Sarah Nego Writes

Building the Buzz: Day 24 Book Clubs

2013-05-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Oprah's may be the biggest and most famous, but she doesn't own the market on Book Clubs.

Book clubs are a great way to market your book to readers. Here you have a group of people who like books so much, they get together just to talk about them. These are your people, but it's up to you to find them and help them find you.

One great place to find book clubs is on Goodreads. They are often organized by genre preference and have open membership to include anyone who loves a good book. I would also suggest talking to your local librarian to see if she knows of any local book clubs. You can also find them on sites like Meetup.com. And never underestimate the power of Google. A quick search of book club with your town name can pull up more results than you ever wanted.

But don't limit yourself to only local groups. Book clubs are everywhere and they all have one thing in common, a desire to read a good book. It could be yours.

Once you've found an appropriate book club (reads in your genre and is attended by your ideal reader), it's time to reach out. I suggest starting out with a brief email introducing you and your book, suggesting it may be something the group is interested in. If you want to step up your game, you can offer an web video chat with the group if they decide to read your book.

Another nice step is to let the group know that you are able to send them a discussion guide. A good guide will provide a brief Q&A that focuses on the more complicated aspects of the book in addition to a series of questions designed to provoke conversation around the books theme. So, "Who was your favorite character?" is a bad discussion question. However, "How does what MC did in X scene relate to the current debate surrounding topic Z?"

If you can swing it, sending a free copy to the group's leader is one way to get attention. Even if the group decides not to read the book for discussion, the leader may still recommend it to other members. If your publisher is open to the idea, you might also fair well offering a group order discount if the book club orders 10 or more books for their members.

For today's task, do a little research and identify at least 5 book clubs that might be interested in reading your book. Then reach out to them with your A-game.

Building the Buzz: Day 23 Bonus Content

2013-05-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

When marketing your book, the holy grail is a reader turned evangelist for your work. But just like the media, readers won't talk about your book forever....unless you give them something to talk about.

If you want readers to keep spreading the word about your work you need to give them something new that reminds them why they loved your book so much in the first place. A great way to do this is through bonus content.

Bonus content can be any number of things. The only objective is to tie it to your work in a way that pulls the attention of your fans. Here are a few idea for bonus content you can share with your readers:
1. Deleted scenes: just because it didn't make its way into the book doesn't mean your readers don't want to see it.
2. Alternate ending/beginning: Most of us rewrite these scenes more than any other part of our book. Why not share some of them with readers as a 'what might have been' peek.
3. Alternate POV scenes: Your book may follow your heroine through the journey, but consider writing one of your more tension filled scenes through the eyes of the love interest. And it doesn't have to be just the good guys. Feel free to give your villain a little page time as well.
4. Off stage scenes: We all have action that takes place outside of the immediate action of the book (or offstage). For an example: The scene in Chamber of Secrets where Hermione figures out the monster is a basilisk in the pipes. We know this happens, but the scene isn't in the book.
5. Future follow up: Unless your book is part of a series, readers never get to know what happens next. Consider writing a scene of your characters the next day, the next year, or the next decade.

Your bonus content doesn't have to be new scenes. Any of the ideas from the blog tour list that you didn't use can easily become bonus content.

The best way to disseminate your bonus content is through your website. It's the home base for your fans and the perfect place for them to see if you have any new work coming out. You can share these as an extra page on your site, but before you give them away, you might want to make your readers work for it.

You can announce the release of bonus content once you hit x number of FB fans, Twitter followers, blog subscribers, 5 star reviews, or pre-orders for your next book. If you offer something your readers will want, they will do what needs to happen to get it.

For today's task, make a list of specific bonus content you can share with your fans and plans for how and when to give it to them.

Building the Buzz: Day 22 #Hashtags

2013-05-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Snappy, memorable and trend creating: hashtags aren't just for Twitter anymore.

Hashtags started out as a way for Twitter folks to keep tabs on topics and people. Of course, now you can see hashtags permeating their way into other social media outlets and other venues. These little symbols are seen everywhere so they are a perfect tool for authors.

Creating a hashtag for your book makes it easy for fans to talk about your book and find each other. It also makes it easier for you to keep track of what readers are saying and engage with them. That's a heavy load from a free tool.

When deciding on a hashtag you need to keep a few things in mind. First, hashtags are still mostly used on twitter where posters are limited to 140 characters. You want to keep your hashtag short so it doesn't cut into their character limit too much. Second, unless you have a short title, you'll probably need to use something else, but don't stray too far. Your hashtag needs to be easily associated with your book. Third, make it memorable and distinguishable. For example #Amysbook is generic, has little to do with your book and can easily be confused for any other Amy's book.

You can use your hashtag anywhere and everywhere. I've even scene hashtags tucked into the corner of a book cover. For sure, you should include it on your website, especially on the page featuring your book. Include it in your online bio pages, too. I also recommend asking anyone else who posts about your book to use the hashtag. This can include reviewers, tour hosts, cover reveal hosts, and whenever you do a guest post. You can even tuck it at the bottom of your press releases.

Like all aspects of marketing, the more you put into it the better. If you want to see a great example of author interaction using hashtags, jump on twitter and check out #icons. Margaret Stohl keeps her fans engaged by retweeting thoughtful comments and posting updates and thanks, all utilizing the hashtag. On the day of release, there was no where on twitter that wasn't covered with #icons.

For today's task, select a hashtag for your book. Do a quick check on twitter to see if anyone else is actively using it. If not, run with it everywhere you can.

Building the Buzz: Day 21 More Press Releases

2013-05-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Remember all those people you sent press releases to a few weeks ago? You kept all their contact information, right? Good, cause it's time to send more releases.

Have you seen the movie "Newsies"? It's a little known Disney flick that they swept under the table, but a personal favorite. It follows a group of good looking, singing, dancing newsboys. In one of its many great songs there is a line that is important for authors to remember. "Tomorrow they'll wrap fishes in it, but I was the king for one whole minute."

What does this have to do with you? Everything. You may be lucky enough to score a bunch of profile pieces and draw some serious media attention. But even when the main source of news came from hand-sold newspapers, a story was only a story for a day. In today's age of constant information, it's even harder to stay in the spotlight.

It's up to you, as the author, to keep yourself newsworthy. A great way to do this is with updated press releases. You can send these out any time, but keep in mind that the media wants a story, not an advertisement.

I suggest sending new press releases out when you have events such as launch parties or book signings, when you reach certain milestones in sales or reviews, and when you win any awards. Don't forget that you are a story as well. What about a story six months after your book release to showcase what your life is like now. You are a local celebrity, but only if you make an effort to stay one.

Since we are consolidating your marketing into a month, you may not have reached any milestones yet. That's okay. For today's task, make a list of all the reason you will send a new release such as 10K books sold, A spot on the NYT's book list, an upcoming signing. Now set a reminder for yourself either on your computer, your phone, your day planner, wherever, to think about press releases. Designate a day of the week to review your calendar and benchmarks and consider sending a press release. Most of the time, you won't have anything to send, but setting the reminder means you won't forget when the good news rolls in.

Building the Buzz: Day 20 National Media

2013-05-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

You've rubbed elbows (metaphorically) with all your local contacts and you're maximizing all those amazing reviews. Now it's time to swing for the big leagues.

Seeking out national media attention isn't really any different from your local media, but there are a few things you can do to boost your chances.

Doing your homework here can pay off big time, but it may take more digging than finding the book editor of your local paper. You may need to click through a series of pages to find the editorial staff. Another approach is to search for the contact information by a reviewers byline. The same thing is true of submission guidelines. A national newspaper might not make it easy to find their information, but submitting outside of the guidelines is an automatic "No".

Also, make sure you know who you are submitting to. With a lot of the national media, they have different staff for the print and online editions and they operate separately from each other. Make sure you keep them straight and find out if it's appropriate to submit to both of them.

This is also the time to haul out your media highlight reel. You can tuck a few of these at the bottom of your press release, but don't be afraid to work them into the body. If you've done several interviews or had feature stories, it's appropriate to provide an appendix to your release listing all your exposure with links where editors can find your interviews.

I know I've mentioned this before, but with this step it is especially important that you check with the publicist of your publisher before sending these out. Not only is sending duplicate requests a waste of your time, it can make you and your team look less professional to the decision makers.

Today's task is to research at least three national reviewers and three national media contacts and send out a fresh batch of press releases.

Bonus Content: There is a free Google+ webinar titled "Who Are Your Readers?" on Wednesday. There should be lots of excellent information.

Building the Buzz: Day 19 Contests & Giveaways

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone loves a giveaway. It's a pretty unifying human trait to be drawn to free anything. You can toss stuff at your readers like a handful of plastic beads from a Mardi Gras parade float. Or...you can maximize and make your giveaways work for you.

For giveaways, you need to focus on timing and product. Let's talk about timing first.

You can run a giveaway/contest whenever you want, but there are times when it will be the most advantageous. Running a contest when your readers can't at least pre-order your book is silly. The point of a contest is to get readers to buy your book. You can start one leading up to the release date, encouraging pre-orders, but don't go much earlier than that.

So obviously, at your book's release. Also, to celebrate good news. For example, if you sign a contract for a sequel or companion novel/novella, announce the blessed deal with a giveaway. You can also do this when you reach a milestone such as a certain number of 5-star reviews or hitting the NYT Best Sellers list.

Just be careful not to run too many. If it feels like you are running a new giveaway every other month, your contests will start to diminish in perceived value no matter what you're giving away.

So let's talk about what you are going to give away. The first reaction of most authors is to give away your book. This is a bad idea. You want readers to buy your book. If they are entering for a chance to win it, they aren't buying it. They will wait until the contest is over and then you have to hope they remember to buy it.

I would also suggest staying away from big ticket items. While these can be flashy and draw a lot of attention, they aren't going to be drawing in your readers. Instead, you will get lots of entries from people only interested in the prize. Now you might say, but if they are spreading the word as part of the contest then do I care if they want to read my book? Yeah, you do. If I'm a college guy just trying to win an ipad, what are the chances that my Twitter followers or Facebook friends are interested in your book. Pretty low. You want your contest to attract real readers who are going to spread the word about your book because they genuinely want other people to read it.

What can you give away. I'm a big fan of gift baskets. Who doesn't love a gift basket? Call it a prize pack, box o' fun or prizeapalooza if you want to, but the idea is lots of low cost items that packaged together contain a high perceived value.

Gift cards are a good choice, as is swag, but beware the curse of the cover. I love this recent post by Leigh Anne Kopans about resisting the urge to slap your cover on everything and passing it out like candy. She suggests swag that ties in with your book and makes the owner feel like part of the in-crowd. Think about it. Would you rather have a shirt with the cover of the Hunger Games on it or a shirt that says "May the odds be ever in your favor"? Yep, that's what I thought.

Think about items in your book that would make good giveaways. Does your character have a favorite snack food? Throw a box of those in. A favorite book or CD? Add that too. Does your main character have a catch phrase? Print it on something fun like a bumper sticker or button. Does your character wear a signature piece of jewelry or shade of lipstick? You guessed it. Add it to the swag box.

By adding a little originality, you can make your giveaway something every fan will want to enter.

Today's task is to brainstorm at least five unique items you could use in a giveaway. Be sure to price them out and consult your budget.

Building the Buzz: Day 18 Blog Tours

2013-05-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

No marketing challenge would be complete without talking about blog tours. So let's do this.

Oh, the blog tour. A pain in the rear to organize and quickly becoming one of those must have marketing items that noone is sure about how effective it is. Know what I mean? But a blog tour doesn't have to be a hair-pulling shot in the dark.

Before we go much further, let's take a second to acknowledge that there are a ton of companies out there that will organize your tour for you. Some of them are wonderful, others will promise you the moon for a pretty penny and deliver a smooshed Moonpie. Get the picture? If you decide that going on your own isn't in the cards, do make sure you do your research. Talk to clients and not just the ones they feature on their site. Stick your nose into one of their active tours and see how it's going. Just make sure you go in with both eyes open.

Okay, moving on. When it comes to organizing your own blog tour you need to focus on the two Os: organization and originality. You need to get your act together well in advance of when you want the tour to run. This is not a plan it in a week sort of thing. You should know how many stops you want, when you want them to happen and exactly what you are asking of a host well before you approach anyone.

Make sure you keep a good log of who you've contacted and their response. You'll also want to make sure you have all the pertinent information everyone needs readily available and accessible. These are constants in a tour like a cover photo, blurb, author bio, head shot, purchase links, etc. Not only should these be compressed into a file you send to every host, you should make them available either on your website or via a document sharing site so your hosts never have to search for your information.

When it comes to the actual tour, originality is your friend. The standard tour of only the information listed above with the occasional review comment just doesn't cut it any more. You need to stand out and give your readers a reason to sit up and pay attention. The tour is only limited by your imagination and the amount of work you're willing to put in.

Here are my Top 10 tips for making your tour as unique as your book:
1. Create a scavenger hunt of sorts that encourages your readers to visit every stop on the tour. Make sure the content of each host is different.
2. Instead of the standard blurb, make each stop an interview with a different character from your book.
3. Feature all the locations in your book at each stop.
4. Incorporate your book's theme into the stops. For example, if your main character is a pastry chef. Include an amazing pastry recipe at every stop. Take it a step further and show a picture of you making it.
5. Run a blitz where every stop is on the same day and hits the internet like a literary tidal wave.
6. Share a favorite quote or scene from the book at each stop.
7. Share a different song from your writing playlist on each stop and how it influenced your writing.
8. Team up with a few other authors with release dates close to yours and run a team tour.
9. Tie your stops together with a Q&A reveal or a clever Choose Your Own Adventure like the one recently done by Eliza Tilton.
10. Include an awesome giveaway. Tune back in tomorrow for my best giveaway advice.

Today's task. Start planning your tour now. Brainstorm at least 10 things you can do on your tour that no one else can because of the uniqueness of your book.

Building the Buzz: Day 17 Maximizing Reviews

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Now that you've got the buzz going and people are starting to pay attention to your books, you're bound to start getting reviews. You may not want to read them, and that is fine, but you need to pay attention to the ones with lots of stars.

As a writer, 5-star reviews are a nice little stroke to the ego and a firm piece of duct tape on the mouth of your inner editor. As a marketer, 5-star reviews are mini billboards saying "I can help you sell more books." They key is all in location, location, location.

I've seen a recent trend on the social media front that I personally am against. I'm not saying it can't be effective, but so could a human sandwich board with your cover on it standing in the middle of Times Square. Just because it might draw in a rogue reader or two doesn't mean it's a good thing. Why? Because you would look ridiculous standing in Times Square with a sandwich board. Ridiculous and maybe a bit desperate. And that's how I see authors who tweet, post and otherwise parade around every 5 star review that comes their way.

By all means, celebrate the milestones. The first one, the one-hundredth 5-star review. Heck, slate a contest around it. Toot the horn a little. But we've all seen the authors who post every good review they get. And this makes me think "Are you so hard up for good reviews that each one needs to be announced?". Your time as an author and marketer would be better spent writing or asking for other reviews via book bloggers like we discussed yesterday.

So now that you aren't going to broadcast your outstanding reviews all over the internet, what are you going to do with them? You make them shine.

Your book page on your blog/website will have your cover, purchase/review links, and blurb. Another nice touch is reviewer comments. So go ahead and scan Amazon and Goodreads for the very best 5 star reviews out there. Not just the ones that sing your praises to the moon, but the ones with brilliant lines that make you sound like the literary genius you are.

Now, find those reviewers. Follow them back to their website/blog and reach out to them. In private (not in a comment to their actual review) thank them for their kind words. Let them know how glad you are that they enjoyed your book. Then ask them for a favor. Tell them that you loved the line "x and y and z" from their review and would like to post it on your website. Offer to include their name and a link back to their review and their website.

This is a win-win. Getting their site linked to from a permanent page on your blog helps their SEO which means more readers will find them. Every reviewer out there wants more readers. By quoting them, you are recognizing them as a good reviewer which will also draw more readers directly from your site.

You may run into the occasional reviewer who doesn't want to be quoted, but I don't think you'll find many who say no.

What does this get you? Well, first, readers like to know that other people out there like your book. When they are on your site, having quotes from real readers right there is a nice touch that says "someone other than this author's mom and aunt enjoyed this book". The value of that can't be overlooked.

Also, what would you do if a new author offered to quote you on their website? That's right, you're going to tell people about it. And what does that do? You guessed it. It'll will drive more readers right to where you want them.

For today's task, take a peek at your reviews or ask a trusted friend/family member to pick out a few of the excellent ones for you. Reach out to 3-5 of these fans (cause that's what they are) and ask to quote them on your site with all the appropriate links.

Building the Buzz: Day 16 Book Review Bloggers

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

What do you want? Book reviews! How do you get 'em? Book Review Bloggers!

We've already talked about how powerful word of mouth can be with your first readers. Thanks to the power of the internet (all hail the mighty resource) you can create this same buzz virtually with your friendly book blogger.

This can be an easy step in your marketing efforts, but it can also be confusing and unproductive if you aren't doing it right. So here are my best tips for finding and soliciting book bloggers.

1. Be selective in picking bloggers. There are a gazillion book bloggers out there. And while most of them are good intentioned, they are not all created equally. Make sure that you are getting the biggest bang out of your free copies by selecting your bloggers carefully. Make sure you only solicit a blogger whose readership consists of your core audience (Alexa can give you all kinds of information about different sites). Just because someone says they are willing to review a certain type of book doesn't mean they are a match for you. If they mostly review category romance but are willing to review SciFi on occasion, most of their readers are going to be romance readers. They probably aren't interested in your SciFi even if the reviewer is.

Don't just look at the reviewers genre preferences; look at what they post reviews for. Only solicit reviews from bloggers whose core content lines us with your genre. Also, make sure they have a decent readership. A review on a site that only averages 10 hits a day is probably not worth your effort.

Another resource is your local first readers. Ask you new best buds if they have any review blogs they check frequently for new book recommendations. These will definitely be ones you want to check out.

2. Always, ALWAYS, follow submission guidelines for reviewers. This is the same rule to follow when you sent out queries. Not following the rules tells a reviewer you don't respect their time and will probably be difficult to work with . Reviewers get enough requests, they don't have to work with someone they don't want to.

3. When appropriate, be specific in your request. This is just like personalizing a query letter. This says to the reviewer that you understand their readership and tells them why your book will be a good match for their followers.

4. It is okay to follow-up with a reviewer, but don't hound them. They get a lot of requests and your submission doesn't guarantee they will read your book or review it. Remember that they don't work for you and don't "owe" you a review. Daily emails asking when their 5-star review of your book will be posted is a quick way to get yourself rejected. Many of these bloggers have formed a tight community. If you become known as a needy author, it will be even harder for your to get reviews.

5. Identify potential reviewers early so you can become a natural part of their community. If you regularly comment on a blog, this is a great segway into asking for a review. Also, so long as your book meets guidelines, a reviewer is generally going to be more likely to review your book over a stranger's.

6. Use Netgalley, but don't depend on it for your reviews. Most of the time, your publisher will be in charge of posting your book on Netgalley, so check with them first. If this isn't something they do, you can have your book added through services such as http://www.youdopr.com/. Just remember that posting your work on a site like this doesn't replace soliciting reviews from your ideal review blogs.

7. There is no such thing as too many reviews. You are limited only by the number of free copies you have to give away. Most readers need to see or hear about a book several times before they make a commitment to purchase. The more reviews you have out there the better chance you have of getting in front of those readers.

These are my tips for finding reviewers. Share yours in the comments. Today's task: start researching reviewers today. Start by asking your first readers and then hit the web. Try to come up with a base list of 50 reviewers that you can narrow down into the best 20.

Building the Buzz: Day 15 Friends and Family

2013-05-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

We've all seen the books on Amazon with a few 5-star reviews that all start out "I may be biased since I'm your aunt, but I love every word of this book!". While this is generally an eye-roll kind of moment, you can't discredit the role friends and family play in promoting your book.

You probably know a lot of people. Even the most introverted among us have a larger bank of acquaintances than we realize. No matter how loose the connection, each one of those people is a potential reader, but no if you don't reach out to them.

The first step in contacting your friends and family is to make a list. A great big giant list. Go back as far as you can and try to think of everyone you know. Good places to start your brain going is your Facebook friends list, email contacts folder and your linked in account. I'm a big fan of linked in for this task since you can see not only the people you've connected with, but also the people your connections have connect with. This can be great for jogging the memory.

As you make your list try to categorize people. Is this a friend from high school, a co-worker from an old job, a friend of your parents (yep, they totally get added to the list)? Walk yourself mentally through an average week. Who do you see, talk to, run into at the grocery store? All these people belong on your list.

Now that you've got a list, you need to figure out the best way to contact them. Email is best, but you might not have email contacts for everyone. Think of the other ways you can reach out. Maybe a message on FB or Linked in. Maybe you only see this group face to face and can give them a card.

Once you've got a segregated list with contact methods, it's time to start sending the message. Here are a few tips:

1. Remind this group how they know you. Maybe it's a brief hello friends from the graduating class of 'xx. Or Hi, I'm so and so's daughter. Unless this is a group of people you are frequently in contact with, they will need a reminder for who you are.
2. Keep it brief. Think a paragraph or two. You aren't trying to sell a book here, only let them know you have a book. The tone of your message should be about sharing your good news with them, not selling them your book.
3. Invite them to join your mailing list and provide a direct link. Let then know you won't be filling up their inbox with messages, but if they would like to be kept up to date on your books they can join the mailing list. Do NOT automatically add someone from your contact list to your mailing list. This is tacky and goes against policy for all the major list hosting companies.
4. Provide links to your website and a direct link to your book on Amazon, but don't make a big deal out of these. Including them in your signature line is sufficient.

This is a one and done promotion tactic, but it can be very effective. Everyone likes the idea of knowing someone "famous". Remember that while the process of publishing a book is a long, arduous trial of errors to us, the general population sees it as a magical process. The minute you self-identify as an author, your non-publishing friends start picturing you as the next JK Rowling. Use that to your advantage and spread the word.

Today's task, get that list started and see how many names you can come up with by Friday.

Building the Buzz: Day 14 Alumni Authors

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

Two weeks down and two to go. Let's celebrate by branching out a little bit. Hey there alumni!

It's toot your own horn time, Buzzers. Remember how I said you're a local celebrity? Good news, you're also a hometown celebrity. You just have to let them know about it. Alumni newsletters are a great way to spread the word about your book. Colleges and high schools love making lists of "famous" alumni and as a published author, this includes you.

But they can't sing your praises if they don't know about it. You'll need another press release to do this, but the good news is you don't have to start from scratch. Use the one sent to local media, but change around the focus to your attendance at your illustrious alma mater.

You can send the press release to the alumni association. Even better, send it to the editor of the alumni newsletter/magazine. They may pick up the info in a short column. If you're lucky they'll want to spin your book into a feature story.

And don't stop there. If you were a part of any national organization in high school such as a sorority, fraternity, national honor society or a national writing society, send press releases to these organization as well.

Alumni associations and national organizations are always looking for content for their newsletters. Give them a story within a press release and spread the word.

Today's task, make a list of alumni publications and national associations you can claim membership in. Gather their contact information and send out press releases to these organizations.

Building the Buzz: Day 13 Author Teamwork

2013-05-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Are you ready to move away from home base? Too bad. We're still local in today's action item. It's time to team up with other authors in your area.

All the things we've talked about this week can be pretty daunting on your own. Especially given the standard issue introverted nature of most writers. The good news is there's no rule that says you have to do it all on your own. Chances are, you aren't the only writer in your town. I live in the middle of nowhere and there are at least two published authors that I know of. There could be more.

If you're uncomfortable at all about launch parties, book clubs or library speeches, consider joining forces with another writer. You may have to go slightly outside your city to find the right author to pair with, but I doubt you'll have to go too far. Unless you really are living alone on an isolated island in the Atlantic Ocean. Have you thought about moving?

Billing yourself as a double feature can be a way to get more attention for your work. I can't imagine any bookstore suggesting they'd rather have two separate events than one single event to bring in twice the readers.

Before you start listing the reasons this won't work for you, just do me a favor and try it. You don't even have to write in the same genre as your partner, though it's nice if you do. A speech about the writing process isn't dependent on genre. Plus, different genres can draw in new audiences who might not have seen your book otherwise.

The only time I suggest sticking solo is with your target first readers. The required unique nature of this group means you don't really want to share them with others. Other than that, collaborate away.

Today's task, look up and contact another writer in your area and discuss hosting an event together.

Building the Buzz: Day 12 First Readers

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

So far on the local front, we've talked about companies and organizations that can help you. Today we talk about the most valuable resource found in every town no matter where you live: The People!

Happy Mother's Day, Buzzers!

One of the most effective, and at the same time elusive, methods for promoting your book is word of mouth. We know from our own personal experiences that a friend telling you about a great book they read is more powerful than any blog tour, newspaper story, or book signing. But how do you get people to promote your book for you.

I suggest you find your local target audience and create your first readers. Unless you live alone on an isolated island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, there are likely to be at least of few people who make up your target audience where you live.

This means, of course, that you need to know who your target audience is. If you aren't sure, check out these posts: Who is your reader and Where is your reader. Once you've got this down, you'll have to step outside of the solitary writer box and engage your audience.

But don't think I'm sending you to the wolves unarmed. Behold, a secret weapon!

Lean in close, I don't want this getting out all over the internet. Ready? Everyone wants to be first.

Don't believe me? Drive by an Apple store on the release day of their newest product or try getting last minute tickets to the midnight showing of this summers next blockbuster hit. What you'll find is hordes of people willing to sacrifice a large chunk of time (and money) to be first.

When you approach your carefully selected group of target readers, keep this in mind. You aren't just offering to let them read your book. You are offering to let them be first. You are making them an elite group with special status that has the power to turn your book into a word of mouth phenomena.

A few things to keep in mind. This shouldn't be a group of people who will probably like your book. These should be your very best, guaranteed to love it fans. Readers don't spread the word about a book they only liked.

Also, while book bloggers are great for a lot of things (more on them later), they are not your ideal first readers. Why? Book review bloggers are first readers for lots of books. So while they will promote your book if they like it, they are moving on to something else tomorrow. You need readers for whom "being the first" is a new experience.

Last, you've got to sell it. It's more than just targeting your first readers and handing out a few arcs. Maybe you have a special kick-off event just for these readers. You can read the first chapter, sign their books and send them on their way. Offer to meet up again in a few weeks so they can tell you what they liked and didn't like about the book. It doesn't matter that by that point it's too late to change it. What matters is engaging this group and giving them special status. Up the ante with swag or other special events. Don't forget to invite your first readers to any and all events related to the book. You have to stick with them or they won't stick with you.

Today's task, identify your target first readers, figure out the best way to get in contact with them, and brainstorm ways you can engage with them and make them feel special. Helping others to be number one can help you on your way to #1.

Building the Buzz: Day 11 Local Book Stores

2013-05-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

We've tackled local media and made friends with your friendly librarians. There's still plenty of resources for book promotion right down the street. Today: local book stores!

Sadly, oh so sadly, some of you may no longer have a local book store. You can't see the tears on my keyboard, but there are real...and probably the reason my shift key keeps sticking. I digress. If you don't have a physical book store in your town, think about how far you are willing to travel and see if there is one close to you.

As soon as you have a release date, you need to make friends with the manager of your book store. This person can be your new best friend. Bookstores survive by selling books. So do you! Hey there, it's another win-win.

Here are a few ways you can work with your local book store to help both of you sell more books.

1. Launch party. This can be during open times or after hours. Either way, you are offering to host an event and invite lots of people (Including the media. Don't forget you're a local celebrity.) When approaching the store, you need to be very specific about what you are asking. You need to have a general idea of how many invites will be sent out, what support you need from the store and multiple dates and times that can work for both of you. As a bonus, ask if your local writing group will help by "sponsoring" the launch. A bookstore may be more willing to host if they know you'll have several helping hands to handle the event.

2. Signing/Reading. This will be slightly less fancy than a launch party, but all the same rules apply.

3. Signing stock. This is a sneaky little trick I'm a fan of. You're book store doesn't know that you have a book on the market unless you tell them. Otherwise, you're just one of the hundreds of books they have to choose from among the publisher's catalog. When you're release is getting close, give your local book store a quick call. Let them know who you are and offer to come in and sign stock. If they weren't planning on ordering your book (or only picking up a few copies) they may be willing to stock up some extra if they know they can get them signed and set a special "signed by the author" display. If they don't carry "signed by the author" stickers, I suggest purchasing a few of these. Readers love signed stuff.

4. Book Club. If you're super lucky, your bookstore has a book club. Here's a great opportunity to suggest your book and offer to come in for a private chat with the members. This gives the store an extra way to promote the club and get more readers to come in a buy books. Yeah!

In addition to these ideas, I suggest a little friendly neighborhood stalking. If the store has a newsletter, sign up for it and keep an eye on the kind of events they normally have. Stop in occasionally on different days of the week and check out any special promotions and what traffic is like. Get to know the employees. They will be much more likely to recommend the book of a local author they know, than from someone they've never heard of before.

Today's task, go introduce yourself to the local bookstore. Even if you don't have a book out yet, it's never too early to make friends. I'd love to hear about any great bookstore events you've been to down in the comments.

Building the Buzz: Day 10 Love for the Library

2013-05-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Alright, we're making some progress. Hopefully, word will be getting around town about your book. But don't think you're done with the the hometown business. There is still more to do on the home front. We are staying local and showing a little love to the library.

Library's have a lot more in common with writers than just a love of books. We both operate on low budgets with not enough staff. We both want people to read more. We're both always on the lookout for creative ways to get people reading more.

This is good news, because it sets up a win-win situation.

Libraries love hosting writers, but usually lack the budget to bring someone in from out of town. By volunteering your time to the local library, you provide them with much needed programming while garnering some face time in front of a captive audience.

Just remember, that libraries should be approached just like media agencies. Keep in mind they are there to promote reading, not you. Think about what you can offer their patrons. What about a writing workshop or a seminar on a topic related to your book. Pair this up with a short reading from your book, a Q&A session and a book signing and now you have an event. Work with your publisher, local book store or a company like Book People to make sure attendees can purchase your book on site.

Another way to engage with your local library is to donate a copy of your book. Everyone loves free stuff. If you have any swag like bookmarks. Ask your library if you can leave some at the circulation desk for patrons.

I also recommend checking to see if your library has any book clubs or special interest groups. If you write in a genre that would be relevant to one of these groups, ask if you can do a private author chat with them to discuss your book. It may be only a small group of people, but for 30 minutes of your time you have the chance to create dedicated fans of your work.

For today's task, go make friends with your local librarian. Introduce yourself and your work and ask to set up a time to talk about ways you can help the library.

On an unrelated note, I want to let you guys know about an auction I'm participating in. Here is the link to my item in Brenda Novak's Diabetes Research Auction. There are hundreds of items donated from all over and all the proceeds go to Diabetes Research. Go check it out (after your library visit).

Building the Buzz: Day 9 Press Releases

2013-05-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

You've got a list of great contacts from yesterday so now it's time to start contacting them. But before you go all willy-nilly emailing everyone, let's write a press release!

If you've never written a press release before, the idea can be a bit intimidating. But you're a writer so you've got this.

There are a few things to keep in mind with press releases. They have their own format that is a little different from what you may be used to. Following the right guidelines here will go a long way toward getting your news published. There are tons of templates online for how to write a press release and I've got a sample at the bottom of this post.

The most important thing to remember is that a press release isn't exempt from the WAM principle. Media outlets are constantly looking for stories, but they aren't looking to give away free advertising. If you want to increase the chances of your release getting picked up, you need to make it a story.

Keep the focus of your piece tight on what the media's audience is looking for. For your list of local media, you'll want to spin your press release as a local celebrity. No, don't call yourself a celebrity. But local people doing interesting things that put them in the public light makes you a bit of a celebrity. Go ahead and own it.

Your release should be written as clean as possible with the opportunity for a local paper to run the release as a story with little to no changes. An editor will be much more likely to run your story if he doesn't have to assign someone to write it. A well written press release that is ready to run is an editor's dream come true.

Do write the release in third person, but make sure that all of your contact information is included at the bottom. This is why it was so important that your website is up, running and easy to navigate with an interesting bio and book info. If an editor decides to give your piece a bit more attention (yeah) you want him to be able to hop on your website and easily find any info he's looking for. This is also why a phone number is crucial. You want to be available if they want a few fresh quotes for the story.

Now it's your turn. Write that press release! Even if you don't have a book coming out yet, write up a sample release for one of your manuscripts. Practice makes perfect!

Here's a sample release for an awesome book that hasn't been written yet. If aliens and unicorns float your boat, the premise is all yours. :)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local woman brings a touch of fantasy to the Tri-State.

Jane Smith’s debut novel, SPACE UNICORNS, is a fantastical retelling of My Little Pony set in Ourtown.

Ourtown, State – June 12, 2010 - SPACE UNICORNS (available in bookstores everywhere on August 1^st) is a lifelong dream come true for Ourtown native, Jane Smith. After graduating from Ourtown University, Smith channeled her love of books into becoming a popular English teacher at Ourtown High School. Despite her success, she never stopped writing stories of her own. For years, Smith filled notebooks with her fantasy worlds, but it wasn’t until recently she believed anyone would read them but her.

“I was always writing, but never thought any of my stories were good enough to be published. Finding out that other people enjoyed them was a wonderful surprise,” Smith said. On a dare from her husband, Smith sent her novel out to a publisher calling for unicorn stories. Mythical Press loved her unique story telling ability and the rest is history.

SPACE UNICORNS tells the story of three sentient unicorns whose simple life in Ourtown gets turned upside down when aliens mistake them for cows and take them hostage on their mother ship. The unlikely trio is forced to work together to find their way back to Earth or risk becoming permanent fixtures in an alien zoo

Unicorns Weekly says that “SPACE UNICORNS is a must read for anyone who loves unicorns and knows there’s no place like home.” Smith is already working on the book’s sequel, DEEP SEA UNICORNS.

Smith will be at Ourtown Books on August 5^th to meet with fans and sign books. To learn more about Smith’s books or other signing opportunities, visit her blog www.alltheprettyponies.com or follow her on Twitter @HornGirl.

For more information about Jane Smith or SPACE UNICORNS, please contact Smith at (123)456-7890 or at HornGirl@ponyexpress.com

- ### -

(Just a note. These hashtag marks are a standard notation that indicates the end of your press release. Be sure to use them)

Building the Buzz: Day 8 Local Media

2013-05-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

One week down. So far, we've concentrated on building the foundation and getting your affairs in order. Now it's time to take this show on the road.

Think Local
Have you ever been fishing? You can use worms, crickets, crawdads, all sorts of little bugs as bait. But if you want to catch the really big fish, you use little fish, minnows. You can buy minnows, but they're pretty easy to catch: a modified pop bottle and some bread will do it.

Getting big media works the same way. The big fish pay attention if you've got lots of little fish swimming around. A five minute spot on your small town morning news show probably won't sell a bunch of books. But you aren't planning to fry up and eat the minnows. You use them (I'm talking about the local show here, stick with me) to catch a bigger show, maybe the next biggest city in your county.

Don't overlook your local media outlets because they aren't big enough. They can help you reel in the big fish. So for today's task, break out the yellow pages or hit the internet. Your mission is to find every local media outlet you can.

Start with the obvious ones like a local tv stations, radio stations, newspaper, magazines. Then branch out into the smaller outlets. Head to the grocery store and check out all those free flyers and 5 page papers available by the door. Stop by your towns welcome center and see if there are other publications there. You might also find luck asking one of the front desk folks for help. They know a lot about where you live. The library can be a great resource as well. Look at special interest groups, too. Think large civic organization like Lions or Knights of Columbus or family and mom targeted publications.

Not all of these groups are going to work for you, but don't start screening them until you've got a list as big as you can get it. You never know when seeing a name on the list jogs your brain to think of another outlet. Make sure as you're building your list that you are collecting contact names and info as well. You need to know the right person to reach out to.

Building the Buzz: Day 7 Marketing Budgets

2013-05-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Now that your website is looking good, you're ready to start driving the readers there in droves. But first, we have one more foundation item to consider. It's time to show me the money.

The reality is that while most of the marketing ideas you can use to find readers are free, not everything is. Setting a budget ahead of time keeps you from coming to the end of your launch efforts and realizing you spent your entire advance on marketing.

When creating your budget, start with everything you think you might want to include from a launch day cake to promo bookmarks. Once you have a huge list of items and their anticipated costs, you can zero in on only the things you really want to do (and can afford).

Don't forget a few items that tend to be overlooked in marketing budgets.

Travel: This can be for gas and oil changes for short road trips, food expenses, airfare, and hotel costs.
Conferences: This is more than just the fees. Don't forget to factor in spending money, bar tabs, and a new "professional author" outfit.
Shipping: Book giveaways aren't free. You need to include packaging supplies and postage.
Thank you gifts: No marketer works on an island. It will take the help of several others to get the word out about your book. Don't forget to factor in a little thank you, even note cards, to show appreciation for all those who help along the way.
Post Launch: Don't forget to add a little extra into your budget for marketing efforts past the initial launch efforts.
Surprises: You never know when a golden opportunity is going to come along that's too good to pass up. Add some room in your budget for items that aren't a part of the original plan.

Two final thoughts. Be honest with yourself. Don't create a budget you can't afford. You'll only set yourself up for disappointment when it comes to execution. And make sure you consider ROI (return on investment). An idea can sound super cool, but if evidence from others suggests it doesn't help with sales, make the hard decision to leave it out.

For today's task, make an honest budget. It doesn't need to be itemized, but you do need to know what your total expenditures can be. Be sure to keep a good log of what you spend. Not only to keep yourself from going over budget, but also for tax purposes.

Building the Buzz: Day 6 Mailing Lists

2013-05-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

With a great site and the right elements you can hope to draw readers in and keep them looking around, but the golden egg is your mailing list.

By giving you their email address, a writer is inviting you to contact them. With great power comes great responsibility and all that. While you see a mailing list as an opportunity to market your work, a reader sees it as a chance to get information ahead of the public and other benefits.

When it comes to contacting your mailing list, I recommend the 80/20 rule. 80% of your content should be reader focused, giving them sneak peaks, bonus content and early news. The other 20% can be reserved for marketing type information like book release dates, blog tour info and appearances. If your content is all "look what I'm hoping you buy" readers are going to tune you out. They may not actively unsubscribe, but they will stop paying attention which is just as bad.

It's never to early to start building your mailing list, even if you don't have a book out. You don't have to start sending emails right away. However, you should send something out every few months or so just to remind subscribers that you are there. This also keeps them from being surprised when you do send out that all important "I'm being published" notice.

Building the Buzz: Day 5 Review Links

2013-05-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

You know how important review ares, both their quality and quantity. So are you making it easy for readers to leave a review? Are you maximizing review mileage?

Happy Cindo de Mayo, Buzz Builders

Yesterday, we talking about making sure your buy links are easy to navigate. Most writers know this crucial, but I see very few giving the same attention to reviews.

So let me share a secret. Lean in close so I can whisper this in your ear. Closer, closer...okay that's close enough. If you want readers to leave a review, ask them. Is your world rocked yet?

You've got your glorious cover photo, followed by easy to navigate buy links. Right under that, ask readers for their review. It's really that easy. Under the buy links, include a line like this: Help spread the word about "my book". Leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Here's another secret for you. The links for leaving a review are the exact same links for buying the book. You aren't giving them anything new, but if a reader already bought your book, they aren't going to click on buy links. Simply labeling the links differently reminds readers to leave a review.

For today's task, go back to your book pages and add an ask for reviews. For extra fun, make the link traceable with a link shortening service like http://bitly.com/. This way you can see just how often readers are clicking. Bring on the reviews!

Building the Buzz: Day 4 Purchase Links

2013-05-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever gotten a Sunday flyer in the paper advertising the perfect doohickey you absolutely must have...and it's on sale. You head over to the store to get it right away, only it's not on display the way you hoped. That's okay, you're willing to scan the shelves. It's on sale, after all. You make a beeline for the right department, but it's not there either. You check the next logical spot. No doohickey. You search around for an employee to help you, but the few you see are all busy with lines of people.

Thirty minutes of searching later, that doohickey you absolutely had to have this morning doesn't sound that important anymore. Dejected, you leave the store. In a few days, you forget you ever wanted that doohickey when you see a commercial for a thingamabob that looks awesome.

Happy May the Force!

That's what happens when you don't make it easy for a potential reader to find your book. I've actually had situations where a "buy link" took me to Amazon or the publishers home page. From there I was expected to do a search for the book. I have never once bought a book this way. The beauty of the online marketplace is instant gratification. This can't happen if the purchase can't be instant. Make sure that your "buy link" takes a reader directly to the place they need to be to buy your book.

Right now Amazon is king so I would suggest linking your cover photo to the Amazon purchase page. But that doesn't mean you can only provide one link. Now I've seen this done in a messy fashion with buy links all over the place. Don't do this. Sometimes, too many options can paralyze a potential buyer. I suggest three buy links. This gives variety without overwhelming your reader.

An easy way to do this is right under the cover photo (everywhere you have the photo). A simple line like "Available at Amazon, B&N, Kobo and everywhere books are sold" keeps the information concise and easy to navigate. But don't be afraid to add a little creativity if you can make it work for your genre. For example, if you writer thrillers you might say "Get your thrill on at (insert buy links)".

But what if your book isn't out yet? You still need links. Consider a line like "Coming June 11th, 2013. Pre-order now and add to your TBR list." Just make sure you update this to the actual buy links once the book releases.

Keep it simple and consistent. Use the same short line everywhere you book cover appears, including any guest posts. Post your purchase link verbiage below and dazzle us with your genius. :)

Building the Buzz: Day 3 Writing your Bio

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today we are continuing our week of setting up a strong marketing foundation. So let's talk bios.

After a nice cover catches your eye in the book store, the next place most readers look is the back cover copy. It gives us a two paragraph snapshot of a book to help us decide if it's worth picking up. Your biography is the personal equivalent of the back cover copy. It's a short, and hopefully intriguing, glimpse of what readers can expect from you.

Let's start with what a biography should not be. It shouldn't be a whole page long. I know some of you are laughing, but I have actually seen live (on the web) bio pages that require a reader to scroll way down. Trust me, no one is reading this unless you are famous. Sorry, but as the author, you aren't important enough for a full page.

Your bio should also not be a listing of all your publications, awards, educational degrees, etc. Feel free to put all of that info somewhere else on your website, but don't put it in your bio. Now, before you start crying foul, there is an exception to this rule. If you have won a major award (something a non-writer person would recognize) or your book hits the NYT bestsellers list, then this is okay. But keep it brief. For example: Jane Writer is the author of NYT bestseller "Title of Book".

So what should your bio be? Above all, your bio should be interesting and memorable. How do you know? Read some bios. If you start scanning the web, you'll find a pattern when it comes to biographies. Most of them start out "Jane Author has been reading since she picked up her first copy of a (some famous children's book) and starting writing at the young age of (a young age). She enjoys (a list of unrelated hobbies) and lives in (state) with (laundry list of family members and pets)."

If this is your biography in a nutshell, stop reading this and go delete it. Not only is this not interesting, it is so generic the details are immediately forgettable or easily confused with another writer. Blending in is the exact opposite of what you want to achieve.

I would suggest starting your biography with a brief line (two at the most) that immediately makes you stand out. What makes you uniquely you. It doesn't need to be writing related, though it's a nice touch.

After this bio intro, move on to the meat of your biography. Keep in mind, this should also be unique and memorable. The tone you pick is up to you. You may want to go funny, formal, mysterious, sexy, or literary. The choice is up to you, but I suggest matching the tone of your biography to what you write. If you write edge of your seat thrillers, I'd stay away from a light-hearted or tongue-in-cheek humor bio. Instead, use short, tension building sentences that weave a little mystery into who you are. If you write erotica, then pour in the sexy adjectives at will.

At the end of your bio, be sure to include your social media links. Even though these will be easily elsewhere on your website, having them listed with our bio is another way to let people know where they can find you.

For today's task, take a good hard look at your bio page. Is it just there to fulfill an obligation or are you maximizing that space to sell yourself to potential readers? You didn't settle for good enough in your writing so don't do it here either. Once you've got the perfect bio, be sure to update it on all your social media sites. Just like with your headshot, you want to use the same bio everywhere. And for Twitter, use that catchy opening line. :)

BROKEN FOREST: CYOA Blog Hop

2013-05-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Click here if you're looking for Building the Buzz day 2. However, do come back and check out this fabulously unique blog hop!

If you’ve landed here during your adventure, skip all this and go below.

If you’re wondering what’s going on, go here to start your own adventure!

And may The Creator bless you on your journey.

Eliza graduated from Dowling College with a BS in Visual Communications. When she’s not arguing with excel at her day job, or playing Dragon Age 2, again, she’s writing. Her stories hold a bit of the fantastical and there’s always a romance. She resides on Long Island with her husband, two kids and one very snuggly pit bull.

It's story time...

You run west, deeper into the forest. The cave is set back into one of the large hills. All sounds of life seem to have left this area, and you find it odd that you haven’t run into any of your companions.

A wolf howls. It’s far from where you are, but you worry about Ella. “At least she’s not alone,” you whisper.

The trees in this area grow close together, shielding the moonlight there is. You take the netted ball that hangs from your belt and hold it up. Inside are fireflies. A warm glow spreads around you, illuminating the area. It’s just enough to see the path in front of you and the cave entrance.

Slowly, you walk into the cave. Light from your fireflies bounce off the rocky walls. A slithering sound followed by a slosh, slosh, tells you that you’re not alone.

A) You run out. You’re not in the mood to fight off a giant centipede, and there’s the fact it can eat you. Go here

B) You’ve come this far, time to muster that courage your father always talks about. Go here


Available Now

Hopeless he'll never be more than the boy who didn't save his brother, 17-year-old Avikar accepts his life as the family stable boy, trying to forget the past. But when his sister, Jeslyn, is kidnapped, the thought of losing another sibling catapults him on a desperate quest. With his best friend by his side, and using the tracking skills he learned from his father, he discovers Jeslyn has been taken, kidnapped by one Lucino, the young lord of Daath, a mystical place thought only to exist in fables.

And Lucino has plans for Jeslyn.

Want to learn more about Eliza and Broken Forest? Find her on her website, Goodreads, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

And don't forget to enter the drawing for fabulous prizes: a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Writer's Voice

2013-05-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

“The Writer’s Voice” is a multi-blog, multi-agent contest hosted by Cupid of Cupid’s Literary Connection, Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat.), Monica B.W. of Love YA, and Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes based on NBC’s singing reality show The Voice.

The Query

Dear Agent,

Straight-laced, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Collins is ready for her debut into an idealistic society until the Machine labels her a future criminal. Alone and confused, she’s shipped off to the Permanent Isolation Territory, a lawless penal community. Her only hope at surviving is an eclectic band of teen inmates, but their leader refuses to trust her. Rebecca earns their respect by breaking into a government building and discovers the unsettling truth behind her new status. After decades of anarchy, the government is using the Machine to weed out people who threaten its version of perfection.

Terrified of being stuck in the PIT forever, Rebecca agrees to a risky escape plan. She creates a new persona for her fresh start on the outside, complete with a semi-fake husband, Eric, she’s almost certain she can learn to love. But Rebecca struggles with standing on her own two feet for the first time in her life, afraid that in asserting herself, she’ll turn into the criminal the Machine predicted she’d become.

As the teens run toward freedom, they are captured and discover Eric is the one who turned them in. One of their members pays the ultimate price, and what’s left of their ragtag family is about to be permanently separated. In order to keep them together and salvage a chance at real love, Rebecca must embrace the criminal within to liberate an unsuspecting society from living under the Machine’s lies.

Rite of Rejection is a 78K word YA Dystopian where Matched meets Minority Report.

The Words

Thanks to my mother, today is orchestrated to absolute perfection. Right on schedule, I push the glowing blue button and the door slides open with a staccato puff of air. Overhead, an electric bell tinkles as I shuffle into the upscale boutique packed with other Candidates. Someday I’ll coordinate perfect plans of my own, but not today. Not on the eve of my Acceptance.

Cheryl is right behind me, bouncing on her toes with each step. My mother would die of embarrassment if I showed the same lack of decorum as my best friend, but I’m bouncing on the inside. I take a few more measured steps so our mothers can join us and the door slides shut with another whoosh of air.

We visited half the shops in Cardinal City this morning in our search for the perfect dresses and dyed-to-match shoes. I got a thrill buying my first pair of silk gloves, Cheryl and I gushing over the tiny pearl buttons, but this is the purchase I'm looking forward to the most.

Shelves bursting with dance cards cover every square inch of wall space. Dozens of girls sigh and squeal over the small books we'll use to record the names of our dance partners for tomorrow's ball. I wipe damp palms against the cool material of my skirt and force myself to focus on the goal. One of these books is the perfect one for me. Hopefully, by the end of tomorrow night it will hold the name of my future husband.

Building the Buzz: Day 2 Your Headshot

2013-05-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Now that you're well on your way to getting your professional "look at me, I'm a real author" website off the ground, let's talk headshots. No, not the double tap take down a zombie kind of headshot. I'm talking photos. Specifically, ones of you.

A poorly designed book cover can turn off a reader, and a selfie in the bathroom mirror can do the same. You need a good photograph of yourself to show readers you're a real person.

So here's what you need. A professional, well-edited photo of the completely unique you. Now, I understand that this can be a large investment. Good photography doesn't come cheap...usually. There are ways to look for a deal. If you know other authors or folks who need a good photo see if you can get a group rate by booking a session all together. A photographer may be willing to charge you less if they can handle multiple clients all at one location. Another idea is to check with your local high school and/or college. Students are always looking to add to their portfolio and by talking to the department head you can get your pick of the best students.

Once you have a photographer, you need to put in a little prep work. For outfits, I recommend a plain or lightly patterned long sleeve shirt. Loud colors or patterns can be distracting and bare arms tend to pull focus away from your face. Whatever you pick, make sure it is easy to move around in and you feel comfortable wearing it.

Take the time to practice with hair and make-up before your photo shoot. Gentlemen, this means you, too. Make sure any beards or mustaches are groomed and you're hair is trimmed. You might also consider wearing a bit of makeup. Some light powder can help to cut down on shine. Ladies, you'll want to wear slightly more make-up than normal. I recommend this easy to follow make-up tutorial video.

Now that you have a photo, be consistent. You want to use the same photo on your website, blog, social media sites, press releases, and back of the book cover. Consistency breeds recognition and recognition is half the game when it comes to motivating readers to pick you.

For today's task, book that photographer. Get it on the calendar. If you already have a pro-photo, do a quick sweep of all your social media sites and makes sure you are consistently using the same photo on all of them.