My Must-Have Digital Media Tools: 2018 Edition
My favorite digital media tools that have enhanced my productivity and creativity as a teacher, author, and entrepreneur.
Tag Archives: social media
A Book Launch Plan for First-Time Authors Without an Online Presence
While it’s not easy to launch a book without any kind of online presence, many first-time authors are in exactly that position. Here’s a 4-step game plan.
So You’re an Author Without a Social Media Presence: Now What?
Social media is just one component of your author platform, and not necessarily the most important component. It works best as part of a holistic book marketing and promotion strategy.
5 Steps to Kick Your Marketing FOMO to the Curb
Marketing FOMO is more debilitating than distracting—and if you suffer from marketing FOMO, your marketing tasks will never be done.
5 On: Debra Eckerling
Debra Eckerling (@WriteOnOnline), founder of the writers’ support group Write On!, discusses common writer challenges, the value of blogs, what it means to take writing to the next level, tragic networking mistakes, and more in this 5 On interview.
Stop Focusing on Follower Count: 5 Better Approaches for Improving Social Media Use
When I ask most clients what their goals are in hiring me, I usually get some version of “to get more followers and sell more books.” I encourage them to think both bigger and more deeply about social media.
Book Marketing Resources for Authors: The Best of 2016
Every year, I share hundreds (even thousands) of articles and reports on book marketing. Here, I look back on the best of what I found in 2016.
A Self-Published Poet’s Path to Her First Book Deal
How a self-publishing poet achieved visibility for her book—and landed a book deal with traditional publisher Andrews McMeel.
How to Get 10,000 Visits to Your Blog in One Day with No Platform
Getting traction for your online presence—especially a new blog—can feel like an impossible task when you’re an unknown writer. But it can be done.
How to Use Reddit to Market Your Books (Carefully)
Reddit is an online community where you can get your book in front of hundreds of thousands of readers for free. That is, if you have the right strategy.
A Round-Up of My Columns for Publishers Weekly
Last year, I began regularly contributing to Publishers Weekly on the topic of independent authorship and publishing. Here’s a list of all my columns so far:
Are You a Push Marketer or a Pull Marketer?
If you want to be successful at selling today, you need to quit pushing your needs (please buy my book) and messages at potential readers and concentrate on figuring out how to pull them in by putting their needs above yours. Give them something valuable.
Getting Ready to Launch a Book? Start with These 5 Questions
Social media and marketing expert Andrea Dunlop lists five questions you should ask yourself when starting to plan your book launch.
How to Leverage the Power of Someone Else’s Platform (Without Being Smarmy)
Kirsten Oliphant explains how to reach out to others who can help you build your author platform and how to generate a great pitch for collaboration.
Not Sure How to Approach Social Media? CARE about Your Readers
Author and social media expert Frances Caballo discusses the CARE acronym and how to use it to guide your interactions with readers on social media.
A Definition of Author Platform
Author platform is one of the most difficult concepts to explain, partly because everyone defines it a little differently. Here’s what agents and editors mean by platform, plus a clear definition of what platform is NOT.
5 Common Mistakes That Even Longtime Bloggers Make
Wondering why you don’t have more blog traffic—or if it’s worthwhile to continue your blogging effort? Here are the mistakes that commonly afflict authors.
When Less Is More on Social Media
Social media expert Chris Syme explains why less is more in social media, and how to make the most use of primary and secondary social media channels.
Join Me to Discuss the Rise of the Writer-Entrepreneur
Next week, I’m participating in the Book to Course Virtual Summit, a free event hosted by Teachable. I’ll be discussing the rise of the writer-entrepreneur.
A New Platform for Serialized Work: Tapas Media
For years, serialization has been discussed as a significant area of opportunity for reading and publishing in the digital age. (And note to the sticklers out there: I’m using the terms serial and serialization interchangeably to refer to any situation where content is parceled out in small bites and delivered on a specific schedule, whether the […]
4 Lessons for Authors on the Current State of Publishing
What authors need to know about current marketing practices and emerging business trends in the book publishing industry.
Why You Should Join All Social Media Networks
I think it’s fair to say that most of us are not looking to add more social media activity to our lives. In fact, we prefer to trim online activity or drop entire networks if possible. So the advice I’m about to offer may feel objectionable and time-wasting at first, but if you stay with me until the end, […]
A Former Book Publicist’s Advice to Traditionally Published Authors
Andrea Dunlop, a former Doubleday publicist, discusses how to approach a book launch from a publicist’s point of view.
Pinterest for Authors: A Beginner’s Guide
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.
Digital Publishing and Authorship in 2016: A Discussion with Joanna Penn
In conversation with Joanna Penn, I discuss digital publishing trends and what authors need to know as they head into 2016.
5 On: Patrick Walsh
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.
Best Practices for Author Facebook Pages and Groups
Kirsten Oliphant discusses how to effectively use Facebook pages and groups.
Overcoming My Fear of Twitter
Chris Jane, who writes the biweekly Q&A series 5 On, discusses overcoming her fear of joining the Twitterverse.
5 On: Elisa Lorello
In this 5 On post, bestselling author Elisa Lorello discusses authenticity, using social media to connect with readers, rejection, and the differences between self- and traditional publishing.
How to Use Facebook Contests & Giveaways to Build a Fan Base
Social media marketing expert Chris Syme discusses how to use Facebook contests and giveaways to turn fans into super fans.
The Secret to My Productivity, Or: Thoughts About Luxury and Privilege
I’m often asked: How can I be so productive? Or how does one balance creative work and other life demands? Here’s the most truthful answer I have.
Feeling Like an Old Geezer at the New Social Media Party
A closer look at a few of the “new” social media networks I’ve tried lately, which offer potential for writers who want to enjoy being an early adopter and creating a space for themselves in a community or environment that hasn’t become completely filled with marketing and promotion messages.
5 Observations on the Evolution of Author Business Models
As publishing becomes increasingly digital-driven, how are the business models for authorship changing?
Beware of One-Size-Fits-All Advice for Social Media
Be careful before applying someone else’s social media advice to your situation.
Using Pinterest to Market Children’s Picture Books
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.
What Marketing Support Looks Like at a Big 5 Publisher
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.
That Overused Word “Community”—But Why We Still Have to Talk About It
What does it mean to “engage” with a community? And what’s the benefit?
What Authors Can Learn From Startups
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.
10 Resolutions for a Saner Internet—and Life
For me, the hardest thing about being online is remembering what I think and the “why” that I’m working for. The multiplicity of voices can make you forget your center.
How E-Books Have Changed the Print Marketplace: Digital Book World, Day 3
Nielsen offers specific figures on how ebook sales have affected print sales in adult fiction, adult nonfiction, and juvenile categories.
Building Your Business As An Author [Interview]
I was delighted to be a guest on Stephen Campbell’s podcast, The Author Biz.
Facebook for Authors: Getting Started Guide
This 101 guide describes best practices for authors using Facebook for book marketing, with tips on when you should set up a fan page.
2 Easy Ways to Measure the Impact of Your Social Media Use
Learn how to easily study the impact of your social media use on your marketing and promotion efforts.
Does Building an Online Presence Stress You Out?
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 […]
7 Reasons Twitter Isn’t Building Your Author Platform (And How to Fix It)
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 […]
What Should Authors Blog About?
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 […]
4 Ways to Find Readers Who Love Your Work
So you want to find those raving fans, right? Awesome. We’re about to give you the most boring advice possible. You’re probably going to be disappointed that we’re not going to offer you a magic way to get a ton more readers, but unfortunately that’s not how it works. Ideal fans and readers are gained a few at a time, and it takes time to build that bond, even if you experience a sudden and serendipitous burst of exposure.
Is Your Bio Working Hard or Hardly Working?
Learn how to write a better bio note and improve the opportunities that come your way.
Book Marketing 101
It is possible, if not desirable, for an author to launch an effective book-marketing campaign without a publisher’s support or assistance. Mainly, it requires time and energy. Here’s a comprehensive rundown of the main strategies in use today.
5 Reasons to Use a Facebook Profile (Not a Page) to Build Platform
A Facebook Profile is often a better option than a fan Page for building author platform. It’s simpler and easier to get your content in front of people, takes less time to manage, and will build a tribe or platform faster, especially if you don’t plan to run ads.