An author recently asked me how I always show up first in her feed when I post something. It’s not a big trick or something that you pay to do – it’s actually much simpler than that.

The one thing that dramatically boosts your visibility on Instagram is engagement.

Engagement is when someone comments, likes, or shares your posts. Strong engagement shows Instagram that your audience finds your posts interesting or helpful and that your content is relevant to them.

read more https://www.mixtusmedia.com/blog/the-one-thing-authors-can-do-to-dramatically-boost-their-visibility-on-instagram

Today’s guest post is by writer Barbara Linn Probst.

Nowadays, many writers elect to hire their own publicists. That’s especially true for those who publish with small, independent, or nontraditional presses, since that may be the only way for them to secure media attention. It’s also true, however, for writers who take the traditional route. Unless you’re a major name, your publisher will have limited time and resources to devote to your book. If you want more exposure, you’ll have to make it happen yourself.

Getting a book on the radar of potential readers is a complex, multi-faceted process. An author can do a lot of the networking herself, but it’s rare for her to have the knowledge, contacts, and clout that a professional can offer—and, without which, the radius of her outreach will remain limited. Thus, a partnership with an experienced publicist can be invaluable.

However, there are a lot of publicists out there. How can you pick the right one?

read more https://www.janefriedman.com/choosing-a-publicist-ruling-out-and-ruling-in/

Photo credit: Sharon Drummond on VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Today’s guest post is by writer Beth Alvarado.

When I found a good home for my essay collection Anxious Attachments, I knew I would have to take an active role in marketing. After all, while Autumn House Press is a fine press, it’s also small and independent, with no marketing department and limited funds. I published both of my earlier books, Not a Matter of Love and Anthropologies, through university presses—also wonderful, prestigious presses that don’t have marketing departments.

The main problem, however, was me: I knew nothing about marketing and, honestly, didn’t realize I would need to do it.

read more https://www.janefriedman.com/9-ways-market-your-book/

Last weekend, Memorial Day 2019, I was unable to attend MisCon in Missoula, Montana. But I was there by proxy, represented by numerous friends, colleagues, and B-Cubed Press. The publisher of B-Cubed is my co-author, co-editor, and best friend Bob Brown.

As partners, we’d hit the Amazon bestseller lists a couple of times with our political satire anthologies. Alternative Truths volumes 1 & 2. Our third effort, Alternative Theologies, started with the idea of highlighting some of the hypocrisy that has invaded fundamentalist believers since the last election. It became something bigger and better than either of us could imagine. Thoughtful, poignant, grim, and sometimes downright funny, it also challenged our readers to think, to question, and we hope to affirm a stronger faith based upon what they believe and who they are. It met with critical success, but not in sales.

Until MisCon.

read more https://bookviewcafe.com/blog/2019/05/28/a-strange-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-bestseller-list/