in this issue

— Note From The Editor

— How to Sell Lots of Books on Amazon

— Featured Article – Email is Dead

— 5 Minutes for Mom

— AME-University: Book Marketing, Publishing, and Internet Marketing classes

— What Type of Content Works Best on Social Media Sites?

— Book Bits and Bites

— Book Signing Secret

— The Top 20 Websites to Check Out

— Another Reason Twitter Matters

— Nominations Open for National Indie Excellence Awards

— Check Out The Publishing Insiders

— Facebook Still Experiencing Growth

— Now is the Best Time for Book Promotion

— Self-Publishing Expo Set for Nov. 7

— Our Products Help Your Success

— Twitter Tip: Twitter Counter

— Twitter Tip: Twitterholic

— Reader Tip!

— WHO ARE WE

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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

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Welcome to another issue of the Book Marketing Expert Newsletter!

Dear Author,

What an outstanding weekend I had! Were you at the 21st Century Book event here in San Diego? If you weren’t, you missed out on an outstanding event. I was on stage with Arielle Ford, Debbie Ford, Mari Smith, and our very own Marci Shimoff, who we promoted (her amazing book: Happy for No Reason). I had a fantastic time, and the room was packed with 300 authors hungry for information. I hope you made it, if you didn’t, I think the event will be available on DVD fairly soon. When it is, I’ll let you know. It’s a set worth having!

So, are you ready to kick your email account to the curb? Well, you might not have to, it seems like email is dying on its own. This week we’re taking a hard look at email and its effectiveness on your campaign. Does it even work as a marketing tool? Not so much. I hope you enjoy the article!

We’ve got another packed issue and we’re thrilled to have you back again, thank you for reading. I met a few subscribers this weekend, it’s always great to meet readers in person. So thank you again – for reading and passing along our newsletter!

Wishing you continued publishing success,

Penny, Paula, Susan, Alex, Nancy and everyone at Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Bookgal.

P.P.S. Check out our blog!

We offer great tips and insights, such as: ‘Becoming a Syndication Sensation:’

http://amarketingexpert.com/ameblog/uncategorized/becoming-a-syndication-sensation/

How to Sell Lots of Books on Amazon

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Our New Author’s Edge Book Marketing Program

Recently, a number of our clients launched Amazon bestseller email blast campaigns. But the results have been awful.

According to Wall Street Journal online, “Email’s reign is over.”

Spam filters block a very high percentage of emails. In addition, many readers receive over 300 emails every day and click delete regularly.

More and more people use Google to find the information they want. In addition, social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook are further reducing email’s power.

Based on the decline of email marketing and the excellent results our Virtual Author Tour generates, we developed the Author’s Edge program.

This system doesn’t use email marketing at all.

Author’s Edge feeds your book and content into the Internet and draws organic traffic to your website. Namely, readers that love your content and your book.

This proven system combines blogging, SEO, backlinks and social marketing in an exceptional way that sends interested book buyers directly to your web page. We will use keywords to drive targeted traffic to your website for the long-term so you continue to sell books and generate passive income long after the official program ends. Since you control your webpage, so as long as you keep it live, you can sell more books.

With this program, we will design your own custom Amazon webpage that’s attached to your website and linked to Amazon. Our team will drive traffic to your website via a very aggressive blog campaign. Our copywriters will craft a new sales letter to drive your book sales. We will help you select a package of gift bonuses or you can use bonuses from our library – often buyer behavior is driven by bonus gifts.

Book buyers can click over to Amazon and buy your book. And of course, they get the bonuses too. In addition, we will create your own Amazon affiliate program account so you can track your sales.

We expect that this program will drive boatloads of book sales for you.

In addition, as a special to Book Marketing Expert members, when you invest in this program within the next 11 days, you will receive a one-on-one 30-minute coaching session with Penny Sansevieri, author of Red Hot Internet Publicity and creator of the Virtual Author Tour.

For more information, email info@amarketingexpert.com.

Featured Article – Email is Dead

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If you’re overwhelmed with email (as I am) you probably love this headline. Let’s face it, between emails from the International Lottery (“Congratulations, today is your lucky day! Send us $500,000 and you will get a check for $3M!”) and all the other crazy emails and spam you get, it’s getting harder and harder to decipher what’s real, what’s spam, and what should just be flat out ignored.

The Wall Street Journal just did an article on this topic. They discussed the benefits of using services like Twitter, Facebook messaging and on site email, and how social networking and instant messaging are overtaking the once popular way of communicating: email. They went on to say, “Email’s reign is over.”

So, is email dead, really? Well, not entirely, but let’s face it – with spam filters swallowing everyone but Tokyo and emails often stopping at the server’s wall, it’s tough to know what gets through and what doesn’t. The problem with this is its impact on email campaigns.

If you have recently done an email campaign and wondered about the success of it, consider this: it’s likely that only 5% of the emails actually got through. No, I’m not kidding. I wish I were. And if they did get through, how many people even bothered looking at them? And of that percentage how many made a purchase? AME’s Search Engine Optimization expert Susan Gilbert agreed, and said that most online promoters are now avoiding email for promotions because effectiveness and conversion are at all-time lows.

Keep in mind that while the Journal piece refers to individual emails, this is not what we’re worried about (although that does factor into the equation). We’re really talking about marketing campaigns based on email blasts. That’s where it starts to get sticky.

When we look at things like an email newsletter (such as this one, which hopefully didn’t get caught in your spam filter), the open rate of newsletters in general has gone down. Is that because our readers have become less engaged? Doubtful. It’s likely because they aren’t seeing the newsletter in the first place. So what do we do with that? We post the newsletter on our blog so those who subscribe can see it without filtering through a zillion ad-based, junk emails. We also Twitter on it, which will then get exposure through our Twitter followers, the same with Facebook and, well, you get the idea. The new norm are these social networking sites which allow people to filter what they read and bypass the tricky email filters that don’t seem to work well, anyway.

The point is that as you’re looking for ways to promote yourself, don’t trust email to make you famous, make you a bestseller, or make you money. By all accounts, today email may be one of the worst ways to promote yourself and it’s only going to get harder. As new viruses come into our realm and hackers get craftier, spam filters and firewalls have to get tougher. This means that your outbound messages may as well sit in the outbox of your email.

If you’ve got a campaign planned that depends on the success of an email getting through, consider revamping it and moving the model to something that is more dependable. Consider running tweets on your Twitter account, or try announcing your program to your Facebook Fan page followers or those who have friended you on Squidoo.

Alternatively, have you ever considered doing a postcard or print mailing campaign? Post office volume is at an all-time low and savvy marketers should be taking advantage of this decline in mail to use it perhaps for their own marketing purposes. Some of our biggest authors and clients were secured by mailer campaigns. When done correctly, they do pay off.

The bigger message to all of us is that we need to move away from antiquated marketing methods. It’s hard to think that email is antiquated, isn’t it? And when you compare it to using the good old postal service I guess that old saying is true: “What’s old is new again.” Fashions come back into style and marketing methods have seasons, too. I believe the season for email marketing has passed, at least for now.

5 Minutes for Mom

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5 Minutes for Mom is the brainchild of Janice and Susan, identical twins, who wanted to provide an essential, go-to site for moms that entertains and informs, while promoting the online mom community.

The website is a shopping/parenting/resource blog that promotes products of interest to mothers. It’s a family-friendly site, committed to maintaining an atmosphere of respect and positivity.

They specialize in creating exciting, unique campaigns that get your message to their readers.

5 Minutes for Mom was quoted and listed as the 2nd top parenting blog in The Wall Street Journal. Technorati ranks the site in the top 400 of all listed blogs.

The site averages approximately 60,000 unique visitors, 85,000 visits and 200,000 page views per month (according to Google Analytics).

They offer product reviews and giveaways as well as custom promotion, conference sponsorships and more.

5 Minutes for Mom

Website: http://www.5minutesformom.com/

Advertising/PR: http://www.5minutesformom.com/advertise-pr/

Email: info@5minutesformom.com

AME-University: Book Marketing, Publishing, and Internet Marketing classes

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These free teleclasses from AME-University may be just the thing to get your book marketing savvy ramped up! A new class list is coming soon so be sure to check it out!

Getting Book Reviews! w/ Penny Sansevieri

NEW DATE

When: Wednesday, October 28, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Description: If you’re having a hard time getting your book reviewed, you won’t want to miss this class! We’ll teach you simple but effective ways to get your book into the hands of reviewers who will actually review it (as opposed to just saying they will). We’ll look at what a book review package should look like, what you must include and what no good kit should ever be without!

Creating a Stunning Press Kit and Media Room on Your Website (so the media will notice you!)

When: Thursday, November 19, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Description: If creating a press kit has baffled you, then don’t miss this class! We’ll talk about everything from crafting the perfect press release, to creating your bio, questions and tip sheets. We’ll also talk about the things no good press kit should be without and what you should never include in a kit! If you’ve struggled with your own kit or just aren’t sure what they should look like, then this class is for you! BONUS: We’ll also learn about electronic press kits and online press rooms.

How to join in:

To sign up or learn more about these classes send an email to author@amarketingexpert.com.

The AME website has a complete class listing for handy reference: http://amarketingexpert.com/iclasses.html.

Missed a class? Here’s an easy way to catch up on past classes, just visit the AME-University All Access Pass.

What Type of Content Works Best on Social Media Sites?

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If your goal is to build a presence on the Internet using free social networking sites, it’s imperative that you provide the right kind of content for your audience to digest. This one tip can help you develop a loyal following that appreciates your message so much they help spread your links for you to other like-minded individuals.

Web-based social media content isn’t the same kind of text that you would read in a professional publication. Your audience is used to verbiage more conversational in nature. You want to write as if you’re having a one-on-one conversation with your reader, as I am to you right now.

Content on social media sites should also be provided in easily digestible chunks. See the paragraphs I’ve created here for you? They’re not 20 lines deep. You don’t want to try to post content that would rival a novel on one single social networking page. When you have that much content, you need to break it up into multiple pages, leading your reader from one to the next – or create an info product like an eBook and sell it or give it away from the pages you create.

Depending on your goal with using these Web 2.0 social sites, you may want to practice the art of using teasers with your audience. A good teaser provides just enough value to your reader to make them believe they didn’t waste time reading your work – but it leaves them wanting a little more, which is why they’ll click through on your hyperlinks and buy your products or services.

Good social media content answers questions or solves problems that your audience has. You can use free keyword tools to figure out how consumers are searching on Google and create content online that uses those keywords and makes your Web 2.0 masterpieces “findable” on the ‘Net.

Tip offered by Susan Gilbert, AME’s Search Engine Marketing Expert and Web 2.0 company owner, http://www.JoomlaJump.com, which provides Social Networking websites and services.

Book Bits and Bites

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How to Create Readers: There really is no mystery on how to get your children to read, as Mother Reader explains in ‘I Am a Mother Reader.’ Model the behavior you want your children to exhibit.

Book by Committee: Author Neil Gaiman, already well versed in using social media, has an experiment under way in which he tweeted the first sentence in an interactive story. Now, it’s up to other Twitterers to help fill out the rest. The result will be turned into a short story, recorded as an audiobook, and made available on iTunes for free.

Tough Times for Print: Some major names in the magazine world have shut down this year. Newspapers and magazines have been struggling for some time, but 2009 may be the worst year yet. Here are the top 10 magazine closures.

Hot Holiday Gifts? E-readers are in the news as more competitors go up against Amazon’s Kindle. The winner: consumers, who will have a lot of choices this holiday shopping season. Some experts think e-book reader sales will take off this year.

Book Signing Secret

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Organize a book signing at your local book store, ideally a super store. Plan way ahead and make sure the events coordinator features your event in the calendar. You’ll grab lots of publicity. Consider scheduling your event in the third or fourth week of the month. This way, more people will see your listing. Ask them to put your book on the local author’s table or in the front window. While you’re at it, invite the media. Hey, you never know. This worked for me once. A local Northern NJ cable TV station attended my event, camera and all. I sold a lot of books. You can too.

Tip submitted by Eric Gelb, who is a copywriter specializing in back cover and jacket copy, press releases and author websites. Visit him at: www.PublishingGold.com for 6 tips about creating an author website that sells.

The Top 20 Websites to Check Out

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Time Magazine recently released a list of the Top 20 Websites of 2009 – educational, commerce, entertainment and practical tools that are helping today’s web users stay organized, share information online and quench their ever-increasing thirst for knowledge, information and immediacy. Marketing Charts offers an analysis of the list and the sites chosen.

Another Reason Twitter Matters

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Twitter users are much more likely to click through on advertisements, much more so than users of other, more traditional social networks. MarketingVOX has the scoop on the August survey of more than 9,200 Internet users.

Nominations Open for National Indie Excellence Awards

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The National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) are designed to bring recognition to titles from independent publishers. This highly respected and prestigious awards program celebrates excellence in independent publishing. The competition is judged by an independent panel of experts from all areas of the publishing industry.

The Indie Excellence Awards accept submissions from independent publishers and authors. Awards are granted in over 100 categories, and nominations are open for 2010. Visit http://www.indieexcellence.com/index.html.

Check Out The Publishing Insiders

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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.

Publishing Insiders is also available on iTunes, so you can keep up with the show wherever you go!

Facebook Still Experiencing Growth

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Where are young(er) women online? Probably Facebook; its active base grew by 8.6% in September 2009 to 88.3 million. However, Facebook still has great appeal to those over 45. Learn more about the growth and demographics of Facebook through the Marketing Charts analysis.

Now is the Best Time for Book Promotion

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Looking for inexpensive ways to promote your book? We’ve developed an exciting series of budget-friendly programs that still pack a powerful punch! Think you can’t market your book in a tough economy? Think again – we’ve got the answer! Email us for more details: info@amarketingexpert.com.

Self-Publishing Expo Set for Nov. 7

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Penny will be speaking at the Self-Publishing Book Expo on Saturday, November 7.

The first annual Self-Publishing Book Expo, at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, will bring national focus and attention to the fastest-growing segment of today’s publishing industry. Unlike any other book exhibit, the Self-Publishing Book Expo will be the only event of its kind to highlight the books of self-publishing companies and their authors, and give them the prominence and prestige they deserve.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.selfpubbookexpo.com, or contact conference organizers at: info@selfpubbookexpo.com or (212) 353-3478.

Our Products Help Your Success

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We’ve designed our products with your success in mind! Regardless of where you are in your publishing journey, we’ve got a product that will suit your needs. Check out our books, special reports, and our audio programs, all designed to help you reach publishing success!

http://amarketingexpert.com/store/

Twitter Tip: Twitter Counter

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Twitter Counter: http://www.twittercounter.com This is a great site to see where you rank in the Twitterverse. Gives you stats on your profile but others as well. It’s also got the top 100 Twitterers to follow! Check me out: http://www.twittercounter.com/compare/bookgal.

Twitter Tip: Twitterholic

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Twitterholic: http://twitterholic.com/ This site lets you check anyone’s rank if you know their Twitter name. My page on Twitterholic: http://twitterholic.com/bookgal.

Reader Tip!

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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

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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 Web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.

Reprint permission

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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://amarketingexpert.com/

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

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————————————————— ——— Copyright 2009 Author Marketing Experts, Inc. ————————————————— ———

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web: http://amarketingexpert.com/

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