Sometimes, as I research sites on the blogosphere for this
weekly roundup, a topic just keeps getting highlighted.
This week it is
marketing.
Everyone seems to be talking about marketing books or ideas in some
way or another.
Marketing is one of those dirty words that authors need to know
and understand but would prefer that other people say and do on their behalf.
Now that the author is stuck with having to learn marketing
tips, as the publishing industry either ditches their authors or ditches their
publicity budget, marketing is becoming a hot topic.
What works?
This week some online gurus had some interesting things to
share about this bright, new, shiny, wholesome word.
Michael Hyatt is CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers and has a
popular blog. This week he is looking at How to use FREE as your marketing strategy.
The BookDesigner has started a new series on Book Marketingfor the beginner self publisher. Even if you are not self publishing take a
look. You never know where you might find a golden tip to generate more sales.
Ducttapemarketing has
posted a podcast interview on their site with David Merman Scott on his new edition of New Rules of Marketing and PR. David’s book changed the landscape of
small business marketing when it came out in 2007. His ideas and tools quickly
became a bible for small business. So if you are seriously in business, drop by
to listen to David.
Tony Eldridge recently reposted his Bookbuzzr link. This is a nifty piece of code that allows you
to put a sample of your book in a book icon with your cover on it on your
websites with links to bookseller sites....and it is free.
While you are focussing on the word FREE... a group of
dedicated contest lovers have started a Facebook page where they list every free book giveaway contest going. This is an interesting bit of marketing...for
authors... bloggers...publishers.... Word
of mouth is an incredible force and so is Facebook. They have only been going a
couple of days and already they have over 200 people joining in.
The Children’s Writer’s and Illustrators Market Guide 2012 is
out this month and Kidlit.com has a free copy to give away...because they
contributed a couple of articles. With our exchange rate looking so good it is
worth investing in a copy of the Guide. It is the white pages of publishers,
agents, and art editors across the US (and their international section is
growing every year) for people working in Children’s Publishing. It has great
articles and how to tips as well. It is tax deductable and, if you get a free
shipping bookseller, so worth the money. ($28 NZ for over 400 pages)
In the hot topics being discussed this week...David Gaughran’sidea of getting translators to translate your ebook/book for a share of theroyalties became a hot topic amongst the translating community as well as the
Indie publishing community. Writers and Translators were weighing into the
discussion to say how it might work or should work. Lots of interesting
comments and examples of how to get your book translated into other languages
as publishers get ready for the roll out of Kindle into non English speaking markets
later this year.
Publishing Perspectives has focussed their critical eye onthe Gamification of books. If you are scratching your head...Children’s
publishing has taken a head start on this with 39 Clues and Pottermore...those
poor adult writers...how do you make a game out of your cookbook? Ah ha, read
the article to find out...
Mark Coker, the guy behind Smashwords, has uploaded his
slideshow keynote from The Central Coast Writers Conference last weekend about
Five Big Trends That Will Rock The Future Of Publishing.
Over in the Craft Section,
The Five Elements Of The Riveting First Line. K M Weiland
takes a scalpel to the first line and shows you how to craft the layers in. (take
some time to trawl around her site too. You Will Be In Awe.)
Over on Craicerplus (My Amplify Page) I have links to
articles on...
Links to Free Clip Art
The Agents Side Of The Gay YA Saga
What StartUps Can Teach Publishers....This is a great article
looking at crowd sourcing, dynamic pricing...
To Finish,
A couple of months ago
Writer Beware highlighted the questionable behaviour of Publish America...a ‘publishing’
firm who (for a fee) would take your MS to Edinburgh and present it to JK
Rowling for comment. Yesterday, Writer Beware has become aware of a new scheme(scam) by this ‘reputable’ company...They can get your Christian Book in front
of Christian Booksellers (for a fee.) Read the whole story and BE AWARE that
sometimes Marketing (by unscrupulous people) is still a dirty word.
enjoy,
maureen
pic from ablebrains
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