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Sabrina Ricci

What a LIFE

Sunday, September 5, 2010 by Sabrina Ricci

I work at LIFE.com, which is the online version of what once was the most prestigious and iconic photojournalistic publication, Life magazine. It's a pretty sweet job. I have access to millions of photos, including some of the most famous photos of all time (think anonymous sailor kissing a nurse when WWII ended), all of which appeared in Life first. I've only been … [Read more...] about What a LIFE

Advertisers Are Getting Sneakier

Sunday, September 5, 2010 by Sabrina Ricci

Social media is a big part of indie author marketing strategies these days. But for those just starting out, it may seem daunting. When I first began using social media for platform building, I felt slightly overwhelmed. But now, after lots of practice and just incorporating social media into my daily routine, I've come to embrace it. And instead of seeing it like a chore, I see it as another way to connect and interact with people, and I've been able to build real relationships through it. Here are a few things I've learned along the way. (And if you want guidance on how to overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed, read Your Writer Platform's "Are You Building Your Writer Platform at Gunpoint?") Don't use social media just to sell books Kristen Lamb's "Social Media, Book Signings & Why Neither Directly Impact Overall Sales" goes into depth on why this is not a good strategy, but basically you don't want to spam people/just make noise, and you will not develop any real relationships this way (meaning, you won't attract real fans). Rachel Thompson suggests spending more time online finding people who may be willing to review your books, and she gives a list of suggestions in her article "Why ‘Read My Book!’ Doesn’t Work…And What To Do Instead" Focus on one or two platforms first, then build from there Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Pinterest. Google. Youtube. Goodreads. LinkedIn. Tumblr. The list goes on and on. You can be active on all these channels, but it's probably best to pick one or two and work on growing an audience there first. Every social media channel works a little differently, caters to a different audience, and has savvy users who expect others to use the network a certain way. The Book Designer's "Do You Make These Online Marketing Mistakes?" offers tips, such as establishing one audience per channel and using landing pages. Social Media Just for Writers also recommends researching your target market and then choosing your social media platform based on that in "How to Stop Wasting Time and Focus Your Book Marketing." For advice on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, and YouTube, read DBW's "The Book Marketing Social Media Hierarchy: Which Sites to Use for Which Purposes." Business Insider broke down the demographics of some of the social media platforms. According to them, the 45- to 54-year-old demographic is growing, "27% of 18 to 29-year-olds in the U.S. use Twitter," LinkedIn and Google+ are mostly male, Pinterest is mostly women on tablets, and Tumblr is mostly teens and young adults. Eventually you can expand into other platforms. For a case study on why, read Kate Tilton's "Why I Use Different Social Media Networks (And You Should Too) by @K8Tilton." For help determining which platform is best for you, read these articles: "Instagram: Should You Be On It?" on Indies Unlimited "How Tumblr Turned a Book Into a Bestseller" on GoodeReader "Pinterest Unveils Buyable Pins, A Way To Purchase Things Directly Within Pinterest" on TechCrunch "Pinterest Update: More Ways Authors Can Use Pinterest!" on Writers Win "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Pinterest" on Musings and Marvels "How I Made it to the Front Page of BuzzFeed Twice, and How You Can Too" on Matthew Barby "Surprising News in Social Media – And a Twitter Tip" on Social Media Just for Writers "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Twitter" on Musings and Marvels "Guest Post: 8 Secrets to Increase Your Twitter Followers" on Musings and Marvels "Guest Post: What Everybody Ought To Know About Facebook Account Management" on Musings and Marvels "Guest Post: Want to Step Up Your Facebook?" on Musings and Marvels "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Goodreads" on Musings and Marvels "Indie Author Marketing Guide: LinkedIn" on Musings and Marvels "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Google Plus" on Musings and Marvels "Which Social Media and Marketing Tools Are Publishers Actually Using Successfully" on DBW Strategize how you will build your platform Erindor Press's "Platform Building Primer" is a good start, and advocates setting expectations and figuring out the best way to share content, either via blogging, email newsletters, or something else (and you can use social media to promote that content). The Loneliest Planet shared a post, called "One Writer's Platform (Part 2) Events and PR," which goes over techniques of marketing offline (such as doing public readings and lectures) but also adds that it's worth taping these performances and uploading them to Youtube to share. Use lots of images/visuals People tend to engage more with posts, tweets, etc. that are visual. According to Rebekah Radice's "5 Steps to Get Massive Engagement With Your Visual Content," "43% of social media users share pictures." She recommends having consistent colors, using templates, appropriate fonts, and to create infographics, images, and videos. Build Book Buzz recommends creating different types of images, including picture quotes, tipographics, and infographics. For tips on how to actually create these images, read Social Media Just For Writer's "Writers: Use Visuals to Market Your Books." Make use of social media tools Here's a list of resources, along with helpful tips and links to additional tools: Kate Tilton Social Media Resources Kate Tilton Authors on Instagram Kate Tilton Book Bloggers on Instagram Social Media Examiner Storyfinds Momentum RelayStation Magnolia Media Network Books Go Social Keep up to date on new platforms and tools Lastly, the social media landscape is constantly changing, so it's good to stay up to date. One example of a relatively new tool/platform is Aerbook, which according to PW turns social media into a virtual bookstore. Earlier this year, Social Media Just for Writers wrote about how indie authors can use Aerbook, which allows you to share previews and even sell ebooks on social media networks, as well as see analytics on your shares. According to the article, there are three product plans to choose from: Aerbook Retail is free, no credit card required. It gives you the social look inside the book, email capture popups within the sample, stats on how the book is used, and the ability to share the link and also get web page widgets that launch the Aerbook. This plan lets you sell the book directly through Aerbook, and our service earns 15% of the purchase price after credit card fees are deducted. Aerbook Plus gives you everything Aerbook Retail delivers, plus lets you add links to other retailers, like Amazon, iBooks, or even your own purchase page. Aerbook Plus is $49 per year. Aerbook Flyer includes everything above, but there’s no direct sale through Aerbook’s commerce service. You’ll add links to other retailers. Flyer also lets you do book giveaways, and includes 500 directly delivered, complete books annually. Flyer is $99 per year. Got any social media tips? Please share in the comments!

Last week, I saw the movie The Switch. Afterwards, I got suckered into taking a couple surveys outside the theater. I was told that I could earn thousands of points just answering questions about TV shows on a machine labeled Nielsen, and I could use those points to pay my gas expenses for the next month. Well maybe not an entire month but at least a few miles. Thanks to my … [Read more...] about Advertisers Are Getting Sneakier

Writing Non-Fiction for Children

Thursday, November 26, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

Nonfiction children's writing covers a very broad category. I was not aware just how broad nonfiction children's writing can be though, until I read Anastasia Suen's book, Picture Writing: A New Approach to Writing for Kids and Teens. So, here is a list of information I have gleaned from Suen about writing nonfiction for children. Read more here. … [Read more...] about Writing Non-Fiction for Children

Copy-Editing Tips

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

By Phoebe (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

There is a fine line when it comes to copy-editing and copy-reading. On the one hand, as a copy-editor, it is your responsibility to correct all grammar mistakes, make sure the writing flows, and fact-check. But on the  other hand, you also have to be mindful of the writer's style, and be courteous when making suggestions. Here are some suggestions as to how to be a polite, … [Read more...] about Copy-Editing Tips

Taking online classes

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

By Airman 1st Class Devin N. Boyer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

For the past five or six weeks I have been taking online creative writing classes via the UCLA Extension program. I had never taken an online class before, although I know some universities are starting to incorporate them into their coursework, so I did not know what to expect. As of now, I am about halfway through the courses, and I am enrolled in three classes, where I am … [Read more...] about Taking online classes

How to Write a Press Release

Saturday, October 24, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

By Superikonoskop (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Writing a press release may seem a little intimidating at first, but by following the following guidelines, it can be fairly easy. Press releases are meant to get specific information out to the media, so that the media can pass on that information to a mass audience. With that in mind, remember that all journalists need to answer the basic  questions of who, what, where, … [Read more...] about How to Write a Press Release

Types of Writing Part 2

Saturday, October 17, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

In this article are definitions for various types of children's books and freelance nonfiction. This is not an exhaustive list; it is merely a list of words and definitions I have come across so far relating to writing for money. Read it here. … [Read more...] about Types of Writing Part 2

Types of Writing Part 1

Saturday, October 17, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

So, I have recently broken into the world of creative writing, and I was a little surprised to find out just how many types of creative writing forms exist. Here's a list with definitions of all the creative writing forms I have stumbled upon so far. I hope it helps those of you who are also just getting started on your creative writing. This is not meant to be an exhaustive … [Read more...] about Types of Writing Part 1

Writing For a Newspaper Part 2

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

Here is the second part of my tips for writing for a newspaper. Writing Articles After all the interviewing and hunting for information, the actual writing of the article is fairly simple, and much like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You have to figure out the most important parts of the story, and then piece together the rest in a way that flows. Read more here. … [Read more...] about Writing For a Newspaper Part 2

How To Write a Strong Cover Letter

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

Writing a cover letter can seem like a daunting task. However, when you submit a cover letter along with your resume, you are showing  your potential employer initiative and you are setting yourself apart from your competition. The following guidelines will help you write a strong cover letter. Read it here. … [Read more...] about How To Write a Strong Cover Letter

Writing Styles

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

There are many types of writing, and it's amazing how each style of writing is so different from other styles of writing. For example, technical writing tends to be more cut-and-dry and explanatory, whereas creative  writing is all about good descriptions and telling a story via a character's actions instead of explaining what is going on. And then there is legal writing, which … [Read more...] about Writing Styles

Writing For a Magazine

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

Writing for a magazine can be a difficult transition from writing for a newspaper. At least that's how it was for me. The first time I wrote anything magazine style was actually for a class I took to earn my Professional Writing minor. I remember being a little smug. Since I had spent the last couple years working for a daily newspaper, I figured magazine writing would be … [Read more...] about Writing For a Magazine

Writing for a Newspaper Part 1

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

Writing for a newspaper can sometimes be tricky. When I first started writing for a daily newspaper, I had to learn a lot of the tricks of the trade as I went along. But sometimes this ended up being quite frustrating.  So, here are some tips I have learned over the past few years. Read it here. … [Read more...] about Writing for a Newspaper Part 1

How To Improve Your Grammar

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 by Sabrina Ricci

When it comes to writing for a living, grammar is incredibly important. However, many people may not have learned about English grammar since middle school. So here are some common grammar rules that are not always easy  to remember. Read it here. … [Read more...] about How To Improve Your Grammar

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Books for Indie Authors

Books for Indie Authors

Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book
Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book
by Tim Grahl
tagged: indie-publishing and to-read
The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively
it was amazing
The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively
by Nina Amir
Other reviewers have called The Author Training Manual a must-read, and I have to agree. Nina Amir has compiled a great amount of research, experience, and real-life samples that can help any other, self-published, traditionally publishe...
tagged: indie-publishing

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