What’s Better: Networking or Advertising?

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Social Media

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One of our clients recently emailed me: I am following now 300 people on Twitter /GooglePlus / Goodreads and not a single book sold … The author had for months only 35 followers / following and we took great efforts to explain her how important it is to network with her future readers – if she wants to sell her books and does not have ten-thousands of dollars every month to advertise it.  Or if she cannot spend 60,000 to 90,000 dollars to pay an agency, helping her title to get into the New York Times bestseller list.

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Social Media networking sites are part of a LONG-TERM strategy of building your author platform and not an advertisement bulletin – and only one of several places where you can engage with readers and, eventually, possibly, maybe, later, sell books to some of them.  Ideally you meet your future readers in person at book talks, signings, meet-ups, workshops etc.  But who has the time for interacting at events and meetings?
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Social Media is Not for Hard-Selling – period!
It is what the name says: a Social Media place. You don’t go to a party because you want to sell your books there. You go to a party to meet people, to socialize, to have fun. Not all the Social Media places are equaly well situated to meet new people / future readers: Networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, often restrict their connections and information to people you already know. Choosing someone new on LinkedIn requires often that you have to give their email address, and on Facebook you are punished if you choose too many followers when you are not connected previously.  Choose the Right (Twitter) followers: If you want to connect with future readers on Social Media, then choose readers, and book reviewers, book worms, avid readers, book bloggers and the like as followers.
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What Twitter Is:
Twitter is really mobile-friendly.  That’s because Twitter was born as a mobile network, like Instagram was.  Twitter is not meant as a family or friends affair.  On Twitter are no relationship statuses, photo albums, public “likes,” or open forum conversations with easily track-able dialogue, e.g. for potential employers or new relationships.  Facebook in contrast will always appeal to people looking to reconnect with fellow students, old friends and family members.  Twitter is more a professional networking tool – e.g. perfect for writers.  Twitter is meant for tailored follower groups, a world not made up of all of the people you have ever met but rather a community of people you admire or would like to know.  Rachel Sprung listed 11 Guarantied Ways to Get Others to Re-Tweet Your Content:
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Benefits of Twitter:
Tweeting is an easy way for someone to support you. You can even provide pre-written tweet-able messages and a Click to Tweet link, so that all they have to do is one click. You can even use this method on free e-books. Create a nice mixture of your own, really interesting tweets and do some re-tweeting.Follow others, tweet something valuable for others and don’t use Twitter only as a cheap way to advertise!If you want to become popular on Twitter and have your tweets go viral, learn how to use Twitter in a smart and social way, nurse your relationships – that’s what Twitter is there for. Twitter is a tool that creates relationships and conversation – using it only for “advertising” would be devaluing the system. Read more about Social Media mistakes to avoid on Twitter.

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Goodreads: Where Only Readers Meet
Not really considered widely as a Social Media site is Goodreads – even though they have more than 20 million users that chose Goodreads to learn more about books and their authors.  Not to forget the ten-thousands of communities and groups for every kind of literature one can think of.  Smart authors use and benefit from the countless features on Goodreads to connect with readers and reviewers, and to introduce their books to a really wide targeted audience.
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Google+: To Be Discovered on Search Engines
Most books or blogs are found by organic search on Google. Knowing this, would you agree that it is extremely important to be easily found in Search Engines?  What better then to combine Social Media Networking and visibility on the Internet at once! Participating on Google+ – also written GooglePlus – gives you this advantage.  As we receive so many questions how to start with GooglePlus, here is a short introduction how to sign up with Google+, find your followers there, how to post and even connect your Google+ with your Twitter account. Connect your Google+ and Twitter accounts: Using Manage Flitter, you can save lots of time, and have your posts (at least the first 140 letters including a link) transferred to Twitter.
Read: How-to Automatically Post on Twitter from Your Google+ Page. 
Sign up at Google+. Watch this video how to do it:  or this one. Carefully write your introduction and your profile.

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What Else Can You Do to Increase Your Books’ Success?
To make yourself a name as a writer – and more important than to be on Social Media is to WRITE MORE. Your readers want to see content from you. Write your next book! Write blogs, magazine and newspaper articles! Readers want to get more of your writing. And if writing is really what you like to do, then write more!!! Don’t limit yourself only to books!

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– Place your book into the right category / genre and sub-genre (important for its success!)
– Create a second, separate BOOK PAGE on Amazon, Goodreads, Google+ and FB
– Set up a media press kit on your website with a link to your book trailer
– Start a Goodreads Giveaway a month before book launch (print book only)
– Write a blog post about the upcoming launch

– Ask friends to list your book under “Listmania” on Amazon & to LIKE your author page
– Exchange books for book shelves with your friends on Goodreads
– Participate in “Carnival of the Indies” blog carnival to promote your blog URL
– Send your books’ cover to cover contests http://www.thebookdesigner.com
– Submit your blogs including a bio and URL link to even more e-Zines

– Offer interviews at Radio (www.blogtalkradio.com) / local or national TV stations
– Make arrangements for interviews in newspapers or on book blogger’s sites
– Try to set you up to become a desirable guest expert on a talk or morning show
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– Befriend influential book bloggers for even more reviews and articles
– Gather writing friends for cross-promotions and blog tours
– Add press clippings and articles, already published, to your website
– Get a new business card with images of all your books and sales links

– Place the books’ cover image & description daily on your Google+ stream
– Announce your book launch or book signing on Google+ for FREE
– Get even more friends, followers and people in your circles on social media sites
as you need lots of audience to spread the word about your new book!

– Sell your book to libraries (find out how the library orders)
– Let your book translate in other languages or sell foreign rights
– Split your (non-fiction) book in pieces and sell single articles to magazines
– Participate in writing contests and book awards
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As author Tim Grahl wrote in an article: “Social media is not a mass strategy. It’s a 1-to-1 strategy.”   Have fun with Social Media networking and don’t check your, make friends and acquaintances there, write on your next title and don’t stare every day at your book sales statistics.

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If you would like to get a mentor and our support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer for three months all this and more for only $179 – or less than $2 per day!  Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting / Book Marketing for your success: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

To learn more about professional book marketing and publishing, please read also
“Book Marketing on a Shoestring”
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UAVL3LE

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