Guest Blogger, Shannon - More Than Publicity plus GIVEAWAY ($$ value)!
by sue on Apr.09, 2010, under Book Chat
GIVEAWAY - HOT OFF THE PRESS - 3 randomly chosen commenters will be chosen - GOOD LUCK!:
Winning ticket is good for ONE ($125) Reader Registration to RomCon 2010 - July 9-11, 2010 in Denver, CO. Winners must be US residents. The base ticket grants admission to all RomCon 2010 award ceremonies and core reader events, but does not include meals, travel, or hotel accommodations. Meals are available for purchase when the attendee registers. There is a $25 fee to transfer the winning ticket to a different reader attendee. The ticket has no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for cash. Unclaimed tickets expire June 15, 2010.
A VIEW FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX
One might ask: What does “Outside The Box” mean? Simply put, it means “Creative Thinking Beyond the Norm.” This is something romance authors do every day when writing their incredibly rich, unique and entertaining stories for every one of us to enjoy. Some may find this process easy and natural; others gifted with the ability to put imagination onto paper may experience extreme frustration, uncertainty and then joy when the Muse finally “kicks in!”
Professionals in my industry find “Outside The Box” a primary state of mind and a survival necessity in the world of competitive markets. My name is Shannon Aviles and I am a Brand Marketing and Multi-Media Specialist working in romance. I’ve spent the past 30 years working in all lines of entertainment: feature film, television, theatre, music, travel & leisure, entertainment parks and now in literary – in the US and in Europe – for giants of the entertainment world.
It’s easy to see that I love my career choices – they have fed my own creative muse for the world of all things entertainment. While many do not consider literary fiction a form of entertainment, I consider it one of history’s oldest and highest regarded. Indeed, it is a mistake not to think of it as such in today’s growing markets, because it has influenced and changed the world throughout history and directly impacts how we live in our various sub-worlds today!
There can be no doubt that the existence of authors and the brilliant influence of their written words have indeed shaped our present-day lifestyles and mindsets. When we consider just two of our classic literary forefathers – Jules Verne and H. G. Wells – we can easily see that Outside The Box thinking has long been in play. What once was considered outlandish fantasy is now considered an essential part of our lives.
In today’s markets, you can see this trend continuing with screenwriters for television or feature films. As depicted in the world-building storylines of Castle, Star Trek, Caprica and Avatar – soon, you will be reading books not on eReaders, but on flat pieces of tape or paper-thin screens made of revolutionary new materials. These products are already being tested and used by a variety of industries and will ultimately reach consumer markets as well. However, some believe the technology once inspired by the literary world is actually contributing to its demise. Is this irony, fantasy or truth? Or is it merely a time for “Outside The Box” strategies to come into play again and reach out to a new world of techno consumers who relate to the world around them in new and exciting ways?
In 21st Century mixed media marketing, the phrase “communication is the key” is an understatement. From High-Tech to High-Def, Broadcast to Broadband, iPod to iPad, Satellite TV to Sat-Phone and World-Wide-Everything, technology is now a way of life. The latest and greatest gadgets, software and portals are no longer created solely for our entertainment; we use them daily – often hourly – to socialize, to collaborate, to find and share information, to work, to eat, to shop, to watch, to listen, to see, to speak, to discover the world, to read books – eBooks – to own an entire library of books, from classics to contemporary in one portable electronic device! Today, the availability and affordability of these new technologies makes the demand – and the options available to meet that demand – even more vast and overwhelming. When it comes to Marketing in this sea of rapidly advancing technology, how does one rise to the top?
There is a whole world out there populated with consumers seeking new and better avenues for their entertainment. We can no longer assume all these people are seeking their resources in the same way – just as we cannot assume that everyone chooses to read the same way or find their reading material in the same way. The world is clearly changing faster than most can comprehend. Studies show that all these high-end technologies sell… and sell HUGE! Someone out there is using them; the question then becomes “How do I grab their attention? How do I compete?”
This is where thinking Outside The Box becomes the most valuable tool you can possess and/or hire to gain that elusive edge!
Products, technologies and options may be vast – but as writers and readers, we all know it’s true: ideas are infinite. However, a great idea isn’t enough. Often, when an idea leads to profitable results, it’s easy to get comfortable, to depend on “what works” rather than using it as a springboard into so much more… that could work so much better. Soon, the very thing that once made a company, an individual, a series or a product successful can quickly become obsolete – all because the idea had been “closed off,” literally stuffed into a box.
Outside The Box Thinking is not just for new ideas; it’s also about finding new ways to express an “old” idea – one that is still valuable, but may be losing its shine. It is a uniquely imaginative creative process that keeps a product or a medium – an idea – constantly relevant, in motion and alive, adaptable and at the forefront of a rapidly changing environment.
This makes Outside The Box thinkers the movers and shakers… and sometimes the troublemakers! We are the creative minds that transform rather than conform; we challenge old movements and pioneer the new. At heart, Outside The Box Thinking is the past, present and future of ideas: study yesterday to learn, observe today to stay relevant, and open up to tomorrow – to become the future.
Mankind has proven many things, but in my opinion one of the most important revelations is this: “If we can imagine it, write it down and publish it – we can live it!” There is no question that there will always be authors. But how do you, as an author and creator of ideas, desire to live your future in this world of high-paced multimedia technology? Marketers feel that it is the consumer and their buying power that ultimately shapes the direction of technological progress.
I’d love to hear from both Authors and Readers alike – the power belongs to you and me as consumers to shape our future reading experiences! In future blogs, I will explore our “Marketing Outside The Box” ideologies on how to: write it, sell it, purchase it, read it, market and promote it!
Here’s a sneak peak at a new Interactive, Multi-Media, Integrated Marketing and Promotional tool that goes everywhere online and soon will fly off the web and land onto hand-held technologies everywhere - big words to simply say, “It Will Go Where No Website Has Ever Gone Before!” Imagine that: a moving and flying mini-website? Enjoy!
• As a reader, what do you want your future reading experience to become?
• Do you think that the world of published printed books will become a VINTAGE high cost product – or evolve into a whole new form?
• As an author, are you rethinking the ways you promote your books in light of new multimedia opportunities? And if so, what “Outside The Box” methodologies do you think will work best for you?
Shannon Aviles and her group from More Than Publicity and MTP Productions, works with Authors and Publishing Houses promoting and marketing books and author brands. http://www.morethanpublicity.com/
Videos Brought To You By Borders and MTP Productions… Enjoy!
Related posts:
- Guest Blogger, Shannon! & Giveaway from Harlequin! Confessions of a Category Addict – Part 2 During the course of writing this four-part blog series, I discovered something about myself – I’m a book hoarder. I was searching through a box of books and found that I had saved the first book I read in each of the...
- Guest Blogger, Shannon & Harlequin Giveaway! Confessions of A Category Addict – Part 4 This week, we bring the series to a close with the last three imprints. I’m going to start off with Silhouette Special Edition (by the way, my first one was 1988, Summer Shadows by Pat Warren). I really enjoy this line. It...
- Guest Blogger, Shannon & Harlequin Giveaway! Confessions of a Category Addict – Part 3 This week, I want to explore the shorter series romance imprints – Harlequin Presents, Silhouette Desire and Harlequin Blaze. Anybody who knows me will tell you this – if series romance is my addiction, then my drug of choice is Harlequin...
- Guest Blogger, Shannon & Sue’s Stash Giveaway! My name is Shannon, and I’m a series romance addict. It has been 23 minutes and 45 seconds since I picked up my last series romance. When it comes to life’s milestones, everyone remembers their “first.” My “first” was shortly before my sixteenth birthday. I was working at the...
- Guest Blogger, Shannon: Harlequin Presents goes Retro? Giveaway! Harlequin Presents goes … Retro??? This May, Harlequin Presents launches an innovative new mini-series — Men Without Mercy. These are “retro” books that feature a 21st century independent heroine who is thrown back in time and meets a hero who may be a bit rough around the edges but...
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About Sue & Borders True Romance Blog
Sue G - Borders True Romance Host - Borders Romance Buyer, reads romance. For her JOB. No, really. You can email Sue at sgrimshaw at bordersgroupinc dot com.
Borders True Romance Blog is a community, developed for you, the romance reader, to find out more about the books you love; the authors who write them & where to buy them :) Borders.com
Shape-shifter Dev Peltier thought he knew it all. But one night when a Dark-Hunter, who is also an official member of the Dogs of War, sashays into his bar, he realizes he might have met his match. But as old enemies and new move into New Orleans, Samia realizes that Dev just might be the only hope she and mankind have to save the world.
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June 10th, 2010 on 7:42 pm
thanks for the help!
May 15th, 2010 on 9:58 am
I feel far more persons need to read this, really very good info.
April 12th, 2010 on 4:16 pm
As a technophobe, I don’t really have any ideas for using future technology in marketing books, but I do currently use message boards/email loops to target niche markets for elements within my books. For example, I have a Chinese crested hairless dog in all of my stories, so I promote those stories to Yahoogroups built on a common interest in all things canine.
An author can also find potential readers based on elements within her/his books by researching through the libraries’ resource books on associations. There is a group or association for every conceivable hobby, sport, collectible, profession, etc. So if one’s heroine is an accountant, it’s possible to promote to the association of accountants. If the hero drives a vintage Mustang, one can promote to a group of vintage Mustang collectors.
Hopefully promoting to a niche market will also grow the genre and bring new romance readers into the fold.
– Marcia James
April 12th, 2010 on 10:05 am
This is an interesting discussion. I love interacting with readers and other writers, and creativity and content are definitely important, but the sometimes the viral marketing approach (while obviously effective) seems very, very time-consuming!
Allegra
April 12th, 2010 on 1:40 am
Good day, good writing.
April 11th, 2010 on 1:44 am
I love paper books. I love the feel and the option to hold them in your hands. Ebooks are so easily corrupted and misplaced in comparison to the paper books. I love some of the new technology that authors have brought out, it always makes me wonder if one day we’ll have it. At the same time, it’s interesting for futuristic books that puts our current technology as something obsolete, lol.
April 10th, 2010 on 11:36 pm
I’d like to comment on the ebook question. I think paper books are still far better technology, with a lasting power that ereaders can’t have. I’m still re-reading books I bought as a teenager in the 1950s. Can we imagine me still using my ipad 60 years from now? I don’t think so.
Then there are the practicalities for us avid readers. I travel regularly between Australia and the UK, 24 hours or more door to door. There isn’t a battery that will last that long. What do I do when the ereader battery runs low? It takes me three books to last out the long, boring journey, and sometimes with delays, an extra day can be added, so I take spare books.
In addition, I’ve seen technologies come and go over the years eg floppy disks to CDs to thumb drives for storage and backups of my documents. What happens to my ebooks when the ereader I might be using goes out of production, or a new system of reading crops up? I don’t want to lose my ‘keepers’.
I not only much prefer real books, I trust them. Ereader technology just isn’t good enough or stable enough yet.
April 10th, 2010 on 6:30 pm
love this post and the discussion
April 10th, 2010 on 2:15 pm
Interesting discussions here! In terms of publicity for books, I think social media does (in a different way) what has always worked for books: word of mouth.
If we see on someone’s facebook page that they read and enjoyed a certain book, we’ll consider reading it ourselves. I am sure I am not the only one checking out what books people are reading on the train, either! When an author retweets positive comments about a book, I consider it more. Social media, twitter, etc. all bring us closer to either authors or other readers and reveal to us possible future reads!
Regarding eReaders: this week, I have been setting up eReaders for people to check-out from my library. Some libraries do have eReaders to check-out, and you can play with some in the stores as well. If you are interested in buying one, I would suggest you try as many out in person that you can. My observations are that each person that tried out the readers had different thoughts about them. I imagine that each of us would probably choose to purchase a different one for our individual reasons.
Great conversation!
April 10th, 2010 on 2:11 pm
I hope that print books will never become vintage, but can see the benefit of having an eReader. I do not like to throw hardly anything away (so I limit myself on what I can buy and try not to have collections of any kind excluding books, movies, and the like), and having an electronic reader would be beneficial. Still, I’m not willing to shell out a whole bunch of money on a reader when I don’t really use my iPod (have had it for over two years and used it about five times). My cell phone is used more as a watch than a phone since I communicate more with people online (my schedule is often too busy for long conversations and do not employ using the cell for calls or texts unless I’m bored or alone). Even though I’m still an early-twenty something person and therefore out of the norm for most people my age, I see a lot of technology appearing as unnecessary and not as dependable as the non-technological counterparts.
Plus, even though more often the representation and symbol of intelligence is a nice computer vs. a book, I still love the idea of having a library in my home. I want to read to my future kids not off of a screen but paper (or paper like material). I want them to smell the goodness of a book, feel the wonder in their hands. It’s this feeling that makes me sad about the technological world I love.
Also, I don’t know about books, but I do know that the whole craze for having the new and latest cell phones is not only a bit ridiculous, but also having a bad impact in areas where materials found for batteries and other parts of the cell phone are found (like diamonds in Africa and (sad day) chocolate).
I’m very interested in improvements, but am still looking at the cost. (Though I wonder if I’m currently more concerned, because I’m in the middle of reading The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and it explores similar themes. ^^)
On the lighter side, I would like to see a greater attempt to bring more historical romances to the big screen (or small). Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, and similar movies/miniseries are amazing, but what about some of the newer authors? Even Georgette Heyer? Romantic comedies (of late) are slim in content and quality of late (with few exceptions), and a historical romantic comedy may be the way to go.
Also, I love all the new things online related to books. I love the wigits (I think this is the correct term), blogs, author sites, and bookstores online. This blog is one I enjoy and frequent. I love looking at the advertisements for books, and catch myself looking up the authors and books I see advertised. I try to spread the wealth of knowledge about books by telling others what an amazing place the internet is for readers (especially romance readers), and would love to see anything new in this area, too.
April 10th, 2010 on 5:16 am
WOW. What great widgets. Its so difficult to find a promo that will stand out, but yours really seem to be a step above the rest - or is that, Outside the Box *g*
I’m a techno dreamer - I’d love to be a techno geek but don’t quite have the skill LOL. Maybe thats one of the reasons that its hard for me to balance the creative elements required to write with the OTHER creative elements required to promote and think outside the box.
April 10th, 2010 on 2:25 pm
Thank you Tawny for your kind compliments!
I personally feel sometimes that I was born too early - I love technology that much… I yearn to be able to travel through space - yet, I was gifted in this life to be the creative and not the scientist!…lol
What I love about my time is that the creative and the scientist can be and often are one and the same! Authors throughout history have proven it and scientists certainly have very creative minds that are just wired a bit differently…G
Hence the creation of the TECHNO GEEK which I believe each of us has inside of us to some extent or another. How much fun and absolutely frustrating! …chuckle
Writers - which you appear to be, are the most important dreamers, creators and influencers in our world. All of the technology we’ve been speaking of and others not mentioned, would never have come into play without the author.
So, slap yourself on the back and a “high ten” from me and all the readers who enjoy or will enjoy your stories!
April 10th, 2010 on 4:24 pm
Oooh, I like that, Shannon
High fiving away!
April 9th, 2010 on 11:56 pm
appreciated this blog!
April 10th, 2010 on 12:03 am
Thank you! I’ve been having a great time chatting with everyone! I’m not at all sleepy….lol
April 9th, 2010 on 11:25 pm
Okay, I have not yet purchased an eReader myself, and would like to very soon…
So what are your opinions on iPads vs. Sony eReaders vs. Kindles?
Also, as one who’s never even used an eReader, DO you get to view the book covers, or read the book cover copy or quotes in an eReader?
Also, do eReaders recommend books to you based on what’s in your library [similar to what Amazon does with your browsing/purchase history, or what iTunes does with your music collection]?
Also, do any physical bookstores offer the chance to “test” the various eReaders? Do libraries allow people to “check out” eReaders?
April 10th, 2010 on 2:07 pm
Well Taylor -
You pose a question that is as up in the air as the personal choice of a book and/or author is to buy.
There are pros and cons posted all over the internet on all three products by users of said products. You should get on the net and Google, Ask and/or Bing this question and do a bit of research.
The three are similar and yet very different and it really comes down to personal preference, taste, style and budget. The iPad is still too new to really know what the general Apple user population have to say - but, there is some early chatting on it already out there.
I recommend that you do your homework before you commit your dollars - these new toys are not cheap - however, there are deals out there for some of the earlier models of Sony. It really comes down to YOUR style, preferences and your budget as to what culture you fit in most comfortably in…
You pose an interesting topic to discuss on the possibilities of “renting” and/or checking-out an eReader to try it out first or simply use….
Somehow - I doubt that there is a market for this as you would have already seen a burgeoning industry for computers, cel phones, iPods, iPhones, etc….
Which of course, we have not seen as there is no money in it for the manufacturers who are in the business of making money!
Now as a Marketing guru - I’m very excited about eBook packaging as there are ALL KINDS OF GREAT OTB ideas on how to market eBooks and what can also be included in the download as added content value for incentive sales.
I salivate at all the ideas in my very creative mind…..panting! Of course, book covers can and are in some cases included - however, I have even better ideas than just a graphic book cover image being presented - you can guess where my mind is going with this…..G
April 9th, 2010 on 10:06 pm
What a great commentary about our ever changing advancements in technology. If anyone would have told me that I would be able to carry a phone with me all day and take or make a call anywhere in the world I would have laughed. Or read a book on a portable computer, or an e-reader.
Ebook versus paper. I have to admit that I do both equally. There is nothing more thrilling than going to a book seller and getting the newest releases by a favorite author in my hot little hands. Though I will admit to reading my Sony ebook reader when at lunch or reading a story on my laptop.
As long as the industry keeps it competitive, and it does not lose the focus of good stories and readers pleasure, I think all can be satisifed.
April 10th, 2010 on 1:48 pm
…lol… I so agree Annmarie!
It’s the BEAM ME UP SCOTTY world we live in these days. I remember the first mobile phones - they were HUGE and weighed a ton! G They were a suspense/mystery/thriller authors’ favorite wet dream…
Remember the first computers? OMG… it was all about DOS. How about those first monochromatic monitors - talk about ugly colors - Orange and Black or Green and Black and more black and white and the cursor - a blinking teeny box! Talk about “Coming Out Of Box!”
Thank goodness for WINDOWS! Although there are days when all I want to do is to go after Microsoft with a very sharp object in hand….G
With all this talk about the future of books and the direction ebooks will take the industry - we’ve yet to discuss the future of Book Retail Stores - such as Borders!
There is no doubt they will have to go OUT OF BOX and stay on their toes to compete! How exciting…..:) I love walking into a Borders store and spending hours upon hours browsing - well, EVERYTHING! They don’t just sell books….
I also love the Romance Expert program they run through their stores - I love the personal interaction with a sales person who knows the genre, books and authors that I’m interested in reading. I have found lots of new authors thanks to Borders Romance Experts!
What will they be selling in the future? That’s the real question. What will readers be looking for? Will book retailers up their game and begin selling ebooks and other electronic type products in their stores? Or will their Online Ecommerce sites take over?
April 9th, 2010 on 8:45 pm
I am in the presence of some very honorable authors today. WOW! This is wonderful. I own a few of the modern conveniences in technology today like a blackberry and laptop. I want an eReader of any brand but money is the biggest factor. Even if I had one I would miss all the different things I love in my books; the touch of the cover, the smell of new fresh paper, the sound of the pages turning and the look at every different picture on each cover which entice me to buy the book. I can read every type of material possible but where would my other five senses be???
April 10th, 2010 on 10:20 am
Hello Lisa -
Tactile sensory demise seems to be imminent with the continued direction toward high technology - yet, as a human beings, what have we been using theses senses for - survival?
For endless generations we have been replacing the natural with the artificial - electricity, candles, gas, scented candles, electronic air fragrances, curtains/blinds/window treatments to keep natural light out of hour domiciles while introducing artificial light, etc… This is an endless list!
Mankind has been changing his environment throughout his evolution while negatively impacting said environment and self - nothing new here. We won’t go into all the ramifications of this in this blog - but the most important changes have been to our lifestyles, our culture, our priorities in life….
It is kind of scary when we think about all of this - but, when it comes to the future of books - the masses and their power to spend will ultimately dictate the evolution of books as we know them today.
What I think is important to say is that it will also impact the way authors write, publish and make a living. It is a change in the paradigm of our thought processes that will also change the meaning of the word to be published.
After all - the Internet affords every human being the opportunity to be an Author and to be Published…
What does that say about the quality of our future reading material?
April 9th, 2010 on 7:35 pm
You questions about the future of books are intriguing. I have no idea what the actually future of books will be, but I expect that until everyone can afford all the electronic devices that some people supposedly can’t live without anymore, then print books are in no danger of becoming ‘vintage’.
I for one hope that never happens. I currently read print books and ebooks in about equal numbers. I hope I will never have to give up print books. Because ebooks have one major drawback. They are power dependent. After a six day power outage a couple years ago, I learned to temper any enthusiasm about all this new electronic gadget age. All the rechargeable stuff only lasts a day or two at most. Without print books, I don’t think the three of us(mom, me and my daughter)would have survived intact(only half joking here).
April 9th, 2010 on 8:06 pm
I hear ya Beth! G
I’m personally from Florida and I can’t tell you how many WEEKS during Hurricane Season I’ve been without electricity and I found that the best times in my life was being without electricity and having to do nothing more than read, read, read - by candlelight, flashlight, hurricane lamp lite - you name it, I did it to be able to read nothing but wonderful paper bound books!
Of course, we won’t discuss the water damage that can happen to said books during said hurricanes….lol
April 11th, 2010 on 1:07 am
But electronics get just as damaged by water and we all have hundreds of books that would be lost in that case. With print, a lot of the time you can dry them out. Even if they aren’t in the same condition they are usually still readable. Electronics would just be gone.
April 9th, 2010 on 11:10 pm
That is the truth! When we’d gone without power for a week because of a horrible ice storm, the iPod only lasted a day, the laptop, less than two hours.
But the books, candles, board games, blankets, cats and husband were PRICELESS ways to spend the time staying warm and keeping my mind off the stress of wondering when the heck the power would finally return!
April 9th, 2010 on 4:24 pm
Hi, Shannon. Great blog today! Love the new look to MTP’s logo! Of course I appreciate all your outside the box thinking!!! Very unique and specific to each author. I’m a huge techie. Own every gadget, have a Kindle, iPad on preorder … I LOVE reading books on the Kindle and at the same time I hate not having the book and its cover in hand that I own. That said, technology is certainly the wave of today and the future! Thanks for featuring my widget which I LOVE LOVE LOVE!
April 10th, 2010 on 12:33 am
Hello Carly -
I’m sure this is past your bedtime - but, I had to jump in and say Thank You for joining me today. This has been a lot of fun and I’m glad that you chimed in as I know you to be a HUGE Apple Momma! G
I believe that your whole family Apples including your beautiful pups I’m sure - Buddy and Baily! They would have to as I know they often go to your website and hangout with your fans chatting the afternoon away…
Like you, I love both worlds!
April 9th, 2010 on 3:51 pm
Shannon, love the logo and everything you’ve got to say! You know I’m a fan of MTP, especially after the book trailer video you guys did for the TAKE ME series!
April 9th, 2010 on 8:49 pm
Hello Karen -
I’m going to have to use your book videos as an example of how book videos are so versatile and powerful. You have a couple of book videos produced for a couple of different books - however, the one book video that was produced for your TAKE ME TWO TIMES book release during the Spring of 2009 is still being picked-up and played on network and cable television across the nation to date - a year later and it’s still a favorite amongst networks and viewers of those stations…
Your second book video TAKE ME FOR A RIDE (November 2009 release) is tagging right behind TAKE ME TWO TIMES and playing for all it’s worth and it hasn’t cost you a single extra dime!
I say this - because, even I a Marketing and Multimedia expert can be floored at times by the power of consumer demand.
There are many Book Video producing companies out there that can produce these videos and anyone’s budget can be reached by going out and shopping them.
Quality is essential to the success of a book video - a bad book video can hurt sales. A decent to good book video can only help!
I tell all authors that query me on book videos to do them even if they don’t hire me and my group to produce them - for my group, it’s irrelevent who you use as long as they can produce a good video that you can comfortably afford. Just do them!
You have everything to gain and nothing to lose!
April 9th, 2010 on 9:49 pm
Thanks for featuring the book trailer for IF YOU WERE MY MAN. The theme was captured perfectly. I’m not tech savvy so I definitely need someone who is.
The widgets for Madeline and Carly are super cool. And might I add,fun.
April 9th, 2010 on 11:13 pm
Francis, we had so much fun doing the video for IF YOU WERE MY MAN! It’s one of my favorites.
April 9th, 2010 on 3:28 pm
Shannon, I think you ask some very thought-provoking questions, especially in regard to the future of print books. There’s no denying that digitial formats have a lot of momentum right now, especially with smartphones and iPad to add to all the stand-alone ereader. When you combine the immediacy of the e-format with the hooked-in, wired nature of online communication, it’s a given that the way we promote books has to evolve just as quickly as other reading/reader relationships have.
The question is how.
April 10th, 2010 on 12:48 am
Hi Cissy -
The “how” is an ever evolving process in study, trends and consumer demands. Most definitely not a one way or one solution method but a constant stream of input and output mania!
Authors are in the business of writing - readers in the mode of reading at least romance for entertainment. Marketers are in the business of doing a bit of it all which is why it’s best to work with a professional when looking for answers on how to reach new audiences in new ways.
The old and true ways of the past have become obsolete and those who continue to throw good money doing the same things they did five years ago are going to get frustrated with their results.
The present economy is also frustrating even good marketing professionals as much as it is authors and publishers - but, we can see already where there is an upward move in the consumer markets.
Media studies are showing increasing trends in consumer spending which as we all know is what is needed to pull us out and above recent soft numbers in sales.
There is plenty of room for optimism and excitement in the coming months and years ahead. I believe that it will be up to each of us to decide which direction books will go…..
April 9th, 2010 on 2:48 pm
Thank you, Francis and Sandra, for your compliments on the logo!
April 9th, 2010 on 9:36 pm
Your talent is just amazing. You and Shannon make an awesome team.
April 9th, 2010 on 11:14 pm
Thanks!
April 9th, 2010 on 2:20 pm
hey I like this post. I found it from doing a google search. Ive been looking for this sort of thing for a while. This info will come in handy to me. I will check back soon to search the rest of your blog. thanks
April 9th, 2010 on 11:40 pm
Hello Arminda -
Can you tell I’m a NIGHT OWL? Very cool that you Google. This adds yet another layer to our discussion - SEO!
Search Engine Optimization is one of the most misunderstood, complicated and yet important aspects to website design. I will be discussing more on this topic in June.
All of our discussions in this blog hint at the most important aspect to any sales opportunity - HOW DO READERS FIND ME?
Unfortunately, one of the first things to get cut out of most budgets during a recession is Advertising, Marketing and Promotions.
One of the hidden truths about those who survive tough times and come out bigger than ever is that they never gave up the goat! They never stopped investing in themselves and their businesses or careers when times got tough - they spent to keep their investments a float! Putting themselves ahead of every one else when the “turn for better” happens!
Readers are still out there looking to find a good read and a new author. Romance books are one of the most affordable means of entertainment today. It’s one of the most practical and long lasting pieces of entertainment that anyone can purchase with small budgets.
It’s also one of the most self-medicating means to survive tough times out there that actually helps to boost morale!
A good website design that incorporates strong SEO is going to go a long way in having readers find authors and their books or any other subject they might be interested in.
I live to ASK, GOOGLE or BING!….lol
April 9th, 2010 on 2:12 pm
OMG, some of my most favorite authors are commenting here today! Be still my beating heart!
April 9th, 2010 on 2:06 pm
Thank you for such an informative and thought provoking blog entry, Shannon. I especially like the widgets. Whereas I’m used to seeing all sorts of online content and widgets for YA books and their authors, it’s good to see adult authors having the same cool things for their sites.
As handy as ebooks are (don’t have to wait until the bookstore or library is open to get something new to read), nothing quite beats having a paper book in hand (except maybe for those of us who are allergic to the mold that grows on old paper). And, of course, a paper book is never going to be obsolete in that it won’t run out of parts or batteries or technical services to fix it. When it truly becomes unusable, it can be recycled (and no problems with toxic metals either).
Nowadays, when I read a book, I do check out the author’s website/facebook page/twitter, so it’s not longer just about the book. Jayne Ann Krentz wrote a short story on twitter which I thought was a good use of that media. I wish she’ll do that again.
April 9th, 2010 on 11:05 pm
Cories - very cool mention of Jayne Ann Krentz tweeting a short story. OTB mania! Kudos to Jayne and even more KUDOS to readers like you who found her there and read her short story!
April 9th, 2010 on 11:11 pm
Charlotte - here’s the answer to your “Social Networking” question - YES! Most definitely important as you can see here - Cories found Jayne’s story on Twitter.
Think NEW PROSPECTIVE READERS and where can I find them to get the word out about me and my wonderful books….
By-the-way, Twitter is a very famous Television personality - Twit is a daily guest on lots of news and daytime talk shows.
April 9th, 2010 on 2:04 pm
Hey, Shannon! Great post! I, too, love the logo.
Are any of the old promotional tools still effective, or are they all out of date? For example, direct
bookseller mailings? Bookmarks or bookplates?
I can personally attest that some of the book videos that Shannon helped me create have had more than 30,000 hits each on YouTube. That’s a lot for fiction, I am told.
April 9th, 2010 on 8:02 pm
Hello Sandra -
Book Videos and their use and/or value in driving sales has been a very HOT topic on author blogs recently. I believe that even here on Borders True Romance, the topic was discussed.
Thanks for posting and sharing your personal success stories. Like television commercials, book videos cannot be traced to a single sale. There is no magic formula out there to do this for commercials nor for book videos. However, what book videos do and do best is to communicate to new potential readers that there is an author out there with an incredible book to read!
It’s really that simple…. Everyone knows the power behind a National Television Campaign. What amazes me is that there are those still questioning the power behind a National Online Commercial.
National Television Commercials cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Online book videos cost pennies in comparison. No one questions the POWER of the internet - yet, there are those that are questioning the power of a live, moving book commercial.
I find the topic interesting and not because my company produces book video commercials - we also produce television commercials and many, many other marketing tools - I simply find the topic interesting because the statistics on book videos and online videos in general prove them to be HUGE success numbers.
Small poling samples do not represent the enormous markets of viewers all over the web. One must be careful when applying such small isolated “sample” results to a larger consumer viewing and buying market.
In my next blog I will talk more about those numbers as they will amaze you. That and the fact that like you Sandra - my group and our clients receive large amounts of personal emails stating how much they enjoyed the video experience and how they’ve discovered the author for the first time by watching it.
Book Videos is singularly the most powerful interactive multimedia tool an author can use in so many ways to get the attention of new readers while entertaining their established fans.
My company is always finding new places and venues to upload them, play them and/or insert them like we do now in our new “Interactive Widgets” shown on this blog!
April 9th, 2010 on 10:38 pm
Oops Sandra!
I neglected to answer your questions around Direct Mail Campaigns!
In today’s market - Direct Mail Campaigns are a waste of money, time and effort. I know, this sounds harsh - but, it’s true. All anyone has to do is go to their mail box every day and look at all the JUNK that is sent to them by everyone!
I believe that I’m not alone is stating that “I simply trash the lot!” Professionally, marketers have ROI information that shows the cost does not out way the return.
The Post Office has just announced that they are cutting their hours back to Monday through Friday services only. There is a reason for this that has something and nothing to do with our present economic situation. It’s called the Internet!
The Internet’s growth in the last five years has overwhelmed the world. People wonder if one day it will just crash! G After all - how much space can it hold???? Apparently - infinite! G
Thank goodness! Because, it’s so inexpensive - it’s downright cheap! This is the REAL reason that the Post Office is cutting back their operational hours…
Now this is where I’m going to totally confuse you - targeted direct mail niche marketing campaigns are most definitely showing success. Even better - integrated marketing campaigns incorporating direct mail with online marketing efforts is blowing statistics through the roof!
Stay tuned for more on this and other subjects in my next blog post here on Borders True Romance. It’s scheduled for Friday - June 11th.
April 9th, 2010 on 1:54 pm
Like many authors, I view the future with both excitement and trepidation. I think the latter is normal when looking out on uncharted territory. The excitment is because I like the outreach that employing some of the new technologies creates. I like the idea of doing some promotion and marketing that is outside the box not only in its format, but in its audience. I get a lot of emails from readers that start with “I havent’ read a romance in years, but. . .” So I see the new opportunities created by social media and viral marketing as chances to grow not only my market, to readers who are not already part of the romance community, but the whole romance market as well, one reader at a time.
And thanks to those who have mentioned the widget. I get no credit at all, LOL. I love it, though. Not only does it do the job, but I think they are cute as can be, and had to have one in part for that reason.
April 10th, 2010 on 12:00 am
One of the great things about this widget is that unlike any other widget in the market and/or found online - this widget allows for HIGH BRANDING opportunities for Author Branding and Product Branding.
We can even create series BRANDING with this medium. Their interactive capabilities are practically endless while their design flexibility makes it possible for each to look totally different. They do not behave, look or act like any widget out there.
And they really go “Where no widget has gone before!” We hope that viewers, readers and surfers enjoy this new way to personally engage with Authors.
This widget will travel all over the net and acts as a mini-website moving across the web while a website waits to be found.
Marketing professionals are finding that websites can be debilitating as all promotional efforts have to drive the viewer to a stationery site.
This OTB new medium provides the creative freedom to advertise as well as entertain.
April 9th, 2010 on 1:39 pm
As a fairly new author, I’m always looking for new ways to get my book noticed, and your outside the box ideas are fabulous!
I’ll admit, I’m terrified of social networking, and the thought of having to read every book on a hand held device leaves me a little shell shocked. I guess I’m old fashioned. I love the feel and smell of a book in my hand. On the other hand, the storage of those books is becoming a bit of a logistical nightmare!
Shannon, in your opinion, how important is social networking?
All the best!
Charlotte
April 9th, 2010 on 11:01 pm
Welcome Charlotte -
I feel your pain!G I’m presently moving between two homes and was just telling a friend the other day that I had just spent the day packing over 3,000 books into innumerable boxes just from my bedroom.
I hadn’t even started packing the books in any other part of the house and I have two storage units full of books still waiting to be moved into my new home….
Note to Charlotte: I have no bookshelves in my new home! YIKES!! Worse yet - my husband is not a carpenter!!
Kinda supports the need for electronic books… Or the opening of my own bookstore….hmmmm Or at the very least - an ebay store. Food for thought!
Suffice it to say “I will never give up my books!” Odd that I’ve chosen a career in Multimedia Marketing… Not at all - in my world there is room for both! I love change and embrace it with a passion! I also like the “other world” that appears to be left behind - it’s just an appearance in my opinion. Or is it my age?
Will the new generations leave paper printed books behind once we past generations move on to greener pastures….? This is the million dollar question today or the billion dollar question in romance.
Will books become VINTAGE or will they find a new place in our future? I, like other marketing professionals in my field feel that the consumer markets will make the decision for us.
As we are each consumers - we each get a vote! I vote for both! The electronic age and the paper age - however, environmentalists have a whole different take on this subject. Has anyone considered this position? Is it healthy for our planet to continue to kill trees to support our die-hard addiction to tactile sensory products?
April 9th, 2010 on 11:58 am
Shannon, “Outside the Box” thinking is what’s positioned you at the top of your industry. I’ve been impressed with your ideas and your ability to stay ahead of the industry curve. It’s amazing to think we can carry a library in our pocket, isn’t it?
Outside the Box thinking applies not just to how we’ll market our writing in the future, but also how we, as writers will approach our craft in the future. We’ve heard it often said, “There’s no such thing as a new story.” I disagree. OTB thinking will produce new stories and new ways to approach old stories.
Raz Steel
April 9th, 2010 on 7:38 pm
Raz - how right you are.
It would appear that you have already learned that in order to sell a product - you must meet the market demand…
This is very hard to accept as an author of any kind of book - but, I feel especially so for Romance Authors. Authors write from their hearts and souls - yet, often get snagged with poor sales results.
This is were marketing trends come in to play. I’ve done seminars on “How to become the CEO of your own Business.” In this seminar, I teach authors how to think outside of the box by understanding that they must constantly watch the trends in other markets.
I’ve been heard to say that an author’s competitor is not the author sitting next to them - but, the ‘other’ products in ‘other’ entertainment industries.
Authors, just like everyone out there selling an entertainment product is competing with the “next best thing.”
I often remind authors that when your colleague makes it big and/or moves up the ladder of success - she or in your case Raz “he” is securing your future as a Romance Writer.
In romance - it’s the “next best story concept.” Keeping on your toes for story ideas and concepts is the singularly most important research an author can do for their business. A stale author will quickly drop in sales -
In this furiously paced ever changing world we live in - no one can afford to rest on their laurels.
April 9th, 2010 on 11:50 am
Neat logo for More Than Publicity, but then you’re always so forward thinking. As technology evolves, people obtain information differently, therefore publishers/authors have to think of new ways to contact them and grab their attention. As your informative introduction demonstrates, you have a firm grasp on how to make this happen.
April 9th, 2010 on 7:23 pm
Thank you Francis for your kind words!
These are challenging, often confusing but very exciting times! These are exactly the kind of times that offer exciting OTB opportunities that can make huge differences in people’s lives.
The “key” is to “take well calculated risks” - but you must take the risk none-the-less! To not bury your head in the sand. To embrace new ideas and new ways of doing things.
When challenging times present themselves - one must act and not react! Risk taking is scary - but, you gain nothing if you only allow yourself to do things the same way you’ve always done them while the world moves forward around you and without you.
Readers take risks also, with times as they are, they risk their money on purchasing an authors’ book. More so, if it is a new author. What I love about Romance is that the reader and author risk together!
Romance readers buy more romance books at one time than other genre experience. It is rare that a Romance reader will buy just one romance book a month or a week or a day or at a single purchasing moment.
Another thing I love about the Romance industry - readers and authors are very loyal to each other.
It is a singularly lovely and gratifying experience!
April 9th, 2010 on 11:27 am
Obviously, with the kindle, etc., the demand for hard-copy books is diminishing, but I don’t think that printed books will ever go completely away. I know that after I sit in front of my computer all day, the last thing I want to do for enjoyment is to pick up another electronic screen. Give me a hard-cover or paperback any day! There’s something about the tactile nature of a book which helps me to become lost in the world and story that the author has so lovingly created.
Now, that being said, I think that those who DO choose to use emerging technologies such as this are going to have vast new experiences in how marketers will get their attention. No one wants to be bombarded with popups, etc. So the challenge for publishers and marketers is how to do so subtly without being spammy and overwhelming. Think “product placement” in movies, TV shows, etc…how does that translate into the e-publishing arena?
I think Shannon’s integration of all forms of media (hence, Multi-Media) while inventing and implementing new technologies such as the syndicated widgets is brilliant and forward-thinking! Looking forward to taking a more in-depth look at the linked material she posted along with her blog!
April 9th, 2010 on 12:28 pm
Trish - I’m totally with you on preferring the “tactile nature” of SOLID books. I love having an actual, physical library in my house, enjoy buying bookmarks for them, love the covers and the bindings [when the covers aren't cheesy, of course - LOL].
Also, that is very true [and I'd never thought of it before] how it gives my eyes a break from so much exposure to electronic screens.
I’m the same way with music… I still prefer and enjoy owning a CD collection. However, at the same time, I also own an iPod and have a huge iTunes library. Sometimes, I will buy an album digitally first, and then, when I LOVE it, I buy it physically too, because I want to own it like a trophy, or something. LOL
I have yet to buy an e-Reader, but I have a feeling when I do, I’ll wind up doing the same: “trying” a book digitally, and then when I fall in love with it, buy the PHYSICAL book for my “keeper shelf.”
I’m probably weird that way and nobody else does that, but I like the feeling of contributing twice to musicians and authors who work so hard and contribute so much to the world with their imaginations and creativity… especially in an era where people “steal” from artists and authors way too easily.
Does anybody around here ever do that? Read something on your eReader that you love SO MUCH, you need to PHYSICALLY own it, too? Or am I truly just that weird? LOL
April 9th, 2010 on 12:44 pm
Guess I never thought of that - - so much of why I purchase a book from an author with whom I’m unfamiliar is the cover. If you don’t have a good cover, it doesn’t matter how fabulous your storytelling is…I’m not going to read the back cover to find out if I think I may enjoy the story if the front cover doesn’t intrigue me.
So, how will lack of a cover impact ebooks? Hmmmm…
Re: the whole e-library AND hard copy library - - hard copies are easier to share with friends who may not have the financial resources I have. Not true w/ ereaders…although I realize that one of them (can’t remember which) DOES allow you to share it w/ friends for a certain period of time…and your music thing - I do that too. Don’t have a jack for my iPod in my car, so I convert to CD.
April 9th, 2010 on 2:26 pm
What a great direction to take this blog Melina!
No - you are not WEIRD but actually very normal! The Romance Market is one of the only markets in literary that sees consumers purchasing the same book by the same author over and over and over again!
It is considered a FANDOM based niche market in that romance readers enjoy purchasing the first release, then the second and on and on…. We are considered “collectible consumers” - Hey! It’s the American Way! I must include myself in this category….G
Publishing Houses do a fabulous job capitalizing on this by - example: Releasing the first book in Hard Cover. Then re-releasing it again some 6 to 12 months later in Trade and/or in Mass Market. With each new release - you get a whole new book cover - new branding, new quotes, new reviews, etc… and sometimes even new edits!!!!
Of course, with each repurchase we also re-read the book and with much enthusiasm…. The greatest honor you can pay an author is to keep buying and reading their books - especially, while we are waiting for the next new one to be released! G
April 9th, 2010 on 1:31 pm
Thank You Trish for the nice compliment!
Yes, I would agree with you that “lighting” is part of the experience in reading. Nothing like the “warmer” types of ambient lighting to get you in the mood to cuddle-up with a good book! G
I guess that’s why so many of us can think of nothing better to do on a “rainy or cold day” than to sit with a good book and read; and probably drink something wonderful while we munch on something equally decadent….
eBook Manufacturers are well aware of the lighting issues with their products and are coming out with new and improved back lighting techniques to their product to encourage new buyers.
Personally, I love to sit in front of the fireplace - the lighting coming out of a fireplace is wonderful reading ambiance in my personal opinion.
April 9th, 2010 on 3:05 pm
Trish -
Please don’t get me started on the subject of BOOK COVERS! ….lol
Ok, but now that you have - this is what I have to impart in terms of information and not personal positioning… I’m tempted though! G
Book Covers, is in my professional opinion, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT aspects of an authors career! There - I’ve said it. Now having said this, I must explain that it is also one of the many things that the majority of authors have NO CONTROL OF….
Product Marketing experts know that “product packaging” is one of the most important aspects that will determine the success and/or failure of the product. This, along with - NAME and BRAND - will determine the final outcome in sales.
When it comes to books - one would think this does not apply, as it is really about the story that the author has written. Well, the sad news is - if no one likes what they see, they won’t buy and try it. Word of mouth marketing is a powerful tool - but, fast sales growth is far more important!
It’s what keeps an author in the business of writing. Bottom line sales figures can put a brilliant author out of business faster than anything else can… Great Book Covers will make you - while Bad Book Covers can break you…..
We are not talking about “repeat business” here - we are talking about new business - which is the only way to grow any business!
Whereby, likes and dislikes are often an incredible challenge when talking about book covers and their design elements - it is important to note, that there are “real” studies out there that the industry could avail themselves of.
Marketing professionals are always watching the trends in “other” outside markets for a reason - often, the best OUT OF BOX ideas come from - out of the BOX!
April 9th, 2010 on 10:30 am
I appreciate technology and do not despair change. I own an iPod, iTouch, Blackberry, laptop, have broadband access & the Kindle apps…yet when it come to books I still prefer paper. That may change in the future but for now when given the option I go the traditional route. Will paper books be defunct one day? Maybe. But how will libraries/schools function? That concerns me. Not everyone can afford a $300 Kindle or a $600 iPad.
Speaking of multi-media. I love that there is so much more interaction between readers & authors via technology. I have author blogs that I visit obsessively.
But there can be sometimes, too much of a good thing, I can name (but won’t) 3 new authors in the romance genre whose website I visited recently that did not hold my attention because, ironically, there was TOO much information. Their sites were visually stunning, some had music too. But there was too much opening & closing of features. Rhymes & riddles. Flashing pictures. I closed the browser thinking, “too complicated, not worth it.” I guess, balance is the key.
I agree with you that the genre is moving in a great, positive direction. I am a happier romance reader today than I was 10 years ago.
Little surprised by the male readership stat but hey, it is a brand new world
April 9th, 2010 on 12:22 pm
Welcome to my world Scorpio M.-
I too own just about every whistle and bell out there…G Yet, have found that I’ve stopped “jumping with excitement” every time some new technology comes out!
Time consumption - I’ve started to believe is the new cancer of the future… Everyone teases me because I refuse to date to “text” anyone!…lol
Even though I own an eReader (Sony) - I still prefer to read my books the tried and true way. For me - manually turning each page and being able to feel all the textures of a paper bound book - actually heightens my reading experience. It makes me feel “closer” to the author in immeasurable ways!
Yet, there can be no doubt that we are moving in new directions….
Male readership is also up on Romantic Thrillers and what is exciting - Cross Target Marketing is proving that there are many Romance NEW READERS to be found everywhere!
April 9th, 2010 on 12:46 pm
Scorpio - I totally agree with you on “too much of a good thing” on some websites. It makes me frustrated, tired and gives me “option paralysis” when a site is chock full-a so much, especially too many flash elements.
This, I think brings up a really good point about effective marketing for an author. Forward-thinking isn’t just about USING “all of the latest technology” for promotion and marketing. The way in which that technology is utilized is just as important, maybe even more so.
If people are feeling overwhelmed when they visit a site, those “bells and whistles” are being poorly managed and misused… the key, I believe, is knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. ;o) Like you’ve said, finding a balance is key.
I think these widgets in this blog entry are an excellent example of achieving that balance. They’re flash-based, but the design is clear, concise, easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing. If more author sites employed a better sense of functional layout in their site designs - like these widgets display - I would once again enjoy sites that employ mostly flash.
Love how with Madeline Hunter’s widget, you can download wallpapers and MP3s! That is SO awesome. A VERY forward-thinking way for readers to feel more connected to her stories and characters…
April 9th, 2010 on 2:08 pm
Hi Jayden -
I can understand how new websites that employ all the new techniques out there might seem overwhelming. I’m sure there are plenty of readers or “surfers” who feel the same.
Yet, statistics show that sites which are designed in this way increase their website hits-views-returns and new visitors rankings by over 100%! In some cases, I’ve seen it increase over 500% plus….
In addition, the “stays” are much, much longer - meaning, that the viewer enjoys “hanging-out” on the site and engaging with the author.
There are all types of personalities and all kinds of preferences - yet, when making decisions that will impact your business lines - optimum visits to a site is extremely important!
The more viewers who visit your site and return to play, chat, gain info, etc… are going to be the ones that also turn around and share your site with others - this is known as Viral Marketing!
An important and often very difficult feat to achieve in today’s competitive markets….. It also means that the viewers will remember your name and your products and look out for your next book to be released and spread the word about your series, etc….
Some market studies also show that this phenomena comes out of the “gaming” community which has also inspired so much of our technology today. The word AVATAR was not used five years or ten years ago as it is now; and the word itself is changing in meaning as we find new ways to incorporate and/or manipulate its terms.
Studies show that consumer minds are far more complicated in their thought processes than ever before - therefore, “less is best” philosophies seem to be disappearing - with perhaps the exception of today’s economic challenges, of course….
However, I must agree that BALANCE is the key as it should be in all things.
April 9th, 2010 on 2:39 pm
WOW, Shannon! That is incredibly, INCREDIBLY interesting stuff… very insightful… thank you for that “food for thought!”
April 9th, 2010 on 10:09 am
Hey Shannon,
Wow, what an awesome logo for More Than Publicity. It really captures your ‘thinking outside of the box’ mantra. Thank you for a wonderful and informative post and I’m truly impressed by the technology you’ve used to create those ‘wigis’ for Madeline Hunter and Carly Phillips.
Your viewpoint is a breath of fresh air in an industry that seems to run on fear instead of freedom (i.e. the freedom to create, the freedom to try new things). I think with all that is out there, as an author, I’ll eventually find the channels that suit me. I’ve enjoyed creating book trailers and blogging and I am open to see what will work next.
Hmm…didn’t know male romance readers were growing that could explain the prison mail…
Anyway, I can’t wait to read your upcoming posts! You’re absolutely right the future is exciting.
April 9th, 2010 on 10:42 am
Hello Dara -
I’m happy to hear that you like the “special” logo NINI (MTP Creative Director) made especially for our blog post on Borders True Romance. We thought we’d have some fun with the topic OUTSIDE THE BOX visually by incorporating our two logos (More Than Publicity & MTP Productions) into one image that gives a feel for an out of the box experience in literary. G
The upswing in male readership I believe is directly related to the growing popularity in Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Romance in the past decade. The same could be said of the growth seen in the YA markets….
The power behind the authors that have created this wonderful sub-genre can be seen in television, feature films and even in commercials! Vampires have flown onto the ad world in some incredibly cool ways!
It is unfortunate that the present economic situation has hit at the exact time that the Literary Industry is experiencing huge change! I do not believe that one has anything to do with the other and I feel it important to say that it is a mistake to think that they are mutually tied together.
It is however, a reality and together is creating many unsettling times for all in this industry! It is important for Readers to kick-in right now with their consumer power as many decisions are being made now that will impact their future reading experience.
As long as Publishing Houses continue to measure “success” by bottom line “sales” figures - consumers will have the power to dictate what their future reading experiences will be….
Freedom - as you’ve defined it Dara, can be a daunting reality during our present times. Out Of Box thinking - is one of the best paths to follow to secure what I know is going to be an exciting and profitable future for our industry!
April 9th, 2010 on 2:32 pm
Hi Dara! Thank you for your compliment on the logo.
Shannon - I love seeing that “the Muse” made it into your article!
A little bit of trivia about More Than Publicity: the Muse is a VERY important team member. Shannon has hired bodyguards for the Muse and the whole nine yards. “Don’t mess with the Muse!”
LOVE that reference to movers, shakers and troublemakers, too… it fits us bold creative types so perfectly!
April 9th, 2010 on 9:36 am
Now this comment is just to check to see whether my avatar changed…
April 9th, 2010 on 9:48 am
Not yet! Now I wish I could delete the comment. LOL Sorry, everyone!
April 9th, 2010 on 10:11 am
….lol…
Susan - it would appear that you and I have a lot in common this morning…..G
I must comment on your wonderful - Fool’s Gold California - website. I’ve been there and have played and have had some good fun!
A definite “Out Of Box” experience…G
April 9th, 2010 on 1:28 pm
You look marvelous!
Luv the red.
April 9th, 2010 on 8:46 am
Very interesting post. Fun sneak peek at upcoming technology! What is it called?
Multimedia possibilities have definitely changed the way I communicate with my readers. I enjoy book trailers, and I think they’re a fabulous way to whet a reader’s appetite for the book. I have trailers for CHASING PERFECT and for my new Fool’s Gold series (in the right-hand column here on Borders, in fact).
But I also went another step - outside the box? - and created a website for the Fool’s Gold series. http://www.foolsgoldca.com I wanted to create a site that would help make Fool’s Gold feel like a real place to readers. Reaction so far has been a lot of fun. People seem to love getting to know the characters in the town, exploring the map, reading about the history of Fool’s Gold. I also included some unique freebies that have been getting a great reaction so far, a PDF cookbook and a puppet knitting pattern.
April 9th, 2010 on 10:06 am
Hello Susan -
If you are referring to the Carly Phillips & Madeline Hunter Widgets that are placed below my blog entry - they are high-end multimedia, interactive ads that incorporate high design and integrated marketing techniques to market and promote an Author’s brand and product.
They can be designed to include whatever content, images, downloads, e-commerce, etc… an Author wants to include to promote their website, brand, products, blog site, etc…
We also create world building concepts within these - whereby, we can create these ads loaded with the world and characters the author writes about in their series. The elements we include are pretty out there as we can incorporate special effects and flash elements with ease.
Another wonderful quality is that we can update them at anytime with new information and/or material. Providing the author with a perpetual ad that is paid for once and yet is updateable while constantly moving throughout the web
They are syndicated throughout the world-wide web through our distribution programs. They can be placed on websites, blog sites, facebook, myspace, Publishing House sites, Vendor sites - basically, anywhere you can embed a code and soon will “fly-off” the web onto hand-held technologies as our book video distribution program presently does.
We have statistics tied to them so that measurements can be taken - which is a “Love Affair” process for all Brand Marketers!
April 9th, 2010 on 8:31 am
Hi Shannon! Wow, very cool insights–love the idea that the technology writers have invented in their stories has now come to life and we need to learn where to go next….very intriguing!
CJ
April 9th, 2010 on 9:37 am
Good morning CJ - talk about technology - mine went all wrong this morning and prevented me from joining in sooner…lol
This is one of my favorite topics - Author’s and how they change our worlds. I used the “Fantasy” writers as an example that everyone could relate to quickly.
Younger markets coming up have lived with high technology their whole lives. Those before them knew a world without such massive abilities and/or opportunities to find and impart information on a world-wide level.
The world of communication is so wide open today that it can be overwhelming at times to know what is the best path to follow…
Romance Authors have also evolved and their world building talents are very influential and powerful! One of the strongest trends I see coming out of it are the male romance reader numbers that have grown in the last decade! This along with the youth markets growth in romance reading shows the power behind a creative mind!
Those that are concerned for the future of romance books are not thinking Outside The Box. The future is exciting and endless as romance transcends and changes by reaching out to new markets and doing so in new ways!