What's Working for You?

[John Kremer]

I'd like to start a new forum where people can talk about what's working for you right now in marketing your book.

I think this will help other authors to prioritize their activities if they can find out what's working for other people. This would be especially valuable to new authors.

I've share the hottest tool that I'm using right now. And that's Twitter. As you will note on the main page of this Book Marketing Network website, both my http://www.bookmarket.com website and this network have been rising in Alexa ranks (and visits) because of my use of Twitter.

[Tim Baker]

It's fairly easy...first you go to my fan page. In the upper right corner - under the picture of my book cover there should be some links...one of them will say "suggest to friends". Just click it and your friend list will appear. Just click the friends you wish to send it to and you're done.

I apppreciate it!

Great video by the way - I'm proud to have it on my page.

[Edie Jarolim]

Thanks for your nice words about my video -- and sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. I'll get right to it!

[Jim Donovan]

Everything! Some things to a greater degree than others. As a test, I "tweeted" my new book, "Don't Let an Old Person move Into Your Body" ( www.BestLifeBook.com ) as a pre-pub offer. Started getting orders within an hour. Felt great!

[Joel Friedlander]

Hey Jim, that's outstanding. What's your Twitter name? Others here might want to follow you.

[Tim Baker]

Jim,
So when you "tweeted" your message - what did you say? I'm still debating the whole twitter thing - but your message carries some strong weight for it.

[LM Preston]

I am new at this, as my book comes out in Feb. 2010. However, due dilligence does pay off. I devote 2 hours a day to marketing. I ordered extra review copies of my book, am making book store rounds. I give each store a copy of the ARC (its not a book they can sale - but has the picture of the cover on it). I give them my pitch and each time have gotten a warm welcome. Also, I put a note card inside the book as ask that anyone who reads the book post a review on amazon for me.

[Gabrielle]

What is working most for me is letting people know about my book on websites. The websites are ones that focus on the same area: which is mental health. So far I've gotten over three sales on Lulu in one week but I'm working towards promoting it more. I've also submitted it to a publisher on mental illness books and memoirs.
The CEO of the company showed interest in my book and is currently looking it over. He also offered to briefly review it. The memoir is called Sweet Madness. It has a bit of everything: childhood, humor, and is based on dealing with a crisis from the mind of a sufferer. I think the best strategy is to find something that others can relate to and a target group or audience of readers. Then it is a matter of getting it out there. That's why I'm trying through this publisher, they offer aid in promotion such as articles, interviews, etc.

Here is the book on Lulu if anyone wants to check it out:

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/sweet-madness/7806186

[Steve Miller]

Gabrielle,

Sounds like you're on to something! To clarify: So you find Websites in the field of your book. Then do you reply to discussions and such? Or, do you go straight to the contact information to e-mail them about your book and asking them if they'd like a copy for review?

[Don Atchison]

I am interested in your Twitter campaign as far as how you have turned your friends into book sales.

I look forward to hearing from you.

[John Kremer]

I have made many book sales via Twitter. You can't always track the direct sales, but I get hundreds of new visitors to my http://www.bookmarket.com website. In addition, I've gotten more interview requests, seminar participations, media queries, etc.

In addition, if you are active on Twitter (that means tweeting about 10 tweets a day ... retweets, conversations with other tweeters, etc.), you will begin to develop many new relationships, discover new blogs and other resources, and open up new markets. These happen every day.

[Tim Baker]

I agree with John...while I haven't seen any direct sales from Twitter I have made many contacts and discovered several outstanding resources for everything from marketing to writing.
In this day and age there is no such thing as too much networking.
Anyone who wishes to follow me on Twitter I am known as "blindoggbooks" - I will follow all who follow me as long as you don't support hate in any form.

[Joel Friedlander]

Good idea Tim, that way we support each other. Since we all have a common interest in books and promotion, it makes sense for us to follow each other. I just followed you Tim!