Promote Your Book with a Facebook Group by Dana Lynn Smith

Today, I am thrilled to have a returning book marketing expert as our guest author for today. Dana Lynn Smith is the creator of the Book Marketing Maven blog, a site where authors can go to pick up a lot of good information to help them market their book. She is also the author of the Savvy Book Marketer Guide series. Today, Dana is talking to us about using Facebook groups to help promote our book(s).

Before we get to her advice, I wanted to ask you to check out my free video tips for authors. In this week's video, we look at creating a favicon for your Blogger blog. I am also re-running my video on creating and uploading a favicon to your website. Just sign up for my free subscription and you will receive this week's tip, as well as weekly video tips that walk you through some of the more technical aspects of marketing your book on the Internet. In fact, when you sign up, I will give you immediate access to over 45 minutes of free video tips. Reading how to do something is one thing; looking over the shoulders of an expert as he or she does it can make all the difference in the world. Feel free to visit my sign-up page to view a free sample video now before making your decision.

Now, on to Dana's post...


Promote Your Book with a Facebook Group
by Dana Lynn Smith


Facebook groups are a great place to meet people who share your interests. You can join existing groups, but starting your own group is even better.

To find groups to join enter keywords in the Facebook search box. When the search results come up, click on the Groups tab to view groups focused on your topic.

Click the Join Group button to join a group. Write an introductry greeting on the group's wall, and post your book cover in the photo section. Your book cover will show up on the group page and also in the newsfeed of your friends. It's not wise to post wall messages and images on more than one group page per day.

Most groups have a discussion board. Scan the list of questions to see if there are any you can answer. As with other online forums, observe proper etiquette and don't be too promotional in your answer.

Groups are also a wonderful place to find friends. After all, if someone joins a group related to your topic of interest, they presumably share your interests.


Forming a Facebook Group

Forming your own group can be very beneficial, but to keep the group growing and active you will need to provide benefits to members by offering valuable information and/or active discussions.

To form your own group, log into your Facebook account then go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/create.php.

Groups should be used to provide information and interaction to people interested in particular topic. Be subtle about promoting your products. A Facebook Page is more appropriate for promoting your book or business directly.

Nonfiction authors can form a group based on their book's topic. Fiction authors will need to be creative. For example, you might form a group for people who love to read historical romance. You could subtly promote your own books while also discussing the genre and the writing process, offer free chapter downloads, and invite group members to share other historical romance books they enjoy.


Promoting Your Group

If you create an "open" group, anyone on Facebook can join, not just your friends. To invite people to join, use the Invite People to Join or Share buttons on the right side of the group's page.

One way to attract members is to design your group page as an information hub, offering links and resources in the Recent News section of the page. You can offer a free downloadable report as a thank you to group members.

Another way to attract and reward members is to have a contest. For example, you could give away an autographed copy of your book to a member of the group chosen randomly by selecting a number from www.random.org.

And don't forget to promote your group on your website, in your email signature and elsewhere.


Networking Through Your Group

As group administrator, you can send messages to members (up to a maximum of 5,000), delivered to each person's Facebook Inbox. Click the Message All Members link on the right side of the group page.

Be sure to communicate with the members periodically by sending something of value such as tips or helpful links. Just be careful not to send so many messages that you annoy people.

Administrators can also post to the wall and start discussions in the forum, to encourage interaction.

If you're not already using Facebook groups, give it a try. For detailed information about using Facebook to promote your book and build your networks, see the Facebook Guide for Authors, by Dana Lynn Smith.


_________
Dana Lynn Smith, author of the Savvy Book Marketer Guide series, www.SavvyBookMarketer.com has a degree in marketing and 15 years of publishing experience. Her Book Marketing Maven blog www.BookMarketingMaven.com is packed with marketing tips for authors, and you'll get a copy of her Top Book Marketing Tips ebook when you sign up for her free ezine.