A to Z Reflections for 2015

Wow. I'm still alive. It was a busy frantic month of April. I hope you'll share your thoughts on the A to Z Challenge this year at some point this week. After you do, add the link for the post to the linky list at the A to Z Blog and then visit others and see how the challenge treated them.

I also want to thank my wonder Dragon Soldiers who helped me more than I can say.
L. Diane at Spunk on a Stick
Sabina at Victim to Charm
Ann at So Much to Choose From
Shantala at Shanaya Tales


This was my first year as co-host. Some reflection on that:
1. The veterans on this team are amazing. So many of them have done this year after year. There's so much work behind the scenes and in previous years they did it with few co-hosts than this year.
2. Being a co-host is a lot of work and it takes up a lot of time.
3. The first two weeks were crazy busy but I became more efficient half way through the month.

As a co-host, I really had insight into how many bloggers signed up but didn't participate. I was shocked and that was what made the most work for the people running the Challenge. I'm sure some people had excellent excuses. Life just gets in the way sometimes. Some probably just forgot they signed up.  Also a number of bloggers didn't finish. Again, many probably had really good reasons. Family issues, job demands, illness, internet failure or an unexpected deadline can all derail the best intentions. And a good number probably underestimated the amount of time the challenge can take.

I also enjoyed the theme I picked more than I expected. It was my turn this year to suggest books and make other peoples' TBR lists longer. I really appreciated the bloggers who visited me nearly every day. In the weeks ahead, I intend to highlight some of those blogs.

I hope for next year, all those who dropped out will try again. I hope all those who made to the end line will join again in April 2016.

Don't forget you get reward yourself with some actual A to Z Survivor Gear. You know you want one of these shirts designed by co-host Jeremy Hawkins.

Don't forget this Wednesday is the first of the month so that mean it is Insecure Writers Support Group day to post. Share those insecurities with us. I'll try to keep my list short.

A last piece of advice for A to Z'ers, don't stop the momentum you've gained from this month-long marathon. Now you know you can keep your blog on a schedule, keep it active. It doesn't have to be every day. Three time, two times even one time per week so visitors know what to expect. Keep it going.

Did you order your tee-shirt yet? Have you learned something from the Challenge? Will you sign up next year? Any advice to make the entire affair run smoother? Don't forget to add your link on the A to Z Page.

10 Things on my List

I made a list. If you missed Monday's What Works online marketing symposium, you missed the chance to make your own list. But you can still check out all the wonderful, helpful posts by following the links here. So what did I jot down as things I want to investigate further and perhaps use to help me with promotion.

#1. I'm going check out the Amazon Paperback giveaway program that I have never heard of before.
#2. I'm going to some of my friends about doing a group giveaway instead of going solo on it.
#3. I'm going to take advantage of the Goodreads Author's programs.
#4. I have a short list of review sites I wasn't aware of and will check out.
#5. I'm going to experiment with changing and updating tags for my books on Amazon.
#6. I can't decide about Facebook ads. There was so much conflicting experience on the helpfulness of those.
#7. I found a few new blogs to follow, made some connections on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
#8. I have to think about using Wattpad.
#9. I'm going to 'use' my online friends more to help me promote my work.
#10. I'm going to do more reviews for my friends' books.

I have much more detail written on my cute little notepad, enough to keep my allotted marketing time filled for the next month. I hope the symposium was a beneficial for others as it was for me.
Let me thank this fine foursome for putting it all together. I hope they do it again next year.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Arlee Bird
Jermey Hawkins
Yolanda Renee

Did you participate? What was one thing you learned? How does my list look?

What Works: Online Marketing Symposium

Please join me and many other writers in sharing today. Thanks to these fine people for organizing the What Works: Online Marketing Symposium, Arlee Bird, Yolanda Renee, Jeremy Hawkins and Alex J. Cavanaugh. Find the entire list of participants on their blogs and prepare some pen and paper to take notes. A special thank you to all of them. 

“On event day you tell us about a marketing idea that you've used and what worked or didn't work. Your post could describe a campaign that succeeded in a big or small way or one that failed drastically. Tell us about a business campaign, an organizational event, a fundraiser – anything where a bit of promotion was necessary!”

One thing I had success with in the past but not recently has been in person book signing. When my first fantasy novel came out, The Keepers of Sulbreth, I scheduled numerous in person book signings at Borders and Barnes and Noble. I sold out at my first three signings which was nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. Since Borders closed, replaced by BAM, I haven't had any signings in the big retail stores. I have attended numerous signings in small independent stores and at other venues like coffee shops. With one exception, I've had very poor results for those hours spent smiling and acting as store greeter. I am doing a group signing at a flower shop near Valentine's day, but I really feel that in person book signings aren't worth the time or the expense of purchasing numerous print copies of your own book.

What has worked for me? I find Facebook updates, of the right kind, result in an uptick in my sales. What are the right kind in my experience? The ones where I am promoting but not as blatantly as saying 'buy my book.' Links to reviews, blog posts, interviews or just being mentioned somewhere. For instance, Awesome Gang, posted this interview of me where I talk about the inspiration behind First Dragon. Are the upticks making me rich? No, but being active on Facebook does seem to help my book sales. But Facebook is free though they have paid avenues you can try to expand the reach of your posts. I've heard good and poor reports on doing that.

The results I write about above are only own and not indicative of others' experiences. I'm looking forward to seeing what I'll learn today from the other bloggers. Please visit them all.

What are your experiences with book signings? Are they worth the time and effort? Do you believe Facebook is a good promo option? Have you tried their paid options? Is Twitter a better time option than Facebook?