Chirenjenzie discussion

Marketing is the one area all that we all struggle. Feel free to post any Marketing ideas, tips, and tricks that has helped you along the way. Also, please let us know anything you've tried that's been a waste of time and money.

Has anyone read the book The Frugal Promoter? What did you think?

http://www.amazon.com/Frugal-Book-Pro...

I am not an author, but getting yourself out there is something I struggle with too...You at least have a body of clients that's world wide, mine are only local!

I think word of mouth, is good...that's what works for me best. Though it's still tough. Goodness, I wish I had more good advice :(

Oh, creativity showing yourself off - that's another area that's cool...

Um...with The Light - maybe a photo contest of "light" or "gems" or a photoshop contest where they photoshop there eyes to look like the gems in the book...maybe a short story contest where they write about there fav memory of there grandma - who's so prevalent in the book.

Thinking outside the box is always a good way to start...and doing it for others seems WAY easier than trying to do it for yourself!

Jenn!!! *Waves!* It's so good to see you here! Remember you are the Jen in Chirenjenzie! :-D

You're suggestion couldn't have come at a better time. I'm messaging you on Facebook in a sec!

For those that don't know, Jenn is an AMAZING baby photographer. She owns Fingers and Toes photography, and so if you have any suggestions for her, put it here as well. I love that we have people from many professions here. No need to limit this thread to books, right?

What do you think about partnering with a baby store and have a day where you come in and photo customers at a special price? You could set up a table, and give the store 10% of anything you make, or have a portion of the profits go to a local charity (that would make it harder for them to say no :-)

What do you think?

I love that idea - gotta come up with a pitch...

See part of my problem, is walking up to people cold...I know I could probably go into Dr.s offices too and see if they would add pictures I took in there waiting rooms or if I could leave info, but it's that walking up cold! LOL

Not only that but finding the cash to get the pictures together!

I also work as a site designer, just dont have a site or anything for that yet...someday I hope!

Could you offer to do a site design for a printing shop? That way, you could get the photo's for free, and they could have you design their site. Quid pro Quo, as it were.

Also, I think you might need to utilize twitter a little more. Are you following all the doctors and baby stores in the area? I'd tweet or facebook them a few times first. Let them get to know you. That way you're not walking in cold. That's the beauty of social networking.

An indie friend of mine ordered book marks for her new book. I am curious to see what she'll do with them. She said a lesson learned already is not to buy them laminated, since she wants to write on them and can't (sign them and/or put dates of upcoming events). Anyone else have experience with bookmarks or other little items like that?

I had post cards made when the book first came out. That worked wonderfully because it's a little bigger than a bookmark, and you can send them out to libraries or set them out on counters. I'm thinking about having more made this summer with the new cover!

I want to get bookmarks, but I saw the coolest thing: trading cards! I would LOVE to order those. Maybe one for each member of my coven...

I would also like to put my 1st chap or two in someone else's book; at the back for a preview. I would definitely consider adding someone's preview to mine. Sort of a cross-marketing thing.

I think giveaways are HUGE right now. Aside from swag, everyone wants to win something. I'm going to be giving away small things on my upcoming blog tour, and then maybe a BIG thing at the end for those who visited each day and commented.

What about press releases? You can distribute them free (not as good a reach as paid, but still) to different places online. Maybe come up with a good angle that relates to current news?

In my real life, I am a non-fiction writer and I own a website content company. I deal with a lot of marketers and business owners trying to market their stuff. I've been trying to put my skills in that area to use when it comes to fiction...

Oh mylanta, Sammie!
Those are all great suggestions! And I think cross marketing is a great idea ... the more we can do the better!

I've seriously been thinking about starting a Chirenjenzie blogspot where authors of this group can guest post on whatever they want, and then we could have an amazon widget with all the books on it. What do you think? Would you be willing to help with that idea?

I would definitely be in. I am more than willing to do anything that will help. Just point and shoot and I'm there! lol

Beth,

I like that idea! Count me in. :)

Cyndi

I was just stalking another group, and someone mentioned that goodreads counts the times that your book is mentioned. Therefore, every time you post about a book it should look like this:

Elizabeth Isaacs

That counts me twice. Once for the book cover, once for the author. Don't know if that's true or not, but I thought I'd pass it along. Couldn't hurt :-D

Ohhh thanks for the info!

For me twitter has been an amazing marketing device. I just ramble on, and sometimes people check me out. I don't do too much self promotion on that because it can get irritating to others. Also, an ebook giveaway/review/author interview piqued some interest. And finaly, I just try to chat with people who love the same books as I do.