We CAN! promote our books

Are you ready for your book's debut?

Happy 3rd of July, my friends!  My next book, Sweet Waters, has an August release date, but I recently learned that it has 'left the warehouse' and is on its way to a store near you.  Yay!  Er...um...but am I ready?

Creating an On-line Community

 Another great day and welcome from Gail Gaymer Martin at www.gailmartin.com

Since joining Shoutlife, Facebook and Twitter, I’ve been noticing something. When I see the same people over and over in my comments section or in the message section who are promoting their books or trying to draw people to their blogs and website, I tend to lose respect. I don’t see them using these networks as building friendships but as cheap promotion.

These communities are Social Networks. They’re meant to make social connections first, then occasional promotion can follow. Many people do it right, but those who don’t jump out at me and turn me off.  So, what can you do?

Working it All in

Happy Thursday from Jeanette. It’s hard to believe we are almost done with June. In a little over a week my family will mark the anniversary of an event that catapulted us into our year of medical/financial drama—my husband’s back surgery. I’m pleased to say that we seem to be over the hump. Of course this has affected every area of our lives, including my writing career. I had to put paid assignments ahead of my personal writing goals, learn to write through stress, and—for the months when Norm was out of work—let go of my need for solitude. Like most times of crisis, it has worked out for my good. Now as I try to pursue some new opportunities and feel long-neglected projects tug at me, I’m finding ways to organize my day so I cover my assigned writing, family needs, a house that needs attention after a year of surface cleaning, and book projects that I can no longer stand to let sit unrevised on my flash drive. Maybe you will benefit from my current method.

 

Word of Mouth Marketing - CAN Style

Creating a buzz.

Forming tribes.

Intentional networking.

Social media.

Word of mouth.

Grassroots effort.

 

What do these things have in common for today’s writer? Marketing.

 

As regular readers of the CAN blog, you have seen countless ways to market and publicize books. You’ve gleaned from interviews with successful writers, links to great resources, lists of useful tips, and advice from the pros. But, at the end of the day, what makes marketing work are two simple things: a great literary work, and a strong recommendation from someone you trust that the book will be worth your time and money to read. The Christian Authors Network aims to provide both.

 

Marketing - What Works?

 

 

 Greetings from Gail Gaymer Martin in sunny Michigan. www.gailmartin.com

 

Authors try so many ways to promote their books. In these marketing blogs, I've presented a multitude of ideas, gimmicks and techniques that are free and some that cost money. Many I’ve used myself. Getting befuddled as to what to try and what will work is the bane of the newly published and even the established novelist.

So what is it? What works?

Recently a discussion came up in a group of multi-published authors about experiences with various attempts at promoting. They discussed the money spent and the speculative return on the dollar. The results were more than interesting.

 

Walk Worthy; Write Worthy

Jeanne Gowen Dennis here. Lately I've been pondering what it means to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called" (Eph. 4:1 NASB). What is that calling for us as writers?

It's the same calling farmers, business people, homemakers, pastors, construction workers, grocery clerks, janitors, retired people, and soldiers have: to be disciples of Christ. To walk as He would walk, to love as He would love. It means yielding to God's Spirit in obedience, moment by moment, so that the Father can conform us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). It means not allowing the things of this world to pollute us or distract us from Him (Luke 10:40–41; Jas. 1:27). It means being "completely humble and gentle . . . bearing with one another in love" (Eph. 4:2 NIV). 

Sounds impossible, doesn't it? It would be without God's power working in us. But all things are possible with Him (Mark 10:27). 

So how do we apply this to the writing life?  

What Others Say

Hi from Jan!

I’m pursuing coaching as a complementary career path to my writing and speaking (and loving it!). But as I do, I am discovering marketing tips from experts in that business. Their strategies translate well into marketing for our writing.

A caveat: Though I glean much from the marketing ideas that follow, I’m not necessarily endorsing any of the products or services of the following individuals.

With that said, enjoy a little marketing inspiration from coaching experts . . .

Tips from the Pros

Aloha from Karen

    I've interviewed a number of CAN authors this year and themes that keep cropping up are Internet related such as blours and social networks. Today, I'll chat about a few ways to tap into the power of the Internet to expand on what the past several interviews have mentioned.

    Sandra Felton, a friend, had a book released recently and positioned it to make a big splash on Amazon. It worked very well. She already had been tapping into the Internet, and simply extended her reach.

Finding Your Niche

With birds singing outside my door, welcome from Gail Gaymer Martin at www.gailmartin.com

Marketing and promotion can look overwhelming, so overwhelming that authors sometimes let the publisher do all the work. But that’s really not part of the deal with a publisher. Unless you can find help them find an audience for you books, you and they both lose.

In my wanderings to find interesting articles on this topic, I ran into one called, Think Small: Five Ways to Niche Yourself To Success by Tony Eldridge. Though the article is in part pushing his new book, it does offer some things to think about.

Tips from the Pros: Cecelia Dowdy, Blog Power, and Building a Database

Aloha from Karen,
I’m interviewing a dear author friend today who even lives within driving distance of me. Her name is Cecelia Dowdy. We can hardly stop talking when we get together. She is a delight.

Cecelia, how did you get into writing? During my lunch break at work one day, several years ago, I discovered I’d forgotten to bring a book to read. I started writing my own book. I’ve been writing ever since.