Changing Times – Changing Platforms?

by Mary Allen

The publishing world has changed immensely since I first dipped my little toe in fifteen years ago. Back then the rules about platform seemed so rigid as to be exclusive. For someone such as I who didn’t want a writing career that trumped the other areas of my life, it was easy to be intimidated almost to the point of paralysis. Are public visibility and reputation still the holy standard for book promotion and sales? Are professional names backed by pedigrees and great professional connections still book sales requirements? Perhaps not.

While visibility remains important, even imperative, how that happens has changed in a society which has come to rely on the internet for everything from diagnosing medical conditions to tracking library due dates. More and more it seems that to be successful today a writer not only needs to write well, but to interact with prospective readers who are more apt to check out a title or author by clicking to a website.

If the author comes across as someone with personality, offers glimpses into on-going works, video clips of personal life and opinions, then reader interaction is encouraged. From that environment sales are much more likely to grow, according to Alan Rinzler who worked many years for major publishing companies such as Simon and Schuster and Bantam. He claims this is true for traditionally published authors as well as indies.

Establishing a website poses many questions. How should an author balance authentic personality with privacy when creating a public persona? How is content chosen that offers value and relevancy? After these and many more questions are worked out, will a website have staying power? 

I remember the fervor over My Space, then Facebook and LinkedIn and Tweeter and I don’t know what else because it was too overwhelming. I’m the kind of girl that is comfortable chatting over a cup of tea rather than tweeting or even facebook-ing, despite the opportunity the last offers me to connect globally with people I love. #oldfashionedgirl. #writecallvisitme. If I’m going to put in time and money – for me more time than money- to put up a quality website how long will this media outlet last?

A couple years ago I opted to use Facebook over a website as my author page. More and more I wonder if the FB craze is passing. Putting up a website is the logical next step for me. Websites seem to have proven staying power. If I choose one media outlet to focus on, this should be it. 

This time round I’m not going to be anxious or frenzied. It just doesn’t suit me. #slowandeasy. As I do this, perhaps step by step author website how-to is a topic of interest to other HI authors. What say you?  What website building questions burn inside of you?

Mary Allen is a life-long Hoosier who loves Northwest Indiana and the many seasons it offers for reading. You can find her reading in a lawn chair in the summer shade, on the veranda in the fall, by the fire during the winter and listening to books on CD while spring cleaning. La Porte County Poet Laureate Emeritas (2010) with three books of poetry, Mary speaks at Christian women's clubs, blogs on http:www.thebarndoor.net and writes fiction. (Caveat: don't follow the hashtags, I don't tweet.)

Why the Interest in Pinterest?

"Pinterest. Pinterest. Pinterest. Yikes, the noise is deafening," writes Peter Himler on his blog The Flack.

 David Pogue, in The New York Times last week, wrote that Pinterest is "...the fastest Web site in history to break the 10-million-visitors-a-month threshold."

Dealbook's Evelyn Rusli tweeted "the pinterest [sic] love fest is reaching insane levels . . . "

I first learned about Pinterest.com from my art-smart daughter, who sent me an invitation to join. When I visited the site, I was hooked. I created a page with a few "boards." Boards are a way of sorting and categorizing one's "pins," images gleaned from other pinners, as well as Web sites. Once users add a "Pin It" button to their browsers' toolbars, they can pin from most Web sites. (Facebook is an exception, which is a good thing.) A pinned image can be repinned by other users to their own boards, and the beat goes on.

Where Did the Madness Begin?
Pinterest was started by two men, Ben and Paul, who were friends in college. "We were looking at paper catalogs," Ben said in an interview, "and thought, wouldn't it be cool if there was a catalog full of stuff that our friends had picked out." The two started developing Pinterest in December 2009. By March 2010, the prototype was ready to share with close friends and family. The site grew as those chosen few invited others to join. Though it's still "by invitation only," it's easy to get invited. Go to the site and ask.

What Do I Like about Pinterest?

• I'm a visual person, so I love the images. One also can post YouTube videos.
• It's a social network, so it provides a way to connect with people around the world with similar interests and concerns.
• I learn something about the people with whom I connect most often through their boards. What do they love? What's their taste in clothing? Are they metropolitan or rural? Do they share my love for all things rustic, historical, Scottish, Amish, literary, and Christ-honoring? Do they appreciate God's Creation? Do they enjoy cooking, baking, and trying new things? How do they feel about chocolate, coffee, tea, and hounddogs? At the same time, I needn't be privy to the more intimate details of their lives.
• As with any social networking site, there are those who create an account, enjoy a short burst of activity, but soon lose interest and depart. All the publicity Pinterest is garnering right now promotes that. But there is an active core of users who will continue to participate. These are folks who see the potential in such a site and can apply its uses to their benefit: the moms who are always looking for new, appealing recipes, crafty ideas (possibly to use as money-makers), DIY projects, organizational hints, etc.; photographers (amateur and professional) who see it as a way to display their work and gather ideas; home-schooling parents on the prowl for great ideas, and writers.

Pinterest for Writers
When I first joined Pinterest, I had no intention of using it as a writer's tool, but it didn't take long for me to recognize the potential. One of my first boards was "Books and Brew Bistro," where I pinned everything about books, reading, and coffee. The next logical step was to set up a board to corral images of characters, settings, clothing, and other things pertaining to my WIPs.

From my "Writer's Inspiration" board

          My MC in The Second Cellar                         The cellar door in SC                                          Aunt Becky in SC

I'm working on an interview with a fellow writer who has a novel set to release in March. This morning, I pinned the cover on my B&BB board. Within two minutes, another user had repinned to her page, exposing it to a whole new audience. Imagine how many people will see that cover by tomorrow morning! Further, it links directly back to the author's page where they can pre-order it!

The possibilities are endless. How about you, gentle reader? Are you a pinster? How do you use the site? What might you do to promote your own writing, as well as the work of your fellow scribes? What dangers or problems do you see? What warnings would you give? I look forward to reading your comments.

WARNING! (24 February 2012)  If you're on Pinterest.com, you probably know you can "click through" to the source of an image, which usually is a benign blog or Web site. Someone repinned a face of a  boy with a big smile from my "Childhood" board. The caption read that he was an amazing young man, so I thought I'd click through to read his "amazing" story. It took me to an extremely obscene site. Ugh! I often do click through, especially if I want to scan a recipe or a DIY idea, but I haven't done that with the people pages. Of course, I immediately deleted the pin. Satan is up to his old, old, old tricks of taking something useful and perverting it to achieve his own agenda.  From now on, I'll trace each image to its source before repinning. Be ever vigilant.

Write on!

Because of Christ,

Sharon

Supplementing Your Publisher's Marketing Efforts Part Three: Your Role In the Process

In today's economy publishers, like many other businesses, are having to cut back on marketing budgets. In some cases this means authors are left needing to supplement whatever has been provided – on their own. In parts one and two of this series we covered ways to find a qualified professional designer to assist you in creating supplemental materials to market you and your books and what to expect as you negotiate the terms of a design project.

You now have a designer, you've negotiated a price ... and now what happens?

If you are doing a larger project, such as a web site, book trailer, or ebook design you may have been asked to pay a portion of the design cost up front or as certain stages of the project are completed. Part of this up-front payment is to enable the designer to pay for any photos, illustrations, videos, sound files etc. they might need to purchase on your behalf and also for them to be able to pay their rent and utilities while they work several weeks with you to complete a longer project. (Much like the advances a publisher can give a writer during the writing process.)

On smaller projects, such as a single postcard or bookmark design, you are more likely to be billed at the end of the project. (Note: On larger projects it is very common for a signed contract to be used - for the protection of both you and the designer. The timing of expected payments will appear on the written contract.)

A designer may also have supplied you with a proposal or a creative brief prior to signing a contract. This is where they will describe their plan of action, giving you expected deadlines and descriptions of what they plan to do for you. Often this will repeat the details you have given them about your target audience, your goals, and what you have asked them to do. Depending on the size of the project and the designer it might be handled in a less formal fashion via e-mail instead of a formal document such as a brief or proposal.

Reviewing Drafts

By your negotiated deadline the designer will likely send you a first draft for review. In order to prevent delays in this process you will need to provide anything you were meant to supply to the designer ASAP. Examples of such items include: a professional head shot of yourself, the cover art of your book from the publisher, and any marketing copy or other text you may have agreed to supply. Note: If you have these items ready before choosing a designer you will certainly speed up the process!

The designer will likely send you either a link to a test site or a pdf or other file via e-mail for review. Often these drafts will be low resolution and will possibly include 'mock up' or 'comp' photos that are low resolution images with watermarks still on them as they have not yet been purchased. You may even receive several files at once with different appearances. This depends on your budget and what you have agreed upon. Using comp images saves you money. It allows you to approve all images used before they are purchased.

Once you have approved a design

Design changes and new drafts will continue to go back and forth via e-mail until you approve the total design. At that point you will be invoiced either the full amount for smaller projects or the remaining amount if you are working on a larger project and paying in installments. The designer will provide you with the final files or they can also submit files on your behalf to printers and advertisers. Often this is a good choice in case there are any file issues so that you don't end up having to mediate.

With luck, you won't be left having to supplement your publisher's marketing efforts - but if you do I hope that you now know how to find some help and feel comfortable with the process.

If you already know you need supplemental materials what are they? And how much do you think it should cost? (I'm asking for sharing purposes only. If you want a quote from me let me know, but I'm just asking to get a general idea of what people need and feel they can afford.)

Suzanne Wesley works as a full-time freelance graphic artist and copywriter from her Indiana home. She is also a full-time mom of two girls under the age of 6. (Sometimes the two full-time jobs collide, but mostly it is the best job decision she ever made!) Between filling sippy cups, reading princess stories ... oh, and designing marketing materials, she sneaks in time to work on her secret passion for fiction writing.

She also reads and reviews Christian books and their cover designs on the book and cover reviewer blog - found at www.suzannewesley.com

Marketing in K-Mart Terms Volume 2

Marketing in K-Mart Terms Vol 2

Book Promotion

Do I need an Influencer?

This question is similar to the significant question-do I need an agent? Perhaps not as weighty, but worthy of consideration.

What is an influencer? An influencer is a promoter of your book. One who positively influences others. It is a form of viral marketing or word of mouth promotion. An influencer is one who invests in your book; one who is a member of your tribe. You certainly want someone who believes in your book, but who is also honest.

Specific steps an influencer can take:

• Of course, read the book. All of it.
• Talk about the book everywhere: to groups you belong to, with friends and family, at book clubs.
• Write about the book: on Facebook, Twitter and your blog.
• Review the book: on Amazon, on the ACFW website, your personal blog, the publisher’s website, on-line review sites, your newspaper.
• Have your book club read and discuss the book.
• Distribute bookmarks, flyers or other media items.
• Ask your library to order the book.
• Ask bookstores to carry the book.
• Record the book with an online tracking system (don’t know name) and then pass on the book. The book’s journey can be tracked.
• Participate in a blog tour of the book.
• Invest in a copy for a friend, for your church book store or library.

A real commitment is required of an influencer and the task shouldn't be taken lightly. These are only a few guidelines for an influencer. Are there other ideas you have to share?

Jude Urbanski

urbanski4u@aol.com

judeurbanski.blogstream.com