How to use this Page

Let's think about this. How do you make a pickle? The easy answer is that you soak it in vinegar and other seasonings. They are by far my favorite food, followed closely by concord grapes, but that is neither here, nor there. And FYI, the connection with the picture and a pickle is Tink's outfit is green like a pickle.

What in the name of garlic do pickles have to do with promoting? That's easy as well.

To make a pickle, you begin with a cucumber: a simple vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways. Much like a promotional tool. You can start with something basic, say your cover art. This is your most effective tool, but it is basic and alone it may not be as useful as you'd like. Most people don't pay attention to plain cucumbers.

Take your cover art and soak it in something spicy (use your imagination here on my analogies) and you could have an exciting post card. Add a little more seasoning; your blurb, an award you might have won, or an excellent review you earned and it it's just like one of those awesome dills you get at a fair or carnival. Everyone is clamoring to get one, heck that and polish sausage are why some folks go to fairs.

Dill chips, small, easy to pile on a sandwich. Same cover art on a business card, you take a handful (cause no one eats just a few dill chips) and spread them around a room full of readers and savor the tangy taste of success from the sales that will pour in.

Fried pickles (goodness I'm having a craving) are a personal favorite of mine. They are a little more work because you have to consider the breading and the time it takes to deep fry them, but worth every bit of work. Very much like a good e-mail campaign. Now, not everyone likes fried pickles, so you have to find those who are truly interested.

You run a special on your web site, perhaps offer a short story for free to anyone who signs up for your newsletter or e-mail list. You make sure your batter is spiced just right. Prime the pump by making sure your story or whatever you are giving away reminds those registering about you and your story/book. Once you have a good little list going you dip those chips into the batter (tease your readers with snippets, incentives, discounts, whatever.

By now you have the best recipe for success!

I'd like to thank Jonathan E. Quist and Bobbi Hinman for helping me decide what to Blog about today. Didn't think I could do it, eh?

©Karen L. Syed