Being an indie author is hard work! But also kinda fun... because well, I'm still a published author, which is super sweet. I haven't done any writing in a while, I'm in the 'I need to get the word out about the words I put out' phase. The reality is, you can't write a book and expect it to miraculously be picked up by someone who tells the whole world to pick it up too and then everyone reads it and now you're rich and famous.

I wrote a blog post about Networking, and that is a great way to get 'outside your comfort zone' intel on what to do for marketing, especially if you're an engineer who's never done marketing. In my network I have some people who had booths at the So Northwest Women's Show here in the Seattle area. They not only inspired me to get a booth at the show (which has over 9000 people in attendance) but also gave me great pointers on what to do at the show to draw people to my booth.

Cyborg Dreams by H.A. Burns will be at the So Northwest Women's Show
Besides going to libraries and bookstores, conventions are great ways to show off all the books you've written and entice people to read them. In fact, I've sold more books at conventions that anywhere else... and that includes launch parties.

I'm always trying to improve, and asking friends and family, as well as combing the internet, for tips, tricks and advice. So, here's my strategy for doing well at the So Northwest Women's Show in March:

1) Have a nice banner that entices people to come over and makes you look more professional.
2) Have a table runner that has your name or name of your book series.
3) Put up your books in a display, something that makes it inviting for people walking by to pick one up and thumb through it.
4) Have a fun sign-up activity. For instance, have a give-away at the end of the day based on random selections from the sign-up.
5) Give away prizes. Have a spinning wheel with various prizes (stickers, temporary tattoos, calendar magnets, postcards, bookmarks, t-shirts, signed copies of books).
6) The prizes listed above are also good things to sell as well, especially if they have logo's and info about the author.
7) Have a great attitude and show genuine interest in others.
8) Provide free autographs of books purchased.
9) List prices so that people don't have to ask (but expect that they will anyway) and get set-up with Square (super easy) or something similar. Make sure you have change if they do pay in cash.
10) Deals are great. Offer time-limited, only for the convention, prices, especially on more than one book.
11) Invite others to come with you, share the cost of the booth and also for the company.
12) Have helpers, you can't do everything (you could but it isn't as fun). Have a few people who are good at sales or at least talking to people and have someone running the cash register/square so that you can concentrate on signing books and talking to your fans.
13) Have great ratings on Amazon and Goodreads that you can brag about.
14) Write/memorize 1 minute pitches for each of your books.

I've got four books to sell this time, so I know I will be super busy. I love the way the fourth book (a combination of the first three called "Cyborg Dreams: The Trilogy") has come out and I designed most of the prizes around it. Check out the cool magnet I designed:
Cyborg Dreams Prize MagnetWish me luck! Also, if you have anymore tips and tricks, let me know.