Authors Need A Practical Plan

Authors know the online world is important to their book marketing efforts. Yet many authors are overwhelmed with the possibilities. The majority of writers want to write instead of market their books. Every busy author has limited time and resources to market their book. Where do they begin and how can they create an effective in their online marketing strategy?

From my many years in publishing, when you face such questions, it is best to learn from someone who knows the world of online book marketing intimately and can give you sseasoned direction. Long-time publicist Fauzia Burke is one of these experts. Recently I read Fauzia's new book, Online Marketing for Busy Authors, A Step-by-Step Guide. This an eye-catching book is easy to read and loaded with practical information.

The book is organized into three phases. First, you need to get organized, then you need to turn your thinking into action and finally, you need to learn to stay the course. In the first section to get organized, you have to dream big, know your reader (target), set realistic goals and have a priority list.

The second section helps you turn your ideas into action with step-by-step information to create an online marketing plan, build a website, create a mailing list, blog and social networking. I found each section to be straightforward and easy to apply advice. In order to cut through the confusion, Burke encourages authors to focus on six priorities: website, mailing list, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and video. Her detailed recommendations are in the book.

In the third section, Burke encourages authors to promote without being promotional. I understand it is a fine distinction.

 Scattered throughout the book are a series of “Tip for #BusyAuthors” and each one is simple yet full of insight. For example, “You don’t have to be an early adopter and chase every social media tool. Use tools that have a track record for success.” (Page 40)

In the final pages of Online Marketing for Busy Authors, A Step-by-Step Guide, Burke writes, “The famous line said it all: “You gotta be in it to win it.” If you are not available online when people are searching for information, the chances of them finding your book and buying it are slim. Remember: Every reader who takes the time to seek information on a related topic is an interested, and qualified buyer—a warm lead. Just the kind we like.” (Page 140-141)

I loved the simplicity yet power in Online Marketing for Busy Authors, A Step-by-Step Guide. I highly recommend it.

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Sound Online Marketing Advice For Authors

Steve Weber is a seasoned author and over the years has learned a great deal about marketing online. In Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing for Authors, you gain the benefit of his years of trial and error. In the early portion of this book he "explains the basics of online book promotion techniques that provide the most bang for your effort."

I love the realistic counsel in Plug Your Book! such as when Weber says, "Perhaps not everything discussed in here will be practical for your book. Your job is to select which promotional techniques might work best with your audience, and then use them aggressively and tirelessly. Online publicity works particularly well with nonfiction, but can be applied to fiction too. The more techniques you try, the better your chances of success. A single strategy won't work, but a combined effort will produce results, and the effect will be cumulative."

Many authors ignore online publicity for their books (and reap the poor sales results). Or they try one or two techniques and give up quickly (and again wonder why their book has few sales). Throughout this book, Weber gives clear examples of online marketing success then points the reader to how they too can use the same technique for their book. Whether you want to know more about effective word of mouth campaigns, Amazon Bestseller Campaigns, Blogging and Blog Tours, the merits of social networking with places like MySpace, or many more techniques, you can gain valuable insight from this book.

I like what Weber says in the early pages where he encourages the reader to quickly read the book once, then to read it again "selecting and prioritizing what you'll tackle first."

Finally, this book has wisdom scattered throughout the pages. For example, "This book is not a quick-fix plan; there is no such thing as overnight success. It might require a year or more of steady work to see appreciable results. If that seems like a gamble and lots of work, it is. But I assure you, it's nothing compared with what it took to write your book."

I learned a great deal from these pages and believe any author (new or experienced) will also gain from this title. From Weber's experience, I selected a few key techniques that I'm eager to try with my own books in the coming days. I recommend every author get this title, study it, then apply it to their own online book marketing efforts.