Target Your Marketing by Ane Mulligan

In today’s publishing world, we have to do more promotion for our books. But who should we be trying to reach? Readers, of course. Okay, you knew that. But exactly who are these readers?

Three Tips for Building Book Buzz by Meghann Whistler

As an introvert, self-promotion isn’t something that has ever come naturally to me. And yet…as a debut author, promoting my book is something I had to start thinking about back when I signed my contract last year.

Fortunately for me, I spent almost fifteen years in marketing and public relations before I decided to focus on my creative writing full-time, so I had some experience to draw on when it came time to start marketing my book.

Here are a few things I found helpful:

The End is Just the Beginning by Linda Fulkerson

Don’t you love memes for writers? I collect those cute, quirky, fun-to-share graphics that bundle a nugget of truth inside a lump of laughter. And not that long ago, I coined my own meme-worthy quote, “There’s more to writing a book than writing a book.” As soon as I blurted that phrase in the midst of a book marketing class I was teaching, I had to literally stop and Google it to see if it was original. No exact-match results displayed, so I later created a graphic, plastered my quote onto it, put my name as the author, and blasted it all over my social media profiles.

The truth inside my meme isn’t exactly hidden. There IS more to writing a book than writing a book. Much more.

Ministering to Our Readers by Patty Smith Hall

In the month since my last blog post, our world has drastically changed. Social distancing and self-isolation have become the catchphrases of the new decade, and toilet paper is a hot commodity. Stay-in-place orders confine us to our homes, leaving people stir-crazy and ready for human contact.

It’s also served as a huge confirmation for me. One of the things I’ve been praying about as I begin this indie journey was how I could love on my readers. It’s hard sometimes to connect with people we don’t know, especially when the only way we’re familiar with them is with our books. But how do we make it more personal? How do they know that they’re truly on our hearts whenever we started a new book?

Over the last few months, I’ve been looking at ways to love on my readers. Some would call it a marketing strategy and I would agree to a point, but it’s also a faith-building process too. If we’re called to love our neighbors as ourselves, shouldn’t we love our readers the same way?

It’s a scary prospect, loving someone who doesn’t know you, and I’ll be honest, I balked at the idea at first. But God worked on me, and as I heard from my readers, the need to serve them in some small way swelled up inside me.

So, what does it look like to minister to our readers between books?

First and foremost, this is where your newsletter comes into play. I’ll be the first one to tell you that I’m not a big fan of newsletters, mainly because most writers don’t come across well in them. It’s like they’re writing to someone they don’t know, and it shows. Two that do a good job at them are Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren. Both have a way of making you feel as though they’re sitting right across the table, and I know both of these ladies well enough to say their newsletters are a reflection of who they are.

The last few weeks, I’ve been sending out newsletters once a week. People are craving relationships right now, and I wanted to reach out to them to let them know that I care. In the first one, I asked them how I could pray for them. I’ve sent them devotionals, short stories and given them one of my novellas. A small number have unsubscribed, but most have stuck with me, some have even responded with encouraging messages. I’ve discovered who my dedicated readers are as well as a new beta reader. It’s come to a point where I don’t know who’s getting more from it, them or me.

Another idea that a friend of mine gave me was having a Facebook Live prayer meeting with the folks on my newsletter list. I love the idea and it may end up with me having a ‘webinar-type’ prayer time, but I’m looking into this as well as taking prayer requests from my readers.

These are just a few ways I’m ‘loving on’ my readers right now but I’d love to hear yours. What are you doing to minister to your readers?

One of the things I’ve been praying about as I begin this indie journey was how I could love on my readers. via @pattywrites #SeriouslyWrite

~~~~~~

Hearts in Flight

Serving her country as one of the Women's Army Special Pilots is Maggie Daniels's dearest wish. But there are obstacles to overcome above and beyond the enemies in the Pacific, including her overprotective family, skeptical fellow pilots—and handsome, distant squadron leader Wesley Hicks. Whatever it takes, Maggie will prove herself to Wesley, until she succeeds in winning his admiration…and love.

Wesley can see that Maggie's a first-class pilot. She's also too fearless by half. The war has cost Wesley so much already. Can he let go of his guilt for a chance at happiness—and can he learn to trust in God…and Maggie…enough to believe in love for a lifetime?

Patty Smith Hall lives in North Georgia with her husband of 36+ years, Danny. Her passion is to write tender romances based in little-known historical moments. The winner of the 2008 ACFW Genesis award in historical romance, she is published with Love Inspired Historical, Barbour and Winged Publishing, and is a contributor to the Seriously Writing blog as well as Journey magazine. Patty is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. 

A Fun Approach to Book Videos by Patricia Beal

As a debut author and video-phobic, I did a lot of reading before producing my book trailer.

I ended up using a variety of ideas to come up with something that was simple to make and that conveyed the idea of the novel.

Maybe a book trailer is something you’ve always wanted to make but was too intimidated to try. I want to share my approach with you. It might be helpful or spark an even better idea. Here goes.

I used Animoto.com because I like their music selection and because you can remove their logo if you subscribe. I’d also seen some of their videos in publishers’ pages. If you have iMovie I guess you have more options, but I don’t.

For the content of the video, instead of trying to talk about the story as a whole, I tried to isolate a central theme that represents a universal struggle.

Why? Because in most advice blog posts I read, people urged writers to make the video about the reader, and a good way to do that is to offer a solution to their problems.

The best part? By using that approach, you don’t really have to say, “buy my book” because chances are you planted that desire in the reader’s heart with your theme/need approach.

Here’s the video I came up with. I used the word “produced” earlier, but I had to laugh. I don’t think I know enough about videos to “produce” anything.

What do you think? Do you think this works? Feel free to ask me anything you want. There’s no question too silly. This is me you’re talking to… video-challenged.

How challenged? The little video clip at the beginning was shot with my phone, shared on Facebook, saved to my computer, and then uploaded to Animoto. That’s’ how clueless I am with all this. Ask away…

Love y’all!

If you've created book trailers, have you tried this approach? If you're a reader, what type of content in a book trailer appeals to you?

~~~~~~

   

Patricia Beal is from Brazil and fell in love with the English language while washing dishes at a McDonald's in Indianapolis. She put herself through college working at a BP gas station and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in English Literature. She’s a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist and First Impressions finalist. A Season to Dance is her debut novel (May 2017).

Do You Want Sales…or Readers? By Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu

The answer seems obvious at first. As authors, of course we want readers. But we want sales, too, because without sales, it’s difficult to find a publisher for our next book and the next.

So, especially when first starting out, we check sales numbers, promote the book, watch sales rankings, cringe when an acquaintance says they passed their copy around to their “whole Sunday school class” (instead of each person buying a copy).

Sure, sales are important. But even more important is providing stories of hope and light to a dark and scary world.

To achieve success in this publishing field, you first need to determine what success looks like for you. Why did you start writing fiction? And who is your reader? Think in terms of one person and describe her in detail. Consider what she likes and dislikes, her age, what kind of family she has, why she reads.

If you consider one Reader while you’re writing and, especially, while you’re marketing, you’ll be better able to target your promotions and you’ll worry less about the numbers.

Book-marketing expert Steve Harrison says, “If one person’s life is changed by [your book], it’s worth the effort.”

After having three books published, I still have to remind myself that I write for readers, not for fame. Every time I hear from a reader who enjoyed the book, I’m thrilled, of course. And if they loaned their copy to two or three others—or a dozen—that means more readers and, perhaps, fans. This increases the chance of the book getting into the hands of that one person whose life will be changed by it.

And that is why I write.

Stop worrying about the numbers. Instead, pray that your book finds the reader who needs your story.

About the Author

The Secret Heart
by Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu’s newest novel, The Secret Heart, is now available from Write Integrity Press. Follow Marie on Amazon.com to be notified when it becomes available. The Secret Heart, loosely based on the lives of Bathsheba and David, is the third book in the Mended Vessels series. Books in the series are contemporary re-imaginings of the stories of biblical women, including Esther and the woman at the well.

Her debut novel, For Such a Moment, won the Books of Hope Contest. Thirsting for More, the second book in the series was a finalist in the 2016 Selah Awards Contest and a semi-finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Awards sponsored by Florida Writers Association. You can find more about Marie and her novels on her Facebook page (Author Marie Wells Coutu), at her website (MarieWellsCoutu.com), or follow her on Twitter (@mwcoutu). 
Marie retired after 15 years with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and she and her husband now divide their time between Florida and Iowa.

The Secret Heart

Beautiful Shawna Moore married Hunter Wilson, the governor of Tennessee, after a whirlwind romance, only six weeks following her first husband’s death in Iraq. Now, she wonders if the governor loved her at all or only hoped to avoid a scandal.

An investigative reporter—and friend of Shawna’s—is asking questions. If he discovers the truth about Shawna’s baby, Hunter’s chances for reelection could be ruined. But keeping the secret is destroying their marriage. Will Shawna convince Hunter to choose his family and drop out of politics, or will he continue to put his career first?

For a sneak peek, download the first chapter here. You can also read Angie's review of The Secret Heart here: The Secret Heart - An Innovative Retelling.

Getting Your Books into Libraries and Stores by Jennifer Slattery

Jennifer Slattery

For authors, few things compare to holding your first published book. When the day finally arrives, you squeal, post hundreds of photos of you and your books on Facebook, and organize numerous give-aways, until shipping fees devour your marketing funds—which were nonexistent. Then you wonder… what am I to do with all these books, anyway?

Contrary to what some may think, author copies aren’t provided for the writer’s enjoyment. Or to be given as early Christmas presents. I believe publishers hope their authors use those books for promotional purposes.

Why not use them to get into local libraries and bookstores? I imagine many of you are thinking; isn’t that marketing’s job. Perhaps, but with all the books released each year, there’s no guarantee your marketing team will be able to actually get yours on the shelves, no matter how hard they try. Your novel is but one of millions, after all. However, by actively becoming involved in the marketing process, you increase your chances.

Though I’m still a newbie, here are some thins that helped me get my books into local stores and libraries.

1. I start with coffee and brought a friend.

Let’s face it; selling yourself and your work to strangers is scary. Bringing a friend along for moral support helps reduce the angst. Making the endeavor as fun as possible—hence, starting with a relaxing and relational activity such as drinking coffee—can help as well. Not only will this reduce your anxiety, it will also help you remain conversational. This in turn will set the librarian and bookstore owner at ease, encouraging them to respond favorably.

2. I met with the one who makes book-carrying decisions

Having a face-to-face conversation with the owner or head librarian is much more effective than simply dropping off a book and a letter. The former makes it personal and helps the decision maker put a face to the novel; the latter mimics spam. No one likes to be spammed. However, attempting to pitch your book to a head librarian during their busiest times is the equivalent of an incessant telemarketer. In sales, timing and mood is important. Therefore, call ahead and schedule a time to meet with the decision maker.

3. I was persistent

There was a time that I was a tad reluctant to go into a particular Christian bookstore. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the store or the owners. Rather, I was convinced they didn’t like me. I’d already contacted the owner by phone and email on a few occasions, with no response. I assumed this meant he didn’t like my work or me. Probably both. (Yes, I’m melodramatic.)

But remember tip number one? The best of friends encourage us to overcome our insecurities, even if that means dragging us into the terror zone (which is what my friend, Susan Aken, did). As it turned out, the store owner didn’t hate me at all. He was merely busy, and because of my persistence, he agreed to carry my book and host a signing in December.

4. I took time to decompress at the end of the day

Always start and end your day having fun—and drinking huge amounts of coffee—which will liven up even the most discouraging of days (especially if your coffee is laden with chocolate). Life is hard enough. Shake it off, enjoy the journey, and buffer everything with laughter.

5. Follow up

Bookstore owners and librarians are busy, and in their busyness, may forget about your book entirely. It’s always a good idea to follow up with a phone call, asking if they’ve had a chance to review your book and have any questions.

Feedback from You

For other newbies like me, did your pulse spike when you read this post? If so, what are some things you can do to feel more comfortable approaching librarians and book store owners? 

For those with more experience, what tips would you add?

About the Author

Jennifer Slattery writes soul-stirring fiction for New Hope Publishers, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and devotions for Internet Café Devotions, the group blog, Faith-filled Friends, and her personal blog. She also does content editing for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas’ Firefly imprint, and loves working with authors who are serious about pursuing their calling. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte

Breaking Free
by Jennifer Slattery

Breaking Free

Sometimes it takes losing everything to grab hold of what really matters. 

Women’s ministry leader and Seattle housewife, Alice Goddard, and her successful graphic-designer husband appear to have it all together. Until their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage?

Read a free, 33-page excerpt here: http://newhopepublishers.com/2016/02/free-sample-of-breaking-free/

Buy it:

Christian Book Distributors: http://www.christianbook.com/breaking-free-a-comtemporary-romance-novel/jennifer-slattery/9781596694682/pd/694682?event=ESRCG

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-free-peter-maxwell-slattery/1119735612?ean=9781596694682

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-Jennifer-Slattery/dp/1596694688/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Connect with Jennifer

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Twitter: @Jenslattery
See scene location pictures for Breaking Free on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenslatte/breaking-free/

Of Books, Bookstores, and Ego by Norma Gail

Is your goal to see your book in a bookstore? Today, Norma Gail shares her experience with bookstores and tips to help you gain better visibility for your book. -- Sandy

Gail: I had a hard time selling Girl Scout cookies. I longed to see my name on a bookstore shelf. However, bookstores may be more of an ego boost than smart marketing. Here are some of the lessons I have learned.

Getting my book published is the victory. Getting my book published by a traditional publisher was a victory. I reached my first goal and accomplished what God called me to do.

My book on a bookstore shelf does not guarantee sales. Having a book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble does not mean it will sell. Books written by well-known authors sell first. Large corporate stores remove books not on their sanctioned list. Even a “Local Author’s Table” does not mean the store will keep it in stock.

Beware of the pitfalls of large, corporately owned bookstores. It was easy to get local bookstores, even large chains like B&N and Hastings to order my book when it was “returnable”. It stoked my ego but not my book sales.

Books returned are not books returned. Bookstores do not mail the book back to the distributor for sales elsewhere. Stores rip the beautiful cover off and send it to the publisher to prove that they returned the book. The rest of the book is recycled.  

Returned books come out of your royalties. Returns come out of author’s royalties, translating into no royalty check. Discuss with your publisher if asking stores to stock your book is a worthwhile goal.

Placing books in a store on consignment gains visibility for your book without risk to the store and puts money in your pocket. Books sold on consignment do not count toward your sales numbers, but they put your book in front of consumers with no risk to the store. Many local booksellers will agree to a percentage arrangement, usually 70-30% where the store keeps 30% of the sale price. Some generous storeowners offer 80-20% splits. One store allowed me to do a book signing before Christmas and keep 100%. Consignment sales mean the money you earn goes into your pocket to offset other marketing expenses.

Choose locations for book signings with care. Friday night at Hastings appeals to customers renting cheap movies. A tearoom could literally eat up your profits by the amount of tea and scones consumed. Churches, book clubs, library author events, and craft shows may be a better place to get your book in the hands of readers.

Learn to evaluate the market for your book. Where and how to market your book is a complicated matter. Your publisher and marketing consultant are your best advisors.

As a Christian author, I meet my goal with each positive review and each comment that shows a life touched by what I wrote. The book is the Lord’s so let prayer, not ego drive the marketing.

© Copyright Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, February 23, 2016

Have you found bookstores to be a good source of sales? Are you published by a small publisher and must fight for shelf space?

~~~~~

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

I Should Be Committed By Heather Blanton

I've been impressed by indie author Heather Blanton and how well her books appear to do on Amazon, so I asked her to share with us a little about her experience. -- Sandy

Heather: I have been amazingly blessed in my writing career. Now, a little over three years after self-publishing my first book, I find it’s time to take stock. Here’s what I think I’ve done right, and here’s what I’ve done wrong.

If you are not familiar with me, I self-published my first book, A Lady in Defiance, in 2012. My goal was to sell 200 copies for my Relay for Life team. ALID wound up selling over 8000 copies that year! God is good, right? Absolutely!

I write full-time now and have released four books in the last three-plus years. All have hit various best-seller lists at Amazon, average 4.76 stars, and have at least a hundred reviews (some much more, except for my newest release).

So here are the things I do right.

First and foremost, I never stop learning. A Lady in Defiance came from a story I carried in my heart for a long time, but it was born with a problem: the middle sagged. I know this because veteran editor David Webb told me so. He told me how to fix it, and shared some action steps I follow to this day:

• I read every craft book I can get my hands on.

• I attend the wonderful Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference at least every other year.

• I dissect successful authors’ books cover to cover.

• I’m an outliner now, too.

Second, I shoot for turning out a quality product. I hire three editors now for every book. I find each has a special gift. Once I’ve made their changes, I send the book out to my beta readers. I strongly suggest you find readers who will be honest. The ones who will question and challenge the story will make your book better!

Speaking of readers, the third most important thing I do is love on my facebook tribe. I really engage on there. However, I don’t’ accept every friend request. I’m looking for people who are likeminded. I am a Conservative Christian. I joke that I’m the Phil Robertson of Christian fiction. The friends I have are awesome! They buy my books, share my posts, tell me their dreams, and defend me when I get a bad review!

So, what have I done wrong? Why am I not a household name yet?

Well, assuming that's God’s plan for me, I don’t post often enough to my blog or social media forums. I’ve never done a blog tour. I don’t enter contests. I’m not in bookstores. I don’t spend a lot of time networking with other authors. I probably don’t buy enough ads. I am a marketing sloth.

If I’m writing for the Lord—if I believe my stories can impact people for Christ—then shouldn’t I be working harder to get my stories out there? I’ve recently become convicted of this after a reviewer said my book “awakened” her sleeping faith.

Writing for the Lord is a calling. Prov 16:3 reminds us that if we commit to the Lord whatever we do, He will establish our plans.

So, I’ll work harder at marketing. I’ll develop a real marketing plan. I’m hiring a virtual assistant. I might even consider finding an agent again. Wherever the Lord leads. But I must keep my focus on Him.

What about you? Have you committed your writing to God? 

~~~~~

I believe Christian fiction should be messy and gritty, because the human condition is ... and God
loves us anyway. 

I started writing when I was five and grew up on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. My most fond memories are of sitting next to my daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! 

My job is finally something I don’t want to vacation from. 

I live with my husband and two adventurous boys on a farm outside Raleigh, NC. They enjoy riding practically anything with four legs or two wheels, and being outdoors.

Six Book Marketing Tips by Ann Knowles White

We know that writing is rewriting. Well, that's not all there is to it. The business end consists of marketing what you write. Today, author Ann White Knowles gives us six tips for marketing, not only your books, but you. -- Sandy


Ann: Marketing begins long before you publish your book. Share your ideas and your dreams for your book with friends, acquaintances and other writers. Build your web site and your blog to speak for you and your book. These simple tips will help.

1.  Learn how to market and sell YOU and your books.
Cecil Murphey, renowned author and speaker, told me that he promised God to never stop learning about writing and helping others learn how to be better writers. Read and research the subjects that interest you; attend conferences and teleseminars; join writing and marketing groups; and follow blogs that provide valuable and up-to-date information such as  http://shirleycorder.com/category/build-a-better-blog/,  http://emilyakin.com/blog/ 

2.  Diversify your services
If you are a published author, there are a number of doors that will magically open. You can create eBooks, present teleseminars, webinars, or workshops. You can offer classes on your web site; you can even write a book about your writing successes. Look for new avenues to sell your books and services. See workshop offered at www.writepatheway.com.

3.  Be careful about using your blog to sell your products all the time. Only 1 in 10 of your posts should include “selling” language. The rest of your content comes from who you are and who your audience is. Engage your followers; get to know them. They will eventually come to you to learn what’s new and to buy your books.

4.  Take Fun Photos

Take photos of your books in interesting places/situations—with your pets, or grandchildren or--at a ball game---or you name it. I took a picture of myself at the beauty salon signing books. Everyone involved wanted to share the photo on their facebook page. My cosmetologist was grateful for the free advertisement and she asked for books to sell to other customers.

5.  Pay it forward.

If you are a member of any writing groups, you should give to others and receive help with your marketing and promotion. I watch for new members in my groups, send an email to welcome them and ask where they live. If they live close by, we can get together for lunch and talk about our books and help each other. My publishing group is composed of an amazing group of writers who tweet for each other, host each other on blogs, and help promote each others’ books.

Aside from being good for you as a writer and marketer, giving back is good for everyone. Invite people to post on your blog. Host author interviews. Tweet for your writing friends. Run contests to promote their books.

6.  Never leave home without two of three books.
I always have books with me wherever I go. Most of my books have been sold unexpectedly at places like church, the grocery story, the beauty salon, and at medical facilities. Be prepared.

How important do you think it is to promote yourself as well as your books? Do you have any tips to add? 

~~~~~

Ann is a freelance writer, editor, and speaker. Her goal is to make a difference in the lives of those who hear or read her words. She has published over 60 articles and devotions in the last year in addition to her new book. Ann holds an M. A. Ed, with advanced studies in ESL, religious journalism, and biblical counseling. She writes stories, book reviews, memoirs, radio Bible study scripts, and biblical radio dramas. Her passion is missions.

Why a Newsletter by Margaret Brownley

One of my favorite author newsletters comes from Margaret Brownley. I like the way it looks, the short and sweet information about her books, and her fun little tidbits. Today, Margaret shares her tips for creating appealing newsletters. -- Sandy 

Why a Newsletter?

Some people say that social media has made newsletters or ezines irrelevant, but I disagree. If done right, a newsletter is a great way to promote your brand, connect with readers and, of course, sell books.   

Getting Started

Some people design and mail newsletters themselves using free templates found on the Internet. That's how I got started. However, once my subscriber numbers reached into the thousands I soon learned the advantages of using a newsletter service.  

I especially like the fact that new subscribers can be added or dropped through the service, saving a hassle. There will always be a certain number of bounces, unsubscribes and new additions. Handling these might not be a big deal in the beginning but as your subscriber list grows a service can save valuable time. I use Constant Contact and am impressed with their support team, but there are others and most give free trials. Whether you handle it yourself or use a service be sure to use a mobile friendly template.

What's the Cost?

There's a human cost of course, as building a newsletter does take time, especially in the beginning. But once your template is set you'll find you can put it together in a couple of hours. Monetary costs are a bit tricky to sort out as each newsletter service has its own peculiar pricing method, but expect to pay around $20 a month for 500 subscribers. Mailchimp lets you send newsletters free up to 2000 subscribers, but you'll have to pay if you want any special features.  Many authors prefer to send quarterly newsletters. My service allows me to suspend my account for a nominal fee on the months I don't send out a newsletter.    

How to Get Subscribers

Many newsletter services have list-building tools which include Facebook and mobile apps. An effective way to gain subscribers is to run a contest. Also, be sure to give readers an opportunity to sign up during public appearances. Anyone signing up through my website is added to my monthly drawing for free books.

Give Subscribers a Reason to Read Your Newsletter

If you send a marketing tool that shouts "buy my books" subscribers will soon lose interest. Give them something fun or useful.  Make it chatty. Include a recipe or handy hint.  I like sending out fun facts that I come across during my research. I always give away a book or two with each edition as a way of saying thank you to my readers. 

Tracking Your Success

A newsletter service makes tracking a breeze. You get an idea who opened it and when, plus the number of link clicks. Industry stats allow you to compare your opens with others in your field. Keep in mind that the reports aren't always accurate. Newsletters are tracked through images and clicks. Some readers block images and not everyone will click on a link, so these opens won't be counted.    

The Importance of Having Fun

The more fun I have putting the newsletter together, the better the results. So go creative and have a blast. While you're at it, add my name to your subscriber list.

Need a Sample?

Here's the link to one of my newsletters: http://goo.gl/R9lEyQ

Have you created an author newsletter? Do you have any successful ideas for the rest of us to use to make ours more appealing? What do you like to see in another author's newsletter? What do you NOT want to see?

Margaret is a CBA/NY Times bestselling author and past Romance Writers of America RITA finalist with more than 35 books to her credit, including her new release Undercover Bride. She's also written for a CBS daytime soap. Margaret and her husband have three grown children and make their home in Southern California.

Recipe for Successful Marketing by Marji Laine

Let's face it, as writers we're determined to get our stories into the hands (or e-readers) of as many book lovers as possible. Sometimes, that's not an easy task. Today, author Marji Laine gives us her recipe for successful marketing. -- Sandy

Marji: SUCCESSFUL Marketing can be compared to the Loch Ness Monster: avoids description, difficult to visualize, and impossible to capture. Yet authors continue to search for the elusive creature.

Though there are countless possibilities for promotions, the success of any given one depends on too many variables to list. Despite that fact, a successful plan will always have 3 ingredients:  

• A great product
• Creativity
• Timing

The Product

Marketers and promoters will agree that the best strategy in the world won’t work for long without an excellent book. You can’t ignore the quality of your product. The things the author can control – editing, cover art, formatting, details of the book itself – shouldn’t scream “Home-made!” What’s great for bake sales and craft shows doesn’t work so hot for publishing.

The Plan

Marketers herald the need to get in front of our audience. That’s easy enough for non-fiction writers, but tricky for the rest of the literary world. One might attempt to write with a current high-profile topic included in the story, but the better approach is a creative one that doesn’t require a full re-write.

The best marketing idea hasn’t been developed yet. The standard and success fluctuations are always changing.

Try posting to the various book-lover groups on Facebook. After joining, an author can post promos as often as they want (within each group’s “rules”) see the promotions, both good and bad, from others. Readers do visit these groups for ideas about their next reads. 

With so many books in those avenues, however, unless your book has an amazing cover, you should be creative with your display. Do more than post your link. Build a cash of memes that you can use anywhere. I saw the cutest picture the other day – a cup of coffee, a gift with a tag that said 99¢ and a Kindle with the author’s book pulled up on it. Simplicity itself, but so clever and downright brilliant!

The Timing

And that brings up the final ingredient. While it’s important to get a good idea of when your readers are on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, it’s even more important that your name doesn’t conjure up visions of billboards that say, “Read my book.”

Social media is, foremost, social. Use a 6-1 rule of thumb. Post 6 things that aren’t about your book – repost others, use quotes, details about life or experiences. Then post something about your book. This rings especially true for Twitter, but is applicable for other outlets. Always interact more than you advertise.

Don’t forget we are a global market now. Make sure you post things for the overnight crowd. Schedule a one or two with connected buy links for India, Japan, UK, and Australia along with the other smaller markets. Those times can be lucrative opportunities.

Above all, don’t give up. Interact well with your chosen media. Support others. Share your message.

~~~~~

Marji Laine is a homeschooling mom with teenage twins left in the nest. A new indie-author with her debut,  GRIME BEAT only out for a couple of weeks, she spends her non-writing time transporting to and from volleyball, teaching writing classes at a local coop, and directing the children’s music program at her church. Raised in suburban Dallas, she got her first taste of writing through the stories of brilliant authors of their day, Mignon Eberhart and Phyllis A. Whitney, and through stage experience. After directing and acting in productions for decades, Marji started writing her own scripts. From that early beginning, she delved into creating scintillating suspense with a side of Texas sassy. She invites readers to unravel their inspiration, seeking a deeper knowledge of the Lord’s Great Mystery that invites us all.

Social Media Tools to Help Manage Your Online Life, Part Two by Nicole Miller

Last week, author and social marketing specialist Nicole Miller provided tools to help us organize our social media posts. You'll find Part One here. Today, she continues her recommendations to help make our marketing lives easier with tools for creating images. -- Sandy

Image Creation Tools

Pablo - (http://www.buffer.com/pablo) 

Images get much more attention than plain ol' text posts. There are now dozens of powerful image creation tools to assist with creating attention-grabbing pictures (and also while being mindful of copyright.) 

Pablo was created by Buffer and is free to use — you can enter in whatever text you’d like and download or share the image instantly. All the images are copyright free and stunning. Definitely check this one out! 

How I use this tool:

With how quickly you can create a stunning image in Pablo, I used this while I was live-tweeting at a writer’s conference and included quotes from the speaker. The Pablo images got dozens more interactions than the text-only posts. This is a great way to spice up your blog posts, highlight cool passages from your novel or promote events with!

Canva - (http://www.canva.com)

Canva is user-friendly and has an array of helpful templates that will turn any non-designer into a pro in seconds. Social media networks all have different sizes where images “fit” a bit better into the social streams. Canva has these all measured out and offers incredibly designed ideas for you to use. 

Most of the elements in Canva are free, but some images are $1 a piece, but you’re able to use them worry-free in knowing that you have the copyright a-okay. :) 

How I use this tool:

For more complex images, I turn to Canva. There are so many options and you can even collaborate with people on an item. 

Other tools to mention if you want to explore more! 

PicMonkey (http://www.picmonkey.com)

Bonus: Copyright-free images resource here! (https://blog.bufferapp.com/free-image-sources-list)

There are so many more amazing tools I use on a daily basis that I haven’t touched on (Evernote http://www.evernote.com, IFTTT http://www.ifttt.com, etc.), and new tools pop up every day! It’s a truly wonderful time do be doing what we do. We’re all connected to potential readers just a click away and there are many more resources for all of these awesome tools. 

If you do happen to get stuck, turn to Google for help! (Or, another idea: Ask your audience and friends what they use!) Test tools out for a week or two and if you’re finding it doesn’t jive with your workflow, give something else a go. 

The best tools suit your needs and your personality best. What works best for me might not be the best for you, but that’s the beauty of having so many options online. 

Do you use images in your posts? Do you ever create memes?

~~~~~

Nicole M Miller is a team member at Buffer, a social media management tool with 2 million users, and a historical fiction writer. A journalism major from Western Washington University, she has worked as an event coordinator, designer, marketer and everything in between. She blogs about her urban homesteading adventures with two dogs, two horses, 17 chickens and four ducks at nicolemillerbooks.com.