The Indie Author Book Marketing Weekly Update contains insights from across the web. You’ll find below information about Snapchat, metadata, developing content, and scams to be aware of. Enjoy them!
Indie Author Book Marketing
Do You Write for Young Adults or Millenials? Then Try Snapchat from TheBookDesigner.com and by Frances Caballo: Social media aficionados like to jump on the newest, shiniest objects on the internet and today there are few sites attracting more buzz than Snapchat. The Verge reported in April 2016 that Snapchat has 100 million daily users who spend on average 25 to 30 minutes using the app. An estimated 60% of them use the app to create images and videos. Major brands that market to young adults and millennials are using this app to promote their wares. Buzzfeed, MTV, and Tastemade offer stories on Snapchat—and so do CNN and The Wall Street Journal.
Note: Snapchat is no longer just a messaging app for teens. It has more daily users than Twitter and is user base of 25 – 34-year-olds grew by 103% last year. According to Business Insider, there are now more millennials on Snapchat than any other social media platform. If you’re trying to reach YA and millennial readers, you at least need to consider include Snapchat in your strategy.
3 Ways Authors Can Plant Metadata in Their Book Blurb from Digital Book World: “To many writers, the term “metadata” seems cold and technical: an impersonal term for impersonal data. This perception leads some ebook authors to believe that metadata has no place in their book blurb, because their summary paragraph must hook a reader emotionally. The reality, however, is that your book blurb needs to include both metadata and enticing, descriptive language—and there’s an art to weaving metadata into the marketing description of your book.”
Note: Metadata is critical in online and book marketing. To be successful, authors need to learn how to capture metadata in their online writing.
[clickToTweet tweet=”There’s an art to weaving metadata into the marketing description @CaballoFrances” quote=”There’s an art to weaving metadata into the marketing description”]
Book Marketing 101: 10 Things You Need To Know About Bestsellers Lists by McKinney Public Relations: “I’ve been doing book publicity and marketing for a long time. I keep doing it because I haven’t lost that kernel of idealism and drive that truly believes in the potential for success of a good idea, book, and/or person who has something to contribute to the conversation in the world. Coming up with a strategy that makes these things work and makes my clients happy is immensely gratifying. But (and you knew this was coming), I do raise a caution flag when I get into a conversation about books and bestsellers lists. I hear all kinds of myths about the “right” way to do this and although there can be exceptions to every rule, there are certain realities we all have to know.”
Note: In this post, the author breaks down strategies for traditionally published authors and self-published authors. I’ve never seen anyone before draw a distinction between to the two groups.
Social Media Scams: 8 More Scams Writers Should Know About from Anne R. Allen: “Social media is big business these days. And wherever there’s money, you’ll find crooks, trolls, and scammers. Social media scams are lucrative cottage industries in some developing countries, where whole villages may be employed by click farms, con artists, and identity theft scams. So be wary of who you friend, follow or click on.”
Note: While there are trolls on social media, never let your fear of them preclude you from using social media to market your books. Just be smart about being safe online.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Authors: Be smart about being safe online @CaballoFrances” quote=”Authors: Be smart about being safe online “]
How to Become a Content Machine and Why Your Success Depends on It from Publishers Weekly and by Brooke Warner: “New authors often ask me about the secret to book publishing success. My answer is simple: content. Today’s most successful authors are content machines. They don’t stop writing just because they’ve finished a book. They understand that content—posts, articles, op-eds, guest posts, interviews, podcasts, video, and more—is the engine that drives their visibility.”
Note: What Brooke says is true, and that’s one reason why indie authors who are novelists like to write in series. The more you write, the better your books will sell.
Quote of the Week
About the Author: Frances Caballo is an author and social media strategist and manager for writers. She’s a regular speaker at the San Francisco Writers Conference and a contributing writer at TheBookDesigner.com and blogger and Social Media Expert for BookWorks. She’s written several books including The Author’s Guide to Goodreads, Avoid Social Media Time Suck, and Twitter Just for Writers, which is available for free here. Her focus is on helping authors surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online, building their platform, finding new readers, and selling more books. Her clients include authors of every genre and writer conferences. Not sure how you’re doing online? Ask Frances to prepare a social media audit for you.
Practical Tips for Marketing Your Books on the Social Web
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