In the days before blogging, 'getting your name out there' involved massive and convaluted methods of advertising, book tours - which once upon a time your publisher footed the bill for - and required huge blocks of time to travel from city to city for book signings, interviews and the likes.
Now - thanks to the net - you can sit at home and instead of meeting several hundred fans, hopefully, you can attract thousands.
Does this happen overnight? No, of course not!
Can you simply announce the arrival of your latest book, sit back, and wait for the stampede? In your dreams!
It takes time and for some it takes longer than for others. Why?
"You get back what you put out" kinda covers it, in a way. The more books you write, the more people you are likely to attract. If they like what you write, they want more. But, if you keep them waiting too long they'll look elsewhere, and by the time your next effort hits the virtual and physical books shelves they may not bother to even give your latest book a look in.
So to feed your reader's appetites you must keep writing.
'OK! I've got that.' I hear you say.but then there's more. People want/need to know more about you the author and your writing style and the only way to doo that is to write regularly on your own blog and guest on as many other blogs as you can.
Job done? Not at all. Visit other blogs and comment. If you like to read your visitors' comments, others will be please to hear from you and they will reciprocate. Not only do you begin to get your name out there, but the wonderful bonus is, you make an enormous number of new and caring friends.
Social networks abound. Some find them daunting, others love them. Fact of life, if you want to reach new readers, then you have to get off your butt and get chatting.
Yes it takes time, and if you take a break, the reality is people have busy lives and will interact with those actively participating on the social blog sits.
How do I know this? I am one of those who has a hard tme getting my head round the social networking system. And quite frankly if I don't make an effort then I notice the difference.
So does blogging your brand name make a difference?
Yes!
And in this day and age, we've never had it so good!
My website: http://www.sherrygloag.com/
Buy Duty Calls at http://tinyurl.com/6el9qef
5 comments:
I don't know how authors ever sold anything before the internet!
It's mind-boggling, idn't it, Dianne? Thanks for coming by
Sherry, I completely agree. I wonder what people did without all kinds of modern technology: cell phones, computers, cable...long list of things.
Social media/marketing has made it so convenient to put a push behind yourself and your friends. And to reach a much broader/diverse audience.
Here's my response: http://angelakayaustin.blogspot.com/
It is amazing how much hard work it is to keep promoting, from setting things up to work in the first place right down to blog comments and interviews, but it's worth it and a lot of fun. I notice the difference, when I don't bother as much, too. If I'm ill, or on holiday.
Here's my answer to this week's blog hop question! Enjoy your day!
Great post. I also have difficulty wrapping my mind around social networking. Right now the Twitter-verse is the most perplexing but we have to jump in and try!
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