Imagine this scenario…

What if you were recognized as an expert or an authority in your field? What if you were in great demand by broadcasters, news editors, reporters, and other influencers who had access to a large audience? What if you became a celebrity in your category or genre?

Here’s the problem: What happens when they show up at your website and you don’t have the appropriate publicity materials?

• Perhaps a TV producer was considering you as a guest for a talk show.
• Or a magazine columnist wanted to include you in a roundup of authors in your category.
• Or a podcaster wanted to interview you.
• Perhaps a bookseller was considering whether to carry your book.
• Or an event planner thought you might be a great speaker for an upcoming event.
• It might have even been a reader who stumbled across your website and wanted to know more.

The fact is, when any of these people come to your author website, you only have a matter of seconds to show them what they’re looking for—who you are as an author, what you write, and why you write it—before that person bounces off your website and goes to find another author instead.

read more… http://buildyourbrandacademy.com/blog/369568/3-essential-parts-of-your-author-press-kit

I‘ve been using Twitter since July 2009, so it’s interesting to look back and see what I’ve learned over those six years. I remember being mystified about the point of Twitter and wondering why anyone could be bothered to share 140 character observations. I am still bemused by some tweets I see – although every once in a while you see something touching, poignant or funny.

For authors, Twitter is a relatively easy way to connect with readers around the world and share news of your work. Twitter can be fun and is also a useful way to keep pace with the rapidly developing world of online publishing and understand other authors.  I can easily understand how some people find it addictive – but setting a simple ten minutes a day limit takes care of the impact on your writing. Here are my top ten tips:

WOWSA! Such a deal … buy your ISBN for only ten bucks … who wants to pay $125? The real questions are: are they legit ISBNs? Or, are they knockoffs? Or, are they a re-sale? And if they are a resale, are they being sold by an approved resale outlet? Are they legit … or are they fake? What’s an author to do?

All authors need to understand this: ISBNs are ONLY ISSUED by Bowker … it doesn’t matter what name you get them through. And in fact, it may be a giant hiccup if you take this route. Bowker has the exclusive distribution rights in the United States … other companies have them in other parts of the world. Here’s what ePubBud.com and others like it do: they purchase a bank of ISBNS… you too, can buy 1000 for $1000 or $1 an ISBN (now, that’s a deal)—where single ones are sold for $125 via Bowker, 10 for $250, 100 for $500 and 1,000 for $1,000, etc.

Anyone can buy and then repackage and sell them as singles or multiples at, say $10 vs. the single direct purchase from Bowker for $125. If you are crunching numbers, $10 sounds better than $125—but is it?  Supposedly, they have a “channel” arrangement with Bowker to do that. You think—”WOW—such a deal.” Maybe. Maybe not. And yep, that means you could buy them and resell to your friends and maybe as a “side business” as well. Hmmm, 1,000 for $1,000—resell for $10 each … what a rate of return!

read more: http://thebookshepherd.com/the-isbn-dilemma-do-you-buy-your-o.html