Consumers follow brands online for specific reasons:

1. They want to research products or services before purchasing them.
2. They want to peruse customer reviews.
3. They want discounts.

It’s a given that potential book buyers will investigate your book online before buying it. If you’re an author, it’s smart to include social tools in your marketing mix.

What is “relevant” content?

You’ve likely heard that online content must be relevant for your target audience. But what constitutes relevant content?

Perhaps a better way of defining relevant content is to identify irrelevant content. Let’s examine three Twitter updates posted by business professionals. My reactions are in parentheses.

 “GREAT NEWS!!!” (Unless I know and love you personally, all caps and triple exclamation points do not entice me to click your link.)

“Just woke up.” (Really? I tweet while I’m sleeping.)

“Just ate supper. For some reason I feel like I’m going to get sick.” (Visualizing you getting sick nauseates me. Unfollow.)

To test whether an update is relevant, remember one key fact:

Your prospects and customers don’t care about you.

Unless you’re a chef, they don’t care what you’re cooking for dinner.

Unless you’re a celebrity, they don’t care who your latest love interest is.

Stop subjecting your audience to pointless updates about your personal life.

What’s In It For Me?

A second sad fact of life for authors who market their books online:

The general public is not on Facebook and Twitter for the sole purpose of buying your book.

They’re there to jaw with friends and relatives, to look at pictures and watch videos. Meet your customers where they’re at by crafting content that focuses on them.

• Ask them questions.
• Find out their challenges (related to your book’s topic).
• Help them solve problems.

A mix of useful tips, interesting news and entertaining tidbits keeps your audience engaged.

“Buy, Buy, Buy” = “Goodbye”

People who follow authors on social networks love getting exclusive deals. They love posting reviews and testimonials about books they’ve purchased. But they hate “buy, buy, buy” messages.

Librarian and author Judy Gann, who trains publishers and authors how to sell their books to libraries, posted this soft-sell message to the Library Insider Facebook page:

“Drooling over the gorgeous library promotional brochure Library Insider client Ann Shorey’s publisher created for her. Wow! Can’t wait to hear the response from librarians.”

Judy’s update is personable, allowing prospects to get to know them in a no-pressure environment. Rather than shouting, “Buy my stuff!” her update subtly focuses on the benefits customers receive from using her services.

Your assignment

During the next 30 days, craft 12 relevant, entertaining social updates that focus on your customer and use the soft-sell approach.

In Part 2 of this series, you’ll learn how to share those messages across multiple social and mobile platforms.

This article was originally published in the Snohomish County Business Journal, January 2012. Reprinted with permission from the author.

The Essential Tips

• It is recommended that you outline and sketch your presentation on paper prior to beginning work. Most people begin on the design elements and are quickly lost in the bells and whistles of the system. Your content is more important than fancy animations. Keep your slides simple and clean. Place only a few points or headlines per slide and let your speaking skills take over the rest. Large blocks of text and small lettering will be hard to read and you may have to dispense Aspirin at the end.
• Pay attention to color and the moods they evoke. Many color combinations can cause visibility issues. Charts and graphs should be large enough to read and simple to understand.
• Keep transitions to a minimum, you can quickly get lost in clicking. Your presentation should flow smoothly.
• Practice your slideshow several times before presenting, preferably on the same computer you will use during your speech. Keep in mind that if you’re transferring your presentation to another computer some fonts may not be installed on that system. Use fonts that are common across most operating systems, such as Verdana or Arial.
• Bring your own serial cable and adapters just in case the equipment doesn’t have the right fit. It’s important that you also learn how your computer will interact with a projector device. Many systems require control keys to activate the display properly. On the day of your speech if the equipment revolts, do not waste time trying to fix it. Your audience came to hear your expertise not see a pretty presentation.

Here are some resources to help you develop powerful presentation:

• Images: www.istockphoto.com
• Color: www.colorschemedesigner.com
• Templates: www.templatemonster.com/powerpoint-templates

]]> http://www.winepressofwords.com/2011/11/basic-tips-for-perfect-presentations/feed/ 0 http://www.winepressofwords.com/2011/11/blog-something-new%e2%80%94try-a-book-review/ http://www.winepressofwords.com/2011/11/blog-something-new%e2%80%94try-a-book-review/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:46 +0000 Janice Robeson http://www.winepressofwords.com/?p=12465 Want to grab people’s attention? Most readers, those consumed by books, (that’s half the reason you became a writer, right?) are always looking for another good read. Do a review of a current title—it’s a great way to generate interest on your blog. It is fun and effective if you keep in mind a few guidelines.

Reasons Why

• You will draw new visitors who are digging for information on the title you’ve featured.
• Your regular audience will enjoy sparkling highlights on new and interesting books.
• It’s a fun way to develop relationships with the authors of the titles you’re reviewing.
• Your discussion of the story may appear on the author’s blog, along with a link to your blog.
• The author may discuss your review on social media such as Facebook or Myspace, providing even more readers for your audience.

“How to”

• Try to present a balanced view point, not too positive (they may think you are the author’s best friend) or too negative (do you have a grudge against the author?) Just be honest and state simply what you liked or did not like.
• Invite your readers to give their impressions. It might be a grand discussion starter between members of your blog’s audience.
• Invent a rating system (like the perennial “3 thumbs up” for example) and tie it in with the theme of your blog.
• Contact publishers and authors of books that would interest your audience and offer to do a review.
• Join Amazon Associates or other affiliate programs, you can post blog reviews for them and earn commissions. Then write reviews for the same target audience as your own blog readers – imagine how much exposure it generates on this major website.

If you want to see how it is done, these 2 blog sites provide tantalizing examples:

Book Review: “Daisy Chain” by Mary DeMuth

by Julie Gillies

Daisy Chain is not an easy read. In fact, several times I literally set the book down and thought, “I cannot read this.” The trauma, tension and turmoil felt almost oppressive. Yet in spite of the heavy subject matters (a missing girl, an abusive husband/father, a woman dying of cancer) or perhaps because of them, I felt compelled to pick it up and try again. Eventually, I couldn’t put the book down . . . more

Book Review: “After America” by Mark Steyn

by KingShamus

Let’s face facts. Dystopian non-fiction can be a total buzzkill. People generally like happy endings in their summer reading. Most pessimistic interpretations of tomorrow don’t have the kind of emotionally uplifting finale the paying customers are used to. In tales of the disasters to come, the reader doesn’t often get the relief of a grand reversal of civilizational decline. The story’s third act usually doesn’t include a great reawakening where the citizenry regain their bearings and right the ship of state just in the nick of time. Instead, it’s all pandemic death counts, epic societal collapse and lurid Thunderdome scenarios . . . more

Study Other Book Reviews

• Kirkus Reviews
• Books – The New York Times

Additional Resources

• http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/book_marketing_maven/2011/07/8-reasons-authors-should-write-book-reviews.html
• http://newenglandmultimedia.com/new-england-multimedia-blog/more-web-traffic-with-book-reviews/
• http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/book_marketing_maven/2011/08/7-ways-to-write-great-book-reviews.html

10 Tips for Successful Online Marketing

1. Observe: Take time to discover and understand what is going on and learn the best ways to participate. In order to do this you must first listen rather than immediately make your voice known.
2. Participate: Join the activity, contribute to the conversations, and offer useful insights from your experiences.
3. Contribute:  Your activities should be primarily sharing and less receiving.
4. Focus: Trying to do it all means that you will quickly burn out. Only take on as much as you can manage.
5. Talk: Start and add to conversations.
6. Be Real: Honesty is always the best policy. It is never a good idea to lie or exaggerate.
7. Don’t Sell: Social platforms are not the place to peddle.
8. Discuss: Be open to sharing your thoughts and point of view.
9. Affirm: Be positive. Negativity can get you into a lot of trouble.
10. Prioritize: Concentrate your efforts so that you don’t waste time.

Following these tips will help guide you through the basics of internet marketing and social networking.

What Do You Think?

Out of the tips shared here, which have worked for you? Do you have any which you could add? We would love to hear your feedback!

Within the last five to six years the book market has seen tremendous growth in the number of titles produced every year. This over-saturation of content is due to recent technology changes making it much simpler and faster for content to be produced. This has caused an influx in the book marketplace and book compete for exposure on the shelves. Furthermore, with the increase of content channels to readers are even more bias when selecting books.

Obtaining positive testimonials provides validation that the title is worth the time spent reading. Consumers consciously or subconsciously ask themselves, “What’s in it for me?” In other words, how will reading this book enrich, entertain, or better my life? Endorsements provide an upfront way to quickly answer this question. If a well-known person in your reader’s marketplace indicates that this book is good then it provides authority from a voice they know and trust. This elevates an obscure author’s status.

Tips for Acquiring Endorsements

• Ask. In order to obtain endorsements an author must request them.  It’s important to overcome the apprehension of inquiry. However, it’s natural to have a fear of rejection.It is a shame for an author to miss out on a positive endorsement because they did not ask.

• Target Key People. It’s recommended to build a list of 25 to 30 well-known people to the book’s core readership and an additional 20-30 target readers. Research the web and bookstores to find endorsers who have reviewed similar titles in the same category.  When requesting general readers to write a blurb, exchange a copy of the book once it is in print and ask them to write a review on Amazon.com. This is a convenient way for authors to collect ratings for their book. Amazon.com ratings greatly influence purchase decisions from that site.

• Craft a Good Letter. Influencers in the target market should be queried while the book is in production. Craft a to-the-point letter or emails that solicits their endorsement. Tell the endorser why they have been selected, describe the benefits of the book, and indicate how they can return their endorsement blurb. It is important that the letter is written clearly and the recipient understands the request. List the other endorsers you are inquiring as this may peak their interest to see their name next to another well-known.

• Write Your Own Endorsement. Offer to write a blurb on the endorsers behalf-this makes it easier for them to submit a testimonial. If you are mailing the request, provide an advance copy of the current manuscript. Make sure that it is clearly marked as a working copy. Email inquiries can be made prior to sending a digital version of the book.

• Publicize Endorsements. Blurbs should be used in various areas for marketing a book title. A positive review from a celebrity should be placed on the cover. Additional reviews can be placed inside the book in the front near the copyright page. Authors who have websites should have a testimonial page and frequently update it as they receive reviews. Be sure to use endorsements on advertisements and marketing materials.

Conclusion

Endorsements are powerful tools that provide positive bias in the minds of readers. They can also be a real confidence booster for authors looking to market their titles. Don’t neglect this important step in the publishing journey.

Download Free endorsement letter Microsoft Word template.

Social Networks Reviewed

Facebook

Facebook was started in 2004 by Harvard University student Mark Zuckerberg. It quickly became popular and spread to other Ivy League schools. Zuckerberg enlisted the help of two other students and soon it became a national networking website for colleges. Eventually it opened up to everyone and anyone who wanted to join. Today Facebook has more than 750 million users.

Facebook is a social networking website, created for people to connect with each other, including family, friends and business contacts. A member creates his profile and determines who will have access to it by naming “friends” in a particular network. Users are able to search for each other by email address, school, name, or even a location.

Twitter

Twitter is an instant messaging system that allows a person to send short text messages up to 140 characters to a group of “followers.” Created in 2006, Twitter was designed for friends and business associates to keep current with each other during the day.

After opening a Twitter account at www.twitter.com, members can import their e-mail addresses and use the Twitter search to find and invite people. Twitter messages are called “tweets.” They can be private or public, according to what each member authorizes. Messages are sent via cellphone text messaging, the Twitter website or a third-party Twitter application.

StumbleUpon

StumbleUpon is a search engine that locates the best of the internet, as defined by the individual user. It allows users to find and rate web pages, photographs and videos that are confined to their tastes and preferences. Stumbleupon was established in November 2001 by four college students in Canada. An investor named Brad O’Neill from Silicon Valley noticed the company as it gained popularity. O’Neill brought in other investors, helped raise funds and assisted the owners in a move to San Francisco.

Stumbleupon employs an automated process that uses computerized analysis to predict behaviors and combines it with human opinion to create a virtual community of users with similar interests. Web sites specializing in ratings update a personal profile and operate by coordinating content so the members “find” or “stumble upon” sites recommended by friends in their network. If a member gives a site a thumbs up it causes the site to appear in his “favorites” list. Members using Stumbleupon are given the capacity to rate each others’ blogs and to join community forums for selected topics.

Digg

Digg is a social website for news. It was launched in December 2004. Members find and share content from other websites. A member will discover a story, submit it and the link to Digg and the other users in the community will vote for it, either up or down. A member can “digg” a story he likes or “bury” a story he doesn’t like.

Digg created a new feature in 2009, integrating Facebook Connect with Digg. Now users of Digg and Facebook are allowed to connect their accounts. Once a member is linked to both websites, Digg articles can be shared on the user’s Facebook page. Facebook Connect also makes it possible for Facebook users to log into Digg from their account on Facebook.

Pros and Cons of Social Networking

Here are a few good reasons to join a social media network:

• You can stay tuned in with what your friends are doing.
• It’s a great tool for business, to network professionally.
• If you are an author, musician or actor, you have an opportunity to promote your work.
• It gives observers a chance to interact with people they admire.
• Some sites also function as application platforms, providing applications from games to programs for reviewing restaurants.

Here are some drawbacks to consider before joining:

• It makes identity theft easier.
• You have to think carefully what to include – if you don’t share enough information people won’t be able to find you. If you share too much, you make yourself vulnerable to someone trying to access your email or destroy your credit rating. (Some sites allow you to hide information like your birth date or email address.)
• Scammers use social media to deceive people into downloading software with a virus. Once your computer is compromised, the scammer will attempt to use your friends list to spread the virus even further.
• Social networking can be addictive. You’ll find yourself responding to “updates” all day long and wonder what happened to your workday!

What I Learned

Social media is to writing what cell phones are to speech. Approach your tool of choice with common sense and caution, and it will reward you with new connections, practical solutions and a break from tedium. You may bump into someone from high school that you haven’t seen for twenty years or discover a new business venture. You might find yourself sharing blog time with other writers or “stumbling upon” a publisher. It’s all about connecting and as we spend lots of time in front of our computers, this is a grand way to communicate with each other!

Further Study

Here are some additional resources you may find helpful in learning more about social media.

• What is Facebook?
• PCMag’s Definition of Twitter
• Wikipedia: StumbleUpon
• Wikipedia: Digg
• Pros and Cons of Social Networking Sites

1. Research your guest

Before you even approach the guest you have in mind, do a little sleuthing, and gather some background information. Listen for what people have to say about your guest’s work. Read other articles written about him, and gain a feel for where he is coming from. This will guide you in what questions to ask.

2. Make a list of your questions

Think about what interests your readers most and start off with a bang. What will your readers want to know more about? What intrigues or exhilarates your guest? Consider how the questions relate to the theme of your blog.

3. Contacting your guest

On your first contact, introduce yourself. Explain where you’re from and familiarize the prospective guest with the direction of the interview, and what type of questions you plan to ask. People are generally more willing to accommodate if they know what to expect. Make him aware that he’ll be given time to promote his book or website.

4. Interview mode

What is the most comfortable form of interview for your guest? Would he rather communicate by phone or email? Would he prefer a face-to-face time?

5. Silence!

If it’s a phone or face to face interview, be quiet. Most of us hate the silence so we fill it by talking. Your guest may take the interview in a whole new direction.

6. The prickly interview

You may encounter someone who is difficult to work with. Make the most of it by treating it as a challenge instead of allowing yourself to get frustrated. How many times have we all been surprised by the outcome when we are patient and persistent?

7. Winding down

At the end, ask your guest, “Is there anyone who disagrees with you about this?” “Can you recommend where to learn more?” “Is there anything you’d like to add that we haven’t covered yet?” If you have questions that may make the guest uncomfortable, save them until last, so you can make the most of the information you already have.

8. Conclusion

One of the best ways to conclude your interview is to ask your visitor if you can contact him later with follow up questions or to verify facts.

9. Edit professionally!

Make sure your topic suits your audience, and that there are no typos or grammar glitches. That way you and your interviewee come out on top. When the interview has been posted live, express your gratitude by giving him a generous thank you for his time and send links to the post.

The interview is an invaluable tool for drawing interest to your blog, providing your guest with publicity and building relationships in the blogosphere. People are always interested in learning more about the person behind the story!

Resources:

http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2011/07/seven-tips-on-interview-etiquette.html

http://www.makealivingwriting.com/2010/04/01/10-killer-interview-tips-for-amazing-articles/

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/02/how-to-find-interview-subjects-for-your-blog-posts-and-articles/

We generally read selected blogs because we know what to expect from our favorite writers. It’s a nice change of pace to read a guest post and see a new perspective on the content or to read a totally different viewpoint than the blog host. Along the way I’ve begun to hear this argument, “Should a guest blogger be paid or not?” There are strong proponents for each. Let’s explore both sides of the debate.

Blogging for Free

Why Write a Guest Blog?

Imagine you are just starting out and your blog is only a few weeks old. You haven’t snagged many visitors to your blog besides close friends and relatives. You try posting a question to your audience and receive zilch in response. It’s time to gain more exposure for your blog. One of the best ways to accomplish that is to write a guest blog. If you write well, you may find the opportunity to write a guest post for a more popular blog. Here are several reasons why guest blogging should be part of your approach from the very beginning.

Greater Possibilities

A blog host might not consider giving you a link, but would be enthusiastic for you to write a guest post. Logically you’ll ask “What’s in it for them?” The blog host gains variety in content, new ideas, and a break from their writing schedule.

Blogger Assistance

When you provide the blog host a short break from writing, you are giving him help and it’s a great way to make an impression in the blogging world. If you have a reputation of being helpful, it will build blogging relationships and establish connections. Think of the ripple-on-the-pond effect, it’s a healthy long-term tactic.

More Traffic and More Exposure

If you write a post for another blog, with a link back to your own, it will likely increase traffic, even if temporarily. Your name and your blog appear before a new audience and this helps to establish your brand. Not everyone in this group of readers will click on your link, but they may notice your name. The next time you create a guest post for another blog, they may find your name there and it will start to sound familiar. The reader will think “I’ve seen this person before!”

A Future Perk

A wondrous possible consequence when you write a guest post for a popular blogger is that they will reciprocate and write one for you. Don’t rely on that to happen but absolutely extend the invitation. If you’re fortunate, the guest blogger will link to the guest post from their own blog, sending more of their readers to you.

Blogging for Pay

When should a guest blogger be paid?

Here’s some perspective from Lorelle Van Fossen:

Before I get into the issues of deciding when to pay guest bloggers, let me address the cultural definition of “guest.”

Do you charge a “guest” in your home for their visit? Do you expect compensation when a guest spends the night or two? A guest on your blog is no different.

Guests often like to pitch in, help with cleaning, fixing meals, and even offering to contribute by paying for groceries and such. But blatant compensation for the visit is considered poor manners in much of the world. A guest is a guest because they are treated differently from the rest of the family. They are like royalty in your home, treated with honor. You share your home, food, and anything you can with them.

This is how a guest blogger should be on a blog – if the visit is occasional. If the visit turns into a long-term stay, or is repeated enough that they turn into renters or boarders, then the situation changes and compensation of some sort is expected.

There are several things to consider when blogging for someone else.

• Is it a good will gesture for your blogging host?
• Are you thinking of the less tangible benefits such as greater visibility for your own blog, and more readers?
• If you are usually compensated for your scheduled writing, is this something you can afford the time for?

From your position as blogger host ask yourself these questions:

• Should I offer to pay guest bloggers when they post on my website?
• Do I want to take the time to review, edit, gather photos, and links of someone else’s blog posts?
• Will I schedule this guest regularly or just once in a while?

Calculating Payment for the Advantages

You have to decide what your time is worth.

• How much time will you use on a guest post as opposed to spending that time on your own “paid” writing?
• Do you have an hourly rate or a payment per post? Figure out what you would spend on advertising and publicity to achieve the same result.
• What would you spend taking a class to learn all the lessons you can learn from writing guest posts?

If the value of the guest blog is lower than your perceived expenses, it’s time to either decline the guest blog offer or ask to be paid.

Frequency is a Consideration

If your guest post is a one time deal or only occasional, then you probably don’t need to pay the guest blogger. If the guest writer appears on a regular basis, then they have become a scheduled contributor to your blog and should be paid.

The Final Answer

Now we have returned to the original question, to pay or not to pay a guest blogger? The answer is both “yes” and “no.”

The drawback with a guest who posts for free is that they work on their own schedule and are concerned with their own agenda. They want to gain some exposure for their own blog, and you need to make sure their goals and philosophy will work for your blog. They might not be as reliable as someone paid to write. A guest who posts for pay can be depended on to post on a regular basis, produce quality work and generally do not have an agenda to promote. They are more interested in pleasing the employer. They are professionals, and you’ll know what to expect. The downside is that this can be expensive.

The answer is, use both paid and un-paid bloggers! Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too. There is a need for paid bloggers, and a need for unpaid bloggers. Many people are willing to write and not be paid—because all they really want is the chance to gain some experience. Since neither viewpoint is mutually exclusive, why not enjoy the best of both worlds?

Additional Resources

Here are some additional resources for further study on this topic:

• Why You Should Be Guest Blogging
• Why Guest Blogging is a Powerful Way to Gain Exposure for Your Blog
• The Art of Guest Blogging: Should You Pay Authors to Blog?

Short, sweet, and to the point, articles provide writers with a chance of publication and industry recognition. Especially in the non-fiction market, writing specialty topic articles can boost your credibility and label you as a professional.

Choose your Topic

What’s your passion? What’s your profession? Finding your ideal topic is essential to planning your career. It may take some time to discover your particular focus or you may have already developed it.

For example:

Injustice. The word stirs something within me. Organizations like The Innocence Project grab my attention for their great work supporting those wrongly convicted. Or you see films portraying great grievances against the innocent, i.e. The Stoning of Syria M. Now, if I could only figure out how to incorporate my passion with my writing. Sometimes it’s not as easy as you think.

Write

If you’re going to start, you have to put your pen to the paper and write. Writers tend to procrastinate. The question is what to do about it. Simply put, sit down, shut up, and do it. Schedule it into your busy day and if possible, make time to write daily. Without the practice and the discipline skills weaken, and soon your inner creative lies in a coma.

Find Publications

Magazines, newspapers, and blogs, the choices are unlimited. Your goal is to find the publications that bests suit your topic, writing style, and goals. Here are several industry resources everyone should have on their shelves.

Writer’s Market Guide

Christian Writer’s Market Guide

Each volume targets separate markets. The Writer’s Market Guide covers the general market, while the Christian Writer’s Market Guide gives the names of Christian publications.

Consider It

Three key points to consider:

Professional Presentation: Do your research on the publications submissions requirements. Write a proper and professional cover letter. The more time you invest in your initial impression the better.

Follow-Up: After you submit to a publication, don’t pester the editor. Politely check in if you don’t hear from the editor. Find out when they think they’ll receive a decision. If they don’t know, request a date to follow up with them regarding their decision.

Meet the Deadlines: Don’t fudge on the time frame a magazine or newspaper sets down. It’s important for both your credibility and career to maintain a good working relationship with publishers. Publishers don’t particularly like unreliable authors.

Branch Out

Writing for one type of publication may come easily, especially if you receive multiple acceptances. However, expand your knowledge, your genre, and your talent. Comfortable writers produce mediocre results. Yes, you should stick to one general topic, but explore writing for magazines, blogs, newspapers, short stories, and more.

While you think you know your passion or your writing style, the exploration of writing through variance enhances your probabilities of success and exposure.

Share It

How has writing articles helped you build your platform? Share the wealth of your personal experiences.

Unlike physical books, we can’t participate in a book signing. What are you going to sign? Too many signatures on the screen and we’ll render the e-book reader useless. So, what works?

Word of Mouth Marketing

Word of mouth is still the best marketing tool and it’s true for E-books as well. Work with a design firm to create a sharp, and effective business card design. Online business cards maybe inexpensive, but nothing gains attention faster than a professionally designed one. Hand it out when you go to the store, to your friends and neighbors, anyone who will listen. Tell your mom to tweet to her followers that her son is all grown-up and has written a book. Strong-arm your brother into posting a link to your professional website, and a short description of your book on his Facebook page.

© goodluz – Fotolia.com

Gain attention by offering a free download of your e-book. Free products generate a good-will gesture that keep readers returning. Reading novels is a favorite pasttime of mine. Recently Robin Parish, author of the Dominion Trilogy, offered the first book in the series for free. A smart move. I downloaded it immediately and haven’t stopped turning the pages. What benefit does he gain from offering his book for free? The book is one in a series, so naturally, if I like the book, I’m going to want to purchase the next two.

Bestselling author, Jim Rubart, offered his debut novel Rooms free of charge on Amazon.com for a Kindle Download for the first two weeks. Believe me when I say he sold a good number of books. Well-written, Rooms kept me going. Did they lose money on sales for the limited time they gave the book away? Possibly, but the exposure gained through word-of-mouth marketing outweighed the potential loses. Jim Rubart’s next books are sure to sell!

Social Networking

Social networking defines the decade. It’s the fastest and most effective way to reach a niche group of individuals. Phones, laptops, iPads, keep people online, everyday, all the time, so why not use them for the fullest exposure?

Imagine placing your book on a billboard. Sure, it’s huge and thousands of people see it every day, but it’s limited to the geographic region. Social networking gives you the potential to reach people all over the US and the World.

Here are some related articles about the top most popular social networking sites.

Facebook

• 10 Mistakes Authors Make when Marketing on Facebook
• Inside Facebook
• Marketing Tips

Twitter

• Marketing on Twitter
• Online Book Marketing and Twitter

General Resources

• Borders Bankruptcy: How to Compete in a Tough Retail Market
• How to Successfully Connect with Key Organizations
• Are Paper Books Dead?
• Ten Things to Consider Before You Publish an E-Book
• Social Media Marketing
• Beginner’s Guide

Web Presence

Professional and amateur writers need a website. Like social networking, a website boosts your online presence, and the traffic you’ll pull to your various sites, i.e. Facebook and Twitter. Don’t settle for cheap. Cheap may feel good on the budget, but you can’t expect to be taken seriously. Here are a few websites from authors who take it serious:

• Stephen Lawhead
• David Platt
• Max Lucado
• Francine Rivers
• Terri Blackstock

Use your professional online platform to give away free chapters, host contests, and give away freebies.

Websites are a cornerstone of your marketing foundation. Use the mobile app craze to your advantage and create a website. Google is your best friend. If you don’t have a website, you won’t show up on Google, Bing, or any other major search engine on the web. Most people want to see your face, know who you are, and find out more about your book. Give the people what they want.

Conclusion

The answers offered in this post aren’t the end-all. They do work and I’d encourage you to test them, seek guidance, and overall effectively  promote your e-book.  If you have any insight into what’s worked for you, be sure to share it here. We can all glean from each other. Let’s make the most of our writing community and lend a helping hand to fellow writers.

What Do You Think?

Feel free to leave us a comment with your thoughts on the article, or any of your experiences with the topic at hand. We would appreciate your feedback.