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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #15
April 18, 2018
Publisher: Judith Briles


Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1.   Has your blog fallen down and need help getting up? Here are 50+ ideas to goose up your ideas …
2.   Hot podcasts for the month coming …
3.   Webinars slated for May…
4.   Question of the week …
        5. Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week …



This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s® Roof:

Hello and Good Day to all our readers in Canada, United Kingdom,  Australia, Philippines, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Italy, India, South Africa, Mexico, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Colombia, France, Austria, Norway, Germany and the United States. And welcome new readers in Poland. Whew—what a list and I’m so honored that you are here.

I’m always jazzed to get emails from readersmany commented on last weeks Dumb to Smarter poster. I tell you, it’s the path we all take as we learn our craft; our marketing; our fill-in-the-blank.

Spring energy continues … last Saturday, we held an AuthorYOU Boot Camp to a packed room (we did not video it). Kudos to Susie Scott—the mistress of videos; Kelly Johnson—geek girl outrageous; Mara Purl—the revelation of the author’s CORE; and Jeanette Seibly—the brag and shout it out diva. It was a fun day; an aha day; and the weather gods blessed it. Out of it was a "let’s do an exclusive session for creating a video onsite—a video that can be used in social media; a video that can be popped up on the website; a video about the author; a video about the book … a "you name it" video. Watch for a May date to be announced later this week.

Dragon Author Natli Vander Werker showed up with a cake to celebrate the success of book since its debut several months ago.

Woot to Dr. Sandy Johal who sold 5 cases of her first book at her first signing in Seattle last week, Now I See It! Next step… get it up on Amazon. And connecting with a possible sponsor who has reached out to her.

WOWSA for yesterday’s awesome webinar with Derek Doepker. I’ve sent the replay to all on my mailing list. The clock is ticking if you want to slay the Amazon robots through Sunday.

A heads up-there are only 2 more free Fridays … this is the LAST month to take advantage of the free coaching I do via the phone every Friday at 9 Eastern time and again at 2 pm. It’s a full hour when you can ask questions—any question—about

Cinco de Mayo is the next AuthorYOU Circle gathering is slated for the AM in my home. See those of you in Colorado on the 5th. Register at www.Meetup.com/AuthorYOU

AND … How’s your week going?

1.

Author Beware: there will always be greedy slime balls out there looking for you and your money. That seductive email that you receive (or a phone call) that tells you that you have been selected to be interviewed on a radio show (or a TV show) is most likely not what it is. It’s a scam. The goal? 1—seduce you that you are "chosen".
2—get you to fork over money for the interview. No, No, No. You don’t have to pay to be on a podcast. Unless you are an "advertiser", a TV show isn’t going to charge you. Put your credit card away. Better yet, don’t take the phone call and/or delete the email blocking the sender.
2.  
To Become a MASTER … Authors Begin the Journey as a DITZ and DUMMY

Spring is here and Summertime is creeping our way. Some of you are getting ready to do craft shows. Some are you are looking ahead to planning to pitch for Holiday sales. Doing a blog begins to feel like the "dreaded blog". Should it? Nope.

Keep your blogs ALIVE throughout the year … with new ideas, repurposing of old content … and not opening the door to an invitation of doing nothing–of letting stickiness creep in.

Have you ever had one of those days? Can’t think of a thing … not a single thing … to blog about? Ideas just don’t gel. The words are stuck. Your creativity spark is on dim. Your fingers can’t move. Are you thinking:
Help! My Blog Has Fallen and It Can’t Get Up!

Is that your problem dear author? Would you like 52 plus blog ideas … one for each week for the next year … and maybe, a few extras? Ideas that will get you and your blog a new life?


Okay … let’s noodle a bit. Look around. Look inside. Look on your shelves. Scan the headlines. Google something, anything. Add the words "weird" "unbelievable" "rip-off" "fun" etc. in front of your keyword(s) and see what surfaces.

  1. Get ready to move from pause to play. The key to building a successful blog is to provide content and being consistent. Here are 52 other ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

  2. Whatever the next phrase/sentence that comes out of your mouth and is thought insert "what if" in front of it … write it down: tweak it and see what evolves and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  3. Reveal your biggest aha write it/them down: where did it come from and what happened and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  4. Divulge an epiphany write it/them down: who, what, when, where, why and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  5. Expose a fear or two write it/them down: what seeded it and how do you deal with it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  6. What happened when the GOYT Factor entered your life the get off your tush goose; write it/them down and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  7. Any embarrassing incidents that you can share publicly? write it/them down: what happened, what was the outcome and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  8. Any belly laugh times out there? write it/them down: what happened and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  9. Any failures you can share publicly? people connect with overcoming disasters. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  10. Problems make the world go round make a laundry list of common problems you identify in your book, and one by one. Write them down; create a blog on each one, synching with a theme in your book or subject expertise—that’s got be worth at least 10 blog ideas!

  11. Turn on the news what’s the lead? Write it/them down and make a comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  12. Watch your favorite TV show(s) what’s the theme? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  13. TV again and your show(s) whose the favorite character and why; write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  14. And TV once again what show can’t you stand or have you abandoned? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  15. Back to the news what celebrity is the jerk of the day/week? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  16. YouTube is a terrific resource what is on the Home page? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  17. Check out Twitter, what is the leading hashtag trendingread a few of them. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  18. Pull a few books off your shelves and read the dust jackets or back cover copy what motivated you to buy them? Write down your immediate reaction and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  19. Create a Cheat Sheet of tips add a quick story of why you created the Cheat Sheet and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  20. Fess up to something reveal your snafu(s) and "oh-oh" moments. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  21. How-tos are always helpful go through each chapter in your book and create a list of one-sentence statements. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise—that too, has got to be worth at least 10 blog ideas.

  22. There’s some type of holiday/celebration every month some months have multiple … what is it/are they? Pull a memory from the past; write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  23. Holidays again what don’t you like—a memory, commercialism, bad date night, what? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  24. What delightful, an unexpected event has happened in the past? tell it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  25. What not so delightful, an unexpected event happened in the past? reveal it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  26. Vacations count … they create events and memories. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  27. Vacations again what was the worst one ever and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  28. Embarrassing incidentswho hasn’t had one, a few, maybe too many? Write it/them down, what happened, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  29. OPB-other people’s blogs are loaded with the material and fair game (and oh so public!) any that you thought rocked? Start writing, comment, link to the source blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  30. More OPB any that you thought gave awful info? Fair game, too! Start writing, counter it, link to the source blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  31. Go to the movies what did you see? Share, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  32. What TV talking head pushes your buttons what and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  33. Think of something sillywhat amuses you and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  34. Back to YouTube.com, put in the search box: "fun" and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few videos ("fun" delivers both fun and funny themes). Write the title and immediate reactions down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  35. Fantasy time a combo of "what if" and pure "oh my" and let your fingers move into the creation mode. Write it/them all down, add comments and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  36. Weird holidays are a great leaping point Google the month and day with "weird holiday" after it. Read the background, comment, and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  37. Awards are for anything and everything what have you won (or longed to win), comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  38. Create your own Top 10 listif it worked for Letterman, it will work for you. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  39. What are common myths in your industry or field? debunk them, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10 blogs).

  40. Do a Q & A with yourselfall those questions you want people to ask/ items you want them to know about your book and topic. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  41. What is the #1 question(s) you wished people would ask and they don’t? ID, write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  42. Do a review of a book, theater production, movie, concert or any event what worked, what didn’t? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  43. Do a Q & A with another expert in your fieldTie in their expertise with yours. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  44. Never under-rate sex, sin, birth, and death there’s always something in the news or in the buzz that has one or the other tied to it. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  45. Pick up a copy of the National Enquirer and just read the headlineswhat tickles your fancy, is appalling or just makes you think "You’ve got to be freak ‘in kidding …" Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise. My all-time favorite was: I gave birth in a snake-infested tree! My immediate thoughts were: Whoa … really? How did she get up that tree with her big belly? What were all those snakes doing in it? Why was she in the tree in the first place? What happened? Etc., etc., etc. Great headlines stir up questions.

  46. Use a major event (personal or historical) Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  47. What’s taboo?agree, disagree, hedge whatever it is. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  48. Become the source, excerpt your own bookCopy/paste key phrase, paragraph, small section. Comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.
  49. Invite guest bloggers to sub in do an Intro and Final comment that sandwiches the guest blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10 more blogs).

  50. Mentors—do you have any?create a blog around the three most important lessons ingrained, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  51. Questions beg for answers create a list of provocative ones and let your subscribers supply the answers. You comment back with each one, always synched with a theme in your book or subject expertise (guaranteed, the answers will breed another 10 blogs).

  52. Fads and trends in your field yield a viable starting pointwhat’s happening? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  53. Get out your magic wand and make some predictions perfect for the year-end, comment, and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

  54. Bonus: Pick me, choose me! Look at the variety of Blogs that’ I’ve posted on my sites. Feel free to re-post any of my blog post links and share them with others.


Take #33: Back to YouTube.com, search for "fun" and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few, then comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise ("fun" delivers and fun and funny). I discovered a short video that revealed 10,000 iPhones lined up in a domino snake-type wall.

Three things hit me: where did all those phones come from; how long did it take to set up; and the two-minute video was awesome. And guess what, YouTube has a video on how they made it!

Did I know that I was going to write a blog on creativity that AM? No, I had no idea what I was going to write. Seeing the iPhone video changed that. I was diverted from the "What am I going to write about?" to escaping for less than two minutes to the video—in 15 minutes, I had written a blog on Nonsense or Creativity Starter?  https://thebookshepherd.com/nonsense-or-creativity-starter.html

For me, it was YouTube to the rescue that early AM.

The final touch on your blog is your headline.
Does yours create a response or is it ho-hum? Here’s a trick: check out the "emotional" value of your headline at the Advanced Marketing Institute. Tweak your headline until you have one that pulls in the crowd. http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/
You’ve got plenty of ideas to pull you out of the rut in my list above. Use them all or create your own. Have some fun in the process. Happy blogging! And, you are welcome.


 
3.
Hot podcasts slated for April.


Tomorrow, Judith Briles will be focusing on bringing out and developing the "core" within in the author. Tune in to keep your learning curve enriched.

 Learn about Hybrid Publishing with Judith Briles
 How to Create a Sizzle Reel with Susie Scott
 Let the Core Be with You with Mara Purl
 Taking LinkedIn to the Next Level with Mike O’Neil

And in MAY:
 How to POP Your Words and Your Brand with Sam Horn

And, if you have listened, support our podcast and post a review. Thank you!


4.
More Webinars are coming … more Webinars are coming


NEXT MONTH,
May 1st  3 PT, 4 MT, 5 CT, 6 ET  Joan Stewart LIVE – Get the Media’s Attention from the Get GO!

Publicity Hound Joan Stewart will rock and roll all of you with her how-tos and TELL ALL on how to grab the media’s attention, nail down a response and SOAR with her media and press kits. You want to get the latest on what’s working and what’s not and add these essentials to your author tool kit. It’s a Game Changer for any author who wants publicity.

Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1980329683414772739

Details will be posted this week on our websites. Remember—you will get the replay post the webinar, even if you can’t attend live. Make sure you are registered so you receive it.


AND HERES YOU REPLAY FROM THE PAST WEBINARS

WEBINAR

Autopilot is the magic word via Amazon Marketing Ads yesterday. Several ideas were shared on how to get around Amazon’s robots.


REPLAY HERE:


Replay
Holy Guacamole … what a fun webinar Wednesday, March 28th delivered … not the typical "offer" webinar with a commitment of hundreds of dollars.

Nope. We showed you in a LIVE demo through the entire set up to execution process how to create a Grabbr campaign for your book (or any product) and you then push your "start" button. The twist? You don’t pay a dime until a "someone" reacts and "grabs" your offer. The cost is only 16 cents to you when it happens … pennies that EVERY author has.

Get ready to create a viral book marketing opportunity for you and your books. The bonus—you don’t need a gazillion followers, fans, friends and emails. Nor do you need thousands of dollars; hundreds of dollars … you need less than $50! Discover the power of Grabbr.com … how cool it is to think that with just a few readers, thousands of people will be exposed to an author’s book for mini bucks!

1.  Here is the REPLAY link to the full Grabbr webinar:
https://vimeo.com/262326476

2.  Here’s the link for your discount (there is NO time limit)—you get a 20% discount … meaning that if there are "buyers" of your offer, the cost to you is 16 cents vs 20 cents:

https://grabbr.com/register/authors

I’ve had HUGE Thank You’s from those who attended these. Get on the replay, there is no time-limit. You want this baby on your marketing plate.

 
5.
Questions of the Week:


Question: How do it get the attention of a reader to my blog or article?

My answer: Excellent question. Here’s my short answer: create a catchy title. It needs some snap, crackle and POP to it. Sometimes quirky or goofy. It may need an emotional pull. My top three sources I like to "play" with include: AM Institute’s headline analyzer- http://aminstitute.com/headline/ ; Tweak Your Biz’s title generator http://tweakyourbiz.com/title-generator/ ; and Potent’s quirky title generator- https://www.portent.com/tools/title-maker

Have some fun … determine which gets your attention … and go for it.


6.
Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week …
Love it when I find a fun shorty—a quick smile, a laugh out loud, a sip of tea … and back to work—perfect. Are you a foodie? Or, would you like to have a cook in your kitchen? How about a robotic kitchen? Now, get those "hands" to do dishes and load the dishwasher.
Since The Voice has gone live this week, I thought it would be fun to pull up a segment where Jimmy Fallon takes Blake Shelton for his "first" sushi adventure: http://bit.ly/2HtLtKH


That’s my author and publishing news for today … what’s yours?


That’s my author and publishing news for today … what’s yours?


About Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd

Book Publishing expert Judith Briles, aka The Book Shepherd
® has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. Judith is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing that generates over 100,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.

The Book Shepherd® is a registered trademark
 
 
 
 


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