Marketing Notes from Brenna Lyons

I have a friend who is Major in the writing world. She has 20 books in print, and makes her living as a writer. Here are some notes she wanted to share.

General marketing notes-

The biggest myths debunking e-marketing- There are those who will tell you that you can't sell books unless you go to the major reader cons, advertise in certain venues, get reviews from the right places... Those venues are primarily aimed at the traditional print market. Not that there is anything wrong with crossover, but e-book authors would be best served going to e-marketing first and then print marketing as a secondary measure. Even print authors shouldn't write off e-marketing, since many print-only readers are hanging out on lists and filling their TBB and TBR lists, from there. In addition, e-marketing, as a rule, costs you little more than time .

Fact! E-book readers are usually computer literate and spend time online. They cruise chats, lists on things that interest them and web sites. Fact! We have a growing market, often looking for the right information at the right place and time to flower.

Can it be my only form of marketing?- Of course it can! But, will you sell any books? The point is to meld the standard forms of marketing with marketing targeted primarily at computer users, not to exclude the traditional market. We want e-publishing to grow. That means we have to appeal to both markets. The problem many authors have is relying on one or the other exclusively. You have to promote. Unless you are Nora Roberts in a wig and sunglasses, your marketing is going to fall largely on your own shoulders, whether you're in NY or indie/e.

Even if you don't like interacting, always attempt to do so- Ads are pretty. Reviews are nice, but the bottom line is that readers like an author they can relate to, interact with, and come to know as a person. But, here's the twist...

Pros of e-marketing: perfect for the shy: the personal touch without the touch- E- marketing offers the ability to reach out and touch someone without having someone in your personal space. If you are the type of person who carries a book in your hand so you don't have to shake hands or hug, this type of marketing is right up your alley. It is perfect for the shy, the person who can't stand crowds...and we all know that many authors are actually introverts.

They allow you to lay out more of yourself to the hungry readers who want to know you. In short, they give readers what they want from you...but...