I can’t believe I never realized this before. Well, I realized, but I didn’t pick up on it before. We all know how important social media is to the self-published author. It’s the life-blood of our marketing whether we like it or not. Hook everything you can into your blog, tweet without mercy, and always look for another opening. To that end, I’m going to mention something that I just noticed. I’ve been using it for a while out of laziness, but I just discovered what I was doing.
Look at your book on Amazon. Better yet look at mine, Beginning of a Hero. Hey! I said no mercy and I’ll also say no shame. Anyway, look on the right side for the following:
What does this mean? From a book’s Amazon page, you can send an advertising message by e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Now, if you have the other two hooked into Facebook then you don’t need to bother with Facebook. E-mail is pointless unless you’re going for a specific person and not strangers. The juicy ones are Twitter and Pinterest as I will briefly explain below.
Twitter comes with a detailed message with the title, your name, the long url, and (key here) @Amazon. You can alter the title or remove your name to get more characters for a personal message, but this does have an Amazon connection with that final item. You seem to get more exposure at the cost of having fewer characters to make a personal message.
Pinterest is a one time thing that you can do, but this one is a boon for fans and fellow authors. Imagine if every person who liked your book decided to make a pin for it. Get fellow authors to swap Pinterest hits. Does it work? I honestly don’t know, but it’s exposure and that can’t hurt.
So, give it a shot with the Twitter button and start saying ‘Pin me and I’ll pin you’.
Legends of Windemere 
okay!
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Okay. I don’t have twitter yet, but sound like another ingenious idea!
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Twitter is an odd beast. 140 characters to say what you want, which isn’t much. I recommend finding a ‘tiny url’ generator for your book’s site to get more space.
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The ‘tiny url’ is only if you blog about your book without using Amazon. I suggest doing both because you never know.
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k
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I wish I had more time for Pinterest – it is by far the most fun. 🙂
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I barely go to the site and I keep forgetting to use it, but I’m going to try to change that.
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I used it to collect ideas for stories – my username is c47713 – I think that’s how you find people!
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I think there’s a way to put a Pinterest widget on your blog too.
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I have no idea what you just said. *sigh*
I’ll get back to you after I publish. 😉
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Sorry. I noticed a graphic was missing. I fixed it if that makes any sense.
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Nope, that was the least of my problems.
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You know the saying ‘It’s not you, it’s me”? Yeah. But it’s all something I’ll take a mental note of.
Thanks Charles. 🙂
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You’re welcome. The information will always be here. 😀
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I’m on Twitter, but only have 12 followers. . . I joined Pinterest for quilting and cooking ideas but never thought if it as a tool for my blog. Food for thought.
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I can see the use of it. You covert art comes in very handy with that kind of system.
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I love Pinterest. It is the reason I rejoined the world of social media – it’s fun, and it’s useful (that’s how I plan parties now). I also managed to get a follower from Pinterest, so that was wild and unexpected. Thanks for sharing, Charles.
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You’re welcome. I still need to remember to use it.
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I’ll keep this in mind! Thanks Charles! Always full of useful information. 🙂
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You’re welcome. Glad to be of service.
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I pinned both your books. Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for the book sales to go through the roof. 😉
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Thanks. I appreciate it. I believe I pinned your two books when I started. I’ll have to check again.
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My pleasure! 🙂 And yes, you did. thank you!
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i AM HIGHLY SOCIAL. It is the media part that gets me. I will be locked in the fridge if anyone needs me.
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Okay. We’ll . . . isn’t that where the cupcakes and drinks are stored? I sense an ulterior motive.
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Indeed. Good beer and betty crocker specialties. But the light comes on every time you look in. Knock it off.
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But I’m thirsty and hungry.
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Genius!!
Remember, when this Radio show gets going (For Real)
Get yourself on and talk about your book.
Cheers
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Thanks. I’m looking forward to it.
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It is taking a LOT longer than we thought to get this going, but we would rather take time and get it done. Wait till it is a bit more popular, you can guest every week and discuss your books for free.. This is a promise mate.
I will get this going and popular.. one day 🙂
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Is there anyrhing about social media that is indecent exposure?
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Teenagers on Facebook?
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I meant for authors, silly!
Teenagers should get a life?!
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They really should. Many of them don’t get out nearly enough these days.
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