**************

* Top 10 Ways to Promote Your Virtual Book Tour

A step by step guide to making your Virtual Book Tour a success:

http://blog.publishedandprofitable.com/2011/12/09/top-10-ways-to-promote-your-virtual-book-tour/

* Where Can I Find Great Content to Tweet?

If it matters to you and your followers, it’s great content, and here’s how to find it:

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/where-can-i-find-great-content-to-tweet_b17934

* Pinterest Tips for Writers

Pinterest is already attracting Twitter and Google-level traffic. If you’re a writer, here’s how to leverage the site:

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/pinterest-tips-for-writers_b46019

* Authors, Here’s the Social Media Platform You Should Spend Most of Your Time On

Learn why you should capture, connect and convert Facebook followers:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arielle-ford/authors-social-media-marketing_b_1144749.html

* Why Every Entrepreneur Should Self-Publish a Book

Stand out from the competition by writing a book. What you should know:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/28/why-every-entrepreneur-should-self-publish-a-book/

* 3 Creative Ways to Promote Your Book With Social Media

Have fun, and think of ways you can engage your readers:

http://socialtimes.com/5-creative-ways-to-promote-your-book-with-social-media_b88460

If you’re trying to market your published work, chances are you’re using the Internet to promote it in one way or another. If you’re developing the promotional content on your own, understanding a few key rules can help you write for the web more effectively. You’ll benefit from knowing how writing for the web is both similar to and different from traditional writing forms.

How writing for the web is similar to traditional writing

Many traditional writing rules apply when writing copy for online marketing.

• Support your claims with research. Directly linking to outside research makes citing sources online extremely easy.
• Connect to your specific audience. As with traditional writing, well-written and highly informed pieces will go unread if you can’t keep readers’ attention.
• Use action verbs. When telling a story, action verbs drive the storyline. In marketing, action verbs encourage people to buy your product, which, in this case, is your writing.
• Edit with a vengeance. You wouldn’t publish an article or book without having it thoroughly edited. Promotional copy should be no different as errors divert potential customers.
• Be consistent. If you use a blog to promote your work, you need to update it regularly and with a similar style and tone.

How writing for the web differs from traditional writing

Conversely, writing effective copy for online marketing also requires you to go against some traditional writing rules.

• Formatting should be short and sweet. When writing for online consumption, you have to hold the interest of your readers. Keep all formatting as concise and efficient as possible. Online audiences typically don’t feel compelled to read an article composed of a seemingly infinite number of paragraphs.
• Use bullets to make key points obvious. Whereas you might take paragraphs to explain an idea in traditional writing, web consumption requires you to make your point as efficiently as possible.
• Explain the benefits explicitly. When promoting a product, you’re trying to advise people what to do rather than let them come to their own conclusions. To effectively persuade online readers, tell them what your product will do for them.

My final piece of advice is this: include visuals whenever appropriate. When posting marketing content online, your written word alone usually isn’t enough. Even if your web writing is top-notch, you’ll still have to attract and keep the attention of your audience. Include relevant photos, videos and infographics to further convey your message.

As a writer, you can appreciate well-thought-out and well-written content on the web. Whether you’re writing for a professional website, personal blog or other online forum, you must do so effectively if you want to successfully market yourself, your work and your craft itself.

Danielle Rodabaugh is the editor for SuretyBonds.com, a nationwide surety producer that publishes educational resources about developments in the surety industry. Danielle also writes about her online marketing experience to help entrepreneurs and business owners make the most of their ventures.

**************

* The New Author Pitch: Show, Don’t Sell

Learn how to use the right words to get noticed by the various audiences you want to reach:

http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2012/01/16/the-new-author-pitch-show-don%E2%80%99t-sell/

* What Are The Best Times to Blog?

Based on this infographic, there is one particular time that is perfect for your post to go live:

http://danzarrella.com/infographic-what-are-the-best-times-to-blog.html

* 3 Metrics that Will Change the Way You Market on Facebook

Understanding what to track will allow you to get the most out of Facebook:

http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/facebook-metrics-marketing/

* How to Increase Your Book’s Amazon Rank

It’s about building visibility and credibility, as one author explains:

http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/author-interviews/how-to-increase-your-books-amazon-rank/

* 11 Marketing Tips for LinkedIn

Did you know LinkedIn has 135 million users? Here are ways to use LinkedIn to your advantage:

http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/01/16/11-useful-tips-for-marketing-your-brand-on-linkedin/

* An Interesting Graph on Best Times for Posting

Timing does matter, and this study may have you considering some new options for posting content:

http://danzarrella.com/infographic-how-to-use-contra-competitive-timing-for-more-retweets-likes-comments-and-clicks.html

* Facebook Plugins Keep People On Websites 50% Longer

Logging in with Facebook is not just convenient; it keeps users on those websites longer:

http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-plugins-sticky-2012-01

**************

* 30 Inspiring Ideas To Develop Content For Your Blog

Learn how to create content that keeps your readers coming back for more:

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2010/12/17/30-inspiring-ideas-to-develop-content-for-your-blog/

* 5 Ways Brands Can Use Pinterest to Boost Consumer Engagement

Did you know Pinterest is one of the top 10 most visited social networks? See what it can do:

http://mashable.com/2012/01/10/pinterest-business-consumer-engagement/

* 4 Ways the New Facebook Insights Can Grow Your Fans

Facebook has improved its metrics so you can discover what your fans really want, and then provide it to them:

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/4-ways-the-new-facebook-insights-can-grow-your-fans/

* The 4 Social Media Marketing Secrets Of A New York Times Best Seller

Your blog can be key to reaching out to your audience and building a fan base before your book even comes out:

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2010/12/21/the-4-social-media-marketing-secrets-of-a-new-york-times-best-seller/

* How to Monitor Twitter: For Businesses of All Sizes

If you use Twitter, you should monitor the conversation. Here’s how:

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/how-to-monitor-twitter-for-businesses-of-all-sizes_b136

* Advice for Authors, Part One and Part Two

Author and marketing guru Seth Godin offers some timely tips on publishing and marketing your book, written a few years ago but still relevant:

http://www.thedominoproject.com/2012/01/advice-for-authors-part-one-and-part-two.html

I have made some noise in my blog about the fact that I’m going all eBook.  I have a list of reasons, but there is always that alter-ego of mine called “buyer’s remorse” who is telling me that I’m killing myself.  Read on, Barry Eisler and Joe Konrath, and console me.

Let’s enumerate the reasons again.  The top one is that I can’t afford to keep on paying for POD.  Even though prices have come down and service has gone up (I have no complaints about Infinity Publishing’s production of trade paperbacks, for example), for the same price I can produce multiple eBooks.  I have many stories I want to tell.  If this paradigm shift to digital publishing continues, eBook media is my most economical route.

It’s a toss-up which media, eBook or trade paperback, is most effective for marketing, something I’m forced to do on my own.  I can’t afford even a small ad in the NY Times Book Review section, let alone a trailer that is shown on TV, but that’s true whether I’m marketing an eBook or a trade paperback.  As for book signings and/or discussions in more traditional venues (bookstores, libraries, book groups, and eclectic coffee shops), I’d say the eBook is at a distinct disadvantage.  It’s also hard to put an eBook in someone’s stocking at Christmas.

The eBook has an important marketing advantage that counts more for me:  It’s easy to get an eBook to a reviewer.  An author doesn’t sell that many books in the traditional venues, especially if you take into account that indie authors are seldom invited to present in these venues.  Mary Higgins Clark or Stephen King can sell a few more, I suppose, because they already have name recognition—an adoring public wants to attend so they can say they saw the famous author up close and in person.  (To Mary’s credit, she recently appeared in our Montclair Public Library, but she was reading to children.  At least the adoration was second hand, through the parents.  The kids didn’t get there by Star Trek transporter.)

A reviewer that wants a hardcover or trade paperback to review won’t get it as fast as one that will receive an eBook.  In my case, if it’s a recent book of mine, he or she won’t ever get it because there’s only an eBook version.  On the other hand, if he or she accepts an eBook, I can gift it immediately (assuming they have an internet address).  I review for Bookpleasures.com.  I prefer to review eBooks and will ask for the eBook version, if it exists, for precisely this reason.  Snail mail is so passé, costly, and inefficient.

Image via Wikipedia

But there’s the conundrum.  The digital revolution in general, and eBooks in particular, exist due to the internet.  The monster lurking in the closet is that not everyone has a fast internet connection.  These connections are more or less limited to heavily populated areas.  My brother, bless his soul, lived in rural Ohio for many years.  In spite of the close proximity to Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, he struggled with slow internet connections for most of those years.  It’s a fact of life in rural areas.

There is the fact that these rural areas are falling behind in the information revolution.  The N.Y. Times last Sunday had a good article about this.  The Times sees this as a blow against equal opportunities for all Americans.  I’m not sure people in rural areas see it that way.  Nevertheless, it presents a real problem for eBooks and the digital paradigm shift in book publishing.

Even in a cabin in the backwoods of the Sierra Nevada, I can sit down and read—maybe by lantern light, but I can still read.  But I probably can’t have an internet hookup, even a slow one.  That means that if I’m reading my Kindle, I can’t download a new book to read in situ.  Of course, I can’t order a new trade paperback either.  But, if I had that internet connection, I could download and be reading my new acquisition within minutes before the snail mail person can even start thinking about how to get through the snow to deliver the paperback to the nearest general store.

Do you see my point?  By restricting myself to eBook publication, I’m also restricting my potential audience.  Not only is there the chance that no one in rural areas will read my eBook (what are the chances that the local library has it on loan?).  There are also many people who just aren’t into eBooks.  They can’t get past that pleasure of turning the page, dog-earing pages with pithy prose, jotting down notes in the margins, etc.  I know.  I thought I was one of them.  Now I can’t imagine life without my Kindle.

So, Barry and Joe, what kind words of consolation do you offer?  I don’t know how the demographics work.  Maybe those rural areas don’t count for much, population-wise, but I know that if lived there I would be even more prone to entertain myself with a good book.  The nearest movie theater and ethnic restaurant might be many, many miles away (I don’t count overcooked Chinese vegetables in Utah or molasses-consistency chili con carne in Iowa as good ethnic food).  A nice provolone and salami sandwich on rye, my one-fingered glass of Jameson’s, and a good book sounds like the way to go.

I guess I must accept that there are many readers that I just can’t reach.  I don’t reach many now anyway, even with the wonderful internet at my disposal.  Barry and Joe have name recognition.  I don’t.  Apparently many people read my blog but don’t buy my books.  Maybe you just don’t like paying for stuff.  Sorry.  My eBooks are bargains (I don’t charge by the hour).  Nevertheless, I need to recover expenses, even if I’m choosing a media, eBooks, that offers the least expensive way to put my stories before the public.

***

Steven M. Moore has written six sci-fi thrillers:  The Secret Lab, The Midas Bomb, Full Medical, Evil Agenda, Soldiers of God, and Survivors of the Chaos.  The first is a novel for young adults.  His interests include mathematics, physics, forensics, genetics, robotics, and scientific ethics, as well as writing dystopian novels containing a glimmer of hope.  He has an active blog comprised of op-ed posts, book reviews, interviews, short stories, and comments on the writing business.  His wife and he currently live in New Jersey.  Visit him at his website: http://stevenmmoore.com.

**************

* 12 Marketing Skills Every Writer Needs

Become a savvy promoter with these tips and you’ll take your writing career to the next level:

http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.org/blog/2012/12-marketing-skills-every-writer-now-needs/

* Your Top 12 Author Marketing Moves for 2012

Set some priorities that will move you in the right direction for the new year:

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/your-top-12-author-marketing-moves-for-2012

* Top 10 Ways to Promote Your Facebook Page

Grow your fan base with these easy to implement ideas:

http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/book_marketing_maven/2012/01/top-10-ways-to-promote-your-facebook-page.html

* 5 Ways to Use Google+ to Improve Your Search Engine Optimization

Google+ has a big impact on Google search, so make the most of your account:

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-you-can-use-google-plus-to-impact-search/

* Your 10 Point Checklist for Growing Your Blog in 2012

Review your blog, set some goals and turn your blog into a successful piece of your promotion:

http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/10-ways-to-grow-your-blog/

* Do Authors Have to be Social? No, But it Helps

Image via CrunchBase

You can connect directly with your readers – and potential readers – for starters.

http://gigaom.com/2012/01/06/do-authors-have-to-be-social-no-but-it-helps/

About our guest: Mari Smith is a social media expert and trainer who is considered the queen of Facebook. She was dubbed “the Pied Piper of the Online World” by Fastcompany.com. http://www.marismith.com/books/

People have always done business with people they know, like, and trust. That’s what relationship marketing is all about. In today’s world, thanks to social networking online, there are new, more direct ways of connecting with potential fans, buyers, associates, etc. Mari explains how it all works.

* Traditional marketing focuses on the transaction and closing the sale.

* Relationship marketing focuses on building long-term relationships with customers and clients. Social media makes this kind of relationship building easier than ever.

For example, Facebook has reduced the six degrees of separation to four, Mari says.

That means if you really want to go after specific influencers or potential clients you can court them via social media. You will find all manner of information on them. Do your homework and come into the relationship demonstrating that you care, that you know something about them.

The Hollywood Squares approach

Mari thought it was cool to use this idea: she created a grid of 16 to 25 people similar to the game show. The squares can include celebrities or influencers – these are people you’d like to meet, share information with, etc. Once your squares have been filled you must be deliberate and strategic about reaching out to them. Handpick individuals you really want to meet. Mari had 20 people on her squares and has finally met all of them; she’ll now work on her next set.

Personalization matters

What are some things you can do before a networking event? Mari says: do homework. People want to be seen, heard and acknowledged. With minimal effort you can find out about people in advance using social media.

Mari uses the hashtag on Twitter, which helps to group Tweets together from the same event such as #BlogWorld. Mari will reach out to people she’d like to network with, Tweet to them and indicate she is looking forward to meeting them.

Build on those relationships over time, in person.

Using social media wisely

How much time should anyone spend networking on social media? Mari believes 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon is the minimum. If you can do two 20-minute sessions per day, even better.

Keep yourself disciplined. Otherwise you can get caught up in other things like the latest celebrity scandal. Just make sure you handle the actual relationship building. You can outsource someone to select the content you choose to share on social media, Mari says, but you should be the one actively reaching out to others to create and maintain relationships.

Generating good content is one half of the equation for relationship marketing. Engagement is the other half, although you have to make it a strategic engagement in order to get your target people into your sales funnel. You have to have good content to attract them initially and then engagement allows you to build relationships and keep them.

A word on Google+

There’s been some hype about Google+ stealing Facebook’s momentum. Mari doesn’t believe that, but Google+ is growing its own extremely loyal fan base. Silicon Valley is very devoted – people you never found on social media before have adopted Google+. They are not taking away from Facebook but creating a whole new category.

Download the full show at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2012/01/10/facebook-facts-from-social-media-expert-mari-smith

****

Upcoming Episode:

Please join us Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 at 4 p.m. Pacific for Special Guest Jim Kukral:

For over 15 years, Jim Kukral has helped small businesses and large companies like FedEx, Sherwin Williams, Ernst & Young and Progressive Auto Insurance understand how to:

* Build successful new online businesses or energize and refresh existing ones

* Leverage social media for more sales, leads and publicity

* Create imaginative marketing campaigns that get talked about

* Innovate new products and services that could positively change your business bottom line

* Attract first-class publicity that actually means something and gives an ROI

* Make more profits with less work

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2012/01/12/special-guest-jim-kukral

**************

* 5 How-to Tips to Successfully Participate in Twitter Chats

These chats can help you network with like-minded peeps. Learn how to get the most out of them:

http://blog.commpro.biz/socialmediazone/?p=3693

* Feeling overwhelmed with information overload?

You can stay current and competitive in your field without becoming overwhelmed:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/how-to-keep-up-with-every_b_1174992.html

* How to Master Your Facebook Timeline

Confused by the new look? Don’t be; the timeline feature can be a great marketing tool:

http://www.ghanamma.com/2011/12/how-to-master-your-facebook-timeline/

* How To Get Book Reviews

Testimonials for your book help attract readers/buyers. Here’s how to get started:

http://www.savvyselfpublishing.com/bookreviews/how-to-get-book-reviews

* 5 Twitter Changes and How to Make the Most of Them

The new features make it easier than ever to grow your following:

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-twitter-changes-and-how-to-make-the-most-of-them/

* 6 Social Media Sites to Watch in 2012

Google+, Pinterest and Tumblr are at the top of the list:

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2012/01/03/6-social-media-networks-to-watch-in-2012-plus-infographics/

* 7 Best Practices for Building an Online Presence

You’ll be more successful (and less overwhelmed) when you implement these ideas:

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/7-best-practices-for-building-an-online-presence

THE BOOK MARKETING EXPERT NEWSLETTER!

A newsletter all about SUCCESSFUL publishing and POWERFUL promotion.

Jan. 5, 2012 Issue #263

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

in this issue

– Note From The Editor

– How to Write a Book Proposal

– Fine-Tune Your Local Pitching

– Maximize Your Twitter Marketing

– Self-Publishing Marketing Spreadsheet

– What Authors Must Know About Platforms

– How To Collect E-Mail Addresses

– 10 Dead-Honest Reasons Reporters Delete Your Emails

– Marketing and Promotion Tips From Chris Brogan

– Google+ Tips for Writers and Authors

– Using LinkedIn More Effectively

– Publishing Insiders: Facebook Facts From Social Media Expert Mari Smith

– It’s All About You

– Who’s Following You?

– Use Twitter and Facebook for Press Releases

– Press Kit Basics

– Tips for Getting Booked on National TV

– Create Sound Bites That the Media Find Scrumptious

– Indie Author Publishing Conference & Pitchapalooza!

– WHO ARE WE

– ————————————————————

Penny C. Sansevieri, Editor penny@amarketingexpert.com

Welcome to a new issue of THE BOOK MARKETING EXPERT NEWSLETTER.

You are receiving this newsletter compliments of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. To opt out, please scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter.

Note From The Editor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome to another issue of the Book Marketing Expert Newsletter!

Dear Author,

Welcome to 2012! So far the new year has been fantastic for us; we hope it’s that way for you too. I’m so excited to announce that I’ve begun writing for PRNewswire, as well as Social Media Magazines. We will be offering our subscribers an exclusive free membership to this site, so stay tuned! You can find the link to my recent article at PR Newswire here: http://www.smallbusinesspr.com/pr-learning-center/small-biz-articles/The-New-PR-Turning-Fans-Into-Evangelists.html

We hope you enjoy the second half of our “Best Of” issue. Many of our readers love these issues and save them. We love that And did you see our new YouTube channel? Check us out at http://www.youtube.com/bookmarketingAME – we had our channel redesigned and optimized. Thanks to Susan Gilbert for her hard work.

We are so glad you’re back for another year of marketing and promotion. We promise to keep it relevant and interesting, and we hope that you will keep reading!

Penny, Paula, Amy, Bonnie and everyone at Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

How to Write a Book Proposal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even self-published authors benefit from writing a proposal, which serves as a road map for your book. It will help you identify your market, develop a marketing plan and much more: http://www.sellingbooks.com/how-to-write-a-book-proposal-and-why-you-should-even-if-you-self-publish/

Fine-Tune Your Local Pitching

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Re-purposing a national pitch for local media is not always the most effective strategy. Here are some ideas to consider when pitching media in your back yard: http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/five-tips-for-more-effective-local-pitching_b22887

Maximize Your Twitter Marketing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Discover how to get more for your marketing efforts from Twitter: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/4-tips-to-maximize-your-twitter-marketing/

Self-Publishing Marketing Spreadsheet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Overwhelmed with all the marketing ideas you have and worried you can’t keep track? Have no fear; author Jenny Blake shared the spreadsheet she uses to keep organized and it’s a really handy tool! http://www.thedominoproject.com/2011/06/a-spreadsheet-for-the-self-published.html

What Authors Must Know About Platforms

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Book Deal blog by Alan Rinzler has a great piece on “The New Author Platform” – What You Need to Know. A must-read for authors navigating the online book world:  http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2011/07/25/the-new-author-platform-what-you-need-to-know/

How To Collect E-Mail Addresses

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emails are a valuable marketing tool, but getting people to give you a valid address is not as simple as passing around a sheet of paper at an event. Learn why email addresses matter and how you can grow your list successfully: http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/2009/02/golden-nugget-collect-e-mail-addresses_26.html

10 Dead-Honest Reasons Reporters Delete Your Emails

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Learn how you can get your emails through – and you don’t have to be famous for these tips to work: http://www.businessinsider.com/10-secrets-to-pitching-reporters-when-no-one-knows-who-the-hell-you-are-2011-6?op=1

Marketing and Promotion Tips From Chris Brogan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author and social media expert Chris Brogan recently ran a great series on all aspects of writing a book, including some marketing tips: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/writing-a-book-marketing-and-promotion-2/

Google+ Tips for Writers and Authors

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whether you’re a writer, reader, or presenter, Google+ likely has something to offer you. Check out these suggestions on how you can utilize G+ to your advantage: http://workflowwriting.com/632009/gaga-for-google-great-ways-for-writers-authors-speakers-and-readers-to-use-google.php

Using LinkedIn More Effectively

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Round out your social media presence with LinkedIn – it’s a great site for networking. Think of the site as a giant online, interactive Rolodex: http://blog.commpro.biz/socialmediazone/?p=2335

Publishing Insiders: Facebook Facts From Social Media Expert Mari Smith

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be in the know and hear what the publishing insiders: Penny Sansevieri, CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. – and her guests – have to offer in terms of tips and insights into the industry! Listen here.

Upcoming show:

Facebook Facts From Social Media Expert Mari Smith, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 4 p.m. Pacific

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2012/01/10/facebook-facts-from-social-media-expert-mari-smith

Facebook has gone through tremendous changes in the past few months. Expert and Facebook guru Mari Smith will discuss what’s new, what counts and how to make the most of your presence on Facebook.

About our guest: Mari Smith is a social media expert and trainer who is considered the queen of Facebook. She was dubbed “the Pied Piper of the Online World” by Fastcompany.com.

It’s All About You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your “About” page is a well-trafficked part of your blog, but does it really tell people what they need to know? Here are 10 rules to consider: http://thestoryoftelling.com/10-rules-for-writing-about-me-page/

Who’s Following You?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ready to analyze your followers? Formulists http://formulists.com/ puts your followers into buckets so you know who they are, what they do, etc. Great service!

Use Twitter and Facebook for Press Releases

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Both Twitter and Facebook are great venues for sharing your publicity. Learn how to make the most of both sites for your PR: http://smedio.com/2010/10/25/how-to-use-twitter-and-facebook-for-press-release/

Press Kit Basics

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Learn what every media kit should have, and why you should have online and offline kits: http://wordpreneur.com/how-to-create-an-effective-press-kit-for-your-book/

Tips for Getting Booked on National TV

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The producer of Anderson Cooper’s new daytime show made suggestions to Arielle Ford: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arielle-ford/book-marketing-tips_b_1082213.html

Create Sound Bites That the Media Find Scrumptious

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you pre-plan sound bites prior to an interview you raise your chances of getting coverage: http://publicityhound.net/creating-sound-bites-that-the-media-find-scrumptious/

Indie Author Publishing Conference & Pitchapalooza!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The publishing world is changing. Whether you choose self-publishing or the traditional route, the INDIE AUTHOR PUBLISHING CONFERENCE on Saturday, Feb. 25 will help you get started, get inspired, and learn what you need to know to publish successfully. One lucky person will even win an introduction to a literary agent during our Pitchapalooza!

Here’s a list of scheduled sessions:

* It’s a great time to be an author | Presenters: Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry

* What about traditional publishing? | Presenters: Mike Slack, Annette Rogers and Gayle Shanks

* How to pitch your book | Presenters: David Henry Sterry and Arielle Eckstut

* Lunch Talk: Marketing your book | Presenter: Penny Sansevieri

* Introduction to digital publishing | Presenters: Evo Terra and Jeff Moriarty

* Alternative publishing | Presenters: Michael A. Stackpole, Sam Henrie and Gwen Henson

* Working with bookstores and libraries: Best practices | Presenters: Gayle Shanks, Kathleen Sullivan, Dana Braccia and Cindy Dach

For more information, visit http://www.changinghands.com/indieauthorconf

Reader Tip!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’ve got a Reader Tip you’d like to share, please send it to penny@amarketingexpert.com with the subject line “reader tip.” Submissions should be 75 words or less.

WHO ARE WE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Marketing Experts, Inc. is a full-service book marketing, promotion, and publicity company. We serve authors at all stages of marketing and promotion. We offer a full range of packages and services to choose from.

To see a price list or schedule a free consultation, send your e-mail to penny@amarketingexpert.com with the subject line “Author Services Info.” You can also visit our website at www.amarketingexpert.com.

Reprint permission
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
You are welcome to reprint any items from “The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter.” However, please credit us as a source with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com
————————————————————

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like this newsletter? Pass it on!

We never rent or sell subscriber lists to any third party. Your privacy is very important to us. Always.

To subscribe to this newsletter, click here: subscribe@amarketingexpert.com.

—– Copyright 2012 Author Marketing Experts, Inc. —–

Follow us on Twitter

Keep up with the AME blog

Like our Facebook Page

Join us on Google+

Contact Information

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

email: penny@amarketingexpert.com

web: http://www.amarketingexpert.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Eight Steps to Successfully Market Your Book Online

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Regardless of where you go or how you pitch, you must know your market and understand how to effectively reach them and abide by the rules of the online road. Here are a few to consider:

http://www.amarketingexpert.com/eight-steps-for-successfully-marketing-yourself-online/

* What It Takes To Crack The Bestseller Lists (And Why You Might Not Want To)

Image via CrunchBase

I decided to do a little research to find out what it really takes to hit a list.

http://www.amarketingexpert.com/from-book-to-bestseller-what-it-takes-to-crack-the-list-and-why-you-might-not-want-to/

* Thirty Ways to Make Yourself Irresistible to the Media

On average, the media rejects 95% of pitches they get. How can you become part of the 5% that get picked up for a story? First, you need to know the reasons why pitches get rejected. Keep in mind these aren’t the only reasons, but certainly the majority of them:

http://www.amarketingexpert.com/thirty-ways-to-make-yourself-irresistible-to-the-media/

* Why Regional Pitching Can Leverage Big Success

One of the things I’ve found about regional promotion is that it can often surprise you. When we worked on The Kennedy Detail last November, we had enormous success regionally, while major stations and national markets seemed to lag in interest for this exceptional title. In fact, I believe that part of the reason this book hit the bestseller list was because of the regional buzz.

http://www.amarketingexpert.com/why-regional-pitching-can-leverage-big-success/