Books – Page 36 – Jean's Writing

Know what to do with an image problem

Published on January 18, 2016January 14, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell

Oh, Goody!

This is a great post from one of my favorite bloggers! This is a must read!!

Selling books are based on image. The writer’s image.

I used to tell my daughters all the time, a person’s perception is their reality. What ever they perceive to be real is what is real to them.

And the hard reality is that first impressions matter for writers too.

I can’t impress upon you enough how important Kristen’s blog post is. Click now and read….

Selling Books in the Digital Age—We ALL Have an Image Problem & Here’s What To Do by Kristen Lamb

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

What makes your blog float to the top?

Published on January 14, 2016January 13, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell14 Comments

Is it a catchy title, fancy SEO or what?

Anyone know where to order a website life jacket?

Do you know what an SEO is?

This writer hasn’t a clue!

Learning to market and use SEOs is just one of the many things writers are faced with everyday.

In fact the more I write, the more I discover writers need to wear many hats.

Writers need to market what we write, whether it’s a blog post, a children’s book or a 600 page novel. If we want people to buy it, we have to sell it. It seems writing is also a business of sorts.

Writers have to be editors, before we send it to a proper editor. Writers have to be illustrators before we hire someone who can draw. And the list goes on.

Neil Patel said, “Your content marketing campaign will fail unless you integrate SEO.”
Read more at Business2Business. At his blog, Kissmetrics.com, he explains that marketing your blog is like having a conversation between two people. SEO meets Content. Their conversation gets Google’s attention.

Nope, still don’t understand.

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Branding?? Nope, no longer done in Texas. The cattle here are bar tagged just like everything at Walmart.

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Hey, but the Cowboys still look just as hot.

Steve Masters lists 5 Ways To Come Up With Original Blog Post Ideas Over at the business 2 business community blog.

So SEO and Branding are two jobs I’m just going to let dust cover for now. These two things are just way over my head.

How about you guys? Any of you pros at this SEO and Branding stuff?

Did this help? Anyone? Anyone still there?

All this info made my head hurt. I need a glass of Merlot. I’m going to go find something to do now that will let my brain rest. Maybe watch Judge Judy.

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Writers get ready to be astounded

Published on January 12, 2016January 7, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Yes, shocked even!

Not everyone has heard about your book!

That’s right.

I know, hard to believe. As much as you’ve talked, complained, bragged, begged, posted and cried about your baby some of your friends and relatives have not heard about your book.

How do I know this?

A family member, don’t ask not gonna tell, mentioned she didn’t know I’d published a children’s book. Yes, she frequents Facebook! Where by the way I’ve shamefully plastered pictures of my book.

On occasion, I’ll run into friends and if I mention my book I get the same reaction.

I recently read an article that all of the people can’t be on social media all of the time or at the same time. It’s enough to give a writer a headache.

Well, here’s my point. I’ve got questions that need answers.

How many times and how often should we plug our book?
At what point do readers just get tired of hearing about it?
How do we promote without being obnoxious?

These are not rhetorical questions. I really want to know the answers.

Anyone have any answers, any hints?

What do you think? Please share in the comments section.

Or do you think we’re all just like trains passing in the night? Sigh….

Look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com! And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

What do you think comes first?

Published on January 4, 2016January 2, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell22 Comments

The chicken or the egg?

So what is a writer to do?

Kari Stevenson wrote over at BookFuel.com just why Book Reviews Are Important

She said, “Simply put, if I can’t find a review for a book there is a 99% chance I will not purchase it.” Click on the above link and read why she says as a librarian good reviews are a must have.

First and foremost begin early!

As I mentioned in my last post I failed to market my book before it was published. I didn’t seek reviews before publication. Seek out professional organizations and authors in your genre that might be willing to read your book. But, begin at least 2 months before the launch date. Don’t make my mistakes.

So how to get a review?

Ask your friends to buy and read your book.
Ask them to give an honest review.
Pray, hope, rub your lucky charm for a good review.
Repeat steps 1-3.

Yes, it’s a lot of work. I know, believe me. But I’ve not landed an agent to do the work for me, nor have I the money to hire a marketing agency so I’m plodding along.

Anyone have any good ideas out there for obtaining more reader reviews please share them! We would all love to know your secret.

Additional Reading Tips for Finding Reviewers

Make a list and check it twice.

How to Get Reviews For Your Book (Without Begging, Bribing or Resorting to Subterfuge) by Kimberley Grabas

Tim Grahl give you a form email to help.

HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR BOOK WITH AT LEAST 25+ AMAZON REVIEWS by Tim Grahl

What to say in a book review.

How To Get More Amazon Book Reviews By Jonathan Gunson

Amazon Reviewer Guidelines

Look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell and on Facebook at jean.cogdell! And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.