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I have to admit that the more I learn about the social networking highway, the less I want to get behind my own wheel.
Yes, this is me with my thumb in the wind, hitchhiking my way through the promotion of my first book. There are definite advantages to selling a book and waiting two years before it hits bookshelves. My time line was less than ten months (and a second sale four months later).
Whoa, that isn’t a complaint, just simply too much to learn in too little time. (THIS IS ME JUMPING UP AND DOWN WITH EXCITEMENT over my career taking off at a fast-pace.) There is just sooo much to learn on a daily basis and hopping onto the Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blogging, Website interchange is definitely like driving to a new destination without directions (and definitely without a GPS).
So I’m asking for advice today. YOU are in the drivers seat. I’m at a crossroads and need a ride. Which way first? How long do you spend? And what kind of car are you driving?
~~Angi
HILL COUNTRY HOLDUP, Harlequin Intrigue, September 14th
AngiMorgan.com
Angi will be back to pack her bags with all the information left for her today around 3 pm CST. Please check back often and leave her lots of advice.
~~ THANKS ~~
Hi Angi!
I blog. I support writers whose blogs I visit and who visit my blog in return. I do not like writers who I don’t know who pop on loops with promos, unless the loop is setup as a promo opportunity. I find books I like to read from RT Magazine and RWR. I also find books from the Borders blog, Trueromance. I enjoy learning about new authors when they make blog tours to tell about themselves and their book….and when they interact with the bloggers rather than posting their blurb and never checking back. But this is just me. I’m sure others have other opinions. Good luck with your books!
Thank you for the luck, Wendy.
I don’t think you’re alone. Should blog hosts differentiate between an interview with a guest compared to a guest blogger? I have a feeling it’s better to promote a guest correctly (especially if they won’t be responding?)?
~~Angi
I blog and do a little Twitter and FB, but not too much of the latter 2. I’m afraid I’ll spend too much time at it. I need to figure this out too.
I’m consider myself in good company then, Edie !!
We’ll have to come up with a handbook for the stages of promotion.
~~Angi
Angi,
I’m in the same boat. But of course my timeline has been about 13 months instead of 10. My first novel comes out in March 2011.
Here’s what I’ve been doing:
1) I set up a webpage, because everyone says it’s the most important thing. I set up the page using WordPress, so that it includes a blog. I also linked my webpage using RSS (real simple syndication) to my Facebook page, and I also used RSS to link places where I regularly blog (like here) so that my posts will automatically show up on my webpage. (I can show you how to do this off loop.)
2) As noted above I set up a Facebook page. I only recently added a “business” page, because I now realize that the Facebook Business pages give you more details about who’s visiting and allow you to host chats and other things that normal profile pages don’t. Also Facebook frowns on people using their profile pages for marketing. So you really should set up a business page. I’m still working out how to migrate my friends over to the business page. As noted above, I linked my personal blog and all the community blogs (like this one) where I’m an author. So every time I blog, my blog is posted to Facebook without my having to do anything.
3)I am participating in writer blogs like Blame It On the Muse. And also I’m a member of the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood. These are great places to blog, but you need to remember that they they are focused on other authors, not romance readers.
4) Soooooo, my latest efforts are focused on various writer community sites like Fresh Fiction and Writer’s Space where romance readers come for contests and chats and blogs. Joining a community costs money, so I’m still evaluating. I did, however, make contact with Borders books, and I’m scheduled to blog on True Romance the week of my release. I would be interested, myself, in getting feedback from other authors about writer’s communities like Fresh Fiction and Writer’s Space.
5) Some things I don’t do: a) I just don’t have the time to chat at places like All About Romance. I’ve been told that doing that is great marketing, but I have a day job. b) Twitter seems like a huge waste of time to me. I have a twitter account but I really don’t use it.
Hope this helps and would love to get any ideas you (or anyone else) might have on this timely topic.
Hey Hope…
That’s a great idea. I’ll follow up with suggestions when I blog here in two weeks.
I need to organize and find out where my time is flowing. But I also need to discover WHERE I should submit books for reviews, and where I should be hanging out. Harlequin has a built-in community…but I still need to discover WHAT I should be doing there to become more involved.
~~Angi
Doesn’t Harlequin submit the books for you? GCP is going to be sending a bunch of ARCs around to all the review sites when the time comes. I know this because I asked my editor specifically.
I know Harlequin sent the book to RT. I don’t think they have anywhere else. That TOO is on my list of things to find out.
And Hope, remember, I did not receive my cover art until mid-June for the September book. I didn’t receive the back cover blurb until July.
~~Angi
Hi Angi,
I belong to a bunch of Yahoo groups where readers lurk. These are places where you can post a blurb or an excerpt of your book. Also, you can shout out your good news for latest book, reviews etc. You can also set up chats or blogs prior to your book being released with many of them.
I don’t spend a lot of time with these groups, and I hardly ever chat there. I use them for promoting.
On Facebook your best bet is to join a few groups you’re interested in and post your blog, sales, website, blurbs there occasionally. For instance, I retired from my old company and there are two groups from that company there that I’ve joined with over a thousand membership. I post there, but we don’t do a lot of chatting. I also joined a couple of groups to do with animal shelters, and I post there. Only join groups you’re really interested because then you’ll want to participate once in a while with them besides your promotion. Always post on your home page Facebook. Twitter, I don’t really care for.
If you would like to learn more just send me a message at my email address.
Best of luck to you in your career.
SANDY !!!
WHERE are these reader-lurking YahooGroups and how do I join?
I’m on Facebook…and I’ve never cared for Twitter either, but I’ve been encouraged lately to begin. HARLEQUIN even has encouraged their authors to hit these media outlets.
~~Angi
Hi Angi~
My Sourcebooks publicist sets up a month-long blog tour (beginning two weeks before the book comes out) I’m usually blogging 35 times in 30 days. It’s exhausting and like most marketing, you never really know if it works. Still it’s something and I have heard that people have seen my name everywhere. I choose to hope that name recognition equals sales.
I have a facebook page and I tweet some (not much). I, like Hope, am looking into Fresh Fiction and Writers Space. I need to sit down and talk with Hope about the whole Facebook Business page and the RSS thing. I’m completely clueless.
I blog here and at CasablancaAuthors.blogspot.com and am always willing to guest blog. That’s about all I know. I hope it helps.
Robin
Robin,
Do you know of any one else other than Writers Space and Fresh Fiction that’s doing that sort of thing. Also, I’m looking for anyone who has maybe used these services. I’d to know more about them and more about their efficacy. You can email me off loop.
Robin,
Our Barnes & Nobles has one of the largest romance sections in the country. The head of community services recently came and spoke, telling us that getting your name out there was key. (I’ve heard this somewhere else too.) But she encouraged us to leave bookmarks, visit stores, and of course have a book signing. A different marketing person (can’t remember where I heard this) said getting your name everywhere will help in sales whenever the consumer is forced with a choice. For instance, a reader can buy one Harlequin, they recognize YOUR name amongst all the others. They are more likely to pick up YOUR book and buy it just because they’ve seen or heard your name somewhere before. EVEN IF they can’t remember where they’ve seen your name.
~~Angi
I think social networking has to be about social networking first, and promotion peripherally.
Social networking with readers that is. So far, my forays into social networking have been more about getting to know other writers and offering some support and promotion help with writers I know…
But I think when it comes to readers it can’t feel like promotion. Writers I follow on Facebook or Twitter who do an amazing job of this are Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Anne Rice. They post about things that interest them. And ask questions. And generate discussion. So, I assume, the readers who respond feel like real “friends”. Writers who’ve done a good job using forums instead of FB or Twitter are Kelley Armstrong, Eloisa James and J.R. Ward to name just a few.
On Facebook, I tune out all the book release announcements now because there are so many. I’m sure I miss seeing some I might care about… but I have about 2200 friends on FB and many are other writers, most with small presses, and I get so many of those blatantly promotional messages that I now ignore them all.
So Maureen, what would make you pay attention to a book release announcement now?
And I’ll be researching the names you mentioned.
~~Angi
I’m on a 5 month cycle–sold to Carina Press in early July, release is scheduled for mid-November. Yikes!! So, Angi, I’m the wild driver who won’t stop, but only slows down and yells out the window, “Hey, jump in the flatbed!” LOL
I was lucky that I already had the domain, the website, the blog (which I haven’t used in 2 years), and the pages on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, Plaxo, etc. Like you, I want to find people who are avid readers and might be willing to try me out as a new author. So, I’m also spending time at GoodReads, Shelfari, LibraryThing plus the Barnes & Noble and Amazon communities. I read, but I rarely take time to post reviews on these sites, but that’s a great way to help authors and meet other readers. This week, one of my goals is to figure out how I possibly touch 10 social media within a week and still write. The single most important thing I’ve realized so far is that social media is SOCIAL. It’s not “buy my book,” it’s becoming an active participant in the community. So, I’ll test out a bunch of neighborhoods and see what feels right.
And will be staying in touch AMY ! LOL
I like the idea of becoming a part of the reading community. It just means that I need to post reviews, too. Yikes…more time.
~~Angi
(who is half-way through copy edits on the 2nd book
Hi Angi,
Congratulations on your second sale! I always wondered why authors ‘disappeared’ once they sold, then I learned – promotion. It’s very time intensive. One thing that surprised me, I discovered I love that end. For me the trick is to do only what I love/which makes me laugh, and to find new/fresh angles. Promotion is time intensive, so my take is why do things you don’t like? It’s like writing, people can tell when you enjoy what you do. I do facebook, because I enjoy it and I like the complete control I have over my fb page. I enjoy my newsletter, because in addition to my writing updates, I can work in ogranizations I volunteer for and hopefully add awareness to the community. My sincere best to you!
I’m with you, Diana. Why do something you don’t like. And I do feel like I’ve “disappeared”. I want to answer EVERY email. EVERY day. And I just haven’t had time. I definitely need a schedule and weekly goal.
~~Angi
Angie,
For me the key is to keep organzied. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I stop and get organized. About once a month I review where I am, my goals, update as necessary, then edit my focus as necessary. I keep a master ‘to do’ list that I update daily. It allows me not to have to ‘remember’ everything, but use as a reference to ensure I’m on track.
I used to keep a TO DO pad right by my monitor but I ran out of pages and haven’t replaced it with the same type of sticky pad. Currently, I have a non-sticky notepad…and I don’t use it as much.
Hmmm… Think I need to invest in another and begin using it again.
~~Angi
Angie,
Great post and you’re getting some fabulous ideas for the rest of us that are clueless. I visited my Facebook page a few nights ago (the only reason I have one is because my great-nephew said I needed one and set it uo for me). I managed to upload a photo of me and by the time I finished that there were thre or four “friends” that had responded they “liked the photo.” I’m still not sure how they saw it that quickly or how Facebook really works.
Hope you’re able to gather the information. I’ll look forward to your post in a couple of weeks.
Claranne
Claranne,
The world is much too small, isn’t it? LOL I had to learn about FaceBook because it was the only way to see pictures of my grandkids. And it is surprising how many people are on it constantly.
My husband, daughter and I recently updated to DATA phones so we could receive email, ANSWER email, and have browser access at any time. A friend called it a TETHER today. I think she’s right. Tim and I went camping and had to leave the campgrounds once a day to make certain we received our messages and checked our email.
I sort of envy the days of old that Nora spoke about…well, all except the carbon paper.
~~Angi
WANTED to share this email that I received too.
Angi,
One thing I’ve done is to go to fansites of some of my favorite TV shows
and have a presence there. They’re crime shows, of course, and sometimes
have forum topics about books, etc. I always post my titles and links.
Don’t know if it’s gotten me any sales, but it is another outlet. Just FYI.
–
Melanie Atkins
http://www.melanieatkins.com
http://melanieatkins.wordpress.com
SKELETON BAYOU available NOW at The Wild Rose Press
BELOVED CAPTIVE coming in September from Desert Breeze
I love, love, love Twitter. I rarely go on FB anymore. Why do I love Twitter? Because you can post throughout the day and it just takes seconds. I rarely post about my writing, but I post about what I’m reading, what healthy meal I made for dinner, my workout for the day, etc. What I really like is the ability to connect with non-writers. I have a Nook so anytime I read a book on my Nook I post it with the #nook hashtag. That way anyone who’s looking for info on a Nook will see my post. If they go into my profile, they’ll see that I’m a writer. Because I work in the fitness industry, I also connect with gyms and fitness fanatics from all over. Same with Seattle Seahawks fans. Hiking fans. My published book is Borrowed Stilettos, so I’ve hooked up with several fashion blogs and stores. I also follow my fave actors/actresses and TV shows. You never know where you’ll pick up a reader. Some people who’ve told me they bought my book based on my Twitters are a Seattle newscaster, a Seattle Seahawks fan, a fashion blogger in NYC, a student from Stanford, a gym owner in the midwest. Those are just the people who told me, so there must be others, right?
If you use Twitter, use Tweetdeck (free download)–much easier to understand and navigate. Be sure to follow people who follow you (it’s considered rude not to), and check your @ mentions (this means anyone who mentions you; it’ll show up under a column on Tweetdeck) and respond and thank them for mentioning you.
I could go on and on and on. Angi, if you decide to enter the Twitterverse, I’d be happy to help you privately, but it’s really easy. You’ll learn as you go. I’m @rebeccajclark if you join. My sister is a Twitter goddess. She’s @laurieblondon
WOW !!
I felt like I was reading a foreign language there for a minute. But Rebecca, you’ve volunteered to teach me to Tweet. I’m taking you up on that with a warning that my daughter gave up on these techno-challenged fingers of mine. LOL
~~Angi
If techno-midget me can figure out Twitter, you can, too.
Let me know when I can help. We can hook up on Chatzy or something. I’m Beckyx3 on there.
Wow, Angi. So many great ideas about social vehicles as well as the how tos of making time. I’ll have to bookmark this blogpost for later.
I can see that it will be easy to feel overwhelmed so a planner like the one I started using in January will be very helpful. Keep us updated on how you maneuver through the maze as your career advances.
Thanks Marley.
I do use an electronic calendar I created in Excel for my commitments (i.e.: blog dates, respective emails and contacts). I put the important information on Google Calendars because that’s associated with my phone and reminders pop up there. Having that calendar on my phone at National conference was invaluable.
~~Angi
Angi – wishing you best of luck for the September book…I’ll be ordering a copy. Best promotion I can think of is to write a fabulous next book. Sometimes writing and social networking conflict for the same time demands.
I keep a wall planner next to my computer to keep me on track.
I loved the Diana’s tip: “Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I stop and get organized.” I need to print that out and stick it up.
And, congrats to AMY ATWELL for selling to Carina–I missed that! Amy’s always worked so hard as a volunteer that I got a great buzzz from seeing that.
Tessa
FALLING FOR HIS PROPER MISTRESS – USA Today Bestseller – out now Sil Desire
Tessa, your advice is the number one thing to keep in mind. Writing is always a priority.
That leads me back to the advice of writing new material in the morning and editing in the afternoon. Perhaps working promotion in there somewhere?
Basically, it comes down to sticking with a time limit and not allowing yourself to be distracted by all “social” side of promotion.
~~Angi