Book Marketing Insider Secrets – One Week Job Project

Book Marketing Case Study

With Sean Aiken, author of the One Week Job Project.

What’s the book about?
“What should I do with my life?” was the question

His father said, “It doesn’t matter what you do, just make sure it’s something you’re passionate about.”

Taking his father’s advice to heart, Sean created the One-Week Job Project. His goal: to work fifty-two jobs in fifty-two weeks in search of his passion.

When did you start to market and promote your book?
A couple of months before publication date.

What online methods have you used to market your book?

Book Trailers Reworked

Book Trailers

Book trailers either work or they don’t. The problem is defining what you mean by work.

I think we all can agree that a book trailer should really do one thing: Sell books!

That’s it. If your trying to do something else with it you’ve lost.

Sure you can think about your trailer going “viral” and getting a million views but what are you doing with those million viewers?

Are they buying your book?

Book Marketing Insider Secrets – Evolve

Book Marketing Case Study

With Nancy Kilpatrick, editor of Evolve: 23 Vampire Stories of the New Undead.

What’s your book about?
Evolve is an anthology of vampire stories, edited by me. One that differs from what readers have seen before.

My mandate was to have the authors who wrote the stories get a sense of the vampire in older literature to the present, and also familiarize themselves with what’s on TV and in movies right now.

Then to speculate, “What type of vampire will we see in the future?”

They more than met my vision.  It’s an innovative book in the genre.

What Matters Now

The Present Creates The Future

What Matters To You Now?

I remember finding this a little while ago and thinking, “Awesome!”

I just found it again and thought that you’d like to see it as well.

Every year, Time magazine and a couple of their friends put together special issues on what they expect in the coming year. They invite people from their inner circle and tribe to share their views and ideas of the future.

SEO for Writers

(SEO) Search Engine Optimization Guide For Writers

SEO for writers is extremely important. (SEO) Search Engine Optimization can drive tons of free traffic to your site.

You write once and then have a steady stream of people arriving at your door eagerly looking for whatever it is you’ve just optimized for.

To make learning Search Engine Optimization a little bit easier for writers I think this handy visual SEO Guide should really drive home a complete picture of the process of SEO for writers.

Book Marketing Insider Secrets – Pro Bash Programming

Book Marketing Case Study

With Chris F.A. Johson author of Pro Bash Programming: Scripting the GNU/Linux Shell.

What’s your book about?
Programming the Unix shell. The shell is a programming language that is used at the command line as well as in scripts. The same commands that you use at the prompt can be put into a file and used to automate tasks.

When did you start to market and promote your book?
As soon as they were published.

What online methods have you used to market your book?
First, I set up pages on my web site for the books.

Book Cover Trends – Orange(ish)

The Conspiracy Of The Orange(ish) Book Cover Trend

First and foremost I’m a little bit color blind.

Which is interesting when you take into account that I was a graphic designer for a little while.

Maybe that’s why it was such a short lived career.

Now back to the conspiracy.

The orange(ish) book cover.

Book Marketing Insider Secrets – Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness

Book Marketing Case Study

With Deborah Schoeberlein author of Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness: A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything.

What’s your book about?

Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness emphasizes how the teacher’s personal familiarity with mindfulness seeds the ground for an education infused with attention, awareness, kindness, empathy, compassion, and gratitude.

The book follows a teacher from morning to night on typical school day. The schedule provides a practical context for applying and promoting mindfulness throughout the day.

Reading the book catalyzes readers’ insights and inspires the teacher’s self-confidence in applying mindfulness — personally and professionally.

When did you start to market and promote your book?

• Several months prior to publication.

What online methods have you used to market your book?

Book Marketing With Book Trailers – John Maxwell

Marketing Your Book With Book Trailers

I just finished watching the book trailer for John C. Maxwell‘s new book, “Everyone Communicates Few Connect”.

Over the last week I’ve been thinking about interviewing him about his book marketing strategies.

So when I got a message from his marketing team to watch the trailer I jumped at the chance.

I’m a fan of John. Some people thinks he gets a little churchy in his books. But I have to say that in my last management job, his Laws of Leadership helped me rock that job.

Book Title Tips

What a Pizza Company and Seth Godin Can Teach You About Your Book Cover.

“What’s the title of that book again?”

You know how many times I’ve heard this?

Lots!

As a professional bookseller you hear some weird questions but this is tops.

The thing I hear most is usually some variation of, “I’m looking for a book. I can’t remember the book’s title or the name of the author.”

No really it is.

So what can you do as a writer or publisher to avoid this problem?

5 Things Coca-Cola Can Teach You About Effective Online Marketing

It seems that Coca-Cola, in all it’s bubbly wisdom, focuses on the fundamentals when it comes down to online marketing.

They use five key foundations for the online marketing efforts. Add value. Be transparent. Be consistent and follow through. Be receptive to change. Surprise and delight your customers.

That’s what Linda Cronin, director of media and interactive integrated communications, Sparkling BBU, Coca-Cola North America(now that’s a mouthful), revealed at the sold-out IAB Social Media Marketplace.

Book Marketing Insider Secrets

Insider Book Marketing Secrets Revealed

Book Marketing Case Study

With Jessie Carty author of Paper House (Poetry)

What’s your book about?

Paper House is my first full length collection of poetry. It contains 64 narrative poems which chronicle the life, somewhat factually and often fictionally, of a girl–not unlike myself–who must come to terms with growing up somewhat dysfunctionally in a working class family. Ultimately I like to think of the book as being very hopeful; as a way to show others who come from shaky beginnings that you can make a home and family for yourself with or without biology.

When did you start to market and promote your book?
I started marketed the book pretty much right after I knew it was going to be published so around the Fall of 2009. It was released in March 2010.

Are You Abusing Your Facebook Power

A Note For Facebook Group/Page Administrators

Don’t Abuse Your Power

There seems to be a really awful trend happening on facebook.

Maybe it’s because it’s so easy to start a fan page or group. Maybe it’s just because people don’t know any better.

It doesn’t really matter what the reasons are, I’m fed up and motivated to do my part to help my facebook friends make some positive changes to their online campaigning and social media marketing.

Are You A Spammer?

A couple of days ago I received a friend request on facebook.

Innocent enough you’d think.

But this person really taught me a couple of things NOT to do as your trying to build out your author platform.

About two minutes after I accepted their request I got a personal email from them.

Not saying anything like, “Hi there. I love your work. Thanks so much for the connection. If there’s anything I can help you with just let me know.”

I would have loved that!

Not only would it have stroked my ego but it would have really gotten me curious as to what this person was all about.

Nope is was nothing like that though. She immediately went into a pitch, asking me to join her facebook group, and to check out her website.

Whoa!

Defying Gravity – 10 Reasons Why It's Such A Good Show

Defying Gravity I’m Hooked

Defying Gravity has to be one of my new favorite shows on television. I seem to have a thing for space related shows but this one’s a little different than the rest.

Wikipedia says that Defying Gravity follows eight astronauts—four women and four men—from five countries on a six-year space mission through the Solar System, during which they are monitored from earth via a real-time communication system. The series was pitched to networks as “Grey’s Anatomy in space”

I think it was the “Grey’s Anatomy” in space that got me to tune in for the first time. Something to be learned there from the law of comparison for writers who are doing a quick pitch. People want to know what things are like. Our brains are always looking for the easy way out and a major point of reference makes our lives easier and your pitches smoother.

So what makes Defying Gravity so good?

Seth Godin's Advice For Writers & Authors

Advice for Authors(Writers) by Seth Godin

Don’t know who Seth Godin is? Well you should, especially if you want to understand the new world that’s emerging for the publishing/book industry.

Visionary, trendspotter, ideamaker even these labels don’t help to convey the immensity of influence and inspiration that he has had upon the world.

His latest book, Tribes, is a nationwide bestseller, appearing on the Amazon, New York Times, BusinessWeek and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It’s about the most powerful form of marketing–leadership–and how anyone can now become a leader, creating movements that matter.

Seth Godin:

• writes the most popular marketing blog in the world;
• is the author of the bestselling marketing books of the last decade;
• speaks to large groups on marketing, new media and what’s next;
• and is the founder of Squidoo.com, a fast-growing recommendation website.

You can read his wikipedia bio, reviews of his seminars and what Google thinks of him.

Godin is author of ten books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change and work. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages, and his ebooks are among the most popular ever published. He is responsible for many words in the marketer’s vocabulary, including permission marketing, ideaviruses, purple cows, the dip and sneezers. His irrepressible speaking style and no-holds-barred blog have helped him create a large following around the world.

This man knows his stuff!

I subscribe to lots of RSS feeds, probably like a lot of you, but Seth’s Blog is one I always make sure to read. He continually amazes me with his insights. And a place where he has some awesomely deep wisdom is his knowledge of the book publishing world.

Below you’ll find a collection of Seth Godin’s advice for authors. If I’ve missed something please let me know and do yourself the favor of check out his blog and buying his books. You’ll be happy that you did.

What Do People Want To Read?

How Do I Know What Type of Book Reader’s Are Interested in?

Rix Quinn’s Writing Tips For Finding Inspiration.

Not long ago I found a wonderful book – “The Top 10 of Everything 2002” – which listed the world’s best selling books of all time. Want to know what they were?

The top five were the Bible, followed by Quotations from Chairman Mao, The American Spelling Book, Guinness Book of World Records, and The World Almanac.

The next five were a reading book, a child care guide, two inspirational titles, and one fiction book.

Did you notice that the top nine titles offer (a) inspiration, (b) information, or (c) instruction? Let’s face it…life’s pathway is full of rocks, and many of us need all the navigational help we can get!

If you need more evidence for this, just gather a few recent magazines. In the last couple weeks, I’ve found new ways to flatten my stomach, enlarge my brain, recycle my trash, and enhance my hair.

Here’s something else: Lots of us 21st century folks want shortcuts so we can be more efficient, so we’ll have more free time to improve our personal and family lives.

If you’re an expert on saving time, saving money, teaching life skills or improving life quality, this could be the best time to share your knowledge.

How To Get Published: Eight Surefire Steps For Writing Success

by Andrea Rains Waggener

How to get published? That’s the big money question for writers. Writing is fulfilling in and of itself, but every writer ultimately wants to learn how to get published.

A lot of writers think getting published is a matter of luck. Or it’s a matter of knowing the right person. Or it’s a matter of simply being born a brilliant writer.

Although all of the above will help you get published, you don’t have to have any of these things. You can LEARN how to get published.

When you follow The Eight Steps Success Plan For Writers, you’ll no longer wonder how to get published. You’ll BE published.

Book Marketing 101 – How To Market Your Book

Book Marketing 101

Book Publicity For Author

by Ray Robinson
Publicity is that elusive thing that can make or break your book – in all sorts of ways! Learning to promote you and your book is something that can take a bit of “re-training” for most new authors (and many old-timers too). Publicity is really all about selling your idea (and you), but all too often the word “selling” brings up images of polyester clad used-car salesmen, telemarketers, and strong-arm sales strategies that do nothing but alienate your intended customer.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

True “salesmanship” is all about creating a deep connection with your intended reader or reviewer by providing unique, useful and rewarding information about your book. It’s all about creating a relationship that you will both benefit from and to which you can return time and again. It’s about creating the awareness that you are an EXPERT about the topic of your book.

Dan Brown and What A Writer Can Learn From Him

Dan Brown’s Direct Link To The Depths Of Our Minds

It seems to me that Dan Brown truly has a deep understanding of the hidden currents that are floating around within the collective consciousness.

Take for instance his latest book the Lost Symbol (I haven’t read it yet) in which he explores the power of thought to create our world. Even going further to explore the boundaries of mass thought.

No matter what you say about his writing he has an awesome ability to create stories that intertwine the underground themes floating around on the web and within the matrix of our minds.