Bob Baker's Full-Time Author Blog

The Art of the Start for Writers & Authors

2009-07-01T02:43:00.000-04:00

In one way I feel blessed. But that doesn't mean I am off the hook. Not by a long shot.

Let me clarify ...

I have rarely encountered the malady known as "writer's block." If anything, I am usually cursed with having too many potential ideas to write about.

So coming up with the right words to express what I want to communicate has rarely been a problem.

But ...

What I do suffer from is something you might call "starter's block."

In other words, I often have a resistance to starting the writing process. Like when I'm working on a book project, I'll find lots of other things I need to do before working on the chapter at hand.

I'll check email, update Twitter, log into Facebook, eat a snack, make a phone call, see if the snail mail has arrived, rearrange my sock drawer -- anything to deter me. Can you relate?

I usually know what topic I'm going to write about. That's not what stops me. The block comes because I put off starting to write.

When I finally commit and say, "Enough with the distractions! It's time to sit my butt down and type," an interesting thing happens.

At first, I grudgingly write an opening line for the section I need to work on. The sentences get pecked out slowly at first, as I rationally search for word choices that express the idea I want to get across.

These opening lines lead to other ideas that further flesh out the concept. Then some word or phrase triggers an association I hadn't thought of before, and it sends me off on an expected tangent that magically reinforces the message.

Then I'm off and running. That's when I get into an almost cosmic state of flow. The writing then ceases to be a mechanical task and transforms into a heightened state of consciousness as my fingertips race to keep up with the ideas I'm downloading.

This is the fun part of writing. It's at times like these, when I'm fully engaged in capturing the river of ideas, that I remember why I'm blessed to make a living doing this. I feel completely on purpose -- like it's what I'm meant to do.

And I believe you can and should feel the same way when you write!

But here's the key thing to understand about this process:

To reach that magical state of flow, you must START writing before you actually feel that way.

Too many writers wait to feel inspired before they'll even start putting words on paper (or on the screen). That's rarely worked for me.

Most of the time, it only comes when my butt hits the chair and my fingers hit the keyboard.

Learn to master the art of the start. It's the key to getting things done and being a prolific writer and author!

-Bob

Instant Book Promotion

2009-06-16T15:13:00.043-04:00

A couple of weeks ago Pooki and I headed to New York City for a six-day adventure.

I presented two classes on book promotion at Publishing University, we attended the huge Book Expo trade show for two days, then spent the rest of the time catching up with music friends and exploring Manhattan.

As I've done on many of my previous trips, I recorded a lot of video and audio while there. But this time I did something different -- something I recommend YOU do too, if you don't already.
Instead of waiting till we returned home to edit and post video clips/photos (which often appear weeks after the events), I uploaded and published them right away, sometimes within hours of recording them.

In addition ...

I regularly updated friends and followers of my activities on Twitter and Facebook. It was fun and immediate -- nearly instant communication and promotion.

Treat your readers and fans to the same intimate view of your activities -- when you're at home working on a new book, traveling to do research, attending a conference, giving a live talk, meeting other authors and fans, or just doing something cool or unusual.

I love meeting people (both famous and obscure) and capturing the moment with still and moving pictures.

On this trip, I was thrilled to meet Rupert Jee (of the Hello Deli, pictured above), Tavis Smiley, Cornel West, David Meerman Scott, Paulette Ensign, David Mathison, Dan Poynter, Kathleen Gage, and even Dr. Ruth Westheimer!

In addition, I saw Tom Paxton, Judy Collins, Peter Yarrow, Mary Jo Buttafuoco, Bill Cosby, Jackie Mason, and a certain hotel heiress with a French sounding name :-) We even came close to seeing President Obama!

For a quick look at some of the photos I posted from this NYC trip, go to Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker/

And here's a chronological list of the short video clips I posted throughout the journey:

IBPA's Publishing University Opening Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-cGzXNarG0

Book Trailers, Low-Cost Video, Book Promotion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0KcJwXX46E

30 Rock, New York City, Book Expo, BEA NYC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXejo5uGNb8

Mary Jo Buttafuoco, David Meerman Scott, Dr Ruth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JFNFZ_wijs

Tom Paxton, Judy Collins, Peter Yarrow & The Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC2mh0BDArA

Espresso Book Machine & Dan Poynter at BEA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJnUPvwl70

President Obama, Greenwich Village, Indian Food
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg3DdjttTuQ

Bob Baker's New York City Tweetup Meet & Greet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hEhEutjn-Y

Paris Hilton Outside the Late Show with David Letterman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byv85CrzCdo

I learned to edit these videos quickly on my laptop and keep them short -- most are between 1 and 2 minutes each. Pooki recorded me using the video feature on an 8.0-megapixel Canon PowerShot A590 IS camera, which records as a high-quality AVI file direct to disk. I edited on a PC laptop using the free Windows Movie Maker program.

Also, my intention was to make these clips lighthearted, so you won't find any deep thoughts here. But a lot of people really appreciated being able to track us on our New York journey.

Online promotion is about interaction and involvement. And you can't get more involved than instant digital communication -- without actually being there!

-Bob

Get Bob's newest book:

An online promotion guide for authors and book publishers who want to market their books effectively on the Internet.

Learn more about it here ...

Video: The Shocking Truth About Self-Published Books

2009-05-01T12:48:00.001-04:00

I just posted a new video clip called "Self-Published Books: The Ugly Truth." In less than 2 minutes I reveal a surprising truth about self-published books and the book "industry" in general.

Watch it below or on this YouTube page.

Sure, there are rare exceptions to this truth. But for the most part, once you realize this, it will set you free.

Recorded last month at Borders in Creve Coeur, MO, during a "How to Publish Your Own Book" workshop presented by the St. Louis Publishers Association.

Look for more video clips coming soon.

-Bob

Will I See You at Publishing University Next Month?

2009-04-21T13:15:00.000-04:00

The traditional book publishing business is crumbling -- right along with the global economy. But the news is not all doom and gloom -- not by a long shot.

We live in an incredible era where average people can enter the marketplace with their self-produced music, films and books ... and reach a worldwide audience.

The industry Gatekeepers of old have lost touch with the changing times and lost power in the process.

And that's good news for you!

That's why I've been such a proponent of taking the indie, DIY path in all creative fields for many years.

That's also why I'm a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (formerly PMA). They are the primary organization leading the charge for indie authors and publishers.

This year I'll be speaking for the third time at their annual conference, called Publishing University.

If you've never attended, here's what you can expect:

Three days filled with more than 50 class on marketing, sales, publicity, finance, legal, editorial, printing, design, and more.

This year I'm organizing two classes:

"Octopus Marketing: The Multiple Tentacles Approach to Creating Book Buzz Online." Joining me will be Deltina Hay of Dalton Publishing and Maggie Lichtenberg of Open Heart Publishing.

"Book Trailers and Beyond: How to Use Online Video to Boost Your Book Sales." I'll present with Steve O'Keefe of Patron Saint Productions and Rocky Lang of BookstoFilm.TV.

Publishing University takes place May 26-29, 2009, in New York City at the Roosevelt Hotel.

For rates and details, visit www.thepublishinguniversity.com

More more info in IBPA, see www.ibpa-online.org

If you attend, be sure to find me and say hello. It would be great to meet you in person!

-Bob

Get Bob's newest book:

An online promotion guide for authors and book publishers who want to market their books effectively on the Internet.

Learn more about it here ...

How to Get Your Name in My Next Book

2009-04-06T13:31:00.000-04:00

Last week I officially pre-launched my new book, called "55 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Book on the Internet."

But I did it in a very unusual way. Some might even call it "revolutionary."

See what I'm talking about at www.IndieBookPromotion.com.

Actually, I borrowed this idea from the indie music world. Many bands over the years have turned to their fans for help. They pre-sell a new CD before it's even recorded. And they give the fans who support them early on a lot of perks, like free downloads of early song demos, their names in the CD sleeve credits, etc.

I'm doing something very similar with this next book, which will be my 7th published paperback -- but my very first title specifically for authors and book publishers.

So I invite you to be part of this unconventional book launch. You'll get your name and web address in the printed book, along with lots of other goodies.

See all the details at www.IndieBookPromotion.com.

Yes, this isn't your typical book publishing formula. Then again, I'm not your typical author.

And I encourage you to think outside the octagon as you build your own author career too.

-Bob

13 Author Radio Interview Tips

2009-03-11T19:09:00.001-04:00

So you've just booked an interview on a major radio show or podcast. Congratulations! Your voice and message about your book will reach hundreds or even many thousands of listeners. This interview will make a huge impact!

Or will it?

Make the most of your radio and podcast interviews by being prepared. Here are 13 of the best tips I found from three different sources.

1) Disable call waiting: dial *70 first and then call the studio number. This disables call waiting for the duration of the phone call. As soon as you hang up, it will be reactivated.

2) Smile, smile, smile! Whether you are on radio or TV ... SMILE. You'll feel better and sound a lot more interesting too.

3) Know exactly how much time you will have on the air as a guest. Three minutes or 30 minutes? You want to tailor your answers to the time allotted.

4) Practice some prepared sound bites before the interview. Communicate your main points succinctly. Practice this out loud.

5) Don't oversell. You have been invited to provide useful information to the listening audience. Limit yourself to two mentions of your book. It takes finesse but you can do it. And often times the host will do this for you and you won't even need to mention it.

6) Have three key messages. Short ones, not sermons. Sometimes the host opens the door, other times you have to answer a question and segue to a key message. A compelling message will have the host asking for more. But even if you squeeze in only one or two, you'll get a big return for the time invested.

Source: Scott Lorenz

7) Try to avoid doing interviews using a cell phone or a headset. Both are unreliable.

8) Submit suggested questions ahead of time, and focus on giving your best answers to the questions you have provided.

9) Compliment the host when a good question is asked: "That's an excellent question" or "I'm glad you asked that." It also helps to draw in your audience.

10) Use the interviewer's name in conversation. It creates a more intimate connection that the audience feels privy to. And it makes the interviewer feel good too.

Source: AnnieJenningsPR.com

11) Have a glass of water handy (at room temperature). When your throat is lubricated it's easier to talk. Plus, the water serves as a "cough button" if needed.

12) Try standing while you speak -- even for a phone interview. Your voice will carry further and you'll sound more animated.

13) Get your listeners involved. For example, before a commercial break, ask them to get a pencil and paper to write down the three tips you are about to share. Then they'll have something to write with when you give out your book title, web site, or phone number later.

Source: Joe Sabah

I hope these 13 tips help you make the most of your next interview!

-Bob

The TGIF Word Play Challenge

2009-02-27T10:45:00.002-05:00

Last Friday I posted this simple message to my Facebook and Twitter accounts:

Bob wants you to give him another meaning for TGIF. Like "Thirsty Goldfish Ingest Fervently." Your turn!

I received a LOT of creative and funny responses left as Facebook wall comments and Twitter replies. Here are some of the better ones (with a social networking lesson at the end):

Those Gams Invite Fondling
David

Today Gratitude Is Foremost
Margaret

Tempting Girlfriends Incite Foolishness
Deepak

The Gnome Is Frolicking
Cheri

Tomorrow Gets Interesting, Frodo
Kathy

Try Getting It Fried
Lisa

True Greatness Inspires Frivolity
David

Try Guinness, It's Fab
Though Guinness Increases Farting
John

Twitter Goes Idio-Fanatical
Arnold

That Guy Is F**ked
Macdara

Tweeple Gather Interesting Friends
Rocky

Time Grows Increasingly Fractal
David

This Genius Is Frisky
Matt

Why am I sharing this with you? Two reasons.

First, these responses are amusing. And if you want to add one of your own, I encourage you to leave one in the comments below.

Second, this is a good example of how to use social networking beyond pure self-promotion. Yes, I plug my books and other things on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. But I balance those promotional messages with conversations.

You should do the same thing.

Many people go too far one way or the other. No, I don't need to know every move you make on Twitter. But sharing some snippets of your personal life is fine, especially if it engages people and stirs some discussion.

Some "social networkers" do nothing but post sales messages. I don't know about you, but after a while I start tuning these people out and unsubscribe from their feeds.

Check out how John Mayer and Ryan Seacrest (and even MC Hammer) use Twitter to communicate. It's a mix of personal and promotional. And it works!

So, start using these sites to plug your new books, live events, and media coverage -- while also asking questions, replying to other people's comments, linking to amazing sites and blog posts, sharing funny thoughts, etc.

Got it?

Great. Thank God It's Friday!

-Bob

NEW!

The Secret Guide to Amazon.com Book Sales & Promotion

How to promote and sell your book on the world's largest online bookseller

Learn More ...

How to Promote Books with Your Mailing List

2009-02-25T15:13:00.001-05:00

Here's an excerpt from my new book, "55 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Book on the Internet."

#9 - Communicate with Your Readers Regularly

Okay, so you've got a mailing list up and running, and new people are signing up all the time. Congratulations! But you're only halfway done. The second part of the mailing list equation is using it. Yes, you have to communicate with these people!

Ideally, you should send something to your list on a regular schedule: once a week, every other week, once a month. I recommend you send something at least monthly -- and more often if you can.

Author Marcia Yudkin delivers a weekly "Marketing Minute" email.

Mary Lou Andre emails a wardrobe "Tip of the Month."

Joe Vitale sends out email messages just about every day (which is probably a bit much for most authors).

So find a frequency that works for you, and don't go long stretches where subscribers don't hear from you at all.

Key: Also, don't let the terms "email newsletter" or "ezine" intimidate you. Email messages to your list don't have to be long. In fact, it's much better if they're short and to the point.

People will be more likely to open your emails if they know it won't take a lot of their time. Your messages will also be more warmly received if you deliver some nugget of value along with any sales pitch.

Don't have anything new to say? Sure you do.

Point your subscribers to a new article you've posted online. Make them aware of your media appearances and live events. Share a personal experience that inspired you.

More ideas: Hold a contest or offer a discount. Ask for input on the next book you're writing. Make them aware of helpful web sites and resources you've found that they should know about.

In short, think about the needs of your subscribers and ask yourself, "What's the most helpful thing I can deliver to my readers in a timely manner?"

Then deliver it.

-Bob

P.S. Again, this is a quick preview of my new book, "55 Ways to Promote and Sell Your Book on the Internet," due out in spring 2009.

The Facebook Terms of Use Uproar

2009-02-18T11:03:00.001-05:00

It's been the talk of the social web in recent weeks. If you haven't heard, Facebook recently updated its Terms of Use. Many bloggers who paid attention to the details were outraged. One of the more popular posts on the topic (Facebook's New Terms Of Service: "We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever") has been viewed more than 550,000 times.

But just today, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted the following message, which demonstrates a smart move for the growing company -- and the power of citizen voices in corporate policy:

A couple of weeks ago, we revised our terms of use hoping to clarify some parts for our users. Over the past couple of days, we received a lot of questions and comments about the changes and what they mean for people and their information. Based on this feedback, we have decided to return to our previous terms of use while we resolve the issues that people have raised.

Many of us at Facebook spent most of today discussing how best to move forward. One approach would have been to quickly amend the new terms with new language to clarify our positions further. Another approach was simply to revert to our old terms while we begin working on our next version. As we thought through this, we reached out to respected organizations to get their input.

Going forward, we've decided to take a new approach towards developing our terms. We concluded that returning to our previous terms was the right thing for now. As I said yesterday, we think that a lot of the language in our terms is overly formal and protective so we don't plan to leave it there for long.

More than 175 million people use Facebook. If it were a country, it would be the sixth most populated country in the world. Our terms aren't just a document that protect our rights; it's the governing document for how the service is used by everyone across the world. Given its importance, we need to make sure the terms reflect the principles and values of the people using the service.

Our next version will be a substantial revision from where we are now. It will reflect the principles I described yesterday around how people share and control their information, and it will be written clearly in language everyone can understand. Since this will be the governing document that we'll all live by, Facebook users will have a lot of input in crafting these terms.

You have my commitment that we'll do all of these things, but in order to do them right it will take a little bit of time. We expect to complete this in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we've changed the terms back to what existed before the February 4th change, which was what most people asked us for and was the recommendation of the outside experts we consulted.

If you'd like to get involved in crafting our new terms, you can start posting your questions, comments and requests in the group we've created -- Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. I'm looking forward to reading your input.

Congrats to Zuckerberg for his honesty and for responding to the people who have made Facebook the success it is. And a big Thank You to the bloggers and Facebook users who rattled the cages enough to get the attention of those in charge.

-Bob

NEW!

The Secret Guide to Amazon.com Book Sales & Promotion

How to promote and sell your book on the world's largest online bookseller

Learn More ...

Author Elizabeth Gilbert on Creative Genius

2009-02-13T11:04:00.000-05:00

Just watched this video last night and had to share it with you today. It was recorded this month at the TED conference, and the message applies directly to authors and our struggles with ideas, expectations, and more.

In this clip, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the bestselling Eat, Pray, Love, muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and moving talk.

-Bob

Internet Book Promotion Tip: Develop a Web Presence

2009-02-05T13:14:00.019-05:00

Here's an excerpt from my new book, "55 Ways to Promote and Sell Your Book on the Internet," due out in spring 2009.

#2 - Develop a Web "Presence," Not Just a Web Site

When many novice promoters think of Internet marketing, they believe it's all about putting up a good web site and then driving traffic to it using banner ads or a Google AdWords campaign (more on these later).

Sure, that's one way to promote your books online. But it's one of the least effective, in my opinion.

Another line of faulty reasoning is thinking that online book promotion is about search engine optimization (SEO). If only you did well in search results, you're worries would be over. It's true that putting basic SEO principles into practice can be helpful. But it's still not the ultimate solution.

The best way to promote and sell your books online -- based on my many years of Internet experience -- is thinking outside your web site.

Make no mistake, you need an attractive and well-organized site (and I'll cover my top tips in that area soon). But to make a real impact as an author, you need much more than a good web site.

You Need a Web Presence!

But what do I mean by "presence"?

You have a strong presence online when a growing number of people who have an interest in your topic or genre keep finding you in the places where they spend time online.

Sure, doing well in Google searches for your ideal words and phrases is one important part of having an Internet presence. But there's so much more to it.

Having a Web presence also means having your articles and sample chapters appear on prominent sites that cater to your subject matter. It happens when your name keeps popping up on active discussion forums related to your topic.

You also expand your presence when people find you on Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, and any number of other social networking sites. It grows when people who subscribe to your email newsletter forward your latest message to their friends.

You further establish your presence by starting your own blog, while also making comments on other people's blogs and podcasts -- and when you do text, audio and video interviews online.

In other words, you set yourself up for success by making sure you can be found in multiple places where your ideal reader, buyer and fan hangs out online.

That's what I mean by developing a Web presence. And that's exactly what this book will help you do.

-Bob

P.S. Again, this is a quick preview of my new book, "55 Ways to Promote and Sell Your Book on the Internet," due out in spring 2009.

Book Launch 2.0 - The Hollywood Method

2008-12-17T17:40:00.000-05:00

What can authors and book publishers learn from software developers and major motion pictures about introducing something new to the public? Maybe a lot.

But it's probably not what you think ...

According to the 37 Signals web site, it boils down to three steps:

1) Tease

2) Preview

3) Launch

First, in the Tease phase, you blog for months about the topic of your upcoming book. Make people aware that it's coming soon. Build a mailing list of readers who want to be the first to know when it's released.

Next, during Preview, you make sample chapters available to your list. Leak advance copies to key influencers in your field. Ask for testimonials from experts and your biggest supporters.

Finally, when you Launch, the book is available for sale from your own web site, Amazon, BN.com. You make a special offer to your mailing list. You alert the industry influencers and experts you contacted earlier. You ask other bloggers and ezine publishers to write about it and perhaps earn affiliate commissions. You send review copies to as many sources as make sense.

Read the entire 37 Signals post for more details, but I think there's a lot that can be applied to book promotion here.

Bottom line: Promotion shouldn't start the day the books arrive from the printer. A whole string of activities can take place in the weeks and months leading up to the "for sale" date.

-Bob

Join me for a New Year's Prosperity Plan workshop ...

"How to Beat the Recession, Reach Your Creative Goals, and Thrive in 2009!"

Coming to these cities:

San Francisco, CA - Saturday, December 27
Los Angeles, CA - Saturday, January 3
St. Louis, MO - Saturday, January 10

A powerful hands-on workshop for songwriters, musicians, authors, writers, artists, actors, and anyone with a creative entrepreneurial bone in their body.

Get more details on the New Year's Prosperity Plan workshop here.

Your 2009 Author Prosperity Plan & New Year's Resolution

2008-12-05T13:07:00.000-05:00

This just in ...

I'm hitting the road right after Christmas and bringing a powerful new hands-on workshop to the following three cities:

San Francisco, CA - Saturday, December 27

Los Angeles, CA - Saturday, January 3

St. Louis, MO - Saturday, January 10

I'm calling it "Your New Year's Prosperity Plan: How to Beat the Recession, Reach Your Creative Goals, and Thrive in 2009!"

Who should attend? Well ... writers, authors, and book publishers, of course. But this event will also boost the careers of songwriters, musicians, artists, actors -- in fact, anyone with a creative entrepreneurial bone in their body.

Please help me spread the word by sending your creative friends in the area to the 2009 Prosperity Plan workshop page.

Hope to see you in one of these three cities in a few weeks!

-Bob

How to Create a Major Book Buzz Online
Get a front row seat as I show you how to use the Internet to fuel word-of-mouth marketing. Learn more ...

How to Create Freebie Content to Build Your Mailing List

2008-11-26T13:10:00.004-05:00

Last month on the Mequoda Daily blog, they answered the question:

How do you create those complimentary products you give away in exchange for an email address?

Great topic. First, I assume you already know that one of your greatest marketing assets is an opt-in list of people who are interested in the topics you write about and publish books on. So you should be actively building your list at all times.

You DO know that. Right?

But these days, you need to give people a compelling reason to submit their name and email address. You almost have to bribe them. And that's where the free giveaway can be very effective.

What's the best way to create a freebie without giving away the entire book?

Here are two good ideas from Mequoda:

Create an ebook using content from your existing blog. You have so much content on your web site that no one may get to read unless you package it together. Three or four blog posts on mobile publishing might turn into an ebook called "Mobile Publishing Secrets."
Summarize some of your book's content. With this method, you might take a theme from your book and offer a stripped-down treatment of the topic.

Other ideas:

Simply create a PDF file of the introduction and first chapter or two of your book. If the content grabs them, readers will want to know (and buy) more.
Record your live talks and workshops. Make the audio or video recordings available as free downloads.
Have a friend interview you on the topic of your book. Record it and have someone transcribe the interview. Turn the audio or the text (or both) into a freebie to build your list.
Do you have a glossary of terms in your book? Or an appendix of helpful resources? Make them available.

There are many more ways to create your giveaway content. But this initial list should get you started.

Whatever you do, make sure you are creating incentives for people to sign up for your email list. It's a powerful book promotion asset.

-Bob

P.S. Below is MY incentive to get on my mailing list :-)

How One Writer Increased Email Signups by 300%

2008-11-17T11:51:00.004-05:00

There's no debate about this. Building a mailing list of people interested in what you do is crucial to your success as an author.

And these days, simply putting a signup form on your web site isn't the best solution. You must create incentives for people to submit their name and email address. Those incentives can include free sample chapters, audio interviews, checklists, etc.

Or you can get really creative and do what blogger Jim Kukral does: He sings "Happy Birthday" to his subscribers.

Here's the text from his email signup page ...

Please consider joining my private email update list.

BONUS! If you trust me enough to give me your day and month of birth, I'll personally sing happy birthday to you on my ukulele on your birthday on video! How can you beat that deal?

Now that's cool.

I have a feeling every subscriber gets the same generic music video clip, delivered by autoresponder email. But that doesn't make it any less special. I'm sure his readers appreciate the semi-personalized touch, delivered on their special day.

So ... what could you do to inspire more email signups and create an even stronger bond with your readers?

-Bob

Advice for Self-Promoting Authors

2008-11-14T14:08:00.003-05:00

Over on O'Reilly Media's Tools of Change for Publishing blog, the question was posed:

What do you think authors should do to promote themselves online? How much should publishers get involved?

Here's how I answered the question in a comment post:

I'm a full-time self-published author (and proud of it) who has been making good use of the Internet for more than 13 years. So I'm a little biased in my response :-)

The proactive self-promoting author has the best chance of success. If you go the traditional publishing route, by all means, use the resources that your house has to offer. But don't count on them to create your career for you.

To make the best use of the Internet, know that you need more than a good web site. You need a Web Presence. So think seriously about setting up profiles on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Squidoo, Blogger and/or Wordpress, and more.

And make sure you purposefully funnel people from all these sites back to your home base on the Web: your personal author site.

The Internet has been very good to me. Let it be your publishing friend too.

-Bob

Tim Ferriss: How to Create a Bestseller

2008-10-27T10:59:00.002-05:00

Leo Babauta has a good interview with 4-Hour Workweek author Tim Ferriss on his WriteToDone.com blog. Tim delves into the route he took to turn his book into a bestseller.

Here are my four big takeaways from the Q&A:

Your title is crucial. It can make or break the success of your book. Take time crafting and testing to find the best one.
Get to know bloggers -- but don't push your book too hard. Be human.
It's visible retail placement and not the mainstream media that usually propels a book to the bestseller lists.
Focus on making yourself a credible expert vs. pushing a book (which ties back into #2).

Tim also outlined his publishing story on his own blog here.

Interesting reading.

-Bob

How to Create a Major Book Buzz Online
Get a front row seat as I show you how to use the Internet to fuel word-of-mouth marketing. Learn more ...

The Do-It-Yourself Author Interview

2008-10-20T12:03:00.002-04:00

Sure, it would be great to get magazine and newspaper feature writers to interview you, say glowing things about your book, and run your life story in print. But if that goal is slow in coming, don’t give up. Do it yourself.

Here's how ...

Imagine your ideal interview. What questions would you like the interviewer to ask you? What sort of fascinating answers would you provide to amaze and inspire readers? Have some fun thinking this through.

Next, write out your fantasy questions and answers. But don't ramble about everything under the sun. Stay focused on your author identity and why people should care about you and your book. Make your responses lively, interesting, and maybe even a little shocking and controversial.

Take this self-produced Q&A and put it in your press kit and on your web site, or use it as a stand-alone item sent to the media. Journalists will use it to learn more about the author behind the book, and they may very well use your quotes in the articles they write about you.

-Bob

10 Ways to Promote Your Book on the Internet

2008-10-13T13:49:00.002-04:00

I was checking my web logs last week and noticed I was getting some hits based on the search strings "promote your book" and "how to promote your book." I ran them through Google and was surprised to see they both came up #2. Way cool!

The only thing was, it linked to a page on a site I haven't updated in eons (you know how that goes). On that page was a great article by Roger C Parker that I published years ago. But it didn't link to my current FullTimeAuthor.com site and made no mention of my recent work helping aspiring authors.

But, even after a few years, it's still a great article. So I'm keeping it on the same page to lock in the Google ranking. But I just updated the layout to reflect the newer Full-Time Author design.

I encourage you to read How to Promote Your Book on the Internet. These ten timeless pieces of advice will help you market and sell a lot more books.

And while you're at it, take a look at your own web logs and find out it any of your outdated pages are getting traffic. If they are, update them quick!

-Bob

P.S. Get FREE access to my Self-Publishing Confidential report filled with my best book publishing advice. Go grab your free report now.

Steve Pavlina's Hilarious Bonus Offer

2008-10-09T15:32:00.002-04:00

This is too funny. If you need a good laugh to relieve any stress you might be feeling because of the economy, this is the answer to your prayers.

Steve Pavlina is a prolific and successful blogger who just came out with a new book called Personal Development for Smart People. In one recent post he listed a bunch of free bonuses that readers would get when they buy now.

We've all seen these ridiculously long list of freebies dangled in front of our noses to inspire us to buy now. Heck, I'm guilty of using them myself to inspire sales.

But Steve has a hilarious take on this tactic. I'll turn it over to him now ...

Free Bonus With Your Book Order

I forgot to mention that if you order my book this month, you'll receive several free bonuses. I think you'll agree these are truly awesome. Their combined value is so incredibly high that I can't possibly put a price on them.

Some authors try to convince you to buy their books by tossing in a bunch of crappy e-books you'll never read. But obviously such a scheme is unworthy of a "smart person" such as yourself.

So I had to come up with something much more beneficial to you, something that would complement the book and add some serious value to it.

It took a lot of effort to develop these bonuses, but I think you'll agree they make this offer absolutely irresistible.

Here's what you'll receive:

Bonus #1: Love and Gratitude

You'll receive my unconditional love for helping to support my work (or is that conditional love?). Every day I take a moment to cast out love energy to everyone who's read my book. The sooner you read the book, the more love energy you receive. In addition to the free love bonus, I also send out feelings of deep gratitude, so that's like a bonus on top of a bonus. :)

But wait -- there's more!!!

Bonus #2: Heightened Awareness

This book will significantly increase your awareness. Even if you don't do any of the exercises, I guarantee this book will change the way you think about your life — for the better. You'll be able to amaze your friends and family with your newfound enlightenment.

And that's not all!!!

Bonus #3: Pass It On Value

After you read the book, you can pass it on to someone you think would benefit from it. Then it becomes a powerful gift you can bestow upon another human being. I don't earn any money when this happens, but who cares? These ideas are meant to be shared.

Hold on -- we're not done yet!!!

Bonus #4: Free Consultation

I can't believe I'm including this, but here goes… With your order I'll include one free astral consultation. Just go to sleep tonight and come visit me on the astral plane, and I'll personally consult with you for free. Best of all, since there's no time in the astral realms, you can take as long as you want! Just make sure you're fully lucid; otherwise you may not remember any of it.

Still not convinced -- it gets better!!!

Place your order within the next 10 minutes, and I'll double your bonuses! That's right -- double! You'll get double the love and gratitude! Double the awareness! Double the pass it on value! And double the consultations!

This offer is absolutely unprecedented!!! You'd better act now before I regain my sanity!

Operators are standing by… :)

Funny stuff. Thanks for the laugh, Steve! I needed that.

-Bob

How to Create a Major Book Buzz Online
Get a front row seat as I show you how to use the Internet to fuel word-of-mouth marketing. Learn more ...

Why Do You Write?

2008-10-03T11:12:00.002-04:00

Here's a refreshing perspective on the role of writing in your life.

Steve Pavlina was interviewed over on the Zen Habits blog. When asked to list some of the things he's passionate about, Steve included this gem:

"Expressing Ideas - I love creatively expressing ideas through writing, blogging, speaking, podcasting, and more. The specific media I use isn't important. I just enjoy the artistry of turning intangible ideas into some form of tangible expression. To me this feels like I'm sharing a piece of myself with the world."

What a profound thought. And it's one that I've expressed many times in recent years.
People ask me all the time about book publishing and marketing. Or why they should blog or bother with Facebook or Twitter. Not to mention getting publicity or doing public speaking.

To me, it's all part of your grand mission. You have something to say. You have an idea that needs to be shared with the world. Something that has the potential to educate, entertain, or enlighten a certain group of people.

Your goal then is to spread that message by any means necessary.

Don't get side-tracked obsessing about the tools or the technology. Focus more on the idea you have to offer and who needs to hear it. Then use every avenue at your disposal to reach as many people as you can with your message.

That's profound. Make that the main reason you write, speak, publish, promote, and sell yourself and your books.

-Bob

P.S. Get FREE access to my Self-Publishing Confidential report filled with my best book publishing advice. Go grab your free report now.

Breaking News: Guerrilla Marketing on the Front Lines

2008-09-24T10:32:00.003-04:00

After many years of publishing by own brand of Guerrilla Music Marketing books, I am now officially part of Jay Conrad Levinson's series of Guerrilla Marketing books.

You see, Jay wrote the first Guerrilla Marketing book back in 1983. It was one of several books that inspired me to travel the path I've taken.

Jay's original Guerrilla book spawned a series of about 30 books that he's written or co-written over the years, and millions of copies have been sold.

Even though Jay gave me his blessings years ago to use the Guerrilla name, I've never actually been part of his series. But that changes this week with the release of Guerrilla Marketing on the Front Lines.

The subtitle of this new, 300-page book is "35 World-Class Strategies to Send Your Profits Soaring." My pal Mitch Meyerson (an awesome guitar player, by the way) spearheaded this title and asked some of his favorite guerrilla marketers to each contribute a chapter. And I'm one of them!

I'm honored to be in such great company.

Mark Victor Hansen (of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame) wrote the Foreword. Some of the other authors include Alex Mandossian, Michael Port, Rick Frishman, Al Lautenslager, Roger C Parker, Travis Greenlee, Craig Valentine, Grant Hicks, and many more. Lots of successful authors here with ideas that easily apply to book publishing.

Here's the coolest part ...

The official launch date is today, Sept. 24. If you purchase the book this week, I'll send you details on how to access a special live conference call that features me, Jay, Mitch, and several of the other Front Lines authors.

You can order the book on Amazon here (please do that today, if you can):

Be sure to forward your Amazon receipt to me so I can send you the conference call details.

Or get an autographed copy directly from me by using this link. Note that I have only about 30 copies in my personal stock, so quantities are limited with this option.

When you order it from me, I'll also send you details to access the call.

This is exciting. Thanks for allowing me to share this good news with you!

-Bob

P.S. Get FREE access to my Self-Publishing Confidential report filled with my best book publishing advice. Go grab your free report now.

Your Top 3 Things

2008-09-12T10:43:00.003-04:00

I'll admit it. Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed.

Too many tasks on my to-do list. A constant stream of email in my Inbox. And more demands seeming to come from every direction. Such is the life of a full-time author and small business person.

But I'm not willing to accept this as the normal state of doing what I do.

So here's something simple I'm going to try to get my balance back. And I encourage you to try this as well.

Every morning ask yourself:

What three things can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my ...

Then fill in the blank.

You might complete the question with "book sales" or "career as an author" or "readers." Perhaps "Internet presence" or "speaking business" would work here too.

Really ponder what would have the "greatest positive impact" on your chosen area. And write down your top three answers.

Now you know what's most important and what to focus on today.

(Note: This idea was inspired by a tip in Dan Coughlin's book "Accelerate: 20 Practical Lessons to Boost Business Momentum.")

Here's another version of this that might be even more powerful. Ask a series of similar questions limited to one thing you can do in the most important areas of your life.

Examples:

What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my happiness?
What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my health?
What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my wealth?
What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my relationships?
What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my contribution to society?

You get the idea.

Instead of being swept up in the endless flow of tasks and trying to get "caught up" -- which never seems to happen for me -- instead focus on the big picture and what is truly important.

Let's try it together. We may still have a long list of things that are "undone." But I bet we make monumental progress on the things that are most important.

-Bob

Create a Major Book Buzz Online. Discover how to use the Internet to attract book buyers like a magnet. Learn more ...

Just getting started? Want to jump-start your career as an independent author? Check out my Self-Publishing Success Secrets 101.

The Slow Build Approach to Book Marketing

2008-09-05T11:06:00.003-04:00

Every author and publisher wants to make a big splash. Especially with the "launch" of a new book.

Note the use of the word "launch" -- it's not called a book trot or a book flutter, or even a book sashay. It's a LAUNCH! So macho. So full of vim and vigor -- and testosterone.

There's nothing wrong with that. Making a big splash can be a wonderful thing. But many authors and publishers make the big splash the basis of their entire marketing plan. And that's a big mistake.

As Seth Godin wrote the other day on his blog:

"Great publicity is a treasured gift. But it's hardly necessary, and the search for it is often a significant distraction."

The surest path to book marketing success -- especially for independent authors/publishers with a limited budget -- is the long-term layered approach. Getting your message in front of your target audience repeatedly, little by little, over a long period of time.

Of course, this path isn't nearly as sexy. It may not have you yucking it up on the set with John Stewart or Larry King next week. But I guarantee this ...

If you have a message that's worth spreading, this slow-build, layered strategy works. It's what has allowed me to make a living as an author.

So, what is this approach?

It involves little by little, time after time, getting multiple exposures to the people who fit the profile of your ideal reader.

Each impression you make probably won't reach millions, or even thousands, of people. But that's okay.

One week you might reach 75 people on someone's blog, 250 people on a book review site, and another 50 people on Facebook.

The following week you might be interviewed on a podcast heard by 400 people and covered in your local community paper with a circulation of 5,000. And on and on it goes.

Every day you seek out more exposure opportunities and celebrate whatever coverage you get -- no matter how small. You keep seeking, keep celebrating, and keep spreading what you have to share.

Before long, the multiple exposures build on top of one another and gain momentum. It may be slow at first, and it may have stops and starts along the way, but it grows as you continue to share your message.

So what would you rather have? A big book launch that may or may not last?

Or a slow book promotion build that grows into something meaningful and long-lasting?

-Bob

P.S. Get FREE access to my Self-Publishing Confidential report filled with my best book publishing advice. Go grab your free report now.

My Best Book Publishing Advice

2008-09-02T12:55:00.004-04:00

Last month, my girlfriend Pooki and I attended a 7-day "Breakthrough to Success" workshop in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was presented by Jack Canfield, best known for the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series and the book "The Success Principles."

It was an awesome event with about 400 attendees. We learned and grew so much and met fantastic people from all over the world.

It was by far the biggest investment I've ever made in personal development. And I admit, months ago when I made the decision to go for it, I was hesitant and more than a little fearful about committing our financial resources to this one event.

But now that we've experienced it, I am so thankful we took the leap of faith.

You see, I've been studying self-help and personal empowerment material off and on since I was 17 years old. And even though my life took many unexpected twists and turns, I've reached a stage that many people view as successful: making a nice living as an independent author and publisher.

I feel blessed. And through my work, I enjoy passing on the "secrets" to success I've learned along the way. I do that through my many music marketing books, audio programs, live workshops, and resources right here at FullTimeAuthor.com.

So here's my best advice for reaching your book publishing goals:

1) Get out of your own way

The biggest obstacles humans face don't come from "out there" in the cold, cruel world. They reside within. We all carry negative beliefs and memories of previous experiences. We pick them up from our parents, friends, teachers, you name it. And these beliefs color our expectations and how we show up in the world.

So job #1 is to uncover these internal obstacles. To discover what's bubbling under the surface and holding you back -- often without you even being aware that these negative beliefs are there.

2) Upgrade your mental software

Install Empowerment Pro 2.0, if you will. This involves monitoring your internal dialogue -- your "self talk." Recognizing when you put yourself down or tell yourself you're not qualified or worthy to want something better for yourself.

At first, you'll be shocked by how often you limit your own potential. But that's great, because now you have the awareness to replace the old dialogue reruns with fresh, new content that brings out the true greatness that resides within you.

3) Get on the PE Diet

In this case, PE doesn't stand for Physical Education. It means Personal Empowerment. To improve your health, you wouldn't eat one healthy meal or have one good workout and then say, "There, I did it once. I'm set for life." Of course not. That would be silly.

Then why do people do that with their mental health and personal development? "I know that positive thinking stuff. It doesn't work," they say. Really? You tried it once and your life didn't change?

You know where I'm going with this.

To be successful, you need to incorporate new healthy habits into your ongoing lifestyle. Not because you're a slow learner or there's anything "wrong" with you. But because constant focus on your personal growth is what brings about lasting results.

I've been feeding my mind with positive reinforcement for more than 30 years now. It keeps me on track. I've tried living life on autopilot too -- like the majority of people do. And I gotta tell you, it doesn't work for me.

Therefore, I encourage you to regularly exposure yourself to positive books, audio, movies, people, images, sounds, ideas, and more. That's why I've dedicated my life to inspiring and empowering musicians and authors to express themselves and share their talents with the world.

So please ... feed your mind with enriching stuff. Download my free Self-Publishing Confidential report, subscribe to this blog, and check out my first two resources for authors.

Also, stay on top of book marketing and publishing news by reading the work of John Kremer, Dan Poynter, Penny Sansevieri, Jeff Smith, Roger Parker, Warren Whitlock, Morris Rosenthal, Stacey Miller, and more.

I promise you, if you can get out of your own way, upgrade your mental software, and regularly feed your mind with empowering ideas and strategies ... you'll amaze your friends with the sudden burst of energy and accomplishments you produce.

Now wouldn't that be cool?

-Bob