Book Marketing with Facebook Ads – Who Says You Can’t Buy Happiness?

The tale is almost as ancient as writing itself. Picture the author in an ancient Italian city, scribbling away into the night by the dim amber light of a candle. He eeks out his living in a garret above the crowded street below—one teeming with readers he hopes to entertain, influence, convince or transform. His livelihood depends on it. Somehow …

Building Social Proof in Social Media Circles – Personal Branding Tips

Since the taming of fire, people have aligned themselves with various clubs, clans, groups, movements, organizations and sports franchises. The obvious illustration of this is rooting for your home team. Where were you last Super Bowl Sunday? The odds are high that you remember where you were, and that you weren’t watching the big game alone. This fact about association …

Social Media, Book Promotion and the Sweet Smell of Success

Ah, the sweet smell of success: your book is finally a household name, the topic of conversation in coffee houses and the subject of toasts in fine dining establishments. Just yesterday, you turned down a media interview due to your busy schedule. Tomorrow you’re off to Barbados for a quick dip in the salty surf, then a date with a …

Get Swept Up In the Adventure – It Was a Dark and Stormy Night In November…

In the spirit of National Novel Writing Month, take an escape into the unknown as you explore the art of writing… He passed a well-manicured hand across his balding pate. It was an absent minded gesture, an insecure idiosyncrasy that had evolved over the course of many years, despite his elevated rank. Renard gladly would have traded some of his …

No Way….Write a Book in a Month?

November is National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known as NaNoWriMo. Around the world, more than 300,000 authors will attempt the impossible: to write an entire book in a single month. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, here’s a little background. NaNoWriMo is not really a writing contest, but an event. You might say it’s a contest… with yourself. …

Sample Campaign – The Tried & True Book Selling Technique

So you want to promote your new book. You’ve witnessed other authors racing to the top of the best seller charts, and you wonder what they’re doing to build mega success. If you’re like most authors, you’re not sure how to go about reaping this kind of success for yourself. Want to know a secret? You don’t have to be …

Book Awards – Resting On Your Laurels and Other Thoughts on Winning Book Writing Competitions

Competing for a writing award is an often-overlooked tactic in the book marketing list of “To-Dos”. But is it worth it? Let’s take a look. Back in the day – I mean way back – citizens of the Greek Empire knew they had made it big when they were crowned with a wreath made from bay laurel leaves. You know …

Noisetrade – A Hidden Gem for Book Marketing

The Author’s Dream There you are, sipping coffee and cognac by the stone fireplace at a lodge near Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Your muscles are warm and loose from a day of skiing, and your mind is on the fine meal planned for the evening. Recent sales of your best seller have funded this little getaway, and you can’t believe how easily …

Big Exposure for Authors – Trade Publication Reviews

Of all the tactics an author can use to become noteworthy, getting your book reviewed by the New York Times is right up there. A thumbs up from the likes of Publishers Weekly or the Library Journal is not just some stroke for the author’s ego. It can translate to big bucks in terms of buy-in for your book. The …

Book Publicity Media Kits – The 5 Essential Elements Journalists Need

Successfully marketing your book basically means letting people know that it exists. After all, you wrote down your best ideas so that others would read and enjoy them. Getting more book sales translates to more people sharing your best ideas – fact or fiction— and benefitting from them. As the person who’s primarily responsible for promoting your book, one smart …