Heather Hart's Blog, page 33

The Bike Of Marketing

Day 99
“All things are difficult before they are easy.”~ Thomas Fuller
Something’s don’t come naturally to us… such as marketing or riding a bike. But if we keep practicing, we get better at them, and eventually they become second nature. Hopefully as you've moved through the motions of marketing your book every day, it’s becoming easier for you. If not, try switching up what you’re doing. Market your book in a different way.

Marketing prompt:
Spend today focusing on your routine market...

Open Up

Day 98
“Authenticity, honesty, and personal voice underlie much of what’s successful on the Web.”~ Rick Levine
How much of you do you share with your readers? I’m not talking about what you’re eating for dinner, I’m talking about letting them feel like they know the real you – the author behind the book. Readers pay more attention to authors who are real. There are a lot of names on our computer screen; there are not a lot of people willing to be real. Being authentic and honest can set you apa...

Reach For It

Day 97“Reach for the stars”~Author Unknown
I don’t remember where I heard it, but there is a saying (that I’m about to butcher) that says something along the lines of, your money follows your heart (or something like that). It doesn't really matter what the saying is, but the principle is important. If you’re not willing to put money into your book, why should anyone else? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of marketing books on a shoestring budget, but on occasion it is important to...

Circumstances

Day 96
“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.”~ George Bernard Shaw
Guilty as charged. I've blamed my circumstances for things in the past, but it’s just an excuse. You don’t have to have thousands of dollars to market your book – surely you've seen that by now. You don’t r...

Shine Some Light On It

Day 95
“Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark.  You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.”~ Steuart Henderson Britt
Alright, it sounds silly, but it’s true. Writing a book and failing to market it is as pointless as winking at a girl (or guy) in the dark. You know you did it, but nobody else does. It’s pretty straightforward. Without marketing, nobody knows who you are or what you did.


There are hundreds (if not millions) of ways to market your b...

Rise Above

Day 94
“These days, the toughest obstacle you may face is finding a way to rise above the noise so that your work can be discovered.”~ Kevin Kaiser, WD
People in today’s world are busy, and they are constantly being confronted with other people wanting to tell them something. That makes for a lot of noise. You not only have to compete with Terry Brook’s newest book, but also Aunt May’s meatloaf recipe and Shirley’s baby's dirty diaper. It doesn't seem to matter if you’re reading a blo...

The Choice Is Yours

Day 93
“Your life is in your hands, to make of it what you choose”~ John Kehoe
What are you choosing to make out of your life? Are you choosing to dread marketing your book every day, or are you passionately letting other people know that you've written a book worth reading? You can make book marketing agonizingly painful, or you can make it fun. The choice is yours.
Marketing prompt:
If you haven’t already, sign up for Shelfari and optimize your profile.  Shelfari is basically Ama...

Happy is Good

Day 92
“A happy customer is the greatest advertisement.”~ Andy Sernovitz


Happy readers love telling other readers about good books – that’s why book reviews are so popular. When I read a really good book, I save it for my mom or recommend it on Facebook. I might even pin it on Pinterest. That’s free advertising for the author. If you wrote a good book, and have it priced right, people will tell others about it – there’s no doubt about it.
Marketing prompt:
Share an excerpt from your book on your...

Believe It

Day 91

“Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.”~ Dr. Joyce Brothers
Success is a state of mind. Do you agree with that? I wouldn't have when I first got started in the world of book marketing, but now I would have to say that it’s true. If you think that you are successful, then you can’t be wrong. You might not be as successful as someone else, but that’s not what matters. No one else’s opinion of you is as important as your own opin...

Going Up

Day 90
“Thirty seconds. As an author (or publisher) that’s about all the time you have when talking to someone to generate interest in your book.”~ Sarah Bolme
Do you have an elevator pitch for your book? It’s said that you have less than 30 seconds to win someone’s interest – on or offline. If you don’t have it by then, they don’t care anymore and you've lost your chance. Coming up with an elevator pitch, or even an intriguing introduction about yourself or your book can go a long wa...