Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Creative Marketing Ideas for Authors

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you my upcoming workshops with the Alabama Writers' Conclave and the Alabama State Poetry Society being held July 20 -22, 2012. I'll be conducting two workshops. The first one is titled, Low Cost Creative Marketing Strategies. In this workshop we will discuss ways to market your book creatively and on a budget. I often come across aspiring authors who think once they publish their book, they'll instantly sell millions of copies, major publishers will come knocking at the door and they'll walk into a major bookstore and see their book on the New York Times Bestseller List. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Marketing is not something that often produces results overnight. It takes work, lots and lots of hard work and a lot of effort and consistency. Some of the ideas listed may not be right for your work and you will likely need to try a combination of ideas to see results. Just remember to keep track of what worked and what didn't and don't give up. Do something everyday to get your book noticed or read.

Marketing Ideas for Your Books

• Know the optimal publishing date for your book. College textbooks, cookbooks, calendars and diet books need to be published at a different time than most novels.
• Business Cards (carry them everywhere you go)
• Bookmarks (keep several on hand, leave several at bookstores and cafes)
• Join trade associations (Association of American Publishers, NAIP, SPAN & IBPA)
• Attend Trade Shows (Book Expo of America and ALA aka American Library Assoc.)
• Newspaper Ads

• Radio Spots
• Personal Letters
• Vanity Phone Number
• Professional Web Address
• Professional Website
• Start a Blog
• Postcards
• Forums
• Radio appearances
• Email Signatures
• Landing pages for your website, blog, etc
• Pay-per click ads
• Collaborative ventures
• Podcasts
• Video tutorials

• Books
• Ezine ads
• Reciprocal link exchanges
• Google AdWords (pay to be linked to specific key words in Internet searches)
• Public Service Announcement
• Free seminars
• Free workshops
• Speak at Schools, Churches, Book fairs, Colleges, Business Luncheons, Non-profit organizations, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, the Lions, Sororities, Fraternities, Alumni Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Writing Groups, etc
• Have Free Readings
• Become Friends with the Competition
• Publish Articles
• Webinars
• YouTube Channel
• Give Speeches
• Judge a writing or poetry contest
• Coupons
• Giveaways
• Guest Posting on other Blogs
• Bartering Services
• Create Folders of Favorites on Pinterest.com (You can create a folder of favorite book covers, favorite characters, etc. Include your book in some of the folders.)
• Submit Books to Book Sites and Blogs (bookblogs.ning.com)
• Newsletters
• Write a Column
• Write an article
• Send an editorial to the newspaper
• Free trials
• Free eBooks
• Presell your books

• Sell Your Books Door to Door (people get to meet an author and get it autographed)
• Have an Easy to Remember Email Address
• Give Away Sample Chapters
• Join Press Associations
• Submit Press Releases
• Solicit Book Reviews
• Get to Know the Librarians
• Sponsor a Contest
• Sponsor an Award
• Sponsor a Scholarship
• Attend Trade Shows
• Attend Writing Conferences
• Have an Attractive Book Cover
• Book Tours
• Virtual Book Tours
• Sneak a copy on a retail store shelf at airport gift shops, hotels and tourist shops. The store may sell it unknowingly and order more or if nothing else, someone read your book and may spread the word.
• Serialize Your Books or Create a Series
• Use Actual Stamps (People generally throw away junk mail unopened)
• Submit for Literary Awards and Honors
• Provide Free Waiting Room Copies
• Submit for Book Cover Awards
• Solicit for Blog Interviews
• Have a Launch Party
• Donate Books to Charity Events
• Be an Expert in Your Field

• Offer Free Shipping
• Product Placement on TV Shows and Movies (Creative Entertainment Services and UPP Entertainment Marketing)
• Participate in Local Theater (After the performance, you can sell your books and take photos)
• Send copies to Advocates

• Create a Fan Club
• Create a Facebook Fan Page
• Create a Twitter Account
• Direct Mail
• Include Sticker Bookplates with Books
• Use Classified Ads
• Submit Your Book to Home Shopping Network or QVC
• T-Shirts (walking billboards)
• Buttons
• Notepads
• Custom Book Bags
• Movie Theater Commercials
• Attend Book Festivals and Fairs
• Teach People to Do What You Do
• Have a Home Book Party

• Become a Consultant
• Register with Speaking Bureaus
• Speak at Churches
• Speak on Cruise Ships
• Get a Celebrity Endorsement, Blurb or Foreword
• Reply to Your Email
• Create Listmania List on Amazon.com
• Become an Expert on Amazon.com
• Write Reviews about Books and Products on Amazon.com
• Follow Up on Books Sold (send a thank you card a few weeks later)
• Promote Books to Local Bookstores, Gift Shops or Small Secluded Shops
• Mail Your Catalog or List Directly to the Book Buyer of a Bookstore (for a list of top 700 Independent Bookstores, contact Open Horizons at www.bookmarket.com)
• Sell to Places Other Than Bookstores: Supermarkets, Auto Part Stores, Banks, Beauty Salons, Drug Stores, Pet Stores, Gourmet Shops, Toy Stores, Arts and Crafts Stores, Fitness Centers, Museums, Newsstands, Novelty Shops, Office Supply Stores, Prison Commissaries, Travel Agencies, Tourist Shops, Stationery Stores, Print Shops, Hospital Gift Shops, Florist, Military PX’s and Discount Stores

Do you have any marketing ideas to share? 

Feel free to share this list, just please make sure to link back to my blog or give credit. 

5 Top Affiliate Programs for Bloggers

Affiliate marketing is a great way for bloggers to earn money through their blog or website. It's great for bloggers because it requires no cost on the affiliate part, only a place to promote the merchants products. The merchant handles all the logistics involved in the selling of the products including customer service, shipping, payment transactions from the customer and payment transactions to you the affiliate.



A few things to remember before you begin.

1. Keep in mind what your goal is. Do you plan to do this short term, long term? Are you using affiliate marketing to supplement your income or do you plan to make this a full-time job?
2. Describe the product you are promoting. Don't just add a photo or link haphazardly. Make it purposeful.
3. Promote what you use. Doing so will lend credibility, instill integrity in your endorsement and increase your sales.
4. Share how the product impacts you, give examples and share your experience.
5. Put content before promotion. No one wants to see a page full of ads. Your readers still need to get something meaningful from your blog.

Top 5 Affiliate Programs
According to The Online Advertising Blue Book, here are some of the top rated Affiliated Programs.

• Linkshare: The largest affiliate network with over 10 million affiliate partnerships. You can manage your own affiliate channel or have them manage it for you.

• Commission Junction: The largest in North America. Offer self management or company managed option, in addition to a pay per action program.

• ShareASale: Number three for top 20 affiliate networks with over 2,500 merchant programs. Rate high in customer service and ease of use in retrieving payment.

• Amazon Associates: The most popular program for bloggers because it's easy to use and can be integrated easily into blogs using plug-ins.

• Google Affiliate Network: This is a pay-per action program that pays its affiliates for sales and leads. Requires a Google AdSense account to post ads to your blog. 

Do you use an Affiliate Program? If so, which one do you recommend for bloggers?

Vacation Reads Giveaway Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Vacation Reads Giveaway Hop. This giveaway hop runs from July 19 - July 25, 2012. To enter, just fill out the rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to U.S. participants and international participants. Thanks to The Bookish Mama and I Am A Reader Not a Writer for hosting this hop. There are over 100 blogs participating in this hop, please take time to visit them and enter their giveaways as well. You never know what you may win. To view the list of other blogs participating, click Blogs Participating in Vacation Reads Hop.

Giveaway: $ 20 gift card to Amazon.com or up to $20 in purchases from the Book Depository.

To Enter: Just fill out the rafflecopter form.
Mandatory: Must be a follower of my blog through RSS, GFC, email or newsletter. These follow options are located at the top right hand corner of my blog.

• All other entries on the rafflecopter are optional. If you decide to tweet about the giveaway, you do  not have to copy and paste the link back into the rafflecopter. I think it's such an inconvenience. I will get a notification once it done.

Good luck and have a wonderful summer of reading.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop. This giveaway hop runs from July 17 - July 22, 2012. To enter, just fill out the rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to U.S. participants and international participants. Thanks to I Am A Reader Not a Writer for hosting this hop. There are over 100 blogs participating in this hop, please take time to visit them and enter their giveaways as well. You never know what you may win. To view the list of other blogs participating, click Blogs Participating in No Strings Attached Hop.

Giveaway: $10 gift card to Amazon.com or up to $10 in purchases from the Book Depository.

To Enter: There are NO mandatory entries, since this is no strings attached giveaway but I do need your email so please complete the first entry to record your email address so I can contact you should you win.



Good luck and have a wonderful summer of reading.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday w/ Linky

Wordless Wednesday is a weekly meme where I post a photo, usually interesting, intriguing or unique to prompt writers or innovative minds to get inspired to create, imagine and invent. You can join in the weekly meme by posting a photo on your own blog. The only rule is, you can't post any words to explain the photo.

I hope you like my meme and continue to stop by and perhaps you'll join me in Wordless Wednesday every week by posting a photo on your blog and then linking up to the list below each weekly post. The Linky list will say, You're next...click to enter. Then go ahead and enter in your blog url so others who stop by my blog may come to your blog and view your photos. Don't forget to leave a comment below and let me know what you thought about the photo.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. :-) Have a great day!

Here's my Wordless Wednesday Photo

Summer Lovin Giveaway Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Summer Lovin Giveaway Hop. This giveaway hop runs from July 11 - July 17, 2012. To enter, just fill out the rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to U.S. participants and international participants. Thanks to Tifferz Book Reviews and I Am A Reader Not a Writer for hosting this hop. There are over 100 blogs participating in this hop, please take time to visit them and enter their giveaways as well. You never know what you may win. To view the list of other blogs participating, click Blogs Participating in Summer Lovin Hop.

Giveaway: $ 20 gift card to Amazon.com or up to $20 in purchases from the Book Depository.

To Enter: Just fill out the rafflecopter form.
Mandatory: Must be a follower of my blog through RSS, GFC, email or newsletter. These follow options are located at the top right hand corner of my blog.

• All other entries on the rafflecopter are optional. If you choose to Tweet about the giveaway, you do not have to copy the link back into the rafflecopter form. It's very time consuming and I get a notification each time it's done anyway. 

Good luck and have a wonderful summer of reading.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer Reads Giveaway Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Summer Reads Giveaway Hop. This giveaway hop runs from July 6th - July 11, 2012. To enter, just fill out the rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to U.S. participants and international participants. Thanks to Rex Robot Reviews and I Am A Reader Not a Writer for hosting this hop. There are nearly 200 blogs participating in this hop, please take time to visit them and enter their giveaways as well. You never know what you may win. To view the list of other blogs participating, click Blogs Participating in Summer Reads Hop.

Giveaway: $ 20 gift card to Amazon.com or up to $20 in purchases from the Book Depository.

To Enter: Just fill out the rafflecopter form.
Mandatory: Must be a follower of my blog through RSS, GFC, email or newsletter. These follow options are located at the top right hand corner of my blog. All other entries on the rafflecopter are optional.

Good luck and have a wonderful summer of reading.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday