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Indie Author Weekly Update – January 18, 2019

Welcome back to the Indie Author Weekly Update. This week’s roundup has an excellent array of posts from marketers and bloggers on book marketing. Plus, there’s a short video clip from Dave Chesson on Amazon ads. I’m certain you’ll find all of the information below helpful to your book marketing endeavors. Enjoy the posts!

Social Media Throwdown: Facebook Groups by Julie Glover: “So where I have landed in the scheme of social media? Once I passed about a thousand followers on Twitter and followed as many, that platform became overwhelming. I really only use it to share articles, check in on current events, and track certain hashtags. The rest of the time, I default to Facebook.”

A Guide to Getting More Reader Reviews by BookBub Partners: “This guide shares some tried and tested strategies to generate more reader reviews on retailer sites. It will also help you learn what practices to avoid so retailer sites don’t remove them. If you’ve struggled to get reviews or simply need more, check these out!”

Book Promotion: Do This, Not That – January 2019 from TheBookDesigner.com and by Amy Collins: “Another year, another set of chances for you and your book! While I usually focus on authors and publishers in this column, this month, I am the one guilty of committing the errors in DO THIS NOT THAT.”

Amazon has recently updated their Amazon books ads system. Check out this video from Dave Chesson: “And unlike most of their updates, this Amazon book ads update actually has some pretty awesome changes. So, in this video, I will explain all of the changes that have been made to the new Amazon book ads system.”

100 Best Writing Websites: 2019 Edition: from The Write Life and by Dana Sitar: “Whether you’re a novelist, journalist, Ph.D. candidate, entrepreneurial blogger, self-help guru writing a book or some combination of creativity at the intersection of multiple ambitions, you call yourself “a writer.” Whatever kind of writer you are, a blog or online community probably exists to help you succeed. Each year, The Write Life celebrates these vast resources available by releasing a list of the 100 Best Websites for Writers, and we’re excited to do it for the sixth year in a row.”

WITS Throwdown: Putting the “Social” in Social Media by Jenny Hansen: “The real title of this post is How To Put the Social in Social Media Without Losing Your Mind or All Your Free Time. That’s a heavy promise, right? Social media does like to suck up valuable family time, writing time, down time. If you think about it as a big vaccuum that gives nothing back, you WILL be resistant to this whole ‘online social thing.'”

Quote of the Week

Want to know all of my best social media marketing tips? Get a copy of Social Media Just for Writers.

Well written, well researched – well thought out. This book is a must have!

Ryshia Kennie

Author of this blog: Frances Caballo is an author and social media strategist and manager for writers. She wrote several social media books including Social Media Just for Writers and The Author’s Guide to Goodreads. Her focus is on helping authors surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online, building their platform, and finding new readers. Her clients have included authors of every genre and writers’ conferences. Not sure how you’re doing online? Sign up for her free email course.

Online Book Marketing Strategies for Writers

12 Book Marketing Blogs to Read in 2019

January 14, 2019 By Frances Caballo 2 Comments

When it comes to book marketing, there are some experts I rely on.

You see, we’re all too busy to suffer through a bloated email account with notices of blog posts and products for sale mixed in with missives from friends.

So probably like you, I limit incoming email as much as possible.

What you’ll find below is a list of blogs you’ll want to subscribe to. There are more blogs that are worthy as well but I thought I’d cut my list off at an easy dozen.

Here’s my list of experts I follow.

Jane Friedman

Jane Friedman is perhaps one of the smartest people in publishing today. She’s been featured on The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, PBS, CBS, the National Press Club and Publishers Weekly. She previously worked with Writer’s Digest. She teaches, is often a keynote speaker at writer’s conferences, and writes books. Her blog is among the most read in the industry.

Joel Friedlander’s The BookDesigner.com

Joel Friedlander has a wealth of information about self-publishing, and for years he frequently shares all that he knew on his blog. These days, he usually blogs once a week and has an expert in author publishing write a post on that publishes on Thursdays. His blog eventually launched another business, Joel’s book design templates. https://www.bookdesigntemplates.com

Joanna Penn

Thriller author Joanna Penn readily shares her vast amount of writing, publishing, and marketing experience with her readers and listeners. Joanna has been blogging for quite some time, and she started podcasting back when it was known as audio. Her podcast, well worth subscribing too as well, features every great expert in the industry. If you read and listen to Joanna often enough, you’ll soon be a bestselling author as well.

Alliance of Independent Authors

Started by traditionally published Orna Ross, Alli is a global, professional association for authors who self-publish. The organization brings together authors, services, and trusted industry professionals and offers educational opportunities for its members. Be sure to subscribe to its blog.

David Gaughran

Author and book marketing expert David Gaughran always seems to know what’s hot in author marketing. He’s written excellent posts on BookBub ads, Facebook ads, and Amazon ads. If you want to learn how to become an expert book marketer, pay close attention to this guy. His books include Strangers to Superfans and Let’s Get Digital.

Anne R. Allen

Yes, Anne can have a snarky tone to her writing, but that won’t dissuade you from reading her blog, which she publishes with Ruth Harris. So far, she’s written 21 books and so has sage advice on writing, which she shares on her blog. Guests fill in on the other weeks with marketing advice. This is a must-read blog.

[Read more…]

Indie Author Weekly Update – January 11, 2019

January 11, 2019 By Frances Caballo Leave a Comment

Welcome again to the Indie Author Weekly Update. Today, you’ll enjoy a lengthy post on LinkedIn, blogging and book promotion. I hope you enjoy them.

Enjoy your weekend!

9 Painful Blog Formatting Mistakes That Will Ruin the Best Content by Gill Andrews: “Some people still write on their blogs as if it’s a book – long paragraphs stretching over miles of pixels challenging the concentration abilities of their readers. I mean, how funny, interesting and engaging should your blog post be for your readers to hang in there even after they feel like they need to use their index finger to follow the lines? And no, sprinkling some highlights here and there doesn’t make it better. This paragraph is too long. Does your brain hurt a bit? Shall I stop? Ok, I guess you get the point.”

19 Kickass Book Promotion Resources for Authors in 2019 by Penny Sansevieri: “There’s a lot of book marketing “stuff” out there for authors, and while much of it is fantastic – it’s a bit like drinking from a firehose if you’re trying to consume all of that information. This list is geared with a very specific eye to what is helpful, educational, and a time-saver for your book promotion. And if there’s a resource you use religiously that we’ve left off, please, please share it in the comments below and give them some love – that’s what this is all about.”

20 LinkedIn Tips to Help Boost Engagement by Brad Smith: “Whether you’re looking to grow your business profile or expand your personal network, LinkedIn is a great platform to use. When used well, LinkedIn can help you raise brand awareness and boost traffic to your business.”

Ways to Push Ourselves as Writers in 2019 by Elizabeth Craig: “I realized at some point last year that I wanted to write a new series. For one thing, it’s nice to have an additional revenue stream, especially if a series may appeal to a different pool of readers. For another, I wanted to make sure that I was still growing. I wanted to try something different to keep myself sharp.”

Quote of the Week

Want to know all of my best social media marketing tips? Get a copy of Social Media Just for Writers.

Well written, well researched – well thought out. This book is a must have!

Ryshia Kennie

Online Book Marketing Strategies for Writers

20 Inspirational Quotes to Guide You in 2019

January 7, 2019 By Frances Caballo Leave a Comment

The year 2019 is here. Instead of making resolutions, why not start the year with contemplating on what will inspire you? To help you, here are 20 inspirational quotes to guide you in 2019.

10 Quotes on Marketing to Guide You in 2019

“Good content isn’t about good storytelling. It’s about telling a true story well.” Ann Handley

“Content is fire, social media is gasoline.” Jay Baer

“Marketing is telling the world you’re a rock star. Content Marketing is showing the world you are one.” Robert Rose

“Don’t settle: Don’t finish crappy books. If you don’t like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you’re not on the right path, get off it.” Chris Brogan

“The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing.” Tom Fishburne

“Content is anything that adds value to the reader”s life.” Avinash Kaushik

“Content builds relationships. Relationships are built on trust. Trust drives revenue.” Andrew Davis

“Not viewing your email marketing as content is a mistake.” Chris Baggott

“The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing.” Seth Godin

“Social media is about sociology and psychology more than technology.” Brian Solis

10 Inspirational Quotes on Writing to Guide You in 2019

“Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.” Lisa See

[Read more…]

Indie Author Weekly Update – January 4, 2019

January 4, 2019 By Frances Caballo Leave a Comment

I hope you enjoy this new edition of the Indie Author Weekly Update. While the weather is cold these posts are hot! Don’t miss the first two; they are chock-full of information that you’ll need in 2019.

2019 Publishing Predictions from Agent Laurie McLean from Anne R. Allen and by Laurie McLean: “The last year has seen a maturation of many of the trends that were sparked by the revolution in publishing that began a decade ago. Indie publishing. Social media marketing. The birth of Author-preneurs. Smart phones as reading devices. Digital diversity. The democratization of publishing. While a lot of these trends will continue to deepen and extend, there are a few speed bumps or even large potholes ahead that you’ll have to watch out for. Here are my predictions for 2019.”

12 SEO Tips to Drive Traffic and Sell Books from TheBookDesigner.com and by Lee Foster: “Sometimes truly happy events occur in the life of a writer/author/publisher who is posting articles on a blog/website. The writer usually hopes to gain audience share, possibly ultimately selling more books or other “products,” such as paid talks and consulting.”

Authors and Book Clubs by Sandra Beckwith: “Fortunately for authors, many book club members take their club commitments seriously, reading the assigned book and arriving prepared to both socialize and discuss the book. This is good news for you if you think your book is book club material.”

19 Author Marketing Gurus to Follow on Twitter in 2019 by Penny Sansevieri: “These types of lists are always hard for me because there really are a lot of standouts when it comes to finding solid author marketing advice. I’ve put this list together based on real professional experiences I’ve had with people, and of course the go-to resources I use to stay current on what’s happening in different areas of author marketing and book promotion. You may want to add a reminder to your book marketing calendar to check in with their feeds.”

How to Promote Your Book for Free from BookBub Partners: “So, you just put out a new book! (Hooray!) Or maybe you have that one book that never really got the sales or exposure you wanted it to get. With all the marketing tools available online, promoting a book — whether it’s a new release or a title that’s been sitting in your backlist — can be an overwhelming task. And many popular promotional options, from self-serve advertising platforms to email blasts, come with a price tag, which can be tricky if you’re on a budget.”

Quote of the Week

Want to know all of my best social media marketing tips? Get a copy of Social Media Just for Writers.

Well written, well researched – well thought out. This book is a must have!

Ryshia Kennie

Online Book Marketing Strategies for Writers

Gratitude Trumps End-of-Year Author Marketing

December 24, 2018 By Frances Caballo Leave a Comment

The holidays are officially here. While everyone is lounging around on their extended break, how should you address your author marketing?

Let’s look at email marketing first.

End-of-Year Email Marketing Tip

Now is the time to reward your readers for being loyal all year.

In your New Year email, send them a short story you wrote or the first ebook in a series of novels you’ve written.

Or send them background information on your favorite characters.

This is not the time of year to pitch a sale or beg your readers for reviews for books you’ve published.

Instead, express your gratitude by sending them something free.

Express your gratitude for them.

If you don’t do much email marketing, start by reading this post. It provides you with all the basics you need to know to have a successful email marketing program.

End-of-Year Social Media Marketing Tip

Images and personalization will always boost your engagement on social media.

Whether you use Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or all three, this is the time of year to personalize your posts.

Post pictures of your holiday arrangements, holiday dinners, and time with your family.

Let your readers into your life by showing them gifts you’ve wrapped, books you’re reading, or meals your cooking.

Or maybe you have a tradition of hiking during this time. Take your phone along and share and post as many images as you can.

Remember, the week between December 24 and January 1 is one that many people take off to spend with family and friends and just relax at home.

Use this time to connect with your readers more personally, express your gratitude and invite them further into your life with some personal photos of however you most enjoy spending your time.

Want to know all of my best social media marketing tips? Get a copy of Social Media Just for Writers.

Well written, well researched – well thought out. This book is a must have!

Ryshia Kennie

Online Book Marketing Strategies for Writers

Indie Author Weekly Update – December 21, 2018

December 21, 2018 By Frances Caballo Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Indie Author Weekly Update. Doesn’t seem like everyone is talking about BookBub lately? Well, this week’s update has two posts on BookBub. Check out Sandra Beckwith’s post, too, on setting your goals for 2019.

Looking to improve your book advertisements? Check out some of the most successful BookBub Ads of 2018! by BookBub Partners: “In 2018, thousands of authors and book marketers used BookBub Ads, our self-serve display ads platform, to promote books to BookBub’s millions of readers. As the end of the year approaches, we wanted to share some of the most successful BookBub Ads campaigns of 2018!”

Using BookBub Ads to Support Your Book Marketing by Anne Janzer and from Jane Friedman: “Of all the tools available to authors to promote their books, advertising may be the most challenging. It seems so appealing: set up a campaign and watch the money roll in. It rarely works like that. Advertising is tricky. Many authors have blown their budgets on print or online ads with little to show for it.”

41 Facebook Stats That Matter to Marketers in 2019 by Hootsuite: “Here’s the most impressive Facebook statistic out there: 2.23 billion people log in to the platform every month. It’s a safe bet that your audience is using Facebook—and that your competitors are using it too. But things get complicated when it comes to staying on top of the trends (not to mention algorithm changes). Make sure your Facebook strategy is as effective as it should be. These 2019 Facebook stats for business will tell you what’s normal, and what’s next.”

Author goals for 2019: Success doesn’t just happen by Sandra Beckwith: “Goal setting isn’t optional for success. It’s essential. Without author goals, you will be wandering aimlessly. Goals provide direction for your activity, whether your goal is to finish writing a book or to sell 5,000 copies of a book you’ve just released.”

Quote of the Week

Want to know all of my best social media marketing tips? Get a copy of Social Media Just for Writers.

Well written, well researched – well thought out. This book is a must have!

Ryshia Kennie

Online Book Marketing Strategies for Writers

Indie Author Weekly Update – December 14, 2018

December 14, 2018 By Frances Caballo Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Indie Author Weekly Update. The theme this week is marketing. There’s information on book launches, PhotoFunia, and Seth Godin’s marketing in five steps. Enjoy all the posts.

Seth Godin’s Marketing in 5 Steps (for Authors) by Joel Friedlander: “Seth Godin has been a “companion” for the last 10 years, and his short, pithy, and often surprising blog posts have taught me plenty about marketing and, even more important, how to think about the connection between marketers and their audience.”

19 Simple Book Marketing Strategies to Launch You out of Naughty-List Status Before 2019 by Penny Sansevieri: “There’s a lot going on this time of year and if you’re like me it’s easy to already be distracted by all things holiday, and the last thing I want to do is flesh out new book marketing strategies. But I also don’t want to enter 2019 with a book that hasn’t seen a boost in exposure for a few months. Now is not the time to bury your head in the snow.”

Create Fast, Free, Festive Images in Seconds with PhotoFunia by Joan Stewart: “Welcome to PhotoFunia.com, my favorite, number one, five-star, go-to website for creating offbeat effects from a digital photo you already have, even if it’s just your head shot or book cover. It’s drop-dead simple to use. Most images, also known as an effect, can be created in less than 60 seconds with no technical skills. And you don’t need to create an account or remember a username and password.”

11 Creative Ways Authors Announced Their Book Launch from BookBub Partners: “Grabbing readers’ attention for a new book can be particularly challenging, especially in such a crowded marketplace. Launch day is a great opportunity for authors to announce their new book, generate visibility to new readers, and build excitement for existing fans to dive in.”

Quote of the Week

Want to know all of my best social media marketing tips? Get a copy of Social Media Just for Writers.

Well written, well researched – well thought out. This book is a must have!

Ryshia Kennie

Online Book Marketing Strategies for Writers

Got Books to Sell? Try These 22 Book Marketing Tips

December 10, 2018 By Frances Caballo 2 Comments

How many book marketing tips have you tried?

Probably every single one that you’ve read about, right?

What makes book marketing so tough isn’t that you run out of ideas to market your books. It’s that you have so many different plans.

Well, if you want to make it as a writer, get ready for the marathon of writing and marketing. You’ll always be doing both from now on.

To make life easier for you (or harder?), I’ve assembled a checklist of my top book marketing tips for you.

A 22-Point Checklist of Book Marketing Tips

Book marketing requires a multi-prong strategy that consists of the following:

Purchase your ISBNs. Please don’t buy them from Amazon or BookBaby. If you use the cheap ISBNs that publishing companies sell, they will be the publisher of your books. When you buy the numbers from Bowker, you are a publishing company and your company’s name will appear in the book.
Hire a website designerto build an author website using a quality theme. I like the Genesis themes by SudioPress.
Self-host your blog on your website. Don’t use Blogger or WordPress.com. (Note: WordPress.com is separate from WordPress.org, which I do recommend.) Commit to blogging at least once a week if you write nonfiction. If you write fiction, I recommend blogging at least twice a month.
Include on your website the options to sign up for your email list. To make it easy on yourself, use your blog as your regular form of communication you’re your readers. When you need to send marketing letters out, use this list. Make sure that you offer something for free to entice signups. A great enticement would be the first book in your series. If you only have one book written, provide the first two chapters for free.
Define your audience. Before you can even begin to market your book, you need to clarify exactly who your readers are. If you say everyone, you’re marketing to no one because your audience is too widely defined. Let’s look at some examples. Michael Hyatt knows the age, sex and income level of his ideal audience. If you write romance novels, you’ll want to use Facebook and Pinterest or Instagram. If you write young adult novels, I would suggest that you use Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. My point is what you write will determine your reader demographics. It’s best if you have your reader in mind as you write your book and before you sign up for any social media networks.
Once you know where you’ll be spending your time online, regularly start posting. On Twitter, post a minimum of three to five tweets and retweets daily. Post twice daily on your Facebook page, once a day on Instagram, and several times a week on Pinterest.
Make a commitment to your readers by allocating time every day to be social: Like, share and comment on their posts too. Always endeavor to share valuable content that your readers enjoy.
Ask your designer to create a cover for you before you finish your book. I usually nail down a cover six months or longer before I release my books. Also, I let my Facebook fans and friends select the best cover from a sampling of three. By doing this, you will build momentum for your book.
Talk about your book in your social media posts. You could write, “I just finished my first draft of ________!” or “I’m sending my manuscript to the editor today!” This messaging will also help to build momentum. You can even ask your friends and fans for ideas on what to name certain characters.
Join Goodreads, review books, add your blog posts, join a group, and organize several giveaways.
Some authors sign up for the exclusive Kindle SelectProgram so they can offer their books for free as a promotion from time to time. Offering your book for free doesn’t always get the result you want (a high number of downloads with the anticipation of an equal number of reviews). Know that you have options. What you can do instead is forego the Kindle Select Program and schedule several days on a quarterly basis when you lower the price of your ebook to $.99 or $1.99. Then promote the sale price on social media, websites devoted to publicizing $.99-cent books, on your website, and in your newsletter. This way, you can publish your book widely (iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, etc.) and still be able to promote it with a reduced price.
Communicate with your newsletter subscribers Let them know what you’re doing, what you’re planning on writing, what you’re working on, and what promotions you’re planning for them.
Make your books available as ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks. Over time, create box sets.
Hold contests and announce your awards.
If you are going to have a Facebook page, purchase advertising. Actually, Facebook advertising is a great way to promote your books.
Write another book. Yes, second books improve the sales of first books. So get ready to produce a boxed set by writing every day.
Hire an experienced book blogging company. The one I’ve used contacted high-trafficked blogs in the U.S., Canada, and France. The bloggers wrote honest reviews, sponsored contests for free copies of my book, and some of the bloggers also wrote five-star reviews on Amazon. The company I used is called TLC Book Tours.
Mail books to influencers in your field or genre. I did this and they, in turn, raved about my book on Facebook and invited me to speak to their writers’ groups.
Apply for a BookBub promotion. Authors have crazy success with BookBub. Get ready to discount your book to at least $.99.
Experiment with Amazon ads. However, if you plan to do this, use 1,000 keywords or don’t try this option at all.
Start a VIP list. Send prepublication ebooks to them using BookFunnel and encourage them to write book reviews.
Put your books on preorder for one month. That way you can build sales, and when the books come off of preorder status, you’ll have people ready to write reviews.

Most of all, be patient. Book marketing isn’t easy, but it’s always worth the effort. During those periods of burnout, you may want to hire a virtual assistant to carry the load for a while. Just don’t give up!

What is your favorite strategy for boosting book sales?

Want to know all of my best social media marketing tips? Get a copy of Social Media Just for Writers.

Well written, well researched – well thought out. This book is a must have!

Ryshia Kennie

Online Book Marketing Strategies for Writers

How many book marketing tips have you tried? Probably every single one that you’ve read about, right? In this post, you'll read about 22 tips that work.

Indie Author Weekly Update – December 7, 2018

December 7, 2018 By Frances Caballo 1 Comment

Welcome to this week’s Indie Author Update. If you want to learn more about book marketing, you came to the right place. You’ll find posts from Dave Chesson, Penny Sansevieri, Anne R. Allen, and others. Plus, there’s a link to this year’s Goodreads Choice Awards winners.

You’ve Finished Your First Novel! What to Do Now: 7 Do’s and Don’ts by Anne R. Allen: “Did you win NaNo? Is it a first novel? Congratulations!!! Only about 3% of people who start novels actually finish, so you’re a major winner right there. You’ve done something spectacular. So break out the bubbly and savor the moment! After that…what comes next?”

How to Define and Describe Your Readership: A Confusing Issue for Nonfiction Book Proposals by Jane Friedman: “If you’re pitching a nonfiction book, at some point, an editor or agent will expect you to describe the readership that your book is intended for. Or, if you’re self-publishing, you’ll need to define this for yourself to market the book properly.”

Self-publishing Success Story: Indie Audiobook is Finalist for Voice Arts Award from the Alliance of Independent Authors and by Brad Borkan: “Recently my audiobook narrator Dennis Kleinman and I had the incredible honor of having the audiobook for When Your Life Depends on It nominated as a finalist in the “Best Audiobook – History” category of the Voice Arts Awards. Here’s how our audiobook came to life, and how it came to be competing for a major prize in Hollywood.”

Boost Your Amazon Book Promotion with Pre-Order Strategies by Penny Sansevieri: “The Amazon pre-order option for KDP authors (Kindle Direct Publishing has really helped level the playing field between traditionally published authors and those who have self-published through KDP. Let’s look at how this can benefit your Amazon book promotion!”

How to Use Top Book Blogs to Build Your Author Brand from BookWorks and by Dave Chesson: “In today’s article on author branding, we’re going to look at how to make use of top book blogs to gain additional momentum for your book at launch, greater exposure to a qualified readership, and an evergreen source of external traffic for your book’s sales page. The importance of seeking as many channels as possible to gain exposure for your book cannot be overstated.”

2018 Goodreads Choice Awards: More than 5 million votes were cast and counted in the 10th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards honoring the year’s best books. See who the winners were.