Marketing Indie Books with Social Media

One of the biggest discussions we've ever had in the Facebook group Church of Christ Women Author's was how to successfully market our books. This is the eternal question when it comes to book sales.

The answer mostly amounts to traffic (or page views); of course drawing people into a site is easier said than done. How do we stick out amongst the millions of pages on the Internet?

It takes work, but the fact that we all have the world at our fingertips through the Internet helps a lot. That is, if we utilize it. There are several social media outlets Indie authors must use to grow their business -- your book is your business, you are its brand.

Twitter:

Many people have Twitter accounts they use to keep track of trivial things, or even current events. As authors, and readers of authors, we must use our Twitter accounts to promote our books, events, pages, and so on. This isn't vainity, it's good marketing strategy.

Tweets can only be so many characters, so post the URL and add hashtags like #amwriting, #ebook, #amazon #kindle #fantasy, #yabook  and #religion. Don't be afraid to hashtag your name -- #susanelliott

Facebook:

SHARE. SHARE. SHARE! It does no good for your book or your friends' books to be posted on your wall alone, encourage your friends to share your posts. If you see someone has written a book. Share it! Make sure to turn the settings to public on that post so friends can share it too.

If you find a page that needs to know about your book. Post a link to it. (Make sure to read the page rules first.)

Create an Author's Page, and then invite your friends.

Create an event before any book release, special promotion, or pubic appearance. Set that event to public. Invite friends. Run contests. Do small giveaways. Send out teasers of what's inside the book.

For example, for Arwen Chandler's book The Louvre Still Stands, she might talk about art. Maybe share images of art from the Louvre (public domain of course. Around Mom's Kitchen Table had a great post about this the other day.) Make statements about the characters like "Gwyn's been scouting out the Louvre. Wonder what she'll find?"

Pinterest:

Make use of Pinterest. Create a board for your books, and one for your favorite books. Share your pins. The blog Chris the Story Reading Ape had a great post about this, titled How to Use Pinterest to Get Massive Amounts of New Readers.

Blogger or Wordpress

Start a blog. Talk about your books. Share excerpts of your books, but don't leave it at that. Tell other people about yourself, your hobbies, your interests.

If you notice the left-side bar on this page, you will see links to Meet the Author Pages. These authors have taken the time to let you get to know them. Do this on your blog. People love stories about people.

Google+:

Open a Google+ account, and share your posts. Your books, other people's books -- anything relevant to your business (book.)

Pingfarm

Always utilize Pingfarm. Simply copy your blog post urls and book link urls into the Rapid Indexer, and let the Internet work for you. This will raise your  book's ranking in the search engines. If people can Google you and find your book, you're much more likely to get it into the readers hands.

--Susan


What do you do to increase traffic to your books?

Meet the Author Katy Huth Jones

In depth with Author Katy Huth Jones:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I wrote my first fantasy and science fiction stories in the 3rd grade, but it wasn't until 1986, when our oldest son was 4 and we had a 6 year old foster daughter & infant foster son on a heart monitor that my dear husband said, "You need to find something adult to do one night a week." I took a creative writing course at Baylor University, and decided I wanted to improve my writing with the goal of publication. After over 600 rejection letters, I sold my first short story (a fantasy) in 1992.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on the genre. I've yet to figure out how to write an actual picture book, but I've sold three early readers (one was not published, but the company let me keep the money), and they usually take 5-6 drafts to get them "right," so anywhere from a week to a month. With longer books (such as my current WIP series) it takes many weeks to finish the first draft, and many more weeks to rewrite and polish. I started book one (Mercy's Prince) in 2011, and I'm just now finishing book three.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

My best time to write is first thing in the morning (before my 87 year old father-in-law, who lives with us, wakes up) but I can literally write anywhere—in a doctor's office, in an airport, on an airplane, in the car (when hubby is driving). I don't need long periods of time to keep the story moving forward.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk?

I have to write all first drafts by hand. My brain is connected to my hand via pen or pencil, not the keyboard. When I type that draft from my handwritten one, I can edit as I go.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I almost always begin with a character who keeps talking to me and won't leave me alone until I tell his or her story, whether it becomes a short story or a book.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I play piccolo and flute in a regional symphony, which is a joy, and I like to sew and draw, although I'm not very good at either one.

What would you tell other Christian women who want to write?

Write the books that are in your heart; don't try to write for "the market," whatever that is. It's been my experience that readers of fiction are more deeply touched by spiritual truths that are imparted more gently or subtly that to actively "preach" to the reader. Just my personal observation, though.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I've written many more than I've published, but counting one that will be released in January 2016, I've published 7: 2 early readers, 1 MG nonfiction (out of print but trying to get the rights back), 2 MG fantasies, 1 YA fantasy, and 1 YA historical fiction. My favorite, hands down, is the YA fantasy, which is book one in a planned series of five (book two is with an editor). The historical fiction is a pretty close second, though.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Read widely, from the classics to books more recently published in the genre(s) you want to write. Our subconscious absorbs patterns of language, so it helps to fill your brain with good quality writing. Take a class, find a writer's critique group, and always challenge yourself to be the best writer you can be. We all have room for improvement. Always!

What do you like to read?
I love fantasy, but the challenge is to find "clean" books, so I usually stick with "Christian fantasy." I also enjoy good historical fiction, since I'm a history and genealogy buff. I used to read more science fiction, but it's harder and harder to find books that don't have some objectionable content, even (sadly) at the YA level.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
It depends on the age. At 8 I wanted to be an archaeologist or an astronaut. In high school I wanted to be a professional flutist. I dropped out of college to get married and later have children, but I did get a second chance at playing, and that has been a real blessing.

Fun fact.

I am shy, but I love to dress up in costume so I can pretend to be someone else, and that makes me braver. I'm designing a 10th century noblewoman's costume and teaching myself how to play "Good King Wenceslas" on a harp so I can set up school visits when my book about him comes out in January.


Katy Huth Jones' Books:

Mercy's Prince
aMUSEing Tales
Leandra's Enchanted Flute (Tales of Finian Jahndra) (Volume 1)
Return to Finian Jahndra (Tales of Finian Jahndra) (Volume 2)
Fusion

Read more from Katy on her blog: Life is a Four-letter Word.




Do you dress up for fun or cosplay?

Meet the Author Teresa Hampton

About Teresa Hampton:

I fell in love with writing in high school. Like most people, however, I went to college, got married, had children, and set aside my writing. In 1996 I was diagnosed with MS, leaving me unable to drive for three months. During the forced hiatus, I immersed myself in Bible study and writing for our ladies class. The material turned into a book which was later published. I began writing another class study book. And then another, and another. The process it took me to writing a book ranged from six months to a year and a half.
Much of my writing information comes from the Bible, and several websites that have good illustrations, quotes, or poetry:

Sermon Illustrations

More Illustrations

Brainy Quote


Teresa Hampton’s Books
Leading Ladies, about women leading God’s way
God’s Girls, about young women leading God’s way
Come to the Garden, about unity in the home and church
Illuminating Shadows, about types and shadows of the Old Testament
Jesus’ Relationship to Women
Let the Little Children Come, a three year curriculum for VBS


Writing each book and seeing the end product was like birthing a child. Consequently, I do not have a favorite.

At a publishing banquet hosted by Publishing Designs in 2006, we authors were challenged to set aside a specific time each day for writing, even if it was just a few lines. It proved to be a great suggestion, and I highly recommend it to beginning writers. I accepted the challenge and the result was in Jan. 2007 I began writing an e-devotional called Wellspring for Women, which subscribers receive monthly by email (articles are archived at http://siwellroad.com/index.php/spiritual-growth/wellsprings.)

Wellspring articles are also featured each month in Think magazine. Wellspring audios are now available in two places: Youtube, and Christian Women Audio Devotionals.

My daily schedule involves alternating exercise, writing, and homemaking. Another passion of mine is painting. In the past the medium I used was oil, but now only pastels.

Writing is a very important part of my life. However, I can honestly say that I never dreamed that I would have published books. I wanted to be a nurse or serve others in some capacity.

The desire I have concerning my writing is twofold: one, to share God’s word with others in a way that will encourage, instruct, admonish, and inspire Christian women. And two, to help strengthen their faith, and help them dedicate themselves daily to do God’s will. My prayer is that everything I write, say, and do will bring honor and glory to God.




What creative outlets do you engage in?