About thirty of our students have spiffied up their blogs in preparation for their blog book tours, and are now suffering through peer critiques. Actually, it's not that bad. Most of the blogs look really good (you can visit them by clicking on the links at right), and the tweaking is only minor. Here's one little addition to your blog that is enormously important - the buy button. Some of our class members haven't paid quite enough attention to it, and it's a common flaw.
What is a buy button? It's the live link on your website or blog that shoots the reader to a sales point for your book. That could be your own shopping cart, your specific amazon.com book page, the book page at your publisher's site, or all the sales locations for your book. The more options your reader has, the more chances you'll have a seamless sale. Do you have easy-to-find links and buying prompts on your sites? Do you include a link in every post that mentions your book? Make it easy on your reader.
It's that "seamless sale" aspect that is vitally important. If you have a sales point that isn't operating smoothly, you will lose sales and possibly even irritate your fan. Don't do it. No excuses here. Find a way to solve the problem, no matter what it takes. You get one chance to make a good impression. It's an old adage, but it's true. Strangers have no sympathy for sob stories - they want perfection and are thinking of their own convenience. You have to supply that before you sell one book. Service sells your book before great writing.
So to recap: Have a sales link - a buy button - at your websites and blogs, and make sure it works without a hitch each and every time. Give your readers every opportunity to buy that book. Selling, and selling lots, should be part of your personal success equation. Is it part of your motivation? Then set it up so your fans can help you achieve that goal.
Sabtu, 31 Januari 2009
Kamis, 29 Januari 2009
A Blogger Design Tip
See that funny strip at the top of your Blogger blog that has your email and links at the right? What color is it? Look at the rest of your blog, and I'll bet some of you can change that so it matches the overall look of your design better.
You only get four choices - black, white, tan, or blue - but one of them is probably a better choice for your color scheme than any other. Go to Layout, click on that banner's edit link, and change for the better. It's a little thing, I know, but why not be the best you can be?
And don't forget to collapse your archive - that's on the same Layout page.
You only get four choices - black, white, tan, or blue - but one of them is probably a better choice for your color scheme than any other. Go to Layout, click on that banner's edit link, and change for the better. It's a little thing, I know, but why not be the best you can be?
And don't forget to collapse your archive - that's on the same Layout page.
Rabu, 28 Januari 2009
Ebook Week
Coming up soon in March, so if you have an ebook to promote, check out their fantastic website and jump on this combined effort. Also grab one of these neat banners they've designed for free use on your blog and website:
There are more for various genres and various styles. Very cool idea.
Senin, 26 Januari 2009
Tag, you're it, ladies!
I've bumped this post up for the current class, and for anyone who doesn't know what a meme is.
Meme: Any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, practices, habits, songs, dances and moods and terms such as race, culture, and ethnicity.
Also, an easy peasy blog post that's fun for writer and reader.
_________________________________________
Here's a modifed writers meme for members of the August Blog Challenge, three of whom got tagged at the end. These are my answers:
1) Computer, longhand, or other?
Computer or Alphasmart. Only longhand when mindmapping. That might change as I get good with speech recognition software which I'm loving so far. Jeez, my mouth can type fast!
2) Coffee or tea?
Coffee and tea although I'm cutting down on both. Coffee in the morning, and 4PM tea when the weather gets cooler.
3) Day or night?
Mostly day, unless I'm on deadline. I usually read at night.
4) Favorite genre to write?
Non-fiction although Penny Dreadful is getting more of my attention! Cozy mysteries are a daily part of my life, too.
5) Pencil or pen to edit?
Pencil. Not necessarily red.
6) Unusual writing quirk or trait?
I mindmap everything including my grocery list.
7) Writing from home or writing in a cozy café?
Home! I cannot write in public - mostly because of the noise.
8) Music or silence while your write?
Definitely silence. See #7. Unless a neighbor's dog is barking and then a Baroque adagio helps tune them out.
9) Favorite motivational writing quote?
Write first. Clean later. Thanks, l.j. Sellers!
10) Favorite bookmark?
I love those lovely book thongs.... like jewelry for books. Copper book darts are cool, too, although I keep losing them to the library.
11) Favorite fictional character of all time?
Merlin in the Mary Stewart Arthurian series.
12) Most admired living writer today?
Tough question. This week, it's Nora Roberts for all those books, and they're actually decent novels. Okay, they're indecent in parts, but she consistently weaves a pretty good tale for having written 150+. Anyone who writes two or more good books a year is most admired. I stand in awe.
~~~~~~~
If you like memes, writing pal, Moe, has put together a bunch more at her super-fantastic Squidoo lens called 50 Memes.
And don't underestimate the power of a meme. It's really all about linking which boosts the popularity of your blog.
Meme: Any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, practices, habits, songs, dances and moods and terms such as race, culture, and ethnicity.
Also, an easy peasy blog post that's fun for writer and reader.
_________________________________________
Here's a modifed writers meme for members of the August Blog Challenge, three of whom got tagged at the end. These are my answers:
1) Computer, longhand, or other?
Computer or Alphasmart. Only longhand when mindmapping. That might change as I get good with speech recognition software which I'm loving so far. Jeez, my mouth can type fast!
2) Coffee or tea?
Coffee and tea although I'm cutting down on both. Coffee in the morning, and 4PM tea when the weather gets cooler.
3) Day or night?
Mostly day, unless I'm on deadline. I usually read at night.
4) Favorite genre to write?
Non-fiction although Penny Dreadful is getting more of my attention! Cozy mysteries are a daily part of my life, too.
5) Pencil or pen to edit?
Pencil. Not necessarily red.
6) Unusual writing quirk or trait?
I mindmap everything including my grocery list.
7) Writing from home or writing in a cozy café?
Home! I cannot write in public - mostly because of the noise.
8) Music or silence while your write?
Definitely silence. See #7. Unless a neighbor's dog is barking and then a Baroque adagio helps tune them out.
9) Favorite motivational writing quote?
Write first. Clean later. Thanks, l.j. Sellers!
10) Favorite bookmark?
I love those lovely book thongs.... like jewelry for books. Copper book darts are cool, too, although I keep losing them to the library.
11) Favorite fictional character of all time?
Merlin in the Mary Stewart Arthurian series.
12) Most admired living writer today?
Tough question. This week, it's Nora Roberts for all those books, and they're actually decent novels. Okay, they're indecent in parts, but she consistently weaves a pretty good tale for having written 150+. Anyone who writes two or more good books a year is most admired. I stand in awe.
~~~~~~~
If you like memes, writing pal, Moe, has put together a bunch more at her super-fantastic Squidoo lens called 50 Memes.
And don't underestimate the power of a meme. It's really all about linking which boosts the popularity of your blog.
Sabtu, 24 Januari 2009
The Happy Tag
Helen Ginger at Straight From Hel just tagged me. I’m supposed to tell six things that make me happy. So here goes:
- Flaming hot Thai green curry with shrimp
- Chocolate ice cubes
- Hand-knit wool socks
- Zipoli's Adagio for Oboe, Cello, and Strings
- Fresh flowers in a crystal vase
- Warm blueberry muffins
- Cats and kittens everywhere
So what makes you happy? Let's ask these dear people, who have been known to make me happy on more than one occasion:
Now if that doesn't make your day, I don't know what does. Go do the Happy Dance and enjoy another round of tag! Hehe.
Jumat, 23 Januari 2009
Time to collapse
No, not from the efforts of daily blogging. What I mean is collapse your archive. Look at that long mess in your blog sidebar. Is anyone really going to click on your daily posts from this month? Not likely when they can just scroll down the page.
First go to Layout in Blogger, and click on edit in the archive gadget. Then choose either Flat List or Drop-down Menu. Immediately, you will see a nice short list or a nice little box. That frees up column space for much more important information that your reader might actually use and enjoy.
Do it. Right now. Collapse your archive.
First go to Layout in Blogger, and click on edit in the archive gadget. Then choose either Flat List or Drop-down Menu. Immediately, you will see a nice short list or a nice little box. That frees up column space for much more important information that your reader might actually use and enjoy.
Do it. Right now. Collapse your archive.
Kamis, 22 Januari 2009
Blogs we love to follow
To follow up on yesterday's post, some blogs are just more fun to follow and make it a treat to leave a comment. An example is today's post at Double M where Morgan Mandel asks us to share an embarassing moment from grammar school. Don't we all remember those like they happened last week?
I share just a few including the time I lost a dime up my nose in 4th grade.
Another fun blog post to comment on is Chris Verstraete's post about miniatures at Teen Seen. Go find out more if you don't know what I'm talking about. This is the author blog for members of Quake Publishing which is my newest gig. Run over and check out our titles which also are available in affordable ebook and downloadable formats.
I share just a few including the time I lost a dime up my nose in 4th grade.
Another fun blog post to comment on is Chris Verstraete's post about miniatures at Teen Seen. Go find out more if you don't know what I'm talking about. This is the author blog for members of Quake Publishing which is my newest gig. Run over and check out our titles which also are available in affordable ebook and downloadable formats.
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