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| Sean Doherty, Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau, Makes a Call During Telphone Sales Blitz, July 26, 2010 (Photo credit: JenniferHuber) |
So you've got something really cool that you want people to know about. You've written your book and even have publishing arrangements made. You've started a business that people are going to love. You've developed a product that everybody will want. Now to sit back and wait for those customers to beat a path to your door.
You might be waiting awhile. If few people or no one knows about what you've got for them then they're not going to be contacting you just because you have it no matter how great it is. Making contact with the customers is the job of the marketing campaign. And the process starts with you.
You have to initiate contact. Blogs are great for doing exactly that. Once you've made contact with others in a community then you can ask for their help when you need help. Same thing goes with others with whom you come into contact in other aspects of your life.
Let the world know what you can do or how you can help them. Then offer your services. Make yourself available for interviews or to be on panel discussions. Wherever you see an opportunity to grow your personal brand, take it and use it to your best advantage.
Here's an example of someone who initiated contact by making her need known to others:
Another New Life
by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle
Publication Date: June 2, 2014
New Adult Contemporary Romance
**This book contains adult subject matter. Not intended for young readers.**
Another New Life
“From the first day we met, it was Troy and me against the world.”
Another New Life by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Talent, smart and beautiful on the outside and insecure, haunted and damaged on the inside. Despite these contradictions, she’s ready to start Another New Life.
When her talent wins her a piano performance scholarship to the University of Texas, Miranda arrives on campus determined to experience everything college has to offer and to keep her secrets in the past where they belong.
An easy task, until the first guy who catches her eye happens to be someone, she’s known all her life.
Eight years have passed since the last time Miranda and Troy saw each other. He reminds her of the best and worst times of her live, but she can’t think about one without dwelling on the other. As they grow closer, every day their attraction reminds them they are no longer kids.
The epic romantic love story that is Miranda and Troy seems to be destined for a happy ending, but Miranda knows it’s only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. A secret that will not only destroy their relationship, it will destroy Troy, too.
Can Miranda focus on her future with Troy while preventing her past from tearing them apart all over again?
Giveaway
(click the link to enter)
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle is a New Adult Contemporary Romance writer, a voracious reader and movie fanatic who
Sydney has been blogging at sydneyaaliyah.com for three years, where she interviews people about their tattoos, discusses her favorite movie quotes, reviews books (New Adult & only the ones she loves) and journals about her writing and editing process.hailsfrom Texas. After surviving 5 1/2 years living in China, she had the courage to finally pursue her passion and become a writer.
Sydney's self-published debut New Adult Novel Another New Life will be available June 2014. An active tweeter, she is also a JuNoWriMo (2x) and NaNoWriMo (2x) winners who notes the sci-fi action flick "The Matrix" as the best representation of her life in the past. She is blessed to be awake now and doing what she loves.
Find Out More:
Have you received help from other bloggers to get a message out for you? Do you ask for others to help you promote your causes? Are you willing to talk to strangers in order to sell yourself or something you want to promote?
As you know Lee my book is out on the loose. Trying hard to get Amazon to find the account I had with the other two books........seems I had a different email address.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and very interesting to read.
Yvonne.
I really only blog for myself and any friends or family who might be interested in what I've been up to. But if anything has taught me about blogging and getting it out there it's been these A-Z Challenges, reading yours and other amazing people's blogs and how they do it. That's how I've learnt, by observing the blogs which interest me.
ReplyDeleteYeah for Sydney!
ReplyDeleteThis blogging community is awesome when it comes to support. Hundreds have helped me with my last two releases, which just blows my mind.
Congrats to Sydney! I need to initiate more...
ReplyDeleteTo tell the truth I am rather reclusive I do not fair well out and about in the wider world.
ReplyDeleteOne of my writer friends recently contacted his local tv station's morning show to see if they'd like to interview him on his first published work for their 'author' feature. They were eager to talk to him and he sent them his book. They canceled because they thought the cover art was too inappropriate for their audience. I'm an uber prude when it comes to that stuff and I don't find the cover of his book at all offensive, racy or inappropriate. I'm sure that morning show replayed Miley Cyrus' twerking over and over, which is far more offensive.
ReplyDeleteMarketing is the dirty little secret of a writer's world. No one realizes how excruciating it can be. Especially if said writer is a total introvert like me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting A to Z!!!
I've seen Sydney's book everywhere this morning. She did a great job at Initiating!
ReplyDeleteI think that we have yet to discover the best means of marketing books. And, more than likely, it will only last *so long* before there is a shift and that is no longer *the best* means. Social media is a fluid thing. I think the desire to initiate is there, but people are stymied by how to best direct their efforts.
ReplyDeleteI am just learning how to reach out. I lost myself last year. I was alone and depressed in dealing with caring for my veteran. It was hard. But now, I know I'm not alone. I am starting to reach out and ask for what I need. Now, if only I can keep that up and move it on to my writing world. :)
ReplyDeleteJamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z
Caring for My Veteran
I ask when I am up for an award, but usually, I voice and express my offer to help. I tend to do that more than ask for help. I've always been that way! Helping's my thing.
ReplyDeleteYvonne -- When you have your sales link for the book I'll be happy to help promote.
ReplyDeleteDayDreamer -- Other bloggers can teach us a lot about many things. That's how I learned about blogging.
Alex -- The blog network is very advantageous to us when we need to get the word out about things.
Cathrina -- Just ask! There are many willing to help you out.
Rob -- Well, you've done a good job of getting out and about in the blog world. But it's kind of a sheltering place.
JoJo -- At least he made the contact. They wouldn't have had to show the cover I guess. I see plenty of offensive things on TV.
Huntress -- An introvert has to make a special effort, but it gets easier if you keep on pushing yourself.
C.Lee -- Sydney has a lot of friends in the world of blogging.
Robin -- Innovation is another good "I" word. There is no general best way, but we each have to find the way that works best for us and whatever it is that we're promoting. One thing for sure is that we have to initiate at least some initial contact and usually many after that.
Jamie -- You are not alone in feeling alone. Many are in a similar situation to yours. It can be tough, but sometimes you just have to force yourself to do things.
Lee
Initiating contact is the hardest part for me. I've always been quiet and let others speak first. Blogging and Twitter has made it easier, but it's still rough.
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
Christina -- Sometimes it seems easier to help others than to ask for help. Maybe it's something to do with fearing rejection? When you do need help you should ask. People don't usually reject a sincere request and if they do there's usually a good reason for it that shouldn't be taken as a personal affront.
ReplyDeleteLee
Patricia -- I know the feeling. But sometimes we just have to step up and take care of our own needs.
ReplyDeleteLee
OH without doubt the contacting is THE hardest part of the job! I find press releases much easier when I have new product - a new CD or project or tour - but when I'm trying to get gigs in the first place, that is excruciating and I am a master procrastinator. However, reading your blog is really interesting and thank you so much for all the tips.
ReplyDeleteI'm still a secret blogger but I'm using this challenge to hone my themes and will start plugging it more afterwards.
Cheers
Fil
Finding that balance of steady contact too! You cant saturate then disappear, its important to keep people updated especially with todays media points :)
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with the book Sydney!
Great word for the day. I don't do this enough. Good luck to Sydney.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many bloggers helping other bloggers. I see it all the time when I'm visiting other blogs, and it's truly inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAnother way to help people with your blog is to offer a service. Tutorials make wonderful subject matter for blogs, because people always want to learn something new, and if you help them do it, they'll visit you time and time again.
Congrats to Sydney. Wishing her every success with her book.
M. J. Joachim
A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches
ReplyDeleteSuch a valuable tip. Thanks.
Fil -- Even a press release initiates contact. The press exposure can help the later contacts to be more easily made.
ReplyDeleteSJP -- So true. A media blitz can be okay, but if you disappear after than then the contacts you've made can slip away.
Susan GK -- Initiating contact is not always easy to do.
MJ -- The blogging community does well at reaching out and being receptive to those who need some assistance.
Munir -- Thanks for stopping.
Lee
Congrats to Sydney! I'm continually impressed how quickly the blogging community will rally to promote new books etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this post !
ReplyDeleteThe more I read about authors, the more I am staggered that these books ever get to market at all. I have every admiration for writers. I hope Sydney does really well with this book.
ReplyDeleteHi Lee, that worked out perfectly. I have been learning how to ask for help. It's easy when I have access to such amazing and support resources like yourself.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone for their comments.
Susan - Thank you.
MJ - Thanks, again.
Leslie - I agree. The community is amazing.
Jo - me, too. :-) Thanks.
Leslie -- Start spreading the word in the blogging community and you can reach the world pretty quickly. Now to find the key to getting beyond the community.
ReplyDeleteAT - Thanks for stopping.
Jo -- Yes it takes a lot of levels of perseverance.
Sydney -- Glad to have helped. I wish you great success.
Lee
Best of luck to Sydney.
ReplyDeletePutting myself and my writing out there isn't my strong suit. I need to get better at it.
LD -- You've got plenty of company.
ReplyDeleteLee