Showing posts with label book marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book marketing. Show all posts

Get Your Book Seen & Sold by Claudine Wolk & Julie Murkette: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, September 18, 2023

 

Get Your Book Seen and Sold by Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette

I'm excited to share the launch of a blog tour with authors, Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette. They share their expertise regarding publishing and marketing your book in Get Your Book Seen and Sold. It's a must-read for writers who have either published a book or hope to one day. It's an informative read wherever you are on your writing journey!

Join us as we celebrate the launch of their book! You'll have a chance to read an interview with the authors, learn more about her book, and win a copy of it for yourself.

First, here is more information about the book:

It is easier than ever to publish a book, but many authors find out too late about the actual work—the book marketing—that needs to be done to achieve sizable book sales. Instead of embracing the opportunities to promote their books, authors are intimidated and shut down. Those days are over. This is the book authors MUST HAVE to give their books the best chance to be seen and sold.  

In this essential, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand guide, the author will work through the graphs, examples, and exercises in the book and learn:

  • The fundamentals of book marketing: Message, Audience, and Hook 
  • How the book marketing fundamentals effortlessly feed into every aspect of book marketing
  • The breadth of book marketing options and how book marketing works, with examples
  • How book distribution IS a crucial part of book marketing 
  • To develop an elevator pitch and a formal pitch to media contacts
  • To develop with a doable book marketing plan
  • To develop media kit items for their book publicity efforts: Press Release, Author Bio, etc.
  • The types of book reviews and how to get them
  • To create a list of media contacts and how to use them
  • To organize their new entrepreneurial business as book marketer/author
  • Ideas to “shake their tree” to develop unique book marketing opportunities 
  • To examine the best social media channels to promote their books
  • Where to put their book promotion dollars
  • Most importantly, authors will learn something priceless...the correct starting point!

Authors, You CAN do right by your book! Go on and reach the book buyers that you had in mind when wrote your treasured manuscript and get your book seen and sold today.

Publisher: Lost Valley Press (September 2023)
ISBN-10: 1935874446
ISBN-13: 978-1935874446
Print length: 122 pages

Purchase your copy on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or Barnes and Noble. Make sure you add it to your GoodReads list too.

About the Authors, Claudine Wolk & Julie Murkette


Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette are experienced in sharing their knowledge of the publishing industry to give books the BEST chance to be sold. Julie is the long-time owner of Satya House Publications, which published and marketed the award-winning I See the Sun series of books, among others. Claudine Wolk is a published author, journalist, podcast host and book marketing consultant. You can find her writing in her weekly newsletter on Substack: Get Your Book Seen and Sold. Her book, It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers, (Harper Collins) is translated into three languages and was released as an audiobook (Nov. 2022).

Find Claudine online at:


Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congratulations on your book! What led you to want to write a book featuring tips for authors on getting their book sold?

Claudine: Thank you, Julie and I are so excited about the book.  The reason we HAD to write this book stemmed from our experience with authors when we were working together as book marketers (and editors). Again and again we would meet authors, many of whose books were already published, looking to promote and market their books. When we asked them about the pre-pub efforts to market their books, we got blank stares. It made us sad and frustrated to know that if these authors had known just a few things about book marketing before their book published—things like pre-pub reviews, setting their book up for pre-sale on several online outlets, catalog placement, notice to libraries, pitching to long and short lead media, to name a few—they would have had so much better luck with their book sales. We decided to remedy that situation with a fun, colorful, easy-to-understand guide for publishing and then for book marketing!

WOW: I think that's amazing you found a way to help authors with such a complicated part of the marketing process, especially when you are doing the marketing on your own as an author. What was the writing process like for you?

Claudine: Get Your Book Seen and Sold ripped right out of us. Once we took the time to decide the best way to organize the book, the writing came easily. In fact at 125 pages, its brevity is its strength. Many authors are scared to get started on book marketing for fear of the unknown. They are intimidated to learn what they think is a whole new language. While there are a few fundamentals to understand about book marketing, much of the most effective book marketing comes from using the same creativity that authors use to write! We simply explain book marketing and how it can work for an author and then provide exercises to get the author moving!

WOW: That is so amazing how it just flowed! Did you run into any challenges co-writing this with another writer?

Claudine: Julie and I have worked so well together on various projects. We co-edited Ruth Yaron's famous book, Super Baby Food, 3rd edition and worked on the accompanying, Super Baby Food Cookbook. We have promoted authors together on the floor of Book Expo America and co-authored countless press releases. For whatever reason, our styles click. Julie has her strengths and I have mine. I think the key to a good writing partnership is to trust where your partner has those strengths and give them freedom to shine in those areas. Julie and I also partner on marketing the book as I bet you could have guessed. That collaboration was easy because we had our own book to guide us!

WOW: What a blessing you found each other! What do you hope people walk away with by reading your book?

Claudine: Our hope that authors have a treasured writing resource on their shelves that they go to again and again to successfully promote their books. The book is our "love letter" to the authors, new or experienced, who are brave enough to get their message out there and reach their intended audiences. We also hope they complete the exercises in the book and keep it as a way to stay on track with their book marketing. The fundamentals of book marketing never change and an author can promote their book long after it is published. 

WOW: What a gift you've given authors! What do you think are the biggest challenges authors run into when marketing their book?

Claudine: First is fear. It is scary to put yourself out there, and when an author thinks of book marketing, they are thinking, Crap, people are actually going to read this! They will read my writing. They will see me.

Second is intimidation. Book marketing a whole new discipline. Most writers think of themselves as creators, not business people.

Third is financial. There are many ways to spend your money on promotion, and many are not reputable or effective.    

WOW: You hit the nail on the head! When is the right time to develop a marketing plan as an author?

Claudine: We believe that authors should start to think about their marketing plan as they write their book. Once the book is written, we suggest giving yourself a full year to create the book itself (editing, interior design, book cover) and to start to unroll your book marketing up until the book launches.

WOW: Lots of planning to anticipate for! What lessons have you learned through your writing journey that you can tell authors?

Claudine: I think the biggest lesson is for writers to trust their gut. It is not easy to put your writing out into the world. Sadly, the critics out there can be brutal, but the number of people that you actually help FAR outweigh the critics. Be brave and know that you are not alone. When you feel alone, google "mean book reviews" and you will know that you are not alone. Never let a few critics of your precious message away from the many who will benefit from your work. 

WOW: Who is this book right for?

Claudine: This book is for any author who wants to write, publish, and market a book and for existing authors who would like a refresher course on the fundamentals of book marketing. Not only is it a guide for an author to make the decision on how to publish, it provides the starting point for any good marketing plan. Once an author understands the publishing process and what is possible with book marketing, they can make good decisions that will help them to get their book seen and sold. 

WOW: That's awesome. For authors nervous about marketing, what advice would you give them?

Claudine: I would say to that author, "You cared so much about the message in your book, the story you want to tell, that you wrote a whole book about it! Your message deserves to be out in the world. Your book deserves the best chance to be seen and sold. Take some time to learn a few book marketing options, apply them faithfully and you will do right by your book!"

WOW: Absolutely! What are you working on next that you can tell us about?

Claudine: Ahhh, right now I am marketing my book by following all the advice in Get Your Book Seen and Sold. My Substack Newsletter / Podcast (claudinewolk.substack.com) is growing and I am so excited to be reaching more authors who want to learn about book marketing from newsletters and podcast episodes with book marketing authors and industry experts. I also consult on book marketing as a coach and have a new online lesson coming out for purchase titled Begin: Write Your Book The Right Way where I partner with Kate Brenton. Kate and I combine "how to write" with "how to market" the book you have been meaning to write! I am practicing what I preach!

WOW: How cool! Best of luck on your journey, and can't wait to see what you come out with next.


Get Your Book Seen and Sold by Claudine Wolk Blog Tour

Blog Tour Calendar

September 18th @ The Muffin
Join us on The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette's book Get Your Book Seen and Sold. You can also enter to win a copy for yourself!

September 19th @ Karen Brown Tyson's blog
Join Karen as she reviews Get Your Book Seen and Sold. You can also win a copy for yourself!

September 20th @ My Beauty, My Books
Join Nikki for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold. 

September 21st @ Knotty Needle
Join Judy for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

September 22nd @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona's blog for a guest post by Claudine about creating a list of media contacts and how to use them.

September 23rd @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for a guest post by Claudine about how to pick and choose where to focus your book marketing.

September 25th @ My Heart is Booked
Don't miss Danielle's book review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold. You can also win a copy for yourself!

September 28th @ Deborah Zenha-Adams' blog
Deborah shares an excerpt from Get Your Book Seen and Sold. You also have a chance to win a copy of the book, too!

September 29th @ Margay Leah Justice
Join Margay as she reviews Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 1st @ Balance and Joy
Join Sheri for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Join Anthony for a guest post by Claudine about the trick to a great interview.

October 6th @ Carole Writes
Join Carole for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 7th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy's blog for a guest post by Claudine Wolk about a popular book marketing roadmap.

October 7th @ Of History and Kings
Join Helen for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 10th @ What is That Book About
Visit Michelle's blog for an excerpt from Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 13th @ CK Sorens
Visit Carrie's page for her insights into Get Your Book Seen and Sold. You can also win a copy for yourself too.

October 15th @ Madeline Sharples' blog
Join Madeline for a guest post by Claudine about how you can't do everything. Don't miss it! 

October 15th @ The Mommies Review
Visit Glenda's blog for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 17th @ One Writer's Journey
Join Sue for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 17th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog for a guest post by Claudine Wolk about how writing and book marketing are related.

October 18th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra's blog for a spotlight of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 19th @ Pick a Good Book
Join Debbie for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 19th @ Book Reviews from an Avid Reader
Visit Joan's blog for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 20th @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Join Beverley for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold by Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette.

October 21st @ Free to be Me
Join Leslie for her review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 21st @ Editor 911
Visit Margo's blog for a review of Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

October 22nd @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Visit Beverley's blog again for a guest post by Claudine Wolk about the top ten insider tips for self-publishing and book promotion.

October 22nd @ Jill Sheets' blog
Visit Jill's blog for her interview with author Claudine Wolk about her book Get Your Book Seen and Sold.

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win a copy of Get Your Book Seen and Sold by Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette! Fill out the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win. The giveaway ends October 1 at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner randomly the next day and announce them in the Rafflecopter widget. We will also follow up by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Demystifying the Blog Tour: A Powerful Marketing Tool for Your Book Launch and Beyond

Saturday, May 27, 2023


A blog tour is a marketing campaign that involves coordinating a series of blog posts and online promotions to create buzz and generate exposure for your book. It typically involves collaborating with bloggers and influencers who have an audience that aligns with your target readership. These bloggers will read your book, write reviews, host author interviews, and feature guest posts or excerpts from your book on their blogs. The goal is to reach a wider audience and generate interest in your book within their established community.

 

The Blog Tour Framework

Here's a breakdown of the framework for a typical blog tour:

 

  1. Identify and contact bloggers: Research and compile a list of relevant bloggers who cater to your book's genre or niche. Reach out to them via email or through their website's contact form, expressing interest in collaborating on a blog tour.

 

  1. Provide review copies: Offer a digital or physical copy of your book to the interested bloggers, allowing them time to read and review it before the tour begins.

 

  1. Create tour schedule: Coordinate with the participating bloggers to create a schedule for the tour. Each blogger will have a designated day to feature your book on their blog and share their review, interview, guest post, or any other agreed-upon content.

 

  1. Create content: Prepare author interviews, guest posts, or excerpts that you can provide to the bloggers to publish on their respective blogs. These pieces of content should be engaging and relevant to your book, enticing readers to learn more about it.

 

  1. Promote: As the blog tour progresses, actively promote each blog post across your own social media channels and any other platforms you use. This will help generate more visibility and encourage your existing followers to visit the blogs hosting your content.

 

  1. Engage with readers: Throughout the blog tour, make an effort to engage with readers who leave comments on the blog posts. Responding to their comments and answering their questions will help build a connection and potentially lead to more interest in your book. 


Blog Tour Benefits

The benefits of a blog tour can be significant for your book launch or generating interest long after your book has been released. Some potential advantages include:

 

  1. Increased exposure: By leveraging the established audiences of bloggers and influencers, you can reach a wider audience that may not have been aware of your book otherwise.

 

  1. Social proof: Positive reviews and endorsements from bloggers can lend credibility to your book, encouraging readers to take a chance on it.

 

  1. Networking opportunities: Collaborating with bloggers and influencers can expand your network within the literary community, opening doors to potential future partnerships or opportunities.

 

  1. Enhanced online presence: The blog tour generates online content related to your book, increasing your online presence and searchability, which can have long-term benefits for your author platform.



When to Plan a Blog Tour

Determining the best time to have a blog tour for your book largely depends on your specific goals, timeline, and the nature of your book. However, there are a few general considerations to keep in mind when planning the timing of your blog tour:

 

  1. Book launch date: Ideally, you'll want to schedule your blog tour around your book's launch date. This ensures that the tour generates maximum buzz and attention during the critical period when your book becomes available to the public; however, a book tour can also help reignite interest in your book long after it’s been published..

 

  1. Pre-launch promotion: Consider starting your blog tour a few weeks before your book's official launch. This gives bloggers and influencers ample time to read and review your book, and it allows you to generate buzz and anticipation leading up to the release. Pre-launch promotion can help build excitement and generate pre-orders or early sales.

 

  1. Availability of review copies: Ensure that you have review copies of your book available and ready to send out to bloggers well in advance of the blog tour start date. This allows sufficient time for bloggers to read the book and prepare their content for the tour. Consider providing digital copies for ease and quick distribution.

 

  1. Audience availability: Take into account the preferences and availability of your target audience. If your book caters to a specific season, genre, or holiday, it might be beneficial to align your blog tour with that theme or timeframe. For example, a romance novel might benefit from a blog tour around Valentine's Day.

 

  1. Other marketing efforts: Consider coordinating your blog tour with other marketing initiatives you have planned. This could include social media campaigns, advertising, or other promotional activities. A coordinated approach can amplify your book's visibility and impact.

 

  1. Blogger availability: Reach out to bloggers and influencers well in advance to secure their participation and confirm their availability for the tour. Keep in mind that popular bloggers may have busy schedules, so it's beneficial to plan ahead and be flexible with scheduling to accommodate their availability.

 

Ultimately, the best time for a blog tour is when you have everything in place, including review copies, promotional materials, and a solid plan for engaging with bloggers and readers throughout the tour. Take the time to strategically plan and execute your blog tour to maximize its impact on your book launch or relaunch.


Did you know WOW! Women on Writing offers blog tours as part of our marketing services? 
 
If you're interested in exploring professional assistance for your blog tour and other book marketing endeavors, check out WOW! Women on Writing's book marketing packages. We offer comprehensive and tailored solutions to help authors like you navigate the world of book promotion. Our team of experts can guide you through the process, provide valuable insights, and connect you with influential bloggers and reviewers in your genre. 
 
By leveraging the expertise and network of WOW! Women on Writing, you can enhance the effectiveness of your blog tour and ensure your book receives the attention it deserves. Learn more here or contact blogtour[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com with questions.

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Friday Speak Out!: The Book Marketing Pitch

Friday, April 22, 2022
by Claudine Wolk

YOU are the secret to a successful Pitch

Think of a pitch. Visualize it. A pitcher stands on a baseball mound and throws a ball to a batter. Instead of real time, let’s slow things down a bit and imagine the pitch resuming in slow motion. The pitcher releases the pitch and it slowly reaches the batter. The batter takes a swing and his bat either hits it or misses it.

One of the hardest and most time-consuming parts of book marketing is pitching to media contacts. First, you have to take the time to identify media contacts. Then you have to come up with a pitch to send to them. Then you have to send it, follow-up with it and hopefully provide what the media contact wants for their review, mention or interview.

What is a pitch in book marketing? One of the ways we sell books is to “suggest” or “pitch” the book, the author, or the author’s message to different media contacts to review the book in their media outlet, to mention the book in their media outlet or to interview the author in their media outlet.

What is a media contact? A “media contact” is an entity or person at that entity. Media entities include tv, radio, newspaper, magazine, blog, and podcast, as well as book industry reviewers and long lead reviewers. A book marketer (You!) creates a media contact list and then you pitch to your list.

How to get started on a pitch to media contacts

First: Keep your goal in mind. When you pitch to a “media contact” you are hoping for a book review, an interview about your topic, or a mention of your book. Repeat after me: review, interview or mention…. review, interview, or mention. Those three things are always your main goal.

Second: Mass emailing equals mass rejection: I know it is tempting to write a generic pitch and to send it through Mail Chimp or Constant Contact or to a string of every email in your contact list but this is bad form for a couple of reasons. First, putting media contacts in a constant contact database is a no-no. You technically have to have the permission of the contact to add it to your constant contact database. Second, media contacts can spot a blanket pitch from a mile away and will most certainly ignore it.

Third: You will be pitching your book for years to come. Take a minute and a breather. I know it is overwhelming. I can remember panicking at the sight of the grocery store magazine rack at every checkout counter when marketing my first book. Every magazine was a potential media contact…how was I going to pitch to them all? The answer, one media contact at a time.

Tips to pitch to your media contact

One: SINCERITY - take the time to read the media contact’s website or work so you get to know them a bit. Sincerity ALWAYS wins the day. Every successful hit I have ever had has included a sincere and well, thought-out pitch. Quality over quantity is the key when pitching to a media contact.

Two: Write a pitch that makes it easy for the media contact to say yes.

Include all the information that the media contact will need to do what they need to do. If you are pitching via email, include a call for action – “let me know where I can send a copy of my book and media kit for your review, mention, or interview,” for example.

If pitching by mail, include a copy of the book (or galley) with your press release, author bio, and interview q&a. Include a well written cover letter with your call to action. Include why the media outlet’s audience will love you or your book, why they need it or will be entertained by it. Include a few bullet-pointed reasons! Always include a call to action… “Please consider for -review, interview, or mention of the book for your magazine.”

Three: Gently follow-up with the media contact. For example, you can start the follow-up letter or email with the words: In case you missed it…. I have included information about so and so…

Finally, don’t give up. If you come up with a different way to pitch to the same outlet down the road, a different spin or a new story, try it again a few months later.

You are the secret to a successful pitching campaign for your book. Take the time to create meaningful media contact lists and creative pitches and you will be on your way to getting your book seen and sold!

* * * 

Claudine Wolk is an author, podcast host, and radio host. Follow her substack newsletter Get Your Book Seen and Sold or visit ClaudineWolk.com. Claudine lives with her husband, Joe, in Bucks County, PA and is working on her next book.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Friday Speak Out!: The Book Marketer’s Toolbox

Friday, April 01, 2022
by Claudine Wolk

A book marketer, like any good artisan, has a tool box. Her tools, once prepared, will be selected for the specific purpose with which they are needed. A plumber’s tools might include a wrench, a plunger, or some duct tape. A carpenter’s tool box would certainly include a hammer, some nails, and a reliable level.

Similarly, a book marketer’s tool box would include a strong query and book proposal plus the items that are considered part of a book media kit: a press release, an author bio, a book one-page, an endorsements page, an interview q&a, a book cover jpg and an author jpg. The book marketer selects these tools or parts of these tools when they go to work to find interviews, reviews, mentions, or advertising for their author’s book.

Each of the tools is industry-standard and is expected to look a certain way and to include certain elements. They are each potent and powerful and are prepared with as much care as any valuable tool is crafted. The marketer’s tools will be used again and again throughout the life of the book and therefore must be prepared with diligence, thoughtfulness and care.

Where to Start to Create the Best Book Marketing Tools

Whether you have a traditional publisher or you are self-publishing it will pay off if you take the time and treasure needed to create the best “tools.” If you are with a traditional publisher, they will most likely prepare many media kit items. However, your input will be invaluable. As a self-publisher, you may be starting from scratch or perhaps you will hire someone to help you to create industry-standard media kit items. Your input will be crucial in this scenario as well.

Now that you know how important these “tools” are, you may be wondering where to get started to provide the content for these all-important items. I suggest that authors start to create their tools by answering three crucial questions. The answers to these three questions will start you on your way to create the best book marketing tools.

Question One: Who is your audience?

Who, specifically, will buy your book? What I mean is not who might pick up the book or may find it useful but who did you have in mind when you wrote this book? Take a few minutes to write down some of the characteristics of your quintessential book buyer.

Question Two: What problem does your book solve? What is your message?

You wrote this book for a reason. You have a message, a message that was so important that you needed to write a whole book to get your message out there and to reach the rest of the world.

Question Three: Why are you the person to write this book?

Why are you uniquely qualified to share this message? What is special about you, your method, your experience, or your ideas that make you the perfect person to write this book?

Answer the above three questions, honestly and thoughtfully and you will be on your way to creating the best tools for your book marketer’s tool box.

* * * 
Claudine Wolk is an author, podcast host, and radio host. Follow her substack newsletter Get Your Book Seen and Sold or visit ClaudineWolk.com. Claudine lives with her husband, Joe, in Bucks County, PA and is working on her next book.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Be Wary of Marketing Offers for Your Books

Sunday, October 10, 2021
 
You know that saying, "If it's too good to be true, it's probably too good to be true"? I was reminded of it recently when checking my email, and I thought: This subject would make a good WOW! blog post. Probably other writers are receiving emails like this or will be soon, and so let's discuss...

These are the kinds of emails I'm talking about:

Dear Ms. Dill:
We want to market Finding My Place for you. It is such an excellent book! We will put your book in front of thousands and thousands of our followers on Twitter by tweeting about your book every day for XX days for $XXXXX dollars. Don't wait. 

Sincerely,
Book Marketer Extraordinaire

#eyeroll

I'm not trying to be mean or condescending. I know that there are some legit marketing firms out there, including services that help authors promote books. But I also know that if someone is contacting you to promote a book that is not famous and where you recently promoted it yourself through a legit eNewsletter, most likely, this is not a good deal. And I also know that tweeting your book title with a link to a bunch of people who may have no interest in your type of book will not sell books. It just won't.

Even if the above email came and the person said they would do it for $1 or $5, I wouldn't do it. Most likely, here's what happened. This person subscribes to a newsletter for children's books that are being offered for free or a discount. They saw that I ran a promotion on Finding My Place. They Googled my name, and they found my website, where I have my email address. Then they emailed me and made me feel "special", so that they can send out tweets that no one will care about, and they can take my money. 

My point? If someone is emailing you and asking you to market something for you for $XXXX, I wouldn't do it. In 999 cases out of 1000 (or maybe even 1000 out of 1000), this won't be a good ROI for you. They may even do what they say they're going to do, and Twitter may show you that they have 200,000 followers, but you have no idea if those followers are mostly bots or readers of a completely different genere you write. 

So my advice--delete those emails--send them to spam. Don't waste your time.

What does work? 

I think offering the first book in your series for free still works. I don't think it works as well as it used to because there are so many free books out there. But if you offer your ebook for free and advertise it in a newsletter for people who love that genre and free ebooks, you will get a lot of downloads, and some of those people will read the book. Some of those people will review it for you, and some of those people will buy book two. 

What are some good newsletters?

My two favorites are Free Booksy and The Fussy Librarian. There are more, I'm sure, but those are the two I always use. As for Twitter, we tweet at WOW!, and we get some love on there, but none of our book packages for authors are just for Twitter. We use our blog, our eNewsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter--plus sometimes banner ads on our website. It's a combination of strategies that works to sell books.


If you want help with marketing, it works much better if you find someone to help you. You are in charge. You find the service or the person, and you tell them what you want. This October, in the season of Halloween, you don't want a bad and wasteful book marketing service/package to scare you away from your writing career! 

Margo L. Dill is a children's author, editor, publisher, and writing coach and instructor, living in St. Louis, MO, with her fifth-grader and almost three-year-old rescue dog. You can find out more at https://www.margoldill.com. 




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Confessions of a (Non-Professional) Book Reviewer

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

So you’ve got a book! 

You can’t believe your eyes but there it is in your sweaty hands! And whether you’ve gone the indie route, a trade publisher, or somewhere in between, you’re already dreaming about book reviews. More to the point, you’re wondering how to get ‘em. 

So I thought I’d share an insider look at the non-professional book reviewer: your friends, family, and more importantly, your writer friends. Maybe if you know why I do book reviews, you can use that info to get your book reviews! 

Because You Asked 

By far, I write book reviews because the author has asked me. But to be clear, I’m referring to a personal ask, though not necessarily from close, personal friends. 

As a writer who’s involved in several writing organizations and networks, I know a lot of published writers. But surprisingly, very few of them will ask me to write a book review. The majority of newly published authors will blast their news out on social media and ask politely for those who read their book to leave a review. And that’s certainly a time-saving technique but it rarely pushes me from “Congrats!” to the actual writing of a book review. I truly am thrilled for writer friends who get published, but by the time I’ve scrolled through all the updates on social media, I’ve already moved on to whatever’s next on my To Do List. 

BUT if a published friend sends me an email or connects with me at an event or heck, bumps into me at the grocery store and tells me all about the latest published book and offers to send me an ARC or a PDF and asks me personally would I please consider writing a review? Chances are excellent that I’ll write that review if the author friend follows through and sends the book in some form.

Because I’ve Bought Your Book

Again, I have lots of friends who get books published. I can’t afford to buy every friend’s book but those writer friends whom I’ve walked a long journey with, shared umpteen lunches, or even those I’ve never met in person but have a strong connection with, I’m going to buy their book. Perhaps especially if they’ve been pubbed by a smaller publisher or self-pubbed. And as I know how important book reviews are, I’m going to review the book. 

On a side note, close friends will often want to give me their book. I can’t speak for all, but I’d rather they save their give-away books for other opportunities. And I don’t mind one bit if I get a nudge about a book review from these good friends. This goes back to the personal ask; follow through is imperative! 

Because I’ve Won a Book

I’ll participate in a book giveaway if there’s a connection with the author and I want to read the book (and as a bonus, win a signed copy). But these are generally not personal friends; they’re often writers I met somewhere along the way, at a writer’s retreat or other event. In fact, I don’t participate in close friends’ book giveaways because I want that book to go out in the world. But if I do win a book and the author signs it and sends it, the least I can do is write a book review. Every time. 

Because I’m Participating In a Book Tour 

I participate in book tours because I want to read the book; I usually don’t know the author from Adam. And since authors on book tours are there to generate buzz about their books, they’re not trying to make friends. But you know what? I often find these authors to be super friendly, hard-working people, and though it’s not required to post a book review, I always do. Because I’d want someone to do the same for me if I did a book tour. Which brings me to my final confession… 

I’ve recently written a couple book reviews for friends; one because she asked, and the other, because I bought the book. And both sent me lovely thank you notes when they saw the reviews posted. I appreciate a thank you note even though I don’t respond to them. But if I did, I’d write just three words back: Pay it forward.

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Newsletter Swaps: Should You Give These a Try?

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Last time, I blogged I talked about giving away your work for free as a part of your marketing plan. Today, I'm going to discuss "Newsletter Swaps": what they are, why you should look into them, how to do them successfully, and where you can find them. So, let's go:

What are newsletter swaps?

This is a marketing technique that is inexpensive (could even be free), where you promise to feature an author or her book in your newsletter to your mailing list in exchange for the other author featuring you and your book(s). 

Why should you look into newsletter swaps?

Newsletter swaps are an inexpensive way to find new readers who like your genre. The cost is basically your time and any money you have to pay for your newsletter list, but that money you would be spending anyway to send your newsletter to your readers. Newsletter swaps also don't take much time because the author should provide you with what they want you to say about them and their books, just as you will for their newsletter. Plus, newsletter swaps give you more content for your newsletter, and it is a service to your readers. You are saying: Here's another author that I know who writes something that you might want to try out.

How do you do a newsletter swap successfully?

There are some tips to making these work well--best practices. 

    1. Find an author who writes for the same genre or audience that you do. If your best writing buddy writes sci-fi and you write romance, you can still do a newsletter swap because you never know who likes to read both genres. But generally, you want to try to find another romance author, and one who writes similar to you--another sweet romance writer for example. Those readers will want to find new authors in genres that they like to read. 

    2. Provide an offer. If you have a newsletter swap coming up, consider providing a discount or free book (or a reader magnet) to the other author's newsletter list. If your first book in the series is free or you always give away a free ebook, like I do, then ask the author to promote that. Remember, you are looking for readers who want to make a commitment to you and your writing by buying more than one book or signing up for your newsletter. So you may need to give them a taste of your writing inexpensively until they become fans. The other author's newsletter list is an audience hungry for books, so make it easy for them to try one of yours! 

    3. Create art for the author to use. I love it when other authors provide me with a ready-made photo by using a site like Canva and some text, so all I have to do is load their photos and copy and paste their text into my newsletter template. This also ensures that the other author is providing the information you want to their newsletter list.

Okay, I'm sold...where do I find newsletter swaps?

First, look at your own list and social media feeds, and see if you have any authors on there that write the same genre as you. Send them a message, and ask if they would be interested in a newsletter swap. But you may NO other authors and still make these work, thanks to sites like Book Funnel (fee-based) and StoryOrigin (currently free). Both of these sites list group promos and newsletter swap opportunities that you can be a part of if you have a newsletter list. These are great ways to find new authors with new readers that you don't already know.

If you've tried newsletter swaps or are thinking about it, let us know in the comments below! 


Margo L. Dill is an author, editor, teacher, and publisher, living in St. Louis, MO. She teaches the WOW! Writing a Novel with a Writing Coach class, which starts on December 4. You can check out her books on margoldill.com and her publishing company at Editor-911 Books.  





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LitNuts: For Readers And Authors Crazy About Books: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, November 02, 2020

 


Today, we are excited to announce the blog tour LitNuts.com - a website that benefits the reader and the author. Why? LitNuts brings you books from independent publishers that you aren’t likely to hear about elsewhere. They promise to bring you the “Best of the Indies” because they believe indie presses are the lifeblood of American literature. 


For Readers


So, LitNuts brings you books of short stories, essays, or poetry that many other newsletters refuse to include (because collections don’t sell as well as novels). LitNuts also features new releases and award-winning books that other newsletters exclude because of price. (Many newsletters feature ONLY ebooks priced at $2.99 or less, which is fine – but not all great books are $2.99 or less!).


For authors, you'll be happy to hear that LitNuts founders Mike O’Mary and Kathleen Meyer handled publishing and marketing for an indie press for more than 10 years. This is important because that means they understand the challenge of getting your books in front of readers. 


For Authors


LitNuts is an affordable vehicle that focuses on indie books and has engaged subscribers. Their goal is to help authors increase their book’s sales rank with online retailers, generate more reader reviews, and create positive word-of-mouth. 


Toward that end, they are building a subscriber base of booklovers who want to hear from indie presses. And we are focused on keeping things simple and flexible for authors. They offer a flat price of $25, so it’s simple. No tiered pricing or convoluted advertising offers to analyze.


At the same time, they give authors the flexibility to advertise short story, essay and poetry collections, to link to your website so book lovers can purchase directly from you, and to set the price of your e-book according to your needs.


SPECIAL DISCOUNT: Authors receive a free ad in the LitNuts newsletter by using discount code: WOW! (Deal ends 12/31/20).


About LitNut and owners Kathleen Meyer and her father, Mike O'Mary:



LitNuts is a woman-owned, family-run business founded by Kathleen Meyer and her father, Mike O'Mary, who share a love of literature and reading. Kathleen is an avid reader with 10 years of marketing experience, including with Dream of Things, a small press founded by Mike in 2009. During its 10 year history, Dream of Things published three New York Times Bestsellers, three winners of the Hoffer Award, and one book that has been optioned for a film. Kathleen and Mike drew upon their experience of publishing and marketing books on a shoestring budget to create LitNuts, in the hope of helping other indie presses achieve success. 


Authors and readers, visit LitNuts.com to sign up for their newsletter, where you can hear about incredible books from indie publishers that you wouldn't hear about anywhere else. 


You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.


---- Interview by Nicole Pyles


WOW: Why did you decide to start LitNuts? 


Kathleen: My father started an indie press in 2009, and I did a lot of the marketing for him. There are many e-newsletters and websites that do book promotions, and we used most of them. But the results were uneven, and none of them focused on indie books. So we felt there was an opportunity to do it better…to better connect readers with the world of indie publishing, and to deliver better value to authors and publishers. 


Mike: I want to reiterate the part about better connecting readers with indie publishing. The Big Five publishers dominate the scene when it comes to visibility online and in bookstores. But if that’s all you’re seeing, you’re really missing out on the many, many innovative and creative books coming out of the indie world. 


WOW: I absolutely agree! There are a ton of indie and self-published books that are absolutely brilliant and don't get nearly enough attention. You say on your website that LitNuts features books readers won't find elsewhere. Why is that? 


Kathleen: There are several reasons. One is definitely our focus on indie books – and even then, we cast as wide a net as possible in order to bring more variety to readers. For example, we will feature collections of short stories, essays and poetry in LitNuts. But some newsletters won’t even accept those types of books because they don’t sell as well as novels and book-length nonfiction – which is a Catch-22: they won’t feature those books because they don’t sell well, but part of the reason they don’t sell as well is because newsletters won’t include them! 


Mike: Another reason readers will find books in LitNuts that aren’t featured elsewhere is that most other newsletters focus on bargain books. LitNuts has lots of bargains, but we also realize that not all great books are $2.99 or less. So we feature great books across a range of price points. If you want bargains, we have them. But we’re not limiting authors or readers to the bargain basement! Our strategy is to give readers as broad a selection as possible. When it comes to what to read, the choice is yours.


Kathleen: The other thing is that in addition to featuring books that are submitted to LitNuts by authors and publishers, we also hand-pick books that we think merit your attention. So there really is quite a bit of variety in LitNuts. 


WOW: I love seeing a variety of book recommendations! So, how does eBook pricing influence whether or not someone buys a book? 


Mike: Generally, lower-price eBooks will get more attention and maybe even qualify as an “impulse” purchase with some readers. So here’s what I tell authors and publishers about pricing: I think $9.99 should be the ceiling price on eBooks. A price higher than that is difficult for readers to rationalize – because for a few dollars more, they can probably buy the print edition, which many readers still prefer. Beyond that, if you can price the eBook at $4.99 or less, I think that’s very desirable. And if you’re a self-published author with no middle men to deal with, maybe you can price your eBook at $2.99 and still make a profit, which is great. I wouldn’t price an eBook for less than $2.99 except for promotional purposes. 


It’s funny that $2.99 is kind of a hurdle when it comes to eBooks, especially when you’re talking about something that could give you hours of reading pleasure and maybe even change your life. 


Kathleen: Another thing about LitNuts is that we’re trying really hard to be agnostic when it comes to format. All the books we feature have a “Starting at” price, which is usually the eBook price. But for each book that we feature, we provide links to a dozen or more eRetailers where readers can purchase any format they want, including print and audio editions. 


WOW: That really is another reason you stand out in your newsletter! You offer links to other eRetailers, which is wonderful. And I love that you feature indie books! Being a blog tour manager has exposed me some amazing books I never would have found otherwise. Why should people give indie books a chance? 


Mike: There was a very good article in The Atlantic a while back that describes what’s going on with the Big Five publishers: We are in the age of the million-dollar book deal. So the Big Five increasingly gamble on massive book advances in the hope that they’ll produce a major bestseller. But these big investments come at the cost of investing in fewer writers. 


Kathleen: The good news is that this scenario creates an opportunity for indie presses to do what they do best: cultivating new authors and focusing on creativity and originality over sales. There’s nothing wrong with reading a bestseller from a Big Five imprint. But if you’re not looking at indie books, you’re missing out on some incredible books. 


WOW: I totally agree! What books are on your reading list at the moment?


Mike: Producing an e-newsletter about indie books is a bit of a mixed blessing! We learn about all kinds of great books, but we don’t have time to read them all. But I’m currently reading two books that I learned about as a result of working on LitNuts. One is The Complete Cardinal Guide to Planning for and Living in Retirement by Hans Schell. If you’re anywhere near retirement age (or already in it, like me), I highly recommend it. I’m also reading Remembering Shanghai by Claire Chao, which was also featured in LitNuts and is a good example of a book you might not find in other newsletters. It’s a phenomenal story that traces five generations of a family’s history in parallel with the modern history of Shanghai. It has won 16 awards from all over the world, but newsletters that focus on bargain books would never feature Remembering Shanghai because the eBook edition is more than $2.99. (It's $9.99 and well worth it!) 


Kathleen: I’m currently reading multiple books. I’m working my way through A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. I love horror, so I am reading The Taming of the Shrew while we watch The Haunting of Bly House. I am loving The F*ck It Diet by Caroline Dooner – highly recommend for all women. And I just started Hope & Heartbreak by Scott Brown, a memoir about opioid addiction that was featured in LitNuts. 


WOW: What a great collection of books! I'm definitely taking notes. What sort of feedback have you heard from authors about using your services? 


Kathleen: We’re hearing good things. A number of authors and publishers have noted that they like how easy it is to schedule a book promotion – and we’re glad to hear it because that was a major goal for us: Keep It Simple. 


We know from experience that when you go to schedule a book promotion, you’re going to encounter all sorts of things: from the convoluted “Sponsorship Packages” of Kindle Nation Daily, to the tiered pricing structure of Bargain Booksy, to the high prices and uncertainty (will they accept my promotion or not?) of BookBub. So we worked hard to make it easy and affordable – including a simple order form that gives authors the ability to pick the date for their book promotion, and one low price for all promotions. 


Mike: All of that said, LitNuts is still relatively new, and we’re intent on finding readers who want info on indie books. So we’re building our subscriber base from scratch (instead of buying lists), and that takes time. While we’re doing that, we’re giving discounts (like the free book promotion with discount code WOW!), and we’re also asking authors to temper expectations. You may not see a huge bump in sales as a result of doing a book promotion with LitNuts right now. But your book will be seen by hundreds of readers, and over time, as we gain more subscribers, we expect LitNuts book promotions to generate more sales, more online reader reviews and more word-of-mouth, which is exactly what authors want. 


WOW: Well, thank you so much for talking with us today! I am one of your newest newsletter fans and I hope everyone else subscribes too and takes advantage of your generous advertising offer. Best of luck on the tour! 


  --- Blog Tour Dates


November 2nd @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning with coffee than a muffin? Join us WOW's blog The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of LitNuts.com. Follow along the tour for excellent guest posts written by the owners, reader their interview with us, and enter a giveaway.

November 4th @ Caroline Clemmons
Join Caroline as she features LitNuts and their guest post about what kinds of books readers will find at LitNuts.

November 4th @ Reading in the Wildwood
Visit Megan's blog where she spotlights LitNuts and tells you all about their book newsletter.

November 5th @ Karen Brown Tyson
Join Karen Brown Tyson as she features LitNut's guest post about how to market yourself as a writer.

November 7th @ Michelle Cornish
Visit Michelle Cornish's blog today and you can read a guest post about a closer look inside the world of publishing. 
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog

November 10th @ Books, Beans and Botany
Blogger Ashley Hubbard shares LitNut's experiences with some of their favorite authors. A fun guest post you don't want to miss!
https://booksbeansandbotany.com/

November 11th @ Literary Quicksand
Jolissa will be interviewing the LitNuts founders, and discussing everything you'll want to know about this amazing new bookish newsletter.

November 14th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Come by Linda's blog today where she interviews the owners of LitNuts.com

November 15th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog today and you can get a deeper dive on LitNuts and what makes it so different from other book newsletters.

November 16th @ Fiona Ingram's Blog
Visit Fiona's blog where she highlights the LitNuts newsletter.

November 18th @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari's blog today where you can read an informative post about how to sell 5,000 books in 6 months.

November 19th @ Knotty Needle
Join Judy Hudgins as she features LitNuts and everything they have to offer readers and authors.

November 20th @ Author Anthony Avina
Join Anthony as he features LitNuts and their guest post about the book eNewsletter industry and why you want another newsletter about books.

November 21st @ LM Harley's Blog
Join Laura as she features a few excellent book recommendations from LitNuts.com.

November 23rd @ The Frugalista Mom
Join Rozelyn as she shares LitNuts' guest post with some excellent book recommendations you'll add to your reading list.
https://thefrugalistamom.com

November 24th @ Editor 911
Join Margo as she features the LitNuts guest post about how to launch your book on a shoestring budget.

November 25th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole will be featuring LitNuts on her blog and discussing what readers can expect from this amazing newsletter.

November 27th @ Deborah Adam's Blog
Join Deborah today where LitNuts features a collection of writing books that you will want to add to your reading list.

November 30th @ Memoir Writer's Journey
Join Kathleen as she features the LitNuts guest post discussing advice for booklovers on finding good books.


**** GIVEAWAY ****



Enter to win a one-year subscription to Kindle Unlimited ($119.98 value). The giveaway ends December 6th at 11:59 PM EST. We will announce the winner on the Rafflecopter widget on the next day. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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When Is it Smart To Give Your Work Away For Free?

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Have you ever given your writing work away for free? This is sometimes a controversial topic for writers. But I do it, I have done it, and I believe in "free stuff"  as a marketing tool. I do think you have to be smart about when and how you give your work away. 


But before we talk specifically about writing, think about how often you've gone to a store because it was giving away something free. Have you bought one brand over another because of its "buy one get one free" deal? I mean, maybe I'm alone here, but pre-pandemic, I LOVED free sample day at the grocery store, especially when the free samples were wine! Free is not a marketing tactic that's only for books and writing, but sometimes, I think creatives take special offense to this tactic. 


And I totally understand why. Many of us sacrifice a lot to get the words on a page--we get up at 4:00 am while our kids are still sleeping. We stay up until midnight after our partners go to bed. We use our vacation time to work on our writing. We pay money to take classes, go to conferences, and get editing and writing advice. 


But still, I believe in using the "free" marketing strategy during these four situations:


1. If you are unknown: If you're unknown and competing with famous and well-liked authors, it doesn't matter if your book is better or your essay is the next award-winner. If readers don't know you or know they even need to find you, then they won't. I've said on The Muffin before that you have to look at yourself as a consumer, too. What are your buying habits? Do you search out the most unknown but well-reviewed piece of literature, or do you buy what your book club is reading and what's featured in the Scholastic Book order? If you're unknown and you plan to write more than one book (so this is a career), then don't be scared to give your book away for free sometimes to create buzz and interest.


2. If you need reviews: You need them. It's just a fact of being an author. If you're a book author, you need reviews, and I'm here to tell you that if you're not famous with a bestseller, getting reviews is very difficult. Readers are busy. Readers are now dealing with a global pandemic. Readers want to help you, but they don't understand (really) how much their review will help you. And it doesn't have to be five star (although that's great!). It has to be honest and give a little detail about the book to show they have read it. I recently gave away ecopies of both Finding My Place (middle-grade historical fiction) and Read-Aloud Stories with Fred Vol 1 (from my publishing company, Editor-911 Books). We are now getting new reviews (and an added bonus--readers have started checking out Fred's book in the Kindle Unlimited program--I am THRILLED!). Reviews are social proof. (PSA: If you read a book and you love it, go give the author a review on Amazon or Goodreads!)


3. If you have a book series: If you have a series of books (three or more), one popular marketing strategy is making the first book perma-free (always free) to entice readers to give it a try, get hooked, and then buy the rest of the books in your series. Again, think of yourself as a consumer--if you find an author whom you like, do you buy more of his/her books? 


4. If you need credits for a bio: If you don't have a book out yet, maybe you didn't even make it this far in the post, but you need to be willing to give away work for free too, especially if you are JUST STARTING OUT! I know that "selling" your story to a magazine for copies or putting your work on a website for impressions and views and likes aren't the ideal situations, but if these platforms give you some of your first writing credits and samples, then don't be afraid to do this. You know, a lot of professions, such as teaching, require UNPAID internships. You need experience and you do the work, and it is part of your degree or what you put on your resume. These first writing credits--think of them as an internship--you need something to put in that bio paragraph when you're querying agents to show them that you're not a one-book wonder, that you're in this for the long haul and willing to do your homework!


5. If you need names for a mailing list: Whether or not you are a book author or planning to be, many writers have enewsletters, and to get people to join, they giveaway a reading magnet, usually an ecopy of something. The cost? An email address! Then hopefully, you've gained a long-time subscriber and fan of your work. This is the last time I will say this, I promise (because this is almost over), but haven't you signed up for a newsletter to get a free story or a coupon or a helpful worksheet or template? I have. Very few people are dying for more email in their inbox, but they're dying for a great short story or to keep in touch with their favorite essayist...


Don't be afraid to give your work away for free. Just be smart about it. See what other writers and authors are doing who write the same material that you do. And if some tactic doesn't work, it's not the end of the world. You didn't make "the biggest mistake." Just take a deep breath, and try someting else. 


Margo L. Dill is an author, publisher, editor, teacher, and writing coach living in St. Louis, MO, with her daughter and dog. She is currently giving away a free book for her publishing company--it's true (practice what you preach)--to get your FREE ecopy of The Dog and the Flea: A Tale of Two Opposites by Fred Olds from Editor-911 Kids (picture book)--go here today (October 28) and tomorrow
(October 29). To sign up for Margo's next novel writing coaching class that starts on November 6, look here. 













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