Archive for the ‘social media’ Category

Were you on last night’s call, “Using Social Media & Digital Publishing to Skyrocket Publishing Success”? If so, then you already know how to become a Google partner and place your book in its worldwide sales and marketing program. For free.

You also know how to get your book into Amazon’s free Digital Text Platform (DTP) program and sell your ebook on Kindle for free. And that you can do this with little or no technical knowledge other than how to upload a file.

Don’t despair if you missed it! Here is the link to the replay:

Social Media + Digital Publishing Skyrocket Publishing Success Audio

Something else you missed if you weren’t on the call was a very special offer for those who join the new For Authors Only program before the first class on Tuesday, June 15.

Many of you have contacted me to say you want to join the program, but feel that you don’t have the computer skills to actively blog or social network. You don’t really need a high level of skill for the program, but you do have to somewhat computer savvy, so you have a choice:

If you are working with a VA or a tech assistant who helps you with your social networking, blogging or online marketing, you can bring your assistant to the program at no extra charge. Your assistant might be your child, neighbor, college student or virtual assistant.  If you want to take advantage of this incredible value (2 for 1), simply contact me after you register with the other person’s contact information. (This is “on your honor” and I will send the appropriate information to your assistant so he or she can access the program calls and downloads. Please do not share member-only passwords or material with anyone.)

If you are NOT working with an assistant, here’s your special offer:

I will extend the early registration bonus, which has expired, to those who sign up by June 15 and are not bringing an assistant. Your bonus includes a free 30-minute consultation with me ($175 value) and a free audio teleseminar program of 4 recorded hours an 60 transcript pages ($199 value).

Join now and start downloading the bonus digital package that EVERY MEMBER receives, which includes approximately 10 hours of audio and 120 pages of transcripts.

Get all the details and join here>>

Remember, the bonus offers expire when classes start on June 15.

So, please don’t delay any longer! I’m looking forward to having you in the program.

I’m back from Book Expo America in New York and recovered from the metro-sized cold I brought home–so I’m finally able to tell you all about what’s really going on in the trenches of publishing straight from the trendsetters’ mouths.

In addition to trolling the Expo main exhibit floor, I focused much of my time at the small panel-size discussions held on the Javitz Center’s lower levels–that’s where the real action was happening, IMO. I attended these sessions:

• e-Strategy for Authors: A Publisher & Agency Perspective
• Are e-Books Good for Authors?
• How the Digital Book Cloud Works for Publishers & Users (sponsored by Google)
• Maximize Your Sales Potential (sponsored by Amazon)

These are some of the sessions I missed due to scheduling conflicts and time constraints:

• Bring Your Authors to the Social Media Party…and Getting Them to Stay
• Building Online Reader Communities with an Eye on ROI
• When Gutenberg Meets Zuckerberg
• Mobile Apps: A Publisher Roadmap for Creation & Use
• Who’s Reading e-Books?
• The Creative & Business Questions Surrounding Enhanced e-Books
• Community Social Networking
• The Next Decade in Book Culture (Guess what they were slated to talk about)

Are you starting to see where the future of publishing is headed?

The primary reason I attended this conference was to explore and experience firsthand the true pulse of the industry–not just read about it via someone else’s viewpoint in articles and blogs. When developing social media strategies for myself and my clients, I want to be absolutely certain that I know about the most up-to-date technologies and have a clear vision of how to apply them in this quickly evolving publishing environment.

I want to share what I learned with you and tell you about a program I designed to help you implement this new knowledge to launch or skyrocket your publishing success. Please join me for a free tele-class with an open Q&A session at the end so you can get your questions answered. Here are the details:

Topic: Using Social Media & Digital Publishing to Skyrocket Your Publishing Success

Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010

Time: 7:00pm Eastern (6pm Central, 5pm Mountain, 4pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: Dial (712) 432-0075, Enter access code 622330#

I’m expecting a big turnout (the last social media call went to capacity on the conference line), so call in at least 5 minutes early!

P.S. The cool photo at the top of this post is used with permission of the photographer, Joe Gemignani. All rights reserved. (Since he’s my hubby, you can imagine what would happen if he didn’t give me permission.) See more like this here>>

“I want to hear from you more often.”

If I sound like a mom, that’s because I am one!  (Here I am with my two fabulous children.) And being both a daughter and a mother, I know how it feels to be on both sides of the question, “Why don’t I hear from you more often?”

And, lately that’s what you’re telling me, too! So, I thought Mother’s Day would be a good time to catch up and also offer a special gift to my favorite peeps–YOU! Keep reading for all the details…

Yes, it’s been a while since I sent a newsletter. Have you noticed? Or, in the barrage of email that you get every day, are you just glad to have one less thing to delete?

Some of you have contacted me, looking for past issues that you may have missed. Well, the good news is that you haven’t missed any back issues. Publishing Success has been on hiatus while I tried to figure out a new format that made sense.

1. I’m interested in helping you do what I do…use social media to create the community for your book. I’m going on a campaign of total transparency, so you can follow what I do. Use the icons at the top right or the links here to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
2. I often get asked about what’s the best way to get published, find an agent and more. I’m going to be answering these questions on my blog, so subscribe to my blog via the RSS feeder (look for the bright orange button, top right)  right now and you won’t miss a single tip. BTW, if you want to find out where agents are looking for their next new author, read this>>
3. If you’d rather move faster and work with me directly, consider joining For Authors Only, a mastermind program forming now.The 2010 program begins in June. This program is for authors at every stage of writing (thinking about it, in the midst of writing, finished manuscript or published book). There are lots of reasons (**bonuses**) to join now and payment plans, too. See all the benefits and incentives (**gifts**) for early registration here>>
4. Many first-time authors want one-on-one guidance along the path to publication as well as direct feedback and suggestions. If that’s you, check out the new Wordy Woman Consulting options. Now there are ways to work with me just once to ask a few questions or get ongoing support with a book project. See if any of these appeal to you>>

I want to stay connected with you. You tell me the best way to do it. Leave a comment below and tell what you think.

P.S. I didn’t forget ;-D. And now for my Mother’s Day gift to you! Join For Authors Only on or before Mother’s Day and get a free 30-minute consultation with me ($175 value). While you’re here, check out the Free Stuff page for some special give-aways, too!

Yesterday’s tele-class “Twitter Your Way to Publishing Success” has gotten rave reviews from listeners! Here’s some of the feedback we’ve received plus a link to download the audio, in case you missed the class.

“I thoroughly enjoyed your Twitter seminar today. I like the way you think – and the advice you give! ” –Julia Schopick

“I have never listened to a call from anyone before. I just want to let you know that I found it to be interesting, informative and you now have a fan. I am an author getting ready to put my book on Smashwords. I got that information from your newsletter. Thank you and keep doing what you are doing. You are helping so many of us.” –Ellen Brazer

“Great teleconference today! –J L Richardson MD

“I really loved and appreciated your Twitter tele-seminar today. Very helpful and timely also for me!!” –Bluedolphin Crow

Listen to the tele-class replay at (641) 715-3412, Access Code: 171279#, or use the link below to download the audio recording:
twitter_publishingsucess

Relax. You don’t have to fill your novel or screenplay with 140 characters to be a successful author! In this instance, “characters” refer to single letters or numerals used in each entry, or “tweet,” on Twitter, the popular the micro-blogging site. So what does tweeting messages only 140 characters long have to do with publishing success?

“Everything,” says Shelley Lieber, The Wordy Woman, who was recently named by Mashable.com as one of “70+ Authors to Follow on Twitter,” along with such best-selling authors as Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Tim Ferris, Suze Orman, Mariel Hemingway and Arianna Huffington.

The Wordy Woman will share her Twitter tips and strategies that she used to gain recognition as one of the top authors in her market in ONLY SIX MONTHS in a free tele-class. This is a don’t-miss event for every writer who wants to get the word out about his or her book!

Free Call*: Twitter Your Way to Publishing Success
When: Wednesday, June 3, 2pm Eastern
(1pm Central, 12pm Mountain, 11am Pacific)
Call-in Details: (641) 715-3300, Access Code 171279#

*The tele-class is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.

Whoohoo! I made the list and what good company I’m in! Check out the whole list.

Have you been to a book signing lately or read an author interview in a magazine or heard a book talk show on the radio? Chances are you remember more about the story behind the book (what inspired the author) than the book topic. That’s because the most effective way to get people talking about you and your book is to create a memorable story.

Think about it. How many self-help books are out in the marketplace? Financial or investment advice books? How about fantasy novels? Yet, some authors are very successful at spinning their stories so that their books stand out in overcrowded genres and make the bestseller lists.

Rhonda Byrne describes how she was at a personal low in her life–her father died and her business was failing–when she was given a book that revealed the secret to turning her life around. Her desire to share her new-found knowledge with the world was the impetus that led first to the movie, “The Secret,” and then to the book, which still remains on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list after several years.

Robert Kiyosaki told the story of his life lessons learned in his how-to-get-and-stay-rich book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Originally self-published, this memoir-style account of how two powerful role models in his life shaped his approach to building successful businesses topped The New York Times bestseller lists for more than 100 weeks.

JK Rowling was a single mom on welfare writing during her children’s nap time when she began the Harry Potter series. Today she is the richest woman in Great Britain due to the books’ successes.

It’s a long road from humble beginnings to successful author. Just having a good book is not enough. So, how do you get started on the path?

Dramatize your story. What inspired you to write the book? It could be as simple as a passing comment from your partner or child or it could have been a milestone event in your life. Laura Duksta, author of The New York Times bestselling children’s book I Love You More, says the story was inspired while she was praying for her sister and nephew. Deborah Sharp, author of the newly released murder mystery, Mama Does Time, says after 9/11 she turned from reporting the news as a USA Today journalist to fiction writing so she could write about happy endings for change.

Here are some tips on how use your packaged story as a base to to build your audience while you are writing your book:

1.Position yourself as an expert. Write articles for trade publications. Teach classes, seminars or workshops. Offer yourself as a guest for local radio or television shows.
2. Connect with your target audience. Start a newsletter. Write a blog. Be a guest speaker for professional or civic groups. Join groups or associations connected to your topic and take a leadership role or volunteer for committees.
3. Publicize your work. Write press releases, post your events on community calendars and participate in social networking sites.
4. Once the book is out, arrange book signings at bookstores or businesses related to your topic. One author I know sold her mystery novel set amid the fast-paced NASCAR racing scene at racetrack events.
5. Virtual book tours via blogs are sweeping the Internet. If you don’t know what I’m talking about and you’re still in the writing process, this is the perfect time to learn about how blogging can help skyrocket book sales.

Whether your story is about how you came to write your book or the circumstances behind your unique message, it is what your audience will remember long after reading your book or hearing you speak. This is the fine art of communicating at the core level. People who learn to do this well make lasting connections that translate to bestsellers and high demand for their services, where they get to tell their story again and again and again and… .

I recently discovered a website that offers a terrific service for free. Whether you are a freelance writer or book author, I believe you’ll be interested in checking out HelpaReporter.com, or HARO. The site belongs to Peter Shankman, who heads his own PR agency. The service serves two purposes: journalists (e.g., freelance writers) can submit requests for sources, or individuals (e.g., authors) can subscribe to read the queries and send their info in response.

So whether you’re writing an article or want to be cited as an expert in someone’s article, this service is an amazing tool to get what you want. Once you’ve signed up as subscriber, you’ll receive three emails a day with anywhere from 15-40+ queries from journalists (which include print, Internet and broadcast media) looking for people to interview for a variety of assignments, and if you’re a match you can submit. If you’re a journalist looking for a source, you can post a query. He already has over 25,000 subscribers, so getting your request in front of thousands of eyes can beat spending hours on the Internet and phone trying to find someone who meets your needs.

I subscribed to this service about a month ago and found myself emailing clients and friends who I thought were right for various stories. It got too overwhelming to read for myself and others and get any work done, so I directed interested parties to subscribe themselves and sent a tip sheet on how to respond to queries. My original intention was to share the sheet with my clients only, but then I had a “I could’ve had a V-8″ moment and realized everyone could benefit from the tips. So read on if you want to know the right way to respond to a journalist’s query or make a blind pitch. (If you need an incentive, my client, Paula Holland De Long, was recently interviewed by Aventura Magazine as a result of replying to a query using these tips.)

How to Respond to a Journalist’s Query or Request for Expert Sources
It’s very exciting and a good opportunity to reply to a journalist’s query or request for expert sources. However, there are conventional rules of procedure to follow, or you risk being labeled a pest rather than a valuable resource! Here’s how to submit your expertise, book or product to a media request. (These rules apply to “blind” pitching, too.)

Only respond or pitch if you are an appropriate match for the topic. Don’t try to stretch the truth, present yourself to be something you’re not or promise what you can’t deliver.

Give the request serious thought before dashing out your information. Read the request carefully. What is the angle of the story? Who is the audience? Then present your material in a manner that is consistent with the needs of the story and the audience.

Open with an introduction about why you are writing (I’m writing in response to… or to suggest…). Indicate why you are an expert, but keep to a sentence. “As a licensed physical therapist with Such and Such Medical Group, ….”

Present your information and specify how it is relevant to the subject of the article or show. Make your presentation to the journalist very clear; don’t assume that he or she will connect the dots between what you are sending and what they need. If this is a blind pitch, then it’s even more important to establish how your information can benefit or be of interest to the audience.

Put your short bio at the end, with your contact information. If you have a book, include “[your name], author of…” Always end with “I’d be happy to provide additional information for this or any other article (show, etc.) that you are preparing about (the subject). Please let me know how else I can help you.”

Keep it short. This is not the time to submit your media kit, photo or any self-serving attachments. The purpose of your response is to feed enough information to the journalist to prompt a call or email for more information. If you are contacted, remember that the goal is to serve the press, not to get free publicity. If you help the journalist, your name or product may be cited in the newspaper, magazine or media broadcast. Although that’s the ultimate payoff for you, your purpose in replying to requests or sending pitches is to help the journalist do his or her job, which is serving the needs of the audience.

Be mindful of deadlines.

Be realistic. You may think you’re the perfect source or match for the journalist’s needs, but you won’t get a call every time you submit. However, if you establish a pattern of consistent quality and reliability (they can call you for a quote when their deadline is in 15 minutes), then you’ll develop a valuable relationship that will pay off for you many times over.

I’m hardly the Emily Post of the Internet, but I can give you some pointers on how to communicate with people you don’t know via email. Why am I qualified? I receive hundreds of emails from people I don’t know. Some are trying to sell me something; others have a question or want information from me.

I love hearing from my readers, but I do delete some emails without responding based simply on the presentation. My logic is that I’m in the communication business and I want to work with people who take all forms of communication seriously. I can overlook an occasional misspelling and word left out–we all make mistakes. But I truly do not have time to decipher emails that are riddled with errors and can barely be understood because of poor organization and format.

If you are sending an email to someone you don’t know, you certainly want to make them feel you are someone worthy of their time and attention. Here’s what I (and most people) love to see:

My name spelled correctly
Minimal typos and no “shorthand” spellings (u for you, LOL, etc.)
Use of paragraphs rather than one large block of type with sentences all running together
An introductory connection such as, “I was recommended by,…, “I read your article in…” or “I’m writing to you because…”
No slow-loading graphics or blinking icons
No large attachments
The writer signs his or her full name
The writer provides contact information in an email signature

An email signature can be set up in any email program. Check your program’s Preferences menu. Information to put in your signature can include your full name, title, company name, website and/or blog address and phone number. If you have a book or program, include the title. Providing these items identifies you and advertises for you at the same time, so it is in your best interest to use this feature. You can elect to have your signature in all your outgoing mail, so you don’t have to type it out each time.

Most of these tips are simple to apply, yet many writers send out a query or email in haste as if they were dashing off a note to a friend. Good business practice still dictates a degree of etiquette and protocol, even in the fast-paced, instant-gratification, seemingly identity-less atmosphere of the Internet. You may not be doing business face to face anymore, but that’s all the more reason to set yourself apart from the crowd and make a good first impression with your email correspondence.

Sometime back when you were in middle school or high school, some English teacher probably taught you about the concept of the main idea and how to use it to develop a paragraph and ultimately, an essay or composition. Like everything else in today’s fast-paced techno-society, the main idea has been abbreviated to single words or short phrases now known as “key words.”

Your attention to this detail may have begun when some techie told you that no one would find your website without good key words. SEO (search engine optimization) experts seemed to have developed a whole industry around the use of key words. While I’ve yet to master the concepts of SEO, I have found one great use for key words, thanks to Google.

Just like being able to identify the main idea or key phrases to bring your audience to your website, you can use these same words to bring your audience to your email box with Google Key Word Alerts. By setting up a free account and identifying a series of words or phrases, you can register to receive hourly, daily or weekly notification about articles or blog posts on the Internet that contain your key words. The “alerts” are delivered directly to your email box, for you to read at your leisure.

For example, my key words for the Alerts are book publishing, self-publishing, book marketing, my name, my book title, my publishing company’s authors’ names and book titles and my husband’s name and company. I receive my alerts daily (hourly was too intense and distracting and weekly was too overwhelming). I know when someone mentions our names or books/products in a blog, article or press release posted on the Internet. I’m also informed when someone writes about any of the topics I’ve identified.

Why would I want this information? In the case of the industry-related key words, it helps keep me current on trends and important events and relieves me of the task of having to scour dozens of publications for the information. If I’m following a story in the news, I receive timely updates.

By receiving alerts for name, book title and company as well as key words, I know when someone is talking or writing about people and/or subjects relevant to me. It gives me an opportunity to review the information, and in the case of blogs, comment if it is appropriate.

For example, I recently received an alert for Adair Cates‘ Live with Intention, a book published by my company, Visual Impressions Publishing. The alert linked to a discussion board called Live with Intention, and all the members were people seeking the kind of information that Cates covers in her book. I forwarded her the information so that she could join the discussion group and talk with her potential audience. (See previous post that mentioned how Jeff Rivera built his readership through discussion groups, and eventually landed a publishing contract?)

Blogs are heavily monitored by the search engines, and posts and comments to posts show up almost immediately. I have found my name turn up in a search for a key word simply because I made a comment on someone else’s blog post–so you don’t even have to have your own blog or website for this to work for you. Of course, it is better to have somewhere to link your name so you can take advantage of the traffic, but having just your name in print in the subject area helps to build your platform.

If you haven’t identified your key words yet, do it now. Then sign up for Google Key Word Alerts and try it out. The beauty of it is that besides being free, you can add and delete words and phrases at any time and the changes are effective immediately. You may have to experiment until you find the right combination of words, but it’s fun and illuminating. And so cool.