Today I intend to summarize the last several weeks, so this should be short and simple. I can hear some of you saying, "Oh, yeh! The other blogs were supposed to be short."
No, this will be short.
My best advice is always take what you hear and apply it to you, to the house your are trying to sell to, to the genre you write. Don't take my word for gospel. It may not fit your situation.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of sites on the Internet that detail any of the subjects I've covered here, so with a little searching through "Google" or "Bing" you can read many other opinions about what to do and how to do it. I've tried to approach these blogs with what I've learned over the years. However, remember, my genre, my own style, the houses I write for, and the more I learned have always determined what I'm doing and how I do it. So, do your research.
It's your career, they are your books, not someone else's work. What works for you might not work for another author. It's determine by your time, money, personality and talent.
So happy writing and researching.
Now I have to decide what I'll blog about for the next month or two.
See Ya!
Allison Knight
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
"Betrayed Bride" available from www.ChampagneBooks.com
"Lynbrook's Lady" coming in August from www.ChampagneBooks.com
Showing posts with label Betrayed Bride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Betrayed Bride. Show all posts
Monday, June 10, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Monday's Helpful Hints - What didn't work - for me.
There are several things I did, as far as I know, (note the caveat here) had little effect on my marketing of my books. I also had a good friend who was a military analyst who agrees with my own results.
It doesn't seem that much benefit is gained from online advertising. It's way down on the list of things that work. I'm not certain about paid advertising in print medium because I've seldom had the money to be able to buy an expensive spread in a retail spot. So I'd have to say - for me at least - paid advertising was a waste of my money.
Also, today, many of the loops devoted to romances, which I write, are full of other authors promoting their books. So, for as much time as I spend on those loops, I doubt I gain much help in selling my own books.
Giving away books also doesn't do a lot either. I have to buy my print books and except for the few copies I get when the book is released in digital form, I must buy the digital book from my publisher if I want to continue to gift the ebook to others. Contests stir up some interest, but giving away a lot of books doesn't seem to aid in my actual sales numbers.
The three best things I do, is first word of mouth. It's been reported that your name has to register at least seven times, before people will begin to recognize you. So, if that premise is true, then you have to have someone talk about you at least seven times before you'll be remembered, they'll have to see your name in print at least seven times before they get it. So, word of mouth is the most important and seeing your name in print is next. That means blogging for others and well as at least one blog for you, tweeting and facebook, and the other forms of internet media.
The third thing I've found that helps is always carrying a bunch of bookmarks (mine are business cards and I'll explain why in a minute). I pass these out to anyone I see reading, in a restaurant, doctor's office, where ever. Of course, I will also pass them out to people I see reading from a digital device like a kindle. I usually ask what they are reading and if it's history, romance, or most forms of fiction, I'll pass out a card or two. I also keep my doctor's office supplied, hand them out at the hospital when I go for blood tests, at the beauty salon, and I add them to almost all of the mail that leaves the house.
Now, why do I use business cards as opposed to regular bookmarks? First, I can make them myself and print as many or as few as I want or print them as I need them. I can print both sides, and let face it, today not everyone uses a bookmark, but people do keep business cards. The stock available is excellent, not horrendously expensive and with the new printers, you can produce a reasonably good product. I put the latest cover of my book on one side and my back list and buy info on the reverse. I'm definitely looking into using a small QR code on my next card. Don't know what that is? Look it up and you'll notice it's now frequently on all kinds of products.
Okay, I'm a little long again, but there is much to share. I'll wait until next Monday to get into the press kit. So, see you then.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Betrayed Bride available from Champagne Books
Lynbrook's Lady coming in August from Champagne Books
It doesn't seem that much benefit is gained from online advertising. It's way down on the list of things that work. I'm not certain about paid advertising in print medium because I've seldom had the money to be able to buy an expensive spread in a retail spot. So I'd have to say - for me at least - paid advertising was a waste of my money.
Also, today, many of the loops devoted to romances, which I write, are full of other authors promoting their books. So, for as much time as I spend on those loops, I doubt I gain much help in selling my own books.
Giving away books also doesn't do a lot either. I have to buy my print books and except for the few copies I get when the book is released in digital form, I must buy the digital book from my publisher if I want to continue to gift the ebook to others. Contests stir up some interest, but giving away a lot of books doesn't seem to aid in my actual sales numbers.
The three best things I do, is first word of mouth. It's been reported that your name has to register at least seven times, before people will begin to recognize you. So, if that premise is true, then you have to have someone talk about you at least seven times before you'll be remembered, they'll have to see your name in print at least seven times before they get it. So, word of mouth is the most important and seeing your name in print is next. That means blogging for others and well as at least one blog for you, tweeting and facebook, and the other forms of internet media.
The third thing I've found that helps is always carrying a bunch of bookmarks (mine are business cards and I'll explain why in a minute). I pass these out to anyone I see reading, in a restaurant, doctor's office, where ever. Of course, I will also pass them out to people I see reading from a digital device like a kindle. I usually ask what they are reading and if it's history, romance, or most forms of fiction, I'll pass out a card or two. I also keep my doctor's office supplied, hand them out at the hospital when I go for blood tests, at the beauty salon, and I add them to almost all of the mail that leaves the house.
Now, why do I use business cards as opposed to regular bookmarks? First, I can make them myself and print as many or as few as I want or print them as I need them. I can print both sides, and let face it, today not everyone uses a bookmark, but people do keep business cards. The stock available is excellent, not horrendously expensive and with the new printers, you can produce a reasonably good product. I put the latest cover of my book on one side and my back list and buy info on the reverse. I'm definitely looking into using a small QR code on my next card. Don't know what that is? Look it up and you'll notice it's now frequently on all kinds of products.
Okay, I'm a little long again, but there is much to share. I'll wait until next Monday to get into the press kit. So, see you then.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Betrayed Bride available from Champagne Books
Lynbrook's Lady coming in August from Champagne Books
Monday, May 06, 2013
Monday's Helpful Hints - Marketing plans
Today, we'll talk a bit about Marketing plans. And we'll discuss them in more detail over the next two weeks. Today, a few cautions and some information.
These are going to be as different as you and the genre in which you write. Unfotunately, these are now a part of the business of writing. At one time, authors wrote, companies distributed, and if you were lucky and the company for which you wrote thought you were going to make a splash, or you already had, then they were willing to do all kinds of promotion on you behalf.
Those days are probably long gone. The big six appear to be struggling to keep up with the influx of the independent authors and the small print and expanding digital market. Promotion of any kind is restricted to only the very big names. So, you have to be able to present your publisher, or yourself if you've decided to go the indie route, with a plan to sell your book.
Some things I've learned and some things other author friends of conveyed to me are some of the things we'll cover in the next two weeks, starting with what are some of the things I've learned. And let me repeat, every plan will be different.
You will need to give some thought, well, probably a lot of thought, to how much money you want to spend in the way of promotion. And that means being very realistic about what you can make from the sale of your work.
This will probably surprise and annoy a lot of writers, but several years ago, a survey gave an honest appraisal of what exactly a freelance author could make in a year. The dismal number of about Six thousand dollars was the number finally agreed upon. And that was for the year. It hasn't change much over time, for it was about that twenty years ago. So, writing is no way to get rich quick.
There are sites available on line that detail the amount of money an author of certain genres can make, if you are lucky and write a best seller first time out. One of them is "Show me the money" and covers the categories of romance novels.
So, we'll look at just how you plan to market your book. In the meantime, you might want to take a look at how much money you can spend, if you want to spend anything, how much time you will give to promotion. Most people forget about the amount of time promotion takes and believe me, that eats into writing time. Know that the plan will probably have to be written and present to your publisher, if you plan to contract the rights for your book. Even if you decide to go it alone, you should write out your plan. This then will be your guide line for marketing.
What I've learned and what worked for me next week.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
"Betray Bride" available from www.ChampagneBooks.com
"Lynbrook's Lady" coming in August form www.ChampagneBooks.com
These are going to be as different as you and the genre in which you write. Unfotunately, these are now a part of the business of writing. At one time, authors wrote, companies distributed, and if you were lucky and the company for which you wrote thought you were going to make a splash, or you already had, then they were willing to do all kinds of promotion on you behalf.
Those days are probably long gone. The big six appear to be struggling to keep up with the influx of the independent authors and the small print and expanding digital market. Promotion of any kind is restricted to only the very big names. So, you have to be able to present your publisher, or yourself if you've decided to go the indie route, with a plan to sell your book.
Some things I've learned and some things other author friends of conveyed to me are some of the things we'll cover in the next two weeks, starting with what are some of the things I've learned. And let me repeat, every plan will be different.
You will need to give some thought, well, probably a lot of thought, to how much money you want to spend in the way of promotion. And that means being very realistic about what you can make from the sale of your work.
This will probably surprise and annoy a lot of writers, but several years ago, a survey gave an honest appraisal of what exactly a freelance author could make in a year. The dismal number of about Six thousand dollars was the number finally agreed upon. And that was for the year. It hasn't change much over time, for it was about that twenty years ago. So, writing is no way to get rich quick.
There are sites available on line that detail the amount of money an author of certain genres can make, if you are lucky and write a best seller first time out. One of them is "Show me the money" and covers the categories of romance novels.
So, we'll look at just how you plan to market your book. In the meantime, you might want to take a look at how much money you can spend, if you want to spend anything, how much time you will give to promotion. Most people forget about the amount of time promotion takes and believe me, that eats into writing time. Know that the plan will probably have to be written and present to your publisher, if you plan to contract the rights for your book. Even if you decide to go it alone, you should write out your plan. This then will be your guide line for marketing.
What I've learned and what worked for me next week.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
"Betray Bride" available from www.ChampagneBooks.com
"Lynbrook's Lady" coming in August form www.ChampagneBooks.com
Monday, April 29, 2013
What I Don't Know About Contracts
Plain and simple! I have no legal training. I never took a class in law, litigation, court proceeding, anything. So I know squat about contracts.
I do know they can be altered by either party before they are signed. Some publishers refused to change a word, some will be happy to change a phrase, wording made simpler, or spelled out in more detail. Even some agents now required contracts, and again, those can be changed before they are signed - but don't count on a lot of changes unless you have a huge backlist and even then, the second party may not want to change a thing.
I do know contracts are binding under the laws of the country in which they are written - usually. To break a contract can cost money. Way back when, breaking a contract could cost you a lot more even perhaps your life. Well, we are a bit more civilized today - I hope.
What I do know about a contract is simple. Read the thing. If you don't understand it, consult someone who will, that usually means a lawyer, or someone with some knowledge of the law. Even if it is something that looks simple to you, if you don't understand, then you need to.
No, I not promoting the legal profession, only that contracts can be binding and if you don't understand what you are signing, then you could, and I emphasis could, be heading for trouble.
I do know a bit about rights. So I'll explain what I know about them and call it a day, because as I said, I know squat about legal matters.
Rights are what you are selling. You are giving someone the right to publish you work. You still own the work. You are not selling what you have created, or you shouldn't. The length of time, and to whom, for what, are spelled out in the contract you sign. The right to publish is granted to someone else for a specific good (spell that money - or copies of say the magazine, if it's a short story for a mag, or even an article, picture, etc.) The time the publisher has to hang on to those rights, how much they are willing to pay, when and how, based on what and also with what, usually, naming the currency, should be spelled out in that contract.
The most important thing I can tell you about contracts. Read every word - before you sign! If you don't understand, ask someone who will understand. Last, but not least, make sure you keep a copy yourself. Put your contract in a safe place. I have each contract I signed with the finished copy of the book and all the work sheets for each work I wrote and published. That's a lot of paper, but at least I know where everything is. I can put my hands on the contract I signed for that book, years after it has faded from memory.
If you expect to sign a lot of contracts (grinning) then buy yourself a bunch of file folders and put them somewhere safe.
You won't be sorry.
Next week, we'll take a look at a promotional plan. Maybe you can give me some ideas.
Allison
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch.
Betrayed Bride coming in May, 2013 from Champagne Books
Lynbrook's Lady coming in August 2013 also from Champagne Books.
I do know they can be altered by either party before they are signed. Some publishers refused to change a word, some will be happy to change a phrase, wording made simpler, or spelled out in more detail. Even some agents now required contracts, and again, those can be changed before they are signed - but don't count on a lot of changes unless you have a huge backlist and even then, the second party may not want to change a thing.
I do know contracts are binding under the laws of the country in which they are written - usually. To break a contract can cost money. Way back when, breaking a contract could cost you a lot more even perhaps your life. Well, we are a bit more civilized today - I hope.
What I do know about a contract is simple. Read the thing. If you don't understand it, consult someone who will, that usually means a lawyer, or someone with some knowledge of the law. Even if it is something that looks simple to you, if you don't understand, then you need to.
No, I not promoting the legal profession, only that contracts can be binding and if you don't understand what you are signing, then you could, and I emphasis could, be heading for trouble.
I do know a bit about rights. So I'll explain what I know about them and call it a day, because as I said, I know squat about legal matters.
Rights are what you are selling. You are giving someone the right to publish you work. You still own the work. You are not selling what you have created, or you shouldn't. The length of time, and to whom, for what, are spelled out in the contract you sign. The right to publish is granted to someone else for a specific good (spell that money - or copies of say the magazine, if it's a short story for a mag, or even an article, picture, etc.) The time the publisher has to hang on to those rights, how much they are willing to pay, when and how, based on what and also with what, usually, naming the currency, should be spelled out in that contract.
The most important thing I can tell you about contracts. Read every word - before you sign! If you don't understand, ask someone who will understand. Last, but not least, make sure you keep a copy yourself. Put your contract in a safe place. I have each contract I signed with the finished copy of the book and all the work sheets for each work I wrote and published. That's a lot of paper, but at least I know where everything is. I can put my hands on the contract I signed for that book, years after it has faded from memory.
If you expect to sign a lot of contracts (grinning) then buy yourself a bunch of file folders and put them somewhere safe.
You won't be sorry.
Next week, we'll take a look at a promotional plan. Maybe you can give me some ideas.
Allison
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch.
Betrayed Bride coming in May, 2013 from Champagne Books
Lynbrook's Lady coming in August 2013 also from Champagne Books.
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