It is one of the most frequent questions I get when I meet an author. Do I need a Facebook Page? Not until your book is about to be released. You need to consider using Facebook if your target audience uses Facebook. There are 1.11 billion users of Facebook, so there is a good chance some of your readers are there. It is a great tool… [Read More]
As an author, this is a critical question to ask yourself as you begin to plan and write your book proposal. You’ll need to provide a list of reviewers as part of your marketing and publicity plans. Book reviews come in all sizes, colors, and styles these days. Once the purview of literary critics, many book reviews have turned into book reports. Remember fourth grade?… [Read More]
There are three rules regarding negative reviews/feedback. Rule number one: do not respond. Rule number two: even when the reviewer completely misunderstood or misrepresents your book—do not respond. And, rule number three: especially when you feel a response is justified, and this case is the exception and calls for a response—do not respond. While there are many reasons you should observe this rule, the most… [Read More]
Should I write or should I read a book? When I am short on time it’s easy to read a few pages on the bus, in the waiting room, or even in the bath. The number of pages accumulate quickly even though I only have time to read books in short bursts on most days. This is also true for writing. I grab every opportunity… [Read More]
Vinyl records, No. 2 pencils, yellow-ruled tablets and cork bulletin boards. What I thought I needed in the 1970s to write has changed. But I still need a place to stick things that I don’t yet know where to file but inspire. I’ve used the outside of kitchen cupboard to tape up newspaper clippings, flyers for upcoming events, photographs, maps, postcards, and ticket stubs. Push-pin… [Read More]
The single most effective marketing method for book sales remains the power of a personal recommendation. It’s advertising you just can’t buy. Hence so much focus on reviews and endorsements for your book. This also explains the current appeal of social media marketing in an author’s marketing toolkit. If your friend on Facebook likes a book, you might too. Pinterest, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr, and Twitter… [Read More]
The return on your investment of time and energy spent on building an audience platform depends largely on an author’s strategy. I’ve observed too many authors spinning their wheels with the challenges of the technology, losing sight of the objectives, and missing opportunities to learn more how to market their own books. Here are some tactics that lead to epic failures in social media strategies… [Read More]
While the rest of the working world looks forward to Fridays, if you are an author whose proposal and/or manuscript is under review with a publisher there may be dread for this day of the week. Rejection letters are often sent out on Fridays. You might wonder why Friday. Rejection letters are never welcomed and often unintentionally inflict emotional injuries. The urge to respond and… [Read More]
Biu Ling, a data-mining expert at the New York Times, estimates one in three book reviews is a fake. More than a year ago, the New York Times reported on the best book reviews money can buy. Further investigations into how authors buy their way onto bestselling book lists resulted in the Wall Street Journal publishing a news report earlier this year on how the… [Read More]
More than any other reason, acquisition editors use the lack of an audience platform to reject a book project. They look at more than the numbers of followers, friends, tweeps and subscribers to assess the size of your reading audience. Social media metrics are one indication of an author’s potential customer base. There are many others. Here’s a list of what an agent or acquisition… [Read More]
