Marketing & Promotion
What Should You Put in Your Email Newsletter?
Learn about the various types of email newsletter that are sent by authors—with pros and cons of each—plus how to choose which type YOU should send.
Book Cover Redesign as Marketing Tool
Cover designer Alexander von Ness explains the value of a book cover redesign and walks through several cover redesigns and their goals.
When Less Is More on Social Media
Social media expert Chris Syme explains why less is more in social media, and how to make the most use of primary and secondary social media channels.
My Latest Advice on Book Publishing and Marketing
Get links to my latest interviews and Q&A sessions where I discuss the publishing industry as well as marketing and promotion.
How to Customize Your Email Newsletter Sign-Up Forms to Increase Reader Engagement
The connection with your email newsletter subscribers starts much sooner than you think, in a place that many gloss over or ignore: your signup forms.
Using Video for Author Marketing: What Beginners Need to Know
In my latest post over at Writer Unboxed, I discuss what writers need to know if they're considering video as
Crowdfunding Usually Doesn’t Work for Writers—But It Can
Over 70% of author crowdfunding campaigns fail, but you can beat the odds if you embrace your role as chief marketing officer of your book.
Starting an Email Newsletter: Why to Do It and Which Service to Use
Author Kirsten Oliphant explains how to get started forming a list of email subscribers, including how to choose an email service provider.
Building Your Professional Author Website: WordPress vs Squarespace
Web design expert Ron Bueker discusses the pros and cons of using WordPress and Squarespace to build your author website and brand.
How to Use Guest Blogging to Promote Your Book
Online marketing expert Beth Hayden explains how to use guest blogging to promote your book.
How to Save Money and Do Online Book Publicity Yourself
Author and publicist Fauzia Burke offers tips and resources for doing your own internet book publicity.
The Author Website: Your Central Marketing Hub
The primary function and value of an author website is marketing related.
A Former Book Publicist’s Advice to Traditionally Published Authors
Andrea Dunlop, a former Doubleday publicist, discusses how to approach a book launch from a publicist's point of view.
Pinterest for Authors: A Beginner’s Guide
Learn four reasons writers might want to use Pinterest, how to best use the platform, and best practices to get the most traction for your work.
How to Find and Work With a Book Publicist—Successfully
What every author needs to know before they hire a publicist, and how to work with one successfully.
Storytelling Across Media: Q&A with Agent Laurie McLean
Agent Laurie McLean discusses the platform and book launch strategy for author/musician Simon Curtis.
Selling Your Books Internationally
Helen Sedwick and Orna Ross discuss selling international rights to your book.
Author Collectives and Co-ops: What They Are and How to Start One
Writers' collectives can help independent authors gain an advantage in quality, cost control, and marketing.
Are Paid Book Reviews Worth It?
The majority of authors will not benefit from paid book reviews, and should invest their time and money elsewhere. Here's why.
Long-Term Marketing Models for Self-Published Authors
Too many authors focus on short-term fixes for book marketing, when they need to implement a long-term approach that will work over many months and years.
5 On: Patrick Walsh
Book publicist Patrick Walsh discusses effective social media promotion, what it takes to make the same old book-marketing advice work for you, questions to ask yourself when trying to decide whether your story should be a book or a screenplay, and more.
How Writers Can Optimize Their Book’s Description on Amazon
Author and editor C. S. Lakin offers guidelines on crafting your Amazon book description to maximize sales.
How to Use Facebook Contests & Giveaways to Build a Fan Base
Social media marketing expert Chris Syme discusses how to use Facebook contests and giveaways to turn fans into super fans.
5 Ways to Use Instagram as an Author
Writers Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine explain all the ways authors can use Instagram to build their readership.
Can You Promote a Book without Making Yourself Miserable?
Author Ed Cyzewski offers insight into building authentic, sustainable practices in book marketing and promotion.
5 On: Dana Kaye
Publicist Dana Kaye discusses why not to pretend to be a publicist, the question of gender bias in publishing and publicity, marketing mistakes and misconceptions, and more.
How Authors Can Find Their Ideal Reading Audience
Writing coach and author Angela Ackerman discusses techniques for identifying and connecting with your target reading audience.
Truth-Telling and Platform-Building
How do you build an online platform when you don't have advice or ready-to-go insights (and don't like offering either)?
Self-Publishing Beyond the Book: Serializing, Podcasting, and Merchandising
How an indie author turned a story concept into a full-fledged multimedia universe, including a live blog, illustrated journal, merchandise, and podcast.
Beware of One-Size-Fits-All Advice for Social Media
Be careful before applying someone else's social media advice to your situation.
Writing Your Book’s Back-Cover Copy
Editor Jessi Rita Hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling back-cover copy for your book.
Using Pinterest to Market Children’s Picture Books
A children's author shares her strategies for promoting her picture books on Pinterest—as well as what adult fiction marketing techniques haven't worked for her.
How to Repurpose Your Book or Blog Content for Profit and Promotion
Blogger and author Nina Amir explains how to turn your blog content into books and other information products.
What Marketing Support Looks Like at a Big 5 Publisher
Thriller author Todd Moss describes his own marketing efforts and the marketing efforts of his Big Five publisher, Putnam, for his book The Golden Hour.
That Overused Word “Community”—But Why We Still Have to Talk About It
What does it mean to "engage" with a community? And what's the benefit?
How to Improve Your Amazon Book Description & Metadata
Learn how to improve the description of your book, and improve its metadata, when using Amazon KDP.
How 7 Literary Authors Collaborated to Launch a Box Set
A group of literary authors have launched a limited edition box set of novels. How did they make the collaboration work?
What Authors Can Learn From Startups
You can find marketing inspiration in what others have done, but also know that the less advertised “strategies” might actually be the ones worth pursuing.
3 Types of Bios That Every Online Professional Needs
Build a bio that's not only better than most you have read, but also compelling enough to attract the fans & clients you'd like to have in the first place.
Book Marketing Must Center (Mostly) on the Author: Q&A with Scott Berkun
Full-time author and speaker Scott Berkun discusses his book marketing experiences as both a traditionally published author and self-published author.
The Strategic Use of Book Giveaways and How They Can Increase Earnings Potential
Giving away your work isn't a problem if you've developed a strategy around it, and know how to turn new readers into fans.
Platform Building for Authors [30-Minute Video Interview]
In a 30-minute video interview, I discuss the basics of author platform.
Does Building an Online Presence Stress You Out?
You're not alone. Being told to build an online presence creates internal conflict for a lot of writers. This is the topic
Finding More Readers Through Wattpad
Note from Jane: Today's guest post is by Anne Pfeffer (@AnnePfeffer1), an author of several YA and new adult novels. As
You’ve Got Hate Mail: How to Deal with (Annoying) Critics
Note from Jane: Today's guest post is by publisher and author L.L. Barkat (@llbarkat). She has one of the most
Indies & Audiobooks: An Alternative to ACX
If you don't like the terms offered by Amazon's ACX for selling your audiobook, you do have an alternative. Author Lee Stephen explains the path he took.
7 Reasons Twitter Isn’t Building Your Author Platform (And How to Fix It)
Note from Jane: Today's guest post is by Marcy Kennedy (@MarcyKennedy). Almost as soon as authors were told they should
What Should Authors Blog About?
The chain of events goes something like this: An author's book nears its publication date (or perhaps the author is attempting
On Self-Promotion, Selling Out, and Burn Out
The Fall 2014 issue of Scratch is now available. Inside, you'll find a feature interview with New York Times bestselling author Austin
The Advantages of Author Portraits
Today's guest post is by Simone Collins (@SimoneHCollins) at ArtCorgi. My job is to help people commission original art from up-and-coming