you back but the doctor can't find anything WHAT DO U DO?
EX: How to read your own damn blood tests
EX: Important vitamins/minerals/supps that are not really supps.. makes sense? Stuff like antioxidants, probiotics, certain aminos, etc.
EX: Food allergies and intolerances and their effects
EX: Adrenal fatigue????

Ok, ok, so these are all questions I have.. but I truly think these issues are for the most part ignored by the weight loss "gurus" and may hold the key to the average person who's struggling to lose weight and knows that something else is going on.

I am very interested in this book. We all too often get so caught up in specifics that we neglect the BASICS. I mean, my mom is trying to lose some weight but not be a fitness chick and I don't even know what to tell her!

DrChiro please keep us posted. If you or anybody else has info on the above questions PLEASE send me the info, PM or in my journal! THANKS!

BTW I wish the BFFM book was available in hard copy