Becoming a Triberr Warrior

When I first encountered Triberr, for some unfathomable reason I had a Lord of the Flies moment and pictured small boys on an island wearing war paint. After battling away with it, as I do with all things social media, I discovered it was a fantastic place. I stripped off my clothes, grabbed a conch shell and had a go at finding others.

Indie authors need to leverage all kinds of social media in order to effectively sell their books. Running a blog has been a great way for me to get the word out about books and other writing, but it’s also a way to share information that helps my book marketing. Triberr enables you to grow that blogging community.

Indie Authors and Triberr.

Triberr was started by Dino Dogan and Dan Cristo. Their idea is simple: have a site in which everyone in your Tribe tweets your new blog posts, and you do the same for others in your Tribe.

All you have to do is approve the tweets and Triberr does the rest. It’s a great way to build your blog following quickly and effectively. Continue reading “Becoming a Triberr Warrior”

Author Tools: Help a Reporter (HARO)

HARO LogoHelp A Reporter (HARO) is a handy tool for authors in two ways. HARO can help you find a source to interview when researching a book, and it can provide you with publicity and other related opportunities that you couldn’t have found on your own.

HARO Email
Email from HARO

Signing up for HARO is free. Just go to their home page and click “sign up today.” Yes, HARO does now offer pay packages, but if you scroll down to the bottom of the page – you will see the Basic page is still available for free. What does this mean? Well, three times a day you will receive a HARO email with a list of stories being worked on by reporters who need sources to interview. Not all of these are newspaper reporters – they are bloggers, authors, television shows, magazines and more. The stories are organized according to category, and if you see one that interests you, just click on it and it will bring you to the details further down in the email. The key to getting reporters interested in your “pitch” is to make sure you respond immediately. These emails go out to thousands of people, and whoever replies first is going to get their attention. Be concise with your pitch and be quick. Continue reading “Author Tools: Help a Reporter (HARO)”

How to Attract the Media without Spending a Dime by Christina Hamlett

Author and Media Expert Christina Hamlett
Author and Media Expert Christina Hamlett

Like any industry, a writer’s salary isn’t immune to the uncertainties of a wobbly economy. While a diversified portfolio that includes such skills as ghostwriting, editing and consulting enables you to switch gears when your wellspring of regular publishing markets run dry, being able to attract media attention should be just as critical an element in your business plan. When prospective readers are exposed to the positive publicity your name and talents consistently generate, their reaction is going to be that your “celebrity” credentials make you an expert worth seeking out and that your book is a must-have for their shelves.

The question is, how do you become that media darling? Continue reading “How to Attract the Media without Spending a Dime by Christina Hamlett”

Press Releases – Free Publicity

Mr. Pish Press ReleaseThere’s always discussion amongst authors about ways to promote their books.  People get caught up in blogs, facebook author pages, twitter posts, forums, etc., etc.

Long before those methods, there were press releases.  Although the technology has changed to make disseminating press releases easier and faster, it’s still a valid way to promote your work.  And most writers/authors overlook it.

Got a new book coming out?  Press release.  Win an award?  Press release.  Doing a book event?  Press release.  Just like in the days of yore.

Only you can determine who should get your press release depending on your demographic, subject matter, location, etc.  That can be a lot of work, toiling over your laptop, emailing incessantly – as you should send these emails individually and not in a group blast.  Nonetheless, it’s necessary. Continue reading “Press Releases – Free Publicity”