Tony Eldridge's Blog, page 23
March 18, 2011
Friday's Round Up Moved To Sunday
Just a quick note to let you know that my Friday Tips Around The Net will come out this Sunday. Today is my 11th wedding anniversary and I am giving my wife my undivided attention and making good on some past-due honey-do list items.
But I do want to make a couple of quick announcements...
1. Thanks to everyone who has purchased the Kindle version of The Samson Effect. You are quickly making this Kindle edition the best selling edition of the book that New York Times best selling author calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure."
2. Kat Smith and I will be will be in Richardson, TX. on Saturday, March 26th from 9 am to 1 pm to conduct a workshop entitled, "How To Market Your Book And You." You can register at the Writer's Guild of Texas site. You can also read Kat's guest post this week titled, 20 Tips For Performing Best Selling Interviews.
Happy 11th wedding anniversary to my beautiful wife, Emily.
--------
But I do want to make a couple of quick announcements...
1. Thanks to everyone who has purchased the Kindle version of The Samson Effect. You are quickly making this Kindle edition the best selling edition of the book that New York Times best selling author calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure."
2. Kat Smith and I will be will be in Richardson, TX. on Saturday, March 26th from 9 am to 1 pm to conduct a workshop entitled, "How To Market Your Book And You." You can register at the Writer's Guild of Texas site. You can also read Kat's guest post this week titled, 20 Tips For Performing Best Selling Interviews.
Happy 11th wedding anniversary to my beautiful wife, Emily.
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect, an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests.
March 17, 2011
The 7 Deadly Sins of Online Networking by Dana Lynn Smith
It's my pleasure to welcome back a returning guest to Marketing Tips For Authors, Dana Lynn Smith. Dana is a talented author and book marketer with a diverse and deep knowledge base when it comes to helping authors market their books. Today, she is going to discuss the 7 Deadly Sins of Online Networking.
For more great posts from our guest today, make sure you enter her name in the search bar at the top of blog and then visit her site, www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com . Dana has also agreed to be a sponsor for my contest this spring, but more on that and her awesome prizes that she's donating in a couple of weeks.
Now, on to Dana's post...
The 7 Deadly Sins of Online Networking
by Dana Lynn Smith
Online networking is a wonderful way to meet people who share your interests, develop relationships with peers and potential customers, and ultimately increase book sales.
But there's sometimes a fine line between letting your contacts know about your book and being overly promotional. If you're too passive, you may not get much benefit from networking, but if you're too aggressive you may turn people off.
Here are seven common mistakes that authors make in online networking, along with tips on how to avoid them:
1. No book information or website links on social network profiles.
I'm amazed at how many authors don't even mention their books on their social profiles, or make it easy for people to find information about the book.
On your Facebook profile and fan page, include information about your book and a link to your book sales page and websites on the Info section. See this article for tips.
On Twitter, be sure to mention your book in the description on your profile page. You only have 160 characters to work with, so if you have several books you could say something like "author of four romantic suspense novels."
On LinkedIn, take full advantage of the "title" field. This space is designed for job titles, but you can use it to showcase your expertise and status as an author. For example: "Parenting expert and author of "Raising Happy Kids in a Crazy World." Your title will appear along with your photo any place that you interact on LinkedIn. Be sure to include a link to your book's sales page and your website in the web links section of your profile.
See this article for tips on choosing the best photo to use on your social networks.
2. Not mentioning your book in your status updates.
It's fine to talk about your book in the status updates that you post on social networks, as long as that's not your main focus and you're not too pushy. Be sure to intersperse your book messages with other types of messages (personal notes, tips, links to helpful resources, thoughts on a new book you just read, etc.)
I recommend that no more than 10% to 20% of your status updates be promotional or self-serving. No one wants to read a constant stream of "buy my book" messages.
One way to talk about your book without seeming too promotional is to discuss your marketing activities. Here are some examples:
I just received the preliminary cover designs for my new book – what do you think of these?
Today I'm contacting bookstores about setting up signings for my new novel, BOOKTITLE. It's available at www.booktitle.com.
I'm so excited! Just received word that my book, BOOKTITLE, has received an award . . .
I just scheduled a radio interview on KWTX to discuss tips from my book, BOOKTITLE. www.booktitle.com
Today I launched the redesign of my website for BOOKTITLE – what do you think? www.booktitle.com
And you can always mention events and special promotions:
If you're in the Seattle area, please join me at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at . . . for a free presentation based on my book, BOOKTITLE. www.booktitle.com
The Kindle version of BOOKTITLE has just been released! You can find it at www.booktitle.com. If you don't have a Kindle, remember you can download the Kindle app and read ebooks right from your computer.
Monday Madness Sale! Spread the word -- today only, all of my parenting books are on sale for 30% off. Go to www.booktitle.com to order.
3. Sending blank friend requests on social networks.
More than 90% of the network friend requests that I receive have no introduction at all, and most of the others have generic notes like "let's be friends." The trouble is, I don't know who most of these people are.
Don't make this mistake when you send friend invitations. Be sure to introduce yourself—tell the other person who you are and why you want to connect. What interests do you share in common? If you know something specific about the person, say so. On Facebook and many other networks, you can click the "add a personal message" button in the "add as a friend" box, and type in a personalized greeting.
4. Posting promotional messages on other people's profiles or pages.
It's just bad manners to post promotional messages on other people's social network profiles or pages, especially those of your competitors. I delete any such posts from my own pages.
You usually have more leeway in posting messages on group pages. You can get a feel for the group's etiquette by observing that others are doing, but usually it's acceptable to make a wall post introducing yourself and your book, and also to share good news or resources with the group occasionally (see #2 above for ideas).
On my Savvy Book Marketing group on Facebook, I encourage authors to introduce themselves and their books (and post their book covers), but I don't allow repeated blatant promotional messages.
5. Getting too personal.
It's great to tell your online friends something about your interests, but if you're using social networks for business, you probably shouldn't be discussing your health issues, your mother-in-law, or your kid's problems. (Too much information!) It's also a good idea to be cautious about posting things like the dates you are gone on vacation.
If you actively use your Facebook profile to network with family and friends, you might want to reserve your profile for personal use and use your fan page for business.
6. Sending sales pitches to new people that you meet.
It's nice to do a wall post or send a message to new friends with a greeting (great to meet you, have a wonderful day), a compliment (your website is really terrific) or a note about something that you have in common. You can even invite them to visit your website, if you're subtle about it and include other things in the message. Just be careful that your message doesn't come across as a sales pitch – that's not the way to make a good impression on a new contact.
7. Abusing direct messages.
Many social networks let you send messages to your contacts or members of groups that you belong to. Unfortunately, some people abuse this feature.
On Facebook, the use of direct messages to send promotional pitches has become so prevalent that many people simply tune out their messages. On LinkedIn, someone in a group that I belong to sent me several sales pitches for her products by direct message. I've never heard of this woman and she's not on my list of connections.
If you use direct messages, do so sparingly and be cautious about annoying people – remember that they can "unfriend" you if they get tired of hearing from you. One way to use direct messages is to send a newsletter type of message that contains some helpful tips or resources, along with a link to your book at the end. You can also use direct messages occasionally to announce "news" such as your book launch.
Remember the golden rule of networking: treat others as you would like to be treated.
------
Want to learn more about promoting through social networks? Check out The Savvy Book Marketer's Guide to Successful Social Marketing by Dana Lynn Smith. For more tips, follow @BookMarketer on Twitter, visit Dana's blog at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com, and get a copy of the Top Book Marketing Tips ebook when you sign up for her free newsletter at www.BookMarketingNewsletter.com.
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
For more great posts from our guest today, make sure you enter her name in the search bar at the top of blog and then visit her site, www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com . Dana has also agreed to be a sponsor for my contest this spring, but more on that and her awesome prizes that she's donating in a couple of weeks.
Now, on to Dana's post...
The 7 Deadly Sins of Online Networking
by Dana Lynn Smith
Online networking is a wonderful way to meet people who share your interests, develop relationships with peers and potential customers, and ultimately increase book sales.
But there's sometimes a fine line between letting your contacts know about your book and being overly promotional. If you're too passive, you may not get much benefit from networking, but if you're too aggressive you may turn people off.
Here are seven common mistakes that authors make in online networking, along with tips on how to avoid them:
1. No book information or website links on social network profiles.
I'm amazed at how many authors don't even mention their books on their social profiles, or make it easy for people to find information about the book.
On your Facebook profile and fan page, include information about your book and a link to your book sales page and websites on the Info section. See this article for tips.
On Twitter, be sure to mention your book in the description on your profile page. You only have 160 characters to work with, so if you have several books you could say something like "author of four romantic suspense novels."
On LinkedIn, take full advantage of the "title" field. This space is designed for job titles, but you can use it to showcase your expertise and status as an author. For example: "Parenting expert and author of "Raising Happy Kids in a Crazy World." Your title will appear along with your photo any place that you interact on LinkedIn. Be sure to include a link to your book's sales page and your website in the web links section of your profile.
See this article for tips on choosing the best photo to use on your social networks.
2. Not mentioning your book in your status updates.
It's fine to talk about your book in the status updates that you post on social networks, as long as that's not your main focus and you're not too pushy. Be sure to intersperse your book messages with other types of messages (personal notes, tips, links to helpful resources, thoughts on a new book you just read, etc.)
I recommend that no more than 10% to 20% of your status updates be promotional or self-serving. No one wants to read a constant stream of "buy my book" messages.
One way to talk about your book without seeming too promotional is to discuss your marketing activities. Here are some examples:
I just received the preliminary cover designs for my new book – what do you think of these?
Today I'm contacting bookstores about setting up signings for my new novel, BOOKTITLE. It's available at www.booktitle.com.
I'm so excited! Just received word that my book, BOOKTITLE, has received an award . . .
I just scheduled a radio interview on KWTX to discuss tips from my book, BOOKTITLE. www.booktitle.com
Today I launched the redesign of my website for BOOKTITLE – what do you think? www.booktitle.com
And you can always mention events and special promotions:
If you're in the Seattle area, please join me at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at . . . for a free presentation based on my book, BOOKTITLE. www.booktitle.com
The Kindle version of BOOKTITLE has just been released! You can find it at www.booktitle.com. If you don't have a Kindle, remember you can download the Kindle app and read ebooks right from your computer.
Monday Madness Sale! Spread the word -- today only, all of my parenting books are on sale for 30% off. Go to www.booktitle.com to order.
3. Sending blank friend requests on social networks.
More than 90% of the network friend requests that I receive have no introduction at all, and most of the others have generic notes like "let's be friends." The trouble is, I don't know who most of these people are.
Don't make this mistake when you send friend invitations. Be sure to introduce yourself—tell the other person who you are and why you want to connect. What interests do you share in common? If you know something specific about the person, say so. On Facebook and many other networks, you can click the "add a personal message" button in the "add as a friend" box, and type in a personalized greeting.
4. Posting promotional messages on other people's profiles or pages.
It's just bad manners to post promotional messages on other people's social network profiles or pages, especially those of your competitors. I delete any such posts from my own pages.
You usually have more leeway in posting messages on group pages. You can get a feel for the group's etiquette by observing that others are doing, but usually it's acceptable to make a wall post introducing yourself and your book, and also to share good news or resources with the group occasionally (see #2 above for ideas).
On my Savvy Book Marketing group on Facebook, I encourage authors to introduce themselves and their books (and post their book covers), but I don't allow repeated blatant promotional messages.
5. Getting too personal.
It's great to tell your online friends something about your interests, but if you're using social networks for business, you probably shouldn't be discussing your health issues, your mother-in-law, or your kid's problems. (Too much information!) It's also a good idea to be cautious about posting things like the dates you are gone on vacation.
If you actively use your Facebook profile to network with family and friends, you might want to reserve your profile for personal use and use your fan page for business.
6. Sending sales pitches to new people that you meet.
It's nice to do a wall post or send a message to new friends with a greeting (great to meet you, have a wonderful day), a compliment (your website is really terrific) or a note about something that you have in common. You can even invite them to visit your website, if you're subtle about it and include other things in the message. Just be careful that your message doesn't come across as a sales pitch – that's not the way to make a good impression on a new contact.
7. Abusing direct messages.
Many social networks let you send messages to your contacts or members of groups that you belong to. Unfortunately, some people abuse this feature.
On Facebook, the use of direct messages to send promotional pitches has become so prevalent that many people simply tune out their messages. On LinkedIn, someone in a group that I belong to sent me several sales pitches for her products by direct message. I've never heard of this woman and she's not on my list of connections.
If you use direct messages, do so sparingly and be cautious about annoying people – remember that they can "unfriend" you if they get tired of hearing from you. One way to use direct messages is to send a newsletter type of message that contains some helpful tips or resources, along with a link to your book at the end. You can also use direct messages occasionally to announce "news" such as your book launch.
Remember the golden rule of networking: treat others as you would like to be treated.
------
Want to learn more about promoting through social networks? Check out The Savvy Book Marketer's Guide to Successful Social Marketing by Dana Lynn Smith. For more tips, follow @BookMarketer on Twitter, visit Dana's blog at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com, and get a copy of the Top Book Marketing Tips ebook when you sign up for her free newsletter at www.BookMarketingNewsletter.com.--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
March 16, 2011
Authors, Be careful Not To Overpay For POD Services
While technology is certainly making the path to readers easier than ever for authors, there are some things that authors need to keep in mind before they sign up with a Print On Demand company.
Print On Demand is simply a technology to create your book. It's not a distribution system or a book marketing plan. However, many companies that create POD books also offer some sort of distribution or marketing services as well.
This post will not discuss the merits of POD books vs printing your books in bulk at a printer, nor will it discuss the pros and cons of traditional publishing vs. publishing with a company that uses POD technology. My purpose is to help authors consider the right questions if they are looking to produce their books with a POD company.
Authors often have different goals when it comes to seeing their book in print. Some want their books to help them with their career, while others want to make it to the best seller's list. Still, others want to make their books available to a small group of intimate fiends and family. With that in mind, here are some issues to consider before you sign on with a POD company:
Know what you are purchasing- Packages can vary hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. Make sure you are performing your due diligence to compare apples with apples. How many books will each package ship you as part of the package price? What distribution is each package making available? What, if any, editing services or cover creation services are they offering? What royalty system do they have set up for you? The list can go on and on.
Not all "publishing packages" are created equal, so make sure you know what you are paying for.
Don't pay for what you don't want- Often, a company will throw in a lot of bullet point services to show you how great of a deal you're getting by paying for their premium packages. If the services are something you want, then no problem. But spend a little time researching what you think you will really need.
For example, I still cringe when I see packages that many companies refer to as "Marketing Packages." I admit, what means "marketing" to me may be different than what it means to many authors, but often these packages are really collateral print packages. They give you a few hundred bookmarks, postcards and business cards and slap the term "marketing package" on it. I understand that print collateral can be part of a marketing package, I really do. But with a little due diligence, you can often get a lot more collateral at a lot less cost by buying this type of "marketing service" elsewhere.
Understand the fine print- What rights do you retain and what rights do you not retain? Do you own the cover art outright or is it copyrighted by the company that produced it? What is the royalty rate? Is it on the list price or the net price of the book? Who controls the price of your book- you or the company? What do they mean when they say that your books will be available to bookstores? Is there a period of time that you are required to list your book through them or can you switch to another company anytime you want? What distribution options will be available to your book? What online bookstores will your books be submitted to?
Check out the boards- A little caution here... every POD will have some customers who think that their company was spawned from the depths of hell. In fact, companies in any industries will have customers ready to tell you how bad they are. But you can still spot general trends from message boards if a company really has issues. Remember, the sales pieces you get from the company are just that... sales pieces. Dig around to find what others are saying as well.
Seek out testimonials- See if any of your favorite authors have published through a company you are researching and, if possible, contact them and ask them about their experiences. Remember, it often takes months before an author has seen enough to give you a valid appraisal of their POD, but it's worth checking into.
Be Prepared For The Up Sale- Many of these companies exist, not to sell books as much as they exist to sell you services. That's the simple truth. If you become a best seller while you are their customer, then great. But their business model is created to sell you services not to sell your books. They will make a profit even if you don't make a single sale. Don't be surprised when the e-mails and phone calls come to explain why you need to buy their next level of service. You are their customer, your readers are not.
I don't want to leave the wrong message here. I am not saying that PODs are bad or even the wrong choice. My book, The Samson Effect, is a POD produced book. All-in-all, I am pretty satisfied with the services my POD company provided me at the time I was looking to get The Samson Effect in print. And for many authors, POD companies provide exactly what they need in order to meet the goals for their book.
That said, we all need to know exactly what we are getting and what we are not getting if we want a POD company to produce and distribute our books. I admit that I am often loose with words, but POD companies are services, they are not publishers in the traditional sense. They have, however, allowed many authors to get their books into the hands of readers who have gone on to become raving fans. They have made the dream of producing a book real to many authors who would never have had books in print if not for them.
So, my advice is simple. Be careful not to overpay for POD services. Know what you are getting and what you are not getting. And above all, don't be afraid to say no to anything you really don't need.
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
Print On Demand is simply a technology to create your book. It's not a distribution system or a book marketing plan. However, many companies that create POD books also offer some sort of distribution or marketing services as well.
This post will not discuss the merits of POD books vs printing your books in bulk at a printer, nor will it discuss the pros and cons of traditional publishing vs. publishing with a company that uses POD technology. My purpose is to help authors consider the right questions if they are looking to produce their books with a POD company.
Authors often have different goals when it comes to seeing their book in print. Some want their books to help them with their career, while others want to make it to the best seller's list. Still, others want to make their books available to a small group of intimate fiends and family. With that in mind, here are some issues to consider before you sign on with a POD company:
Know what you are purchasing- Packages can vary hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. Make sure you are performing your due diligence to compare apples with apples. How many books will each package ship you as part of the package price? What distribution is each package making available? What, if any, editing services or cover creation services are they offering? What royalty system do they have set up for you? The list can go on and on.
Not all "publishing packages" are created equal, so make sure you know what you are paying for.
Don't pay for what you don't want- Often, a company will throw in a lot of bullet point services to show you how great of a deal you're getting by paying for their premium packages. If the services are something you want, then no problem. But spend a little time researching what you think you will really need.
For example, I still cringe when I see packages that many companies refer to as "Marketing Packages." I admit, what means "marketing" to me may be different than what it means to many authors, but often these packages are really collateral print packages. They give you a few hundred bookmarks, postcards and business cards and slap the term "marketing package" on it. I understand that print collateral can be part of a marketing package, I really do. But with a little due diligence, you can often get a lot more collateral at a lot less cost by buying this type of "marketing service" elsewhere.
Understand the fine print- What rights do you retain and what rights do you not retain? Do you own the cover art outright or is it copyrighted by the company that produced it? What is the royalty rate? Is it on the list price or the net price of the book? Who controls the price of your book- you or the company? What do they mean when they say that your books will be available to bookstores? Is there a period of time that you are required to list your book through them or can you switch to another company anytime you want? What distribution options will be available to your book? What online bookstores will your books be submitted to?
Check out the boards- A little caution here... every POD will have some customers who think that their company was spawned from the depths of hell. In fact, companies in any industries will have customers ready to tell you how bad they are. But you can still spot general trends from message boards if a company really has issues. Remember, the sales pieces you get from the company are just that... sales pieces. Dig around to find what others are saying as well.
Seek out testimonials- See if any of your favorite authors have published through a company you are researching and, if possible, contact them and ask them about their experiences. Remember, it often takes months before an author has seen enough to give you a valid appraisal of their POD, but it's worth checking into.
Be Prepared For The Up Sale- Many of these companies exist, not to sell books as much as they exist to sell you services. That's the simple truth. If you become a best seller while you are their customer, then great. But their business model is created to sell you services not to sell your books. They will make a profit even if you don't make a single sale. Don't be surprised when the e-mails and phone calls come to explain why you need to buy their next level of service. You are their customer, your readers are not.
I don't want to leave the wrong message here. I am not saying that PODs are bad or even the wrong choice. My book, The Samson Effect, is a POD produced book. All-in-all, I am pretty satisfied with the services my POD company provided me at the time I was looking to get The Samson Effect in print. And for many authors, POD companies provide exactly what they need in order to meet the goals for their book.
That said, we all need to know exactly what we are getting and what we are not getting if we want a POD company to produce and distribute our books. I admit that I am often loose with words, but POD companies are services, they are not publishers in the traditional sense. They have, however, allowed many authors to get their books into the hands of readers who have gone on to become raving fans. They have made the dream of producing a book real to many authors who would never have had books in print if not for them.
So, my advice is simple. Be careful not to overpay for POD services. Know what you are getting and what you are not getting. And above all, don't be afraid to say no to anything you really don't need.
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
March 15, 2011
20 Tips For Performing Best Selling Interviews by Kat Smith
I'm thrilled to introduce you to Kat Smith, author of many books, including The Naked Author – Exposing the Myths of Publishing. She is also a former host of a syndicated radio show with ABC Radio as well as a professional model. Along with being an author, Kat also owns her own publishing company. Her experiences has her consulting with authors all over the country to help them prepare to interact with the media. In today's post, Kat will give us 20 tips for performing best selling interviews.
Kat and I will be conducting a Seminar on March 26th in Richardson, TX entitled, How To Market Your Book And You. If you are in the area, check out the details to this seminar on the The Writer's Guild Of Texas homepage.
One quick announcement before we get to Kat's post-- Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball are holding a contest for the cover design of their new poetry chapbook, Deeper Into the Pond: A Celebration of Femininity. If you have a knack for cover design, then check out their post, Poetry Partners Hold Artwork Contest for Fifth Chapbook for details.
Now, on to Kat's post...
20 Tips For Performing Best Selling Interviews
by Kat Smith
As a former morning radio show host, when interviewing guests, some made it so difficult it was like pulling teeth to get them to relax and elaborate a little more on their answers. I understand that it is not customary for an author to be trained in presentation skills but, here is a big hint! If you want your book to be a best seller, you have to sell it best!
Can you remember a time you watched someone on television and their articulation and presence was so bad that you changed the channel? They were not prepared for the interview. They did not research the style of the interviewer or the show format. They did not put on their excitement before stepping on stage.
There is a very profound comment about her job as a media professional that sums this up very well: "I am not here to provide a free service to the author. I am here to offer an entertaining and compelling story to my audience."
Media in its various formats are a valuable source to anyone selling a product or service. Media and good publicity go hand in hand and serve the promoter (i.e. author) in many ways:
Spotlights person, product or issue
Reaches people beyond ordinary circles
Creates identity
Generated resources
Give you an audience to persuade to action
Many authors shy away from broadcast interviews which takes them out of their comfort zone. They offer one-word interview responses and as a result their nervousness is evident and they leave the interviewer struggling to conduct an entertaining and informative interview.
To help you get comfortable I share with your some tips. The key to a best-selling interview is to be interesting, informative and fun. It is the host's responsibility to deliver an entertaining thirty minutes or hours worth of material to their audience. Television producers and hosts do not book authors, per se. They book interesting individuals who happen to have either written a book.
Because attention spans are short guests who are dull and uninteresting can cost the network to lose ratings. Broadcast personnel strive to build relationships with their guests. They are banking on dependability, entertainment value and interest level. It is a business. The media company paid for the right to be on the air and sells advertising and airtime to recoup their investment and pay the bills.
Practice IS necessary! So to help you prepare for your best selling interview, here are 20 tips to help you be a success:
It is always wise to read a few editions of the publications and articles by the interviewer, or watch/listen to the show. Understand the type of interviews they publish or produce and get familiar with their journalistic style.
Know the culture and format of the show and make sure your dress/appearance matches (i.e. casual or formal).
Inquire as to the audience demographics so you'll understand who is listening and how you can tailor the interview to them.
Prepare a short introduction of yourself for the interviewer.
Create your elevator speech; a well-prepared, 15-second statement or pitch that sums up your book concisely and impacts fully.
Create a list of FAQs (frequently asked questions) that clearly explains the book's topic/story and personal information about you as the author. This will be very helpful to interviewers. They are very busy and may not have the opportunity to read your book prior to you appearing on the show.
Rehearse your responses and listen for ease of delivery. Practice your answers in "sound-bites" - a 10, 20 or 30 second response. Time yourself with an online stop watch at www.online-stopwatch.com.
Check your voice volume and inflection. Enunciate clearly and speak with confidence and enthusiasm. This is when practice will be evident. Learn to place emphasis on words for dramatics and emotion.
Dress appropriately and maintain good posture. Be comfortable. Wear an outfit that does not take attention away from you or the topic. Ladies should make sure skirts are not too short, pants are not too tight or your jewelry is not too big or busy. No fussy, uncomfortable clothes that make you tug and fidgety.
Ladies check your make up. It may be necessary to apply a little more make-up than usual. With the New HD (high definition) television and lighting, your coloring and face may appear flat for it tends to remove facial definition.
Guys use a little powder on the shiny parts of the head and face. Or use blotting tissues to keep the shine to a minimum.
The studio lights can also get a bit warm and may cause you to appear a little shiny or cause you to perspire. Blot your face prior to the interview to ensure a cool, calm appearance. Do not use regular tissues or toilet paper which may leave tiny pieces stuck to your face. Invest in facial blotting tissues or sponge.
Try to look and appear very natural. While you are being introduced, look at the interviewer. Or if they direct you to a camera look in that direction. Focus on your conversation with the interviewer and let the trained camera operators catch close-ups.
Stay focused on the topic. One rule to remember is that anything you say can haunt you for the rest of your life. Even when the camera or recorder is off. Off the record is not necessarily off the record.
Be lively and entertaining, but professional. Use vivid descriptions of characters and scenes from your book. Invite the audience to take action, which is to buy your book.
If it is a telephone or remote camera interview, smile and visualize your audience. Project an enthusiastic personality and image with your voice. Project a great personality through the radio waves
If you are asked a question that does not relate to your book, or asked your opinion of another author, simply say, "I am not sure." Or tell them that you not familiar with that and gracefully change the subject back to your topic
If you are asked a question that embarrasses you (like a scandal) simply phrase the question differently to give yourself some time and answer it with tact and grace. It takes a little time to get build up some resistance to the shock, but soon, experiences like these roll off the backs of seasoned guests
When sharing your personal story, make it of human interest. Tell a successful, interesting, clever or humorous story about yourself. Think of a story to which the audience can relate.
Make sure you plug your Web site, blog, upcoming events, appearances and where to purchase your product
At the end of the interview, (if print) ask if contact information can be included in the article and find out how you can get a copy for your records. Just in case you are not offered a copy, or they site legal reasons record every interview or speaking engagement for future use. Above all, be yourself and allow your personality to come through. Do not put the interviewer on a pedestal or climb up on one yourself. And last but not least, show appreciation for the opportunity you are given. Let the interviewer know you appreciate their time by sending a thank you note.
And with that, I thank you for the opportunity to share these ideas with you and wish you much success.
-----------
Kat Smith is a former syndicated radio show host with ABC Radio Networks, Inc. and author of The Naked Author – Exposing the Myths of Publishing.
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
Kat and I will be conducting a Seminar on March 26th in Richardson, TX entitled, How To Market Your Book And You. If you are in the area, check out the details to this seminar on the The Writer's Guild Of Texas homepage.
One quick announcement before we get to Kat's post-- Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball are holding a contest for the cover design of their new poetry chapbook, Deeper Into the Pond: A Celebration of Femininity. If you have a knack for cover design, then check out their post, Poetry Partners Hold Artwork Contest for Fifth Chapbook for details.
Now, on to Kat's post...
20 Tips For Performing Best Selling Interviews
by Kat Smith
As a former morning radio show host, when interviewing guests, some made it so difficult it was like pulling teeth to get them to relax and elaborate a little more on their answers. I understand that it is not customary for an author to be trained in presentation skills but, here is a big hint! If you want your book to be a best seller, you have to sell it best!
Can you remember a time you watched someone on television and their articulation and presence was so bad that you changed the channel? They were not prepared for the interview. They did not research the style of the interviewer or the show format. They did not put on their excitement before stepping on stage.
There is a very profound comment about her job as a media professional that sums this up very well: "I am not here to provide a free service to the author. I am here to offer an entertaining and compelling story to my audience."
Media in its various formats are a valuable source to anyone selling a product or service. Media and good publicity go hand in hand and serve the promoter (i.e. author) in many ways:
Spotlights person, product or issue
Reaches people beyond ordinary circles
Creates identity
Generated resources
Give you an audience to persuade to action
Many authors shy away from broadcast interviews which takes them out of their comfort zone. They offer one-word interview responses and as a result their nervousness is evident and they leave the interviewer struggling to conduct an entertaining and informative interview.
To help you get comfortable I share with your some tips. The key to a best-selling interview is to be interesting, informative and fun. It is the host's responsibility to deliver an entertaining thirty minutes or hours worth of material to their audience. Television producers and hosts do not book authors, per se. They book interesting individuals who happen to have either written a book.
Because attention spans are short guests who are dull and uninteresting can cost the network to lose ratings. Broadcast personnel strive to build relationships with their guests. They are banking on dependability, entertainment value and interest level. It is a business. The media company paid for the right to be on the air and sells advertising and airtime to recoup their investment and pay the bills.
Practice IS necessary! So to help you prepare for your best selling interview, here are 20 tips to help you be a success:
It is always wise to read a few editions of the publications and articles by the interviewer, or watch/listen to the show. Understand the type of interviews they publish or produce and get familiar with their journalistic style.
Know the culture and format of the show and make sure your dress/appearance matches (i.e. casual or formal).
Inquire as to the audience demographics so you'll understand who is listening and how you can tailor the interview to them.
Prepare a short introduction of yourself for the interviewer.
Create your elevator speech; a well-prepared, 15-second statement or pitch that sums up your book concisely and impacts fully.
Create a list of FAQs (frequently asked questions) that clearly explains the book's topic/story and personal information about you as the author. This will be very helpful to interviewers. They are very busy and may not have the opportunity to read your book prior to you appearing on the show.
Rehearse your responses and listen for ease of delivery. Practice your answers in "sound-bites" - a 10, 20 or 30 second response. Time yourself with an online stop watch at www.online-stopwatch.com.
Check your voice volume and inflection. Enunciate clearly and speak with confidence and enthusiasm. This is when practice will be evident. Learn to place emphasis on words for dramatics and emotion.
Dress appropriately and maintain good posture. Be comfortable. Wear an outfit that does not take attention away from you or the topic. Ladies should make sure skirts are not too short, pants are not too tight or your jewelry is not too big or busy. No fussy, uncomfortable clothes that make you tug and fidgety.
Ladies check your make up. It may be necessary to apply a little more make-up than usual. With the New HD (high definition) television and lighting, your coloring and face may appear flat for it tends to remove facial definition.
Guys use a little powder on the shiny parts of the head and face. Or use blotting tissues to keep the shine to a minimum.
The studio lights can also get a bit warm and may cause you to appear a little shiny or cause you to perspire. Blot your face prior to the interview to ensure a cool, calm appearance. Do not use regular tissues or toilet paper which may leave tiny pieces stuck to your face. Invest in facial blotting tissues or sponge.
Try to look and appear very natural. While you are being introduced, look at the interviewer. Or if they direct you to a camera look in that direction. Focus on your conversation with the interviewer and let the trained camera operators catch close-ups.
Stay focused on the topic. One rule to remember is that anything you say can haunt you for the rest of your life. Even when the camera or recorder is off. Off the record is not necessarily off the record.
Be lively and entertaining, but professional. Use vivid descriptions of characters and scenes from your book. Invite the audience to take action, which is to buy your book.
If it is a telephone or remote camera interview, smile and visualize your audience. Project an enthusiastic personality and image with your voice. Project a great personality through the radio waves
If you are asked a question that does not relate to your book, or asked your opinion of another author, simply say, "I am not sure." Or tell them that you not familiar with that and gracefully change the subject back to your topic
If you are asked a question that embarrasses you (like a scandal) simply phrase the question differently to give yourself some time and answer it with tact and grace. It takes a little time to get build up some resistance to the shock, but soon, experiences like these roll off the backs of seasoned guests
When sharing your personal story, make it of human interest. Tell a successful, interesting, clever or humorous story about yourself. Think of a story to which the audience can relate.
Make sure you plug your Web site, blog, upcoming events, appearances and where to purchase your product
At the end of the interview, (if print) ask if contact information can be included in the article and find out how you can get a copy for your records. Just in case you are not offered a copy, or they site legal reasons record every interview or speaking engagement for future use. Above all, be yourself and allow your personality to come through. Do not put the interviewer on a pedestal or climb up on one yourself. And last but not least, show appreciation for the opportunity you are given. Let the interviewer know you appreciate their time by sending a thank you note.
And with that, I thank you for the opportunity to share these ideas with you and wish you much success.
-----------
Kat Smith is a former syndicated radio show host with ABC Radio Networks, Inc. and author of The Naked Author – Exposing the Myths of Publishing. --------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
March 14, 2011
You Have A New Twitter Account With No Followers: Now What?
I remember when I first started my Twitter account. I had decided weeks before that I needed to take the plunge, but the truth is I didn't really understand it. Everyone said that I needed to be on Twitter, and I finally said, "What the heck..." and I created my account.
And there it was. Followers: 0. That zero was a big, fat one too.
I began following some people. First I started to use the directories that promised to help you find targeted followers, but I soon realized that I was going down the wrong path, at least for me. I didn't want to follow people just so they would follow me back. I wanted people to want to follow me. So I started following the people I wanted to follow without playing the numbers game. Yes, I wanted followers, but I wanted a very specific kind of followers.
I began to see my follower count trickle up and I asked myself, "How can I attract followers who want to follow me?" Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to give them a reason to follow me. Duh! My wife will be the first to tell you that I can be a little slow at times.
So I began tweeting news that I found useful. Guess what? There were others who found that news useful and they shared it with their followers. And the authors of the news began re-tweeting my tweets to their followers.
This was getting cool. I soon saw my follower list start to climb. The more good info I could pass on, the more people started to follow me. Of course, some people who were just looking for numbers themselves started to follow me. But a lot of people followed me because they wanted to read my tweets.
Then, I asked myself how I could get in front of authors who were following other book marketing experts but didn't know that me or my blog existed. I knew if I could do that, many would be intrigued with my blog.
So I had to find a way that encouraged these experts to put me in front of their followers. I did it by bringing value to the experts. One thing I did was tweeting about their book marketing articles and posts. They responded by re-tweeting my tweet to their followers.
Then I realized I had hit on something. What if I could do something to make them excited to put me in front of their followers? That was the birth of my Twitter contests. I designed the contests specifically to make those who donated prizes the star of the show. I highlighted, promoted and marketed them. In return, they responded by introducing me to their followers, the same people I really wanted to be exposed to.
Each time I ran these contests, my Twitter followers rose between 20% and 30% in ten days. And I learned that these were good, quality followers who were interested in the things I had in my blog. They tended to stick around.
From that experience, I wrote the book on how I did it. Conducting Effective Twitter Contests is not as book on creating a good contest as much as it is a book on using Twitter as a marketing tool to find the targeted followers who are really interested in what you have to offer. And thanks to modern technology, I was able to convert this book to the Kindle format and sell it for $2.99. That was down from the $47 it debut at. And Kindle readers still have access to all the videos I embedded in the original PDF e-book.
So, what does this mean to you? Here is how I boil down my own Twitter experience for those who find themselves with 0 followers or far fewer than they want:
1. Start tweeting useful information about things your targeted audience wants to hear.
2. When you tweet someone's post, make sure you use their Twitter ID instead of their name. They will have a much better chance to see it and then re-tweet it to their followers.
3. Follow people you really find interesting and watch for their Tweets. Re-tweet what you find useful.
4. Tweet the title or subject of every blog post you write, whether on your blog or on another person's blog.
5. Make sure that the balance of your tweets are heavily in favor of providing useful content over promotional tweets.
That should be enough to get you started. Of course, you can always download my Kindle title on Conducting Effective Twitter Contests to learn more marketing strategies for using Twitter. At least check out the free sample that Amazon makes available to you.
And if you want to be one of those sponsors I love to highlight, I do have a new contest coming up in April. If you have a book marketing product or service, then check out my post, New Spring Twitter Contest: Call For Sponsors.
Happy Tweeting!
--------
And there it was. Followers: 0. That zero was a big, fat one too.
I began following some people. First I started to use the directories that promised to help you find targeted followers, but I soon realized that I was going down the wrong path, at least for me. I didn't want to follow people just so they would follow me back. I wanted people to want to follow me. So I started following the people I wanted to follow without playing the numbers game. Yes, I wanted followers, but I wanted a very specific kind of followers.
I began to see my follower count trickle up and I asked myself, "How can I attract followers who want to follow me?" Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to give them a reason to follow me. Duh! My wife will be the first to tell you that I can be a little slow at times.
So I began tweeting news that I found useful. Guess what? There were others who found that news useful and they shared it with their followers. And the authors of the news began re-tweeting my tweets to their followers.
This was getting cool. I soon saw my follower list start to climb. The more good info I could pass on, the more people started to follow me. Of course, some people who were just looking for numbers themselves started to follow me. But a lot of people followed me because they wanted to read my tweets.
Then, I asked myself how I could get in front of authors who were following other book marketing experts but didn't know that me or my blog existed. I knew if I could do that, many would be intrigued with my blog.
So I had to find a way that encouraged these experts to put me in front of their followers. I did it by bringing value to the experts. One thing I did was tweeting about their book marketing articles and posts. They responded by re-tweeting my tweet to their followers.
Then I realized I had hit on something. What if I could do something to make them excited to put me in front of their followers? That was the birth of my Twitter contests. I designed the contests specifically to make those who donated prizes the star of the show. I highlighted, promoted and marketed them. In return, they responded by introducing me to their followers, the same people I really wanted to be exposed to.
Each time I ran these contests, my Twitter followers rose between 20% and 30% in ten days. And I learned that these were good, quality followers who were interested in the things I had in my blog. They tended to stick around.
From that experience, I wrote the book on how I did it. Conducting Effective Twitter Contests is not as book on creating a good contest as much as it is a book on using Twitter as a marketing tool to find the targeted followers who are really interested in what you have to offer. And thanks to modern technology, I was able to convert this book to the Kindle format and sell it for $2.99. That was down from the $47 it debut at. And Kindle readers still have access to all the videos I embedded in the original PDF e-book.
So, what does this mean to you? Here is how I boil down my own Twitter experience for those who find themselves with 0 followers or far fewer than they want:
1. Start tweeting useful information about things your targeted audience wants to hear.
2. When you tweet someone's post, make sure you use their Twitter ID instead of their name. They will have a much better chance to see it and then re-tweet it to their followers.
3. Follow people you really find interesting and watch for their Tweets. Re-tweet what you find useful.
4. Tweet the title or subject of every blog post you write, whether on your blog or on another person's blog.
5. Make sure that the balance of your tweets are heavily in favor of providing useful content over promotional tweets.
That should be enough to get you started. Of course, you can always download my Kindle title on Conducting Effective Twitter Contests to learn more marketing strategies for using Twitter. At least check out the free sample that Amazon makes available to you.
And if you want to be one of those sponsors I love to highlight, I do have a new contest coming up in April. If you have a book marketing product or service, then check out my post, New Spring Twitter Contest: Call For Sponsors.
Happy Tweeting!
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect, an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests.
March 12, 2011
Resource Of The Week: FotoFlexer.com
Surprise, you're getting a post on Saturday! But don't worry, this won't take much of your time at all. I decided to submit a cool resource each Saturday that may help you with your book marketing activities.
I'll keep these weekend posts short and sweet, but I hope they give you some great tools to use. So, here we go for our inaugural Resource Of The Week Post:
FotoFlexer- Hat tip goes to Karen McQuestion for this one. FotoFlexer is a free, online photo editing tool that allows you to do some pretty neat things with your pics. They even have video tutorials to walk you through the effects you can do.
So, why would you need to use FotoFlexer? Well, creating book covers for one. But you can also use this resource for pics on your website and it easily works with sites like Facebook, Flicker, Photobucket, Picasa, and more.
If you've been afraid of photo editing in the past, check out FotoFlexer.com and see how easy it can be.
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
I'll keep these weekend posts short and sweet, but I hope they give you some great tools to use. So, here we go for our inaugural Resource Of The Week Post:
FotoFlexer- Hat tip goes to Karen McQuestion for this one. FotoFlexer is a free, online photo editing tool that allows you to do some pretty neat things with your pics. They even have video tutorials to walk you through the effects you can do.So, why would you need to use FotoFlexer? Well, creating book covers for one. But you can also use this resource for pics on your website and it easily works with sites like Facebook, Flicker, Photobucket, Picasa, and more.
If you've been afraid of photo editing in the past, check out FotoFlexer.com and see how easy it can be.
--------
Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests .
March 11, 2011
Marketing Tips Around The Net: March 11th
It's Friday and that means it's time for us to take a trip around the net to look at book marketing tips that have caught my eye. Before we do, I have a couple of quick announcement.
1. Our guest author yesterday, Karen McQuestion, (Best Selling Kindle Author Karen McQuestion Gives E-Book Advice To Authors) gave me some pointers on creating book covers. I will write next week on my inability to create book covers until my talk with her. Now, I have replaced my hideous Kindle cover of The Samson Effect with with this one. My thanks to her for her guidance.
2. Don't forget that Pari Danian will be at the Plano Barnes and Noble tomorrow (Saturday March 12th- 2 pm) to sign copies of her beautiful book, The Palatable Plate, Cook Like an Artist. Check out her post this week for more details.
Now, on to out trip around the net...
1. Smart Self Publishing Series, Part 4: Why Book Design & Editing Matter- Starting us off today is an interview that Penny Sansevieri did with Sue Collier on editing your book and designs for the cover.
2. Write Lots Of Books Or Build An Author Platform. Which Is More Effective?- Joanna Penn weighs in on the debate of building platforms vs writing multiple books to grow your business as an author.
3. Interview with Joel Friedlander "The Book Designer"- Shelley Hitz sits down with Joel Friedlander as they discuss advice for the self-published author.
4. Making eBook Conversion Decisions- Joel Friedlander is back with his own advice on the choices an author makes when converting their book to an e-book.
5. Social Media Does NOT Magically Work: You Have to Work It- Phyllis Zimbler Miller gives a dose of reality to those who want social media to work for them.
6. Article Marketing Fallout from Google Algorithm Changes- MaAnna Stephenson discusses what effect Google's recent change to its algorithm might have on people who use article marketing to help build their platform.
7. Important News for Authors with Facebook Fan Pages- Dana Lynn Smith discusses the changes that take effect in Facebook today.
8. Book Promotion Without Getting Out from Behind Your Computer- Carolyn Howard-Johnson shares some advice with writers who may be a little shy when it comes to book marketing.
9. How long can traditional media hold out on self-published authors?- Steven Lewis weighs in on the self published author and media attention.
10. Sell more books by making it easy for others to review your book- How easy is it for others to review your book? Roger C. Parker gives you a few tips to make it a little easier.
That's it for this week's trip around the net. I look forward to seeing you on Monday morning with more Marketing Tips For Authors.
1. Our guest author yesterday, Karen McQuestion, (Best Selling Kindle Author Karen McQuestion Gives E-Book Advice To Authors) gave me some pointers on creating book covers. I will write next week on my inability to create book covers until my talk with her. Now, I have replaced my hideous Kindle cover of The Samson Effect with with this one. My thanks to her for her guidance.
2. Don't forget that Pari Danian will be at the Plano Barnes and Noble tomorrow (Saturday March 12th- 2 pm) to sign copies of her beautiful book, The Palatable Plate, Cook Like an Artist. Check out her post this week for more details.
Now, on to out trip around the net...
1. Smart Self Publishing Series, Part 4: Why Book Design & Editing Matter- Starting us off today is an interview that Penny Sansevieri did with Sue Collier on editing your book and designs for the cover.
2. Write Lots Of Books Or Build An Author Platform. Which Is More Effective?- Joanna Penn weighs in on the debate of building platforms vs writing multiple books to grow your business as an author.
3. Interview with Joel Friedlander "The Book Designer"- Shelley Hitz sits down with Joel Friedlander as they discuss advice for the self-published author.
4. Making eBook Conversion Decisions- Joel Friedlander is back with his own advice on the choices an author makes when converting their book to an e-book.
5. Social Media Does NOT Magically Work: You Have to Work It- Phyllis Zimbler Miller gives a dose of reality to those who want social media to work for them.
6. Article Marketing Fallout from Google Algorithm Changes- MaAnna Stephenson discusses what effect Google's recent change to its algorithm might have on people who use article marketing to help build their platform.
7. Important News for Authors with Facebook Fan Pages- Dana Lynn Smith discusses the changes that take effect in Facebook today.
8. Book Promotion Without Getting Out from Behind Your Computer- Carolyn Howard-Johnson shares some advice with writers who may be a little shy when it comes to book marketing.
9. How long can traditional media hold out on self-published authors?- Steven Lewis weighs in on the self published author and media attention.
10. Sell more books by making it easy for others to review your book- How easy is it for others to review your book? Roger C. Parker gives you a few tips to make it a little easier.
That's it for this week's trip around the net. I look forward to seeing you on Monday morning with more Marketing Tips For Authors.
March 10, 2011
Best Selling Kindle Author Karen McQuestion Gives E-Book Advice To Authors
Today, I want to introduce you to an author who has captured the dream that many of us have. Karen McQuestion began publishing her books via Amazon's Kindle and has found a growing readership that allows her to become a full-time writer. I met Karen on Penny Sansevieri's Blog Talk Radio program,
The Publishing Insiders. In this episode, "Smart Self Publishing: Part 3, Making Money with Ebooks," she and I discussed our experiences with e-book publishing.
You can read a wrap-up of the interview on Penny's site or you can download the interview by visiting her Blog Talk Radio Page.
Today, Karen has agreed to an interview regarding her e-book publishing experience. After you read our interview, check out her site at www.karenmcquestion.com to find her Kindle books and to read her informative blog. Or, if you still love the feel of a physical book in your hands, she is now under contract through AmazonEncore.
Now, on to my interview with Karen...
Karen, thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with Marketing Tips For Authors. Can you start off by telling us what made you decide to e-publish your books? What formats did you begin with?
For years I tried to get published the traditional way. I had two different agents represent my work. I submitted to small presses and large publishers, and I entered novel contests. In short, I was open to any avenue that led to publication. Self-publishing on Kindle (this was before the iPad and Nook) intrigued me because it had all the positive aspects of self-publishing, namely control, and none of the negative: expense, and the need to market outside of my home. I felt I had nothing to lose.
How have things changed since you first started e-publishing your books?
Since I started in July 2009, there's been an explosion in the variety and number of e-book devices being sold and the number of books available. The market has grown exponentially and globally.
Another big change is the perception of self-published authors. Once considered the dregs, we've now earned some respect. Self-published authors with good sales are being contacted by interested agents and editors, and some of the authors (like Amanda Hocking) are turning down traditional publishing deals because they can do better on their own.
For myself, I accepted a publishing contract with AmazonEncore because I consider it to be the best of both worlds—I get the benefits of working with the AmazonEncore team, but still get to retain creative control.
How do you market your e-books?
I believe that four elements—price, title, description, and great cover image—are essential for Kindle success. Get those four things right and you've given your book a huge advantage right from the start.
With the Internet, it's easy to market your books from home with no expense at all. Initially I concentrated my efforts on the message boards, both at Amazon.com and at Kindleboards.com. Kindleboards.com is especially helpful, not just for sales, but for the exchange of information between authors.
I also blogged and used Twitter, but I'm not convinced they played a significant part in getting the word out about my books.
Tell us about your success. What do you attribute to your success?
Timing, luck, and good stories. That's my best guess, anyway. I was extremely fortunate in that early readers recommended my books to one another on the message boards. The word of mouth played a critical role in putting my books on the Kindle bestseller list.
For the author on a limited budget and trying to e-publish themselves, where do you recommend they start?
All the information you need is online. Start with Joe Konrath's blog. It's a treasure trove of knowledge for those interested in self-publishing. My site has some good information, and so does Amanda Hocking's site. YouTube has tutorials showing how to upload onto the different e-book devices. There's so much information out there. Let Google show you the way.
What parting advice do you have for the aspiring e-book author?
I'm probably biased, because self-publishing on Kindle changed my life, but I would say that if you have a great story that's well written, go for it! You have an opportunity here to connect directly with readers (and make some money as well). Frankly, I don't know why anyone wouldn't do it.
------
Karen McQuestion writes books for adults and kids/teens and is a bestselling author in Kindle. Two of her novels placed in the top 100 Customer Kindle books for 2010, based on sales and reader reviews. Her novel, A Scattered Life, has been optioned for film. Ms. McQuestion (really her last name) lives in Wisconsin with her family. www.karenmcquestion.com
The Publishing Insiders. In this episode, "Smart Self Publishing: Part 3, Making Money with Ebooks," she and I discussed our experiences with e-book publishing.
You can read a wrap-up of the interview on Penny's site or you can download the interview by visiting her Blog Talk Radio Page.
Today, Karen has agreed to an interview regarding her e-book publishing experience. After you read our interview, check out her site at www.karenmcquestion.com to find her Kindle books and to read her informative blog. Or, if you still love the feel of a physical book in your hands, she is now under contract through AmazonEncore.
Now, on to my interview with Karen...
Karen, thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with Marketing Tips For Authors. Can you start off by telling us what made you decide to e-publish your books? What formats did you begin with?
For years I tried to get published the traditional way. I had two different agents represent my work. I submitted to small presses and large publishers, and I entered novel contests. In short, I was open to any avenue that led to publication. Self-publishing on Kindle (this was before the iPad and Nook) intrigued me because it had all the positive aspects of self-publishing, namely control, and none of the negative: expense, and the need to market outside of my home. I felt I had nothing to lose.
How have things changed since you first started e-publishing your books?
Since I started in July 2009, there's been an explosion in the variety and number of e-book devices being sold and the number of books available. The market has grown exponentially and globally.
Another big change is the perception of self-published authors. Once considered the dregs, we've now earned some respect. Self-published authors with good sales are being contacted by interested agents and editors, and some of the authors (like Amanda Hocking) are turning down traditional publishing deals because they can do better on their own.
For myself, I accepted a publishing contract with AmazonEncore because I consider it to be the best of both worlds—I get the benefits of working with the AmazonEncore team, but still get to retain creative control.
How do you market your e-books?
I believe that four elements—price, title, description, and great cover image—are essential for Kindle success. Get those four things right and you've given your book a huge advantage right from the start.
With the Internet, it's easy to market your books from home with no expense at all. Initially I concentrated my efforts on the message boards, both at Amazon.com and at Kindleboards.com. Kindleboards.com is especially helpful, not just for sales, but for the exchange of information between authors.
I also blogged and used Twitter, but I'm not convinced they played a significant part in getting the word out about my books.
Tell us about your success. What do you attribute to your success?
Timing, luck, and good stories. That's my best guess, anyway. I was extremely fortunate in that early readers recommended my books to one another on the message boards. The word of mouth played a critical role in putting my books on the Kindle bestseller list.
For the author on a limited budget and trying to e-publish themselves, where do you recommend they start?
All the information you need is online. Start with Joe Konrath's blog. It's a treasure trove of knowledge for those interested in self-publishing. My site has some good information, and so does Amanda Hocking's site. YouTube has tutorials showing how to upload onto the different e-book devices. There's so much information out there. Let Google show you the way.
What parting advice do you have for the aspiring e-book author?
I'm probably biased, because self-publishing on Kindle changed my life, but I would say that if you have a great story that's well written, go for it! You have an opportunity here to connect directly with readers (and make some money as well). Frankly, I don't know why anyone wouldn't do it.
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Karen McQuestion writes books for adults and kids/teens and is a bestselling author in Kindle. Two of her novels placed in the top 100 Customer Kindle books for 2010, based on sales and reader reviews. Her novel, A Scattered Life, has been optioned for film. Ms. McQuestion (really her last name) lives in Wisconsin with her family. www.karenmcquestion.com
March 9, 2011
Are Brick And Mortar Bookstores A Thing Of The Past?
With the phenomenal success of e-books and their acceptance by the mainstream readers, murmurings as to the future of physical bookstores can be heard more and more. What seemed impossible not even 5 years ago is being openly discussed by readers, publishers and authors alike.
And it's not just e-books that make this discussion real. Companies like Amazon.com not only sell e-books, but they sell physical books a cut-rate prices. I will be the first to admit that of the physical books I purchase, I buy 5 to 1 online verses at a physical bookstore.
Just recently, one of the largest book retailers declared bankruptcy and with that declaration, shelf space that once existed may now be lost forever. Border's departure from neighborhoods all over the country gave new voice to this question.
Now, to be fair, Border's failure may have had a lot more to do with poor decisions and management than because of a fundamental shift in the industry; but the industry shift toward e-books and online purchasing may have made it too much for the retailer to overcome its own problems.
And now, even libraries are dealing with how to lend e-books along with physical books. Harper Collins is starting to limit the number of times a library can lend an e-book before having to purchase another lending license. Regardless of how e-book lending shakes out, it's amazing technology that allows people to borrow books without leaving their home.
This is an interesting time to be a reader, a publisher, and an author. A lot of these issues still have to be played out before we finally see how everything falls into place. And when it all does, the author, the publisher, and the reader will all have their interests protected.
So, what does that mean? I'm not exactly sure, but here are some of my thoughts:
E-books will become more and more popular. Low cost, low overhead and instantaneous gratification ensure their permanent place in the publishing industry
People will continue to purchase physical books online from companies that can deliver them at great prices
Brick and Mortar bookstores will still exist in some form. Bookstores are more than a place to buy books. They are a social gathering place and they generally serve a great cup of coffee. And no matter how inventive e-books and online retailers get, only a physical location can let you shake the hand of your favorite author
I think it's safe to say that we are in the midst of an industry redefinition. Business models that are decades old will evolve, or die, while new business models that we haven't even dreamed of yet will become the new norm. Those who adapt and embrace the winning models will continue to thrive while those who don't will declare Chapter 11.
I don't know what the publishing industry will be like when I'm 70, but I feel confident about this: I will be sitting at some bookstore sipping my coffee while reading my grandchildren their favorite story from their 3D hologram book reader...
Or something like that.
And it's not just e-books that make this discussion real. Companies like Amazon.com not only sell e-books, but they sell physical books a cut-rate prices. I will be the first to admit that of the physical books I purchase, I buy 5 to 1 online verses at a physical bookstore.
Just recently, one of the largest book retailers declared bankruptcy and with that declaration, shelf space that once existed may now be lost forever. Border's departure from neighborhoods all over the country gave new voice to this question.
Now, to be fair, Border's failure may have had a lot more to do with poor decisions and management than because of a fundamental shift in the industry; but the industry shift toward e-books and online purchasing may have made it too much for the retailer to overcome its own problems.
And now, even libraries are dealing with how to lend e-books along with physical books. Harper Collins is starting to limit the number of times a library can lend an e-book before having to purchase another lending license. Regardless of how e-book lending shakes out, it's amazing technology that allows people to borrow books without leaving their home.
This is an interesting time to be a reader, a publisher, and an author. A lot of these issues still have to be played out before we finally see how everything falls into place. And when it all does, the author, the publisher, and the reader will all have their interests protected.
So, what does that mean? I'm not exactly sure, but here are some of my thoughts:
E-books will become more and more popular. Low cost, low overhead and instantaneous gratification ensure their permanent place in the publishing industry
People will continue to purchase physical books online from companies that can deliver them at great prices
Brick and Mortar bookstores will still exist in some form. Bookstores are more than a place to buy books. They are a social gathering place and they generally serve a great cup of coffee. And no matter how inventive e-books and online retailers get, only a physical location can let you shake the hand of your favorite author
I think it's safe to say that we are in the midst of an industry redefinition. Business models that are decades old will evolve, or die, while new business models that we haven't even dreamed of yet will become the new norm. Those who adapt and embrace the winning models will continue to thrive while those who don't will declare Chapter 11.
I don't know what the publishing industry will be like when I'm 70, but I feel confident about this: I will be sitting at some bookstore sipping my coffee while reading my grandchildren their favorite story from their 3D hologram book reader...
Or something like that.
March 8, 2011
Pari Danian Discuses Publishing Nontraditional Books
I am thrilled to introduce you to an artist who has taken her skills into the world of books. Pari Danian is a sculptor, photographer, and cuisine artist who now adds to her resume the word author. She recently published The Palatable Plate. To call it a cook book is understating what is in reality a work of art.
Pari takes you on her journey of publishing this unique book and gives her advice to authors who might have a nontraditional vision for their book. But to give you a better idea of how the art and culinary worlds collide to create this masterpiece, take a look at this brief video:
If you live in the DFW area, you're in for a treat. This Saturday, March 12th, Pari will be signing copies of her book at the Plano Creekwalk Village Barnes & Noble at 801 West 15th St, Suite E, Plano, TX 75075. The signing starts at 2 PM. I'll be there and both Pari and I would love to meet you there.
Now, on to Pari's post...
Pari Danian Discuses Publishing Nontraditional Books
Creating The Palatable Plate- Cook Like an Artist was a serendipitous journey. I created the book to feature my hand made ceramic plates that are shaped like an artist's palate. I wanted to use the book in my show in January of 2010. The decision to write the book was abrupt and there was little time between construction of the plates and creating the book.
That was the reason why I didn't take time looking for hired help. I decided the whole book would be my own doing. So after the firing of the ceramic plates was complete, I cooked the food, styled the frames, and photographed it. From frame to frame, all the flower arrangements are different. I took over 10,000 shots in ten days, using the available light.
Once the book was done, I sent it to a printer in California who printed one copy for me at $110. I used that copy in my show with my plate display. I panicked when my book got more attention than the plates! I had not thought of any marketing or mass printing up to that point. I'd like to share some of my experience with you from what I've learnt:
When an idea hits and it is a good one, do not hesitate, don't let the idea get cold. Install it while it's hot.
Self publishing is great: 1) if you want to have artistic autonomy; 2) if you know your angle for marketing.
I found printing in USA to be a better service, better ink quality, especially for a cook book. I made sure the book was printed using non-toxic inks.
Taylor publishing and Freisen are the best choices for printing books with a lot of color pictures.
Do not print high volumes. Print a small volume to be used as samples.
If you have a color book that is too expensive to print, create "Blads". A Blad is a ten page flyer that looks just like your book with sample content. You can then mail them to prospective buyers, who then might ask for a complete sample book.
If you don't have the marketing knowledge and you can't afford a PR person to represent you, attend marketing workshops or join writer groups to learn more.
Allocate two to three hours a day for your marketing purposes.
Turn your book to an ebook right away. Pubit.com is a good place to start.
Pray lots!
In the spirit of the upcoming Persian new year on March 20th, I am holding a book signing for my latest book, The Palatable Plate, Cook Like an Artist. This is my way of putting a peaceful foot forward to share the beauty of the ancient and rich culture. I have gathered various recipes passed down from generations, then adapted them for everyday use. The spices have physical and mental health benefits that have only recently been discovered by the Western nations.
I hope The Palatable Plate opens the door to a whole new philosophy of cooking with artistic passion.
Pari Danian
Pari takes you on her journey of publishing this unique book and gives her advice to authors who might have a nontraditional vision for their book. But to give you a better idea of how the art and culinary worlds collide to create this masterpiece, take a look at this brief video:
If you live in the DFW area, you're in for a treat. This Saturday, March 12th, Pari will be signing copies of her book at the Plano Creekwalk Village Barnes & Noble at 801 West 15th St, Suite E, Plano, TX 75075. The signing starts at 2 PM. I'll be there and both Pari and I would love to meet you there.
Now, on to Pari's post...
Pari Danian Discuses Publishing Nontraditional Books
Creating The Palatable Plate- Cook Like an Artist was a serendipitous journey. I created the book to feature my hand made ceramic plates that are shaped like an artist's palate. I wanted to use the book in my show in January of 2010. The decision to write the book was abrupt and there was little time between construction of the plates and creating the book.
That was the reason why I didn't take time looking for hired help. I decided the whole book would be my own doing. So after the firing of the ceramic plates was complete, I cooked the food, styled the frames, and photographed it. From frame to frame, all the flower arrangements are different. I took over 10,000 shots in ten days, using the available light.
Once the book was done, I sent it to a printer in California who printed one copy for me at $110. I used that copy in my show with my plate display. I panicked when my book got more attention than the plates! I had not thought of any marketing or mass printing up to that point. I'd like to share some of my experience with you from what I've learnt:
When an idea hits and it is a good one, do not hesitate, don't let the idea get cold. Install it while it's hot.
Self publishing is great: 1) if you want to have artistic autonomy; 2) if you know your angle for marketing.
I found printing in USA to be a better service, better ink quality, especially for a cook book. I made sure the book was printed using non-toxic inks.
Taylor publishing and Freisen are the best choices for printing books with a lot of color pictures.
Do not print high volumes. Print a small volume to be used as samples.
If you have a color book that is too expensive to print, create "Blads". A Blad is a ten page flyer that looks just like your book with sample content. You can then mail them to prospective buyers, who then might ask for a complete sample book.
If you don't have the marketing knowledge and you can't afford a PR person to represent you, attend marketing workshops or join writer groups to learn more.
Allocate two to three hours a day for your marketing purposes.
Turn your book to an ebook right away. Pubit.com is a good place to start.
Pray lots!
In the spirit of the upcoming Persian new year on March 20th, I am holding a book signing for my latest book, The Palatable Plate, Cook Like an Artist. This is my way of putting a peaceful foot forward to share the beauty of the ancient and rich culture. I have gathered various recipes passed down from generations, then adapted them for everyday use. The spices have physical and mental health benefits that have only recently been discovered by the Western nations. I hope The Palatable Plate opens the door to a whole new philosophy of cooking with artistic passion.
Pari Danian
