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

Seekerville Welcomes Desert Breeze Debut Author Tina Pinson

Minding my P's & Q's… Lessons from the writer's delivery room.

You've been in gestation with this book so long, you feel like an elephant. You're wondering if you'll ever get published. Take heart, you're not alone. My little spiel, or long spiel is for you. What I've learned may make your wait easier.

Perseverance— Birth Cycles are ordained

After 30 years, I'm an ace at this. HA!

I have been on a proverbial perseverance coaster ride. (Say that three times fast). I wished I could say I was more up than not. But I'd be lying.

I started writing in elementary school. Won awards for poetry and songs. Published short stories, took writer's courses, finaled in the Noble Theme Contest (Genesis), had an agent ask for me and more.

I still wasn't published; at times it irked me that others were. And they hadn't been gestating as long. Was I a horrible writer? No. It just wasn’t my time. I hated the waiting room. To get by, I threw pity parties, with lots of free flowing whine. Not a pretty place.

I hate to admit it, but envy visited often. It still raises its ugly head sometimes. But I have learned that we all have our waiting areas. We weren't told life would be easy, we were told to persevere.

Prophecy— The Doctor said I was having a girl. God said otherwise.

Let's talk the future. Not omens or Crystal balls (Madame Zelda excluded), but touching the future.

The legacy of words.

Do you realize the weight the smallest of words carry? Words can build and words can destroy. Words can paint the truth, just as easily as they can lie.

It used to hurt when people knocked Christian Fiction. It felt like they nixed the novel-- or baby-- I carried. I heard that if I really wanted to use my writing for the Lord, I'd write devotionals, self-help books, or maybe a biography about someone who had done great things for the Lord.

Huh?

I wondered if they were right. I wasn't getting published, maybe writing novels was stupid.

So I tried to write like everyone else thought I should. It turned out bea u ti full y. NOT.

God gave me my words and my imagination. When I didn't use it in the way he ordained, I felt listless. Why? Because I needed to write God's will. There are people I was created to touch. One or a million, it doesn't matter. If I'm not true to the writer God made me, I may not reach them. I may not leave a legacy.

What legacy will your words leave?


Promises— Pushing too hard gives you Hemorrhoids

What a lovely picture.

Consider this… while God promises to meet my needs and give me a most awesome future, he never promised I'd be published.

Say What?

It's the truth. He never said I'd be published. (Never said I wouldn't.)

That was tough to wrap my head around, I couldn't believe God would give me these stories and not let me publish them.

So I did the logical thing… I decided to prove him wrong. I checked out every avenue to publishing. Even self-published my own books, and God saw that they were good and blessed me immensely.

Yeah… and I never color my hair either.

Self-publishing, hmm. I learned volumes, spent volumes and shed a few tears. Does self-pubbing work for some people? A few. Not for me.

I ended up in a funk. My brain was all over the place. Words failed me. I thought God was so upset with me, he took my gift of writing away.

Shallow thoughts, but they plagued me. Until I finally laid my writing, my pride, at God's feet and he filled my imagination and life with promise again. A promise to use my words—me –even if I never became published. I also learned I could use some preparation (notice I didn't say H). I had some work to do, some things to learn.

Do I ever pick up my pride and try to get God to see it my way, yeah. But I'm getting better.

Quality – Gentlemen we can rebuild him and make him just like...

We should strive for quality in our writing.

That's a given… but there's another aspect of quality we tend to forget, and that's the quality of the writer within.

I see writers buying into the myth that if they write like that person, they'd get published.

Not true. You can learn from another writer, but sadly when you try to write like someone else, you lose the qualities God formed in you. They're unique qualities, gifted only to you –your tone, your flow. To be used with your character, your dreams and your imagination.

Don't settle for the lie that you're not a worthy writer if you don't write like so and so. Don't sell your writer's soul; the price is far too great.

Quantum Physics— It's Alive…

(Mawwwhaaahaaa, cue Frankenstein music)












I should say "Psych" about now to see if you're still with me. 'Cause I'm sure you're wondering what Quantum Physics has to do with anything. Frankly I don't know. It had a Q and a P.

Let me say this, there are those who believe that we use your imagination and thoughts to accomplish our goals and make our dreams come. Some Scientists actually believe our thoughts are powerful enough to change reality. As we believe it.

I concur to a point. We can change our reality.

By changing reality, I'm not saying you'll think you're a millionaire and suddenly become one. I am saying, when you use the gifts God gave and seek his wisdom, when you're in constant forward motion, shooting for your goals, your future will probably be brighter. Not always more profitable, but more joyous, more hopeful.

Let me put it a different way. Scripture tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. To do this changes our reality in a sense. Staying in God's word accomplishes this, as does using the mind and gifts he's given.

Consider how it feels when the currents running through your brain are zipping into the dark recesses and firing on all cylinders. Your imagination is on edge. Waves of thought wash over you. You see each section of your story in vivid Technicolor. If you don't get a piece of paper to write on, your head's going explode.

Have you ever been there?

You find a scrap of paper and start to write. The atoms continue to split in the channels of your mind. Electric impulses fire, arcing to the frontal lobe, skittering to the occipital lobe, racing to the temporal lobe and words begin to flow through your brain like a river, forming sentences, paragraphs and chapters. It rejuvenates your mind. Encourages forward momentum.
Who knows what it is that sets a fire in a writer. The necessary current is as different as our stories, as our characters. Every nuance, every particle forms our imagination.

Quirks – My baby sleeps with his fist in his mouth and his rump in the air…

Your characters have quirks. The funnier the better, one might say. Writers can be pretty quirky people, too.

Some writers can't write if they're not sitting in their favorite chair. Others need certain music. Still others wear a certain shirt, use a specific computer or typewriter. Or wear specific socks. Some can only write if they have on their favorite pair of glasses.

Writers are peculiar. Aren't you glad I'm here to tell you that?

Quirks are intertwined in our stories. Some writers want their words to flow a certain way. Some use a distinct style of writing. Dry wit, flowery narrative, meter, rhyme, inflection and passive verbs (I didn't say that) are all part of how some authors build their stories.

I'm not too peculiar. Sure I prefer to use three-ring, college-ruled notebook paper and a #3 three hard pencil—which must be sharpened to a perfect tip—when I write. I'm flexible though, I've adjusted to using college-ruled paper in tablet or spiral form and I will pick up a # 2 hard pencil if I can't have a #3. I won't discuss the things I love to use in writing, 'cause I always get in trouble for them. (Hint—I like omniscient point of views.)

Do quirks make our writing better? I don't know, but they do make a writer feel better. Why? Because quirks are like security blankets. (I'm not talking OCD.)

Quirks, like our qualities, address are individuality, make us who we are as writers and give tone to our voice.

Embrace your quirks?


Quit – Put that baby down or you'll spoil her.

This seems to contradict what I told you about moving ahead and firing up your senses. Because we all know that, Quitters never win and Winners never quit.

Au contraire.

Winners do quit sometimes –sometimes they are forced, others, they choose to for a season.
Have you ever gone through a time where couldn't find the words to write a paragraph, let alone a sentence? Have you ever felt so frustrated that you'd force yourself to write and then want to cry? Whether from stress, or just having too much on my plate, I've been there. I had to lay the pen aside and quit writing for a time. And I had to give myself the permission to do so.

When my mother was going through her chemo and stem-cell transplant, and we were running the business and watching grandkids, and one of our children was going through hard times. (All at the same time) I made a conscious choice to sit my writing aside. Not for forever. Just for a season.

I had to quit berating myself for not getting a word count.
I had to quit knocking myself for low desire and energy.
I had to quit telling myself I was failing if I stopped writing for a time.
And strangely, or sadly, it took me awhile to reach that point.

Having said that, if your world is unbalanced and you can do something about it, do it. If it means you have to step out of some position or quit something. Then be a quitter.

Quit that group you started because you thought it might be fun.
Quit going to that study that doesn't hold your heart or attention, God won't strike you dead.
Quit buying into the lie that you have to do everything and you can't say NO.
Quit the things you can that are pulling you apart and zapping your energy. It's okay.
I give you permission. God gives you permission.



Quiet-Shh, the baby is sleeping.

Maybe you’re the kind of writer who has the radio on and you're talking on the phone while the Television blares and your kids are yelling in the background.

Multitasking is your thing. Or perhaps you're juggling. (See Quit)

Scripture says we are to be still. To Quiet our hearts. It's good for our spiritual well-being, and for our mental and imaginational (is that a word?) well-being too.

Do you quiet your mind and let it flow with the dreams and vision God has for you? Do you let your characters take you on trips to foreign lands and lost times? Do you, like the prophet Elijah, slow down long enough to hear God in the gentle wind passing like a whisper through your brain?
Many of us won't allow for down time. We think we're wasting energy if we aren't constantly moving. But taking a break and quieting our spirit, doesn't mean we're lazing the day away.
It could just be the time you need to rejuvenate your thoughts and find the flow and proper structure for your words.

To reach that place where you dwell in quiet, you will need to use this last lesson. It is one of our greatest gifts…

Prayer— How come there's no instruction book with this kid?

If you believe that God has gifted you with imagination and a desire to write, why don't you talk to him about your WIP? Let him show you where your story should go? Why wouldn't you want him to quiet your heart and give you wisdom?

So many times we wait till we're frazzled or near the edge before we talk to God. Maybe we think our little quirk with our Characters isn't worth his time. Or the bridge in that one scene is miniscule when pit against eternity. We forget who created imagination and wrote the first story. Why wouldn't He care about our menial thoughts? He does. We just have to remember to ask. Scripture encourages us to pray without ceasing.

Could that mean there is a reason to pray every second of the day? Hmmm?

You might say your days are mundane. When big problems arise you might ask for help, but you can handle the little things. There's no reason to bother God.

But God wants you to bother him. The more you talk, the more comfortable you feel sharing the small things too.

Don't wait till you're dangling off some emotional cliff, before you call.

Prayer Is Necessary, Say One Now.

Thank you so much for inviting me to Seekerville and allowing me to share some of the lessons I learned in the writer's waiting room. I hope that my lessons will help make your journey to delivery easier.

In closing… My last name is in this post somewhere. Can you find it? The first one to find it will win a free copy of my newly released e-book… In the Manor of the Ghost. If it's too tough to find my last name, and you need a bit of a clue, just close your eyes and say a prayer and the answer might come to you.


To celebrate the release of my new book I am holding the Win a Kindle… Catch a Ghost contest throughout the month of June. Stop at my blog for further details. http://tinapinson.blogspot.com.



Tina Pinson resides in Grand Junction, Colorado with, Danny, her husband of 30+ years. They own and operate, Omega Avionics. The Pinsons have three grown sons, two lovely daughter-in-laws and are proud grandparents.

Tina started writing in elementary school. She enjoys many creative outlets for writing such as poetry, songs, and stories. Tina has completed eleven novels. She was a third place finalist in the ACFW Genesis Contest in 2003 (then Noble Theme) for her story Trail of the Sandpiper-Rescued and was first place finalist in her category for the 2009 CWOW The Phoenix Rattler-Does Your Story Have Bite contest.
Tina enjoys building, gardening, singing, speaking and some biking. She and her husband hope to get out into God’s country and do some camping.

Touched By Mercy another novel from Tina is set for release in December 2010 through Desert Breeze Publishing.