Published on February 12, 2014
book marketing
After I started publishing content online, I got emails from visitors telling me how much they liked my websites. I smiled, sometimes responded, and hit “delete.” Later, subscribers to my email newsletters sent complimentary comments as well. I smiled, sometimes responded, and hit “delete.” It was almost two years, after I started putting websites and e-books together, before I realized I should save these testimonials. I then added the appropriate language to the “terms of use” pages on my sites, allowing me to use a few lines from any email received, and I set up files to sort the e-mails worth saving. From that point on, I carefully saved hundreds of testimonials, and even used a few once in a while.
Published on June 12, 2013
book marketing, diversify your writing income, promoting your writing, writing career advice, writing tips
As the owner of WritersWeekly.com and BookLocker.com, writers and authors frequently add me to email notifications they send out when they update their website or blog. I’m happy to receive these and I often find interesting and intriguing tidbits in these individuals’ posts. Unfortunately, some of them have great blog posts or website articles but very boring email notifications so nobody opens them…
Published on April 17, 2013
book marketing
The confusing thing for me about Facebook ‘likes’ is that Forbes prefers us to encourage ‘friends’, which can be done with my personal FB page. I created a writer page (a business one), but it just feels redundant….so I’m still not sure what the importance of it is.
Published on March 27, 2013
book marketing, promotional pitfalls
It seems to me there is a fine line between a press release and a promotional item. Wouldn’t you say that a press release is generally promoting something? Maybe the definition of “promoting” is the key.
Can I send press releases to anyone or only to journalists?
Published on January 30, 2013
book marketing, promotional pitfalls
Today, authors can buy reviews and social media followers with the hopes of fooling a publisher or agent into believing they’re a hot commodity when, really, they’re not. In the online world it’s known as black hat SEO. It’s the process of artificially inflating web visibility either for social media accounts, websites, or blogs using unethical techniques. Now granted, places like Amazon or Facebook won’t throw you in the slammer. They will, however, ban your account…
Published on December 19, 2012
book marketing
My first grade teacher just bought my book.
She’s hardly my target audience and I hadn’t seen her at least since I left elementary school more than 30 years ago, but I was happy to make the sale. I even charged her full price, rather than the insider’s “friends and family rate.”
A few simple Internet searches and a plan – developed in large part through guidance from fellow WritersWeekly writers – helped me make the sale.
Published on December 5, 2012
book marketing
We’ve seen it at WritersWeekly as well as in other magazines for writers: bookstores are not necessarily the best place to sell your books.
Published on November 21, 2012
book marketing, promotional pitfalls
An author told me the other day he found a typo in his proof, adding “I’ll probably leave it and send $5.00 to the first three readers that spot it and tell ’em it was test to see if they actually read the book…” I was completely honest, and told him that would be a HORRIBLE idea.
Published on November 7, 2012
book marketing, promotional pitfalls
Recently, I noticed a URL for a fictitious website in a book I was formatting. I pasted the URL into my browser and, sure enough, it was a real website. The fictitious usage was for a humorous book but the actual website was a suicide prevention one. Had the author used that URL, it would not have only been in very poor taste, but it could have also resulted in a lawsuit.
Published on October 31, 2012
book marketing
Libraries and bookstores are so last year when it comes to staging book signings. Instead, consider taking your books out into the wider world. It’s full of your would-be readers.
Farmers encourage beekeepers to set their hives on farmland because it’s mutually beneficial. Bees get nectar for honey, benefiting themselves and their keeper. In return for this bounty, the bees pollinate the farmers’ crops.
Likewise, taking your books to a particular setting can attract customers to you, and also benefit your host. Match the location to your subject matter. The more off-the-wall your choice of venue, the greater your chance of attracting media attention…
