Marketing Tips Around The Net: May 28th

It's Friday and that means it's time to kick back and enjoy some posts that I have found around the net. I have a great line-up for today, so let's get started!

1. Email is Dead- Penny C. Sansevieri discusses some important questions you need to ask yourself as you start an e-mail or newsletter campaign.

2. Videos Also Need Search Engine Optimization and Other Video Tips- Phyllis Zimbler Miller gives some great tips if you are going to video yourself for your website or blog.

3. Do the Principles of Good Design apply to your blog & website?- Roger C. Parker discusses the importance of great design for your website and blog, then invites you to chime in.

4. How To Prepare For Public Speaking- Joanna Penn shares her tips on getting ready for that big speech.

5. Op-Ed Submission Lists- Sandra Beckwith shares lists on where you can submit that Op-Ed piece you write. She even links to another post she did that will help you write the Op-Ed piece.

6. Fool-proof Ways To Correspond With Journalists- Dana Lynn Smith invites Jackie O'Neal to share her tips on communicating with journalists.

7. Facebook Woes Prove that Self-Hosted Is Best- Angela Wilson discusses the merits of having a self-hosted site; one you have total control over.

8. Do You Have to Be an Expert Before You Write a Book?- Todd Rutherford invites Kathleen Birmingham to discuss the question of whether you have to be an expert before you write a book.

9. What’s the Buzz? The FREE VAJ Buzz Club!- Carolyn Howard-Johnson invites Aggie Villaneuva to discuss a new resource to help authors work together to promote their books.

10. Book Marketing Mondays: The Power of Social Networking For Authors- BookBuzzr hosts Yvonne Perry who discusses what social networking can do for authors.

That's it for this week's trip around the net. I hope you enjoyed the post I found for you and I hope you enjoy the weekend with your family and friends. For those of us in the states, this is a national holiday weekend where barbecue and swimming kicks into high gear. In light of that, my sincerest thanks to all the men and women in uniform who risk life and limb to keep us safe. Happy Memorial Day.

10 Tips On Preparing A Speech When Given Little Notice

On Monday, I wrote a piece called, 10 Tips For Overcoming Stage Fright. In today's post, I want to stick with the theme of public speaking and deal with something that is even more frightening to many people than finding out they have to give a speech. That is, being asked to give a speech with little to no prep time.

Imagine this phone call: "Hey Tony, my club is having it's annual banquet and our keynote speaker just broke his leg skiing. Will you please, PLEASE speak for us tonight at 7:00?"

Okay, so you may not get a call like that, but you may be asked by someone to speak to a group with as little as 24 hours to prepare. As an author, it's hard to pass up any opportunity to get some notoriety. But it's also hard for most people to give a speech when they are given plenty of time to prepare, let alone no time, isn't it?

Don't worry. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some tips on how you can put together a speech with little to no warning:

1. Be clear on what is expected- When you are asked to give a speech, make sure you understand what the audience is expecting. You will prepare and deliver a report for your co-workers much differently than you will a speech to the local Chamber of Commerce.

2. Hit the Internet- Once you know what you are speaking about, use the Internet to garner ideas or to find material. You can find quick research and/or illustrations easily and quickly on the net. Just remember: a) Don't plagiarize and b) make sure you trust facts you find before quoting them. With little time to prepare, make sure you use extra caution when citing data from the web.

3. Look into your life- If you are looking for a motivational or instructional speech, don't forget to look into your life. You have all the research you need to pull together a fast, accurate and inspiring speech. Think about great accomplishments or epiphanies you have experienced and share the journey along the way. The next point will help you craft this into a speech that the audience will eat up.

4. Create a mini novel- Rather than deliver a series of facts, tell your audience a story. In fact, model your speech after the construction of a novel. If you are going to relate a great accomplishment, you need to:

1. Introduce the Accomplishment- (i.e., I'd like to tell you how I ended up publishing my book and how it almost never happened)
   
   
2. Discuss the conflicts, struggles and antagonists- (i.e., My newborn baby took more hours than I anticipated, my boss sent me on a a series of trips to Pascagoula, MS, and my brother-in-law kept telling me that I'd never write a book)
   
   
3. Nail the climax. This is the final battle, the ultimate conflict after fighting through the conflicts above- (i.e., I finally wrote the entire book except for the last chapter. I told my wife I needed one week to complete the book and talked her into getting my brother-in-law to come over and help with the baby and chores...)
   
   
4. Nail the resolution- (i.e., It was the hardest thing I did, but I finally finshed the book {holding up a copy for effect})
   

If you use a structure similar to this, it will help you tell your story in a way that invites the audience on the journey with you, rather than relating the dry facts of the publication process.

5. Check out current events- Another great source for a quick-needed inspiration is current events. I would recommend that you stay away from politics, religion and anything that could be construed as politically incorrect. Those are subjects that you want a lot of time to prepare for before you choose to tackle them. But a story about a German Shepherd who trudged through a blizzard to find help for his master who broke his leg can be a source of ample inspiration, not to mention a great illustration that any audience would love.

6. Know the answer to this question: What do I want the audience to take away from this speech- When you create a speech on the fly, you will be tempted to throw together a patch-work of stories and points. If you don't focus on this question, your speech will come across as disjointed and rough. For example, if I talk about my accomplishment of becoming an author, I may want my audience to take this away: Never let anything stand in the way of your dreams. You can accomplish more than you think you're able to accomplish.

7. Keep visuals to a minimum- Normally, I'd recommend using quality visuals, (i.e., PowerPoint), but if you have little notice for your speech and you are struggling to put one together, then visuals can be a distraction, and you may not have the time to really create the quality you want. Focus on the speech, first, and then the visuals if time permits.

8. Try to work in three points- Having a structure for your speech will help your continuity as a speaker. Whether you give a three-pointer or create the "mini novel", the point is to build in some type of structure. It will help keep you focused and not turn into a meandering speaker whose intro and conclusion don't wrap us the speech in a nice, tight package.

9. After the resolution, tell the audience what they should take away from the speech- Don't assume that your audience will make the same applications to your speech that you want them to make. If you want them to take away certain messages from your speech, tell them what the messages are as you end your speech.

10. Squeeze in time to practice- If at all possible, try to practice your speech a time or two. This will help you work out the transition kinks before hand.  

BONUS: Make sure you read 10 Tips For Overcoming Stage Fright.

Ideally, you could probably put together a better speech with more time, but if you follow these tips, they should help you create a decent speech when given little warning. (Oh, and don't forget to ask about these details: Length of speech, attire, and directions. Then, have a bio ready to hand to the MC in case it's needed).

Good Luck!

Is It Worth It to Market Your Book Online? By Phyllis Zimbler Miller

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for our guest expert to visit Marketing Tips For Authors. Today, we have an alumni back with us. Phyllis Zimbler Miller will tackle the question, "Is It Worth It to Market Your Book Online?"

Before we get to her post, I wanted to make sure you knew that the new video tip is out for my newsletter subscribers. In it, I share 10 Twitter Tips and Tricks to help you become more efficient, effective and help increase your online visibility using Twitter. If you are not a current subscriber, you can sign up for free now and start watching this tip in just a few minutes.

Now, on to Phyllis's post...


Is It Worth It to Market Your Book Online?
By Phyllis Zimbler Miller

I got a question from a potential client asking me to look at her self-published book to evaluate whether it is “worth” marketing the book. She is also concerned about using social media such as Twitter.

Here is what I replied (slightly edited):

Looking at your book will not enable me to tell you whether the book can be "marketed" online. There's no crystal ball. In fact, online marketing success depends much more on an individual's own actions than anything else. (How much you invest time-wise in online marketing.) You have to be in this for the long haul.

I would highly recommend that you use Dorothy Thompson at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com for a virtual book tour. Dorothy arranges for "guest" appearances on various blogs for an author. You either write guest posts for those blogs or answer interview questions in writing. Then, of course, there's a link back to your website/blog.

Here's the thing about Twitter. I have my own system, which means that I spend less than 10 minutes a day on it. But, I admit, I am strongly disciplined and don't get sucked in. Someone I know teaches people to set a timer when they go on Twitter if they aren't disciplined. And you don't have to use Twitter -- it's just a very effective way to let people know about your blog posts and to connect with like-minded people.

FYI -- Quotes are big on Twitter, although I never share these. If your writing fits in this mold, you could quote sentences from the book with a link back to your site.

Second, blog posts should be short rather than long. With short paragraphs! So don't think you have to write a book chapter each time. See the free blogging info I wrote with Carolyn Howard-Johnson at www.fictionmarketing.com -- it's more complicated than you need but will give you some ideas.

I do NOT use my Facebook profile except to send selective tweets from Twitter through to it automatically. I am working on my business page more. But this is new for me because Facebook only recently made these pages powerful.

The reason that you should consider a Facebook business page is because there are 400 million people on Facebook and the title of a Facebook page (which can be up to 75 characters) is searchable INSIDE and OUTSIDE Facebook.

Also, if you are a reader, you will probably enjoy reading the free reports and blog posts that people provide links to from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

As this is a labor of love and if you have the time, I see no reason not to TRY. If you are concerned, I highly recommend you order from Amazon the paperback MINDSET: THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS from Carol Dweck.

I recommend this book to everyone after I read it myself. It explains why people are often unwilling to try new things -- fear of failure. And once people admit this to themselves and accept that it's important to try new things regardless, it's much easier to move forward.

In conclusion, if you've taken the time and effort to write a book and self-publish it, then do consider taking the time and effort to let people online know about your book.

------

Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and is the co-founder of the social media marketing company Miller Mosaic Power Marketing. Download her FREE report "Twitter, Facebook and Your Website: A Beginning Blueprint for Harnessing the Power of 3" at www.MillerMosaicPowerof3.com

10 Tips For Overcoming Stage Fright

I was a full-time public speaker for over 10 years and I still take time to speak when the opportunity presents itself. In that time, I have come up with a few tricks that help me overcome stage fright when I get in front of a crowd. Some crowds numbered in the thousands, and some numbered less than five people. But in all circumstances, these tips helped me control my stage fright. I bet they can help you as well.

Before we get to these tips, I have one quick announcement to make. Today is the last day to get my Conducting Effective Twitter Contests training at 50% off. The sale ends at midnight (Central) tonight. This training will help you drive new traffic to your website and blog so make sure you check it out today.

Now, on to our 10 tips on overcoming stage fright...

1. Know your material- By far, the best thing that has helped me control my stage fright is to know my material forward and backward. Many instances of nervousness is the result of someone who knows that they will speaking on something they don't really understand. Putting in the prep time to know your subject can make a huge difference in the stage fright you experience.

2. Memorize your intro/conclusion- How you start off your speech can set the tone for the rest of it. If you have trouble at the beginning, you may find that you never really get back on track and that's all you'll be thinking about throughout the speech. But if you take the time to memorize your intro, then you put yourself on automatic pilot during the most crucial time of the speech. When you execute the intro without a hitch, you will see your confidence soar for the rest.

I also mention to memorize your conclusion. Though your opportunity for nervousness will be over when your speech ends, a smooth conclusion will help you end on a strong confident note that will help see you through the post-speech activities.

3. Practice your transitions- Chances are that your speech has several points you want to make. You may know your points well, but have you thought about how you are going to transition from one to the next? If not, you may stumble in your speech which can lead to a loss of confidence. Eliminate this by specifically practicing your transitions, including the transitions after your introduction and before your conclusion.

4. Practice your whole speech- Make sure you allow time to go through your speech from beginning to end. Do this a few times to help you work out the kinks. You will often find that what seems like a great transition during the planning doesn't really work well in practice. Only by practicing the whole speech, out loud, can you find these kinks. You will also find that many words look better written than they sound coming from you. Better to find out in practice than during the live event.

5. Breathe- Yep, breathe. Pay attention to this long before you get up to start your speech. Take slow, deep breaths as you arrive at the venue, as you meet and greet, and as you are being introduced. Then, when you find yourself behind the podium, make sure you take that one deep breath before you say the first word of your speech.

6. Smile- Smiling can help you feel more confident, even if deep down, you are not feeling that way during your speech. Frowning during your speech, and even pre-speech can have the opposite effect on you. So force the corners of your mouth up and let the confidence start to sweep over you.

7. Remember, the audience wants you to succeed- People are generally good natured and most want to see others do well. Audiences understand that nervousness is a part of public speaking and they won't be ready to attack as soon as you show a sign or two of stage fright. In fact, they will be more focused on what you are saying than how you are saying it. If you see your audience as your friend and not your foe, it will do wonders for your ability to face them as a speaker.

8. Don't apologize for being nervous- You will be surprised to know that your quivering, shaking body is more apparent to you than to most people. What seems like a 7.9 on the Richter scale is actually unnoticed by most people. Apologizing for being nervous only does two things: a) it reinforces to you the fact that you are nervous; b) it draws attention to your audience to something that they would probably never have thought about had you not mentioned it.

9. Visit the venue- If possible, visit the room you will be speaking in ahead of time. This gives you a chance to visualize what your environment will be like. It will also give you a chance to make sure the room is set up to deliver the speech the way you are practicing it. Practicing as though the screen for your PowerPoint will be right behind you may make it somewhat disconcerting if you find that the screen is actually set up to the far right of the audience. By doing a walk-through of the venue, you get a chance to make the speech itself just a little more familiar to you, which makes it a little more comforting as a speaker.

10. Visualize yourself speaking- Whether you get a chance to visit the venue or not, you can visualize yourself speaking. If you go through this mental exercise as well as physically practicing your speech, you will be making it something that is not new, but an event that you have done many times before. Then, if you get flustered during your speech, you can fall back on this "experience" to help you through it. You will be surprised at how easy it is to recall your visualization and practice sessions during your speech when you need a little help.

Perhaps the best way to deal with stage fright is experience itself. When you realize that speaking is not as bad as you thought it would be, it makes each speaking engagement after that a little easier to get through. But until you get that experience, try these ten tips. They have served me well and I'm sure they can do the same for you.

Marketing Tips Around The Net: May 21st

It's Friday and that means it's time to take a trip around the net to look at some book marketing posts that have caught my eye. So sit back and enjoy these words of wisdom from some great book marketers.

Before we get to our tips, I have two quick in-house announcements to make. First, The new video tip is out for my newsletter subscribers. In it, I share 10 Twitter Tips and Tricks to help you become more efficient, effective and help increase your online visibility using Twitter. If you are not a current subscriber, you can sign up for free now and start watching this tip in just a few minutes.

Also, for the next few days, I have slashed the prices on my Conducting Effective Twitter Contests training. For a limited time, you can get any version of this training for 50% off. This training will help you drive new traffic to your website and blog so make sure you check it out today.

Now, on to our trip around the net...

1. Using an iPad for Presentations- Walt Shiel shares his experience in trying to use the iPad for his presentation at a conference.

2. New Twitter Feature – Retweets Page- Dana Lynn Smith looks at Twitter's new Retweet feature.

3. Book Proposal: When to Send a Query Letter- Lisa Tener gives advice on sending out the query letter for your book.

4. Why I Dumped MySpace- Is there a time when you should dump your social media profile. Angela Wilson makes a case.

5. Are you afraid of the black hole of social media?- Phyllis Zimbler Miller discusses the fears that many have of embracing social media and gives advice to help ease even the most timid business person into the waters of social media.

6. ON BEING A FRUGALISMO – Self Promotion I: DATABASING- Carolyn Howard-Johnson hosts Mindy Philips on her blog. Mindy discusses some frugal ways to promote your book in the first of a series on post on the subject.

7. 200 Followers Uber-Beyond-Belief Contest!- L. Diane Wolfe is announcing a new contest to celebrate her 200 followers on her blog. Check it out. While supporting her, you can win a couple of great prizes as well!

8. Branding at a glance - how Liz Goodgold sells her expertise- Roger C. Parker looks at Liz Goodgold has a case study for how anyone can build a powerful brand.

9. Book Promotion - Mistakes to Avoid- Todd Rutherford shares wisdom surrounding mistakes that authors want to steer clear from when promoting their book.

10. 22 Websites Every Writer Must Use- Joanna Penn gives her lists of must-use website for every author.

11. Mid-Week Book Marketing Tips: Interview with Book Marketing Expert – John Kremer- Freya of BookBuzzr interviews John Kremer, who talks all things book marketing.

That's it for this week's trip around the net. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I look forward to seeing you on Monday for more Marketing Tips For Authors.

Free Toys and Downloads List 3

I have scoured the Internet to find more free toys and downloads for you. If you have not seen my previous list of goodies, check them out here:

Free Toys and Downloads For Authors

More Free Toys And Downloads For Authors

Now, on to the new list:

1. Tiny Spell- Have you been typing in a program like Notepad and later found a spelling error? Well, now there's a nifty little program that checks all your spelling in any window environment. You can customized the dictionary, turn it on and off, and change up the settings. So, if you always wished your application had a spell-check built into it, now it can!

* Security Note: 5/28/2010- After using Tiny Spell for a while, I noticed this potential risk: When you misspell a word, the spelling you use appears in a box above the misspelled word. This includes password fields. So, if people are looking over your shoulders, they will see your password if it's not a word recognized in the dictionary. One thing you can do to minimize this risk is to add the password to your custom dictionary to limit the opportunity Tiny Spell has to display it on your screen.

2. Capture Fox- If you are a FireFox user, here is a nice add-on. Capture fox allows you to record a video screencast of your computer screen for free while also capturing your narrated audio. While you may not have all the bells and whistles found in a program like Camtasia, you can still put out a decent video with this tool. {Note: for other free screencast options, check out my other lists at the top of this post}

3. Jaycut- The bad thing with most free video screencapture programs is the lack of editing ability. Well, now you can edit your videos online for free at JayCut. It doesn't have all the features of a premium editing program, but you will be surprised at what you will be able to do with it. Once your done with the edit, you can share, embed or download the final product.

4. Writeboard- This nifty free online application allows you to collaborate with people all over the world with your documents. Every edit is saved so you have a history from the first draft to the final project.

5. Basecamp- The creators of Whiteboard also make Basecamp, an online project management tool. I have used this in the past and really love it. You can set milestones, tasks, and just about everything you need to manage a project. You can also assign roles for others and limit their access to only the areas of the project they need access to. There is a free version of this tool, but you have to look hard for it. In the pricing area, look at the small print directly under the paid options.

6. FaxZero- Ever need to send a fax from your computer? Well, now you can for free at FaxZero. The free version does send ads on the cover page, but if that's no big deal, the this tool can get the job done for you.
User Submitted in comments (James): Got Free Fax- "...send free fax online to the US and Canada. Plus, it does NOT add ads to user's fax." Thanks, James!

7. Meetup- Meetup.com is a great place to go to find local meetings in your area on just about any interest. Many of these local groups would love to have an expert visit their group, so it's a great resource to check into to help increase your exposure..

8. GOOG-411- At $2 a pop, directory assistance can really add up. If you are looking for a local business, Google has rolled out GOOG-411. Just call 1-800-466-4411 (1-800-GOOG-411) and in a few seconds you'll be connected for free to your local business.

9. Evernote- Evernote is an application with a free option that allows you to gather all your notes into one place. Whether you type them, slice a piece of a web page, choose photos or videos, you can do it all through Evernote and collect them into one place. You can even take a picture of your post-it notes and upload them! But what makes Evernote really powerful is that after you upload them, Evernote will automatically categorize them and make them searchable for easy access by you later. Of course, you can also categorize your notes yourself.

10. Dropbox- Do you ever wish that you could access all your important files from any computer you have? With Dropbox, you can. Even if you work on a Mac today and a PC tonight, you will still have access to everything whenever you need it. And the free version starts you out with 2 gigs of storage.

11. ReQall- This is a cool new tool that allows you to call a phone number and record a voice note. ReQall will then transcribe it and even e-mail it back too you. This can be great for grocery lists if you don't have a pen and paper handy, but the applications can be far reaching as I'm sure you can see. And the pro versions even expand the capabilities of the free version. In fact, when you sign up, you will be given the pro account to try for free. After 15 days, your account will automatically revert to the free account unless you take action.

Well, that's it for this Christmas in May! I hope you find some great tools you can use. Make sure you don't forget to see the other free Toys and Downloads I have found for you. You can access those lists at the top of this post.

Media Kits: The Ultimate Author Publicity Tool By Angela Wilson

It's Tuesday and that means we have the privilege to read the advice of a guest here on Marketing Tips For Authors. Today we have a returning guest back with us. Angela Wilson will talk to us about our author media kits.

Before we get to Angela's post, I have two quick in-house announcements to make. First, The new video tip is out for my newsletter subscribers. In it, I share 10 Twitter Tips and Tricks to help you become more efficient, effective and help increase your online visibility using Twitter. If you are not a current subscriber, you can sign up for free now and start watching this tip in just a few minutes.

Also, for the next few days, I have slashed the prices on my Conducting Effective Twitter Contests training. For a limited time, you can get any version of this training for 50% off. This training will help you drive new traffic to your website and blog so make sure you check it out today.

Now, on to Angela's post...



Media Kits: The Ultimate Author Publicity Tool
By Angela Wilson


You get bored answering the same questions over and over again for virtual book tours? Well, virtual book tour hosts get tired of asking them - but sometimes they don't have a choice.

Many authors either don't have Web sites, offer incomplete bios or little personal information for interviewers to create truly interesting or fun questions for authors.

With the exception of some self-help books, your tomes don't offer enough personal insight into you to ask terrifically unique questions that will wow blog audiences - and keep you from falling asleep while answering them.

Here is a great example from my own hosting experiences:

Recently, a publicist at a major publishing house secured an interview. The author didn't have a Web site and wasn't on any social networks. For a bio, the publicist sent a paragraph of a few sentences that said virtually nothing about the author.

A paragraph.

I blinked, triple-checked the message, then emailed again to see if the author was on any social networks.

Nope.

I had a book - filled with sayings rather than a genre story - and a four-sentence biography that said nothing except this author wrote a book, with the listing of those tomes.

Creating questions for the interview was almost like baking bread without any yeast. Without good yeast, the bread comes out flat, hard and inedible. Interviews that don't personally connect with authors have no pop and fizzle with blog readers.

The real trouble is this was not an isolated incident. Many times, authors or their publicists are totally unprepared to provide necessary information for a successful virtual book tour stop.

If you are serious about your craft, a thorough media kit - with a complete biography - is a MUST. The best way to share it is via your Web site, where VBT hosts can download what they want, when they need it.

If you don't want the hassle (or expense) of a Web site, at least offer up a media kit via email in PDF format.

Here are some basic items you need to have readily available when you go on a virtual book tour:

• Biography. This is a MUST for authors at any stage in their career. Offer up a short and long biography that discusses your writing life, career, family life, pets and anything else you want to share. A short bio is a paragraph and typically used at the end of blog posts. The long biography will help VBT hosts develop questions.
  
  
• Book list. Tell people what you've written. If you have a series of books, it is important to let readers and hosts know their chronological order.
  
  
• Book trailer. Trailers are an increasingly important element in virtual book tours. Some hosts will just post a trailer when they don't have time for an interview. You can create a trailer yourself that will rock your fans' to their toes. Upload the trailer to YouTube or Vimeo. Do NOT send the raw file to hosts. They don't have the server space to host them.
  
  
• Sample interview. Put together a list of the most commonly-asked questions and answer them. Some hosts will use them for the post, or as a benchmark to develop an interview.
  
  
• Tour dates. Where will you be? Whether you are stepping out in the virtual realm or in a bookstore, hosts should know your schedule. Some will be able to help you promote those other stops - especially if they are in their city.
  
  
• Guest blogs. Write about about a dozen articles that hosts can pick from. Put them into static pages and give the links to prospective VBT hosts.
  
  
• Excerpts. Some hosts will post excerpts with interviews or in the place of interviews. You can give them a PDF of the text, or upload it to a site like BookBuzzr.
  
  
• Photos. You need large photos of yourself and your cover art. Make them about 500 pixels wide; 100 pixels is way too small for many sites.
  
  
• Sales info. Some sites will publish the links to your Amazon sales page.
  
  
• Online sites. Share the links to all of your public sites, including your Web site, blog and social networks.
  

Don't worry if you don't have all the information here. As your career develops, your media kit will expand.

-----
About The Author

Angela Wilson is a former journalist and social media content producer. She talks novel marketing at Market My Novel and is launching a new blog, Social Media Is Scary.

Selling Your Book To Specialty Retailers

Do you fret over getting your book in every bookstore? That's understandable, but do yourself a favor and don't forget about other locations that can proudly display and sell your books.

I have successfully sold copies of my book, The Samson Effect, in bookstores as well as gas stations, lumber yards, print/mail shops, and accountant's offices just to name a few.

Recently Dana Lynn Smith interviewed me and three other authors who have been successful in selling books to a variety of non-book retailers. In her comprehensive article, How to Sell Books to Gift Shops and Specialty Retailers, you'll learn:

• What type of stores may be a good fit for your book
  
• Tips for locating and contacting retailers
  
• How displays and promotions help sell books
  
• What type of re-seller discounts and sales terms to consider
  

This article will also be featured in an upcoming issue of The Independent, published by the Independent Book Publishers Association, but you can check it out now. There really is a lot of great stuff by good book marketers that you can learn.

And just an FYI, tomorrow I am releasing another video for my newsletter subscriber where I share 10 Twitter Tips and Tricks that I use to enhance my Internet exposure. If you want to view this video, make sure you sign up for my free Video Marketing Tips newsletter and I will e-mail you the link to the video as soon as it's up.

Marketing Tips Around The Net: May 14th

It's Friday and that means it's time to take a trip around the net to look at a few book marketing posts that have caught my eye. So sit back and enjoy the advice from these experts.

1. Amateur video can propel your publicity campaign, search rankings- Joan Stewart provides a great resource if you are considering adding video to your marketing plan.

2. Creating a Marketing Roadmap- Penny C. Sansevieri shares a great tool for your marketing plan.

3. Pitch Your Fiction Book in a Query Letter- Publishing VP Todd Rutherford gives you advice on how to create an effective query letter.

4. Interesting & Informative Interaction Between An Author and Marketer- New author Gregg Seeley sends his questions about publishing his book to Jo-Anne Vandermeulen.

5. I See You Everywhere!- Dana Lynn Smith tells you how you can get people saying this about you!

6. Are you afraid of the black hole of social media?- Phyllis Zimbler Miller gives advice to anyone who may be a little wary about entering the world of social media.

7. Podcast: Advanced Blogging Tips For Authors With Blogging Teacher, Paul Cunningham- Joanna Penn conducts an audio podcast with Joel Williams, The Blogging Teacher. You'll learn a lot about blogging, even if you have been blogging for years.

8. Quickie: Easing Your Amazon Online Book Marketing Process- Carolyn Howard-Johnson continues to share her expertise on marketing through Amazon.com

9. Tips for creating author one sheets to attract speaking invitations- Roger C. Parker looks at examples of marketing tools you can use to get those speaking engagements you really want.

10. Book Marketing Mondays: How to Become a Blogging Expert Overnight- BookBuzzr invites Jo-Anne Vandermeulen to share her advice on how you can accelerate your path to becoming an expert blogger.

That's it for this week's tips around the net. There's a lot of great stuff here, so sit back and enjoy the process of finding the things that can help take your book marketing to the next level. See you on Monday!

Review: Camtasia 7 Is Out For Video Marketing With A Punch

If you have seen the videos I have done for my newsletter, you may know that I used Camtasia 6 to create them. A few weeks ago, Camtasia upgraded to version 7. I create videos for other purposes than my free marketing tips newsletter and I have had the opportunity to use Camtasia 7. Here is the skinny on this new upgrade.

Camtasia is a screen capturing program that allows you to record your computer screen as you narrate. This is a great way to create "How-To" videos that walk people through the process of accomplishing a task. It also integrates with PowerPoint which allows you to record and narrate your PowerPoint presentation and turn it into a video.

What makes Camtasia powerful is that it has excellent video editing features that allow you to tweak your video after you record it and enhance it with many call outs and effects. And you don't have to be a video engineer to create a nice video because Camtasia is created to be very user friendly.

Here are some of the new updates in version 7 that makes Camtasia even more powerful:

• Produce and upload videos right to YouTube- Now you can send your new video right to your YouTube account without leaving Camtasia. It does all the steps for you when you are ready to post your video. This is nice feature.
  
  
• New library- You will appreciate this feature even more if you use version 6. The library not only comes with some professionally produced audio, intros, and music, but now you can store your custom items including call outs and video segments. In stead of creating the same pieces over and over, now you can save them for future uses in other videos. This is a very nice feature.
  
  
• More powerful copy/paste- Now when you are in the editing mode, you can copy any portion of your video (inducing call outs, videos, and enhancements) and place them anywhere else on your video time line. This is nice when you need to use the same elements and keep your timing exact.
  
  
• Enhanced call outs- Camtasia now comes with more call outs (graphics you place on your video to draw attention to specific elements off your video). New call outs include sketch motion which look like hand-drawn shapes. So, you can "draw" a circle on a part of the video you want people to see as you talk about it. If you are discussing keystrokes in your video, the new keystrokes call outs will visually show the keystrokes as you illustrate them. The new call outs make video instruction even easier than before.
  
  
• Audio enhancements- Of all the new features, this is the one I like best and one that makes upgrading worth it even if there were no other updates. You can now adjust audio levels much easier and add professional fade ins and fade outs to you video with a click of the mouse. Before version 7, I had to export my audio to an external audio editing program like Audacity, edit it, and then import it back into Camtasia. With version 7, I can now do all my audio editing within Camtasia.
  
  Camtasia 7 also now lets you chose to record the sound from your computer's sound system if you want to. So, if you want to record segments of your Webinar and place it in another video, you can now do it and capture both the video and audio easily.
  

There are a few more nice updates to Camtasia that make it easier and more powerful, but these are the main upgrades. The user interface has been redesigned and is more intuitive and less clunky. My bottom line is that Camtasia 7 is worth the cost if you are serious about producing videos as part of your marketing program. There are a few free alternatives on the web, but nothing that comes close to matching what you can do with Camtasia.

At $300 for a new version ($150 for an upgrade), Camtasia does take a serious investment of cash but in my opinion, it's worth it if you want to have a tool that offers such powerful features with an interface that caters to the average, non-technical user. And Camtasia has an extensive online help community that includes instructional videos that show you how to use all of its feature.

If you're interested in trying Camtasia, they offer a 30 day free trial. This is the full-featured version, not a "lite" version for you to try. Check it out and sign up for their newsletter. You will get a lot of recording tips during your 30 day trial.

5 Keys to Promoting Your Book With a Blog By Julie Isaac

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for another guest author who is excited to share her knowledge and expertise with you. Today, Julie Isaac will spend some time with us talking about how to use a blog to promote your book.

Before you read Julie's post, make sure you sign up for my free video tips newsletter. You get how-to videos created to help you with some of the more technical aspects of marketing your book on the Internet.

Also, make sure you check out my newest marketing training product, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests. You'll learn a lot more than how to conduct contests; you'll learn things like how to find Twitter followers, how to build relationships with your peers that can lead to more joint venture opportunities, how to harness the power of the search engines to market your book, how to drive qualified traffic to your blog or website, and a whole lot more.

Now, on to Julie's Post...



5 Keys to Promoting Your Book With a Blog
By Julie Isaac

One of the best, and easiest, tools for building an ongoing relationship with your readers is a blog. It's that place you send all of your Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and YouTube subscribers to, so that they can get to know you and your book better.

Blogging regularly (at least three times a week) can be a challenge, especially when added to the 1,001 other tasks that are required of you as a writer, yet it's well worth the effort. However, I don't believe in "shoulds," as life will have its way with you. So be gentle with yourself on this journey, and simply do the best you can.

To make it a little easier during those times when you're so busy that it's hard to focus, or your brain decides to put itself on pause, it's good to have a Blog Topic list prepared with at least 25 to 50 ideas on it. Then all you have to do is pick a topic and write a few hundred words on it, or dash off a quick video.

To help you brainstorm your Blog Topic list, here are 5 keys that will keep your blog posts focused on building relationships and promoting your book. If you brainstorm 5 to 10 ideas for each key, you'll have 25 to 50 blog post ideas that you can save for a rainy day, or use to create a daily or weekly blog writing habit.

1) Your Readers

First and foremost your blog is about your readers. Without catching and keeping their interest they won't stay on your blog long enough to get to know you, and grow their desire to read your book.

In addition to writing about topics that will be of interest to your readers (which will be found in the next four keys), you can use your blog to engage your readers. Some of the ways to engage them are:

• Create a contest. The contest can be used to win your book, or if your book isn't finished, yet, to win another book (or something else) that would be of interest to your ideal reader. This is a great way to introduce people to you, your blog, and your book.

• Start a writing challenge. In addition to engaging your readers, if you suggest that they post their response on their own blog and link back to you, you'll end up with a lot of incoming links, which will help your blog's SEO.

• Ask a question. One of the easiest ways to engage your readers is to simply ask them a question. The question can be at the end of your post, asking for a response to what you've written, or for the reader's own experience of the subject, or you can write a post that's about a particular question, such as, "How do you…?" Or "What do you think about…?" Or "Why doesn't anyone… anymore?

2) Your Book

Whether your book is fiction or non-fiction, there will always be plenty to blog about that will both interest someone enough to read your book, and deepen a reader's experience of your book.

If you've written a novel you can write about your book's:

• Themes. What are the themes that you've woven into your novel? Why did you choose them? What interests or intrigues you about them?

• Characters. Help your blog readers get to know your characters. Did you do any exploratory writing that you could post to the blog? What's a character's most intriguing, endearing, or annoying trait?

• Inspiration. One of the most frequently asked questions a writer gets is, "Where do you get your ideas?" What inspired this novel? What idea or incident sparked your imagination?

If you've written a non-fiction book you can share:

• Tips. Give you best tips away! When you share information that changes your reader's lives, that answers a question, solves a problem, shows an easier way to do something, or gives your readers what they need to succeed, they will want to buy your book.

• Tools. The tools can be yours, or someone else's. Don't be afraid to look beyond your own book for tools that will help your readers. If you're the one who leads them to something helpful, they'll come back to you for more.

• Exercises. Help people apply the principles in your book. An exercise can both show the power of what's in your book, for those who haven't read it yet, and help someone who's read your book take your material to a deeper level.

Both fiction and non-fiction writers can post:

• Research. You've probably got lots of research that supports the book, but didn't go in it. Share some of it with your blog readers.

• Excerpts. Whether you use a chapter or two as an opt-in offer to get people on your email list, or you simply post an excerpt on your blog, nothing interests a reader in your book more than giving them a taste of the actual book.

3) Your Topic or Genre

Your genre, or book topic, is more than a guide for bookstore placement, it tells you a lot about your reader's interests. Use that knowledge to generate blog content that will attract and interest your ideal readers.

Whether your novel's genre is mystery, romance, science fiction, or something else, share the:

• History of your genre/subgenre. How did this genre begin? Who were the first authors? What distinguishes this genre from any other?

• Elements of your genre/subgenre. What makes your mystery a "cozy," while another is a "police procedural?" What elements are you required to include in your book for it to be considered that genre? How have other authors changed or expanded the genre?

• Topics of interest to your genre/subgenre. What are some of the broader topics that might be of interest to your genre's readers? If you write time travel novels, your readers might be interested in science that addresses the question of time.

Whether your book's topic is spirituality, business, moms, or something else, share the:

• History of your topic. If you're writing about a specific religion, what are the roots of that religion? How does it relate to other religions?

• Elements of your topic. What are the assumptions, practices, limitations of your topic? How have others approached it? How is your approach new?

• News about your topic. What's happening in the world, right now, regarding your topic? How can you relate your topic to current events?

4) You As An Author

John Kremer, the author of "1,001 Ways to Market Your Books," says that "Marketing is relationships. Selling books is about making friends." You're creating a relationship with your readers no matter what topic you're blogging about, but when the subject is you, you're taking the relationship to a deeper level. This is the place for you to share your journey, be seen, and shine.

Topics that address the author's journey:

• Writing your book. What surprised you as you wrote the book? What did you discover about yourself, your characters, or your topic? How has this book changed you?

• The writing life. When did you start writing? What do you love about writing? Have you already started your next book? What was the publishing journey like? What did you learn? What can you share with other writers?

• Announcements. Are you doing readings, classes, or blog talk radio? Link to book reviews. Will you be speaking at any events?

• Your personal life. While it's fine to share personal information in your blog, as it helps build relationships, either weave it into topic based posts or relate personal posts to the writing life. This helps keep your blog tightly focused. What's happening in your life that would be of interest to your readers?

5) Other Authors

Whether you've written your first book or your fifth, highlighting other authors of interest to your audience is a way to both give value to your readers, and to attract readers who might not know you, yet, but are fans of the author you're highlighting.

You can post:

• Reviews. Review books by other authors in your genre. What books outside your genre would your readers be interested in?

• Interviews. Doing written or audio interviews with other authors serves both them and you. But it especially serves your readers. Who would you like to interview? Who do you think your readers would like to hear from?

• Guest blog posts. Not only does a guest blog post save you a little writing time, but it gives your readers another point of view. Who would you like to have as a guest poster? Whose blog would you like to write a guest post for?

I hope your Blog Topic list is now overflowing with ideas.

Remember, this is your blog, your book, and your voice, but balance is the key. A balance between your needs and your readers' needs. A balance between what you want to say, and what they want to hear. A balance between being interesting and informative, and promoting your book and services. And above all, a balance between doing what's required for promotion, and enjoying the ride.

-------

Julie Isaac is an award winning author and creativity coach. She is the founder of the WritingSpirit Book Writers Community at http://www.WritingSpirit.com, which focuses on helping authors and entrepreneurs get their books written-- from inspiration to income. Julie (@WritingSpirit) is the creator and host of #writechat, a live twitter chat held every Sunday from 12-3pm PST, attended by hundreds of writers weekly. You can download her free ebook: "Unleash Your Book Writing Genius: The Top 10 Tips to Write, Publish, Promote & Leverage Your Book," at http://blog.WritingSpirit.com.

Selling Information: Competing In A World Where Information Is Free

If you are like millions of other people, you have dreams of selling your knowledge by wrapping it in an e-book or other consumable format. You read about people making tens of thousands of dollars doing this, and some even making more. But for many, the stark reality is a lot different from the dreams they had.

I had the privilege of speaking with the owner of a ten year old company that had sales into the seven figures per year by selling information like this. She has amassed a huge library of products that are just as applicable and helpful today as they were when they were raking in millions. But today, she is contemplating releasing the information for free to newsletter subscribers. Why? All the information contained in her products is now available for free on the Internet by many people who teach the same lessons.

It's true that we live in an age where instant information is available at the fingertips of a seeker. It used to be that free information was of a lesser quality than paid information, but that is generally no longer the case. You can find good, quality free answers to most of your questions just by spending a little time on the search engines.

So, what does this mean for the people who create information for public consumption? Are the days of selling information long gone? How do you compete in a world where the person next to you gives the same answers for free?

Sure enough, good, quality free information has cut into the old business model of selling information for profit, but it doesn't mean that you can not still be successful at it. Consider these points:

• Marketing Can Help- If you adopt a good, robust marketing plan (including social media and non-social media activities) then you will most definitely reach people looking for the information you offer. Of course, this should be no surprise. This is the whole purpose of traditional marketing. The difference to remember is that today's consumer is becoming more savvy when it comes to finding useful information and may be less susceptible to traditional marketing messages.
  
  
• Some People Want It Now- You may find success selling your information when you find the people who want answers now. They may have the ability to search on their own, but would rather pay to get it now if they think you can offer it now. Also, some people may be getting frustrated because they have been looking for answers and haven't found what they are looking for. These people will be more likely to buy when they finally find a resource promising the answers they are looking for. The problem here is that your message needs to strike them while they are in this buying mode. They can be exposed to the same message at any other time and not be ready to buy.
  
  
• Unique Knowledge Can Carry A Premium- Are you providing knowledge that can be found nowhere else? If so, then you may be able to charge a premium for it. Just remember that unique knowledge that is good knowledge will not be unique long. A soon as people learn it, you will soon see it enter the net as free information. And with the net being global, free information is distributed instantly around the world. Unique today can become yesterday's news overnight- literally.
  
  
• Trust Is Worth Something- If you constantly give the best information to people who are following you, you build up trust. That can translate into the ability to sell information that is readily available for free. Most people do not mind paying a fair price for good, trusted and valuable information. Once they find a guru who consistently gives them this information, it is easier for them to pay a premium to get it from the guru. But even a great amount of trust will not guarantee that people will always buy from you what they can find for free. In fact, good, free information is often what makes an expert a guru.
  
  
• Delivery Can Make A Difference- There are many ways to package good information. You can create an e-book or a video. You can disseminate information on a telecast or via live presentation. Generally, the more interactive the delivery, the more of a premium you can place on the information. Then, it's not just the information people are paying for, but access to you. And the more personal the delivery, they higher the premuim. You should be able to charge more for a one-on-one consultation than you would for a webinar.
  
  
• Clarity Of Presentation- Let's face it, some people have the skills to present information in a way that makes it easy for people to learn while others do not. All you have to do is pick up a cumbersome technical manual written by an engineer to see that. If you have the gift to make things easy to understand then you may find more people migrating to you when they need answers.
  

There are other considerations of how to compete in a world where so much is offered for free, but here is what I take-away. Information is just that. It's a commodity that is just as valuable if it comes from your lips or from a website created by a high-school student. Sorry if that bruises anyone's ego, but it's the truth.

Information is just information. Period. Where we have the ability to stand apart from the crowd is not in the information being delivered, but in the deliverer themselves. People will often pay because someone is good at packaging, they are trusted, they make the information easy to understand and they make themselves available.

Even with all this, however, we still need to be aware that we truly live in a different world than we lived in just five and ten years ago. For good or bad, information, good quality information, is available for free at the click of a mouse. The lightening has been let out of the bottle and will never be contained again. As soon as we understand this paradigm, we can start to adapt our offerings in light of this reality. And the most creative and innovative of us will find out how to profit in this paradigm. We always have.

Marketing Tips Around The Net: May 7th

It's that time for us to take a trip around the net to see what other book marketers are saying about book marketing. Without further adieu, here are some tips that I hope you find useful. So, sit back with a cup of your favorite warm beverage and enjoy...


1. Tips - When Meeting an Author...- Diane L. Wolfe has a fabulous post geared toward readers about how to behave when they meet an author at an event. This is great for authors to read too.

2. How to Prepare for a Newspaper Editorial Briefing- Communication through the media is a great way to expand your influence. Sandra Beckwith shares some tips on how to effectively interact with the media in a way you may never had thought of before.

3. Virtual Book Tours for Fiction Authors- Dana Lynn Smith gives some advice you can take action on if you are contemplating a blog tour for your fiction book.

4. For effective Internet marketing you need to take social media seriously- Phyllis Zimbler Miller lays it on the line if you're a business looking to not to be left behind by your competitors.

5. What Praise for the iPad Means for Authors- Carolyn Howard Johnson shares her thoughts on the latest rage for readers and writers from Apple.

6. How to choose a topic for writing your next book or e-book- Roger C. Parker gives some ideas on how to come up with the idea for your next book.

7. How Google Editions And New Google Search Affects Authors And Their Books- Are you ready to take advantage of Google's new changes which affects book searches? Joanna Penn tells you how you can be.

8. Brown M&Ms, or What Van Halen Can Teach You About Book Marketing- Penny C. Sansevieri shares her book marketing tips in this Huffington Post piece.

9. TGIF Book Marketing Tips: 5 non aggressive ways to increase the online exposure for your book- Teresa Morrow guests on BookBuzzr's blog to share tips on how you can ease into your book marketing activities.

10. Book Marketing Mondays: How To Get Your Book Mentioned In A Newspaper- Yours Truly has also contributed to the BookBuzzr blog, this time on tips to getting your book mentioned in a newspaper.

That's it for this edition of Marketing Tips Around The Net. I want to again wish every mother a fabulous Mother's Day. I look forward to seeing you back on Monday.

Mother's Day and Books

We're just a few days away from Mother's Day and I'm sure we're finalizing our plans to spend time with Mom or to send her the perfect gift and phone calls. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite holidays. Entering into my 4th decade and raising two boys of my own makes me appreciate all the more what my mother did for me.

I wanted to take this time to wish all the mothers out there a warm and happy Mother's Day. Of course, you deserve much more than a special day for all you do but on this Sunday, know that the nation does recognize you and what you have done.

I was thinking that all the authors out there have a wonderful, special and unique gift that you can offer this Mother's Day. I'm sure your mother has read your book, but why not find a special woman you know who has been a wonderful mother to someone and give a copy of your book as a gift. A warm inscription could make it a treasured keepsake that means so much more than the mere pages of the book.

Also, even though it may be a little late to mail a copy of your book to someone to get there in time for Mother's Day, you can still offer to sign a book for someone who wants to give your book as a gift to their mother, complete with a Mother's Day wish from you. You may find that this unique gift rivals that of flowers and candy... well, maybe not chocolate, but probably pretty close.

Regardless of how you may use your book to make that wonderful mother feel special, my sincerest Mother's Day greetings go out to every mother who has sacrificed so much for us children.

Happy Mother's Day

How to get people saying "A friend of mine has just written a book" by Shelagh Jones

It's Tuesday and that means we have the pleasure of reading the advice from a guest author on this blog. Today, Shelagh Jones will explain how you can get people excited about mentioning your book to everyone they know.

Before you read Shelagh's post, make sure you sign up for my free video tips newsletter. You get how-to videos created to help you with some of the more technical aspects of marketing your book on the Internet.

Also, make sure you check out my newest marketing training product, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests. You'll learn a lot more than how to conduct contests; you'll learn things like how to find Twitter followers, how to build relationships with your peers that can lead to more joint venture opportunities, how to harness the power of the search engines to market your book, how to drive qualified traffic to your blog or website, and a whole lot more.

Now, on to Shelagh's Post...



How to get people saying "A friend of mine has just written a book....."
by Shelagh Jones

"Hi Mum! A friend of mine has just written a book, and I think you'd like it. Go and check it out....."

Wow! Is there any more powerful call to action than someone you know really well, and who knows you, recommending that you look at a book they've just read?

I don't think so – and creating as many opportunities as possible for this to happen is my Marketing tip for you today.

Many authors are now realizing the power of having other people spread the word about their books, and are deliberately thinking about how to connect with those people right from the book being no more than the proverbial "twinkle in their eye".

So how on earth do I do that, I hear you thinking.

It's all about making connections with people who resonate with you.

I'm not talking here about building a huge Twitter list with an automated tool.

I'm talking about making real connections because of shared interests and, equally important, shared values.

You do this primarily for the enjoyment of the experience of meeting new people, interacting with them, and sharing "stuff" with them.

But then, when the time comes to spread the word about your book, you have this network of people who know you, who "get" you, and who are only too pleased to help when you ask them to tell the people they know about your book.

So how do you find these people?

Well, it's straightforward enough if you are writing a book about a specific topic. Any of the social media places are full of groups and forums dedicated to almost any area of interest. Joining some of these places and entering into the discussions is a great way to establish yourself as someone with knowledge of whatever your book is going to be about.

They are also great places to test out some of your ideas and maybe even share a chapter or two and get feedback which can help you improve your book.

But if your book is not around a specific topic, and is of more general interest, then this is where you look for places where people like you congregate.

Think about:

• What you do in your "spare time"
• Where you go on a day off
• Where you shop
• How you educate your children
• Age related interests – Mom, grandparent, School governor
• Your philosophy of life

You get the idea!

The more, and more varied, the communities where you are known, the wider the reach when you go and ask for help to spread the word about your book.

And when you go to ask for that help, there is one important tip that will greatly increase the results you get.

Think about what you can offer those who help you in return.

The term "Joint Venture" describes the formalized version of this process –and it's called "Joint" because both sides benefit.

The most usual pattern is that the person with something to sell offers something of value to the person with the means to connect with a lot of people- it could be a commission, or increased exposure through the launch process.

So think about something you can offer those who you ask to help – maybe access to a special discussion group, or an action plan based on your book, or a discount at a store to buy a related product.

Knowing that you have a way to say "thank you" makes it much easier to ask for help, I find!

My own personal passion in life is for connecting people, and one of the greatest joys of running Spiritus is to see relationships develop between our members such that they help each other when one has a new product (or book!) to bring to the world.

I hope I've helped you see ways of using this sort of co-operative marketing to promote your own book.

------

Shelagh Jones, Founder of Spiritus - the Spiritual Marketing Directory

Shelagh started her working life as an industrial chemist, but then embarked on a long and varied entrepreneurial career in everything from chilled food manufacturing to plastics manufacturing sales to retail.

Throughout all the changes in her life, Shelagh was devoted to the study of metaphysical teachers, and to exploring her own spirituality.

For the last 17 years she has worked in or with small businesses, and currently runs a consultancy providing sales and marketing support to SME's throughout the UK.

It was seeing the struggle of these small businesses to make their voice heard an increasingly noisy world, and recognizing the authenticity of the concept of spiritual marketing, that lead her to create the online business directory Spiritus, which connects customers and businesses in a unique manner, congruent with Law of Attraction.

Shelagh also broadcasts her "Wheel of Life" program online at Southside Broadcasting in the UK.

Shelagh lives with her husband Trevor in East Yorkshire, England in the house of her dreams – "with a view of the sun setting behind hills with trees on the skyline".

Connect with Shelagh

Spiritus - the Spiritual Marketing Directory is the place for authors to attract buyers for their books and to connect with fellow members in joint promotional ventures.

The main website is http://www.spiritus-thespiritualmarketingdirectory.com

Find out all about the Directory and join as a member: http://www.spiritus-thespiritualmarketingdirectory.com/attraction

Shelagh is on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/spiritusshelagh

The Facebook Business page is http://www.facebook.com/spiritusthespiritualmarketingdirectory

Shelagh has a personal blog associated with her radio program The Wheel of Life http://www.thewheeloflife.org

Teaming Up With Another Writer For Offline Promotion

The Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (27:17 NIV). This principle holds true in so many ways, even in our relationship as authors. Why not use this principle to help you market your book and expand your brand?

While you can do this in so many ways (mailings, book signings, co-op advertising, etc...) I want to suggest a different approach. Why not team up with another local author and do a free "workshop" for writers and aspiring writers? Think of the benefits of presenting a joint presentation:

1. You have an automatic cheer leading partner to help keep you motivated
2. You have someone to split the workload with
3. You have another network to tap into when you advertise
4. You can create a working relationship that may lead to other opportunities

Where can you find another local writer who may be interested in doing a joint workshop with you? I would suggest you join local writing groups and organizations in your areas. One you do, you will meet many authors who have the same goals you have.

When you do find someone who is interested, then you need to find a venue to house your workshop. If your venue caters to readers/writers (i.e., a local library), then they may be willing to help promote your event. Here are some venue (and organization) ideas for your workshop that should not break your bank:

• Libraries
• Writing Groups
• High School Creative Writing Programs
• Community Colleges
• Civic Organizations

Once you have your venue scheduled and your material locked in, consider these suggestions to help navigate through some of the unexpected issues that often come up when people work together for the first time on a project like this:

• Make sure each presenter knows what they are responsible for presenting
• Make sure you have time limits for each section agreed upon and that you stick to them
• Have a planning session early enough for you to decide how your will advertise your event
• Have a way to record your event. (You will want to use excerpts when you advertise future events)
• Schedule enough time to prepare all collateral for your workshop

With a little planning, you can present a well-received workshop that brings value to many aspiring writers. And if you have a partner who is as dedicated and excited as you are, then you can really launch a memorable workshop that keeps people asking for more.

For more information on creating winning workshops, check out Dr. Glen B. Earl's two part series on this blog:

Creating a Winning Workshop Part 1- The Write Subject

Creating a Winning Workshop Part 2- The Write Format


 -------- Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect, an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests.