Promotion has become a necessary, but often dreaded job for writers. Getting signed with a publisher no longer guarantees that you will have their sales teams working at full force to promote your product and much of the onus of the responsibility will rest on your shoulders. With self-publishing you own the job of promoting your product unless you have the financial resources to pay a promotional team. Odds are you don't have that, but don't worry, Social Media Just For Writers by Frances Caballo is available to make your job a lot easier.
The computer age provides so many possibilities for promotion, but how does one find everything that's out there? That's where Caballo's book comes in handy. Each of the major media platforms are presented in well organized chapters where the how-to's and the ins and out are explained in easy to understand format. For those who know nothing about available media platforms, Caballo provides all the basics of getting started. If you're already adept with the platform, the author offers many helpful tips to get the most out of each one. There are hundreds of links to sites that will enhance your media experience and apps to add to each one.
There's also a bonus of other promotional ideas that don't involve the internet. These alone can be enough to pay for the price of the book if you find something that helps sell your own book. Caballo's book is thorough and uncomplicated.
Though the text is immensely readable, this is probably not a book most people will sit down to read from cover to cover. It's a reference book that will be a valuable resource to anyone's collection. It's probably best to look for the media platform that interests you the most and start in that chapter, following the offered suggestions and testing them to see how they work for you. Check out some of the sites that are listed. Some may be of no interest, while others may be just what you're looking for. The links alone will provide hours of entertainment and hopefully valuable information that you can put to practical use.
The biggest drawback of a book of this nature in this field is that it may become rapidly outdated. However, I think this will not be a hindrance in the book's value for the next few years at least. Most of the site information provided should not change that much as far as the basics and most of the links should remain intact. Plus, the author has a website where she updates with new trends and information in the business. In all, Caballo's resources will be of great use to many writers.
As with any book of this kind, though geared toward writers, most of the information contained therein can be used for anyone who uses social media to promote business and these days one almost has to do this. Bloggers and business people alike can find information applicable to their own needs in this book. Social Media Just for Writers can actually provide ideas for anyone who has something to promote.
I was sent a copy of Social Media Just for Writers at no charge for the purpose of review. The review presented in this blog post is my unsolicited opinion about this book.
About the author:
Frances Caballo is a social media trainer, strategist and blogger with more than 23 years of communications experience. Presently, she is the Social Media Editor for the Women’s National Book Association-Francisco Chapterand the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association.Frances specializes in social media training for users of all levels; sets up and manages social media accounts for clients; provides coaching on clients’ social marketing platforms; and blogs for clients. Her newest book is Social Media Just for Writers: The Best Online Marketing Tips for Selling Your Books.
Have you found social media to be a challenge to put into practical use for promotion? Have you checked out Frances Caballo's book? If so, what did you find most helpful about it?
A to Z Sign-ups Open this Wednesday!
Wednesday is a big day. The sign-ups for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2013 will be opening. You can find the Linky list on Tossing It Out, The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge Blog, and the blogs of all of this year's co-hosts. Be sure to visit and follow all the blogs of my fellow A to Z co-hosts.
The co-hosts are as follows:
The Madlab Post (Nicole Ayers)
Amlokiblogs (Damyanti Biswas)
Alex J. Cavanaugh (Alex J. Cavanaugh)
Life is Good (Tina Downey)
Cruising Altitude 2.0 (DL Hammons)
Retro-Zombie (Jeremy Hawkins)
The Warrior Muse (Shannon Lawrence)
The QQQE (Matthew MacNish)
Leave it to Livia (Livia Peterson)
No Thought 2 Small (Konstanz Silverbow)
Breakthrough Blogs (Stephen Tremp)
I self published my two books, the first book was so easy to publish but the second there was so many problems.Though all got sorted in the end.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to signing for the A to Z as I did on the first one.
Wish you every success Lee, who'd had thought on that first one there would be a fourth?
Yvonne.
I also read the Twitter information alone was worth it. I've been on Twitter three years and still have no idea what I am doing. People keep following me, so I guess that's good.
ReplyDeleteI bet this book would be helpful for most writers, but I'm sure she'll have to update it often.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the A-Z sign-ups.
Thanks for sharing this. I saw her book on someone else's blog a few weeks ago, thought I'd remember it, but - not!
ReplyDeleteSounds like this book can offer some useful information. With all the social media outlets it's hard to keep up.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I didn't go into tiny detail in my upcoming book - social media changes so fast.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so amazing and like something I could make a massive amount of use out of! It depresses me hearing about the A to Z blog challenge because every time it reminds me how busy I am with work and how I'll never be able to take part once again after practically guaranteeing I'd be involved this year. I can't wait for everybody else's wonderful posts as usual though.
ReplyDeleteI hosted Ms. Caballo on my blog last week and touted her book. It's a great checklist for authors, and, you're right, use it now before fb makes more changes to their illusive system.
ReplyDeleteYvonne -- You are like one of the A to Z co-founders.
ReplyDeleteAlex --I don't really know much about what I'm doing on Twitter either. Maybe as I continue to experiment with things in this book I start catching on. I'm a slow learner sometimes.
Ciara -- Technology related things change so quickly anymore. The basics of the information included in the book should last a few years I would think.
Em -- Yeah, I know. I'm always seeing things that I think at the time I want to remember but Mr. Memory I ain't.
Wanda -- There's a lot of info in this book.
Diane -- I think most of the links should be a good for a while even if the companies get absorbed into bigger companies. Change does come quickly that publishing a book like this can take some care.
Yeamie-- You can start your posts now. Even if you're really busy you can probably manage a short A to Z post every couple days prepared ahead of time. Then you'll be all set for April. This method may actually free up some blogging time for you.
C.Lee -- Please, no more surprises! Just when I get something down fairly well, they go and change it so I have to learn new stuff. Please!!!
Lee
Thanks for reviewing this book. I'll probably pick up a copy. I have a Twitter account and don't have a clue what to do with it-ha!
ReplyDeleteAs for A to Z--I think I'll sign up. I've already started brainstorming my alpha topics. It'll be challenging as I also work full time, am writing a novel, blogging, and trying mightily (and failing desperately) to keep up with my social media. But it'll be a fun challenge for me. Cheers.
I enjoyed your review of Ms. Caballo's book. Sounds like a good reference.
ReplyDeleteFollowing in preparation for the AtoZ Blogging Challenge.
Social Media is a such a rigmarole for writers -- a book that helps is always welcome.
ReplyDeletePromotion/social networking eats up a portion of my writing time, but I think it's worth it. Like Alex, though, I still don't know if I'm using Twitter effectively -- so this book might come in handy!
ReplyDeleteJagoda -- We'd love to have you join. You'd have some great knowledge to impart to others. My suggestion is to start your posts soon and schedule them ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteLuAnn -- It will be good to have you on board with us.
Damyanti -- Rigmarole for sure. I'm always floundering through social media and hoping to get something right. Maybe this book will help some.
Milo -- So far I've just looked over the content and checked out a few suggested links. It should be a great help if you're willing to give it some time.
Lee
Ooh, I hadn't heard of this book - another one for the wishlist!
ReplyDeleteGetting very excited for the A-Z!
Interesting, but for me, I first have to get the book out of my head - then I can worry about promotion.
ReplyDeleteThanks for AtoZ. I missed last year as we were traveling around the world, but I am back now. I am hoping I have a funny travel story for each letter. I couldn't decide between humor or travel for the category, so I didn't take any. Was that correct?
Rhonda at Laugh Quotes
Family Travel-Humor-Randomness
Deniz -- I'll be using this book to delve deeper into social media. It's brought things to my attention that I had no idea about.
ReplyDeleteRhonda -- Yeah, the old book-in-the-head problem. I've got that as well. Well at least I might find some more ways to promote my blogs.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting all this together. It seems that your creation is booming and encouraging so many!!
Many blessings to you sir!
- Erick
A Brief Sinfonia
Thanks for being on the tour!
ReplyDelete