Using Hashtags to Sell Books

#hashtags #socialmedia #SMM

If you are trying to sell orand promote books, or any other product or service, you need to be using hashtags with every promotional tweet and social media post. 

What is a Hashtag?

Even if you are not on Twitter, you may have seen the little hashtag symbol with the pound sign (#) in front of a word or a combination of letters and numbers such as #ff, #news, #jobs, #icarly, #glee, etc. These hashtags are used to identify and keep up with conversations and news about specific topics. Think of hashtags like the tags used to identify articles, blog posts and Amazon products for topics or items in a search. While hashtags originated on Twitter, it is no longer the only place where hashtags are used. Hashtags are now used on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.   

Building an online platform is hard. You have to be creative in order to be heard above the noise of your competitors and all the nonsense conversations on social media these days. Lets face it, now that people can self-publish so easily, it seems like there are more authors than readers. 

Readers only have so much time between working, raising a family, and living. No avid reader has time to read all the books on his/her TBR pile. They have to pick and choose due to finances and time. As a result, some books and authors will never be read as often as others. Therefore, you have to use every available resource and tool to increase your chances of being noticed by readers searching for books. Hashtags can help you beat out some of your competition, especially those who aren't using them. 

How to Use Hashtags

1) Put hashtags above the first line of text or in the first sentence. Do this because when the blog post is shared on social media sites, it pulls the title of the blog post and the first line of text. See the examples at the beginning of this blog post. It may seem strange, but it works. 

2) Register your personal hashtags. While you can't buy or own hashtags like a domain name, you can register it with Twubs.com or Hashtag.org to better manage your personal hashtag related to you or your books. Use a term to represent your author name and/or each individual book you write or even a series. This will help you keep up with the flow of responses and discussions around your books during new book launches and/or campaigns. Here is an example of a hashtag I created for a series of books #MacGregorLegacy. 

3) Use common book related hashtags.While it's a wonderful idea to create and register your own hashtags, some common hashtags will also bring readers to your blogs and social media sites. For instance, bloggers who post on the CFBA Blog Tour, include hashtags such as #christianfiction and/or #christianromance. This allows them to promote other authors' books, and at the same time, lure reads to their site to discover other books as well. For a list of book related hashtags, click here. 

4) Use the #SampleSunday or #TeaserTuseday hashtags to post short excerpts to introduce your work to new readers. The Sample Sunday idea originally came from David Wisehart, but it took off with other authors. Since then Sharon Rose created a Sample Sunday Facebook page. You can read more about the idea here. Some authors post first chapters to promote their books. Why not take it a step further and post sentences or paragraphs each Sunday or Tuesday, leading up to and through a book launch for the first chapter? 

Are you using hashtags? Have you ever registered a hashtag? 

Introducing Blind Dates With Books

Have you ever wondered if your book would hold up next to a bestseller if no one knew who wrote the bestseller or its title? If marketing and promotion really works, then it's reasonable to assume that if enough people or promotional tools tell readers that a particular book is better than all the others, they will be pre-exposed and biased into believing it before they even have a chance to read it. 

Introducing No Names, No Jackets, a blind date with books. The idea is to eliminate author names, titles, reviews, sales records, ratings, testimonials, all the promotional pieces that influence buyers and allow the writing to stand for itself. 

Authors submit the first chapter of a novel or the first few paragraphs of a novella. Readers will be able to browse through selections  at random either by length or genre. If you find a piece of work you would like to purchase, click the link at the end and it will take you to the actual book on Amazon where you can purchase it. If you don't like a selection, click on the next option. 

Right now that are no genre options for Christian fiction or Inspirational fiction, but perhaps a few authors can change that if you are interested in submitting your work. 

What are your thoughts? Do you think this is a good idea? 

Using Google Analytics to Measure Social Media ROI

#GoogleAnalytics, #SM, #SMM, #SEO

If you aren’t already using Google Analytics to track your website/blog performance, you’re missing out on a great feedback system and it’s FREE. It isn’t necessary to have a Blogger blog. It can be used on static websites hosted on your own server, on Wordpress, or some other platform. You will need a Google account and then follow the directions in how to place the codes on your site so that it can begin tracking the activity on your site.

I use Google Analytics to get an idea of how many visitors I receive each month, to track new first-time visitors vs returning visitors, and to measure my blogs' traffic flow from social media. It let’s me know the percentage of people from the US, Canada and other countries, who is using what browser platform to view my site, and what percentage of my readers are on mobile platforms such as Verizon Android or iphones. 

Why is this important? It helps me tailor my content, and to use gadget plug-ins that will work with these features. I don’t want to use something that the majority of my readers’ software won’t be compatible with and will prevent them from viewing my site. My goal is to gain readers, not lose them. This means I have to tailor my content to something they can use and value, as well as be compatible on the reading device they choose to use. 

Google has implemented the Social Plug-In Analytics. It shows how many people visit your site from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+. This eliminates the guess work in how much of a difference your social media efforts make in your overall platform. It can be great info for the Marketing Plan piece of your proposal. It isn’t enough to have 8,000 Twitter followers and 2,500 likes on your Facebook page. Those numbers are only a start—they give you “access” to people you wouldn’t otherwise have. Now take it a step further, and learn the percentage of those people who are actively engaged in following your posts and interacting with you.

• Do they take action and click onto your website/blog and read the whole post? 
• Do they now follow your blog? 
• Did they like your content enough to further promote it to their friends and family? 

You can know the answers to these questions by keeping up with how many +1 hits on Google, shares it on Facebook, or retweets it on Twitter. If this is happening, you have Social Media spreading your news by “word of mouth marketing”. This is what you want—other people promoting your work. You won’t know this without some mechanism to track your efforts--and why not use a free, accurate system like Google Analytics?

This will give you a “return on your investment” of time, types of posts, and content that people are interested in sharing and seeing or hearing. Often, what we “think” they are interested in is completely different than the “truth”. I can get people to share an image of Bambi on Facebook much faster than I can one of my devotional posts or an announcement about my books or events. Yet, on Twitter, people will retweet one of my devotions or my book announcements easier than on Facebook. It’s given me a chance to get to know my readers better on each individual social media site. Each social media site has its own culture, and you must learn them.

Here is an image of traffic flow that Google Analytics will show you from your Social Media sites. It will show you what percentage of “click thrus” come from which social media, which page they entered, and which pages they clicked on next and when and where they dropped off from your site. This will also give you an idea of which content (blog posts) people are interested in so that you will be able to target your future posts to garner more interactions. 

Below is an old image from one of my personal blog sites. 

If you want specific directions in how to implement the code on Blogger, click here.

What are your thoughts? Have you used Google Analytics? Did you know about the ability to also track your Social Media actions? Would it be helpful in helping you with YOUR online marketing efforts?

The Benefits of Google+ Hangouts

If you haven't tried it yet, Google+ has a great feature called Hangouts. You don't just hangout a traditional chat room where you type to each other, but you hangout in a video/audio chat area. With the camera on your computer or tablet, it links everyone up and you can see each other and chat by audio/video. It's nice to see facial expressions and hear voices. No more typing and skimming to read text to keep up with the conversation. Some say it's better than Skype.

You can broadcast live on Google+ and YouTube. You can host free conferences for up to 10 people at  once. 

This could be a great feature to use during book launches. Instead of hosting, the same old contests where people leave a comment and the winner is drawn and posted later, you could do this live. It would had more fun and be more like an actual event. You could schedule the event ahead of time and announce it to your Social Media networks so people would know what time to "tune" in.



Have you tried Google+? If so, did you use it for book promotion? Do you think it's better than Skype?
What are your thoughts?

Tips to Consider When Scheduling Promotional Events

While special events are a great way to promote your books, they can also be a drain on finances, time, and energy.  Therefore, you need to prioritize which events will be best for you and stick to your budget and schedule when unexpected opportunities arise.

Each event is different with varying purposes. You may attend some events for the following reasons: 1) sell books, 2) raise awareness about you and your book, 3)  to give back to the community 4) as a means to provide a ministry

Here are some recommended tips:
1) Before your book launch, plan your promotional budget for events and determine your top goals. Be realistic about your time and schedule. Leave enough time for writing and researching the next book while you promote the current book release. Macro and editing deadlines may land in your inbox from your publisher in the middle of your planning time for an event. Don't forget to leave some flexibility in your schedule.

2) Keep in mind that events where books are not sold will require you to bring your own books and you may be required to rent space, table and chairs. You may have to buy meals if it is an all day event. Also, if it is out of town, there will be travel and lodging costs. If you have to sell your books without a store cashier, you might want to consider bringing a spouse, friend or older child to help you. If someone you trust is handling the money, you can spend time talking with readers, getting photos taken with readers, and signing books. It's always nice to have someone help you carry the boxes of books, tables and chairs, and tent if you are required to park away from your location. 

3) Browse local community calendars at the libraries, bookstores, chamber of commerce, church listings, festivals, etc for events that may have a tie-in to any kind of topic in your novel. If you have a nascar book, consider a nascar event. I write historical novels in Scotland, so the highland games are always great selling avenues for me. What topic or themes in your novels can you capitalize on?

4) Google writing conferences and workshops and send an email with your credentials, bio and links to offer your services as a speaker. Often, they will cover the cost of your travel, lodging, and pay you an honorarium, as well as allow you to bring and sell your books.

5) Some book signings are still worth it even if you only sell one or two novels. It you have a local book signing, you don't have to bring your own books, you don't have the cost of travel and rental space, and all it takes is one reader who may spread the word to 4-5 more people and help you pick up more readers. Even if people don't buy your books, they may go home and Google your name, so make sure you have a large sign or banner on or by your table. This is where passing out bookmarks, postcards, magnets and business cards are key. These days half my readers are own an e-reader and prefer to by e-books. If you give them something to take home with them, they will download your book later.

6) Hold online events. You can host contests, giveaways, workshops, video Q&A, video interviews, podcasts, and digital book signings. New technology is allowing people to be very creative, accessible, and economical. Take advantage of these opportunities.

Any other ideas? Please share what has worked for you. 

Who's Responsible for Platform? Author or Publisher?

I came across a 5-part series blog on Death of Traditional Publishers? by Author Kris Tuella. While I don't believe traditional publishing is dead, I do believe it is changing and facing some unique challenges and competition that won't go away.

Traditional publishing won't die, but it will have to transform in order to survive. It's a business and true leaders understand that transformations like this happen in every business and industry. Innovative leaders look at this time as a great opportunity. It's a time to try new business models, be creative, and get excited!

Authors need to realize they are a business and it's an exciting time for them as much as anyone else in the industry. So many opportunities are opening up to authors that didn't exist before. Authors now have direct access to readers regardless of where they live. The Internet and social media are a new tool that Christian writers can use as a writing ministry.

After reading this series, I thought it was very informative and brought out some perspectives I haven't before considered, so I've posted links at the bottom of this post.

I've always been a staunch advocate of traditional publishers and will continue to be. Many traditional publishers have been supportive, helpful, and wonderful to work with. However, I'm also one who believes in computers, online platforms, and author marketing. That said, as an author, I'd be like an ostrich with my head buried in the sand, if I didn't take every advantage of what traditional publishers can offer and what I can do in promoting myself, my work, and building my online platform and that of my clients. I view my relationship with publishers as a partnership.

With the ever-present changing world of publishing, authors must try and survive--to do their part. It isn't the publisher's job to build an author's platform. If those days ever existed, they're over. 

One thing these articles drive home is the fact that author brands sell books not publisher brands. To borrow from a key point posted by Tuella, no one goes around saying, "I just bought a Random House book." Instead, you'll hear people saying, "I just bought a Karen Kingsbury book."

People notice when you go the extra mile or take a few additional steps to do more than you HAVE to do. They not only, notice, but they remember and appreciate it. They may even promote it to others. 

Below are the promised links to Kris Tuella's blog articles. 

Death of Traditional Publishers?

(Note: These links are to a secular blog)

Part I - A Compilation of Opinions

Part II - How to Save Themselves

Part III - Death, Thy Name is "Smashwords"

Part IV - The Game Changer by Robert W. Walker


Part V - The Game Changer by Robert W. Walker (Continued)

Buzz Words Breeds Success

Buzz words can be a useful PR tool. Let's face it, buzz words make an otherwise boring topic, interesting. In the media world they create excellent sound bytes and noteworthy headlines. Consider it the spice in the mix.
 

What do you think of when you hear the word Brangelina? 

That's right, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. 

The reason the media uses buzz words, is because they work. 

Which is more likely to get your attention?

1) Early Intervention utilizes entertainment as education

2) Edutainment is the new early intervention

The media has been creating buzz words for ages. Greensboro, North Carolina wasn't always Greensboro. It was incorporated as Greensborough in 1808, but the city's local newspaper, the Greensboro Patriot kept printing the city's name as Greensboro. It saved them ink, print space, and was easier on their old fashioned printing machine. The result? It ended up influencing the name change of the entire city to Greensboro in 1895.

Not only are buzz words helpful to media people, but they can also benefit authors and publicists when used appropriately and creatively. When writing press releases, blogs, and new pitches, authors need to think in terms of a journalist. The market is saturated with editors, reporters and producers receiving thousands of daily pitches. By using a buzz word, phrase, or catchy headline, you'll have a better chance at edging out the competition.

Note: This is for news editors for promotional purposes, not book editors who you are pitching or sending a proposal to in the hope of getting your book published. Standing out to these editors for any other reason beyond a compelling, well-written story could work against you.

Social Media: Stay Connected Monthly Package

Stay Connected Monthly Package ($150)

This package is for authors who have established accounts and who need to be actively promoting and growing their Social Media, but also need more free time to write and meet deadlines. This package includes the following:

Facebook

~ 50 Friend invites and/or readers targeted to your author page per month

 Twitter

~ 300 Targeted followers per month

~ Monitor return follows & unfollowers, mentions & retweets, thank retweeters & mentions

LinkedIn

~ 100 Targeted connections per month

~ Respond to friend requests

Pinterest

~ 50 Targeted connections per month

~ Respond to friend requests

YouTube

~ Upload new videos to YouTube Channel as needed

~ Manage subscribers and subscriptions

~ Respond to friend requests each month

Goodreads

~ 50 Friends per month

~ Respond to friend requests each month

~ Upload new events and books as needed

LibraryThing

~ Respond to friend requests per month

~ Upload new books each month as needed

Google+ 

~ 30 Targeted friends per month in circles

~ Respond to friend requests each month

~ Upload new events and books as needed

Note: We cannot guarantee people will accept friend requests or follow back. Therefore, targeted means we will try and target these numbers for you, but there is no guarantee.

Social Media: Get Connected Package

Get Connected Package ($500)

This is our start-up package for authors who are just beginning Social Media. If an author already has an account set up at some of these sites, we would work on optimizing what they already have and create the new ones. Please note, we can only target a number of followers/friends. We cannot guarantee a specific number. This package includes the following:

Facebook

~ Create account/profile 

~ Create an Author Page on Facebook 

~ Consult client on creating a 3^rd party App promoting books on FB

~ Create Facebook/yourname for a shortlink
~ Target up to 100 likes within the first month

~ Set RSS feeds from your blog
~ Will email html code to author for a Facebook widget or buttons to be embedded on author’s website/blog

Twitter

~ Create account/profile

~ Design a customized background and header

~ Target up to 500 followers

~ Set RSS feeds from your blog
~ Will email html code to author for a Twitter widget or button to be embedded on author’s website/blog

LinkedIn

~ Create account/profile

~ Set RSS feeds from Twitter

~ Target 100 connections
~ Will email html code to author for a LinkedIn widget or button to be embedded on author’s website/blog

Pinterest

~ Create account/profile

~ Create up to 2 story boards with at least 5 pins on each board from author’s website/blog to promote their books.

~ Will provide html code for a widget or button to place on author’s website/blog.

YouTube

~ Create account/profile

~ Upload current video book trailers if there are any

~ Target 10 subscribers/Friends
~ Will provide html code for a widget or button to place on author’s website/blog.

Goodreads Author Page

~ Create account/profile

~ Request Author page for your books (books must be available on Amazon)

~ Set RSS feeds from your blog

~ Target 100 friends
~ Will email html code to author for a widget or button to place on author’s website/blog

LibraryThing

~ Create account/profile

~ Request author page

~ List your books

Other Account Set-Ups

~ Create Twitterfeed account 

~ Link Twitterfeed to Twitter and Facebook accounts and set RSS feeds from your blog(s)

~ Create Hootsuite account/profile 

~ Link Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts for tracking 

~ Note: Hootsuite may also be used to track future social media contest/campaigns

~ Create Booktour.com account/profile

~ Note: Booktour events can be linked to your Amazon Author page

~ Create a Google Gmail account for all your social media so your main email will not be bombarded with tons of alerts.

Amazon Author Page (Optional)

~ Consult client on how to create an account/profile or optimize your current page

~ Upload video book trailers, new books

~ Set RSS feeds from your blog(s)

Google+ 
~ Create account/profile
~ 80 Targeted friends in circles

Note: We cannot guarantee people will accept friend requests or follow back. Therefore, targeted means we will try and target these numbers for you, but there is no guarantee.