Archive for Marketing Strategies
Blog Talk Radio – Start Your Own Radio Show
Posted by: | CommentsIf you don’t know about Blog Talk Radio, make sure you go and check it out. Blog Talk Radio allows you to start a radio show for free.
With Blog Talk Radio, you can host a live or pre-recorded radio show via the internet. You only need a telephone and a computer — that’s it! You can host a show all by yourself or you can invite guests.
How can this help you to market your book? First, it builds credibility and visibility. You can reference your Radio Show in all of your online social media — from Facebook and Fan Page mentions to links to individual episodes you can tweet out thru Twitter.
Second, it gives you a venue where you can talk about your book from time to time. Remember, you don’t want to sell it outright. You might read sections of text and invite listeners to discuss their thoughts with you via telephone or interact with the online chat area. You’ll definitely want to have other topics to talk about other than your book.
Third, it helps you improve your overall communication skills. Nothing makes you into an expert faster than just getting out there and doing that which you want to master. Everyone has to start somewhere. And if you’re not comfortable doing a live show, you can always pre-record it and upload it and play it back at the time you want it to air.
You do need to do research and put pen to paper when planning to do a radio show. That being said, if it’s your passion — go for it! Click on over to Blog Talk Radio to find out more.
LinkedIn – Start a Group on LinkedIn
Posted by: | CommentsA LinkedIn group provides you with a place where you can bring together people with a common interest. For that reason, it’s might be a great place for you to start a group centered on your book. If your book is more business-oriented, a LinkedIn group might be preferred over the more casual Facebook Group.
Or, you can do both. Since it does take a lot of time and energy to keep groups energized, you may want to start with one and see how it works out. Below, I’ve provided some information to help you get started with creating your own LinkedIn Group
To start your own group:
- Make sure you have some sort of logo. Incorporating design and text elements related to your book is good for recognition purposes.
- Once you log into LinkedIn, Select Groups from the top horizontal navigation menu
- Upload your log in PNG, JPEG or GIF format. The maximum size for your image file is limited to 100 KB
- Check the box to acknowledge that you have full rights to the logo.
- Name your Group. You may want to use your name followed by the name of the book
- Select the type of group that best fits for you.
- Enter a brief description. Make sure to include something that describes the value you intend to provide those who join. Find ways to get others involved. People promote and further organizations in which they have some sort of ownership.
- Include a longer, more detailed description.
- Add a link to your book site
- Decide whether you want Open Access or if you want to approve requests to join
- Select “Display this group in the Groups Directory” so people can find it to join
- Select Language
- Read the Terms of Service and respond appropriately.
- Click Create Group and then you can get started!
Fabulous Fan Pages – promote your book on Facebook
Posted by: | CommentsA Facebook Fan Page is a wonderful way for interest readers to connect with you. If you want to get started with creating a Facebook Fan Page, you can find more information at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php You can create as many pages as you want so creating a targeted one just for your book might be a good idea.
Here are a few things you might want to consider when developing your own Facebook Fan Page:
- Brand your Facebook Fan Page so that it has the same look and feel as your book. Make sure you have a prominent image of your book. Add design and other page elements that tie in with the book’s style and color.
- Make sure to include a landing page for new followers that includes a special offer to receive something else of value in exchange for their name and email address
- Post interesting quotes from your book.
- Include videos, audios and other resources that you might even have on your regular book block. Make it rich in value.
- Actively answer and ask questions. Engage. Collaborate. Build community
- Add links in the left sidebar to other sites of yours
- Make sure to publish testimonials here and there.
- Occasionally, not more than once per month, post a short blurb on your Facebook profile (not the Facebook Page) that entices people to go and join your Facebook Page.
Facebook Fan Pages are another way to gain more visibility for your book — and for free! Even if you don’t choose to spend a lot of time designing one, it’s worth your while to put up a simple one. Keep in mind that your target market uses many different types of social media. You need to make sure you’re covered — at least on the major networks.
Market Your Book – Add an activity calendar on your site
Posted by: | CommentsThe more connections you make with others, the more opportunities you’ll create for selling your books. Keeping in touch with your target market can be a full-time job if you don’t know about simple strategies that can save you time and money and make it a lot easier for people to find you. Something as simple as an event or activity calendar might be the solution.
Where can people find you? Do you have scheduled speaking events? When and where are your next book signings? Teaching a course? Appearing on radio or television? All of these events are opportunities to sell more of your books. The key is making sure others in your local and online communities know where they can find you.
Add a calendar to your website or blog to keep people up-to-date with your activities. Here are some things you might want to include:
- Set aside a separate page or space on your blog just for events
- Organize the events by date
- Include date, time and links to the actual venue
- Make sure registration links function properly
- Include a link to a map, if applicable
- Make sure to list the timezone when listing times
- Always indicate whether it’s an onsite or virtual event. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell
- Be obvious in all information you’re including
- Have a friend review your activity calendar, prior to publishing, to see if it makes sense
An event or activity calendar will improve your visibility and findability and will open up more opportunities to sell your book.