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 1http://www.TheCreativePenn.com W
riting, self-publishing, print-on-demand, internet sal
es and marketing…for your book
 
How Gary Vaynerchuk Got a 10 Book Deal Without AskingFor It
On 
HarperStudio’s blog yesterday
 was the news that they have offeredGary Vaynerchuka
10 book deal. Maybe you haven’t heard of GaryV, but yesterday I discovered why authors
need to know about him and how he got his book deal.
So why did Harper Collins offer Gary a 10 book deal?
(for an undisclosed amount ofmoney!).One word answer: platform.
A platform is a way to reach people, it’s a following and from the publisher’s perspective, it’s
people who will buy your books. And why does Gary V have a platform?
Passion creates a niche. Do what you love.
 When you watch Gary in action, you know he is passionate! Check out one of hiswine videoblogs
and be amazed. This guy is enthusiastic! You don’t have to copy his style, but you doneed to follow your passion. In the above video, he says “stop doing stuff you hate”, and that
is true for writers and creative types as much as anyone else. Identify what you hate doing,
and stop it. (I hear you saying that you can’t but believe me, there is a way! Leave a
comment if you need some help. )He also says that if you do what you love, you can monetise it. Break out of the mindset thatyou just have to write a book, sell it to an agent/publisher and repeat in order to make aliving. You can do so much more with your content it is amazing! (
more on this author/entrepreneur idea in future posts 
)
Be authentic. Be transparent. Be real. Build brand equity.
 Gary does not hide anything from what I have seen. He is so very real, it is probably scaringthe introverted authors reading this! But his authenticity is what attracts people to him. Hedoes video everywhere and seems to be openly honest.
“The only way to succeed is to becompletely transparent”.
If you build a brand, you can build a business based on that -whether it is through your books, your speaking or other products.
Connection and caring for your readers/viewers
 Gary connects with his viewers and the people who follow him. He says he responds to allemail personally, and he works ridiculous hours to make sure he is connecting. He also talksabout the social networks
 –
you need to be there and you need to connect with your readers,or potential readers. (Incidentally, he ratessearch.twitter.comas the most powerful websitein the world right now
 –
 
here’s more on twitter 
) 
 
 2http://www.TheCreativePenn.com W
riting, self-publishing, print-on-demand, internet sal
es and marketing…for your book
 
Persistence. Work hard. Don’t give up.
 
Gary took over his family’s wine business and built it up over 7 years. Then he gave it up to
startWine Library TV.He did it 5 days a week for 17 months before he started getting anyattention. He is now on #652 of his videos (each are half hour of quality TV!) so he is not anovernight success. He works incredible hours and continues to post daily. He is not restingon his laurels. He suggests working at nights if you have a day job, stop watching TV andget on with it.
Freemium
 The internet is all about free information now. You have to understand that your contentneeds to be free. This model is new and strange to authors (especially if you spend yearswriting your book). But you need to give and give in order for people to find you, and thenthey may want to spend money on the products you have available. You have a premiumproduct o
n top of the free information. You don’t need to give away your book for free
(althoughCory Doctorowuses that model), but you can post chapters, excerpts, tips,information, downloads, audio, video on your blog for people to sample. Gary gives so muchaway for free but he also has aWine Clubas part of Wine Library TV (and many moremonetisation strategies!)It is important to note here that your free information has to be of great quality
“If you pumpout good shit, people will come” 
 
Attraction. People attract people (attract book deals)
 I LOVE the fact that Gary did not chase this book deal. Harper Collins went to him. They sawhis popularity, his platform, his attraction and approached him. He did not ask for a bookdeal, he did not pursue publication. He did not do a book proposal, or a query letter, orreceive rejections from agents or publishers. He just does what he loves and built hisbusiness, and attracted the opportunity.
“The gatekeepers are no longer in control”.
Theinternet frees all of us to be noticed. Mainstream media now follows the net so you can buildyour own platform.
I would love a 10 book deal. I’m sure you woul
d too. I am going to learn my lessons fromGaryV so I hope this has also helped you see a new model for authors to follow!(I have also made a
 
video commenting on this here
 )
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