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Guest post by: Teresa Bohannon Become an Author

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If you haven't read the first article in this series you will want to go back and read my article here on Evan Carmichael:

The ABCs and 123s of Self-Promotion For Independent and Self-Published Authors Part 1

And if you want to become a self and or independently published author and don't know how to begin, you will want to read my article:

How to Independently or Self-Publish Your Way To Fame And Fortune In Six Easy Steps: A Step-By-Step Guide, Explaining Exactly How to Self and/or Independently Publish Your Book Online

Now to continue with the ABCs and 123s of easy self-promotion for book authors.

6: Freebies are always good! Personally I always begin with a slate of freebies. For example, since my current book is a Regency Romance novel, I offer a locked (Can easily be read on any PC and cannot be edited or changed by others.) PDF book of early 19th century fashions gleaned from a variety of public domain resources and compiled into my own unique little book that I give away to my blog and/or website visitors.

Actually, I have about 5 different giveaways gleaned from the public domain, plus the first chapter of my book. I ask nothing in return for these books--not even an email address. The reason I ask nothing is return is that each book includes an ad for my Regency Romance novel with clickable links leading directly to the my book's main sales page at the online retailer. Please note that I also encourage my visitors to give away copies of these complimentary books from their own blog or website!

The reason I said "not even an email address" is because conventional IM (Internet Marketing) wisdom says "always" get their email address; but this tactic can easily backfire on you because you risk scaring off potential purchasers. This is especially true in this new age of Facebook and other social interaction sites. With the social networking opportunities provided by your blog, changes are already excellent that you will be able to contact your visitors to promote any new books you may publish in the future, or to remind them of the existence of your current book if they do not turn into a buyer. So...my wisdom says, just give them one or several freebies that includes a handy/dandy link to the book you are selling and hope for any one of a half dozen good results.

"A half dozen good results," you ask in puzzlement, "don't I just want to make sales?"

Yes, you do want to make sales; but competition for book sales is already tough and the new ease of self-publishing is only going to make things more tough--so making a sale isn't the only good thing that comes from self-promotion.

7: Rule #1 of SEO: Traffic is good! If someone is drawn to your website or blog--no matter how they arrived there--you get points for traffic, which increases your ranking in the search engines, which in turn increases the potential for even more traffic.

A: Therefore, even if someone simply visits your site...it is a good thing!

B: If someone visits your site and uses any of the social networking features such as "Following" "Liking" "Tweeting" or "Joining" you it is an even better thing.

C: If someone visits your site and clicks through to your book's page on the retailer's site, that is a great thing...because, guess what, you've just driven unique traffic to your main sales page and the retailer will take note of your increased popularity, whether or not your visitor makes a purchase.

D: If someone visits your site and leaves a comment--which they will do, as part of their own shameless self-promotion, if you allow them a link back to their own website--that is a great thing as well since you've just acquired "free" unique content. Please note here though, that you will need to be religiously vigilant against spammers who leave comments totally unrelated to the topic of your blog or website.

E:So using freebies to attract traffic is a good thing. Using that same freebie to build goodwill and a relationship with your visitor is a great thing...even if they personally do not purchase your book. Why? Because every satisfied visitor has the potential to become an ambassador for your book, thereby freely helping you promote your book!

8: Consider offering a free sample chapter or more from your own website. I also offer the first chapter of my book as a freebie; but you may prefer just to offer an excerpt instead. The first (or more) chapter of your book is generally available at the retailer, and for purposes of SEO--in this case traffic counts--you are better served if your visitor gets your free sample directly from the retailer. However, keep in mind, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, so having them simply take your freebie from your own website is better than nothing at all since the fact that they took that step does allow you to build at least a one way relationship with your visitor.

9: Here some other examples of freebies you can use.

If your book lends itself to it, you could offer a short, topically relevant, complementing book of tips, facts or other information. For example, if you've written book of recipes for diabetics, you might want to offer a book of homemade snacks as a freebie.

Some authors offer colorful bookmarks in printable (but not editable) PDF format. These include the bookcover and a book blurb and of course the address where the book can be purchased. These probably work better for traditionally published books, but most people who are even remotely interested in your topic will happily take any freebies you offer.

Other ideas include an email "fact of the day" list. To truly make this work you will need to gather email addresses so you can send your visitors a mini email with your face (and a link to buy your book) every day. However, you can also add an automated program or widget to your website or blog that will merely post one--of your own creation, added to a simple database--for you each day. It won't be as effective because that route will require that your one time visitor remember or care enough to return to your site...but its better than nothing at all.

Also consider holding a contest with the prize of a free copy of your book. You can also create even more excitement by upping the ante by turning it into a "prize package" with other complementing items. If your book is only in ebook format, print out a copy with the cover on shiny photograph paper and send them an autographed hard copy. (Or there are a number of print on demand publishers that will do this for you.) Put a few dollars into a couple of nice additions to the pot and hold a monthly drawing from the names of everyone who commented on your blog.... Word will travel and you will not only create loads of unique content, but also returning traffic and greater "unique" traffic counts as well.

Finally, you might want to consider putting together a full-blown promotional package for your book that includes--at a minimum--the following:

A: 5 to 10 topically relevant articles and the Private Label Rights to those articles so they can be

edited for uniqueness by the recipient. You will want to have these in text format, but be sure to include a full coded HTML link to your sales page, at the end of each article. This will remind them to include their affiliate link here and earn commissions on any sales of your book--which is, of course, their incentive for publishing the articles.

B: An attractive, appropriately themed header and another graphic or two to jazz up the PLR articles. Be sure to include the name of your book as part of the name of the each graphic.

C: A special type of executable PDF book that will allow the initial recipient to change only the links so that they can add their money-making affiliate link. Once they've customized this book with their link and locked it, they can give it away like any ordinary pdf book from their website or blog, which helps you promote your book and helps them earn money on helping you make sales.

D: A bio and/or (preferred) interview with you.

My next article on this topic will list other ideas for promoting your book.

The ABCs and 123s of Self-Promotion For Independent and Self-Published Authors Part 3

Smiles and Good Fortune,

Teresa Thomas Bohannon

**********************

It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent.

– W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915

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