By: Stephanie Burkhart
The publishing model of today's world has been shifting for several years now. Traditional publishers no longer have a tight reign on publishing. With the success of small presses more authors are publishing more content.
However, an author's work is not done with "the end." Next comes the beast of marketing and promotion. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to address promotion and marketing tips you can take advantage of. My first topic: create content.
Readers ultimately want to know a little about the authors they are reading so introduce yourself. Have a brief bio ready whenever you go online. Include your URL, professional credits, and recent publications.
Example: Stephanie Burkhart's latest children release is "The Giving Meadow." She also writes romance and has a B.S. in Political Science. Stephanie lives in California and you can find her on the web at: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
#2 – Have some action shots of you. Show yourself in motion signing books, holding your ebook reader, teaching, visiting places, and hanging out with your family.
#3 – Hold an event (i.e. "solve the mystery" or a contest) that will draw loyal fans to your website.
#4 – Actively blog. And not only about writing, but on things you like. Topics include: going to the movies. (have a movie night) history, sports, or the place you live. You can pique a reader's interest just by sharing a little bit about you.
Reference: 50 Simple ways to build your platform, by Christina Katz, pg. 41, Writer's Digest Mar/Apr 2011.
Great suggestions, Stephanie! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMarketing is so hard for me. But I also realize it's important. Thanks for the ideas, Steph. I'm always looking for something new to try.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steph. Your article should help all of us with our marketing.
ReplyDeleteVivian
Hi Stephanie, This was so helpful and important for authors as well as those who illustrate and want to actively promote their work in books. I am looking forward to more *:)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for marketing tips. Thanks Steph!
ReplyDeleteLadies, thanks for popping in. I hope to do a series in marketing. What I'd like to know is if you try some of this stuff and how it works for you.
ReplyDeleteSmile
Steph
Nice blog. Great tips for those of us who haven't done nearly enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips, Steph. You've remided my about my blog! I thought setting it up would be enough. Guess I'd better get to work.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Stephanie. Like Ginger, this also applies well to illustrators who promote their books a lot. Will keep an eye out for the rest on this topic.
ReplyDeleteSTeph,
ReplyDeleteI'm a few days late but I wanted you to know these are great tips. Action shots are great ideas, something I haven't posted a lot of - but that's mostly because my spontaneous shots are, well, spontaneous!
Wishing you all the best with your marketing!
Maggie Toussaint
writer, reporter, scientist, and eternal optimist
www.maggietoussaint.com
Sue & James, with a blog it must be carefully culivated. You don't have to post every day, but the days you do post, find a balance. You can gush about your work, just don't do it everyday. Have a movie day or a book day where you talk about a movie you saw or a book you read. Reveal a little of you. Your readers will appreciate it. A great blog I can recommend is Celia Yeary's at http://celiayeary.blogspot.com. See how she does it.
ReplyDeleteAidana, I was never strong at marketing, but I need to be. I've got a good, strong product, but without marketing no one will know about it. I hope to have future topics about social networking, blogging, websites, and marketing/promo - ads, reviews, etc...
Maggie,
Great to see you here. I just updated my FB profile picture because it's so hard for me to find decent shots of myself. LOL!! I need to work on my "in action" pics as well. You can find some at Manic Readers.
Smiles
Steph
Hi Steph,
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your suggestions. I don't think posting photos of family is ever a good idea when you want to focus on selling books. too many crazies out there.
Barbara
Hi Steph, thank you for the great tips.
ReplyDeletewww.monarisk.com