It is my pleasure to welcome Amy M. Reade to Mystery Mondays. Amy is an author and another of my “internet friends” who has generously agreed to share her advice.
The Best Time To Promote Yourself by Amy M. Reade
When Kristina asked me to write a guest post about my novel, my research, or a writing/publishing tip, my first inclination was to write something about the research I did for my new release. But then I changed my mind. I wanted to write the most helpful post I could think of, and research, while I love it and find it endlessly fascinating, is not a terribly enlightening subject for a blog post.
Instead, I’m going to share the best advice I ever received about marketing books.
Ready?
The best time to start promoting yourself is the day you decide to write a book, not the day you decide to shop it around to publishers or self-publish.
That was tough advice for me to hear, since it came from an acquisitions editor to whom I had sent my first novel. She liked the book, but when my manuscript came across her desk she did an online search for my name.
Know what she found?
Nothing. Not even a Facebook page, because I had sworn to myself never to enter the realm of social media.
She had to turn down my book, she said, because her press simply didn’t have the money to take a chance on a writer with zero followers.
That very day, I set up a Facebook page. Then, a few days later, a blog.
Fast forward three years. I’m still on Facebook with both a personal page and an author page. I still write a weekly blog. But you’ll also find me on my website, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, and author pages on Amazon and Goodreads. I also have a quarterly newsletter. I have embraced social media in a way I never dreamed possible. And here’s the best part: I love every minute of it.
My hope as I continue to write and publish books is that I can scale back on the number of sites I frequent and instead concentrate on a select few, but for now the name of the game is getting my books out there and helping people find me and my books.
I try to slip in and out of Pinterest, Tumblr, and Instagram a couple times a week, but I post on Facebook and Twitter several times daily. I keep my website updated with release and appearance dates and my book information and, as I’ve mentioned, I try to post a blog weekly. As for the Amazon and Goodreads author pages, I check those at least once a week to make sure they’re up-to-date.
I try to follow the 80/20 rule on most social media sites. The rule states that 80% of an author’s posts should be something other than “Buy my book! Buy my book!” The remaining 20%, however, can say exactly that.
The difference is on my Facebook author page, where my posts are almost 100% about my writing, my work, and links to my other social media sites. I try to promote other authors on my author page, but that is mostly done through links to book recommendations and author interviews I have on my blog. But that’s the point of a FB author page- it keeps your readers connected with you and what you’re up to as a writer. I share information and posts about other authors several times daily on my personal FB page (and all the time on Twitter).
And what I just said? It bears repeating: it’s essential to promote other authors because when you do that, it helps everyone. Recall the proverb “When the tide comes in, all ships rise.” It’s the same with authors. Helping other authors works to everyone’s advantage.
That brings to mind one more piece of advice: comment, comment, comment on the blogs of other authors, agents, readers, reviewers, and publishing industry insiders. It’s a great way to get your name out there. You’d be amazed at the number of interview and guest blog requests I’ve gotten just by commenting on other people’s blogs. It’s been a huge boost to me.
If you have questions about anything I’ve said, or about the host sites I use for my website and/or my blog, please feel free to leave them in the comments section. And please visit me on any of the sites below!
Website: www.amymreade.com
Blog: www.amreade.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amreadeauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/readeandwrite
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/amreade
Tumblr: www.amymreade.tumblr.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8189243.Amy_M_Reade
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-M.-Reade/e/B00LX6ASF2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
WHO Is Amy M. Reade?
Amy M. Reade grew up in northern New York. After graduating from college and law school, she practiced law in New York City before moving to southern New Jersey, where she lives now with her husband, three children, dog, two cats, and a fish. She writes full time and is the author of Secrets of Hallstead House, a novel of romantic suspense set in the Thousand Islands region of New York, and The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, a novel in the same genre set outside Charleston, South Carolina. Her third novel, House of Hanging Jade, is set in Hawaii and will be released in April, 2016. She is currently working on the first book of a series set in the United Kingdom (expected release date in early 2017). She loves cooking, reading, and traveling.
Creative Story Editors 
Kristina, thank you so much for including me in Mystery Mondays. What an honor and a privilege! Best wishes.
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Hi Amy, thanks for joining MM and for sharing your advice 🙂
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I came relatively late to The Digital Revolution, but I’ve made steady progress using many of the tips provided here. If this had been around earlier, I wouldn’t have jumped the shark so many times in the past before I got things relatively stable. Great article. 🙂
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Thank you! It’s hard for me to remember sometimes that this is a marathon, not a sprint, as the saying goes. It’s a gradual process, but the hard work and persistence are worth it! So glad you stopped by to leave your comment.
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My pleasure and Best Wishes. 🙂
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This is such a great post. I, too, was one of the last Facebook holdouts, but after attending an agent panel at Bloody Words 2012, I went home and started developing a SM presence. You feel a bit silly, in the beginning — all I had was a bad first draft — but it takes time to develop and grow. And you’re right, both my publishers won’t even consider an author who doesn’t have at minimum a website and Facebook page. I’m going to be sharing this one!
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Hi Judy, so true about getting out there and building a presence. It’s hard to start, but once you get going it’s fun, too.
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Thank you, Judy! One of the great things about telling people about you and your book early on in the writing process is that they’ll give you so much support at a time when things can get discouraging. And people feel grateful that you’ve included them in what is really a personal journey. I’m glad you came by today!
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Wallace, Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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Amy,
Thank you for sharing your best advice! I’m a few months away from my pub date and my head is spinning😊
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Hii Kathleen, when you’re closer to your release date let me know how I can help. I love to share on social media. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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Thanks so much Kristina! I will and so appreciate that😊
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Hi Kathleen, congratulations on your upcoming release! I’ll echo Kristina’s words: I hope you’ll be in touch as your publication date nears and I’ll do whatever I can to help spread the word.
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Hi Amy, thank you so much! I will definitely be in touch. And I look forward to reading and promoting HOUSE OF THE HANGING JADE! I so appreciate your kindness😊
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My pleasure. 🙂
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Dear Kristina,
Your blog posts are always filled with great information. Thanks for having Amy as a guest. Thank you, Amy for sharing your marketing ideas for a book. Awesome.
I’m reblogging this on my blog.
Never Give Up
Joan
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Hi Joan, thank you for the kind words and for the reblog. Social media takes time, but it’s time well spent and I love it! I’m glad you stopped in today.
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Hi Joan, thanks for stopping by. It’s always great to hear from you and thanks for reblogging!
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Great advise, I remember reading your first book Amy. The first thing I did after I finished it was search you on the web. I wanted to follow you and thus a friendship formed. I can’t imagine how you keep up with all of it, but I am glad you do!
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Sharon, I’m thrilled you came over to Mystery Mondays to join the conversation. I am very thankful for the friendship we’ve developed following that first message you sent me about my book cover! Hope you’re having a great day. Hugs.
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Hi Sharon, Thanks for stopping by. It is wonderful to find a new author to read. Your words to Amy are very encouraging.
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Hi Kristina. Great post from Amy. I’ve never heard the 80/20 applied to book publishing/promotion. I was intrigued. Like Amy, I didn’t deal with social media until my book. Hugs to you both! 🙂
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Hi, Teagan, Great to hear from you. I try to do all my social media first thing or last thing in the day, so I can find some time to write. For me, I love the social media part and have to limit myself 🙂
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Hi Teagan, thanks for stopping by! It seems like this week I’m doing more like 60/40 promotion, since my book releases tomorrow. So I guess that’s one of the few exceptions to the 80/20 rule! I’m even sick of myself at this point. 🙂
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I know that feeling, Amy. But I’m sure no one thinks that of you. Wishing you the best of success with the new book. 😀
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Amy, As always, a thoughtful post. And I’d love to learn about your research techniques.
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Hi Maggie, Thanks for dropping by. Amy’s been a great guest to have on Mystery Mondays.
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