The Write Stuff with... Carol Thomas

This year I'm introducing a new feature to the blog The Write Stuff with... which gives authors the opportunity to talk about anything writing related.  Today it's my pleasure to welcome Carol Thomas, author of Crazy over You, who has writting a piece about Setting Promotion in Place.

Promoting a book is an ongoing process. Getting started can feel daunting, especially for self-published authors. So for those looking to get their promotion in motion, here are five top tips I have learnt from fellow authors:

1) Get to grips with social media: 
Aim to focus on one or two social media sites and to do them well. When beginning your social media campaign think about the persona you want to present and the brand you want to create. Keep personal and professional accounts separate – you never know who will be looking you up in the future!

Facebook allows people to follow you and for you to start building a buzz about your work. Initially invite your friends to follow you and ask them to encourage others to do the same.

Twitter readily enables you to reach a wider audience. Follow other writers and those people who may be your future readers, they may follow back. Use hash tags such as #amwriting and those relating to your book. Aim to be interested in others and interesting yourself. Check out opportunities for promotion such as @TheAuthorHour.

You Tube is becoming hugely popular as the place to promote yourself and your work. You can record and post interviews, events, and things relating to you, your research and your book. Aim to post regularly and to promote when your posts will appear through your other social media pages.

Pinterest or Instagram may be useful if your book or research lends itself to image or photo sharing, especially to drive traffic to your website.

If you decide to undertake a social media advertising campaign, such as Facebook advertising, it is advisable to research what works well before you begin.

2) Create a professional website that reflects your brand:
Create a page about you, your books, where to buy them and helpful reviews. Include a press page providing professional photographs of you, your book cover and useful links for those wishing to write about you or your work; you can also link to existing articles from here.

3) Get reviews – connect with book bloggers:
Research book bloggers who enjoy your genre. Follow them on social media, read their blog and follow their review policy. Make your request personal and don’t hassle them; almost all book bloggers are doing it in their spare time because they love books. Once you have a review be grateful, add it to your website and link to it from your own social media.

4) Contact local papers, magazines and radio stations:
Local papers and magazines will write about you if you provide them with an angle, an article and a photograph. Check out their website and always approach them politely following their guidelines. Don’t be afraid to give it a try, most are more welcoming than you might think.

With local radio it is useful to have a link to something they are covering on their show as a way in. Consider things in the news, or future discussions they are promoting.

5) Find fellow authors:
There is safety in numbers, so working with fellow authors can be of benefit. I met the Chindi, Chichester Independent Authors, group and have worked with them on promotional events. We have monthly meetings and a private forum (where we share ideas) as well as our public pages http://www.chindi-authors.co.uk.

Obviously these are just starting points to bulid upon but if you are starting out I hope you find some of them useful.

Author bio:
Carol Thomas lives on the south coast of England with her husband, four children and excitable young Labrador. Carol has taught in the primary sector for many years and works as a copywriter for commercial websites. She has a passion for reading, writing and people watching and can often be found loitering in local cafés, drinking too much tea and working on her next book.

Carol has two books coming out in 2017, the first is a children’s picture book called Finding a Friend and the second is a contemporary romance novel, currently titled Regret Me Not.

To find out more about books by Carol Thomas:

http://www.carol-thomas.co.uk

https://facebook.com/carolthomasauthor

https://twitter.com/carol_thomas2

Love can drive you crazy... in more ways than one! 

When Abby met Simon, a drink in the uni bar lead to keeping in touch, late-night phone calls and intimate catch-ups. It was the start of something special, a love Abby believed would last a lifetime. 

A wedding, two daughters and fifteen years later, Abby's world is falling apart. Having discovered Simon has had an affair, her normally ordered mind is spiralling out of control. Crushed by the betrayal and shocked by her own reaction, she knows she needs to get herself together; she's just not sure where to start. 

With Simon on a mission to win her back and a close friend hiding a secret that could push her further over the edge, Abby finds strength and support where she least expects it. But as she attempts to gain control of her life and make decisions about her future, it may be more than the limits of Abby's mind that are put to the test! 

To buy Crazy Over You: 

http://www.carol-thomas.co.uk/books

Amazon.co.uk 
http://tinyurl.com/COY-Amazonuk

Amazon.com
http://tinyurl.com/COY-Amazon