Ideas for Marketing Your Book

*These are rough notes from our April 2016 meeting

How do you get your book out there? How do you let people know?

 

 

Podcasts are the "new thing"

 

Jane Friedman does a live Q&A every week/month.  Great info/tips

 

Jennifer has a "Street Team" on Facebook and Twitter.  A street team are people that are willing to share your posts and get your information out there for them.  The reason being only 7% of your friends will see your post.  So you need to share and have your team/friends share as well.

 

Book signings:

• You have to take the time to build a base
• Google Arts&Crafts shows to find venues
• You need to always have something new each year.

 

Book giveaways are a good marketing tool.

 

BookBub costs nothing to submit.  You are only charged if you get in, which can be difficult. But keep submitting! It is the biggest bang for your buck where marketing is concerned. Make sure your getting reviews on your books to help (street team can help here).  Offering promotional giveaways for reviews is a good way to get team to follow through.

 

Write reviews for your fellow writers.

 

Be sure to list EVERYTHING you write on Amazon so you have a large list when someone "googles" you. List books, novellas, short shorties, etc.

 

Quality AND Quantity: You need to be consistently putting stuff out there.

 

Don't get so bogged down in media (sharing on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, etc) that you stop writing.

April 2016 Meeting Minutes

6:30 Meeting called to order
Members in attendance: Rita, Sarah, Cindy, Margery, Linda, Anne, David (aka Robert), Glenn, Marilyn, Jennifer, Sybil, Francia, and Jayleen.

Treasurer's Report: balance $567.21, have not sold any anthologies this month

Update on Barbara: surgery went well but she has not been cleared to venture out yet. She is working on getting out her book.

Public Relations: Affiliate news is now on OWFI

Old News:
Library Showcase scheduled for Saturday April 23 1p-4p

• Bring  your own table covers/decorations
• You need to have your own bank to make change
• You'll get 2 minutes for your "elevator pitch"
• Utilize Social Media to promote the showcase

OWFI

• Crème de la Crème has been donated in Charlotte's name
• We now have 2 tables - 20 seats
• Who's going? Rita, Anne, Cindy, Denise, Marilyn, Jennifer, Cathy, Cindy, Glenn, and possibly Glenn's daughter.  Jayleen is still undecided.

New News:
Friend of the Library

• Congratulations to Anne, Linda, Charlotte, Sydney, and Abigail for placing in this year's writing contest.  We will post winner's and categories on our FB page.

OLLI Class

• WordWeavers are going to lead 3 classes during the Summer Session.  Examples of content include: What happens in the day of the life of a writer, What gets you going, and Where do you find inspiration. Jennifer will lead the May 25th class, Rita June 1st, and Denise June 8
• Fall classes will be more of a "how to" for outlines, contests, etc.  We will need volunteers to lead the classes starting in September over the course of 6 weeks.

Jennifer will be collaborating with Darlene Shortridge to provide an extensive workshop on Independent Publishing.  The date is set for Oct 8th and plans to run 10(ish) hours.  The venue is TBD.

Jennifer finished Summer's End and will release at the end of summer. Yay!

Mary Kincaid released a new book. Congratulations!

Marilyn is hoping to release her book Becoming Rose at the end of June.

Heather will be releasing her book soon. Good Luck!

Tate publishing was discussed and the general feeling was do NOT use this publisher. Jennifer is willing to help anyone rather than resorting to them.

Members had suggested to dedicate the Anthology to Charlotte.  Anne made a motion to do so, Margery seconded the motion.  Everyone was in favor.

Jennifer asked everyone to please please please email your edits ASAP, oh and pay dues that were due in September.

Critiques for Sybil and Sarah were discussed. Edits will be due May 17th.

Next month critiques for Eloise, Glenn, and Sally.

May WW meeting will be Spring Celebration.  We will reserve a table at Tumbleweeds. Tuesday, May 17th @ 6:00pm

Meeting adjourned (kinda) 7:55pm.  Then we discussed Marketing, see separate blog for those notes.

Bartlesville Author Showcase

March 2016 Minutes

Holy cow, I am finally figuring out how to post the minutes!

6:35pm Meeting called to order. Those in attendance include: Jennifer, Sarahlyn, Jayleen, Denise, Margery, Abigail, Marily, Glenn, David, and Francia.

Slips of paper passed around for those wishing to be considered for the OWFI scholarship

Treasurer report: $792.31balance with no new sales

Abigail: has list for FB "book of the day", let her know if anyone has anything new to add to rotation.

Jennifer welcomed new secretary Jayleen Mayes (yay!)

Old News: 

• Local Author's Library Showcase: Jennifer will have a mtg about it. Set for Saturday April 23 from 1p-4p.  Looking for those wishing to speak or read.
• Edmond Author's Fair moved to May. $30 for full table, $15 for half.  Good crowd, usually does well.
• Anthology: Final edits need to be sent to WW email. Next meeting critique for Saralyn and Sybil.

New News:

• Ladies Connection on May 12th, opportunity to promote books. Conflicts with OWFI.
• Friends of Library contest awards maybe April 21st? Keep checking emails.
• Denise OWFI Board Update: will have Gong Show this year, budget has been less successful, Stephen James to speak and looking for keynote speaker for next year.
• Steve Berry will be at Gilcrease Museum in April

OWFI

• OWFI early bird registration ends today! $175 vs $200 tomorrow
• Baskets: need a theme. Suggestions include "Deadline Survival Kit" and "Deadline Reward". Plans to seek out Maria Gus for help with a Bville Basket again this year.
• Centerpieces: if you have a book, make a centerpiece for the raffle and tell Peggy Chambers.
• Table Reservations: need to know how many ppl plan to attend
• Hotel Reservations: need to know who's bunking up...plans to cancel 2 of the room reservations.
• Affiliate news deadline? Abigail will send another email because last news was never put up. Jennifer will also double check with Mary.
• Drawing for OWFI scholarship: 2 @ $75 each goes to Abigail & Jennifer. Congratulations!
• We are sponsoring 1/2 category @ OWFI this year.
• Denise concluded the meeting with some background information about OWFI

Next meeting April 19th @ 6:30pm