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    Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Ebook151 pages1 hour

    Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-by-Step Guide

    By Fauzia Burke and S. C. Gwynne

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    If You Want People to Read Your Book,
    Writing It Is Only the Beginning

    There has truly never been a better time to be an author. For the first time, authors have direct access to the public via the Internet—and can create a community eagerly awaiting their book. But where do new authors start? How do they sort through the dizzying range of online options? Where should they spend their time online and what should they be doing?

    Enter Fauzia Burke, a digital book marketing pioneer and friend of overwhelmed writers everywhere. She takes authors step-by-step through the process of identifying their unique personal brand, defining their audience, clarifying their aspirations and goals, and setting priorities. She offers advice on designing a successful website, building a mailing list of superfans, blogging, creating an engagement strategy for social media, and more. By following Burke's expert advice, authors can conquer the Internet and still get their next manuscript in on time.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBerrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
    Release dateApr 19, 2016
    ISBN9781626567870
    Author

    Fauzia Burke

    Fauzia Burke is the founder and president of FSB Associates, one of the first firms to specialize in digital branding and online publicity for books. Founded in 1995, FSB Associates has successfully launched more than 2,000 online book publicity campaigns. Burke has worked on books by Alan Alda, Sue Grafton, Brian Tracy, Joe Pantoliano, Marina Keegan, Kathy Freston, Deepak Chopra, and many others.

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    Reviews for Online Marketing for Busy Authors

    4.5/5

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    • 5/5
      Truly a book that delivers on its promise: marketing advice for those of us with little time to dedicate to the endeavor. Burke put her own advice into practice promoting this book, and she created the impression among book professionals that she was "everywhere." After reading Online Marketing, I've asked Fauzia for advice on marketing my own forthcoming book, and she is as experienced, sharp and enthusiastic as her book implies. I could not recommend her advice more highly.
    • 5/5
      *I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*The book Online Marketing for Busy Authors by Fauzia Burke, a leader in online book marketing and consultant for authors, explores essential aspects of marketing such as personal branding, reader profiles, goals, and much more. It offers a plethora of resources, exercises and integrated worksheets. Fauzia Burke really does the job she set out to do in this short yet immensely helpful book. Since there are several good points to it and very few negative points, I’ll start with the latter: it is indeed too short. That’s it. I loved it so much I craved for more information, examples, explanations, and resources! I was satisfied with the book when I reached the end yet disappointed because I wanted to dive even more in Miss Burke’s experience.As for the good points, prepare to be overwhelmed (no, really, this book is fantastic for authors like me who have no idea how to market their books!). In the first pages, the author makes it clear what to expect from her book and what its structure is (three sections in order to make the best gradual use of it – a step-by-step approach). I must admit what I loved most about this book is how straightforward it is: Miss Burke’s tone is friendly yet she doesn’t kick around the bush. She gives precise and direct information with just enough detail so as not to bore the reader. Plus, the information shared by the author is highly relevant to the field and does exactly what the title of the book implies. In other words, it makes you think about YOUR own online marketing strategy and find guided solutions for you. Her examples are clear and easy to understand. This book also includes worksheets, advice, and quotes, which are all useful and well thought to help us. There’s even space for the exercises in her book – it’s close to being interactive! It really feels like the author, Miss Burke, truly wants to help us, starting from the basics and expanding on that newly learned knowledge. Her vocabulary is inspiring and diverse; it is also laced with kindness and even sometimes a pinch of humor. Thus, the writing is quite enjoyable and conveys the intended messages. Do you want to know another fabulous point about this book? It is free of typos and mistakes of any kind! That impressed me, I must say. It made my reading flow like a river (now, don’t you just like my failed attempt at poetry here?).Miss Burke is always professional! Her twenty years of experience really show in all the information she gives us and how she does it too. She covers a wide range of topics and gives in-depth but short explanations throughout the book. Not only does she tackle what we can get out of each marketing effort, but also the why, which professionals rarely do. There are constant reminders of your goals and marketing strategy in every chapter so you don’t lose your focus. The author also provides tips on how to best use social media and certain platforms, which she deems the best in terms of online marketing. Her views and guidance on the different marketing efforts are realistic. Miss Burke also makes use of good questions that prepare you and make you think about your own strategy. There are also lists of things to do that cover the steps you need to go through in order to succeed at that particular marketing effort. This book demystifies marketing for authors. It makes me feel more confident about my own online marketing strategy, which I’ll now tweak a bit thanks to Miss Burke! One of the best things about Online Marketing for Busy Authors is the tools (a.k.a websites) it gives us to learn more about our niche and potential bloggers, customers. It also provides the tools for us to find help, tips, and ideas. Lastly, Miss Burke does a recap of everything learned at the end of her book, which is a useful refresher training! Fauzia Burke, the author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors, hit the bull’s eye with her book. In my opinion, she covers all the essential points and makes it interesting, even for a marketing newbie like me. Because I found it very helpful and true to its blurb and title (and also her own experience as a leader in online book marketing), I give it a rating of 5 out of 5. There were no major bad points, only the fact that I wished her book was longer so I could learn about marketing even more. This book is perfect for fans of Joanna Penn and James Scott Bell for it gives practical tips to achieve your own online marketing with no nonsense explanations of how to do so, a particular manner that reminds me of those two great authors. If you’re an author or an aspiring one who’s lost in all the marketing you need to do, Fauzia Burke’s Online Marketing for Busy Authors simply must be on your shelf. I have the conviction it will make you even like online marketing, just as it did with me.
    • 4/5
      Quick, easy read with lots of great information.
    • 4/5
      Burke advocates for authors taking an active role in promoting their books, regardless of whether they are working with a publisher or self-publishing. This book focuses on online techniques—blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc., for accomplishing this. There is not a great deal of detail here, and a portion of the detail is now out-of-date, which is not surprising given the rapid rate of change in the online world. For example, the Klout influence ranking service shut down last year. A good portion of the book, however, deals with motivation/inspiration, and the networking side of social networking. This material is timeless, and well-worth reading.The book is supplemented with several visioning and planning worksheets which can also be downloaded from the author’s website.

    Book preview

    Online Marketing for Busy Authors - Fauzia Burke

    Authors, Agents, and Publishers on Fauzia Burke

    Authors

    I’ve known Fauzia for over twenty years, and I can honestly say that no one knows more about the ins and outs of online marketing for books. Fauzia gives authors the practical advice they need to find as wide an audience as possible for their books.

    —R. J. Palacio, author of the New York Times bestseller Wonder

    Fauzia Burke is intelligent, well connected, and effective. She knows how to reach the parts of the media that conventional PR either doesn’t understand or wrongly ignores.

    —Charles Spencer, author of Killers of the King

    In these days, an author needs a steady, capable guide to navigate the many difficulties of getting books seen and heard. Fauzia’s approach works, and the steps she has outlined in her book will help any author build a base of readers. She’s simply the best.

    —Jan Jarboe Russell, author of the New York Times bestseller The Train to Crystal City

    Fauzia’s creativity and diligent commitment to online publicity and social media are unsurpassed. Unequivocally, she is the premier go-to online marketer.

    —Bill Bradley, former US Senator and author of We Can All Do Better

    What author isn’t intimidated by the complexities and nuances of online marketing? Anyone who has worked with Fauzia Burke! This book reflects the wisdom gained from years of painstakingly navigating the digital labyrinth on behalf of her clients.

    —Larry J. Sabato, Director, University of Virginia Center for Politics, and author of The Kennedy Half Century

    Publishers

    Fauzia Burke was talking about online marketing years before the rest of us even knew what that meant, and she continues to lead the way. We should consider ourselves lucky that she is as generous in sharing her hard-won knowledge as she is ahead of the curve in gaining it.

    —Bob Miller, President and Publisher, Flatiron Books/Macmillan

    Always innovative and effective. I have no reservations in recommending Fauzia Burke.

    —Judith Curr, President and Publisher, Atria Publishing Group/Simon & Schuster

    Fauzia Burke knows better than anyone how to utilize the broad and sometimes confusing array of digital marketing tools on behalf of books.

    —Walter Weintz, former Chief Marketing and Sales Officer, Workman Publishing

    Fauzia Burke is one of the most innovative marketing experts in the publishing industry. She brings positive, pragmatic, and powerful expertise to any author’s table.

    —Kate Rados, Director, Community Development, The Crown Publishing Group, Penguin Random House

    Agents

    When it comes to publicizing a book on the web, nobody has the range and expertise of Fauzia Burke.

    —Larry J. Kirshbaum, literary agent, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency

    Fauzia Burke is an industry leader in the world of online publicity and marketing. I have recommended Fauzia to many clients, with total confidence, and they have all been thrilled with the results.

    —Wendy Sherman, literary agent and founder of Wendy Sherman Associates

    Armed with years of experience, Fauzia has been successfully pioneering the world of online marketing to help authors connect with their readers and produce terrific, long-lasting results.

    —Amy Hughes, literary agent, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency

    Fauzia Burke has promoted the books of the following authors, among many others:

    Alan Alda

    Arianna Huffington

    Arthur Agatston, M.D.

    Atul Gawande

    Barbara Delinsky

    Barbara Ehrenreich

    Brian Tracy

    Carmine Gallo

    Claire Shipman

    Daniel G. Amen, M.D.

    Daniel Silva

    Darren Hardy

    Dean Koontz

    Deepak Chopra, M.D.

    Doug Stanton

    Dr. Larry J. Sabato

    Elizabeth Edwards

    Evan Handler

    Frances Mayes

    Greg Behrendt

    Jacqueline Winspear

    Jan Jarboe Russell

    Jeffrey Archer

    Joe Pantoliano

    Kathy Freston

    Katty Kay

    Kim Edwards

    Lee and Bob Woodruff

    Lidia Bastianich

    Lisa Bloom

    Liz Vaccariello

    LL Cool J

    Lord Charles Spencer

    Mallika Chopra

    Maria Shriver

    Marina Keegan

    Marlo Thomas

    Masaru Emoto

    Mayo Clinic

    Melissa Francis

    Mika Brzezinski

    Mohsin Hamid

    Mollie Katzen

    Reza Aslan

    Richard A. Clarke

    Rick Atkinson

    Ron Clark

    Rory Stewart

    S. C. Gwynne

    Salman Rushdie

    Sandra Lee

    Scott Turow

    Seth Godin

    Sue Grafton

    Tana French

    Ted Kerasote

    Temple Grandin

    Tom Brokaw

    Tom Wolfe

    Tosca Reno

    Tracy Chevalier

    Vincent Bugliosi

    Online Marketing for Busy Authors

    Online Marketing for Busy Authors

    A Step-by-Step Guide

    Fauzia Burke

    Online Marketing for Busy Authors

    Copyright © 2016 by Fauzia Burke

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

    Ordering information for print editions

    Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the Special Sales Department at the Berrett-Koehler address above.

    Individual sales. Berrett-Koehler publications are available through most bookstores. They can also be ordered directly from Berrett-Koehler: Tel: (800) 929-2929; Fax: (802) 864-7626; www.bkconnection.com

    Orders for college textbook/course adoption use. Please contact Berrett-Koehler: Tel: (800) 929-2929; Fax: (802) 864-7626.

    Orders by U.S. trade bookstores and wholesalers. Please contact Ingram Publisher Services, Tel: (800) 509-4887; Fax: (800) 838-1149; E-mail: customer.service@ingrampublisherservices.com; or visit www.ingrampublisherservices.com/Ordering for details about electronic ordering.

    Berrett-Koehler and the BK logo are registered trademarks of Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

    First Edition

    Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-62656-785-6

    PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-62656-786-3

    IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-62656-787-0

    2016-1

    Cover design by Bradford Foltz

    Book design and production by Steven Hiatt/Hiatt & Dragon, San Francisco

    Copyediting by Steven Hiatt

    Proofreading by Tom Hassett

    Dedicated to my mother, Nuzhat Subhani, for her unyielding support and her unconditional love

    Contents

    Foreword by S.C. Gwynne

    Introduction

    Phase 1: Getting Organized

    1 Personal Branding 101

    2 You Gotta Dream Big

    3 Know Thy Reader

    4 Get Real With Your Goals

    5 Best Advice in the Business

    6 Your Priority List

    Phase 2: Turning Your Thinking Into Action

    7 Your Online Marketing Plan

    8 Building Your Website

    9 Mailing List of Fans

    10 To Blog or Not to Blog

    11 Social Media and Social Networking

    12 DIY Online Book Publicity

    Phase 3: Staying the Course

    13 Promote Without Being Promotional

    14 Monitor and Adjust

    Some Parting Advice

    Acknowledgments

    Index

    About the Author

    Foreword

    by S.C. Gwynne

    I come from the old world of publishing, a place where it is considered smart marketing to send an author on a tour to a chain bookstore in Kansas City, where he sits in a corner and signs a few books for passersby. A world where publicity consists of sending review copies of your book to newspaper editors, where they take their place among the 200 other books that hit the editor’s desk that week. Maybe those editors get a follow-up call. Maybe they don’t.

    I lived in this world for a long time. Like so many other authors, I found myself in a sort of prison of limited access. The world was a very big place, but the opportunities to promote your book were severely limited. There was nothing you could do. Everyone complained about it.

    Then I met Fauzia Burke and everything changed. At the time I was not completely naïve about things digital. I maintained a website, used the Internet in my own work, and had a Facebook page. What I did not have was any understanding of how to promote my books online.

    When I published my most recent book, Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson, I engaged her company, FSB Associates, to help me in three areas: building a website, marketing my book through social media, and doing online publicity. The first thing FSB did was to establish a close link with my publisher, Scribner. From then on they worked closely to balance Scribner’s more traditional marketing with their online efforts. From my point of view, it was as though Scribner had just acquired an online arm. My publicists at Scribner saw it that way, too. They loved working with FSB.

    What FSB did, very quickly and very thoroughly, was a steep dive into the digital world. As it turned out, they knew this world very well, the product of many years of working with online editors. They solicited, and got, dozens of reviews on blogs and websites, many of them extremely prominent ones. They pitched each editor individually: no shotgun blasts. They solicited, and got, writing contracts for me, actual writing gigs at various blogs. They got me speaking engagements. They pushed very hard. One of their target lists alone had more than 100 websites—and they were the right ones, too. They sent me regular updates showing me what they had done. It was amazing to watch it all unfold.

    So instead of sitting in that Kansas City Barnes & Noble cooling my heels,

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