Engage on Social Media
Social Media Sites:
- Google+
Social Media Sites for Book Lovers:
Social Media Sites Have Become Mainstream in People’s Lives:
- Surveys reveal that 78% of the U.S. population has a social network profile.
- Using social media to connect with consumers is now an essential part of any good marketing
campaign. - In fact, 91% of retail brands use two or more social media channels to connect with consumers.
Social Media Site Content is Bite-sized.
- People are using micro-moments to check their social media feeds.
- Facebook says that readers spend only 1.7 seconds on a Facebook post when using a mobile device to access the site.
Next, we will look at using video and audio to engage an audience.
Photo Source: Pixaby
Starseers: Fallen Empire, Book 3 by Lindsay Buroker
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast was my introduction to author Lindsay Buroker. Beware – spoilers follow!
Okay, I have to begin by saying I’m hooked on the series. The characters are awesome. Lindsay Buroker does a world-class job with the characters. I love Alisa’s irreverent humor. The constant danger the Star Nomad keeps finding itself in keeps the tension going. The sexual tension between Alisa and the cyborg Leonidas keeps building.
We see Alisa growth as her faith in the Alliance diminishes. She sees the Alliance isn’t as wonderful as she once imagined. We clearly see her Alliance views and the counterpoint of Leonidas the cyborg’s personal honor that becomes more apparent. We learn more of who he is. The more I learn about him the more we like and the more human he is.
Maybe like me, you will feel empathy for Yumi. And we learn more of the Starseers. I’m committed to the entire series. I am on board to see where the adventures take us and to learn more of the wonderful characters.
Blog on a Regular Schedule
Blogs Influence People:
- 77% of Internet users read blogs.
- 87% of blog readers are book buyers.
- Blogs rank third (behind family and friends) in influencing purchasing decisions.
- 61% of consumers have made a purchasing decision based on a blog post.
- A blog helps you develop trust with your audience
Blogs require new content:
-
New Content
You want to add new material on a regular basis to keep your readers engaged.
-
Post Often
A good goal for blog posting is once or twice a week. You really should go longer between blog posts than two weeks or you will have trouble building an audience.
Statistics show that 68% of bloggers blog less than daily, but more than monthly.
It takes nine months of regular posting for a blog to develop a strong, loyal readership base.
Next time we will look at Social Media Engagement.
Photo Source: Pixaby
Get a Website
“But, I just want to write. I don’t want to do a website. I don’t know how to do it. Besides that, it sounds expensive and time-consuming.
Fine, not having an Internet presence is an option. Just writing can produce a book. Rarely will just writing produce readers. Having a website is a key part of a strategy for building an audience.
Website URL
I recommend a custom website URL, that is you purchasing your own domain. I recommend you select one of three options.
• Your Author Name
The website you are on is an example of using the author’s name. You are on jimmiekepler.com
• Your Book’s Title
The website Prayers for the Chronically Ill is an example. I am currently writing a nonfiction book with the title Prayers for the Chronically Ill. I use the website to build my audience and build my email list.
• Your Brand
The website The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn is an example of this type of website.
What Should Your Website Include?
• A Blog
A blog written on a consistent schedule is one great way to connect with your audience. It should be focused and published on the same day of the week at least twice a month. Experts say using this schedule it can take you nine to twelve months to build an audience.
• About Your Book
Tell your readers about your book. Your book blurb is great for sharing here. It should not be a summary of your book
• About the Author
Tell the readers who you are and what qualifies you to write your book if nonfiction.
• Reviews / Endorsements
A great way to build engagement is to let your audience know people are reading your book and hear is what they are saying about it.
• Social Media Links
Point the reader to your online presence – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.
• Contact Information
Allow them to email you or reach out to you. This builds a connection with your reader and loyalty as they get to know you.
• Email Signup / Call to Action
You don’t just want them to visit your website. You want them to buy your book. Ask them for their email address. This allows you to thank them for visiting your website and to let them know when your book and future books are available for purchase. Then you can remind then or ask them to buy your books.
Easy to Use, Affordable Website Hosting & Building Services:
- Squarespace
www.squarespace.com - WordPress
WordPress.com - Weebly
www.weebly.com - WebsiteBuilder.com
www.websitebuilder.com
Next time we will look at the subject: Blog Regularly.
Photo Source: Pixaby
Honor’s Flight: Fallen Empire, Book 2 by Lindsay Buroker
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast was my introduction to author Lindsay Buroker. Beware – spoilers follow!
“Honor’s Flight: Fallen Empire, Book 2” in the Emperor’s Edge series has the crew of Star Nomad Star Nomad returning to Perun looking for Alisa’s lost daughter. They are also dealing with the artifact that Alejandro has with him. The adventure continues as things do not happen as Alisa hoped once back on Perun.
When Alisa arrives on her home planet she isn’t welcome. She’s former Alliance pilot. The planet is under control of the Empire. As if this isn’t bad enough the worst is yet to come. Her daughter has been taken by Starseers. The sets the stage for the rest of the story.
Alisa engages in a desperate search for her daughter as Alejandro is trying to gain more information on his orb.
The after effects of the war between the Alliance and the Empire ring through the book. We see what happens when a government is defeated. We see the after effects on the victor not being able to fill the void of the previous government at all levels.
Lindsay Buroker has crafted another excellent book. Great story telling, wonderful character, and some wonderful humor keep me turning the pages. I especially like Alisa’s interactions with Leonidas. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them. The grilling Beck and engineer Mica add depth to the story. The characters grow together as they travel and strive for survival. I confess I have become a big fan of Lindsay Buroker. Her writing is brilliant and I love the humor. I haven’t decided if it is intentional or just the author’s voice. Either way, it rocks.
Strategies for Building Audience.
Your strategies for building an audience is your road map to getting to your destination. What destination is that you ask? It is having a target group of people to potentially buy your books.
Five Recommendations:
- Get a Website
- Blog Regularly
- Social Media Engagement
- Create Videos
- Create a Podcast
First Glance Looks Scary and Hard
A first glance you might think the five listed above are scary and hard. I won’t lie to you, they take work and commitment. The are learned skills or items that you can outsource (like website creation).
As we examine each in the next five sessions you’ll have your fears and dread lessened. You’ll see their value. You’ll get some ideas. Remember, you don’t have to do them all at once. You can take them one step at a time. We learn to crawl, then walk, and finally run.
Next time we will look at website creation.
Photo Source: Pixaby
Build an Audience
Before publishing your book you need to build an audience. Gone are the days where the publisher will build your audience for you.
I can hear you thinking, why should I build an audience? You are also thinking, that sounds hard. I just want to write.
Two Reason Why You Need to Build an Audience.
- Connect with the reader. Did you know most book sales happen because the reader has developed a connection with the author? Yes, a connection between reader and author is important.
- You need an audience to sell your book to.
Who Is Your Audience?
- The audience is the people who listen to what you have to say.
- They have an interest in what you present.
Why Would They Listen to You?
- These are your “nation” or “tribe.”
- These are the people who listen to what you have to say.
- These are the people you’ve built trust with.
- These are the people who realize you are a subject matter expert or tell a great story in a genre in which they have interest.
Next time we will at several strategies to build an audience.
Photo Source: Pixaby
Star Nomad: Fallen Empire, Book 1 by Lindsay Buroker
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast was my introduction to author Lindsay Buroker. An episode of the podcast I was listening to mentioned she also wrote Science Fiction as well as Fantasy. I headed to Amazon to explore her science fiction books.
I did a quick reading of the first four paragraphs of chapter one of Star Nomad: Fallen Empire, Book 1 in the Emperor’s Edge series. I then purchased the book using the beautiful “buy with 1-click” Amazon command button.
I am now a fanboy of Lindsay Buroker’s science fiction writing.
The author has a great story. The memorable characters greeted me immediately. There is the Star Nomad’s captain, Alisa Marchenko. She has her engineering friend Mica who is also a heck of a mechanic. They find Alisa’s mother’s old ship to get off the desert planet they were stranded on after the war ended.
We learn that Alisa and Mica fought on the side of the Alliance. They soon meet an Imperial cyborg living in and guarding the Star Nomad. They negotiate with him to reach their common goal of getting off the planet and back to Alisa’s home world of Perun and civilization.
We learn the consequences of what happens when an evil empire is overthrown without having a strong new government plan in order.
Additional players in the book are the previous Emperor, the Starseers, the Alliance, and the Mafia. The book cover the characters’ quest to Perun. It lays down a solid foundation for the remaining journey and possible future conflict between characters.
I have read book 2 and will review it soon. I am currently reading book 3 in the series. It looks like there are 8-books to date in the series.
Star Nomad is fun reading. It will make even give you the desire to do some grilling of bear meat. And yes, there are female science-fiction authors. Lindsay Buroker is of the top ten female science fiction authors of modern times according to World’s Edge Tavern.
Why People Don’t Self-Publish
There are three main reasons authors wanting to self-publish have for not self-publishing.
Uncertainty or Lack of Conviction.
- You think:
- I can’t do it.
- No one will like or buy my book.
- Others are the authority on this subject area.
- Self-doubt: You can’t do this mindset.
- You should think:
- I have something to say.
- I am qualified to write this.
- If not me, who?
- I can do this.
Fear
- You think:
- What if I fail?
- What will others think?
- What if I do this wrong?
- I am going to look silly.
- You should think:
- If I touch one life, I have succeeded.
- Others will hold me in high esteem for sharing my story.
- My family and children will see I can do it.
- This will be a fun adventure.
Paralysis
- You think:
- What if I start and don’t finish the book?
- I don’t know how to do this.
- I don’t have the technical skills.
- It is too hard.
- You should think:
- I will have this finished by a certain date.
- I can learn to do anything.
- I know someone with or can learn the technical skills.
- Nothing is too hard
Reflect on how you can write and publish your book. Set a date to finish the first draft. Go for it!
Photo Source: Pixaby
Why People Self-Publish
Why People Self-Publish Books
- The author cannot find a traditional publisher after querying for a year or two.
- They author wants to maintain creative control. An example would be wanting to have control of the book cover design or launch date.
- The author is frugal. He/she does not want to use a custom publishing company because of the cost.
- The author wants to make more money per book sold and to have payment faster.
- The author has good self-esteem. He/she is not concerned about the stigma of self-publishing.
- Remember, self-publishing titles are showing up on best-seller lists.
- There are now some best-seller lists which include self-published books (USA Today and New York Times.
- The author uses the book to add authority to their business or ministry through back-table sales.
Self-Publishing Stats from Author Earnings
- Self-published indie authors are verifiably capturing at least 24% – 34% of all ebook sales in each of the five English-language markets (US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand); it’s not just a US-only phenomenon. When you also include the uncategorized authors, the vast majority of whom are also self-published, the true indie share in each market lies somewhere between 30% – 40%.
- Indies are competing particularly well in the Canadian and Australian ebook markets, nearly approaching the level of dominance they currently hold in the US.
- The Big Five (see https://jimmiekepler.com/2017/06/05/8340/ to learn more of who the big five are), on the other hand, are letting themselves progressively get squeezed out of nearly every English-Language ebook market. They make up only 38% of Canadian ebook purchases, and that’s the country where they are holding their ground best; in the US, the Big Five now account for barely 26% of all ebook sales.
- Amazon Imprints have made the most market headway in the US. Despite being single-retailer exclusive to Amazon Kindle, the dozen or so Amazon “house” publishing imprints between them account for 14% of all US ebook sales, 10% of all UK ebook sales, and 8% of Australian ebook sales. In Canada, the Amazon Imprint footprint is a much more modest 3% of all ebook sales, largely due to the substantial shares of the overall Candian ebook market held by Kobo (25%) and Apple (14%).
Source: http://authorearnings.com/report/february-2017/ – click the link to see the extreme detail on book sales.
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THE REBUILDER
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MISS SARAH'S SECRET
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Gone Electric: A Poetry Collection
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