FIRST: Since I was a shy, modest, unassuming type (or so I liked to think) -- the first step involved letting go of this person as quickly as possible. So, when people say to me, "I'd never share on Twitter," I profess to be an exhibitionist, unconcerned about privacy. "Privacy is passe," I declare. Do I believe this -- no. But I can say that if I want to publicize my writing and, thus, me, I must have an online presence. So I throw away my metaphorical robes and let it all hang out -- metaphorically, of course.
SECOND: What do I know about online promotion? Virtually nothing. I begin to explore the efforts of others. I read blog posts. I follow Twitter links, peruse Facebook pages. I find out the answer to two burning questions: What is Stumbled Upon? Is Google+ as creepy as it feels? Here are a few things I learn.
- How to sign up for a Twitter account
- How to Tweet and get followers
- How to Retweet
- How to schedule tweets (Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Twuffer.com)
- How to say TY (Thank you) and be happy about it
- How to schedule a free book and promote it.
- Thousands can't be wrong. It's easy to follow the step by step directions on kdp.
- Keep track of websites that list your books and list the free offering early
- Keep track of websites that list your books and list it the same day (varies by website)
- How to boldly ask to be chosen and get chosen as a featured free book
- How to join goodreads.com
- How to start a reading list on goodreads.com
- How to get MY books on goodreads.com
- How to get friends on goodreads.com
- Finally, how to promote my free book (invite friends to an event)
- How to meet great people and get tired of the tiresome on LinkedIn (such as the gentleman who suggested he can name call because he's right -- new idea).
- How to ask for help and get it on LinkedIn
- How to soak up writing tips on LinkedIn
- How to tweet 'til you drop, follow your downloads in real time, find out your free book ranking on amazon.com, and how to accept that I didn't become a paid best seller the first time around. I did make #5 in the Top 100 Free Best Sellers for mysteries. One day, I told myself, that will be in the top paid best sellers, one day. Such is the stuff of a writers' dreams.
Third: Before my free book giveaway, I was selling five short stories a month. I am now selling one a day. That may not last, but it's nice for now. But, more than that, I am more confident about promoting my work. I am improving my blog, and now my book covers link to the amazon.com buy page, a small victory for a struggling newbie. The most important thing the kdp select free promotion taught me: I know I can learn what I need to learn. I have hope, and hope keeps me writing.
Tomorrow, I'll be releasing my next short story, In Roswell, Re-Abducted. I'll tell you about it then. (Promotion, you know, promotion...)
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