Angela Scott
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"Here, little reader, reader!"--[How do you attract readers to your book?]

2/20/2012

5 Comments

 
~Google Friend Connect (GFC) will be going away for us non-blogspot bloggers. Darn it. So I've added other options in my sidebar for following--email subscription, Linky Follower, and then there is always Facebook and Twitter. Just because GFC is going away, doesn't mean you have to~

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As writers, the toughest part of the whole writing, publishing, and marketing equation comes down to readers, doesn't it? I want some and I'm almost betting you want some, too. Actually, I want more than just some. I want a gaggle of readers. Or better yet, a horde (I write zombie books--don't knock it until you try it--and so a horde would be EXCELLENT). I want readers outside my circle of friends and family, but how in the world do we go about doing that?

Ahh, the almighty question! It's the question in which very few know the actual answer. Those who have the answer aren't so wildly sharing their experience with the rest of us (Darn them--though I don't actually blame them). AND, those who do share their secrets of what worked for them, will find those secrets no longer apply to us. Why? Because EVERYONE will be doing it, therefore nullifying the whole process.

What a pain in the hind end.

Most of us have done what we were told to do: create a blog, create a website, join twitter, facebook, Goodreads, Linkedin, Pintrest, etc. . . oh, the list goes on. Does it work? My feedback from other writers is that no, it's not  the greatest, but it is a beginning, though.

So here is my plan for searching out and attaining The Holy Grail called readers,  *rubs hands together*:

Plan A) Reviews. I'm all about getting reviews. I then think reviews will lead to word of mouth. That's my hope. Since I'm about to launch my book (yes, the zombie one) next month, I want to gather as many reviews as I possibly can. I think reviews are where it's at and so I will put most of my effort there. (I have a few other ideas as well, but if I told you, then I would have to kill you and that's not good for marketing. OR, maybe it is. Who knows now days?) And if I get a bunch of bad reviews, then I will go with plan B.

Plan B) Create a new pen name, write another book, and start over. Angela Scott will disappear and maybe Alena Macabee or George Howl will take her place. It's a perfect plan. I can do this for forever. Wah,ha,ha,ha! Or until someone rats me out by linking me and all my alias' together. But hey, that might be good for book promotion, too. See how my mind works? Murder, alias', and writing = good brand marketing. That's how Wal-Mart, Stephen King, and Julia Child did it (This is a joke, of course).

Either way, I can't lose, right? I really do hope plan A works, though. That would be nice. I'm doing everything I possibly can to ensure it does--editing like crazy with two different editors so I can hopefully provide my readers with a fun zombie-filled adventure that tickles their zombie fancy. (My fingers and toes are crossed). Beyond that, everything else is pure luck it seems. That's all I got.

Reviews and a bit of luck. That's my hope. And if you're interested in possibly reviewing Wanted: Dead or Undead (a free copy of the book for an honest review) then click here.

What say you? Do you think it's luck, like doing the right thing at the right time, or do think there is a key element I'm missing here? 

5 Comments
E. Bard link
2/21/2012 04:19:21 am

Love your post! Very funny and thought provoking. Will now have to consider slaughter as a viable marketing tool (because as you mentioned so honestly the other tools do not seem to work as well as purported). Don't worry - I'll be happy to let others know I'm giving you full credit for the idea! By the way - would love to sign up for the review.

Reply
Mark Smith link
2/21/2012 04:23:43 am

I think luck has something to do with it, but with a finely-crafted plan, you can certainly tilt the odds in your favor. I'm just getting into the world of self-publication, but my career up and to this point has been a lot of web stuff, including web marketing. I can build a glorious website, but if I don't go through those tried-and-tested steps, it may just languish out there, undiscovered. So it goes with our literature. Shove, push and market, market, market and eventually one will "luck out" by getting the attention of the right people at the right time. (At least, that's what I tell myself so I don't cry myself to sleep at night, riddled with frustration, curled up into the fetal position.)

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J.L.Campbell link
2/21/2012 07:03:48 am

Along with having a merry band of readers and doing all the marketing, I believe there's also some luck involved. Reviews are good and I'm going that route for my next book as well. Giveaways haven't really worked for me. I did one on my blog last November and haven't yet got one review from any of the five persons who won the book. I did, however, get reviews from one person who bought the book and another who has a book blog. Still, I have to think about the fact that people have so much to read and they could have hated it. :) I'm thinking that if I get back even 10% of the effort I put in then that's okay.

Wishing you all the best with the release. Gonna check out the link you posted.

Reply
Deborah Hughes link
2/25/2012 01:23:57 am

I haven't quite gotten the whole "zombie" craze yet but I will admit your book trailer totally intrigued me. I might be interested in doing a review. I've got several books that I've agreed to review but thankfully I'm a pretty quick reader. I know exactly what you mean about getting reviews...it's like getting people to agree to let you pull their teeth! Uggh! I am ever so grateful when someone posts a review on my book, even though I worry with each one that someone at some point is not going to like it and be very vocal about that! But, it's all part of an author's life, right? Good luck to you!!

Reply
Hope Welsh link
2/25/2012 06:13:43 am

I think it's a combination of things that help with sales. Promo is definitely key--as are reviews. Obviously reviews are very, very important.

I made the mistake of putting mine up before reviews are in, and now, can't find a reviewer anywhere. I've had the same 6 reviews for months now--despite sending out a lot of copies.

You're on the right track. Get 10 reviews up before you start promoting. Go to various book blogs and request them.

One thing I did personally was start a review blog myself--and joined a site that does reviews. I'm hoping that ultimately that will help my sale--and my reviews.

Hopefully, you won't have to resort to killing anyone! LOL

I review--my email is apparently not published, but you should be able to access it. I'd be happy to do a review for you--at least on my blog. I don't use stars on my site, and I won't post reviews less than 4 stars on Amazon.

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