tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post7386198838816207549..comments2024-03-29T03:42:04.742-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: 5 Ways to Take the Ickiness Out of Marketing Our BooksJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-14367733782634137192019-01-23T17:19:35.543-05:002019-01-23T17:19:35.543-05:00Hello my respectable viewers and i'm from (Ger...Hello my respectable viewers and i'm from (Germany) I am very happy to share this amazing testimony, i was hurt and heart broken when my husband left me with our kid, i was confused and didn't know what to do, i loved him so much, i tried all i could to bring him back but all my effort was in vain , on one faithful day i explained my problem to my friend, and she told me of a great love spell caster called "dr Ogbeifun" whom also make her pregnant when she was looking for a child, i never believed in spells but i have give a try to see if things will get better, i contacted DR Ogbeifun through the contact info my friend gave to me, after some hours the spell caster responded to me he told me to stay and gave me some instructions on what to do and i did exactly as i was told, to my greatest surprise, my husband who has not called me for a very 3 yrs, called me and start apologizing for all the wrongs he did to me and pleaded with me that he want to return home with me and the kids, now he loved me more than ever before, my respectable viewers brothers and sisters if you are passing through any kind of problem contact him and i give you 100% guarantee that he will solve your problems. this is his contacts Email: ogbefunhearlingtemple@gmail.com call or add him on whatsapp +2348102574680Donald LIsahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00596678247136610510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-79606748533038708132011-12-01T11:50:08.322-05:002011-12-01T11:50:08.322-05:00Well stated, with good practical suggestions for r...Well stated, with good practical suggestions for relations with new friends... and potential readers!Michael A. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980105313542633114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-88143738799618854712011-11-18T15:31:15.217-05:002011-11-18T15:31:15.217-05:00Gina, I do think we need to extend grace to each o...Gina, I do think we need to extend grace to each other. We'll all be in the position of having to sell our books at one point or another. <br /><br />But I really do think we need to keep the "social" in social media. And quite frankly, that takes a whole lot more time and effort than just posting info. about our books. But it's the real relationships that people crave. And when we have genuine interactions, we're more likely to want to support others. Otherwise, it feels slightly pushy.<br /><br />As far as FB. I haven't done that. If someone follows me on my personal account, I figure I can relate with them there just as easily as my author page. When my personal account gets full (to the 5000 limit), then I'll have to kindly ask people to go over to my author page and follow me there. But for now, I figure either one is serving the purpose of relating with others.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-52175730232602925702011-11-18T10:27:53.085-05:002011-11-18T10:27:53.085-05:00I'm in self promotion madness now and I've...I'm in self promotion madness now and I've probably done a few things wrong, and hopefully some things right. Guess time will tell, but I try to make it FUN, and not take it so seriously! Hopefully that attitude comes out in my social media posts. Everyone in the industry knows when you have a book coming out you have to promote it, so I'm willing to offer a measure of Grace for other people's marketing mistakes in hopes they'll extend the same back to me.I hate the "buy my book" spammers myself, though if someone friend requests me on facebook, I sometimes invite them to my author page. Is that right or wrong? IDK, but I'm assuming they were interested in me as an author and they initiated the relationship. What do you think, Jody?Gina Conroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13647753231391009981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-87180502727375401962011-11-14T20:03:55.413-05:002011-11-14T20:03:55.413-05:00I agree with everything you said.
Like you, I ne...I agree with everything you said. <br /><br />Like you, I never follow links DM'd to me on Twitter and I never retweet links just because someone I only just followed asked me to. I don't follow back automatically, and I don't like people's Facebook pages just because they ask me to.<br /><br />I've learned a whole lot from Facebook and Twitter about what not to do. I hope I remember to put it all into practice when I have a book to sell.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07338002014574933192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-14507187445974763882011-11-10T19:25:54.746-05:002011-11-10T19:25:54.746-05:00Amy Joy, Thank you for your kind words about my bl...Amy Joy, Thank you for your kind words about my blog! It's so nice to hear that it's a warm and inviting place! I wish you all the best as you move forward with marketing your books and finding the balance we're all striving for!<br /><br />Hi Susan! Welcome back from your blogging hiatus. I appreciate your kind words too! Thank you so much!! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-87684800051757954192011-11-10T19:07:50.046-05:002011-11-10T19:07:50.046-05:00Jody -
Great post dealing with a difficult subject...Jody -<br />Great post dealing with a difficult subject. It's a delicate balance to want to get the word out about a "product" you believe in and pushing it in the faces (or computers) of those you want to "help" with your product. <br /><br />I too love what Shirley said, "The key to successful marketing is not what you can get from followers but what you can give them or do for them." <br /><br />If we keep that as our focus, our message is more apt to be received well. <br /><br />And when my kids were in school, they had to sell cheesecakes. The first year, I bought one and it didn't fit in my narrow freezer. That was the end of that! We chose other fundraisers to support. <br /><br />Thanks for your ever-helpful blog. You do give more than you get! <br />Susan<br /><br />ps - sorry I missed your blog tour for the Doctors Lady. I was on a blog hiatus. But I'll be sure to participate in your next one! Your writing shines!North Jersey Christian Writers Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03981039468686243008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-45787913868483343212011-11-10T17:36:12.227-05:002011-11-10T17:36:12.227-05:00Thanks for a great post, Jody. I have become annoy...Thanks for a great post, Jody. I have become annoyed lately with all the ads on Twitter from people I follow. I have actually considered cleaning house and removing all the writers and book bloggers (book giveaways that I am not interested in) from my follow list for this reason. If a writer has a new book published, I am happy to celebrate that with them, but when my feed list becomes a list of advertisements promoting work for people I don't know, it becomes a problem. <br /><br />On the other side of things, with two books of my own published, I have wondered how much my followers want to hear about them. I appreciate your thoughts and will be weighing them as I continue to re-think my marketing strategy. <br /><br />On a somewhat separate note, as a first-time visitor (who by the way found a link for your article on Twitter), I wanted to say that you have a beautiful blog with great content. Thanks for sharing.Amy Joyhttp://www.amysjoy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-45994176492955685682011-11-09T23:00:29.602-05:002011-11-09T23:00:29.602-05:00Thanks for this post, Jody. I love twitter and Fac...Thanks for this post, Jody. I love twitter and Facebook, but it is a struggle to do it right - and yes, it can feel icky. Like life, it's a balancing act :)Sally Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06094054139556676270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-8427898827212243282011-11-09T17:12:24.672-05:002011-11-09T17:12:24.672-05:00Siri, it IS really hard to keep social media from ...Siri, it IS really hard to keep social media from taking over writing time. When I sit down to do my actual word count for the day, I turn off the internet and then only check email/twitter during short breaks. But then I close it back up again and keep writing until I get my words in. Then once I'm done with that, I use my free time to socialize. I always make sure to get in my writing time and don't let that suffer. <br /><br />I also think the amount of time we'll need to put into social media is going to vary depending upon where we're at in the road to publication, and whether we're intending to go the traditional route vs. self-publish. Even so, I say no matter where we're at, we HAVE to keep our writing top priority in every day's to-do list.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-73297196270867739522011-11-09T16:40:46.560-05:002011-11-09T16:40:46.560-05:00Great blog, as always!
Count me in among the peop...Great blog, as always!<br /><br />Count me in among the people who hate the auto-DMs. Another pet peeve is when people add "Worth the RT?" or "Please RT" to their tweets. If it is truly worth the RT, I'll be sure to RT it -- without being asked.<br /><br />On Twitter, I always err on the side of relationships. I tweet interesting links, I RT stuff, I send encouragement or cheers, and I only link to my own stuff about once a day (that's 10% of my tweets or less).<br /><br />My big problem is balance. I'm really enjoying talking to other writers on Twitter, commiserating and cheering and challenging each other to write. But that can be incredibly time-consuming if you let it.<br /><br />How do you keep building relationships without letting social media take over your writing time?Siri Paulsonhttp://www.turtleduckpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-57291624098415428282011-11-09T16:13:32.720-05:002011-11-09T16:13:32.720-05:00YES!!! I wish reading this post was mandatory for ...YES!!! I wish reading this post was mandatory for any person new to social media. <br /><br />I think people are so much more likely to support writers who make an effort to be genuine and kind. There is nothing that annoys me more than people who see me not as a person, but a sale.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861022355718378425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-68674601664078749572011-11-09T15:44:33.214-05:002011-11-09T15:44:33.214-05:00I think using Twitter and Facebook to promote some...I think using Twitter and Facebook to promote something, like I'm doing this week because I'm running a week long feature in honor of Veteran's Day, is ok. Since we have to market our books, no other way around it, social networking is the quickest way to get word out fast. I wish there was an easier way too, as I hate trying to 'sell' myself, especially when it seems like I'm doing a whole lot of work for very little return. I don't like the spammers though. Promotional tweets from writers are acceptable to me though.Catherine Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16075571140881352399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-74682588795923601712011-11-09T15:37:40.853-05:002011-11-09T15:37:40.853-05:00Solid, sound advice Jody. The biggest struggle in ...Solid, sound advice Jody. The biggest struggle in modern marketing (regardless of product) is trying to get the marketer to understand that by not pitching they'll actually have a better reputation and more sales in the long run.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046515540256155412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-30290956364319972072011-11-09T14:08:45.377-05:002011-11-09T14:08:45.377-05:00All great points! My number one twitter pet peeve ...All great points! My number one twitter pet peeve is when someone follows me, and as soon as I follow them back, they unfollow me. Do they really think they're winning any friends this way. Ugh!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02512158365021041194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-44420925297492182792011-11-09T13:39:01.516-05:002011-11-09T13:39:01.516-05:00I'm with Kelly H. -- I don't care for the ...I'm with Kelly H. -- I don't care for the BUY MY BOOKS tweet avalanche ... or the "I wish someone in (name a city/state) would BUY MY BOOK" tweet.<br />(And congratulations, Kelly H. on your book coming out!)<br />You're right, Jody, marketing can feel so ... icky. I find doing a little bit at a time helps. Or trying something new and then getting comfortable with it before adding something else to the social media soup. (One day I will get back to Google+.)<br />And if you lived nearby, I would buy pie from your daughters. I have mercy on all school kids selling fundraiser products!<br />:)Beth K. Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032849469366266791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-81669955091806190882011-11-09T13:37:09.953-05:002011-11-09T13:37:09.953-05:00Hi everyone! I'm REALLY loving ALL of your tho...Hi everyone! I'm REALLY loving ALL of your thoughts on this topic! Thank you for joining in!<br /><br />Shirley, you bring up a great point for us all to remember: that marketing is not what you can get from followers but what you can give them or do for them. LOVE that!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-28026162381841702432011-11-09T13:04:34.152-05:002011-11-09T13:04:34.152-05:00Hi Jody, great blog. Really enjoyed it, especially...Hi Jody, great blog. Really enjoyed it, especially as I have been stressing these last few months over developing (or not!) my 'social' platform. And after flapping about like a headless chicken, I have come to realise that there are certain blogs and sites that I keep coming back to, and these are the ones I find interesting and enjoy. And it is a little fitting that I am back reading your blog, one which I bookmarked at the beginning of my slog, and that the post is about developing meaningful relationships with colleagues based on mutual respect and shared interests. It's as if the mist is lifting. It seems so obvious but sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. THis is sound advice! As for feeling 'icky', well I always feel a little bit icky when I think I am blowing my own trumpet, and never more so than when I am talking about my writing, even when I have been invited to do so! I don't know why that is. That said, I agree that we have to market our books to give them an advantage, but as you rightly suggest, that doesn't mean have to turn into 'foot-in-the-door sales people to do so. Thanks again for great post :)Marianne Wheelaghanhttp://writingclassesc.o.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-4340209788099840792011-11-09T12:42:45.316-05:002011-11-09T12:42:45.316-05:00Thank you Jodi for bringing up this difficult subj...Thank you Jodi for bringing up this difficult subject.<br /><br />Marketing is something that freaks writers out because it uses the practical side of the brain as opposed to the creative side and surprisingly most writers are on the shy side.<br /><br />This is where writers who have embraced technology and built a fan base before they have a book published have the edge when it comes to marketing. If you don't have these platforms then a writer needs to work as creating them pronto.<br /><br />A good way to self promote without that "Icky" tag and attract and grow loyal followers who will go out and buy your book is to offer followers and fans something for free.<br /><br />A short Novella in serial form on your blog is a good one. Writing excerpts, teaser excerpts about your book. <br /><br />Have you followed Sharon Sala on Facebook where she gives readers a more or less daily diary of her life with no strings attached. And the number of fans who are waiting on her next book which is about killing a bear by the way.<br /><br />The key to successful marketing is not what you can get from followers but what you can give them or do for them.<br /><br />This advice comes from many years in retail. <br /><br />The key to successful marketing is to develop the mindset of what can I do to reward my loyal fans and followers not what can I ask people to do for me. <br /><br />One will follow the others. And remember selling books is just the same as every other retail activity you need to create your own niche market.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-67626802621163575382011-11-09T12:27:33.611-05:002011-11-09T12:27:33.611-05:00Thank you for this post! It should be required rea...Thank you for this post! It should be required reading for writers. I hate hate hate it when I follow someone new and get a DM that says "Thanks for the follow. Here's a link to my books," but the absolute worst thing I've had happen is someone read my free book, told me it was awesome and gave me a great review. When I said thank you, they responded with something like "Glad I could help, here's my book". Turned a high into a low pretty darn quick.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15599291253361405556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-60601755464177127742011-11-09T09:44:34.202-05:002011-11-09T09:44:34.202-05:00Oops - that makes me feel a bit bad about the fact...Oops - that makes me feel a bit bad about the fact that I've just posted a jokey little tweet about my book - but it was just meant to be a bit of fun and I didn't even add a link or anything!<br />Seriously though - your points are totally valid and I agree one hundred per cent with all of them. In a way it actually worries me that people even need to be told all this - why can't they see for themselves the tactics that will just put others off? <br />Marketing and PR is still very new and difficult territory for most writers so I suppose inevitably we will get it wrong at least some of the time - but helpful tips and advice like yours should certainly go a long way towards helping us to see the light!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-90179570578972033642011-11-09T09:42:20.742-05:002011-11-09T09:42:20.742-05:00I found a way to enjoy selling. Not kidding. I hav...I found a way to enjoy selling. Not kidding. I have to believe in the product. Years ago, in desperation, I began selling a line of skin care/cosmetics. It was easy because instead of selling, I was telling. Telling people about this great product that would help them. I was being helpful, and I love that. The money was a bit more awkward, but logic compels that. When I begin to accept money for my book I will tell myself the story is helpful, it will give readers a new perspective on aging, and I collect the money out of respect for my main character, who deserves it!Lynne Spreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09524966973350797767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-9002146023803688012011-11-09T08:56:19.656-05:002011-11-09T08:56:19.656-05:00Excellent article, Jody. I appreiciate you being f...Excellent article, Jody. I appreiciate you being forthright enough to say, "It's tacky to use sm just to gain favors," or words to that affect. <br /><br />Relationships fuel that second mile. I gladly promote books and buy pies from people I love. <br /><br />P.S. If your daughters lived nearby, I'd ask for a peach or pumpkin!Jeanette Levelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12898750484193832082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-84061033098415447392011-11-08T23:20:07.761-05:002011-11-08T23:20:07.761-05:00Great points, Jody (as usual)!
I absolutely agre...Great points, Jody (as usual)! <br /><br />I absolutely agree with #4 and #5. And I can fully support your statement here: "I’ve found that over time, many people support me because they’ve come to know me in a real way." I first read your blog, followed you on Twitter, then interacted with you on Twitter, and then bought your books (and LOVED them). Your authentic nature and eagerness to share your writing knowledge with us "novice" writers (and the not-so-novice ones who love your thoughts as well) reinforces that you are a real person (not just a marketer)! <br /><br />Thanks, Jody.Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05860686533464738932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-77820768817364079542011-11-08T21:55:17.879-05:002011-11-08T21:55:17.879-05:00As always, you addressed this issue with just the ...As always, you addressed this issue with just the right amount of practical advice. It's true that self promotion is probably the most difficult thing for anyone, and authors are certainly not excluded. Sometimes I get that icky feeling, as you say, and then other times I feel as if I am not being pushy enough ... It's a dilemma to strike just the right balance.Tracy Krausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05066853243062725525noreply@blogger.com