Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Linking

12 December 2011, Publication - Advertising Ideas, Websites Linking
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  ...

The other information you want on the novel's website is where to find it and reviews.  In most cases, the where to find and buy it is the same as the reviews.   For example, http://www.amazon.com/ has the where, the purchasing, and the reviews.  You should put in a link directly to your novel page to the Amazon page for your book.  The way to do this is simple.  Just cut and paste the book page address from Amazon to your novel page.  It looks something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Aegypt-L-D-Alford/dp/1602900132/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282061441&sr=1-9#_  This is the address for my book Aegypt on Amazon.  You use the linking and link functions or selections in your webpage editor to make the links have a more simple address.

You can link to all the other sellers of your novel.  I used Amazon as an example because it is the most well known and convenient.  You can and should link to all the major sellers such as B&N, etc.  In addition to linking to the websites, you can also increase your income through certain type of links.

I'll discuss more about websites tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.