R.J.’s Comments (group member since Feb 07, 2008)

R.J.’s comments from the Q&A with Brian Kennedy group.

Anthony, you're more than welcome.
Authors for authors, I say! :-)

Michael, let's see if I can come up with an idea or two. This is time-consuming, but once you've achieved this, you won't need to follow up...just check in from time to time and see if you're still listed.

• Link exchanges...as simple as locating sites on the Internet that are somehow connected with your topic. Be sure you wouldn't mind linking to THEIR site. Then send off an email request for a link exchange. Provide your URL to your web site and ask for theirs. If you want to add graphics, you can simply ask them for a link to their image as well. (NOTE: never take an image without written permission from its author or web master.) You can follow up on occasion by seeing if they've added your link or if they still have your link on their page.

• Directories...There are a few directories you can find using Google. In our case, we ask to be listed on SciFi directories, arachaeology directories and dive-related directories. There is usually a submission form to fill out online, or again, you can send an email to the webmaster of the site.

• Forums...Use the search engine to find forums for your genre. Sign up, add your URL as the main web site, and begin responding to interesting comments or start your own topic. BE CAREFUL that you don't use these as overtly promotional. That's usually against the rules and your post will be deleted or ignored. Try to add real substance. If readers are interested, they'll follow the link to your website and get in contact or find out where they can purchase your book.

• Affiliate links...You can usually find information about how to become an "Affiliate" of Amazon, Barnes&Noble, BookSense by scrolling down to the links at the foot of the page and clicking either on "About", "Investor Relations" or "Authors & Publishers"...something like that showing a disconnect from the actual storefront. Then follow the links until you find something about "Affiliates". The process may take a week but you begin again by filling out a form. You'll receive an email once you have been accepted into the program. The email will provide an ID, a password, and a link to the code needed to display the "Affiliate" graphic. BE CAREFUL to include the exact code for their graphic so that you preserve your affiliate ID inside the code. This is what records hits and purchases of your book. These will be gathered in reports at the same Affiliate control panel on their site. Commissions are paid on sales and once this commission reaches an amount, such as $25, you can receive payment. So be sure to fill out ALL of their forms so they know how you want to receive your payment.
Sign up at the following:
Amazon: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/
Barnes & Noble Program is now being run through Performics: https://www.connectcommerce.com/secur...
BookSense: http://www.booksense.com/affiliate/in...
Powells: http://www.powells.com/partners/partn...

Brian, Hi. This is the other half of R.J., his wife Marty. I know I'll give "Improved Lies" a shot in the next few weeks and I'm looking forward to it.

We know where you're coming from because R.J. has little time to get out there and promote his novels. He still has a day job for now. Luckily his wife (yours truly) is coming out of a 30-year career in advertising design and has learned a few things from the copy writers and marketing directors that have shared the projects.

In R.J.'s case, he absolutely did not enjoy signings, not to mention the self-promotion travel costs. (He'd rather spend his money on scuba diving.) Besides, it's hard to convince booksellers to schedule a signing if you're a new author. So I had to think of creative ways to reach them AND the reading audience without taking much time or expense.

YOUR WEB SITE:
Dorien is correct...you have a nice web site. It's a great place to start self-promotion.
• Now you need to let as many people know about the web site and your novel as possible. Join all the venues you can (like this site) and post regularly. Also, MySpace.com has a very complete author/publisher/creative community and I feel like it's almost a "must". You can post blogs there and share ideas with others. Mention your Web address in each and every email and community comment you make. Use the search form to find authors and join the groups.
• Can you create Acrobat files (PDFs)? Try making one or two promotional items. They can be quite simple, like bookmarks. Then link to them from your site so you can inform booksellers that there is promotional material available for download. You need to help them sell your novel. If you make their life easier, they'll come on board.
• I suggest you visit BookSense.com and become an affiliate. Place your BookSense link on your Web site next to Amazon and Barnes&Noble. BookSense represents a significant number of independent booksellers across the country and has its following. They also have a couple of inexpensive marketing programs.
• If you can't reach readers 30-at-a-time at readings/signings, how about 300-at-a-time? This is one of my favorite techniques. Find what we call a "verticle market". In R.J.'s case, he writes SciFi mysteries that involve scuba diving. So we Googled dive conferences, selected a few with upcoming events, and wrote them to ask if they would like to have a signed copy of the novel as a door prize. A few wrote back enthusiastically. When we sent the novel, we included a paragraph about his series and the novel. If the book is used as a giveaway at the conference banquet, you can bet it gets held up and introduced before the ticket number is drawn. This calls all eyes up front to YOUR book. We always receive Web site hits and a few sales after a conference or silent auction of this sort.

I may have told you nothing new. But I have a few other ideas, too, so I'll be happy to take part in new discussions.

Our best to you,
--R.J. and Marty