Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75 million by some counts), with thousands more being created every day. Making yours stand above the rest may seem like a daunting task, but here are ten suggestions for making your blog posts stand out from the crowd. (more…)
By Steve Libbey
Books are the primary means of conveying words to a reader. They’re compact chunks of time, easily accessible no matter where you are. They remember where you left off and what you already read (and might need to reread). They are companions that connect us to the rest of our world during our quiet, solitary hours.
In this context, a podcast seems garish. You want your readers to have an intimate, one-on-one with your story, not to be barked at by a speaker. Besides, if they listen to a story, won’t that eliminate a book sale?
Indeed, no! The podcast is the newest and most powerful tool you have at your disposal to promote your stories—and make no mistake, the onus is on you to handle promotion. No one else will do the work for you … at first. (more…)
By Marcia James
Self-promotion. Say the word aloud in a room full of authors and watch a fingernails-on-the-blackboard shudder run through the crowd. Promotion can be a scary drain on time and finances. For this reason, savvy self-promoters are joining forces with other authors to share the expense and effort—a sort of PR buddy system. (more…)
By Cheri Lasota
Marketing is a life-long learning process. The moment you think you’ve got it, another technology comes along to trip you up. Yet knowledge sources abound. Some of the best advice you’ll ever receive is from mentors in your field. Seek out person-to-person meetings with published authors, writers groups, editors, and agents. Each source can give you a well-rounded perspective on the publishing business.
In addition, the Internet has instant and (usually) free information to cull from. Many published authors frequent writers forums and are willing to share their experiences and give advice on what types of marketing have worked for them. You can also post excerpts of your work in progress for feedback from forum members. Marketing books are plentiful. Two writer-oriented books I recommend are Levinson, Frishman and Larsen’s Guerilla Marketing for Writers and Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s Frugal Book Promoter.
Agent and editor blogs are also especially helpful, as they often answer direct questions from writers and give tips on how to hone your query. I highly recommend agent blogs by Nathan Bransford (nathanbransford.blogspot.com) and Bookends LLC (bookendslitagency.blogspot.com) as well as the now-retired but beloved Miss Snark (misssnark.blogspot.com/)—don’t worry, her archives are available. (more…)
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