How my marketing book on KDP Select helped one author

Ever since I published my marketing book, HOW I MADE OVER $42,000 IN 1 MONTH SELLING MY KINDLE eBOOKS, which was designed specifically for Amazon's KDP Select program, I have received emails, tweets and FB messages from authors who have used my strategies. My marketing book has been reviewed 212 times as of today.

Some people have questioned my integrity and intention regarding this book, but the email I received yesterday is the best way for me to explain WHY I would reveal my "secrets" or strategies. The simple reason: because I like helping other authors; I always have, always will.

One author contacted me yesterday to let me know how excited she was at the success of her first free promotion. She gave me permission to use her email in this blog post. (Thank you, Renee-Ann.)

Dear Cheryl,

I'm sure you get this kind of messages all the time but I really wanted to share what your book, "How I Made Over $42,000 in 1 Month Selling My Kindle eBooks", has done for me. First let me say that your name and book has become a topic of conversation among the writers in our group.

I wrote Stella's Plea as part of the NaNoWriMo challenge in 2010. It’s my first novel, a Christian Suspense about the abduction of a deaf little girl, and her mother's struggle to find her. I published it in November 2012.

Last week, Sarah Butland, a writer-friend, highly recommended your book, and to make sure I take notes as I read. Thank God for technology, I read it on my Kindle and took notes in my Windows Phone.

It hasn’t been a week since I finished your book but I'm aiming for the moon and feel like one of the stars. My novel wasn't selling because I lacked the market savvy you're so good at. I had no idea how to promote my novel, let alone sell it. Even an interview with the local newspaper didn't move my rank. But then, Sarah recommended your book. It was awesome. I jotted the tips down -- and then some -- recommended the book to others on our writers groups, and put the strategies to the test. WoW! You weren't kidding.

I removed my novel from Smashwords, deleted the excerpts, and advertised a FREE promo from Thursday, Sept 5 to Saturday Sept 7. I was shocked when, Thursday evening, Sarah told me to check my ranking/stats. The book had gone from #800K+ on Wednesday to #569 in less than 24 hours. The book was now #6 on the Christian Suspense genre, and I had 492 downloads. Need I say I barely slept that night? Friday morning, I had 652 downloads and had moved to #5 in Christian Suspense, and #386 in Free Kindle.

Now, Saturday afternoon, I have well over 1265 downloads and my promo isn't over yet. I lost count of the invites to Share and Tweet, and Pin. As you suggest, I aimed at 500/day and reached that goal the first two. I'm still hoping to get 500 today, though I'm aiming at total of 2K. :)

It's not just the downloads though. I'm overwhelmed at people's response to help me get my book to number one. And just the fact that it reached #5 in the Christian Suspense, even though it's free, I'm ecstatic about that.

I haven’t had a chance to do everything yet, as it's been less than a week since I finished your book. Plus I work fulltime outside the home so my time is limited to when I'm off work. But Cheryl, I am truly having a blast with this promotion, and I thank you for sharing your story in this marketing book.

I apologize this is so long but I really wanted to share the whole story with you. I will continue to share the book, review it once my promo is finished, then I'll have another promo in 6-8 weeks, depending how fast the numbers plunge again. In an ideal world, they'd stay where they are! :)

Lastly, will you please download a copy of my book, and also tell your friends about it? http://amzn.to/18jprie

Blessings to you. Renee-Ann  (aka R.A. Giggie)

I believe that my methods still work, even though Amazon has messed up the algorithms so that we don't see the huge numbers we saw last year. There is still value in using the Select program, especially for niche authors and new authors, or those with only 1-2 titles.

I've also tested my strategies on 99 cent sales--and guess what? They work. I've done 99 cent sales without my methods and seen only a slight increase. But when I do everything in my book, my sales skyrocket.

If you're serious about promoting your book, and if you aren't one of those people who only "reads" a book on marketing and you're not afraid of working hard or experimenting, I encourage you to pick up a copy of HOW I MADE OVER $42,000 IN 1 MONTH SELLING MY KINDLE eBOOKS. It's only $2.99.

• Updated: Sept 4, 2013 - Contains OVER 130 LINKS TO WEBSITES THAT WILL PROMOTE YOUR FREE BOOK
• The #1 Marketing book specifically designed for Amazon's KDP Select program
• International Bestseller
• Contains detailed Select experiments & analysis

NEWS: I've now earned over $210,000 with KDP Select! I signed with an agent at Trident Media Group; I was contacted by the senior editor at a "big 6" publishing company because of my success on Amazon; Amazon hand-picked two of my titles for special promotions; and I have signed a 2-book audiobook deal with Audible--ALL because of my KDP Select success.

http://www.amazon.com/Month-Selling-Kindle-eBooks-ebook/dp/B0080USSYW

New Release: How I Made Over $42,000 Selling My Kindle eBooks

In March 2012 one Canadian author boldly went where few have gone before—into the land of making real money with Amazon's KDP Select program.

This is her story…

My name is Cheryl Kaye Tardif and I am an international bestselling suspense author who earned over $42,000 dollars in March 2012 selling ebooks via Amazon's KDP Select program, captured the interest of a major literary agency, and went on to sign with a foreign rights agent. And I'm about to tell you HOW I did all that.

I don't normally tell people how much money I make, but I believe writers need to know it IS possible to earn a real income from your books. Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can—if you have the right combination of criteria and techniques.

In this book, I'll share with you what I believe are four key elements you must have in place to see high sales. And I'll reveal the strategic techniques I used during my KDP Select promotions that resulted in earning over $42,000—with $32,000 of that from ONE title alone.

Not only did I earn over $42,000 in ebook sales, I was contacted by one of the leading literary agencies in New York. The chairman noticed my success when my one title made #4 in the Top 100 Bestselling Kindle ebooks, right under The Hunger Games trilogy. Since then, I've signed with another agent for foreign rights.

So, if you're ready to earn some real money with Select, let's begin…

Available at Amazon (Kindle)

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 11 - Conclusions - Updated: Sept 24

I'm going to keep this post short and hopefully you'll get enough out of it to make up your mind about Amazon's Select program. I began enrolling in Select as an experiment. I was a skeptic. I didn't like the exclusivity clause. But I knew I could always opt out and return to my old ways of selling if things didn't work out.

I also knew that even if I saw a slight increase in sales, it didn't mean I could maintain that increase every month--or make any of the big numbers a few people like JA Konrath have mentioned.

My experiment took place from January to March...

In January I made 3 times more money than I was averaging per month last year. If my math is correct (and remember, I admit I do suck at math) that's a 300% increase.

In February I made 13 times more money than I was averaging per mth in 2011.

In March I made 42 times more money than my 2011 monthly average.

From January to March 2012, I've earned more money than I've made in the last 5 years. Do I expect the numbers to keep getting higher? No. Like anything else, I expect they'll rise and fall. But I don't expect to ever go back to making only what I made each month last year. Why? Because I'll eventually have another book on the Select promo.

Conclusions: It's WORTH giving up exclusive distribution rights and enrolling in KDP Select because you'll make more money this way than with ANY other distribution system.

UPDATE: September 24, 2012: 

I have now earned over $150,000 with KDP Select. Two agents contacted me after they saw my success and I have signed with Adrienne Lombardo at Trident Media Group. A senior editor from Penguin contacted me about CHILDREN OF THE FOG in particular but I wasn't willing to let it go for low terms. She is awaiting my next new novel. 

I'll be represented at the Frankfurt book fair this year--I'm excited. A possible audiobook deal is in the works, foreign rights deals are being pursued. THIS is what happens when you take a chance, are bold enough to try something new and find ways to make the numbers soar.

***
If you haven't read my experiment results, please visit: The KDP Select Experiment Link List

Time spent promoting ebooks versus promoting print books

Author Joe Konrath writes about time spent promoting print books versus ebooks, and he shares his sales stats as well as information on physical book signings, something I am all too familiar with.

Joe is so right about the average sales authors make at book signings. In Canada the numbers are even lower. I've done well over 200 book signings and am considered one of the high sellers. In fact, I was told by Chapters & Indigo managers in Edmonton that I had the highest, most consistent sales at signings for two years straight out of all visiting authors.

It was damned hard work, though I never did the cross-country touring Joe did. And I'm glad. The cost of touring across provinces or states just doesn't make it worthwhile in the end, especially when most authors are responsible for those costs--or at least a large portion of them. If you have to do book signings, start at home and gradually spiral out, without going overboard--unless your publisher is paying for your tour.

I've watched so many authors at signings. I've even organized multi-author events at major trade shows and elsewhere. Most authors were lucky to sell 5 books. Many went home without a sale. My average was a bit higher than the number Joe quoted represented a decent signing. The difference was that I greeted everyone who walked into the bookstore. And I handed them a bookmark. I engaged their attention and enjoyed their company.

I used to do 40 signings a month for 3 months before Christmas, every year. That's a LOT of hours spent with little return. When you calculate hours, gas, travel etc, it didn't pay well. But I have to admit, I do miss the social aspect. I love meeting readers face to face. I loved doing signings. That's what separated me from most, I think.

Now I meet readers online. And I use creative ways to connect. Though I'll always be grateful to all the bookstores that hosted me and I miss the "action" (but not getting asked where the bathroom is), I can use my time far more wisely by promoting my ebooks.

By the way, my last online virtual book tour (for my debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady) was 118 stops in 14 days. It took me 3 months to organize and write all the posts. I guess I beat Joe's record. ;-) I know what he's saying about exhausting--even an online tour can leave you feeling like you've just crossed the country...on foot. lol However, I could never have visited 118 stores in 14 days--if I had I wouldn't have been coherent.

I've done mailouts--catalogues, bookmarks, announcements, invitations, etc to sell print books. Again, another time suck. I saw no real return on that investment or on the money spent on it. This is where the ebook revolution makes it so much easier for today's authors. Why spend 8 hours in a bookstore only to sell a dozen books or time and money preparing mailouts, when you can promote online and use social networks to get your name out there and sell books? 

Authors who want to succeed must learn to change with the winds, adapt to new technologies and step out of their comfort zone. Take a risk, try something new.

Sell Your Book, Not Your Soul: A Workshop by Marty Chan

The Canadian Authors Association - Alberta Branch and Get Publishing Communications Society present...

Sell Your Book, Not Your Soul

A Workshop by Marty Chan

9 A.M. – 1 P.M.

Saturday, September 11

Campus Saint-Jean

8406 Marie-Anne-Gaboury Street (91^st Street)

Lacerte Pavillion (3^rd floor)

Edmonton, Alberta

Marketing a book doesn’t have to make writers feel like taking a shower. Playwright/author Marty Chan shares his tips and tricks on how to sell your book without selling your soul. Through humorous anecdotes, he’ll highlight his successes and failures to illustrate the dos and don’ts of book marketing campaigns and how to approach self-promotion in a positive and productive way. Participants should be prepared for group work.

Bio

Marty Chan is a cross-genre writer with successes in theatre, television, radio and kids’ fiction. He’s best known for his cross-cultural hit, Mom, Dad, I’m Living with a White Girl. Edmonton audiences may know of his work from CBC Radio, the Edmonton Journal or the Fringe Festival. Currently, he has been entertaining kids across Canada with his hilarious mystery novels and picture book. He works and lives in Edmonton with his wife and their two cats. For more information about Marty, please visit martychan.com.

To register, visit http://sellyourbook.eventbrite.com

Today I give you the 'Recipe for a Bestselling Novel' over at the Polished Publishing Group blog

Two nights ago Kim Staflund, a publisher I've recently connected with, asked me if I'd like to write a guest post for their blog. Of course I said yes. I love writing, and even more I love a good writing challenge.

The topic she wanted me to blog about was on becoming a bestselling author. She gave me a good week to complete it. I was finished that evening. :-)

I invite you to check out my post on the PPG blog, and please leave a comment for us if you find it helpful. Now, get your mixing bowl ready...

Recipe for a Bestselling Novel

The business side of being a writer

Some people might not view an author as a business person, but I have to tell you, there's far more to being a writer than cloistering oneself in a small room for months and typing out 80,000 words. In today's world, a successful writer must also take on the hats of publicist, marketer, event planner, advertising rep, accountant, stocker (not stalker) and more.

As a successful Edmonton author, I am right at home with the writing and marketing part. I even make a decent publicist and have done this for other writers. It's the accounting part I suck at. And the stocking of shelves.

I'd love to discuss this here with other writers. How do you manage the number side of writing? Do you hire someone else or just suck it up and do it? Are there other options you've discovered (other than having books published by a traditional publisher, which I've also had)?

For me writing is both an immense pleasure and a business. I can't really have one without the other--unless I want to be my only reader. With the economy being as it is and so many changes in the book industry, authors must take on more of the marketing role, no matter who publishes you.

Finally, a small bit of promo from the marketing side: I am one of only a handful of Canadians who are competing in a writing competition sponsored by Dorchester Publishing, a very respectable US publisher. I think I'm the only Edmonton contestant as well. I'd sincerely appreciate your support.

Please check out my debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady on Textnovel.com and click on the blue thumb and blue phone circles. This gives me 2 points in the contest. There are 3 days to go until the semi-finalists are selected. I really want to win this! The prize is a publishing contract with Dorchester.

http://textnovel.com/stories_list_detail.php?story_id=928

Sign up is fast and free and you'll have access to many novels and short stories you can read for free. Thank you, in advance, for your support of an Edmonton author.

Now I must go and procrastinate about doing my accounting. :-)

Cheryl Kaye Tardif
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Creating mock book covers

Book covers can make or break a book, and I've been lucky to have 4 published novels with 4 covers that were well received by readers. Often when I'm working on a novel, I'll design a "mock book cover". It helps to inspire me to really visualize the finished product, even if it isn't the most professional cover. Of course, the published cover isn't even close to the mock one I design.

For the "Next Best Celler" novel contest, sponsored by Textnovel and Dorchester Publishing, I'm working on a romance novel. Lancelot's Lady is the name of the romantic suspnese I've entered, and it very quickly took off, making the #1 spot out of all contest entries for the month of June 2009. Last time I checked, Lancelot's Lady was also #5 in Most Popular Stories.

To keep me motivated, I designed a mock book cover early on (cover #1), using a few elements from the story. This early design was simple enough to add some color and excitement to my entry, while also respecting that Dorchester Publishing will have the final say in a book cover.

Weeks later, I designed a new, more romantic cover (cover #2), yet hopefully the darkness still lends to some suspense. I'd be interested in hearing what you think, but of course please keep in mind that these aren't real covers. They're really just for fun. I have no doubt that Dorchester Publishing (should I win the contest) would do a far better job at designing a suitable cover.














...........(cover #1)...........................(cover #2)...........

So readers, now you have some extra insight into the mind of a reader--at least this one. And authors, you now have a great idea for keeping yourself inspired--create a mock book cover. :-)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Please vote thumbs up for Lancelot's Lady (you must sign up at Textnovel.com first, then go to and click on thumbs up icon at top of page.)

Subliminal Advertising: How far will fans go to help authors get noticed?

An old friend emailed me last night and told me the funniest story about how he helped promote me. Here's his email:

I was in Chapters with my wife and the kids on the weekend, and I went to look for CKT in the mystery section, and there was NOTHING! I went to one of the computers, and while you are listed, stock was ZERO.

I was waiting for my wife, so while I waited I went to ALL SIX of the computer terminals, searched for Cheryl Kaye Tardif, clicked and left up the page with YOUR name and YOUR titles before I left the store.

Heh, heh, heh, the book-reading public in Ottawa's west end doesn't know they were affected by subliminal advertising!

ALL SIX terminals!

My friend's story made me laugh, but it also made me really thankful to have friends and fans like him. It isn't easy trying to get noticed in an industry that now sees over 400,000 new books in the US alone, per year. Book marketing takes up a lot of my time. Word of mouth is always the best form of advertising, but just having my books visible is also important. I wonder if anyone in Ottawa saw those computer monitors and bought my books as a result. :-) Email me if you did!

Over the years I've had fans email publishers asking them to publish my books or make a large print version. Some fans have gone into their bookstores and turned my novels so that the covers faced out. Some fans have left my bookmarks in libraries. And of course I've had fans tell their friends and family about me and order my books for gifts.

Authors: Hire a Book Marketing Coach

Shameless Promoter - Book Marketing Coach

Email me now for special rates! Specials end August 31st, 2009.

Book marketing advice from Cheryl Kaye Tardif: "Think outside the book!"

We've all heard the expression: "Think outside the box!"

Well, today I am a guest blogger over at Book Marketing Floozy, and I talk about how authors need to "think outside the book" when looking for ways to market their work.

Check out the post on Book Marketing Floozy.

(Does this mean I'm an honorary "floozy"?)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
http://www.cherylktardif.com/

Should authors spend money on promotional tools and reviews?

There was a discussion recently on a forum I belong to; we discussed whether authors should spend money on promotional tools like bookmarks and whether they should pay to have their books reviewed. This is what I think about both...

Authors can't afford to throw away money; we don't make enough to do that. Writing (the actual act) is our passion--a hobby, if you will. SELLING our work becomes our business, and authors need to become business-minded if they're to succeed. Every business needs some form of investment, but you have to be careful.

There are ways for authors to throw away money and ways to get advertising and sales without paying a dime. Paying a service to market your books is not the smartest way to go. Try it once and you'll see what I mean. There are very few that deliver what they promise, and again you're throwing away hard earned money. I've seen and known many authors who've invested thousands in some company that promises to expose their book to thousands of readers or libraries or book clubs and they were lucky to sell 5 books. Their campaign is now buried so deep that no one finds it after a month or two. If you've tried a service that has resulted in hundreds or thousands of sales and can prove it, let me know and I'll be happy to advertise them. :)

No matter if you're self-published or traditionally published it is the author's responsibility to promote their books--if you want success. The trick is to learn how to do this effectively and affordably. My nickname is "Shameless Promoter", not just because I have a good handle on how to market but because I consistently sell books. I've spoken at writers' conferences in Canada and the US on this topic. I just booked another conference where I'll be speaking about using online networks to sell books. So I know what I'm talking about. :)

Should you get bookmarks? Uh, no brainer, people! I've observed many authors' techniques at book signings and if you don't have something to hand out you have lost 4/5 of the potential sales right out of the gate. I just finished an interview where I talked about mistakes authors make at signings. This is one of them. Bookmarks are an absolute must. Don't give out business cards; they just go into the garbage afterward or are filed somewhere. Plus they signify...business. At a signing, you want to signify pleasure, entertainment, a fun read. Business cards are only useful for handing out to people in the industry--store managers, agents, publishers etc. So buy some; they'll last quite a while.

At signings and events hand out bookmarks. Find an affordable printer to make them. Negotiate a deal for larger quantities, then order 2000 at the cheaper price. Have your book covers, website and blog URLS, email addy and a bit of intriguing text on both sides of the business card. One-sided means you've wasted half your advertising space. Bookmarks are not only useful, they create "after sales". People see them and are reminded to buy your book, or they realize you have more books (if you've listed them). I have Whale Song on one side, and Divine Intervention and The River share the other side. Right now I'm giving people extras at my signings and encouraging them to add them to stockings at Christmas.

Marketing your books online is the way to go in this day and age. Spending money on reviews is not. I have 50 reviews of Whale Song on Amazon.com alone, not to mention on various other sites. I never paid anyone a dime. Reviews are easy to get; you just have to know how and where to look. It takes creativity to get more than the average 10 reviews per book. You can offer to send review copies to reviewers whom you've researched--ones that have a high traffic blog, Google page rank of 3+, a faithful following/fan base, plenty of commenters, or are members of book clubs. Don't send them to just anyone. Or you can think of ways to encourage those who buy your books to review them. Why not hold a contest? Do a draw from all reviewers on Amazon and give them a prize you have had donated to you. Or say you'll pick your favorite review and give them a prize...get the picture?

There are other ways to market your books. Use online social networks like MySpace, Goodreads, Shelfari, etc and word of mouth advertising will spread virally--if you do it right. Hold other contests on your blog or website and to encourage more sales, have them answer a question where the answer is found in one of your books. The prize? Something that a company has donated to you in exchange for mention (free advertising). I get stuff given to me all the time. Every gift basket I've given away has been filled with gifts that have been donated to me in exchange for advertising them. How have I advertised them? A few posters in a bookstore, or on handouts in stores, and a mention on my blog/site.

I think the key is you just have to get creative and think outside of the box...or bookstore. We should be marketing to all venues--stores and online. And anywhere our readers can be found.

For more tips on how to promote your books in stores and online, please read my free marketing articles posted at: http://www.cherylktardif.com/articles-by-cheryl

If you have found my articles helpful, you could repay me by buying one of my novels for yourself or a friend. They make great Christmas gifts! ;-)

Cheryl Kaye Tardif novels are available on Amazon, Chapters.ca or your favorite bookstore can order them in for you.

Happy promoting!

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

http://www.cherylktardif.com

Hot Trends, Hot Markets - Part 2: How to use book collection or catalog networks

Yesterday, I spoke at the CanWrite! Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, on the Hot Trends, Hot Markets panel. I had a great time and I hope that attendees left with a better understanding of how they can market themselves online through the use of social networks.

Read Part 1 first.

Part 2:

Today, I want to talk about one of the three main categories of social networking--'book collection or catalog networks'. These are social networks that invite users/members to catalog their personal book collection, recommend books to fellow members/friends, discuss books and authors with others, and to send notes and virtually "meet" people from all over the world who love books.

The three sites that are top on my list are:

• LibraryThing
• GoodReads
• Shelfari

The first thing to do if you're an aspiring or published author is to sign up on these sites. If you're a published author, you'll want to sign up as an "author", which will give you some extra perks. If you don't see how to do this, just email the site's contact. They can get you set up as an author very quickly.

5 main ways to promote yourself on these sites:

1. Request to be friends with others on the network
2. Add your own published books to your list of books read
3. Review books, especially ones that are comparable to yours
4. Get involved in group discussions
5. Send your friends notes, comment on their posts and recommend a book

Social networking ethics:

In general, these sites are set up to bring people together. However, most people don't want a hard sales pitch, especially one by an over-exuberant author. So be careful when you approach others on these networks. Find a common interest and get to know your friends here first. Chat about where they live, their family, their own book recommendations and reviews. But be real!

I genuinely love meeting people, and I also love to promote my books. It's tough for an author to hold back sometimes, but it is worth it to do so when you first start checking into the social network market. There is a fine line that I don't want to cross, and what I've learned is this: if you're patient and take the time to get to know people, they'll start asking questions. And the great thing is, you'll know their interest is genuine too.

The benefits for authors:

It may seem obvious that the benefits are more exposure, but I've met a lot of authors who just don't get this. Think of that old shampoo commercial--"and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on, and..." This is a form of "viral marketing"--a way of promoting to one person or group that will create a chain reaction of word-of-mouth referrals.

Once you sign up on GoodReads, for instance, thousands and thousands of people will have access to your author profile. Every time you post some writing, add a book, review a book, discuss something in a group, the homepage shows your activity. This is updated instantly, and brings new visitors to your profile and activity pages.

You can contact "top reviewers" and arrange to send them ARCs or galleys. These are ordinary people who love to read and write reviews, and what better reviews are there than that? :)

You can contact libraries and bookstores and introduce them to your book(s). Offer to send them bookmarks or your publisher's catalog--or one book to sample.

And of course, you'll meet lots of wonderful people. You will connect with housewives, teens, entrepreneurs, business owners, teachers, librarians, other authors, but above all--readers.

Personally, through these three sites I have met some wonderful people, some fabulous authors and many terrific reviewers. It's like going to a huge party, or a multi-author book launch, where all the talk is about BOOKS. And for an author, is there anything better than that?

So...get social! Start networking! If you're an aspiring author, use these sites to start gaining fans now! Why wait? If they like your writing now, they're going to buy your book when it's finally published. Plus being a part of an online social network allows you to do the one thing you love most--WRITE! :)

Read Part 3.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling author of Whale Song
http://www.cherylktardif.com/

Hot Trends, Hot Markets - Part 1: Social Networking

Today, I'll be presenting on a panel at the 2008 CanWrite! Conference in Edmonton, Alberta. The topic of my panel is Hot Trends, Hot Markets, and it's the only panel that runs separately as a main feature. As an author, I'll be looking at this topic from the perspective of aspiring and published authors.

As someone who's been nicknamed "Shameless Promoter" because I promote my books with everything I've got, utilizing everything I can think of or learn about, I want to share what I've learned. This information will help writers and authors connect with readers and fans, which can lead to sales once a book has been published.

The question I asked myself was: "Which hot trend or market is really on fire today, one that actually benefits writers and authors?"

The answer I came up with?

SOCIAL NETWORKING!

In the next few days, I'll post more here about this topic, but for now, let me give you the outline. Social networks are prevalent on the Internet, and if you learn how to use them correctly, you will benefit greatly. This is a way to meet thousands of people and an acceptable way to promote yourself.

There are three main categories of social networks:

1. Book collection or catalog networks - ex. LibraryThing, GoodReads, Shelfari


2. Book seller networks - ex. AmazonConnect, Chapters Community


3. True social networks - ex. MySpace, FaceBook, Ning (multiple networks here)

There are many more networks than just the examples shown above, but these are the most important ones, and I highly recommend that every writer and author utilize each of them.

In my next post, I'll explain more about how to use each type of network to the fullest potential.

For now, I invite you to click on the network links above and join each one. Please note: to set up an Amazon profile/blog on AmazonConnect, you must be a published author with books available on Amazon. The other networks are all open to writers and readers, as well as authors.

Please leave me a comment if you find this information useful. :)

Read Part 2.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
author of Whale Song
http://www.cherylktardif.com/

"How should I promote my book launch?"

Recently, a writer friend had some questions regarding advertising book signings and launches. She asked if she should have had the store put up posters and showcase her book in the front window prior to her book launch. I gave her some advice, things I wish someone had told me at the very beginning.

In the beginning, I was bold...yet I didn't have a clue what to do either.

A few years ago, I didn't really get the difference between a book launch and a book signing. I suppose I could have helped myself out by actually attending some of both, but I didn't and my first "launch" suffered for it. Instead of making it a big celebration, my first book launch had no hoopla, just me at a table in front of the store, handing out business cards. Oy, I was so green I never knew I shouldn't give out cards unless they're to business contacts. No one else wants them. I know better now, but back then I had no idea what I should or could do for a launch party. Now I know it's only limited by my imagination and the fire code of the store. :)

Book signing:

A book signing is an event where you go and sign and sell books. It's that simple. There's only as much hoopla as you can create, based on any news to do with your book. But believe me, I look for anything newsy that can add some hype to my signings. News equals excitement, and excitement means sales, and sales mean I get to write another book. :)

I rarely have any form of advertising for my regular signings, other than in my writers organizations' newsletters and what I post on my site and blogs--mainly because people tend to forget, and so far it hasn't proven to bring in that many more people for it to be cost effective to run advertisements in newspapers. I just look at every person who walks in the store as MINE. Okay, I'm not that vain, but I do look at anyone as a prospective buyer. It seems far easier when I'm not worried about whether my invitees have arrived or if they'll even show. I always know that there will be people walking through the doors, and it's my job to greet them and make them feel welcome. (And give them my bookmarks.)

If I feel I need posters, I've learned not to wait for bookstores to make them. Other than Audrey's Books in Edmonton, which always makes up lovely posters for all my signings, and a few Chapters stores, most bookstores are just too busy to design signs. So I have a local print shop make posters for my special events. They're 14 x 17, I think, full color, announcing my name, author of... and date/time of event. I ask the stores to post them about 5 days before the event. Any earlier and people forget. Occasionally, I'll go to my signing and discover that my posters were never displayed, but usually they'll be up near the front door and often near the bathrooms. If I've been able to get some media attention (newspaper interviews or radio or TV interviews), then that's a bonus. But it's not easy to be newsworthy for all your events all of the time.

Book launch:

A book launch is a celebration, a big party to celebrate your book's arrival and everything you have gone through to get this far, and it's a party for YOU.

This is the one event that you need to have posters up on the walls, fliers to the bookstore a week before to add to customers' bags, media attention, tons of blogging about it, and lots and lots of hoopla. To ensure that you get great promotion for this exciting event, go to the store the day before and see how they're promoting you. Then you can ask them to display your books if they're nowhere to be found.

Also, for a launch, you'll want to send out an invitation to anyone on your email list and newsletter list. Ask them to bring a friend or two (or ten!), and make sure you ask them to RSVP, since you'll need to know how much food and drink to supply. Once you have this list, realize that about 10% won't make it, another 10% might not buy. 80% should be sales. Bad weather the day of the launch will increase the percentage of the first two and lower the last. Make sure the bookstore knows about your RSVP list ASAP. They need to know how many books to order in. Send your guests a "friendly reminder" about 2 days before.

A launch should always be eye-catching, big and bold. You need to create excitement. That's what separates it from a regular book signing. Some launches will have champagne and strawberries, others will have pop and veggies and dip. Some will have food that fits the theme of their book. I served two kinds of seafood dip; however, I just couldn't serve whale. I'm sure my friends were glad about that. :)

Most book launches will have:

• entertainment
• door prizes (I always ask local businesses to donate prizes in exchange for a sponsorship mention of them on my posters and I get awesome prizes this way...including a free limo ride for my family and closest friends to my last book launch)
• munchies (a couple of party trays and a cake with your cover on, at minimum)
• a mike for you to read a chapter and talk about your new "baby"
• an MC to introduce you and make you look good (either a friend or the store manager if she knows you)
• advertising in-store and elsewhere (community bulletin boards, schools, churches etc)

It's your party, so have fun! This really isn't the time to worry about sales. The more events you do, the better you should get at selling your book. If you have a bad signing (like 3 or less), evaluate why. When you have an exceptional signing (like 30+ books), also evaluate why. I always ask myself 'what worked?' and 'what didn't?'

How should you promote your book launch? By doing anything and everything you can think of to ensure its success and to make sure that everyone attending has a party they'll never forget. That way they'll be first in line for your next book launch, which (if you use these tips) will now be bigger and better than the last. :)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling author of Whale Song

Cheryl's 'Creating a Character Wall' article is featured on WritersReaders.com

When I attended a writer's conference and had the pleasure of meeting renowned book marketing expert and author Jerry D. Simmons.

In his TIPS for WRITERS newsletter, Jerry had this to say:

"Recently I was fortunate to meet author Cheryl Kaye Tardif and she graciously agreed to submit some of her fabulous articles to my newsletter. To read this week’s edition, click Creating a Character Wall ."

Self-Publishing that Works FOR You!

Today was officially Day 1 of the 8th Annual Express Yourself...Authors' Conference, sponsored by Infinity Publishing, and I have to share some of what I observed and learned. First, I feel I should clarify that I was recently published by traditional publisher Kunati Books, a new company based in Ontario, Canada, with offices in Florida, US. Kunati has made it very clear that they wish to support my endeavors to help other authors and they know that I am particularly passionate about self-publishing, since I originally self-published 3 very successful titles, and not with Infinity (sorry, guys!). Publishing companies like Kunati make an author's journey far more satisfying, and I must thank them for this support.

That being said, I must also thank Infinity Publishing for allowing me to be a small part of their journey. I feel honored to be part of this conference and share my experiences with other authors. I have gotten a true sense of "family" with these Infinity authors, employees and the management, and they have extended this to many authors published by other companies, including myself. They have all made me feel extremely welcome and valued. Thank you!

There are so many things that have impressed me over the years about Infinity's strategies, service and journey. I have been 'watching' them for about 6 years, and became their Canadian Author Liaison less than a year ago. Today I had the pleasure of touring Infinity Publishing's facilities, and again...WOW! I toured one other publishing company a few years ago, and I have to say, Infinity has far surpassed anything I saw there. Not only is this company efficient in their processes (largely due, I think, to the sharp wit and bubbly authority presented by their office 'queen' Michelle), Infinity is like a well-oiled, organized machine that breathes synergistically with its authors. The company is clean and environmentally conscious, printing 288 pages a minute and anywhere from 100-200 books per hour, depending on the books. I watched covers being printed, laminated, bound, cropped, all within minutes. (And, Kelly, I even had a chance to see how your book's information has been packaged! ;)

After breakfast, Tom Gregory, President of Infinity Publishing, welcomed the conference attendees, and I found him to be genuinely interested in not only the success of his company, but the success of the authors--ALL authors! You don't find that often. I never met the President of the other self-publishing company I toured. :) One thing that impressed me with Infinity is the expense that this publishing company puts into having an event that benefits their authors and other publishers' authors. They have made the Express Yourself...Authors' Conference affordable for any author.

I was also impressed with Infinity's ability to get top-notch speakers to present at their conferences. I have been receiving Jerry D. Simmons' newsletter for a few years now and finally got to meet him. It is awesome to put a face and voice to a name and newsletter one receives via email. :) Other guest speakers were Dan Poynter, Penny Sansevieri and Brian Jud, who are big names in book marketing. Infinity also managed to entice Dave Lieber, an award-winning columnist, and Eric Kampmann, publisher of the controversial O.J. book If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer by the Goldman Family. I'll go more into what these speakers talked about as soon as I have more time.

P.S. Jerry, I promise I will get you some articles on marketing books as soon as possible and I look forward to being of assistance to other writers via your newsletter. Thank you for this opportunity. :) CKT

Article: Authors Tour the World with Virtual Book Tours by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Over the years, authors who wanted to promote their books directly to the public had one main option; you had to physically travel across the country conducting book signings and readings in various bookstores and praying that people would show up. This meant spending money on flights, hotels, transportation and meals. This traditional type of book tour is expensive and very few publishing companies are willing to pay for them. But now, authors have a new method of ‘touring the world’―the virtual book tour.

Virtual book tours (also known as virtual author tours, guest blogging, blog tours, or VBTs) are a simple concept. The author tours various blogs and sites that pertain to a theme in the book or to writing in general. This way, you can potentially reach thousands of avid readers each tour day from the privacy of your office or home.

The goal of marketing your book is to expose it to as many people as possible in an exciting, cost-effective and entertaining way. Guest blogging can achieve that goal. Most blogs are archived, so your post becomes permanent and often viral, spreading from site to site. That is leverage. You are in essence leveraging your internet presence and duplicating yourself with every VBT stop. Your blog tour is working for you even while you sleep. Try doing that at a bookstore signing!

Read Cheryl's article Authors Tour the World with Virtual Book Tours on John Kremer's Book Marketing site.

Day 27: Cheryl visits John Kremer's site with an article on book signings

On day 27 of my 'Touring the World' virtual book tour, I stop off at John Kremer's site. John is a respected book marketing expert and the author of numerous books including 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. At writers' conferences, he often presents on book marketing, publishing, writing, branding, and more. When John asked me if I could supply an article on marketing tips, I knew I had the perfect article, especially since we're heading into major promotion time--the pre-Christmas rush.

Book Signings Are Your Best Friends

So you’ve written a book, had it published and you are now facing the dreaded book signing or book launch. Your palms sweat at the thought of facing droves of people and actually having to talk to them. You are a writer, not a salesperson, right? Wrong! If you do not have the guts and determination to sell your own work, then why should anyone else do it for you?Book signings are your lifeline -- your best friends.

Before you step out into virgin territory and cross that boundary that is called a book signing, endless questions will bombard your brain. How many books should you expect to sell? What if you don’t sell any books? And what if someone should ask that one little question that makes you quiver and shake in your shoes: “What’s your book about?”

Read the entire article on John Kremer's site.

Day 11: Cheryl talks about Virtual Book Tours on LesTout.com

At today's stop, you'll find information on virtual book tours, how to organize one and how they benefit authors, hosts and avid readers. So drop by LesTout.com to find out how much work went into my 1-month VBT.

There is a new wave of online marketing on the rise―virtual book tours (also known as virtual author tours or blog tours). About five years ago, various authors decided to promote their works online at host sites and announce those dates just as they would a bona fide book signing tour. It started off small―one or two appearances on someone else’s website. In fact, virtual book tours (VBTs) have really only taken off in the past year or two.

The concept is simple: the author “tours” various blogs and sites, often ones pertaining to a theme in the book or the host’s theme, or to writing in general. This way, an author can potentially reach thousands of avid readers each tour day from the privacy of his or her office or home...

Read the article: Virtual Book Tours - Touring the World.

Also, be sure to order my novel Whale Song on August 12th from Amazon.com or Chapters.ca to qualify to enter for my 44 Prizes giveaway!