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| Here's a photo I posted to social media about a book I was asked to review |
As a church organist and mom, I am in the midst of what is the busiest time of the year at our house. A friend stopped today and I wasn't home. She chatted with my husband saying "is that woman ever home?" Truth is, I'm not home nearly as much as I'd like to be. In the last few days, there have been some fabulous articles on The Muffin with tips and tricks on writing and time management during this time of year. Thank you to those lovely ladies who put those together. Now here I am asking you dear reader for your tips and tricks. The question is this:
How Do You Promote Your Book(s)?
You may be looking at me a bit strange at this point since I'm a Blog Tour Manager here at WOW!. Obviously I think every single author should promote their book by doing a book blog tour here with Renee, Jodi, or myself. Truth is, not everyone chooses that route. In fact, I get emails weekly from people who are attempting to promote their book(s) by themselves, via Tomoson, through Amazon reviews, etc... and then there's creating an author page or a street group on social media. Do you find book bloggers and email them directly? Do you create a hashtag for instagram and twitter? I truly don't even know what all is out there. So, let's get to sharing.
What have you tried that has NOT worked?
What did you do that really worked that you would absolutely recommend to others
(this is where I'm hoping a few of you will pipe up and say
"a blog tour with WOW!"...lol
If you included some swag in your promotion, what was the best bang for your buck? (ie: book marks, re-usable book bags, candles, etc...)
Did you do something in particular to track the results of your promoting?
Is there really a way to do this?
Please Please Please leave some comments here
- let's share some ideas that will help others. After all, it's the holidays!
While you're chewing over those questions, I'll give you a quick sneak peak into two fun blog tours I am booking right now. Give out a shout (crystal@wow-womenonwriting.com) if you'd like to read and review one of these beautiful books.
January 30th 2017 Rebecca Fitton launches her WOW! Book Blog Tour of Wave Rider. Wave Rider is a book about a journey to healing from childhood sexual abuse, but there is also narrative in it.
Wave Rider by Rebecca Fitton
www.rebeccapottfitton.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaPFitton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rebecca-Pott-Fitton-1177935578923204/
February 13th 2017 Shirley Melis launches her non-fiction memoir Banged Up Heart; don't miss this amazing story of resilience and strength!
www.shirleymelis.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/widowedtwice
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shirleymelis
You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff at:http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Crystal--I know Margo has done some clever things to promote her books. Hopefully she'll leave a comment because--for the life of me--I can recall the specifics.
ReplyDeleteAlas, I have no book of my own. However, I've participated in canned food drives in conjunction with Chicken Soup for the Soul book signings, and that seems to bring people out. They get the chance to do something charitable along with getting to meet and chat with authors.
Ha! Here I am but I'm trying to think what clever things I've done, Sioux. :) I think the very best way to sell a book is by having some kind of event or being invited to a conference where you can talk. People connect with you and they buy your book. A book launch party usually sells a bunch of books. And just regular old connection and maintaining relationships online and in person works too. Around the holidays in the past, I have offered book gift packages where I wrapped everything and sent it for the person. That worked too. :)
ReplyDeleteBlog tours absolutely work to get the word out!
What does not work? Facebook ads. Tweets that are only about your book over and over again.
Thanks Sioux!
ReplyDeleteMargo - you bring up an interesting point about Tweets. I think in general, people want some sort of take-away, a "what's in it for me?" and if we concentrate on sell sell sell I think we miss out on that piece. That's why connecting to readers is so important. We can bring them value.
Stay warm today!
Hugs,
~Crystal
Hi Crystal ~ I thought Mari L. McCarthy had a very successful book launch for Journaling Power. Besides doing a blog tour with WOW (and currently a radio tour!), she partnered with a bunch of other authors, coaches, service providers, etc that fit with her book and they came together to offer bonus gifts with the purchase of her book for her publishing day. I know that was part of her publishing package, but I think if authors really planned on a big launch like that and reached out to their network, they could do a DIY version.
ReplyDeleteYou've brought up some good points. I also don't like tweets that offer nothing but the chance to buy a book that are repeated again and again.
ReplyDeleteBlog tours on WOW! ;)
ReplyDeleteI work with several authors every year promoting and marketing their books and I find that blog tours give authors the chance to finally get some raw reader responses to their book. Even if a blog tour doesn't translate DIRECTLY into your book being a huge success with tons of sales, it does plant the seed. But you have to keep watering it, consistently coming up in search, and finding new and creative ways to keep yourself out there. One of the first things I do with my client authors is draw a map of their resources, this can be contacts, clubs they belong to, their alma mater, etc. Also, definitely use social media to your advantage, seek bloggers or blog tours for genuine reviews, ask all your advanced readers for an honest review and just keep on it!
PS - I didn't pay Mari to say that..lol
ReplyDeleteYou're all so great!
Love,
~Crystal