Since my debut novel came out this spring I’ve been taking a crash course in marketing, and I’ve learned more than I ever did in that one marketing class I took in college. So today I’m sharing what I’ve gleaned in these past months. I hope you’ll step up and add whatever I’ve left out. I certainly don’t know everything and I couldn’t begin to include everything that authors could use to help promote their books. Here are the basics in no particular order.
First, if you’ve been a webby for a while you might want to check and see what you’ve put out on WWW about yourself and others. You might also want to go through what others have said about you. More and more writers and editors and agents are checking to see what kind of person you are and the easiest way is to Google, Yahoo or Bing your name. Beat them to it and be sure you want them to find what’s been posted. Within 15 minutes of querying an agent, she had visited my blog and left a comment. I was very pleased that I 1) had that blog and 2) that it looked professional and interesting.
If you have some things out there that you wish you hadn’t posted, take them away. YouTube, MySpace or any other social network can be edited or you can delete your old account and start fresh. If that isn’t something you want to do, block specific users. That can be done under Settings or Preferences.
Second, be alert. Sign up for any news that comes out about you and your book on Google Alerts.
Third, buy your Domain name and make it simple and really you. Sometimes if the .com of your name is already taken you can buy the .net or .org version. Remember you’re trying to Brand yourself, so choose the name you want people to identify you with. I made a mistake in the beginning. I used cleemckenziebook.com for my webpage, and I still can’t remember why. I should have only used cleemckenzie.com.
Fourth, use the forums and networking sites that you find helpful and that you can manage. Besides Authors Now and 2009 Debutantes I joined facebook and myspace, Verla Kay, SCBWI, and She Writes. I’m just now getting around to LinkedIn and I find it a very professional and useful tool that allows me a wider set of connections.
Fifth, Tweet and be sure you’re linked to your blog and your other sites, so your Tweets will feed automatically into them. This is a perfect place to comment about any updates to your website or your blog, but your Tweets shouldn’t be all about you. Here’s a marketing formula I found and credit goes to Terry Belcher, an internet marketer.
30% tips that help people make their lives better
30% anything funny (jokes, funny quotes, etc.)
25% compliments and praise for others (includes RT)
10% information that keeps them informed
05% what you are doing
Sixth, stop by for visits and leave comments on other people’s blogs. I try to visit people once a week. I’m sure more is better, but if you’re like me there’s never time to do all of this marketing AND write. It’s a challenge I’m sure all of you recognize and share an appreciation for.
So what did I forget? I’m sure as soon as I post this I’ll think of something and slap myself on the side of the head.
Oh and “Happy Friday the Thirteenth.” This is the third one of those this year!!
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Comments
1 nanmarino // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:45 am
Enjoyed reading your insights about online marketing. It’s the third Friday the 13th in a single year? I bet that doesn’t happen often. I’m taking it as a sign of good luck.
2 C. Lee McKenzie // Nov 18, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Three Friday the 13ths won’t happen for another 11 years. At least I think that’s what I remember about this kind of thing.
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