Understanding Metadata for Authors

So many of us here in the social media world are scrambling to figure things out, sometimes it can be downright overwhelming. Well, here's my go-to lady who knows her stuff about Relationship Marketing and the Self-Publishing world-at-large. 
Rachel Thompson has published two of her own best-selling indie titles and is a Social Media Consultant that makes this whole publishing thing look like hop-scotch. Welcome to Finding Bliss Rachel!

Six Questions with M Leighton

If you look at the Amazon Top 100, you'd see this author's name more than once. M Leighton is a NYT bestseller and her fanbase is seriously rabid. She's got more than thirteen books published now, with highly anticipated sequels in the works.

Sit back and enjoy her interview, and maybe save a few of her tips to memory on this lovely Fall Saturday.

Your Book is Just the Beginning

Just a quick note and an infographic.... 

Are you tired yet? I love this stuff, but man-- it really is a lot! 

Thoughts?

Six Questions with Alexis Grant

 Alexis Grant is an entrepreneurial writer and digital strategist. 

She has built a highly devoted following to her blog via Twitter, and has even gotten the attention of super star agent Rachelle Gardner. Rachelle offered her representation for her traveling memoir after the two met on Twitter.

Effective Tweeting with Tonya Kappes

When I ask other writers what they do to market and promote their novels, I get the big ole eye roll!

But why?

Marketing and promoting has NEVER been easier! Easy? Can you stop with the eye roll already?

Let me take a moment to explain. Believe it or not, you have a PR personality (Check out my blog post to take the test and see what your PR personality is HERE.)

It doesn’t matter if you are on introvert or extrovert, the internet has made it easier than ever to market and promote. And the fastest way to reach your target audience and gain a loyal following among your peers and readers is effectively using Twitter.

Another eye roll?? I’m starting to get offended…

I know we are all writers and it’s hard for us to say anything in 140 characters. How do we effectively market in 140 characters?

I’m glad you asked.

The most important thing on TWITTER is the # (hashtag).

But you have to # effectively or you will never reach the target audience you want to reach.

There are certain hashtags I use to get to my target audience. For instance, when I want to tweet my blog, I hashtag my tweet with keywords that will help me reach blog readers- #reader #marketing #indieauthor #amwriting (url here) or use #amediting #writertip #promoting #writer.

These hashtags help me reach you, my target blog audience.

When I tweet my book, I use #mystery #ebook #2.99 #bestseller #womansleuth #beadedjewelry #streetteam. Those hashtags help me reach my target reading audience.

Here are some tips to help # your way to success:

1) Pick KEY hashtags. Like I said earlier, pick hashtags that are already out there. Don't make up your hashtag that NO ONE will see. If you aren't sure what hashtags to use, go to the search box on Twitter and start typing in key words that will help you find your target audience.

2) Keep your tweet short. Sometimes you can do too many hashtags and the reader gets lost in the tweet. Even though you are limited to 140 characters, that too can be too many sometimes. You have to pick out key words to get their attention.

Here are some popular hashtags for writers:

#amediting  posts from people who are editing

#amwriting  posts from people who are writing

#askagent  agent questions and answers

#author

#authors

#editing

#fictionfriday

#fridayflash  flash fiction on a Friday

#nanowrimo  national novel writing month

#novels

#novelists

#poem

#poet

#poets

#poetry

#pubtip  publication tips

#publishing

#scifi

#selfpublishing

#vss   very short story

#webfic  web fiction

#weblit   web literature

#wip   work in progress

#wordcount

#writegoal

#writequote

#writer

#writers

#writetip  writing advice

#writing

#writingtips  writing advice

#wrotetoday 
 

Some hashtags are specifically “chats” – which means they work in the same way as all tags, but are mainly used at certain agreed times : 
 

#journchat

#kidlitchat

#litchat

#scifichat

#scribechat

#storycraft

#writechat

#yalitchat   young adult literature chat 
 

Don’t just think about your tweets. You have to give back! 

Your likability factor is a key to tweeting.

If you only promote yourself, readers and your peers will see right through it. Make sure that you are giving back and retweeting your author friends.

AND connect with your readers! Since I write mystery and novels with jewelry beading themes, I make sure I go to those hashtag groups and interact with those tweepeople.

I have found some GREAT targeted bloggers in these groups. For example, my target audience is jewelry beaders for my novel CarpeBead ‘em. Through effective hashtags, I have found some great blogs that teach people how to make jewelry or blogs where they gather to talk about beading. I began to follow those blogs and comment. Once I became ingrained into their community, I asked if I could write a guest post about why I love beading and how I wrote a novel about it.

This is a great way to gain new readers and loyal followers on Twitter!

So get your tweet on and # effectively to reach your target audience.

Do you tweet effectively?

Tonya is an Amazon Movers and Shakers, and International bestselling author. She writes humorous cozy mystery and women’s fiction that involves quirky characters in quirky situations.

Splitsville.com, the first novel in the Olivia Davis Mystery Series, is a double finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Mystery and Humorous Categories.

Carpe Bead ‘em  is a finalist in Amazon’s eFestival of Words in the Women’s Fiction Category.

She travels to various writer's groups giving workshops on marketing and promoting no matter where you are in your career or what journey you take in publication. Tricked Out Toolbox~Marketing andPromoting Tools Every Writer Needs is a bestselling non-fiction novel where Tonya teaches writers how she made it to International bestselling status with her marketing plan.

Become a member of Tonya’s STREET TEAM! It’s a gathering place of readers who love Tonya Kappes novels and Tonya gives away monthly prizes! To sign up for Tonya’s STREET TEAM, newsletter, view book trailer, and upcoming news, check out Tonya’s website, Tonyakappes.blogspot.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyakappes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonyakappes11

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4423580.Tonya_Kappes

Learning the Ropes with Ashley Barron

Ashley Barron was one of the first people I followed on Twitter, and to this day I continue to learn so much from her.




Her blog is a favorite among self-publishers, and she really lays out the steps for blogging (successfully) as she's learned through the past 12 months.


In May she published her first full-length novel, Ava.

 Some of the things we talked about:

Always been a voracious reader, three years ago the story of Ava came to her.
 
Put writing aside and took a year to learn the business of publishing and marketing.
 
Using Twitter as a marketing tool, tweeting blog posts and making friends.
 
Make your blog posts accessible to newcomers, different info is relevant at different times.
 
Publishing Ava through all e-retailers by the end of summer.
 
Using beta readers to find errors, lessons learned about editing.

Keeping the story arcs and character bios straight for a 26 book series


Changes to her marketing plan to include time to write & stay informed- Community News

Ava, the first book in the Priyas series, is now available on Amazon. Look for it soon on iTunes, Kobo and Smashwords.

Tweet with Ashley or if you haven't been to her blog, make sure to visit today and learn how she mastered blogging and social media for authors, you won't regret it! 

Like my interviews? Let me know in the comments and Please share with your friends on Twitter!

Your Online Presence with Take Two Publishing

My special guest bloggers are the ladies behind Take Two Publishing, Elizabeth Ku, and Courtney Coon. 

With the rise of digital publishing, so many of the traditional barriers to being a published author have been removed. Anyone can self-publish their book, which means there are many more books out there to choose from. In fact, over one million books are published in the US every year! It’s not enough just to be published anymore. 
Now and in the future, the key will be to have the right team behind you to help make you and your book a success.

You can have a fabulous book, but if you don’t know how to promote your book and yourself, it will be difficult to get it into reader’s hands and eventually to the top of the bestseller list. Marketing is the key! Your marketing team could help with everything from cover design to creating your website to setting up digital ad campaigns.

Whatever the marketing team’s role is, you want to choose a team that will work with you and make you as successful as possible.
Even with such a crowded marketplace, it's possible for each author to create a unique brand.
The most important thing is to just be yourself. Don’t try to be something you’re not because you think that’s what will sell a book. Show people who you really are.

When you can connect with readers on a personal level, you’ll start developing fans that are really engaged with you and your brand.

Two Must Haves for Authors
Website

People will look for you online and you want them to be able to find you! Include a bio about yourself, news about your next book and a picture or two.

Social Media Presence

Not only do people expect to see a website, they want to be able to connect with you online, too. Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest are great places to start. But don’t just go set up a bunch of accounts and forget about them – it’s important to keep them up to date. Only start accounts that you plan to keep up with.


Take Two Publishing is an independent ebook publishing company of books that star an unforgettable female character. Co-founded by Elizabeth Ku and Courtney Coon who discovered the perfect way to combine their creative flair with their love of books. Both ladies are graduates of Marist College in New York and hold a degree in Marketing.


Elizabeth, who currently resides in Florham Park,NJ, reads each and every manuscript submitted to Take Two and places a sincere interest on personal contact with each author and submission. Currently living in Charlotte, NC, Courtney is dedicated to helping authors reach a wide audience through many types of social media platforms. 

No More Starving Artists with Beth Barany

On today's interview, my guest is author entrepreneur Beth Barany.
Beth started her career helping writers get there message out into the world. As a certified Creativity Coach, she has a passion for helping authors build successful careers. She teaches through speaking, coaching and consulting with authors. Her non-fiction includes a book for authors- The Writers Adventure Guide.

Beth also loves creating strong female characters who empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives. Her fantasy novel Henrietta the Dragon Slayer is available now, with Book 2 coming out this summer.

Some of the topics we discuss in the interview:

• Her beliefs in strong marketing practices online and offline as well. 

• Every author needs to have a home on the internet, whether they are involved in Social Media or not.

• An author website or blog plus a newsletter are important tools for all authors.

• No matter where you go, carry a copy of your best work. 

• Nobody wants to be sold to- develop real relationships and people will naturally be interested in what you do.

• Speaking, coaching and consulting engagements are great ways of meeting new people while providing multiple income streams, nobody needs to be a starving artist anymore.

• Some exciting new speaking opportunities she has coming: How to Pitch to Agents and Editors with her husband, author Ezra Barany;The Women's Fiction Festival in Italy; Creativity Pays keynote speech.

• While she has self-published her books, she has partnered with a publisher to distribute some index cards to accompany her Writers Adventure Guide. The publisher can put her product in places she might not be able to reach on her own.

• Beth is a strong advocate of writing and critique groups. It's important to have accountability and feeback from other writers.

Beth can be found at her website www.bethbarany.com and also on her blog writersfunzone.com/blog where she posts tips for writing and marketing for authors as well as inspiration and creativity. Visit to get a Free Self-Guided Journaling Course for Writers.  For Author Entrepreneurs, visit ArtistEntrepreneurship.com

Flying By The Seat of Your Pants with Suzan Tisdale

Laiden's Daughter

If you're an author, chances are you've spent some time researching marketing. You've probably been working on building that coveted author platform. That's what you're supposed to do, isn't it?

Well, when I asked author Suzan Tisdale what her secret to selling nearly 20,000 copies of her book since December, she laughed and said, "I really don't know!"

Of course, I had to interview her. Authors are supposed to do all of these things to be successful. So, how much of the success factor is good planning, and how much is pure chance?




Things we talk about:

• Her book Laiden's Daughter , and how she came to write it. I'm reading it right now, and I'll tell you she has just the right amount of action and sweet romance to keep you turning the page.
• Authors who have inspired her: Laurin Wittig, Julie Garwood, Carmen Caine.
• Why she decided to publish it through Amazon KDP.
• Her marketing efforts, or lack thereof. How she played with the pricing and the effect on her sales.
• What she plans on doing next. Findley's Lass Book 2 of Clan MacDougall series is due out in December 2012.

Now, I want to know how you feel about the hit or miss world of publishing.

What are steps you're taking to build your platform, and why do you think some authors just hit it right?

Handling Negative Reviews with Melissa Agnes

Today I'd like to share a special interview I did with a friend of mine, Melissa Agnes. Melissa is a social media crisis manager who offers specialized consultation and training services to both businesses and agencies. 

From reading her blog, I've discovered that as authors, we are susceptible to all kinds of trouble involving our online reputation, or brand. I wanted to hear what Melissa had to say in regards to dealing with negative reviews and with the internet trolls known as sockpuppets. I was thrilled with the information she shared, and her tips for handling yourself in these situations are invaluable. Take a listen and leave a comment, because this is so important and I'd love to discuss your opinions.

Grow a Long Tail

Have you daydreamed recently of selling your book? Did that dream consist of you being praised by adoring fans and media over your beautiful writing and amazing imagery?

Me, too.

When we think of publishing our books, it's fun to imagine instant success. Even if you don't want to admit it, the thought has probably crossed your mind.

Of course, underneath the fairy tale, we are all aware that the chance of stardom is pretty slim. After all, how many books are published each year? Since Amazon has made it so easy for writers to upload their manuscript, it's not a secret that there is a LOT of competition.

So, we attempt to build a platform, render a following. But, if you really want to be an Author, not a one-book-wonder, what can you do to become a prolific force in the industry?

I have recently been introduced to the term "Long-Tail". Have you heard it?

www.longtail.com

In Joanna Penn's guest post by J. Daniel Sawyer,  he discusses the Long Tail of the fiction business and a  list of "best practices" to be successful over time.

For your reading pleasure, I would like to share the most important stuff I gleaned from the post:

 Build a Back List- When I read and love a book, I look up the author's other work. I just purchased the entire backlist written by Juliette Marillier. **love**

 Be Patient- One book does not a career make! **usually**

 Connect  with those who actually read your book. It's easier to keep a reader than find a new one!

I am now a firm believer that the best marketing tool you can acquire is a Long Tail. It makes sense that when you advertise or promote your newest book, people will see that you have a series of other books to enjoy. I for one love a series that I can really get lost in!

Do you have any thoughts on the significance of a Long Tail or Backlist?

 Oh, and by the way- did you notice that I've added a newsletter sign-up? Make sure you add your name!

Be Helpful, Be Successful

What's in it for me?

As a species, human beings are selfish. I'm sure that's not news to you. Oh, we want to be helpful and self-sacrificing, and maybe we sometimes even succeed. But deep down, it's just our nature to look out for number one.

If you want to be involved in any type of network building, you have to break through your natural tendencies. You're writing a book. Good for you. But, why should anyone else care?

What's in it for them?

I see a large number of people, (myself included at times) who just expect to blog about themselves, and that will be their golden ticket to fame and fortune.

It will never work.

One of the greatest teachers of how to build relationships to help you grow your business is Chris Brogan. I've been following his blog for a few months now and hope to follow his example as closely as possible. He has a simple formula for success that I find inspirational:

• Be Helpful

• Ask Questions

• Check-In Regularly

• Make Useful Introductions

Is there is one thing that he advises NOT to do?

Don't ask for ANYTHING in return!

Do you ever run into people doing all the wrong things on the Web? How do you handle it?

Leave me a comment. Let's Talk.

Find What Works to Build Your Platform

Imagine five years from now when you have 10,000 Twitter subscribers and 50,000 blog subscribers. Each day when you log in to check your email, you have pages of eager requests for your attention. What will you have done to get yourself to that point?


 Large followings don't just happen, do they? I've been experimenting in April, and I want to share what things I've found to be the most helpful in building my platform and growing my audience.

• Make Goals Having a goal in mind is not the same as having clear, written out goals. Something about putting your goals on paper (or monitor) cements your commitment. I find that the cork board next to my desk is a great place to pin my personal goals, so that when I feel particularly lazy, they are there to stare me down O_O .

• Create a Schedule  Everyone is busy. Using the I have no time excuse doesn't fly in the real world, so it shouldn't fly in your virtual world, either. The truth is that if you want to be a writer in today's world, you need to schedule time to write and time to nurture your followers. Five minutes before lunch, ten minutes after. First thing in the morning, or just before bed. The point is if it's important to you, you make the time.

• Focus on What Works There are so many ways to connect with readers and writers on the web, how do you decide which one is best for you? I think the only way to know is to experiment. In April I've decided to tweet daily, and it's been a true eye-opener. I started the month knowing next to no one, now I find myself checking my Twitter feed even when I don't plan to, just to see who's on. Which brings me to my final tip...

• Avoid Too Many Distractions  Like anything else, Social Media and blog-reading can become huge time suckers. It's easy to become too focused on Twitter or your RSS feed, but if you're so busy posting/reading updates, when do you write? 

I hope one or more of these thoughts resonates with you. I've had a great month meeting new people, and I hope to keep the momentum up in May. Make sure to leave a message in the comments about what you're doing to grow your following! And, follow me on Twitter too :) .

Why Bother with Twitter?

Are you Tweeting?

Do you Twit?

Or my favorite-are you on the Twittersphere?

What is Twitter?


Twitter first came on the scene in 2006. I just couldn't imagine why anyone would want to tell the world what they were up to on a continual basis... my thoughts were: Who really Cares?? Apparently, a lot of people do.


As more and more people I knew and encountered on a regular basis began living with their cell phones attached to their hands, I began to realize that there was something to this Twitter thing. That didn't mean I would Tweet, but I didn't scoff quite as much. Reading blogs and checking Facebook a few times a day was enough for me.


Something funny happened in late 2010. I had a sort of routine where I'd check blogs and chat on FB, but I gradually began to realize I was missing part of the "conversation". People were posting stories on their blogs, and giving intermittent updates on FB, but it was like they were all in on some kind of a private joke. They were tweeting to each other... and I was AGAINST Twitter, so I was an outsider. I begrudgingly signed up for an account, checked it here and there, but refused to post anything.


Fast forward a few months. I'd been writing on and off most of my life, but after the birth of my son I decided I'd like to see about getting something published, maybe make a career out of my hobby. So, I researched the publishing world and guess what? People everywhere sang praise to Twitter! "Build your 'platform'," they said. "Communicate with the literary community, interact with agents and editors!" o_O


Why are so many people on Twitter?

• To drive traffic to their personal website

• To connect with their peers

• To share important dates

• To gather feedback 

Three tips to use Twitter to build your platform

• Be helpful- Don't just go on Twitter to spread the word about yourself. Share things you think other people would be interested in, retweet their important info, just be open to being helpful.

• Be interesting- Yes, it's important to tweet about trending topics. But, nobody will care if it's the same old recycled info. Put your own unique spin on topics people want to talk about.

• Be transparent- Put forth your best self, but also your real self. Sharing a small amount of personal information is acceptable as long as it's not too personal. In fact, it's important to be a real person, someone with feelings about things other than what their book is about and how their sales are this month.

Twitter is simple to use, and so many people are on it, it's definitely worth a try if you're serious about growing your influence online. If we're not connected yet, I invite you to join me in the-I'm gonna say it- Twittersphere. My handle is @laurahoward78 can't wait to chat!

The Ripple Effect

Since the rise of the internet the world seems much smaller, doesn't it? People are making connections that would have never been possible before chat rooms and forums existed. Social media sites link users from many walks of life, making it easier to find people who share interests- whether it be an interest in antiques or graphic design, zoology or yoga.


Naturally these changes not only affect our personal relationships, they've also completely changed the way we do business. As writers, we might not like to think about the "dark side" of publishing- marketing. It might feel overwhelming that in addition to crafting a compelling story, we must also master an entirely different skill set-the ability to market our work.

What if our mindsets are all wrong? Could it be there is a better way to go about this business? (Because it is a business isn't it?) The word business conjures up images of men in pin-striped suits carrying leather briefcases to board meetings. That's not quite how I pictured my life as a published author.

Thinking deeper about this, I realize the most successful authors make it their business not to necessarily sell their books, but to reach readers on a much more personal level. This part hasn't changed. Through forums and social media sites, authors can now connect with their readers in a way they couldn't before. An author once reached out to readers at book signings or speaking engagements. Now, a fan can visit the author's website each and every day, reinforcing that connection.

When I feel connected to an author, I am eager to share my excitement with friends and family members. And the cycle continues outward, causing a ripple effect. The internet speeds that ripple, giving the author a larger audience if they nurture the small seeds they plant in the beginning.

The opposite can be true if an author doesn't see the value in building strong relationships. If they enter the social scene only to sell their book and promote themselves, they're completely wasting their time. It's a turn off for anyone to be "sold". We want to do business with people we trust, and in order to trust someone we have to feel valued. The takeaway? Build relationships with your readers. Honor their time. The harvest will be worth it- in many ways- in the long run.