The above is what you see on an Amazon page to help spread the word. E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. The first one is relatively useless these days. Facebook is useful for some and horrible for others and the same can be said of Twitter. Still, those two have a bigger public image than the one that I want to talk about.
Pinterest is supposed to be one of the hottest social media sites and it requires little effort on an author’s part. Make an account, walk away, and pin off the sites without having to return. Maybe you go back to make sure you aren’t pinning something for the 5th time like I did with Beginning of a Hero. It’s a rather odd platform and I’m not certain how useful it is. Yet many artists have a Pinterest account and I see my friends all over it at times. So, maybe we should try to consciously use it like we do with blog posts.
Here is what I’m suggesting in steps:
- I make a pin on my account for each author’s book or an artist’s chosen work.
- They make a pin on their account for each of my books, Beginning of a Hero and Prodigy of Rainbow Tower.
Maybe we can start a trend here and get a Pinterest trade going like old baseball cards. It has no risk to it, so what do we have to lose. Just make a comment with your book’s title and I’ll pin it before the end of the day. If you want to wander the comments later and pin people yourself then go right ahead. Let’s give this social media site a test run.
On this same vein, anybody want to swap guest posts?
Legends of Windemere 
Ooh! Ooh! Me me me! *waves hand in the for like a frantic school child*
If I draw something super awesome and amazing would you guest post on my blog?!? I’ve never had a guest on my blog and never guest blogged on another blog before 🙂
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Sure. I’ll gladly post a super awesome drawing of yours. Do you have a Pinterest account? Also, what do you want me to guest blog about?
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Yup. I’m pretty sure my username is deanzdoodlez. I use that for most things nowadays. As for a guest post topix–gosh I dunno um… Maybe the process you went through with Jason on choosing the artwork and character designs for the Legends of Windmere?
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I’ll see what I can do. There wasn’t much to the process. I sent him a detailed description of the character and he sent me sketches to keep me updated.
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Okay well if you find there isn’t enough for a decent post, come up with something yourself and surprise me! 🙂
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Working on one now that pokes fun at the Boris Vallejo fantasy art style.
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Great! Can’t wait!
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I’ve been playing with pinterest for a few months. I have no clue if it’s working but since it requires minimum effort and cost nothing, so what do we have to lose. I’ll pin you if you pin me 🙂
I pined this post.
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Thanks. What’s the name of your book, so I can pin that?
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Pirate Tales, Vanished Tales, and Brandon and the Red Backpack.
What is your pin name? I’ll start following you.
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Slepsnor. I just pinned your books too, so if you could make pins for mine I’d appreciate it.
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Done!
Thanks Charles
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I will need to make an account with it. My daughter uses it for recipes. never thought about it for books.
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It’s very popular with books. So easy to use too.
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I don’t have a book but could I make a board for my short stories on ReadWave?
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I believe so.
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I made a board for your books and one fro my short stories http://pinterest.com/motherofnine9/short-stories/
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Thanks so much. Do you find a lot of traffic through Pinterest?
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yes because I host awestruck an catholic feast boards
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I’ve been on Pinterest for quite a while and love it. I don’t have any published books to swap but I do have two “secret” boards for the book I’m editing and my WIP that I will make public once I get to that point. I think we’re friends on Pinterest so I’ll search for you books and pin them 🙂
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Thanks. I’m still surprised Amazon has the Pinterest button on their products.
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Oh, I never even noticed that. LOL.
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I caught onto it a month ago. Right next to the Twitter button too. How did I miss it?
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Ha! Ha! Exactly!
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Forgot to mention that I’ll swap guest posts with you if you’re still looking for someone. I’ve got a fun idea for a guest post on your blog.
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Go right ahead. I’m very curious. Any suggestions for what I write? I’m always up for challenges.
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Nope, nothing in my noggin because it’s full of ideas for the guest post on your blog! LOL. I was going to do a post on editing on my blog because that’s what I’m in the midst of right now. Maybe that or ebook formatting? Kind of boring but the ebook formatting is a total mystery to me since I’m not there yet. I don’t know. SURPRISE ME!
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I’ll see what I can come up with. Maybe a funny post about things that are more entertaining than editing.
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I have total faith in you Charles. You can make any topic entertaining.
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Sent you an email with it. Hold onto that thought. 😉
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Damn! You’re already done? I had to take my daughter to my sister’s so she could experience bottle feeding a two-week-old calf. I’ll get back to it and send you an e-mail. Might be tomorrow morning, though (depending on the demands of my kids).
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No problem. I had more time than I thought because my son decided to worship the television this afternoon.
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