Frances Caballo's Blog: 10 Twitter Tips Writers Need to Know, page 11

Book Marketing Update

Today’s Book Marketing Update is again chockfull of plenty of tips to help you succeed in your book marketing.

Also, Mike Shatzkin wrote an insightful post on how COVID-19 has changed publishing and book marketing, possibly forever. So be sure to read what he has to say.

As we experience a surge in COVID-19 in the US, please wear a mask and stay safe and heathy.

Book Marketing

Amazon Editorial Reviews: Are You Using This Incredible Section? from Jane Friedman’s blog and by Dave Chesson: This post explains what editorial reviews are, where to look for them, and how to add them to your book page on Amazon.

How to Market a Book with 5 Simple Website Upgrades by Penny Sansevieri: In this new post, Penny takes a look at author websites. Is yours helping or hampering your book sales? Penny shows you step-by-step how to improve sales by improving your website.

Both the supply chain and book marketing are forever changed by Coronavirus from – Mike Shatzkin: Mike Shatzkin explains in this post how publishing is forever changed and what publishers can do about that.

Blogs

Boost Your Blog Traffic with the Yoast SEO Secrets of the WordPress Elves from the blog of Anne R. Allen and Ruth Harris: If you have a WordPress website and blog, you must also have the Yoast SEO plug-in. This plug-in will help you improve the search engine optimization of every post you write.

Email Marketing

Why You Need a Template for Your Newsletter (and What to Put in It) from TheBookDesigner.com and by Nate Hoffelder: I’ve said many times that email marketing needs to be a part of an author’s book marketing strategy. Read this post to learn how to excel in email marketing.

Of Note

6 Principles for Writing Historical Fiction from Jane Friedman’s blog and by Andrew Noakes: I love to read historical fiction. If you write in this genre, be sure to look at this post. Andrew Noakes offers some great tips for you to consider.

How #PublishingPaidMe Exposed Racial Inequities – from Publisher Weekly: Author L.L. McKinney described created the hashtag #PublishingPaidMe as an outgrowth conversations she’s had with friends about Black authors. She reports that black authors are historically underpaid and under appreciated by a white publishing industry. 

Quote of the Week

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!

The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.

Book Marketing Update

I hope you enjoy the newest edition of the Book Marketing Update.

Are you tired of sheltering in place and wearing a mask when you leave your home? I know that I am but I also know those measures are vital for my own welfare as well as the welfare of everyone I come into contact with.

Not that I leave the house often. I’ve just begun to accompany my husband for a weekly trip to our local Costco and it’s exciting for me. Hard to believe I’m actually admitting that.

Please wear your mask and stay safe.

Testimonials vs. Reviews

Don’t Confuse a Book Endorsement With a Review from The Book Designer blog and by Sandra Beckwith: As the title suggests, there’s a difference between reviews and testimonials. Sandra Beckwith explains how they differ.

Traditional Publishing

How Do Publishers Decide What Books to Bet On? from Jane Friedman and by Anne Trubek: When a publisher decides to accept a book, it’s always a gamble for them. Find out what they need to consider before taking this risk.

100 Common Publishing Terms from Writers Digest and by Robert Lee Brewer: In this post, the author breaks sown all of the terms commonly used by traditional publishers.

Book Marketing

8 Most Common Book Marketing Mistakes Authors Make by Penny Sansevieri: In this post, Penny confirms that too many authors wait too long before starting their book marketing. She also explores other issues that can affect marketing results.

Interesting to see how these authors use Pinterest to either promote their books or inspire their writing from BookBub Partners: If you don’t use Pinterest, you need to give it a try. It is wonderful at referral traffic (referring traffic to your landing pages). It’s also one of the largest social networks. According to the Pew Research Center, 42% of all online women and 15% of all online men use Pinterest. And here are 23 Pinterest tips every author needs to know to sell more books.

Of Note

An Updated Required Reading List from Book Riot: “Over the past 50 or so years, the required reading list in U.S. high schools has had few modifications. Most of the books that students are reading now are the same that their parents read. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there are so many incredible, culturally important works of literature that are being  published and are either offered as a bonus read, or neglected from the curriculum altogether.”

Be sure to check out Lisa Tener’s Five-Day Series on Amplifying Black Voices

Quote of the Week

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!

The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.

Book Marketing Update

This week’s Book Marketing Update is short and sweet. Check out what’s new in social media. I also included two posts on book marketing and one on publishing.

What are you doing to market you books? If you use a unique strategy, please share it with me.

Please wear your mask in public and stay safe!

Publishing

Five Self-Publishing Mistakes You Need to Avoid from the BookBaby Blog: This post outlines five common self-publishing mistakes you need to avoid.

Social Media News

Introducing Instagram Reels: #Instagram’s Answer to TikTok? from Later, an Instagram scheduling app: “Introducing Instagram Reels: a new way to record 15-second clips set to music on Instagram. If this concept sounds a little familiar, you’re right. Almost everyone is comparing Instagram Reels to TikTok!”

Third of advertisers may boycott Facebook in hate speech revolt from the Guardian: “Almost a third of advertisers are considering joining a month-long boycott of Facebook as the social network struggles to convince advertisers that it is doing enough to fight hate speech on its platform.”

Book Marketing

Marathons, Sprints, and Pounces: 3-Tiered Approach to Book Launches from Jane Friedman’s blog and by Barbara Linn Probst: “Before I embarked on this process, I saw it as one big amorphous here’s my book, everyone! But it’s not. Promotion happens at different times and on different scales. Or, I should say, authors do things at different times and on different scales, apart from what publishers or publicists do.”

How to Promote My Book Before It’s Published by Penny Sansevieri: In this post, Penny explains all the ways you can work on your brand in advance of publishing your book.

Of Note

Having a hard time writing during the pandemic? You’re not alone. Inspiring Words from Authors to Authors During Difficult Times from BookBub Partners: “… as things slowly start to reopen, we don’t know how long this will last, or how the next couple of years will play out. And that uncertainty can make it hard to write or promote. So we turned to several successful authors to ask them how they’re getting through the COVID crisis, and what tip they’d give to a fellow author right now.”

What I’m reading: I’m currently reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. A New York Times bestseller, this novel was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It is “a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.”

Quote of the Week

my bio

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Romance Author Discusses Race, Genre, Amazon Categories

I met romance Canadian author Alexandra Isobel last year when she signed up for a social media analysis. I thought it would be a good idea to check in with her now in light of the Black Lives Matter protests worldwide. Here’s what she had to say.

What is it like to be Black in Canada?

I was born and raised to the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago) in a very white middle-class neighbourhood. We were one of only three Black families in the entire area. Like most kids, I HATED being different and just wanted to fit it. 

I was on the receiving end of comments and teasing (ranging from ‘Can I touch your hair, it’s so spongy’ to the N-word). Looking back, I downplayed my blackness (doing, saying, being anything that would remind people I was different) to fit in. Over the years, and especially in high school, I got very good at it. The end result is that I learned how to fit into ‘the white middle-class lifestyle’ and got comfortable there. It wasn’t until I was in university and was enlightened to the idea of Black pride that I stopped running from ‘being Black.’

My parents divorced when I was around ten. My father remarried a white woman and stayed in our old neighbourhood. My mother bought a house in a different neighbourhood where there were a lot more Black families. I was amazed there were so many other Black people out there. However, by then, my survival methods were pretty entrenched, and I knew precious little about ‘Black life,’ so the other Black kids labeled me an Oreo cookie; Black on the outside but white inside. To this day, I still get referred to that way!

Black and a Romance Author

Last year, The Guardian published an article titled Fifty Shades of White: the long fight against racism in romance novels. What has your experience been as a Black romance author?

I’m pretty new to the publishing world, and it’s funny how writing and books can keep you pretty anonymous. Like all writers, I’ve been writing stories from birth, and I submitted my share of books to romance publishers and editors. Naturally, (re-read my first question response), my characters were all white. When I would meet with people, I’d get the usual raised eyebrows. I knew they didn’t realize I was Black.  I’d also get the people who would say, “You don’t sound Black on the phone.” 

After I started to attend the ORWA (Ottawa Romance Writers Association, a local branch of RWA) and met my writing partner,  I started writing interracial stories.  Publishers were just beginning to publish multicultural lines. I remember her saying to me, why don’t you submit to one of these new lines? Just write what you know and submit a manuscript.

Amazon Categories for Black or Biracial Stories

On the Romance Writers of American (RWA) website, the lists for romance subgenres are:

Contemporary



Erotic



Historical



Paranormal



Romance with spiritual elements



Suspense



Young Adult

But these subgenres are different than the categories you select on Amazon, such as:

African American Romance



Multicultural



Interracial

Do you think the RWA needs to expand its list of subgenres?

You know it’s funny or ironic. When I got into indie publishing, I was so thankful and excited to write out-of-the-box characters that didn’t fit into the constraints of publishing houses. But, that freedom has presented other problems – which category do you choose and I have to ask myself (still) where do my books fit in? Even though there is an African-American box, it’s generally meant for literature, not romance. Though there is a multicultural and interracial box, there isn’t one for bwwm (black woman white man) and never one for (bwam) black woman Asian man. And as an avid romance reader (since I was twelve), I know romance readers can be a fickle group. They like to know ahead of time exactly what type of book they’re reading. I don’t like surprises when I’m choosing my next read and am sure other readers feel the same.

What is it like to be a Black romance author?

Do you consider yourself somewhat of a maverick in the genre, or do you have plenty of company?

A maverick around here (locally) maybe, but definitely not in the romance genre world. I was so happy to see such a vast community of Black writers and an equally broad multicultural and interracial readership. There is definitely plenty of company once you get connected to the niche.

Do you connect with other interracial romance authors, and do you help market each other’s books?

Well, here’s my experience from last year. I tried to enter a newsletter swap for the first time last year and was promptly rejected because I did not have a big enough mailing list (read that as no mailing list at the time). When I read that the author was Black, I emailed the author in charge to explain it was my first time out (in hopes of some, I don’t know, sister support, I guess), and she still said no. I did the same with another Black author who said, and I’ll never forget it. “Sure, try it out. We’ll see if we can get you some readers.”  

Differences between Canada and the US

What is the climate in Canada and your community given the current situation in the United States?

The climate is pretty much the same, I would say, except that racism in Canada is just more subtle. I’m from Ottawa (political capital), so people tend to be always concerned over what’s politically correct. We’ve had a few #BlackLivesMatter protests and marches, they’re just unlikely to turn into a riot. 

Do you have children? If so, do you have the same talk with them that Black parents need to have with their kids in the US about dealing with law enforcement? If so, how do you feel about that?

I have two boys, 23 and 20. They’re mixed and raised in a very white middle-class neighbourhood. We’ve had very frank conversations about, in the end, if something goes wrong, they are still young Black men and at-risk.

When I was young, I remember my sister and I talking about racism and bigotry. Though I don’t recall the whole conversation, I remember saying that I should be ‘exempt’ because I had a university degree. My sister just looked at me and said, “When the Klan’s coming, do you think they’re checking your degree!?”

I ended up telling my boys something similar. First impressions count.  Something I highlighted to them with the recent incident in Central Park in New York City. (Amy Cooper threatened a Black man, Chris Cooper, when he asked Amy to leash her dog.) All she saw was a Black man. Full stop.

Racism Exists in Publishing

Do you feel that there is racism in the publishing industry?

Yes. It’s unfortunately everywhere. At this point, I think my experiences have been limited but ask me again in five years after I’ve been in the thick of it a bit longer. 

Tell me more about yourself. How and when did you start writing romance books?

I discovered romance novels from my mother, who had a box of them under her bed.  She was an avid reader or just about anything, but I loved the romances. My first favourite romance author was a Harlequin Ecstasy Supreme, Aphrodite’s Promise. My first favourite authors were Diana Palmer, Erin St. Clair, and Stephanie James.   

When I started writing, I desperately wanted to write for Harlequin.

Romance Author Branding

The romance genre is a popular one. How do you try to distinguish yourself as a writer?

I think everyone’s style and genre distinguish them mostly, and a writer should just go with it. I lean toward alpha heroes and introverted heroines. I also lean to interracial couples. My settings are all over the place, but mostly in Canada with some series in the US.

When my setting is in the US, my editor, who fortunately is African-American,  makes sure my characters and settings and dialogue are realistic. There is a difference between Black women in the US and Canada, and I’m consistently told that it comes out in my writing.

Book Marketing

How do you use social media and other strategies to promote your books?

I love my newsletter list for two reasons: It’s full of people who actively like my books and writing, and every time I work with it, I think of that author who took a chance on me and helped me build it.

I also love Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, but find Facebook to be a necessary evil these days.

Which book marketing strategies work best for you, and how do you capitalize on them?

So far, again, it’s been my newsletter list. I love it when a reader emails me after a newsletter. It lets me know that readers are really still out there, and I’m not just screaming into the wind!

The Hygge Lifestyle

You are also a hygge aficionado. What attracted you to this lifestyle?

Once I read about hygge, something clicked inside of me. I have been living that lifestyle for as long as I can remember. I just didn’t know there was a name for it. I’m a died in the wool introvert, and as you’ve read, do not like attention or standing out. So, staying home and turtling works for me pretty much all of the time. Making my spaces comfortable and beautiful is just a habit; small groups of people, or dealing with one or two friends and family at a time is enough for me.  

What’s next for you as a romance author?

To just keep writing. If I can get all the stories that continuously run through my mind, written and out, I will be very, very, very happy.

Which of your books would you recommend right now to those who are reading this blog post (and why!)?

Definitely “Weekend Warrior.” It’s the result of a road trip I took last year for my 50th birthday with my sister. We went to Martha’s Vineyard, because like every older sister she decided I needed to learn. I thought I was going to see the famed ‘Kennedy playground.’ Instead, I was overwhelmed with the enlightenment of the hundreds of years of Black history on the island, particularly Oak Bluffs, where we stayed. It was the best trip ever, now permanently etched in my brain with the book!

Alexandra Isobel is a Canadian romance author with a head full of stories and no time to write! So, she plots them all out while standing on the yard, watching the children during recess. 

She’s inspired to write alpha hero love stories and the women who can manage them from being a total action movie hound.  Being an Ottawa native, a hugely culturally diverse city in Canada, her couples can’t help being swirl (interracially mixed). 

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!

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Book Marketing Update

Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash

The Book Marketing Update is nearly back to its original form but as long as racism persists in the U.S., I’ll always include articles on books by Black authors and other authors of color.

I have quite a mix for you today. There’s everything from book marketing to blogging to Instagram accounts from Black authors you might want to follow.

Are you feeling fatigued by your state’s mask requirements? Don’t give in to the feeling. Wearing masks and social distancing are our best COVID-19 prevention strategies right now.

Please stay safe!

Book Marketing

Write/Right for the Market from The Book Designer Blog and by Florence Osmund: “How successful you are marketing your book and building your fan base will depend largely on the content you create.”

Social Media News

LinkedIn Publishes New Guide on Using Its Events and Live-Streaming Tools from Social Media Today: If you use LinkedIn, try out its live-streaming feature with this new handbook.

Don’t Know What to Tweet? 21 Ideas to Spark Your Creativity from Sprout Social: Please don’t let the fact that this post is geared for businesses get in the way of appreciating the message here. You can use these ideas in your book marketing too!

Social Media Image and Video Sizes Cheat Sheet 2020 [Infographic] from Social Media Today: This post lists all the image sizes you need to know for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Or, you can do what I do: rely on Canva.

Instagram Accounts Highlight Black Authors

Black Bookstagrammers on Their Favorite Books by Black Authors: “We think their stories—and the stories they read—are important, now and and always. So give them all a follow—your Instagram feed will thank you and your TBR pile will grow.”

Black Authors to Read

Ta-Nehisi Coates to Eve Ewing: Black Authors To Read from The Daily Social Distancing Show: Be sure to watch this YouTube video of Trevor Noah’s interview of two important Black authors.

Blogging

101 Content Ideas to Add to Your Editorial Calendar from Convince and Convert: What can you possibly blog about next? If you are asking yourself this, you are not alone. Use this list to help you reinvigorate your blog.

Of Note

You Got Your First Bad Review: Congratulations! by Anne R. Allen: “I’m not sure anything stings as much as that first bad review. You’re riding high in triumph. You finished the project that may have taken decades to complete. Then you survived the crushing editing/ querying/ rejections/ revising/ editing again process. But now you’re finally a published author.”

Quote of the Week

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!

The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.

Diversity and Other News for Authors

In this issue, I’m taking a step back from last week’s Diversity News update.

You’ll still find posts about how issues around Black authors are affected. But you’ll also find my regular fare: book marketing news.

I appreciate the #PublishiingPaidMe movement. We need to know whether Black authors make less then white authors, right?

I hope you enjoy this week’s selection.

Stay safe!

Poetry News

Police violence, heritage and love: Forward poetry prizes reveal shortlists ‘made to last’ from the Guardian: Natalie Diaz, a former MacArthur Genius grant recipient makes the Forward prize shortlist for best collection.

#PublishingPaidMe

#Publishingpaidme: authors share advances to expose racial disparities from the Guardian: This hashtag exposes injustices in publishing. When all authors reveal what publishing pays them, it becomes clear that people of color are paid less.

Diversity in the News

As interest in documentaries and movies that tell stories of African-American experiences rises, four scholars share their must-sees from the Wall Street Journal: “Interest in documentaries and movies that tell stories of the black experience is running high as protests over the police killing of George Floyd continue and as Americans aim to learn more about race.”

NBCC Board Gutted as Fallout Over Leaked Emails, Race Issues Widens from Publisher’s Weekly: The issues around diversity reached the National Book Critics Circle. Learn more by reading this post.

Poetry Foundation Responds to Criticism, Pledges Action from Publisher’s Weekly: Issues around diversity and Black Lives Matter are touching every corner of the publishing world.

Can #BlackoutBestsellerList be the reckoning the publishing industry needs? from the Guardian: Industries are undergoing reckonings around race. Now, prominent Black writers are sharing the #BlackoutBestsellerList, a campaign encouraging readers to buy books by black authors between now and 20 June to push them to the top of bestseller lists.

Blogging News

100+ Blogging Statistics That Will Help You Create A Better Content Strategy from Blogging Wizard and by Kim Lochery: “Are you interested in seriously ramping up your blogging strategy for 2020 and beyond? These specially hand-picked blogging statistics are going to help with that ….” Also, be sure to read my post 12 Book Marketing Blogs to Read and 50 Blogging Topics for Authors.

How to Start a Blog: A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide for Writers from The Write Life and by Susan Shain: This post includes all the elements authors need to start a blog. If you don’t have a blog, read this post to get started.

Social Media News

Facebook Provides New Overview of How its Ad System Works from Social Media Today: Facebook published a new overview of how its advertising system works.

Book Marketing

Book Marketing Psychology: 5 Powerful Principles of Human Behavior by Ross Kimbarovsky: Kimbarovsky explains how 5 powerful principles of human behavior to supercharge your book marketing.

How I Hosted a Socially Distanced Book Event from Jane Friedman’s blog and by Ed Cyzewski: Read how Ed Cyzewski hosted a book reading and book launch during a pandemic.

Quote of the Week

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!

The post Diversity and Other News for Authors appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.

Diversity – A New Update

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

As you can see, I am not publishing a new edition of the Book Marketing Update. Instead, I devote this space today to the importance of diversity in publishing and social media.

I don’t want to dilute the term diversity. Most of the updates are about racism against Blacks.

I hope you share an appreciation of this topic with me.

Stay safe!

Social Media Steps Up

LinkedIn Offers Free Courses in Diversity and Inclusion to Improve Community Understanding from Social Media Today: LinkedIn’s courses cover a range of key elements. Included is unconscious bias, addressing culturally sensitive issues, how to hire and retain diverse talent, and more.”

Twitter Provides Notes on How People Can Take Action to Respond to Racial Inequality from Social Media Today: We all need to take responsibility. Change can’t happen unless the majority of people respond to the call.

We Need Diverse Books Movement

We Need Diverse Books Steps Up to Help KidLit Community from Publishers Weekly: We Need Diverse Books launched two initiatives to help amplify the voices of children’s book writers and illustrators. One is a program to provide financial assistance to diverse publishing industry professionals and creatives; the other initiative is designed to assist African-American emerging voices establish a foothold in the publishing world.”

Diversity Reading Lists

Do the work: an anti-racist reading list from The Guardian: Layla F Saad chooses books to fortify a long-term struggle.

Toni Morrison: ‘I’m writing for black people’: Toni Morrison talks about the danger of beauty and earning the right to say ‘Shut up.’

Looking for Excellent “Diverse” Books for Children? Start Here! from Embrace Race: “In this piece, we identify promising starting points, in addition to the Diverse BookFinder, for your search for children’s books to which you might apply the criteria described in 8 tips.”

Teachers Show Up for Black Students

‘Teachers Cannot Be Silent’: How Educators Are Showing Up for Black Students Following Protests from Education Week: Teachers are searching for ways to help them work through their feelings about the protests and the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other unarmed black men and women. The death of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who was shot while jogging by two white men in Georgia earlier this month, has also inflamed national tensions.”

More Diversity News

Antiracist Author To Head Antiracist Research At Boston University from BookRiot: Making an appearance on all the recent lists is Ibram X. Kendi’s How to be an Antiracist. Now the scholar and author will launch the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University on July 1st.

So you want to learn about racism in America? Stream these 20 compelling movies and TV shows: Missing from this list is Just Mercy and I Am Not Your Negro. Definitely watch these two films.

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!

The post Diversity – A New Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.

Book Marketing While People March for Change

How should you approach your book marketing right now?

There’s so much going on in the U.S.:

The murder of George Floyd by a police officer.The pandemic that keeps us sheltering in place.Massive unemployment that devastates families.

Understand that too many Black men have died because of the color of their skin in recent years and in the past: (This is only a list of the well-publicized cases. Too many Black men have died that we don’t know about.)

George FloydAhmaud ArberyTrayvon MartinTamir RiceMichael BrownEric GarnerPhilando CastileRodney KingMartin Luther King, Jr. & other civil rights leadersMedgar EversMalcolm X



400 Years of Oppression

These killings are part 400 years of oppression of Black people going back to the days of slavery.

And yes, advances have occurred, but being black is dangerous in this country, especially for men.

What should your book marketing look like when the streets in every state of the U.S. are filled with protesters rightfully demanding change and racial equality, what should your book marketing look like?

Pause Your Book Marketing

Again, I am the lone wolf once again, suggesting that authors rethink their strategies.

Right now, the voices of a vast number of Americans are calling for racial justice and equality. Against this backdrop, it is unproductive to market your books as usual.

I know that no one else is saying this. I don’t care.

Look, I’m not suggesting that you stop marketing your book. I’m recommending that you hit the pause button.

What You Can Do Right Now

Here’s a list of steps you can take during this crisis:

Join the conversation.If you can, join a protest march.Promote books by Black authors.Post images that support the protesters and their messages.Collaborate with Black authors and help them promote their books.Include people of color in your marketing images.Quote black authors who have suggested reading or writing tips.Interview a Black author for your blog.Have you read books by Black authors? Let your readers know. Here are some prominent Black writers: James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Colson WhiteheadQuote from a book by a Black author and add the hashtag #OneLineFriday on Twitter.Follow Black authors and thought leaders on Twitter and Instagram and Like their Facebook pages, if they have them. In last Friday’s Book Marketing Update I listed four sources with lists of books by Black Authors. Here’s another list: 43 of the Best Books by Black Authors.Prepare and promote quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr., James Baldwin, and other leaders writing about the Black experience.Watch movies about Blacks and racial injustice. “Just Mercy” and “I Am Not Your Negro” are two movies to watch now.



8 Tips from the Instagram App Later

Later is an Instagram scheduling app that I use. Here is what Later suggests if you use Instagram:

When writing your captions: “if you are about to write/say the phrase ‘people of color,’ stop and think you are really talking about. If you mean Black, say, Black. With a capital’ B.'” – Robin Theade Be mindful of your hashtags (support black lives matter, but don’t use that hashtag).Include black voices in your posts, visuals, partnerships, and community. Ask for permission before reposting an image to your feed Diversify your feed. When you find a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) account that teaches you something, opens your mind, or moves you — share it with your followers. Create authentic and actionable steps for a more inclusive, long-term content strategy.Continue to take the time and space to be actively anti-racist—and use your platform to create change.



Book Marketing During a Crisis

In the past, I wrote about book marketing during a crisis. Be sure to read them: 

Book Marketing and COVID-19: Change What You’re Doing How to Handle Your Social Media During a Crisis  

Several books have profoundly affected me and helped me to understand the Black experience in the United States. Here is a partial list:

“Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison (This book taught me what it is like to be Black in this country.)“Another Country” by James Baldwin (This is one of the best books I’ve ever read.)“The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead (It was a painful yet necessary read.)“Native Son” by Richard Wright (This is a truly important book.)

I have not joined the marches. You see, I have two lung diseases that I never discuss publicly so I’m especially susceptible to COVID-19. However, I support the movement in other ways.

Many of you who are reading this post are from outside of the United States, where protesters are also marching. I am humbled by you and your participation. And some of you are either Black or biracial. Please use the comments below to add your advice. To everyone: tell us what you are doing during this time of unrest.

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!

The post Book Marketing While People March for Change appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.

Book Marketing Update

Yes, I have another Book Marketing Update for you. But I debated whether to do this one or not.

With righteous anger spilling over in our cities’ streets in the U.S., a book marketing update seemed superfluous.

But life goes on, eh? I hope you observed Blackout Tuesday, assuming your politics are aligned with people protesting the unnecessary death of George Floyd.

I hope you enjoy the posts included in today’s weekly update as well as the quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stay safe.

Book Marketing News

Keywords in Your Book Description: Do They Help? from Kindlepreneur and Dave Chesson: Will putting your target keywords in the book description actually helps with visibility? Many believe it’s a waste or that Amazon doesn’t pay attention to them. Find out what’s true.

Marketing is a Relationship: A Roadmap for Novelists: I really liked this post. Find out what marketing really is. And learn how to do it better.

How To Take Your Author Career To The Next Level with Mark Dawson and from Joanna Penn: Mark Dawson gives tips on how to level up your books, your email list, and your advertising.

Social Media News

Twitter Rolls Out Native Scheduling Within the Tweet Composer Window on Desktop from Social Media Today: Twitter brings its native tweet scheduling feature to its desktop app. Try it out.

Books We Need to Read

An Anti-Racist Reading List: 20 Highly Rated Nonfiction Books by Black Authors from Goodreads: Be sure to check out these books.

A Nonfiction Anti-Racist Reading List from Publishers Weekly: We owe it to ourselves and our communities to read these books.

5 Books About Black Movements and Systemic Racism in America from Book Riot: Gain a better understanding of this moment in time through these nonfiction and fiction books about Black movements and racism in America.

45 Upcoming Books By #BlackAuthors You Can Preorder Right Now from Book Riot: “Getting educated about the history of race and racism in the U.S., providing financial or other support/solidarity to protestors and anti-racist organizations, and dismantling white supremacy in our lives, jobs, and relationships are all crucial. This is a “yes, and” situation. If buying books is in your budget, now is a good time to give those dollars to Black writers.”

Of Note

A Writer’s Guide to Patience, Practice, and Persistence by Ruth Harris: “We can do it all, except, as everyone of us knows, none of it is easy, none of it is quick and in a world of Instant Everything, writing and marketing books is slow, often frustrating and loaded with obstacles.”

Hawaii boy, 6, creates book to help kids deal with coronavirus from Star Advertiser: Some may struggle with the obstacles produced by the stay-at-home order. But 6-year-old Sebastien Gonzalez found the bright side through his four-legged friend.

Quote of the Week

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook on Twitter. You can get it now for free!

The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.

Diversity in America, Diversity in Your Marketing Images

What are you doing to encourage inclusivity and represent diversity in your marketing images?

I’ve been thinking about this issue for weeks. Then a series of events happened.

Amy Cooper called the police saying she was being threatened by an African American man in Central Park. The man, Christian Cooper, was bird watching and had asked Amy Cooper to put her dog on a leash. By the way, Christian Cooper is a Harvard graduate and a board member of the Audubon Society.In Georgia, Ahmaud Arbery, an African American, was jogging when two white men attacked and fatally shot him.In Minneapolis, former law enforcement officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on the neck of George Floyd as he lay prone on the street. Floyd died, and the nation erupted.

What does this have to do with book marketing?

When I look at authors’ blog post images and marketing images, I only see white faces unless the author is black.

That has to change.

Even if the events mentioned above hadn’t occurred, I would still be writing this blog post.

We Need to Embrace Diversity and Immigrants

Let’s consider immigrants and the backlash they face despite their contributions to our society.

Immigrants aren’t only the backbone of this country; they drive our economy and are more entrepreneurial than native-born citizens.

On July 21, 2015, the Atlantic published an article titled Why American Cities Are Fighting to Attract Immigrants.

According to the article, “from 2006 to 2012, more than two-fifths of the start-up tech companies in Silicon Valley had at least one foreign-born founder.” It also stated, “… immigration, on the whole, bolsters the workforce and adds to the nation’s overall economic activity.”

In 2016, the Harvard Review noted that immigrants constitute 15% of the general U.S. workforce. Still, they account for around a quarter of U.S. entrepreneurs.

On January 12, 2018, the Houston Chronicle reported that Nigerians are the most educated segment of the United States population.

Finally, on December 1, 2016, U.S. Census reported that the “number of U.S. businesses owned by Hispanics grew by more than 1 million firms, or 46.3 percent, from 2.3 million to 3.3 million from 2007 to 2012. In contrast, the total number of all U.S. firms increased 2.0 percent during the same period, from 27.1 million to 27.6 million.”

The same census noted that 35.7 percent of Hispanic business owners have a bachelor’s degree. Also, 20.2 percent of Hispanic business owners work on average, 60 or more hours a week managing or working in their business.

Take my neighbors as an example. The mother is from Puerto Rico, and the father is from Mexico. Their daughter is in graduate school, pursuing her Ph.D. 

How does all of this apply to you? 

I want you to think twice or three times before selecting your images and to think about representing diversity in your marketing images.

Represent Diversity in Your Marketing Images

Before I proceed, I’ll admit that I need to get better too. What I am pretty good at, however, is representing diversity in my clients’ images.

For example, when I needed an image of a woman waking up, I selected this picture:

While working on a client’s Instagram account, I needed an image of a happy person. So, I selected this picture:

I needed a picture of someone reading a book for another client, so I used this image:

When I needed an image of a writer for another client, I selected this picture:

I don’t mean to represent myself as a paragon on this topic. You’ve seen my marketing images, and they too often lack diversity. I’m guilty.

But I plan to change that. Why?

I don’t have any illusions that including images of people of color will change anything in America.

I know that my contribution will be just a teardrop in the sea of unrest and racial hatred in our country.

But it’s a step. A tiny step, albeit, but one in the right direction.

So, I encourage you to take a step too. The next time you need an image of a person reading a book, use one like this:

Include Asians, Muslims, and people from India as well in your marketing images. When looking for blog post images, look for people of color.

When posting inspirational quotes, look for people of color.

When writing your next novel or short story, include diversity in your characters.

Just don’t be color blind.

I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook on Twitter. You can get it now for free!

The post Diversity in America, Diversity in Your Marketing Images appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.