In my day job as part of a fundraising team for a large nonprofit, we have two big goals: acquisition and retention. I know, sounds exciting, yeah? But I promise it relates to author marketing. In acquisition, our goal is to find new donors—people who have never given to us before. That’s a big deal. But equally important is retaining those new donors once they’ve given that first gift. You know why? Because once someone has given a second contribution, they’re 80% more likely to become a long-term donor. And I think that translates into author marketing, too! As writers, it’s a big deal to have a first-time visitor to your website. A first-time commenter on your blog. Someone who stops by your facebook page or signs up for your […]
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One Thing Marketing: Using the ABCs of journalism to market your book
My reporting days may be behind me, but the ABCs of journalism are still embedded into my brain: Accuracy Brevity Clarity When it comes to marketing ourselves and our writing, those ABCs come in handy. Accuracy: Are your marketing efforts, well, accurate? Are they professional and well-crafted? Think of each marketing piece—whether it’s your website, a bookmark, a business card, even a YouTube video—as a potential reader’s first introduction to you. Make sure what they see is exactly what you want them to see! Brevity: We live in a fast-moving, constantly on-the-go world…which means brevity is always a bonus. See: Twitter. J But it’s totally possible to say LOTS while saying little…whether it’s in a blog post, your author bio, or even a Facebook status. Learn to be pithy and […]
Read the RestSome Considerations About E-Publishing
Publishing is changing. Some for the good. Some for the worse. But all in all, I feel it’s a grand time for authors to make a way for themselves. I once called e-publishing the “revenge of the writer” because it opened doors previously closed to writers. It was a new chance to put their work in front of the buying public. As I watch the e-revolution, I’m encouraged but maintain a bit of caution. This revolution has just begun. The outcome is yet to be seen. E-author success up ‘til now is unique and constantly changing. But the e-reader phenomenon has created some great author success stories. Yet things are still shaping. Trends are shaking out, slowing down, finding a rhythm, and driving toward permanent change.As you pursue your own […]
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One Thing Marketing … Write a Press Release as Compelling as Your Book!
Welcome to this week’s One Thing Marketing where we talk about that “One Thing” you can do this week to build your platform, connect with readers/reviewers and snag some attention for you and your latest book or WIP. Last week we talked about a writer’s mission statement. How did you do coming up with a Brand Promise, Tagline and Emotional Relevance? This week we’ll tackle the press release. A press release is an announcement of your new book. The trick is making the announcement as compelling as your book is, and that takes a slightly different touch. It’s a simple formula merely to put together a proper press release for your book. In the first paragraph, include the following: Title ISBN number Publisher Author Price Then in the body of […]
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