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Creating a social presence for your book launch: Let’s talk about it

4/3/2023

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PictureAuthor M.M. Cochran
M.M. Cochran is one of IE's best selling authors with her debut YA novel, Between the Ocean and the Stars. Within weeks of her launch, the book reached #2 in YA fiction across IE's distribution network. In the blog post below, the author shares her tips and tricks to help set you up for success for a new book launch or a refresh of an existing title. Don't miss her secrets to success!


Special IE author guest blog post
By M.M Cochran

Introducing your novel to the world comes with a handful of tasks that only the author can complete. For example: promoting it on social media, to the press, and word of mouth. I’ve been a published author for only a few months, but I had over a year to prepare for my book launch. Today, let’s discuss the ins and outs of creating a social presence for your novel, written from the fingertips of someone who has very recently done so.

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​Build the hype
As soon as you find out you’re publishing your novel, spread the word. There are several steps to take to get the word out and give your book presence among your community, including these tactics: 
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  • Contact the local press to report on a community member signing a book contract
  • Release the information on ALL social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.)
  • Tell your local church, school, or contact your old college who might share the news on their webpage
By announcing this exciting information, your novel will have a presence of its own among your community.


"There’s no better way to sell a book than to first build a relationship with the reader."    -M.M. Cochran


Social media: a whole different presence
The first thing I did when I signed my first publishing contract was share the news on social media. From there, I created excitement and started to build an audience who followed me along my journey, all the way to the moment I was holding my hardback in my hands. Moreover, my novel had an online presence––perhaps the most important there is. But how does this help a book launch? Let’s dive into this.

​By creating an online social presence, the book becomes familiar with your followers, whether you have an audience or not. Prepping for the book launch on social media will unconsciously build an audience among followers; by seeing content related to your book release every few days, it will become expected and desired.

When my book was about to release, I did a few things that my publisher said helped my number of sales, which included:
  • Sharing quotes to tease readers
  • Sharing fun facts about the book
  • Posting aesthetic pictures of the book
  • Writing posts about my publishing journey and how I felt about release
  • Writing raw and honest posts about the hard parts of publishing and writing

My online presence grew from only hundreds of followers to almost 3,000 between the time I announced my book was under contract to the day of my launch. The experience was encouraging for a little author like myself, plus it impressed my publisher and sold more copies than I thought my homemade advertising could pull off.

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What about online presence after the big launch?
Many authors have no problem spilling the hardest part about publishing, and to sum it all up, it’s marketing. Writers are writers, but they’re also content creators, master marketers, and multitaskers. All of this falls under the dreaded umbrella of selling your own book. While publishers have worldwide distribution and connections, in the end, they count on the author of their novel to sell that story better than anyone. I mean, who else is better to do the job?
 
With that being said, I want to share what I did to heighten my success after my book launch.  After my book released, I did a few things on social media such as:
  • Expressed the success my book received in the first week
  • Shared reviews of my book from online sources
  • Had a social media manager design posts about my novel
  • Constantly had something book related on my Instagram and Facebook stories
  • Focused on keeping my pictures aesthetic and appealing to my teenage audience

​Staying consistent and enthusiastic about your novel brings attention to the story and the author. The more present the book is on social media, the more people will be enticed to read it.


When focusing on a book launch, don’t forget the little details like engaging with followers, responding to their feedback, and being overall active with them. There’s no better way to sell a book than to first build a relationship with the reader. In the end, make your book launch not only about your book but about everyone who is walking alongside you in your journey to publication, and at the end of the day, enjoy your moment in the spotlight!

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Macy Cochran is a freelance editor and writer for the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Learn more about how to work with Macy on her website at ElegantEditingServices.com or at eleganteditingservices@gmail.com.
Photo by Cassidy Lappin​

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​he's also an IngramElliott author. Her debut novel, Between the Ocean and the Stars, is one of IE's top sellers and is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound, Kobo, Apple Books, and wherever books are sold. 
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Connect with the author on Instagram @m.m.cochran_writer
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Social Media as a New Author: Let’s chat about it

7/1/2022

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Special IE author guest blog post
By M.M Cochran
 
Writers and social media don’t always mix very well. But authors and social media? That’s a must. I know, I know. . . writers of all kinds are typically reclusive when it comes to making private life public. All we ask of the world, with puppy dog eyes and hands in prayer position, is this: “Will you buy my book?”

Here’s a fact: the world just might do that––IF you put it out there for them to see. So, the nagging topic that seeps its way into every author’s life . . . “social media as a new author.” Let’s chat about it.

I’m M.M. Cochran, new author of my debut young adult novel Between the Ocean and the Stars, published by our very own IngramElliott. When I first signed my contract with them, they told me to prepare to do some heavy marketing on social media. And if you’re trying to promote your book, personality/brand is what’ll make you or break you. Seems crazy, right? But as a new author myself, I had to find a way to make myself known, and to tell you the truth, branding myself, which means also branding my book, is really quite fun.
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New authors, Instagram is your best friend. (Raise your hand if you want to consider spending hours on Instagram “work”!). My tips and tricks for promoting my book is this:
  • Stay active.
  • Keep your audience engaged in your life.
  • Do you go to coffee shops often? Share that on your story.
  • Do you write a new chapter every day? Let your followers know that.

After all, your audience follows you for a reason, and that reason is because they’re interested in seeing your life as a writer. With a debut novel coming out, show them what the publishing process looks like, or the writing process, or the editing process.

My social media development started taking off when I announced on Instagram that I’d signed my first publishing contract. It’s been growing ever since. Here’s some quick tips and tricks that helped me get the ball rolling:
  •  Posting consistent content that’s book/writing related
  • Familiarizing my followers with my novel/book title/cover
  • Staying engaged with my followers (comment and like their posts, respond to their DMs)
  • Letting them know they can contact me with questions
  • This is an important one: Keeping my page pretty
  • Building a community of readers/writers/my fans that support me
  • Having longer captions vs. one-liners
  • Being honest. I.e., Reflecting the hardships of book writing 
 
Let me expand on this.
By posting bookish content, my followers became familiar with my brand, what I do, and what they can expect from me. Even if your novel is a year away from seeing a bookshelf, don’t stop promoting it. Keep your followers excited for release. Between the time I signed my contract with IE and now, I have gained fans from all over the world who have told me they love my content, love my story, and can’t wait for release so they can get their hands on my novel.

I let my audience know that they can reach out to me day or night. Just as they encourage and support me, I want to offer the same right back to them. If they see that you care about them, they’ll never leave your side (or your book! *wink wink*). This builds a strong community around you, which, in the discouraging times that writing often brings upon us, is much needed.           
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This pivotal tip can make or break a follow:
keep your page pretty.


Determine your aesthetic and stick to it. Depending on the season, I keep my pictures on Instagram nice and matching to the weather. D
uring winter, I post white and blue colors. During spring, I like to keep it pastel. In summertime, I post vibrant, colorful pictures. When fall comes around, I like to share lots of outdoorsy, turtleneck sweater pictures. Meanwhile, I keep readers informed on my publishing process and what’s to come.

But don’t be afraid to get honest in your posts. Everyone has a vulnerable side, and sharing yours will draw people closer to you because of your relatable content. Writing isn’t easy. In fact, that might just be the most vulnerable form of art out there. The whole point of publishing your book is for people to feel your words and experience your story. Why stop at a paperback or e-book, though?

New authors, take it a step further and start sharing your words on social media. Be confident in your book––in your vulnerability, in your branding, in your journey to publication––and show the world who you are.

I promise they’ll love you!

Have questions? Need advice as you enter the publishing industry? Follow me on Instagram at m.m.cochran_writer and let’s chat! 


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​Macy Cochran is a freelance editor and writer for the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Learn more about how to work with Macy on her website at ElegantEditingServices.com or at eleganteditingservices@gmail.com.



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​She's also an IngramElliott author. Her debut novel, Between the Ocean and the Stars, comes out this fall in print and e-book. ​

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Keeping it real . . . with a virtual assistant.

6/1/2020

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​As we’ve discussed before, your author brand is crucial to your success as an author. A huge part of this brand is marketing. Your content, social media, and overall marketing strategy are all critical components of you and your book's presence to readers and potential fans. But sometimes it can seem like a lot to manage, right? What if we told you that you didn’t actually have to do it all on your own?

What is a virtual assistant and how can one help me as an author?
Having a virtual marketing assistant is useful on all fronts of the marketing side of your brand. A virtual marketing assistant can do things like reach out to book bloggers and influencers for reviews, create newsletters to go out to your readers, and create content and manage your social media. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t have a hand in the marketing side of things, but it will significantly alleviate the pressure on you to perform all marketing tasks on your own. 
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Make a list of tasks you want help with
Ideally, once you hire a virtual assistant, you will create a list of tasks for him or her to perform. This list will, of course, vary from author to author. It’s important to know what tasks you want your virtual assistant to accomplish before you even search for one to ensure that you hire exactly who you’re looking for.

Some things to consider putting on the list could be:
  1. Social media upkeep and social media content creation
  2. Newsletters for your email list
  3. Setting up virtual author events (or eventually, real life author events)
  4. Reaching out to book bloggers for reviews; writing blog content
  5. Keeping your Goodreads and Amazon author profiles fresh and up to date

A good way to determine what to have your virtual assistant work on is to make a list of things you either dislike or avoid and things that don’t really need your direct input. By doing this, it frees you up to work on the things that do need your direct input – like edits to your manuscripts, important meetings, and speaking engagements. A clear idea of what you want your virtual assistant to do makes it easier on both of you moving forward.


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Budget to fit your needs
Virtual assistants typically operate as freelance contractors – similar to graphic designers or marketing specialists. When you hire one, you’ll typically pay somewhere between $10-$25/hour, depending on the virtual assistant’s skill level and experience (some may cost more but if you keep searching, you'll find the right fit). This makes it easy for you to stay within a budget, because a virtual assistant will work within the budget you set. For example, if you have a budget of $150 and you find a virtual assistant who charges $15/hour, you can request 10 hours of specific tasks and know that you will stay within your budget and get done what needs to get done. You can also work with the freelancer to create a monthly budget for a specific number of hours. For example, you can hire someone to manage all your social media platforms by setting a set number of posts per week (say 1-3) across your platforms (say, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), and agreeing on a package prices with your freelancer (say, $150 per month for no more than 10 hours of time). It often helps to have a discussion with a potential freelancer about how they prefer to work, but the effort is worth it!


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How to find a virtual assistant
So now that you have a general idea of what a virtual assistant is and how they can help you with the marketing side of your job, you might be wondering how to find one! There are several different ways to find a virtual assistant, but we’ll give you tips on some of the easiest ways.

 
Start with a simple Google search. Searching “Virtual Marketing Assistant United States” will yield different companies through which you can hire a virtual assistant. Of course, not every company will be a perfect fit, so you’ll need to set aside some time to look through the list of companies and search by the set of skills you’re looking for to find the perfect virtual assistant for you.

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A popular site to hire freelancers through is Upwork. If you visit their website, there is an option on the homepage to find a freelancer in the “Admin Support” field. You can then select the “Virtual/Administrative Assistance” option.
  • Upwork gives you options to filter for “complex project,” “longer-term contract,” or “short term” – select whichever option feels like the best fit for what you’re looking for. For example, if you want someone to create a weekly newsletter, you’d likely want to select longer-term contract. If you just need someone to create a press kit for your most recent book release, short term might be a better selection.
  • You’ll then need to select your estimated project duration and level of experience needed. Before getting results, Upwork will ask you to sign up to get free quotes.
  • It’s free to sign up, and, once you do that, you’ll have access to Upwork’s candidates that match your requirements!
  • Upwork will create a “job post” based on what you entered, and candidates can apply for your job, as well.
 
Another great way to find a virtual assistant or social media manager is through LinkedIn. You can search for local people in your network with expertise specifically in social media and marketing, content creation, or managing your schedule, if that's what you need. 

Belay services offers website and social media specific support as well. Learn more on their website about how to work with their assistants. 


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Take the time up front for future success with your VA
Although it may take some extra time up front to sit down and come up with a game plan for hiring a virtual assistant, it will save you time in the long run. Hiring a virtual assistant is a great way to prevent yourself from burning out on the tasks you don’t enjoy as much about your job. If, after reading this, you’re interested but still unsure if a virtual assistant is the best option, remember that you can start small! Try hiring a virtual assistant for just one or two small tasks at first to ease yourself into it, and then go from there. There’s no exact formula for what your virtual assistant needs to do, so you have the freedom and liberty to craft it to what you need specifically. 
​With a little research, patience, and open-mindedness, you may find exactly what you're looking for to help boost and maintain your author platform. 

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The End of the Tour . . . Clown William Rides Strong

3/16/2020

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Author Robin Elno's latest installment in the award-winning Clown William series enjoyed a successful virtual blog tour throughout February. IngramElliott Publishing partnered with Premier Virtual Author Book Tours for several stops at prominent book bloggers around the globe, including reviews, excerpts, and exclusive interviews with author Robin Elno. Thanks to our reviewers and fans everywhere for their tremendous support for Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance!

Enjoy the reviews below as well as two special author interviews hosted by International Book Promotion and Teddy Rose Book Reviews. 


Praise for Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance

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"An excellent Western and one I would recommend to any reader even if this wasn't their usual fare."
This book just kept getting better as I read along. I can't rate or recommend this story highly enough! I had a blast reading it and, after it was over I found myself wanting more. Elno's plotting and pacing were skillful and talented. I never felt lost in the narration or like I wanted the story to hurry along at any point. William's quest to find and kill Jesse (in what some might call a gentleman's death match) encompasses the main premise of the book but it never dominated it, and I loved getting to know the side characters and their stories just as much as I loved getting to know William. 
-Bookgirl 86, Goodreads Reviewer


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I love a good Western, and this was a great one . . . I was instantly transported into William’s world. A world of gunfights, horses and lawlessness. Where a man’s word is his only currency and debts are expected to be paid in full—even if it means paying with your life.
-Bob D. guest review Teddy Rose Book Review Plus More

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"Elno's writing was so strong and evocative and so pretty while also carrying what I consider to be the hallmarks of a great Western."
William was a main character that I sympathized with heavily. He had suffered a great deal but still had a strong moral center; an aspect that I thought was a really telling and enjoyable character trait. I love to see my heroes being actual heroes . . . The terse dialog, the gorgeous descriptions of barren and dry scenery, the thrilling action scenes, all of it was present and accounted for. And, as a reader, I felt like I wanted for nothing. Elno definitely nailed the setting and genre. I ate this book right up, reading it in only a few hours and now I can't wait for the next in the series!
-Betty Bee, Toot's Book Reviews

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Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance, by Robin Elno, is a good-old fashioned western novel, with some twists. The main character, Clown William, a gunslinger, is on a vengeance hunt for Jesse Evans, for killing an associate. In some ways it reads like a Louis L' Amour novel, and I am big fan of L' Amour - who generally depicts his characters as having a strong sense of integrity, courageous and obstinate to a fault, and yet, who usually labor under the weight of other issues. 
​-Real Laplaine, Amazon author of Dead but Not Gone and Twilight Visitor

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The Clown William novels by Robin Elno are a fantastic guilty pleasure. Part Western/part Thriller, the writing is tight, compelling, dramatic and at times even amusing and romantic. William is an excellent, complex character. He is a man who suffers from Tourette syndrome and, therefore, creates a very interesting and varied character . . .If this is an example of Robin Elno’s Westerns, color me intrigued. Without spoiling the ending of the book, I can’t wait to find out what happens next! This one should definitely be added to your ‘to read’ list, asap.

-Sol A. Bound 4 Escape Book Reviews

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The book, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance, as the title suggests, illustrates William’s change of mind in seeking revenge. The best part about this book is how the author has chosen to explore the dilemma of a character, making the plot of the book more complex and interesting . . . This is not like a typical Western historical book where the protagonist seeks revenge and kills the antagonist. How the author chose to explore the character made the book interesting as I think that we all have dilemmas and struggles in our lives as well. A 4 star for this book.
​-Jas, International Book Promotion

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“Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance” is a breath of fresh air."
Robin Elno has taken a genre that sometimes seems as dusty and worn down as the Old West itself and turned it around with a unique protagonist, some inventive plot threads, and a healthy dose of actual history. Moreover, it’s often an unpredictable book, as I found myself guessing how William would get out of some of the trouble that he found himself in. I’m ready to saddle up with William to wherever the trail takes him (and the author) next.
-Steve, Silver Screen Videos, 4-star Amazon review

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 For all who enjoy tales of the "wild West", this will surely become a favorite series. It is about a time when only the vilest men lacked in strong principles and when one's word was one's life. This is a great story, based on facts, to entertain YA and adults, as well. The characters are very believable and well-portrayed. The events are well described and the reader can easily visualize them. The story steadily flows in a smooth manner and action is "just around the next corner". I offer a Five Stars rating!
-LAWonder 10, Rockin' Book Reviews


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The story is highly spectacular, with the author taking his time in matters of character development with his writing being so vivid and well researched. Elno paints a vivid landscape that transports the reader. For western fiction literature lovers, Clown Williams is an outstanding masterpiece which is not only worth your time but also deserves a place on your shelf. 
​​-Gud Readers review, Goodreads

Learn more about the Clown William series and find all three books in print and e-book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, and anywhere books are sold. 
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Author Robin Elno on tour in February!

1/27/2020

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Author Robin Elno is on tour! Robin's latest installment in the award-winning Clown William series will be touring review blogs from February 3 - 28. IngramElliott Publishing is very excited to be partnering with Premier Virtual Author Book Tours on several stops at prominent book bloggers around the globe. The tour features reviews, excerpts, and exclusive interviews with Rob

You can follow Robin's Tour Schedule and enter a giveaway at Virtual Author Book Tours. 

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About the book
.A gunfighter with Tourette’s and a quick draw . . . Book three in the award-winning Clown William series finds William on the run. William blames Jesse Evans for starting this violent life and wants to pay him back, but first he must stop the bounty hunters on his trail and defeat his own internal tornado—before becoming a victim.

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About the author
Robin Elno is a retired army colonel, semiretired psychiatrist, and full-time author. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, where he is an active member of the San Antonio Writers' Guild. Elno’s Clown William series was inspired by the work of neurologist Oliver Sacks, who wrote about the unusual speed and accuracy often displayed by people with Tourette’s syndrome. Intrigued by the idea that strengths can rise from differences, Elno created the unique and compelling character of William. Elno’s novels are often set against true historical backdrops like the Wild West.

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2019 Holiday Gift Guide - Give the Gift of Reading!

11/25/2019

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Holiday Gift Guide 2019

Shop Amazon
Shop Barnes & Noble
Shop IndieBound

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Book 3 in the award-winning series! For Western, History, and Action fans.
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Book 2 in the series follows William, our unique hero. 
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A gunslinger with Tourette's and a quick draw . . .

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Award-winning paranormal historical fiction. For thriller and history lovers. 
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Pulse-pounding action for military thriller fans. Great for guys!
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Book clubs take note! Award-winning historical fiction for fans of family and culture. 

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Sweet vacation romance for anyone who loves love! Great for the women you love. 
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Great for teens! Fantasy and romance collide in this island of magical creatures. 
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Your tweens and middle-graders will love this award-winning magical adventure!

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Book 1 in middle grade mystery series for all the young sleuths on your list!
Book 2 is great for boys and girls ages 8-12 who like ghost stories with a twist!
Fun picture book about friendship and inner strength for ages 2-6. 

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For boys who love animals and motorcycles! Or any kid struggling with today's challenges. Book 1 in series.
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Book 2 in the series takes Benny on a Vision Quest and into the racing finals. For kids ages 8-12. 
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These animal spirit cards are for the nature lovers on your list. Native American wisdom for every day.
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Fall into social media -- change of leaves, change of heart

11/4/2019

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We've talked much in our blog about the importance of social media and building an author platform through an online presence. As the leaves change color, consider changing your approach as well. It can be a challenge to make time to keep up online presences but as the leaves go on falling, the world of social media goes on spinning. We get feedback from partners all the time on how important it is that an author have a strong presence online when searched for. An author's social media platforms are used in marketing programs, book awards programs, blog tours and reviews, and even purchasers can find you if you put yourself out there where you can be found.

This fall, we encourage all authors to take a fresh look at their platforms by following three simple steps. 
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Pick 3.

Pick 3 platforms that you'll commit to keeping fresh. We recommend that all authors start with Goodreads and Amazon Author Profile. These are the first places that reviewers and purchasers will find you. After that, pick at least one social media platform you will keep updated (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). 

Post 2 times a week.

Commit to posting new content on your platforms twice a week. You can re-use content if you like, just tweak the format for the platform. For instance, create an Instagram posting with a cool photo of your book and comment with hashtags that support your brand (#yalit #authorname #authorsofinsta #paranormallit #middlegradereads... there are many ...) and then select the 'share' option on the post to instantly share the post to Facebook or Twitter. 
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1 blog post per month.

Setup a blog and keep it fresh. At least once a month will help show you are an active writer that cares about their platform. Think about topics that relate to your book, your professional expertise, or a special interest that ties into your brand (mystery writer creates a post on being a back-yard-detective; fantasy writer expands on the real-life setting of the novel, etc.). The simplest way to do this is to create a Goodreads blog. They make it very easy to setup. You can then include your Goodreads blog on your Amazon Author Central profile. 

Even if you are not a pro at this, what matters is that you stay active. It really is about connecting to other people which may include other authors, readers and fans, or groups that you are interested in.

A few pro tips
  • Set aside a half hour each week to search for authors and books you enjoy. Follow them. 
  • Scroll through your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook feed and "like" or "heart" content in your feed from those you've followed.
  • Review books on Goodreads and follow other members' and authors' reviews. 
  • Follow your favorite authors on Goodreads and check your Goodreads feed once a week. 
  • Join a Goodreads group that interests you. 
  • ​Make sure your author photo is up to date across all sites.

Lastly, if you don't have the desire, interest, or time in doing all of this, search for and hire a virtual marketing assistant to help you do all these things . . . and it won't break the bank! You can specify marketing assistants or social media assistants and hire someone to help build your brand, keep your sites fresh, and work with you on connecting to followers. Search on LinkedIn or Google for people in your area (if you want someone local) or work with people around the globe offering their services. You can also find students at local colleges that may be interested in the job or just through people you know and already work with. Ask around! 

Images by Pixabay
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Under the influence! Creating relationships with influencers can help build both brands.

9/16/2019

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As any author knows, your job is not finished when you finish writing your book. Marketing is key for sales of your book, and, as social media continues to evolve, there are continually more possibilities for how to do this.

Enter the Influencer.
​In recent years, influencers have become quite popular, especially in the world of social media. An influencer is someone who has built a following of people that trust and respect their opinions in an area of expertise. Some influencers specialize in fashion, others in food, others in family life, and still others in blogging – just to name a few areas.
 
Influencers exist, as you may have guessed by now, in the book world, too. And these influencers can be huge assets to you in marketing your book! But, understandably, it can be a daunting task when considering how to go about reaching out to them.
 
First and foremost, it’s important to look at this like you would any relationship. It should never be entirely one sided. Yes, you want them to do you a favor and promote your book. But don’t forget that, as with anything, these things work best with a symbiotic relationship.


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Nice to meet you!
​When it comes time to finally reach out, there are a few things you should be certain you do. If you haven’t formally introduced yourself yet, start with that! Keep it brief and personable. Then, give a quick description of your book and why you feel like it connects with her or his area of expertise. When it comes to your ask for support, be clear and concise. Provide them with all resources they will need – obviously a copy of your book, any hashtags or social media handles you would like them to use, as well as any copy you would like them to use when promoting your book.

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Show sincere interest
In other words, be sincere. Consider what you can do to help them, as well. If you have the time margin, focus on building a good relationship with the influencer before you ever reach out asking for anything. Simple things like promoting them on your own social media, writing about them in a blog, and sharing things they are working on all contribute to a positive relationship.
 
This, of course, is easiest to do when you find influencers that genuinely interest and inspire you. Consider who your target audience is, and go from there. For example, if young adults are your target audience, a simple Google search will let you know some influencers in that sphere. Take some time, look through their profiles on social medias, and find a few that you are intrigued by. Give them a follow and begin building the relationship!


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Quid pro quo
When it comes to the specific ask for help, be clear with what you want them to do. Consider where their sphere of influence is, and go from there. Do they have a successful blog? Ask them to read and review your book on their blog. Do they have excellent engagement on social media posts? Ask them to post a message of support and a link to buy your book.
If you haven’t heard back from them within a week, follow up in a brief manner. Check that they received the material and let them know you would be happy to answer any questions they may have regarding the information.
 
Finally, continue to maintain relationships even after they promote your book and continue to follow their posts and offer to promote their content across your sites. You can both be beneficial to each other in the future and become mutually benficial allies in this new online world. 

Images by Free-Photos from Pixabay

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Goodreads giveaways? Good!

8/26/2019

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When it comes to Goodreads, the possibilities as an author are endless. We've talked much in the past about Goodreads as an essential tool for your author platform. (Read a couple of our past blog posts on Goodreads and other social media strategies here).

Goodreads is owned by Amazon and it's a true community of readers and librarians that take their reviews seriously! They are avid readers and writers and make it very easy to connect with others. As an author they offer amazing tools such as a Goodreads Author Profile where you can connect or create a blog, create a giveaway, and participate in a plethora of community groups tailored to various genres and interests. 

One major way to use Goodreads well? Book giveaways.

But wait! First things first. It's critical that you spend some time creating a compelling Goodreads presence first. Goodreads makes it very easy to give and get reviews, update your author profile, create or link to an author blog, and connect with other readers and writers. 

The more positive reviews you have, the more likely someone is to buy your book if they click on your ad. Spend the time necessary to establish this presence before spending the money necessary on advertising your book and you will be more likely see favorable results.


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Let's talk about Giveaways!
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Goodreads giveaways have been shown to dramatically increase book sales, and they’re so simple! They come in two options – standard or premium. Read all the detail here and get the quick notes below!

A standard giveaway will cost you $119, no matter how many books you give away within it. Everyone who enters will add your book to their Want-to-Read list, all of your followers and anyone who already has your book on their Want-to-Read list receive a notification of a new giveaway, Goodreads emails the winner of your giveaway reminding them to rate and review your book, and your giveaway is featured in the Giveaways section of the website.

A premium giveaway will cost you $599. You get everything from the standard giveaway, as well as premium placement on the Giveaways page. Additionally, Goodreads will send a message (that you create) to the entrants who don’t win, which could increase your book sales and build relationships with readers. 

For the giveaway, you select the span the giveaway runs and how many copies you want to give away. As the author, it’s your responsibility to get your book to the winner in a timely manner and to cover the cost of shipping. While it will cost you less to give away one book, you will get more reviews from readers if you give away more. 

You’ll want to make your giveaway description as attention grabbing as possible. Is it an autographed copy? Have you won any awards for it? Why should readers want to sign up to receive a free copy of this? Remember that they can simply check your book listing on the Goodreads site to read the synopsis of your book, so don’t make the only description!

Pro tip: If you schedule the giveaways for a few days in the future, you won’t lose any run time to Goodreads’s approval process. Also, if you select a short span for the giveaway (think 2-3 days), your giveaway will appear on both the newly listed and the ending soon pages, meaning you will get double the exposure at the same time!
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A note about self-serve ads on Goodreads


​Unfortunately, Goodreads is retiring their self-serve ad feature as of next month. They will focus on giveaways and other advertising opportunities. If you already have a self-serve ad funded and created you can still edit and run it through next February. These ads run (used to anyway) on a cost-per-click model. You set the budget, and your account gets charged for each click until the budget runs out.


Many authors who have used this service say not to plan on immediate results from your ads. However, after time, the momentum usually builds, and the more exposure the book gets, the more interest there is in it.

Check out your author dashboard for whatever new advertising opportunities Goodreads will roll out next or to manage anything current you have going on until February of next year. 

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Blog and bloom!

5/17/2019

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Creating an author blog can be an effective extra 'step' in creating your author platform and reaching your audience. Since blogs can be on any topic you like - including those related to or in support of your book - you may pick up additional readers or reviewers interested in taking a look at your book. 

If readers haven't used the particular keywords in their search for you (read more about keywords and meta in our blog post here), they may not immediately see your book pop up in results. Using meta data in your blog post, including keywords and categories, will help search engines find your blog, and in turn, find you as an author. Also include social media share buttons on your blog post (most platforms do this automatically), so that followers can easily post your content to their networks. 

Blog posts can be topics of interest for your readers or related to your area of expertise or knowledge. For fiction writers, a little less straightforward than non-fiction writers, which typically have a specific area of expertise, it may mean relying on your personal experience and tying it into your fiction work.


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​A great example of this is our author, Jeffrey Meyer, whose historical fiction novel, A Call to China, lends itself to discussions about spirituality and religion on his Goodreads Blog. Mr. Meyer also leverages his personal expertise as an Asian Studies professor. ​

Focusing on a specific theme can be effective for fiction authors. You may also address questions you get from your readers, and other popular titles similar to yours. 

The critical factor to a successful author blog is consistency. As with social media content and publicity, the key is to keep at it on a consistent schedule. Frequency recommendations vary but a post per week is a common theme and will allow you to make traction with readers. 

Building an audience takes time. 
Building an audience takes time. 
Building an audience takes time.


The above is not a typo . . . but it's worth repeating. Whether it's an author blog, author social media sites, author events, and other ways to build your brand, it takes commitment, time, and consistency. 

Blogs aren't for everyone and that's okay. You can get the straight-talk from one of our favorite bloggers of business advice for writers, Jane Friedman, in her post Blogging for Writers. She says, "The most successful blogs have a very focused angle and appeal to a very specific audience."

Creating a blog takes time, but may be worth it if you have an author website to which you can add the content (read our blog post on building an author website). It's best to use the platform you are already using for your author website - this keeps everything in one place and helps keep your marketing (social media links, blog links, author bio and info, events, book info) all in one place. There are many good and easy to use author website platforms. You can also work with a virtual marketing assistant to help set one up.

Another easy-to-use blog opportunity is your Goodreads Author Page. Once your author profile is setup on Goodreads, they make it pretty easy. From your Author Dashboard, scroll down until you see Your Blog. From here you'll have options to write a new post or sync with a pre-existing blog. Goodreads Authors are the only members who can have a blog on the site, so take advantage!

So give your potential readers useful and interesting information, and hopefully those beginnings will bloom into followers and purchasers. 
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