Free Webinar Tomorrow & New Addition to the Self-Publlishing Success Team

I'm so very excited about the webinar tomorrow, Feb. 22 at 2 pm EST... If you haven't already registered go now and do it. I can't wait to help the attendees evaluate their platform and get them started building a proper foundation for success.

Here is the Registration Link http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=EA53DD86874B39

I'm also excited to announce that Bestselling Author Fran Veal who is also an accountant will be joining us here at Self-Publishing Success with her own little spot called Book Dollars & Sense with Fran Veal... she'll be offering articles and webinars that will help you as an author learn to manage your money and your book business from a financial standpoint. So we've got you covered. We're going to help you market yourself so that you're making money and then Fran is going to help you manage what you make... you can rest assured we're going to have a wonderful time along the way....and we'll be celebrating with you at each and every milestone.

Your first step is to register for tomorrow's webinar and remember it doesn't cost you a thing, but could very well give you that missing ingredient that will help you turn your book business around.

Success to You!
Tammie

FREE Jump Start Your Career Marketing Webinar Saturday Feb. 22nd, 2014 @ 2 pm EST

You're Invited to my FREE Book Marketing Webinar Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at 2 pm est. Register here: https://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EA53DD86874B39

"Thanks to me following instructions in 8 hours, my website went from 182 page views in December to 444 in January, and February is at 647 average page views per day." Fran Veal - Author of Finding My Escape and Finding My Way Back

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Me, Hugh Howey, and Legacy John on AuthorEarnings....

This is a fantastic article with charts and statistics on the state of Publishing.



A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Me, Hugh Howey, and Legacy John on AuthorEarnings....: Joe sez: Go and join the fun over at www.authorearnings.com if you want to see Hugh Howey blow the lid off of Amazon author earnings. To s...

The Magic of Book Sale Multiplication

 



 

Pricing is one of those things that keep us all in a state of confusion. What should we price at? How long should we keep it at that price? Pros? Cons? It's always something. I've taken the time to come up with a couple little charts that will help you plan your strategy. When it comes to paid advertising in order to make an good decision you should always consider the "buy out" of the ad meaning your break even point. Then I always suggest that you look for alternate ways to spend the budget to see what by comparison you can buy with your budget.

 

For example let's say a one time ad on a big and popular site costs $150 and you will have that exposure for one day....look to compare how many other places you could spread that money around and look at the potential exposure in traffic numbers/impressions etc. to see if your buy is a good one or if you can use your money in a better way.  When you have a limited budget it's important to make sure that you do the "right" advertising at the "right" time.

 

 

This illustration is small so click to download a pdf version for your records.  Please feel free to share this blog post and the illustration freely on blogs, Facebook etc among your author friends. Please just leave the information in it's current form and don't created a different graphic.

 

 

Here's to YOUR Success,

Tammie

 

 



 

 

 

 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

 

 

Just two more days to grab the #1 Amazon Bestselling 2014 Ultimate Author Marketing Planner while it's $1.99



Grab your copy of these two Amazon Bestsellers before it's to late and the price goes up.  So, which should you buy?

If your floundering with your marketing and need a no-nonsense step-by-step tell you exactly what to do book, then start with the 8 Hours to Jump Start Your Career. It's filled with a simple 8 Hour plan to give you and your book the needed foundation from which all your other marketing endeavors can build.  Building your book marketing on solid rock will give it the absolute best opportunity to gain you the type of visibility that will help you jump-start your marketing and sell more books.


If you're seasoned and want something that will help you begin to layer your marketing onto your foundation, start with 2014 Ultimate Author Planner it has all the tools you need to take your marketing to the next level.  It includes a full  Marketing directory as well as 77 pages of goal setting, tracking and planning sheets. The marketing primer is just what you need to stay motivated and begin to learn the why's behind some of the must dos.

 

 

 

8 Hours to Jump Start Your Career is on Sale for $2.99

2014 Ultimate Author Marketing Planner is on Sale for $1.99
You only have two more days to take advantage of this opportunity. Then the prices go back to $4.99!

If you're serious about selling more books in 2014 grab them now. You won't be investing in gimics, instead you'll be investing in a proven plan for putting your marketing on a solid foundation that will yield dividends for months and years to come.

 

 

Click to Purchase 8 Hours to Jump Start Your Career

Click to Purchase 2014 Ultimate Author Marketing Planner



Being Busy is no Excuse! Five ways you can make time for your Book Marketing and Sell More Books!

I'm a very busy person so when I hear authors complain about not having time to market it makes me roll my eyes. When you run your own business (I started my first at 17 just two weeks after high school graduation) and you are the only one you can depend on to get stuff done, you learn how to multi-task, you also learn to spend the time you have on the tasks that have the most potential to help you reach your goals.

As authors we waste a huge amount of time in the name of marketing. There are a few things in life that you just know you are going to have to do over and over again. I call them the vanishing tasks: Like cleaning the kitchen. You clean it and in fifteen minutes it can be messed up again and you start over.  Washing clothes... you'll never be finished...you will always have to wash and dry clothes.

When it comes to marketing, you want to limit the amount of time that you spend on one-time wonders and concentrate on those tasks that you do once and benefit from again and again.

#1- SPEND MORE TIME DOING TASKS THAT OFFER LONG TERM RESULTS- Make sure your book is listed on all of the online directories and websites that offer authors free listings for themselves and their books. SPEND LESS TIME POSTING TO FACEBOOK GROUPS-IN FACT DON'T DO ANY MORE POSTING TO FACBOOK GROUPS (BOOK PROMOS) UNTIL YOU ARE SET UP WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES.

#2-GROUP LIKE TASKS TOGETHER- DEDICATED AN HOUR TO DO TWEETS, FACEBOOK PROMO POSTS ETC. BUILD UP A BANK OF THESE SORT OF THINGS AND USE THEM IN ROTATION.THIS IS A HUGE TIME SAVER.

#3-TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT MARKETING. CHOOSE THOSE THINGS THAT OFFER MORE FOR THE MONEY IF YOU ARE DOING PAID ADVERTISING.This type of advertising may take longer to kick in but that name recognition you are building will help to establish you and once you make it to the Bestseller lists you'll stay there longer.

#4-CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE BECAUSE IT'S THE NUMBER ONE REASON YOU ARE STRUGGLING. LOOK FOR WAYS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM YOU ARE HAVING INSTEAD OF SPENDING ALL YOUR TIME COMPLANING ABOUT IT. It really is true that the longer you put something off, the worse the task will be. If you spend all your time worrying about something, being upset you're not where you want to be and how poorly your book is doing, you're wasting your time on nonproductive tasks.

#5-APPLY THESE STRATEGIES to other tasks for your non-publishing life. FREEING UP TIME IS FREEING UP TIME and it's time we can spend doing the things we want to instead of doing the things we have to do. TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION and BECOME THE SUCCESS YOU DREAM OF BEING. 

If you enjoy my posts, consider purchasing one of my author related books. I hold nothing back and they are the results of years of research and over 20 years of offline marketing experience. Don't recreate the wheel, just learn to use it to get you rolling in the right direction.

Wishing you a successful 2014,
Tammie

Will 2014 Be A Repeat of Last Year or Are You Ready for Success?

Oh, dear...the New Year is here and the groups I belong to are a hot mess of optimism and sheer negativity. Authors, please, attitude first. Can't never could. Won't never will. Giving up should not be in your vocabulary. Defeat should NOT be something you are willing to accept. Say it after me..."The only thing between myself and success is ME."

You are your own worst enemy. If you didn't reach your goals last year you probably didn't write them down. Worse, you probably never really made any. Goals are fundamental. They help us measure our progress like a to-do list. Have you ever noticed how much more accomplished you feel at the end of the day when you check off that very last task? It feels good doesn't it? That's is how you will become successful.

It's time to step away from the pity party and put on the robe of a professional author. No moaning, no groaning, no telling the entire world you haven't sold a book. Seriously, this is the internet and regardless of whether you are talking in a small group of authors on Facebook or on your timeline. No body wants to do business with someone they perceive as not successful. I don't care if you sell no books in a month. Wallow at home, but do NOT go tell the world you are struggling.

Your future readers only want to hear about your struggles when you are rich and famous. Then you can lament all your hard knocks. Until then, get your act together, grow up and realize this is a business. This is a game that you must win to become the fulfilled author that you want to be. It's not that hard, really.

Every author should take a basic marketing course. If you don't have time to do that then consider buying a couple of good books. Not just any books, but books that can give you the nudge that you need to develop your own systems.

I've written two books that I believe give authors that edge. They are filled with the motivation to help you anchor yourself into a necessary part of being a published author, marketing.

I'm not writing any of this to get rich. I won't get rich on any of the how-to's that I've put out for authors. I wrote them because it really bothers me that so many authors ask the same questions over and over and I just don't have time to answer them. If you buy one of my author books and don't find at lest one idea that is worth more than the cost of the book then write me because I want to know.

If you are truly ready for success this year grab the 2014 Ultimate Author Marketing Guide and get started. It will not only take you through the basics of marketing, but includes a directory of links that allow you to find free places and techniques to market your books.  In addition, you will receive a 77 page planner full of goal setting and tracking planning pages that will get you organized.

My first book for authors, 8 Hours to Jump Start Your Career for Self Published Authors gives you all you need to take an 8 Hour day and set your book on a firm marketing foundation.

If you've read either, I'd love to hear from you.
I can be reached at tammiecgibbs@yahoo.com

Wishing you much success in the New Year,
Tammie Clarke Gibbs
International Bestselling Author
Publisher of Reader's Rock Magazine
Founder of the Virtual Ebook Fair
Owner Gibbs Publishing









http://www.amazon.com/2014-ULTIMATE-Authors-Marketing-Planner-ebook/dp/B00HN8EGDE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1390145901&sr=1-2&keywords=tammie+gibbs

Hot off the digital press READER'S ROCK MAGAZINE JULY-AUGUST ISSUE 2

 

 

AUTHORS, now's the time to schedule your two page spread for the August - Sept Issue
Current single issue rate is $35 grab your space before the prices go up to industry standards. Lock in at the best price with a  charter sponsorship of $250 for 12 issues.

Email Us

Two Great Ways to Promote Your Books!

If you are like most authors you know that finding really good opportunities to market your books without offending the people you want to buy your book OR spending a fortune is very difficult. I'd like to share with you two very special opportunities that you might be interested in.


Several weeks ago ( around 17) I launched my latest novel, SWORN TO SECRECY, and in the process held several Facebook events during which I met a lot of fantastic authors.  The success of my events spurred an idea and I decided to try it.  I held my first #SAMPLESATURDAY: SHARE AN EXCERPT SATURDAY/ within a week or so the event evolved so that I renamed it to the Virtual Ebook Fair. Attendance from both readers and authors grew in such numbers I knew I was on to something. The event has now grown from one day to three. There is no cost to participate and we have a great group of authors in the networking group.


A Virtual Ebook Fair is just what it sounds like. Ebook fairs are customarily places where authors set up booths and share their books with readers who stroll by asking for the occasional autograph.  At the Virtual Ebook Fair, you set up your own booth(a thread on the event page). You chat via comment with the fairgoers and you post an excerpt from one of your books. Then on your blog or website you post a longer excerpt and link from the event page to your blog to drive traffic to all of your offerings.  Simple, really.


We also have a Twitter event where authors submit up to three tweets for their excerpt page on their blog/site by filling out a form that populates a spreadsheet.  The deadline is 12 noon on Friday's to get your tweets in. Then after 12noon you go in and copy past at least one tweet from each author and insert it into your scheduling software for Saturday. If you post a tweet you are expected to tweet the other authors.


If you're interested in participating join the networking group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/169126186575183/

Visit the Blogsite for the event:  http://www.virtualebookfair.com

Join this weeks event: https://www.facebook.com/events/537876802926532/
NEXT: Reader's Rock Digital Magazine has just launched to rave reviews. Designed specifically for Readers, it has no articles for writers on craft or promoting, but instead focuses on all the fun things booklovers enjoy. For the next issue a two page spread is only $35 and you can get 12 issues for a special prepaid rate. Be sure to check it out.

http://www.readersrockmagazine.com

Actual Issue Here: 
http://www.joomag.com/magazine/reader-s-rock-volume-1-issue-1-june-july-2013/0449353001371943152


Have an awesome day and sell lots of books!!!

A Shaky Marketing Foundation

I have one question for my motivated friends. Are you looking, really looking for those opportunity gems or are you too caught up to notice them?

One of the most asked questions I hear from authors is "where should I advertise" which by nature is the wrong question and assumes that you must pay for advertising. I'm not saying you shouldn't pay for advertising. I am saying that you should be working from your plan before you ever pay for an ad. I see too many authors that are unprepared, have no Facebook page, no Twitter; no blog or website throw good money out of the window by inviting attention to a book page, description and cover that is not ready for a prospective suitor. There hard-earned cash quickly floats out of the window and an opportunity to bond with a new fan is lost.

"You only have ONE chance to make a good first impression" this saying is especially true when it comes to marketing. A paid ad that works is one that is thought out, placed properly and leads to a page that is designed to close the deal. If you're not ready, you are really just wasting money.

In 8 hours to Jump-Start your career, I give authors a foundation to build their marketing platform. The ideas in the book are, for the most part, all FREE and there are tons of other free opportunities that authors often overlook. Why? I have no idea. I know that personally I've offered opportunities and watched authors sniff around them only to walk on by and pursue those paid ads.

Could it be that paid ads have the allure of the Instant Bullet for authors? That magic pill we all want to take to help us lose weight, appear sexier  and instantly gain the ability to talk in public rarely exists, and if you spend money on a really good ad venue, and it isn't successful it's probably your ad or your product.

Everyone wants to side step the foundation, but in doing so you risk having your entire branding platform collapse and when that happens, you will find yourself starting over.

Look for those free opportunities first, then when you are sure your foundation is firmly in place you can rest assured your paid ads will yield a better pay off.

Until Next Time,
Tammie

Facebook Fan Pages...do you have one? No? Why not?

Facebook Fan Pages...do you have one? No? Why not? How many FREE opportunities do you get to create a presence online that has the potential to build your fan base in such a profound way?

Here are three things you can do to make sure you're not turning people away when you want them to stick to you like glue.

1-Check your Banner and your photo. A perfect banner will be both professional AND refl...ect your personality and branding. (Don't have branding? Stay tuned because you should.) Your photo should not be juvenile or a cutsey avatar. If you want people to spend money on your products, you must prove to them that you are worthy of their attention. Even if you're book has never made it to a best-seller list your marketing should make it look worthy of the moniker.

2-Are you communicating with your fans? Simply putting up a fan page isn't enough if you truly want to engage your readership and connect with them. So while having a page is great, and you are leaps ahead of some authors you should be utilizing it.

3- Are you a great big spammer? If so Stop. Chat with your fans and share creative and interesting information. For instance, don't just say you had a great meal for supper, share the recipe. Be creative...you are a creative person.

A little effort now will go a long way toward building your fan base and keeping them tuned into you.

Your thoughts MAY be making you POOR!

Are your thoughts making you rich
or making you poor?

I've met literally thousands of self-published and indie-published authors over the course of the last couple of years and the saddest thing I see is not a lack of editing or poor covers it's self-sabotage. Never have I seen a business so rampant with people so determined to fail.

I'm a very positive person so it grieves me to write a post such as this one, but aren't you tired of settling when it comes to your career?  Or are you the type of author that had it not been for the advent of the self-publishing trend, would still be sending the same manuscript out repeatedly  without doing anything to improve it or ever writing anything new?

 I hope that's not you, because I'm here to tell you today that you're capable of more than that and whomever convinced you that you're not should certainly be shown a lesson.  Show them! Determine today to prove to them how wrong they were. The ONLY person that your success is completely dependent on is YOU. 

Now, for the sake of being clear here I'm not taking away from anyone's personal belief system. I give credit for everything I have to God because I know I've been blessed, but success still requires action. If you're not where you want to be, your thoughts are making you poor.

The most powerful part of our body is our mind, and if you are allowing it to work against you...stop it right now! Life is too short to live in a reality you create for yourself that isn't the one you want.

I've taken the gloves off, and I'm ready to lay all out there for you. Mary Poppins might have suggested that a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, but on the flip side sugar coating, things never did anyone any good.


Now, let's take a look at why your book isn't as successful as you think it should be:

These are some of the thought patterns that are preventing you from fulfilling your potential.... -I don't have time.
-I don't have the money.
 -I got a bad review.
-I don't know how.

I'm sure you've heard that CAN'T never COULD and whomever told you that is right.

Let's dispel those destructive thought patterns right now.

-You do have the time. If you've ever gone to college or a training session for whatever field of work, you're in, or even took the time to follow a recipe...you've got the time. The truth is you are just not investing the time into your goal. The truth is you are just not investing the time into your goal.

I'm not suggesting anyone neglect their family or important obligations, but I know that if someone told you tonight that they would give you one million dollars if you wrote 50,000 words, and you only had one month to do it in. You would find a way. There are plenty of things you're doing with your time that could be used to give you and your family the financial freedom you want. First, you have to commit to the goal.

-If you wanted it bad enough you could find the money. I was listening to a webinar this weekend, and it struck me that what the speaker was saying was very true.  They said that if your child broke a leg, and you needed to take them to the doctor. You'd find a way. The argument is "that's an emergency" but if your financial house is in disarray, you've got an emergency on your hands, and it's not going away until you do something about it.  If you want it bad enough you'll find a way to invest in your future. We both know that we've probably wasted far more money on things that had no capacity to literally change the way we can provide for our family.



-So what you got a bad review. The only time you should pay that much attention to reviews is if they are all bad, then you've got a problem. You need to take it back to the drawing board and correct what's not working. Otherwise, publishing is a very subjective business, and you're not looking to sell every person in the world your book. You want to find those who like your style and sell to them. That should be where your focus is....finding your readership.

-If you don't know how to do something by golly learn how. Never in history have there been so many opportunities to learn, and much of that education is free. Well, if you consider you might actually have to expend energy finding those places perhaps I should say free all but a little work.  So, stop telling yourself that lie and admit that what you're really saying is "I don't want to learn how to do it."

These thought patterns run rampant in the publishing world. It doesn't matter how you're published, or even if you're published yet. If you're thinking this way, you might as well just throw in the towel now, because this advice can be applied to any occupation, and maybe you don't really want to be a best selling author.

If you find you'd rather spend hours a day griping and complaining in social groups about how bad your sales are and how unfair the world is, then prepare yourself because you'll be there for a while. Once you determine to accept responsibility and actually do something about your career you'll realize that it's true that where there is a will there is a way!

This is absolutely NOT supposed to be a depressing post, instead it's supposed to meet you where you are and motivate you to take the necessary steps to overcome your biggest obstacle, YOU!

I can't wait to hear all about your success. Please do come back and share.

If you're looking for a coach and need someone to whip you in shape and help you find the tools you need to reach your goals you might just be interested in the free webinar I have coming up in March.  Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you'll be one of the first notified to sign up for one of the limited spots that will be available.

Until next time, I'm challenging you to believe in yourself and turn your negatives into positives,
Tammie 

Great Write Up This Week!!!

Authenticity BookHouse featured a write up about us this week. What an awesome overview of the book. Sending #authorthanks to them and wishing them much success as the implement the strategies in the book.

Read it:

http://authenticitybookhouse.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/sizing-up-the-categories/

A New Year, A New Opportunity, Shattered Glass, and Art

It’s all about perspective. I’ll have to admit that for the past year I haven’t been myself. I’ve allowed the election and external conditions, including the economy color my view and make most of 2012 miserable. Add to that the fact that I had an unusual amount of health issues that further weighted down my spirit and well, I’m just happy to see 2013 roll around. I’m not a pessimistic person. I'm an optimistic one, and quite frankly, I'm tired of being down. I don’t like and don’t encourage anyone to dwell on it. We all have ups and downs, comfort zones and issues that we’d rather not have to deal with. The fact is, at least in my case, I don’t deal with anything well, when I’m down in the dumps and feeling blue. So one of my resolutions this year is to snap out of the funk and let my naturally jovial and motivated self out of the box this year. So if you’ve been waiting for someone to give you an excuse to slough off all those dreary feelings, I’m just the gal to do it. Join me this year and let us all rise above the problems and search for their solutions. Join me in setting goals and celebrating accomplishments. Join me and let us share our enthusiasm for life until it spreads like a YouTube video! Join me in thanking God for the Blessings he gives us everyday and join me as I shout from the rooftop (figuratively speaking, ya know I’m terrified of heights) that the only way we’ll be held down is if we allow ourselves to be. Our associate pastor, spoke last night on turning shattered glass into beautiful art. He shared a story about stained glass, a church and an artisan. It put so many things into perspective. Sometimes it is out of the broken pieces that we can build the most magnificent things. So if your life has been shattered recently and made an unexpected turn, whether personally or financially go quickly and examine the shards. You will be surprised that among them; you will find new beginnings, and I believe that you can find a way to turn those shards into a work of art. Happy New Year! May the coming year be a blessed one for each of you and your families. Jumping forward into a Happy New Year, Tammie

Get your Chance in the Spotlight!!!!

 If you have read the 8 Hours to Jump Start Your Career (book one) and would be interested I will be spotlighting authors and their experience. If you feel like the book was helpful and you have a story you could share you will be spotlighted in a very nice way with photos and links to your books. Can you say FREE advertising.  Please email me asap to be one of the first authors featured.
tammiecgibbs@yahoo.com  Please put AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT in the subject line.

A new look is on the horizon

For those of you who visit often you'll notice that we're doing a little remodeling of the blog/site.  There are many exciting changes coming. Stay tuned.

Magic Beans, Willpower and a Smidge of Motivation

Welcome back! Yesterday I discussed blogs and today I'm going to discuss Magic Beans and Motivation... Yes. I can be a little crazy, but for the most part, I've been blessed through the years and given a certain knack for dreaming up wild ideas and actually implementing them.

What better subject for an author who got her start years ago when she launched a Balloon Business just two weeks after her high-school graduation?  Magic Beans.  What are they and where can an author get them? Did you even know you need them?

Well, this blog post is about the unseen initiative that drives us toward any goal and whether or not you have what it takes to persevere and be the success that you were meant to be. 

Many of my fellow authors will be appalled by what I'm about to say, but the reality is that whether or not we like it or not. It's true.  Some call the phenomena "dumb luck."   Maybe, it is, to a degree.
You don't have to be the most talented author on the planet to become a successful author.  In fact, many of the most successful falls surprisingly short when it comes to the opinions of their peers. 

I'll shock you again when I say, "so what"! I'll try to explain.  When it comes to measuring another author's ability, we all would do well to recognize that the way we look at another author's work, and the way readers do is completely different.  It's subjective.  It's like a person's decorating choices and whether they adorn their lawn with pink flamingos or a work of modern art.  People are different, and they like different things. 

Do we as creatives do the world an injustice when we protest the writing ability of others and become bitter when people we deem unworthy achieve success?  I think we do because regardless of our opinion of our own ability, someone isn't going to like us or our work, and they are bound to let us know using the review system.

So, that being said it's important to identify these "Magic Beans" that every author needs to grab the spotlight of success for themselves.  There are two things that precede any person's success.

-Either they believed in themselves or someone else did! 

With just a smidge of self-motivation and determination any number of shortfalls can be overcome.  We can change how our covers look. We can edit a bad manuscript into a better one, but what we cannot do is succeed without the motivation to do so.

I would ask you now. Do you have what it takes?  Are you playing at the business of being an author? Or, do you truly believe in what you are doing and your ability to do it better every single time you put your fingers to the keyboard? 

I'm not famous, but I'm proud of the accomplishments I've made so far because I know that I do everything I can each and every day to assure success. 

Recognize today the success you already are and set those goals for the success you want to achieve.  Today's the day to wake up your will power and motivate yourself to create your own Magic Beans!!!  YOU are the secret ingredient because no one else can write the way you do!

I'd love to hear from you. Please comment and share this blog post any, and everywhere you can.

Tammie

To BLOG or Not to BLOG that is the Question!

Like you, I belong to a few writers groups online and one of the most asked questions lately has been "Should I have a blog?" 

For those of you who have read my book you already know the answer, but for those who haven't I'll try to explain the why behind the resounding "yes you should."

My background is in offline marketing and advertising and any person in that line of work worth their salt will tell you that it's hard to get anything for FREE, but if you can, you should use it.  For now, blog platforms are FREE. This may not be the case forever, but for now why not take advantage of the medium to further your marketing reach and help get both, you and your books out there? 

The biggest problem I see with authors and blogs is the fact that they don't plan how they will use the platform and instead judge the results by an arbitrary set of values.

I use my blog as a billboard. It's there to catch the occasional passerby, and I try to make sure that there is enough information on myself and my books to be informative when someone drops by.  I also use my blog as a means to an end. If you don't have a blog, you are virtually eliminating several additional methods of marketing yourself without even realizing you have done it.

What? Because I have a blog, I can participate in several things that I cannot if I only have a website. 

Book Tours: It's hard to participate in book tours, and blog hops without a blog. While there are paid versions you can easily set up tours and hops on your own working with fellow authors to cross-promote each other's books.

Articles: Using a blog you can easily draw attention to your blog and therefore, a static advertisement for you as an author by sharing the posts via Twitter and Facebook.  This is wonderful when your articles become viral with many authors sharing them across the various platforms.

If you're creative, you can come up with lots of ways to use a blog, but be careful not to miss the point of a blog.  A blog is a form of communication, and communication can also be static.  When you create a blog, it creates one more place that readers MIGHT find you. Don't be overly concerned if you blog isn't getting thousands of hits a month. It doesn't have to.  It's a tool and right now you can use it for FREE. 

If you have thoughts on blogging you'd like to share I'd love to hear your viewpoint. Please feel free to share.

The Books Debut: Behind the Book: 8 Hours to Jump Start Your Career...

The Books Debut: Behind the Book: 8 Hours to Jump Start Your Career...: BEHIND THE BOOK With a million things to do why in the world would an author spend valuable time out of their own writing to try to in...

Book Marketing Requires Doing Something...

It's often been said that you cannot continue doing the
same things and expect a different result.

Authors are no different than most people.  They want the "overnight" success story, but they fail to realize that most of those overnight successes took a lot longer to make it to where they are.  This article is about being realistic.  I know. We are authors and most of us in some form or fashion tinkers in the world of fantasy.

When it comes to marketing our books, it's time we made the distinction between fantasy and reality. It's ok dry your eyes. It doesn't have to be that bad. In fact, it could be even better than your fantasy. 

What? Have I lost my mind?  No. The reality is that while we all fantasize about becoming a million dollar seller, nothing compares to the first time you realize as an author that someone is buying your books and that you might actually be a real author afterall. What about the first five-star review you received, didn't it give you chills?

Reality is knowing that unless we do something, we'll never get where we want to be and it all starts with having a plan.  It doesn't matter what form your plan comes in, but sooner, or later you have to devote yourself enough to your success that you are willing to give "reality" it's due.  Reality is like an "entity."  I know you've probably heard sayings that refer to "the school of hard knocks," "paying your dues and any number of variations.  For our purposes, "reality" demands a bit of attention.

The truth is whether you are traditionally or non-traditionally published you still have to be willing to "pay your dues" and this case that requires acknowledging that you need to devote a few hours to planning.

Indie and self-published authors tend to be "seat of the pantsers" and that's exactly why you need to do this now. Don't wait, don't put it off. Sit down with a pad and paper and:
Set a Goal for the rest of the year.  This means set a goal for how many books you want to have out and how many over-all  books you'd like to be selling on average.
Set a Goal for next month. Since it's impossible to know when you'll be reading this you might as well set your goal for the next full month. Monthly goals are different and much more active. They are also the goals that will help you reach your end of year goals.
           Some suggestions for monthly goals:
             -A set number of review requests you will send out.
             -A set number of blog interviews you will schedule to do.
             -A set number of blog posts you'll write for your PR/Bank.
            -A set number of info and fresh promo tweets you'll write for your rotation.
            -A set number of new places to promote your books for free that you will find.

Set a Weekly Goal.  Weekly goals should consist of the above suggestions worked out into manageable tasks. 

Lifestyle goals are another area that you should allocate some time for planning.  Lifestyle goals are those big goals like "sell enough books to buy a car" or "sell enough books to write full time".  My suggestion is to use visual goals setting with this type goal.  If you have an office or writing room decorate it with visual images that you will associate with reaching your particular goal.  Surround yourself with motivational posters that make you feel good. 

The first step that you can take to assure a successful marketing campaign has more to do with you personally than it does with where to advertise or what group to join.  If your attitude is not right, you could be sabotaging all of your efforts.  You can market without being a pest and reach your goals, but nothing is going to happen until you decide to do something and then do it...

If you haven't already got a copy of the first book in the 8 Hour Series I hope you will give it consideration.