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Winter Author Blog Challenge – Writing Prompt #6 and Recap of Day 5
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I so appreciate Jo Michaels‘ comment on the ABC Facebook group page today: “I’m loving these topics and am having fun connecting with new people :)” Sometimes a little validation goes a long way, especially when I’m unsure of how well this topic is being received because there are so many few people posting daily this time around.
But, as I’ve long believed, those who are meant to show up will! So thanks to all who are hanging with us!
Yesterday’s topic was Pinterest.
One of the newest and fastest growing social media platforms is Pinterest? Have you jumped onboard? What kinds of images do (or could) you post that are related to your book or the topic of your book? What other kinds of images do you post? Are you linking each post back to your blog, website, or Amazon page? IF YOU’RE NOT USING Pinterest, what’s holding you back? Take a look at book marketer extraordinaire John Kremer’s Pinterest Boards. After perusing them, how MIGHT you use Pinterest to brand yourself and your book? Is it something you’re considering? Be sure to give us your Pinterest link.
As a whole, the group seemed more engaged with Pinterest than with LinkedIn, which doesn’t surprise me, personally, as I find Pinterest to be a whole boatload of fun!
SNIPPETS FROM YOUR POSTS
Melissa Khalinksy. I have been using Pinterest for a little while, and it’s a great time waster… but it is also a great place to look for inspiration. I use Pinterest to have boards for a number of different stories and books as well as personal boards for ideas for things around the home, inspirational sayings and, most recently, a board for my 365 Picture Books blog. READ MORE HERE.
Haven’t check it out yet, but I’m intrigued by the 365 Picture Books blog, Melissa! LO
Merlene Fawdry. Pinterest is one of my favourite social media platforms because it has a versatility that allows me to showcase and combine a number of interests, from my books to poetry, plaster statue collections (past and present) to short form poetry. I have six boards; My Books, Modern Haiga, Favourite Places & Spaces, The Minutiae of Life , Barsony Lamps and Vintage Plaster Statues. I don’t have my Pinterest linked to my blog yet, but will do so in the future. READ MORE HERE.
Love the creativity and versatility just the names of your boards evokes, Merlene! LO
Tia Bach. As alluring as Pinterest is, I’m not sure how to best use it to market my book. Do readers really go there to find books? And if they do, it seems the cover is your best marketing tool to draw them in. As an avid book reader, I appreciate a good cover but I make my final decision based on the book summary and word of mouth. To that end, I find GoodReads the better tool for book decisions. It’s aesthetically pleasing and offers book reviews and summaries all in one spot. READ MORE HERE.
Most excellent point about the importance of your book cover, Tia! LO
LINKS TO ALL POSTS
Revisit the Mister Linky site to see links to ALL of yesterday’s posts.
TODAY’s WINNER
Jo Michaels has won a marketing consultation from Judith Cassis. Thanks so much for the donation, Judith! We’ll email Jo with info about claiming her prize.
WRITING PROMPTS
Without further ado, here’s the Day 6 writing prompt for the Winter Author Blog Challenge…
With more than 800 million unique visitors a month, YouTube is one of the most popular search engines. Do you have a YouTube channel? Have you made a book trailer for your book? If not, what kind of book trailer would you like to make for your book? Do you have a video camera? If you do and you’re not posting short videos, you’re missing out on a huge marketing opportunity. It’s especially useful if you’re trying to reach a global audience, as 70 percent of YouTube viewers are in countries other than the U.S. If regular video posts are still on your To-Do list, what are some of the most clever video posts you’ve seen, and how might you do something similar to promote your books or yourself as an author? Be sure to give us the link to your YouTube channel.
POST YOUR LINKS
In order to qualify for today’s drawing, you MUST post your link on our Linky. Click the image below to access it. In the field that says YOUR NAME, you write your name AND the name of your post (not the title of your blog). In the field that says YOUR URL, include your link to TODAY’s post. Your post will not count for drawings and toward overall winner if you do not add your link to the Linky page. However, we still encourage you to share your posts on the wall for the Author Blog Challenge Facebook group.
Ever the cheerleaders, we continue to encourage you to read each others’ blogs. Today, make sure you subscribe to each others’ YouTube channels. The Author Blog Challenge works because you support each other by reading, promoting, sharing, and talking up the great posts you come across from your fellow participants.
Let the blogging continue!
Laura & Marcie
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The Winter Author Blog Challenge is hosted by Laura Orsini and her alter ego, Marcie Brock, of the Marcie Brock – Book Marketing Maven blog. Please visit Marcie’s blog for loads of great info about low- to no-cost methods of marketing for self-publishing authors.
