book marketing - Express Writers

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Becoming a Best-Selling Author in a Digital Age with Kristin Smedley

December 31, 2020April 10, 2020 by Rachel Moffett

Are you an author or thinking about writing your very first book? If so, there’s a good chance that you aspire to become a best-selling author! You want to get your book in the hands of tons of people around the world. That’s the dream when you’re a writer, isn’t it? Well, we wanted to get some tips on how to do just that, so we invited a best-selling author to guest host our Twitter chat, #ContentWritingChat, and share her expertise! #ContentWritingChat Recap: Becoming a Best-Selling Author in a Digital Age with Kristin Smedley Welcome to #ContentWritingChat! We’re excited to have you with us for another amazing chat!@KristinSmedley is our guest host and she’s joining to share some tips on becoming a best-selling author! pic.twitter.com/69RXLc6fBv — Express Writers | Your Content Writing Team (@ExpWriters) April 7, 2020 Our guest host for this month’s chat was Kristin Smedley. Kristin is a CEO, a TEDx speaker, and a best-selling author. The Kindle edition of her book, Thriving Blind, debuted as a #1 New Release and a #2 Best Seller on Amazon. And the paperback version debuted as a #1 New Release as well! Q1: Q1: Why should people consider becoming an author in 2020? And how do you know if writing a book is a great path for you to take? If you’ve been on the fence about writing a book this year, let us convince you! Our chat participants shared the benefits of becoming an author and it’s sure to leave you feeling motivated to write! A1: Reason #1: A book is a great way to move up the food chain & be the leader in your industry. #ContentWritingChat — Kristin Smedley Resilence Rockstar (@KristinSmedley) April 7, 2020 A1: Reason #2: A book is a great way to serve your audience. People search Google for info, however how many of you bought a book to dive fully into a topic? #ContentWritingChat — Kristin Smedley Resilence Rockstar (@KristinSmedley) April 7, 2020 Kristin feels a book is a great way position yourself as a leader in your industry. It’s also a fantastic way to serve your audience and provide value to them. She also went on to share that books can provide content for your social media platforms, your blog, and more since they can be repurposed into quotes, chapter summaries, and other options. And of course, writing a book can definitely add some cash to your bank account, which is always a plus. Kristin mentioned that it might not be a huge revenue stream, but every little bit counts! Q1: Why be an author in 2020? A1: In short, it’s the BEST kind of content you can create if your goal is to craft a long-lasting presence that holds ROI and grows over time. It’s a HELL of a lot of work… But totally worth it! ⬇️Me with my book babies #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/nemePWiCuw — Julia McCoy | Stay safe. Stay home. #COVID19 (@JuliaEMcCoy) April 7, 2020 The resident author here at Express Writers, our CEO Julia McCoy, said that writing a book is the best kind of content you can create if you want to create a long-lasting presence. You can see her with all three of her book babies in the photos above! A1: I always tell clients they shouldn’t write a book to make $ – they should write a book to open other doors (speaking gigs) and to build their thought leadership. #ContentWritingChat — Michelle Garrett (@PRisUs) April 7, 2020 A book can lead to many amazing opportunities, as Michelle mentioned in her tweet. If you’re looking to get into public speaking, starting with writing a book could be a huge help to get your career as a speaker off the ground. A1: Because everyone has a story to tell especially right now. I would examine what I want to say and if there’s anything new I can bring to the market. If so, I’ll write the book. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/TCBwVzcbSs — Carlarjenkins (@carlarjenkins) April 7, 2020 Carla feels that everyone has a story to tell. So, the question is, are you ready to tell yours? She suggests examining the market and seeing if there’s anything new you could add through creating a book of your own. Q2: Once you’ve decided to write a book, should you consider self-publishing? What are the pros of doing it on your own? When publishing a book, you can really go one of two ways. And when it comes to self-publishing, it’s certainly increased in popularity over the years. It’s made it even easier for people around the world to become authors. But before you go all in, there are some things you should keep in mind: A2: I self-published my first book, #ThrivingBlind, because I wanted to see where the problems are in getting #braille copies published for #blind readers. #ContentWritingChat — Kristin Smedley Resilence Rockstar (@KristinSmedley) April 7, 2020 A2: I am self publishing my next 2 books because the process is fairly easy, I have a big network, & I am good at marketing. #ContentWritingChat — Kristin Smedley Resilence Rockstar (@KristinSmedley) April 7, 2020 Kristin self-published her first book, Thriving Blind. Doing so allowed her to see first-hand the difficulties in getting braille books for blind readers. She even plans to self-publish her next two books because she feels the process is fairly easy and she’s confident in her marketing skills. Being able to market your own book is crucial if you want to become a best-selling author through self-publishing. A2: Self-publishing gives you all the freedom you want in terms of content, cover image, everything! #ContentWritingChat — Kristin Smedley Resilence Rockstar (@KristinSmedley) April 7, 2020 Self-publishing is certainly for those who want all the freedom! A2: I think self publishing gives you more freedom to make decisions that make the most sense for you and your book. From what I’ve seen there’s more leg work with self publishing, but the book is yours from start-to-finish. #contentwritingchat — Maria Marchewka … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Turn Your Content Into a Book with Leah Ingram

December 31, 2020October 20, 2017 by Rachel Moffett

Have you ever thought about turning your content into a book? If so, you might be wondering how to get started with this process! In this week’s #ContentWritingChat, this is exactly what we talked about. We talked about what you need to do first if you want to write a book, the pros and cons of working with a publisher versus self-publishing, and more! If this chat is right up your alley, keep reading for out recap. It’s loaded with all the tips you need. #ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Turn Your Content Into a Book With Leah Ingram Join us Tuesday, October 17th at 10 AM Central for the next #ContentWritingChat with @theleahingram! ?? pic.twitter.com/v6fi8pKleC — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) October 10, 2017 Our guest host this week was Leah Ingram. Leah is a regular #ContentWritingChat participant, so we were thrilled to have her guest hosting. As a writer, she had a lot of amazing tips to help you create a book of your very own. Q1: Why would you want to turn your content into a book? Whether you’ve already been thinking about writing a book or you’re not convinced it’s worthwhile, this first question is for you. We asked everyone to share why they felt writing a book could be beneficial. Check out some of the responses: A1: A great reason to turn your content into a book is to build your platform as an expert. #ContentWritingChat It’s why I did w/ mine! — Writer Leah Ingram (@theleahingram) October 17, 2017 Leah feels writing a book is a great way to build your platform as an expert within your niche. A1. You can gain access to a new #audience through a new medium. Plus, books don’t get lost on a timeline. #ContentWritingChat — SourceMedia (@SourceMediaCo) October 17, 2017 Writing a book allows you to reach a new audience through a different medium, which is always a plus. A1 A published book gives you instantaneous niche authority. Well worth the trouble. (Speaking from experience) #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 17, 2017 A1 Example of ROI: I landed a paid speaking gig organically through a publication finding my book + multiple clients. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 17, 2017 Julia said publishing a book instantly gives you authority in your niche. She was able to land a paid speaking gig and even secure new clients from publishing her own book. A1: I turned my blog into book to answer all of the questions people asked me in one place. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/zskozEGLl8 — Carlarjenkins (@carlarjenkins) October 17, 2017 For Carla, she felt a book was a beneficial way to answer all the questions she was commonly asked. A1: It’s a great way to put all of your ideas in one place, rather than spread across different blog posts. #ContentWritingChat — Leads To You (@LeadsToYou) October 17, 2017 A book is a great way to put everything into one place, which makes it easier for your audience to consume. A1. Portability! Easier to read content in book format than in diff blog posts. Seth Godin has made a career off it! 😉 #ContentWritingChat — Ken Hart (@KenHartWriter) October 17, 2017 As Ken said, portability is another benefit of writing a book. With all of your best content in one place, it’s easy for your audience to read and take with them wherever they go. Q2: How do you know that your content is something your audience will be interested in? Before you get started with a book, you want to make sure the topic you choose is something your audience will value. If they aren’t interested, they won’t buy! Here’s how you can make sure your book will be a hit with your target audience: A2: If you’re getting lots of comments or good traffic for certain types of blog posts/content, you’ve got a winner. #ContentWritingChat — Writer Leah Ingram (@theleahingram) October 17, 2017 If you’re receiving a lot of comments or traffic on certain types of content, Leah said that’s a good sign you’ve got a winner. This is a great way to get started when turning your content into a book. A2: When you listen to your audience and use what they’re saying as a guide to your content, you’re on the right track! #ContentWritingChat — Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) October 17, 2017 Make sure you’re listening to your audience. Take their feedback into consideration and allow it to guide your content. A2: Research what they’re responding to/sharing/commenting on/etc. already. Know thy audience so you can cater to them.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/vPNxJsVEmD — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) October 17, 2017 Sarah’s advice is to research what your audience is responding to and sharing. This gives you a good idea of what their interests are so you can create the content that resonates. A2: I do surveys, ask questions, check the comments and Google Analytics. That’s how I learn my audience’s interest. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/OcE4ZCRSFJ — Carlarjenkins (@carlarjenkins) October 17, 2017 If you aren’t sure what your audience truly wants, there are a few great options for you. Carla suggests doing surveys, asking questions, checking blog comments, and even viewing your Google Analytics. Discover what’s been a hit with your audience and go from there. A2. If you’re repurposing blog content, you already have a good barometer of interest: social media sharing & comments. #ContentWritingChat — Ken Hart (@KenHartWriter) October 17, 2017 If you’re going to be repurposing some of your blog content as a book, that’s already going to be a good indicator of your audience’s interest. Were people sharing those posts or leaving comments? Those are signs that they liked what you were sharing. A2: Don’t be afraid to ASK your audience what they’d like to see from you. They’ll tell you what they think. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) October 17, 2017 Never be afraid to just ask your audience what they want. If you have an idea, present it to them to get their feedback. Q3: What comes first — … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Twitter for Book Marketing & Promotion with Rachel Thompson

January 1, 2021July 21, 2017 by Rachel Moffett

Calling all authors! Are you wondering how you can use Twitter to market and promote your brand new book? If so, you’re in luck! That’s exactly the topic we discussed in our latest #ContentWritingChat. Some amazing tips were shared from our guest host and our chat participants. We’ve compiled some of the responses into this helpful recap, so let’s dive in! #ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Twitter for Book Marketing and Promotion with Rachel Thompson Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, July 18th at 10 AM Central with @BadRedheadMedia! pic.twitter.com/GqRoItdM4z — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) July 12, 2017 Our guest host this week was Rachel Thompson. She’s an author, a marketer, and the owner of BadRedhead Media. Having used Twitter to market her own books, she really knows her stuff! We were excited to have her join our chat and share her expertise. Q1: What’s the best way to use Twitter to sell books? To kick off this week’s chat, we asked everyone to share how they felt was the best way to use Twitter to sell books. We received some great responses to this question, so here are a few of the answers: A1: Simple. Don’t use Twitter to SELL. Use it to build relationships with readers. Be strategic to CONNECT @writingchat #contentwritingchat — Rachel Thompson (@BadRedheadMedia) July 18, 2017 A1b: Strategically follow READERS in your demo, provide valuable content, listen, be authentic/helpful @ExpWriters #contentwritingchat — Rachel Thompson (@BadRedheadMedia) July 18, 2017 Rachel’s advice is not to use Twitter to sell. Instead, she said to focus on building relationships with your current and potential readers. When you make that connection with people, it’s going to help you in the long run because people will be more inclined to buy from someone they know and trust. She also suggests strategically following readers in your demographic. Provide them with valuable content, listen to what they have to say, and be authentic and helpful. They’ll appreciate you for it! A1: Have never done it; would assume it’s the same as selling ANYTHING: find audience, meet their needs, network, etc.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/bafyrYkx1P — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) July 18, 2017 Even though it’s not something that Sarah has experience with just yet, she offered some great advice. She says you need to find your audience, meet their needs, and focus on networking. A1) Two thoughts: Sell yourself, and why your words are worth reading. Sell your words, and why they should be read.#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/PZjBmrVDOE — Jeff Reno(e) ? (@Renoe) July 18, 2017 Jenn has a great way of looking at selling! She says you need to sell yourself and why your words are worth reading. You also need to sell your words and why they should be read. If people don’t see the value in what you’ve created, they aren’t going to bother making a purchase. A1: I think, as someone who hasn’t done it (yet), you need to focus on expressing value that relates to audience needs. #ContentWritingChat — Annaliese Henwood? (@MktgInnovator) July 18, 2017 Annaliese agrees. She says it’s all about focusing on the value you can provide. If you want to be successful with book marketing, showcase the value you have to offer. A1: Have your following promote the book.Create a contest & let them use excerpts from the book to create fan art. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) July 18, 2017 You can also get creative with how your promote your next book. Have your audience get involved through a contest, which is a great way to get them doing some marketing for you. We love the idea of having them create fan art inspired by the book. Q2: How many Twitter followers do you need to be successful? Do you need to have a specific amount of followers in order to succeed at promoting your book? Or does it not matter? Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say: A2: People ask me this ALL the time. the truth is: it’s about quality not quantity as well as interaction @writingchat #contentwritingchat — Rachel Thompson (@BadRedheadMedia) July 18, 2017 A2: Most importantly, follow strategically: readers, book bloggers, reviewers, publishing influencers @writingchat #contentwritingchat — Rachel Thompson (@BadRedheadMedia) July 18, 2017 Rachel was spot-on with her answer here. As she said, it’s all about quality and not quantity. You want followers who are truly interested in what you have to say and the work you’re creating. That’s key to seeing results with social media. She also said that you should follow readers, book bloggers, reviewers, and publishing influencers. It’s a great idea to keep up with what those people are talking about and taking the time to engage with them. A2: It’s less about the NUMBER of followers and more about QUALITY. Tons of followers who don’t engage won’t matter. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel Moffett (@redheadrachel) July 18, 2017 After all, tons of followers who don’t engage with you won’t matter. You’d be better off with a smaller, engaged group than a larger group who isn’t pay any attention. A2: On @twitter, it’s a matter of quality, not quantity: 100 engaged followers are better than 10K silent ones!#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/Y6iBEGqcCt — @AndreaTorti90 (@andreatorti90) July 18, 2017 Andrea agrees! He said that 100 engaged followers on Twitter is much better than having 10,000 followers who are silent. You need an audience who is actually listening to you and engaging. Those are the people who will be most likely to buy. A2: You need the followers that read your books. That could be 10 or it could be 10,000. Quality over quantity. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) July 18, 2017 Focus on building a following of current readers and potential readers if you want to succeed on Twitter. Q3: What’s better: automation or no automation? How do you feel about automation? Is it acceptable when promoting your book on social media or should it be avoided? Here’s some advice: A3: First, let’s clarify what we mean by automation. AutoDMs are the cockroaches of Twitter. So NO on those … Read more