Tuesday, August 23, 2011

COLUMN: ARE YOU ON THE NET


Online Promotion Plan VII


11. Have you researched forums that promote your genre?

12. Have you created your list of forums you want to be on?

13. Have you sent out letters to the forums?


Now its time to do a little more networking, your goal is to introduce new readers to your new book and your website. A good place for this is by visiting readers/writer forums/grouups.

FORUMS/GROUPS/LISTS

Forums/groups are message boards you can post messages. Lists are usually emails that come as individual emails or digest forms.

Readers love forums/groups/lists especially if they can discuss their favorite topic, books. If you plan on joining a few forums/lists, read their rules first. Many forums/groups/lists hate for writers who join just to announce their books. Be a real member, be active, this let the members of the forum/groups/lists know you're part of the group and not just using the forum/groups/lists as an advertising tool.

This is the place to exercise your signature. Make sure every time you make a post or send an email that you have your signature at the bottom.

Many of the new writers I've found have been through their signatures on the lists or forums I belong to.

The best thing I like about forums and lists is all the expertise on them. I can post a question and I know someone will take a moment to answer it. You can be that person who answers the question. Share your knowledge. Members will remember and when you're book comes out. They will pick it up and recommend it to others.

You can find forums/groups/lists on yahoo.com, delphiforums.com, msn.com and aol.com, most social media sites just to name a few. Do a search for the forum/groups/lists that represent the genre you write.

BOOK DISCUSSION

Online is a great way to do book discussions. They can be held on forums, groups, lists and chatrooms. Contact the forums and lists and see if they're interested in discussing your book.

One forum I belonged to had deep discussions about current books. It’s even more interesting if the author is participating in the discussions. The reader gets to ask them about the book, the characters, the plot and they can answer these
questions.

After the discussion ask the participants to post reviews on amazon.com. No fake reviews. Readers can spot them a mile away.

CHAT ROOMS

Many forums have chat rooms and you can take advantage of this by being a guest for a forum. They love getting new writers. For example, a forum I managed use to host monthly chats with authors. The author would discuss their books and answer questions from those attending the chat.

One of the most memorable chats I attended was with Rochelle Alers. We were discussing her book Vows, sharing our thoughts on the book and the hero, Joshua. Years later, the people who attended this chat are still talking about it. That's what you want people to do, talk about your book.


TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CHAT

• Do prepare in advance

• Practice answering questions

• Promote it a week or two before list chat time, day and location.

• The day of the chat send reminder.

• Use the bathroom before.

• Try not to drink too much before and during the chat.

• Always log into a chat at least five minutes before. Chat rooms sometimes have a tendency to be hard to connect to. (Some chat rooms you have to download software to use them. You want to give yourself plenty of time to sign in.) You don't want to miss the chat because you waited too late to sign on.

• Have a brief bio of yourself, mention your site, a little about the topic you plan to discuss.

• Answer questions personally, attendees like to feel you're talking to them.

• Be aware some chat rooms don't let you cut and past so type fast.

• Be prepared for being booted out of the chat room

• Offer giveaways ( I like to give gifts to the first and the last to attend the chat)

• Give a sample chapter of upcoming release to those who email you after the chat. (Great database builder)

• Don't worry about how many attend the chat. (Some of the best chat have been with five or less people. I find them more personal)

• If the transcript is posted afterwards, this is an excellent way for more promotion especially for those who missed the chat.

• Always send a thank you note to the chat host. Check with them at a later date for another chat.

LETTER OF INTRO

Now you know all about forums/groups/lists and what you can do on them. You ready to send out a letters of introduction to offer your services.

EXAMPLE:


Greetings in the name of literature,


My name is LaShaunda C. Hoffman. I'm currently promoting my new book and would like to introduce it to your forum members. I’m available to host workshops or chats. I have a variety of subjects to discuss (relationships, Christian life, blogging, natural hair care, online marketing or about writing) or we can have a discussion about my book.


If this sounds like something you would like to do, please reply to this message.


I look forward to working with you.




LaShaunda C. Hoffman
writerlch@yahoo.com


Promoting on forums/groups/lists are great way to network. You meet new readers and writers who just might introduce you to other readers, writers and sites.


Next month we will break down more of these questions to help you continue to build your plan.

Can’t wait to next month, contact me –sormag@yahoo.com.  I’m available for private online promotion coaching.

Until then,

I’ll see you on the net.

LaShaunda C. Hoffman

LaShaunda is the creator of SORMAG – Shades Of Romance Magazine. She has 11 years of experience on online promotion, most she learned from trial and error. She has taught workshops on online promotion and is available for private online promotion coaching.



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