For most authors, the idea of having to promote yourself online can seem overwhelming at first. You know that marketing online is crucial for the success of your book, if you don’t know where to start, not to fear! I’ve created a two-part guide to make marketing online manageable.
Blogging
First and foremost, regular blogging is a great way to showcase your expertise, promote yourself, and help you rank higher in Google searches. Plan to blog at least once or twice per week at minimum.
I know that sounds like a lot of time and effort, but the following suggestions will help you be efficient with your blogging and overcome writer’s block (it happens to everyone!):
- Blog about what’s happening in your industry
- Write reviews for books in your genre or niche
- Blog as one of your characters and take readers behind the scenes
- Post short stories, a sneak peek of your next book, or simply ask your readers what they want to read – it’s a fantastic way to get reader feedback
- Interview people in your industry
- Use the blog idea generator – it’s free! http://www.hubspot.com/blog-topic-generator
One final tip: owning your own blog and regularly producing new content will help to move you to a higher Google search ranking, putting you ahead of the competition.
Get social
As a result of regular blogging, you’ll have a treasure trove of expertise to share with your social networks. Share your blog updates with your followers on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ etc. To make sure your posts are effective, tailor the post to the site you’re using, and use a photo with your post to gain attention.
For example, when sharing your blog post on Twitter, make sure to creatively sum up your post in the short character limit. For Facebook, you can have a longer introduction in your post, and make sure to remember to include a photo with your post!
With the techniques listed above, you have the tools to promote yourself by creating an online presence. In the second (and final) part of this series, we’ll discuss how to build upon the online presence you’ve established to begin networking online.
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Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU.
Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of twelve books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon and Red Hot Internet Publicity, which has been called the "leading guide to everything Internet."
To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.
