📔 Greg Dixon talks with Thomas Goodlet, Sr., owner of Two Penney Publishing, about his journey from music to running a book publishing company. And what your publishing journey would look like with Two Penney Publishing. 📚
As a writer, you have a lot of different options for publishing your book, from learning how to publish for free or nearly free with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark to Traditional Book Publishing.
The road to traditional publishing is long and nearly impossible for most authors. Most major publishers have self-publishing divisions. For example, Hay House Publishing has Balboa Press.
Two Penney Publishing provides an affordable middle option.
No matter which path you choose, the publishing journey includes a number of steps, including:
✅ Writing
✅ Editing
✅ Formating
✅ Illustrations
✅ Cover Design
✅ Marketing
✅ Submitting
✅ Audiobook Production
The team at Two Penny Publishing has specialists in each area to help you every step of the way, starting with writing and book development coaching.
Learn more at https://twopennypublishing.com/
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Greg Dixon Shared Visions Unlimited Publishing | Marketing | Story Productions | Fun With Music
I have a lifetime of diverse experiences, training, and adventures that have led people to ask me for help with their projects. Some of my best long-term projects came from people asking me to do things I had not done before.
My superpower is learning to do new things, combined with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Perhaps my job title could be Greg Dixon, Chief Enabler of Getting StuffDone!
This is my Life Resume.
Education
In elementary school, I loved art and music.
I took a lot of science courses, such as Math, Physics, and Chemistry in High School. I was considering Chemical Engineering. History was one of my favourite classes.
At Capilano College, I deliberately took courses I did not take in high school, including English Literature, Biology, Philosophy, and Psychology. I also hung out in the Jazz Music program.
At the University of British Columbia, I considered majoring in Literature, Psychology, and Philosophy. I came to the conclusion that the best Psychology and the best Philosophy were in great literature, so I did an Honours Degree in English Literature, with an emphasis on Russian novelists such as Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I considered pursuing a doctorate in Comparative Literature.
After our twins were born, Ann suggested I follow my interest in computers and software development with the Computer Systems program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. I chose the Expert Systems specialty, including some of the early technologies leading to the dominance of search pattern matching and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
My natural interest in writing (and a recommendation by Dan Kennedy, the Gofather of Direct Marketing) led me to the American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI). I have attended two copywriting bookcamps in Florida and one online. I have access to every course they ever offered and am working through them. That is a lot.
I also purchased many video and marketing programs from people like Andy Jenkins, Dan Kennedy, Dave Dee, Russell Brunson, Kim Walsh Philips, Eric Lofholm, and Marie Forleo.
Currently, I am loading much of the material into an AI system and using it for consulting and copyediting.
Between my training, experience, search mastery, and AI, I can figure things out very quickly.
Writing, Marketing, and Publishing
Setting aside audio and visual elements for now, virtually all publishing and marketing comes down to words — writing.
People find stuff primarily through the words used in titles, descriptions, and captions.
Despite never learning to type properly, I have written many millions of words over the decades, including:
Hundreds of essays.
Hundreds of websites.
Thousands of blog posts.
Many print magazine articles.
A corporate newsletter.
Thousands of social media posts, usually with a graphic.
Desktop publishing assets, including posters, business cards, and brochures.
Two books, with more in progress.
Roadmaps and planning documents.
Technical writing projects.
Poems and songs.
Story productions.
Video scripts.
Helped publish many books through Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, eBooks, Flipbooks, and multimedia Experience Editions. Also, video and audio projects.
Online courses and other training materials.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO). If you found this post through a search, it worked!
I am a natural fit for most copywriting, marketing, and publishing roles.
An interest in capturing family stories and music events led me to buy a video camera. I have my 10,000 hours in with a wide range of video projects, including:
Family reunions and events such as weddings.
Music concerts.
Keynote presentations.
Church services.
Personal stories.
Training sessions.
Business introductions.
Landing page videos.
Livestream interviews and discussions.
Webinars and Funshops.
Food security and rescue projects.
Except for client videos, there are many clips on YouTube.
My first job after learning Computer Systems was working for a large Systems Integration company called SHL Systemhouse, which was eventually absorbed into EDS.
I started as a programmer and grew into roles such as System Architect and Project Manager. I also managed the branch newsletter, writing most of the content. The company had an excellent internal training system that covered most aspects of systems development and support.
An introduction through a singer in The Strange Bedfellows led to decades of helping develop and market online psychometric systems for hiring and developing personnel at all levels.
The top system took many hundreds of data points from four hours of testing to create a multipage Management Assessment report. Our clients were mostly large communications clients.
If the owners had not aged out without a succession plan, we could still be running the company today.
Copywriting is a big word. Copywriting is simply the effective use of words for persuasion and communication. That covers most things that humans do — including marketing.
Here are some of the fun projects and niches I like.
I like to combine blogging, video, social media posts, and email to create a search-engine-friendly online presence that attracts people to special events and offers.
Concert and theatre tickets can be a fun project and easy sales. It is much easier to let people know where to find what they are looking for than to generate new interest.
In addition to music, I have a lot of interest in food security, green energy projects, real estate, healthy living, travel, and trading.
I also enjoy learning new things and creating content about them.
My background includes the study of English Literature AND computer systems, making me equally comfortable with a range of writing from story productions to technical documents and case studies. I have worked in many industries.
I also have an odd infinity for desktop publishing — things like posters and brochures.
I also do a lot of video work for marketing and education.
Do you have projects that could use help with copywriting, copyediting, or marketing?
My YouTube channel has hundreds of videos on a wide range of topics, including training, marketing, projects, events, and music. It is an archive of what I have done since 2007!
My encouragement to everyone is to preserve family members’ personal stories while you still can.
I offer planning and resources to capture stories and related media, assembling them into montages, websites, Life Vaults, and books to preserve and share legacy.
My personal project for 2026 is Playing Music For Fun, where I help people explore music and get past personal beliefs like “I have no musical talent”.
You were born musical, and a lifetime of joy awaits you at all levels.
I am looking for musical guests to share their journey on my video podcast.
One of my superpowers is that I have decades of experience with a wide range of publishing and marketing systems. I have the tools to make a lot of things happen.
Your Complete End-To-End Marketing Solution could include some or all of the following implemented over time:
Books and Courses for sale or use as lead magnets.
Website, Social Media, and YouTube presence.
Blog, post, and video campaigns.
Email strategies and campaigns.
Speaking and podcasting (video and audio).
Online and in-person presentations and webinars.
Summits and Challenges.
Writing and Copywriting.
Publicity campaigns.
Print assets.
I can also assist you with business software, including Kartra, HighLevel, and StreamYard.
Share your audacious dream goals with me, and I’ll create a roadmap to help you achieve them.
I will then work with you to implement some or all of it on a done-with-you or done-for-you basis.
And can also be your chief cheerleader and advisor if you want to implement it yourself.
Over the decades, I have helped many people and companies achieve their project goals.
Often, it started with a request for help doing something I may not have done before. Many of the tools and skills I have now came from figuring out how to help people.
Past Adventures
Here are some of the adventures that came from saying yes.
Selling How to Coach Baseball to Kids VHS tapes and CDs.
Cancer Benefit Concerts.
Many websites across niches, including botanical gardens, choirs, concerts, theatre productions, bands, real estate investors, natural health companies, and dozens of my own projects.
Project Management stints during the Smoke and Mirrors Venture Capital boom of the last millennium. One took me to Hong Kong with a company that wanted to do online trading.
Some Technical Writing gigs.
Software development for a large consulting company and my own clients.
A singer in a band I was in was a PhD candidate for Applied Psychology. A request to help compile a BASIC program led to over twenty years of developing and supporting psychometric assessment systems for hiring and development. At one time, every person who applied to work at TELUS took a Values In Action assessment we designed for them. Ka Ching! Our most comprehensive system was a Management Assessment for senior managers and CEO candidates. The owners aged out and resisted succession, or we would still be running the service today.
Some quirky music videos with musicians I played with.
Videos for concerts, theatre productions, food recovery, urban farming, botanical gardens, family events, weddings, and much much more.
Sizzle reels for speakers.
Promotional and training videos on many topics.
Many online interviews with people who have interesting stories and offers.
A wide range of personal and family story productions.
Video interviews with pioneers of the Natural Health industry.
Comprehensive marketing, including landing pages, social media, blogging, and email.
Formatting and publishing books in print and other formats.
Online courses.
Live events such as concerts and coffeehouses.
At one choir concert, I engineered the sound, used three video cameras, and sang in the choir. I could control the mixer with my phone and popped out from time to time to check the balance.
I implement a Power Posting Strategy that drives traffic to a landing page and enhances your online presence in search results and social media.
Have an offer that converts? Power Posting can boost your sales.
The special offer here allows you to see the results for yourself and experience working with me.
Your Unique Selling Proposition
I will spend time getting to know what you offer, your Unique Selling Proposition, and your current online presence.
The Power Posting Strategy
The first step is composing a short article or post about your product of service.
This could be an overview, case study, client testimonial, special offer, or any other content that creates awareness and attracts potential clients to you and your offerings.
I create the blog post with attention to Search Engine Optimization (SEO )and submit it to Google Search Console.
Then, I create variations for posting on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and other relevant sites.
The posts can be the whole article or a shortened version with links to the blog post.
Then, we send a variation of the post out by email to your mailing list.
Building an email list and creating email campaigns remains one of the most effective marketing strategies for achieving long-term success.
Benefits Of Power Posting
Here are the main benefits of Power Posting:
Expand your online presence for your offer.
Create awareness of you and your offers.
Appear in searches.
Lead people to your offers.
Keep engaged with current clients and customers.
Persistence Pays
Regularly posting helps build your online presence and attract followers over time.
If possible, plan to post at least three times a week.
The Power Posting Trial Offer
I offer to create three different posts and apply over three days.
Success is measured in increased engagement, traffic, and acceptance of your offer.
Is your digital marketing attracting good clients and customers to your offers?
Are there some bumps or gaps in your customer journey?
Are your landing pages converting?
Are your online profiles up-to-date and effective?
Are you doing enough content marketing?
A few improvements on your digital marketing customer journey can make a big difference in your revenue stream.
I am offering to conduct a comprehensive review of your customer journey and provide an assessment report with actionable recommendations that you can implement independently or with my assistance.
Customer Journey Self-Assessment
I encourage you to see your online assets through the eyes of a potential customer.
This online tool can help you through the process.
The next step is to make an appointment with me to discuss your Marketing Objectives in detail.
I will generate a comprehensive assessment report with recommendations for expanding your digital marketing and reducing the friction points that are causing an inadequate stream of qualified prospects from embracing your offers.
Areas Where I Can Help
I have been helping people achieve their dreams across many domains, starting in the last millennium.
I have acquired extensive experience, training, and tools to support your success.
Here are some of the things that I can do to round out your digital marketing:
Copywriting: Websites, blog posts, social media, white papers, email campaigns, video scripts, training materials, reviews, and more.
Audio: Concerts, presentations, audiobooks, radio ads, stories, and more.
Courses: Multimedia courses you can sell or use to boost your authority.
Books: Print, digital, and multimedia books you can sell or give away as lead magnets. Books build authority and can open doors for speaking engagements.
Business Systems: Kartra, HighLevel, and others are powerful tools for connecting various marketing components, including landing pages, opt-in forms, sales processing, email, video, surveys, and more, to create both simple and complex marketing funnels.
Let’s start with a review of your current situation to identify areas where you need to fill in the gaps.
How is the journey for a customer to learn about you and what you offer to become a client or customer?
Is it effective?
Are there gaps?
I can help as an experienced copywriting and marketing professional.
We begin with a complimentary Customer Journey Discovery Call, during which we discuss what you offer, your ideal customer, and your Marketing Objectives.
I will provide a comprehensive Customer Journey Assessment Report with recommendations and actionable steps that you can implement yourself or with assistance.
Then, you can choose from several simple copywriting projects to get started on improving your customer journey, ultimately leading to increased sales.
Landing Page Review and Tuneup
Most marketing campaigns lead to a landing page where the prospect can take an action such as:
Make an appointment.
Sign up for a newsletter.
Download a lead magnet such as a book, course, checklist, or report.
Purchase something.
Register for a presentation or event.
Get a free trial of something.
…
Is the page effective?
Driving traffic to a page is a waste of time and money of the page does not convert.
Don’t have a landing page? I can build one for you.
Social Media Profile Review and Tuneup
For many networkers and businesses, LinkedIn is the primary platform for establishing business connections.
People who meet you in a networking meeting will often check out your LinkedIn profile to learn about you and what you offer.
Is your profile up to date?
Does it reflect what you do?
Could it be better?
Let’s see what we can tweak and add to improve its ability to attract clients.
We can look at your other profiles, such as Facebook and YouTube.
Social Media Posts
Regular social media posts can bring attention to you and what you offer.
Let’s start with creating three as a trial copywriting project
Blogs Posts
Blogging about your products and services can increase awareness and provide information for buying decisions.
Testimonial and Case Studies can boost your reputation.
Attention to Search Engine Optimization and submitting to search engines will improve your search traffic.
Let’s start with three blog posts as a trial project.
Email Sequences
Email is still a strong marketing tool and a great way to stay engaged with current clients and people who have expressed interest in you and your offers.
A three-email sequence could include a case study, testimonials, and the benefits of your current offer.
Let’s see if we can move the needle on your sales with a trial sequence.
Customer Journey Assessment
I have created an online assessment tool to self-assess.