Great thread. Wonderful advice. Just getting into promoting my stuff and this is just what the doctor ordered.
You've self-published a book that you are proud of, or your publisher is a small indie press without a sales staff or marketing department.
You know that a lot of people buy books and review books and talk about books online, and you want to participate in the conversation, and maybe, sell some books.
Because, as you so astutely pointed out, even the authors who are signed up by legitimate press, don't get any promo or marketing support from their publishers. Just my writer-living experience.
My point is this: If I'm to read any blog that allows promotion I will be doing promotion, not 'chatting-up' and providing meaningful input. Not establishing blog-human-social connection.
I know this advice is nearly 3 years old and I'm just getting around to reading it but having read it, I'm kind of wondering if it all has merit - or not.
Agreed.Parts of this are practical advice, parts are humble brag and parts are just...well, not realistic. The bottom line is that the day has 24 hours. That part will never change. Not in our lifetime, anyway. Most of the writers hold a full time job. So that takes 8 hours out of the day, 9 if there is a metropolitan commute, then there is family - that takes about 4-5 hours out of the day, and there is a biological requirement of 6-7 hours for sleeping. That, in essence, leaves precious few hours for writing and promoting.
It's been shown over and over again that the only really effective way to promote online is to engage with your audience. Shouting "BUY MY BOOK!" only alienates them. It certainly doesn't make them want to buy your book.My point is this: If I'm to read any blog that allows promotion I will be doing promotion, not 'chatting-up' and providing meaningful input. Not establishing blog-human-social connection. There is hardly any time to cook, clean, walk pets, tutor children, do car repairs, do food shopping, take care of aging parents, and such mundane living things, much less time to socialize on blogs to parade a civil presence. Bottom line is if the blog allows promotion, then that's what it will be used for. Otherwise, the writer has no use for it and better move on to the blog and review site that can further his promotion.
Because, as you so astutely pointed out, even the authors who are signed up by legitimate press, don't get any promo or marketing support from their publishers. Just my writer-living experience.
Yes, self-promotion always seems so ego driven, and that bothers me a bit.
If it makes you feel any better, I'm in the same boat as you are. But when you think about it, everything we do is driven by our egos. You don't go to a job interview with the intent to sell yourself short. You want the job, so you do everything within the scope of your professional ability to convince the human resources manager that you are worth their time and money.
What's different with a book, I think, is that any form of art is subjective and our challenge is to convince someone that they won't regret spending their extra money on us. As confident as we are in our stories, we can't predict how the general public will react to them. I think the main key to creating your presence though is not just in telling people, "Hey, I have a book, come buy it," but in making the most of your time online and helping people to get to know you.
You're already starting that process with making an account and posting here. So start small and work your way up, but don't lose confidence in your writing ability in the process. Be confident in that and the rest will follow.
There's some excellent advice in this thread, and I'm making an effort to implement many of the items proposed.
One thing I'm not 100% on is the need for both a facebook author page AND an author blog/website? Do we really need both or can a personal website (ie a WordPress blog) be sufficient? I already have a personal website, twitter account and goodreads account, but I'm just debating on the facebook side.
I suppose the question I'm asking is - what does having a facebook author page provide that a personal website doesn't?
There's some excellent advice in this thread, and I'm making an effort to implement many of the items proposed.
One thing I'm not 100% on is the need for both a facebook author page AND an author blog/website? Do we really need both or can a personal website (ie a WordPress blog) be sufficient? I already have a personal website, twitter account and goodreads account, but I'm just debating on the facebook side.
I suppose the question I'm asking is - what does having a facebook author page provide that a personal website doesn't?
Less and less, actually, but there are people who read FB who don't read the Web, so it's worth posting at least a short synopsis and a link from your site / blog on FB when you have something to say, or a book coming out, etc.
In general, I lean towards writers separating their personal from their business/writer persona. Your friends and family are interested in your holiday plans, your pets, and your kids; your readers might not be.