My Book Promo Tricks #1 with #OurAuthorGang

What I learned from trying different book promo methods

by

Erika M Szabo

When authors are promoting books and trying to find readers, shouting about the book and pushing it seems as futile as trying to convince a stubborn teenager to do something. The more you push, the more people will ignore you.
The first step of promo for authors is to find the best ways to get readers' attention and then show them why they should read the book.
There is a fine line between being pushy and a successful book promotion.

Let me tell you about a few tricks I learned that makes promotion easier and more successful.

Posting links on social sites, websites, and blogs

Amazon links
Most authors post their Amazon links when promoting their books, but they're not always doing it the right way. When sharing your Amazon sales page link, always use the short version of your book link.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XM68LRS

But, never use this long link that you get by typing your book title in search: https://www.amazon.com/Ancestors-Secrets-2-Book/dp/B00XM68LRS/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1503525871&sr=1-5&keywords=the+ancestors%27+secrets+series.

I'm not sure why, but book reviews, when readers linked in from the long version to post their review, are more likely to have their reviews deleted.

You can link directly to your book’s "Look Inside" free preview pages. Readers more likely will read the free pages if you post the direct link than sending the potential readers to your sales page, hoping they will click “Look inside.”

This is how you can get the link:
Click on your short book link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LNBSKIY

On the right next to the social site share buttons click "Embed"
Copy the URL link: https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00LNBSKIY&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_VYFNzbS8SWR04

But don't post this long link.
Shorten the link and post like this: https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00LNBSKIY&preview

Readers like to read a few pages before they buy the books

I found my flip-book style Author Magazine and book preview magazines very useful. I post the short link, usually with pictures I made for promo posts. Readers can read the preview pages and chapters, click on buying links, listen to audio book samples or watch videos.

https://joom.ag/0CtQ

https://joom.ag/t4fW

If you'd like your own author magazine and need help making it, click on this link:

http://www.goldenboxbooks.com/store/p78/Author%2C_Book_or_Business_Magazine_Design.html

http://www.authorerikamszabo.com

https://www.amazon.com/Erika-M-Szabo/e/B004S0OV12/

https://twitter.com/MultiGenreBooks

Have a great week and Happy Reading!

Next time I'll tell you other tricks that I learned about book promotion.

Erika M Szabo shared this via Google+

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Erika M Szabo via Google+

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Book promo tips

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Erika M Szabo via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

My Book Promo Tricks #1 with #OurAuthorGang
What I learned from trying different book promo methods by Erika M Szabo Promoting books is like trying to convince a stubborn teenager to do something.  The first step for authors is to find the best ways to get readers' attention and then show them why th...

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Cindy Tomamichel via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Some great book promotion tips.

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

I'm glad you found it useful Cindy :)

Mary Anne Yarde

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Some great tips here, Erika!

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

Thanks :)

Mackenzie Flohr

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Great article. The reason you want to use short codes is because the long code actually has a direct reference to your author account on Amazon, so Amazon looks at anyone who clicks on the long link as you have a relationship with them, therefore it is biased or you paid into it.

Here's a very informative article about this very topic located here: https://indieadventurz.com/2017/08/20/one-simple-mistake-that-hurts-new-and-established-authors/

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

Actually, as far as I know, the long link contains codes that leads to your IP address that you use in search and sign into your social site accounts with. Then when you post the long link on your profile and people write reviews by using the link who are on your friend list or follow you, their review will be considered suspicious and maybe biased and might be removed.

Joe Bonadonna

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Nice, Erika! I've learned a lot from you -- which is why I'm here -- and I know I'll learn more.

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

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We all learn if we all share our experiences :)

Joe Bonadonna

1 year ago

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That's exactly what it's all about. No one is an island, and if they think they are, we'll . . . we all know what happened to Atlantis. ;)

Angelina Kalahari

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Fantastic post. Thank you so much, Erika. I learned things I never knew!

 

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Catherine Townsend- Lyon, Author

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Awesome advice! Thanks for sharing. "-)

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

I'm glad you found it useful and thank you for sharing it Catherine :)

Rick Haynes

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

A great insight into the world of a professional author. Thanks Erika, I've learnt a great deal from today's lesson.

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Ruth de Jauregui

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Wow, that's great! I didn't know how to shorten the links like that. And great idea, to take them straight to the preview! I'm much more likely to read something if it pops right up. Thank you!!

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

That's what I figured Ruth because I don't like to click on 2-3 links to see what I want, so the direct link works very well.

Grace Au

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Wonderful wisdom, Erika!

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

Thanks Grace, just sharing what I learn :)

Rich Feitelberg

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Great info here. Will put most of it to use I'm sure.

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

Glad you find it useful Rich :)

GREG JOLLEY

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Thank you, this is a great insight into the business side all successful authors can engage in.

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

Writing a book is a whole lot easier than promoting it Greg ;)

Bette Stevens via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

Erika M Szabo originally shared this

 

My Book Promo Tricks #1 with #OurAuthorGang
What I learned from trying different book promo methods by Erika M Szabo Promoting books is like trying to convince a stubborn teenager to do something.  The first step for authors is to find the best ways to get readers' attention and then show them why th...

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Erika M Szabo

1 year ago

 

 

Thanks for sharing my post Bette :)

Sojourner McConnell

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly

 

The reason the reviews might be deleted is because your personal referral is on that extended link. It tells Amazon you are the author or a friend. They do not appreciate author reviews or friend reviews on your books. It is a great tip. I too passed that along last week after a lot of research on the deleted reviews. Love this post. It is a keeper!

 

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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

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Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Erika M Szabo shares with us some of her cool tips on marketing and promoting our books.

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Mackenzie Flohr shared this via Google+

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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

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Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Erika M Szabo shares with us some of her cool tips on marketing and promoting our books.

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Dealing with Autoimmune Disorders

by Grace Augustine, Author

www.graceaugustine.weebly.com

Chief Mountain, Montana

I was born and raised in Northern Montana. Upon graduation from high school, I moved into my own place with a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains...more specifically, Chief Mountain. 

    Many mornings, and early evenings, I spent on the deck of my mobile home watching the ever changing mountain. Some days it would be clouded over, some days it was clear as ever. The mountain never changed, but the appearance did.

    I was a fairly active young adult: going to the local bars for music and drinks with friends on Friday evenings, weekend outings to Glacier National Park, and house parties with friends.

    My young adult years took me from Montana to Portland, Oregon. Thirty-six years ago, I moved from Portland to Iowa, married, and the rest is history.

    In 2003 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. I no longer could walk long distances, had headaches, terrible fatigue...and knew I had to find new normals. 

    It hasn't been an easy road...but one I wouldn't trade for anything. Because, you see, many people have crossed my path that never would have had I not been diagnosed with this disease.  

    Today, I have moved into the secondary progressive stage of this disease. While I may have it, it does not have me!  Each day I count my blessings that I can still see, hear, and get out of bed and hopefully affect the lives of those on  my path in a positive way.

If you'd like to know more about me and my journey with MS, and about the disease itself, please have a look at the above book. http://a.co/dlZfTQj

Far Away Fruits #OurAuthorGang

FAR AWAY FRUITS

by

Rick Haynes

Have you ever felt the need to write something completely alien to your normal, modus operandi? Something way out of your comfort zone?
Frustrated with the speed at which my novel was proceeding, I needed a break from all writing activities. I took a holiday. On returning, I needed a quick tune-up, to get the literary juices flowing once more, paddling in the shallows rather than diving into the deep end.
I saw a picture of fruit and nuts in a bowl, and Far Away Fruits was born.
Here is an extract. I would be grateful to receive your comments, as well as telling me – be gentle, even though I’m a fruit and nut-case – what I should do with my zany tale.

FAR AWAY FRUITS 
The news had finally come through on the grapevine, causing a tremendous ripple over a multitude of excited skins.
Planning and constant arguments had taken up the best part of fifty years, but at last the act had been enshrined in the law of the land, and with the decree issued, the voyage of discovery could begin.
The Fruity-Etonians and their friends, the Notorious Nuts, would finally be allowed to undertake the most difficult and dangerous journey that their races had ever attempted.
They would invade Planet London.
To a fanfare from the Royal Gala ensemble of Apples, the selection of luscious fruits and hard nuts entered their Space Tractor of the void. Taking their assigned places in the heart of the mighty vessel, they settled down for the long voyage that lay ahead.
Asleep in their refrigerated containers the dreams of the Fruity-Etonians wandered like seeds in the wind. Sunshine and rain, the dry and the wet, the seasons swept through their minds as they slumbered in contented bliss.
Eventually the temperature rose inside the cabin and the occupants stirred. After so much time in space destiny awaited them, and, eager to embrace it, they rushed to the port holes to watch the mightiest space ship of their race descend on a sparkling beam of gold and red. Many sought the comfort of others, some stood in silence, yet all felt the sap rising inside them. Whilst their Space Tractor left the dark sky afire with its wake, the Fruity-Etonians looked downwards in trepidation. Speculating about their arrival, some huddled close together, asking questions, the noise growing into one incoherent din. Elsewhere the Nuts cracked a few jokes, wondering what all the fuss was about.
Landing in Trafalgar Square proved easier than anticipated, as only the few remaining pigeons greeted them. Flying in disgust over the gleaming Space Tractor, now covered in poo, the birds soared upwards to the top of Nelson’s Column and looked down on the unwelcome visitors with disinterest.
As the first light of a new dawn appeared over the horizon, the doors opened, the gangway shot down and the proud banner of the Fruity-Etonians was unfurled. Out they came, slipping and sliding behind their flag of a hundred colours, as proud as the day they first budded on a tree.
Juicy Tangerine, tightly enclosed in her amber coloured onesie led the way, soon followed by her close friend Monsieur Orange. Back home every fruit wanted to be like them. Many of the unripe had even dyed their skins fluorescent orange, whilst others had spent hours under their idols colourful tree house awaiting autographs. With sales of their merchandise climbing ever higher, the succulent pair had made plans for even more public appearances on their return.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK46CpCUi0IA-mSjTYEf1bw                                            
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rick-Haynes/e/B00CK8IXFO/
http://www.rickhaynesauthor.com/

Maps, maps, and more maps

by Rich Feitelberg

feitelberg.net

Let's talk about maps and their role is the world building process.

Wait a minute! Why do I need a map? I don't write about fantasy stories. 

Well, first of all maps aren't just for fantasy stories. And second, most stories will benefit from thinking about the locations featured in them and placing them in the larger context of the world in which they exist. You may not need many maps and you may not even have to create them yourself but even a short story about a single location could benefit from a map. It can be a simple floor plan where the action takes but it's a good idea to plan a little so the story can flow naturally around and through the location. 

Of course, some genres scream for maps more than others. Fantasy stories pretty much requires a fair bit of world building and lots of maps. You need maps of towns and the surrounding area and you need area/world maps showing typography, vegetation, resources, political boundaries, wind currents, ocean currents, latitude, roads and, trade routes. You don't need all this all at once and if you apply Tenet 1, then you’ll only build want you need as you need it.

Space faring stories may need maps of planets and star systems.

Period places and historical fiction may benefit from maps of the period.

And if you write some other genre you may find a map here or there beneficial because it helps you describe a location.

Obviously depending on the needs of your story, you may be able to find the maps you need as you research for information about your world. This is most likely for historical fiction and stories involving real life locations. But others genres require you to create your own maps.

How do you do that? Well, you need a graphics program like Photoshop so you can create them. Another option to investigate is random generators. They can create world or area maps quickly if you don't care about the shape or typography of the world. If you do, you need to roll up your sleeves and draw something yourself.

I use Photoshop for my map of Thalacia because the roads are in one layer, the vegetation is in other, and so on. I use a trick from wargaming and place a hex grid on the map so and figure out where to place trees, coastlines, cities,and other objects. Hex grids are used to simulate natural boundaries. The grid is in its own layer so I can hide it easily.

To create town maps, I’m using a new program I found called Cityographer. It does some of the work for you and then I export the map and edit it in Photoshop.

For floor plans I use Dungeonographer and draw what I need.

As you can see there's a lot to do, which why Tenet 1 is so important, only create what you need.

So with a few maps and some general notes on the world, you’re ready to take a deep dive. Actually you'll need several. We'll look at one those next time.

Happy world building!

Research – How it can change a story #OurAuthorGang

Research – How it can change a story

While a fair amount of research can be done via the web, I find that the most effective understandings come from real world experiences.

In 2014, I was researching the suspense novel Dot to Dot and finagled an invite to a wheat farm in northern Michigan. I wanted to see and touch the seeding and harvesting equipment. After climbing about and inside the massive thresher and other heavy duty vehicles, I turned my questions about the crop seasons to the farm owner, who said, “I can tell you about the spring planting, but to get a sense of the size, how about we go up in the sky and take a look?”

Five minutes later, I was in the back seat of a paper thin, fragile crop duster, roaring across a clearing the size of a football field, then aloft, skimming the farm lands at about sixty feet above. No airport, no flight plan, just the owner and I going out for a little spin. In the sky.

We were up for an hour, covering miles of fields, lifting only for power lines and the taller trees. My seat in this paper mache aircraft was made of rattling aluminum and the tail fin cables worked back and forth at my elbows. When we turned, and we made many of those, the wingtip appeared to be inches off the dirt.

Needless to say, this was a delightful experience that changed the focus of a section of the novel. The road trip I had sketched for Pierce Danser then became a flight; a brave and terrifying new experience for him.

Have your own research adventures that you would like to share? Send them along!

All the best,

Greg Jolley

The Danser Novels

Links:

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8261931.Greg_Jolley\

FB – author page: https://www.facebook.com/gfjolle/

Twitter: @gfjolle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gfjolle/

Website: www.gregjolley.net

Email: gfjolle@sbcglobal.net

 A Small Gang of Authors

https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com

All the Danser novels are available at select bookstores and:

http://amzn.to/2o4tIob