Adding a widget to your site is an essential. Even though most of the widgets you see are ones standard to most blogs and sites, an author should consider constructing a personalized widget. A personalized widget can tout a football team, your kid's nickname; others can emphasize function, for example, tracking how fast you can type. Do a few web searches to find a widget already made, or how to make your own, and start the process.
Mr. Obie Joe's widget preference? The Saints' 2008-09 schedule, of course, and Ms. Obie Joe would be inclined to agree.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
TIP: Call your library
One of the best ways to juice your Amazon ranking (beyond writing a good book?) is to solicit your friends, family, work colleagues, and perhaps neighbors to place an order the first week of a book's release. Or, soon after a huge media appearance.
Don't forget to solicit friends and families for placing orders that won't cost them a dime. When a library orders a book, they tend to order many copies. For a recent title in poetry promoted by Obie Joe, we hit the jackpot with each library order, usually averaging 20+ books.
Ask your friends and family to call their local library to place a hold on the book. If told the book is not in stock, ask to have the book ordered. It may take a few calls before the library orders the books, but eventually a library will.
Don't forget to solicit friends and families for placing orders that won't cost them a dime. When a library orders a book, they tend to order many copies. For a recent title in poetry promoted by Obie Joe, we hit the jackpot with each library order, usually averaging 20+ books.
Ask your friends and family to call their local library to place a hold on the book. If told the book is not in stock, ask to have the book ordered. It may take a few calls before the library orders the books, but eventually a library will.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
TIP: Put ya domains on auto renewal
If you own the domain name of your web site (this advice does not apply to blogs), make sure to put the annual renewal on automatic. Whether it's godaddy.com, register.com or whomever, the company should offer an auto-renewal function. Take it. Not all domain hosts will notify you of an expiration date.
Many of us in book promotion have stories of authors whose domain name lapsed. And either they did not get an expiration notice, or they did not remember to renew, but the sad day came when they learned someone else now had their domain name, either by auction or smart picking up.
Many of us in book promotion have stories of authors whose domain name lapsed. And either they did not get an expiration notice, or they did not remember to renew, but the sad day came when they learned someone else now had their domain name, either by auction or smart picking up.
TIP for the day: stop by and say hi
One of our large goals for this log was to post more tips on book promotion.
Here's a tip for Mr. Obie Joe: stop being so slovenly on the posts.
A tip for everyone else:
Optimally, your site's blogroll contains links to your favorite sites. Treat these sites like your favs, and give them a little bit of love every now and then. Meaning, make sure to visit these sites and leave a comment. If you more time, take a bit of something you learned from this site, and post a snippet on your site.
The advantages? Your friends will feel loved, and with some active blogs, your post will boost your Google position.
Here's a tip for Mr. Obie Joe: stop being so slovenly on the posts.
A tip for everyone else:
Optimally, your site's blogroll contains links to your favorite sites. Treat these sites like your favs, and give them a little bit of love every now and then. Meaning, make sure to visit these sites and leave a comment. If you more time, take a bit of something you learned from this site, and post a snippet on your site.
The advantages? Your friends will feel loved, and with some active blogs, your post will boost your Google position.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Why bother?
The author and the publisher is king(s), respectively, so their word is go when it comes to book promotion.
That said, like any other service provider, Mr. Obie Joe finds the situation a bit vexing when an author or publisher takes a direction not of sense to the goal of finding an audience for a book.
A lot has been hyped about online promotion. Get a MySpace page. Throw thousands of dollars for a web site. Do a blog tour. Put on podcasts. The focus is always on the wrong thing: a successful book promotion is less about the tools, and more about the actual CONTENT. Sorry to shout, but Mr. Obie Joe must remind authors and publishers to choose their online tools carefully. Few of us are as charismatic as Chip Kidd (sigh), or as funny and prolific as Haven Kimmel in their book trailers, websites, blogs and podcasts.
Make the commitment stick when you choose your tool for online promotion. Don't scramble all over. Pick one or two tools, and show up regularly. The bookmarks Mr. and Ms. Obie Joe bookmark are ones with regular posts; that's all, and that's enough.
That said, like any other service provider, Mr. Obie Joe finds the situation a bit vexing when an author or publisher takes a direction not of sense to the goal of finding an audience for a book.
A lot has been hyped about online promotion. Get a MySpace page. Throw thousands of dollars for a web site. Do a blog tour. Put on podcasts. The focus is always on the wrong thing: a successful book promotion is less about the tools, and more about the actual CONTENT. Sorry to shout, but Mr. Obie Joe must remind authors and publishers to choose their online tools carefully. Few of us are as charismatic as Chip Kidd (sigh), or as funny and prolific as Haven Kimmel in their book trailers, websites, blogs and podcasts.
Make the commitment stick when you choose your tool for online promotion. Don't scramble all over. Pick one or two tools, and show up regularly. The bookmarks Mr. and Ms. Obie Joe bookmark are ones with regular posts; that's all, and that's enough.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The B.E.A. in L.A.
Similar to high school days, it's difficult for a book person to admit they are not going to the biggest book event of the event: the B.E.A. Book Expo. It's like saying you're not going to the prom.
And similar to the prom, being at the BEA can mirror the anxiety, crowd crushes, and the stealth drinking (at least until the evening).
For years Mr. Obie Joe was sure how the time spent was not equally maximized by those in the business for years. Then we read the account by Kim, the mighty agent, (pubrants.blogspot.com/), and nodded our head. For as many appointments, intended networking, one makes, the BEA is really about the awe of the scope of our industry.
See you in NYC in '09!
And similar to the prom, being at the BEA can mirror the anxiety, crowd crushes, and the stealth drinking (at least until the evening).
For years Mr. Obie Joe was sure how the time spent was not equally maximized by those in the business for years. Then we read the account by Kim, the mighty agent, (pubrants.blogspot.com/), and nodded our head. For as many appointments, intended networking, one makes, the BEA is really about the awe of the scope of our industry.
See you in NYC in '09!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Online overdose
Online publicity tools are the new lottery tickets for many authors and publishers.
At least that's what Mr. Obie Joe hears. According to a new survey -- www.publishingtrends.com/Publicity_Survey.html -- the majority of publicity efforts are going towards online. Blogs, web sites, podcasts, IM'ing, book trailers, widgets, e-mail campaigns, obsessive social networking, and so on and on. And on.
We've been fascinated with the scatter-shot approach people take to online promotion. Instead, try to saturate yourself on one format, or tool, and let a natural evolution take you to the next online tool. For example, get the blog going, generating copy regularly, and from there, see where else the content takes you. Perhaps to syndication. Then to the development of an e-mail list. Add tools specific to the blog: flickr for photos, vox for podcasts/songs, etc.
Mr. Obie Joe has seen too many online campaigns that flame bright, and go out quick because of the lack of coordination, the demands of the complex tools, or because the lack of response.
Doing any promotion online provides no guarantees or lottery pay-offs. Online promotion is like any other promotional tool: it takes finesse, attention and heavy lifting.
At least that's what Mr. Obie Joe hears. According to a new survey -- www.publishingtrends.com/Publicity_Survey.html -- the majority of publicity efforts are going towards online. Blogs, web sites, podcasts, IM'ing, book trailers, widgets, e-mail campaigns, obsessive social networking, and so on and on. And on.
We've been fascinated with the scatter-shot approach people take to online promotion. Instead, try to saturate yourself on one format, or tool, and let a natural evolution take you to the next online tool. For example, get the blog going, generating copy regularly, and from there, see where else the content takes you. Perhaps to syndication. Then to the development of an e-mail list. Add tools specific to the blog: flickr for photos, vox for podcasts/songs, etc.
Mr. Obie Joe has seen too many online campaigns that flame bright, and go out quick because of the lack of coordination, the demands of the complex tools, or because the lack of response.
Doing any promotion online provides no guarantees or lottery pay-offs. Online promotion is like any other promotional tool: it takes finesse, attention and heavy lifting.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Are you ready for the gold rush?
In a recent accounting of online book sales, it was noted that, while Amazon continues to be the beast in online book sales, other sectors are catching up. Online book sales are increasing on publisher web sites, and on individual author web site (these books are not under the classification of self-published). According to a survey by Fairfield Research, the percentage of books bought online jumped from 23% to 30% last year.
Most of the new sales to publisher web sites were inspired by deep discounts. For author sites, purchases were made because the visitor came as a fan, and then decided to buy once reminded at, and after, the visit.
Interestingly, online sales were not found to cut into sales at independent bookstores, proving once again, that the independents make their sales not necessarily on price, but on relationships.
So this is all a reminder for Mr. Obie Joe to remind the authors: online sales are going to only increase, and it would be wise for authors and publishers to include their online in their promotion and marketing. And, no, we're not just talking about a flatlined web site, but a vibrant, updated regularly web site; blog participation on yours or theirs, and subject network searching.
Most of the new sales to publisher web sites were inspired by deep discounts. For author sites, purchases were made because the visitor came as a fan, and then decided to buy once reminded at, and after, the visit.
Interestingly, online sales were not found to cut into sales at independent bookstores, proving once again, that the independents make their sales not necessarily on price, but on relationships.
So this is all a reminder for Mr. Obie Joe to remind the authors: online sales are going to only increase, and it would be wise for authors and publishers to include their online in their promotion and marketing. And, no, we're not just talking about a flatlined web site, but a vibrant, updated regularly web site; blog participation on yours or theirs, and subject network searching.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Debbie's list
You know those annoying boxes that float across the screen when you first access a web site? Before you even get comfortable with becoming a regular fan of the site, or the author’s newsletters, you’re swatting away the chance.
Among publishers, author Debbie Macomber is a phenomenon. Yes, Macomber’s sales are to be reckoned with -- 150 titles and counting, a total in print more than 60 million -- Macomber’s fans for her books are loyal and numerous.
Equally legendary, though, is Macomber’s e-mail list. Its size is truly magnificent; last year, Macomber estimated the number of subscribers to her quarterly newsletters at over 100,000. Macomber treats the list as one of her most precious assets, and gifts a targeted version of the list to bookstores soon to feature her appearance.
Mr. Obie Joe invites you to take a look at www.debbiemacomber.com web site. See if you find the floating opt-in box. Or the flashing box. Nope. Instead, Macomber quietly places the sign-up in her Guestbook. And the sign-up questionnaire is quite extensive, all the better to take advantage of a reader’s particular interest.
One other thing? In one year, the sign-ups for debbiemacomber.com doubled. From 50K to 100K. Tell a friend, indeed.
Among publishers, author Debbie Macomber is a phenomenon. Yes, Macomber’s sales are to be reckoned with -- 150 titles and counting, a total in print more than 60 million -- Macomber’s fans for her books are loyal and numerous.
Equally legendary, though, is Macomber’s e-mail list. Its size is truly magnificent; last year, Macomber estimated the number of subscribers to her quarterly newsletters at over 100,000. Macomber treats the list as one of her most precious assets, and gifts a targeted version of the list to bookstores soon to feature her appearance.
Mr. Obie Joe invites you to take a look at www.debbiemacomber.com web site. See if you find the floating opt-in box. Or the flashing box. Nope. Instead, Macomber quietly places the sign-up in her Guestbook. And the sign-up questionnaire is quite extensive, all the better to take advantage of a reader’s particular interest.
One other thing? In one year, the sign-ups for debbiemacomber.com doubled. From 50K to 100K. Tell a friend, indeed.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Online press kits: the basics and more
For all of its intrinsic benefits, it remains a surprise that there are not more web sites for authors and publishers with online press kits. Mr. Obie Joe knows many of the visitors are from media or venues, and for those sources, a downloadable or accessible press kit is essential for making that first contact with an author.
At the very least, place a button for a visitor to download the press release in Word or PDF format. If you want to really spruce up your online press kit, try these features:
• jpegs of book cover, author photo. Make sure the resolution is extra good so either can be used in newspapers, magazines and TV.
• Podcast of an author, or someone else talented, reading a particularly good section of the book. Increasingly Mr. Obie Joe is finding that podcasts serve as press releases of another type, particularly with listeners willing to test drive a book by voice rather than by pick-up in a bookstore.
• "E-mail to a friend" button so others can immediately share the text with a friend.
• Hyperlink to your site, and more importantly, the e-mail address for immediate follow-up.
• Opt-in box. Though most sites place opt-in boxes on their landing or splash page, include one here, too. This asks visitors to leave their e-mail address to receive news of your next event, or musing.
Mr. Obie Joe is sure there are more features to try out...what ones would you suggest?
At the very least, place a button for a visitor to download the press release in Word or PDF format. If you want to really spruce up your online press kit, try these features:
• jpegs of book cover, author photo. Make sure the resolution is extra good so either can be used in newspapers, magazines and TV.
• Podcast of an author, or someone else talented, reading a particularly good section of the book. Increasingly Mr. Obie Joe is finding that podcasts serve as press releases of another type, particularly with listeners willing to test drive a book by voice rather than by pick-up in a bookstore.
• "E-mail to a friend" button so others can immediately share the text with a friend.
• Hyperlink to your site, and more importantly, the e-mail address for immediate follow-up.
• Opt-in box. Though most sites place opt-in boxes on their landing or splash page, include one here, too. This asks visitors to leave their e-mail address to receive news of your next event, or musing.
Mr. Obie Joe is sure there are more features to try out...what ones would you suggest?
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