Rest in Print: Survival of the fittest

From office printing to the rise of Managed Services, Rest in Print launches as an easy-to-read guide to help businesses reduce costs of their office printing. We speak to author Mitchell Filby, who draws on extensive industry experience as a global industry expert, keynote speaker and publisher to examine today’s office printing practices and current trends. 

The office printing industry is under pressure.

Office printing volumes are in their greatest decline.

Quite simply, the office printing industry is facing its greatest challenge of the past twenty-five years. And the big question is, which brand or manufacturer will survive?

Rest in Print – A guide for survival

Author Mitchell Filby calls for a transformation of the office printing and document-imaging industry through his new book Rest in Print. The book will help companies reduce their costs and burden from office printing, and help the overall office printing industry adapt from the printed page to digital content.

“I want to help businesses save thousands of dollars simply by following a few simple industry best practices,” Mitchell said, “while at the same time discover insights of how the industry has and continues to engage with its customers.”

“Rest In Print provides unique insight into the challenges, and the opportunities available, as print volumes decline and the industry transitions into a services-led model, such as Managed Print Services (MPS).”

So what makes this book unique?

Rest in Print launches as the first ever book to delve into the past twenty-five years of the print industry and examine how businesses will fight to stay relevant despite customer, market and technological changes.

Mitchell Filby has seen firsthand what companies will do to survive, and what happens when they don’t, from his time working and consulting for companies like Oce, Kodak, Fuji Xerox and Canon.

The book will give readers:

• A useful, easy-to-read guide to understand today’s practices and current trends.
• Five factors businesses need to know in order to understand Page per Print contract and take control of printing spend.
• How to improve business appeal so that customers fight harder for their business.
• Up-to-the-minute tips to help spot sharp sales practices that cost money.

Who will read it?

Rest in Print was written for decision makers across both corporate and government businesses that actively have to engage, manage and require an insight of the print, copier and document-imaging marketplace.

However it is expected the largest target market will be the copier, print and document imaging industry including many of the related industries that connect into or are now integrated into the print/copier industry, such as toner & ink supplies businesses, the hardware and software financing industry, IT distributors and resellers and the vast array of printer/copier sales channels and dealerships around the world.

Get your copy today

Rest in Print launched last month and was edited by our expert team at Red Raven Books, The Copy Collective’s new publishing and imprint service.

Order your copy today.

About the author, Mitchell Filby

Mitchell is the founder and Managing Director of First Rock Consulting, Australia’s leading and most recognised independent Business Consultancy, IT Advisory and Media organisation. The business was specifically shaped and fashioned around supporting and servicing all the elements that interact and grow out of the office printing and document imaging industry in Australia.

Mitchell is also a media journalist, active industry blogger and a keynote speaker at numerous global managed print services conferences around the world.

Mitchell’s passion is to transform the office printing and document imaging industry but at the same time keep it accountable for its actions. His vision and goal is to help big business manage and bridge existing paper-based output content to a more effective and efficient digital content format.

June is Author's Month to celebrate the launch of Red Raven Books. Red Raven Books is the publishing and imprint arm of The Copy Collective. Find out how we can help you today.

 

What Does Software Testing and Customer Satisfaction Have in Common?

Michael Hamilton converts his finance and telecommunications experience into the launch of his first book IT Should Just Work – Customer Satisfaction and the value of Software Testing. Here we unpack his passion for working with businesses to deliver working outcomes for a positive customer experience.

Ever been in a position when you can’t access your internet banking for an entire 24 hour period? 
Or
Upon checking into your airline flight you find out the booking system has crashed with no notice of when the system will be operational again?

It should just work, right? The reach of Information Technology (IT) now impacts every facet of business.

That’s why software testing and quality control procedures exist in today’s world to avoid these types of catastrophic events.

Software testing and customer satisfaction – what do they have in common?

Michael Hamilton, an IT Software Testing professional, has witnessed the dramatic transformation of the IT industry during the past 11 years and he has worked with local and international software vendors for clients such as Telstra, Optus, & NAB.

He knows that customers just want the software to work the first time and operate as expected, every time.

IT should just work – Customer Satisfaction & the value of Software Testing

That’s why he wrote IT should just work – Customer Satisfaction & the value of Software Testing edited by Red Raven Books, The Copy Collective’s new publishing and imprint service.

“I wanted to educate both technical and non-technical executives, business owners, and IT Managers on the benefits of employing an integrated software testing and customer focused strategy,” said Michael.

“The book motivates the reader to implement software testing practices not only within their IT strategy but in their day to day business practices as well.”

So what makes this book unique?

This is the only book you’ll read that sets out the impact of software testing and how it affects your brand loyalty, customer satisfaction and brand reputation.

And a few more reasons:

• It’s a practical guide to implement software testing into your IT strategy
• It cuts through the tech jargon with business friendly language and no assumed knowledge required
• Learn from relevant examples from customer centric organisations and the key business decision makers employing an IT strategy
• You can self-assess your business with a health check of your current IT practices 

Who will read it?

• All organisations whose core business is customer satisfaction and brand loyalty
• Companies’ currently employing software testing in their IT strategy and wanting to improve their results
• Companies’ not employing software testing at all. This book demonstrates the correlation of how below standard software performance has a direct impact on customer loyalty, customer satisfaction, and brand reputation. 

Get your copy in July

IT Should Just Work – Customer Satisfaction and the value of Software Testing is a step-by-step guide for organisations where the customer is the central part of their business.

“I have shared my personal experience, knowledge and industry interactions which define the difference between success and failure for any customer-focused organisations,” Michael said.

“If you are serious about driving your business to the next level or establishing a new business take this step with me. It is a journey that will benefit you and especially your customers.”

The launch date will be announced on Michael Hamilton's LinkedIn Profile.

About the author, Michael Hamilton

Michael Hamilton is an IT Software Testing professional with first-hand experience and knowledge from working with a variety of strategic corporate projects during the past 11 years in finance and telecommunications.

Michael has the ability to turn complex problems into conceptual & simple strategies to ensure your next project is a successful one. Michael simply ensures your IT systems deliver a consistent outcome, customer satisfaction, upholds employee morale, supports customer loyalty and most importantly achieve profit through innovation.

June is Author's Month to celebrate the launch of Red Raven Books. Red Raven Books is the publishing and imprint arm of The Copy Collective. Find out how we can help you today.

 

Author Photos: Putting Your Best Face Forward (Part 4)

"10 Simple Steps to becoming a successful published author" continues with the importance of the author's photograph, by Maureen Shelley.

Pic source:  Link Delight

The author photo is the most important piece of your marketing material. We recommend that you use a professional photographer. 

A professional portrait will range from $150 to $400, depending on the photographer.

What you'll need:

• You should ask your photographer to take portrait and landscape photos with a headshot, mid shot and full length. 
• You need to have these with a formal and informal look.  In one, wear a suit jacket and, if appropriate, a tie. The other can be more informal but should still be professional. 
• If you are writing a specialty book such as a cookbook, family memoir, children's book then you may need different photo choices. You should discuss this with your editor, graphic designer or writing mentor or group.

 

Can't afford a professional?

If you haven't budgeted for a photographer, you can use a digital camera or phone camera to take the shot. Ask someone to take the photo for you or use a tripod. You can improvise a tripod using a flat surface.  

Don't take a selfie but you can use the controls on your headphones to give you a 'remote'. Remember, to leave about 1.5m to 2m between you and the wall behind you, so that you control the shadows.

Also, if you can use multiple lights (standard lamp, desk lamp on the floor behind you - but out of shot), then do so. The more professional you can make the photo look the better.

Planning is essential

Multiple photo choices gives you more options for your book cover, marketing materials and digital assets such as website and social media pages.

Planning your shoot and thinking about your photograph options can ensure that your book looks like a professional production.

If you're looking for professional help. In Sydney, we use Toby Zerna Photography, Asterisk Photography or UberPhotography. Any of these studios will produce a great shot at a reasonable price. Mention Red Raven Books and they will look after you.

June is Author's Month to celebrate the launch of Red Raven Books. Red Raven Books is the publishing and imprint arm of The Copy Collective. Find out how we can help you today.

Book Cover Design and Editing: How to create a good-looking book that sells (Part 3)

Maureen Shelley continues with Part 3 of "10 Simple Steps to becoming a successful published author" series, on crafting a cover as good as your content.

Although we say "don't judge a book by its cover" everyone does. That makes the selection of the design for the cover of your book the most important decision you will make - apart from choosing the title.

"Hope in 60 Seconds" By author Graham Agnew

Front cover design

Graphic Designer: You should definitely budget for a graphic artist to specifically design the cover for your book. Although it will cost you between $250 and $500 it will be the best single investment you make in the creation of your work. Your designer should be able to offer you three choices of design. You will need to tell them what the book is about, who is the audience and what target market you are seeking. Your designer will know what are the current and upcoming trends in book design (yes, book covers have fads and fashions) and the colours that will appeal to your market segment.

Marketplace designs: If you really can't afford a graphic designer, then consider running a competition on www.99designs.com.au and set a budget for what you can afford. Please don't be too mean and please provide a reasonable budget for the competition. After all, if you are joining the creative community you need to respect your fellow creatives and provide fair compensation for their efforts.

Do-It-Yourself (DIY): If you really, really can't afford a designer then you could publish your book through a self-publishing website that offers standard book templates for your cover. This is the least desirable option but still at least gives your book a professional look. Try www.lulu.com or www.blurb.com.au for examples of book packages that can deliver a good quality result and a range of publishing options.

Back cover elements

Testimonials or endorsements: Once you've got the front cover design sorted, the back cover is the next important project. It is important to have organised your endorsements from people who have read your manuscript.

The blurb: You also need a good blurb of about 150 words that really encapsulates your book and its aim. Take time and care when writing this and ask someone else to read it for you before submitting it to your designer.

ISBN and barcode: If you are going to print your book, you will need an ISBN and a barcode. In Australia, the site to go to is Thorpe and Bowker at www.thorpe.com.au and they can supply both ISBNs and bar codes. However, if you use a site like Lulu or Blurb your package may include a barcode and ISBN.

The spine

Some people will first see your book as the spine on a bookshelf, so it has to work for you too. Before commissioning your design, study the shelves of your local bookshop and library. See what appeals to you. Look at other books in the same genre as yours - what elements do they include? You will most likely only have room for the title, your name and your publishing imprint logo.

This is where the title of your book has to do the most work, so ensure that your title sums up your book or is engaging or intriguing or all three. The width of your spine will depend on how many pages are in the book. If yours is light on, consider asking your typsetter to increase the spacing or the type size or the margins. A book that might be 60 pages of A4 text can turn to 300 pages in a Trade B paperback if the correct font, spacing and margins are used.

The wider the spine, the brighter the cover colours, the greater the contrast of type to cover, the more eye-catching your book's spine will be.

June is Author's Month to celebrate the launch of Red Raven Books. Red Raven Books is the publishing and imprint arm of The Copy Collective. Find out how we can help you today.

Editing: The Art of Asking the Right Questions (Part 2)

Maureen Shelley continues with Part 2 of "10 Simple Steps to becoming a successful published author" series, putting the spotlight on masterful editing.

An editor will proof read and undertake more substantive edits to a work. Proof reading involves checking for semantics, typographical errors and grammar.

Pic source: Tumblr.com

In searching for grammatical errors, an editor will consider a range of issues; and here are just some.

1.    Has the writer made the correct use of definitive articles?

2.    Has the writer avoided confusing modifiers?

3.    Are the subject and verb in agreement, in grammatical terms?

4.    Has the writer used appropriate punctuation within sentences?

5.    Does the sentence structure follow established principles? If not, is it appropriate for the work?

6.    Are there any spelling errors?

7.    What is the style for capitalisation and is it used consistently?

8.    Are the pro-noun (s) /noun (s) in agreement?

9.    Has the writer split their infinitives?

10. Are there squinting or limiting modifiers used?

11. Are there incomplete comparisons in the work?

12. Has the writer solved the great gerund mystery?

13. Are there redundant pairs?

14. Has the writer misused or confused 'like' and 'as'?

15. Has the writer taken the long way round to say something? That is, are there circumlocutions?

16. Has the correct punctuation been used, particularly in regard to question marks?

17. Has the writer confused self and personal pronoun use?

18. Is there pronoun and antecedent agreement?

19. Has the writer used double negatives?

20. Has the writer begun or ended sentences with a conjunctive?

21. Is there comparison of absolute adjectives?

22. Has the writer used unbalanced quantifiers or dangling modifiers?

23. In regard to semicolons; are they used correctly?

24. Is the verb form use appropriate?

25. Has the writer used prepositions at the beginning or end of sentences? If so, is that appropriate for the text?

26. Has the writer indulged in noun strings?

27. Do the verb tenses agree?

28. Has there been misuse of subordinate or subjunctive clauses?

29. Is there incorrect pronoun case agreement?

Apart from resolving these issues, an editor will also (if paid and directed to do so) check facts, gain permissions where appropriate, insert appropriate references (biblical, geographical and literary are just a few), index, mark citations, insert footnotes and endnotes and create a glossary.

In addition to all of this, a good editor will ensure that a work is readable and makes sense. That it has a consistent structure and sensible flow or a cohesive narrative.

A good editor is worth their weight in gold. (And they will check for cliches too!) Oh, and they will eliminate exclamation marks or 'screamers' as they are known.

June is Author's Month to celebrate the launch of Red Raven Books. Red Raven Books is the publishing and imprint arm of The Copy Collective. Find out how we can help you today.

Proofreading: What's it all about? (Part 1)

The Copy Collective's resident wordsmith Maureen Shelley begins her new blog series: "10 Simple Steps to becoming a successful published author."

Today she unpacks the curious concept of proof reading.

What is proof reading anyway?

Proof reading is when a manuscript or other written work is submitted for checking of semantics, grammar and typographical errors.

This can be done by a proof reader or editor or, if you can't afford a human, you can use online programs such as Grammarly . We use Grammarly to check for originality to ensure that work submitted for proofing or editing by us isn't plagiarised by the writer.

So what are you trying to say?

What programs such as Grammarly can't do for you is actually understand what you are trying to say when your subject and object aren't clear and then to suggest appropriate edits. 

If as a writer you can't even afford Grammarly, then you should at least use the spell checker in your word processing program.

Tips for top-class grammar when using Word:

• Set the language to your choice first - Australian English, UK English or US English - they will all give slightly different suggestions for spelling of words. Then do a "select all (Control A in Word on a PC) and then F7 for a spell check. Do this repeatedly - you will be amazed at how many errors you find.
• Turn on recommendations for grammar as well as spelling. It will come up with a few suggestions that you will need to ignore but should find most glaring errors.

June is Author's Month to celebrate the launch of Red Raven Books. Red Raven Books is the publishing and imprint arm of The Copy Collective. Find out how we can help you today.

The Red Raven flies with “Hope in 60 Seconds”

Guest Blogger Graeme Innes gives a bird's eye view from yesterday's book launch of “Hope in 60 Seconds”, Red Raven Book's first title in print.

Crows Nest is a great place from which to launch a new bird.  So Northside Community Church in Crows Nest, NSW provided an excellent launch-pad for Pastor Graham Agnew's first book, Hope In 60 Seconds.

It was fitting that the driving force behind the launch, boosting the book into the stratosphere of sales, was new publishing house Red Raven Books, the imprint arm of The Copy Collective.

When I endorsed Graham Agnew's (or GA to his friends) book I said:

“A super-charged buzz is on every page of Graham Agnew’s Hope is 60 Seconds. The messages throughout this book will renew your hope. I’ve been riveted by his sermons, loved his radio messages, and his book will make a permanent appearance in my daily reading.”

In launching the book, world-renowned author and speaker Michael McQueen commented the book contains 100 stories each with that vital ingredient of hope. He smilingly encouraged those at the launch to buy and read the book, as one of the stories could be about them.

I met a man walking away from the launch with five copies of the book in his hands.  In response to my question about his bulk purchase, he said "I've bought five of these books to give to five kids.  If one kid reads one story in the book, and it changes their life, it will be $100 well spent."

Hope in 60 Seconds can be obtained in print through Graham Agnew's website: grahamagnew.com. It will also be available as an E-book in July 2014.

June is authors month at The Copy Collective. We will profile new titles published by Red Raven Books; the publishing and imprint arm of The Copy Collective.