Using Blogs to Promote E-books, Part One by Pauline Creeden

I heard that Pauline Creeden provides a great workshop on marketing and asked her to give us a sample in a short space. Today's post is Part One of her message for those wanting to use their blogs for promotion. -- Sandy

Pauline: One of the first rules you learn as an author using social media to promote your books is that you have to have a blog. But what do you do with it once you have it? You blog on occasion, but your subscribers and views remain steady, and you don't seem to be gaining new ones, so what do you do then? How do you find new readers who visit your blog, fan you on Facebook, follow you on Twitter, and then ultimately, buy your book? Using Blog Hops, Blog Blitzes, Blog Tours, and Blog Mentions can help you gain new readers and fans. Here's what each of them are and tips on getting the most from them.

Blog Hops
There are two different kinds of blog hops - one of them is honestly tiresome. Your author friend tags you and you have to write up a post on a theme and then you tag another of your friends. Your and your friend's hope lies in that each of your readership will be curious enough to read through more than just the post of the author they already follow...and discover a new author in the process. But the second kind of hop is much more productive. It's called a giveaway hop.We all want stuff. Even readers. So when a reader finds a giveaway hop, they will often hop as many blogs on the link list as possible to increase their chances to win stuff. Giveaway hops that are book-themed tend to draw in readers specifically. As they draw them in and the reader hops along, they will stop at your site and enter your giveaway as well. Here is an example of a giveaway hop post: http://paulinecreeden.com/2014/04/21/fairy-tale-fortnight-giveaway/

Benefits
When hosting a giveaway hop, you can create loops for the contestant to jump through in order to be eligible to win the prize - it could be blog subscription, follows on Facebook, Twitter follows, or even to tweet about a sale on your book.

Suggested Blog Hop Hosts

I am a Reader, Not a Writer Candlelight Reads

Tips for a Successful Hop

Read and follow rules

Learn how to use Rafflecopter or Punchtab

Use this opportunity to feature one of your books specifically

Giving away money will double your entrants. Even a $5 gift card will increase the number of entrants you have.

Give away eBook copies of your book - and when you send them out, just add a note telling the winner that you'd love to hear any feedback they have. They can feel free to leave a review at Amazon or Goodreads, or even email you -- and provide links!  

Next Wednesday, Part Two of Pauline's post will be available. Do you have any questions? Anything you'd like her to address?

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In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.


Her debut novel, Sanctuary, won 1st Place Christian YA Title 2013 Dante Rosetti Award and is now available as an audiobook. #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Christian Sci/Fi and Fantasy (October 2013)


Connect with Pauline at www.paulinecreeden.com.