Know Me - Know My Work: Garner Trust and a Sale is Eminent!
by Martha Jette
(Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
Glimpses II: (it could happen to you!)
Every author knows that it's much easier to write a book and get it published than it is to market the book for potential readers and purchasers. The most important thing authors can do is make sure to join social sites where people can get to know them and their work.
This does not just mean the usual ones like Facebook and MySpace.
The one that really started me off on this route was Ryze.com. The set-up of the page lends itself easily to sharing both information and pictures related to your book and your life in general.
Ryze also has many groups you can join from book reading clubs and author groups to discussions on specific topics. In my case, I began my own group on the paranormal to promote discussion of all things strange - which by the way, formed the subject matter of my first major efforts: "Glimpses: True Stories of the Paranormal" and "Glimpses II: (it could happen to you!)"
I met many folks on the site who were intrigued by this subject matter and enjoyed sharing their experiences. The bonus of being a member of Ryze and being frequently active on the site is that I also acquired a publisher, who still takes my works to this day - and that is a true blessing!
The bottom line is that you need to meet real people who are interested in your topic. Garner their trust by showing that you are knowledgeable in your topic and they will be much more likely to purchase your book.
There are countless other sites where you can become active, take part in discussions and let your work shine at the same time, such as the Author's Den (http://www.authorsden.com) and the Book Marketing Network (http://thebookmarketingnetwork.com) where you can showcase your work, meet other authors, learn some new marketing tips and post updates on your progress. At the Book Marketing Network, I also began a group to write book reviews with links to my own site: MJ Book Reviews (http://mjbookreviews.blogspot.com/)on Blogger.com.
Linked In has a number of book related groups that you can join and it also has easy access to hundreds, if not thousands of members - all potential purchasers of your book. Be sure to join genre-specific groups as well, so you can share what you know.
There are also sites like Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com) where you can add your books to your bookshelf and find out what other people are reading. Of course, don't forget Yahoo Groups because you're sure to find many that discuss your genre both in book clubs, author's and topic-specific groups, where again you have the opportunity to share your expertise in your specific field.
Twitter is a relative newcomer on the Internet but also important to any author. Post updates daily on your books, you writing, your web sites, your genre and more.
Finally, don't forget about the power of radio on the Internet. Conduct a search to find those that discuss your topic and write to ask for an interview. Of course for me, the best Internet radio sites talk on various paranormal topics and the ultimate time of year to be heard is October - just before Halloween. If you do well in your interview, post a link on other social sites so others can hear it too.
You will also need to search for professionals who can review your book and present it on their site. A good book review could definitely equate to a sale!
As you can imagine, there are many other sites where you can promote yourself, your book and your knowledge. Just remember that when people get to know, like and trust you, a sale is much more likely.
Martha Jette is a former newspaper and magazine editor with years of writing experience. You can learn more about Martha and her books at: http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Jette/e/B002BLOZAC/
