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?

A to Z Challenge: A

Thanks to so many people who have done so much work to make A to Z Blogging Challenge the biggest blogging event ever. I don't know it that's true but it sounds good. I'm not sure everyone knows, but this challenge was the brainchild of Arlee Bird, one of the kindest, most generous and all around talented writer that I know(through blogging). It's appropriate on the 'A' day to honor him with giving some tribute to Arlee. We can do that best by visiting him today. Hello Arlee and thank you.

 My theme this year is about the steps I'll be taking to advance my career as a full time writer now that I'm retiring from my teaching career. Sometimes I'll be giving advice but lots of times I'll be asking for advice and opinions.

A: Amazon rules the world! Well, the writing world or so it seems. With the latest news of Amazon purchasing Goodreads, the giant expands its grasping reach. Is the purchase a good thing or a bad? Not sure and perhaps only time will tell.

Amazon sells nearly everything not just books. But many writers judge their success on how many books they sell on Amazon. If you self-publish, the process is very quick and relatively painless on Amazon. You can watch your books rank, read your reviews and see what books Amazon compares you to. If you a writer, you need to use Amazon. Agree?

Does Amazon rule the writing world? Is the purchase of Goodreads a good thing for writers? Visit Arlee yet?

I Am #192

No, I'm not related to Number Four, book or movie.  But I am blog #192 on the A to Z blog challenge started by Arlee over at Tossing It Out. The number of bloggers involved in this challenge grows everyday.  Over 600 bloggers have signed up so far.  Incredible!  All the fun starts on April first.

What will a number like that do for all of us? New and fun friends.  Legions of new followers.  Knowledge to be shared and passed on to our fellow writers and bloggers.  With the only guidelines being the letter we're representing on that day, the variety of subjects posted about is bond to be wide ranging and very interesting. I'm going to be so anxious to get home from work every day and try to catch up.

Why join? Meet new people.  Build a following.  Learn things about craft and promotion.  Get in a strong habit of regular posting.  Challenge your creativity.  Have fun.  I hope to see you there.  But that spot on #192 is already taken.

Blogging Fun in the Spring

I hope you've all joined by now.  April is only a few weeks away and besides the spring flowers and hopefully warming temperatures.  April will bring the A to Z Blogging Challenge started by Arlee over at Tossing it Out.

Joining the challenge means you'll blog every day of the month, except for Sundays, using the letters of the alphabet to guide your blog topic.  I'm already brainstorming.  Not only will participating help me blog consistently but I'm hoping I gain even more wonderful followers.

You can join too.  There are many places you can put your name on the roll call.  Visit Arlee or Alex Cavanaugh for example.  The more the merrier.

Have you ever joined a blogging challenge?  Did it help you be a better blogger?  Did you build your following?