Michael Hebler's Blog: and Fan Page - Posts Tagged "pr"

Though Character biographies are not an original idea, I believe it is underused. We are all looking for a fun, easy, and effective way to market our books. Bios is a simple idea that can be done with no budget and should be fun for the author. Personally, I love adding that extra little bit of background information that would, otherwise, slow the pacing of my story. We've all heard the expression "Kill Your Darlings." Well, creating character bios is a way to bring some of that writing back to life while giving your fans a sneak peek into your next great adventure, as well as attracting new readers. You can also take the bios a step further by attaching a “suggestive” portrait of your character. Either google an image that matches their description, take pictures of your family and friends who might look the part, or if you (or someone you know) can illustrate, have the image drawn. All you need is a platform to post your bios, such as a blog, website, and/or Facebook page. Just remember to keep the biographies simple. You don’t want to give everything away about your characters beforehand.

And who would I be if I didn't follow my own advice: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

In a lot of today’s book marketing, there are many choices and most of them are digital including social, media, webpage ads, websites, blogs… the list goes on. But once upon a time, there was no “digital.” Traditionally published or self-published, authors promoted by other means of publishing, often guerilla style, which still would be effective in our digital world, and most often cheaper. Here a few ideas of best pre-digital age practices:

Business Cards

An oldie but a goodie, and sometimes a freebie. Many online printing companies are offering free business cards as a loss leader. You should always keep something on your person that is your calling card with some contact details. Ask everyone to leave them on tables in coffee shops, slip them into books at bookstores, drop them on library tables or doctor's waiting rooms, and anyplace else people gather and wait.

Bookmarks

A step above business cards. Though larger and not as easy to carry in bulk, bookmarks are less likely to be tossed inside a desk drawer and forgotten because they are practical and contain all the same information on a business card, plus more. True, many people do not use bookmarks because of digital print, but there many devote paper readers still out there who find these little suckers useful still. Treat these like business cards and place them strategically.

Book Clubs

Book clubs are bigger than ever thanks to sites such as Meetup.com, and it's likely there's one in your neighborhood. Join the group and participate, or just contact the organizer then offer to hand out copies of your book/s along with question guides. Let the organizer know that you're willing to speak with the club and bring the wine or a plate of cookies. When readers are enthusiastic about an author, they'll talk about him, and getting to know them personally is a great way to connect and possibly grow a fan base.

Stickers

A roll of stickers can be made cheaply and they can be very effective. On your sticker, put a picture of your cover with an easy address where they can find it, ie your website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. Use these stickers in creative spots to get your name in front of people's faces. Paste them on water bottles, hand them out at conventions and other events, and look through your neighborhood and find unique (and legal) places to sticker your environment.

The first of a quarterly newsletter from www.michaelhebler.com will be going out this Sunday, July 19. To subscribe, go to www.michaelhebler.com and scroll to the bottom of the page.

The newsletter will not only keep readers up-to-date regarding upcoming works but give news and trends within the industry, as well as announcements of events, giveaways, and upcoming projects. I guarantee a lot of interesting ventures are coming in the near future, which I hope to share with you soon.

I am guilty of not following my own advice on this subject, but I have made strides to resolve my ignorance, which I thought I would share. There are times when I think that writing a 144 character tweet is as challenging as writing an 80,000 word novel, but the fact remains that a presence is needed on social media these days if you’re going to have a shot at success. I’m not addressing only the independent and self-published authors out there, but the traditionally published as well. Social media has opened new doors to free opportunities. However, stepping through that door is not where your efforts end. All you’ve have done is entered a room. To increase the chances of any new readership, you need to get your ass to work, and I’ve compiled 10 ideas that should save you some time but will make a huge difference to your visibility.

1. Make sure your profile photo is perfect, and use that headshot across your platforms. When people begin to see the same photo over and over, the repetition will stick in their memory thus creating a familiarity with you. You don’t need to spend big bucks on your headshot, just make sure it’s professional-looking.

2. Your bio is calling card. That is what most potential readers will read first and needs to be rewritten as any novel, but keep it short. Bios that drag on will bore people into leaving before they get to the end. Keep it to around two paragraphs and make sure it's personal. Readers like to develop an emotional attachment to your characters, as well as you. Your bio can be either in your “Bio” section or “About” section, depending on the platform.

3. Like the photo, create a background header and keep it consistent with all your social media platforms. Make it your signature look.

4. Link your social media accounts. You can link Facebook and Pinterest to Twitter, and so on. This step can save you a lot of time.

5. Pin your most important tweet at the top of your Twitter page. It will always be there until you remove it, and it will be the first thing your followers see. Just select the “…” below your tweet message then choose, “Pin to your Profile Page.” It’s as easy as that, but you can only have one pinned tweet at a time.

6. Don’t forget about LinkedIn. Upload links to your best articles on your LinkedIn Professional Portfolio section or post them under the “Post” section.

7. Fill out an on-point and creative Google+ tagline. The tagline is the first thing people see when they click on your name. Don't make it boring.

8. Convert your Pinterest page to a business page. It will look exactly the same, but you'll have access to analytics.

9. Create a newsletter that people can subscribe to either by your website or through social media. Subscribers want to hear about what you have in the works. This task is a great way to update them on any progress or provide with some flash fiction, links to giveaways, guest posts, etc. For a newsletter example, go here: Newsletter

10. Adjust your privacy settings on Pinterest to allow the widest possible range of access. You want everyone to be able to find your links.

The Ghost of Christmas Past is now taking pre-ordrers.

Scheduled for release this September 27th, discover all the details HERE