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When I wrote each of my non-fiction books, I sent press releases to all the local radio stations and got invited to speak on BBC radio three times to promote my book and the issues within. Since then, I've been called back by the stations to see if I want to take part in phone-ins that dealt with the issues, etc. It all helps!

Good question and one I ask myself all the time as I work on my book. I'm planning some strategies to get my blog out there and known, hopefully that will help!

That's it. Hard cold reality. YOU Gotta build buzz before they buy your book. Bottom line.

I also find that linking to your publisher's websites on Facebook and Twitter and commenting and linking on many of their forums, also helps. You can build a facebook page for each book, too.

So very true! Thank you for restating. Not sure it can be said enough.

Okay, now I'm really frustrated. I know I posted something here and it was brilliant, but I don't see it now. I'm beginning to think there's a conspiracy to remove all of my comments today.

I'm tweaking my website so that there's VALUE there for the reader. Though I don't have time to put lots of content out on social media, or even my lame blog, I am starting to rephrase book & speaking descriptions to make the value for the "customer" OBVIOUS.

To summarize what I said before, the important thing is that we write what the reader is interested in, not to persuade the reader to be interested in what we write. For example, most of the writers who are writing memoirs shouldn’t be. But a former President is a natural person of interest and it makes sense for him to write a memoir. Our task is to find something that people are interested in but for which the market isn’t already saturated and write about that. To write something and then try o use marketing to convince people that they want it is getting the cart before the horse.

"Non-fiction authors: How are you going to make people care?"

Wish I knew. Time and money. Throw both at platform building in an informed way and see if it works. I have my doubts that it will.

I blogged on this YESTERDAY. I'm working on it--like crazy :)

http://www.joannesher.com/2010/12/standing-on-my-platform.html

Sometimes we simply learn as we go. My co-author and I did not realize we needed a platform for our non-fiction book. All we knew was the great passion we felt for our project and the knowledge that millions of people would immediately be able to relate.

We polished up our book and we were filled with enthusiasm until we began to research the submission process. That's when the dreaded word "platform" repeatedly surfaced.

Here's a question? I don't have a platform but I am strong in the area of speaking and sales. How in the world do I reach out in my area to begin the process of building a platform when I don't have a publisher for my book?

Realistically, do I call up a local magazine editor and say, "Hi, I'm a local resident and I've written a wonderful book on weight loss and I'd like it to be highlighted in your magazine?" I'm afraid the first question would be, "Is your book out yet; has it been published or is it in the process?"

I didn't feel I could go forward in this area so I continued to research and learn all I could about the submission process. I sent out a query for the non-fiction book to about 10-15 agents.

I know I could have gone further but something told me that I needed to take another route.

My thought process is to write a book of fiction first, where I don't have to have an established platform. After my book of fiction is accepted, I will be in a better position to get my non-fiction book viewed by agents who may be more receptive because I will then have a platform.

I feel I unknowingly put the cart before the horse when I enthusiastically wrote my book of non-fiction.

A part of me feel God may have guided me to write the first book of non-fiction so I would be led to write my book of fiction.

I'm going to continue to write my book on fiction with the goal of getting my book of non-fiction viewed again after my book of fiction is accepted.

More importantly, after I have established a platform in fiction.

That's my plan.

Ive been colaborating on a book that will be for young mothers, so I have sought speaking engagements with Moms groups. It's not always easy to find an open door in your target area, but you have to get creative and be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Im also in the process of planning a writer's conference in my area. I didn't originally do it to build my platform, but to help other writers in the area have an affordable conference to attend. But in the end, I suppose it will be a plank in my platform as well. I say that to say - helping others with their dream can bring good things back to you too. Platforms are sometimes built one nail at a time. That seems to be the case with me anyway.

This is the question that haunts me late at night after everyone else at my house is asleep! And I don't know the answer... but I'm trying!

Christian Poetry
Very interesting blog. A lot of blogs I see now don’t really provide anything that I’m interested in, but I am most definately interested in this one. Just thought that I would pass that message on. Thanks so much......

Rachelle has a great article titled Nonfiction Book Proposals in the 2011 Guide to Literary Agents. A must read book for your agent search.

I've been working on platform for three years. My blog is up. I'm gaining an audience, but I am unknown and I know it.

Recently, I started a fiction novel based on the same topic and aimed at the same audience as my nonfiction project. Before that, though, I've written several articles on the same subject and have one accepted for an upcoming anthology.

This will take years, but for a nobody it's what I will do as I turn into somebody with a platform.

Susan: If you're pitching a book on health or weight (and many other self-help topics), it's crucial you establish yourself as an expert and an authority on your subject matter. Why would I choose your book when I can choose books by MDs or famous people I've seen on TV? What are you offering that's new, totally unique, and proven?

To even write a book of this type before establishing yourself as an expert is probably putting the cart before the horse. You'll need to use media - magazines, newspapers, and the Internet - to build yourself into an authority. You'll need to offer something new and exciting, bring something different to the weight loss discussion. Otherwise there's no reason for any publisher to take you on, and no reason for consumers to buy your book instead of the competition.

You are also competing with all the FREE information on the Internet - blogs and websites on weight loss. Many people writing on health, parenting or self-help are dealing with the same situation.

Take risks and experiment with writing topics/styles/media to see what spreads and what doesn't. Actively work to build partnerships with other writers and bloggers. Speak to any person or group willing to listen. And architect an online engine that builds reputation, referrals and subscribers. Of course, no tactic is ever enough or perfect.

The thing I have going for me is that I'm a marketing professional, so I know how much work, persistence and luck are involved in moving from invisibility and irrelevance to recognition. Ironically, I'm frequently discouraged knowing the odds and the work required to have a shot.

PS: I really enjoyed that movie!

I don't write non-fiction, but I tend to read quite a bit of it. Can you glom memoirs in this category? If so, I gravitate towards the ones with great voices. The only self-help type books I read are those from people with huge platforms such as Beth Moore, Max Lucado, etc.. unless the author has an ~amazing~ hook.

For lessor known authors, the great thing about the Kindle and the ibookstore is consumers get to download sample chapters of anything that even remotely catches their interest. In doing so, I've bought books that I normally wouldn't have. I think that the e-book revolution might offer a breath of new hope to writers with weaker platforms.

You're right Rachelle but I did not intend to write a book from the onset. I think many good books are written by average people based on their experiences of achieving goals they felt were near impossible. If they feel they truly have something special, they feel they must share what they've learned or accomplished with others.

That's how the book came about. It happened as I began to journal. I researched heavily during that time period in this area as I was going through the experience of losing weight and getting fit at the age of 52.

I was encouraged by my peers who read and followed my journals to write a book. I did, with my co-author who was going through the same experience at the time.

You asked a great question. Why would anyone want to buy my book when there are stars and MD's who continue to write countless books on weight loss?

The answer is clear. Many people cannot relate to these type books. Most of these books are simply the latest and greatest theories by the latest and greatest expert of the moment. Of course, we may be able to relate to some of the information in these type books but the fact is most of us are not movie stars and we don't have the time or money to hire a personal chef or trainer.

Our way, doesn't have to cost a dime and it's all based on common sense and expert information under one informative umbrella. We pulled together all of the things we felt were of the utmost importance for the average person to know in order to lose weight and get fit for life. We did this through a tremendous amount of research.

I am a typical woman, no different than millions of women who put themselves on the backburner in order to focus primarily on their family. I was one of those people who was blessed with good genes. I did not have a weight problem until my children became teenagers and I decided to put myself on the backburner. For close to two decades I carried an extra 30-40 pounds and it made me miserable. I was no different than millions of people who have found no clear cut easy to incorporate solution to their weight loss and fitness issues.

I longed to feel like me again. Honestly, I thought it was impossible. I wrote the book for all of the women and men who think it's too late to lose weight and get fit again. I wrote this book for my two adult daughters to remind all women of their ages to never put themselves on the back burner. We are examples for our children and we must always make our health a priority.

I am proof that this plan works. My Dr. agrees and stated she will write the foreward for the book.

We lost the weight and became fit in a structured healthy fashion. We were able to recapture the weight of our early 20's in a matter of few months by setting up a healthy eating plan based on the Food Pyramid but the book goes into great detail in numerous additional areas.

We take the reader on a journey that shows why 68% of our nation is either overweight or obese.

It's not a diet book; it's a book that helps you set up a healthy eating and exercise plan for life.

It has a catchy fun title and one that most people can easily relate.

The book is written in a voice that is easy for the average man or woman to identify. We planted short life experiences in each chapter so that others can easily relate.

Sorry, this happens every now and then and I don't why it posts twice! Please ignore the second post!

It also doesn't hurt for a fiction writer to build a platform or at least a web presence. My second middle grade mystery novel was just published and I think creating a web presence is an ongoing pursuit!

Jonathan is the best :)


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Platform is not necessarily the problem for my project. It's too niche! I have a Disney + homeschooling project that, according to agents who've rejected it, is "a great project with a lot of potential." My platform is strong, but the project is declined because it is either too Disney or too homeschool.

My platform? I am a veteran homeschooler with 10+ yrs experience. I have visited Walt Disney World 3 times, with a 4th scheduled for January. I have been invited aboard the inaugural Disney Dream cruise before the general public sets sail! A major Earmarked travel agency sponsors and co-created the blog on which the book is based, which launched 10 months ago. We have nearly 500 blog followers/subscribers with nearly 2500 monthly hits. We have close to 400 Facebook fans. I have more than 1100 Twitter followers to whom I regularly tweet blog posts and information. I advertise and network through homeschool social sites and support groups and network in various Disney circles. More than 200 students subscribe to our supplemental Earn Your E.A.R.S. incentive program. I'm on the schedule to teach a course based on the Magical Mouse Schoolhouse material at a local homeschool co-op next fall.

There's more, but I'd have to send you my proposal, and you're closed to submissions right now ;)

I'm doing what I can, but I repeatedly get, "Good stuff, but no."

I remember that scene from L M S - brutal!

It feels like a hard balance to me. I would like to be more deliberate about platform building, but I would rather spend that time writing. Like everyone, I feel like I never have enough time. It's complicated by the fact that I don't know how much platform I need to avoid ever having a conversation like the one you quoted.

I'm writing an adoption memoir, and the main way that I'm building platform is by blogging. I didn't start a blog as a platform, I blogged to connect with people and write about what was important to me. It's only lately (after reading posts like this in the last few months) that I've realised it's my 'platform', too. It's not very big, as platforms go, but I'm not really sure what else I can realistically do. I get several thousand hits a month, and I really have no idea whether a publisher would see that as a platform at all, or just a little pile of twigs.

Just re-read the first paragraph of my comment above, and realised it sounded like I just couldn't be bothered to build a better platform. What I meant when I said I would rather be writing (as well as the obvious fact that writing is more fun) is that I don't want to spend so much time platform building that I never finish the book.

Hope that makes more sense :)

Well, shut my mouth. I have a list of over two hundred movies about writers and I think I missed this one. Thanks, Rachelle!

Real estate agents. Talent agents. Literary agents. Good ones work hard and are definitely worth their money. If a publisher ever came my way, the first thing I would do is say "You'll need to talk to my agent." And then I would go get an agent. Thank you James for sharing your experience and insight. It is interesting to hear your perspective on how things have changed - Bieber could probably use the info for his upcoming memoir :)

I like book trailers. I think they're awesome. Debra's was beautiful.

I like the idea of an author interview, too, although I think book trailers are more fun and easily...digestible (?) by the reader. But why not both? :)

The benefit of a trailer is it hooks the reader in a way that a book cover or even the first couple of pages may not. Someone might keep reading because of a book trailer.

But I agree Rachelle, I doubt many people are watching them - yet. With e-books, they will probably become fairly standard. In fact, they'll probably be a feature on e-books - to watch trailers before or after the current book - or even an entertainment form in it's own right. I could totally see Amazon posting book trailers on their site, for example.

But not yet.

I also really think authors shouldn't spend any money on them - I actually think they should be paid for by the publisher. I'm really not sure what the publisher does for marketing, actually, other than putting it on a list....?

Barring that, I think there are some really inexpensive programs ou there.

My main objection to book trailers is that they tend to have an amateur feel to them. Authors, for the most part, are not film students with access to high end editing software, a background in design, or experience in 3d modeling. There's only so much you can do.

Look at movie trailers. They're fast paced, exciting, and definitely help sell movies. If book trailers could be like that, if an author has the software and the art background to make something really cool, I think you might get a lot more publicity.

I think it the writer has access to the needed resources, either personally or through their support network, it can be an exciting and classy addition to the publicity effort - and (hopefully) a work of art in its own right - as music videos have become. Alternatively the (rare) writer who is financially flush may want to consider having one done professionally.

I'd consider this purely an Internet marketing tactic - I don't see any easy way to fit it in with more traditional marketing activities. Thus, check the demographic of the projected readership. Are they likely to be internet video fans?

One piece of advice - do NOT NOT NOT put out a poorly presented trailer. Unless it's SO bad that millions will watch to laugh at the lameness, it will hurt more than help.

Just my thoughts,
-Steve

I think they are a little bit self indulgent. I have them, and I enjoy making them, but no-one watches 'em. Storm Grant did a poll the other day

http://storm-grant.livejournal.com/202079.html

and it came up resoundingly with: they aren't any good as a marketing tool. Small response, but decided.

Of course book trailers would be great IF people saw them. But they don't.
Word of mouth beats all else to promote your book. The method I've used is to talk to influencial people that subsequently spread word to many others.
But it depends what your topic is, as to who/how you ignite your word of mouth campaign.

I've only watched one book trailer, and it was for Sherry Thomas's Not Quite A Husband.

She created it for free and I found it very funny. It was the script that sold it to me rather than the technical accomplishments of the trailer.

That said, I would probably have bought the book anyway on the strength of her blog. So I'm not a great test case!

I feel strongly about it both ways. ;)

Seriously, I have issues with visual media for things that I would like my imagination to see, so I'm probably never going to be a fan of book trailers. I went through the same thing in 1980-dirt when music videos first gained popularity. I'd rather let my mind's eye visualize. Things tend to have deeper meaning for me that way.

On the other hand, if done incredibly well (professional), book trailers could be a benefit to people who are more likely to read (or listen to) books by being enticed by that sort of visual set up for a novel.

Barring financial constraints, I see no reason why you shouldn't make a book trailer. It can't hurt and may in fact help.

Here's mine - it cost very little to make: http://ow.ly/FGOm

As you said, it's just one of many things you can do to promote yoour book, so why not give it a try, especially if you're an unknown author and it's early days.

Thanks, Jill
"Blood and Groom" is now in stores!
www.jilledmondson.com

Seriously? Have you ever bought a book you wouldn't have bought anyway because of a book trailer?

I view book trailers as just another distraction that has no net gain (well, maybe negative).

We don't need to do these things just because people do. There needs to be a rational, fundamental reason behind our actions, not just hype. Some trailers be justified, 99.9% are waste.

I've never bought a book because of the trailer. I've come close a couple of times, but most of the time I see little to persuade me. Many fail because they don't have a voice over and we are forced to read at whatever rate the video sets. The example shown on this post doesn't have that problem, but it doesn't match the perception that I had of the book from what I had already read about it. That too is a problem. Which is more believable? The video of the back cover?

But all of that doesn't keep me from doing videos for my books. One of the videos I did for And Thy House is built around the characters appearing on a television show to talk about my book. I don't know that it will sell books, but I had fun doing it and it cost me only time. Besides, it gave me something to post on my blog.

I think a book trailer can take away from my own vision of a book I'm reading.

Trailers are for movies, imo. A book's true trailer, is its jacket copy.

But, in today's online, visual world people want pizazz. To me, a video book trailer is like having a pamphlet that describes a movie. Harmless, maybe helpful, but a little strange.

I agree with elizaw...most of the ones I've seen look like they were put together by an amateur. So I suppose I am against them if they are not done well.

I also like what Amy Sue said...it does take away from my own vision of the book based on the writing. Like for example, the Artemis Fowl cartoons on Eoin Colfer's Web site are NOTHING like I'd envisioned Artemis and Butler to be...and I like the ones in my head better. :)

I agree with the "can't hurt" mantra, but at the same time, I've always wondered about the use of a trailer. Most of the people that will view it are people that already know you anyway.

I think it's a cool thing to put on your website/facebook, and I'd probably try my hand at one for fun, but I wouldn't shell out a lot of money or put a ton of faith in its marketing power.

That said, love the author interview idea, or any book trailer/ad idea that is unique and out of the norm.

I'm so glad you wrote this. I struggle with book trailers because I don't see the point. It's a completely different medium and so much money. Plus, I think there's something to be said for the reader's imagination. It's something I'd hesitate to do (but would do if it were required of me without complaining). I'm glad to know there are others who don't think they are necessary.

I have to join in here to say I love book trailers! I enjoy the thread on Verla Kay website that has everyone's trailers posted. It's a fun way to shop for a book. Though I may also watch them for ideas on how to make my own, I have certainly purchased books because I thought the trailer looked interesting - hush,hush. Silver Phoenix. The Iron King, to name a few.

It’s all about visibility. Will a book video sell more books than [fill in your favorite marketing device here]? How can we possibly answer that? When I was younger, I once bought a book because the woman on the cover was attractive. Sure, I thumbed through the pages and saw that it was an interesting topic, but by that point I was looking for an excuse to purchase the book, not making the decision to purchase the book. It’s hard to know why people purchase a book and they often can’t tell us, but one thing is certain, if they don’t know about the book they won’t purchase it. Amy says the true book trailer is the jacket. While I see some truth in that, the reality is that some people will never read the BCC on my books because they don’t know about my books.

Look at Jill’s comment. I didn’t know she had a book until she posted a link to her book video. It doesn’t exactly tell us what the book is about, but now we know she has a book. Will we buy Blood and Groom because of that video? That will depend more on the book itself, but we have been made aware of the book because having a video gave her an opportunity to post something about it in the comments here. The video may not be any more effective than using a book cover as a profile picture, but it is one more thing we can do to make people aware of our books and to bring thing to a decision point.

This question has such interesting timing for me. I actually saw what I now would probably call my first real book trailer yesterday. It was for Katrina Kenison's book, The Gift of an Ordinary Day, and I loved it! She was simply reading a chapter from her book about beauty in parenting to a room full of mothers, interspersed with photographs of her with her two boys. It was lovely. It made me cry. And I immediately put it on my Amazon wishlist with a highest level priority note and a birthday wish.

Sorry to double comment, but I just watched the book trailer you posted, and that one was pretty tacky. I don't think that it would keep me from buying a book, but it wouldn't make me likely to watch more book trailes, at least for fictional books. :^)

Hi Rachelle, Thanks for posting my video here and for chiming in on the trailer debate. I recently posted about my trailer experience on the CAN Marketing blog here -http://canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/2010/01/the-little-engine-that-could-book-trailers.html

Blessings,

So far, a book trailer has never influenced me to purchase a book. There have been more than a few, though, that have dissuaded me.

My feeling is that any piece of video should be produced with the goal in mind of it going viral on the Internet. What if the wedding party dancing down the aisle video was actually a scene from a romantic-comedy novel? Now THAT would sell books, IMO.

In other words, instead of trying to tell the story synopsis with a book trailer, choose one vignette (the most visual and ENTERTAINING) from the novel and do it up right!

Entertainment has to be key. The trailer needs to be a stand alone piece that a viewer would return to for its value alone, and then maybe you've sold a book---or thousands.

I made one myself a few months ago (a 'trailer' preview of sorts)

http://shelbydupree.blogspot.com/2009/10/preview-of-sorts.html

My son photogged the images for it and I did the rest (except the music).

It was a fun exercise.. and it helped tighten up my vision for the story.

Oh, but it looks like such fun to make one! And I love watching them. You can bet I'll make one when my book comes out!

I’ve been curious about this. I’m drawn to book trailers because of the imagery, the music…the movie mentality they impart, but as you question…do they work? If there hasn’t been evidence of this being the case, I don’t want to waste money or my time. I’d rather spend an extra week polishing my MS or beginning a new one than piecing together a book trailer.

Love the thought. Not sold on the application.
~ Wendy

The one you showed here is only the second book trailer I've seen, and I didn't like either.

I can see why some authors and readers would like it, but for me its like music videos, where you're given someone else's ideas of what a song means. Granted, in a book we ARE given someone else's ideas, but also a lot is left up to our imaginations.

I like the old-fashioned way of selecting a book---looking at the cover, reading the inside jacket or back cover, reading the first page, reading a review.

I have no experience with book trailers, but I think if you're going to make one, you have to make sure it's AWESOME.

While I'm sure Snow Melts in Spring is a lovely book, I wouldn't read it after watching that trailer. Maybe it's just my personal taste, but it did nothing for me.

I don't think book trailers work as a marketing tool at all.

But they are a lot of fun to make.

My client Deborah Vogts blogged about her book trailer experience HERE.

For me, a book video has to do one thing and do it well. It has to tell me what the story is about. I don’t care how pretty the pictures are or how moving the music is, if the video doesn’t communicate the story to me and do it quickly, it has failed. Sorry Cliff, I think your trailer is beautiful, but I think your publisher is wasting money. All that video tells me is that you have a book about David. I’ve already got the definitive Book on David and until I know what your book is about, I’m not interested.

I think the big problem with book videos it that the person making the video, whether the author or someone else, doesn’t know what the book is about. You would think we would, since we have to include that information in queries and on the back cover and we have to give that answer to all of our friends who want to know what we’re writing. The frustrating thing is that it is so simple to determine what a book is about. It isn’t rocket science.

I love book trailers. And there have been a few trailers that have enticed me enough to become interested in a book. One of my favorites was made for Cindy Pon's YA fantasy Silver Phoenix.

I can also understand why they are viewed as silly or not effective. I also wouldn't use it as the major facet of my marketing plan. I still think they are fun to watch though (and make--I've made a "mock" book trailer for my WiP).

Just wanna keep this short and sweet...

one really important detail:

"Only if you really want one - and you can easily afford it...AND you can do it well"

If you don't have access to people who can help make a professional-looking trailer, it could end up doing more harm than good.

As a reader, the best book trailer is the first page of the book.

I think the idea of a good book trailer is part of a layer of marketing that helps to buid interest in a book. We have done both for our authors and the benefits from them have been seen. I have to agree, though, that it does need to be high quality. And with any other marketing decision, ROI and affordability is a key factor.

I am also not sure if all genres can benefit from a trailer as much as a fiction book can. Nonfiction books may do better with an author interview video. Those can be easily placed in numerous places on the Web as you stated. Something visual like a trailer or interview video increases interests. I don't think either of them hurt sales. It helps readers and book reviewers put something concrete behind what they are reading.

Hmmm...I concur with some of the other comments here. A bad trailer can do more damage than good. I've seen a few cheesy ones.

But the author interview idea is fantastic. Yep. Like that a lot.

I LOVE the idea of a book trailer airing on TV! Thank goodness, books can finally break into TV as a marketing strategy.

That's really wonderful.

Good luck, Cliff!

I have been motivated NOT to buy a book after watching a book trailer.

Just sayin.'

Sounds like making a book trailer is a personal decision. The only thing I'd like to say is don't make a book trailer until you've written the book and it's under contract with a release date. I know someone who made an incredible book trailer for a book they hadn't even written yet! That, in my opinion, was a waste of time and money.

I made a book trailer for my forthcoming novel because my publisher encouraged me to do so, and I found that I could produce a pretty nice one using available online and computer tools. It's posted on Facebook, Christianbook.com, and my online presskit. I also did an "author video" to post on my Amazon author page. So, yes, I made a book trailer, but didn't invest a bunch of money, just time.

That's what I did, but do trailers influence me? Nope. I don't even watch book trailers. I still go by the author's reputation, the blurb on the cover, and a quick run through a few pages. But that's just me.

I like the comment about being motivated to NOT buy a book b/c of the trailer. A trailer tells if the writer is relevant and serious about their work. Trailers have sold me on inviting a writer to speak, and also to buy their book. Conversely, a bad promo of any sort will send me in the other direction. So I guess it's about the product. If you can convey personality and tone in a professional manner, it's a great tool for writing and speaking. If not, don't do it.

Very interesting discussion and I am taking all the comments to heart as I consider whether I want to continue to make trailers for my books.

I just finished my first one, with the help of my son who writes music and can do some video editing. Here is a link if anyone is interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYzD8s5y48A

I like the idea of doing an interview as opposed to the kind of trailer I did for One Small Victory.

I have purchased a book after watching a trailer, although that was not the only selling point. First was meeting the author, maybe on a blog or reference from a blog, checking out the author's Web site, then reading an excerpt from the book, and finally watching the video. I will never buy a book from a new author unless I can read an excerpt, but that may just be me. Smile

I'm new to this blog, but I just wanted to say, thank you so much for posting on this topic. I recently discovered book trailers (as in the past month or so) and have been wondering if they're actually effective or just a waste of time.

I agree with those who have said that a poorly made trailer isn't worth it, and it's better to have no trailer than a cruddy one. I wouldn't want an amateur video to be a reflection of my probably-not-so-amateur book.

But if the trailer is made well, I'm sure it could help. Personally, I'll see what resources are available to me when the time comes and decide then if I can make a decent video, or if it's best to leave it out.

Does it strike anyone else that, with all the online promo activities that authors either feel inclined or strong-armed to undertake (book trailers being the most recent) it's reviews, quality of the first couple of pages, and strong word of mouth that seem to generate the most sales?

I do think a great book trailer can be very engaging. I've seen a few good ones. I've only come across a couple I thought were cheesy. It's a new dimension to books and I for one plan on embracing change. A book trailer, like our books, must be well done.

Book trailers do nothing for me. Granted, the early ones were poor quality, but some I've seen recently are mini-movies. Still, I don't like them.

I don't want to see the characters embodied by actors before I have a chance to read the book and apply my imagination. (I'm one of those read the book first, see the movie second people.)

I think the vast majority are too long. One to three minutes? Three minutes is a lot of time. Give me the 30-60 sec version. No more.

Would I buy a book based on a trailer? Probably not.

Anon 9:14 am - well, yes, this is what I've been saying all along. The best marketing tool is the book itself. Everything else is gravy. But added up, it all can help, you know? Sometimes these other tools (like trailers) can lead someone to at least consider a book. Then they can decide based on its content whether they want to buy it - and whether they'll talk about it and recommend it to others.

A lot of book trailers are silly and either turn me off completely from books, or make me feel nothing for them (and no, I'm not going to mention which ones). I would still love to make one for the fun of it, though. I'm afraid that mine would be just as amateurish as the really bad ones. Oh, well.

I can take or leave book trailers. If they reveal too much about the plot, they're a failure in my opinion--which is why I rarely view them. Some of them contain too much "reading", wrong music, or depict characters in ways a reader might not accept as "their" version of said character.

As an actor, film maker and writer, I love the idea of book trailers. I do agree that a bad trailer can do more damage than good. They can also look cheesy and have an amateur feel to them.

I think that adding the visual medium element to book marketing is a brilliant idea in this technological age. People can view the trailer on their phones and then pass it on to everyone in their contact list. I think it's great! I'm in preproduction on my book trailer and I don't even have an agent yet.

For me it's a good mashup of my passions. I've been working in the entertainment business in L.A. for almost 18yrs and have made many connections. I have an Oscar winner and a few Grammy winners that have already said they would help me when the time came. I'm very fortunate and blessed.

Well, here are two very different book trailers for the same book, T.C. Boyle's "The Women"...one is more like a music video in which you get little information about the book. The other is the usual still images with narration.

http://www.printisundead.com/andrew-shaffers-blog/book-trailer-vs-book-trailer.html

Anon 8:56

That's interesting. It reminded me that I still remember a TV ad about 30 years ago that caused me to never again buy their product. Without that ad, I probably would have stayed with their brand all these years.

As someone who reviews books, I go to the author's website and scrounge around for material to make my blog post visually appealing. If there's a book trailer, I often post it at the bottom of my review.

My pet peeve with trailers is the line: Coming May 2010, or whatever. The use of the trailer isn't over at that time, possibly just beginning. I really wish they'd dispense with the date so the trailer is more timeless.

The reason I think book trailers can help with sales is because movie trailers sell movies.
But....
The book trailer would have to be hooky. So hooky that the reader doesn't care about writing, only about what happens in the plot. So I think a book trailer would work well with a unique plot.
Also, the book trailer needs to be well done.
I've seen a lot that are really boring. I think a book trailer should be really similar to a movie trailer. Personally, I don't think the author talking about the book is effective, but that's me. :-)
If the trailer is too long or not hooky, then I don't think it'll do anything.

I love them though. I'm definitely making some for my books and will stick them up. :-)

I love watching good ones too. I've seen a few that really grabbed me and made me want to read the book.

Should you have a book trailer?

No. It's a waste of money, no one cares except your family and friends, and there are far better ways to promote books.

And if you don't believe me, go back and ask anyone who has spent good money on book trailers in the past and never saw returns based on sales that came from book trailers.

One of the problems with book trailers is that we're all accustomed to extremely high quality media. We're bombarded with slickly done commercials, movies, TV, etc. I think, therefore, that the typical viewer has rather high expectations when they click on a vid. It has to be good. It has to measure up. If it doesn't (and it seems like most book trailers don't), then I think more damage is done then good.

A related question: books should have nice covers? Can one say that since the cover would never represent the book in a proper way, then we should have no covers?

The (good) readers may be atracted by a nice book cover, and then they will get more information on the book to decide if they should buy it. The trailers are exactly the same thing!

I believe that if you can do a nice trailer, do it. For example, check out the trailer of my last novel :) at:
http://www.alexandrelobao.com/livros/ONomedaAguia/English/index.asp

But NEVER do a poor quality trailer, since it will surely work as a negative marketing.

er...than good, I mean.

I recently did a book trailer for a contest held over at Let The Words Flow Blog.
I had a blast making it. It was for a book I am currently writing so I used clips from movies and t.v. shows.(of course I stressed I did not own copyrights. I have movie maker on my computer so the only thing it cost me was time.

Honestly, I like the idea of a book trailer. I think watching one might make me choose to read a book that I never would have thought to read.

I find that my vision exceeds my budget when it comes to book videos and I think that’s true of all of us. We can talk about needing high quality all we want, I think back to the chalk board stick figure Cheerios commercials from the early 1980’s. I never have forgotten those. These days, anyone who can draw could duplicate them at home. The thing that made them great wasn’t that they were so “slick,” as Christopher puts it, but the story they told. They followed a simple pattern. This boy is running out of energy. This boy is eating Cheerios. Now this boy has the energy to make it through the day.

The most important element in measuring the quality of any marketing video isn’t the quality of the imagery, the sound, the visual effects or special effects. We can do all of those inexpensively, like General Mills did with Cheerios commercials, but we can’t afford to skimp on the story the video tells. Everything we know about telling a story through a book applies to telling a story through the book video.

I think your 'if you can afford it' tag is critical. Unfortunately, the vast majority of book trailers I've seen have been amateurish, or clearly low budget. Having come from a branding background I'm of the opinion this will hurt more than help.

I'd also add one more tag: if you're writing for the teen or under 25 market.

Let's be honest, those of us born pre '85 haven't ever had ANY multimedia attached to the books we've read. We don't expect them or need them. But 'kids these days' have come to expect a multimedia experience in...well... everything.

So I'd say if you're writing for Teens / YA it something you need to seriously consider.

I think they're just a fun thing to do, and another layer, albeit small, to the marketing of the book. I never heard of book trailers until BB made one for TG; then, for this next book I decided to make my own as BB did--with just some images, music, text - it was a learning experience and fun to do...

will it sell books? probably not much, but it was cheap to do, fun to do, and I stick it here and there, show it around a bit...

One 'chain' bookstore put my first book vid on their site with my book - will it help sell it? I don't know, but I thought it was nice of them and pretty cool.

PS - I did think of doing just what you suggested -the author interview on vid - I asked a local actor friend to help me by being my "interviewer". . . we haven't done it yet, mostly because of WNC's bad luck with weather, but I'm curious how it will work.

PS - Mia - Those pulling away from the pack in the marketing / branding field nowadays are suggesting that television advertising is losing its impact significantly (i.e. it really only works in very specific, very expensive positions that are out of reach to the individual).

NOTHING (and I do mean NOTHING) sells like word of mouth. People are much more savvy about advertising and marketing these days. They don't trust the executives who are invested in it. They trust their friends and family (and fellow blog-commenters) who don't have a penny in the game.

Hi Rachelle,

Thanks so much for asking this question, as it is very relevant in the days of social media, e-books, etc. As a creator and proponent of book videos, here are a few thoughts on the subject:
1. Book videos shouldn't be done by amateurs. If your publisher isn't paying, or you aren't hiring someone who specializes in video production, Don't do it. Bad videos have shown to hurt sales, because people sometimes equate bad video with bad book.
2. A book video should never be the sole component of a marketing campaign. But with tracking built in, they have been a proven help in generating increased sell-through when used as an "action item" for the consumer.
3. Certain categories and genres benefit from book videos better than others. Fiction is all about story, and book videos are made to give a high-entertainment glimpse into the story. But even within Fiction, videos made for thrillers and young adult titles have statistically shown higher view rates than categories like Amish Fiction, for instance. As with any other tactic in marketing, it requires knowing your consumer for each title before you ever begin brainstorming ideas.

We're selective in what genres and even on which titles book videos are made for. And it rarely ever has anything to do with budget, and everything to do with: what kind of reader would likely watch it, what are the best opportunities to have the video seen by multiple audiences, and how would the video fit into an overall strategy to make the book a success. Asking these tough questions early-on helps determine which titles will or won't benefit from having a book video created.

I like book trailers, but I don't usually like those the author makes. The professional ones are better, but they do cost quite a bit.

The trailer for my next book is being produced by Trailers to the Stars, and it will be done soon.

I used to wonder a lot about whether a trailer was really necessary. I'm a very visual person, so I enjoy a really good one ... but the expense and trouble of making them kind of outweighed that for me. So I started asking around. I talked to other authors, and more importantly to my editors. They brought up things that I really hadn't thought of before.

In particular, I addressed this topic in my article this month at Christian Fiction Online Magazine, and I thought Maegan Roper (the publicist at Abingdon Press) gave the best reason of all to have one: “I saw a blog recently where a writer said that trailers are unimportant. But when you, as a publisher, have thirty seconds to present a title to a room full of retail buyers, you’re going to want to make the most of those thirty seconds!”

To read the full article: http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/buzz_publicity.html

Good point about a bad trailer turning people off

The only book trailer I've seen that was truly effective (and I've seen some expensive ones, with choreographed fight scenes and everything) was for Neil Gaiman's Blueberry Girl, in which the whole text of the (children's) book was read, and the illustrations moved in a cut-out sort of way. It was very simply done (none of that "Coming THIS SUMMER..." stuff) but it made me want to read the book.
Mostly, though, they just sort of make me say "This is the future?"

I like a book trailer, it's a quick way to hook a readers attention and stimulate their senses (music, pictures or actors, text and what have you or simply an author reading an excerpt of her book). There are cheap and free ways to make your own book trailer. Onetruemedia.com is a fun way to make one.

Romance author Teresa Medeiros has a book trailer, but of all her books, music with pictures of the covers and text. Very intriguing!

The first book trailer I ever watched was for "Sharp Teeth." Talk about an awesome trailer! The voice over was hilarious, and the vintage-style ad made me want to snatch the book right up. I did, and "Sharp Teeth" turned out to be a book that really impacted my writing style. I LOVE a good book trailer; sometimes it puts the author's voice out there better than a summarizing paragraph can.

I enjoy book trailers. I produced one for my latest nonfiction book - I'm not sure it will help me sell any books but it has helped me get my name "out there" and let people know about my services and classes, which has led to business revenue. if you're interested you can check it out - and download a free chapter form the book - at http://www.GetALiteraryAgent.com

Best,
Laura

Timothy Fish, I never disagreed with you. No need to be condescending.

No one is saying that book trailers are the savior of marketing. All they need to do is catch someone's eye and point them to where they can find out more. Like a website. If filmmakers happen to see one, it can make them very interested. All I was saying is that it happened with me, so it's possible.

Believe it or not, I've only seen one book trailer, and it was for a book I had already read. I'm not much of a video person (though I am visually-oriented) so I'm not necessarily going to spend time looking at videos on the Internet (or TV, etc.)

Still, if a well produced book trailer catches a potential reader's eye, that's great. If it catches a filmmaker's eye, that's great, too. (Congrats, Cliff. That's exciting.)

Indeed, a sucker for all things that hype. I am fully in favor of enticing me with more than a good cover.

Great post, Rachelle! I agree with your remarks. As a marketing consultant to authors at all levels, I find that book trailers are one of the most misunderstood and wasteful uses of money. That's because most trailers aren't recorded wisely. Many just make the author feel good, rather than enticing the viewer to buy the book.

Here's a couple of video trailers from bestsellers that I really like. If you're going to do one, follow these examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0mGCBvcOaI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRVjHVOlsX4&feature=related

I've never bought a book solely because of a trailor, but I recently saw one for Mary DeMuth's new memoir, and it was very poignant. I can imagine a book trailor being a keen way to attract interest for a memoir, (since we memoir-readers often want an even bigger slice of the author than the book affords, and a video can be a compelling addition). Having said this, I already loved Mary's books, so maybe that's why I liked her trailor.

I am undecided on whether I really like book trailers. When I pick up a book the first thing I go to is the back. When I search for books on Amazon the first thing I read is the blurb from the back of the book. This is where I think efforts should lay. Most people aren't going to spend time looking through trailers when they can just read. Book readers are just that: readers. Movie trailers are for movies, you watch a movie you watch the trailer. Book blurbs are for books, you read a book you read a blurb. It just seems natural. I personally wouldn't invest in one, but that is just one book-aholic's opinion.

I don't have strong feelings about trailers one way or the other. I've seen some that were awesome - those I enjoyed were usually shorter & had something unusual about them.

Thanks for the advice :)

A bad video would be worse than none, and even an interview would need high quality to avoid looking tacky. For 95% of us, I suspect the cost of a good trailer would be beyond our budget. I've seen them advertised for $3-10K. I've watched probably a dozen, and while some were amusing, none even remotely motivated me to buy the book.

BTW: If you could do a video like this couple's, it might be a whole new experience:
http://www.flixxy.com/wedding-jeff-erin-trailer.htm

Rachelle, What a great idea!!!!
...An author interview. I like that much better than a book trailer, simply because I don't have the patience to view them. A trailer seems gimmicky and glitzy, while an interview promises an intimate view of the writer.

Well, after watching Mary DeMuth's for her recent release, YES... I would buy her book based on that trailer. It's obvious someone spent a pretty penny putting that one together! I actually like book trailers; some are good, some bad, but I think they can be a good reflection of an author's pulse.

I agree with you, though. It's not a huge marketing point, but I like them. What I don't like is a background voice-over that is obviously not the author's voice. I'd rather read text than hear a voice-over.

peace~elaine

Hey. I don't normally leave comments, but I just wanted to say thanks for the great information. I have a blog too, though
I don't write as good as you do, but if you want to check it out here it is. Thanks again and have a great day!

Arms Warrior Leveling Build

I love book trailers! Way cool. I'm not sure I ever bought one off the strength of the trailer. But if I ever make it big time as a novelist I'd be willing to invest in the novelty.

.........dhole

I think book trailers can be effective selling tools if done well and used wisely. But beyond a minute long, it's overkill and you risk losing the viewer, in my opinion. Short, sweet and with a powerful punch is the best sell. Like TV commercials, viewers don't have the time or patience for trailers longer than 30 sec. to a minute.

Thank you for the practical advice Rachelle.

I enjoy short book trailers that don't dawdle between scenes, but I've never bought a book because of one. As you said, it's just one tool of many. Promotion is the hard part of writing. The actual writing is the part I enjoy--even the difficult days--and promotion is the price I must pay to indulge the part I love.

I would only use a book trailer if I found someone who could do it very professionally. Right now I think there is a desire to have them, but I'm not sure there are a lot of people who know how to make them well.

I've seen two book trailers. Both were so unremarkable that I forgot which books they were for - that seems like a terrible waste of money for someone to forget your book!

I've seen book trailers that were quite good, and they made me go see if the book itself were good or not. But, then again, if the blog post had said "This book rocks" instead of showing me the trailer, I'd have checked it out anyway.

I don't think I'd ever make a book trailer, though. I don't know much about making things like that, so the quality would be poor, so it wouldn't be effective for me.

As an author and someone who works in film and tv, I wouldn't create a book trailer unless it was of the kind of quality that movie trailers are. I think bad book trailers can do more harm than good. I haven't seen a book trailer yet that's made me want to go and buy the book it was advertising.

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Thank you for taking the time to make these posts. I have learned a lot and have applied a few on my blogs. I often forget the art of true conversation and this reminder was helpful.
I also enjoyed browsing through your website.

Thanks for posting this series, Rachelle and Jim. Lots of great information. I'm printing the posts to save for future reference.

Thanks for the counting to five tip during conversations. I'm seeing how psychology can be a part of marketing.

Yes, thank you for the insight!

I am going to apply the point you made about counting in my head to five before responding.

That's a great idea.

I will see what happens and send you a note about it!

I definitely want to hear more. Thank you!

This is great! My favorite of the three posts. Thanks, Jim!

Thanks for the great marketing series. I love it when a post crams so much good info into so few words. A good idea for any well-written material.

(And the first word on my website is not WELCOME.)

Ouch, Jim! Was it necessary to step all over my toes? One of my weaknesses is interrupting other people. It will be a major stretch for me to wait until someone stops talking AND THEN count to five. Since I am working on breaking the habit of interrupting, I will try this extreme challenge (for me anyway) of counting to five.

Thanks for giving me my New Year's resolution...

Be blessed,

Lynnda

Such a keen post. Loved it.

Jim:

Thanks for providing a professional's insight on marketing. It's been very helpful. I'm comfortable about writing, but I'm not so comfortable about selling.

Your insights about the importance of highlighting what makes my stories unique, of taking the time to get my web presence polished and of listening effectively as a big part of marketing have all been very helpful.

......Now to try to put some of them into practice.......

This has been great! I've written down all your tips and plan to implement all of them. Your insights about the importance of marketing that must come in addition to creative talent and persistence are very helpful. Thanks for this! (my creative writing blog)

I love the idea that it's better to give than receive. What a great summary of the way we should view our relationship-building in all areas of life!

Thanks so much for this series Rachelle & Jim! I have a background in marketing. Sometimes its easy to forget that those principles can be applied to myself personally as a writer. I look forward to adjusting...well, just about everything!

Fab post. Practical advice in a nutshell. I'm taking notes & looking forward to my next conversation with someone (just to count to 5 in my head & see what happens).

Thanks for this!!

Foarte interesant subiectul postat de tine. M-am uitat pe blogul tau si imi place ce am vazut.Cu siguranta am sa il mai vizitez.
O zi buna!

Rachelle,

Love your readers!

Thanks for all the support, guys.

Jim

Loved this series of posts - Thank you!

Hi,

Good one on Marketing Principles: Part 3 of 3.If you are a network marketer and interested to know how to be successful and earn high income then http://debtfreeliving.thecopywritersguild.com can help you.

Thanks,
John.

The prospect of marketing my own book is empowering and thrilling. I'm looking forward to it very much. And it takes a lot of worry out of it -- someone who doesn't know my book as well as I do won't be running around miss-marketing it.

ChrisB - I don't like marketing, anymore than anonymous does. But the nature of the publishing market beast means we are more likely to have to do it ourselves.

Yes I'm not a marketing person by temperament or training, but I'm creative and I know my book and where I'm targeting it. two basic building blocks. Yes ultimately my book may fail due to my inability to market it properly, but how am I going to distinguish that from it failing because there wasn't a readership for it anyway?

I have to respond to Cassandra here - the MC in my series starts OUT with a speech impediment. So, if I do a reading (Which I certainly will do) I'm going to have to st-st-stutter my way through a s-sample chapter anyway.

As far as a reading, wonder if an audio sample read by a good friend wouldn't help, if you have an impediment.


As far as looks go, I don't know where to go with that one. The trailer I just watched had very little footage of the author herself... Just some idea of what her book was about, and an introduction to her family.

But you make an interesting point. Authors aren't always photogenic, but they may write an incredible story.

I'm reminded of the stereotypical agoraphobic writer in Nim's Island... Living vicariously through her MC.

Great article! As an unpubbed writer, I have participated in my friends' booksingings and had a blast! Even tho my friend writes romance, when I saw a burly guy come in the door I approached him about buying a copy for his wife/sweetheart! I do think it is easier to brag on someone else than myself so I think I would take my hubby and a friend or two along if possible, altho, as someone else said we are the best ones to answer any questions about the story since we wrote it!

I have several things going for me in setting up booksigning all over. 1) all the friends I have made in ACFW--I could contact some of them for multiple author signings in various cities, 2) I am retired and my hubby is semi-retired with no kids at home, so we could travel to do this and 3) we can stay in other Christian's homes for a nominal fee as members of a bed and breakfast club we are in (www.gowayside.com)

I do have a website and blogsite. I have been involved with MOPS for over 11 years as a speaker, mentor and Moppet worker, so am developing a platform with that group that would fit in well with the gentle small town stories I write.

So, this info excites me rather than upsets me. Bring it on!

My MC is a woman, with a voice tinctured by fags and alcohol, all 3 of which I score badly on being a teetotal non-smoking male. I'm getting an actress friend to do the voiceover on my vids.

They are readings, not film versions that have to be faithful to the script. The words must remain the prime draw. Having said that, if you're proposing to have it on YouTube, you have to ask what visuals are you going to do to keep the viewer interested long enough to hear the words? I look on these videos as akin to pop videos - the visuals give a story that is linked to the song, but has its own inner logic. yet the important thing remains the 3 minutes of music. same thing with the reading.

As to looks, my experimental first stabs at the form, have me covering up my face behind balaclava/bandages/hoody & stocking so I eliminated that particular issue. No one wants to view a paunchy middle aged man reading from an MS, no matter how good the writing...

Hi Rachelle,

I think that Washington Post article is misleading. The book trailer/book tour/YouTube reading worked for Kelly Corrigan, but for every success story like that, there are probably hundreds of failures—something that Richard Pine (the literary agent from InkWell) points out in the last paragraph of the article.

My book came out a year ago next month. The advance praise from people like Phyllis Tickle, Keri Wyatt Kent, Jan Johnson, and Gerald Sittser was glowing; the book itself is beautiful to look at, both of which bode well for book sales, right?

Over the past year, I have set up a website; started blogging; joined Facebook; begun finding blogs like yours that I like and challenged myself to join the conversations taking place there; drummed up a dozen speaking gigs in churches and at MOPS groups; participated in book signings; written articles for my hometown newspaper and nationally-circulated magazines and journals; and swallowed my fear to give half a dozen radio interviews across the country.

With a designer friend, I created a postcard with a few snippets of advance praise, a short book summary, and a color photo of my book’s cover, which I sent to church libraries, Christian camp bookstores, and denominational and parachurch organizations. I gave over 50 books to friends around the US in exchange for their writing one review of my book on Amazon or another large online retailer and another for their church or MOPS newsletter.

My advance for this book was $3000, paid over the course of two years. At the time of my contract, my son was three, my daughter, three months. That $3000 paid for childcare so I could write the book. These promotional efforts have been out of my husband’s hard-earned salary.

And yet—my book sales have been “sluggish” (to use my editor’s kind euphemism), and I have not earned back my advance. There is more I could do, of course—there is always more. But I hesitate to spend more money and more time when my efforts so far have had such lackluster results. Writing another book seems a much better use of my time and energy. Your front list sells your backlist, after all.

The trouble is—this book’s sluggish sales mean my publisher is (understandably) thinking twice about working with me again. Any other publisher will have similar reservations.

So just because an author goes gangbusters on the marketing doesn’t mean it will pay. It might, but it might not. Luck, as Mr. Pine points out in the Post article, has a lot to do with it, too.

I tell people that if they are able to NOT write, they should put down their pencils and go enjoy life. I think for some of us, regardless of the market, the odds or the almost certainty of failure, we will continue to write because that what we were made to do.

I hope to sell many books, over many years for much profit, but whether or not that will happen remains to be seen. I do know that I will continue to write books because I can't NOT write...I try to remember that's a blessing and not a curse :)

The article was a great read; thanks for directing us there. Love your blog!

Having to market doesn't discourage me - I'm actually looking forward to it. It will be a new challenge for me - one that I am ready to meet head on.

I'm already starting, as well. I'm reading books about marketing, got a blog, and Twitter. So far I have 50 followers on Twitter and eight followers on my blog. It's not a lot, but I'm happy with my progress so far. I'm confident that when my book is published that I'll be able to get a pretty good marketing campaign going with the help of my friends all across the county.

~ Katherine Anne

if God has called me to write and He promises to guide me - then I will trust Him in opening the right doors. That outlook prevents me from becoming bogged down. I ran my own business and it's success was because I prayed, trusted, did the footwork to the best of my ability and He made the connections.

We're teaching this weekend at our San Diego Christian Writers Guild Fall Conference. At last night's roundtable discussion, more than half the questions were on exactly this topic: MARKETING.

Are you willing to help your books succeed? Since readers aren't exactly looking for you --- are you willing to get busy, get out there, and look for readers?

Writing a book is the BEGINNING of the process, not the end.

Rachelle, thank you for sharing the article. As someone who's spent years in sales, I'm thankfull that these publishing trends are right up my alley. The key, of course, is still in writing a good book, but once that objective is accomplished, the sales and marketing phase is not at all frightening to me.

I'm fortunate enough to work for an ad agency, so actually the thought of marketing my own book makes me want to do it *more*! :)

The article uses a memoir as an example. Self-marketing is more applicable when it comes to non-fiction, not fiction novels.

Jeff Gerke says it best regarding marketing, "what you can do as an individual is kind of pathetic compared to what the publisher could do."

Writers should write; Publishers should market! Some of these so-called trends are a bit ridiculous and the discussions surrounding them make them self-fulfilling.

Again, this makes more sense for non-fiction, not fiction.

I knew this coming in and I tried (and continue to try) to do all this and more. It's exhausting. I don't have enough hours in the day to do all I know I should be doing and write the sequel and be a mom and wife/youth pastor's wife. So, I am a bit frustrated. I plug along and trust that God has a plan and that someday I'll reap in songs of joy, but for now, I'm tired! What really keeps me going is my love for teens and the occasional emails from them that say, "I loved your book, when is book two coming out?"

Wish I had her numbers, though. Nice.

Does the requirement to be a marketer affect my desire to be a published author?

As I transition from short stories and YA novels to novels for adults, the new emphasis on marketing certainly affects me. It does NOT diminish my God-given zeal for the art of wordsmithing and crafting creative tales. But the reality is that most writers are not full-timers. They do something else to earn a living, and they scrape together minutes for writing in the morning, or during lunch, or before bed. Finding writing time can be challenging, and when we receive the added responsibility of being our own chief marketer, then time spent learning and employing modern marketing techniques must gouge deeply into the available minutes of a day. Something will suffer--either the amount of wordage an author can produce per week, or else the intrinsic quality of the writing. And while the analogy isn't perfect, I can't help recalling the Jews in Exodus who were ordered to find their own straw and stubble with which to make bricks, while maintaining the previous high production quotas. ;)

Of course, the Internet does offer unprecedented opportunities to reach potential fans, which is exciting. But the flip side is that no one can predict for sure which efforts will touch people just right to attract mass attention. For example, the success of Disney's High School Musical shot far higher than Disney originally dreamed. But other highly promoted movies (and books) can still languish with few fans. You just never know...

If its up to the writer to promote and market their own book, THEN, WHAT DOES THE PUBLISHER DO? Just have the book printed? This sounds stupid to me.

I like the idea! So no, it has no effect on my desire to be a published author because I love blogging and vlogging, and I think networking on your own terms makes it more personal not to mention it forces you to develop relationships with people you may not have otherwise- this could prove to be super beneficial! And on top of all that the end results have the potential of being much sweeter knowing I worked so hard to get it to the place it's at...rather than relying on someone else.
I like! I like!

Since my first book is coming out next year and I am completely new to the world of writing and publishing, I had no preconceived ideas about what to expect from a publisher. That means the new norm is already norm to me.
I'm thankful that many years ago I worked in the advertising industry. I developed marketing campaigns and sold print advertising, so I often think in terms of marketing. The only problem is, the market has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. Marketing concepts basically remain unchanged, however, the methods of achieving a successful marketing plan is completely different. I have a lot to learn about how to strategically plan a marketing campaign and then execute that plan in todays new world of high tech, social networking, internet marketing.
I'm thankful for those who so willingly offer their advice and expertise about writing, publishing and marketing. Thanks, Rachelle, for your online lessons in the world of writing and publishing.

If you do all the work like the lady in the Washington Post; you'd maybe be better off self publishing. All the books she has sold would make her far, far richer self publishing rather than letting a publisher make most of the money from all HER work.

I have to say that I agree with Jill a couple comments up. I just had a book come out at the end of July and I've been trying to do alot of marketing and it is exhausting! Trying to fit marketing in among all the other responsibilities of life and work and church and family is no picnic.

Still, would I do it all again? Yes. And I will continue to try my best to market this book and again in 2010 with the release of book two.

But I'd rather just write.

Rachelle,

I have been thinking a lot about your post and the article. I understand that the business aspect of publishing means that we must be practical and we must promote our work. But this issue remains a very challenging one for me personally. The ongoing responsibility of marketing and promoting books while writing and editing them is nearly overwhelming. I have considered walking away from writing, more than once, because of it.

That was, until I found my way through it. I realized that if I tap into my passion for communicating with and helping others, then I can enjoy each aspect of the process as something that has its own significant value. This helps me greatly.

For example, if I write a blog that serves and helps others, if I lead seminars that genuinely minister truth and grace, if every place I inhabit is a place where God's life light pours through me, however simply, then THAT is something I can embrace.

The idea of selling myself as an author is not appealing at all. But communicating, serving, helping, encouraging, attending to the mission of being an ambassador for Christ? Now that's worthwhile.

What I have realized is that these goals can overlap. In this way, as authors, we can promote our writing, "not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord" (Ephesians 6)

This is a life worth living. For me, it makes all the difference.

With your kind permission, I would like to link to your post on my blog, The Moon Boat Cafe, and invite my readers to respond.

For me, it feels a little bit uncomfortable. Like the requirement to be a superhuman author, bestseller plus master marketer. Not only to write *the* book but get to know Oprah personally so she can plug your book. And also blog like crazy to promote your next book (ummm, remind me, in what spare time?).

But then again, I'm a mom of 4 young kids, trying to write, trying to mother and 1,001 other things, juggling plenty. Maybe it's kind of like that. So maybe I could do it.

All of these anxieties about whether we writers are up to a whole new skill set of marketing are entirely understandable.

BUT firstly if we can't push our own work, then why should we expect others, particularly cash strapped corporations to do it for us? And also, most of the online stuff is just about communicating, which as writers of words seeking to communicate with complete strangers, ie the readers, we should believe we are more than capable of doing.

I totally understand the point about where is the time to do all this support stuff. But you have to make an investment of self and your time if you're really committed to trying to break into professional writing. An investment of time and energy now, may yield you a book deal and a marketing department placed behind you in the future.

It is in your hands and no one else's.

If I wanted to sell, I'd have gone into sales or marketing.

I'm into writing and that's what I do best. I have ideas about how to market, but I am not experienced in it. And I fear I will blow it if I'm the only one doing it.

So I'm not at all happy with this new development.

I can't say I'm thrilled about the development either, but we have to accept the reality. The odds of being accepted through simply submitting unsolicited manuscripts to either agents or publishers are probably the same as trying to get your self-published work to catch fire enough to attract professional attention to you as a writer. ie slim. I tried the submissions route, now I'm taking responsibility for it myself.

Quite honestly, it is self-indulgent to protest that we are writers only and therefore can't dirty our hands with the marketing side of our trade.

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Shame that the books weren't on the tables in the first place but I love that Terry and Andrea got it fixed!

My lesson from this: Don't always believed what you are promised - double check everything.

It makes me sad that the Christian fiction was so hidden from patrons. We have an inspirational promo table right up front, next to secular sales tables at the B&N where I live. I'm not sure whether it's all non fiction though.

Congrats on your novel Terry! I'm going to check out your book now.

Figures B&N was so disorganized. Good for you for pointing out the problem and trying to get it resolved. I had a book that was hidden behind a counter but the store moved it to a top spot after I explained I was a local author. Hope it all works out--good luck!

This kind of shocks me. A little unprofessional of B&N, I think, but go Terry and his wife! LOL I also think it's awesome that B&N honored their agreement, once they remembered they'd made it. Snort! :-)
Thank you for sharing this, and really, a huge kudos to the Brennans!

How like life.

That story makes me sad, although I'm not surprised. We can only hope that more Christian authors like Terry Brennan will take that stand any time they get the opportunity. Big changes come in small steps.

What I take from Terry's experience:

After the toil and angst of pouring a story on the page, a writer's ultimate joy better come in the writing. All else is uncertain, despite planning and good intention.

Love of writing pulses through Terry's email, which reads "polite, professional determination" rather than "indignation". Now imagine this email from someone who thought writing was an easy way to fame and fortune. Temper tantrums abound: "But...but...my bestseller! You said you'd display it! Let me talk to your manager right now! My people will be calling your people...just you wait!"

(Not that Rachelle would take on such a client. Methinks Rachelle's "diva" sensor surpasses even her Starbucks sensor...she can locate either from fifty miles away, I bet.)

Thanks for sharing your experience, Terry. I hope you sell those hundreds of copies in NYC, plus many more nationwide! God bless!

What a great way to get the books out on a table. I am keeping this story for future reference.

Another author goes to libraries and inserts his bookmarks in books of the same genre as his.

LOL Very sneaky. I don't know if I would have the nerve to do something like that. :)

I'm along ways form ever having a book in stores anyway. (If ever do) :)

At least Barnes & Noble doesn't just clump it in with the Middle Eastern Mystic & everything else like that, in "Religion" section.

I don't think there is Barnes & Noble in Canada, but that's what Chapters does here.

Terry--Great congrats on your book and on having what it takes to contribute to its promotion!

Question for Terry or Rachelle: Do publishers, after they "arrange and pay" for a book to be on display in a prominent spot, have a way to find out if they are getting what they paid for?

Terry's story reminds me of Jesus in that He takes us out of the deepest, darkest corners and brings us into the light. I admire Terry and his wife for their determination to bring the books out where the public can see them, and for passing out postcards. They are planting seeds, whether or not they realize it. Even though there were 40 books, we have to consider the impact those 40 books will impact those 40 readers. Sometimes we have to start small for something huge to happen. Congratulations, Terry (and Rachelle!), on the release of your novel. I pray it touches more hearts than you can imagine.

SELF PROMOTION just called and it said our jobs aren’t over until we can see Paparazzi in the rear view…

Thank you for the reality check.

Incidentally, an article of mine was published online and I sent it to every newspaper in my area. I’m getting a head start on the whole “look at me, look at me” thing.

The saddest part of this story is that this was JUST New York City. In how many other cities is the book relegated to the back corner?
I certainly hope Terry informed his editor/publisher that B & N isn't honoring the agreement. They were paid to promote his book and they took the money and ran with it.
BUT I must say he handled it with grace and tact.

Congrats to Terry on your book and thank you to you and Rachelle for the lessons learned.

Once an agreement is made on prominent display, I wonder how often stores like B&N miss the notification. I'm so glad that when you mentioned it, the problem was rectified. It would have been even worse if the store didn't rectify the situation once it had been brought to their attention.

I'm not sure about the bookmark slipping into other authors' books of the same genre, but I think taking the extra time to hand out postcards and offer to sign books in stock is wonderful. Postcards, bookmarks and book plates all seem like great things for an author to invest in for promoting their work.

I know of one acquaintance who decided she was going to use little bags of candy. Is that a good idea or too much like a wedding favor?

It was VERY unprofessional of B&N not to do what they were paid to do! How discouraging.

On the other hand, sometimes it works the other way around. I wrote my friend Lori once to say I'd seen her book "A Walk with Jane Austen" on a B&N Austen display table, and she hadn't known about it before! So that was nice.

ANOTHER example of the author doing the work. Isn't fraudulent on some level of B&N to say they'll display a book and not do it? I'm just wondering how many authors/publishers they do that with. Like a bait & switch of sorts.

Stories like me really make me realize that my love to write does not necessarily make me a great candidate to author a published book. My blog looks more and more fun all the time!

By the way Terry, your book was displayed at the Greater Philly Writers Conference, because I saw it there!

Good reminder that as an author, I better feel passionate enough about my books to not only write and pitch, but also market and "hit the streets."

They did awesome going in like that and having them check for the display! I will remember this story if and when I need to do that!

After all of my experiences with large companies, it doesn't surprise me. I've learned to always double check everything - that's just the way things go.

And having worked 10 years in customer service I applaud Terry for his courtesy! There's nothing worse than being one of the minions and being yelled at for something your boss should have done, but didn't do. It is SO true that you catch more flies with honey...a kind word and smile will take you a long way, even when you're pointing out someone else's mistakes.

I would get your publisher working on this, too, as it was part of a co-op agreement for your book to be placed on a center aisle table. I'll check in my B&N over the river in Hoboken.

Kudos for checking and politely ensuring the bookstores are doing what they're supposed to do.

Our Borders and B&N here in ATL do the same thing...you have to go to far corners of the store to get to the Christian section. But hey, it's good exercise... :)

Brilliant strategy on your part, Terry, but what you discovered makes my heart sink.

The reality is every Christian author can't possibly visit every book store to verify that promotional displays are up.

But kudos to you, Terry, for being proactive with a kind, respectful attitude. I know God will honor that!

Question: Do publishers typically follow through on promotions like this? If Terry hadn't visited the store, would Kregel have discovered the error and fixed it?

What a great lesson about how it really is up to the author to try his/her hardest to make the book visible. Don't expect anybody to do it for you - not even the people who are supposed to!

Terry is so awesome! Instead of letting the situation get him down or angry, he actually did something about it and kept positive the entire time.

I think that's the most important lesson to take from here.

Kudos to Terry and his wife for handling it in such a professional way.

This makes me thankful at least for our local Barnes and Noble that has the Christian section in a center, closer-to-the-front-than-back, part of the store.

I've heard of a number of slip-ups on book signings, even of stores agreeing to it and not even having a single copy of the book on hand. We sure have to check and double check on these things.

So many great lessons. Terry's proactive response leads the list. He is disciplined, indeed. That's why his book is in B & N in the first place. He follows through. Good for him. May we all follow his great example -- in more ways than one. Thanks, Rachelle, for sharing this story.

A nice reminder that even getting the magical, mystical "co-op" does not mean that an author can just sit back and trust that the marketing is being done for him! And, scary to think that someone paid money for promotional efforts that weren't being executed... I hope that isn't typical, but I fear that it might be.

How far into the promotion period was he at B&N? I'm just curious as I know that on any given day there's a lot going on as far as rearranging stock in-store. And there are those pesky people called customers who will pull any bookseller away from whatever they're doing to get help finding a book. If he went in on day 1 of the promotion period then it's more understandable that the display hadn't gone up than it would be if he'd gone in yesterday, a week into the promo period.

(I worked at B&N years ago so I'm just pulling my own experiences here.)

My response?

I'm glad my life, my writing, and any sales (or lack thereof) are in God's hands!

What a vivid reminder that we're not through once a book is published! BTW, Terry, I'm halfway through your book and it's so great I'm having trouble putting it down!

I'm kind of amused to see how many people think that B&N "fixed" the problem.

Yeah, they did. In less than 2% of their stores. (Guessing on that percentage.) Odds are iffy that the remaining 98% did any better.

If I was Terry (or you, Rachelle), I'd be letting the publisher know that they forked money out, and B&N isn't honoring their end of the bargain! (You probably are doing this, if it's possible.)

To me, this seems to be another example of the waste that goes on in publishing.

I'll look for your book at the closest B&N, though won't be able to make it up there during your table promotion. Your story makes me want to buy your book--don't know why.

I think that's awesome. Congrats on going the extra step. Your story is very inspirational and encouraging!

I would definitely talk with my agent about this. :-)

In my big city, the B&N displays are all over the place. Books on the front row in one store are hidden in another. So stay positive and get your friends to check out their local bookstores--and ASK about your book. Offer to do book signings, even with another author. Word of mouth is best!

Terry, I'm sorry about the disappointment. Thanks for representing the Christian market with grace. Can you imagine how it would have looked if a Christian author in your situation had thrown a New-York-City-style fit? :-) (I saw quite a few of those during my three years working in Manhattan.)

Who knows, maybe you made an impact on one of the employees with your kind attitude. I wasn't a believer during my time in NYC, and I can remember being blown away when I met people who were really gentle and unassuming. They stood out like beacons in that grim world.

Interesting story, Terry. I agree with the other comments congratulating you on checking up and confronting the bookstores. I have a few thoughts on the topic I'd like to share.

Strictly from a business standpoint, an agreement to have a certain position in the B&N stores should be followed up on, assuming there's a way to do that without making the situation worse - business is business.

Setting that valid issue aside, I'd like to speak to some of those who want to spiritualize this situation. I would think that a decision to write a CBA book would include coming to terms with the reality that CBA publishers and the ABA distribution network have different goals, world views, and interests. If I went into a christian bookstore (which I really don't like to do) I wouldn't expect to see a bunch of non-christian ("secular") novels on the shelf, and if one showed up I would expect it to be in the corner of the back of the basement hidden under a big sign that says, "Hazardous Material."

Nobody forced a CBA-ABA division and there didn't used to be one. People in a certain segment of the christian community made decisions and choices to create a separate publishing world. Whether or not that was a good idea is open to debate...not a fan myself. I guess what I'm trying to say is that (apart from the business-agreement issue) the bed has been made, time to lie in it...or not...unless there is a huge groundswell of popularity for a CBA book (i.e., The Shack), or an ABA book for that matter, translating directly into sales for B&N, or any other major book retailer, they have a right to push whatever they want to, just like the CBA retailers do.

When I hear your story, it upsets me that B&N didn't keep their part of the business agreement, but if we, as christians, complain about the fact that it happens to be a CBA book (not that you were doing that)...seems a bit of a double-standard to me.

Thanks for sharing, Terry. Good for you for hoofing it and trying to bring some accountability to the business side of the process. Much success to you.

Cheers!

Love this grassroots effort. Nice work, Terry!

Kathleen Maclver; I love what you said about it all being in God's hands. He created the Universe, and gives us each second we live.
Many years ago I wrote a booklet, which I promoted with just one time with one small ad. Soon after, I was reading the world's largest publication concerning the same topic as my booklet. I was shocked to see my name in a large headline; refering to me as an expert in this world-wide subject of interest. It praised by booklet.
Obviously, God can likewise cause our work to succeed, in His time, when you trust Him as Kathleen related.

Rachelle,

It is sad that as a writer you need to make sure that everything that is promised is taken care of. Perhaps that is something that needs to be addressed as to whose responsibility it is to make sure that books are placed where promised.

Can't wait to get your input on this!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

It wouldn't surprise me if it's quite common for retailers not to meet their obligations on these agreements. I worked the floor in a BN years ago -- perhaps before there were such paid promotional agreements with publishers, but I certainly never heard of them. The displays were all our own creation and influenced by how busy we were and short on room than anything else. I suppose things can change and staff can be trained to execute better on whatever agreements there are, but I don't see how control the behavior of so many clerks so far removed from the marketing people. I'm surprised that publishers think they're getting much out of these deals.

From what I understand this actually happens quite a bit, and often it isn't the fault of the bookseller. Just another reminder that the work isn't done when the book is published, it's just beginning.

What do I think????

I think people should honor what they say they are going to do. If B&N said the book would have a main table display, then it should have a main table display. Grrrr!

Perhaps another advantage of social media. If this had happened to me, I might have asked friends in other states to visit their local B&N and search for the display.

I wonder if some of us could be those 'friends abroad' who check for Promo Displays?

I'm just impressed with Terri's determination. I probably would have left the store and cried, but he had them move the book and then stood out front handing out cards!

Thanks for sharing this Rachelle. It teaches me to speak up when things don't get done the right way and to stop being the author who doesn't say anthing!

Wow, this is very interesting. It's unfortunate the publisher isn't getting what it's paid for. So, I guess, you really have to do your best to make sure you're getting what you've paid for.

As an aside, Terry's book also may not be on display at the Arlington, VA, (Clarendon store)B&N --as I was looking for it over this past weekend. I'd remembered you said it would be on the center display and looked at several display tables of new books when I first came in and couldn't find it. I didn't spend a lot of time 'cause I was with my kids (who wait for no one, least of all me), and figured I just missed it. But, after reading the e-mail, someone may want to check in with that store.

Great lesson and advice, Terry! Since I am planning a trip to the Lexington, KY B&N on Sunday for our KY writers' group monthly get-together, I will check around for it and let you know what I find out. I haven't read the book yet (it is #2 in my TBR pile) but just looking at the cover and reading the back blub makes me think this book should be on the shelf/aisles with Dan Brown's books, only yours would come first, alphabetically speaking. Keep pressing on!

Same here in Mankato MN - I searched & found it on the shelf. It was worth the search. Good job. Maybe I ought to go back and let them know it's suppose to be up front & center.
Keep smilin' New Yorker, I'm looking forward to that problem.

ps/This has happened to me and it had nothing to do with being a "Christian" book. Mine was humorous non-fiction. It's all about ths store being disorganized--talk to the bookstore manager, not God.

Our B&N has it in the back... but it's right by the bathrooms. Okay, that sounds bad, but really, I think it's better than being like in the middle of an obscure aisle somewhere... At least people do walk by it.

Kudos to Terry for stepping up and asking them to fix it!!! What great marketing!

A lesson in determination, persistence, and faith.

One of my students just submitted a paper and told me she buys books from "barns and nobles." Maybe we've all been going to the wrong place!

I love love love that Terry and his wife went to every B&N in Manhattan!!! That is exactly what I plan to do when I am published, maybe not in Manhattan, seeing as I live in Texas... but I am sure there's enough stores in Houston to keep me busy!

And I'm so curious to know what the "all but one" - what did that one store say if not that they would fix the books not being on the promotional table??

Great lesson on self-marketing...thanks. The real life stories are the best. :)

Specific B&N stores are more open to "Christian inspiration" -- a vast category which includes any nonfiction book with a faith perspective. We've had excellent response from B&N managers and store employees, mostly in the midwest and southwest. We haven't had the sheer courage to chase Manhattan. Kudos! Let's expand the faith-based presence in B&N and other national chains.

As for Christian Fiction, it also depends on where you are. I live in a small town in the Midwest and you have to walk around the Christian fiction displays to see anything else. In our Wal-Mart, the book section is an enclosed 'U' shaped area. The CF books are the entire back wall of the area, dwarfing even romance.

Sounds like you had an awesome and exciting day, congratulations!

Just to encourage you, Terry, several copies of your book are on the table in my local Christian book shop in Nottingham, England! That's quite something as the shop is tiny and tends to only stock bestselling US authors.

All the best with your book. My latest book 'Celtic Treasure' (Lion Hudson 2009) will be distributed in the US in September, so I hope they do as good a job for me in the US and they have done for you in the UK!

I had a totally different experience with my first book (From Chaos To Calm that I published through a self-publishing company). I live in the Vancouver, BC, Canada area and had arranged a book talk and signing at an Indigo/Chapters store. They had ordered 30 copies ahead of time and had them out on display and they all sold out before I did my talk (fortunately the manager called me that day to ask me to bring some extra copies). They only had six chairs out for my talk and as more people kept arriving the staff had to keep bringing more chairs out - it was great. They asked me to then to a talk at another branch and I was thrilled to see they had my book on display nestled between Wayne Dyer's latest book and Louise Hay. I think it depends on where you live, what the store policy is etc. Perhaps because I was a self-published author they put a little extra effort in to help me out.

Perseverance and don’t give up is what this story teaches me. Thanks so much for sharing his story!

I haven't tried the Tweet Deck - maybe I will.

I do most of the things you do with your blog. I don't keep a word doc. That's another good idea.

Facebook, I post most of my pictures for family. My hubs' family lives in Denmark so it's nice to share and FB makes it EZ.

Well done! I plan on implementing your blogging strategy. Although I love to comment on blogs and reply to comments on mine.

These are excellent ideas. I'm just getting started in the social media/market myself game, so I don't really have much of a gameplan yet. I only blog once a week (usually on Wednesdays), so that doesn't really take much time. I might borrow your idea for blog organization if I decide to start popping out more posts per week.

For Twitter, I use TwitterFox, so I can see when new updates are available when I have my browser open. At this point in my writing development, I mostly use Twitter for the writing articles and tips people post, so I can grab them whenever I want and put them in my "Read It Later" bookmark folder (an extremely useful app for FireFox, by the way!). I think I may move over to TweetDeck, but I don't really have much of a need yet.

I've kept Facebook just for family and non-witing friends, though I do have some friends who are writers too. My facebook account is under my married name and all my writing and associated networking is under my maiden name so it's a nice way to distinguish the two.

I'm going to check out TweetDeck and TweetLater now too. :)

My social networking habits are very similar to yours, Rachelle. I'm still getting the hang of writing my blog posts in advance. It's always my goal, but... Hopefully I'll improve on that one.

The one item on my work desk that has made work/email/social networking much easier for me is the second monitor. I love, love, love having a second monitor. When I'm working on a large project, I can have research or a document up on one screen, while typing away on another. If I'm not using the second screen for work, I can have email or TweetDeck up on that second monitor. It takes very little effort to glance over and check out who's tweeting.

Never heard of TweetDeck and TweetLater before. Thanks!
I've saved this page to reread later. Great info.

I try to blog a couple of posts at a time, but I waste too much time on Twitter. However, by reading links by Mary DeMuth & Michael Hyatt, I consider that "educational" time and I have learned more. (Like the time on your blog - educational!)

My facebook is for my friends too.

Oh, it's all educational. Absolutely.

I've tried to get to the point where I write and schedule my blog posts the weekend before... but my weeks are always crazy and I've failed every weekend I try it. I DO write them the night before though for them scheduled the next day. And sometimes if i have two ideas I'll write them both and schedule them out.

I don't do any social networking while I WORK work because I'm at work, and well, for obvious reasons. So I check my pers. e-mail, my tweetdeck, and a few blogs every morning before work. I Do have tweetdeck open while I write, which I probably need to stop. In the evenings I try to visit a few more blogs i like... but I don't make myself because I really need the time to write/spend with family. My twitter statuses feed to facebook, and I only check it to respond to other's comments or when I'm need to *tell* someone something.

Krista, Kelly, et al --

I updated the post to include scheduling time to read other blogs.

Also just a note to everyone --

I found it fascinating to learn there are literally thousands of Twitter applications (including TweetDeck) that make Twitter easier to use, and have been created by people completely separate from the Twitter people. There are different apps for PCs and Macs, iPhones and Blackberrys. I'm not a techie but I've realized it's crazy to try and use Twitter without using one or more of the apps to make it more efficient.

Thanks for the tip on Tweetlater. I was wondering how you, Brandilyn, Jim and others have time to post all those neat comments.
Wish I'd had the courage to only accept friends on Facebook whom I actually know. Afraid I'd hurt the feelings of someone I'd met once at a meeting or something by not accepting them.
Great ideas, some of which I already use, others I'll steal--I mean, adopt. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing your strategy. I like the idea of devoting just 15 minutes a day to networking. It often feels so overwhelming - like I have to invest a good hour a day with it to make it work. I don't have that kind of free time, so then I don't do nearly what I need to in order to increase traffic (exposure). Bringing it down to 15 minutes a day feels much more manageable.

THANK YOU! I actually had to FAST facebook for a whole day so God could show me I had a problem. Thanks for the tips...social networking is exhausting!

Wow, I seriously didn't know that you could write a bunch of blogs and then put them on a timer. I've just been posting a bunch of posts that I've written on Word while I edit my MS. So that's how everyone gets them posted in the morning like that.

Such a blogging novice

I'm constantly revamping my "schedule" so I can use my time most efficiently. I'm still not there. I love the idea of writing all my blog posts in one shot, but I find that I simply don't have enough time in one shot to do that.

So I mess with trying to write a little every day or trying to write at night after the kids are in bed.

I don't Twitter...so enough about that.

And Facebook and other blogs...still trying to build my blog traffic so I do try to spend time a few times a week doing that.

Thanks for the tips.

Sandy

I like to post my blog to various websites that allow you to "promote" it.

I even wrote a blog today that I included one of my best strategies ever!

I tweeted (and this is true anyone that has read this comment):

"Follow me [blog/twitter] or you'll have 7 years bad luck."

It works. ;)

These are great ideas! I find myself rather stuck in my cave, not sure how to get out there and build a following from other than people I know.

Joining ACFW has helped too, meeting so many other writers, learning from them, and connecting with them and their blogs, as they do with mine.

One of my Twitter friends shared this and as a person that struggles with finding a nice balance, I decided to click and I am glad that I did...

I too use Facebook for those same purposes and I love Tweetdeck. I haven't tried Tweetlater so will definitely check into that.

I recently went self-hosted with my blog so I have felt like a fish out of water learning a bunch of new stuff all the while still living my normal life..lol!

I love the word document for blog ideas and for writing out posts and scheduling them.

Such great tips and in a concise post, kudos to you!

I try to get all my blog reading, posts, etc. done first thing every morning. Then I dig in and write a reasonable word count before I go back to social networking.

My networking so far consists of twitter, facebook, and a blogs.

A timely post for me, Rachelle.

I realized that I needed to reel in the social networking (sigh) so yesterday I printed out weekly planners and blocked off specific time for Twitter, Facebook and blog reading. I'm hoping this self-imposed schedule helps me balance it all. (juggle-juggle)

My stategy... wonder around cyber space clicking, wondering what'll happen, flinch-a-bit, go to bed, get up and do it all again!

Purple, how do you post to a website and promote yours? Did I understand that? Any how to info?

Haste yee back ;-)

LOL, I probably spend too much time social networking :P

I probably spend about an hour reading and commenting on blogs I follow. And Facebook becomes a time-killer for me; over the course of a day I probably spend two hours on it since I'm constantly going back to check it. But it's mainly because I use it to keep in touch with my sister; we're always messaging back and forth. Or at least that's what I tell myself :P

I only spend maybe 30 minutes per day on Twitter if that. I can't follow it forever it's just not that compelling to me. I do use TweetDeck though; it's made it a lot easier!

Writing a post for my blog is sporadic. Generally I have a hard time coming up what exactly to write about, and I try to keep it updated three times a week, though I am trying for more. It takes me about a half hour to write a post.

So I probably could stand to manage my time better, but I have been thankful for the time I've put into it too--I've met so many great writer friends as well as learning so much from agent blogs like yours :)

Nice.

I do my blog posts a month at a time, but still allow myself to be extemporaneous.

I use OneNote - which I've found to be an awesome tool to use to organize stuff. I have a tab for Blog, and if anything strikes me as appropriate, I'll throw it in there. I can also throw my emails in there as well, and I carry my OneNote with me on a flash drive so I use it both on my desktop & my laptop.

I've made a decision NOT to Facebook. With Twitter, my blog, and my website (which I update every couple of days), I'm spread as thin as I can be, social-media-wise.

Thanks for showing how to network efficiently without being time consuming.
I always try to post on my blog once a week on Mondays, unless something like an emergency that I want people to pray about happens. I use Windows LiveWriter for my blogging, which is convenient because I can import Word docs, save drafts, and publish to my blog all without going online! And I usually try to keep a plan on what I'm going to post every month, too.
FB and Twitter are still iffy for me. We'll see if I ever join the scores of my peers, or if I continue to be the social-networking rebel. :0)

A perfectly timed post indeed. I've gone from flailing my arms to treading water now.

I think I'm going to have to show some discipline and start writing blog posts in advanced, I forgot about that handy feature. I also keep forgetting to post comments on the blogs I find really helpful. Eep, time to stop being shy.

I'm a terrible procrastinator, so I usually check livejournal, facebook, google reader, and a forum I frequent every time I get on the computer. I use it as a few minutes of relaxing time before class or work, and sometimes allow it to suck up a lot of time during the day. But if I really need to get something done I'll just turn off airport on my mac or go work someplace I can't get internet.

Since I'm just starting out my blog (as I am my writing career) I devote more time to reading others blogs than I do actually writing for mine.

As for Twitter? The idea doesn't appeal to me as of yet. Maybe when I'm published?

Facebook is something I try to utilize more often, but mainly I get on for personal reasons rather than professional.

Taking this excellent advice into consideration, however, I'm going to have to reevaluate my networking. Thanks!

Super helpful info, Rachelle. As an aspiring author the whole online platform building was overwhelming in the beginning but I too have gotten into a more regular groove. I do need to learn more about the efficiency of Tweet Deck and set up regular tweets through out the day.
Thank, Rachelle for sharing and also for the follow on Twitter. My cheeks hurt from smiling when I saw you followed me back :-)
Stephanie

Great post. I do most of these things (listed on your blog portion anyway). I'll have to check into Tweet Later--sounds interesting. I do all six of my blog posts on the weekends then it frees time up to comment on those who post on my blog/facebook note.

Tweetdeck is great. Easier to manage the many tweets that go on every day, isn't it?

Thanks for this post!

It's interesting that you say Facebook rather than Twitter tends to swallow time. I have the opposite problem. One minute on Twitter can turn into an hour if I'm not careful.

And I would second the importance of visiting other blogs. That's an imperative, especially when you're starting out.

Great! Keeping Twitter and FB uses clearly defined is a MUST, i think.

Rachelle,
Thanks for the tips. Sometimes I feel that I spend way too much time on Twitter, but now I don't feel as guilty. I have already cut back on Facebook, which can be a big time waster for me. Great tips about blogging, because I just started mine and I'm having trouble with coming up with ideas to write.

Thanks for sharing! I had never heard of TweetDeck and TweetLater. I'll definitely look into it :)

Vanessa Book ♥ Soulmates

Rachelle,

I am not ready to jump into Facebook or Twitter just yet!

For now, I am working on building my Blogger platform and enjoy learning as much from blogs I am following as well as posts I write. It is just such a huge learning process for me right now.

I thank you for informing me about automatic blogging so I can do that when school begins and I don't have to feel like I don't have time to continue to homeschool and blog at the same time.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Love the tips--good ideas! Thanks!

Thank you, Rachelle. A well thought-out post on the simplest ways to stay on top of social media without it becoming a major hassle. Of great use to authors and publishers alike!

(Now if only I could get on top of this in both my work AND personal life!).

- Auburn
The Big Bad Book Blog
http://www.bigbadbookblog.com

Great tips! I am going to have to check out TweetDeck because I really do spend way too much time on Twitter.

I find the easiest way to keep up-to-date on blog reading is using Google Reader, so I have them all in one place. Up until now I was just writing my own blog posts as they come, but have been noticing it really takes up my time. Planning for each week is a great approach.

I'd have to agree that the Twitter site itself is extremely inefficient, not to mention time-consuming when you follow a lot of people--most of them authors replying to others--and you've got a bunch of updates to comb through.

I've got TweetDeck and Seesmic, but haven't spent much time with TweetDeck.

I know I spend too much time on blogs and Facebook! Lol

This really helps me, because I've been trying to come up with a schedule that isn't utterly consumed by my social networks. And writing the blogs and scheduling them for a set time--I had not thought of that! I'm definitely going to be taking that advice! Great post!! =D

Awesome post. So helpful. I love blog posts like this.

Thanks, Rachelle, for the suggestions. I definitely need to try some of them. Does anyone else get caught up in Word Twist and Scramble on Facebook like I do? Do we have any farmers out there? Come on, people, fess up!

I like the way you divide out each category and allot a set amount of time. My "system" has been more haphazard. Starting today I'm using your guidelines. Except tweeting, I'm still using my time to develop my blog and website.

Hm. Maybe I should develop a system? I'm a bit of a sucker for checking TwitterFox regularly at work, as well as blogs. Work comes and goes in waves in my job - there are days when I can do no social networking at all, while others I need something to do to keep me sane!

Handy system though!

I keep my tweetdeck open during the day so I can check it at my convenience. I like to stay in touch with those who respond to my tweets.
I have gotten very valuable writing advice from the links I've read on Twitter; so I see most of the time I spend on there as profitable.
I post on my blog every week or two depending on what hits me. Since many of my posts are devotional in genre, I don't post every day. It takes time to produce something of substance for those who enjoy reading devotionals.
I enjoy reading other's blog posts and often leave a comment and leave a link to my own.
I think it's important to show support for others in their professional endeavors by taking time to read what they have to say, especially when it resonates with me personally or professionally.

Wow! This is THE most helpful post I've ever read about time management. Thank you for the excellent advice. I'll be bookmarking this one.

Rachelle,

Is flying by the seat of my trousers a 15 minute social networking strategy?

I got this.

Q for anyone: What iPhone app makes blog reading easy while doing those 5 minute line waits like Rachelle suggested?

Thanks for the info, Rachelle!

I, too, have figured out the same routine. I use Hoot for delayed twittering. It works great. It has a built-in tweetdeck as well. I love the idea of a second monitor and would love to have one, but alas.

Haste Yee Back -

I've used Absolute Write Water Cooler and Facebook. They both have area's to promote your blogs. Facebook also allows you to set up a blog network and get followers on FB as well. But I keep my FB & Blog separate (God-forbid my family and friends see my shenanigans). However, even if you don't post your blog to your FB, there is still an area to post the link to your blog.

HTH!

You are full of great tips for someone like me.

Thanks for the great tips! I am not sure about linking to my blog from my Facebook profile, but that's only because I (unwisely) decided to friend my coworkers. Is there a way to hide one's blog on Facebook so only certain people can see it?

Good points. I like how you have organized your social networking. What a new dilemma we "have" to deal with. But I am pleased this is my problem instead of getting the hay in, hauling water, and foraging for berries and roots. :)

Thank you for the post! A useful and succinct list of how to use social media effectively.

I do mostly as yourself, plus the Orkut account that I use to keep in touch with friends in my home country.
Great post, by the way!

Thanks for this great post with great ideas on how to manage that precious commodity called time. I have been trying to set aside one hour a day. Now I need to make myself write first and then go visit other blogs. I get so caught up in reading all the fabulous posts, that my hour is used up before I even type one word. oops.

I hadn't considered having comments sent to a different email account. I really like that idea! since I am knew to blogging I have found myself commenting more than writing my own but I have reeped the rewards as well. I now have 5 followers instead of 1!! Thanks for the ideas.

I'd take 15 mins just to read one or two blog entries. How do you read them so fast? And my comments usually take a while, too.

Do you have any advice for generating traffic?

Harmony -- Look at the sidebar of my blog. Scroll down to "Find Posts on This Blog." Click on "Blogging Tips."

How do you schedule posts to post themselves automatically on scheduled days?

I like your suggestion to keep up with your blog reading throughout the day, on errand-running, etc. Efficient & smart!

Loved reading your story Julie, and some GREAT ideas for marketing. I'll tuck them inside my brain (aka a folder in my computer) for later!

Thank you for this information. Writers need to write the book, yet, but we do need to have in the back of our minds that the marketing will come, and prepare for it.

I think you're right on about the personal connections.

Great tips... Thanks!

Wonderful marketing tips! Thank you! Like you said, the harder we work at promoting our books, the better the pay off.

I especially like what you said about getting local churches involved. That excites me more than the actual book signing! Seeing a church in action is a beautiful thing.

Thanks for the tips, Julie. You have some great ideas here!

Thanks for this!

For those of us with no church community, I think it's important to think about what other communities might be interested in our novels.

My novel includes themes of identity, specifically addressing many character names and their meanings... so I hope to eventually advertise on websites like babynames.com, to tap into the "naming community." I hope that I can find that group of people who adore thinking about and finding out about the meanings of names (and how that might impact the owner of the name), and get them excited about a novel that incorporates those ideas (and hopefully tells a good story as well).

Wow. I am so, so, so impressed. A couple years ago I swore I'd never do another book signing. You have given me hope.

Thank you, Julie.

As a novice author,I need all the help I can get in understanding the complexities of the publishing world. The way you gave such specific advice leads me to say "I can do that!" and gives me confidence. The more I learn, the more I can see myself becoming a successful member of this world.

Be blessed!

Lynnda

Thank you for the wonderful marketing tips. I must admit, marketing is the one thing that really makes me nervous. I know it's something I'll have to face eventually so it's nice to have a plan of action.

~Jen

Thanks, Julie, for such a helpful post. Most of what I've heard about book signings has been discouraging so it's refreshing to hear that they can actually work if handled well. Continued blessings to you!

Thanks, Rachelle, for inviting Julie.

I've saved all of your tips,Julie, for the big day...someday.

Thanks!

I must admit, #7 will be difficult for me, especially in front of so many people! I always get tongue tied and it's always pretty evident :P Oh well; perhaps that will be something that marks me as unique and approachable!

Those are great tips. I love posts like this to help know the realities ahead and that it does not have to be intimidating, I just need to get my plan to together and not give up.

Great post!

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing, Julie.

I will definitely keep these in my writers journal for one day when I am half as lucky as you and get to use them.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

What's a shy writer, who lives in the backwoods--or middle of the desert, actually, to do? Not make excuses, that's for sure! But marketing makes me groan. I have serious stage fright (when I'm playing only myself, rather than a character in a play). Hey, there's an idea, I could pretend to be somebody else when I go about marketing! Should I go for glamorous or eccentric?

Thanks, Julie. I love your books. And thanks Rachelle for posting Julie's marketing tips. I'll be sure to follow them when my first book comes out. I've starred this post.

What a great post, Julie and Rachelle. I look forward to the day I can put many of these points to good use.

Awesome! I barely have those much. I am also looking for follwers of my blog. Could you please visit and comment on some of my posts at http://inkladendiary.blogspot.com/ ? Thanks. I'm a writer too, so I'm trying to get my voice heard. Please follow if you like!

I think the only thing worse that being compared to J.K. Rowling as an author is being compared to Gilderoy Lockhart as a book signer. Thanks again for the tips!

Word verification: jayeppi = what ensues from a blue jay drinking my coffee in the morning.

Love this post. Work hard and do our part. Great reminder. Really smart tips, too. Thank you, Julie and Rachelle.

All great advice, thank you....and congrats on those successful signings!

Beautiful suggestions!

I'm an as-yet unpublished fiction writer. I use my blog as a daily (well, almost daily) writing exercise. It's been working well so far, except sometimes I'm spending more time blogging and have no time left to further develop my WIP.

Thank goodness it's summer time and hopefully that means more time to write!

Here's an unexpected side-effect of social networking: I'm very active online (Querytracker blog, my own blog, twitter, facebook, blogger, livejournal, critique circle, rallystorm, etc.) and each one involves a separate profile.

Which means when you're finally fortunate enough to find a fabulous agent who believes in you and your work (like I did recently), you have to track down all the relevant profiles and update them.

Not that I'm complaining, of course. I am absolutely blessed to be able to replace each "seeking representation" with a "represented by." But for the sites I don't visit daily, I'm afraid it's easy to miss something. ;)

OMGness- HA!

My facebook time vs.work time is completely wack-A-doodle. Thanks for pointing that out!

Yet another great post, Rachelle!

Balance is key, no matter what level a writer is at, and it’s always good to remember writing comes first.

By the way, I enjoyed this post and Friday’s so much, I linked to them on my own blog post about how writers can strategically use twitter. It’s here: http://loriamay.blogspot.com/2009/07/tweet-me-right.html

Now, back to the wip!

Lori A. May
www.loriamay.com
http://loriamay.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/loriamay

As always you have such a clear, concise way of getting to the heart of the matter. Thanks for the insights!

Such great advice. I'm not sure I do very well with the 90/10 rule. Well, now that I think about it, i probably do better than I chastise myself for, more like an 80/20.

It's so nice to hear the emphasis for novelists on "story" and writing. I'm in the midst of a new book, a little over 20k into it, and my goal is to finish by September. Very lofty for me and my very small amount of free time... so I'm going to be very picky with writing time in the next two months. Instead of visiting a ton of blogs, I'll limit myself to just a couple. I'll still twitter (which updates facebook) but will only go onto facebook occasionally. We'll see how this works out... but I'm gonna try!

This changes my plans for the entire day ;) Great post!

Here's a way to kill two birds with one stone....

When I blog, I usually blog about what I'm learning in the craft of writing, usually from whatever craft book I'm reading at the time. Not only does it help me solidify in my head what I'm reading on paper, but I'm networking at the same time. It's helpful to me, and to others. :)

Great tips Rachelle. So true - writing MUST come first!

I hope you never decide this blog is a waste of your time, Rachelle.

I like what Sharon said. And the 90/10 rule is essential. :] I'm off to write.

I'm glad you pointed out the difference on platform building for fiction. 90/10 is a good rule. Thanks.

Good Monday morning, Rachelle!

"And things are different if you're a NON-fiction writer."

Do you have any tips for us on the right balance?

I hope you're enjoying the ICRS cconference.

Lynnda

Haha, yeah, I rationalize my blogging by saying it's a writing blog, and I'm simply building my toolbox, right? Um.. right? It's a good thought, but man, google analytics is a dangerous and addictive thing...

I was thinking over the weekend that I've been spending more time blabbing on blogs than doing actual writing. I vowed to stop looking at blogs for a bit. But this morning I said to myself that I would just peek at your blog. I'm glad I did. You reinforced the message I needed to hear! Thanks.

Yay, I'm so happy to hear you say that. I'd much prefer to work on my writing now than work on my blog (which I update only once a week for good reason). The real reason I have my blog (photography tips for teenage girls), is because it gives me an excuse to do photography (not that I really need an excuse).

Okay. Got it. I'm back to work!

Perfect. This is the second post I've read today about a writer concentrating on their writing first. I admit I have fallen trap to spending most of my time reading and researching instead of writing. Now that I've actually finished my manuscripts, I feel I have the freedom to research the market and beging sending out querys. However, there's still those other stories that need to be written! Thanks for the timely advice :)

Livia- I totally agree. I think I spend more time on google analytics than I do on social networking sites.

Rachelle- As for fiction writing goes, does honing your skills in story-writing count when you are writing stories for your blog? (By "count" I mean if you are doing it on top of a book project) or should I be trying to publish everything I write with a magazine or journal?

I wrote the same thing on Coffey's blog, but the best writers loved writing well before their first pay check and they loved writing well before they knew anyone was reading.

Just found you!

LOL, you're right. I probably spend way too much time networking than I do writing.

I think that needs to change! And instead of making excuses and procrastinating, I need to glue myself to my computer and WRITE.

Thank you for putting it into perspective (again)! So much out there has focused on the "building platform" that the "focus on your writing" sometimes gets lost in the mix!

Yes, Ma'am! *closes twitter and opens up Word*

Seriously, though--thank you for helping us get perspective on this :).

Thanks. I needed that.

I was pondering such things earlier this morning. Thanks for the nudge in the right direction.

Good advice. While sending out query letters for my first finished novel, I'm working on my second.

Thanks for the advice, Rachelle. Glad to know I am on the right track. I do have a website and a blog, altho I only blog about once a week, but right now I will continue to concentrate on writing, learning craft, writing, critting, writing, reading and writing...

Rachelle, you are so right on this one (too!). Thanks! Back to work now, lol.

Heaven knows I needed to hear that.

Rachelle, you blog is my absolute fav. (and I follow lots of agent blogs).

U wanna be my agent? We'd be perfect for each other, if only you took fantasy. *sigh*

:)

Thanks for this post. It's so easy to get caught up in trying to market, but if you don't have a fabulous product to sell all the marketing in the world isn't going to sell it.
Blessings,
Cami

Funny topic for today because my blog is one-year old today!

Thanks for taking your time to blog, Rachelle. I was thinking that writing blogs might suck in some writers who might otherwise be querying, and they might change tracks altogether, leaving more room for the rest of us. Have you noticed any change since blogging has become such a trend?

Rachelle,

What if you have a debut novel coming out? You mentioned that it changes the dynamics a bit. Instead of 90/10 rule, would it be more like 20/80 or 30/70, or 40/60? I'm curious because I'm in that position now. With a full-time job, being a mom, wife, critiquing, and marketing myself as a writer, I'm trying hard to protect my writing time. But as I'm starting to promote more, it's almost another job.

BTW - Thanks for your great insight.

Thanks so much for your insights.

You said "things are different if you're a NONfiction writer". How different? Since platform is so important in nonfiction writing, I struggle to find the balance of platform building and writing. And writing the book vs. writing articles which help build the platform. Would you address this in a future blogpost?

Thanks!
Susan

Thanks for this helpful reminder to put our writing first. Thank you for being involved in social networking as I learn so much from your blog.

Ditto Lynnda's comment:

Do you have tips for non-fiction writers?

Amy

This was really helpful to hear, especially right now. I have been doing the final edits on my first novel and feeling waves of panic about the business end of things.

Part of that is being behind on networking in any form. I abandoned a great online group a year ago because I was spending too much time there and had to finish the book. Meanwhile, I've been slowly learning about publishing over the past three years via blogs like this one.

It's encouraging to hear someone say that it's OK *not* to be ultra-connected.

Question: How does that change when you are a non-fiction writer? What about that changes? Thank you!

I guess being active online in diffrent social networking sites is something good because we can promote our blogs there which can result to more traffic for our site, right? I am an application essay help tutor and most of the time, I do my blogs on guidelines and tips. I make sure that I know how to balance my time between my writing activities and my profiles online. Balance is always the key:)

Rachelle,

Thank you so much for the exhortation and validation. Over the last several months, I have felt almost guilty because I have neglected keeping up with blogs--yours, mine, and others--as well as all the discussions out there. After speaking with you at last years ACFW conference, I went back to work, in a big way, on my manuscript. I'm now nearing the completion of this rewrite, and am excited with the result.

Thanks again for the teaching, wise words, and correction that your blog provides.

Thank you Rachelle. This comes at a time when I'm in the early stages of both a writing blog, and a review blog. Slowly I'm getting more interest in both, but I've found myself asking 'how to improve it?'

I then got reminded about something from an award a friend gave me. At the end of the day, I started the blogs not to have hundreds of followers (eventually that would be nice), but to convey information to the world. Even if only 1 person just read my blog and took something away, that would mean more than hundreds of followers. Not sure if I'm getting the meaning across in this post :)

You've a great blog!

This post just inspired me to post a "best of" list on my site-- thanks! It was really interesting to try to select posts... I had a pretty good sense for the slant of my blog before, but this made me think about the list of funny/serious that I go for, and that I don't focus on the more sublime side of living in Israel in my post titles but often go there in my posts themselves. Check it out here if you're interested:

How to Be Israeli

My word verification is "corni." I hope that isn't trying to tell me anything about my blog. :)

Thank you, this is a great article.

I particularly like the reminder that although a blog needs a theme, letting go and writing about other topics here and there adds character and makes your blog more personal. Good advice.

And I also hadn't thought to add a 'Best/Most Popular Posts' list in my side bar. I'm definitely going to impliment this!

Thank you for a very informative post. I've been blogging irregularly for a few years with practically no readership. At times I've wondered what was the point, but like gaining that publishing contract, blogging and building a readership do take time. I'm working on a schedule that works for my lifestyle and hope to stick to it.

Thank you! What a helpful post. :-)

Excellent advice! Another thing I might add, is that if we want to build a readership, then we have to read and comment on other people's blogs (unless we're a popular agent like Rachelle!). We can't expect to build a large base of followers if we're not genuinely friendly.

When someone visits my blog, I try to make a point of visiting theirs and commenting. As the saying goes, if you want to have a friend then you have to be one. Same is true in blogging. If you want someone to read your blog, then you have to make the effort to read theirs! (In fact, I'm blogging about this very thing this week. Stop on by!)

Jody -

Another thing I might add, is that if we want to build a readership, then we have to read and comment on other people's blogs.

Just wanted to highlight that point because it's such a great point. I had that (as well as quite a few other similar ideas) in mind as part of the first point about generosity, but didn't go into detail because of wordcount concerns. Commenting on other people's blogs is not only a nice thing to do but a great way to build traffic. :)

Thanks for the comments, all!

Hey Jody & everyone,
Great point about visiting other people's blogs. I'm planning a second post on building blog traffic, where we'll go into some more pro-active ways to bring people to your blog. (Jennifer, you up for this one?)

Excellent tips. Thank you both. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

First, I'd be THRILLED to have even 200 visits a day! *grin* Best of on the sidebar... I've been meaning to do that but it means that I have to pick which ones are best! AH!

And I ditto Jody. I think about 80% of my blog readers have come from either seeing me comment on other's blogs or linked from a comment I put on their blog. Rachelle, I look forward to your post about "attracting" visitors!

Great post! I'm looking forward to part 2.

Thank you for all the great information.

Jennifer:
Thank you for sharing these tips for us newbies in the blogging world. The whole "creating a following" thing can be daunting; it's helpful to have some practical ideas.

Jody is a sterling example of a blog friend; I see her on so many bogs, and she always offers kind, uplifting comments. She has helped increase my blog by linking to me, and I'm sure she's "reaped what she's sown" many times.

Blessings,
Jen

P.S. Love your hair color!

Rachelle, thanks for bringing Jennifer here. This is great information! Much appreciated.

Great advice,Thanks.

I find blogging to be a worthwhile, but daunting challenge. I love creating mini-essays on teaching, faith, family and writing. My blog has put me in touch with many great friends and honed my craft.

I admit it though--I sometimes get overwhelmed by the vast and diluted blogosphere. I want to increase readership, but some tips for doing so aren't suggested in all circles. It's tricky to find your blogging method and stick to it--or know when to change it!

That said, Jennifer, you gave me some fabulous ideas today. You inspired me to play around with my blog, and I like the changes. I can't wait for the next installment, Rachelle!

I'm planning a second post on building blog traffic, where we'll go into some more pro-active ways to bring people to your blog. (Jennifer, you up for this one?)

You bet! I could talk about this stuff all day -- it's one of my favorite subjects. (And I have a lot of tips in my back pocket in terms of more pro-active traffic building.)

Thank you for these great tips!

Thank you! There was one thing in particular you mentioned that I'm going to go take care of on my blog right now!

Bless you for this series on blog traffic. I have set up a couple of blogs for Christian writers on Wordpress, and I'm seeking subscribers. Right now, I have some drawings and giveaways going on.

I invite everyone to take a look:

www.wired2write.wordpress.com

www.grmarketing.wordpress.com

Again, thanks for this topic!

I'm in the process of learning how to creat a blog so this information is timely!

From the blogs I follow, it seems important to invite participation. And then when Rachelle allows us to talk about ourselves, the comment section goes out of sight!

I hope that says something good about us...how eager we are to participate rather than how egotistical we are. :)

Wow, what great timing! I am beginning to think through and create my writing blog (coming in July!), so this is exactly what I needed at this moment! I have a feeling I'll return to it often!

Thanks so much for your great advice...I've started a new blog and I've been wondering how important it is to submit the blog to various blog directories. I have submitted to google and yahoo, but I've noticed that some of these directories charge a fee.

This is a great post. I've heard advice from others that one way to get a lot of traffic is to visit other blogs and leave comments. I have a problem with this - I visit tons of blogs and leave comments, and either get no one coming back to visit, or they visit but don't leave comments. It's very discouraging. I've also read that you should ask questions at the end of your post to invite comments. That rarely works for me (unless someone stumbles upon the blog) because of little to no readership, or I have lurkers (people who read but don't comment). It gets frustrating, but I'm keeping at it. I'm going to make some changes in my blog(s) and hopefully that will help.

Thanks for your advice.

That was really helpful and well written.

Thank you!

Hello, Jennifer. Welcome! Thank you for this post. I've been blogging faithfully for the past six months and I'm just now getting to the first "phase" of having people I don't know follow my blog! A small following, mind you, but exciting. Blogging, for me, has been a huge boost in self-esteem and discipline. The more I post, the more encouraging comments I receive. The more comments I receive, the more I write because I know there are others besides myself who are interested in what I have to say. It's a great motivator, just knowing other people take interest in what you say.

I agree with the comment about taking the time to comment on other's blogs. Not only does it help those blog owners know someone's listening, it also is polite, especially if they commented on your blog first! And I ALWAYS make it a priority to thank those who follow my blog. I understand where this could be daunting if there were, say, 1,000 new followers a day. But right now, it's just a little something I can do to make the internet a friendlier place.

Have a great day!

~Jennifer

Great information! I'm still relatively new to the writing/blogging world, so this helped me so much!

Rachelle, thanks so much for inviting Jennifer to give us some tips in this area. It looks like I'm doing some things right already, but I've seen at least three things I can do right away to make improvements.

Thanks, Jennifer & Rachelle! Look forward to part 2!

Great post!

Indeed it would be a joy if we could talk. I am going to give you my number in the hope you will call or send me a number where I may call you.

My website is

www.DifficultRelationships.com and my email is

[email protected]

317 694 8669 (cell phone)

I look forward to linking with you on the web (I will do it now) and in talking with you voice to voice.

Rod Smith

BIG THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I needed to hear this today...probably as much as I needed to hear that there is enough coffee left for another round.

Good tips. I definitely need to go introduce myself on my blog. I don't think I've ever done that.

i have to agree about the generosity statement....once i figured out how i could start helping others, traffic picked up. For me, it was when i started offering my therapeutic services for writers for character assessments.

Great post. Thanks, Jennifer. Very helpful. Looking forward to part 2.

What a great way to start my day with all these lovely comments! Thank you!

Matilda -

I've been wondering how important it is to submit the blog to various blog directories.

Great question. It couldn't hurt, but I've never gotten significant traffic from that sort of thing. Bottom line: Go ahead and do it if you have a free moment, but don't spend a whole lot of time on it. Definitely not a requirement for building traffic.

Shelley -

I've heard advice from others that one way to get a lot of traffic is to visit other blogs and leave comments. I have a problem with this - I visit tons of blogs and leave comments, and either get no one coming back to visit, or they visit but don't leave comments. It's very discouraging.

How frustrating! The good news is that I think I might have an idea of what's been going wrong:

I clicked through to your profile to leave you a comment, but since you're involved in so much good stuff with the five different blogs listed there, I got stalled trying to figure out which one to leave a comment on. I ended up getting distracted before I made a decision and, if it weren't for this discussion, might have forgotten to follow up.

If you go to the Blogger dashboard and click on Edit Profile there's a box that says "Homepage URL." You may want to put the address of your *main* blog there so that when people click on your profile there's an easy decision about which blog to visit.

Thanks!

Thank you Rachelle for another great post of such practical helps for us all! Thank you Jennifer. Great info! I look forward to part 2!

Fun info. I never thought about a bio. I just figured friends and family would read my blog and maybe some cyberfriends. But I love these tips. Thanks for sharing them.

This is the most concise and useful information for beginning bloggers I've seen yet. The next time someone asks me about start a blog, I'm sending them here.

Great post! Thank you, Jennifer.

I have gotten very lazy about commenting on other people’s blogs. I used to keep a list of blogs that I would visit every day and I would frequently comment on each one, but Shelley, the method I have found that works best for attracting readers from other blogs is to write a comment of reasonable length that adds to the conversation. Then, rather than include everything I would like to say on the subject, include a link to a related blog post. For example, Jennifer talks about writing posts that are easy to read, so I might have said something like that and mentioned my post on blog reader attention span or because she mentioned following a theme, I might say something relevant about that, but include link to my post on finding the focus of a blog for readers who may be interested in learning more. At the same time, it is important to avoid making comments of the form “Loved the post. Check out my blog.” Doing this makes people wonder if you even bothered to read the post, while the other method adds value, both in the form of a comment on the post and additional information on another blog. Once those readers click through, they are more likely to comment on your blog because they have already been thinking about the subject and they are more likely to have something to say.

Jennifer,
Glad to finally read this much anticipated post. I feel very affirmed in what you've said here, and am eager and ready for Part II. The one thing I haven't done is a "best posts" section. Guess I'd better get on that. I'm curious about traffic from BlogHer and such as well. Perhaps you'll cover that next. I am on a waiting list for that.
Rachelle, thanks for hosting Jennifer. I read you both regularly and always come away with something. Thanks for all you both do to give us great food for thought.
Roxane (Peace Garden Mama)

Wow. Great post. Very helpful. Looking forward to part 2.

Wonderful post. I'm excited about the blogging journey. Loving the learning process, too. Thank you!

great, informative post! I've been frustrated by the slow up of my blog's readership. I'd definitely be interested in a follow-up post to this, Jennifer!

Going to print this one to study later!

Great tip to look at your blog using different servers. My looked like a smeared Monet in one browser.

I love the hair, too! :D

This advice comes at the perfect time when I was asking myself this very question.

Thank you so much for the information and taking the time to help! We appreciate it :).

Thank you for this post. It's encouraging to hear the info in the Don't Give Up section. When I hit a plateau in my blog traffic, I tend to get discouraged. :)

I do appreciate this post and the helpful insights. I am afraid I am one of those smorgasbord bloggers.

I can't believe I missed this post this morning. It is normally the first thing I look for when I sit in front of my computer.

Thanks once again Rachelle for a wonderful lesson. I will be eager for the follow up next week to improving my blog.

Thanks, Jennifer. This post was perfect timing for me. I just started blogging again after taking a break to work on a couple of manuscripts. Thanks for the tips.

I popped over to your site as well. Your book sounds great. I just subscribed to your blog. Looking forward to reading more!

Thank you Jennifer (and thanks to Rachelle) for this informative post.

I’ve just restarted blogging after an absence from it, so it’s great to have these timely tips. I look forward to Part II and more!

Your tips are timely as well as practical. Even though we seek new perspectives via blogging, we have a limited tolerance for drivel. Skillful bloggers understand their audience, balance the fear of insignificance with the courage to proclaim, and humbly take writing risks.

Thanks for posting this! I'm just starting my blog, so this has been a big help, and I look forward to your next post!

Thank you so much for the information. I was just wondering about the question to ask, "Who are some other great bloggers I can link to?" I don't see this happening. Do they put a link on their side bar to visit our site?

I really appreciate your last comment about not giving up and "just keep having fun and pouring genuine love and passion into each post." Thank for the encouragement.

Thanks for the information! I have a papercrafting blog where I showcase some of my work and the stories behind it. I want to attract both papercrafters for constructive criticism and also "regular people" for possible sales of my products. I also have been wanting to incorporate more of my "life" in my blog instead of starting a second blog. I think I will follow some of these tips to get my blog more interesting!

Hi, thank you for the infos. I was able to get some tips in increasing my blog traffic, its pretty hard than I thot..

great information..
thanks so much

http://www.liveyourdreamsindia.com

I had the same thought after reading the platform post: that a blog-launching service would be a great idea (although "blog mentor" sounds even better)!

While I agree that a blogging mentor wouldn’t be such a bad idea for some, I disagree with the concept that an author should pay for it. You are welcome to read my thoughts on mentoring to see where I’m coming from. Aside from that, there are many companies out there that focus their attention on helping their customers establish an online presence. Some are very good at what they do.

One of the problems with looking for a blogging mentor or a company to help you with blogging is that it is difficult to know who can help with your situation. Some of the most successful bloggers would make the worst mentors, because their success was thrust upon them and they are clueless as to take someone from obscurity and get them to their level of success. The best mentor is a person who is a little farther down the path than you—just around the next bend, perhaps.

Rachelle, you are awesome.

Great post, Rachelle. I've often wondered how I could build a better blog. What's helped me the most is simply reading well-written blogs. It encourages me and pushes me to try harder and post more often. I was very intimidated when I first tried blogging, but I soon discovered that, as a writer, I had something to say, something that I wanted others to read, and a blog was just another medium to get my voice heard.

I'm going to have to agree with Timothy in that I don't think all blogging mentors should be someone we are required to pay. I understand the professional aspect of it and if you're a "cyber counselor" by trade, by all means charge! We have to keep a roof over our heads. I think when people, especially writers, read "for a fee", they tend to balk simply because most of us either write full time or keep part time jobs. Paying a professional for their help is wonderful, if you can do it. Finding someone who has "been there, done that", who is more than willing to help you along just because they enjoy helping...that's priceless! (no reference to certain credit card commercials intended :)

There's so much wisdom to be gleaned by just reading the blogs of those you admire and connecting to the blogs they read in turn.

Thanks for the food for thought as well as the links to the blogs you posted!

~Jennifer

Timothy, you know I welcome all sorts of opinions here, and you're free to disagree with me.

However, I just wanted to point out that I've recommended in this post people who would indeed be very good blogging mentors for authors, because they're authors, successful bloggers, and ALSO already mentors/consultants to authors. They have shown skill in all three areas and hence, could be wonderful guides for those who just want some help building an online author presence.

And also, this would be a valuable service that a talented and knowledgeable person would provide. I'd think it would be insulting to suggest that such a person shouldn't be paid for their services. There's always the chance that you could find a friend who will walk you through it; you also might find someone to barter with. But otherwise, there's no reason to expect this service for free any more than you'd expect a plumber to come to your house and fix your pipes for free.

I started a blog in connection with my undersea books. I'm not particularly computer savvy, just average, but I used wordpress. It's free and within 10 minutes I had a blog. You pick one of their templates and boom--you're off and writing.

I enjoy writing a blog, but I'm not sure I could be a mentor. My blog is not particularly successful (one faithful reader), but it's a wonderful outlet for me.

If you're a blog reader, I don't think you will need any instruction writing one, though my initial entries were fairly boring and longwinded essays--keep 'em short and to the point, generally not more than 300 words a post.

I highly recommened doing google alerts for the topic you're interested in. Every day it gives you articles from around the world, so it's great when you run out of ideas. Also, I try to include pictures in each post (because of my topic).

Here's the link to wordpress:

http://wordpress.com

and my blog--the picture on the top of the blog is from their file

http://underseaencounters.wordpress.com

As a professional blogger (and aspiring author), I used to offer blog consulting services for mom bloggers, but I'd love to help authors set up their blogs!

I also have a lot of free information, tutorials and articles on my site, http://www.MamaBlogga.com . (My writing blog is at http://JordanMcCollum.com .)

This is a great idea, Rachelle, and thanks for the idea and opportunity!

As a mentor for writers, I do both: charge and give away. I'm sure that many blogging mentors do the same.

Here's an interesting site I've been gleaning from as I've studied blogs that actually earn money. She's a terrific writer, has an unusual way with words, and seems to have created a warm, friendly, funny community:

http://www.fluentself.com/blog/

Interesting idea and, I'm sure, useful to some writers.

For those of us who barely pay the bills as it is, though...kinda depressing. I'm beginning to think all the "extracurricular" requirements put upon writers these days means more and more will need to be well-off (or have a spouse who earns a lot). Sigh.

I was a total newb when I began blogging a little over a year ago. Now I have a successful, well established blog geared toward helping writers. I was able to get a lot of help just from other bloggers on forums that I visit, learning what makes a good blog and how to cater to my target audience.

So, if money is an issue, I would recommend checking out writers forums for free advice on blogging and establishing an online presence. The most notable for free help in this regard is Absolute Write, where not only is there a large career-blogging membership, but also places where you can 'ask' these helpful users for blog reviews.

Here's the link:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/

Happy Blogging!

I've got a great blogging mentor for you: Christina Katz author of Writer Mama and Getting Known Before the Book Deal. Her site is http://christinakatz.com. She also has several successful blogs and an e-zine called Writers on the Rise. She teaches amazing online writing courses that instruct writers on building a blog and a social networking presence. I'm a freelance writer who would probably not have thought of doing a blog until Christina's classes and now, check it out: in less than a year, my blog The Nut-Free Mom (www.nut-freemom.blogspot.com) has been mentioned on NPR, the L.A. Times and the Chicago Tribune. Plus, my local paper profiled me after reading my blog. I'm now in the process of writing a book proposal and I already have a platform, thanks to the advice of this writing expert who is also super-savvy when it comes to platform building on the Internet. Anyone who wants to take a course on platform building, check out her course selection. You'll be glad you did!

Rachelle (and everyone else), don’t get me wrong. I’m all for people paying for consulting services. Somewhere between $50 and $100 per hour is probably a fair rate for something like this. My issue is with calling it mentoring when we actually mean consulting. Consultants should be paid. Mentors should not be paid (at least not by the protégé). Some of you are already saying I’m splitting hairs here, but allow me to explain. It raises real ethical issues when a mentor is placed in a position of being the employee of the protégé. By definition, the mentor is a person worthy of respect, either because of a higher position in an organization, because of more training or because of more experience. When the protégé is the employer, the roles are reversed. A good mentor needs freedom to say what needs to be said, without fear that it will impact his income. The only time it is realistic to expect this freedom is when the protégé has no control of the purse strings.

I wish the mentor/apprentice system is much more common, not just in the writing field, but in everything else. I learned about teaching piano that way, and wouldn't trade my three years with my mentors for anything.

On an aside, I was just thinking Twitter can be overwhelming, yet in this instance, it worked.

Rachelle,

I've edited published books, and meet the other three qualifications you list. You can find my current list of services at Rewrite, Reword, Rework. Thanks for the blogging mentor idea.

Becky

I left you a message on twitter (you're not a follower, so I do not know if you saw it or not). I used to blog about real estate before I decided to try my hand at books. I have a ton of blog mentoring friends who could assist you. Several specialize in real estate, but there is two who works with other clients outside of real estate as well. They are kind of like me with my book, they just started with the real estate bloggers and moved on.

Let me know if you want some names and I will tweet them your way.

derek_burress (twitter)

Hmmm. I think I'll stick with Blogging for Dummies. It taught me everything I wanted to know about blogging. And because of it, I decided not to blog about my adventure in writing land (there's already so many great blogs on that subject already out there). Instead, I picked a topic that might be of interest to my target audience: teenage girls.

Ooops! That didn't quite sound right. Teenage girls are my target audience, not the topic of my blog. That's what happens with not enough sleep.

Thanks for listing my service, Rachelle! I want to let people know that one thing I've learned is that blogging in order to promote fiction is a very different ballgame from blogging to promote a nonfiction topic like writing (think about it--it's a non fiction topic, even if you're teaching how to write fiction) or adoption or whatever. My expertise is in helping novelists blog and do online marketing in order to market their fiction, not their nonfiction.

Mary DeMuth is a good example of someone who does both fiction and non fiction, and she will also tell you that there are differences. She has managed to combine the issues in her fiction with her non fiction topics, but for another writer who only writes fiction, it can be more challenging to market your fiction via blogging or online marketing.

Camy

Bogging really is easy and fun once you find your audience. My blog, The Thoughts I Think, is a funny look inside my life as a Christian mom. It isn’t always about kids but it is relatable to moms in some way; and because it has a humorous slant it is both fun and encouraging. I also update my Facebook and Twitter status whenever I have a new post; I get most of my traffic that way.

I hope that helps.

Ginny Martyn
http://thoughtthinkers.wordpress.com
[email protected]

My blog became a book (well the book is based on the blog with lots of participation from my readers!) and I'm working on a second book so I just started another blog.

The blog is at
http://GettingPastYourPast.wordpress.com

and the book website is
http://www.GettingPastYourBreakup.com

I have left some advice over on AbsoluteWrite but would welcome email questions about blogging.

Susan

This has been a fascinating discussion. I have to agree with Jenny that Christina Katz (http://christinakatz.com) has been a wonderful blogging mentor.

While reading reviews of her book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, I read that Christina's chapter on blogging was the most detailed and helpful around, and that it was clear she knew her stuff, esp. when it came to blogging.

I bought the book and took one of her classes on platform development. I continue to draw from each to keep my blog fresh and interesting for those interested in my specific topic (commercial fishing families).

Thanks so much, Rachelle, for the shoutout about my blog mentoring (or should I say, CONSULTING) services.

I appreciate you pointing out to your readers who don't think mentors should get paid for their services that those of us who do get paid started out as authors, bloggers, and unpaid mentors (and we still do a great deal of pro bono mentoring).

It took me many years to get to a place where I felt comfortable saying, "I am a writer. This is my profession. I've spent my career preparing for it, doing it, and I deserve to get paid a fair wage for it."

I didn't get paid for my blog mentoring services until I'd worked with a lot of people and they kept telling me, "You should charge for this."

Although I now mentor/consult with companies, large and small, my heart and passion is with authors.

One of the things we writers neglect -- either out of fear or from lack of information -- is information about how to build our platform or our brand. The Internet is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to begin building that platform. I think it's well worth an investment of $50 or $100 or even $1,000 to seek expert help, so you don't waste hours of your time re-inventing the wheel.

I also like what Camy Tang said about how promoting fiction is different than promoting non-fiction. If you're looking for a blogging or social media mentor, try to find someone who specializes in your genre (I focus more on non-fiction and niche topics).

Happy blogging!

Laura Christianson
Author, speaker, and owner of www.BloggingBistro.com

Hi Rachelle,

Thanks for bringing this up - I get many emails on this because many creatives are not very technical, but are being forced into it now.

I have started consulting with people on their blogs. I am an IT consultant and author so blend both worlds! I love all the techy stuff and also love the creativity of it.
My blog, The Creative Penn, is one of the top 10 Australian writing blogs: if people are interested, they can check it out here
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/

Thanks, Joanna

Love the picture! Jeanette is such an encourager!

Whenever I read posts like this, I'm motivated to try even harder to build a platform! Even though I write fiction, I want to have a personal presence with readers. I've met a few authors who are very personal with a great web presence, and they're an excellent example for how we can genuinely connect with others via the internet.

I'm a novelist taking notes.*grin* I do understand the importance of a platform. It all makes complete sense, but what I struggle with as a novelist is how to do so without a book to sell. I'm with Jody, I really desire to have the personal connection with readers. Right now, I blog and try to make it half about my writing journey and the other half about life, all from a hopefully humorous perspective. I write romantic comedy, so it feels like a good blog fit for me. I want to invite not only other authors, but readers as well.

Here’s a thought that won’t be popular among your readers, but in the interest of providing book readers with the best product and increasing sales in the publishing industry, instead of trying to convince writers to build a platform, would not make more sense to convince those with a platform to write books?

Well, okay then. I definitely have the blog (actually, blogS), Twitter, and Facebook covered. Thank you for the advice.

I joined Facebook last summer and have connected with lots of writers, editors and agents. It's fun, but I have to watch how much time I spend there. :)

Three weeks ago, I began a blog about Christians who write fantasy on the advice of my writer's group. If feels funny because I don't have a book contract yet, but I'm realizing the importance of building a network BEFORE this happens. I don't have a lot of readers yet, but I know I have to stick with it.

Great photo.

I have Twtiter & blog covered. I've been holding tightly to my facebook as a personal social network...but I guess it's time to remove the family photos and friend 100's of people in the writing industry. *sigh*

Thank you Rachelle. Sometimes writers begin to think we are wasting out time on the social nets and blogging when we should be working on the great american novel.

We need to be reminded that we need both.

Yes, I dread the author platform. It's one of those hurdles that seem to come every year and tell me I discovered my desire to write about a decade too late. But I'm working on it by giving up writing books and turning to freelancing for a while.

I have hesitated to join Facebook because I have so little time in the day to write creatively. All social media are blocked at work, so I have only whatever time I can carve out from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, typically an hour any given evening, to do such things related to writing. Brain power remaining by that time is a factor.

However, based on your recommendation Rachelle, I'll join Facebook and give it a try. I'll do so with my usual pesimism but will hope for the best. At least I can blog at work during breaks and the noon hour.

DAT

The one thing I have to watch out for: those social networks can be addictive.

I used to think Twitter was an ADHD blog. But now I like it 'cause it's quick and EZ and you can get loads of info in no time.

Agree with all. Also, can't put my finger on it, but the social networking stuff seems to increase my overall writing output. Since I started on Facebook, I'm getting more writing done, in general. Something energizing about it!

I honestly don't understand twitter. The main reason I don't have it is because I have the cheapest phone plan possible (ergo, no texting or internet capabilities). I'll just be accessing it from my computer like I do facebook, and the voice in my head that constantly hollers about simplifying my life and consolidating everything raises the volume whenever I spend more than a few seconds contemplating the word "tweet".

But is my dream worth it? Most definitely. It looks like twitter is going on my active list of social frontiers to join!

Thank you so much for this post, Rachelle. As a novelist, I'm thankful that this isn't as important as it is for nonfiction. But after reading so much on the importance of platform for fiction this past spring, I decided to take six months to a year and build a strong base before venturing any farther. The wait is practically excruciating, but at least it's busy--and I know it will be worth it!

Now I just need to use Facebook more strategically, to keep building my platform, and oh yes, to finally get that elusive book contract...

Thanks for the push, Rachelle. I started my blog last week. It is passionateforthegloryofgod.blogspot.com.

I also have a question.

Recently I watched a recording of a panel held at a conference for publishers earlier this year. Two of the authors had been blogging for years. They agreed on two ideas that caught my attention. The first comment they made was that the blogging world is very crowded, now. The second comment was that they recognized two types of blogs, destination blogs and content blogs and that there is always room for more content blogs.

Now I am guessing that your blog, Rachelle, would certainly be classified as a content blog, but what would be described as a destination blog?

Be blessed!

Lynnda

I mostly use my blog to market my books. My blog traffic is growing steadily, and last year at ACFW two editors knew me...not because of my published novels, it was because they'd visited my blog!

Timothy Fish wrote:
instead of trying to convince writers to build a platform, would not make more sense to convince those with a platform to write books?
>>>I'm wondering how easy it would be to convince someone with a platform to write a book? What if they're speakers, but not writers? If they don't know how to write, then I guess this suggestion wouldn't work. BUT, I think it COULD work if a ghostwriter is being used, perhaps? I think if someone had a large platform, and wanted to write a book, they'd be doing it, pursuing their dream to see a book in print.

Arghhhhh! Please please don't make me tweet and do a FB. I'll be sucked into the networking aspects just like I have with blogging, and never have time to write.

*digging in heels, but skidding toward acceptance. Ug.* :) Great post.

Timothy & Cecilia,
Actually, "convincing people with platforms to write books" is something we (agents & editors) do all the time. That's the "proactive" part of acquisitions for us. Rather than always waiting for people to come to us, we spend a portion of our time going after the people we want. They may be speakers, bloggers, columnists, or celebrities of some type. If a person has a strong platform, it's likely someone in publishing is going to come after them.

Rachelle, you mentioned website optimization and doing everything recommended to build traffic on our blogs. Maybe those would be good topics for you to address here sometime. I know it would be helpful to me.

Thanks as always for spurring us on!

Cheryl (and everyone else who probably has the same request):

There are a thousand Internet gurus who constantly blog about topics like website optimization and how to build blog traffic. (Just Google "how to build blog traffic.") Even Mike Hyatt frequently blogs on technical topics like that. Because it's so well covered, I probably won't get into it, at least not anytime soon.

I read Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, and I subscribe to the blog "Daily Blog Tips." Those are good places to get started. There are always links to more good information.

Have fun!

Yes, yes, and yes.

I couldn't agree more. I've found some that are reluctant to dive into the social media frenzy out of shyness, but once they take the plunge, they are quick studies.

Besides, it's tons of fun and a great way to meet some very interesting people.

This is such a terrific post and I hope every writer reads it, prints it out, commits it to memory. :)

Your statement, "I almost wanted to announce that I'd no longer accept queries from anyone who doesn't already have a good solid head start on a platform. (I won't draw such a clear line in the sand, but consider yourself informed.)" is huge. Even if you haven't drawn that line just yet, the line is in sight and being considered as an important step.

I'm an author AND a marketing professional, and I know how important it is to put in the time. Believe me, I've seen the differences between those who do and those who don't directly reflected in their book sales. The internet is where people are...and it takes time to build up an audience, to make connections. And the important thing to remember is that NONE of this is going away. Facebook, Twitter, blogging. It's only going to become a bigger part of our society.

I'm off to tweet about this post. :) @jeannieruesch

Excellent advice.

Max Elliot Anderson

Books For Boys Blog
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com

Thanks, Rachelle. As a novelist, I find your "gentle" prodding more than inspiring. In the past few months, I've immersed myself in the world of Twitter and Facebook, and I've been visiting blogs daily - I've also begun a blog of my own about my publishing journey, and I'll soon be writing a blog for moon.com about U.S. travel, so I'm slowly putting myself "out there".

It is time-consuming, and sometimes I wonder (okay, my husband wonders) if I shouldn't be writing (or revising my first novel) instead. But I sure have met a lot of wonderful writers already - and learned a lot, too - so I think it's time well spent.

Still, I agree with Kim - these social networks can be addictive. :-)

Blogs are truly shrinking the world. I found a link to my blog - with a thumbnail of Carol's and my wedding pic - on a Christian blog in Romania. Romania!

Amazing.

Rachelle,

I suspected you did, but I'm suggesting that you should go a step farther and drop the rest of us completely. Even leaving the door open far enough to say that you are only accepting queries from people who have started toward a platform is to invite us to send a query asking is this a big enough platform? Any platform that is really worth anything is probably so obvious that a query is unnessicary.

Rachelle, thanks for the tips on where to find help on building blog traffic. It helps to have your specific recommendations when there's so much stuff out there. Can be kind of overwhelming...

Love the picture! It's nice to see all of you, Jeanette is a prayer warrior and I'm sure over the moon right now!!!
Thank you Rachelle for mentioning the fact our blogs are a part of building a platform. It's a relief to know it's more than just networking.

If you take the time to research website optimization and do everything recommended to build traffic on your blog, you can build a sizable audience in a matter of months. Then when you begin to use Twitter and Facebook strategically, you can grow your audience exponentially.

Could you do a blog about how to do this?

As always Rachelle, thank you. But here's what I wonder: How big a blog or website audience is big enough? Obviously, the bigger the better, but where is the line where you say to yourself: "That's just not enough traffic?"

Been meaning re-evaluate optimization for my blog. Thanks for the reminder and the resources!

My only question is what's a "sizable" audience for a fiction writer whose stories are not built upon newsworthy issues?

Great post! I've been blogging for 2 years and love it. I also tweet, facebook, etc.

I loved what you said about leveling the playing field. Not-so-well-known authors can reach such a huge audience by having an online presence.

Now, if some "old school" writers I know would just buy into it. (I can dream)

Mary
http://www.marycunninghambooks.com
Discover the Magic in Cynthia's Attic!

I have a blog, Twitter and Facebook. I suppose I'm having trouble actually growing...guess it's time to research! At least it's something that I could probably have a slightly easier time doing rather than worrying about getting articles and short stories published (which I should probably focus on as well at some point...)

Now I have something to research when I encounter a temporary burnout on writing my novels.

I've worked very hard on building my web presence. I think it is just as important as having a good book. I have a blog, twitter, facebook and my own personal website. I love to hear from people that enjoy reading my blog so much that they say "I can't wait to read your book." I laugh because most of them don't even know what the book is about. But that in itself tells me I'm doing my job and doing it right! Great Post Rachelle!

Seems to me you're putting the cart before the horse.

A fiction writer first needs to write the best novel he/she can before ever investing their time in other activities.

Once that's done (and they find an agent), they'll have time to develop a presence on the web. One that focuses on what they know for certain rather than what they only hope will be.

After all, publication is a long way off and the internet makes things happen way faster than that.

Anon 1:33,

You're right, having a good book comes first. If this is the only post of mine you've ever read, then yes, it would seem I'm putting the cart before the horse.

But it has to be taken in context of everything else I write here. My main message always has been, and always will be, that YOUR BOOK is what matters first and foremost. Not how sparkling your query is, and not how big your platform is. As you are working on writing a great book, you can also be learning about platform, queries, and all the other necessities of publishing.

If you'll notice, even in this post, I said, "you DO have to have a good book, AND you have to be able to sell it." I put "good book" first.

You may want to take a look at my post for May 18, titled: First
Things First, or Don't Put the Cart Before the Horese.

You'll see that I address your concern quite specifically here.

I have a gardening blog, which is mostly pictures, and I joined Facebook when I retired to keep from becoming too isolated, but alot of this kind of social networking seems awfully ego centric to me. I honestly don't fell inclined to give the world frequent updates on my mundane activities.

Not disputing the notion at all, and I am addicted to a number of amusing and interesting blogs, I just don't see MYSELF as interesting and amusing. Yet.

I think that for writers new to the publication scene that the platform isn't so much a dreaded topic as it is a Big Question Mark. I've had a moderate amount of success as a blogger (well, for a "mommy blogger," I suppose), but it wasn't until you shared some wise counsel on what all a platform in parenting would encompass that I realized that a blog barely scratches the surface of the depth that needs to be created for the platform to speak to publishers.

(Wow, that was a long sentence.)

We have a blog, we tweet, we have a facebook group, but direction from you was what we needed to allow us to see opportunities that come our way as possible platform builders. Because of our discussion on platform, I had the courage to take over a website dedicated to parenting that has a far bigger readership than my "mommy blog" will probably ever have!

Thank you again for meeting us where we are in the process. Posts such as this are incredibly helpful for those of us who have only recently begun to pursue the process of publication. So much work to do! Helpful encouragement from you and others in the know offer great motivation to stay after it.

How many is significant? Mike Hyatt puts significant at 500 to 1,000 unique blog readers per day. A few years ago, when I had more of an interest in SEO than anyone needs, I noticed that there are mega-churches with fewer visitors than that. The Internet, blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, all of that stuff, isn't a silver bullet. You can do it all, but unless you already have the means to build a platform, it isn't going to do you any good. Developing a reader base on the Internet and selling books are very similar.

I'm honestly not sure why everyone fights this so much...in the last three months I've heard DOZENS of people talk about this (either in articles or at conferences). It seems to me that it might just be important...

I started my blog a couple of years ago and I couldn't get my mom to check it. In the past few months I focused it and started reading other blogs - I'm up to 13 regular followers now :)

I'm also attending all of the professional women's organizations where I live so I can get my name and face out there.

I have Facebook, but I'm wondering: how many people have a professional and personal Facebook account? I use mine primarily to see my niece and nephews across the country and I'm not so sure I want fans (I'll have them someday) being able to see them.

Thoughts?

Karin, you can adjust your privacy settings so that only you can see your photos.

Thank you for this.

I'm in the process of writing a novel (I hope to finish by the summer but I have two loud kids who don't quite comprehend that Mommy needs quiet time to write) and I do have a blog, Twitter and Facebook. Oh, and MySpace to boot!

As a fiction writer, the platform thing bugs me. Part of it is that I don't want to be confined to any one form or genre. Having said that, rest assured, I have a blog, website and am now on Twitter.

The trick is balancing promotion with creativity. I'm also searching for an agent, which a job itself. I haven't found the right ratio for myself yet. Twitter, etc. are addicting! Next week I head off to a writer's retreat for two weeks to work, so I'm going to unplug from all social networks, agent blogs and the like.

Wish me luck, I have no idea how I'm going to do that!

Hi Rachelle,

How much does "real life" potential readership matter for those of us who are not famous? ;)

I'm not a pastor of a large church or a public speaker, and I'm NOT a celebrity (ha). But my fiction is based on my career, and several thousand regional folks know me by name because of my career--the same number you cited for internet followers/potential readers. Does that amount to a hill o'beans when it comes to platform?

I know you've done this before (at least I think so), but maybe some Friday you could let everyone leave their blog addy (w/short description), their facebook info and twitter name.

I'd love the opportunity to easily connect with like-minded people, and I know there are hundreds lurking here at your blog. :)

I'll start just in case anyone is still reading through comments at this late hour. :)

http://www.marlataviano.com
Marla Taviano on Facebook
marlataviano on Twitter

Off to follow @jeannieruesch right now!

You're awesome, Rachelle.

I guess I'd like to see some data. Show me the sales figures of a non-famous blogger/facebooker/twitterer against the sales of an equally non-famous person who doesn't blog/facebook/twitter.

I understand that famous people are going to sell more books. I'm not sure us regular Joes gain all that much by spending our time on social networking sites and building our blog readership instead of spending that time reading, learning the craft, researching, and writing actual books.

QUESTION:
As a novelist, when do I start building a platform?

I have a blog, but I'm not even querying yet. I'm probably a good year away from selling a novel, between editing, querying, and the actual sales.

I was putting off things like Facebook and Twitter until after I had an agent. Is that too late?

This sounds really helpful and sensible, but as a writer fresh out of the gates with no published works, I am a bit stumped regarding what the CONTENT of these networking and blogging sites should be.

Do people start to follow blogs that are simply the personal thoughts and experiences of the blogger? It seems to me that there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of blogs that are exactly that. When you are starting anew, how do you make yours stand out?

If it's not the "personal thoughts and experiences" kind of blog that can be used to establish a platform, what else to write? I would include examples of my own work, short stories or whatnot, but I hear that having material available online can invalidate its publishability. So, one could post material they don't intend to get published, but if it is good enough to build a platform, wouldn't they want to publish it?

Thought continues in this path, and thus I talk myself into a conundrum.

What should a beginning writer with the aim of establishing a platform blog about?

Can I offer some help here? There are SO many things you can blog about. I have two blogs, a Facebook, and a LiveJournal, so I'll try to throw out a few tips. :-)

You can blog about the day's news. Or an article you just read. Or anything at all that appeals to you and makes you think, "I'd like to jot something about that down but I don't want to write a whole article/essay on it." My latest LiveJournal entry is about a word that I liked in an Edith Wharton story!

You can blog all about a favorite author -- I have a blog devoted to Dickens, and there are blogs about Austen, Shakespeare, Poe, the Brontes, Wharton, etc. If you're a fiction writer, you can write "Web exclusive" short stories and blog them serially.

You can blog about your personal life (within reason). You can blog about your faith. You can review books or movies or TV shows. You can talk about your hobbies. You can tell people what a writer's life is like. There are TONS of things you can blog about, and if you're a good enough writer, you can make anything worth reading.

Take a look at James Lileks's blog: http://lileks.com/bleat/ . He talks about matchbooks and postcards and architecture and old movies and shopping and raising his daughter -- basically whatever is on his mind that day. He's even blogged about "regrettable food." And he has a HUGE following, and his books have benefited enormously from it.

Don't ever think of blogging as wasting time. If nothing else, it helps you work on your writing skills! I know it's helped mine.

I know a lot of people can't get past the "Why would someone want to read mundane things on a blog?" part. But isn't taking the mundane and making something fascinating out of it what many of us writers try to do, anyway? You'll never have a better chance to hone that skill. And Facebook lets you do the same thing. You don't just have to write "Ate toast for breakfast." You can make a sort of mini-art form out of it. Facebook friends of mine are always telling me my status updates made them laugh. You don't have to be Bill Cosby, but you can challenge yourself to make status updates fun and interesting for people reading them.

I hope this has been helpful. Maybe some temperaments are better suited to blogging and social networking than others. But I really think anyone can do it, and learn something from it.

I think my biggest challenge is that I have multiple personalities online - Facebook for family and friends from my hometown, a blog for writing, another for work, etc.
I think melding it together would probably be a benefit in the long run, but it's kind of like having a party where two different groups of friends meet. It can be kind of awkward.

Funny, I found this post via Mary DeMuth's Tweet. Proof that social networking does work...a simple mention and link to you and here I am: a new reader to your site.

Just a thought, but there are writers who become bloggers to boost their readership, and there are bloggers who become writers because they have a readership. They've found their voice AND the people who already want to hear more. After blogging passionately for 3 years and building a great readership, I'm ready to launch into book form with (shaky) confidence. Blogging has done that for me because it has brought people who share in daily conversation with me...without being sold a product or book....and there is a trust level that happens when you aren't building a blog to sell a book. Blogs are about connecting with people, and whether you are an established author or not, your readers want to know YOU, not necessarily your product. I think knowing the line between tasteful self-promotion and gagging self-promotion is a good one to keep in mind. All that being said, I realize just how much more there is to learn...about everything.

It feels good to be asked "when will you write your book??" by my blog readers. I know I've barely put my toe in the waters of publishing, but it makes the journey much more exciting than scary...less like chasing a fantasy and more like following a dream.

Dear Rachelle:
Thanks for posting the photo; it was sweet of you to let me take it, especially since it took seven tries on my silly camera!
Jen

I love this post! It's really given me a lot to think about AND a lot to aspire to--in building my platform, of course! So, thanks, Rachelle.

I agree with a variety of opinions here. I've only been blogging for about 4 months now but I've been working on the beginner book of a series for over a year and a half. I wouldn't say I have the best author platform out there by any means, but I do have a degree in English, have been part of several critique groups and follow many author and agent blogs, as well as aspiring writer blogs. Through the world of blogging, I've become acquainted with several valuable CPs. From following author blogs in particular (especially ones who have a first book coming out soon), I've come to realize that sometimes gaining a platform is easier to do once the agent has been acquired and the first book set to publish. Some people won't take you seriously if you're just an *aspiring* writer, because for all they know, you could have a great concept but your writing is horrible.

For instance, I think my concept will sell itself, especially with the proper marketing, and I'm more than willing to contribute. It's not enough to say, "I have this great concept about a disgraced socialite who is forced to recognize that her journey toward change must be swift and sincere"--my writing has to be up to par and I have to find an agent and all that in order to be taken seriously by my community and what little readership I've gained. And my problem with writer conferences and chapters is that most of them seem to be geared toward writers of romance, which I'm not. I seriously have a hard time fitting in. Romantic element? Eh, sort of. So which ones should I attend, assuming I can gather the funds to go to these things? These are daunting things to consider.

Also, a question I've been pondering, since I'm not so sure who the best person is to answer it, is--would you say it's better to make a book trailer before or after you've secured an agent and/or publishing contract? Say I have great ideas to market my book before I've landed either of these things, should I do it? Or wait?

Nonfiction is a broad category. I understand that you need to have a platform to sell a book about gardening or auto mechanics, but what about a biography? What about children's books? What about a nonfiction book that is story-like in format and is written to appeal to fiction readers? Do you need a platform for those?
I've been published extensively, but most of it is local. I also have a blog, Facebook and Twitter, but this is mostly for fun, and much of centers on my hobbies and personal interests. And, like most writers, I struggle just to find the time to write.

Hurrah! I've been doing something right. Great post.

I just posted a quiz on my blog about ways to approach Twitter when marketing books. You might find this interesting/amusing and I'd love to hear your thoughts. It links to a guest blog on another site which looks at the emerging netiquette for micro-blogging writers.

http://frombrain2bookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-kind-of-twitterer-are-you-quiz-for.html

"Ok, Great Idea we will build a "platforms"
and cultivate thousands of fans ready to buy our books. I just have one question , what the heck do we need you for? The same technology that enables self promotion also makes self publishing inceasingly easy...."

-Editor breaks out in cold sweat gulps nervously tries to think of a witty response.-

Falseaddress2,

Cold sweat? You're kidding, right?

No nervousness here. There will always be jobs for those who know how to help authors write the best books they can, sell them, and promote them.

Sure you can self publish a book, and for many, that's a route I recommend. But roughly 90% of self-pubbed books are poorly edited, poorly designed (interior and exterior), and don't sell worth beans. So I don't think I'll be breaking out in a cold sweat anytime soon.