Showing posts with label social networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social networking. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

#WriterlyWisdomWednesday : Social Networking isn't the secret to success? #MarketingTip by @AimeeLaine



Welcome to WWW where every week a guest will offer some insight into the world of writing and publishing. 

Today I'm thrilled to have my Scribo Pen Sister, Aimee Laine, published author, photographer, business owner, full time employee, mother, wife (and the list goes on and on and on) share about social networking.


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Marketing : Social Networking isn't the secret to success?

According to Wikipedia, Marketing is the process of performing market research, selling products and/or services to customers and promoting them via advertising to further enhance sales. We spend countless hours promoting, but are we promoting to the right people?

Marketing has a lot of psychology behind it. You know, how, when you tell someone they canʼt have something, thatʼs when they really, really, really, want it? The act of marketing is kinda like that. It teases the potential buyer enough that they just canʼt do without your product — in this case, your novel/novella/short story, yard sale, excess fruit ... whatever it is.

With psychology though, comes the need to understand a key piece of the marketing puzzle: your audience.

The fan bandwagon is the secret to success. If the ʻitʼ generation is using social networking, then you must, too. If your audience is blogging, then you must, too. If your audience reads only through book clubs, then you gotta find those club.


Who is my audience? 

Well, for novelists and writers, it’s readers, of course.

The problem isnʼt in knowing you want readers, though, but WHO those readers ARE and how to reach them. Here are a few steps to identifying them.

Identify attributes of your target audience like demographics and psychographics (personal characteristics).  

Write down all the attributes you think are applicable to your target audience.

Now, think about who this represents, in terms of the type of people youʼre familiar with. Think about groups of people who fit the profile for the attributes list you thought of (because I know you didn't actually write it down). Did you say youʼre book would be great for Momʼs with kids? Then list Momʼs with kids. Is your book great for people who like nature? Perhaps then, naturalists. List these people by group, not individual to help keep the scope wide by narrow at the same time.

Now that you're narrowing down, look at these groups in terms of social networking.

Where can you find people that would be apt to participate in the groups you listed above? What websites or physical groups cater to the interests youʼve mentioned?

What might come next?

Start spreading yourself into places where that audience is.

See, social networking isn't enough by itself. It works when it's done to the target audience. That's a key element of marketing and hopefully that little tidbit will help you!


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Ms. Laine's newest release!!


Click on image to add on Goodreads

Silent Echoes

Games of Zeus
PNR / Thriller
Release Date: March 11, 2013
Target Reader: Adult

For years, Ian Sands has enjoyed his life as a bachelor, taking advantage of singlehood and exploring his own definition of passion—whoever she may be. Blonde. Brunette. Tall. Short. Hot. Not. Five months ago, all that changed.

Ian’s been celibate, frustrated and desperately seeking answers to why one woman, who doesn’t play by girls’ rules, haunts his every waking moment.

As a renovations specialist, Taylor Marsh lives, works and breathes construction—a profession her southern belle of a mother would rather Taylor not touch. The same goes for Ian; Mama Marsh would never approve of him.

Like Ian, though, each time he and Taylor draw near, something compels her to get closer.

Something else tells her to run away.

Fast.

As much as their histories suggest they shouldn’t be together, neither Taylor nor Ian can deny the pull, and the two succumb, indulging in a relationship that brings pleasure to body, mind and soul.

Doing so, though, also ushers in a series of events both should have foreseen as well as one final outcome neither expected.

Purchase Links

My 4* review can be found HERE.

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About Aimee Laine


Aimee is a romantic at heart and a southern transplant with a bit of the accent (but not a whole bunch). She's married to her high school sweetheart, and with him, she's produced three native North Carolinians, two of whom share the same DNA.

With an MBA and a degree in Applied Mathematics, there's absolutely no reason she should be writing romance novels. Then again, she shouldn't need a calculator to add two numbers, either ... but she does.



Links:



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Seven Secrets to Social Networking #MarketingTip #WritersLife



Get involved! Share YOU.

Ever met someone who loves reading the same genre you live for and suddenly the ‘so tell me about yourself’ becomes a gush fest over the latest books, authors, plot lines, and characters?

I love it.

That connection from shared hobbies & passions – connecting like this with total strangers always makes me feel like I’ve found a new best book bud. 

Am I strange? Perhaps. BUT this is a part of marking 101 – getting to know your potential audience. Social media can play a huge roll in this.

How? By helping us find like-minded readers.

There are tons of places, but first we need to make ourselves visible. Let people know who we are and build relationships - friendships - but most of all trust.

Where to start?

1.  Create a website.

It’s all about building your ‘brand’, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. I use weebly.com because it’s a cinch for semi-computer illiterate peeps like me. Look at other author websites to see how they set theirs up. Blurbs, freebie chapters, bio, contact information, images – your headshot and cover - news & events. The ideas are endless.

2.  Build a blog.

WordPress or Blogger, it doesn't matter so long as you do it with purpose. Talk about what you’re going through in the writing, editing, or publishing phase, but don’t just write it for other writers!!

Let readers know how the process affects you, so they can get to know you better. 

Connect!

Visit other author blogs, leave comments, and build relationships. Offer to help promote their work. Scratching backs can go a long way to help you get exposure.

3.  Join Twitter.

Is it really a useful social networking tool? I’ve argued with myself over this dozens of times wondering if I’m building relationships with readers OR writers of similar loves. 

Then I looked at it a different way – how do I respond to other writers? I’ve found a few on Twitter who I now faithfully follow. As soon as I see a tweet indicating news of them I’m on it like a fly on … well, you know.

So, yes. I decided to stick with the little blue birdie.

4.  Make a Facebook Page.

Is it any different than Twitter? Not really, but not every potential reader tweets. This is where automatic status updates comes into play. You can set up your tweets to post on Facebook and vice versa. You can also have your blog posts ‘share’ to both Twitter and your Facebook page.

5.  Set up freebie accounts with other groups of like-minded peeps.

Goodreads has tons of groups in every genre. Join them then join in conversations. Make friends. There’s also:

Writers Forums
Local book clubs

There are many more, but these are a couple I utilize. Ask family, friends, or cyber space buds where they go to chat about your genre of choice. Browse a bit and find new ones that look promising.

6.  Be consistent.

Not just in posting, visiting, and commenting, but in making yourself recognizable as well. Be sure to use the same headshot for each media outlet! 

Consistently be yourself. Remember, the whole point of social networking is to let people know who you are. You want to build a fan base of those banwaggoners who will help spread the word of your awesomeness!

7. Finally, set time limits.

This is my greatest struggle.


Allot time for each and every site, be it daily or weekly. Just be sure to stick to the schedule. Deviating like I do (much too often) can cost you time that you can’t afford – especially if you’re a busy parent like me.

Right now I’m under a deadline to complete the 2nd book of my contracted 2-book series, Pool of Souls. I’ve only 20k left to write, but I’ve been dragging my feet in every possible way, social networking and dreaming of my garden being the two biggest offenders!

Shame on me, I know. Daily I give myself a swift kick in the arse, but it doesn’t always have an effect.

Doubtless there are tons of other secrets to social networking, but these are the ones I’ve been dealing with the last two-ish years or so. Have a few YOU care to share? I’m all ears and willing to learn from those who’ve gone before me.