How to Creatively Market Your E-Book: An Interview with Author Julia Tagliere

December 10, 2012 by 3 Comments
shutterstock_74145835

Today we’re excited to share an interview with author Julia Tagliere. Her book Widow Woman was just released as an e-book and we were thrilled when she recently shared with us some of her marketing strategies.   We’ve always had the belief that e-book authors should be as zealous with marketing as “tree book” authors. Julia is a wonderful example of an author who has done it right. Her marketing plans are just as agressive, thoughtful, and consistent as they would be with a printed book. In the video we discuss how: Social media is a key tool for marketing your e-book. Julia uses Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Goodreads, her blog, and because her book audience is primarily female, also uses Pinterest…. [read more]

Filed Under: Author Interview, Book Launch, eBooks, Self-publishing Tagged With: , , , ,

The Single Best Way to Sell Books Without Trying

October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
shutterstock_116695558

One of the biggest surprises since my book was released a month ago has been discovering how ineffective traditional marketing and media has been. The stuff that traditional publishers do to market books, doesn’t work in the same ways for indie authors. In fact, we would argue that some things you should steer clear of all together. Press releases, newspaper outreach, and radio show appearances haven’t worked…yet. But I’ve been able to sell the most books through one tool: Live Events I’m not talking about book signings, although I’ve had one and I sold a nice number of books. But, I’m talking about a live event that you host very soon after your book is released. It can look any… [read more]

Filed Under: Authorpreneur, Book Launch, Book Marketing Tagged With: , , ,

What I Did to Launch My Book in its First Seven Days

October 5, 2012 by 20 Comments
shutterstock_102882269

It’s here!! My book The Indie Author Revolution is finally in print. I can’t help but cringe just a little that my words will be read by at least a few people (mom, dad, hubby, grandma) and I no longer have it on my computer screen to scrutinize in private. I always tell authors I work with that this is the real work — marketing your book. There’s no break from writing and publishing — you’ve got to get your book in front of as many people as possible from the beginning. I’ve advised hundreds on what to do. Confession: now that it’s my turn, I can’t say that I’d give myself an A+ in my first week of marketing,… [read more]

Filed Under: Authorpreneur, Book Launch, Book Marketing, Self-publishing Tagged With: , ,

35 Ways to Engage Your Book Audience in the First 90 Days

September 19, 2012 by 6 Comments
shutterstock_101127775

Your book is about to drop and you need a marketing plan fast? After you use our handy outline to start the book marketing process, remember: marketing is about engaging your audience consistently. Consider your readership a vision of beauty across the room waiting for YOU to swoop in and woo her…or him. Your audience has to find you, discover your book, and then become devoted readers. In order to get them there, as a savvy authorpreneur, you’ll have to do some courting. So let the road to engagement begin! Here are thirty-five fool-proof tips that you should implement in the first 90 days to show your readers that you’re in it with them for the long haul: 1. Ask. Ask… [read more]

Filed Under: Authorpreneur, Book Launch, Book Marketing, Self-publishing Tagged With: , , ,

The Best 10 Blogs for the Indie Author

September 14, 2012 by 7 Comments
shutterstock_112647551

As we said earlier this week, it is so important for indie authors to be educated in all things publishing and writing related. On Monday, we gave you a list of books that you should have in your library. Yet, because the industry is changing on an almost daily basis (did you hear that HarperCollins’s sci-fi/fantasy imprint, Harper Voyager, will be accepting unagented manuscripts from October 1 – 14?), books, though tried and true, aren’t necessarily the most up-to-date sources of information. If you’re not following and keeping up with what’s going on in the blogosphere, you should be! Other than our blog, below are some fantastic blogs for the indie author on industry news, writing, publishing, and marketing:  … [read more]

Filed Under: Self-publishing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Book Marketing Tips: 5 Golden nuggets for newbie self-published authors [Guest Post]

September 7, 2012 by 1 Comment
chicken nuggets

1. Give yourself permission to use your voice on your blog, on social media, and everywhere else.  How do you write when you write an email to a friend? Keep this in mind whenever you create new content. Be human. Be you! You’ll attract the right readers and fans, and speak directly to them about something they actually care about. 2. Social media is no more complicated than making friends at elementary school. Really! Note I said no more complicated, not no more difficult. Making friends isn’t always easy for everyone, but it certainly isn’t rocket science. We all know that to connect socially and have a good conversation, we need to listen, ask questions, and say something funny, interesting… [read more]

Filed Under: Audience, Book Marketing, Guest Post, Self-publishing Tagged With: , ,

5 Simple Ways to Jumpstart Your Book Marketing [Guest Post]

September 3, 2012 by 5 Comments
shutterstock_61113361

I still remember the day we launched Duolit. After making sure everything was just right, I hit ‘publish’ on our first post. I managed to wait all of 30 seconds before clicking ‘refresh’ on Google Analytics, anxious to receive our first visitor (who I was sure would eagerly comment on our post). I’m glad I didn’t hold my breath, because it took us a month to get that first comment! If you’ve recently launched your book, you might be experiencing the same thing. Perhaps you had a good first week of release, but now that the excitement’s worn down, sales are slacking. I totally understand: it’s easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged by book marketing. If you’re feeling a bit… [read more]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Guest Post Tagged With: , ,

A Simple Marketing Plan Outline for Indie Authors

August 24, 2012 by 4 Comments
shutterstock_94792948

Recently on the phone with a buyer for a large bookstore retailer, she very casually mentioned a major pet peeve she has with ALL authors. She asserted that most authors would do much better in sales if they only had one thing. A marketing plan. Though we think authors need other things too: distribution, a good book to begin with, an unlimited supply of coffee and Advil…we get it. Authors need a marketing plan. Why? Retailers want to see that you’re at least thinking about promotion ideas and have plans in the pipeline. Marketing plan align your book to a strategy and help keep you focused. Every marketing plan is different, but here are the nuts and bolts of what… [read more]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Planning Tagged With: , , ,

Creative Book Marketing Idea: Decoupage Shoes!

August 20, 2012 by 3 Comments
IMG_0775

In this post, you’re not going to learn about self-publishing. You’re not going to learn about book reviews, or about how to get into the swing of eBook marketing on Twitter. You’re going to learn about a very specific and specialized method for your book’s promotion! DECOUPAGE SHOES! Now, you can do this with any book you might choose, but I chose to use Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (don’t worry Potterheads, I didn’t use either of my two hardcovers, I bought a special softcover just for the occasion). Steps: 1) Get supplies! See: shoes, suede/leather glue, decoupage glue, paint brushes, scissors, razor cutter, and of course, the book of your choice!     2) Cut out beloved quotes… [read more]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Branding, Fun Tagged With: , , ,

Back-to-School Marketing for ALL Authors!

July 9, 2012 by 2 Comments
shutterstock_14695264

I know, I know—it’s not even really mid-July yet. The Fourth of July was last week, for crying out loud! You’re probably thinking, “But I’m not even fully healed from my sunburn yet!”   While that may be true, there are three important reasons to start planning back-to-school/fall promotions right now:   1)    Back-to-school is one of the biggest times for shopping in the entire year; 2)    Back-to-school shopping takes place from July to September, so it has already started; 3)    Retailers are making promotional plans for back-to-school right now, so you should too!   Back-to-school season isn’t just a time to market children’s books—it’s a time for fresh starts (and last-chance indulgences) for everyone. And let’s not forget who… [read more]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Motivational, Pitching, Planning Tagged With: , , , , ,
«Older Posts