WORD OF MOUTH_HOW TO SOW THE SEEDS

"Now is not the time to think about what you do not have.
It is the time to think of what to do with what you do have."
- Ernest Hemingway


It can be a lonely trek across the desert trying to get noticed in a market over-saturated with Indie Books,

many well-written, most not even close to well-written.

I've come across several blog posts who darted about the topic of WORD OF MOUTH 

but never actually telling you how to grasp that elusive will of the wist. 

I will not be coy ... that is just cruel.

You can have a great book, but if people don’t know about it then it does no good.  

You know it is important to keep track of what people are saying about you and your brand online and off,

 but how do you insert yourself in the conversations? 

Google Search for your own name and keep it current 

so you will be alerted each time your name is mentioned is one good way.


1.) TARGET THE HIGH PROFILE INFLUENCERS

Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube has them.  

Look at the ones who speak on the topic or subjects about which you write. 

Don't be a stalker or obnoxious. 

 Just email, tweet, FB, or comment on their YouTube site, asking politely for a look-see at what you are writing.

You don't even have to further bother them.  Just give the link to your author's  or book page on Amazon and hope they will read or listen to the free sample.


2.) BUILD A PERSONAL BOND IN VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES

Talk about the hurts in their lives. Develop friendships with like minds ... and not all authors either.

We have to break out of the author ghetto, if our books are ever to gain high sales.


3.) STRIVE TO BE A THOUGHT LEADER

Don't just contact Social Influences.  Strive to become one yourself.  Think beneath the surface of what is going on in your world.

{Have you noticed how many in the music field have died at the age of 67 this week?  

Four so far to my count. What is up with that?  

What happened in common in all four of their lives?  Look for a pattern. Talk about it.}

Dare to be controversial ... but own up to it.  Believe what you write.  

George Carlin did in an amusing way and attracted a huge following.

Writing misleading prose to sound outrageous but, at heart, is not  ...

that is just being coy.  

It may actually work, but I would rather not choose that path.

Which leads me into my next thought:


4.) STRIVE TO BE HONEST

If readers see you being manipulative, they will be turned off.  

There goes your WORD OF MOUTH heading off in the wrong direction.

"Throwing up your skirt" gets lots of attention at the beginning, 

but the impact lessens the more it is done.

There has to be merit and worth to our words EVERY TIME we post or write a novel.  

It takes a long time to build up trust ...

BUT ONLY ONE MISSTEP to lose it perhaps forever.


5.) READ YOUR COMMENTS AND EMAILS

And RESPOND!  

How would you feel about a bank giving you a rave incentive for joining them, 

but put you on hold repeatedly for 30 minutes when you had a problem?

IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW MANY YOU REACH ...

   IT IS ABOUT HOW YOUR FEW READERS FEEL ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BOOKS.

You would know they were not interested in YOU but only in THEIR GROWTH.


6.) CREATE A READER'S GUIDE AT THE END OF YOUR BOOK

Use your book’s description to let people know that your book contains a helpful discussion guide at the end.

I am doing that myself at the end of my THE NOT-SO-INNOCENTS ABROAD coming out soon in paperback.

Were General Sherman, General Grant, and President Lincoln war criminals?

{Look it up on Google.}


Did Lincoln participate in Ethnic Cleansing? 


What president ordered the greatest Mass Execution in our history?


What President started the first world war? 


(It was George Washington by the way, in case you were wondering.  Look up the French and Indian War on Google.)


What was the original 13th Amendment that Lincoln endorsed in his first inaugural address?

Is it possible to lift a Transatlantic Steamer in the air by dirigible?


How many inventions did Thomas Edison steal?  

Was Edison guilty of ordering the murders of a father and son? 

 Are Time and Space absolutes or only constructs of our minds?


7.) CREATE BOOKMARKS

Old school, but still effective. 

Include an image of your book cover, your hook or log-line,

 as well as your website and contact info. 

If you think your audience will understand and use a QR code, include one on your bookmark

I HOPE THIS HELPS IN SOME SMALL WAY