We all know every social media platform is different, and as indie authors you should have different approaches for each. Each platform is constantly updating and evolving. Here's the latest on some of them. Twitter Some people use Twitter to tweet novels, one line at a time. People also use Twitter to share news and stay in touch. People also build bots and in some cases, … [Read more...] about Keeping Up To Date With Social Media Platforms
Marketing
Becoming a Speaker
One of my goals this year is to do more speaking gigs. I've done a few, mostly about dinosaurs (but also about self-publishing). There are many articles out there about the benefits of public speaking. As an author, it can be a way to help sell more books, or vice-versa: you can publish a book in your niche to get more speaking gigs. Additionally, getting more comfortable … [Read more...] about Becoming a Speaker
Tips and Tricks for Content Marketing
Content marketing can be very powerful. According to Content Marketing Institute (CMI): Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action. When it comes to the type of content to create, there … [Read more...] about Tips and Tricks for Content Marketing
Ideas for Promoting Your Book
Book promotion comes in all shapes and sizes. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Book Visuals and Pricing It starts with your book cover. The Book Designer talks about recent cover trends that may give you some ideas (what colors to use, how to use typography, types of images, and more). For print books especially, you'll also want to work on the spine and the back … [Read more...] about Ideas for Promoting Your Book
Social Media Updates and Trends
It's the beginning of a new year, so it makes sense to revisit the world of social media and marketing. There's been a lot of updates. Some of them pertain more to personal use, and others can be handy for building your brand. Influencers and Content Trends It's good to stay on top of trends. CMO published an article about how people check email less, smart speakers are … [Read more...] about Social Media Updates and Trends
What Makes a Book Successful? A Case Study of 4 Bestselling Books
At first glance these four books, The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep, The SheepOver, The Girl on the Train, and Henna House, may not seem to have much in common. What's interesting about them though is how they became best seller books. The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep From August to October of 2015, The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep by Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin was a … [Read more...] about What Makes a Book Successful? A Case Study of 4 Bestselling Books
5 Strategies for Writers to Market and Monetize Their Work and Expand Their Audience
As an indie author, there are so many tools and strategies you can employ to grow your audience and even monetize your work. Below are 5: videos, podcasting, merchandising, crowdfunding, and social media. Videos Videos are a great way to connect with your audience on a more personal level. There are a few tools and resources to help you get started in creating content: … [Read more...] about 5 Strategies for Writers to Market and Monetize Their Work and Expand Their Audience
Guest Post: Ebook Promotion Tips, How to Attract and Engage Readers
By Athar Majeed To expose your ebook to many readers as possible, here are some creative ideas to promote it. Just like its paper counterpart, an ebook requires effective promotion strategies to reach the readers. Frankly speaking, no matter how great and informative your book is, it would serve its purpose only if it gets into the hands of the readers. Effective marketing … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Ebook Promotion Tips, How to Attract and Engage Readers
Social Media Tips and Tricks
Social media platforms (and online platforms in general) are constantly changing. Here are a few new features and tips: Pinterest Pinterest now has a more ways of shopping via the platform. Pins now have pricing and stock information, and have links that go directly to the retailer's site. These Product Pins are also more discoverable on the home feed and other parts of the … [Read more...] about Social Media Tips and Tricks
Storytelling and Marketing with Videos
There are many ways to tell stories, and to market your work. One way I've been toying around with recently is video. Here's an example of a video I made for my I Know Dino channel: In the future, I may add some audio narration. At the time, I was thinking people would only be interested in the visuals. Anyway, Content Marketing Institute shares a number of reasons … [Read more...] about Storytelling and Marketing with Videos
Media Kits and Author Websites
When it comes to marketing, it pays to have a strategy. According to Content Marketing Institute, you should build systems, figure out goals, and streamline your processes. One way to do this is by building an author website. But before you do that, you'll want to determine your target audience. Your Writer Platform has a step by step guide on finding your audience, which … [Read more...] about Media Kits and Author Websites
Tips for Getting Opt Ins to Your Email List
I've been doing a lot of research lately about building email lists and writing effective newsletters. Of course, one of the keys is to get people to opt in to your email list. There are a lot of examples and articles about how to entice people to opt in. The most simple way is to have a box on your site where people can sign up (like I do), but it's not necessarily the most … [Read more...] about Tips for Getting Opt Ins to Your Email List
Tips and Tricks for Promoting Your Book
After writing (and editing), marketing and promotion is a key step in book publishing. It helps to keep this in mind throughout the whole process. For example, The Book Designer recommends authors take into account a couple key questions: Who are you writing for? Where does your reader hang out? With this information, you can make sure you craft a pitch that … [Read more...] about Tips and Tricks for Promoting Your Book
Guest Post: How to Create an Engaging Author Website That People Will Actually Visit
By Mariah T. The key to being a successful author is exposure. You have to get your book out there. You can thank the internet because the PR game is now in your hands. The architecture of a solid website is enough to get readers curious about what you wrote. But getting started creating a site with good SEO, aesthetic design, memorable branding, and more is a work of … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How to Create an Engaging Author Website That People Will Actually Visit
Indie Author Marketing Guide: Twitter
Twitter is one of the largest social media platforms, and when used correctly, can really help boost an indie author's platform. According to Social Media for Writers, "23 percent of online adults living in the United States are active on Twitter." The post also breaks down the demographic of Twitter users, down to age, gender, education level, and more. When you sign up … [Read more...] about Indie Author Marketing Guide: Twitter
