Angela Wilson With Blog Tour Tips - Intro by Morgan Mandel

Continued from Wednesday - Sept. 10


Angela Wilson is an author, freelance Web content director and Book Blog Editor for Pop Syndicate, a pop culture site with more than 8,000 hits per day. Each week, Pop Syndicate hosts authors on virtual tour. I was fortunate enough to be one of those authors. Here's a link to my interview by Angela that week: http://www.popsyndicate.com/books/story/book_tour_virtual_sitdown_with_morgan_mandel

Enough about me. Once again, I bring you Angela Wilson who'll give you some valuable tips about virtual book blog tours...


Virtual Tours - Part Two
When venturing out into the blogosphere for the first time, start slow. Plan a three-month tour. Secure space on blogs every week during that time. Check the sites each day to be certain your sponsors post your items. Reply to any comments submitted by readers. The personal touch goes a long way with people in an age of impersonal communication.

Send thank you notes to your sponsors, as well as updated newsletters that tell them where you will be featured. Ask them to post that as well, so readers can follow you throughout the blogosphere.

Do not pay to be placed on a blog. If someone wants cash, get site statistics and feedback from other authors before you cash in. Google the sites and see uninhibited feedback about them; don't just trust the owners' word.

Some authors take whatever blog space they can get – which is not a bad idea when you are first starting out. Other authors, both experienced and new, have specific criteria for blogs that feature them, including a certain number of hits per day and demographics. (See Cheryl Kay Tardiff's blog about her criteria.) When first starting out, some big-name blogs may be reticent to host a small-time author, e-published or self-published novelist. Be prepared to take what you can get, then build on that as your career grows.

Not a blogger but excited at the prospect of using this free interactive tool? Don't jump into the blogosphere on a tour. It is hard, detailed, sometimes mundane work. It can be overwhelming for authors who don't have the experience with the programs. (Yes, they are out there!) First, start a blog at a free service like Blogger or Wordpress, play around, see how it works and your comfort level with it. Also read other blogs and see what they are saying. If you don't like to blog, or don't want to learn how, consider hiring a virtual PR firm. There are those now that specialize only in virtual tours, and work to play your columns and excerpts on sites that fit your target market.

Only experienced bloggers should venture into contests while on tour. The best ideas I've seen so far come from authors in different genres. Delia Latham and Michelle Gagnon asked readers to post comments on all blogs where they were touring. Then, the authors collected names and emails from those posts, put them in a hat and chose a winner. Another author sent readers directly to their guestbook, and chose a winner based on signatures during tour time. As a virtual tour host at Pop Syndicate, I can safely say the most streamlined method is using a guestbook. That places all contest entries in one place, instead of over several blogs on the Web.

Do not expect your virtual tour host to handle the contest. Most blogs and sites will not handle details of a contest, but will be happy to post contest details. Write your own contest copy and allow hosts to tweak as necessary for their site.


Until Tomorrow,
Angela Wilson
http://www.popsyndicate.com/books
http://www.linkedin.com/in/angelawilson
http://www.facebook.com/people/Angela_Wilson/775118823

Want details on Pop Syndicate virtual tours? E-mail Angela at authorangelawilson@gmail.com.

Pop Syndicate's Group Linkedin link - http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/130844

Some content originally posted at Mike's Writing Workshop & Newsletter - http://www.mikeswritingworkshop.blogspot.com

Angela Wilson, Book Blog Editor, About Virtual Tours, Intro by Morgan Mandel - Pt. 1

Can't afford to travel? Consider a virtual book blog tour. Here's the first of three installments where Angela Wilson, Book Blog Editor for Pop Syndicate, tells you what you need. Angela Wilson is a freelance author publicist, an author, freelance Web content director and Book Blog Editor for Pop Syndicate, a pop culture site with more than 8,000 hits per day. Each week, Pop Syndicate hosts authors on virtual tour. And now, here's Angela...

Virtual Tours
Authors have found an innovative way to use the Web to promote themselves and their work. Virtual author tours, or book blog tours, are fast becoming an inexpensive way to meet new readers and further develop your fan base.

Blog tours allow authors to post content on a variety of sites during their heaviest marketing season. It's a great way to get your name up in Google searches, and introduce yourself to new readers. It's not difficult, but it is time-consuming, and any author who goes this route should be prepared to give up a little writing and a family time to fulfill blogging obligations. Don't let that time element scare you. With proper planning – and short-term tours – any author can manage to do it.

Standard items you need for your tour:

One-page bio. You can use the one you have in your media kit, but make certain it is written in Web-friendly language.

Q&A. Make a list of the most common questions you get from both readers and interviews. Intertwine a few questions unique to yourself, or allow you to offer up unique tidbits about yourself and your writing. Answer them and you're good to go.
Columns. Have five to 10 columns about anything – writing, life, balancing career with family, your latest FAB review. Use one column per blog submission. Use the ones that are best suited for a particular blog. For instance, you will want to send a column about writing to a blog about writing. You want a good variety of columns because you don't want to be too repetitious. Readers want fresh content, and you don't want them to get bored by reading the same copy on different sites. There will be times when you need to write a new column, but at least you will have a stash to get your started.

Audio interviews. If you have them, use them, giving credit to the group or business that conducted the segment.

Book trailers. Be sure these are up and ready on YouTube, and forward the EMBED code to your tour hosts.

High- and low-resolution JPEGS of yourself and your cover art. Try to include a few different poses of yourself, maybe one relaxed at home and a studio shot. Adjust the size so they can easily email, or post them in the media section of your Web site for downloading.

A list of blog tour stops. Post this on your Web site, blog, MySpace, Tagged, Ning, Facebook, and give copies to your blog tour hosts. Also send out to your listserve or everyone in your address book.

Leave yourself open for unique items requested by various Web sites. If a site receives thousands of hits per day, you will want to work a little harder for them than a site with 12 hits. Be sure to save all documents with your name and the content. For example: AngelaWilson.Q&A.doc, AngelaWilson.mug.JPEG, etc.

Don't sweat it if you don't have everything now. Just get the basics together and add to your tour folder when you can. Remember that Web 2.0 will demand audio and video elements – the two most lacking – for future audiences. Start off with at least three unique columns and add to those when you can.

Until Tomorrow,
Angela Wilson

http://www.popsyndicate.com/books
www.linkedin.com/in/angelawilson
http://www.facebook.com/people/Angela_Wilson/775118823


Want details on Pop Syndicate virtual tours? E-mail Angela at authorangelawilson@gmail.com.

Join Pop Syndicate.com Group on Linkedin - http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/130844

Some content originally posted at Mike's Writing Workshop & Newsletter at
http://www.mikeswritingworkshop.blogspot.com

Sneak Preview of Virtual Tour Guest, Angela Wilson

Angela Wilson

A Hint of What's to Come:
I'll be hosting my first virtual tour guest this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday when I turn the tables on Angela Wilson. You see, Angela is the host for a great many virtual book tours at Pop Syndicate.Com, and I might add that she does a marvelous job. Her topic will be no surprise - Virtual Tours.

I met Angela Wilson at the Love is Murder conference a few years ago when she was recording podcasts for authors. At the time I was impressed by not only her outgoing personality, but also her talent and smarts. Since then, I've bumped into her and traded anecdotes many times on the Web.

To give you a little bit about her background, Angela Wilson is a freelance author publicist, an author, former journalist, and freelance writer and director of Web content and programming for clients through Learfield InterActive, a division of Learfield Communications in Jefferson City, Missouri. She is also the book blog editor at Pop Syndicate, a pop culture review site. Her passion is writing fiction. Between PC crashes, a PC to Mac conversation, and doting on spoiled cats, she toils over her erotic thriller and an urban fantasy series.

I invite you to stop over here Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week and leave a comment. Angela says she's also open to questions, so think over what you might want to ask her during her tour.

Until then,
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.com
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

End Of Watch Contest at Morgan Mandel.com

I'd been so busy with blogging and promo, I'd neglected my website. To make up for it, I spent all weekend doing updates, changing the look, and putting up a new contest. I had some issues with the navigation bar, but hopefully they've been resolved.

Anyway, I've got a new contest you can access by clicking the Two Wrongs cover on the main page, then the contest tab on the navigation bar. The page you get will explain the rules.

END OF WATCH by Edward M. Burke and Thomas J. O'Gorman, makes not only absorbing reading, but it's also a great pictorial and coffee table hard cover book, with over 575 pages and 400 photos.

Hopefully, after you get your contest info, you'll linger longer at my website to check out more nooks and crannies. Say hello to Rascal while you're at it.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

Word of Mouth by Morgan Mandel

We're going to see the Dark Knight today. Everyone says it's a great movie, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Word of mouth is a powerful tool not only in the movie industry, but also with books. A publisher's backing, as well as a well-thought out author's marketing plan, can contribute to book sales, but ultimately it's recommendations that seem to sell the most books.

If people have read your book and like it, thank them for the compliment. Then mention if they really enjoyed it, would they please tell a few friends either in person or online.

Also, it doesn't hurt to donate your book, especially to booksellers. If they like it, you've got a great selling campaign going.


Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

DON'T BE A CHICKEN By Morgan Mandel

I played tic-tac-toe against a chicken at Lake of the Torches Casino on vacation. The chicken won!

Anyway, chickens usually denote fear and not taking chances.

Some writers spend a lot of time working on their manuscripts and getting them just right. Then, afraid to find out if their work qualifies to get published, they never submit it. They're too afraid. The manuscript just sits in a box or under the bed or somewhere else collecting dust, when it could be enjoyed by readers.

Don't be a chicken. Take the chance and submit your manuscript. You'll never know unless you try.

Morgan Mandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://www.morganmandel.com

TIME FRAMES By Morgan Mandel

While I was at the Apple Fest in Eagle River, Wisconsin, I had to ask the vendor what date it was before I could write out a check for the earrings I wanted to buy.

A few times I had to think twice about what day of the week it was, since this vacation started on a Wednesday, instead of the usual Friday.

Then, after trying to dodge the raindrops on the way to work, when I got there it seemed like a Monday, though it was Thursday.

It's easy to get mixed up about time. That's why when you're writing your manuscript you need to insert subtle hints here and there about the time of day, season, day of the week and year.

Here are a few easy ways to do this:

Time of day - Describe the sun coming up, or going down. What does the moon look like?

Season - Raking up leaves, throwing snowballs, watching new buds come up, feeling the hot sun on your feet at the beach.

Day of the week - Monday blues, Tuesday settling down to work day, Wednesday hump day, Thursday can hardly wait to go out Friday night, Friday pizza night, Saturday cleaning house day, Sunday church day.

Year - This will depend on when you set your novel. If it's during a bygone time, you'll need to insert hints about happenings then. The main thing is to keep track of when the novel starts, how many years it spans. You may need to show the change of seasons or the aging of your characters.

Hope this helps you keep track of time. If you remember to drop these hints in your manuscripts from the start, you won't have to go back later and try to figure out the time line. Believe me, it's not easy to figure it out later. I know from experience.

Morgan Mandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://morgansmultimedia.blogspot.com

BE PREPARED By Morgan Mandel

As I rushed to get ready for work,I was glad I listened to the weather forecast last night - rain and lots of it was predicted. I already had a rain coat, umbrella, cap, and extra plastic cover for my computer case ready. My grubby, ugly gym shoes were also ready instead of the nice, clean white ones.

It turned out it wasn't raining as much as I thought it would, except under the trees where the accumulated water spouted out.

The catch is the heavy rain hasn't started yet. Remnants of the hurricane are predicted to hit Illinois. At least I'll be protected on the trip home.

When you're a writer, you also need to be prepared. Producing a grammatically correct, unique and spellbinding manuscript is not enough. You need to be ready for the future. That means starting another one right away and working extra hard to get it done.

Why? Because if a publisher or agent likes your manuscript, the next question will probably be, "What else to you have?"

If you have another one or two ready, especially if they're part of a series, you may be lucky enough to clinch a multi-book contract.

So, your book is finished. Don't just sit back, relax and congratulate yourself. Get back on the treadmill and do another.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://morgansmultimedia.blogspot.com

Be a Turkey - Stand Out From The Crowd by Morgan Mandel

I could have saved these vacation photos for around Thanksgiving, but couldn't resist posting them now. My good friend, Jeanne, in Wisconsin, has a backyard that's like a wildlife reserve. Not only do deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds, chipmunks, raccoons and sometimes a bear visit, but lately she's had a mother turkey and her nine offspring coming over for freebies.

Note the one turkey on the railing scooping up the best of the food, while the others stay below.

Authors also need to stand out from the crowd. Though many of us find it against our nature, we need to get out in the spotlight and be noticed. The more we do, the more we'll stand out.

Today I'll just cover how to improve on the basics to stand out. Some other time I'll give examples on more far-out things to do. (Maybe around Thanksgiving, so I can put up another turkey photo.)

You should at least:

1. Set up a website
2. Do blogs
3. Distribute bookmarks
4. Distribute business cards
5. Do book signings
6. Belong to a writing group and attend meetings
7. Go to conferences
8. Join listservs and other online groups

Turkeys do all the above, but better.

To go beyond the basics:

1. Website - Get a designer to do your website, such as Diane Whiddon-Brown at http://novelwebsitedesign.com
or, if you'd prefer to do your own, either vary the template's colors, fonts and structure, or make up your own design.

2. Blogs - Change the layout from the normal template, use a catchy title, add links, a blogroll, photos, a sitemeter, a bookmark, guest appearances, to your blog. Check out other blogs for appearance and content. There's always room for improvement. Leave comments on other people's blogs. They'll remember.

3. Business cards &
4. Bookmarks - Don't just distribute these at normal places, like book signings, book stores, goody tables at conferences. Give them to waitresses when you pay your bill, leave them at rest stops when you travel, leave them on bulletin boards, do a co-op with authors in other states.

5. Book signings - Don't sit at the table next to your books, waiting for browsers to notice you. Get up and approach people. Enter into conversation with them. If possible, put your book in their hands for them to look over.

6. Belong to a writing book and attend meetings - Contribute to your chapter by being an officer or being in charge of the Christmas party or some other event. Join in aloud in the critiques. Let chapter members know about your book signings and what else is happening in your writing life.

7. Go to conferences - Not only attend conferences, but participate in panels. Also, help in some other way, such as registration, timing editor appointments, setting up the goody table, etc.

8. Join listservs and other online groups - Be active online by contributing what you've learned. Respond to posts by others, congratulate them on their successes.

So, be a turkey. I dare you.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

The Blood-Red Pencil - Morgan Mandel

I'm excited to announce that I'm one of the participants in a brand new blogspot called The Blood-Red Pencil. I invite everyone to come on over to http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com. The Intros are up for you to read about our bloggers who will share their perspectives on the various aspects of editing manuscripts.

Also, please read my post about Backstory and leave a comment.

See you over there,
Morgan Mandel
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
www.morganmandel.com

Let Your Light Shine By Morgan Mandel

They say a pregnant woman has a glow about her. So should an author. To get people hooked on you and your books, be sure to let your light shine.

How?
Be enthusiastic.
Be friendly.
Be caring.
Be outgoing.
Be prepared.
Be everywhere.
Be smart.
Be everything.

Not easy, but only the uninitiated think it is!

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

I'M SO SPOILED By Morgan Mandel

I'm so spoiled. I can type my manuscripts on a computer. If I make mistakes I can fix them. If I want to move sentences, paragraphs or pages, I can do that. If I want to print, I just connect a USB cord to a printer, press a button and get as many copies as I want.

Whatever did authors do before? Good grief, they had to write with pen or pencil on paper. Or type on a typewriter that didn't have the auto correct when spaced backwards. Then, if it was before the copy machines, they had to use carbons to make copies, or worse yet, type extra ones and hope they didn't make mistakes.

I've been complaining because lately on vacation I've had a hard time connecting with my network card to the Internet. Thank goodness, I finally got mine working right today. But whatever did authors do before the Internet? How did they ever get their names out there?

I'm so spoiled.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

Tweets for Today

• 20:10 After dinner went to Hoggie Doggie's in Woodruff, WI. for chocolate covered soft serve ice cream.Why can't I eat like this all the time? #
• 21:32 New author? Need promo ideas? Read my blog today at morganmandel.blogspot.com #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

HABIT By Morgan Mandel

I'm a creature of habit. I've worked at the same law firm for over 36 years. I've been married to my husband for almost the same amount of time. I eat the same things for breakfast each day. I watch the same things on TV. Need I go on?

Readers are also creatures of habit. At stores, they gravitate toward books by authors they're familiar with, usually the ones on the NY Times Bestseller Lists. They've either read books by these authors or have seen so much advance publicity, the authors seem familiar to them.

How does an author not on the Bestseller List get sales? It's not easy, unless you're incredibly lucky. Most of us aren't.

So, to get those readers to buy your book, a fledgling author needs to follow through on a serious publicity campaign. You want your name known not only in book circles, but also with the general public.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started. There are many more out there.

First get a website and blog. Be sure to keep them updated. If you're not on the Internet these days, you're not considered a sourced to be reckoned with.

Get advertising material. Some suggestions are: bookmarks and business cards to leave everywhere you can think of; postcards to mail to libraries, bookstores and the people on your Christmas list; rack cards for bookstores; tee shirts, tote bags, caps with your cover art on them; pens with your name, website and book name; flyers and brochures containing your cover art and blurbs.

Whenever possible, get interviews so your name and book information appear in the newspaper. Also, get interviews online.

Arrange book signings. Participate in conference and library panels.

Join listservs and book sites where you can network with other authors or readers.

These are just a few ways to get noticed. I've done them all. Also, I've done far-fetched things like riding in a 4th of July parade hawking my book. You do whatever you feel comfortable with and more. Stretch the limits each time until you get more comfortable promoting your book. Don't just sit at a book signing. Get up and put your book in a person's hands and talk about it, or whatever else the reader wants to discuss.

By now, you've got the idea. Do everything you can to get noticed. It's the only hope you have to get readers to spend their dollars on your books instead of those on the NY Times Bestseller List.

What are you waiting for? Get to work.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

Tweets for Today

• 16:15 Fish Fry blog at morganmandel.blogspot.com #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

FISH FRY SPOT By Morgan Mandel

Tonight we're heading out for a fish fry at Tula's, a small local restaurant. It's one of the places that's so popular if you don't get there early you have a long wait.

Something to think about when I'm writing. Make sure to include some special spot, not necessarily a real place, but an amalgam of actual places, like pieces in a puzzle that fit together. Sort of like the bar at Friends, where everyone knows your face. Including such a special spot can ground the reader in the story.

Gotta get ready for the fish fry!
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

Tweets for Today

• 23:39 Lost at the casino tonight. Got my blog up before I turned into a pumpkin. It was close this tme. - morganmandel.blogspot.com #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

A Vacation From Writing? By Morgan Mandel

I'll be posting more while I'm on vacation, as time permits, but wanted to leave you with a few thoughts to ponder.

Writing is not always typing onto the computer or putting something down on paper. It's also gathering ideas and deciding which ones you wnat to accept in your manuscript or blog.

So, I may be on vacation right now, but here's no rest from my being a writer.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - Morgan Mandel

It's about 12:30 early Wednesday morning. We're leaving in about 4 hours for Wisconsin. I may be able to post something later today, but if not, that means I'm having too good a time eating and hopefully winning at Lake of the Torches Casino.

If you haven't done so, don't forget to check out the Rascal video on youtube. The link is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNDXV-zu-YM

You'll find some others of mine there as well.

Until later,

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com

Tweets for Today

• 07:44 On train trying to think up something for blog. See Rascal if you haven't yet at tinyurl.com/5mech8 #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter