When I self-published Breakthrough at the beginning of 2009, I started with tons of ambition, thought big thoughts, and believed for incredible things to happen. But I knew I needed to promote and market the book myself. I had to make things happen or nothing would happen. Otherwise, I would have to re-join the workforce and (gulp) get a real job. Talk about motivation.
I really had no idea what to do in terms of promoting my book to the masses, sell copies, and catch the attention of an agent. But I understood I needed an immediate presence on the Internet. My nephew designed a Web site. That was a start. Then my sister-in-law suggested I join a Yahoo! Group for writers and authors. Enter the Yahoo! BBT Group, BBT an acronym for Book Blog Tour.
Many of us were newbies. Our first assignment was to develop a Blog site. I choose Blogger.com, selected a domain name, and within one cup of coffee I had a very simple blog site up and running. We then were to visit a selected blog each day, critique it, and give feedback to the group. The feedback I received helped me develop a rudimentary (and kind of ugly) blog into what you see today.
This was my first critique group. Without this second set of eyes (dozens of eyes really) I never would have developed a functional blog capable of being a platform to not only promote my book, but help other aspiring writers and bloggers fulfill their dreams, visions, and goals. These people are my superheroes. They came to my rescue when I need it the most.
Which brings me to a critical element of any successful site: A blog should not be solely about what it can do for you. It needs to serve a two-fold purpose. What can it do for other people. People who need help, ideas, advice, and guidance. After all, that’s why most are visiting your blog. You’re offering something of value they can take away that will help them be a better writer, blogger, person, etc. You have to do more than post excerpts from your book and tell people why they should buy it.
I admit I thought this blog thing, social networking, and viral advertising was overrated. Kind of a waste of time. However, I now understand blogging is relationship marketing and without these I would be sitting dead in the water. I have been able to use these platforms to sell close over 400 hundred books the last four months of 2009, attend numerous book signings and related events, and network with literally hundreds of people who are in turn saying good things about me and my book Breakthrough.
What a launching pad for 2010! I say this to encourage anyone to develop an online presence and begin the viral marketing process, a phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message. Your message. It really, really works.
Question Posed: Do you belong to any Yahoo! Groups, or any critique groups? Have you found them to be helpful to your personal and professional development?
I really had no idea what to do in terms of promoting my book to the masses, sell copies, and catch the attention of an agent. But I understood I needed an immediate presence on the Internet. My nephew designed a Web site. That was a start. Then my sister-in-law suggested I join a Yahoo! Group for writers and authors. Enter the Yahoo! BBT Group, BBT an acronym for Book Blog Tour.
Many of us were newbies. Our first assignment was to develop a Blog site. I choose Blogger.com, selected a domain name, and within one cup of coffee I had a very simple blog site up and running. We then were to visit a selected blog each day, critique it, and give feedback to the group. The feedback I received helped me develop a rudimentary (and kind of ugly) blog into what you see today.
This was my first critique group. Without this second set of eyes (dozens of eyes really) I never would have developed a functional blog capable of being a platform to not only promote my book, but help other aspiring writers and bloggers fulfill their dreams, visions, and goals. These people are my superheroes. They came to my rescue when I need it the most.
Which brings me to a critical element of any successful site: A blog should not be solely about what it can do for you. It needs to serve a two-fold purpose. What can it do for other people. People who need help, ideas, advice, and guidance. After all, that’s why most are visiting your blog. You’re offering something of value they can take away that will help them be a better writer, blogger, person, etc. You have to do more than post excerpts from your book and tell people why they should buy it.
I admit I thought this blog thing, social networking, and viral advertising was overrated. Kind of a waste of time. However, I now understand blogging is relationship marketing and without these I would be sitting dead in the water. I have been able to use these platforms to sell close over 400 hundred books the last four months of 2009, attend numerous book signings and related events, and network with literally hundreds of people who are in turn saying good things about me and my book Breakthrough.
What a launching pad for 2010! I say this to encourage anyone to develop an online presence and begin the viral marketing process, a phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message. Your message. It really, really works.
Question Posed: Do you belong to any Yahoo! Groups, or any critique groups? Have you found them to be helpful to your personal and professional development?
18 comments:
I'm glad your Yahoo group worked for you. I joined one of the groups for writers on Yahoo and it wasn't what I needed at all. A lot of people emailing back and forth, with one guy whose word was law. I didn't see where it was helpful at all, so I quit. It's funny how when one needs assistance, it comes, usually in completely different ways for each person.
If not for my writing group, I would not even be writing today. Sure I dabbled in a little bit of fan fiction, but it was my wonderful friends with similar writerly non aspirations who got me writing seriously.
I have met only one member of my writing group, but they are my best friend ever!
All the best in your Breakthrough journey.
I belong to three photography-related yahoo groups and one travel group. I feel that my photography skills have improved by reading what other people write on various subjects, as well as answers to specific questions that I have. I have received critique on photographs, which most of the time prove helpful. The photography groups are helpful, too, when looking for new equipment.
I do belong to a couple of Yahoo groups, but the only value I seem to receive from them is just seeing what others are doing. Writers Groups which deny self published authors membership irritate me, such as Mystery Writers of America, Thrillers, etc. I am a member of the Authors Guild and have been since 1990. I recently joined Sisters in Crime, and rejoined EPIC organization. I had previously won Finalist Awards from EPIC for two ebooks... so may join their upcoming competition again.
I do like the networking...such as the blogs which give us an opportunity to share comments and to see what other writers are doing. And yes, I like doing my own blogs and sharing information.
Twitter, I'm not so sure about. LOL
I am in a crit group via email, and so far it is great. I belong to one Yahoo group, but it isn't easy to use, so I don't enjoy it.
I just have my blog here, I started it three years ago when I was living in Spain and found that writing poetry was helping me through the bereving process of losing my mother and husband within two months years before.
Then as time progressed and I came to terms and accepted what life had dealt me I found I could write about more light hearted subjects though at certain times of the year I reflect on how I've come along in 12 years, for the first year I had not one comment then one person left one and I progressed from there, Blogging is part of my life now, as for Yahoo groups I haven't really got the time.
Take care.
Yvonne.
I belong to a yahoo group for cancer patients. Being a member that others look to for advice, I find I write more fluidly, and have developed a better essay style when giving my opinion on a subject about which I have experience or understanding. It has encouraged me to do more online authentic medical research. That being said, I prefer the face to face poetry critique and memoirs writing groups in which I participate.
I agree with you on the Blog Book Tour group--great group of people and lots of helpful information shared!
KarenG, Its no fun to have a psycho for a moderator. And I despise all those side conversations that fill up my inbox. But there are tens of thousands of Groups out there, many of them really good ones.
Rayna, must be fun to meet one of your members. I haven't met any although I did find an awesome editor at a reasonable price for my re-edit.
Linda #1, the critiques can be most useful. I'm involved in a temporary group that starts today focusing on the blog site itself. I hope to make my Blog a much more powerful launching tool for my books.
Linda #2, I don't care for those snooty groups that exclude. And the networking is fun though for those groups who accept you and have talented and experienced members.
Ted, without the critique of others I would not be where I'm at today. Glad its working out for you.
Just joined the Blog Book Tour group and it's my first.
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for all this info; I will check into it. I have been part of
a Yahoo group, prior. I actually
met 4 of the members! Blogging enables us to reach boundaries we would never cross. Countries we wouldn't frequent, marketing groups that might not be considered, etc.
ATB ....I'll be back to see more wisdom that you share!
No Yahoo! Groups or critique groups yet. I didn't even think about there being Yahoo groups for aspiring authors. How silly is that?
It's wonderful you had such good and supportive feedback for your site, Stephen. I have a few crit partners with whom I exchange work when ready to and without these people's input I think the work would have been okay, but not as good as it has wound up.
WTMWOP, that's a powerful comment. Thanks for sharing with us. I can see how blogging can help with the bereaving process.
Elizabeth M, Yhaoo! has so many different support groups. Glad to hear you involved with on you really like.
Elizabeth S and Alex, I'm looking forward to the Book Blog Tour. I'd like to visit 15-20 blogs later this summer.
Ellie, I love that I cann connect with peple from India, Scotland, Russia, or wherever. Couldn't do this without a blog.
I'm in an amazing in-person critique group right now, and they've helped me immensely. They point out errors I haven't noticed and give me suggestions to tweak my work. I'm becoming a stronger writer thanks to them.
Hi Stephen .. I've solved one mystery I think .. your blog works in Firefox ..I can read it like it's meant to be!!
That's really interesting what you say about how you took your book and then started the blog and worked your way through ..
A lot of it is luck to start with .. you hit the right forum .. I too started with a group & certainly wouldn't be here today if we hadn't posted on each others blogs .. but the critiqueing of my work just rested with the comments .. which I've been honoured with.
So I am starting from the other direction .. looking towards some form/s of publication/s when I have the space to move forward -
Thanks and you've endorsed a lot of a guest post I've just written about how I started my blog, which will be published shortly (probably today) ..
I just love your sharing .. it's so helpful - even if for now I put them behind my ears for later use .. I know they are here ..
Great to be here - Hilary
What you said about the original BBT group goes for me too. I'm not sure I would have ever gotten up to speed with my blog without Dani and her class.
I belong to a critique group that meets every other week, face to face, and we do in depth critiquing of two submissions each meeting. I also help start new critique groups for Northern Colorado Writers.
All of the Yahoo! Groups I belong to are organization or blogging related (7 or 8 of them). It's hard to keep up sometimes, but networking is critical to what we do (and I'm loving the virtual friends I'm making in the process).
I belong to a couple of Yahoo groups. I've found them very useful.
Still need to find a crit group, whether online or face-to-face.
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