What is the key to promoting more than one book or series? How do authors interact with their readers, promote more than two books, and still have time to write? It’s all about balance my friend. The last thing any author wants is to become the pushy sales person everyone tries to avoid and who will hastily switch pages when they see your face pop-up on their screen, as if you will jump through the screen with puppy tears and badger them to death until they buy your book. Trust me, no one wants that! So how is it accomplished with success? With your own style, of course, and with balance! Here are some tips to help keep you out of the gutters and keep your books, old or new, fresh on readers minds without becoming the dreaded sales person. ~ Rotating books/series daily or weekly. If you have more than one book to promote focus your attention on one book a day. Don’t make a post about the second book in one series and then an hour later make a post about the third book in another series. This gets confusing. Make sure your daily posts concentrate on one series. ~ Don’t make it all about your books. You’ve heard it said before, interact, interact, interact with readers. This is not some secret demise to get you to share a little about yourself so people can start conspiring against you, it truly is something people want. They want to know who you are! I’ll admit, it took me some time to share a little about myself. But it has paid off. I’ve made several friends because we discovered our similarities and interest were the same. It also helps with taking a break from your books. If on Monday you discuss Series 1, then on Tuesday discuss a little about yourself: what you’re reading, what you’re working on, how your week is going, whatever your heart desires but give them something, and then on Wednesday discuss Series 2. Of course, you can break this up however you want, I’m not your boss! ~ Get readers involved on all pages. A great author platform has more than one page. Fun, right? It may not seem like it most of the time, especially while trying to meet a deadline, spend time with the kids, spouse, friends, and family, and then having to make a social appearance. Seriously? Yes, it can become a time suck but make it fun, not only for your readers but for yourself as well. Fun example, pick a character from one of your books, hop on your social pages (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and ask readers to share pins on Pinterest with you of the character you chose. You can do this, you’re creative, use those brainwaves! ~ New Releases—spotlight stealers! Releasing a new book can cause quite the stir, with your own restless excitement and your social pages. It’s okay. Your other books will not be forgotten, I promise! In fact, if readers are interested in this new release they will spread the word which will entice others to look you up—that is if they’re interests are the same, of course. ~ It’s all about balance baby. Balance. Balance. Balance. That is the key to promoting and interacting with your readers. Be fun. Be creative. But most important, be you.
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We’ve all seen the cute buttons, the unique jewelry, and handy tote bags in giveaways or at events with author logos and covers on them. If you’re an author, I’m sure you’ve spent hours, even days, thinking of ideas for swag to promote your books. Lord knows I have. Then after all that time and getting the design perfect you go to check out, simple enough. But after entering your shipping information and the actual total price for your order is revealed, you pause. Is $25, $50, even $100 worth it? If you have the money, then yes, yes it is. Giving out marketing material or “swag” is a convenient way to, well, market your books. Those who carry your tote bags, wear your unique jewelry or buttons, use your bookmarks, are advertising your novels. For free! But if you’re breaking the bank and eating leftovers from last week, praying and hoping it doesn’t make you sick, just to buy those fancy pens and temporary tattoos, then no, it’s not worth it! But there is a way to make marketing materials on a budget.
Marketing materials can be essential in helping you get your name out there, but not at the expense of your pocket book, or your stomach. Start with the essentials—business cards—and then slowly work your way up from there. To all the writer's who have more Monday's than Friday's, and if your muse has been silent for a while then you know what I'm talking about, this post is for you. We are not exempt from having our off days, no matter how "simple" most think writing may be. Here's a little laugh to get us through those times. For when our friends refuse to talk to us. For those times your editor points out simple mistakes and you're left feeling like an idiot. Time and inspiration never seem to be on the same schedule. Gotta love the internet! Learning all there is to know about what you are wanting to do is ideal. I mean, it seems like the smart thing to do, anyway. So, once you have your mind made up about what you want to do with your life, in my case be a writer, you start researching, take it all in, and begin the steps to build yourself up. But what happens if you skip a few steps, thinking you've got it, and move on?
You screw up, a few times. Well duh, but then what? You keep going, of course. Everyone makes mistakes, in this case I'm talking about me. For two years now I have been blogging about writing while also blogging about books, doing book tours, etc. This seems to have gotten a little confusing to some who follow me and leaving them wondering if I'm the real Brandy Nacole or some blogger pimping her books. Not any more! From here on out, I'm wearing by smart girl hat and separating the two. Here I will continue writing about my experiences and thoughts on all things related to being an author, along with a little humor on Friday's. Over on my other blog, www.brandysbookcorner.blogspot.com, I will continue to blog about books I love, feature authors, and host an occasional giveaway. There world, I have learned my lesson. Wish you all the best! |
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December 2021
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