Tips for Self Promotion, Sales, and Advertising discussion

Becoming Alice: A Memoir

I am curious to know if your activities in Facebook and Twitter have helped sell your books.

I agree with Lori. However, I still think goodreads is the most helpful. Book giveaways and self-advertising has increased my sales more than any other avenue at this time.

Dandelions In The Garden

Twitter: http://twitter.com/bitsyblingbooks
Blogsite: http://www.charliecourtland.com

Just wrote a post about Facebook and Twitter. Just sharing:

http://joconquerobstacles.com/2010/03...

Every now and then, I come across blogs with amazing posts that I can immediately apply. I love that! Ideas that help me *Conquer All Obstacles* . Here are my two favorites of the week:

Quick question, in anyone's opinion, which is more effective in advertising and generating sales, websites or blogs?

Joanne, thanks for the article. Wow. You're loaded with lots of useful stuff. :D

Mary

With the ability to syndicate the two media sites, FB & Twitter, a person really doesn't have to choose as you can post one updated status (with a functioning link back to your site where the product is sold) and this update will automatically be posted on both.

It's all about exposure. Depending on your audience numbers and how well you've targeted your audience, will determine which media site will give you the best results.

You're very welcome, Mary...:). >supporting writers comes naturally< Think this goes back to my teaching days...lol.

Thanks Jo-Anne. I am in the process of advertising my book because I do not want to be that one author sitting at an empty table at a book signing--so generating buzz is valuable to me, especially since my book will be released at the end of this month.

Congratulations Shalontel! Good luck to you.

Thanks Mary

Shalontel wrote: "Quick question, in anyone's opinion, which is more effective in advertising and generating sales, websites or blogs?"

In my opinion, if you have the time, try to do both, but it's still very frustrating and I know from experience, I spend more time trying to promote my book than I did writing it! Ugh! Lots of luck!

Thanks Nancy.
I find myself in front of the computer many hours using the viral method of advertising and I am mentally drained. I am awaiting the traveling phase of promoting though. Hopefully I will have a good turn out.

How I know what you mean about being mentally drained after spending many hours at the computer! Ugh! I wish you lots of luck and keep me posted to how things work out for you! :-)

I just posted an article about TIME MANAGEMENT. My special guest, Colin Welch, put all the online marketing endeavors on a schedule that I totally follow myself. http://bit.ly/cLYJ83

"Social Media – How to Efficiently Plan Your Time"

Shalontel - I've found a blog much more effective than a website in generating interest. But then I update my blog every day whereas my website is just a basic reference point.

As to Twitter vs Facebook, difficult to tell, though Twitter is proving a better way for me to find new people interested in my work. Whether that translates to sales only time will tell, but I'm a poet anyway and not going to make money out of my book whatever happens!

Thanks Juliet,

I am pulling my hair trying to do my own marketing because I figured I would be more effective...hopefully I am correct in my assumption.

Hi everyone,

I just made a page on Facebook for my book, Angel in a Fur Coat. I'd love to have your company.

http://bit.ly/FurAngelFBpage

Gooberella wrote: "Hi everyone,

I just made a page on Facebook for my book, Angel in a Fur Coat. I'd love to have your company.

http://bit.ly/FurAngelFBpage"

Hi! I popped over and become a fan. You're welcome anytime at my page too! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie...

Hey Charlie, thanks for joining my page :)
I'm am now a member of your page as well. I LOVE your book cover! If you have any tips for maintaining a good FB page, I'm all ears.

Charlie and Gooberella, I joined both of your fan pages. Please join mine :)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tika-Ne...

Tika :)

Hi Tika, thanks for joining my page. I just became a member of yours as well :)

Wow! I just "fanned" a few of your pages. So...does it really work? Mine has been sitting with eight fans for a while now. And at least six of them are people I actually know. So much for marketing. I seem to be missing something important. How effective is Twitter, anyway? I haven't tried that yet.
Mine is here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-b...

--Julie

Hey Lori thanks for joining my page :) I'm following you now as well.

Lori wrote: "Gooberella wrote: "Hi everyone,

I just made a page on Facebook for my book, Angel in a Fur Coat. I'd love to have your company.

http://bit.ly/FurAngelFBpage"

I am following your fan page now. Wh..."

Thanks Lori!

Thank you Lori and Gooberella :)

I've glombed onto your page Lori. lol

Here is my little bit:

www.facebook.com/orcish_dreams

I recently joined twitter and would like to meet some Goodreads friends. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/nadiabrown . I tweet mostly things that are writing related or can be useful to authors. Don Wallace who is a writer/actor/producer and my cousin starred in "Blue", a movie he wrote and produced in 2008. You can check out a clip of it on my Twitter page.

Bradley, your facebook link gives me a 404 not found.

Pamela K. Kinney: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?i...
Sapphire Phelan (pseudonym for paranormal romance): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sapphir...

Pamela wrote: "Pamela K. Kinney: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?i...
Sapphire Phelan (pseudonym for paranormal romance): http://www.facebook.com/pages..."

Hi Pam,

I am now following on facebook. I'm a huge fan of the paranormal. http://www.facebook.com/charliecourtland

Charlie

Shalontel wrote: "Thanks Jo-Anne. I am in the process of advertising my book because I do not want to be that one author sitting at an empty table at a book signing--so generating buzz is valuable to me, especially ..."

I am curious about how your book signing went in March. How is your book launching going?
I set up a book signing for June 18th at a non profit coffee shop. The setting relates to settings in my book's content, but not the title, The Secrets of the Unwritten Book. My co-author, a former social worker for the man that the coffee shop is named after, makes a great tie in and potential draw. [More specifics will be on my blog.:]
The lady that I set it up with was very enthusiastic about it. Yesterday, the two of us went in to check out the layout and spoke to the director who just happened to be someone Grace had professional contacts with. He was so negetive, stating, "You'll be lucky to have one person show. As far as the public tv channel filming it, no one watches that channel."

The fee is $25 to rent the room. There is a tip jar , for people to pitch in.
What worked or did not work as far as advertising and promoting your event? Malika

Jo-Anne wrote: "I just posted an article about TIME MANAGEMENT. My special guest, Colin Welch, put all the online marketing endeavors on a schedule that I totally follow myself. http://bit.ly/cLYJ83

"Social Medi..."

Jo-Anne, I clicked on to your recogmended site and it was fabulous! I took notes. Some of it was still over my head, but I will check out some of the things mentioned. I always hold my breath when I try something new. I worry the computer might spark and short out or something.
Thank you for sharing this information. Malika

Gooberella wrote: "Hi everyone,

I just made a page on Facebook for my book, Angel in a Fur Coat. I'd love to have your company.

http://bit.ly/FurAngelFBpage"

Gooberella, I did check it out! Fabulous! Malika

For all facebook and Twitter authors, I have a request. There is a contest site for voting for new authors and I am brand spanking new. I would appreciate your vote. I am around #19. Living Beneath the Radar.

Thanks for your support

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19...

Twitter Marketing: How to be Follow-Worthy on Twitter
"How do I get more followers on Twitter?" is a question I'm often asked. Paying someone to find followers for you isn't the answer. What works better is providing useful, helpful information to those who follow you.

Read full article: http://bit.ly/d4WzZX

Yes, I have sold a lot of book through Twitter, but with 5,000 followers, I think I am reaching the end of my success in that medium.
http://twitter.com/pathtotyranny

Shalontel wrote: "Quick question, in anyone's opinion, which is more effective in advertising and generating sales, websites or blogs?"

Whichever one you're comfortable with :) -- I decided to combine a website/author blog at the moment. Don't want to confuse visitors too much!

Website: http://jesscscott.com

with social media links to

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jesscscott
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesscscott

I use Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Myspace and also have my own blog on blogspot, My website and Amazon author's program.
It is exhausting managing all of this but my philosophy is as much exposure as possible = more potential readers = more potential sales. Although I love my website the most it is about getting traffic to the website and Facebook has been the best for this.
website http://www.theknighttrilogy.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-...
Twitter http://twitter.com/KnightTrilogy

I think the most important thing in marketing or promoting your book is promoting yourself as the author. People don't like when some shamefully copies and pastes the exact words in various sites and only promotes his/her book.

As established, Facebook is a very good way to promote your book(s). If you have extra money, you can advertise on Facebook and this increases your internet presence.

Kelvin
blog: icire.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelvin-...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KelvinO_Ralph

I went through and liked what a lot of you had to say. If you would like to connect to me, I connected to all of you that I could.

I am a Y/A author that is finishing my third book. I am writing a series of five books called 'Travels to Fahdamin-Ra'.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChaztheFahdamin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ChaztheFahdamin

Chaz wrote: "I went through and liked what a lot of you had to say. If you would like to connect to me, I connected to all of you that I could.

I am a Y/A author that is finishing my third book. I am writing..."

Hey Chaz, I've sent you a follow request on twitter, and have liked your facebook page as the 73 person

Thank you Kelvin!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Disco...

Here's my facebook

http://www.facebook.com/novelsbyshawna

twitter
@shawnarhill

Isabella wrote: "http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Disco..."

followed - Patti :) love the cover!

facebook - http://tinyurl.com/3woe84l
twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/PattiRoberts7

Shawna wrote: "Here's my facebook

http://www.facebook.com/novelsbyshawna

twitter
@shawnarhill"

Followed you, Patti
facebook - http://tinyurl.com/3woe84l
twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/PattiRoberts7

Patti wrote: "Shawna wrote: "Here's my facebook

http://www.facebook.com/novelsbyshawna

twitter
@shawnarhill"

Followed you, Patti
facebook - http://tinyurl.com/3woe84l
twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/PattiRo..."

Hi Patti, returned the favor :)

thank you Shawna :)