JO-ANNE VANDERMEULEN
Practical Marketing Ideas To Create Massive Exposure And Drive Traffic To The Site Where Your Books Are Sold
PREMIUM
PROMOTIONAL
TIPS
FOR WRITERS
The Laurus Company
Denton, Texas USA
I give credit and thanks to all of the bloggers and marketing experts who have generously taken time to share their wealth of knowledge with others like me.
PREMIUM PROMOTIONAL TIPS FOR WRITERS
THE
LAURUS
COMPANY
POST
OFFICE
BOX
2071
LAKE
DALLAS,
TX 75065 USA
www.TheLaurusCompany.com
EDITORS: Nancy E. Williams and Diana L. Meadows
COVER AND LAYOUT DESIGN: Nancy E. Williams
Copyright © 2009 by Jo-Anne Vandermeulen
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except for brief quotations in critical reviews and articles.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9841680-4-0
ISBN-10: 0-09841680-4-4
Premium
PROMOTIONAL
TIPS
for Writers
A “must-have” resource book filled with practical online marketing tips for those who have products to sell.
Although this book was written for writers promoting their books, these promotional tips can be applied to any products you may wish to promote via the Internet.
You will learn how to target your audience, create massive exposure, and drive traffic back to the site where your books or other products are sold.
Jo-Anne Vandermeulen provides a wealth of information and services for writers. I've learned a lot by simply reading her material. Her advice is sound, and her energetic promotional efforts world class.
—DONALD JEFFRIES, PROLIFIC POET (SONGWRITER), NOVELIST OF SCI-FI/FANTASY AND CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
I highly recommend this lady... She delivers and in spades.
—ELIZABETH BENNETT, AUTHOR AND CONSULTANT, PEER ABUSE KNOW MORE!
... takes the mystery and guesswork out of book promoting, freeing up a writer time to write! —STUART ROSS MCCALLUM, AUTHOR OF “BEYOND MY CONTROL - ONE MAN'S STRUGGLE WITH EPILEPSY, SEIZURE SURGERY AND BEYOND”
An absolute waterfall of information! Well done. —J. W. NICKLAUS,
AUTHOR OF THE LIGHT, THE DARK, AND EMBER BETWEEN
... a great job helping writers learn how to promote their work. That is so essential today. —MARYANNE RAPHAEL, AUTHOR OF “WHAT MOTHER TERESA TAUGHT ME” AND 11 OTHER PUBLISHED BOOKS
Everything you say is true. I am glad that I used your services, as I was banging my head against a solid wall of confusion before. What you accomplished for me would have taken me years to learn, if ever. —JAY MILLER, AUTHOR OF INSPIRATIONAL CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
... you have so much good info here. I'll be coming back to read more.
—G W GRESHAM, AUTHOR OF THRILLER FICTION
... helps me understand that there is more to this than just putting thoughts down on paper. —APRIL FICEK, LOCAL SASKATCHEWAN ASPIRING AUTHOR
Great organization. You're so dedicated to your craft, and dedicated to writers. Props, gal. Smiles. —KELLY MORTIMER, OWNER AND AGENT, MORTIMER LITERARY AGENCY
Great info Jo-Anne... I've tried to explain this same concept so many times. It's not hard to apply, and I know you have helped a lot of people with your excellent information. Thank you for that. —ADRIENNE SMITH, GOOD NEWS MERCHANT
Acknowledgements
This book would not have been possible without God's grace. He has given me a second chance. Never take things for granted. What is here today can be gone tomorrow.
“Losing an ability doesn't have to be a devastation. I have learned to conquer all obstacles, to count the blessings, and to hang on tight as the momentum increases and takes me on a journey I could never have imagined.” —Jo-Anne Vandermeulen
A special thanks goes to:
My editor, publisher, and dear friend, Nancy Williams, and co-editor, Diana Meadows, of The Laurus Company. Nancy designed the cover and the page format to turn a nonfiction resource into an easy sight on the eyes (pun intended).
My business partner, Brian Knight, is another necessary appendage to my life—always around to steer Premium Promotional Services in the right direction with clients when I'm unavailable. His easy-going demeanor is so necessary when I'm frazzled. He is a man with a genuinely HUGE heart.
My assistant, Pamela Thibodeaux, is a mini-me at Premium Promotional Services. She offers knowledge, compassion, and the same quality of service for our clients. She filled my shoes many times during my last book tour and the creation of this book.
YOU! This book, Premium Promotional Tips for Writers, is possible because of you. Your words of encouragement, support, and shared knowledge, fuel my body, giving me the energy necessary to gain speed. God bless you all.
Table of Contents
You Have Written A Book... Now What?
Traditional Large Publishers You Do The Math
What Can I Expect An Editor To Do?
Promoting Your Name and Your Book
Jo-Anne's Favorite Sticky Note Motivators
TIP #1 CREATING MASSIVE EXPOSURE
Turning Nightmares into Pleasant Dreams
Social Bookmarks: Get Noticed Now!
Read It, Read It, Read All About It!
TIP #2 BUILDING AN AUTHOR PLATFORM
Building A Strong Author Platform
Jo-Anne Vandermeulen's 13 Tips On Building An Author Platform
Where Do I Find My Audience? Jo-Anne's Favorite Social Networks
Bring Your Viewers To You Jo-Anne's Favorite Free Classifieds
Targeting for Mountains Instead of Molehills
To Blog or Not to Blog... That is The Question
10 Successful Points to Creating a Blog Your Readers Will Love
Successful Blogging in 7 Simple Steps
Jo-Anne's Tips for Presenting a Professional Blog
A Delicious Post Devoured in One Bite
Links: Functioning Blogs/Websites
Are You Breaking the Law Without Knowing It?
Jo-Anne's Favorite Blogs or Blogrolls
Convert Streams to Flowing Traffic
Jo-Anne's 10 Sure Ways To Draw Viewers to Your Blog
An Attractive Blog/Website Generates Traffic
Jo-Anne's 7 Tips on How To Post
Podcasting: Promoting through BlogTalkRadio
Climbing To The Top: Search Engines
Turn First Impressions Into Loyal Followers
Marketing and Promotions: Top 3
Twusted Twitter Twools and Twips
Scams: Beware of the Swarming Sharks
Leave the Promoting to Someone Else
An Interview with NouveauWriter
Introducing...
Jo-Anne Vandermeulen
JO-ANNE VANDERMEULEN graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Education and a major in English Literature. For 20 years, she enjoyed a full life raising her two daughters as a single mom and working as a fulltime teacher. That left little time for fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing.
At the age of forty-two, Jo-Anne's life drastically changed. She was diagnosed with a medical illness that sent her home from the classroom.
Determined not to let this devastation ruin her life, she used the unplanned turn of events as an opportunity to fulfill her dream. In just seventeen days, Jo-Anne wrote her first novel, a story that was unbelievably self healing.
Since that time, Jo-Anne has met and married a wonderful man who supports her writing passion, and her second book, a romantic thriller titled Conquer All Obstacles, has been published. She has welcomed her new career, the journey to publication, while developing an expertise in the promotional industry. Now having the time to pursue her writing and develop her goals, she has:
produced four completed novels in addition to this non-fiction resource you are presently reading, Premium Promotional Tips for Writers, which was prerequested by thousands of followers. The first book Jo-Anne wrote is still awaiting publication, but her second fiction novel, Conquer All Obstacles, was published and released in September 2009. It is getting rave reviews;
created an author platform—belonging to over 30 social media networks where her audience networks through her two blogs, “Free Marketing Tips for Writers” and “Journey to Publication”;
gained a wealth of experience through attending writing conferences, participating in online workshops, gaining membership in several writing associations, and meeting publishers to pitch her first book.
Jo-Anne soon discovered that the writing and publishing journey does not stop there. After diving into online support groups and following professional bloggers, she learned the skills and techniques to successfully promote and market books. Her desire to help other authors led her to share the new information she had found in the form of posts in her “Free Marketing Tips” blog. Not long after, her fellow writers recognized her expertise and began to contact her asking to utilize her promotional services.
Yes, Jo-Anne discovered her new niche in life.
The demand for Jo-Anne's marketing and promotional services rapidly grew. Thousands of authors requested her services. A new opportunity knocked, and the door opened. All she had to do was walk through.
PREMIUM PROMOTIONAL SERVICES: *You Write – We Promote* was born—a new venture that is successfully filling the demanding gap for many authors. Her business offers the services necessary to target audiences, create massive exposure, and drive traffic back to the clients’ sites where their books are sold. Endorsements can be found at:
New media opportunities led Jo-Anne to produce and host a weekly live Internet radio show called “Authors Articulating.” This BlogTalkRadio show hosts both renowned guests and aspiring authors in an energetic podcast where they and Jo-Anne discuss various promotional and writing topics, and listeners are encouraged to interact, deliver their author platform, and pitch their book.
“Gratification is knowing the wealth of knowledge has been shared with fellow writers.” —Jo-Anne
Along with her business partner, Brian Knight, Jo-Anne states, “Together, we have our hearts set on helping writers. We care!” She often says that “supporting authors comes naturally.” Her name and brand, “Conquer All Obstacles,” can be seen buzzing through many social media sites as she answers questions and responds to calls for assistance.
“You can turn devastations or unplanned events into opportunities,” she beams to anyone who will listen. She has proven that conquering all obstacles is possible as she continues to encourage fellow writers and readers that they, too, can overcome life's unexpected tragedies.
From her home in Saskatchewan, Jo-Anne is happily living her dream come true with her husband, Randy. She is currently promoting her new books and those of her clients while she continues to fulfill her lifelong dream of writing.
Getting started
You Have Written A Book... Now What?
It has taken you months or perhaps years to write and polish your book. Don't stop now. You deserve to earn the most profit from all of your hard work, but it doesn't just happen. There are decisions to be made. Now, your book needs to be published and promoted.
Deciding How to Publish
Traditional Large Publishers
Traditionally, when we think about publishing a book, the big New York publishing houses come to mind first. We picture them handing us a nice, fat advance check as we hand over our manuscript. A few months later and, voilà, our book is on display in the local bookstore... NOT!
Okay, a few do make it after a long process of submitting query letters, full and partial manuscripts, emotional ups and downs, etc., and we are very happy for them. But unless you have previously published and/or created a popular name for yourself, you are facing a long ordeal to get the big boys to even notice you, possibly years. Some people hire agents to do the legwork for them, but it carries no guarantees and is usually expensive.
The following are some interesting statistics about large publishers:
The six major U.S. publishing houses: Random House, Inc., Penguin Putnam, Inc., Harper Collins, Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings, Time Warner, Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Book sales in the USA: A fiction book is considered successful if it sells 5,000 copies. A non-fiction book is considered successful if it sells 7,500 copies.
—Authors Guild (www.authorsguild.org)
TRADITIONAL LARGE PUBLISHER
You Do The Math!
As an author, going through the big New York publishing firms may not be the answer anymore, according to Literary Agent Nathan Bransford in his article, “Book Revenue Breakdown.” (Archives, February 2009, blog.nathanbransford.com)
How much does an author receive from a book sale? Here is a synopsis from Nathan's article. All amounts are hypothetical. Discounts to booksellers vary.
According to Nathan, neither the author nor the agent receives a royalty check until all those little $0.95s per book have exceeded the amount the publisher paid the author in the advance.
Book sales by store type: 24.6% large chain stores; 17.7% book clubs; 15.2% smaller chains and independent stores; 5.4% Internet, such as amazon.com.
—www.BISG.orgRoyalties: The average royalty is 10.7% of net. The average advance is upwards of $1,500 and $7,500.
—John Huenefeld,
Publishing for Profit by Tom Woll
Small Publishers
Don't be afraid to consider a small publisher. There are numerous small publishers available. Getting referrals from other authors is the best idea. I highly recommend seeking references from several previous clients before making a final choice. Because a publisher does a lot of advertising does not mean they are reputable or can produce quality books.
Most small publishers will be able to handle the technical aspects of preparing your manuscript for printing. Many have editors and designers on staff, work with Print On Demand (POD) printers, and offer distribution through major distributors, such as Ingram. And small publishers are often more accessible to the author.
Although you will have to pay as you go for editorial, design, and printing services, there are some small publishers who are quite reasonable, depending on how much work is involved in polishing your manuscript.
There are benefits to working with a small publisher.
More control: The author retains ownership and has a say in manuscript edits and the design process. He can manage sales avenues, coordinate bookstore consignments, and distribute his book through as many sources as he wants.
More royalty to the author: Small publishers usually pay higher royalty percentages to the author. Since you are working as your own agent, there are no agent fees.
Earlier release date: Books usually go into the publication process right away, rather than waiting a year or more.
Flexible printing options: Small publishers are able to work with the printing resource that is right for you, whether it is traditional printing for large quantities or Print On Demand (POD) for smaller minimum orders (as few as one), easier reprints, and quicker turn around times.
Longer life: Your books will remain on the (virtual) shelves indefinitely.
Simplified submissions: Small publishers will usually request full manuscripts, skipping all the steps of partial submissions.
International distribution: Some small publishing companies are set up to distribute your book(s) and ebooks internationally.
Self Publishing
Self publishing usually describes the process of an author producing, marketing, and promoting his own book. If an author decides to self publish, he must purchase an ISBN, hire an editor, a book designer and typesetter, have books printed, and develop a marketing plan for selling his books.
Authors who self publish retain complete ownership and control over their book. A word of warning... Many of the larger bookstores and bookstore chains will not carry books from self-published authors. If being in the bookstores is one of your goals, it's better to go with a large or small publisher.
Record numbers of self-published books have been reported in 2009.
Why is self-publishing gaining in popularity over the traditional method of publishing?
Traditional publishers are reducing their client intake, making it even more difficult to break into a highly competitive market.
Due to rising unemployment, people have more time at home to pursue their dreams of writing.
High-speed printing and binding machines have made publishing relatively inexpensive compared to the high cost of traditional offset printing. (Offset is still viable for large orders.)
Self publishing gives you flexible options based on your own needs and desires. You can decide on each step of the process, whether to handle it yourself or contract it out.
Abundant “how to” resources are readily available to guide self-publishing authors in effectively handling all stages of self publishing, including promoting and advertising.
Most of your customers are online, so you can market from home targeting a larger audience base. We will show you how in this book.
So which kind of publisher is right for you? Only you can make that decision, but be prepared to invest the time and work required by the option you choose. You should also be prepared to make any needed course corrections. If your first plan leads you down a dead-end path, be prepared to look at other options. This happened to me.
My path toward a large publisher became completely blocked. For me to see my novels in print, large publishers were not the answer. I had to turn around, scan for more publishing options, and venture down another path. I was able to conquer all obstacles by going with a small publisher and learning to handle my own marketing and promoting. Looking back, I know it was the right path for me.
You can self-publish, reap the profits, and spend your time doing what you love—writing.
One of the major reasons writers went to traditional methods of publishing in the past was for the marketing and distribution resources provided by the major publishing houses. This book, Premium Promotional Tips for Writers, will give you the tools you need to be able to promote yourself and your book(s) across the World Wide Web. It is not difficult! If I was able to learn how to successfully market myself and my books, so can you!
You, too, can conquer all obstacles.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AN EDITOR TO DO?
Basic Copy Editing – Any or all of the following:
correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax (grammatical arrangement), and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of the original text
checking for or imposing a consistent style and format
reading for overall clarity and sense on behalf of the prospective audience
querying the appropriate party about apparent errors or inconsistencies
noting permissions needed to publish copyrighted material
Substantive or Line Editing – Includes all aspects of Basic Copy Editing (above) in addition to improving a manuscript in any or all of the following ways:
identifying and solving problems of overall clarity or accuracy
reorganizing paragraphs, sections, or chapters to improve the order in which the text is presented
writing or rewriting segments of text to improve readability and flow of information
revising any or all aspects of the text to improve its presentation
Thanks to my editor, Nancy Williams of The Laurus Company, for providing this information. For more information about editors, go to: www.thelauruscompany.com/editors.html
Motivation for marketing
Promoting Your Name and Your Book
Before starting the venture into marketing research, I avoided anything to do with promoting like the plaque. Although I had the interest and viewed other writers’ websites, authors’ blogs, groups’ home pages, and my daily incoming emails, it was only with flitting glances of curiosity. I would quickly scan over an article and move on to another facet of writing. You may wonder why.
Before I answer, I must ask you: Are you ready to face your fears?
Fear is the first major obstacle to conquer.
It was a mysterious thing to me, this daunting marketing and promoting business. My fear caused me to avoid educating myself. I was afraid of the unknown, I feared failure, and I was terrified of throwing myself off balance—too much to do and too little time to do it.
Still, like a haunted house, it stood there beckoning me. The main door opened, taunting me to enter. I remember my curiosity as I faltered into this strange place, my constant chants of internal coaching:
“A change of attitude... I can do it... one step at a time... easy does it, Jo-Anne.”
Does this sound crazy, or can you relate?
Advancing into the first room, I began to discover the reason for marketing and promoting. For the first time, I came to an astonishing realization:
You don't need to be published in order to market.
You are losing valuable time if you are waiting until your book is published to begin talking about it. Most of what I read encouraged the writer to make himself known and to advertise his book in advance of publishing (Tip #1—Create Massive Exposure). The best way to do that is by introducing yourself to others and giving them a taste of your writing long before your release date (Tip #2—Build An Author Platform).
Reading further, I learned that I needed to gather a following of potential buyers (Tip #3—Target An Audience), so that when my book hit the stands, I would have an audience waiting. I was amazed to read that Internet users number over two billion. What an incredible number of people! I concluded there was no better way to promote myself and my book than through the Internet.
The reason for promoting had been planted, and the possibilities were endless.
Reality hit me in the face. There is an unbelievable potential for growth... all within my control.
I trudged through the second door of my fearful haunted house and discovered that blogging was not as difficult as I had imagined (Tip #4—Blogging). I created my first site, roamed the Internet, and joined groups. The next lesson I learned was how to point my growing network to the site where my books are sold (Tip #5—Driving Traffic). I quickly gained a following, and surprisingly, these followers became my friends—a community of fellow writers sharing and supporting each other (Tip #6—Social Networking).
What first started as a self-serving reason for promoting soon became a rewarding experience each and every day. Even to this day, I meet so many wonderful people who give me the greatest gifts—their time and their presence.
I had kept a rough journal of my adventure, and looking back, I noticed that in a short amount of time, I had conquered all obstacles. My fears were gone, and I had found confidence in being able to sustain balance in my life.
My fears were gone, and I had found confidence...
I have gained so much through this journey of learning the strategies of marketing. I have found understanding, insight, and the support of so many people. I'm grateful to have found the courage to face this house of uncertainty and to have wandered through the front door.
Looking ahead into the future, many other doors will open, and I will probably wander through them. I surely cannot pass up the new and wondrous opportunities because, really, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.
It thrills me to share with you the promotional tips I have learned. May these tips encourage you that you, too, can conquer all obstacles.
Jo-Anne's Favorite Sticky Note Motivators
Do you keep quotes stickied to your bathroom mirror? In front of your toilet? In your car? Some of you are chuckling and nodding your heads. I find it is good to plan ahead for those times when we are feeling down and need a little motivation. The positive messages scrawled on my sticky notes give me what I can't find within. There are millions of inspirational slogans we can use to pull us up from a dark hole. Here are some of my favorites:
“When one door closes, another one opens.”
“Go with the flow.”
“Keep your eyes open for the unexpected. Don't be afraid. Seize the opportunities before you.”
“You have your own answers within you.”
“Everybody is talented, original, and has something important to say.”
—Brenda Ueland
“Imagination is the Divine Body in every Man.” —William Blake
“Be careless, reckless! Be a lion, be a pirate when you write. Why you are not to be discouraged, annihilated, by rejection slips.” —William Blake
*******************************
Sometimes, it is great just to know we are not alone. We all have a bad day every now and then. Have you ever caught yourself staring at an empty screen with a completely blank mind? The creativity isn't there. Here are a few suggestions from famous people:
“Moving around is good for creativity: the next line of dialogue that you desperately need may well be waiting in the back of the refrigerator or half a mile along your favorite walk.”
—Will Shetterly
“Stopping a piece of work just because it's hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to go on when you don't feel like it, and sometimes you're doing good work when it feels like all you're managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position.”
—Stephen King
“Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing.”
—Norman Mailer
Tip # 1 Creating massive exposure
Turning Nightmares into Pleasant Dreams
Imagine yourself on a dark stage in the largest theater hall in the world. Everything is quiet. The curtain lifts. Suddenly, the light is blinding. Before your eyes, you have over a billion people cheering in the crowd. They are waving money in the air, chanting for you to speak about the work of art that is tucked under your arm—your book.
What if I told you this is not a dream?
You are on stage. There are over a billion customers out there waiting and wanting to find you.
Second quarter of 2008, the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce stated that the total number of Internet users worldwide was 1,463,500,000 viewers, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Even though we are living in tough economic times, people are still spending money. Your customers are waving money, wanting to purchase your book.
But right now, there's a problem... your customers can't find you. They don't even know you exist. Suddenly, this wonderful dream has turned into a nightmare. The curtain lifts and you are looking out into a theater hall that is empty. All is quiet, and you are alone.
When your curtain lifts, what do you see? Are you living a dream come true, or are you tossing and turning as the nightmare continues?
Within the second quarter of 2008, retail sales increased by 0.9% over the first quarter of 2008. This is equivalent to $1,034.8 billion USD.
You do not have to be one of the many talented writers who goes unnoticed. Your book does not have to be one of the many books that gathers dust on a shelf, never to be sold.
Question: So how do you navigate over a billion Internet viewers to witness your outstanding performance?
Answer: Through promotional tactics, proper website fundamentals, and learning strategies and techniques on how to market and sell your book through the Internet.
There are keys to success when it comes to marketing your book online:
Create a presence.
Target your audience.
Create a buzz.
Drive traffic.
Provide evidence that your book is a must read.
If you have the time, energy, and knowledge, you can conquer all obstacles and make the profits you deserve when selling your book. Rest assured, you can have pleasant dreams and wake up with a smile on your face.
The higher your ranking in the search engines, the greater the chances that your potential customers will find you and your book(s), and the greater chances you will have of successfully selling your books.
Social Bookmarks: Get Noticed Now!
I am going to share a HUGE tip that will allow you to hit over a hundred social bookmarks with just one click (okay, make that three clicks). First, there are some very important techniques that must be in place to ensure optimized search engine success.
Have you updated your profile lately?
Search engines are drawn to keywords or tags like a magnet. The webcrawlers will snag your name and the specific topic you are promoting as long as you have completed the following:
1. Completely fill in your profile on search engine sites.
Make sure you have completely filled in your profile on search engine sites, such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Check your profile by going to these sites:
Google: www.google.com/profiles
Yahoo: profiles.yahoo.com
MSN: home.live.com - Click on Profile.
Help others search for you easily. Your followers can enter your name into these three popular search engines and discover where you are: your site location and the updated content you have posted on your blog. Optimize the search engines. You must do the footwork. After this, you can sit back and let the “feelers” do their job.
2. Update your profile in your social media networks.
Update your profile in your social media networks, e.g., Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin, Goodreads, ShoutLife, etc).
This may seem like a lot of work, but it is well worth it. Usually, the first place your curious viewers will investigate to learn more about you is in your profile. Take the time to post a picture, share your interests, and make sure you include links back to your main blog or website. This is the perfect place to display your book cover and a short synopsis. Be inviting and encourage your viewers’ feedback.