social media | From the Writer's Desk

Is This the End of Social Media?

Social media has cerainly changed a lot, especially in the past few months, but I’m not sure if it’s for the better.

Twitter

Back when I first started writing books, one of my author friends told me about Twitter. Twitter was a relatively new platform at the time. It took me awhile to wrap my brain around it, but I soon discovered that my friend was right. Twitter was the perfect place to post links to my blogs. I especially liked the hashtags. I used them as keywords to guide readers to specific posts. The hashtags helped me build a following as well. Likewise, if there was a topic of interest to me, all I had to do was type a few hashtags into a search and presto. I could easily find what I was looking for.

Twitter, unfortunately, had a downside. They started censoring people. Granted, none of my blogs are about politics or other controversial subjects. I write contemporary romance novels. The last thing I want to do was risk alienating half of my readers by posting about politics. However, as a writer and an artist, I firmly believe that people should be able express themselves freely, as long as they don’t threaten or bully others.

From Twitter to X

As we all know, Elon Musk bought Twitter a few years ago. The first thing he announced was no more censorship. I applauded this. People on both sides of the argument have the right to state their beliefs. Unfortunately, Elon also said no more hashtags. This was very disappointing. Hashtags were a means for people to have a more personalized Twitter experience.

Before Elon, I’d get a bump in blog traffic whenever I posted a link on Twitter. I also posted links to free samples from my books. I typically posted them on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. As a result, I’d see a bump in sales. Now it’s all changed. My Twitter feed is nothing but politics. Rarely do I see a tweet about someone’s book launch or their newest book cover. Nor am I getting the bumps from my Tweets that I used to get. So, I’ve stopped posting on Twitter. Nowadays it’s just politics, politics, and more politics, Some of us are interested in things besides politics.

Facebook

I’ve been on Facebook for over a decade. It used to be a lot of fun. People shared photos of their kids or grandkids. They shared their vacations, family weddings, graduations, new babies, and so forth. I also reconnected with old friends and relatives I hadn’t heard from in years. Then Facebook came up with it’s own means of censorship. Facebook jail.

If you so much as said so much as boo to someone, Facebook jail. Did you share your latest blog post about your favorite hobby to all your groups about the same hobby? Uh-oh! Facebook jail. Facebook “community standards” were constantly changing. What was okay to post two years ago isn’t okay to post today. This means that humor meme you shared two years ago, which met community standards at the time it was posted and hasn’t been seen by anyone in two years, suddenly landed you inFacebook jail. And how did Facebook know it was there? Some Facebook censor, with too much time on their hands, went on a fishing expedition. This is the kind of crap that turns users off, so they close out their accounts and leave.

From Facebook to Adbook

Then came Facebook ads. At first they were few and far between. Most advertisers were small, mom and pop businesses. Sometimes I’d buy a t-shirt, or a piece of costume jewelry. I also believe in supporting small businesses whenever possible. Unfortunately, big corporations have all discovered Facebook, and they’ve taken over the platform. My feed used to be my friends’ posts. Now it’s ad after ad after ad, or posts from business pages I don’t follow. Where are the posts from the pages I chose to follow? Why am I not seeing their posts? It’s a mystery to me.

I used to post several times a day on Facebook. Then I dropped down to one or two posts a day. Now I rarely post at all. Today all I’m seeing in my feed is stuff I don’t want to see. I want to see my friends’ posts, but they’re hidden among all the ads. As a result, I’m spending less time on Facebook. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m spending more of my time to doing productive things. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Many of the people I know off Facebook are telling me they’re spending less time there as well.

Final Thoughts

Social media was a way for the average person to have a voice and connect with people with similar interests. Now it’s been hijacked by big corporations. As a result, the average user is leaving. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before the big corporations start noticing that fewer eyes are looking at all their ads. Hopefully, they’ll get a clue and quietly disappear, but I’m not holding my breath. After all, Zuckerberg has to pay for that multi-million dollar mansion in Maui. I’ll keep using social media to share my blog posts, but I’m using Instant Messenger more frequently to keep in touch with my Facebook friends. I also have a newsletter so I can keep in touch with my readers.

I tried Instagram a few years ago to promote my art photography. I didn’t much care for it. Instagram was mostly kids, sharing silly stuff. My target audience is adult women who are avid readers. Somehow I can’t see serious book lovers on such a platform. It’s also owned by Meta. If Meta allowed big corporations to hijack Facebook, then I have no doubt that they’ve taken over Instagram as well. While I don’t see and end to social media, I am of the belief that social media, as we used to know it, is fading away, and we’ll be spending our time someplace else. Like doing things with family and friends, the way we used to do, back in the day.

Gayle Martin

From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated content. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244

Watch Out for the Predatory Vanity Publishers

I’ve been following a woman on YouTube for some time who is about to publish her first book. I’ll call her, “Denise.” Denise talks about the everyday things we can all relate to; schools, kids, pets, healthy eating, gardening, elderly parents, the weather, and so forth. She’s a very intelligent, articulate woman. Her content is always interesting and thought provoking.

When Denise first started talking about writing a book I offered to help, free of charge, with the typesetting and cover design. She gives a lot to her community, and I wanted to do what I could to help make her book a success. I also told her I would walk her through the self publishing process. She asked me if I could publish her book for her. Unfortunately, my publishing company, Good Oak Press, LLC, isn’t set up to publish books for other authors. While I could do most of the work on my end, I wouldn’t be able to provide an ISBN number or upload her files.

Denise has just uploaded a new YouTube video about her upcoming book. However, instead of using KDP Direct Publishing and Draft2Digital, as I had recommended, she’s decided to pay a publisher seven-thousand dollars to publish her book. (Which is the first a big red flag.) She’s so excited. This unnamed publisher is also going to advertise her book. While I honestly hope it works out for her, I have some serious doubts. Denise has no idea that she’s taking an incredibly big risk.

There are a LOT of bad actors in the book publishing world. They charge huge sums of money, such as seven-thousand dollars, but don’t deliver on their promises. In the industry, they’re known as vanity publishers. They prey on unsuspecting authors, which is why I consider them predators.

Denise is asking her YouTube followers to help her cover the cost with five hundred dollar donations. The donor will get a dedication page at the front of her book where they can make a personal dedication to anyone they so choose. She’s also telling her prospective donors that her book is going to be on The New York Times Best Seller list. I’m not sure if the publisher has promised her this, or if Denise has assumed it on her own. Either way, it’s another red flag.

There isn’t a first-time author out there who doesn’t want their book on the New York Times Best Seller list. In fact, it’s part of The Author Myth. Unfortunately, The New York Times Best Seller List is only for the big, mainstream publishers, such as Random House. There are other best seller lists out there which she may qualify for, but she would have to sell a substantial number of books in order to get there. I believe the NYT list requires a minimum sale of five-thousand copies a week. While not impossible, it is extremely difficult for an unknown first-time author to have this much sales volume.

To her credit, Denise does have an one advantage most author’s don’t. She has a successful YouTube platform. Let’s say she has fifty thousand subscribers to her YouTube channel. That’s a good number. No doubt some of them will buy her book, but how many is anyone’s guess.

I’ve also advertised my books on social media as well as on Amazon. While advertising does indeed help boost my sales, it can also be expensive because those pay-per-click ads can run up in a hurry. I don’t know how much her publisher is charging her for advertising, but I’d be willing to bet she’d get a better rate if she did her own ads and promotions herself instead of going through a third party.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of authors and publishers upload new books on Amazon and other platforms each and every week. Most, if not all of them, want to have a bestselling book. There’s a lot of competition out there, and the book market is oversaturated. It takes time and effort to build a following, and people who enjoy watching YouTube videos aren’t necessarily interested in reading.

I’ll end by saying I found her video jaw dropping, to say the least. However, I’m biting my tongue and not saying anything on her YouTube channel. She’s made up her mind, and I highly doubt she would listen if I tried to warn her. Nor do I want to be perceived as an, “I told you so,” if things don’t turn out the way she’s hoping. I won’t be donating five hundred dollars either because it would be a conflict of interest. Remember, I offered to do her typesetting and cover art free of charge, and I didn’t get so much as a, “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll pass.” In fact, I was waiting for her to get back with me about when she wanted me to start the typesetting when I saw the video, and I honestly feel like I’ve been blindsided.

I hope, for her sake, that things go the way she is hoping. However, having been in the small press publishing business for over a decade, I know how things work. The red flags are there, so in all likelihood, she’s working with a vanity publisher who’ll produce low-quality books which may end up in her garage because they’re not marketable. It’s also entirely possible that she may not have the option to republish her book herself, because she may have signed the rights over to the vanity publisher. It’s yet another reason why I call them predators.

Gayle Martin

From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI generated content or use AI software of any kind. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.

Are Facebook Business Pages Needed?

Someone posted an interesting question in one of my Facebook author groups. She wanted to know if a Facebook business page was a good marketing tool. I gave her an honest answer. I said that while it wouldn’t hurt to have one, Facebook business pages themselves are NOT good marketing tools. The reason why has to do with Facebook algorithms.

The Pros

Facebook business pages are free. They’re also easy to set up. I had my Marina Martindale Facebook page up and running pretty quickly. It’s also easy to start building followers. I invited all my Facebook friends, and many, if not most, accepted the invitation.

The Cons

While most of your Facebook friends may accept your invitation, few, if any, will actually buy your books. I also have business page for my photography, and I have a follower there who hits the like button on each and every photo I post. I could post a photo of a roll of toilet paper, and she’d probably give it a like. Maybe she thinks hitting the like button will help me. It doesn’t. If you want to support an artist on Facebook, whether it’s me or another artist, then stop hitting the “like” button and hit the “BUY” button instead. Unfortunately, no one ever does. People don’t go on Facebook to shop. They go on Facebook to be entertained.

Here’s the Dirty Little Secret about Facebook Business Pages

Your business page may have hundreds, if not thousands, of followers. However, only a very small percentage of your followers will actually see your posts. Even if you spend the money to boost a post or advertise your page, only a limited amount of people will see it. For whatever reason, Facebook algorithms were set up this way. In my opinion, this is borderline fraud. If I have three hundred people following my page, I expect my post to show up in all three hundred Facebook newsfeeds. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Facebook just doesn’t see it that way.

So What Works?

Based on my own experience, the best tools for getting your books noticed are websites and blogs. I know money is an issue for many authors. If it is for you, then I recommend Blogger. It’s a free Google blogging platform. It may look a little dated because Google no longer supports it, but it still has many nice templates to pick and choose from. Then, once you select a template, you can change the backgrounds and colors to customize it. You can also point it to your own dot com name

For those with more technical skills I recommend WordPress. Unlike Blogger, which has its own host, you need to find a WordPress host. Prices can vary, so be sure to shop around. WordPress also has dozens upon dozens of templates and themes to choose from, as well as all kinds of bells and whistles. I started this blog on Blogger and moved it to WordPress a few years later. It uses the twenty sixteen theme, which is clean and simple. I later found a WordPress guru, and when my Marina Martindale webpage expired, I had her build me a whole new WordPress website and combine it with my Marina Martindale blog. I also had her build a website for my Luke and Jenny series of children’s books, and I created a WordPress blog for Rosie’s Riveting Recipes, my WWII historic cookbook. It too uses the twenty sixteen theme.

The Bottom Line

Facebook business pages are free, but their range is extremely limited. Too few people will ever see your posts. If you’re serious about marketing your books, whether it’s one book or a dozen books, you will need a website or a blog. Your website is also your own personal platform. You don’t ever have to worry about somehow unknowingly violating Facebook’s constantly changing “community standards.”

Gayle Martin

From the Writer’s Desk does not include content generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software of any kind. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.

The Trouble with Twitter

Someone I follow on YouTube recently posted a video about why he finally left Twitter. He made some interesting points. Twitter has an unusual dynamic. While most Twitter users are well educated people, he noticed they all seem to behave like middle school kids.

I use Twitter to promote my books and photography. However, I don’t engage as much on Twitter as I do on other social media platforms. I’ve always found their platform odd. Twitter used to call their tweets, “mini blogs.” When I first signed up posts were limited to 140 characters, which I found too limiting. I’m a writer. I want to express myself. They’ve since doubled it to 280 characters, but it’s still pretty limiting. Therefore, I mostly use Twitter to post links to my blogs and websites.

I use third party websites to post my Tweets. One is Hootsuite, the other is Buffer. Both offer free accounts with some nice features, such as shorted URLs for your links. Hootsuite has a nice dashboard where you can see how well your tweet performed. Buffer gives you preselected time slots to schedule your tweets. It too is a nice feature which can save you valuable time. However, both limit how often you can tweet per day. If you want to tweet more then the limit, you’ll have to upgrade to a paying account.

The YouTube vlogger also talked about Twitter “tribes.” Like other social media platforms, Twitter algorithms suggest people for you to follow. It also recommends you to people with a similar interests. Interestingly enough, my tribe is other writers and photographers, so I’m adding new hashtags, such as, “#romancereaders” and “#photographylovers,” to my tweets. Hopefully, this will attract more prospective readers and art buyers.

From time to time I’ll log on to Twitter itself, but certainly not every day. If a major news event is happening, particularly in my local area, Twitter is the best platform for real time updates. My tribe mostly tweets about their writing. So if someone asking a question about their writing, and I think I can help, I’ll send them a reply. I honestly enjoy helping other writers whenever I can.

Even though my tribe is a friendly one, I’m still very cautious about what I say on Twitter. If there is anything which could possibly be perceived as, “controversial,” then rest assured, someone will get pissed off and start screaming and name calling. Hate to say it, but the vlogger was right. A grown man or woman will indeed behave like a middle school kid. This is why Twitter is, unfortunately, a hostile platform. I find it very sad. It has the potential to be a whole lot more.

Gayle Martin

Lying vs Fiction Writing

I sometimes see the stupidest things on social media memes, such as, “Writers are professional liars because they tell stories for a living.”

Oh, please! Go peddle it someplace else. If you can’t tell the difference between a fictional story and “bearing false witness,” you’re beyond hope.

What’s the Difference?

Lying is knowing something to be false and presenting it as fact. It can also be telling a half-truth, or lying by omission. Simply put, you’re withholding pertinent information about something to slant the narrative in your favor. A good example would be a married man who presents himself a single, unattached man. He’s a self-serving individual who intentionally deceives others solely to please himself. I included such an individual in one of my Marina Martindale novels. Interestingly enough, it’s titled, The Deception. I’ll just say it didn’t end well for him.

Fiction writing, or storytelling, is presenting a story about people who never existed. Unlike the liar, whose motives are to mislead or deceive, the storyteller is altruistic. Their goal is to entertain, or educate, or both. For example, I read Aesop’s Fables when I was a child. It’s common knowledge that the stories are make believe. They’re told to teach lessons about morality.

The other purpose for storytelling is to entertain. Life isn’t always easy or fair. We all feel overwhelmed at times, and we need to take a break. We’ll turn on the TV, watch a video, or perhaps read a book. As a novel writer, my purpose it to entertain the reader so he or she can take a break from reality.

So there you have it. I also get it. Some people don’t read fiction, and that’s okay. To each their own. However, I have zero tolerance for people who intentionally insult the integrity and sully the reputations of fiction authors. As stated, our purpose isn’t to deceive. It’s to entertain. There is a difference.

Gayle Martin

What it Means to Support the Arts

There are times when I may ruffle a few feathers, but so be it. Some things simply have to be said.

Those who regularly read this blog know I write novels, mostly as Marina Martindale. I’m also an art photographer, and I use social media to promote my books and my photography.

I was on Facebook the other day and came across a post about supporting the arts. It had plenty of likes, but there was a problem. The people creating the posts, and hitting the like button, may have thought they were supporting the arts, but they actually weren’t. Why? Because they weren’t telling their friends to BUY the art!

Hitting the like button doesn’t mean a damn thing

Whenever I post about my books and photography, I always include a link to a website where you can purchase the book or photograph. The posts will always get plenty of likes as well as comments such as, “Nice photo” or “I like really your book cover.” On rare occasions someone may say, “I’ve read her books and she’s great.” That’s the kind of a comment I live for! Sadly, those comments are too few and far between.

Unfortunately, hitting the like button doesn’t help me pay my bills. So if you really want to support my art, (or another artist’s work), please buy a photo or a book.

No, it isn’t a hobby

I’ve never understood why so many people think of the arts as just a hobby. Colleges and universities offer advanced degrees in the arts. Film and television production is a multi-million dollar industry. Does any of this sound like a hobby to you?

Artists, writers and musicians work damn hard, and they spend many years learning their craft. If you ever took music lessons when you were a kid you probably remember just how hard it was, and most of you gave up long before you mastered the instrument. Now think of what it took for a professional musician to reach that skill level. Does that sound like just a hobby to you? Do you really think hitting a like button on social media is all you have to do to “support” this artist? Seriously?

If you really want to support the arts then put your money where your mouth is

If you really want to support a musician then go to their gig and order a meal while you’re there. The venues who hire musicians do so to attract more paying customers. I realize some venues may be pricey, however the appetizers are usually less expensive. Trust me, I’ve eaten a lot of chicken quesadillas at friends’ gigs.

If you really want to support an artist then buy their art. Most authors have their books available for the Amazon Kindle, and you can download a copy for a few dollars. You can also get a Kindle app for free for your phone or tablet. Books make great gifts too, so if their writing genre isn’t your thing, you can still buy a copy for someone else.

You can also share their posts with a click of a mouse. Word of mouth and organic reach really are a thing, and it really does help get the artist’s name out there. Best of all, it only takes a few seconds of your time, and it doesn’t cost a thing.

Same goes for visual artists. How hard it is to share a post or click on a website link? You just hit the like button, so you obviously like their art. Visiting their websites helps improve their Google rankings, and many artists have their work reasonably priced.

Can’t afford to buy a framed print? Then you can probably buy the same photo on a coffee mug. You certainly can on my website. It only costs a few dollars, and it really does help support the artist. It will also be very much appreciated. Having someone tell me how much they enjoyed reading my book, or how much they like having a piece of my art in their home, means more to me than you could possibly imagine.

Gayle Martin

To learn more about my books please visit my website at martinamartindale.com.

To see my photography please visit my website at gaylemartinphotography.com.

Is the Social Media Fad Ending?

As authors we’ve all been told social media is our best marketing tool, and it is. However, the Internet is always changing. Nowadays, at least by my observation, social media seems to be waning in popularity. My main social media accounts are Facebook and Twitter. I’ve been using both for years. A few months ago I started using Instagram, but so far I’m giving it a big, fat, meh.

I’ve spent most of my social media time on Facebook. It used to be a lot of fun, and, for a time, Facebook was a popular fad. Everyone was on Facebook. Those who weren’t just weren’t cool. People posted photos of their kids and grandkids and talked about their hobbies and interests. I shared my book covers on Facebook and I’d post about the current book I was writing. I also started a business page under my pen name, Marina Martindale, which has hundreds of followers. So, what changed?

For me, social media started changing when people began posting their politics. It created an us vs them atmosphere, which was both divisive and hostile. As an author and artist, I’ve worked hard to build a following. Therefore, I keep my politics out of social media because I don’t want to alienate any of my fans. Facebook and Twitter, however, added their own fuel to the proverbial fire when they took sides and started censoring people on one side, but not the other. Strange business model. I’ve never understood the concept of pissing off half of your customer base. But hey, that’s just me.

The Covid pandemic has made the one-sidedness, and the censorship, so much worse. Here’s a fun fact for you. Doctors don’t always agree. Remember the old ad jingle about four out of five dentists agree? So where was the fifth dentist? Don’t ask on Facebook or Twitter. They will censor you just for asking. Nowadays Facebook will put you in “Facebook jail,” if you so much as say, “boo!”

We Americans are accustomed to speaking our minds, and everyone has the right to their own opinion. We don’t take kindly to censorship, and many walking away from social media as a result.

By my own observation, I’m seeing fewer posts on Facebook from friends who used to post frequently. Others have closed out their accounts entirely. I’m seeing less traffic on my business pages. I’ve also stopped advertising on Facebook because my ads no longer have the reach they once had. Now in case you’re wondering, I’m not alone. My marketing guru tells me she’s seeing the same issue with other clients. Like any other fad, Facebook, along with other social media platforms, has apparently run its course. What was once new and exciting has become, “Been there, done that, and you can stick your censorship where the sun doesn’t shine.”

Once a customer walks away from a business, they’re gone. They don’t come back. I’m also seeing people forming new social networks, such as Parler, but they’re niche networks. While I make no claims of being a social network expert, I think smaller, niche social networks may become the trend in the future. Yes, Facebook and Twitter will still be around. MySpace is still around. However, I think their popularity has peaked, and I doubt they’ll ever regain the following they had before.

So, where does this leave us as authors? I have no plans for closing out my social media accounts, but I’m now focusing more of my marketing on email newsletters and blogs.

Gayle Martin

Are You Posting Your Politics?

Nowadays many people like to express their political views on social media, regardless of whether or not an election is coming up. I understand freedom of speech, and you certainly have the right to express yourself. However, if you’re an author, there may be some unintended consequences.

Why political posts on social media is a bad idea for novel writers

Social media is an invaluable marketing tool for authors. It’s the best platform we have for driving traffic to our websites and blogs, and building our brands. It takes a lot of time and effort to build a following, as in months, or even years. So why, after doing all this hard work, would you want to risk alienating your fans and followers?

If you’re a political writer you’re the exception. Political topics are what your readers expect. However, many of us are not political writers. If you write novels, short stories or other creative fiction, and your sole purpose is to entertain you reader, then you may want to think twice about posting your politics on social media.

The risk you take

I make no claims of being mathematician or a statistician. That said, I think it’s a safe bet to say that roughly half your fans and followers don’t share your political views. It doesn’t matter if you’re a conservative or liberal. They don’t share your views. Nor will you get them to change their minds.

If you’re all over social media bashing people for their political views, you may very well be alienating roughly half your fan base as well. No doubt many of these fans will take offense and unfollow you on social media. They may also unsubscribe to your blogs and newsletters. Most importantly, they may stop buying your books. And if you made them angry enough they may even leave scathing reviews. So, before writing a political post, ask yourself this question. “Do I really want to lose half my fans?”

I’m sure some of you are so passionate about your beliefs that you don’t want people who disagree with you buying your book in the first place. If so, it’s certainly your prerogative. However, I think most of us don’t want to lose any of our fan base. I know I don’t.

Yes, they will unfriend you

I’ve unfriended many people on Facebook because of their political posts. This includes unfriending fellow authors. Some of their posts were so hateful it was shocking. Others were people I’ve known for years, and unfriending them made me feel truly sad. However, I’m tired of all the hate. I’m tired of all the negativity, Most of all, I’m tired of all the mean spiritedness and the divisiveness. It’s put me in a place where I’m seriously reevaluating some of my friendships.

I guess I must be old school. I’ve always subscribed to the notion that who I vote for is for me to know, and the rest of you to wonder about.

Gayle Martin

Gayle Martin does not include AI (artificial intelligence) generated content of any kind in her blogs. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244

So Who Markets Your Book?

From time to time I get into interesting discussions with other authors lamenting about how their book isn’t selling they way they expected. The first thing I ask is what have they done to market their book. Most of the time they haven’t done anything. Many authors, especially newbies, honestly think all they have to do is list their book on Amazon, and people will buy it. Or they think someone else, such as a third party publisher, or distributor, will market their book.

“Build it and they will come,” may have worked in Field of Dreams. Unfortunately, it doesn’t apply to selling books. Nor is your publisher responsible for marketing your book. They distribute your book to booksellers, but they’re not in the marketing business. You, the author, are the one responsible for marketing your book, and not taking the initiative means your book won’t sell. Fortunately, there are many things that you can, and should, be doing to help promote your book.

How authors can promote their books

Have a website or blog, or both, about your book.
Promote your book on social media.
List your book on other websites.
Have book signings.
Send out a newsletter.
Have contests and giveaways.
Create a book trailer.
Advertise your book

If you can only do one item on this list, make it a having website. If you’re on a tight budget, you can create blog on Blogger for free. Blogger has an array of nice-looking templates and it’s very easy to use. Godaddy, Wix and WordPress, offer templates so you can build your own website. If you have the means, you can hire a webmaster and have them create a state of the art website will all the bells and whistles. Whichever way you go, it’s up to you to promote your blog or website. This is where social media comes in.

Of you’re an author, social media is an absolute must. It costs nothing to open account on most social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Keep in mind, however, that it takes time to build a following on social media, so don’t expect instant results. I’ve also found contests and giveaways to be a nice marketing tool. You can do giveaways through social media, or with newsletters.

If your budget allows it you can hire a publicist, but be sure he or she has experience in book promotion. Book promotion is quite different from other kinds of public relations. Also be sure to talk to him or her about the cost. Some firms may charge as much as $3000 a month for their services. Others may charge much less, and may do just as good of a job as the higher-priced publicists.

No one ever said marketing a book would be easy. This is especially true in a time when anyone with a computer and access to the Internet can upload a Word file to Amazon and call themselves an author. However, unless your name is Stephen King, James Patterson or J.K. Rowling, don’t expect people bust down the doors to buy your book just because it’s listed on Amazon. You really have to get there and do some work.

Gayle Martin