The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

marketing

3 Tools for Creating Attention Grabbing Graphics

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All the gurus say it: “Include a quality image with your blog post.”

And with the rapidly growing popularity of Pinterest, many authors have created a Pinterest business account. They pin attention grabbing, irresistible graphics that drive traffic to their blogs, market their books, and build their platform.

I agree, but I am neither artistic nor versed in Photoshop. What’s a person to do?

Keep reading because I’ve found an answer. [Read more…] about 3 Tools for Creating Attention Grabbing Graphics

Are marketing and building your platform one and the same?

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No, these activities are not the same thing. According to Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary,

woman with megaphone, building her platform

Market means “to expose for sale in a market” (verb). Platform means “a raised flooring (such as a stage or dais) in a building on which speakers, theatrical performers, or other person show themselves to an audience” (noun) 

In his book Platform, Get Noticed in a Noisy World, Michael Hyatt defines platform [Read more…] about Are marketing and building your platform one and the same?

Should marketing be your focus right now?

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Do you cringe at the mention of marketing? Many writers do.

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines the verb market as “to expose for sale in a market.”

As a beginning writer (to whom I chiefly speak), my question to you is “What have you got to sell?” [Read more…] about Should marketing be your focus right now?

How to Brainstorm a Marketing Plan

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Author Kathy Nickerson interviewed by writer, editor Debra L. Butterfield.It feels like old home week here at the blog with another debut author interviewee returning to guest post. Today we hear from Kathy Nickerson about developing a marketing plan.

How to Brainstorm a Marketing Plan
by Kathy Nickerson

When a potential publisher told me, “We’d like to offer you a contract for your novel, Thirty Days to Glory,” I did the Happy Dance all around my kitchen. Then I read the second sentence: “But first we need to see your marketing plan.”

Right. Let’s see. Where did I put that file? [Read more…] about How to Brainstorm a Marketing Plan

What Does the Publishing World Expect?

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I first met author J.A. Marx this summer when I interviewed her about her debut book, Destiny Defied. During that interview she spoke about publishing industry standards, so I asked her come back and share more.

J.A. has made a special offer for my readers with her post today. See the details at the bottom of this post.

What Does the Publishing World Expect?
by J.A. Marx

J.A. Marx, author of Destiny Defied
J.A. Marx, author of Destiny Defied

Fiction writing is a form of art. It’s fluid. Like music and fine arts, it changes to express and reflect the shifting thought processes and beliefs of our culture.

This can madden or bless the writer, and I’ll sum up why in one word: Subjectivity

I entered Destiny Defied in a contest a few years back. Two judges’ responses:

  • “I have not seen this good of writing in years.” Score: 10
  • “There are too many characters, and I don’t know where this is taking place.” Score: 4

Madden the writer: Agents and editors are equally biased for their own reasons, so research them before submitting anything.

Bless the writer: Write from your passion. Learn ALL the rules for writing before you start breaking those rules.

The essential standards (mentioned below) required [Read more…] about What Does the Publishing World Expect?

Improve Your Writing and Marketing Through These 11 Blogs

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Platform, audience, tribe, fans, followers. Call it what you will, today’s writers must market themselves much more than in years past. In fact, there are many aspects of the writing world we must learn—unless you have a budget that allows you to hire someone to handle it.

In no special order, here are 11 blogs I follow that offer a tremendous amount of valuable free advice. (Like all businesses, several of these sites also offer their products for sale.)

Do you have blogs you follow that have been particularly helpful? Tell us about them in the comments.

Build Your Platform with Your Free Products

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Congratulations go to Amy Bovaird, our contest winner. She’ll receive a copy of Jeff Goins’ brand new book The In-Between. Email me at Deb@DebraLButterfield.com with your address and I’ll get it sent right out.

As you can see, I spent my weekend, redesigning, and I hope, making improvements to my website. I still have some work to do, but I’m learning CSS code as I go. We are all on this journey together, learning our craft and the tidbits of everything else that go with being a freelance writer.

Now, let’s move on to today’s marketing tip.

Market Yourself with Free Products

Whether it’s a tight economy or not, people like to get free stuff.

While you build your publishing credits and platform, you can market yourself (and any products you may have) by offering your readers a free eBook you’ve written, or a simple pdf document that focuses on your niche area of expertise (generally in exchange for their email address). Createspace has an eBook option, and I’ve done some research on Smashwords.com as well.

(I’m accepting guest blogs. Do you know about creating eBooks.)

A pdf is easily created on your computer and can be distributed to your readers directly via email, as a download on your website, or even through a mail service such as MailChimp.

Offering these items will build your mailing list, get your name out there, and give your readers a taste of your work (and ready for more). So make sure whatever you offer is the best you have to offer at that time.

Debra L. Butterfield © 2013

Marketing with Purpose

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Today I host author Angela D. Meyer who shares about marketing.

Welcome, Angela. Thank you for joining us and for sharing what you’ve learned along the way.

Marketing with Purpose, by Angela D. Meyer

I started on this publishing journey with a lot of passion. It is just a matter of writing a good story, isn’t it?

Author Angela D. Meyer

That would be nice, but there’s a lot more to it. Marketing is high on the list of extra items.

I’ve learned a lot about marketing over the past year and a half. A lot of the “what” about the process. Now, I’m learning the importance of how marketing is done. How to do it with purpose. Not all over the board, wasting time and energy. Purpose that gains an audience and doesn’t burn me out in the process.

Here are a few things to help you apply your marketing plan with purpose.

Make it sustainable.

Something you can continue doing over the long haul. Once your book is out, you have to keep working to grow your audience. But you can’t keep up the pace of a two week blog tour indefinitely. Find an approach that fits with your life and pace yourself.

Make it fit you and your audience.

When it comes to social media sites, there is no end. It’s tempting to jump in to the next popular thing. But what worked for someone else, may not work for you. Spend your time, money and energy resources where your audience is, not where someone else’s audience hangs out – no matter how cool it is or how many go there. It might be nice for a one time book blast just to see what you pull in, but it will drag you down in the long run.

Give the same thing you would like to receive.

Every marketer out there wants his audience to engage with them. Leaving comments, sharing what they found. The golden rule has a nice application here. If you want people to leave comments, leave your own on the places you visit. People really do read through the comments, and if they like your answer, they will often follow the link…right to you. If you want people to invest in you, show yourself a wise investor in people, as well. It all will return to you at some point.

Make it about connections.

It’s not just about convincing someone to buy a book. It’s about providing something of value to help the one person in front of you. That’s where relationship happens and you make a difference in someone’s life. I think that’s what most writers want in the long run. And ironically, focusing on the one is what brings the many down the road.

It may take some trial and error, but when your practiced craft meets with purposeful marketing, you’ll have a plan that can be sustained over the long haul.

Where do you best like to meet your audience?

For more from Angela read my interview with her. Connect with Angela at www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaDMeyer or www.angeladmeyer.com