tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post6970082710505089934..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Invisible Marketing - Mari BiellaKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-88383990374190757182015-02-03T16:54:40.462+00:002015-02-03T16:54:40.462+00:00The aggressive self-promoter is like the tyrant in...The aggressive self-promoter is like the tyrant in search of a humanitarian utopia. The tyrant thinks, 'If only I can kill enough people who oppose me, then eventually everyone will be happy and we can put down our guns and enjoy paradise.' Of course, it never happens that way. Similarly, the aggressively self-promoting author may want nothing more than to live a quiet, modest life, graciously replying to the steady flow of enraptured fans, but otherwise staying humble... but to get to that place, they first have to become a shouty show-off. Both states of affairs, once begun, are hard to quit.<br /><br />This analogy has run away with me somewhat, but I feel there's something in it.Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191176209084540085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-33136962343551535882015-02-02T18:19:00.020+00:002015-02-02T18:19:00.020+00:00Excellent advice, Mari. Networking, making friends...Excellent advice, Mari. Networking, making friends, enjoying chatting are all ways of connecting with readers and potential readers. I don't think I've ever clicked on one of those 'buy my book' links unless I've engaged in some way with the writer first - or unless they have engaged with me. One other thing I've discovered almost by accident: I sell antique textiles on eBay as a way of making additional much needed income. When I package these tablecloths and embroideries and shawls up and send them, I usually include a postcard of one of my books, preferably one that includes needlework of some kind (such as The Curiosity Cabinet). You'd be amazed (well I was!) by how much that influences sales. There's a definite correlation between the times when I let my eBay shop lie fallow because I have a lot of writing to do, and a fall in sales. In a way, they are a self selecting group - collectors of old textiles seem to like historical novels as well. Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-64073527331611841642015-02-02T18:10:33.819+00:002015-02-02T18:10:33.819+00:00Thanks for the comments, everyone – I hope that at...Thanks for the comments, everyone – I hope that at least some of it is useful! Chris – I actually quite like ‘See what I’ve managed to do!’ posts; it’s reassuring to know that the person at the other end is a human being and not just a spambot. And you may be right, Bill and Valerie, that those who are sufficiently shameless actually manage to sell more books, depressing though the thought is.Mari Biellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14221256993468150226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-52092830633826531992015-02-02T16:38:34.163+00:002015-02-02T16:38:34.163+00:00Thanks for some useful ideas. It's good you...Thanks for some useful ideas. It's good you've found means of self promotion that suit you Mari and indeed 'stealth advertising' is a Thing nowadays. I too find it irritating when people use social media just for plugging their own books, however much as I'd like to think this rebounds on them, I fear it actually works if you are shameless enough! Sadly, like you, I'm not!Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-30298292098706851052015-02-02T12:34:36.817+00:002015-02-02T12:34:36.817+00:00Add me to the list of 'not-very-good-self-prom...Add me to the list of 'not-very-good-self-promoters' too. This is a clear, honest résumé of the basics of self-promotion and it's all very familiar. I couldn't agree more about the distastefulness of the BUY MY BOOK yelling and yet I suspect that those who do it probably do sell more books as a consequence. But your softly, softly approach must work, Mari, because I've read and enjoyed 2 of yours (although I've only reviewed one so far).Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-22087090868675852052015-02-02T10:46:03.991+00:002015-02-02T10:46:03.991+00:00Yes, great advice. I'm one of those people who...Yes, great advice. I'm one of those people who hates 'Buy my book' posts on Facebook. I know I skim past them and I suppose others do as well. However, if I'm having a wee play with Photoshop while I learn the mysteries of it, I'm not averse to sticking the resulting posters on my timeline, but I deliberately don't add the book links, with the hope that no one will see this as a 'buy my book' post. More of a 'see what I've managed to do', post. But like you, Mari, I find marketing difficult, I'm not a very good self promoter!Chris Longmuirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488093821886798927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-79574661692064056122015-02-02T07:50:35.250+00:002015-02-02T07:50:35.250+00:00Some good advice there! :-)Some good advice there! :-)madwippitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02595748471651052552noreply@blogger.com