tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49897535592891660042024-03-14T03:45:00.619-06:00Book RearingWritings from an author's heart...Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-9051329187237627732013-08-30T18:35:00.005-06:002018-05-23T07:35:08.603-06:00Check Out My New BlogHey Authors,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have started a new blog with my co-author/mentor, Shelley Hitz. If you're looking to find me online, check it out at <a href="http://booksfaithandcoffee.com/trainingauthors">TrainingAuthors.com</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://booksfaithandcoffee.com/trainingauthors"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39DSf3PBK_3YPNVE43jV09zXVP_cSNFfZpJF2PmDYgkG9AHqJkGYKl0IOzrqjIjLGwlF8v0a7TdBTeZrzTZnp3gezVhaMMJ9xkqnWgvC9cJKwnAiZBif3kVcO81GNDZlMCjDFsESi4dJX/s1600/WebinarGraphic.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-84823514475087515542013-08-10T03:30:00.000-06:002013-08-10T03:30:01.893-06:00Are You Relevant?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“What makes content engaging is relevancy. You
need to connect the contact information with the content information.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Gail Goodman,
President and <br />
CEO of Constant Contact<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
For the longest time I had all of
my book marketing separate from my content. It was almost like I was afraid to
mix marketing into “the good stuff” – but “the good stuff” is the best
marketing there is. By adding a link to the end of your blog post to your book,
or writing an article and including your web-address, your marketing your book.
But without that little link, your “good stuff” isn't going to help your book
sales. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Promote yourself as a local
author. Consider contacting any bookstores within an hour of your home. You can
offer to do events or signings as you have time.<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-88547840365760965482013-08-09T13:55:00.002-06:002013-08-09T13:55:39.280-06:00What Is Your Dream?<div style="text-align: center;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6XsiU19nHuaBDaqHT56uMLQxvc_yfk-UTbjZzoDvmAOpzMqxAj9uK3gXH5SS0R1Ix6JHqB9oZ2jc_9ngA_Eyqok2gai0-uUqN9oJn-7OuGh7XYjqnmiaW2ssbgHABgBg1GW-v2Rt9fTW/s1600/Faith-Hill-It-Matters-to-Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6XsiU19nHuaBDaqHT56uMLQxvc_yfk-UTbjZzoDvmAOpzMqxAj9uK3gXH5SS0R1Ix6JHqB9oZ2jc_9ngA_Eyqok2gai0-uUqN9oJn-7OuGh7XYjqnmiaW2ssbgHABgBg1GW-v2Rt9fTW/s200/Faith-Hill-It-Matters-to-Me.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“In today’s information age of Marketing and
Web 2.0, a company’s website is the key to their entire business.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span>Marcus
Sheridan<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When I was a kid, Faith Hill was
one of my favorite signers. She has this song (I Can't Do That Anymore) where
she talks about how she use to dream about what she be, but now she dreams
about the washing machine. So last night when I dreamt about my author website,
that’s the first thing that I thought of when I woke up. Granted, there are
some major differences. For starters, my husband is amazing, not some tyrant
that rules my life – but then I’m also living my dream – and dreaming about
different aspects of it – vs. washing machines. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So while it’s not the same, the
fact is that whatever we spend our time and thoughts on during the day, often
effects what we dream about overnight. I had spent all day yesterday uploading
new webpages and creating content for the website, so I really wasn't surprised
– but I’d much rather dream about something that I don’t do all day. Something
much less workish. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The point of this entry? It isn't
to tell you that you need to work on your website until you dream about, but
websites are important. And after the original design and set up, they don’t
require too much work to maintain them. So put the effort in and get yours up
and running – the dreams shouldn't last too long, but it will help your author
dreams come true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spend today working on your author website. Is there
anything you need to add, update, or change? If not, simply add a blog post
about your dreams.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-72147368105265332112013-08-08T03:00:00.000-06:002013-08-08T03:00:08.268-06:00What's Your Genre?<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4989753559289166004" name="_Toc351814249"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4989753559289166004" name="_Toc351813806"></a>Day 218<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Think as narrowly as you can and find a pocket
of readers who are passionate about the same things you are.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span>Kevin Kaiser,
WD<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY6aVxTXCOyKRa-2ZBsgxAyFx0QSy7UliSOHZfcLKClVXZv2ODUAbwC1CiuRpPiGjTtyh7z20rMTn6D7VDS9C4AtFNTwDfQ2ryqDWHxMMcxz0V6UQBPyLpM_YoartkVfWMvUB5UDKUZDc/s1600/ID-10059004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY6aVxTXCOyKRa-2ZBsgxAyFx0QSy7UliSOHZfcLKClVXZv2ODUAbwC1CiuRpPiGjTtyh7z20rMTn6D7VDS9C4AtFNTwDfQ2ryqDWHxMMcxz0V6UQBPyLpM_YoartkVfWMvUB5UDKUZDc/s320/ID-10059004.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of
digitalart<br />
<a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/" target="_blank">FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most readers have a favorite
genre. I personally love reading historical romances novels or anything with
horses in it. However, I don't care for Amish fiction, but I will read
contemporary romances novels and even romantic suspense novels on occasion. After
all, my book budget is only so big and my library only has so many books. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When I find an author that I
like, I’m always on the lookout for their books – and am ultimately let down
when their new series is in a different genre. Sometimes I’ll read their new
books, and sometimes I’ll just move onto someone else in the right genre. This
is why a large number of people will warn authors against genre hopping – but a
large number of authors ignore those warnings. I won’t say one way or another
if genre hopping is bad, but if you do genre hop, you have to re-identify your
target audience each and every time – because not all the same readers will be
interested. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You can’t market your new fantasy
book to readers who loved your historical fiction novel. A few might bite, but
many won’t. This is another area where working with other authors in your niche
can be helpful. Cross promoting can help you build a reader base quicker than
trying to do it all on your own.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If you're just starting out in a
new genre, see if another author would be willing to do a marketing exchange
and place the first chapter of your book in the back of one of theirs – and of
course you would need to return the favor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 147<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-80947044405721614022013-08-07T03:30:00.000-06:002013-08-07T03:30:00.990-06:00Do Whatever It Takes<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814248"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813805"></a>Day 217<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“It’s interesting to me that the things that
are the most difficult for us yield the greatest rewards.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Cynthia Morris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpN_nK10WhwQZ-MttGedkO2szZLTcVG6K3SUcF026xtz8vovCtlfe-cqeiMS7Ca4yCoYUIj55coWgBFqHqfNScOlhyphenhyphenn-iRtJdJkBqWOSzqhNfK6Z5MV1sy1WzlpxAGOuSS-KdiWnTtGpa/s1600/freeimage-7894154-high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpN_nK10WhwQZ-MttGedkO2szZLTcVG6K3SUcF026xtz8vovCtlfe-cqeiMS7Ca4yCoYUIj55coWgBFqHqfNScOlhyphenhyphenn-iRtJdJkBqWOSzqhNfK6Z5MV1sy1WzlpxAGOuSS-KdiWnTtGpa/s320/freeimage-7894154-high.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: start;">© Djma | </span><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/" style="color: #535353; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Dreamstime Stock Photos</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: start;"><br />& </span><a href="http://www.stockfreeimages.com/" style="color: #535353; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Stock Free Images</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Book marketing isn't always fun,
sometime it seems like work. I’m a big advocate for making it fun, but there
are always those tasks that you know you have to do even if they don’t make you
want to sing and dance. Social media is that way for me. It’s work – plain and
simple. I’m just not one of those people that can spend all day on Facebook or
Twitter, but I know that those places help me connect with my readers and
spread my message in a powerful way – so I suck it up and make the effort. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If you read part one of this
book, you might remember that speaking
isn't my strong suit – but after several events I’m finally to the point where
I can get through a presentation without hyperventilating – I even speak slow
enough so that people can understand me now (impressive, I know). I’m still not
going to win any awards for my speaking abilities, and it’s most certainly not
my favorite thing to do, but it has helped me increase my book sales.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The point in all of this? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You can make marketing fun, but
don’t forget to broaden your horizons and buckle down and do things that you
know you need to do to sell books too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Pick something in your niche or a
general topic that you are passionate about and enjoy discussing or writing
about. Consider putting together a presentation or speech about it that is
evergreen and you can use whenever booking speaking engagements. – Add
something about it to your website and maybe even put together a video for
YouTube.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 148<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-66575720628990122082013-08-06T09:34:00.002-06:002013-08-06T09:34:33.400-06:00The Writing LifeWow, can you believe that it's been almost two weeks since I've written a blog post?! Up until this point I've blogged daily all year long - although I think I missed a few days in late June and mid July. I've come to the conclusion that summer is just hard. Besides the fact that we moved at the beginning of the summer, the kids are home from school, and I've been working on 4 websites - yes, 4. Two of them are in full swing:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://trainingauthors.com/">TrainingAuthors.com</a> -s a website Shelley Hitz and I have put together for authors. We've been working together at <a href="http://self-publishing-coach.com/">Self-Publishing-Coach.com</a> for years, and we've decided to re-brand it to include both of us and make it easier to help authors at the same time. I'd love it if you'd hop on over and check that out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://booklybooks.com/">BooklyBooks.com</a> spurred off of a newsletter that I started in December to help connect our author following with readers. Shelley wanted to make it even better and thus, the website was born. If you like to read, you'll definitely want to check that out. We promote books of virtually every genre and help readers find books for less.<br />
<br />
I'm also working on revamping my author website. You can check it out at: <a href="http://authorshart.com/">AuthorsHart.com</a> - just note that it is still under construction.<br />
<br />
The last website I'm working on is actually a ministry project. My husband is working with a group of other guys to create a ministry for teen guys and I'm putting together the website for them. We're hoping to launch it in Mid-September.<br />
<br />
All of this to say, I've been busy. Part of me feels like a failure because I've missed more than one self-imposed deadline. Yet when I look at all I've done and am doing, I know that I just need to keep plodding ahead and getting done what I can when I can. After all, it's far more important to do what you can than to stress over what you can't and accomplish nothing.<br />
<br />
I'll be back to my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AVGUSVO/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank">A Year of Book Marketing</a> posts tomorrow. For today, I'd love to hear what you've been up to lately.Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-75230339927375522992013-07-26T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-26T03:00:09.028-06:00Someday...<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814236"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813793"></a>Day 205</h2>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“There are only seven days in a week, and someday isn't one of them.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">~ </span></i><span lang="EN-CA">Origin Unknown</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl830oZqpeneeDe68VdmUmhVe4_VciW4DJvRTBkRc24g9F1-ct1c4u_V0Ok3IJR6n5WrYebC3t91kLl6-XWkOJ7gN-y9hEzjGOGA4Xiu3yWJK817xjlBfTpdd-wmE4XRUOGHX61LZQo2h/s1600/1224529_83950543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl830oZqpeneeDe68VdmUmhVe4_VciW4DJvRTBkRc24g9F1-ct1c4u_V0Ok3IJR6n5WrYebC3t91kLl6-XWkOJ7gN-y9hEzjGOGA4Xiu3yWJK817xjlBfTpdd-wmE4XRUOGHX61LZQo2h/s200/1224529_83950543.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I don't know if you are anything like me, but my to-do list
is crazy long – but my someday list is even longer. Someday I’m going to ask
the local drug store about consignment options. Then there’s the dangerous list
of somedays: someday before school starts I’m going to launch my new website.
Setting deadlines for your marketing is awesome – but only if you know when you
can/will have time to work on it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Evaluate your someday list. Is there anything that you need
to move to your to-do list to make sure it gets done?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 160<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-73091606726826594022013-07-25T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-25T03:00:02.589-06:00Let's Get Emotional<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814235"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813792"></a>Day 204<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECB4Fp-n0CsPxHPjVzcoBXM5r82dN25sdavNYdtxO4RR2YdAuvUXeCjkjyZYCz3SV71HqPdOUk989XC1CJqh4LV4iAZaBAPMTxZUAtHfyIsaQBWcDPbiSTAJ4bG31jSi9U0Vgh7jb60SR/s1600/960307_49699335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECB4Fp-n0CsPxHPjVzcoBXM5r82dN25sdavNYdtxO4RR2YdAuvUXeCjkjyZYCz3SV71HqPdOUk989XC1CJqh4LV4iAZaBAPMTxZUAtHfyIsaQBWcDPbiSTAJ4bG31jSi9U0Vgh7jb60SR/s200/960307_49699335.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“There is no intelligence without emotion. There may be emotion without
much intelligence, but that does not concern us.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">~ </span></i><span lang="EN-CA">Ezra Pound</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
How emotional is your marketing?
Do people laugh when they read your marketing copy, are they inspired? Do they
simply desire to learn more about a character who has already touched their
heart? Are they encouraged and empowered? There are lots of different emotions
that we have, and good marketing will use that. We don’t want to put our sob
story into everything and come off as a drama queen – it’s the reader’s
emotions we really want. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Evaluate your marketing to see if it triggers any of the
reader’s emotions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 161<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-32177680406034604972013-07-24T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-24T03:00:05.685-06:00Tell me about it...<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814234"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813791"></a>Day 203<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifayHxPFFpKk6wHiYIxsrM_IbtJzuY11P2c6069paXw0sL8H_jgqsWSYuxGGWgLhscTw0K_Ez3EkarWVqgpbQ0Fc1SAa_KCVY8df6D2B2KBZysO5aO6a0rl69yNiyAJ8aBzccJFYqGHjgi/s1600/907673_39088752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifayHxPFFpKk6wHiYIxsrM_IbtJzuY11P2c6069paXw0sL8H_jgqsWSYuxGGWgLhscTw0K_Ez3EkarWVqgpbQ0Fc1SAa_KCVY8df6D2B2KBZysO5aO6a0rl69yNiyAJ8aBzccJFYqGHjgi/s320/907673_39088752.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“The future of business is social.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">~ </span></i><span lang="EN-CA">Barry Libert</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Marketing has changed so much
since the invention of the internet. I was actually watching T.V. the other
night and came to the startling realization that, on the channel I was
watching, there were more advertisements for websites than there were for
actual products or services. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I would hazard a guess that 90%
of the time, I find new websites, products, etc. because someone told me about
them. Whether a friend or colleague shared about them on Facebook, or I read
about them on a blog, I don't generally pay attention to advertisements (but
there are a few that are really good and make an impact). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Our goal as marketers should be
to get the word out about our book in a way that enables them to share it with
their friends. That can be through a good advertisement, social media post, or whatever - just make it worth talking about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Host a contest for your readers. They
can enter by sharing something about your book. It could be who their favorite
character is and why, how they applied the material in your book in their own
life, or even something as simple as themselves with a copy of your book or
sharing their favorite quote. You can have them post it on their blog or
Facebook page and enter the contest by sharing a link to the post with you –
don’t forget to market the contest and announce the winners when it’s over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 162<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-20078290632173954312013-07-23T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-23T03:00:06.914-06:00Know Your Niche<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814233"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813790"></a>Day 202<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLZwlr59ttLXLweANiH7NumBJFvobPbKl7Rr0e4SpAe2-zuMrGw09Q8IAK7h0M-IuFnJ9jsBRS4alcTN8Kxzy3S96V8vs7raWJtOwNYfRJrWhg1fCKLnX0o9qEphczkyQF5Dx4-Zlxca1/s1600/Joel-4.2-200x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLZwlr59ttLXLweANiH7NumBJFvobPbKl7Rr0e4SpAe2-zuMrGw09Q8IAK7h0M-IuFnJ9jsBRS4alcTN8Kxzy3S96V8vs7raWJtOwNYfRJrWhg1fCKLnX0o9qEphczkyQF5Dx4-Zlxca1/s1600/Joel-4.2-200x.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Know your niche and how to market to people with similar interests.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">~ </span></i><span lang="EN-CA">Joel Friedlander</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I've been thinking a lot lately about publicity stunts that
authors have done. Some of them make huge waves – like when Joan Rivers chained
herself to a shopping cart at Costco because they wouldn't stock her book.
Others leave people in awe, but make more silent waves – like the author who
gave a free copy of her book to everyone on an air flight from wherever she was
to the destination she used as the setting of her book. But there are also
crazy stupid ones – like the author who ran onto Yankee stadium field during a
game with notes about hurting the third basemen with the hopes of being
recognized for his book… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The point is, before you do something to publicize your
book, you have to know your audience. If you write to baseball fans, Yankee
Stadium might be a great place to market, but breaking the law is generally a
bad idea, and threats should never be a part of it. Author Jennifer Bell
offered actresses $8 an hour to read her book and laugh about what they were
reading, in very public places – like Washington Square and the New York
Subway. This stunt landed her in the New York Times and other high profile
places.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Think about a publicity stunt for your book – you don’t have
to shoot yourself in the arm or move next door to the person you’re writing
about, but think of something that will resonate with your readers and then
figure out how to get it done.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 163<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-73342022927286001772013-07-22T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-22T03:00:02.771-06:00A Marketing Education<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814232"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813789"></a>Day 201</h2>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how
much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what
you don't.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">~ </span></i><span lang="EN-CA">Anatole France</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf89PdFXkjXisyDlSw1W2wW0Xul5i4rAgA6yjhDlUwIMujYGjIq2oqhzi9ZVvJYk1_ZNzIK7i5wRzv7k3iSJDihM8JS94Wr743uz5iojiSpTgWtGaLM6D2reBEDZJoow_H4Ex3QVFJ_Vcr/s1600/1279612_27886195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf89PdFXkjXisyDlSw1W2wW0Xul5i4rAgA6yjhDlUwIMujYGjIq2oqhzi9ZVvJYk1_ZNzIK7i5wRzv7k3iSJDihM8JS94Wr743uz5iojiSpTgWtGaLM6D2reBEDZJoow_H4Ex3QVFJ_Vcr/s320/1279612_27886195.jpg" width="174" /></a>Anatole France was commenting on education, but it applies
to learning about book marketing as well. None of us will ever know all there
is to know about marketing. Mainly because marketing is one of those things
that continually evolves. It’s always changing – people are always changing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We have to change the way we market to, not only keep up
with the times, but also to be noticed. If you only do one thing to market your
book, eventually people will become used to it. They will expect it. It will no
longer be noticeable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Thus marketing our books isn't so much about what we already
know, it’s about knowing the difference between what we do know and what we don’t.
It’s about being willing to learn new things and accept change as it comes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Try something new to market your book today.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 164<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-80588483206605935132013-07-21T03:30:00.000-06:002013-07-21T03:30:02.808-06:00Marketing = Relationships<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814231"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813788"></a>Day 200</h2>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Marketing = Relationships”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">~ </span></i><span lang="EN-CA">Shelley Hitz</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlMIQ4HqDAGYvTXAsvtD8Gyt2yRKVaE-pDX_eyj_xoeNJKW-P29FZYTy40WFyuZfM8g4mtT8DbgSt9aYEKLj0FZssfyFQtQkVf5x0Q9zVivMf_lKGiz1NITpWR0ZaAMTkyQ7KWMPstPPP/s1600/shelley-headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlMIQ4HqDAGYvTXAsvtD8Gyt2yRKVaE-pDX_eyj_xoeNJKW-P29FZYTy40WFyuZfM8g4mtT8DbgSt9aYEKLj0FZssfyFQtQkVf5x0Q9zVivMf_lKGiz1NITpWR0ZaAMTkyQ7KWMPstPPP/s200/shelley-headshot.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You can't really market your book
without relationships – it’s called networking. Whether you are getting to know
a colleague to plan something together, or if you are building a rapport with
your readers, relationships really are what make books sell. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Think about it for a minute…
Everything we do affects our relationships – we just don't always think about
it that way. Did you oversleep? That affects your relationship with your boss.
Did you go out to eat for lunch? You developed some sort of a relationship with
the workers at the restaurant. Don't believe me? Go to the same restaurant
every day for a week. By the end of the week, I bet you'll be on first name
basis with some of them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Marketing is the same way. We
want to be on a first name basis with our readers. In order to get there, we
have to build a relationship through marketing. So ask yourself, what kind of
relationships are you building?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Pick a relationship to strengthen
today. It could be being more social in a forum, or contacting someone in your
niche to propose a way to work together – remember to put your best foot
forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">
</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 165<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-47399027192257681962013-07-20T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-20T03:00:02.162-06:00Wait - Who?<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814230"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813787"></a>Day 199</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“With your book or your business, you
absolutely must know who you're selling to, or else you won't get anywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span>Kristen
Eckstein<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Knowing who you are trying to sell your book to is a
marketing must – but your audience isn't always the same as your customers. If
you write children’s books, chances are that your target audience can’t buy
books themselves, so your target customer would be parents, grandparents, or
other adults who love kids – so your marketing should reflect that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxF9TTsKiAPAXP1EPJw171wVKpW5D9huUo-ftb4hciFVbNcR8kGpdfhrzTAFTPXa-CmPcQtWJPTU5X7pFNZWVBR1x5FSV_ANaVoVLvPaw06pJD9btJtZy4eaJkl71OgTZHA_5Aw-lrWR2/s1600/k-eyes-headshot-original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxF9TTsKiAPAXP1EPJw171wVKpW5D9huUo-ftb4hciFVbNcR8kGpdfhrzTAFTPXa-CmPcQtWJPTU5X7pFNZWVBR1x5FSV_ANaVoVLvPaw06pJD9btJtZy4eaJkl71OgTZHA_5Aw-lrWR2/s200/k-eyes-headshot-original.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That’s the most obvious time when your buyers and readers
aren't always the same (although, the moms and dads will probably read the book
to their child) but there are other times as well. I write devotionals for
teens, and more often than not it’s youth leaders or parents who purchase our
books as gifts for their teens. I buy books for my husband more often than he
buys them for himself. </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just something to think about…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Consider if anyone would buy your book that isn't defined in
your target reader profile. If so, create some marketing just for them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 166<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-49605945640572903192013-07-19T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-19T03:00:00.496-06:00Slow and Steady<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814229"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813786"></a>Day 198<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“It’s better to do one thing well then ten
things poorly.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~Heather Hart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Overloaded. </li>
<li>Exhausted. </li>
<li>Stressed out. </li>
<li>Stretched to the limit.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do any of those describe you? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m often running in 300 directions at once and
leaving a trail of half finished projects in my wake. But if I know one thing,
it’s that doing something right yields much better results. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s like that old saying, if you're not going to do it
right, why bother to do it all? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t go crazy with trying to do everything at once when
marketing your book. Just take it one step at a time. Slow and steady wins the
race.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Conduct a survey related to either your niche, or readers in
general and distribute the results in a press release or blog post.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 167<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-18562344652233263202013-07-18T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-18T03:00:08.345-06:00You Don't Need It<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814228"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813785"></a>Day 197<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“You don't need a big promotional budget to get
noticed and make your own waves.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Kevin Kaiser<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t market my book because _____________ - you fill in the
blank. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Got it? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now here’s my response:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bologna.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nothing can stop you from marketing your book if you truly
believe in it. You can market your book without money, without time, without a
home computer, without a marketing manager, without whatever it is that you
think is stopping you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only thing that’s powerful enough to keep you from
marketing your book is yourself. You're all that’s standing in your way. So
step aside, and start working your way towards book marketing success today!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simply tell someone about your book today. I don't care if
you do it on the phone, at the store, or in a blog. Just let someone know that
you’re an author and where they can get your book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 168<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-12464349290838450402013-07-17T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-17T03:00:02.399-06:00Hope<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814227"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813784"></a>Day 196<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“</span>Hope gets us started; encouragement
keeps us going.</i><i><span lang="EN-CA">”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span>Zig Ziglar<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hope is an awesome word – we all hope for something. But
without encouragement, hopes dwindle and fade. Every author starts out hopeful,
but whether it’s rejection letters or lack of sales, we can often get
discouraged. I like to read through encouraging quotes or Scriptures when I
start to get discouraged, but one of the best things for picking me back up is
an unexpected kind word from someone else. There’s something about direct
encouragement that can’t beat anything else. But that’s not really something we
can ask for – however, sometimes we just need to look to see it. It can be in a
5 star review or just reviewing e-mails from readers. The encouragement is
usually there, and it can re-ignite our hope.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Encourage another author today. Write a positive review,
send an encouraging e-mail – just do something for someone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 169<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-71365449410833531462013-07-16T19:13:00.001-06:002013-07-16T19:13:23.324-06:00Rejected<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814226"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813783"></a>Day 195<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~Richard Bach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did your parents ever say to you, “Quitters never win?” Or
“Winners never quit?” The same thing is true for authors. I find the stories of
famous authors that were rejected inspiring as an author. I mean, just knowing
that the original Chicken Soup For The Soul book was rejected by over 140
publishers – and now it has sold over 100 million copies and is a best-selling
series. I mean, what author wouldn't be inspired by that? My favorite author,
Lori Wick, had her first book rejected originally by the company that later
picked it up. Did you know the famous T.V. show,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0688149553/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank"> M*A*S*H was originally a novel</a> that was rejected by 21 publishers? True story – google it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307743667/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank">Carrie by Steven King</a> – rejected by 30 publishers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451635621/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank">Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell</a> – rejected by 38
publishers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0312367546/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank">A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle </a>– rejected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/059035342X/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank">The original Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling</a> – rejected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0440245915/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank">A Time To Kill by John Grisham</a> – rejected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0553296981/?tag=authoassis-20" target="_blank">The Diary of Anne Frank?</a> Rejected by over 15 publishers, one
saying: <i>“The girl doesn't, it seems to
me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the
'curiosity' level.”</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, you get the point. Just don't give up. For a lot of
authors, the success comes from marketing. Even landing a traditional
publishing contract won't make your dreams of being a big name author come
true. So self-publisher, small publisher, or big name traditional publisher,
keep marketing your book and see where it takes you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Write about where you are now, and how far you've come since
you first came up with the idea for your book. It might make a good blog post
or extended author bio for your website.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 170<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-51915645234076752832013-07-11T03:30:00.001-06:002013-07-11T15:19:13.192-06:00What's The Plan?<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4989753559289166004" name="_Toc351814222"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4989753559289166004" name="_Toc351813779"></a>Day 191<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3VNydEQFSRKOpOXVqXtCiQzGSa07r19-xPwtsRcZVdr3aXla4TqqWVtrHAcxP8LvbkMwmQegSA3dZJ5pmRgiNbp5BzQ-PHez5rheLM9ynO12yRLAmkq-Xt6r3mHRPPa3gTpvLc5Zyxqz/s1600/Fotolia_44981206_X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3VNydEQFSRKOpOXVqXtCiQzGSa07r19-xPwtsRcZVdr3aXla4TqqWVtrHAcxP8LvbkMwmQegSA3dZJ5pmRgiNbp5BzQ-PHez5rheLM9ynO12yRLAmkq-Xt6r3mHRPPa3gTpvLc5Zyxqz/s320/Fotolia_44981206_X.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Without an effective marketing plan, you might
end up wasting a lot of time, money and effort in a frenzied, unorganized
attempt to sell books.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~WordClay.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s true, marketing your book without a plan – isn’t smart.
Keeping track of what you are doing and doing things on purpose is one of the
best things you can do to market your book. Don’t just randomly buy website ads
or post to Twitter. Think about what you are doing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did you know that Apple doesn’t allow anything to be done
without first running it by their main guy? He wants to make sure that
everything is done with the right goal, and will help further the company in
the right direction. Every ad, every tweet from what I understand, has to be
cleared through him – and Apple is doing pretty good. Obviously you write
books, not computers, but the principle can be the same. Make sure you’re
marketing on purpose, and that everything you do to market your book is done
with the right end in mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sit down and evaluate your marketing plan. Don’t have one?
Make one. Plan out your marketing efforts for the next 1-3 months with a
designated goal in mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 174<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-16977003124144284972013-07-11T03:30:00.000-06:002013-07-11T03:30:07.922-06:00Just Be You<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814221"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813778"></a>Day 190<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Be yourself, so that you don't have to devote
energy to maintaining a publicly acceptable facade of personality.”</span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Andrew
Budeck-Schmeisser<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s hard to be perfect – usually because nobody is. Your
readers don’t expect you to be perfect, they just want you to be real. Now,
that doesn't mean that it’s okay to not do your best or try to publish the
perfect book, but trying to be something you're not can suck the life right out
of you. The best way to market our books is to do so in the ways that are
truest to us. I call this passionate marketing - making our book marketing an
extension of who we are, instead of a separate compartment of our lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Write a blog post about your favorite author, or an author
who inspires you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 175<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-80204322613521934622013-07-10T16:45:00.001-06:002013-07-10T16:45:01.834-06:00The Reader Is Always Right<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814220"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813777"></a><a href="" name="_Toc343715268">Day 189</a><o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<a href="" name="_Toc343715268"><br /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Satisfied customers who will spread word of
mouth are the most powerful assets you have.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Andy Sernovitz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever gotten one of those e-mails from a disgruntled
reader? Maybe there was a typo in your book, or something controversial. The
best thing you can ever do with those customers is respond in humility. Let
them know that you are thankful for them, and do everything you can to fix the
problem. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back when I used to work in the food industry, we had a
saying. It was, “the customer is always right.” It didn't matter how wrong they
were, they were always right – at least until they walked out the door and we
had to inform the upper management of what happened. That’s not always the case
when it comes to readers. Your book doesn't have to be wrong because they don’t
agree with it, but the best thing you can do is handle the situation with care.
Do anything you can to keep your customers happy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add or update your contact information in both your book and
on your website – give you readers a way to connect with you. And then respond
when they do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 176<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-69434257914638065672013-07-08T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-08T03:00:04.269-06:00Humility<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814220"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813777"></a>Day 189<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcnzX9VMXhEcmJbDSAm1KhDbfE5vpNSSlPLqClIPonjmItd0JbAn0aFdG3pCR7Z9EwDyFn-xP2KOMUK3ppTQG9qhctYs-gl4x3lZ99Jw0zXzHLD8Pnfi4FOllsMEPcQkd98eadZ6_TXtI/s1600/1207951_88385713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcnzX9VMXhEcmJbDSAm1KhDbfE5vpNSSlPLqClIPonjmItd0JbAn0aFdG3pCR7Z9EwDyFn-xP2KOMUK3ppTQG9qhctYs-gl4x3lZ99Jw0zXzHLD8Pnfi4FOllsMEPcQkd98eadZ6_TXtI/s320/1207951_88385713.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Satisfied customers who will spread word of
mouth are the most powerful assets you have.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Andy Sernovitz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever gotten one of those e-mails from a disgruntled
reader? Maybe there was a typo in your book, or something controversial. The
best thing you can ever do with those customers is respond in humility. Let
them know that you are thankful for them, and do everything you can to fix the
problem. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back when I used to work in the food industry, we had a
saying. It was, “the customer is always right.” It didn't matter how wrong they
were, they were always right – at least until they walked out the door and we
had to inform the upper management of what happened. That’s not always the case
when it comes to readers. Your book doesn't have to be wrong because they don’t
agree with it, but the best thing you can do is handle the situation with care.
Do anything you can to keep your customers happy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add or update your contact information in both your book and
on your website – give you readers a way to connect with you. And then respond
when they do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 176<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-71910099624063576562013-07-07T08:24:00.001-06:002013-07-07T08:24:45.831-06:00Creative Genius<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814219"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813776"></a>Day 188<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<a href="" name="_Toc343715267"><br /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Be creative.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X16gll8Ua9MuQUAgJO4jK52Vhh9ivpWP7VWVX0ACykYs4W0YfWSH_S-hi1hw2P2kh999isgCeXPvjd-vhllSf_c1gZMjsBoCPUWl2WPujJfdIEEagigxBrBOcaSMwloLZFipQoxupdKQ/s1600/paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X16gll8Ua9MuQUAgJO4jK52Vhh9ivpWP7VWVX0ACykYs4W0YfWSH_S-hi1hw2P2kh999isgCeXPvjd-vhllSf_c1gZMjsBoCPUWl2WPujJfdIEEagigxBrBOcaSMwloLZFipQoxupdKQ/s200/paint.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Creativity - It’s simple, yet powerful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-indent: .7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think outside the box today. What can you think of to market
your book that I haven’t already suggested? Leave your ideas in the comments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 177<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-47849732307327287862013-07-06T03:30:00.000-06:002013-07-07T08:18:03.370-06:00I'm An Author<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4989753559289166004" name="_Toc351814218"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4989753559289166004" name="_Toc351813775"></a>Day 187<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“Online networking is a wonderful way to meet
people who share your interests, develop relationships with peers and potential
customers, and ultimately increase book sales.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Dana Lynn
Smith <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Online networking is one of the easiest ways to meet new
people. You can jump on a forum and quickly find someone in your niche with
similar interests. It’s awesome. But to get the greatest potential out of that,
we have to know how to work it to our advantage. You can spend all day online and
not increase your book sales at all. You could meet 1000 people, but if you
never tell them that you’re an author you’re really just wasting your time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pick one of your favorite quotes from your book or blog and
turn it into a quote photo to share on Pinterest or another social media site.
Make sure to note that you are the author and include your book title or web
address on the photo.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Here's one from one of my books (I add the book title, etc. to the description section):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a245HsyASO2Gt42J9lKgr_om-3y7sf9VocvIl6CjS4AQfdUr6Q_56D1XZoHKrMQI9cuflG0elyOxvV5RxNqQ3MbzaORVdL8Tp-70FFA7sXgwxoqZDQloUGnHd679Y8mkw9875uLJNvFG/s1600/Karen+Baney-Quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a245HsyASO2Gt42J9lKgr_om-3y7sf9VocvIl6CjS4AQfdUr6Q_56D1XZoHKrMQI9cuflG0elyOxvV5RxNqQ3MbzaORVdL8Tp-70FFA7sXgwxoqZDQloUGnHd679Y8mkw9875uLJNvFG/s320/Karen+Baney-Quote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 178<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-18238771019438131282013-07-05T03:30:00.000-06:002013-07-05T03:30:02.024-06:00Hobbies vs. Jobs<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814217"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813774"></a>Day 186<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpisdYrDhFsZPcneGMYa_GOQlGB92biAbEzk1mEQEqrwTgSmrn6KMbB7ljbDu-swS9bUZAX2ynp82qwec4YVFtK_PQ0woHTTJpR36zDEUL7xq6Uhc0fMTEtcydmp05IE48bnca4brJjMF/s300/1206626_note_pad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpisdYrDhFsZPcneGMYa_GOQlGB92biAbEzk1mEQEqrwTgSmrn6KMbB7ljbDu-swS9bUZAX2ynp82qwec4YVFtK_PQ0woHTTJpR36zDEUL7xq6Uhc0fMTEtcydmp05IE48bnca4brJjMF/s300/1206626_note_pad.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“</span>I have always believed that writing
advertisements is the second most profitable form of writing. The first, of
course, is ransom notes...</i><i><span lang="EN-CA">”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span>Philip
Dusenberry<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Earning a living off our book royalties is like every
authors dream – but books don’t sell themselves. I often think of writing books
as my hobby or favorite pastime. Yet marketing, that’s my job. Books in and of
themselves will rarely make you a dime, the real money comes from marketing
them. That’s what brings in the book sales.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Compile a list of media distribution sites and outlets that
you will use for book promotion. This will save you both time and money. Don’t
forget to include blogs and other author contacts that have hosted or
interviewed you previously. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 179<o:p></o:p></div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989753559289166004.post-37015425158973601482013-07-04T03:00:00.000-06:002013-07-04T03:00:01.059-06:00Why Bother?<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="" name="_Toc351814216"></a><a href="" name="_Toc351813773"></a>Day 185<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div>
<a href="" name="_Toc343715264"><br /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA">“</span>Without a clear goal and strategy, the
rush toward social media becomes one with a directive of ‘We need to be there!’
rather than evaluating ‘What can we do there?’</i><i><span lang="EN-CA">”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA">~</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;"> </span>Matt
Bailey<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEjF4098kwHGg-KIYw9gKwAiZlZvcv0KB9XVILnydDoBB_9ix0pnk7SOb-9-eCZBT1FBec15y9tkuM312sSFvajGHNnb7lAhLdaTeD9dxyaRSthEE59CZPtc9Js8cKyZr670_gCa2XDZ_/s300/1019385_white_chess_army_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEjF4098kwHGg-KIYw9gKwAiZlZvcv0KB9XVILnydDoBB_9ix0pnk7SOb-9-eCZBT1FBec15y9tkuM312sSFvajGHNnb7lAhLdaTeD9dxyaRSthEE59CZPtc9Js8cKyZr670_gCa2XDZ_/s200/1019385_white_chess_army_5.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Do you have an act first, maybe think later approach to marketing your book, or do you evaluate your options before you move forward? It can be really easy to see what everyone else is doing or saying to do and just move forward without thinking about how it fits into our own book marketing plan. But that’s a mistake. <br /><br />The best way to market your book is to do so specifically. It’s like painting your house. First you have to pick your color, gather your supplies and then carefully apply it. You wouldn’t just start throwing random paint colors at the wall and hope it looked good when you were done. <br /><br />We put a lot of work into writing and publishing our books, why should we do any less when it comes to marketing them?<div>
<br /><h3 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.7pt;">
Marketing prompt:<o:p></o:p></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take a step back and look at what you are doing to market
your book. Now, can you tell me WHY you are doing each of those things? What do
you hope they will accomplish. If you don’t know or can’t define it, evaluate
if you should continue it or not. If so, figure out the why and what to make it
more effective.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Days to go: 180<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Heather Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.com0