#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: Publicity and Publishing Today – The Battle Between Old School Versus New School #bookpromo #ammarketing

Those Golden Days of Publishing are Gone!

In the golden days, an author would secure a book deal through an agent, publish the book, go on tour escorted by the publicist or media escort – and if they scored enough publicity, they’d become a “best selling” author.

Or at the very least, the author’s book sales would cover the tour, pay back the advance and make the publisher some money. Profit was the name of the game – and the system was working – until about 2005.

Suddenly bookstores, media properties and publishing houses began to crumble. The internet was the “game changer” and the traditional book publishing and promotion process have become ineffective.

Up until this point, the world wide web was for those techy-geeky folks and had no real impact on book sales. But now Amazon.com, print-on-demand, viral marketing messages, social media and powerful online communities have leveled the playing field.

Bookstores, agents, fat clunky press kits and publicists scoring traditional media are not the keys to an author’s success anymore.

There are tons of self-published or independent books that have made history – and surprised the publishing world. Like The Shack, a Christian novel by William P. Young was originally self-published in 2005. And as of February 2010, over seven million copies in print worldwide, spent seventy weeks holding the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list, and it continues to remain in the top ten to date.

The success of The Shack demonstrates what word-of-mouth and community networking can do for a self-published book, but more interestingly, the market strength of religious books in the United States, within and without the book publishing industry.

So let’s compare old school and new school way of doing things:

Old School: Traditional hard and soft-cover books
New School: Digital books, eBooks, Kindles, iPad and other wireless reading devices are on the way!

Old School: Book tours
New School: Blog tours & webinars

Old School: Getting reviews in magazines and newspapers
New School: Getting reviews on Amazon and in book communities where readers hang out like Shelfari, goodreads, librarything.com, rawsistaz and more

Old School: Web 1.0 (webmasters needed for HTML and complicated stuff)
New School: Web 2.0 (freedom – just a blogger blog or WordPress.com blog) Two-way communication!

Old School: Mailing out ARCs, books and big press kits
New School: EPK(electronic press kits) and eBooks

Old School: Media Escort
New School: Virtual Assistant

Old School: Press releases emailed and mailed to media
New School: SEO press releases sent or using online media matching service like Pitch Rate or Reporter Connection

Old School: Printing, stamping and mailing newsletters to mailing list accumulated over the years
New School: Sending out eNewsletters & continual email marketing campaigns using autoresponders and broadcast emails

Old School: Creating & updating media lists
New School: Capturing emails of interested readers using an “opt-in” database program like AWeber

Old School: TV interviews
New School: Creating book trailers, viral videos and streaming LIVE online

Old School: Authors visiting reading groups and libraries
New School: Teleconferencing or streaming live to many groups at the same time from the comfort of your home via Skype or a bridge line

Old School: Postcard mailings to readers, bookstores and organizations
New School: Eblast postcard to thousands using email marketing services like Goodgirlbookclub, BlackGospelPromo, ChristianPRGroup or DetroitGospel

Old School: Radio Interviews
New School: Podcasts and internet radio shows (heard online or downloaded via iTunes)

Old School: Magazine features
New School: Ezine Features

Old School: Writing a column in newspapers
New School: Syndicated articles submitted on article directories like Ezine using keywords and generating web traffic or writing a regular blog

Old School: Stigma that self-published books “didn’t cut it” and that’s why they’re not with a major house
New School: Savvy self-published authors are doing it big, getting noticed, making money and living a successful career doing what they love – writing!

Old School: Generating publicity in media outlets and getting no immediate input from audiences
New School: Building relationships, getting direct response from readers and creating communities online

Old School: Getting radio, TV, Newspaper and magazine reviews
New School: Creating thousands of followers, friends and fans online who interact with you and are connected with you through your whole career

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

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Promo checklist

Going through several promoting articles I started to build a checklist.

Beginnings would love this and intermediate can use this list as reminders.

Advance people?

Just share it or make special articles about your promoting checklists.

Checklist when publishing books

1. Make a great book cover
2. Edit your book well
3. Create a good description of book
4. Complete Amazon Author Page
5. Announce on all social media
6. Encourage reviews
7. Do a book trailer & video promos
8. Become an Amazon Affiliate
9. Get promo material for your book
10.Create a hashtag for book
Bonus:
11. Check out AmazonAuthorInsights.com
12. Blog – a least once a week

What is your promotion to do lists?  Comment below

Feeling Invisible on Facebook? How’s Your Organic Reach?

Finding it hard to stand out from the crowd?|

Years ago, when I decided to branch out and teach virtual classes regarding craft and social media, I knew I needed to live by my own mantra—We Are Not Alone. Sure I could kill myself learning every platform and maybe even do a passable job, but I am way too Type A for that. You guys deserved the best. So I reached out to those around me who were far better than I was, the experts I looked to on various subjects.

Sure, I do a good job on Facebook and am an expert on the basics, but if you REALLY want to up your game? Really want to know how to get the most out of Facebook, particularly the fan page? There is no one I could recommend more than journalist, columnist, speaker Lisa Hall-Wilson. She taught me what I know and I have a lot more to learn so believe you me, I am taking her class.

Lisa is here to talk about a subject we all face—being invisible. It does no good to be on Facebook or create content if we don’t know how to play the game. And trust me, a lot of it is a game. What is the best content? How do we use it? Grow it? Maximize it? How can we get a fantastic ROI off Facebook without living there?

Well, Lisa is going to talk about that today, so this is me shutting up now…

Take it away, Lisa!

Meme via nuevosmedios.mx

read more: http://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/04/feeling-invisible-on-facebook-hows-your-organic-reach/

#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: Christian Authors Should Not Blame God For Lack of Book Exposure and Sales #bookpromo #ammarketing

So can you afford not to promote your book if God told you to write it?

“I want to be on the New York Times best-seller list. I know everyone is going to want my book. It’s anointed.” I hear stuff like this from new authors all the time. Strangely, those who have been in the game for a while don’t say such statements. They’ve learned. Even the authors who have a track record with three or four books published (not just printed), don’t expect to be the next “Oprah book club darling.” Everyone who is anyone wants their book on Oprah.

I just smile when I hear the comment and pray, “LAWD, why me?”

I specialize in the Christian market because I believe in the message of the Gospel. That’s my mission – to market the message of the gospel to as many people as possible. So I run across tons of Christian authors. I encourage many to write their books. I even mentor and coach some through the self-publishing process. I always tell aspiring authors to write what God tells them – not what’s popular.

This is where it gets sticky. Even though God may give you a word to write and the book is published, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to be the next TD Jakes or Joyce Meyer.

The book may be anointed but it still has to be sold through the world system – which is business. I try to tell authors “do not despise small beginnings.” Every business has cycles. Start up is phase 1 – and the most expensive.

Books are business. People pay money for books and when money is exchanged, there are expectations. People buy what they are motivated to buy – not necessarily what is “best” for them but what they desire. Advertising, marketing, publicity create desire.

Now, if an author were to print books and give them away – that’s another thing. No marketing is needed. But most want to make some sales and make a profit.

And it seems like some new authors even dream of being “rich and famous” and having people hunt them down for an autograph. Even Christians want to be a celebrity – some even a SUPERSTAR! Sigh.

But it take a well thought-out marketing plan, an accurate assessment of the target market, a good grasp of social media tools and a great deal of knowledge about how books are sold.

You don’t just learn that by being on your knees in prayer – thought a good book is birthed in prayer. The sales cycle is sustained and elevated by marketing skills, literary knowledge and promotion experience.

To really make a mountain of books move – you have to be smart and sharp. Getting information from a book coach or literary PR professional or a writing conference is key.

Ministry marketing pioneer, social media marketing expert 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.” For a free MP3 of “What Every Author Should Know,” go to http://www.PamPerryPR.com. She’s also the creator of the ChocolatePagesNetwork, a social network for Christian authors and the Chocolate Pages Show on Blogtalkradio.

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New Book, New Writing Process? Why Changing it Up Works #motownwriters

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I have this weird habit of tracking patterns in my head. When I worked on my Master’s degree in Cultural Geography, I suddenly realized I was a social scientist at heart, watching people do their thing and examining why they did it. How they shape their environment and how their environment shapes them—their habits, their beliefs, their cultural norms, etc. It should have come as no surprise to me that I would follow market trends in publishing as I discussed a couple of months ago (HERE), or that I would examine my writing process (and those of others) so closely. Why people write the way they do, their methods, their tics and preferences, their successes or failures. Could I have luck employing their process, too?

After a lot of thought and plenty of practice, the most profound thing I’ve discovered in all of these examinations about process is that each book requires a new set of “rules”. Process is transient. It’s fluid. It begs to be made relevant after each new start.

For my first couple of novels (historical fiction biographies), I worked with a detailed outline and character maps and filled in the flesh, heart, and soul of the book from there. For the short story I wrote for a WWI anthology, I had three major concepts in mind—a mother’s grief, revenge born of pain, and a character with dual citizenship who grappled with belonging nowhere—and I pantsed the entire plot from this premise.

For my third novel, I worked with a well-known set of characters and the canon associated with their story. I had to create new plot threads, breathe new life into these characters. A retelling, if you will. The character maps didn’t help me one bit here until I had already written a full first draft. I needed to understand why the original author created the characters the way he did in the first place, then deconstruct them, and give them an entirely new dimension through their backstory.

My latest that’s releasing this fall, is in an epistolary format with a framing story. A new style, still!

With each book, there were pieces of my process that didn’t change, regardless of the structure. I had to discover who my characters were by exploring their backstory. I needed to know where the story began—that inciting incident—and how it would resolve itself, as well as the stakes driving my character to change. I needed a pitch, a feel for the themes I would explore, a general idea of how these pieces would fit into a three act structure, at least loosely.

But the process I used to write each of these works changed. I think this is the reason why:

read more: http://writerunboxed.com/2017/04/27/new-book-new-writing-process-why-changing-it-up-works/

How to Create a Book Cover That Connects with Readers #motownwriters

A novel can take a few years to write (if you’re lucky).|

By the time your book is ready for a cover, it can be tempting to rush through this step. But your book’s cover is just as important as the story inside—especially during those critical few seconds when a purchasing decision is made—which is why it deserves as much thought and attention. I’m sure I’ve overlooked hundreds of great books because I didn’t like their covers. And I’ve purchased more than a few mediocre books because their covers were too beautiful to resist. Our goal as indie authors is to produce a book that is a masterpiece both inside and out, so it’s a tragedy when a book’s inner beauty is overlooked because of an inferior cover.Since publishing Empty Arms, many people have complimented me on my book cover. While I’m grateful that my cover resonates with readers, I must admit, it wasn’t all luck. I spent a lot of time deconstructing book covers, developing a creative brief to clearly communicate my vision, and hiring the right graphic designer to execute it. One of the best parts of being an indie author is having full creative control over every aspect of your book, including the cover; but unless you know what you’re doing, it can also be the scariest. Today, I’m going to share the design process and best practices that helped me create a book cover that readers love.

Read more: http://writerunboxed.com/2017/04/29/how-to-create-a-book-cover-that-connects-with-readers/

#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: Be Your OWN Publicist #bookpromo #ammarketing

When marketing make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read. -Leo Burnett, advertising legend

I saw the PR person rise up out of a lot of people during a recent national Talk Show host contest. People were tooting their “OWN” horn and getting eyeballs to their video audition. And racking in votes! I saw one contestant with more than three million votes. That’s a lot of exposure!

Some took it a bit further and leveraged their audition to get media coverage. They wrote a press release, called their local news station or local newspaper – and BAM – they got a media hit. Not front page story, but some traditional media exposure none the less.

What was their “hook” that led to the media interest? Basic “local guy/girl goes for the big time.” People love to cheer for the underdog and are always fans of folks from their hometown.

It was cute human interest story – nice video and sound bite. Great plug for the national show (the station was a local affiliate.)

Hey, whether they win or lose, they got folks buzzing about them. They got their “15 minutes of fame.” And the TV station got folks tuning in watching the new national TV show which led into their early evening news program. Public Relations (PR) is great when it’s a win-win for everyone!

Which is what people want, right? Publicity is about amplifying your message to the masses – typically through radio, TV or print. But in today’s digital world, by increasing your online presence through social media you can be your own publicist. You could have the next “viral” video sensation by having your YouTube video viewed by millions.

And you know happens when you are a top video on YouTube? You hit the radar of the media. CNN regularly features the top YouTube videos on their program – and print reporters search the web looking for what’s hot. So can you be found? Are you ready for Oprah?

Here’s a few tips to get your PR Mojo Moving:

1. Have a solid brand. Make sure your stuff is tight and right. From your logo, to your tagline, to your website URL, to your professional email (no Gmail, AOL or Yahoo, please!), to your email signature, to your photo and other graphics. Have everything matching – and make sure nothing is random.

2. Position yourself as an expert. One of the quickest ways to do this is to write a book. Even if you don’t become a best-selling author, you would have instant credibility. Write columns for local newspapers or magazines in your niche. Do your own seminars. Host an event where you give out awards to leaders in your field. Have tons of testimonials on your website. Be seen at the right conferences talking/connecting with the right people. Capture that on video or in photos. Post on your website and social media sites. Nothing is random, in PR, every move is strategic and deliberate.

3. Craft and distribute news releases regularly. Just make sure that are newsworthy. Submit them online to the free (or inexpensive) press release distribution services like PR Web, BlackPR, ChristianPR Group or prnewswire. Make sure you have a great press kit and/or news room on your website.

4. Get to know the media. Understand different media outlets. Subscribe to services like PitchRate, HARO or ReporterConnect to get regular emails from media folks looking for sources for stories they are working on. This is the best way for a “newbie” to land in the Wall Street Journal or Good House Keeping.

By using PR effectively you can accelerate your sales and quickly make you a household name. The first step is the most important – making sure your “BRAND ready” and that your brand delivers on its promise. That’s the bottom line.

Ministry marketing pioneer, Award-winning social media strategist and PR Coach Pam Perry helps authors and speakers 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.” Head over to http://www.PamPerryPR.com and get more free tips. She offers help through her private mentorship program at http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com

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#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: What Is Branding and a Brand Promise? #bookpromo #ammarketing

What is Branding?

Many people think that having a logo, tagline, great photos, and maybe a website, blog and Facebook page is all they need to set up their brand. NOT!

However, brand, as we know it today is not a logo. A logo is the tangible identity of a company in the market. Logos can be emblems, signs or symbols designed to portray the image of a company. So you see a logo (which is essentially a piece of art) is not a brand. However, it is integral to the brand.

By branding – you are creating a PERCEIVED image – SO you must distinguish yourself, your book or your organization from others who do similar stuff or offer similar products.

The most critical part: KNOWING WHAT YOUR BRAND STANDS FOR!

What is your brand promise? Who do people say YOU ARE? Are they confused? Are you?

Said another way, branding is a way you can:

• Affirm your value to the market place

• Highlight your unique selling point

• Establish your reputation and create a loyal “fan” base

• Attract your core target audience and garner customers

It takes a long time build up substantial “brand equity” – don’t destroy it because you have a new idea. Stick with your logo, tagline and other elements you have set in place. You want to get to the point with your brand so that it is embedded into the subconscious minds of your audience.

When it is in the psyche of consumers, they will automatically connect a phrase or photo with you. When you hear a name – you get a mental picture or think of a quality. If I say, TD Jakes or Oprah – you have an idea of what to expect from those “brand names.” They are famous, true, but they are also a brand. And a brand translates in business into dollars. That’s the bottom line.

A good example is the “Just do it” campaign. That phrase and “swoosh” logo are their brand. Whether their shoes are better than others – well, that’s how you see it. But regardless, you’ll pay a premium price for their shoes because they’ve branded themselves that way.

Branding in business is about building an empire. What does your brand say about you? You can gage by checking sales figures. That is a good indication of how well your brand is doing.

What will bad branding do? NOTHING. Meaning you be invisible! NO action. No reaction! FLAT!

And there’s nothing worst than that in the marketplace. A BRAND MAKES YOU STAND OUT!

Your visibility gives you credibility.

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.” For a free MP3 of “What Every Author Should Know,” go to http://www.PamPerryPR.com. She offers help through her private mentorship program at http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com

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#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: 10 Questions You Must Answer Before You Self-Publish #bookpromo #ammarketing

I see so many authors who have this great idea to write a book. They get inspired and lock out the world for three to 12 months and write. Their word flow from their fingertips to the keyboard and after before you know – they have a manuscript.

According to a publishing industry survey, 80 percent of Americans think they should write a book. And only two percent actually finish a manuscript.

So you’ve finished writing the book. Now what?

For more writers, they think it’s about finding right agent or publisher. They then search the internet for agents or publishers and send out query letters. And then the rejections come in. They realize that no one wants to publish them without “proving” they that can publish and market own their book first.

That’s why the self-publishing industry (once called Vanity Press) has flourished! Everyone is a publisher. Traditional publishers want to know if you have real marketability and are willing to take the risk to publish yourself.

To most writers this sounds crazy. They think that it’s their great book traditional publishers want. Not so. They need authors who have a built-in audience. They need authors who know how to sell books.

Bottom line. It’s business – not personal.

But before you write a single word (or before you spend the money getting your book published), review these questions and honestly assess if you are ready to become a best-selling SELF-PUBLISHED author:

1. You have at least $2,500 to $5,000 to invest in the project.

2. Your topic is a topic that is very “marketable” in a book.

3. You regularly support other author events, i.e. book signings and lectures.

4. You frequently visit bookstores, know what the trends are and know (and read) some of the best sellers.

5. You have a website AND a blog to sell/market your book. (You blog regularly and have a following, right?)

6. You’ve published articles or regularly speak/lecture thereby you have an “audience” for your book.

7. You research and read books/magazines on publishing or go to writer’s conferences or are apart of a writer’s group – either online or offline.

8. You know a professional graphic designer, PR Coach, editor and webmaster – or at least know where to hire one.

9. You have a written marketing plan and know how you’re going to sell your book- before you’ve written it.

10. You have at least 10 to 20 hours a week to promote your book and have money for a PR Coach.

If you have answered “yes” to 7 or more of these questions, you are a good candidate to be a successful author. If not, you now have a guideline us to what to do before you start the publishing process.

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

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#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: What to Do Daily, Weekly and Monthly to Brand Your Book #bookpromo #ammarketing

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey

Most authors will not become millionaires unless they have multiple works or multiple streams of income that can keep their income level consistent. Otherwise, they will not be able to give up their “day jobs.”

But there are ways to build momentum, expand your platform and solidify your brand so you are successful. Most authors tell me, “I don’t have time” or “I don’t know what to next” or “I hit a brick wall – and I can’t seem to get motivated to market anymore.”

You can market yourself everyday just by doing these things. When I coach clients, these are the things I tell them to do on an ongoing basis:

Monthly

• Attend a writers meeting or critique group.
• Ask for reviews or endorsements from those you’ve given “comp” copies too.
• Attend a civic organization and tell the members what you do.
• Read trade publications like Writer’s Digest or The Writer.
• Take a teleclass or attend another type of live internet event.
• Look for contests you can enter or awards you can nominate yourself for.
• Create a YouTube video message or be a guest on a local cable show.
• Hold or plan a teleseminar.
• Update your media list & research for new ones to add.
• Invite a media person you’ve admired to lunch.
• Participate at an event by speaking, presenting or teaching.
• Write articles and submit to article directories.
• Post reviews of other books you’ve read on Amazon.
• Write and post press releases.
• Write and pitch feature stories to the media.
• Create and distribute an online or direct mail newsletter.
• Reach out to bloggers and see if you can do a “blog tour” with them.
• Meet with your advisors, mentors or “master mind” partners.
• Add additional information to your website or blogsite (i.e. a blog article, a link).
• Keep in touch with key bookstores that are selling your books.
• Email mini-courses to those who sign up via an Eblast that you send out.
• Manage back end tasks such as customer support, accounting, sales, etc.
• Look for easier ways to do business. Ask others what systems they use.

Weekly

• Give someone you meet one of your books and follow up in 30 days.
• Visit an online forum and participate or get some PR coaching.
• Look for new articles to read on internet marketing and joint ventures (Google).
• Listen to podcasts (look for the topic of interest online in a podcast directory).
• Send an eblast to your email list – giving them a tip or link to blog post you found helpful.
• Mail a handwritten note or postcard to someone you met in person or connect with online.
• Post to your blog & add a new feature to “amp” it up (get cues from other blogs).
• Drop postcards or bookmarks at places where you regularly go – bookstores, libraries, hair salons, cleaners, restaurants, coffee shops.
• Update your website or blogsite by adding current “media hits” and interviews.
• Send an email to someone online you would like to connect with.
• Interact with a “group” on Facebook or LinkedIn.
• Get to know the key authors / leaders in your field. Follow their blogs or Google them to see what they are up to.
• Keep track of your stats on your website, blogs and Ezine opens.
• Do at least one blog talk show or at the very least call-in to one.
• Post a bulletin on your MySpace or Facebook and add some new blogs.

Daily

• Write. Write. Write. That’s your main job. Content is king!
• Read some trade pubs or read magazines in your niche.
• Comment on someone else’s blog.
• Make a phone call to a media outlet you’d like to be featured on.
• Read the daily newspapers looking for topics you can comment on.
• Scan columns by the regular columnists and give feedback their blogs.
• Add friends to your Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn accounts.
• Follow someone new on Twitter or Shelfari.
• Add people to your database that you meet or have not been in touch with (with permission).
• Add an automatic signature to all the emails your answer.
• Twitter by sending a link to your blog, or a favorite blog, or a free report they can download.
• Participate in message boards, chat group or yahoo groups that are industry related. This helps to increase exposure and give your information to stay on the cutting-edge.

For a creative writer and author, time is managed with calendars – not with clocks. What you are doing is leaving a virtual “footprint” everywhere you go – online and offline. These elements can be implemented with little or no outside help.

If implemented correctly and consistently, these mini-marketing tactics can help revolutionize your ministry or business in no time. By continually branding yourself with the key message of your platform, people will come to you for information and expertise.

Remember to have a marketing mindset and let people know why they should buy your book (mention the benefits of what the book will do for them.) Keep the main thing “the main thing” – focus on changing lives and making an impact for the Kingdom.

Building solid relationships is critical at every stage of branding. Don’t expect instant results though. Trust is the basis of all relationships. Trust is never freely given – trust is earned. Demonstrate your solid commitment and be willing to stay the course.

Pam Perry is known as the “PR Guru”, “Marketing Whiz” and “Social Media Expert” by the national media such as Detroit Free Press, Publisher’s Weekly and Gospel Today magazine. She was named one of the Top 50 Black Women Business Online by BBWO.

Perry has arguably been one of the more high-powered and visible figures in public relations. Her career serves as a notable example of the potency that personally handled promotion has acquired in the mass media. Perry’s rise in the wrangling world of publicity began when she worked in public relations and advertising. Learning the business from the inside out, Perry and eventually formed her own firm, Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc. To see how she help clients achieve their goals, see http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com

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Publishing Tip: Why Authors Shouldn’t Worry About Piracy

Publishing Tip: Why Authors Shouldn’t Worry About Piracy

One of the common questions from new writers is, “How do I stop people pirating my work?” 

Many of them are even concerned about sending a manuscript to an editor, just in case it ends up on Amazon as a bestselling book under another name.

But authors should be more concerned about obscurity than about piracy, as Robert Kroese discusses today. 

About two years ago, I was on a panel at a writing conference with another author who had self-published a cookbook. I listened while this author declared that she refused to make a digital version of her book available until “they do something about piracy.”

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2017/02/23/piracy/

New Post from @IndiesUnlimited: Oops. That Book Review’s Not Verified

Oops. That Book Review’s Not Verified by Big Al Way, way back in September of 2013 I wrote an article about verified reviews. In the world of Indie publishing, especially where anything directly related to Amazon is concerned, three-and-a-half years is a lifetime. Much of what I wrote then is either no longer true or suspect. In this article, I’m going to talk about some of the changes and why you, I, or a random reader might care. (Or maybe not.) At the time I suggested that the only reason someone might care about whether a review was verified was if they thought the review seemed questionable. Then the “verified” flag would indicate the reviewer had actually bought the book or other item from Amazon. For someone looking at reviews and trying to decide on a purchase, the verified flag might still not be that useful. I suspect some people who are more attuned to happenings regarding Amazon might be concerned about fake or paid reviews, and pay a little more attention. But if they’re aware of these issues, they’re probably aware that reviewers who were willing to write a glowing review for a price have options to make sure those reviews showed as verified purchase reviews anyway. Read more of this post Big Al |  URL: http://wp.me/p1WnN1-iks

#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: How To Keep Customers Happy and Turn Prospects Into Customers With Branding #bookpromo #ammarketing

It’s all about Communicating the Right Brand Message

1. Hire the best receptionist you can find. Make sure they dress professionally and have a pleasant phone voice. They are your front line PR. First impressions stick.

2. Buy a good phone system. Most people would rather talk to a live person than an automated directory of choices. Make sure you use the “on hold” time with marketing information if you do have automation.

3. “Wow” visitors when they go past your facility by purchasing cutting-edge signage. Make sure it “wows” them when people ride up and go past. Electronic signs are worth the investment.

4. Add the personal touch to your brand. You may not be able to greet everyone that comes through the door. You can train your staff to do just that. Having them all dressed in uniform shirts with the logo is a nice touch. At the very least, offer a smile that radiates “welcome and thank you.”

5. Provide a resource table of magazines or a bulletin board with current information. This helps people enjoy themselves if people have to wait. Provide resources to help them or add value to their life or are just entertaining while they wait! They’ll appreciate it. Make sure the information is orderly, current, and attractively displayed to encourage sales too. This is soft-sell approach.

6. Communicate with customers to build rapport and keep them excited about your business so they tell others. The best advertising is still “word-of-mouth.” Collect contact information from every customer. Send regular updates via email to them. If you remember their birthday – you “Wow” ’em.

7. Put your best foot forward. Take extra time and care in what people see first when they walk through your doors. This is critical because it is the place that will make the first impression. Be sure it encompasses the message you want to portray. Evaluate the smell, the backdrops, signage, podiums, flowers, colors, and any other elements..

8. Provide good customer service training. This is key to keep customers happy. Let your staff know how important customers are and how to treat them. Reward them when you catch them doing a great job!

9. Impress customers with stunning and extra clean rest rooms. This one detail is what some people remember most. Maintain your brand”signature” in every part of the building, even the bathrooms!

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

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#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: 12 Steps to Building a Powerful Brand Image #bookpromo #ammarketing

Building Blocks for A Solid Corporate ID Kit

1. Design a simple logo that attracts attention. Keeping it simple keeps it easy to produce and easy for branding. A good trick is to fax it to yourself and see how it shows up. If it’s confusing over a fax, it’s not a good logo.

2. Create a tag line that encapsulates your brand. Make it succinct and “catchy” so people can remember it. Make your tagline inviting without it sounding too “cutesy.”

3. Choose your brand colors as a reflection of the personality you want to project. Know that you will live with these colors forever. Put thought into why you’re choosing specific colors. Keep the same color-scheme in everything you do.

4. Hire a professional graphic designer to produce your corporate ID kit. That kit includes business cards, letterhead, envelopes, labels, and web site (even if it is just a contact page). Visit something like GoDaddy to buy the URL that will be your web site address. This investment is under $10 per year.

5. Get several professional headshot photos to use in ads, blogs, program books and other media. Image is everything. Investing in a professional photo shoot is the foundation of many graphic items that you will use over and over again.

6. Put your best foot forward on your business cards. This says plenty about you before you even open your mouth. Invest in good, heavy paperstock, Use both sides of the card. Consider putting your “tag line” on the back.

7. Print brochures in mass to send to those that ask for more information when considering you as a guest speaker or to hire you. People want information they can touch, feel, and walk away with to read later, even though you have a website containing all that information. Invest in a simple yet high-quality piece for multiple uses.

8. Design CD or DVD labels to match your corporate ID kit or book. Make sure your web site, social media tags and phone number are on everything that goes out. Yes, that means everything!

9. Order a standard podium cover to match your corporate ID for special meetings in venues like hotels where their name is displayed. Show your own “brand” not the hotel’s. Have people in your audience stare at your name not a hotel’s name.

10. Invest in the special touches that make you stand out in a crowd at places like tradeshows, conference exhibit halls, and conventions. Order items like table cloths, acrylic holders, portable exhibits, retractable floor banners, tabletop displays for your book and tape table.

11. Order premiums that promote your brand or book. These are small details that set you apart from the pack. Get bulks items such as ink pens, bookmarks, magnets, post-it notes, notepads, or mints, to distribute at special meetings or at your book/tape table when you travel.

12. Have postcards or note cards printed to send to media after interviews or to personally keep in touch with select people and prospects. Have the postcards or note cards match your business card in style, prompting brand recognition in the mind of the receiver.

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.” For a free MP3 of “What Every Author Should Know,” go to http://www.PamPerryPR.com. She offers help through her private mentorship program at http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com

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#MarketingMonday w/@PamPerry: Are You Googlicious? Take This Quiz To See #bookpromo #ammarketing

way companies are thriving while other companies who aren’t “GOOGLICIOUS” are dying.

Test Your Googlicious Quotient:

1. Do you have a Facebook account with at least 1,000 friends in your niche?
2. Have you set up a “Like” Page for your brand, book or business and connected it to Twitter?
3. Do you tweet at least 5 times a day by adding value?
4. Do you use Twitter tools like Tweet Deck or Hoot Suite with your tweets?
5. Do you have an updated and full and complete Google profile?
6. Have you set up a YouTube video channel that brands you by name and look?
7. Have you created at least one video and posted it on your channel with relevant key words to your brand?
8. Do you have a LinkedIn account with recommendations from others proving you to be all you say you are and key words in your “about me” section?
9. Are you part of any groups in LinkedIn and post comments with links (live urls) there often?
10. Do you blog regularly (at least once a week)? Do you have blogroll on it and RSS feed?
11. Do you podcast or are featured on Blogtalk Radio frequently?
12. Do you have photos of yourself tagged on your blog or website with your name as the description?
13. Have you secured a personal domain of your name at a “dot com?” Have you used NameCheck.com to secure your social media “real estate”?
14. Do you have a list of the key words people search for in your industry? Do you use them in blogs and in other content-sharing activities?
15. Have you installed Google Analytics to your blog or website? Do you know where your traffic is coming from and where they are going when they land on your site?
16. Do you have a FriendFeed account?
17. Do you Bookmark items in Digg, Stumbleupon or De.lic.ious?
18. Do you have a professional Flickr account for your photos and videos?
19. Do you have a Slideshare, Scribd or GoogleDocs account?
20. Do you have an email marketing program that posts your emails to your social networks?
21. Do you post articles in article directories and/or do your regularly distribute social media releases?
22. If an author, do you have an updated bio, your blog and video in your Amazon profile? Do you have an online press kit?
23. Are you connecting with your core customer in Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn by delivering “fremiums” to them and growing your email list an average of 10 per week?
24. Do you have RSS “chicklets” or “widgets” on your blog or website that gives you backlinks (which is a key SEO rankings)?
25. Do you have most of the Google products: Google Reader, Google Friend Connect, Gmail, GoogleTalk,YouTube, Google maps, photos, Feedburner and Google Buzz?

If you have 15 or more “yes” answers, you are on you way to being very Googlicious and having your possible customers, potential clients and media find you. Once they find you – that’s where the “Ka-Ching” happens!

People are searching in Google – can they find you? And once they find you, do you know how to convert that connection into a customer?

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.” For a free MP3 of “What Every Author Should Know,” go to http://www.PamPerryPR.com. She offers help through her private mentorship program at http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com

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