More on Google+ for Authors

May 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

google-plus-pages-logoWith the new Google+ design comes new advantages for authors. Here are several hints on how to utilize and grow your Google+ presence:

1. The cover photo is bigger – real big! For info on sizes and proportion and even a free template download, CLICK HERE.

2. If you are an author with a book – make sure you add a book page. Just visit the “More” icon, select pages, and take it from there.

Google Menu3. Visit the “People” icon to find folks you may want to add to your circles. And, while we’re on the subject, you can make circles for anything. So maybe a circle for literary agents, one for readers, one for family, another for friends, etc.

4. Spend some time playing around with the other menu icons, too. You can learn what’s hot, list an upcoming event (or find one), add or view photos, find communities and more.

5. Don’t forget to offer up content on your Google+ page, just as you would on Facebook or Twitter. Adding content, such as blog post links, gets you more attention. And the added bonus is that content on Google+ is indexed by Google, allowing folks to find out more about you and your work even faster!

Recommended Reading: What the Plus by Guy Kawasaki (Click the link to get it for just 99 cents on Kindle! Guy does a fabulous job outlining all the ways you can put Google+ to work for you.

Have a unique way you’re using Google+ to connect with readers? Tell us about it with your comment below!

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Author Social Media Tagged With: , ,

Google+ Redesign: What it Means for Authors

May 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

plus-badgeThere’s been plenty of buzz in the past few days over the Google+ redesign options. According the Google+ release issued May 15, “190 million people are now active in the Google+ stream, and 390 million are active across Google (+1’ing apps in Google Play, making video calls in Gmail, sharing videos from YouTube…).”

Their new redesign includes added features such as:

  • A multi-column layout. You’ll see one, two, or three columns of content depending on your screen size and orientation.
  • Awesome-sized media. Photos and videos can fill the entire width of the stream, making it easier to scan, and nicer to look at. (You may need to reload higher quality art to look good on the huge cover photo layout).
  • Delightful animations. The sharebox bounces, the menus slide, and the cards flip and fade — just to name a few.
  • You can always say hello, face-to-face-to-face. Whether you’re 1-on-1 or with a group of friends, you can always make a free video call to everyone you’re with via the new Hangouts stand-alone feature.
  • The app is available in lots of places. You can download Hangouts from Google Play, the App Store, and the Chrome Web Store. It’s also part of Gmail and Google+. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Author Marketing, Author Publicity, Author Social Media Tagged With: ,

7 Ways to Build Your Platform Before You Publish

May 17, 2013 By 2 Comments

Book Marketing ChecklistThanks to author Roger Harris for this guest post!

Great, you’re working on a manuscript… While you’re polishing up your prose with the help of an editor (highly recommended), don’t forget to start on marketing activities that will pave the way to successfully launching your book.

Building your author platform is the first step to find your readers. The goal is to create and launch a platform that quickly communicates your genre and entertainment value if you’re writing fiction, and your expertise and credibility if you’re writing non-fiction, such as a self-help guide.

Here are seven steps to building your own author platform: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Publishing insights

How To Get Your Novel Started

May 15, 2013 By 6 Comments

ID-100110333Thanks to Winner Circle author Jeannette de Beauvoir for this guest post! (Graphic courtesy FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

The famous terror of the blank page (or computer screen!) doesn’t need to overcome your creativity. Here are some tips for getting started that will awaken your muse… and put the pen in her hand!

Your first mistake is starting with the blank page/screen. Any project takes planning, and writing a novel is no exception. So accept that you have to do some reasonably heavy lifting before you even get to the pivotal scene that’s been playing in your head. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Writer Tools & Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Indie Author Marketing: Even Independence Needs Direction

May 13, 2013 By 7 Comments

All author services are not alikeThanks to author (and WWW team member) Jacqueline Gum for this guest post, timely on the heels of our look at author scams and scoundrels…

Somebody has to show you how to walk before you do, but eventually you walk and then run. Independence needs direction. Never was this truer than today, particularly when it comes to marketing a book of any kind.

When I published my first book I was convinced that I’d done my due diligence… hell I even drove to Bloomington, Indiana to visit the publisher’s facility and meet my author rep face to face. Then I signed the check. It was a big one. Ultimately, it was a big mistake. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Author Publicity, Author Social Media, Author Websites, Publishing insights, Writer Tools & Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Author Scams Part 2: Six Ways to Save Yourself from Scoundrels

May 11, 2013 By 4 Comments

Avoid Author ScamsOn the heels of our May 7th post on Scams and Scoundrels, we thought it would be useful to provide some tips to avoid some of the common traps we see new and aspiring authors fall into when seeking to publish and promote their work.

1. Search for what other authors and author advocacy groups have to say online. Chances are, if a company has dealt unfairly with authors, they’ve shared their experience to warn off others. Popular sites to look include: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Author Publicity, Author Social Media, Author Websites, Publishing insights, Writer Tools & Tips

Build the Perfect Author Support System

May 9, 2013 By 11 Comments

Build-An-Author-Support-SystemThanks to best-selling author Martin Crosbie for this guest post! (Graphic courtesy FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

There are things that occur organically when you’re a new, self-published author, and if you allow them to, they’ll help you succeed. It’s easy, you just have to stand back and let it happen. There are rules though; there always have to be some rules.

When I was trying to find readers for my first novel, I took a novel approach (sorry, had to do that). I emailed other self-published authors who’d had some success. I “friended” them on Facebook, bought their books, and on some occasions, gifted them copies of my book. And then I asked them questions. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Publishing insights, Writer Tools & Tips Tagged With: , ,

Authors Beware: Scams and Scoundrels

May 7, 2013 By 20 Comments

ID-100146153(1)(Graphic courtesy FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

It was bound to happen in a once relatively quiet industry of readers, writers and thinkers. With the digital revolution came a large army of mercenaries, apparently keen to prey on the ever-fragile ego of an author.

Aside: It is in fact the scoundrel aspect of publishing (or rather author marketing) that birthed Where Writers Win. I grew tired of seeing authors pay thousands for a website they couldn’t even manage themselves, and more aggravated still when learning they had to pay someone every time they wanted to announce a book signing. I was floored by prices being charged to “manage” social media, when in fact social media is about being social, and most of it’s free, so, um… (And let’s be honest – does anyone go to a book signing to meet your typist?).

Nowadays I see people charging hundreds of dollars an hour to “coach” social media or help an author set up a Facebook page. I recently met an author who was thrilled that she got her website for “free,” but the “free” came with a $95 a month “hosting” pricetag, where it should be about $5. Sigh. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Author Websites, Publishing insights, Writer Tools & Tips Tagged With: , , , ,

Winner Circle Q & A: Book Reviewers, Book Clubs, Competitions and Deals

May 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WinnerCircleFAQIn case you want to learn more about the new Winner Circle before you join…

Or if you’ve already joined and have a question…

It might already have been answered!

We’ve now built a list of frequently asked questions that will address each menu item in the circle, as well as an FAQ section on how to manage your membership.

Here are just a few of the questions and answers for the most popular pages so far. To read the full FAQ, click HERE.

01reviewsBest Book Review Sites

How many book reviewers are available to me?
During our research for this project we found hundreds of book review sites. We’re only bringing you the best we’ve found in each genre, and we’ll add others as they become viable in subsequent editions. Depending on your genre, right now that’s at anywhere between 35 and over 60.

How many genres are represented?
32 and here they are! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Author Publicity, Publishing insights, Reader Events Tagged With: , , , , ,

Helium: Test Out Your Words on Readers

May 3, 2013 By 1 Comment

Helium_logoEd. Note: First, a big thanks to all of you who’ve already joined the Winner Circle. Stay tuned for more details as we’re developing an FAQ for the new suite of tools, and new content is coming your way, too. ‘Til then, enjoy your stay and let us know how we’re doing. – Shari

Have you heard of Helium? A client asked us that the other day and while we had (and had in fact registered once upon a time), we hadn’t circled back there for awhile. When we did we were pleasantly surprised and thought it worthy of a blog post. In our client’s case, she uses Helium to test her words on a community following and seek input, and she’s also participated in rating other work, which keeps an author looking objectively at their own words.

So, let’s break it down: Helium is a community where active, engaging writers share their work. Helium’s community members can then provide feedback, mentoring, and training. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Author Marketing, Writer Tools & Tips Tagged With: ,
«Older Posts