Proactive Marketing and Promotion

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills


Tweet this: Proactive Marketing and Promotion
A writer builds her marketing and promotion platform long before a single word is written on the manuscript. When an idea hits the writer’s heart and mind, how the content will draw readers begins. This doesn’t mean the writer looks to the latest trends to mine book topics, but it means she actively seeks opportunities to share her passion.

The technique doesn’t divert from creating a quality project. Fresh writing enhances the ability to propel the project into the right hands. Consider all that drives a book: specific readers, needs, dreams, strengths, challenges, and desires. 

How can the contents meet those criteria? Use your readers' personality to develop blog themes, contests, memes, events, hashtags, giveaways, podcasts, Pinterest board(s), promotion, posting tips, videos, speaking topics, and whatever other social media platforms that will fit into the   writer’s brand.  

• Agents and editors are attracted to writers who embrace a green light to marketing and promotion.

• When a writer has a grasp on how to approach readers with a targeted topic or genre, every thought has value.
• Each scene or section of a book has potential. Look to the subject matter for distinct possibilities to draw attention to the writing project.
• Traditional and Independent publishing efforts become enjoyable and simplified.
• At the completion of the book, the writer is able to compose and calendar blogs, contests, hashtags, tweetables, giveaways, and events.
• The writer can request guest blogs months in advance, ensuring the exact date of the book release corresponds with the blog post.
• Events can be scheduled, planned, and perfected months ahead of the designated time.
• A successful writer who has mastered marketing and promotion is eager to begin the next project

For example: Bonnie Bestseller is writing a novel about a heroine who works as a coffee barista in Telluride, Colorado. The story takes place in January when the town is filled with skiing enthusiasts. Business is booming, and the coffee shop centers as a conversation spot. Bonnie has sworn off dating and refuses any of the male flirting tactics.

In the midst of keeping customers happy, the coffee shop is sold to a single man who knows nothing about roasting coffee beans, making delicious drinks, or keeping patrons happy. He’s shy, extremely good looking, knows nothing about snow or skiing, doesn’t like coffee, and requires the heroine's help to make the coffee shop a continued success. The thought of working for her boss is detestable, but she has no choice.
End of first chapter.

The writer creates a file titled: Marketing and Promotion. She lists the ideas that pop into her head with the understanding some will be tossed and others will be valuable. For example:

Blog:

Skiing Tips the First Day on the Slopes
Coffee Addicts are Fun
Memes:
A photo of someone reading your book and drinking coffee - “Common Grounds is the best romance ever!”

Facebook:
 
In my new novel Common Grounds, my heroine is a barista who works for a man who hates coffee or tea. What is your favorite go-to beverage when it’s cold outside? 

Tweet:
Love coffee and #romance? Common Grounds @BonnieBestseller will thrill you (click to tweet)

Videos:
A humorous video on grinding coffee
Coffee art

Contest Giveaways:
Coffee
Gift card to Starbucks

Speaking Topics:
Research
Where I find story ideas

Click here to find a spreadsheet titled Proactive Marketing and Promotion to assist in the process of marketing and promotion during the writing phase. This spreadsheet can be downloaded and saved.

Are you ready to accept the challenge?

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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.

Where Have All the (Facebook) Fans Gone, & What To Do About it

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

TWEET THIS: Where have all the #Facebook fans gone & what to do about it - @EdieMelson

Many of you may have heard the term EdgeRank in regard to Facebook’s policy for Fan (Professional) pages. It’s still a new term, but its purpose should sound familiar. EdgeRank compiles information Facebook believes will be valuable for each individual user. This is done through complicated equations, not unlike those search engine algorithms use to rank sites when a topic is searched.

Facebook has stated a lot of different reasons for this change, but knowing why isn't as important as learning how to play within these new rules. Whether we like it or not, things on FB have changes and to survive on this network, we've got to play within this new paradigm. 

Before we start though, we need to have reasonable expectations. So let’s look at what we know. At almost any time during a given twenty-four hour period, only between 16-20% of your fans will see a specific post. This is due to a lot of different variables.

• First, the fact that all of your fans are never on Facebook at the same time.
• Second, only a certain percentage interact with your page. Think about it, haven’t you liked a page and then never visited again?

In the new world of Facebook:

Engagement (interaction) is key to reaching more fans on Facebook.

Easy to say, but so hard to do. But there are things we can do to help reach more people on Facebook.

10 Ways to Help Your Fans Find You on Facebook Again:

1. Utilize a three-pronged approach to social media. Use your blog, Twitter and Facebook to reinforce each other. Share the same information across all three and keep the conversation going. 

Get on a schedule.

2. Get on a schedule. Set a goal for how often you want to post updates—then stick to it. 

3. Give us the inside scoop. Let your fans see you as a person—not just a business. (Warning: Don’t go overboard with this. Just an occasional post about grandchildren or exercise goes a long way!)

4. Promote others on YOUR Fan Page. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me, it works.

5. Visit the Facebook pages of your fans and friends. You want people to comment on your page, so comment on theirs.

6. Put a Facebook button on your blog.

7. Tweet about your Facebook page and USE the appropriate hashtags.

Don't treat your FB page like a bulletin board

8. Decide what value you want to offer to your audience (fans). Then deliver content related to that. Don’t treat your Facebook Page like a bulletin board.

9. Make sure your page is a fun place to hang out. Have parties, giveaways, quizzes. Interactive posts are key and need to make up a regular part of your strategy. 

10. Finally, stay up to date with your niche. For example, if you write romance, give us an occasional scoop into the romance genre. Has a new publisher come on the market, an old one shut down? Inquiring minds want to know.

What about you? Do you have a Facebook page? If so, share the name in the comments section so we can LIKE it. Second, what are some things you’re doing to promote conversation on your page?

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Look for her newest book, While My Soldier Serves (Worthy Inspired), available at bookstores and online.

The Number One Method of Author Promotion—Social Media

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills 

Tweet this: The Number One Method of Author Promotion—Social Media

Authors are in search of the holy grail of book promotion. We read blogs and follow prominent writers who are the gurus of mastering marketing and promotion. After a while, all the posts are a maze of saying the same thing with different terminology.

For certain word of mouth is the best advertisement in the world.Social media is the number one method of communicating messages, whether it is conducting meetings, sharing stats and data, news, or exchanging photos with family and friends. The separation of personal and professional communication has merged together to keep up with the latest news and trends. The world is mobile, and that means knowledge is accessed through online and mobile devices, and it doesn’t matter the language or culture because everyone with a mobile device can be reached.  

Friends, that’s the most positive news for writers. Experts estimate 7.4 billion people by the end of 2016. Do the search on Google—there are more mobile devices in the world than people.

This is sounding better and better for writers. Edie and I are committed to bringing you the best method of getting a writer’s books into the hands of readers.

We can all be more savvy, more data and statistics driven to increase our brand awareness and sales. But what does that mean for us as professional writers?

The best way to reach readers is through social media.

That’s exciting. Thrilling.

So let’s make a commitment to the following.

1. I will learn how to efficiently and effectively post on Facebook and Twitter.
2. I will blog regularly on a site that receives numerous hits and is highly respected in the publishing industry.
3. I will follow those within the publishing industry who offer valuable advice about social media. Edie and I filter through many sites like Social Media Examiner, Pro Blogger, Blogging Bistro, HubSpot, and others to bring you valuable information here on The Author Roadmap.
4. I will post at least once a day on Facebook and Twitter.
5. I will learn how to use Hootsuite or Buffer, hashtags, tweetables, and blog organization.
6. I will share other posts and help writers become more proficient in their careers.
7. I will congratulate myself for stepping up to the plate and giving my book a winning season.

Comment here if you’ve decided to take the social media marketing and promotion challenge. 



 

Tweet this: The Number One Method of Author Promotion—Social Media


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.

The ABCs of Blogging

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

TWEET THIS: #Blogging Success is as Easy as ABC – via #socialmedia expert @EdieMelson 

Today I’d like to give you 26 tips for success with your blog. I’m calling this my ABCs of Blogging.

A is for Accessibility—Make sure your blog is easy to find, easy to navigate, and easy to read. And don’t forget to make it accessible to those who are visually impaired. 

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

Fear of the Camera—Know Your Photographer

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills


Tweet This: Fear of the Camera—Know Your Photographer
 
She was my friend until she shot me.

I know what you’re thinking. As a suspense writer, I’m always looking for ways to deepen my brand, and the opening line did get your attention. But actually this blog is about the value of an up-to-date head shot.

A photo shoot is part of every writer’s life, although we writers often cringe at the thought. We’d rather be writing than posing and plastering a unique smile. My newest photos were taken in South Carolina by Mary Denman a longtime friend and fabulous photographer. Her setting for a suspense writer’s new look was at an old textile mill. Sections of it had been restored and fashioned into lofts while other areas were so dilapidated that they were unsafe to go inside.  

Perfect, I thought, but I dreaded the whole smile on demand thing. 

Mary walked around the mill and studied fallen brick, chipped paint, weeds, and the sun. All the while she chatted, and I slowly attempted to act semi-normal. She pointed to a raised, concrete dock and asked if I could climb atop. My short legs  managed to follow her instructions. 

I peered into the shadowed mill, and my mind raced with a wild chase scene and a firefight.

“DiAnn, it’s time,” Mary said.

I froze. Brainstorming a new novel was more appealing.

“Toss your head,” Mary said. “Roll your shoulders.”

“Okay.” I cringed.

“Look all around—the sky, the tower. Turn with it.”

And the click of the camera began. I had a fabulous time—being serious, silly, and just plain crazy. When we were finished, I realized I’d had fun. So totally unexpected.

So why should we writers periodically have new photos? Here are three reasons:

1. A new photo freshens and updates our online presence.
2. A new photo gives our business card and printed material a “now-time” look. Nothing is worse than a reader remarking how the writer didn’t look like her photo.
3. A new photo shows the publishing industry and readers that we care enough to invest in our career. 

Here is one of my new shots. 

How about a caption? 

Your name will be entered in a random drawing for an edit of the first five double-spaced pages of your manuscript.  

Tweet This: Fear of the Camera—Know Your Photographer

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.

Don't Destroy Your Online Platform - 10 Things to Watch Out For!

by Edie Melson @Edie Melson 

Tweet This: 10 Ways you may be hurting your online platform - from #SocialMedia expert @EdieMelson 

For writers today, an online presence can mean the difference between success and failure. But if we’re not doing it right, we may be our own worst enemy. Today I want to share 10 ways you may be wrecking your social media presence.

1. You have an inconsistent social media presence—I’m not talking about taking weekends off, but on spending consistent time building your online presence. This includes showing up on Twitter and Facebook with reasonable regularity, and keeping a regular schedule for your blog posts.

2. You over-promote—The promotion I’m talking about is SELF promotion. Use Edie’s 5 to 1 rule—for every 5 social media updates, you’re allowed one additional update about yourself.

3. Your website doesn’t have social share buttons—I don’t know how much time I’ve spent on your sites looking for your twitter handle or trying to follow you on Facebook. Most people won’t spend more than three seconds. That’s not long.

4. You engage in Hashtag overload—Hashtags are great, and using them CORRECTLY can net you a lot of new followers. But correctly means no more than two per update. When you up your ante to three, the results begin to drop off.

5. You use auto-responders—Is there anyone out there who likes to talk to computers? Not me. Beyond that, we’re a pretty savvy group. We can tell an auto-respond message from a real one.

6. You’re obsessed with the numbers—Social Media growth takes time. Shortcuts bring more trouble than help. As long as you’re seeing growth, you’re doing well.

7. You don’t utilize a scheduling program—Personally I prefer Hootsuite. It keeps me visible online without having to spend hours a day tied to the Internet.

8. You’re guilty of hogging the stream—This means you post three or more updates in a row. You’ll find that behavior will encourage people to unfollow and unfriend you in droves. Spread out your updates and keep your connections happy.

9. You try out every new platform that appears—No one can do everything well. Focus your energy on Facebook and Twitter. With these two platforms you’ll hit almost 100% of your audience. After that, no more than one or two more. Focus, focus, focus.

10. You send out game invitations—This is a personal one for me. I used to get so many game requests I finally made it a hard and fast rule that I do NOT play games on Facebook. I’ll give anyone a pass for the first invitation you send, but after that, I will immediately unfollow anyone who sends me another one.

Tweet This: Don't hurt your online presence - 10 things to watch out for from @EdieMelson 

Now it’s your turn, what turns you off when it comes to social media? Is there something that leads you to immediately sever a connection? Share, so we can all see things from a different perspective.

A 12 Program for NOT Becoming a Successful Writer

  By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this:  A 12 Program for NOT Becoming a Successful Writer

We fiction writers chase our stories like toddlers on a sugar-high. I’m one of them. I can dream and plan and plot all day long. Yet sometimes I get sidetracked.

For writers who live and breathe their addiction but have a problem staying on task, I’m offering a twelve-step program call Story Chasers (SC). These are writers who want to be called authors but don’t want to do the work. If any of these descriptors fit you, consider your career choice. Writing fiction may not be for you.
 

1. Pacifier Writers
A pacifier is used to keep a baby from crying. In the instance of a writer, it’s whining about the publishing industry instead of writing better manuscripts.
 
2. Paint Writers
Don’t paint your world with illusions such as, “My mom says I’m the best writer in the state. I don’t need feedback.” If you want a realistic edit, ask someone other than a relative.
 
3. Passionless Writers
If a writer’s passion is not for her story idea, then a reader won’t be enthusiastic about it either. Develop ideas that keep you excited about the project.
 
4. Peacock Writers
Ouch. Pride stops us from success. It also brands us as unteachable. A humble writer learns the craft, develops a sense of the market, and is enthusiastic about edits.
 
5. Peanut Writers
George Washington Carver discovered 325 uses for the peanut. A peanut writer is one who writes everything from T-shirt sayings to theology books. We all have varied interests, and that’s commendable, but find your writing niche and stick with it.
 
6. Perspiration Writers
Some writers don’t like to sweat. If you’re not dripping over your manuscript, then you’re not writing a quality story. Writing is a contact sport: your mind engaged with your heart and fingers. Sweat. It’s good for the soul.
 
7. Pickle Writers
Weak writers are afraid to write themselves into a pickle. They don’t want the challenge of discovery, research, or unpredictable happenings. They also don’t sell their work.
 
8. Plumber Writers
Plumber writers flush all their work down the toilet and never seek publication. Need I say more? Find your confidence and reach your goals.

9. Plywood Writers
Plywood is flexible, inexpensive, easy to work with and reusable. But it’s very hard to bend perpendicular to the grain. A plywood writer is one who refuses to accept constructive criticism or change with the industry. In short a plywood writer insists upon writing her own way. 

10. Popcorn Writers
Popcorn writers are those who jump from one frying pan to another. They submit, are rejected, and submit again without looking at the manuscript for ways to improve it.

11. Potato Writers
Some writers don’t want to write for free. It’s beneath them. Small potatoes grow into big ones, and those nonpaying manuscripts build your resume. A writer always learns in the creative process.

12. Piranha writers Some writers will do anything to keep from writing. They like to swim through swift waters with published writers, but they have one excuse after another not to work. They never make deadlines - even self-imposed ones - because I doubt they have any. Piranha writers set themselves up to be devoured by the sharks who are swimming upstream.
 
If you’ve discovered a characteristic that slides you into a Story Chaser, now’s the time to change bad habits into good ones and begin the next bestseller.

How are you changing your writing habits?

Tweet this:  A 12 Program for NOT Becoming a Successful Writer


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.