Readers have been asking for an In 30 Minutes® guide to Twitter. If you are a writer, know Twitter like the back of your hand, and are interested in helping newbies get up to speed with Twitter, then let’s talk! First, I will share a few details about what this assignment entails.
In 30 Minutes guides are designed to make mildly complex topics easy to understand. Most topics relate to software (Dropbox In 30 Minutes) or other hardware and software technologies, although we recently released a health-related title that was written by a doctor (C Diff In 30 Minutes). They are not comprehensive tomes that cover every aspect or use case under the sun, but rather serve as quick-start guides that can get mainstream audiences up to speed in just 30 minutes. Readers love the “In 30 Minutes” concept, and appreciate the contents, which really make it easy to understand these subjects and take action. Many readers end up buying more than one book.
In 30 Minutes guides don’t take long to write. They range in length from 10,000 to 15,000 words — about 1/5th the length of a typical novel. You can see a sample table of contents on What’s Inside Dropbox In 30 Minutes. For authors who have full-time jobs, it typically takes 3-4 weeks to produce a first draft, writing nights and on weekends. subsequent drafts and special content (such as producing screenshots) take an additional two weeks.
The style is very casual and reassuring, with lots of bullet points and step-by-step instructions. Here is a sample page from Melanie Pinola’s LinkedIn In 30 Minutes: How to create a rock-solid LinkedIn profile and build connections that matter:
… It’s crucial to understand what separates an average LinkedIn profile from those that truly stand out. Many people make the mistake of breezing through LinkedIn’s simple wizards to create the most barebones online profile. They then walk away, only to later wonder why LinkedIn “doesn’t work” or do anything for them. Although you can add as little information to your profile as you want, the more you customize your page, the better your chances of LinkedIn actually being a useful tool (instead of something that’s there just for the heck of it, like a stack of business cards you never hand out.)
To make your profile as effective as possible, we’ll use a three-prong strategy:
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Align your profile with your goals (so you attract the right kinds of opportunities)
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Incorporate search-friendly keywords to highlight your skills and strengths (this will make it easier for people to find you on the network)
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Create as complete a profile as possible (so anyone who reads your profile will know what you’re all about)
In many ways, the “voice” in In 30 Minutes guides is similar to what you might find in a blog … and, in fact, if you are an experienced blogger, that will serve you well as you write and market the guide!
The guides also include screenshots and a few photos to make the topic easier to understand. I generally ask the authors to gather the screenshots. Photos, if used, are generally stock photography, and diagrams will either be created by the publishing company or our graphic designer.
You may be asking: Why not simply produce a Twitter guide and self-publish on Amazon or Smashwords? Here are some reasons why it makes sense to write an In 30 Minutes guide, as opposed to doing it by yourself:
- i30 Media Corporation (the publisher of In 30 Minutes guides) is an independent publisher that has released nearly 10 titles in the last year, and has been profitable since the beginning.
- In 30 Minutes is a brand. Readers recognize it, and some of them go out of their way to look for other titles. It’s also a registered trademark.
- All In 30 Minutes guides are professionally edited and produced.
- The finished product is released by i30 Media Corporation on various ebook platforms (Kindle, iPad, Nook) as well as in PDF format and paperback books. All paperback titles can be ordered through Amazon as well as the distribution system that serves libraries and bookstores.
- We realize the importance of marketing. Although we can’t afford big-budget advertising campaigns, we are very savvy about inbound marketing and other creative ways of attracting readers. Authors who are willing and able to actively participate in marketing the guides double the already generous royalty rate.
- We do not charge publishing or marketing costs against authors’ royalties.
If you’re interested in learning more, please contact me at ian -at- in30minutes dot com. I’d be glad to answer any questions about writing Twitter In 30 Minutes. If you have an idea for another topic, I’d be happy to hear your pitch, too — just send a one-paragraph introduction and a short list of some of the chapter headings.