Taking Charge!

by Carole Brown
All authors must take charge of their marketing whether you're traditionally published or Indie published, so the best way to do that is be on constant alert for new ways and your own tried-and-proven methods of gaining both sales and readers. Two things to remember:

• Don't be lackadaisical in pursuing this. I know, I know, circumstances (which includes life, illness, family, problems, travel and a variety of other things HAPPEN) prevent diligence in this many times. But when it does, pick it back up as soon as you're able. 
• Don't be afraid to try new avenues of marketing. Be careful of false schemes (do your work: check things out!) but do attempt to fine new ways to advertise. Even when you only gain more author awareness, that is profitable. Fine what you're comfortable with, that is affordable for you, and that works for you and your books.

Now, here are a few marketing ideas for you this week (some will be pay-for spots and others freebies, so it's up to you to check everything out and see what fits for YOU:

• Lena Nelson's blog site.  She has spots both on the left and right that you can pay a certain amount to have your book cover showing. Since she also has plenty of readers viewing her blog each month, it's a positive way to expose your book to possible new eyes. On top of that, if you can get an interview spot, that's an extra for you. http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/
• BookBub. Yes, I know they are expensive. BUT even with that, if you sign up with them for their newsletter, you can regularly receive tips on marketing, etc. It's a fantastic way to learn from some authors, and their own research teams, of ways to promote your books. Just today they sent me an email with the opportunity to download a flipbook with 119 ways to market! Pretty good deal, I say! 
• Goodreads.  Don't overlook it, but be sure to check all your facts as recent changes have taken place in promoting your book here. 

More ideas later! 

Serious Wednesdays: Take Action!

Ways to Market

Today, I'd like to share a few places, some of which might seem obvious, but are well worth looking into. Don't overlook avenues you think aren't worth your time. You might be surprised! 

Quote:

 “You can’t expect to just write and have visitors come to you – that’s too passive.”            

–Anita Campbell

• Pinterest:  They say the eyes are a good way to catch attention of others. One way to use pinterest is to create boards for your books such as memes. Be creative: add your pet to one meme with your book in the picture and a cute saying. What is the setting of your book? Add a board with probable images of places that "could be" the locale of your book. Character pictures, including minor characters, are "wow" items for a board. What about hair styles? Do make sure they all include your book's title/cover.  (CAUTION: you can become addicted to this site! Lol)
• Twitter:  I love this marketing avenue! Short, to the point (and you learn how to promote in brief :) ) and they also offer promotional options. To gain attention, add a pic too. It's a fantastic way to market. Remember, you can also use Hootsuite, or similar, to schedule tweets ahead of time which is especially useful during sales, etc. 
• Interviews:  If you're in any writer groups, you'll usually find people who are offering invitations for author to do interviews/posts/promotion spots on their sites. Take advantage of these! You'll not only gain marketable visibility but gain readers too. Even one or two good, faithful readers if well worth your time and effort.

Take action--today!
Successful Writing Efforts wished for you! 

Serious Wednesdays: Marketing January 2019

"A year from now, you'll wish you had started today."

-Karen Lamb

How do I get started with marketing? It's so scary! And I'm a loner!
Really?
So?
So am I. You must take yourself by the "bootstraps" or "shirt collar" and move ahead. Truly.
Venturing out into an unknown world is scary for many of us. We'd rather lurk in our self-imposed writing "hut" than to meet and greet those in the BIG world of marketing. But it can be done. Here are a couple encouraging ideas to help you get started:

1. Take small steps. Ask friends, family and close associates for help. Whether helping you prepare a few memes or doing a small free promotion on their website, it will get you moving. Think small, think easy, think friendly. And one step...at...a...time.
2. Allow yourself time. Don't try to take it all in at once. Begin small, read and re-read the online marketing place that caught your eye. Pour over all their material. And if it sounds viable, take a breath and go for it. What's the worse that can happen? They say no? Reject your request? Accept? Either way, you've made a start, and each step helps you on your marketing journey!

Now, here are a few suggestions on marketing for this month:

• Check out marketing gurus who offer freebies and/or heavily discounted programs.
• Book Heaven is growing and seems to be a great source of promotion.
• Offer to write articles for magazines and blog sites. I'm not sure how many sales you'll obtain, but your name will be in front of multiple eyes. Don't discount this avenue.
• Don't overlook your own personal space, and by that, I mean your hometown/state. Get acquainted with writing groups in your area, check to see what marketing festivals and smaller writing conferences are available. Snag a spot if possible. Put each group in a folder and keep track of when and where events are happening. Libraries, small hometown bookstores, specialty groups that you may have a hand-in by including something of interest in your books. All of these are important.

That's it for this month. Don't despise the small. Whatever works for you, use it! 

Have a great COLD? SNOWY? month! 

This and That and a Call to Arms . . .

Good morning, folks.

Didn't know I was going with a "This and That" post this morning, but at the last minute went with it.

First of all:

* My blog. You all have noticed the change in looks on my blog. Yeah, I've been trying to upgrade it. Give it more of a look with what I write: suspense and sometimes strong topics (with a little romance thrown in). Smile. Bear with me as I work through the problems of getting it the way I want. I know sometimes the words have been hard to read. I'm hoping to get my friend and computer guru to sort through the problems. Thanks for your patience!

* Interviews and giveaways. I know I haven't had many, if any, lately. I'm trying to decide how I want to proceed with my blog. Now that I'm contracted for a book release in the near future, how can I use my time the best possible way. I want to provide entertainment and knowledge for you, yet I must allow for the time it takes, too. I love my blog, but when it becomes a drag on my emotional and strength, then I feel I have to move on to newer and different ways to use it. This is not saying I will never have another interview; I'm praying and thinking about the way I should go . . . for now.

* My book, The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, will hopefully be out toward the end of this year (no release date yet; I'll let you know as soon as I know) when. I'm over the moon happy about it, BUT I'm also working hard learning as much about marketing as I can. I'm trying to pick and choose what I believe will be the best and most effective ways to get the word out about my book.

In light of that, I believe one of the best ways is word of mouth. So-o-o, I'm going to be looking for men and women who want to join me in a close relationship to promote my book. It's a call, of sorts, for help.

What you do:
* spread the word through all media areas you're connected with
* share any material (bookmarks, etc) I send you
* be on the lookout for places and events where I could/can promote my book.
* share reviews, recommendations, etc.
This is a partial list which will probably be amended as I learn more.

NOW, what do you get out of working with me?
* Special gifts throughout the year (possibly gift cards, books, etc.)

* Promotion on my blog for YOUR blog, work, etc.
* Special contests ONLY for my helpers.
Maybe more.

Interested? Email me at browncarole212(at)yahoo(dot)com

I love you all and appreciate your faithfulness throughout the years. Email me, or comment, if you have questions or suggestions.

Wonderful blessings!

Writing

Writing.
What does it mean to be a writer? Let me feel you in a little more about living the life as a writer:

• Excitement. I love creating with my pen (or uh hmm, computer).
• Research. A "real" writer does it. In other ages, writers could get by working only with their imaginations. Today, readers want as near to truth as a writer can get, along with all those fictional settings and characters. One nightmare for a writer is to have a knowledgeable reader discover a "mistake." No, that illness will not cause immediate death. No, that Native American tribe would NOT act in the way a writer described it.
• Besides research, there's editing (and I edit and edit). Some other do it. Never quit. And I certainly know that feeling. Even now, if I go back over completed and submitted novels, I would find areas that I'd like to change and recreate. You have to learn to quit.
• There's brainstorming. One of the hardest things for me. Okay, I can get ideas, I can write them. I can edit. I can quit. But when it comes to nitty-gritty, give-me-more details, I call on critique partners to brainstorm with me. We suggest ideas together, work through those ideas, keep, discard, change, and eventually to with some of them. Great helpers, critiquers are.
• Submitting. If you're fortunate enough to secure an agent, all the better. Thankfully, the first agency I approached accepted me as a client. If there's a good working relationship, it's a wonder to behold. A good agent is on top of the publishing world. They know what editor just left his/her post, what's being accepted, where to send your manuscript. They will negoiate for you when you get a contract. They'll call you on the phone when you need to talk. Some do critiques and help you sharpen your work even more. They'll sympathize when rejections hit you. They'll rejoice with you when good news come your way. They're worth their weight in gold.
• Marketing and self-promoting. Most writers would rather not ever have to bother with this. BUT in this age, it's a "have-to." If you want to see another contract (and just because you get one, doesn't mean you're gonna get another). Speaking engagements, tours, constant pushing yourself (your books) out there with libraries, bookstores, booksignings, internet marketing, etc. It's required!

Yeah, I shrink and shiver at the thoughts of this last one. I'd much, much rather let someone else do it. But it's not to be. So, in spite of the fact that I'd rather be writing, and that it takes my precious time away from writing, all that stuff has to be done.

One other thing I wanted to mention in this post that might clarify things a little for some of you. There's several ways of publishing. Here are a few with very brief descriptions:

Traditional, larger presses: Where you get an advance, royalties and some promotion.

Smaller presses: possible advances (not always), royalties, less promotion, but some, depending on the amount of money available, lots of promotion with the internet and sometimes even e-publishing instead of print.

Vanity: writer must pay to have book published. There are some of these publishers that are legit, but not a lot. Depending on what you pay, is what you get in marketing. Very little, if any editing, is done by publisher. Unless one is satisfied to JUST have your book printed without expecting much else, this is not the best way to go.

Self: There's a lot of ways to go about this. I self-publish hubby and my own children's books. For now, this is a good way to go for us. In a small way, there is quite a bit of selling and recognition. This is a perfect way for someone who wants to write a family memoir type of book. For local writers who want to give or sell to mostly friends and family.

Of course, if you want to and have the dough, you can always have a printer print up your work. Takes more money, and sometimes it's not that much more professional looking.

Got any questions? Feel free to ask. I'd love to talk more about writing!

Quote:
What can be done at anytime is never done at all. --English proverb

Blessings!

Getting Ready

With my path to publication getting closer all the time, I've been thinking more and more of marketing. It's not my favorite thought, but it's gotta be done--eventually.

Here's some things to do:

1. I've taken some classes--and will take more--on marketing by people who are pretty knowledgeable about it for authors.
2. I'm joining more online groups, especially where there's chances to mingle with other writers.
3. I'm attending this fall more writing seminars and smaller conferences close to home.
4. I'm getting to compile my contact list.

And that brings me to the point I want to talk about.

My contact list. Its a list compiled of people who can be alerted when (if?) I get published so that they can either buy the book (if they want it. Smile) or spread the word through mouth or online about it. As "they" say: word of mouth is still the best way of advertising.

So . . . I'm making a list--and definitely don't want a short one. I'm including you, readers, on it, and hope you'll pass on other names of possible interested readers. I'll probably run contests to get the word out, print up bookmarks, etc., do blog interviews for those interested in helping me out, and give a limited number of books away to those who make a good effort to help promote it.

Anyone else with some good ideas?

Anyone willing to help out?

Quote:

Trust your hunches. They are usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level. --Dr. Joyce Brothers

Blessings!