Blog Organization for the Busy Writer

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Are you scrambling through your files for the last time you posted a blog
title?

Are you pulling your hair out trying to keep track of when a blog is due or when it appears?

At the last minute of posting, have you neglected an image?

Have you groaned at forgetting a hashtag on a tweetable?

Are you having second thoughts about blogging because the organization is driving you nuts?

Then relax. I have a solution for you, and it’s super easy. All you need is a spreadsheet titled Blog Organization. A single page works if the writer is blogging on only one site. Or you can create additional tabs for each additional blog.

Read the rest of this post on our new home at www.BlueRidgeConference.com.

The ABCs of Social Media

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Social Media doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips can take you farther, faster if you implement them into your social networking strategy.

A is for Answer. Think about the questions your target audience has and use social media to give them the answers. For instance, my followers want to learn how to use social networking efficiently, so I Tweet short-cuts, tips and easy solutions that take up very little time.

B is for Basics. Whatever you’re doing, make it excellent. That means take time to check for typos and readability, in your Tweets, Facebook posts and in your blog. Also be sure you’re using giving accurate links. There’s nothing more frustrating than clicking on a link that takes you nowhere.

C is for Conversation. Remember social networking is all about interaction between people. It’s NOT talking at them...it’s talking with them.

Read the rest of this post on our new home at www.BlueRidgeConference.com.

Tips to Grow Followers on Goodreads

By DiAnnMills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this:  Tips to Grow Followers on Goodreads

Goodreads is one of my favorite sites to find new authors, explore reviews of potential new reads, and promote my own novels. With a new release August 1 of Deadly Encounter, I’ve been talking to my friend Jenn dePaula at Mixtus Media about how to add new followers on Goodreads.

Jenn gave me two tips that I’d like to share with you. They are so very easy and can have a powerful impact on your marketing and promotion.

Go to your Goodreads page. Click on your photo to view  profile options.

 

Tip 1:

On the drop-down, click on friends.

In the right hand corner look for: FIND FRIENDS FROM.
Listed are: Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, and the Goodreads icon for friends of friends. The best option for me was Twitter. Click to bring up a window allowing Goodreads to access what you’ve chosen to use.

Tip 2:

Farther down the same page is INVITE FRIEND LINK.

Listed is: Send this link to your friends to connect with them.
Below that is your personal link. Use this link for e-mail, blog, and newsletters to encourage others to be your friend on Goodreads.

Two simple ways for readers to discover your books!

How are you active on Goodreads?

Tweet this:  Tips to Grow Followers on Goodreads



DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Where Do You Find Blogging Ideas?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills 

Tweet this: Where Do You Find Blogging Ideas?

You’ve allotted time to write your blog. No one is around to bother you. Your fingers are posed above the keyboard. Seconds tick by to minutes. This must be posted today.
And you have no clue what to write.

This blog is for every writer who ever peered into the idea bucket and found it empty. Not a single drop of creativity. Where do you find that sweet stream of blog topics?

A blog is a reflection of the writer professionally, personally, and psychologically. We share knowledge, reveal our interests, and show our unique and sometimes quirky temperaments.

The more we are transparent and relational, the more readers want to follow us and eagerly await our next post.

The following helps will fill your bucket with ideas now and in the future.

Professional Blogs

We focus on our brand and reflect on our experiences in the publishing world. We teach the craft in snippets of useful information. Social media, marketing, and promotion tips instruct the reader. Every how-to article is an opportunity to help a reader successfully meet a challenge. Post a podcast or a video. Make the blog interesting.

Personal Blogs

Harness your hobbies. Where do you vacation? Special restaurants? What are your quirky traits? Writers have varied interests, and your readers are excited to find out what relaxes and gives you satisfaction. Take photos, lots of them. Videos of you in the midst of a favorite pastime or hobby creates a tone of friendship. If you’re cooking and burn the meal, laugh, snap a few pics, and offer a great takeaway. If you’re attempting a craft with the kids or grandkids, show the reader what’s going on. Do you have a pet? We writers are not mindless robots who spend our entire day in front of a computer screen. We’re real!

Psychological Blogs

These are serious and fun posts. We can share an insight, a lesson learned, or our humorous side. The key is to be uplifting. Walk a narrow path with this one. Not every pitfall of life is to be shared. I take notes in church with the understanding a phrase or a twist of the sermon has the potential to be a powerful blog—not to preach or condemn but to show a different side of me.

Is your bucket dripping with a bazillion ideas? Keep a file of blogging topics for those dry times. And don’t forget to keep adding to it!

How do you find blogging ideas?

Tweet this: Where Do You Find Blogging Ideas? 


DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

8 Social Media Updates You Should NEVER Share!

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Social media is all about connections. It’s a digital community where relationships are built. IN this community, the relationship building takes place in much the same way as in a physical community. The foundational component is sharing—sharing lives, sharing thoughts, sharing hopes and dreams. But with all this sharing, there are still things we don’t need to know about one another.

I hate to say this, but I’ve seen all of these irritating updates show up in one or more of my social media feeds. My reaction on seeing these has ranged from mildly irritated, to what-was-she-thinking shock. I’d love for you to make note of these, and avoid them completely

How Contests can Boost Your Subscribers

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this: How Contests can Boost Your Subscribers

I don’t know a single person who doesn’t enjoy entering contests. We love the thought of winning a prize or being selected in a random drawing. Unfortunately, once the contest ends and a winner or winners are announced, the participant is no longer interested in who we are as writers unless we give them a reason to return.

Our objective in offering regular contests has two goals:

• To create enthusiasm for our books and our brand.
• To show participants we care about them.

We want readers to subscribe to our blogs and social media posts, to stay connected with us, and form a loyal relationship because we care about their needs. So how can a contest boost our subscribers?

1.  Develop well-written contest material. Spend time ensuring it’s witty, enticing, exciting, and in a consistent voice as your regular posts.
2. Use images that are relevant and easily understood. Study color and what appeals aesthetically to a participants’ emotions.
3. Strive for simplicity in how the person enters the contest. Random drawings are the easiest. I suggest using an online random generator site to select winners.
4. Include a sign-up box for your blog or click-through icons for your social media platforms.
5. Offer contestants a pdf of something for entering contest/random drawing. This could be used for new subscribers to your blog as well.
6. Each time someone enters the contest, send them a personal thank-you.Quality prizes are essential. Select items that are valued or gift cards.
7. When we cheat our participants, they have no reason to follow us.

The result is simple. When potential followers view how you engage with them, they are eager to make an investment. Don’t disappoint, and your followers will reward you.

How do you boost your social media followers?

Tweet this: How Contests can Boost Your Subscribers


DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

10 Myths about Marketing Your Book

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this: 10 Myths about Marketing Your Book

What’s stopping you from marketing your book? Is it lack of knowledge?
Indecision about the tools? Fear of failure or success? How to approach social media?

Now is the time to debunk the following 10 myths so you can be a marketing rockstar.

 Myth #1: All I have to do is one thing: write a good book. 

A writer’s number 1 job is to write an excellent book. But without marketing and promotion, how will readers know about your exciting project? 

Myth #2: Marketing takes way too much money. Only big names can afford it.

Every writer has the ability to learn basic marketing, promotion, and the value of social media. No matter the marketing budget, reaching others can be accomplished and is vital to the success of your book.

Myth #3: A traditionally published writer doesn’t need to worry about marketing. The publishing house will spend lots of money launching it.

Publishing houses adjust their budgets for marketing and promotion according to projected sales. A savvy writer teams up with the marketing team to learn how to compliment what’s being done. Personalization allows the writer to make an impact on potential readers.

Myth #4: The only way a writer will succeed in marketing is to hire a book publicist. 

Writers research the needs of their readers to find out how to reach them effectively. A writer has the ability to influence their readers by discovering who they are.

Myth #5: If a writer is going to get involved in social media, then register for every platform. And never follow anyone back.

A writer chooses a social media platform according to her brand, genre, expertise, and audience needs. The goal is to be active, reaching out in a community of followers to fill a need. 

Myth #6: No one can help an author build a platform or develop a brand. It just happens as you publish books.

A wise writer focuses her passion to a specific audience. Her expertise and type of writing builds her platform so she can be branded by who she is and what she writes. 

Myth #7: Marketing through social media means you have to constantly promote yourself so people will remember you.  The goal of social media is to help others; it’s not about us. For every five posts, only one can be about the writer. Develop trust among your followers.

Myth #8: There’s no point in marketing your book until it’s released. After all, people can’t buy it until then. 

Marketing and promotion begins with the writer’s idea for a project. Social media posts, blogs, speaking topics, catch-phrases, Pinterest boards etc. begin at conception of the book premise.

Myth #9: If you receive an advance, plan on spending 10% of it on marketing. If you don’t receive an advance, then marketing isn’t expected of you.

Every writer has a specific amount designated for marketing and promotion. The publisher expects a writer to be involved in the process of letting the world know about the book. The advance doesn’t dictate the writer’s marketing. 

Myth #10: Once a writer creates a marketing plan, the same plan works for every book.

Not every project’s content is the same. The characters, plot, setting, emotion, dialogue, narrative, and symbols vary in each book. Just as the books carry different themes and topics, so are the new and unique ways of marketing.

What marketing myths have you proven wrong? Share your thoughts so we 
can all learn. 

Tweet this: 10 Myths about Marketing Your Book 


   

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

7 Things Your Target Audience Needs to Hear

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills 
Tweet this: 7 Things Your Target Audience Needs to Hear

Meeting reader needs can be a daunting task, which is one of the reasons why The Author Roadmap is dedicated to helping you be a success with social media while creating writing projects.

The following 7 items will help you reach out to your audience and cultivate valuable relationships. Note every item is what you will do for your audience . . . not the other way around.

1. Dear reader, my goal is to build a friendship with you. I care about you, and I’m constantly working to answer your questions, inform, and entertain you.
2. The passion for my stories comes from a deep desire to provide a great book for you. Your encouragement is why I work hard to develop strong characters and an intricate plot.
3. You can trust me to stand firm on my brand. I’m a writer who is true to my promises. My books, blogs, and social media posts reflect my integrity.
4. You are important to me. My multiple-daily posts are about how I can meet your needs. My promise to keep in touch is reliable. Leave comments, and I will respond.
5. Your input helps me be productive. I’m listening to your suggestions, questions, and advice.
6. We’re a team. No writer is ever alone. We need each other to walk this path called life.
7. What stories have influenced you? How can I best continue to serve you?

Your readers are priceless gems. Nurture and take care of them. Once a writer loses an audience, she may never get them back again. 

Tweet this: 7 Things Your Target Audience Needs to Hear


 
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Organize Your Social Media with this Step-by-Step Tutorial for Setting Up & Personalizing a Hootsuite Account

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Many of you know that I spent all of last week directing and teaching at The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. 

DiAnn Mills and I taught a week-long continuing class—The Author Roadmap. We loved interacting with students and helping them get acquainted with the marketing and branding superhighway. But even though we had an entire week of classes, it wasn't enough time to teach everything we wanted. 

So today, I'm sharing a much-requested screencast that take you through a step-by-step tutorial for setting up and personalizing a Hootsuite account. 

Be sure to leave any questions or comments in the section below. I'm happy to clarify any points that weren't clear—or weren't covered—in the video. 

Thanks & Blessings,
Edie

Click to Tweet: Organize #SocialMedia with this Step-by-Step Tutorial for #Hootsuite - @EdieMelson 

8 Ways to Protect Your Password

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills


Tweet this: 8 Ways to Protect your Password
Cyber crime can attack us when we are vulnerable. The best protection is to take important steps to ensure our passwords are unique and not easily distinguished.

Hackers have one of two goals—steal our money or our identity. We all work too hard to pave the way for a faceless thief to take what is ours.

Here are eight ways you can be way ahead of hackers.

1. Select a different password for every mobile device.
2. Make your password as intricate as possible.
3. Do not use a password that is linked to you: a birthday, anniversary, middle name, maiden name, address, college, city, state, children’s or grandchildren’s names, etc.
4. Don’t be guilty of using one of these horrible, terrible, easily hackable, stupid, and down right dumb passwords: http://bit.ly/1VgwYKZ
5. Be a protector of your passwords by taking a hard look at what you’ve used for the last several years. Updates are smart. Updating too often doesn’t make much sense, especially if you already have a solid password in place.
6. Thinking about additional security protection? Your mother’s maiden name or your city is way too easy for a hacker to figure out. Think of a tough question and a tough response.
7. Consider two-factor authentication. Read more about it here: http://bit.ly/1V6BfzO
8. Use common sense - Why allow a website to remember your password. That only makes it easier for a hacker.

Your turn. Have you taken steps to ensure your password is protected?

Tweet this: 8 Ways to Protect your Password

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

The Power of Pinterest in Novel Promotion

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this: The Power of Pinterest in Novel Promotion

Pinterest claims to have 100 million active monthly users while noting 176 million registered users. Those stats are amazing, especially when writers are geared up to market and promote a new book. 

Using Pinterest for promoting novels allows writers to expand their creativity. An easy way to entice a reader to check out our work involves pulling out special sections of the novel that can be translated into a picture or meme.

Story symbols and products and services have the ability to represent key aspects of the book and urge the reader to investigate further. For example: is your character a Starbucks, Coke, or McDonalds fan? Does the character thrive on baseball or tennis? Does your character take long walks by the ocean to ease her mind? walks by the ocean to ease her mind?
 
Snippets of the setting make the story come alive.

Photos of the writer engaged in the writing process or involved in something fun links the passion of the writer for the story.  

Quotes from the story—those witty comments that can be humorous, insightful, or way deep. (In fact, we writers often wonder where they came from.)

Now that you have an idea what to use for your novel’s Pinterest board, stir up your creative juices and let the writer’s uniqueness shine.

1. Create a new board for your novel. If the book hasn’t been released, make sure this is a “secret” board.
2. Study the psychology of color. Use what attracts readers to your books.
3. Organize what you want to pin on your story’s board.
4. Create memes for setting and symbols. PicMonkey is an easy way to personalize and make your designs powerful. Use free stock photos from such sites as Pixabay, Unsplash, Negative Space, or Stock Snap.
5. Use a plain canvas background or a pic to focus on a quote. Again PicMonkey is an amazing tool.
6. Include your URL on each pic. This brings traffic to your website and invites repins.
7. Use keywords to organize and complete the necessary description for your pins. This ensure your story and brand are easy to find.
8. Add the Pinterest button to your website.
9. Make your board public on the day before your book’s official release date.
10. Share your board and pins via social media with friends and readers. Others are excited to see a new perspective on the story.
11. Follow others on Pinterest and they will follow you.

Tweet this: The Power of Pinterest in Novel Promotion


DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Why Should a Writer be a Part of Goodreads - 2?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this: Why Should a Writer be a Part of Goodreads - 2? 

On April 15, 2016,  I shared with you the basics of Goodreads and how to set up

an account. Today, we’ll talk about what Goodreads means to an author.

Let’s begin by pulling up the Author Program Page here - https://www.goodreads.com/author/program

Read through the 8 bullet point suggestions in Take Control of Your Profile. These tips enhance your followers’ experience with your page. Make sure you have the Goodreads Author Widget on your website or personal blog. My blog for readers is linked to my Goodreads page, so I can expand my readership and make it easy for followers within my community to see the books I've rated and the books I've written. Every item listed in this section draws others to you.

Goodreads.com is a writer's best friend!

Scroll down to Promote Your Books. The three bullet point suggestions have easy instructions. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Goodreads makes it easy for users to navigate their site.

Under How Do I Join? I suggest searching for yourself. Now you can view what followers see. Is everything in order? Do you need to make any edits or additions?

Who can Join? Most of you have already registered with Goodreads, but if you haven’t given yourself this benefit, do so now.

The video Introducing the Goodreads Author Program is a short overview of your benefits.

On the right side of the Author Program Page, a highlighted list contains more  valuable information. Begin by clicking on Author Guidelines. This page is essential for your success.

The Author Program How-To Page gives more insight with tutorials to show writer
how to best utilize their profiles with how-to videos.

Studying the topics for authors gives you insight to Goodreads and how to broaden your visibility while providing followers with fresh material. 

I value quotes, and here I can add them from my books: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/new

These are just a few of the ways an author can reach readers through Goodreads.

Are you ready to dive into the many opportunities available for writers who subscribe to Goodreads? Let’s share experiences!



Tweet this: Why Should a Writer be a Part of Goodreads - 2?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an dventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

The Value of Klout on Social Media

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I’ve recently received a lot of questions about a relatively new Social Media Tool, KLOUT. Today I’d like to give the information you need to decide whether Klout is for you.

First, let me assure you Klout is a legitimate tool, and not spam. Responding to a Klout invitation will not get you hacked. But it's not technically a network, although they seem to be trying to go that direction. 

The value of Klout is the fact that it puts a number to our social media influence. 

This isn't without controversy. But as long as we don't obsess about it, it can be a good thing. 

Why should a Writer be a part of Goodreads?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
 

Goodreads - a writer's friend

Tweet this: Why should a Writer be a part of Goodreads?

The biggest reason for a writer to jump onboard Goodreads comes from their own words: “It’s the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations.” I’m convinced this social media platform is essential to a novelist’s recognition by readers and publishers.

This post is the first of three blogs that will show the writer the value of having a Goodreads’ account.

Let’s unpack what that means:

1. If I’m looking for a book to read, I can explore reviews and see what others are reading.
2. I can read books, rate them, write an honest review, and make recommendations to others.
3. If I’m a new writer, I can search my genre and read the recommendations from other readers. I can also learn why some books do well and others don’t.
4. If I’m a seasoned writer, I can read reviews for my books to discover what readers appreciate or discount. Reading other reviews from my genre also helps me address reader needs.
   

Convinced? 
 
This is your invitation: https://www.goodreads.com/

This is your party page: https://www.goodreads.com/about/us

Take a look at the stats on the right hand side in bold font: 40 Million Members, 1.3 Billion Books Added, 47 Million Reviews.  

Now that you have your hat and balloons, I’ll reveal a few more goodies before showing you how to join. On the left side is a menu of all the tabs on the site. Oh, I bet you can spend hours, even days here.

So let’s get you signed up. Navigate back to the home page (www.goodreads.com).

And don’t forget to follow Goodreads on their social media platforms. In my next blog, on Friday, April, 29, we’ll explore what Goodreads means for you as an author.




DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Facebook Changes for Groups & Pages

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

One thing we can count on in social media is the fact that it's always changing. This is never more true than when we're dealing with Facebook. 

Click to Tweet: Stay current on Facebook changes 

for Groups & Pages - @EdieMelson 

We can whine and complain all we want, but the truth is this. Facebook is valuable to authors as a way to connect with our readers. Because of that, we need to stay current with all the changes. 

Today, I'm posting a screencast to help you do just that. It's only 12 minutes long and in it I'll cover

Book Promotion through Pinterest

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this: Book Promotion through Pinterest

Writers look for creativity in promoting their writing projects.

We ask ourselves: what can I do that thrills my romantic suspense readers?

Designing a Pinterest board with images and quotes from our books spark interest and excites others to investigate who we are and our books.

I recommend developing a secret Pinterest Board long before the book is released, so you can make the board “public” a few days before it hits the shelves.

Easy right?

Let me walk you through the process. It’s really fun.

1. Go to Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ and click on your photo on the far right side. Then click on “my profile.” The page looks like this:
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Create a secret board.”
3. Complete the form. “Name” is your book’s title.
4. “Description” is your brief description of the pin.
5. “Category” is “Film, Music, and Books.”
6. Makes sure the “yes” is elected for secret.
7. If you have “collaborators” or you want to share the contents with a publicist, editor, or a friend, type in the person’s e-mail address.

Now, you’re ready to start pinning.

1. Your first pin is your book cover. This is the identifying image and the source of images for the entire board.
2. Other images to pin are bookmarks, postcards, banners, and some advertisements that focus on your book.
3. For novelists, select actors and actresses who would play leading roles in your book. An excellent source for finding legal images is to search other Pinterest boards. Pin from there to the secret board.
4. Memorable quotes allow the writer to create memes. Personalize these images to fit your book.
5. Where is the book set? Use your own images or find ones on free image sites to create a meme.
6. Search through your book for other means of creating images to pin on your board. Be original!
7. Post a photo(s) of you conducting research, writing, or just being you.

The following are two screen shots of a board I created for my novel Deadlock. You can also view the board here: https://www.pinterest.com/diannmills/deadlock-novel/




 Are you ready to create a Pinterest Board for your book?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an

adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association; International Thriller Writers, and the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.