Heather Hart's Blog, page 29

The Proverbial Box

“Thinking outside of the box and watching for opportunities that look like a good fit are some avenues that have helped me generate publicity.”~ Barbara Techel
There are marketing books full of marketing prompts (such as this one). But sometimes the best marketing ideas are ones that you come up with on your own. Every idea was originally an original idea.
Marketing prompt:
Check to see if you meet the criteria for having a Wikipedia page about yourself as an author. If you don’t feel comfortab...

Try It - You Might Like It

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”~Origin Unknown
You never know how something will turn out until you take the steps to actually do it. I’m reminded of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.” The whole book he didn't want to taste it, because he didn't like it. Well, you know the story, it turned out that he DID like green eggs and ham after all. He never would have known if he wouldn't have broken down and tasted it. Likewise, we will never know what works if we don’t...

Attitude and Altitude

“Your attitude determines your altitude.”~Origin Unknown
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...” said the Little Engine that Could. 
And you know what? 
He did. 
He was determined to make it over the hill. 
His attitude determined his altitude, or so the story goes. 
What does your mindset say about your future? 
Will you top the bestseller lists, or are you teetering right where you’re at?
Marketing prompt:
Check out submission guidelines for magazines in your n...

Does Your Marketing Match Your Shopping?

“To be successful and grow your business and revenues, you must match the way you market your products with the way your prospects learn about and shop for your products.”~ Brian Halligan
If you want people to buy your book, you need to market it where they are. You need to be in touch with your readers to know if they prefer Facebook or Myspace. You need to place your marketing efforts and resources where they will be seen by the people you want to see them.
Marketing prompt:
Add social sharing...

We're All The Same

Day 135
“Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”~ John Maxwell
“Everybody was made to be somebody.” 
You've heard that right? 
Everybody has the ability to make something of themselves, and every author has the ability to sell books. 
It’s not our abilities that set us apart – it’s our desire and commitment. 
Do you want to sell books enough to put in the work to get there? 
Chances...

Make it Rank

“If you optimize it and it’s relevant for the keyword, it’s probably going to rank.”~ Liana Evans, KeyRelevance
I attended a writing conference in 2012 where I attended a workshop by author Megan Breedlove. Megan’s website has held the number 1 ranking spot for multiple keywords on Google for several years, so I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. She said that getting a higher up Google ranking isn't about just one thing, but several things working together. 
Her...

Think Like A Customer

“Think like a customer.”~ Paul Gillin
It can be easy for us as authors to lose touch with our readers. Instead of writing for them, we write to them. We tell them what we want them to hear, not what they want to hear. We pitch them instead of woo them – and they can tell the difference.
Marketing prompt:
Participate in a blog hop where someone else comes up with the topic (make sure it’s related to your niche).
Days to go: 232

Well Said Mr. Andretti

“Desire is the key to motivation, but its determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal — a commitment to excellence — that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”~ Mario Andretti Seriously, I don’t know what I can add to Mario Andretti’s quote. He pretty much said it all. If you desire to sell books, you’ll be motivated to work towards that goal – but desire for the end goal will only get you so far. You have to be determined and committed to truly be successful...

The Foundation Of Your Platform

Day 131
“Creating an author platform is vital for a new author’s success, and creating a brand is the basis for the platform. You need to know what you are creating before you start!”~ Joanna Penn
It might be a little late to use this quote from Joanna Penn, but I still wanted to share it with you. Author platforms and brands are important for authors no matter how new or experienced you are. While your brand should be consistent, you can also continually improve upon it so that it doesn't become...

Advertise

Day 130
“When the historian of the Twentieth Century shall have finished his narrative, and comes searching for the subtitle which shall best express the spirit of the period, we think it not at all unlikely that he may select ‘The Age of Advertising’ for the purpose.”~Printers’ Ink
“The Age of Advertising.” That really does describe our day and age, doesn't it? Companies pay millions of dollars for Super Bowl ads that sometimes only get seen once. Mommy bloggers make almost as much a...