HARM'S WAY AVAILABLE ON KINDLEUNLIMITED - tips for TheImageApothecary.com & Canva.com

HARM'S WAY NOW AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!

As I push for completion on the second book in THE DONOVAN LEGACY, CHASING DESTINY, I have moved HARM'S WAY to Kindle Unlimited.

I've spent the past several days on THEIMAGEAPOTHECARY.COM downloading multiple images for book release ad-building. Special thanks to FLIP-FLOP SISTER, and fellow author, Mary Karlik for the author & marketing friendly insight into THEIMAGEAPOTCHECARY.

WRITERS, MARKETERS, BLOGGERS -- looking for a way to build graphics, ads, release teasers????

Then visit, THEIMAGEAPOTHECARY. Click onto their Instagram page 1st and scroll. Quickly, you will discover the jest of THEIMAGEAPOTHECARY and find its multiple uses and reasonable pricing. Read the Term & Conditions so you'll understand the download conditions before you begin. If graphics are not your forte, then a visit to this site is well worth the time.

I downloaded the images into my local PAINT folder and then moved them into Canva.com for actual manipulation. I've designed several 'work' graphics and brochures on CANVA.com so I had a basic understanding of the graphic design site. Again, user-friendly, and there is a FREE version so you can check it out before committing marketing dollars. The above KindleUnlimited release shows how easy it is to change the colors on a designed graphic. There are more FONTS than you'll ever need, and the ability to easily fold in text on existing images.

Canva.com also has multiple social media release choices. You don't need to know all the standard formatting requirements for the different social media platforms, just click on the required selection and start creating a design. There are also a number of YouTube videos on how to effectively use Canva.com, which I found hugely helpful.

Finally, it is with the greatest pleasure to offer a massive:

to:

SS Bazinet
Carol Kilgore
Carol Marrs Phipps

These 3 writing friends have offered remarkable expertise and marketing advice. They have graciously given of their time to my many, many, many questions. All are fabulous authors with busy writing schedules, but they have generously imparted their knowledge.

May this blog help you with your own ad and marketing building. I have learned from the best -- if you have any questions, please do NOT hesitate to contact me @ k.m.saint.james@gmail.com.

Marketing Plan of Action - how to start simple and build to great!

Tim Grahl, author of Your First 1000 Copies and founder of booklaunch.com
believes that Marketing doesn't need to be a 'eew' prospect.

So, I've read over a few of his techniques and decided to break-it down into a Plan of Action.
New Year . . . New Goals . . . and all that.
More importantly, it's about finding a way to market that doesn't make the author in me cringe at the idea.

READ ALONG & SEE IF YOU AGREE

According to Tim, MARKETING is about creating long-lasting connections. I'd say this is sound business whether you're selling books, artwork or cars off the used lot. None of us want just the ONE-AND-DONE customer. We want repeat business. We want to develop long-lasting connections/relationships that will keep folks coming back because they're pleased with their purchase.

Tim breaks it down into three categories for connection.

1) Outreach – The act of moving people from not knowing I exist to knowing that I DO exist.

Here are my ideas:

a. Facebook
b. Twitter
c. Pinterest
d. Blog
e. Book-signings
f. Public readings
g. Carrying a business card with my books/blog listed AND handed those out.

i. Where can I leave these?
1. With every receipt/tip I leave on a table
2. Any bulletin board
3. Any clerk that I speak with and mention I'm a writer
ii. Order from Vista-Print

h. Get some print copies of books and carry them on vacation –

i. Look for independent book stores and ask if I can donate a few copies.
ii. Libraries

i. Interview on Podcast
j. Book reviews
k. Post a lot on Reddit

2) Content: Providing a way for people to get to know me and my writing.

Again, here are my immediate thoughts:

a. Blog writing
b. Book teasers
c. Samples listed on Amazon
d. Samples listed on my blog.

3) Permission: A way to stay in contact with people long-term.

a. Build an email list – remember that I'm looking for a way to stay in long-term contact with these folks so that every time I release a book they’ll know about it.
b. Gain readers for the blog – this is interactive: if readers come back to the blog and see the new releases, they'll be more likely to purchase. Readers can't buy what they don't know about.

i. Building readership to the blog is a way to not only introduce my writing, but to encourage folks to experience my voice, my style of writing. Ultimately, I want readers to be pleased with their purchase and feel like their funds were well-spent.

So a huge Thank You to Tim Grahl and his insight.

To me these are more than goals for 2019 -- this is a Plan of Action.

Do you have other ideas????? Other plans that have worked for you?????

Please feel free to comment, or send me a Twitter reply.


K.M.Saint James
@LoneStarMeander

Learn More! Additional Writing Tips . . .

A Writer's Magic . . . as close as fingertips!

6 Steps to Editing like a PROfessional!

Marketing: 13 Thursday Tips on TEXT TEASERS

TEXT TEASERS are a fabulous way to entice readers to purchase your book.
Today's job has been about seducing the reader.

I've highlighted Paint for the purpose of this blog, but other options for image-compiling the Text Teaser are available. However, I highly recommend working these early steps through Paint.

STEP 1 --

Resize book cover to several different sizes and SAVE!

STEP 2 --

Select side background picture for text teasers and paste as an addition beside your book cover. You will need to work with the sizing. Again, I suggest saving in multiple sizes for different media releases. What works on Facebook and what works on Twitter may require different sizes. Take the time - upfront - to resize and then mass media release is possible. Additionally, you can utilize a 'blank or solid colored' background if no particular picture reinforces your book. However, consider the multitude of free media images before you go with a blank slate.

.

STEP 3 --

Choose text teaser. Mine for gold. Choose a teaser that will still make sense when pulled from the text. Choose a teaser that emphasizes character conflict.

STEP 4 --

Load text on side background picture.

STEP 5 --

Save.

STEP 6 --

Oops! Won't save.

STEP 7 --

Re-select side background picture and add, change size of background picture, or as I did -- save as a .png.

STEP 8 --

SAVE NOW!

STEP 9 --

Load text teaser on side background picture.

STEP 10 --

**Transparent? or Opaque?

If transparent, is your text color easy to read? Sized correct? Is your text teaser too long? But long enough to entice? Should the sentences be set apart for more impact?
If opaque, what color? How does that effect the overall read-readiness of your text? Is the text color the right shade against the opaque background color?

STEP 11 --

SAVE!

STEP 12 --

Reopen and make certain that you like the look of the text teaser, the overall sizing, etc. This TEXT TEASER technique is perfect for uploading reviews of your book. Once the basic cover art is sized for multiple media release, changing text teasers to reviews, and then more reviews is a click of the mouse.

STEP 13 --

Now upload -- everywhere.

STEP 13A

Repeat all steps for more text teasers and to increase marketing presence.

If you noticed a theme in the process, it was SAVE. Save at each step so if part of the process falls apart, you can simply reopen the work @ the last step and start again. Starting from scratch is no fun; avoid the aggravtion, and SAVE OFTEN. Oh, and I keep a separate file inside my BOOK COVER folder, marked: TEXT TEASERS. I date each finalized selection so I'll know that's the finished process and I can easily drop into a marketing site.

HAVE FUN with this process.