Book Marketing for Authors – Website, Social, Chat – What to do and why!

Event Details

Topic: Book Marketing for Authors – Website, Social, Chat, What to do and why!
Date: Saturday 28 December 2024
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am AEDT time (UTC+11)
Venue: Zoom
Handout and Recording: Will be sent to everyone who registers to attend
Tickets: $0 each
Register: https://bookmarketingforauthors.eventbrite.com.au or https://www.linkedin.com/events/7265655038146945024

Listed Online

City of Literature Website
https://cityofliterature.com.au/explore/book-marketing-for-authors-website-social-chat-what-to-do-and-why
Writers Victoria Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/writersvictoria/membernewsletter17december2024
ArtsHub Website
https://www.artshub.com.au/event/book-marketing-for-authors-website-social-chat-what-to-do-and-why-2767876
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/events/7265655038146945024
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/1268898427790392

Slides

20241228-book-marketing-for-authors-by-sue-ellson Download

Slides Content

ISBN – myidentifiers.com.au – automatically published
Google Account
– Can be created with your own email address
– Automatically created with a Gmail email address
– Claim Author Page / Knowledge Panel
– Fill in https://aboutme.google.com
– Create Business Profile https://business.google.com for Google Reviews
– Create Scholar Profile https://scholar.google.com
– Create Google Play Partner Account for Google Books https://play.google.com/books/publish
– Set up Google Alerts https://www.google.com/alerts
– Set up Google Analytics (website) https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web
– Set up Google Search Console https://search.google.com/search-console/about
https://sueellson.com/blog/boost-your-author-profile-with-google-for-australian-society-of-authors
Microsoft Account
– Can be created with your own email address https://account.microsoft.com
– Create a Bingplaces Profile https://www.bingplaces.com
– Do NOT let Microsoft use your Google information as it will allow them to delete your Google information
– You will need a Facebook Page for online reviews to appear in Bing / MS Edge search results
Own Name Website
– most authors write more than one book
– recommend pages for About, Contact, Privacy Policy
– provide a high-resolution photo for download
– recommend regular updates in a blog section
– recommend a Media Kit
– recommend adding all books (each with own page)
– recommend adding all social media links
– recommend linking to all of your online content
Review
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-do-before-you-speak-website-designer-sue-ellson
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-much-should-i-pay-website-what-included-design-proposal-ellson
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-do-before-you-upgrade-redesign-your-website-sue-ellson
Register https://ownnamewebsite.eventbrite.com.au 8 January 2025 12pm UTC+11 $0
Essential Social Media
– LinkedIn Profile – add books in Publications section
– Facebook Page – add books in Shop Section (only paperbacks) and turn on Reviews https://business.facebook.com/commerce
– YouTube – add one video to most pages of online content
Other Social Media
– Depends on your target audience
– Instagram – link to website with books
– Pinterest – helps images rank
– TikTok – repurpose video content across all platforms
Directories
– Yellow Pages – one free website link
– White Pages – one free website link
– True Local – one free website link
– Local Council
– Legal Deposit – National Library
– Legal Deposit – State Library
– Lending Rights https://lendingrights.arts.gov.au
– Trove National Library https://trove.nla.gov.au
Professional Associations
– Society of Women Writers Victoria https://www.swwvic.org.au/members
– Writers Victoria https://writersvictoria.org.au
– Australian Society of Authors https://www.asauthors.org.au/find-a-creator
– Make sure your Profile is up to date
– Aim to have an individual page you can link to
– Convey your energy in your photograph
Book Locations
– Amazon (plus Reviews)
– Google Author Page (found via ISBN)
– Google Business (add Products)
– Goodreads (fill in detail and add your books plus Reviews)
Distribution Platforms
– Smashwords
– IngramSpark
– Draft2Digital
– Choose one – decide if you will ‘pay’ for extra
– Understand the finances
– Have realistic expectations
Other Book Platforms
– Bookbub
– Reedsy
– Scribd
– Ready made audiences
– Extra resources
– Understand the finances
– Have realistic expectations
Other Publishing Platforms
– ResearchGate – research
– Medium – followers
– Quora – questions and answers
– Substack – newsletters
– Don’t spread yourself too thin
– Have realistic expectations
Your Audience Channels
– retail outlets (not just book shops)
– events (include in ticket price)
– door prizes
– book awards
– thud value business card
– client gift
– remember to promote these on your website
Media and Publicity
– television
– radio
– podcasts
– articles
– guest speaking
– make sure you document on your website
Everything else
– Persistence
– Novelty – Poetry Pharmacy
– Merchandise – T-Shirts
– What else has worked for you?

Video Recording

Event Description

Have you created a book – and had it independently or traditionally published?

Are you now wondering how to market your book online?

With a website.

With social media.

With AI chat.

Do you know where to start?

What you can do?

Are you aware of the essentials that you ‘must’ do?

This workshop will explain these items in detail and will cover:

website essentials
recommended social media (and why)
recommended digital locations (and why)

Inclusions

comprehensive notes that you can use to go through this entire process yourself after the workshop or use as a road map for any assistance you call on
video recording of the session

More information

Don’t waste your time paying for ads that don’t work.

Get your message out there into the world with a strategy that works for you.

Even if you would rather ‘remain behind the typewriter.’

This will be an inclusive workshop for all ages and abilities and there will be time for questions as well.

You will also have an opportunity to share the details of your book with the other participants (if you would like to).

For more information, contact me directly.

Past Testimonials and Reviews

Thanks for the workshop, it was a good reinforcement. Clare N
Thank you Sue, Really enjoyed the workshop, I will implement what I have learnt building my profile and will stay in touch! Janine L
Thank you for your informative session, you are amazing. Ingrid P
Thanks so much for the workshop – it was truly excellent and I will make sure I put a recommendation for you. After seeing how effectively you train I was wondering if you would consider being a presenter at our conference? Natalie V
Thanks for preparing the additional drawing to help explain the huge amount of information. Lois M
Thank you for your help. Patrick M

More reviews on Google and at https://sueellson.com/reviews

Comments from the Chat during the Webinar

I’m doing more than 3 things – great ideas Sue ❤️
Thank you for an excellent presentation full of great information.
You are still a rock star Sue. Love your work.
I put reviews on the back cover of my books.
Interesting thank you Sue!
In 2019 I hired a publicist to help launch my 2nd book and went viral in 7 countries and 60 media outlets worldwide. I was on television, radio, magazine plus live tv in Dublin and BBC Wiltshire. As much as I had all this publicity, the sales in my books did not increase. I have found book launches best way to sell books and author talks.
Thank you Sue, amazing content.
I am not sure which was more exciting and action packed, the 39 km bike ride. I did getting home with three minutes to spare before the webinar or the webinar! But I think I’ll give it to Sue and the webinar as being totally action packed and brilliant, thank you ever so much. Cheers PS
Thank you Sue, great information.
Thx Sue great presentation, I always learn something new from you.
Thanks Sue lots to think about to take me forward!
Thank you very much, Sue. Very useful.
Thank you Sue. You have given me the impetus & inspiration to go another round of publicity for my boy. Not easy for an INFJ
Great presentation Sue, thank you.
Thanks so much Sue, you are so generous and your webinars are always excellent! 👏
Thanks Sue. My brain usually doesn’t click in until11 am, but your content was very engaging.
Thank you Sue!
Thank you Sue. I have picked up many useful tips! Look forward to seeing you on the next webinar.
Thank you Sue.
Thanks Sue for the short but informative webinar. Very late where I am here. Thanks for your frankness and enthusiasm!
Thanks so much Sue, you are so generous and your webinars are always excellent! 👏
Sue … I have to go. I Iook forward to reviewing all this information. Many thanks.
After listening to Laurie… I am so inspired by his enthusiasm and authenticity … lve followed him already!
Thanks so much. Very useful.
Thank you very much Sue. Very useful.
Thanks Sue. Look forward to chatting again soon.

Follow Up Personal Assistance

– Book a personal appointment with Sue Ellson

Service examples https://sueellson.com/services-and-pricing – please Contact Sue

How to say Thank You Sue

If you find any of the information in this free webinar helpful, please consider writing an informative review via one of the following links:
Google Review https://g.page/sue-ellson-author/review
Facebook Review https://www.facebook.com/sueellson2/reviews
Online Review https://sueellson.com/reviews (no login required)
LinkedIn Recommendation https://www.linkedin.com/in/sueellson (we need to be connected)

And if you haven’t already, please follow or subscribe to my social media channels listed below and connect on LinkedIn

This Event will be shared on Archive.org Google Post, Google Event, LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn Page, Facebook, Twitter / X, Presentations 2024, Videos 2024, – so feel free to add a comment on your favourite social media platform.

The recording will be shared on Archive.org, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn Page, LinkedIn Profile, Twitter / X

Upcoming and Past Presentations, Recordings and Publications

Presentations listed here for various topics.

Free LinkedIn Insight Online Webinars and Recordings.

Publications listed here.

Comments From Post Event Survey

1.What did you find most helpful in this webinar?
Sue – your information was clear and will be easy to follow up and prioritise my revised marketing plan. Thank you
The practical focus of the seminar was wonderful. Lots of useful tips. Many thanks, Sue.
Great ideas for book marketing
All the account setup info, and what to include on my website
Library royalties, poetry pharmacy info 🙂 Wealth of information packed into short timeframe. Positive and honest presentation.
Book marketing on google and book publication resources

2.What do you plan to do next?
Review and create my action plan
To update my LinkedIn profile.
I intend to do a lot of the action items that I haven’t done already
Google account
Perhaps get on to my website. I’m published but not as an author.
Follow up on the content and resources presented today

3.What else would have been helpful?
All good.
Can’t think of anything here. It was all very helpful.
Loved the session. Please do more!
Networking
Perhaps set examples of authors you work with and how much time they allocate to social media posts per month … when promoting a launch.
Perhaps discussion weighing the pros and cons of a publicist.
AI tools to help with book writing

Reviews after the Webinar

From Google, Will Abdo ‘Thank you Sue for a very informative and detailed webinar on book publishing. Many takeaways from the session.’

From Facebook, Yvonne Junor ‘She has excellent knowledge, talent wisdom and business expertise across many diverse fields.’

From Google, Julie Ann Bryant, I attended Sue’s webinar ‘Book Marketing for Authors’ and found it very helpful and informative. Sue has challenged me to rethink my approach. Thank you Sue for sharing your insights into how to best market the books we have put our heart and soul into writing.

From Facebook, Laurie Smale ‘Sue is a generous teacher who imparts her practical knowledge in a patient way. She took me from zero to humble online hero in a short space of time – when I thought this type of marketing was beyond me!’

From Facebook, Maria Ganci ‘Just attended Sue’s “Book Marketing for Authors Webinar“ and I am always amazed at her of knowledge and passion to assist and inspire others. I highly recommend any of her webinars. Many thanks for your generosity Sue.’

From Facebook, Linda King, The Smart Travelista ‘Sue’s “Book Marketing for Authors Webinar” was awesome. Well and truly got a lot of action items to work on from the session. Thanks Sue for sharing your wonderful expertise, knowledge and time with us. Highly recommend! 😊’

From my Reviews page, Trevor Trigg, ‘You get the nitty-gritty. Zero waffle. Sue nailed it. Her 28th December 2024 presentation on marketing for authors was full of real targets and how to hit them. No waffle.’

From my Reviews page, Cecile Ravell, ‘Sue generously shared her knowledge on book marketing in an easy-to-follow webinar. I have 25 years experience as an educator and learning facilitator, so it takes a lot to impress me. She knows her stuff and inspires confidence in others who want to self-market. As an author of three novels, I am looking forward to taking the marketing of my books to the next level.’

Zoom AI Summary

Quick recap

Sue Ellson hosted a webinar on book writing, publishing, and marketing strategies for authors. She shared her personal experiences, offered advice on self-publishing, and discussed various promotional tactics to increase book visibility and sales. The webinar covered topics such as online presence, platform utilization, and the importance of persistence in marketing, while also addressing participant questions and encouraging immediate action following the session.

Next steps

Attendees to pick 3 things to action within 3 hours of the webinar.
Attendees to consider setting a book launch date to ensure completion of their book.
Authors to claim their Google knowledge panel and fill in details on aboutme.google.com.
Authors to create a Google business profile for reviews.
Authors to set up Google Alerts for their name and book titles.
Authors to create their own name website with about, contact, and privacy policy pages.
Authors to add a media kit to their website.
Authors to ensure their details are up-to-date on professional association websites they’re members of.
Authors to consider using distribution platforms like Smashwords, Ingram Spark, or Draft2Digital for digital books.
Authors to upload their books to ResearchGate for free downloads and statistics.
Authors to explore alternative retail outlets specific to their book’s audience.
Authors to promote their books at speaking engagements and events.
Sue Ellson to send attendees the usernames and password spreadsheet and other digital files.
Attendees interested in building their own website to join Sue’s webinar on 8 January 2025
Attendees to consider writing a Facebook review for Sue Ellson.

Summary

Website Building and Teaching Experience
Sue welcomed everyone to the webinar and encouraged early arrivals to ask questions. Leona, who found the event details on LinkedIn, expressed interest in building her own website, a topic for Sue’s next webinar. Sue confirmed her next webinar on website building would be on January 8th. Leona showed enthusiasm for the topic and Sue’s teaching style. Sue also mentioned her previous teaching experience at the Center for Adult Education in the city. Edward, who joined the conversation, expressed gratitude for the event.

Self-Publishing Advice From Digital Mentor
Edward, a writer who has completed a novel and is considering self-publishing, attended a webinar led by Sue Ellson, a digital mentor and author. Sue shared her experience of writing and publishing three 80,000-word books in nine months, and offered advice on the process of self-publishing. She emphasized the importance of setting a book launch date and encouraged attendees to take action within three hours of the webinar. Sue also mentioned that the first part of the webinar would be recorded for those who couldn’t attend.

Sue’s Online Presence and Marketing
Sue discussed her online presence and marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of appearing in search results on platforms like Google, Bing, and LinkedIn. She shared her journey of becoming a LinkedIn specialist and her ranking as one of the top 10 LinkedIn specialists globally. Sue also introduced her five books, and the first four books are available for free download on ResearchGate. She encouraged attendees to ask questions, take notes, and consider actions they could take after the session. Sue also mentioned her upcoming in-person LinkedIn workshop in Melbourne and invited attendees to follow her on social media.

Book Writing and Publishing Progress
Sue led a discussion about the progress and goals of the participants in writing and publishing their books. The majority of participants were in the early stages of the author process, with many having written one or more books and wanting to publish them independently. The main goals for publishing their books were to have them read by as many people as possible, to sell as many books as possible, and to attract better gigs. Most participants were responsible for marketing their books themselves, with a few using online platforms. Sue shared her personal experiences of writing and publishing books, emphasizing the transformative nature of the process and the importance of setting a book launch date to ensure completion.

Marketing Strategies for Book Promotion
Sue discussed the importance of marketing one’s book, emphasizing the need for an ISBN and a Google account. She shared her experience with Laurie Smale, who has successfully promoted his books and website across various social media platforms. Sue outlined 15 marketing strategies, including claiming a Google knowledge panel, creating a Google Scholar account, and setting up Google Alerts. She also stressed the importance of setting up Google Analytics and Google Search Console for website owners. Sue warned against importing information from Google to Bing Places to avoid potential account deletion.

Optimizing Presence for Authors and Professionals
Sue discussed the importance of having a presence on various platforms for authors and professionals. She recommended having an ISBN, Google account, Microsoft account, and a personal website with an about page, contact page, and privacy policy page. She also suggested adding social media links and all published content to the website. Sue emphasized the importance of Facebook reviews for Bing search visibility and recommended having a media kit and a blog section on the website. She also advised on creating a YouTube video for each book and maintaining a presence on various social media platforms. Sue further discussed the benefits of using directories like Yellow Pages, White Pages, and True Local, and registering books with the National Library and State Library for lending rights. She concluded by offering resources for those considering creating their own website.

Strategies for Promoting and Marketing Books
Sue discussed various strategies for promoting and marketing books, emphasizing the importance of having up-to-date profiles on professional associations’ websites, utilizing platforms like Amazon, Google, and Goodreads, and considering distribution platforms like Smashwords and Ingram Spark. She also highlighted the benefits of publishing on ResearchGate, Medium, and Quora, and the potential for monetizing content on these platforms. Sue warned against overextending oneself and stressed the need for realistic expectations when considering these marketing options.

Strategies for Promoting a Book
Sue discussed various strategies for promoting a book, emphasizing the importance of identifying a specific audience and considering non-traditional retail outlets. She also shared her experiences with book awards, door prizes, and the effectiveness of media and publicity, noting that while these methods can increase visibility, they may not directly lead to book sales. Sue stressed the importance of learning from these experiences and using them to improve one’s credibility and share useful information. She also mentioned her upcoming webinar and encouraged attendees to register for it.

Marketing Strategies and Persistence Discussed
Sue discussed the importance of persistence and promotion in marketing one’s writing. She used the example of Sunday Reed, who championed the work of artist Sidney Nolan, to illustrate how influential promotion can be. Sue also highlighted the potential of novelty items and collaborations with other artists, like Darby Hudson, to increase visibility and sales. She encouraged attendees to take action and consider their own marketing strategies. Sue also addressed various questions from the audience, including the process of getting books into libraries, the use of paid reviewers, and the tracking of content plagiarism. She concluded by encouraging attendees to follow up on Google alerts and to consider self-publishing their work.

Promoting Content and Building Relationships
Sue shares exciting news that one of her poems on Domestic Violence has been requested for use by a women’s shelter. She discusses the importance of getting content republished and read widely. Sue then reviews positive feedback received for her presentation, including comments on the great information provided. There is discussion around the challenges of book promotion even with a traditional publisher, and the need for authors to take initiative. She demonstrates using technology like Eventbrite to streamline processes. The conversation highlights the value of authenticity, building relationships, and finding creative ways to connect with audiences as an author.