Currently Reading: Wyoming. I'm nearly finished with the second story, Plains of Promises.
E-Book: Sweet Dreams, by Dakota Rebel. Was so busy this weekend, I didn't get a chance to start on it. Maybe later today!
Barb, March Madness is stretching into April. The Final Four, UNC, Kansas, Memphis, and UCLA battle it out next weekend for the final two slots. And then a week from today, April 7th, the final two teams will go head to head. And yes, I only picked 2 out of 4. Davidson put up a hell of a fight, losing by only 2 points! So kudos to them! Who will I pick? Tune in next weekend!
Attended a discussion on cultivating one's fan base. Admittedly, it wasn't much of a discussion; only 3 of us showed up. The only thing I learned was the suggestion of sending out a twice-yearly newsletter to everyone on my mailing list, and to include the Community Relations Managers of all bookstores I've frequented. I sort of send one out, via email. And BB Walter had an excellent idea (and I may have already mentioned this). She set out a sheet of paper attached to a clipboard and invited everyone to sign up for her newsletter. I may start doing this...by the end of the two hours, she had several names and email addresses!
Otherwise, I blog; I show up at chats to support my fellow authors; I held a contest last month. And whenever I have breaking news, or a signing is coming up, I send out a mass email to remind everyone I'm published and to please come and say hi. I unashamedly bribe children with M&Ms and Reecee Cups, so their adult companions will come over to my table! It didn't really work last Saturday, but it was wonderful at Christmas!
So what do you do to keep your name 'out there'? And do you think the chats help with sales? The general concensus last night was no, but I beg to differ. I know that's where my TBB list has a tendancy to grow and take on a life of its own. Case in point: Cindy Spencer Pape decided to list every single book she's written, and now my list is well over the 70 mark. And I had a reader contact me because the link I provided didn't work. So I know I've sold at least two books on chats!
Want to read a good rant? Go to http://www.ohgetagrip.blogspot.com/. I personally left 3 comments over there! Why 3? I hit 'send' too soon!
11 comments:
Enjoy Sweet Dreams. It's great!
Well of course they play again next weekend. There are Jazz Fest events both days so they have to.
Congrats on the sales! Good to know the chats are working!
Hey, thanks for the plug, Molly! Of course those aren't all I've written, just the ones I've sold--there were a couple early ones that no one would touch with a ten foot pole!
I wish I knew what type of promo helps, whether it's chats, articles, blogging, being chatty on loops, paid for ads, short stories... Or something else. I haven't been able to pinpoint anything. I think it's a mixture of everything we do, the more the better. I can't afford to do much paid-for advertising, so I do as many other things as time and energy allows.
I also haven't figured out which books will sell best. I've had three really good sellers - out of 40 published books. I have no clue why they're selling better than the others. If I did, I'd definitely recreate them. I try. :) For all I know, it's the great cover, and not a lot to do with me.
If you figure it out, let me know. I'm sure chats help some. The more readers see our names, the more they get to know us, has to help. The rule of advertising is that the consumer needs to see the brand name 7 times to trust it and thus purchase.
Who knows what really helps? Fan letters indicate they don't go to the chats they just go to the book sites they are familiar with and by the authors they like
Yeah. Still not understanding the basketball thing.
That's okay. Neither does hubby...
Molly,
Glad my sign up sheet was an inspiration! I have some other tips on my site that I didn't use last weekend you might like.
I also wonder what is working. As my time and energy allows, I try putting my name everywhere. You putting me in your blog has helped to...When I Googled my name this morning, your blog came up as well as my website(s), myspace, and such. The more links the bette, right?
Let me know if you figure out what works best, but for now I guess we just have to do it all!! :)
BB Walter
www.freewebs.com/bbwalter
Hey BB! Glad you wandered over!
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