GUEST BLOGGER TINA PINSON: MARKETING 101 (and Giveaways!!)

Rise and shine ... or maybe I should say "rise and groan" ... because for authors and those aspiring to be, it's a new day in marketing. Julie here, and I happen to think today's blog is one of the most important we've ever had because it addresses the elephant in the room when it comes to that dreaded subject of promoting one's books. And today's guest author -- and good Seeker friend -- has not only been there and back, but she's gleaned some valuable information from other authors as well that just may save you some time and angst. So, without further ado, I give you my good friend, Tina Pinson ...

Hello Seekerville,

First I wanted to say thank you to Julie for the invitation to visit again. I also want to thank her because her help was invaluable when I did the Marketing 101 posting on my blog. She reached more people than I ever could, and truly is the personification of the Seekerville Manifesto to help other writer along.

Now without further ado, let's take a trip…

To the Market…

This little writer went to the market.
This little writer should have stayed home.
This little writer had dreams of big book sales.
This little writer had almost none.
This little writer went wah, wah, wah all the way home.

Okay, so I killed a nursery rhyme. I have mad skills. But when it comes to marketing, I am a work in frustration.

Book One -- In the Manor of the Ghost:

With my first book, In the Manor of the Ghost, I sat up blog stops and interviews. I enlisted some influencers and reviewers. I made a book trailer, and had an awesome release contest -- gave away two Kindles and books. I took out ads on Facebook and Google, joined Bookbuzzer. I promoted on FB and Twitter and in all the groups I was a member of.

In the Manor of the Ghost was everywhere for that first month. My contest drew a lot of interest, but all my efforts didn't translate into major sales -- certainly not enough to cover the cost of the Kindles.

Book Two -- Touched By Mercy:

I started promoting sooner, and took all the steps I'd taken with In the Manor of the Ghost and more. This time I gave away framed copies of my cartoons, hoping people would get a glimpse of another side of me -- the lighter side. (As opposed to my quiet "scholar in silent thought" side.) I enlisted more help from influencers and reviewers and set up a better blog tour. I did a trailer.

This time for my contest, (yes, I did another contest.) I gave away a Nook Color. I was certain that Touched By Mercy madness would sweep the net. People would clamor to win a Nook.

Oh yes.

Oh no.

Everyone seemed to be giving away a Nook or Kindle now. Every one needed influencers and reviewers. Every one was having a blog tour. Maybe not. It sure felt that way. I was caught in the circle of writers trying to promote, and was barely making headway. How did I go further?

The contest was dismal at best. The blog tour went well but there was little translation into sales. I'm not even sure there is a translation for my efforts in marketing.

Book Three -- When Shadows Fall:

***NO CONTEST ***

Couldn't stand the thought of throwing away money. (Although I have been considering something on a smaller scale.) I started promoting earlier. Sharing my cover and snippets from my story. Did interviews and blog-toured. Talked it up whenever I could and give away books hoping people will read them, talk them up and that will translate into more sales. I'm inching along.

I have postcards for all my books and pens and mouse pads and such. I happily stick my cards on car windshields. I checked with the library about doing promotions, but they don't. I even worked on a song finished for my trailer. (Which I have not finished.)

I followed what I'd done for the earlier releases, tweaking some things, adding more. While this book did better than the one before, I was getting nowhere fast. People still didn't recognize my name.

Everyone had a gimmick. I was gimmicked out. What was I doing wrong? Doing right?

Certainly I am not the only one in a marketing quandary. Let's see a raise of hands.

I didn't say use them to slap your heads though. Trust me. When it comes to popping my head over marketing, I understand.

Frustrated, I decided to ask some authors, whose efforts had translated into sales, what they did for promotion. What they found useful for marketing and what they had scrapped.

I sent out a questionnaire, expecting to see the magic formula staring back at me form the pages and found myself smiling when they started to come back.

There were points the authors agreed on:

-- You have to get out there. (sometimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone)

-- If you're not ready to market a book, work on your craft. Write and edit.

-- Social Networking is a plus. Don't go to play accomplish reaching a market. I suppose that means scrabble is out. Although some of those games can be beneficial is building up your social network.

-- Giveaways can be good.

-- Join writer's groups, like ACFW and book clubs. And avail yourself of all they offer.

-- Attend conferences and do speaking engagement if you can. Those venues help you reach the reader. But don't forget, you also needed to write.

-- Give back to your readers, help other writers. They remember if you do it with a heart of helping and not just one to build your network

--Choose your marketing venues wisely. Trim your time on the computer. Set aside a 30-45 minutes for promoting online and move on. 80/20 80% writing, 20% promotion. Jeff Gerke translates that time as 30:1. Meaning -- it takes thirty times of promotion to get 1 reward. I felt like smacking my head on the table when I first read that. Was he kidding? I'd never be able to do that. But in actuality, I've been doing it all along. Hearing it put that way was rather freeing. I am not alone in wondering if I'm making a dent, getting somewhere.

There were things the Authors didn't agree on:

-- While one writer loved the library for promotion. One thought it was a waste of their time.

-- Some writers loved book signings, others felt they were a drain on time and expenses and steered clear of them for the most part.

-- Giveaways were a good idea. But several authors said you should make the contestants work for the opportunity.

Marketing, it would seem, is just as different for each writer as writing style. What you do, how you do it, is fashioned and molded by your personality and how it works for you. Yes, try new things, and the tried and true techniques, but just because someone says they have a fail-safe way to get it done, doesn't always mean it true. Doesn't mean it will work for you. So don't beat yourself over the head if it doesn't. Ask for help. Seek guidance. Surf the vaults at Seekerville.

In closing, I want to share something Dan Walsh wrote in his answers. It's pretty simple yet profound in wisdom for someone just starting out and for someone who is an old pro. (And for those somewhere in middle)

"Don't buy into the message that says, 'It's totally up to you.' Because that message is being pounded out there now on a fairly regular basis. Don't underestimate the power of prayer and looking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life as a writer. The simple truth is, for me, the best things that have happened, the things that have made the biggest difference in my career so far were not things that I did, or the results of my personal marketing efforts. They have come from me writing the kinds of books people want to tell others about and, as a result, God opening doors for me that I could never have opened myself."

I couldn't say it any better. I am grateful to all the writers who answers my questions: Dan Walsh, Jeff Gerke, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Julie Lessman, Tricia Goyer, Nikki Arana

Thanks again for letting me visit.

Blessings in your writing endeavors…

ABOUT TINA PINSON: 
Tina Pinson resides in Mesa, Arizona with her husband of thirty plus years, Danny. They are blessed to have three sons, and six grandchildren with another on the way. Tina started her writing in elementary school. Her love of writing has caused her to seek creative outlets be it writing poetry, songs, or stories. Her WWII story Trail of the Sandpiper won third place in the Genesis in 2003.  In the Manor of the Ghost and Touched By Mercy and When Shadows Fall, Book 1 in the Shadows Series are available through Desert Breeze Publishers. To Catch a Shadow the next installment of the Shadow Series about the civil war and the Oregon Trail, will be available, June 2013. To Carry her Cross will be available January 2013 and Then There was Grace, a Sept 9/11 type story, will be available Sept. 2013. Christmas in Shades of Gray, an offbeat Dickens-type tale releases December 2013.

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAYS:
Leave a comment to enter Tina's giveaway of two copies of her newest release Shadowed Dreams, Book 2 in her Shadow Series. Here's a little bit about it:

Shadowed Dreams

Matthew has braved the war and near death with one thought in mind… Rebekah. He won her hand in marriage, and now he has a few short months to make her see how much he loves her. How much he needs her. Given the wall she's put up between them, he prays he'll have enough time.

After fleeing the war, Rebekah is determined to go west to Oregon, only to be turned down when she tries to join the train. Matthew's proposal of marriage, in name only to help her west, becomes the miracle she needs. Loving him as she does, she dreads the idea of letting him go once they reach Oregon, but how can she ask him to stay with her, to love her? How could he love her once he's found out her secret? She must guard her heart and his.


CONTACT TINA:
Website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/
Twitter:@Tina_Pinson
Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103

PURCHASE TINA'S BOOKS AT:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.
When Shadows Fall
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
Shadowed Dreams

Amazon:
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall

Barnes & Noble
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall

Christian Books Distributors
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall