Write From the Soul & Visualeyes: marketing for authors

Welcome!

I'm not new to talking, sharing ideas, or stating my opinion, especially stating my opinion! After all, I taught elementary school for 30 years! However, my audience has typically been smaller,just family, the classroom, or just talking to myself!

My blog has two goals: be an outlet for sharing thoughts on writing children's books and the path to publication (got my fingers crossed that I'll get there) and a place to chronicle my journey of losing my sight. Sometimes I imagine these two paths will overlap .

Friday, April 9, 2010

Write from the Soul

Have you ever taken a webinar? You know, that's the buzzword for an online seminar. Well, I've taken a few; some of them have a fee, others are free, some of them have marginal information and others are chock full of valuable info.

Yesterday's webinar, called "Self Marketing For Authors", was presented by Writers Digest. The speaker was Chip MacGregor, a literary agent with MacGregor Literary. (You can check out his blog at www.chipmacgregor.com) I thought he was fabulous and gave practical suggestions. I don't want to tell you EVERYTHING in the webinar- you know they frown upon that- but here are a few points to entice you into checking out Writers Digest and Chip's blog and the webinar yourself.

When making your marketing plan, think S.W.O.T.

Strengths- what you do well
Weaknesses- what you struggle with
Opportunities- people, places, organizations that you can work with
Threats- what you need to overcome to reach your goal

Chip discussed some of the marketing tools that currently work for authors.

contests and campaigns
blogs
videos, including book trailers
short and positive communication
giving away stuff
magazines and e-zines

Once you've gotten that book deal, he suggests ways to make your publisher fall in love with you ;-)

keep a positive relationship going
say "YES" to everything (as for as marketing)
establish your brand
listen to advice- especially from editors
deliver on time- be it info or manuscript revisions
participate with enthusiasm
express appreciation- it feels good to all

There was much more- I took 8 pages of notes! The best parts??? Writers Digest gives you access to the webinar information for a year!!! They also send you all the questions that were"asked", whether they were answered during the Q and A session or not, and of course, the answers, in print. I think that's a great take-away.

So when you have a chance, go to the Writers Digest web site and peruse their webinars and online workshops.
*** Disclaimer: I am not receiving any compensation, favors, or swag for this announcement. I'm just enthusiastic about it!!!!