Rebecca Garvey had the promise of a California future dreams are made of, until the wagon train her family was traveling with left her behind. Now she’s slowly dying in the wilderness, abandoned and stripped of her self-worth. Once the shock of her desertion turns to embittered despair, she doesn’t want to be found. Then a handsome stranger challenges her convictions and changes her mind.
Now to help with this Friday’s Celebration, here’s something more from Melissa. She’s very generously shared her plan for marketing her book. Take it away, Melissa!
“C. Lee asked me to tell you how I organized my book’s cover reveal and release tours and delivered the info to my blogging friends. Below is my list of tips…
First, you have to have blogging friends. You get them by building a writer’s blog and visiting other writers’ blogs on a regular basis. It seems simple, but you’d be surprised how many writers don’t bother building a social media platform or don’t know how.
By the time I published my debut, I had been blogging for over 2 years and had nearly 2000 followers on Twitter.
Next, a few months before release day, you have to come up with a plan.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Timing matters. Ex: Your book cover has to be finished before you can reveal it. Plan your tours (your whole publishing schedule, for that matter) accordingly. I made a document with weekly tasks for myself and struck them through when they were done.
- Writers have different blogging schedules. If you give them a choice of dates, they’ll be more likely to help you. You also need to take the state of the blogosphere into consideration. (I had to do my cover reveal early to miss AtoZ.)
- Same thing goes for content. I do my promo ‘buffet style.’ I send lots of options (short post, long post, big cover image, small 3D render, sample tweets, sample Facebook posts, etc.) and let my helpers choose what they want.
- Sending out one mass email with images and details is easier than sending 30, 40, 50 individual ones. Create some kind of sign-up form and kill a flock of birds with one stone.
- BUT get permission from bloggers before contacting them with promo. If you don’t, it’s spam. (All I did to get folks to sign up was post a link to a Google form along with a humble request. Then I BCCd their addresses in the emails to protect their privacy.)
- Create a press page on your blog or website (if you’re to the publishing stage, you should really have a website) so promoters can find all your author stuff in one place. For official bio, links, and head shot, you can simply send them there.
- Prepare guest posts and excerpts ahead of time so, when people request them, you can quickly pull them from a file and attach. Be sure to make note of word count (I include that in the document’s title). Doing both will save you a TON of time.
- Compile a list of bloggers who are posting for you (by date) and mention / link them on your blog. Show your gratitude! Posting promo for them in return is fair play, too.
If you’re organized and if you make it easy for your writer buddies, they’ll be much more likely to help. :)”
Thanks so much, Melissa. Did her step by step plan help you? Do you have other suggestions to add? Hope you’ll support her release.
debi o'neille says
C. Lee, I wanted to send a message directly to your email, but I couldn't find a 'contact me' button on your blog. Could you send an email to me at [email protected] so that I could get your email addresss and send you a message? I'd really appreciate it.
Best,
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Ruth Schiffmann says
Wow, great list. Congrats, Melissa, on the new release!!
Nana Prah says
Congratulations to Melissa on her release.
TBM says
Congrats Melissa and great tips. I love options myself. Best of luck to you!
Heather Holden says
Wow, so many great tips from Melissa! I'll definitely have to keep these in mind for the future…
Theresa Milstein says
I really appreciated the promo list. I haven't needed to do much promotion yet, so it's good for me to find out what to do.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You do a lot of promo, Theresa and it's well done.
Melissa says
Thanks again for hosting me, Lee. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
You were one of the best, Melissa. COME BACK! 🙂
Medeia Sharif says
Fantastic tips. I've been doing this myself. Book 2 was so much easier to promote than book 1 because of my efforts. Congrats to Melissa.
Melissa says
Yay! Thanks for visiting, Medeia. 🙂
Tia Bach says
Great advice, Melissa. I especially love the bit about having pre-written guest posts. Wishing you all the best.
Melissa says
Thanks, Tia. Pre-written content is a life saver for sure!
Cathrina Constantine says
Great Advice. I need it!!
Melissa says
LOL
Thanks, Cathrina. 🙂
Shah Wharton says
Great advice Melissa. I've done a couple of these things now, both alone and with tour companies, and I've found one talent I don't have and need for this specifically …is organisation. Without it chaos rules and things go wrong. I've got through the tours by the skin of my teeth usually.
I've Evernoting this post for my next attempt! 🙂
shahwharton.com
Melissa says
Hope it helps! Thanks, Shah. 🙂
~Sia McKye~ says
Good tips Melissa. I'd add, getting the post to your blogger buddy in a timely fashion so there is no rushing. Personally, I prefer to have the articles to me at least a couple of days before posting, This way, if there are questions I have time to get them answered, or if I need something more, again, I have time to request it.
Sia McKye Over Coffee
Melissa says
Agreed. I uploaded my book to the retailers early for that very reason, so I could get the buy links to my promoters in plenty of time.
Thanks for visiting, Sia. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm already breaking a sweat just thinking about all that has to be done for a launch. Yikes. Help!
Emily R. King says
Great info, Melissa! A lot of work goes into a book launch.
Melissa says
Truer words were never spoken. LOL
I'm pooped! 😛
C. Lee McKenzie says
It does take so much time and effort. We all know, right?
Tina says
Excellent tips, Melissa! Now I just need to finish that book…
Thanks for hosting Melissa, C.Lee. You're a good blogging friend to have!
Tina @ Life is Good
On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!
Melissa says
Lee is a very good blogging friend to have.
Thank you, Tina! 🙂
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Great post, Melissa. Thanks for the tips. I'm saving them. What a lovely cover for your book. The story sounds intriguing. Best of luck to you. Thanks, Lee, for a wonderful post.
Melissa says
Thank you, Beverly. 🙂
Al Diaz says
A buffet, as you called it, is a great idea. It is far better to have something different for every post than everyone posting just the same. It gets boring for visitors as well. All great tips!
Happy weekend to both, Lee and Melissa!
Melissa says
Thanks, Father Dragon. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Didn't she do a super job?
Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! says
Relax humans, Lee and Melissa,
Yes indeed, I've finally got here. Yay and gosh and arf!
Great pawst! Thanks for sharing! Following!
Melissa, these are gonna' be good times for you. Variety and timing. Your suggestions are most notable. Heck, my paws are clicking from one link to another link and I see you. Congrats, dear human.
Thanks for having Melissa at your pawesome site, human, Lee.
Pawsitive wishes,
Penny!
Melissa says
Thanks, Penny. 🙂
Yvonne Ventresca says
So happy for your greeat review, Lee! Congrats, Melissa on the book release!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, YV. Let's put your book back up here in another few weeks. Did you touch base with The Book Sage?
L.G. Keltner says
Congratulations to Melissa! Love the cover!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for the visit, L.G. Here's to a great weekend and a few hours break.
DEZMOND says
well with that amount of hotness on the cover who wouldn't come back?
Melissa says
hahaha
Good one. Rowr…
Marcia says
Getting left behind by a wagon train — yikes! Great promo tips.
Melissa says
Thanks. hope you found something useful. 🙂
Sherry Ellis says
Those are great tips! I've seen Melissa's book all over the blogosphere. It looks good!
Melissa says
Thanks! So far, the response has been positive. 🙂
S.K. Anthony says
Come Back sounds intriguing! 😀
Absolutely fantastic advice, Melissa! C. Lee, you sure know how to find all the hot tips around! Have a great weekend, ladies. 🙂
Melissa says
Thanks, SK. 🙂
Suzanne Furness says
Congratulations Melissa and thanks for all the hot tips.
Melissa says
*Sizzle* LOL
You're welcome. 🙂
M. J. Joachim says
So much easier said than done on a lot of this info, but well worth the effort, if you take the time.
Melissa says
I had no choice. I went indie…*completely* indie. LOL
Lexa Cain says
It never occurred me to pre-write guest posts. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for all the tips, Melissa! 🙂
Melissa says
You're welcome! 🙂
Natasha Hanova says
Congrats again on your debut! Hope you hit #1 so we can see an interesting pic of you and hubby. 😉
Great tips here. Sharing now.
Melissa says
ROFL xD
I needed that today. 😛
Loni Townsend says
Excellent tips. I'm one of those people who didn't know how to build a platform or make connections.
I like varied content. I try to encourage my author friends, but it does get a little tedious reading the same content every time.
Melissa says
You take the content and make such beautiful blog posts out of it, Loni. You have a gift! 🙂
Mere Joyce says
Lovely cover, and some really great tips! I admit I have never given much thought to organizing something like a blog hop before, but I can definitely see how it would be a lot of work.
Melissa says
Thank you. It is a lot of work, but it's worth it. 🙂
Caffe Maggieato says
Great tips. I love that you have so many choices to choose from. Congrats on the release!
Melissa says
Thanks, Maggie. 🙂
Michael Di Gesu says
HI, Lee, Hi, Melissa…
GREAT advice and tips! Building a platform is probably one of THE most important things to do. WE an amazing community, but you need to forge relationships to keep it this way or else it wouldn't be so amazing…
ALL the best Melissa!
Have a great weekend Lee… expect something from me in the next day or so….
Melissa says
Thank you, Michael. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Looking forward to it, Michael! Loved your post this week about readers. It struck a chord with me.
Southpaw says
"Your book cover has to be finished before you can reveal it." –Hum, seems a little picky, but I'll go with it. LOL
Being prepared and organized is the best advice.
Melissa says
LOL
I wasn't trying to be snide. I was trying to convey that many things hinge on other things happening or being done first. Once I got knee deep into this, I was surprised how often that was true. 😉
Christine Rains says
Fantastic tips, Melissa! I think it's so important to be gracious about it. To the hosts and readers.
Melissa says
Thank you!
Most definitely.
Nick Wilford says
This sounds like a pretty comprehensive list! Similar to what Alex said, your guest posts should be a variety (excerpts, interviews, character profiles etc). The same post over and over again wears thin! Not that I've done this yet, but as a blogger, that's what I've found.
Melissa says
Agree.
Thanks for visiting, Nick. 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Congratulations, Melissa!
Sending a variety of options is best. Otherwise it's the exact same post on every site.
Melissa says
Thank you, Alex.
Good point!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think Melissa did a great job with variety!
Melissa says
Thank you for hosting me, Lee. I hope your followers find the post helpful. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know they will. I sure did.