Book Trailers (tm) & Author Web Sites discussion

Do you have a special web site that you could recommend to showcase your book?

Hi Dee-

Yes- Recently I discovered AuthorsDen. The simplicity of the site attracted me as it is designed for readers as much as writers.

www.AuthorsDen.com

Type your favorite author's name, i.e. Ed Zaruk, in the search window. Works for me.

I also like the article feature. How I Survived My Husband's Writing is one we did for Katherine Sands, an agent in NY.

Thanks for the link Ed. I too discovered Aurhtor's Den awhile back. It is a gret site, and easy to navigate.

Dee Marie

I'm at Red Room. This is my page. I like the look of the site... it's got a nice feel to it. I think it's my favourite one so far.

Oh, and I have a facebook page for my book here. Has anyone else here put up a page just for their book? How is it working for you?

I didn't think I'd get any interest, but I get more clicks through from there than I do here.

Hey Gina, What is Red Room? I have never heard of that one?

Whoops, I didn't notice your link.

Oh, Gina, I do like your facebook account.
I tried the other one...darn it I can't remember the name of the other group. Anyway, it has a horrible interface.

Dee, I have to admit that I'm a bit addicted to facebook. It's so easy to use, and I've met quite a few really interesting people there.

I have a MySpace account, but it's not a site I like so I rarely go back there. There was a change over in the design recently, and you can switch the boxes around, so it's improved a little, but not enough to tempt me back more regularly. It seems to be a popular site amongst musicians.

Bebo (I think that's what it's called) is not my cup of tea. I signed up but haven't bothered with the account. From what I remember you can have a separate page for your book, but the look of the site puts me off.

I've joined a few Ning sites. I haven't done much at them yet aside from fill in my profile. I get a fair bit of spam from some of them though.

Yes, MySpace was the other site, thanks. I do not like MySpace, at all.

Ning sites?

Ahhh, I am way too blond today ;] what is a Ning site?

Ning.com

The Book Marketing Network is one.

ahhh, geez, of course.

Gosh, my books and I are all over the World Wide Web. LOL! I have pages on Facebook, Myspace, a couple of blogs, on over a dozen Ning sites, Author's Den, Axis Avenue, Shelfari, and many more, including my own author's forum on CoffeeTimeRomance.com. My website link is everywhere I find the opportunity to stick it as well.

I don't like Facebook as much as I like MySpace, but I'm still there when someone posts to me or sends a friend request. I have a fans page on Facebook too.

I have more pages then I should admit. LOL!

Christie Silvers

Hi Christie,
Your post got the following song blaring like an earworm in my head...
"Round, Round Get-a-round, she gets around." Isn't that a song from the fifties?

Is it hard to keep up with all the sites? Which do you get the most feedback from your fans?

{dances off still singing}

LOL! Yeah, I kind of do get around, but in a good way. ;-)

I get the most action on MySpace, CoffeeTimeRomance, my blog, and Facebook. The rest are just there in case anyone comes across them.

It's not too difficult to keep up with them all since I don't have to make changes too often. I'll go in to announce specials and update videos, book covers, etc. Other than that, there's not much upkeep on most of the pages.

These days I'm hearing more and more fans say that other fans recommended my books to them. Word of mouth still seems to be the best way to get advertisement, but all of these pages don't hurt either. :-)

Oh, and don't forget about the power of a regular newsletter. I send mine out monthly and each month there are more subscribers than the month before. People love newsletters! :-)

Christie

Oh you brought up a great marketing tool, Christie, Newsletters.

What do you include in your newsletters?

Well, I do a monthly one, so I save up all kinds of tidbits and just share them all at once. If I have a book release coming up, I'll talk about that. A guest appearance somewhere, talk about that. Went on a trip, I'll talk about that. If I published an article that is relevant to current events/holidays, then I'll link to that. New website addition or update, talk about that. I'll talk about how the writing of the most current book is going, contests, upcoming giveaways... anything.

Basically just share whatever you want. :-)

Christie

Thanks Christie :]

Similar to Christie, I am on most of the sites she mentioned. I have Shelfari on my MySpace page, but I don't think I have an official profile with them (one day I will set one up).

My favorite site is MySpace, I love it & I've met quite a few new readers there & a number of valued friends. I've also attracted some interest from Hollywood on a possible movie version of the book through MySpace. Here's the link to my MySpace page if anyone would like to be friends there:

Rai's MySpace page

I do have two Facebook pages, one just for the book, which has verrrry little activity, but I'll keep it because one day, who knows!?! I have met some readers & interesting & valuable contacts on Facebook with my regular page. Here's my Facebook links - new friends/fans are always welcome!

Rai's Facebook profile

Secret of the Sands Facebook page


I have done next to nothing on AuthorsDen, but from the sounds of it, I need to spend more time there. I think I also need to check out Librarything, I keep seeing it mentioned. Axis Avenue, Linked In, and my various ning memberships all have very little activity, but I will keep them.

I also participate in various Amazon.com discussion forums - I have found that to be a goldmine of contacts & readers. Just find the ones that fit your book & participate away. It's best to add more to the discussions than just "here's my book". I try to update my Amazon profile with new & interesting info from time to time. It gets lots of hits. I highly recommend maintaining a profile there. Here's the link to mine:

Rai's Amazon.com profile page

I find it very challenging to keep up with all the sites, so I focus mainly on MySpace, Facebook, Amazon forums and now Goodreads. I also regularly participate in a very helpful Amazon.com tagging group, "Tag You're It", run by Todd Fonseca, author of The Time Cavern (he's also here on Goodreads). Here's the link:

Tag You're It

Oh yeah, I also have the book trailer on YouTube and a profile there. We've had over 1800 views so far, and there is the opportunity to post comments, etc on movie trailers, etc., but again having time to do it all is the kicker. Here's the link to my YouTube trailer:

Secret of the Sands Official Trailer on YouTube

I know of other authors who use newsletters, etc to great effect, but I haven't yet had the time to do it. I'm feelings stretched pretty thin with all I have on the go already...

Great topic!


Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands

I used MySpace, as it has worked for me, both under this name and the other one for my pseudonym, Sapphire Phelan. I have used Ning.com, like Book Marketing one and the Book Place one. Not as much been going to those.
I used AuthorsDen, not for a long while though. I do post on my blogs, when I have a book out. My blog at http://PamelaKKinney.blogspotcom seems to garner me big hits. Go figure. I also post on yahoo groups I am with, to reach readers, which seem to work.
Lately, people are buying my books or coming back to conventions I am signing at to get other books of mine.

http://www.myspace.com/PamelaKKinney
http://www.myspace.com/sapphirePhelan

http://PamelaKKinney.blogspot.com
http://sapphirePhelansPassionCorner.b...

I'm liking MySpace more since they changed the layout options... my page looks completely different now.

http://www.myspace.com/utamarorevealed

However, I don't know if you guys are finding this too, but I am getting a lot of men sending me messages that involve comments about my physical attributes... which is a bit disconcerting O_o

I don't like AuthorsDen. I really can't get enthusiastic about how it looks or feels. Maybe I'm missing something.

I don't get anyone posting that sort of stuff,though my pictures are my books covers on both. I reject them asking to b e my friend. I check out profiles to be sure always. I used to get those kind with a bug pink cell phone, advertising it, so try to be careful. And if there's no picture at all, I won't accept as got a virus hitting my myspace years and years ago from someone like this.

Yes, I'm going to have to be more careful about accepting friend invitations. I've found that I get a batch of them when I log in, so I'm assuming there's a page where you show up when you sign in and that's where they're finding me.

Besides places I mentioned as Pamela K. Kinney, as sapphire Phelan, I have a newsletter. I even got someone today asking to subscribe to it. This way, readers learn what books I have out or coming out, where I am signing or will be a guest at, I do reviews of other books in my genre, plus another author interview and recipes, etc... I even from time to time have a free story just for the subscribers to read.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sapphir...

I signed up for Facebook one day and deleted my account the next, sigh. I found it hard to navigate and set up, and on top of that, I was getting the same kind of messages that Gina was getting on Myspace...only with pictures...ewwwwwwwww grosssss!

Pictures! Oh my, that would have had me running for the hills, never to return O_o

I couldn't get the hang of Facebook at first, but my husband stuck with it and worked on his page so eventually he could tell me where everything was. I've met some really nice people there, and the museum I'm speaking at in January has a page so I'll be posting there too. It does look like an incredibly boring site when you first sign up though... it only gets interesting when you start joining groups and adding widgets.

I might try it again, one day.

For now, I have seen far too many unwanted "widgets" ;]

You made me spit my tea :o)

hands Gina a dry towel...sorry ;]

Oh, too many. *LOL* Facebook, MySpace (for both my "alter egos" *LOL*), Ning, Author's Den, I need to set up my CoffeeTimeRomance page, personal websites/blogs, here, just discovered Shelfari, Youtube, Amazon.com blog...

Ugh.

I'm so buried in edits right now, I can't devote enough time to all of them, unfortunately. I don't really like Facebook that much, I love MySpace. I think I'll like Ning if I do more with it, I haven't got much more than a basic page.

Gina wrote: "Oh, and I have a facebook page for my book here. Has anyone else here put up a page just for their book? How is it working for you?

I didn't think I'd get any interest, but I get more clicks throu..."

Cool idea, Gina. I have a personal FaceBook page and must confess that I've become a bit hooked on the site, and I do reference my book on my page, but it didn't dawn on me to create a page specifically for the book.

I actually have started using Facebook more. I also didn't think of a page specifically for a book. Hmmm. Maybe I'll try that.

<--facebook dropout.

*fluffs blonde hair*

*LOL* Dee!

I just got friended by Tim Dorsey, Randy Wayne White, and Doug Clegg. *LOL*

Doing a frantic GOOGLE search for the above name :]

<--has dark roots when it comes to Google ;]

I'm open to friending on Facebook, if anyone will have me. I'm just plain old me there... Gina Collia-Suzuki.

I'm on there as Lesli Richardson (my normal name *LOL*).

Dee, I made friends with Anne Rice and she even sent me a message on my wall. I like facebook. My sisters were able to find me from Washington and California by searching facebook. Cool.

Paul Alabaster is a new rising British author of horror fiction. At http://www.paulalabaster.co.uk you will discover a wealth of information about the author, whose work ranges from the disturbingly psychotic The Pink Room, to the supernatural Trauma, and the blood chilling Dolly Carter Island. Extracts of these novels and many more are posted for your reading pleasure. In the near future, the site will also start to feature short-stories in full. If you are looking for quality horror with a new edge, you have come to the right place.

The site also features a Blog which provides topical debates, reviews and exclusive news on horror based works, whether they be literary, film, art or music. It also offers you, the reader, a chance to comment on Paul’s literary works and much more.

If you read one of Paul's extracts and like what you read, please leave an entry on the blog, or e-mail your comments to paulalabaster@me.com

Publicity via word of mouth by friends is the greatest form of publicity - again, if you like what you see, please tell at least 10 of your friends (Facebook, Text, e-mail) and recommend this new upcoming author!

Happy reading!

Hey Paul,

Clowns are waaAAaay too scary for me. They give me nightmares :)

Dee wrote: "Clowns are waaAAaay too scary for me. They give me nightmares :)"

Me too. The film of Stephen King's 'It' gave me shivers everywhere!

Despite this fear, there are no stories on the site yet about clowns - I hope you have a go at reading what is on the site. Look forward to reading your comments

Yes, but there is a picture of a scary clown :]

http://web.me.com/paulalabaster/www.p...

*Shivering*

Shall continue to read on, now that I know the clowns will not attack my imagination ;]

Oo, just found this thread.

I think Facebook really encourages the 'social' part of social networking. Being able to see everyone's updates and comment so easily on them makes it so much easier to meet new people (as Gina mentioned above ). Not to mention all the games and applications.

Myspace to me is more about the image and the music. You can make your page all fancy and colorful and put music up, some really good unsigned bands out there. But to meet anyone you have to make the effort to click on those updates and commenting isn't quite so inviting.

Me on myspace (ingognito): http://www.myspace.com/powerfish

And Redroom is very beautifully done. But are there no message boards?

I love Redroom... I've been having great fun there. My blog post is highlighted on the front page at the moment, which is so cool. I think they're going to have groups soon, so there would be the possibility of more interaction then. My husband's a member there too, so that's nice. I just love the place.

I really enjoy looking around although I don't think I have the hang of it yet. The groups feature will be interesting. I've found quite a few big name writers on there, too. OH, and I saw you featured! Congratulations! You must be getting a ton of hits on your blogs.

Ok, I am confused...(daaah, like that is new)

What is Redroom? Is it part of Myspace?

Redroom is a site for authors and readers. They rejected me as an author probably because my book is self published. You should check it out. There are alot of famous people on the site. www.redroom.com

Well I would never reject you Johanna...did they say why exactly?

Dee, I don't know what their criteria is... I haven't figured that out yet. I'm a Redroom author but my husband (nothing published) is a Redroom member. I never notice who's what though... I just know he is because we're married. There's a blog facility, and you can add a Biblio-maniac box to each post, with links to Amazon, B&N and Powells... and they're going to add more stores. I've met some lovely people there, authors and members alike.

They said they do not accept self published authors. I am a member. Anyone can be a member but there is criteria for being an author. I like the site but I am disapointed that they rejected me. I will still self publish my second book even though it is not acceptible to reviewers and others. You should read my book Dee and you will see why.