The Power Of Effective Social Networking & BAM Submission

There is true power in your future if you effectively use Facebook to advance your goals and platform. Yesterday, I posted my letter to BAM, and someone inboxed me about an error. They suggested that as opposed to addressing my letter to Dear Director, I should address the person by their name. I wholeheartedly agreed with the advise, but I informed them that I submitted the letter in the manner that the company asked for it. After we reviewed the submission guidelines together they agreed that I was correct and they apologized for the unsolicited advice. Now that was greatly appreciated, but here is a line that I seized on to effectively use FB. They person told me: 

"I respond quicker to correspondence address to me as opposed to "dear reporter." "

I found that they are a reported for a Cleveland paper, and I asked what was the guidelines to submit a story for a feature, and guess what they replied: 

"Send me your bio and press releases to *********. I can do a story on you as an author. Unable to review right now. Back log too long."

So, I obviously awoke this morning and I immediately got on that, and now waiting a reply.

For your viewing pleasure I will post the letter, and I encourage you to use it as a guide. Hell, plagiarize it for all I care. But if you've written a great novel it should be on the shelves at Books a Million. The guidelines are vague, but I have spoken to someone there, and they like to receive a physical copy of the novel, reviews, interviews, any sort of promo material. The back cover must have a barcode and the price of the book printed. I printed copies of my interviews with online magazines, Amazon reviews, threw in some book marks and post cards, press releases, and a list of the stores that carry my novels for their review. Always seek to put your best foot forward.

Good luck with that.

Read More

Let's Talk FB Author Groups...And I Have Advice.

I thought I'd join a few FB groups and interact with other people, but I just can't. I woke up to 87 notifications. Why? About 6 authors posted advertisements in about 8-12 groups all within a matter of seconds. The posts filled up my notifications to the point that I could not see which ones were directed at me from my personal wall, which I take serious. It's so absurd to me. Ninety percent of all the groups have the same members, so why launch an air assault on them. What's striking is if you ask these authors do they have media/press kits that they blast to every store across the country, they'd not only say no, but may add that there books aren't sold in any stores. You ask these same authors to show you their electronic and paperback libraries and they don't exist. They post in 10 groups and may not even get 1 person to "like" their stat. They post giveaways that people barely reply to because it takes time to build the sort of trust needed for the readers that have been burned and spread the word about it to trust them. Building trust and a reader base requires interaction and fostering relationships on FB, not simply posting random book posts and offers. There is an art to this. You have to chit chat with people. Get to know them. Let them get to know you. People always wonder why I post so much about my life, my career, and my day. I've been called a "bragger." One, in 20 years from now, I want people to say they watched me go from Laugh Now to an office on Sunset Blvd. in LA that produces books and movies. Two, I want other authors to be inspired. I want other indie authors to see me doing it, letting them know that they can do it. Another third advantage is people interact with me about the things I do. I have an interesting life. That is what attracts people to my books. They support me because they like me, or hate me, and want to see how my books are. In practically every city I've been to I've had a person tell me that they go to my page just to see what topic I have brewing. Everyone needs a platform. I am an adventurer, traveler, and if I find out information I share it. And as a result I have friends on FB. And here is how that works in my favor. 

I found out about the Miami International Book Fest on Monday and mentioned it on FB. I asked Kristofer Clarke should I scope it out for next year, and he told me if I could do it to go. Tuesday, I worked my FB friends list and I have a signing at a FB friend's salon in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I will also meet with a fellow author so that he can pick my brain about publishing. These two FB friends I've never met, but Debra Owsley extended her hand to me and her shop on a Saturday. That's what building great FB bonds will do. 

In the end, I assure that if people get a load of the person behind the books, they'll get behind the books. For A+ examples, see Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Al-Saadiq Banks, Treasure Blue, Tamika Newhouse, and K'wan FB walls. Look at how balanced they are. They look like regular people that happen to be authors, not authors that happen to have a FB account.

Resources:
Libraries: To get my book into libraries, I had my local library get one book, which was placed into the world's library called, World Cat. A listing in World Cat is what I approach other libraries with. I explain that my books can be found in the World Cat library and that assures them that other libraries are carrying it, so perhaps they can and should, too. But start at your local library, as they will support the home team. http://www.worldcat.org

Indie Bookstores: To get my book into indie book stores around the world (well for me, I have books in one store in London and Australia) I use a site called, Indie Bound. There, I plug in a zip code and just cold call down the list. I offer to E-mail media kits, I have my ISBN's ready to read to them, because some will look the book up on their distributors site. Be sure distributors have your book listed as returnable and that stores get at least a 40% discount. http://www.indiebound.org

Read More

Where Is Your Professional Appearance?

For many of you that do not have web sites, and FB is your primary method of introducing yourself and your service, please make sure your page is professional. I just can't take some of you serious when I see some of the silly profile pictures and nothing written in the "About Me" section. I am all for doing business with people I never met, but I don't want to chat with a person that has their 5 year old as their profile pic. I mean why are people exploiting their children any way. I don't want to talk to a cartoon character. And nope, no celebrities, either. You get my point.

Everything takes time and energy. I am one of the people that knows what putting your best foot forward looks like, and I study the people that do, as well. I strongly suggest that if you want people to forward you money, and expect to get back what was offered, you have to be cognizant of your presentation. Sure it's your wall and you can post what you want, but if your mission is to offer a service or a book, you have to effectively present yourself and product.

In the 21st century the one thing that cell phone makers are constantly enhancing are the cameras. It is so very easy to get a nice outfit, grab a friend, and pick a nice background and take a pic. You don't need to go out and pay for an elaborate photo shoot in the beginning. Of course, as you work your way up the ladder, you can. Another thing that you can do is visit your local college that has a photography program. You could get a photography student to shoot you a few shots for $25. Maybe even for free, but I can assure you that you will feel great when you pay what you can for a service as opposed to trying to just get what you can for free. I firmly believe: the more you bless people, the more God blesses you.

Second, know what you offer and what you can do for a person. If you're offering to be a promoter of books and have a book, your book would have to be doing well and nicely marketed to convince someone else to pay you to market for them. How can you promote someone else, if your book is not sold in any stores and you have a poorly designed personal web site? If you're not an author, but you're an avid reader and you think that you could market books to people, than you should be able to outline what it is that you do. So many times, I have had people offer me services and when I start to question them about what they specifically plan to do, they can't tell me. I immediately pass, because I work effortlessly to promote and market myself, so someone coming on board to help me, must be able to effectively convey what it is they plan to do for my money.

In the end, I submit to you to look at the following FB pages to get a great understanding of what a great FB presentation is: T. Styles, Victoria Christopher Murray, and Envy Red. Here are three woman that do what they do, and they do it effortlessly.

Check out my novels on my Amazon and my personal web site.

Read More