In my latest post over at Writer Unboxed, I discuss what writers need to know if they’re considering video as part of their marketing and promotion strategy. In brief, here’s what writers should avoid: Don’t do book trailers. Don’t talk at length in a static shot. Don’t post unedited video longer than a minute or […]
Over 70% of author crowdfunding campaigns fail, but you can beat the odds if you embrace your role as chief marketing officer of your book.
Author Kirsten Oliphant explains how to get started forming a list of email subscribers, including how to choose an email service provider.
Web design expert Ron Bueker discusses the pros and cons of using WordPress and Squarespace to build your author website and brand.
Online marketing expert Beth Hayden explains how to use guest blogging to promote your book.
Author and publicist Fauzia Burke offers tips and resources for doing your own internet book publicity.
The primary function and value of an author website is marketing related.
Andrea Dunlop, a former Doubleday publicist, discusses how to approach a book launch from a publicist’s point of view.
Learn four reasons writers might want to use Pinterest, how to best use the platform, and best practices to get the most traction for your work.
What every author needs to know before they hire a publicist, and how to work with one successfully.
Agent Laurie McLean discusses the platform and book launch strategy for author/musician Simon Curtis.
Helen Sedwick and Orna Ross discuss selling international rights to your book.
Writers’ collectives can help independent authors gain an advantage in quality, cost control, and marketing.
The majority of authors will not benefit from paid book reviews, and should invest their time and money elsewhere. Here’s why.
Literary agent and publishing consultant April Eberhardt discusses effective book promotion, what makes writing exceptional from a publishing perspective, her preference for representing women’s fiction, and more in this 5 On interview.
Too many authors focus on short-term fixes for book marketing, when they need to implement a long-term approach that will work over many months and years.
Book publicist Patrick Walsh discusses effective social media promotion, what it takes to make the same old book-marketing advice work for you, questions to ask yourself when trying to decide whether your story should be a book or a screenplay, and more.
Author and editor C. S. Lakin offers guidelines on crafting your Amazon book description to maximize sales.
Social media marketing expert Chris Syme discusses how to use Facebook contests and giveaways to turn fans into super fans.
Writers Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine explain all the ways authors can use Instagram to build their readership.
Author Ed Cyzewski offers insight into building authentic, sustainable practices in book marketing and promotion.
Publicist Dana Kaye discusses why not to pretend to be a publicist, the question of gender bias in publishing and publicity, marketing mistakes and misconceptions, and more.
Writing coach and author Angela Ackerman discusses techniques for identifying and connecting with your target reading audience.
How do you build an online platform when you don’t have advice or ready-to-go insights (and don’t like offering either)?
How an indie author turned a story concept into a full-fledged multimedia universe, including a live blog, illustrated journal, merchandise, and podcast.
Be careful before applying someone else’s social media advice to your situation.
Editor Jessi Rita Hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling back-cover copy for your book.
How to improve the effectiveness of your email newsletter through very specific changes to your sign-up forms and content.
A children’s author shares her strategies for promoting her picture books on Pinterest—as well as what adult fiction marketing techniques haven’t worked for her.
Blogger and author Nina Amir explains how to turn your blog content into books and other information products.
Thriller author Todd Moss describes his own marketing efforts and the marketing efforts of his Big Five publisher, Putnam, for his book The Golden Hour.
What does it mean to “engage” with a community? And what’s the benefit?
Learn how to improve the description of your book, and improve its metadata, when using Amazon KDP.
A group of literary authors have launched a limited edition box set of novels. How did they make the collaboration work?
A traditionally published children’s author discusses how she’s launched a successful indie publishing effort in less than two years.
You can find marketing inspiration in what others have done, but also know that the less advertised “strategies” might actually be the ones worth pursuing.
Build a bio that’s not only better than most you have read, but also compelling enough to attract the fans & clients you’d like to have in the first place.
Full-time author and speaker Scott Berkun discusses his book marketing experiences as both a traditionally published author and self-published author.
Giving away your work isn’t a problem if you’ve developed a strategy around it, and know how to turn new readers into fans.
You’re not alone. Being told to build an online presence creates internal conflict for a lot of writers. This is the topic I tackle (somewhat obliquely) this month in my column at Writer Unboxed. Here’s how it begins: I’ve been reading with interest (and sympathy) the comments on Porter Anderson’s Unboxed post last week, where we see […]
Note from Jane: Today’s guest post is by Anne Pfeffer (@AnnePfeffer1), an author of several YA and new adult novels. As the author of three indie novels, I was looking for ways to expand my base of readers. This blog’s very own Jane Friedman suggested that I try Wattpad, an online writing community where authors post […]
Note from Jane: Today’s guest post is by publisher and author L.L. Barkat (@llbarkat). She has one of the most gracious and welcoming personalities in the online space—so I’m delighted she’s written about how she maintains a calm and open demeanor even when faced with difficult or antagonistic personalities. In a career decision that might look, to some, […]
If you don’t like the terms offered by Amazon’s ACX for selling your audiobook, you do have an alternative. Author Lee Stephen explains the path he took.
Note from Jane: Today’s guest post is by Marcy Kennedy (@MarcyKennedy). Almost as soon as authors were told they should be on social media to build their platform, a counter-contingent of people started talking about how social media was a waste of time. They’d tell stories of using Twitter or Facebook or whatever the flavor of […]
The chain of events goes something like this: An author’s book nears its publication date (or perhaps the author is attempting to secure a traditional book deal). She knows she needs to market and promote the book and/or build a platform. She finds (or hears) advice that blogging is a good way to accomplish #1. She wonders: What […]
The Fall 2014 issue of Scratch is now available. Inside, you’ll find a feature interview with New York Times bestselling author Austin Kleon, offering insights on how to balance your artistic lifestyle with marketing and self-promotion. Here’s what he says about being an author as his full-time job: It’s weird because I’ve written about how you shouldn’t be […]
Today’s guest post is by Simone Collins (@SimoneHCollins) at ArtCorgi. My job is to help people commission original art from up-and-coming artists via ArtCorgi, a company I started earlier this year. Though the art I help people create consists of everything from romantic gifts to mobile game assets and painted scenes for wall art, I have […]
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of speaking at a one-day publishing event hosted by Blurb in Brooklyn, NY. My topic was the art & business of building a platform, which included about 5-10 minutes of commentary on social media (out of a full hour). As often happens, most audience questions were about social media, […]
Note from Jane: I am very grateful to Ed Cyzewski (@edcyzewski) for today’s guest post, where he shares valuable insights about book marketing via NoiseTrade (not to mention email newsletters and ebook giveaways). If you’d like to share insights from your book marketing experiments in a guest post, please contact me. First, a Bit of Background In […]
When it comes to establishing your author website, one of the more confusing topics is self-hosting: what it means, why it’s advantageous, and when you should do it. What Is Self-Hosting? Sometimes it’s easiest to describe what self-hosting is not. If your website has “wordpress.com” or “blogspot.com” (or the name of another service you use) in […]