Wednesday, September 19, 2012
For this week's field
trip, we would like for you to take another trip to your favorite bookstore and
do the following:
1.
Browse your favorite
section and randomly select a book from the shelf
2.
Note the author's name,
book title, and publisher. Read the back cover copy.
3.
Browse the same section,
but this time look for the latest book from one of the top authors in that
genre
4.
Note the author's name,
book title, and publisher. Read the back cover copy.
When you return
home (or as soon as you have access to a computer) research the following:
- How is each author promoting their books online?
- Go to each author’s website... is their website showcasing their latest book?
- Were you able to find them on social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)?
- Is their publisher doing any promotions for the book? If so, what?
- Do they have any upcoming blog tours or book signings?
- What are some things you like about their online marketing?
- What are some things that you didn't like about their online marketing?
Often, learning what NOT to do is just as important as following a
GREAT example.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Morgan
says: One of my favorite
things about my local bookstore is the "staff picks" shelf. In
this area of the store, each employee has written a little shelf-hanger card
that describes why they selected their choice book for this shelf.
Your assignment for this week is to talk with the staff of your favorite bookstore. Specifically, I want you to find one of the people who added a book to the "employee recommended" shelf. If the store you frequent doesn't have a specific area for staff selections, then ask one of the workers if they have a book recommendation. (Most bookstores have staff members who are avid readers. I am sure they will have a favorite book (or books) that you just HAVE to read.)
As you engage the bookstore employee, I want you to ask them one simple question: Why do you like this book?
Your assignment for this week is to talk with the staff of your favorite bookstore. Specifically, I want you to find one of the people who added a book to the "employee recommended" shelf. If the store you frequent doesn't have a specific area for staff selections, then ask one of the workers if they have a book recommendation. (Most bookstores have staff members who are avid readers. I am sure they will have a favorite book (or books) that you just HAVE to read.)
As you engage the bookstore employee, I want you to ask them one simple question: Why do you like this book?
·
Is it the setting?
·
The characters?
·
The suspense?
·
The romance?
·
The author's voice?
If you want to take your questioning one step further, ask them: What made you pick up this book the
first time you read it?
·
Did a friend recommend
the book to them?
·
Did they read a review?
·
Maybe they overhead a
conversation about it?
·
Did the cover art work
or copy peak their interest?
·
Maybe they heard good
things about the author?
I'm sure you'll be surprised by a few (or all)
of their answers. Take a moment to think about how many people this one
person has told about their favorite book(s).
How can you use this information to help your career?
Are there any marketing efforts for your books that would attract this reader?
If they are a member of your target audience, you may even consider giving them a copy of your book as a thank you for their time.
How can you use this information to help your career?
Are there any marketing efforts for your books that would attract this reader?
If they are a member of your target audience, you may even consider giving them a copy of your book as a thank you for their time.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Happy Wednesday, it's Morgan with a few
marketing campaign reflections and thoughts.
I will admit that I am extremely fortunate to have book loving co-workers. We often sip coffee and discuss the latest books we are reading in the hall and at each others desks. Our president is even an avid reader and sometimes joins the discussion. I share the books I collect from various writing conferences. Our agreement is that if they liked one of the books they've borrowed, they have to post a review and / or tell others about the great book they just read. But there are instances where they didn't like or finish a book they borrowed. (Again, not every book is going to be every person's cup of tea.)
Word of mouth campaigns are funny things. If the person talking about your book really liked it, positive promotion ensues. If they hated your work, the opposite is true. Malcolm Gladwell in his influential work The Tipping Point explores the elements and factors that can cause a message or product to go viral. Mavens (the experts) chat with Connectors (the folks with a wide network of contacts in a variety of fields) and Salesmen (those among us who can sell ice in Antarctica). The right message relayed to the right mix of people at the right time can cause the ripple effect needed for a best seller.
So how do you influence this process?
KNOW and UNDERSTAND your audience.
Over the years, I've gotten a good feel for the different genres and writing styles my co-workers enjoy. For one lady, the 'smut factor' (her words, not mine) must be high (two or more love scenes) for her to enjoy a romance novel. Another lady enjoys YA Steampunk. While yet another swoons over books that incorporate historical adventures. Equipped with this knowledge, I can put my Maven skills to work by pointing each of them towards new and seasoned authors that write what they enjoy reading. And guess what....once they've discovered an author they like, they want to read all the books that author has written!
Of course they won't like 100% of my recommendations, but my hit rate dramatically improved the more we discussed their likes and dislikes. Needless to say, we are in the early stages of planning a book club. I will be sure to keep you posted on our progress.
For this week's field trip, I challenge you to chat with at least three new people you see regularly to find out if they read books often. If their answer is 'yes,' then ask them to tell you about the types of books they like to read. Keep it casual, don't turn the conversation into an inquisition. I'm sure you'll be surprised by the information that book lovers are willing to share. And who knows, you may even find some new readers.
I will admit that I am extremely fortunate to have book loving co-workers. We often sip coffee and discuss the latest books we are reading in the hall and at each others desks. Our president is even an avid reader and sometimes joins the discussion. I share the books I collect from various writing conferences. Our agreement is that if they liked one of the books they've borrowed, they have to post a review and / or tell others about the great book they just read. But there are instances where they didn't like or finish a book they borrowed. (Again, not every book is going to be every person's cup of tea.)
Word of mouth campaigns are funny things. If the person talking about your book really liked it, positive promotion ensues. If they hated your work, the opposite is true. Malcolm Gladwell in his influential work The Tipping Point explores the elements and factors that can cause a message or product to go viral. Mavens (the experts) chat with Connectors (the folks with a wide network of contacts in a variety of fields) and Salesmen (those among us who can sell ice in Antarctica). The right message relayed to the right mix of people at the right time can cause the ripple effect needed for a best seller.
So how do you influence this process?
KNOW and UNDERSTAND your audience.
Over the years, I've gotten a good feel for the different genres and writing styles my co-workers enjoy. For one lady, the 'smut factor' (her words, not mine) must be high (two or more love scenes) for her to enjoy a romance novel. Another lady enjoys YA Steampunk. While yet another swoons over books that incorporate historical adventures. Equipped with this knowledge, I can put my Maven skills to work by pointing each of them towards new and seasoned authors that write what they enjoy reading. And guess what....once they've discovered an author they like, they want to read all the books that author has written!
Of course they won't like 100% of my recommendations, but my hit rate dramatically improved the more we discussed their likes and dislikes. Needless to say, we are in the early stages of planning a book club. I will be sure to keep you posted on our progress.
For this week's field trip, I challenge you to chat with at least three new people you see regularly to find out if they read books often. If their answer is 'yes,' then ask them to tell you about the types of books they like to read. Keep it casual, don't turn the conversation into an inquisition. I'm sure you'll be surprised by the information that book lovers are willing to share. And who knows, you may even find some new readers.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
In last Wednesday's post, I introduced some terms that may have been new to
you:
·
Maven - a subject matter
expert
·
Connector - a person
with a broad and diverse network of friends, associates, and other contacts
·
Salesman - a persuasive
person
Each person, listed above, plays a role in propagating a word of mouth campaign. Just think of the last time you needed a new product or service. Did you consult with your friends, experts, or store clerk before you made your final buy decision? Have you recently made a purchase based solely on a friend's recommendation? Have you ever avoided a service provider or product based on a negative review? If your answer is 'yes' to any of these question, then you have been affected by 'word of mouth'....sometimes, they are formal campaigns orchestrated by corporations who pay trend setters to use their products. Most often, they are genuine recommendations from people we trust.
I would argue that, in today's WiFi connected world, bloggers are a mix of Maven, Connector, and Salesman. Formal review sites, like Goodreads and Consumer Reports, act as a mix of Maven and Connector.
How does all of this information pertain to your writing career? Use your new found knowledge to your advantage. Connect with bloggers online. Write reviews on Amazon. Talk with bloggers and reviewers at writing conferences. Do some research to find out which bloggers will enjoy your style of writing and start to engage them. We all prefer to do business with people we know and trust....bloggers typically enjoy promoting authors they know personally.
How can you engage bloggers and reviewers?
·
Follow them on Twitter
or Facebook
·
Subscribe to their blogs
and leave comments
·
Have a drink with them
at a conference
·
Make an effort to
understand their passion for reading and blogging
Here are some bloggers I've met and / or follow on Twitter:
Questions for this week:
·
Which bloggers do you
follow?
·
Do you interact with
them via Twitter, Facebook, or other social media?
·
How do you select the
bloggers you follow?
I challenge you to find at least one blogger who covers the types of books you write. Connect with them through their blog, Twitter, or Facebook. Find out how they select the books they review. You just might learn something new and start to generate some buzz for your books and your PERSONA.
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