For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

Opportunities abound

I read a LOT of writing industry articles, newsletters, e-zines and the like. Right now, they are all saying the same thing...it's all about the blog. Internet marketing is all the rage. It's viral, and if we (authors) don't jump in on it, then we'll miss the boat.

It's tough to say whether or not the boat has already left the dock. There are millions upon millions of blogs out there. One would think our singular voice can't be heard among the cacophony (sp?) of others out there all shouting to be heard in cyberspace. The chances of someone reading my blog is about the same chance of finding that four-leaf clover, or the proverbial needle in the haystack.

But that is my naturally born pessimism talking -- thank's to my dad, this way of thinking comes all to easily for me.

Although it takes more effort, I can think more optimistically. I liken this to playing the lottery. Sure, chances are about the same, but I like the common slogan...."you can't win if you don't play."

So I'll post. I'll post here (which I just discovered minutes ago that I had blog space) and I'll post on my other blogs, and hope I get the right combination.

Comment

You need to be a member of The Book Marketing Network to add comments!

Join The Book Marketing Network

Comment by Phil Good on September 27, 2008 at 9:46am: I agree with your pessimism. The problem is that if you don't show up on the court, you can't possibly win the game. Or, it is better to light a match than curse the darkness. Or (of truly practical value, see http://zanybooks.com/short.htm) if you want a date with a girl, you first must ask her.

Comment by Charlene@PublishMyDamnBook on September 22, 2008 at 3:09pm: Excellent advice. I will definitely be following up on your suggestion...and, of course...check out your blog!

Comment by Bobby Ozuna on September 22, 2008 at 10:21am: Charlene:
May I offer a bit of advice...something that will help you and PROVE your pessimistic side wrong?
People will read your blogs...because you know people outside of this forum, right? First, start your blog (here or outside, using Blogger, WordPress, etc) and then tell all your friends to read your work and comment. BEG them to comment if you have to...because comments are the fuel that feed the blogging fire!!!
Then, if you post material in more than one place...STOP! Immediately! By posting duplicate data in more than one place on the Internet, you hurt your chances of others--people like me--stumbling upon your work. What I do (if you look at my first posting on this site) is post a summation of my PRIMARY blog (on Blogger). And I post that same summation on Gather.com & MySpace.com. Each summary allows the readers (of that small world) to link to my main blog, "Drawing Stories...With Words."

Everything takes time and YOU are an expert Charlene with some aspect of the literary world the rest of us are not. Find it...share it...comment on it (on other blogs) and in time...people will discover you, trust you and fall in love with you. We call those people readers of our blogs...

Great post! Thanks for being honest!