He immediately bobbed his head in agreement. "I know exactly what you mean. I just unfollowed and unfriended this one individual because of their incessant posts and tweets about nothing but buying their book. That's all they ever did. Read this excerpt. The buy links right here. I finally had enough - I GOT THE MESSAGE. All they ever talked about was selling that damn book."
Which begs the question: how much is too much? Twitter, Facebook, Myspace - there's an endless list of social networks out there that authors use to get the word out about their stories, connect with their readers and let them know what's going on in their world.
But I've decided this global marketing thing can be much like walking a tight rope. I have to admit, I've grown a little weary at times with people who seem to hold down that BUY MY BOOK button on the various forums. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing about the new releases and reading the excerpts a couple of times...but when it's endless, it gets a bit old. My book, BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER comes out in February. Will I be guilty of doing the same thing? I hope not. Knowing my fear of irritating people (writer = introvert), I'll run the risk of not talking it up enough.
I'm of the mind that blogging about the other stuff in our lives (trips, pet's antics, adorable kids, writing stuff) will (hopefullly) be more welcomed in the "readersphere" then a constant stream of BUY MY BOOK. Of course, I could be dead wrong and just fooling myself into thinking this so I'll have an excuse not to pester people. What do you think? How do we as authors strike the perfect balance?
By the way *ahem* and *clearing throat with a shy gulp* - the link to vote on round one is here if you'd like to help me out. Tomorrow is the last day to vote in this round:
http://www.rtbookreviews.com/content/writing-stars-vote-first-paragraph-and-last-line
Posts
I am right there with you!! 100%, right there with you!!
ReplyDeleteI've posted the link on my author page a few times, and on my "civilian" page a few times, but that's it.
During the American Titlist (?name) contest, I was bombarded with "Please vote for me" messages and posts. I got tired of it, and didn't feel like this person was a "friend" for mutual friendship. This person was a "friend" because I was a potential vote.
As soon as I found out I was a finalist, I made a promise to myself that, no matter how badly I wanted to win this contest, I wasn't going to do that. I wasn't going to do to others what I hadn't liked having done to me. At the end of this contest, I still have to live with me and I want to be proud of the way I handled things.
I don't know the answer to your question, but I sure wish I did. It would make me so much more comfortable!! LOL
Hope you're having a great weekend!!
Alannah
LOL! Thanks for stopping by, Alannah! It makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one feeling this way. :-)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, Maeve. The writing is the easy part compared to marketing. I know I have to put myself out there and promote my book, which is due out in April, but I don't want people to grow sick of me.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind helping out with a vote. I try to be supportive if at all possible.
ReplyDeletePromoting--when is it too much? I don't know. It's like a catch 22. If you don't spread the word about your book, no one will know it's out there. Like you said, if you constantly post "buy my book here" you lose the readers' interest because it's like your nagging them.
I'm sure most try for the happy medium.
I enjoyed your post and it gave me pause to think about what I've been doing to promote.
I have a question: What do you think about authors posting their new reviews and sharing them on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Too much?
I've posted mine because I'm so thrilled and want to share it.
By the way, while I'm posting this, I'm staring at your lovely book cover for Beyond a Highland Whisper. I'm going to have to check this one out further.
I agree with you Maeve. After the first excerpt and "buy my book" if I decide to buy it, I will. And if I don't, I won't. Subsequent posts aren't going to change my mind.
ReplyDeleteI try to limit promo posts to when there's actually something going on, i.e. release day, contest news, guest blogs, etc. Otherwise, It's just me sharing snippets of life.
Good luck in the RT contest.
That's what I'm afraid of, Sue! I know we can't hide in our writing cave forever but I don't want people ready to stone me either! Thanks for stopping by. :-)
ReplyDeleteKaren - thank you so much for your kind words about my book. *Big Grin* As far as posting reviews on Twitter and Facebook, I think that's a great idea. I enjoy it when I'm able to follow a link and see what a reveiwer has posted about an author's books. There's so many review sites out there, I don't see how readers could possibly find their way to all of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keena for your best wishes! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
ReplyDeletePromo is a necessary evil. Most of us don't have a promo machine behind us so we work our asses off to get our books out there. I hate it and try to talk about other stuff on my web page and hope like hell readers buy my books regardless. I do like to give other authors a chance to promote their books on my blog, though. It's the least I can do for people who have supported me.
ReplyDeleteUnless a vote is for a good friend, I don't vote and I don't solicit votes for any of my books period, from my friends or on loops I'm a part of. I think it just annoys people, even though they'll vote for you to be nice.
Mostly what I want to do is write and have what I write be read. Wish I didn't have to spend oodles of time on promo.
Great question, Maeve. I've been very careful about how I promote. I try to be aware of others time, readers I'm hoping will find me by doing a web search on my name. I'm not sure how much it's paid off, but I sent lots of promotional material to conferences and workshop outside my area, hoping to catch people who are interested in what I write.
ReplyDeleteI do vote for people I know, I have solicited votes once but that was it, one email and left it at that.
I agree with Julia, promo is a necessary evil.
I think you summed up how we all feel, Julia! All we want to do is write and have our stories enjoyed. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any of us like the "promo" part, Marie. Especially since it's such a balancing act. I once heard the best promo is writing a fantastic story. I hope my "stuff" qualifies! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Maeve! I'm with you...still trying to figure all of this PR stuff out. I try to blog more about writing in general than a particular book, though as my release date nears, I'll probably talk about the book more. Or at least have some contests and giveaways. But being shy, I know I'll never do the mass "Buy My Book" emails you see once in awhile.
ReplyDeleteWith the WWTS contest, I've put blurbs and a couple of hints to go vote, but I haven't wanted to bombard anyone, either. I think that backfires. (Though of course I've told my huge family all about you and TOLD them to go vote. They're family--that's okay.) :)
By the way - GOOD LUCK! I have my fingers crossed for you.
LOL! Thank you so much, Rebecca (my WONDERFUL mentor). You're still great at making me feel better. I appreciate you stopping by...and I'm going to pre-order FATED today. I read the excerpt and LOVED it.
ReplyDeleteI can relate and agree 100%! I enjoy the writing process, love tinkering with my website and blog, but am VERY hesitant when it comes to tweeting or posting about buying my book! I'm hoping that visitors to my website and blog will be interested enough to buy it, but who knows? (by the way it's http://www.theguardiansapprentice.com - sorry couldn't resist!) :)
ReplyDeletep.s. - voted for you five times so far - got my fingers crossed!
LOL! Michael, you are such a DEAR rascal. You always brighten my day. Thank you so very much for stopping by and best of luck to you with your book. (Which I loved - by the way!)
ReplyDeleteThat's a tough question. You've finished this great piece of work and you want others to enjoy it as well. Not only have you put your soul into writing it, but now you have to promote it.
ReplyDeleteI think when contests, release dates, new covers, reviews, etc. come out that an author should share the joy and promote. For example, I think what you are doing is fine. BTW, I agree with Michael and have also voted and even recruited 'several' times. *grin*
My opinion in simple terms: If it gets too much, I just tune them out.
P.S. You're fine :)
I think we all pull our hair out over this. The promo takes so much time away from the real joy of writing but it's a necessary evil and one that some publishers expect. I've seen one actually ask for a marketing plan along with the submission. I try to save the excerpts and promo for the loops designed for that purpose and interact on a more personal level on FB and Twitter. And I try to give back with contests and giveaways. In the end I think the most promo goes on for a few weeks after release, then things settle down... Until the next time.
ReplyDeleteI agree that promotion takes a lot of time, but some of us get confused between ADVERTISING and social media. We are in such a rush to kind of "touch" everyone, we forget there are people on the receiving end and don't want to be constantly bombarded with a sales pitch. Social media's premise is to be social so that means yammering not hammering. I've been guilty and I'm sure I'll mess up in the future, but awareness is half the battle.
ReplyDeleteThanks Victoria! You're a dear and I appreciate your time and kind words. :-)
ReplyDeleteWell said, Margie! I like that motto: Yammer don't Hammer. If I keep that in mind, hopefully, I'll be a better author AND friend to all on on the web. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know the publisher you're talking about, Gale, and I wonder if more and more of them might not lean toward this mindset in the future? I guess it's just a balancing act we all need to strive to maintain. :-)
ReplyDeleteMaeve,
ReplyDeleteI think we all worry about this when does self promotion become self annoying. I like to promote fellow authors to mix it besides, if my friends read their books we all win.
Promise we will let you know if you over promote your books LOL
MAEVE--most of us feel the same way. There are some, though, that are so confident they promote with no compunction. That bottom line is, you have to. But there's a time to promote a book, and there's a time to pull back. I've promoted myself endlessly during September--and I think apologized all over the place (not good either)--October is slower--thanks goodness--but in November and December--I'll rev it up again. I know what you mean, though, about the authors who do nothing else but say "buy my book." I want to know about the person, too. Celia
ReplyDeleteOh Celia - I guess there is no easy answer - then again, there NEVER is. LOL! Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)
ReplyDeleteI just had my first release this month and I feel like I've been living in blog land ever since. I've gotten nothing else done (and probably won't for a few more weeks since I have a few more posts scheduled). If there was a promo machine out there that wasn't too expensive, I would bet a lot of writers would use it. Promo is such a huge time sucker!
ReplyDeleteOh my, Marie. It sounds like I'm going to have my work cut out for me in February when BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER comes out.
ReplyDeleteIt is so difficult to keep up with all the social media and still find time to write. Between blogging and writing classes I'm currently taking and working (STILL!) and...life (the house still has to be cleaned now and again, the clothes washed and meals prepared) time simply runs out.
ReplyDeleteOnce your book comes out it will be very, very busy for you for awhile but I hope you'll remind us all that it's available so that we can get it! But I know what you mean. I simply loathe the "in your face" reminders to vote for my book, cover, or what-have-you that seems to go on periodically. Your one or two reminders were great and that was so much nicer. I was very glad to vote for your piece...not mentioning the fact that it is very, very good!
~Donna
Donna - thank you so much for the reassurance! I hope I didn't irritate anyone! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Mauve, I couldn't agree with you more. Social networking does become somewhat of a juggling act...and oh so time consuming. Although, as we troll the networking sites we do connect with some truly wonderful and supportive people. Like you, I have unfollowed (many) self-serving writers who literally fill up the Twitter column with the 'buy me' plug!
ReplyDeleteLoved your Post!
Best Stuart aka @writer99 :)
Thank you for your kind words, Stuart! You are so correct about connecting with wonderful people we wouldn't otherwise meet. I appreciate your stopping by, my friend. Take care of yourself. :-)
ReplyDeleteI took my former freedom defender/air force vet hubbie to the cigar store where he selected an appallingly expensive cigar to enjoy for his Veteran's Day. He does laugh because he was a clerk and basically just enjoyed Europe, but I say he was in there, and willing...he just got lucky and didn't have to be in danger at the time.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Maeve. I hate to ask for votes too, although I will usually do it at least once. :) For something like Writing With the Stars, it's great to hear updates when your entry makes another round because it's exciting! Congrats on making it to the next level. I just voted for you. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Cate! Your support means a lot. As we say in the south, "Bless your heart!". :-)
ReplyDelete