Viral Marketing, Pt. 4 of 4: Diversifying
by K.M. Weiland @ AuthorCulture series: Viral MarketingAlthough all of the networking options in the sites discussed previously in this series are important for extending our web presence, the contacts we make through them will be of little use if we don’t have something to give those contacts. A steady stream of somethings, in fact. As the world careens down the technological highway at a dizzying clip, authors can’t afford to be left behind. Having a “home” on the web is vital. Owning a website, a blog, or, preferably, both is almost a no-brainer these days. But figuring out how to optimize these web presences-and then diversify them-is often missed.
Viral Marketing, Pt. 3 of 4: Overlooked Sites and Wastes of Time
by K.M. Weiland @ AuthorCulture series: Viral MarketingThe key to viral marketing is being viral. We need to have a presence on as many sites as possible. It’s impossible, of course, to take advantage of every single one. Even full-time marketing firms aren’t capable of managing that many accounts. But it’s vital that we weigh our available time and schedule in as many different options as possible. Those options include, but are certainly not limited to the following:
Viral Marketing, Pt. 2 of 4: Facebook and Forums
by K.M. Weiland @ AuthorCulture series: Viral MarketingFacebook is very possibly the single must-have on any networker’s list. Everybody and their mother’s cousin are on Facebook these days. You can’t afford not to join them. However, because the point of Facebook accounts is to gather friends, and not necessarily potential customers, most people’s friend lists are much more limited on Facebook than on other social sites, such as Twitter. The good news is that, even though your contact list is smaller, it’s probably made up of a more select group of people, who are more likely to be interested in what you have to say than would be some huge, random conglomerate. A few tips:
Viral Marketing, Pt. 1 of 4: Twitter
by K.M. Weiland @ AuthorCulture series: Viral MarketingtwitterWhen you think about it, the writing life really isn’t fair. Here you are slaving away over your masterpiece of a Great American Novel, sweating over it for months, years even, until it’s the most perfect piece of literature you can imagine. Then you give yourself copious gray hairs and bite your nails to the quick waiting for your query letters to finally turn up a positive answer. You corral the agent, the agent corrals the editor, until finally – voila! – you’re published. Now the only thing you’ll have to worry about for the rest of your life is writing the Great American Sequel, while your huge publishing company does its job and sells a hundred bazillion copies of your book. Easy-peasy, right?