My Adventures Writing My Books
I am so excited this week. I have finished writing my latest book, and now I am waiting for the editing to happen. My baby is being kicked out the door...it is a scary moment.
I am waiting with bated breath to wait for my proofreader - my fabulous DIL Amanda Jeans - is going to make sure I make sense of all my ideas and advice in the latest book :). This is a lot more difficult to write than my first few books, which are steps and guides to set up a Shopify store. WAY EASY!
This book is more about the 'blah blah blah' as I call it...more writing and fewer images which means I had a lot more writing to do. I have learned so much during this adventure and quite a few mistakes, obviously.
So today, I want to share the tools that I have used in all my writing adventures. I showed my students in my class on Thursday, and I knew this would be a fabulous Saturday Toolbox idea.
Grammarly - is a fantastic piece of software that keeps my English, Afrikaans, Dutch, and German grammar flowing correctly. And Grammarly helps with my emails, newsletters, or whatever I write online.
WordTune - is a Chrome extension that helps to restructure and improve my paragraphs for a quick check. I use it to get a few different ways to structure my sentences. Again, WordTune is also in my
Copy.ai - I am sure I have mentioned my AI software before, but I use it to create my blogs in ONE hour with the new wizard. But it also helped me to build my ideas and advice in my book because I started with the blogs where I have posted so much information that I could collate into my book.
Using writing software was another trial and error!
I started in Word (my first book) and then bought Atticus, which is amazing. I needed an easier way to write my books and have a quick overview of all the chapters, and be able to flick backward and forwards to the different chapters.
It is a really easy software to use to write books and download the correct format to upload to KDP - Amazon.
My problem was all my images in my first few books - thousands and Atticus balked at the overload.
Because I was trying to publish my books, I tried another software, Vellum. The only problem with Vellum is that it only works for Mac (which is not a problem for me), and you cannot download your book in a Word document.
But the great thing is that it will publish all the book formats you need Apple Play, Google Play, Kobo, Nook, and Print in the right trim book size.
The other problem with Vellum is that you can only upload your writing in Word format. Why is that a problem?
Well, this is part of my adventure as a writer. After I finished my first book in 2020 - Shopify Made Easy - my keyboard was sticky, and I took it to Apple to be fixed. I was warned that I needed to back up my hard drive before taking it to Apple. I did, but obviously, some of the files I forgot to back up. I did not have an automatic backup of my computer!! Yep, you guessed it, my hard drive was cleaned, and boom, no more files. Now, I only had a PDF format for my book, which is really not easy to update or edit.
Then somebody mentioned Scrivener, and I am in love. This is a writer's must-have tool. It is all about writing and making it as easy as possible to write.
Scrivener is really not as easy as Vellum or Atticus but has a lot more features that makes life so much easier while writing. So I use Vellum and Scrivener now to write my books.
A great comparison for Vellum and Atticus is on Kindlepreneur.com.
I also have to tell you about my experiences with customer service with both Atticus and Vellum.
Atticus' customer service was amazing. The development team worked hard before Christmas so I could download my book - they were still in the Beta version, and I was testing Atticus for my book.
Vellum's customer service advice was when Vellum would not save the updates and edits of my book - to crash the software and restart your computer!
"If you're having trouble quitting Vellum, we'd recommend first checking for any prompts or dialogs that may be open. If there aren't any, and Vellum still is unable to quit, you can use Force Quit, found in the menu."
Next, I will add a comparison of Vellum and Scrivener and if I can find Scrivener and Atticus.
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Also in eCommerce Success Blog
6 Ways How To Improve Your Ecommerce Store in 2025
By Veronica Jeans, Bestselling Author September 16, 2024
As we step into 2025, the ecommerce landscape continues to evolve rapidly, making it essential for online retailers to stay ahead of the curve. One of the most impactful ways to enhance your ecommerce store is by leveraging technology, particularly with the rising influence of artificial intelligence. In this blog post, we will explore innovative strategies that can help you increase customer engagement, streamline operations, and ultimately drive sales using AI.
1. Personalized Shopping Experiences Using AI
Personalization is no longer just an option; it has become a necessity in ecommerce. Customers today expect a tailored shopping experience that resonates with their preferences and needs. By leveraging AI, you can analyze user behavior and purchase history to create personalized shopper journeys. Imagine a visitor landing on your site and being greeted with product recommendations perfectly curated to their past interests. This not only enhances their shopping experience but also boosts your conversion rates.
Additionally, personalized email campaigns can significantly increase engagement. Using AI algorithms, you can segment your customer database based on shopping habits, preferences, and even seasonal trends. This targeted approach ensures that your messages are relevant and increase the likelihood of a purchase. For instance, sending a personalized discount code on a customer’s favorite products can reignite their interest and drive sales.
2. Automating Customer Support with Chatbots
Customer support is crucial for maintaining satisfaction in any ecommerce business. In 2025, automating this process using AI chatbots will be the norm. These chatbots can handle a multitude of inquiries simultaneously, providing instant responses to customers, and drastically reducing wait times. Imagine being able to assist your customers around the clock, answering their questions even when your human team is unavailable. This level of service not only improves customer satisfaction but also enhances brand loyalty.
Moreover, chatbots can collect valuable data from interactions with customers to help you identify common issues or frequently asked questions. By understanding these patterns, you can refine your product offerings and improve overall service. This way, you are not only resolving customer issues in real-time but also proactively enhancing their overall experience with your brand.
3. AI-Powered Inventory Management Solutions
Managing inventory efficiently is a significant challenge for ecommerce stores, but AI offers innovative solutions to this issue. AI-powered systems can predict which products will be in demand based on historical data, current trends, and seasonal fluctuations. By utilizing these insights, you can optimize your stock levels, reducing the risks of both overstock and stockouts. This not only saves you money but also enhances the customer experience, as products are readily available when they are needed.
Additionally, these systems can automate the reordering process, ensuring that you maintain optimal inventory levels without manual intervention. This automation not only streamlines operations but also allows your team to focus on more strategic tasks, such as marketing and customer service. In a fast-paced environment, having a reliable inventory management system powered by AI can be a game changer.
4. Enhancing Product Recommendations through Machine Learning
Product recommendations are a powerful tool for boosting sales, and machine learning can elevate this strategy to new heights. By analyzing customer behavior and preferences, machine learning algorithms can effectively suggest items that customers are most likely to purchase. This not only increases the average order value but also reduces the decision fatigue customers often face when sifting through numerous options.
Furthermore, the application of deep learning techniques can help refine these recommendations. Over time, these models learn from customer engagement and adapt to provide more accurate suggestions. With the right setup, your ecommerce site becomes a personalized shopping assistant that understands each customer’s unique taste. This creates a personalized experience that keeps customers returning, resulting in long-term loyalty.
5. Using Predictive Analytics to Anticipate Customer Needs
Predictive analytics is a powerful tool that allows ecommerce businesses to anticipate customer needs even before they arise. By leveraging historical data, businesses can identify trends and predict future behaviors. For instance, if a specific product tends to see a spike in sales during a particular season, your store can prepare the inventory accordingly, thus enhancing customer satisfaction.
Moreover, understanding customer behavior through predictive analytics enables you to implement timely marketing strategies. Whether it’s targeted promotions or personalized recommendations, you can align your marketing efforts with customer demands. This proactive approach not only increases sales but also demonstrates to your customers that you understand and value their needs.
6. Improving Marketing Campaigns with AI Insights
In 2025, utilizing AI insights will revolutionize how marketing campaigns are developed and executed. By analyzing large sets of consumer data, AI can identify successful strategies and areas needing improvement. Instead of relying solely on gut feelings or past experiences, your campaigns will be data-driven, which significantly enhances their effectiveness.
Furthermore, AI can help you optimize ad placements and targeting, ensuring that your marketing efforts reach the right audience at the right time. By understanding which factors drive conversions, you can adjust your campaigns dynamically, allowing for real-time optimization that improves ROI. This level of adaptability is crucial in the fast-paced ecommerce landscape where consumer preferences shift rapidly.
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