A recent study by the National Endowment for the Arts showed that fiction reading is on the rise, especially among 18- to 24-year-olds.
–Newsweek
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Authors should know that there’s a gold mine online!
What’s all the talk about Blogs? What’s a blogosphere?
Well, it’s another vehicle to “get out there.”
When I coach authors, I ask them if they have a blog. Then I ask them if they even subscribe to other blogs or even read and comment on other blogs. More times than not they answer, “No. Why?”
Are you blogophobic? Are you one of those people that “don’t get it” when it comes to blogging, social media and the constant internet chatter?
Whether you love or hate technology, it’s something we all must deal with. And if you’re in business, have a ministry or want to be noticed as an author or artist – a blog is a “must have” if you want to be relevant and extend your brand.
A blog (short for web log) is a type of website that functions as an online journal, with the most recent entry displayed first.
As recently as ten years ago, blogs didn’t exist. It’s estimated that there are between 50 and 100 million blog readers in the U.S. And according to blogworldexpo.com, Blog readers average 23 hours online each week.
An essential aspect of social media is the idea of staying connected and communicating with an audience. Blogs are about two-way communication – because when you write a blog entry, people can comment. Hence, blogs led the “Web 2.0” revolution!
Besides, blogging is fast, cheap and can be fun! It’s a way to put your personality on display – frequently!
Nickcole Byrd, an ordained minister at Higher Dimension church in Houston, Texas and author of “The Purple Book of Success” says, “Blogging is a creative and surefire way for people to experience you, your service and or product. It allows readers to take part in my world as it relates to empowerment and leadership. As a writer it provides a canvas for me to further develop concepts and ideas for future writing endeavors. Blogging creates an infallible opportunity to leave a writing legacy.”
If you already have a traditional website, you can start a separate blog. There are programs that will automatically display your blog posts on your website. Even if you already have a traditional website, you can still add content pages to your blog to make it more like a website. Nickcole Byrd creates “blogsites” for ministries. This is a blog that functions as website but is really a WordPress blog. She can also attach the blog to a current website too. (This will increase your Search Engine Optimization automatically too.)
Byrd created Ministry Marketing Solutions’ website which is really a “blogsite.” She set it up and we update it without any help. No technical skills needed! That’s the beauty of a blog. Anyone can do it!
Each of the entries or articles is called a “post” and the posts are usually updated once or twice a week. They are never long posts (about 300 words). Sometimes posts are lists of favorite things or links, a video from YouTube, a comment on current events or an interesting photo with a tag line.
Whatever you are passionate about, that’s what you blog. Before you set up your blog, think about what you like most – do you want to write opinion, teach theology, do videos, create conversation, or just have a place share your creative content – songs, sermons, devotionals, etc. It’s your blog – there are no rules!
“To connect with audiences today, you need to stop pushing your message out and start pulling your customers in with good content that spreads like a virus via social media. And there is no better tool for this than the blog, said Byrd.
“Blogging gives aspiring entrepreneurs, ministries and authors a strategic way of marketing and influencing buyer’s decisions to buy their product or buy into your ideas. When you post good content, it’s a key way to position yourself as an expert and thought leader. Websites give your validity online – but blogs build your brand and connects to your core audience consistently,” concluded Byrd.
Make your PR stick, blog on and make it viral!
Ministry marketing pioneer, Award-winning social media strategist and PR Coach Pam Perry helps African American Christian authors garner publicity and leverage online strategies. As a 20-year PR veteran, she is also the co-author of “Synergy Energy: How to Use the Power of Partnerships to Market Your Book, Grow Your Business and Brand Your Ministry.” She offers help through her private mentorship program at http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Pam_Perry/267934
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5447982
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Take your fears to the next level and use them to gain more book sales and achieve more literary goals!
https://www.e-junkie.com/ejm/hubbooks
Comment now about your book fears this month or leave your marketing challenges you’ve overcome to teach others!
Today we’re Calling out the bloggers who are participating in the challenge.
Let’s all do a check on the participating Michigan Authors who have said they are up to the challenge. Check out their #MotownWriters Blog Challenge articles by visiting their sites.
Let’s all challenge and encourage them; especially if they’re not doing it!!
Irma Givens – http://irmagivens.blogspot.com Twitter: @Irma_Givens
Dr. Dee – https://drdcmatthews.wordpress.com Twitter: @DrDCMatthews
Denise Bryson – https://redwingredtail.blogspot.com Twitter: @OneBlackRoseDJB
Lisa Lipscomb – http://somethingnewseries.com/blog/ Twitter: @LightBreezes
L. Walker – http://www.diaryofaninsanehousewife.com Twitter: @InsaneHW313
Are you interested in signing up? There’s still time. Catch up with us at:
http://motownwriters.com/blogchallenge2017
Got questions or comments about the blog challenge, click here and post in the comments
Share this post as well to let others know about the challenge! Especially if you’re one of the challengers.
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” —Stephen King
By D.S. Edwards
Guest Blogger
When most people think of a book signing, they picture John Grisham sitting at a table in Barnes & Noble with a line of people waiting, literary treasure in hand and looks of anticipation on their faces.
While this is an accurate picture in the world of traditional publishing, it’s not necessarily what a book signing looks like in the world of Indie. Before I go further and give you some tips on becoming a known author, I want you to close your eyes, reach deep down into your soul, find that lump of pride all authors carry around, pull it out, chew on it for a minute and swallow it.
Now that we have officially gotten over ourselves, and removed our biggest obstacle, we can begin the journey to becoming a successful author. I’ll give you some ideas by sharing my own journey.
read more; https://publicityhound.com/blog/book-signing-events
I’m always available to answer questions for you because it may be the questions millions of other authors are trying to get answers and the answer we come up with could help not only you, but others as well.
If you’d like just a private consultation, click here.
Now, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? (Leave your response in the comments)
Access our free book copyright page example as well as learn how to create a book copyright page for your book so as to protect yourself.
read more: https://kindlepreneur.com/book-copyright-page-examples-ebook/
From Publishers Weekly:
The Great American Read, an ambitious eight-episode documentary series that PBS has just announced, will explore the place of reading in American culture. The show, which is set to start airing in the summer of 2018, will kickoff with a two-hour program that will reveal a list of America’s 100 best-loved books.
The inaugural episode of the series, set for May 2018, will feature the list of 100 best-loved books, chosen by the public and by a panel of literary experts. The final program in the fall will unveil a Top Ten list of America’s best-loved books, culminating in the first-ever nation-wide vote to reveal America’s single best-loved book of all.
. . . .
read more: http://www.thepassivevoice.com/2017/08/pbs-to-unveil-americas-favorite-books-in-new-tv-series/
We hope you had a fantastic Labor Day weekend!!
This is a reminder that if you haven’t registered for this Saturday’s Polygraph Seminar for Writers seminar, there’s still time. This seminar will explain the science behind the polygraph machine as well as interrogation techniques.
Here are Christopher Lanfear’s amazing credentials:
25 years Michigan State Police/Retired Detective Lieutenant. State of Michigan licensed polygraph examiner since 1979. Dual Licensure as both Public (Government) and Private Examiner. Chief Examiner for Oakland County Government (48 policies agencies and prosecutor’s office) for 18 years. Retired January 2017. Over 1000 Homicide Investigations and over 3000 Criminal Sexual Assault Investigations. Court Certified Expert, Criminal Investigation, Narcotics Investigation, Polygraph Examinations, Interview & Interrogation. Currently Forensic Polygraph Examiner, testing for Defense and Appellate Counsel. State of Michigan Appellate Defender’s Office, Federal Defender’s Office (Detroit) and Federal Defender’s Office (Flint).
To register, either visit our website
www.michigansinc.com
or follow the below link to the Eventbrite site:
goo.gl/ZxvVcL
We hope to see you Saturday!
https://www.overdrive.com/creators/767334/sylvia-hubbard
Now there are various books by myself and of course, other authors you can download for free with your library card!
September is Library sign up month and I would like to remind readers that you can read a lot of my work for FREE just by signing up and using your library card! Even if you have an Amazon Kindle. (which are on sale this month and there are instructions at the bottom of this post)
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Please welcome Laura Heffernan, the author of America’s Next Reality Star and Sweet Reality, to WU today! A little about her:
Laura is living proof that watching too much TV can pay off. When not watching total strangers get married, drag racing queens, or cooking competitions, Laura enjoys travel, baking, board games, and seeking new experiences. She lives in the Northeast with her amazing husband and two furry little beasts.
When Laura first pitched writing a piece on her experience with a large number of promo sites, we thought it could make for a fresh and interesting case study–and it does. Sales are a funny thing, and linked to variables that are often unknowable to us. Laura’s personal analysis of her sales numbers and their correlation with a roundup of ad runs provides food for thought and may introduce you to services you never knew existed.
Thank you, Laura, for taking the time to compile and share your numbers for us!
You can learn more about Laura and her novels on her website, and by following her on Facebook and Twitter.
Sat, September 9, 2017
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM EDT
Before you put yourself “Out There”… Do You have the Edge? Here’s how to get it!
“You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him.” John Maxwell
If you really want to “get out there” – make sure your packaging is tight. Work on the outside packaging as well as the “inside package.” If not, you’ll be hiring a publicist to do crisis PR for you because you’ll need someone to do reputation management. And it’s harder to stop bad press than to create good press!
So, what is the Edge? It’s that “IT” factor that propels success in life. Do you have it? People who have the Edge share a number of characteristics. They are successful, but never at the expense of others. They are people who genuinely love and care about others. They abide by the Golden Rule and excellence (not perfection) is their goal.
They are long-term survivors in the business world, which has a way of devouring its own. They survive because they maintain friends. Relationships are the key to their success. They know more than networking. They connect with others and click!
They keep these friends because they are loyal to them. Their networks invariably describe them, in glowing terms.
Here are some of the qualities that can help you develop the Edge – which is essential before any PR campaign is to begin.
1. DEPENDABILITY. Do what you say you will do. This can be tricky, because it involves a certain amount of self knowledge and self management. If you say you’ll follow up by 9 a.m. Friday, you have to know what is feasible for you to be true to your word. How long will it take you to finish a project based on other things going on? You keep your schedule and know your work habits..
Never say, “I can not” before you’ve tried.
2. TRUSTWORTHINESS. You may hear gossip, but you do not have to pass it along. Don’t spread something that is confidential. If you get a reputation for discretion, everyone will confide in you and you will know everything that is going on, even if you do not talk about it.
3. RESPONSIBILITY. People with the Edge accept responsibility for their actions and don’t blame others if they fail. They don’t make excuses and freely give credit to their associates. They are quick to apologize when they are wrong. A great trait to have!
4. COMMUNICATION. Keep in touch. Call people back. Be a nice person and write short, friendly email or regular notes to stay in touch. If you are in contact with your network of friends and associates when things are going along fine for you – you’ll see that they’ll be there when you need them. Don’t just reach out to people when you need a “favor.” People know when they are being used.
5. GENEROSITY. Make a habit of being generous and kind. Do things for free without expecting a return for it. Volunteer. Give away information or small bits of advice. Pass along job leads and provide tips to those looking for a job. Look for opportunities to put people in touch with each other. Be known as a “go to” person. Someone who is a “giver” not a “taker.”
If you recommend a friend for a job or give them a lead for some business, you have given that friend a tremendous compliment and you have earned some long-term loyalty.
Even though you sometimes must say no to a request, make sure in some way you are always saying yes. Here is one way to do it. Whenever you decide you can not do something, give a credible reason then offer to help in some other way: “I can not attend this event because I am right in the middle of this assignment, but I would give you another person who would be willing to go and they would really get a lot out of it.”
6. COURTESY AND KINDNESS. If you can’t pray about it – don’t talk about. Speak well of people or do not speak at all. This includes people who have fired you, wronged you or spoken badly about you. This is really how to have the Edge! This will toughen you up and mold your humility.
Display good manner at all times, particularly with those who actively antagonize you. It will drive them absolutely crazy. It may also win them over. The Golden Rule at work – will yield Gold every time. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you!
7. INTEGRITY AND ETHICS. If you can’t do it in front of your child, then don’t do. If it makes you uncomfortable or you feel a “ping” in your spirit – that’s a sign that is telling you you’ve crossed the line and in a danger zone. Develop a standard of behavior you can live with. Let your conscience be your guide. Let peace rule. This means when you make a tough decision, you feel you have done the right thing, even if it hurts.
8. PERSISTENCE. No one is ever a success in life unless they know how to persist. This is probably the most single way to get the EDGE!
Victory is assured to those who endure – until the end. Almost everyone has one good idea, one good effort, one good impulse. People with the Edge prove themselves by repeatedly being willing to do what others will not. They are not quitters. They are relentless and will try every angle and research every opportunity – and because they are relationship driven – will enlist the help of their friends.
People with the Edge can get everyone in the boat rowing in the same direction.
Before you think a good photo, brochure, corporate logo, website and press kit will give you the Edge – think again. The Edge is takes time to develop. Character counts and it starts on the inside. It starts at home. It starts within.
No amount of PR can promote the right message if you don’t have the right interior motives. It takes time to become that sharp, so you might as well start now: in business, you are only as good as your relationships – with God, Yourself and others.
Ministry marketing pioneer, Award-winning social media strategist and PR Coach Pam Perry helps African American Christian authors garner publicity and leverage online strategies. As a 20-year PR veteran, she is also the co-author of “Synergy Energy: How to Use the Power of Partnerships to Market Your Book, Grow Your Business and Brand Your Ministry.” She offers help through her private mentorship program at http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Pam_Perry/267934
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5447951
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