How Smart Writers Write to Market their Books

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Social Media has become part of our culture, and it helps to connect with your readers. However when scrawling through tweets and other posts on Social Media sites one gets the impression that 90% of all posts by writers are “buy my book, buy my book, buy my book ….”  Few links are pointing to interesting, entertaining or helpful content – despite the fact that there are so many talented writers out there who could write great articles or show snippets of their books. This would make their Social Media presence more valuable and would connect readers with their writing craft.

Question: Whom Would you Believe More:

a) advertisements
b) newspaper / magazine articles
c) samples to try out a product

Most consumers / readers are not excited by pure advertising, they prefer authentic content and like to read writing samples.

Why are authors trying to market their books only with a) when b) and c) are more authentic in the eyes of consumers – or at least a mixture of a, b and c?  I am not telling you a secret here: b and c are free … and sometimes authors can even make money with writing newspaper and magazine articles.
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It is Called CONTENT MARKETING
And it is nothing new, if you work in marketing. From Coca Cola to Volkswagen to IKEA, content marketing is getting more and more foot hold. Read an article “Why Content Marketing Works”
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All these companies have to employ and pay a lot of money to “story tellers”. However, you as an author, you have done the “content” part already in writing your book, you just need to use your content and “market” it, in order to give your readers samples of your writing or make them curious about your new book. Study after study have shown that this marketing method can be hugely effective for turning your audience into paying customers. When it’s done well, a content marketing strategy entertains your readers and shows them how good you are at writing.

Coca-Cola Journey, asks a series of questions about each story.  Here are three of them:

1. Does it pass the water cooler test?
2. Does it surprise you?
3. Does it have universal appeal?

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Learn from these Writers
In previous blogs we explained how: “Smart Authors Get Paid for Marketing Their Books!” and “FREE, Brilliant Book Marketing to a Million Audience“.
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Write Something of Value for Readers
– which is “by chance” part of your book, such as travel tips to the location of your books plot, museums, festivals or public transportation that are mentioned in your book. You have to do your research for your books anyway, why not use the material you gather and write several articles that you can offer – always mentioning your book. One more way of content writing: Try to write as many guest blogs as possible for top bloggers that are high on Google and Alexa rankings. It will give you and your books more exposure and new readers.
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Why Asking for (media) Book Reviews?
When you could get both: book promotion and at the same time (often) being paid? I know, it is a new concept to many writers, but when you think about it – it makes really sense: why use your time and effort to chase reviewers, when you can use your energy to leverage your books content and your research content – to create articles that you can pitch to both, print and online newspapers and magazines?” Read the examples of two writers who have just done that.
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Perfect for Shy Writers
Content book marketing is also perfect for shy writers who might cringe at stepping outside their comfort zone. They can promote their books at the end of each article they write and even add links to their website or book sales page. Use sentences from your articles to build interesting posts and tweets.
BTW: Traditional media is more and more outsourcing, barely any full-time writing staff is left, which means they are open to pitches from freelance contributors…
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Josh Pigford, a Social Media Marketing Guru Wrote Recently:
“The bottom line is that people trust editorial content more than they trust advertisements (only). Do the right mix. Whether your business is as big as Colgate or whether you are a one-person start up, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to utilize this simple fact in order to engage your audience and build your customer base.” And Joe Chernov brought it to the point: “Creating content that is so valuable that people would pay for it, yet you give it away for free, is a reliable way to earn the public’s trust.”
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Do’s and Don’ts in Content Writing / Blogging

• Headline attention – encourage readers to read the next line
• Use keywords that resonate with your audience
• Simple and direct works well
• Exciting, interesting, controversial, sensational all work well
• Numbers / lists / real data works well
• Just don’t be boring
• Don’t forget to install an opt-in email list to be able to contact your fans!

Writing content will not transform your book into an overnight success, but it is a wonderful option for a long-term strategy, to build an authors platform and it gives your readers a sample of your writing. In our online seminars (and also weekend seminars in Eastern Canada and in the New England States) we help you to get ideas how to use your books’ content to write, promote and how you can even make money with your articles.

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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.international-ebooks.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

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