This begins a series of notes from the 2009 LDStorymakers Conference
Presented by Candace E. Salima (blog)
The publisher is responsible for getting book printed & to stores—the rest is up to you
Branding your name and the most effective use of your time and books
Author website
- homepage
- announcements on main page: upcoming books, book trailer, etc. (sticky posts! Or alt new front page, blog relegated)—always include purchase link!—the goal is to get them to buy the book
- about you section:bio, recommended reading and viewing, (hired publicist—Doug Johnston), contact
- media—events: book groups, speaking engagements, chats, online classes, podcast, screenplays, blog
- books (my projects)—Have a purchase link either selling directly or to publisher (affiliate link) or to Amazon—upcoming and books in print
- has bookstore on her website to draw more traffic in
- contests—bring in more and more people who want to win things
- links, feedback, recipe, chat place—friendliness, welcoming
Website goal: pull people in & try to keep them there, chatting with other fans, etc.—make sure the site isn’t just static—draw them back!
One key: (not fact, but a strong opinion): make website as professional as possible [From an Internet marketing professional, let me just add: it’s pretty much a fact 😉 ]
check out other authors’ websites, make a list of things you like and don’t
Blog
- Get your name out there even more because you have a constantly changing thing—dedicate it to writing or whatever—post at least every 3-4 days to keep people coming back
- Maintaining email list of interested reviewers!—authors incognito
- good for virtual book tours—start drawing readers to your site—reviewing others’ books! (affiliate links):
- Post titles—use author name and title in review post title
- draw in fans of other authors—they’ll see you like this book, maybe they’ll like your books
- comment on others’ blog tour posts reviewing your books; offer to answer questions in the comments—combine to interview
- find a passion to use on you blog (hers is politics)
Social Networking
- Twitter box on blog
- FACEBOOK—pages
- fans
- promote everyone she knows, enjoys
- NOTES
- photos of covers—include summary and purchase link
Articles
Write articles for magazines you purchase and website magazines.
Book trailers
- Once again, make it look professional! You don’t want anything associated with your book to give someone an impression of amateurism.
- Post it on your blog and website
Public speaking
- get the word out on the topics you’d like to speak on
- Candace did a national 21-day, 11-city book tour for $800: planned around where family members live
- Volunteer: book readings at libraries—reading to kids, ESL classes—improve your sphere of influence (but don’t just do it out of selfishness 😉 )
Promoting New Releases
- post Facebook note
- Post on your blog and post to your social networking stuff
- virtual book tours
- firesides
- news item (not press release)—radio, TV, print—something a publicist can do for you
- ARCs to media outlets—again with publicist
- dress for success for public speaking: clean, professional, comfortable (standing up, walking around), on time, interactive
Marketing your book will guarantee your success. The harder you work, the more it gets out there, the happier your publisher will be.
Questions:
Do you have any advice for handling negative reviews and bad press?
“Sure, it brings more sales. Be happy.”
“If you get a bad review, so what?” — Counteract by recruiting friends, family (blog readers) to give positive reviews)
About the conference: LDStorymakers is a writing contest geared to LDS writers. The conference covers both the niche, regional publishers that cater to the LDS market as well as national publishers.
