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THE BOOK MARKETING EXPERT NEWSLETTER!
A newsletter all about SUCCESSFUL publishing and POWERFUL promotion.
October 4, 2007 Issue #154
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In this issue
-- Note From The Editor
-- Find the Passion Online!
-- How to Get More Traffic to Your Blog
-- ELDR Magazine
-- Got Libraries?
-- Using StumbleUpon to Get a Ton of Traffic, Part 5
-- Book Bits and Bites
-- A New Socially Aware Social Network
-- Perfect Pitching Tips: Day of Your TV Interview
-- Martha Goes Wiki
-- The Art of Writing Web Copy
-- Bookpleasures.com Hosts Author Interview Series
-- Get Action With The Red Hot Blog Tour
-- Tips For Successful Book Promotion!
-- Tell Your Publishing Story at OnceWritten
-- How to Buzz Your Book!
-- Targeting Teens Online
-- Virtual Author Tours (still not convinced?)
-- Reader Tip!
-- WHO ARE WE
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Penny C. Sansevieri, Editor penny@amarketingexpert.com
Note From The Editor
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Welcome to another issue of the Book Marketing Expert Newsletter!
Dear Reader,
I just got back from a fabulous conference in Valley Forge. The Infinity Publishing Express Yourself Conference is held every year around this time, and it's really a terrific event. I taught a number of classes, all of them of course related to marketing. After an Internet marketing session, I had several authors come up to me and say: "I've got a blog, but now I don't have a clue as to what to do with it." Those questions were the impetus for this week's article. By now many of us have a blog, but few of us actually know how to market it. This week we look at the tricks of the blogging trade. How to grow and promote your blog doesn't take a lot of work, just a dash of creativity.
For our newest readers we say: Welcome! And for those who have been with us for a while, I hope you enjoy this newsletter, thanks for reading!
Wishing you publishing success,
Penny and the entire AME staff
P.S. Check out our blog!
We offer great tips and insights, such as 'Fatal PR Mistakes Authors Make on Their Campaigns:'
http://amarketingexpert.com/ameblog/?p=15
P.S.S. Do You Have a Copy of Red Hot Internet Publicity Yet?
You can order your copy of Red Hot Internet Publicity NOW! Available on Amazon.
Find the Passion Online!
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No, this isn't an inappropriate blurb - savvy Net observers say the "Passionista" consumers are the ones to target online. Why? Because they are more likely than average consumers to create and share content about their passions - including the brands associated with them. Read the study here.
How to Get More Traffic to Your Blog
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1) Blog frequently
Most new bloggers dislike hearing this. Trust me when I say that the struggle for content is ongoing. New bloggers, however, feel like it's just happening to them. The truth is, don't get a blog just to have a blog. Get it and keep it updated. It's the quickest way to gaining traffic. How often should you blog? Three times a week. The best days to blog? Studies have shown that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are key days for blogging.
2) Stay on point
I tell authors this a lot: stay on point, stay on topic. Why? Because if you don't you'll lose readership. Once someone commits to your blog they want to keep reading relevant information. So don't blog one day about your book, your speaking, or your mission and the next day share Aunt Ethel's pot roast recipe.
3) Plan your blogs
While spontaneity is the catalyst for creativity, planning is a good way to stay on track. Start to map out key dates that you want to blog about that have some relation to your topic - this way when you're at a loss for topics, you can always pick one from your list of planned out blogs. Also, consider these topics to blog about:
a) Future predictions: everyone loves these, to the degree that you can predict market trends in your industry do it, and the readership will follow.
b) Discuss industry news: what's happening in your industry that you can talk about? Even if you're a fiction writer there's always *something* going on worth mentioning in publishing, writing, or a marketing that directly relates to your topic.
c) The elephant in the room: talk about the stuff that everyone is afraid of. What new trends are emerging that consumers/readers/companies need to be aware of? What's next for your market and how will it affect the industry? How can we keep publishing books when we already publish 800 a day? You see what I mean? Think of things that frighten you and talk about them. People will respond. Every time I do this I get a ton of comments on my blog.
d) Write reviews: review other people's books, product or work. This is a great way to network and to become a "filter" for your market. Filter out the new stuff and feature it on your blog (this goes for you fiction writers too!).
e) Other blogs: what are people talking about? What did your favorite blog just say? Virtual networking (with other bloggers) is a great way to grow your content and get to know others in cyberspace. Don't forget to link to the blog you're discussing!
4) Invite comments on your blog!
This is really important! The more folks you can get commenting, the quicker your blog will get passed around. If you have a "no comment" feature on your blog, remove it! You want people to be able to comment and give feedback. In fact, at the end of every blog, why not invite readers to comment? If you start getting a lot of responses to this, begin featuring your favorite comments in future blog posts!
5) Comment on hot topics in the news
The quickest way to get traffic is to get your blog featured on a high-traffic site. But how can you do this? By commenting on news stories. Most major news sites have a feature that will list blogs that are talking about the various news stories. Not all blogs get featured but: a) if your if your topic is related to the story they've featured; and b) you've written an insightful post on the topic, you'll likely get listed. For an example of what these look like take a peek at a recent story on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/14/simpson/index .html
6) Digg yourself
Make sure that your blog has a bookmarking feature. Sites like Digg and Del.icio.us are great places to get started. You can go there, sign up for an account (very easy to do) and then follow their instructions for bookmarking your individual posts. This is important! You don't want to bookmark the blog but rather, the posts. The posts will then show up in these sites and, hopefully, other folks will bookmark them as well. Even if no one else bookmarks your posts, it doesn't matter. You can still get traffic by being positioned on these sites. Super simple to do, go ahead, give it a shot!
7) Twitter your blog
Got something to say? Try microblogging at Twitter: www.twitter.com. It's a free service that asks the question: What are you doing now? Go in, sign up and start posting your messages with links back to your blog. We tried this and it's fantastic. You can also blog from your cell phone and blackberry. You can not only use it to promote your blog but your book, speaking event, whatever you want. It might sound like a "who cares" idea, but trust me, everyone's Twittering these days.
8) Syndicate yourself
Using simple RSS feeds through www.feedblitz.com you can syndicate yourself and let folks subscribe to your blog. If they don't have a way to subscribe to your blog, they may forget you altogether. Once someone subscribes, every time you post new content it will notify them. And the best part? Your messages won't get stuck in someone's spam filter. They'll get the notification, head to your blog and voila! Your readership stays engaged and growing.
Finally, don't use an "official" voice on your blog. Pretend you're sitting across from your reader over coffee. Talk to them in a more casual, conversational tone and you'll not only get more readers, you'll likely get more comments too! It doesn't take much to grow a blog, just a little dedication and creativity. Happy blogging!
ELDR Magazine
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Launched in 2007, ELDR (not a typo, the spelling is intentional, to be innovative and different) is a consumer magazine and online community that wants to bring an enlightened, entertaining and sometimes edgy approach to aging through essays, stories, reviews, interviews and artwork. Its motto: Celebrate Aging. The magazine currently has a circulation of 50,000.
The magazine doesn't just target people over 60; they are interested in the 60+ seniors who are affluent, meaning they have $1 million or more in investible assets.
The website is very interactive, with polls, articles, blogs and information of all kinds, whether through tip sheets, articles or downloadable charts.
Regular columns include:
* ELDR Law
* ELDR Yoga
* ELDR Tech
* family
* caregiving
* brainpower
* new ideas on health, travel, finances and activism.
Key contacts:
This magazine wants to be part of a senior citizen revolution; pitch inspirational, unusual and relevant/useful information for the 60+ demographic.
David Bunnell, editor in chief, write only.
Laurie Herr, managing editor, send her information on people over the age of 60 who have inspirational and motivational personal stories to tell. Contact her by e-mail, laurie@eldr.com
ELDR Magazine
9 Hickory Ave.
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Website: www.eldr.com
Got Libraries?
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If you've ever wondered how many libraries carry your book, wonder no more. Head on over to worldcat.org, plug in your book title and voila! A list of libraries will pop up that carry your book.
Using StumbleUpon to Get a Ton of Traffic, Part 5
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Many of you may be familiar with StumbleUpon, a Web 2.0 site. But I don't think there are many people who know how to use it effectively. You can definitely get a lot of traffic to your website or blog if you just know how to use it correctly.
StumbleUpon Strategy Tip #4: Your Title is Everything.
Just like the headline of an article, the title of your website attracts attention. It should contain your keywords and be compelling. Your best bet: See what sites your "friends" are recommending and create a similar style.
StumbleUpon Strategy Tip #5: Advertise with StumbleUpon
You can actually advertise your website with StumbleUpon at: http://www.stumbleUpon.com/ads/. Right now the pricing is at 5 cents per targeted visit. Your website gets an increased weight (the likelihood that your site will be stumbled upon) than someone who is submitting for free.
It does take a while to get a campaign to work and it can take up to a week for you to get approved. But if you can be patient, there is a good chance it could be quite worthwhile.
Bottom Line: Create good content and emulate already successful StumbleUpon sites. The key to success with StumbleUpon is to build a site that people WANT to "stumble" upon. Good luck!
~ Tips offered by AME's SEO expert Susan Gilbert
Book Bits and Bites
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Amazon's Novel Idea: Publisher's Weekly reports that Amazon is launching the first Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award in cooperation with Penguin and Hewlett-Packard. Amazon will accept submissions through Nov. 5 and the winner will have his or her novel published by Penguin, which is also offering a $25,000 advance. PW will serve as preliminary judges of the material as well.
A New Look for B&N: Taking its website to the next level, Barnes & Noble has revamped its site, according to Shelf Awareness. New offerings include The Barnes & Noble Review, an online literary magazine; One on One, a podcast featuring interviews with writers, musicians and filmmakers; and Live at B&N, which will show events at B&N stores.
Cutting Out the Waste: Wooden Horse Magazine takes note of a timely keynote speech given by Paul Rossi, publisher of The Economist for North America. Speaking to the Magazine Publishers of America, he said the magazine industry's wasteful practices will be the next target of environmental groups, and they need to be prepared to take action. Read more here.
The First Reader: First Lady Laura Bush shares her reading habits with the Washington Post, timed to coincide with the recent National Book Festival. What we learned: The First Lady always reads in bed (she can't sleep without reading first), favors fiction, and if she doesn't find a book interesting, she won't finish it.
A New Socially Aware Social Network
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MTV is launching a new, more socially aware, social network for young adults called Flux. MTV is pushing this platform to social activists and young people who want to "make a difference" - you can read more about this new social networking site here.
Perfect Pitching Tips: Day of Your TV Interview
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The Day has arrived. You still have time to make a lasting impression!
What to Wear
* DO Dress professionally
* DO Wear solid, neutral colors
* DON'T Wear solid white, solid black, or busy prints
* DON'T Wear distracting jewelry or accessories
On Location
* Be Punctual
* Bring your ID
* Arrive camera-ready, if hair/make-up is not available
* Ask if a producer is available to brief you on the segment rundown
* Try to Relax
How to Relax
* Give yourself enough time to sit down before the interview
* Review your talking points
* Be confident in your expertise
* Drink water
* Take deep breaths
~Tip offered by Aileen Martinez,
Television Producer/Media Consultant
www.mediainsider.tv
aileen@mediainsider.tv
Martha Goes Wiki
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If it's good enough for Martha, why not you? Martha Stewart will be launching a wiki site very shortly (reported by AdAge). After launching a Facebook site earlier this year, Martha is now fully invested in the Internet and capturing an additional audience online. Details of the forthcoming wiki site were not released, but there's little doubt that it will be a good thing. Here's the article.
The Art of Writing Web Copy
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While many of us are professional authors, we have no idea how to write for the web. It's an art in itself, and it could make or break the success of your website. Here's some food for thought:
1. Write in narrow columns of text - they are easier to read and less likely to fatigue your reader.
2. Use bullet points and Read More buttons - research shows that people will scan a page for interesting tidbits of information before they read it. If you have a lot to say, try summarizing it into a succinct paragraph and then link it to the rest of the article on a landing page deeper in your site.
3. Stay on Point - you should distill your web copy down to the most important points and eliminate everything else. You have less than a second to grab someone's attention, don't risk overwhelming your reader.
4. Use captivating headlines - Be sure to make your message obvious, use headlines, lists and bold text to convey your message.
5. Use links - an obvious benefit of web writing is that you have an opportunity to link to other important areas on your site. Here you can reference resources, news sources, audio clips, other relevant websites and your own call-to-action.
6. Use relevant keywords - try to use words that are relevant to the content within your site or article, words that other people might type into a search engine looking for the information you offer. The more you can do to help people find you, the better.
Tip offered by Jeniffer Thompson of Monkey C Media http://www.monkeycmedia.com a full design house offering website design and development, print design and multi-media services.
Bookpleasures.com Hosts Author Interview Series
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At Bookpleasures.com, publisher and editor Norm Goldman conducts a series of author and expert interviews for books in several genres: art, fiction, self help, business, non-fiction, travel guides, children's and history.
Check out his Conversation With Jane Treber Macken, Author of The Art of Managing: How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationships.
Get Action With The Red Hot Blog Tour
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Have we got a promotion for you! Our Red Hot Blog Tour will get you the kind of action you never thought possible. We'll tour your book on high-traffic blogs with links back to your site. If you're ready to promote your book on the 'Net, try our Red Hot Blog Tour today! For more information send us an email at info@amarketingexpert.com
Tips For Successful Book Promotion!
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Are you ready to kick your marketing into high gear? Then we've got a podcast you're gonna love! Tune in to Book Promotion Made Easy, a weekly podcast packed with tips, tricks and insider advice about all things marketing. For a complete list, visit: http://www.amarketingexpert.com/#
Tell Your Publishing Story at OnceWritten
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OnceWritten.com has a section titled Publishing My First Book. In this section, established authors talk with OnceWritten.com about their experience in getting their first book published. To make it easy for busy authors, each mini-interview is just one or two paragraphs, in a quick, easy-to-read format.
How to Buzz Your Book!
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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/
Targeting Teens Online
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If you're going after teens online, don't stop at MySpace. Recent studies have indicated that teens on both MySpace and Facebook tend to spend more time online than teens on just one social platform. Some reports indicate that teens spend an average of 93 minutes more on Facebook and 398 minutes more on MySpace. So if you're marketing to teens, don't stop at one - go for both and increase your exposure! Here's the article.
Virtual Author Tours (still not convinced?)
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If you're still not convinced that the Virtual Author Tour (TM) pays off, consider this. A title we worked with (Cookin' for Love), which was featured in MORE Magazine, soared to 18,000 on Amazon when it was featured in several blogs. We never got that kind of a spike - even after the MORE feature came out.
If you haven't considered touring yourself virtually, you might want to. For more information on how we conduct our Virtual Author Tour (TM), send a quick email to: virtualauthortours@getresponse.com
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.
Expert Recommendation
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Every so often we find a great product or service and this one is certainly in that category. If you're ready to offer your book in an e-book format on your site but aren't sure where to begin, this service will help you create an e-book in only a few minutes and once you're done with it, you can add it to your site and start selling! http://www.ebookgenerator.com/cmd.php? af=329134
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://www.amarketingexpert.com
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Contact Information
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email: penny@amarketingexpert.com
web: http://www.amarketingexpert.com
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