OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
Mega-publisher Simon & Schuster have recently relaunched their website. It has loads of interesting things for authors and readers, but what is particularly of note to me is the Author Resources section.
Under the sub-section of Online Tips and Tools, they promote the use of blogs, social media, book sites and video for authors who want to market themselves and their books. This is essentially the Author 2.0 Model where you have a central hub site with lots of ‘spokes' linking to it and bringing you people, traffic and sales from around the net.
The need for an author platform has been talked about for a few years now, but it seems the mainstream publishers are now actively encouraging it, even for established authors. I don't think the tools S&S list are well researched or easy to use, so here are some other resources you can use to get started.
I frequently get questions about how to set up a blog, how I manage this one and what people can do to get more traffic, so here are some links to resources and articles. [Many of the links are affiliate links and I stand behind all of them. I only recommend what I use myself].
- This blog is written on free WordPress software hosted on my own domain. I bought the domain at GoDaddy.com and I use Siteground (affiliate) to host my sites.
- I use Genesis Theme Beautiful Pro which is a paid theme and highly customisable. I used to use a free theme but switched after this site review and it has improved my rankings and also my subscribers.
- I set up the blog myself using the free information at BecomeABlogger.com. I have since used Joel, the BlogTechGuy to help me do techy things I just want to outsource. I do believe in paying for information from experts to improve ranking and performance.
- Podcast: Joel Williams on Blogging Basics
- Podcast: Advanced Blogging techniques with The Blogging Teacher, Paul Cunningham PLUS/ a round-up of all we discussed
- 10 Reasons Authors Need to Have a Blog
- How to set up your own blog
- Top 10 tips for effective blogging
Social Networking and Book Sites
- Writers need social media… and social media needs writers
- How to feature on the most influential sites in the world
- Social networking and book sites for authors
- Twitter overview [I really must update this post but it gives you the basics!]
- Facebook: How authors can use it for book promotion
- Podcast: Book Marketing and Promotion … Your Questions Answered
- Book trailers: 11 steps to make your own
- Top viral videos are just like great books
- Get Your Video Online – free resources and tips for making online videos from Gideon Shalwick [warning: streaming video]
- I did a whole stack of videos for NaNoWriMo – you can see them here. They certainly helped boost my twitter following and also my blog subscribers.
What else do you want to know in order to build your online platform?
View Comments (20)
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1 2 3 4 Next »Wow, great stuff! I've been working on getting into the blogging/social networking scene for a while, and all these tips are great. I will definitely be checking out all these posts and applying the great ideas.
Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
Thanks Sarah - so glad you enjoyed!
I already retweeted this but can I use this to on my blog? This is great and my audience needs to hear this.....you are a kindred spirit when it comes to book marketing. When I read this - I was like: YES! YES!
You are a "get it" girl in my list on twitter. Very good.
Pam Perry, PR coach
http://www.christianbookbuzzonline.com
Hi Pam, I'm glad you enjoyed the post!
yes, you can use on your blog as the site is Creative Commons as long as you attribute the original post and me as the author. Thanks.
All of these are great ideas especially the ones about video. More than 60% of all internet traffic is video, so it offers a great opportunity to do two things that writers need.
First, you can develop a intimate relationship with your audience at a distance. Sounds like a contradiction, but if you do spontaneous videos with a hand-held camera you can talk right from your heart to your reader's hearts.
Second, you can use video to establish social proof for you, your ideas, and your books. Get testimonials from raving fans and put them up where your audience can see them. Your greatest fans love being sold over and over and your new fans will appreciate the affirmation of their interest.
To see examples of this in action see the website of my mentor, Joel Bauer, at http://infotainer.com.
Again, great article!
Thanks Rich - I actually have a draft post all about video because of what you are saying here - it is coming soon :)
I had a good laugh at the idea that mainstream publishers are just now getting into this. I think the common misconception that people can commercially publish their manuscript and let the publisher do all the marketing is still prevalent. I am surprised by how many self-published authors I come across who say, "I hope an agent will pick up my book so it'll finally sell." Maybe seeing the commercial publishers having these suggestions on their websites will give them a clue. :-)
The man who types up my stories doesn't use social networking nearly as much as I do.
Best,
Billy
The Guide to Literary Agents blog just had six great links about building platform. I'm posting about it tomorrow.
You bet, JoAnna. My question is still, if I have to create my own platform why should I share the profits? Have the best day ever everyone.
Nice post, Joanna, thanks for all the good links to your terrific resources. Interesting to hear you are updating your Author 2.0, I have often recommended it. Look forward to your new thoughts on the ever-changing book marketing scene.
Great resources! However, how do you fully utilize all this information, research and marketing material. Very little, if any, of it is available at the retail point of sale, reviewers blog posts or fan websites and 'pulling' readers to multiple sources is a guaranteed way to loose a customer, fan and brand.
What about a book marketing platform that can aggregate the external Internet marketing material (Twitter, YouTube, blog posts, etc), combine it with internal marketing material (i.e., chapter samples, author bio, news/appearance updates, etc.), organize it and push it to all distribution points (retail pos, blog postings, fan websites, viral distributions, etc.). This provides readers with the information they want, where they want it and when they want it (permission marketing). Also, purchase options allow for instant sales wherever the book is featured (i.e., blog post, fan website, author's website, etc.).
Chris Glennon
SmartSymbols Book Marketing Platform
http://SmartSymbols.com
http://Twitter.com/SmartSymbols
This is really useful for people getting into the whole self-promotion world. I think you've covered some great starting points here.
Alastair