Immediate Opportunities for Writers

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

Whenever a new edition of Southern Writers hits the proverbial stands, I enjoy doing the math and totaling how many different writers we have promoted during our six years of publication. As of the new May/June 2017 issue which debuted yesterday, that number comes to 1100.

What each of these writers have in common is the street savvy to self-promote.  Whether they share their writing experience with other writers via an interview or by contributing an instructional article, we are proud to provide promotional opportunities for veterans and virgins alike.  With that in mind, I'm going to clue you in on some brand new promotional opportunities you can take advantage of right now.

Multi-author articles in the magazine are a crowd favorite with our readers. One of the upcoming special features below would be an entertaining way to promote your latest book.

TITLE WAVE
Sometimes your original book title doesn't make it past the cutting room floor. Got an interesting story about one of your books and how the title changed? Maybe ALL of your books had different titles to start with!  Whether you changed them or your publisher threw you a curveball, tell us all about it (and the philosophy behind the change, if known) in a paragraph or two. Be sure to include a high-res JPG of the relevant cover. This will be a fun article and you should be part of it!
​(Deadline for September 2017 issue: July 17th.) 
http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

WHERE WRITERS WRITE
You spend endless hours there every week, slaving over a hot keyboard, creating brilliant sentences. You're probably there right now, reading this. We want to see it!  Writers (and readers) love to see where authors do their thing. Grab your camera or smartphone and send us a high-quality photo of your office, writing nook, picnic table, wherever you spend the most time writing your masterpieces. If you're in the photo, even better! (And if there's a copy of Southern Writers in the photo, even better!) We'll show your latest book cover next to the photo.  Please include a paragraph about why your favored spot works for your writing.
(July feature is full. Deadline for the September 2017 issue: July 17th.)​ 

http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

SIGNINGS AND SELF-PROMOTION
This photo op is your chance to show off your mad self-promotion skills when it comes to book signings. Have a high-quality photo of your table or booth at a bookstore or writers conference? Tell us about your strategy in designing the display, or share an interesting story related to that signing. (Yes, we'd love to see you in the photo, too! 

Or perhaps you've come up with a creative giveaway item for your next appearance or online promotion. Bring it on!
(Scheduled for the September 2017 issue: deadline July 17th.)​
http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

SUITE T
If you're reading this, you're probably already aware that this very blog features guest authors every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (with staffers on Tuesday and Thursday).  Much like the magazine, posts run the gamut of writing information and inspiration. More than 3 million visitors have visited Suite T, and that number grows by the day. Get your two cents in by writing a guest post. Submission guidelines for Suite T are at http://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/p/guest-posting.html

SHORT STORY CONTEST
Tired from typing your latest tome?  Get short with us!  Our annual Short Story Fiction Contest is a chance to win $250 plus other perks including being on the cover of our special short story publication this summer.  The deadline in June 15th, 2017. Entry details can be found at http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/shorts.html

There you have it: five things you can get in on today to get the word out. So grab your camera or start burning up that keyboard now.  You know you want to!

Who's at the door?

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


Monday night my doorbell rang around 6:00 PM.  Looking out through my office blinds and seeing that it wasn't a creditor, I went downstairs and opened the front door to find a little boy of seven, holding a pen and a colorful signup sheet.

"Would you like to buy some popcorn?" he asked timidly.

I'm nice to everyone who comes to my door, from JWs to neighbors asking if the cat they found belongs to me. But when it's a child making his first foray into sales, I make a special effort to be sociable.

I asked what he was raising money for, and I think he said Cub Scouts, although he spoke so softly I couldn't really hear him. "Let's see what you have," I encouraged.

As I looked over his brochure full of various popcorn offerings, I was taken back many years to my own personal experience as a miniature marketer.  In those days we were wooed by comic book ads that promised prizes and cash if we sold boxes of greeting cards door to door.

One in particular featured a superhero and urged you to call now because "Dawn"—who was obviously a superhero operator princess because she had a space suit and wore a crown on her cartoon head—was waiting for my call. She "or another operator" were standing by 24 hours a day. The ad stated more than once that operators CANNOT answer any questions, so I'm guessing Dawn's superpowers were actually fairly limited.

Today, the kids on our doorsteps are less propelled by a comic book incentive than they are sent on a mission from their school or organization to raise funds for a school program or charity. But if they feel like I did as a kid, peddling their wares to strangers is not a fun way to spend the day.

Many authors I talk to express the same displeasure at the thought of marketing their books. Even with the success of their hard-fought words as a motivation, the concept feels too much like going door-to-door selling greeting cards to unwitting strangers.

Which, of course, isn't the case at all. Through the World Wide Web, we can connect with myriads of potential readers without leaving the house. Instead of knocking on doors, we can follow or friend others who share our interest in reading and writing. Many are as interested in learning about your book as you are to tell them.

A good website and blog complete the picture, giving anyone who's curious a place they can come to find out everything about your book. One of the first things many do when they encounter you on Twitter is check out your website. Others will find you by Googling your genre, or by following a link on the blog of someone who's recommended you. At that point, your customers become the ones knocking on your door.

Read other writers' blogs and leave comments, which increase your own internet ranking. Concentrate less on sales quotas and more on being a contributing participant in the community of writers. For expert guidance, I recommend Edie Melson's inspiring and easy-to-implement guide to social media for writers called Connections.

You'll be transformed in your thinking if you no longer confuse marketing with selling.  Selling is the ultimate goal, of course, but the savvy self-promoter never has to say "buy my book". The top salespeople know that building relationships is key to building business. And it has never been easier to do that from our desks. 

So enjoy the process of promoting yourself and your books.  And when you need a break, have some popcorn with me.  I have $25 worth of it coming.

Seven Secrets to Selling to a Stranger at a Book Event

by Julie Breedlove, Marketing Manager at BQB Publishing

I had the pleasure of working with several BQB authors at our booth during the Decatur Book Festival last month. Since BQB publishes numerous first-time authors, not many people were coming up to our table because they didn’t know who the authors were or they haven’t read their previous works. I quickly realized that while I was in the presence of great writers, their skills with words did not always correspond with their experience with sales. 

Thinking it through, this makes sense. Authors communicate in writing. Verbal communication, especially related to self-promotion, might not easily be their strong suit in the beginning. That’s where I come in. There were plenty of people at the festival, so it was a great chance for me to offer tips and watch as the authors learned how to interact with strangers and sell their books.

 I’ll let you in on some of the tips:

1) Stand, don’t sit. Think of your event as a social affair, not a book signing where you just remain behind the table with a sharpie in your hand. 

2) Don’t be shy or expect people to come to you. The ball is in your court to make eye contact and initiate the conversation. If you’re not a natural extrovert, bring someone with you to your signing who can help increase the energy and start conversations.

3) Use an icebreaker like a bowl of candy or a bookmark to begin the interaction. 

 4) Be prepared with a friendly question or conversation-starter. The goal should be to talk, not to sell. Begin with a simple question that is somehow relevant to your book. For a cookbook/healthy lifestyle program like Wellness 100, for example, the authors tried something simple like “What’s for dinner?” Even if people don’t buy the book instantly, that conversation stemming from a simple question might stick with them. Often, people will download an eBook or purchase the book online at a later time.

 

5) If the book isn’t appropriate for the passerby, ask if they have friends, kids, or family that might like a signed copy and remind them that signed books make thoughtful gifts. 

6) Use a discount or offer them a special price. People like to feel like they’re getting a good deal. 

7) Keep a positive attitude no matter what. Not everyone is nice and you’re bound to be blown off at one point or another. Don’t attach yourself to those reactions. Keep your chin and your energy up.

Signing events vary by the venue, attendance, and day, but these simple steps can help make your interactions more valuable and your time worthwhile. At BQB Publishing, we offer training to our authors on ways to make book events successful. I often find that authors gain comfort knowing these basic tips ahead of time and sell more books because they’re relaxed and enjoying their time meeting new people. Happy selling and signing!
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Julie Breedlove is the Marketing Manager at Boutique of Quality Books (BQB) Publishing Company. With this independent hybrid publisher, Julie boosts book publicity, coaches authors, and guides marketing plans to bring today’s new writers and tomorrow’s best sellers into the hands of booksellers and the reading public. To learn more about BQB’s publishing process and marketing support, visit www.bqbpublishing.com.