Last week, we talked about sad assumptions and irrational expectations new authors usually have about book sales. We then discussed the dire need for an author to have his OWN website (not a URL controlled by someone else) and a periodical (ezine/blog) to market their book.
Regarding Angela’s statement: “Ezines Are Better Than Blogs: You Gotta Reach Out to Readers, Not Wait for Them to Remember You Exist”
Hi Angela,
Just a quick note about blogs vs. newsletters and people having to remember to come back. This is true, but one thing you can do on most blogs is install an email sign up from Feedburner. This sends your post to the subscriber’s email.
I’ve subscribed to a blog this way and I like that the post comes to my inbox. If someone uses Blogger.com (free version), there’s even a button that will do the install for you right on the Feedburner site once you set up an account (no cost). I even figured it out for the blog I’m going to launch shortly and I’m very much NOT tech-oriented. If by chance you aren’t familiar with this feature, you can see how I’ve set mine up if you’d like at https://www.publishinganswers.blogspot.com.
Some people also send a newsletter that simply has a few words with links to their blogs to help avoid the sp*am filters. This could also be an option for some as well who don’t have time to write a lot and do both.
Hope I’ve helped in some way. Have a great day.
Cheryl Pickett
The latest way to promote your book is with a video. Book Trailer
I found a new website that rents books to people by mail. They have my book listed on their site but my publisher says they never ordered a copy. Do you know what’s going on?
-M
One of the first stories I wrote on the road becoming a ‘serious’ freelancer was comparing train travel between London and India. It was a subject close to my heart and the words flowed. Delighted with the end result, I pitched the essay to an ‘about-to-be-launched’ magazine in London. They loved the idea and accepted it for the inaugural issue.
Ali and Frank had their first formal dance last weekend. Ali (age 17) went with her boyfriend and Frank (age 15) went with Ali’s best friend, who just happens to be a senior. Now, don’t worry. There is no romance there. They just went as friends. The boys looked quite spiffy in their tuxedos and the girls looked so beautiful.
This week, we’re going to start a new series on successfully marketing your book online. If you have any unique or lucrative online marketing ideas to share, please send them along to me at: angela – at – writersweekly.com
SAD ASSUMPTIONS AND IRRATIONAL EXPECTATIONS
There once was a pencil maker named Peter who puttered around popping out pretty pencils from his place in Pennsylvania. After many months of hard work, he finally finished his first box of pencils and Peter the Pencil Pusher was now enthusiastically pushing those pencils on local store owners and some online stores as well. Peter finally managed to get the local pencil store to carry his box of pencils. He went in there, week after week, but his pretty pencils were still there on the shelf, gathering dust, surrounded by thousands, perhaps millions, of other people’s pencils. Nobody bought his pencils! Peter didn’t understand! His pencils were so special! Why didn’t anybody pick up and pay for his pretty pencils?
Peter also listed his box of pretty pencils for sale on the biggest online pencil store in the world…
You stand by your table, book in hand, smiling at the mother dragging a toddler as she walks into the bookstore. She smiles and moves to the children’s section. She’s in no mood to chat about a grown-up book. Then a teen strolls by, sees you wrote a mystery and turns away
Can you send me your list of recommended freelance illustrators?
-Melinda
