Photo with Annette Fix, author of The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir
Recently I attended a series of workshops given by Annette Fix, author of The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir. Annette is passionate about book promotion and helping authors realize their dreams.
Her first lecture “Web 2.0? Where Do I Start?” broke down the fundamentals of creating a blog, syndicating articles, approaching book groups, podcasting and vlogging, and developing an online network.
Annette explained why it’s important for authors to create a blog. It’s the best way to immediately and cost-effectively establishing a web presence. There are more than 20 million sites on the Internet. Search engine “spiders” constantly seek new data. Spiders love fresh content, so your blog must be updated frequently and referenced by other blogs to increase your Google position. Annette has 17 pages on Google, and all of this is due to online promotion through articles, interviews, and guest blogging.
Annette says that the main thing to know about guest blogging, blog tours, and blog carnivals is that they’re marketing tools. They’re a great way to get your name out to readers who are interested in your writing, and to establish your platform. For example, Annette’s memoir is about a relationship break-up and being a dating single mother, so her blog tour stops included relationship blogs, mommy blogs, and writer blogs.
A blog tour is an online version of a book tour. Annette describes it as virtually marketing your book on other Web sites. One way to do this is by reciprocating. You can interview other authors and have them promote their books on your Web site as well.
A blog carnival occurs when bloggers coordinate and all write about the same topic on their sites and cross-promote.
Some authors have formed group blogs. There are major advantages to group blogging: different voices provide a wider audience appeal, fresh content, and less time invested per person to maintain a blog. Plus, there’s potential for cross-promotion.
But where do you start? Blog platforms such as Blogger, WordPress, Live Journal, and TypePad are a few to choose from. Annette advocates WordPress because it has the ability to create several pages and function like a Web site. Things to include are a bio, headshot, writing samples, an about-the-book blurb, chapter excerpts (text or audio), book club questions, reviews, upcoming events, book signings, links, interviews, and contact info.
Annette says that often readers want to know what inspired an author’s book. This information helps them connect to the author. Next, you need to develop your audience. Annette explained that joining networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads can help build a readership. It can also help authors meet influential people. Recently, a fellow Tweeter began following Annette’s tweets. Now, her book is being optioned for a television series—all through the magic of Twitter.
Keeping these readers connected to your blog is another vital step. Annette explained the importance of creating an RSS feed as a way for readers to subscribe to your blog. You can do this by putting your feed button front and center on your Web site. Some readers may prefer to subscribe by e-mail, and you can do this by activating the email feature in FeedBurner. This is a great way to track your readers.
Making sure that readers and agents can contact you is important, but so is controlling spam. Annette advises writers to use a formatting trick to keep spambots from getting your e-mail address. For example: Jillian_Clemmons [at] Yahoo [dot] com.
Annette also discussed the importance of adding visuals to blogs. She does this all the time, and I love how colorful her blog looks. Screenshots and videos are other creative methods. Not only do visuals add interest, but they also boost traffic. Read 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Blog for more information.
In closing, Annette’s workshops were worth their weight in gold. I learned how to create a Web site on a budget, network online, and market myself through blogging. Her tips on what include (and not include) in a blog were priceless.
Other great articles by Annette:
Blog tour info: http://annettefix.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/blog-tours-take-your-book-on-the-cyber-road/
Interested in building your platform and writing a nonfiction book proposal? This article covers both: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/15-FE-AnnetteFix.html
More online promo info: http://reading-writing.blogspot.com/2009/02/welcome-guest-blogger-annette-fix.html
Additional tips from yours truly:
• If your novel is finished, include a blurb under your excerpt that says: To request a full manuscript, please contact (your name here, with a hyperlink to your contact info).
• If you are lucky enough to get 1,000 visitors a day, awesome! Add this in your book proposal. This is great information for an agent to have.
• Have goodies. Promotional giveaways and contests drive folks to your Web site.
• Add site ads for things that are similar to your book topic or genre.
• If you write for other blogs, or magazines, be sure to add your Web site address along the signature line. Most authors include their blog’s URL on business cards, stationery, e-mail signature lines, print ads, and promotional goods.
• For more Twitter tips go to: http://www.gissisim.com/2009/03/how-twitter-helps/
• Read: http://kimberleytroutte.blogspot.com/2009/01/promo-promo-promo.html
Tell me what you think:
What about you? What little changes have made a big impact on your blog? Anything you’d like to see added or updated to this blog?
