Tag Archives | marketing

Social media strategies and decisions.

By on March 25, 2013 in publishing industry, social media

Starting a small business (self publishing) is like any other business. We have to be smart. Make wise decisions: Where to spend money? How to spend our work time? What products are we going to offer?

I’d like to say I wrote a business plan, a production plan, and marketing plan and never wavered. But it seems like some of those plans are in a constant state of flux. Yes, I have them. Not as detailed as some I’ve seen but they work for me.

Why am I restrategizing?

I’ll be honest. I’m in the middle of a social media crisis. I’m completely rethinking my strategies and feeling the desire to streamline and be more effective. Not just in blogging.

A few things kind of hit me over the head as to why I decided this.

First, recently, I did a cover reveal for a friend, but at the top of it I added a bit of a writing tip that I’d stumbled upon. I just wanted to add something personal to the post. You can probably guess what happened. That post skyrocketed and got a zillion more hits and retweets than usual.

Second, lately on Twitter, all I see are links or rants. No conversation. It’s changed. I’ll admit it. I do enjoy the #chats because people are interacting for real. More of my conversations happen in DMing and email.

Third, I jumped on my Google Reader to catch up on blogs and comment. I do this once a week. This time it was later in the week and I expected to have a ton of blogs to go through.

Guess what? My feed, which at one point would be out of control if I waited a few hours into the day–I made it through in about ten minutes. And hardly any of the posts were personal. Business. Cover reveals. Promotion. That’s fine. I’m contributing. But I miss the personal connection. I read all of them, but I only comment on ones where I have something to say.

Or maybe it’s always been this way and it’s me that’s changing, wanting something different from social media.

So I’m going past the marketing plan and truly writing a social media plan. For me, that’s different than marketing, especially for authors of fiction.

Have you changed your strategies at all? Or rethought them?

Hop on over to the Indelible blog where I’m posting about satisfaction and keeping your eyes on your own paper.

 

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Kissing + blogfest = fun promotion! Sign up today!

By on February 1, 2013 in social media

I scroll through Twitter for interesting posts to click. I sigh and yawn. Titles flash by that I’ve seen recycled in the past year. Whether it be about marketing or self publishing or the top five things you have to do to keep a pet hair-free house or have an elephant for a pet. Weighty topics like that.

Yawn.

I’ll skim marketing posts and feel so overwhelmed at the way some professionals describe what must be done, it’s a wonder anyone tries to publish a book, either traditionally or on their own. I usually say I don’t do much of any marketing, but really that’s not true.

I choose to participate in marketing and promotional events that require the least amount of effort and that will be long lasting. Like cross promotion. Like a free short story or a companion novella. Like wearing a cardboard sign with my book cover on it and walking around my local mall.

Of course, I make smaller efforts when it’s appealing to me. Like if there happened to be a blogfest that had to do with kissing. I mean what  a great idea with Valentine’s Day coming up.

Oh, wait. There is one like that! (Like how I snuck that in there?)

 

Join us for an INDIE-kissing blogfest!

Who can join?       Absolutely anyone!

When is it?     February 14th!

Head on over to the Indelible blog to sign up with the linky link.

 

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INDIE-ReCon – an online conference for self publishing!

By on December 11, 2012 in publishing industry, social media

Hey everyone! I’m excited to be part of the announcement of the WriteOnCon for the Indie world. I’ve seen the topics and list of presenters and it’s pretty impressive!

A small group of indie writers has pulled together and is hosting a FREE online conference on everything INDIE in Feb 2013!

Welcome to the first INDIE ReCon – Make Indie Publishing a Mission Possible

Are you curious about Indie publishing, but don’t know where to start?  Or, are you already a published Indie author looking to boost your sales or expand your reach?  Then you’ll want to attend a new exciting online conference happening in 2013 – INDIE Revolution Conference.  Or as we like to call it, INDIE ReCon.

INDIE ReCon is happening online from February 12-14, 2013.

INDIE ReCon is a FREE, ONLINE conference that is modeled after the awesome annual WriteOnCon. It is designed to help any writer or author who is curious about the ins and outs of Indie publishing.

However any author or writer can attend because we cover topics all of you may want to know more about (marketing etc)

Everything from the pros and cons of Indie publishing, essential aspects in creating a high-quality book, successful online marketing, and expanding into International markets.

We will feature over 30 guests that include industry experts as well as some of the bestselling adult and young adult authors in the publishing industry today including: Bob Mayer, Hugh Howey, M. Leighton, and Samantha Young (just to name a few).

For three days, INDIE ReCon will highlight new topics every hour (sometimes every half hour) for 8 hours a day which will include interviews, blog posts, vlogs, and live online chats.  You’ll receive advice from authors, bloggers, marketing partners, cover designers, editors, and more.  You can check out our line up of topics and guests on our website.

Did we mention it’s FREE and ONLINE? Well, there’s more. Tons of Giveaways! There will be awesome giveaways from each and every speaker and partner. This will include books as well as services like free book designs, free editing, book development services, marketing prizes, and more.

So mark your calendars for Feb 12-14th!

But, more importantly, sign up now with your email and we’ll be sure to send you updates, news, and reminders as the conference gets closer so you won’t forget.

You won’t find this much information (or excitement) about Indie publishing anywhere else. The hosts, partners, and presenters are all giving their time and knowledge for free for one simple reason: they’re excited about being Indie and they want to help you decide if it’s right for you too.

You can already sign up on the home page to receive updates and news.

We hope you join us at INDIE ReCon – where we’ll help you make Indie publishing a mission possible!

See you there!

Founders/Hosts:

S.R. Johannes
Ali Cross
Laura Pauling
Jessie Harrell
Heather McCorkle
Cheri Lasota

Special thanks to our partners:

ALLi
Bibliocrunch
IndieReader
Kindle Fire Department
World Literary Cafe

 

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Random Acts of Publicity – TIMELESS

By on September 4, 2012 in book reviews

 

 

When I decided to participate in Darcy Pattison’s Random Acts of Publicity, I knew right away I would choose the Timeless Anthology by Pugalicious Press. The instructions are to choose a new or lesser known book that I’ve read and let my readers know about it.

I love the BLLURT concept to promote other books. Blog about it. Leave purchase Links. Like their page. Review it. Tell others about it. Love it. And it’s something I try and do for all the books I enjoy.

I’ve never been one to read or purchase anthologies. But I’ve read several this year. It was nice to read a short story before making dinner, another one a few days later before bedtime, or after I’d finished a novel, each story enticing and enjoyable in its own way.

The writing in this anthology was incredible. I kept reading all of them because they engaged my attention and the writing drew me from one page to the next.

All of these stories are historical romance with sweet, innocent love. I would read novels by any of these authors. In fact, some of the stories I wanted to be a novel.

THE STORYTELLER’S DAUGHTER by Gayle C.Krause

A reworking of the Scheherazade tale that portrays the young storyteller as a gutter-thief down on her luck.

AND THE NIGHTINGALE SANG by Kip Wilson

A reworking of an old German tale about a young woman who has to weigh up her love for a poet, her standing in the village and her need for freedom.

A LIGHT OF VICTORY by Jennifer Carson

If your love for a highwayman is eternal, then eternal is what it is. Put a candle in the window, and all will be well…

THE ANGEL OF THE BASTILLE by J.R. Sparlin

A prisoner fears to leave the walls of the notorious French prison because of his love for a ghost who is bound to the Bastille’s stone walls.

STELLA’S HERO by Kristine Carlson Asselin and Ansha Kotyk

A Victorian seamstress gets into trouble for falling from a boy from Chinatown when racial segregation is very much prevalent in society.

IN THIS MOMENT by D.E. Atwood

A mute boy undergoing experimental treatment in a sanitorium discovers that he can speak with the doctor’s son via thoughts and dreams. Very subtle steampunk.

IT LIES BENEATH by Magda Knight

The superficially beautiful city of Victorion is run on lode, steam, pride and the labour of diggers down in the Pits. Challenged to locate a mysterious underground threat, Ellie Darkbrow must find a way to survive.

But don’t trust my word on it. Read them for yourself!

 

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

 

Give a shout out in the comments to a book you’d recommend everyone reading!


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Lee Strauss and PERCEPTION cover reveal!

By on August 16, 2012 in book reviews

Lee Strauss has a new cover!

Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.
Her brother Liam is missing.
Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.
Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.

PERCEPTION is a ( SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not too distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions—both financially and philosophically. It explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or alliance us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there’s room to fall in love.
This is the first book in a planned three book series.

You can “like” Lee Strauss on facebook and mark Perception to read on goodreads.

Lee Strauss is also known as Elle Strauss (for her lighter, lower YA titles) You can find her at www.ellestraussbooks.com

PERCEPTION will be for sale on Amazon and at other e-retailer stores SEPTEMBER 12!

 

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