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This is the second part of the Indie Author Tips duet.  This morning I discussed formatting, which is rather simple.  This afternoon I speak of marketing, which is a terrifying challenge.  If you’re an out-going person and have a skill for sales then you have a better chance than others.  Again, it helps to make friends with other indie authors and talk shop.

Let’s get right into it and show the tips:

1. Social Media!!!  Use blogging, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Google+, Pinterest, Goodreads, and anything else that I’m forgetting.  Connect up as many of these as you can.  Though, I’d avoid the Twitter to Facebook combo if you have easily irritated friends.  My method has been to use my blog as a central hub for posting and sending things to the other.  I joined various Indie Author Promo groups on Facebook and make a morning and night advertising pitch on them.  I also try to post a Tweet about my books once every 3-4 hours.
2. Find and use various advertising sites.  I could list them here, but I’ll put a link to the list that I maintain.  Each page has various services.  GO HERE!
3. Hunt down author interviews and guest blogs.  A trick to the guest blogs is to offer a guest blog trade.  You write one for them and they write one for you.
4. Create bookmarks, stickers, and business cards that you can hand out.  If you can find an event to set up a table with physical copies of your books then these other items can be used too.  Keychains might be handy as well and it doesn’t hurt to invest in a banner.
5. Pinterest usage is interesting.  Make a pin of your book’s Amazon and Goodreads pages.  Try to do the same for other authors and hope the effort is returned.  A lot of what you will do at the beginning is about reciprocation.
6. Twitter is an important tool.  Remember to use your hashtags (# words) that will draw people to your book.  For example, I use #fantasy, #kindle, #magic, #adventure, and others.  You can Tweet from two areas: your Amazon page to get that @Amazon connection and Twitter itself with a tiny url.  I suggest using both throughout the day.
7. BE A HUMAN!   I see confusion, so let me explain.  Use your blog and social media to connect with people.  Blog about your experiences, talk about future projects, and just be approachable.  Try to make some interactive blogs like character interviews, asking for feedback, or contests.  People will be more interested in your stories if you’re more than the name on a book cover.  Even better, you’ll make some friends.
8. Blog tours and cover reveals can help with future releases.  To help get support, offer to be part of these for other authors.
9. Never respond to a negative review.  This is hard to learn and accept because many times you’ll want to defend yourself and your work.  Vent to a friend or write about it somewhere else.  This falls under this because you need to develop a reputation and brand.
10. If you get yourself onto an Amazon Top 100 List, it will help your sales.  Include this information on your daily social media posts, but don’t give specific numbers.  Just say you’re on the list because you might be at a different number by the time someone checks it.  I suggest avoiding this if you’re in the 90’s because those can slip very quickly.