Wednesday Video - Business Tip - Give It Away

In today's economy, people are more comfortable purchasing something they have been able to experience first. Don't be afraid to give someone a free trial or a sample. Chances are they'll want to purchase more. 

Do you have a freebie or sample you offer with your business?

Join SORMAG''s email list and receive a Free Book Teaser Ad

http://bit.ly/zB3O8v

 

Podcast Interview Tips

Last night I did my first podcast interview with Tyora Moody.  I know you’re thinking I thought you were doing podcasts.  I am, but I was the guest instead of the host last night.

Tyora was an excellent interviewer.  She gave me the questions she wanted to ask ahead of time.   

I wanted to offer a few tips to you if you plan on doing a few podcasts yourself.

If the host sends you the questions before time.  Take time to read over them and then write out your answers.

I typed out my answers then printed them out, to use as my notes during the podcast.

Show up for the interview.

I know this sounds like a logical thing to do but you would be surprised how many people don’t show up for their interviews.  They forget to put it on their calendar or life shows up.  If you can’t make the interview, send a quick email to let the host know, so they can reschedule the interview.  You don’t want them waiting on you to show up.  That doesn’t look good and I’m sure they will not be rescheduling.

Relax

This might be hard for you if this is your first time, but if you have a great host like I did with Tyora it can be fun.  I always say a prayer before I do any interview asking the Lord to guide my tongue because I have a habit of talking and talking.

Have a conversation

Don’t give the host a hard time of pulling answers out of you.  This is the time to talk and share a little about yourself, your book or business.  It’s not fun chatting with someone and all you are saying is yes or no.

Have fun and smile

Listeners can tell if you’re having fun or if you’re scared to death by your voice.  If you find yourself smiling a lot it will come across in the podcasts. 

When I first started doing the podcasts, I found myself laughing a lot and my guest did too.  At first I was worried listeners wouldn’t take it serious, but then I realized that laughing is a good thing.  Yes writing is serious, but you still want to have fun with it.

Promote your podcast

When the podcast goes live, send out the link to your readers, friends, social media.  Send a thank you note to the host.

Listen to the interview

How did you sound?  What can you improve for the next interview?

I want to thank Tyora Moody for  my first podcast interview.  When the podcast goes live, I will post the link so you can hear what we had to talk about.

I hope this tips help you when you have your podcast interview.  If you have any questions about podcasting or podcast interview, feel free to leave a comment.

Motivation Monday - Weeds

Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds. - Gordon B. Hinckley

What am I up to? Summer/Fall Plans

These next few months will be busy for me.  I’m currently in the editing stages of my promotion book.  It is coming along well.  I’ve decided to make it into a workbook, that you can write in.  I think it will work better that way for helping you keep all your information in one place.

I think might have found a printer to print the book for me, I requested a bid, so I’m waiting on a response.  I’m still working on the title.  Once I finally get a title I like, it will be moving on to getting a book cover.

I’m learning a lot in this self publishing  journey.  There are many steps to take, and they all work together, so you can’t skip them because it’s not going the way you want it too.

I’m working on a 14 day challenge – I Don’t Have Time To Promote.

I hear this all the time when I talk with authors.  This challenge will help you schedule time to promote.  I’m working on having the challenge ready for September.  If you’re interested in joining the challenge you can sign up. (Feel free to share the link)

http://mad.ly/signups/115288/join

I’m also working on the 2014 SORMAG Online Conference.  I would like this year’s conference to be even more interactive.  I’m accepting workshop proposals 1sormag@gmail.com and registration will open in August.

I have a lot on my plate, but that’s OK.  I like keeping busy.

What’s on your agenda?

Motivation Monday - At the top

There is always room at the top. Daniel Webster

When should you schedule promotion? Part Three

Your book is on the shelf and you’re working on the next book.

Hopefully you’ve sat down and scheduled your promotion plan.

Hold up! You don't have a promotion plan and you are ready to pull out your hair.

Here are few tips to get you back on track:

Set up an online release party so you can mix and mingle with your readers.

Set up your monthly newsletter to go out with great content.

Schedule a few interviews on blogs, radios, online magazines.

Created a few podcasts to post while you’re writing.

Write a couple of articles for your site and for guest blogs.

Join a few reader’s groups and participate in them.

Create your own reader’s group - Create a few contests and have content to post once a week.

Schedule a blog tour and stop by the blogs make comments and answer questions.

Social media is your friend - Schedule your content so you have time to write and treat yourself to social media 1 or 2 hours a day.

Create an influencer list - Ask your readers to talk up your book.  Word of mouth is still the best way to sale books.

Sounds like a lot of stuff to do.  It can be overwhelming.  That's why you can't wait until the last minute to schedule your promotion.  Don't get discouraged if you find a lot of the online sites are booked for months.  Check out their guidelines, so you can be better prepared for the next book.

Then schedule your date with them for a later time.  There is always time to promote your book.  All promotion don't have to be in the first month it comes out.  Schedule for three months, 6mth or 9mths later.  Your goal is to sell your book all year long.

There’s a lot to do after the release of your book and you have to make time to promote and write.  Your book will not sell its self as you write the next book.

Schedule time to write and to promote, then get out there and promote, promote, promote.

Don’t forget the paid promotion sites, they can take a lot of the promotion burden off your shoulders.

I hope this series has been helpful for you. If you have any questions feel free to ask, I'm here to help you promote your book.

Did you miss Part One or Part Two?

 Need help with your promotion contact me, I have something for every budget. - 1sormag@gmail.com