DOES THIS BOOK STINK or ITS BOOK REVIEW?

6 Tips for restoring Book Reader Confidence in Book Reviews

A few weeks ago a national book club shared with me that their book reviews had been taken down from Amazon.com, because the account had more than one person noted as a reviewer. Amazon.com’s new policies no longer allowed multiple users on one account.

The book club was outraged. They felt targeted. They didn’t understand.

What was the problem of using one account for all the members to broadcast their book reviews?

This past week’s RJ Ellory debacle maybe the best answer. According to The Telegraph Ellory admitted to creating fake book reviews for over a decade. To make matters worst, some of the reviews were negative toward other authors.

Giving MacBride one star for his work Dark Blood, he[Ellory] wrote last month: “Unfortunately this is another in the seemingly endless parade of same-old-same-old Police procedurals that seem to abound in the UK.”

Later he used the same names in forum posts during a bit of “shameless self-promotion”, in which he also attacked another author before appearing to give himself away by signing off messages with “Roger”.

Now if that ain’t a hot mess… Catch this. Ellory is not alone. There have been other authors caught gaming online book review sites. (Orlando Figes)

So how does this affect book clubs submitted online reviews?

Because authors, paid reviewers, and who-knows-what-else have disregarded  FTC guidelines for full disclosure and have crossed the ethical line for book reviewers, Amazon.com and other consumer review sites have had to create stricter guidelines, in order to try to restore the value of the system.

Now I am not a fan of online reviews, because up onto this point, many reviews are biased or paid, aren’t always about the content but things beyond the authors control, and do not follow a universal book review writing guidelines. I cannot place the same value in a book review from someone whose review is simply “I couldn’t relate to the author.”

On the other hand as a published author, publicist, and former book reviewer, I know how book reviews are. In this new landscape of oversaturated book hodgepodge easy to find, cheap, affordable books-a-plenty book discoverability has become paramount. We know that book reviews help lift our books out of story obscurity.

But if the book review system is this flawed, then what is the value of a book review now, too? Very close to zilch.

So what can we do?

Karen Burgess at Literary Lunchbox shared a great idea to resuscitate book review power.

“… Consider doing some reviews yourself… on Amazon, on Goodreads, or even start your own blog. Because the more people who really love books share the love, the less opportunity there is for hacks and scammers!”

I also suggest for publicists:

1. Traditional PR works for one great reason. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here. Submit books to review according to review periodical editorial guidelines and let the chips fall where they may.
2. Understand the FTC Guidelines for Book Bloggers and use them when you approach book bloggers for book review opportunities.
3. Review the reviews on your client’s book pages (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GoodReads) monthly. It’s our job to manage our client’s image. Make sure those reviews line up to ethical standards.
4. No how to contact Amazon.com or any consumer review site to dispute a review. (Note I am a Good Reads Librarian. Contact me about your clients book data.)
5. Be transparent.
6. Work with vetted reviewers and bloggers who have a reputation for quality and ethical reviews.

Photo credit: Digitized Chaos

Thriller subgenres: is it SciFi, or SciThri?

Thriller subgenres: is it SciFi, or SciThri?

By Amy Rogers

When authors pitch a novel to agents or editors, they’re expected to cite which category or genre applies to their work. “Where would this book be shelved at Barnes & Noble?” is the question.

Happy Thriller Thursday!
Dr. Amy Rogers has written a great article at ITW's The Thrill Begins, "Is it SciFi or SciThriller?" I've opened up a discussion in the chat room that compliments the article, that is also a topic for authors regardless of genre. "Do you know why properly tagging your book matters?" If you get a chance today, please stop by thank, read, or respond to the discussion.
Here's the link: http://thethrillbegins.blogspot.com/2011/11/thriller-subgenres-is-it-scifi-or.html

10 Things to Do the Month Before your Book Releases

  My novel, A Good Excuse to Be Bad has its national release June 28, 2011. When I noticed how I close I was to the book launch date I realized that although I have had the busiest, most trying, family in crisis year than I’ve ever had still needed to apply the action items I often encourage my clients and my Dee Goody Mail members. So as a reminder to myself and to up my accountability, I am sharing my checklist here.

Continue reading "10 Things to Do the Month Before Your Book Releases" »

Why the 3 Wise Men will Out Sell You this Holiday Season

The one thing I dislike about the holidays is spam. Everyone is having a sale. Everyone believes that their <insert dumb thing> is what I want for Christmas or need to have purchased for my career success before next year’s rates increase. What I would like this holiday season are continued prayers for my mom, a spam free holiday, and a simple hello. What I don’t want is your dumb thing.

Don’t get me wrong. I get it. I get the sales pitches. I grew up in a sales woman’s household. I know the value of good timing. I know how important the holiday season is to the marketplace.

However, I also know this…The holidays used to be a great time to sell anything. Used to be. Spam, improper email etiquette, more spam, and liars have spoiled it. We’re about fresh done until New Years.

So if you want to make a great impact for your <insert dumb thing>, make it a great thing. Give it value by not being like the other dummies.

Take this time as a good opportunity to connect, to for once this year talk to your clients like their people, find out how your gatekeepers are doing, and give a gift or two of your valuable thing to someone you know who would really needs it, but because of the holidays they just don’t have the money to buy it.

Be a wise man. Give your best.

Photo Courtesy of La Fe’e Crochette

Related articles

• A New Year's diet for overstuffed Christmas inboxes (econsultancy.com)
• Being a Publicist is like Caring for My Sick Mom during the Holidays (deegospelpr.com)
• How to Sell Your Book during the Holidays? (deegospelpr.com)

Two Challenges with Af-Am Christian Fiction

My Two Cents Monday

 

What do you think are the best-selling trends in African American literature both fiction and nonfiction, especially, but not limited to, those with Christian themes? Then, what are the best ways for publishers to market those titles to African Americans? What publishers are doing it well?

-Jevon Bolden Embrace the Possibility

Today I’m answering a blog post question from my friend Jevon Bolden, Developmental Editor at Strang Books.

What do you think are the best-selling trends in African American literature both fiction and nonfiction, especially, but not limited to, those with Christian themes?

There are two sub genres affiliated with Christian fiction written for Af-Am Christian readers:

• Af-Am Christian Fiction
• Church Drama

The latter outsells. This fact also makes marketing to Af-Am Christian book buyers unique, because the buyer doesn’t know the difference, yet expects AACF to read like Church Drama. Moreover, Church Drama authors market to this audience, while adamantly stating that they do not write for Christian audiences. This confusion, in my opinion, has hurt Af-Am Christian Imprints and the acquisition of AACF Lit.

A new subgenre that will also affect Af-Am Christian Fiction sells will be fantasy romances like L.A. Banks Surrender the Dark, a novel about angel mythology.

I’ll answer the other two questions respectively this week.

Your two cents?

Related articles

• What Kind of Books Do You Want to Read from African American Authors? (deegospelpr.com)
• Toni Morrison inducted into France's Legion of Honour (cbc.ca)

Finding Your Ideal Reader #LiterarySoapbox

Today on Literary Soapbox we’re sharing tips and discussing how authors need to reach Thelma, a marketing ideal for Contemporary African American book byers.

Here is my condensed response:

IMO, the Thelma you describe is a group of women, not one person…

gist we have to move away from reaching authors based on demographics, but psychographics. How people shop? The psychology of buying and decision making.
Reaching these groups will not work with cookie cutter book marketing efforts. You can't duplicate what another author does. You have to build a campaign that does its best to reach your ideal reader.

Visit the blog for my entire response and my breakdown of two different types of Thelmas here, then respond there or on my blog your thoughts. You can also respond on Twitter use the hashtag #literarysoapbox

Photo: Thelmas buying books at the 2010 Faith & Fiction Retreat

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3 Gifts to Faith & Fiction Retreat Attendants

 This weekend I fellowshipped with my Write-or-Die Chicks and added some more to the mix, along with the most posh bookclubs I’ve met this year. Honey, these ladies were dressed to kill at the gala banquet.

For those of you who attended the Book Marketing Boot Camp Session, in which I was a part of.  We had to cut our session short, because of a time crunch, so I offered three freebies to you:

10 Book Marketing Tips Every Author Should Consider Before the Book Hits the Shelf

Book Marketing Dee-Mystified Series Planning Workbook: 7 Components to Book Marketing and Social Media Design

The #1 Reason Why your Book Marketing Efforts Fail on Facebook? (expanded version that is not online)

 

You can email me via Facebook and I will send you all three. The first respondent gets a free one hour consulation from me. (A $100 value.)

Once again. Thanks so much for hanging out with me this weekend!

Dee

 

The #1 Reason Your Book Marketing Efforts Fail on Facebook

Me on Twitter

Last month I asked a question on my Facebook profile: If you could give up one social media platform-- Twitter or Facebook-- what would it be? Most respondents chose Facebook, because they didn’t get it. Although the results weren’t shocking, they were problematic. Many of those responders were authors… african-american authors.  But in this “Relationships are Imperative for Survival” age, black authors need to get Twitter. They need to get it like two years ago…

Read the full article today at RAWSISTAZ here.

48 Guerilla Marketing Tips from Top PR Pros

I'm quoted in this week's American Express Small Business Site, Open Forum's 48 Guerilla Marketing Tips from Top PR Pros.

We’ve asked some of the most experienced public relations professionals to share their secrets on how to market a company on a small budget. Here are some of the best ways to use social media and word-of-mouth marketing to gain a competitive advantage in this tough economy. stated Senior Writer, Linsey Knerl

Read the list, copy it for your notes, and let me know what you thought of my tip.

#1 PR/Marketing 2010 Book Marketing Tip: Benchmarking Social Media Activity

Happy New Year!

For those of you who didn't live under a bubble last year we experienced a paradigm shift in literary marketing. Public Relations activity trumped Advertising. The down economy, the saturation of books in the marketplace, bookstore and print publication closings left us with little money and outlets to advertise our great books. However, Social Media Services gave us a new playing field that bypassed many gatekeepers and went straight to our market, book buyers. Unfortunately, many of us destroyed our fan based and brand because we don't understand New Media Marketing and have yet to become educated on how to use it. Sure there are many social media rockstars, gurus and authorpreneurs(my most unfavorite new word of last year) who will sell you that they have the magic formula to cracking the converting social media activity into book sales code.

They don't.

Others will try to sell you that their social media marketing kit is the only way to successfully market your book.

Impossible.

And the others will tell you that the only way to sell your book is online.

Ridiculous.

Since we're starting the new year off with reflective and receptive hearts, heed my words: Benchmark your literary PR efforts, especially the social media kind.

Ask yourself these questions:

• How am I measuring my social media activity success?
• How much of that activity converts into book sales?
• Which efforts are successful?
• How many publishing gatekeepers have I connected with and have forged relationships via social media that have improved my sales contract goals?
  
• How can I improve in all areas of social media marketing?
• Have my content become viral, if not, why?
  

If you don't know the answers to those questions, then your goal for this year is to get the necessary education, tools, and help to know those answers as soon as possible.

Media Candy Sneak Peak: Your Comments Needed

Media Candy Sneak Peak

I've been compiling notes, blog posts and articles I've written over the past five years to pour them into my book, Media Candy:Yummying Up the Marketplace. Here's a sneak peak. Please give me feedback and suggestions.  Thanks!

Dee

Black Friday: Why Borders "In-Stock Guarantee" Is Good for Midlist Authors?

This month Borders Group announced its third quarter earnings, holiday selling season strategy, store closings and new marketing efforts. One effort in particular, Borders in-stock guarantee program seems not just beneficial to Borders, who is competing with Amazon.com and Walmart, but also for authors who aren't getting much love these days.

Here's how it works:

Store customers who want a book not available at the store will be sent the title with no shipping charges. This offer is good through December 16.


Why is the program great for most authors:

1. It can increase your books chances to be shelved in Borders.

Although many book buyers shop online, books are found in bookstores. Especially for events like Black Friday where there are more instore traffic. During Black Friday customers troll the aisles searching for the perfect book. However, they won't see yours today, because it is not shelved. But don't fret if you send out a quick eblast to your fan list that they can order your book today and through the holiday season that it will be shipped free to them,...KAPOW.

The major reasons your book is not shelved is because your local Borders doesn't know you exist or doesn't  believe that your book will sell in their store. If your book is the Business(meaning pretty good with swagger) and a decent number of your fans ask for it, the chances that the Borders store that your fans requested it from will want to stock your book will go up.

One thing you need to seek as a sales goal is to make sure that your book is stocked in the favorite bookstore of your fans. All it takes is a survey or poll to find that info out.

With this current in-stock guarantee promotion you can leverage your shelf life in your ideal markets.


2. It can increase your sales numbers.

Although many authors use Amazon links to channel their online booksales, it is wise to use a brick and mortar store as well. These stores guarantee that your book is purchased new, not used which can happen if you are directing book buyers to Amazon. Used books aren't counted, because they have already been bought.

I am a fan of using BookSense stores, because they are independents. However, with the Borders in-store guarantee, I would consider choosing your local or your bookclub president's local Borders or Waldens(make sure it isn't closing) as the official bookseller for your book. You couple that announcement with quarterly instore appearances or hosting local community events at that bookstore, you will see more traction for your entire catalog of books in print.

3. It can increase your royalties.

Piggybacking on #2. Your royalties are affected by the types of sells your book make. If it is discounted(Walmart or Amazon or BookCloseout.com) or bought used(Books for Less, Amazon possibly, eyc.)  As I've said before authors should be wise and place bookstore links on their websites.
Yes, I know bookstore events beget small book sales. On average Borders will only stock about fifteen of your books for a book signing. Low and newbie authors will sell maybe ten and mid authors (if twenty) at a time, if you don't have marketing support, don't advertise and only  tell your Facebook buddies. But when you host a book event offsite-- let's keep it one hundred(let's be real--after you spend monies for event booking fees, promoting the event, purchasing food(because we can't seem to buy books without eating) how much profit did you really make?

I agree you should focus on making monies on both the front and back end. When we're speaking book events the goal is to increase that royalty statement and for many of you to get a royalty check. Use this back back program to do that.

If you sell more books than the store provided, your patrons will have the books shipped to them for free, and the bookstore will be wiser to stock your next book when they receive your publisher's order catalog the next go round.

In short learn what these bookstore chains are doing to stay in the black, then help them accomplish their goal. It will help you in the process.

If you haven't signed up for Dee's Goody Mail, then do so today. The December letter will discuss Borders and Barnes & Nobles third quarter sales in detail and how to leverage these figures for you. The goody mail is free, but by invitation only. I am inviting you in honor of Black Friday. To receive it, send me an email at deegospelpr at gmail dot com and put in the subject header I want to Keep it One Hundred!

Related Post:

• 5 Ways to Support Your Favorite Author for Free
  
• Borders Launches Holiday In-Store...
  

Dee

8 Points Online Marketing Plan

Join me this weekend at the SORMAG Online Writer's Conference. Yesterday my Workshop: 8 Points Online Marketing Plan is up . I will stop through today also, to answer any questions. http://sormag.blogspot.com/2009/08/workshop8-points-online-marketing-plan.html


Don't forget it's not too late to register to my blogging event, 30 Days to Build a Better Book Blog. The Fun begins September 1, 2009.

Related Posts:

When your Virtual Publicist is Shut Down: Twitter

Yesterday the publishing world--mainly authors--silently screamed in unison when they woke up to a Twitter - less world. When they learned of the Twitter Hack their minds raced-- no, their Facebook messages stated:

• "WTF(rankenbeans)! "


• "I can't tweet."


• "Why is Facebook moving so slow?"


• and some other things I can't state on this blog...

But what they really wanted an answer for was "how will i promote my books if social media fails?"

In this economy publishing houses aren't expensing marketing dollars to many of their authors. In fact, some authors are only receiving online marketing support. But what if we have another day like tomorrow? What if Twitter fails for good?

As I've said many times, authors and publishing houses and publicists must create a strategic social media design that has an objective of moving it's followers off-line and to their on-line hub. Having a blog or a Facebook Fan Page, Amazon Page, or an embedded Forum inside a Ning or a very well put together site(I recommend Ty Moody and Linda Leigh Hargrove and Rochelle Mann web design services.) will ensure that when your people chatter they have a place to go. Imagine how many of your readers could have been chopping it up one on one with you on your own place yesterday? You would have a richer conversation, because they aren't distracted by tweeting to every tom, dick and Jane Austen on the World Wide Web.

If you need assistance on creating a strategic social media design, contact me. And yeah, you have a few more days to receive my Book Marketing Dee-Mystified Planning Workbook for $3. Authors have received it and are using it to their satisfaction. I hope you take this opportunity. Also next Monday I will be giving a Twitter for Authors Crash Course Teleseminar. It's my six week training condensed. $5 for Christian Fiction Blog Readers. Visit my paypal account at vidae dot writing dot com to pay for your registration.

Now a weekend chatterbox question for you: What did you do when the Tweets went out in America?

Related Posts:

• 5 Ways to Support your Favorite Author for Free
• Experiment with New Media to Brand your Niche
• The Twitter Book Experiment

If you haven't already, you can receive Christian Fiction Blog, as a newsletter format in your email inbox, just click here and it's set you up.

Do You have a Book Marketing Plan? Get it Here. Limited Time.

Ok. So I've been praying and contemplating about my Book Marketing Dee-Mystified Planning Workbook. Should I give it away or charge a fee? It's no mystery that I'm living under a money crunch, but I'm doing okay. Thank you, JESUS! Thank you for your prayers, friends and family stepping up and getting Selah prepared for school and keeping me from driving off into a ditch. Y'all have held me up, and I'm grateful. But I've been dealing with this. I want to give you guys something from me that's a great tool I created that I know will help you become more confident about your next book title launch. This fall I will be doing more coaching and writing and reviewing and seeking a literary agent, then in the trenches with authors. So've decided to give this workbook to my Mastermind Session attendants for free(I think that's fair,) but for you guys you get it for $3. One for the Father, One for the Son, One for the Holy Ghost, but for a limited time like August 7, 2009. Then I may up the price or put it in my vault. lol.

What does this workbook contain?

• 60 page workbook
• media analysis
  
• market analysis
• social media design primer
• 9/12 month book marketing action plan
• step by step guide to help you create a marketing plan you can use now or as a part of your book proposal's marketing section
  

I think that's good. I wish I had this when I began writing. In fact, I'm using it myself and it's $3 until next week. Remember?

So how do I get the workbook?

It's an ebook. I will email it to you after you make your payment via paypal. my account is vidae at writing dot com. That's it. I will not take your email and add you to a mailing list or sell the listing. If you would like to receive my monthly Dee's Goody Email, hit me up on Twitter and I will add you. Otherwise, your email addy goes into the vault.

Please pass this short time offer on and give me some feedback here on how you like the workbook. Once again thanks for being here for me.

Dee

Oh and that book I'm holding is Claudia Burney's Wounded.

M & M: What an Author Press Release Should Cover

For the time being I will be merging content from my DeeGospel PR Blog into Christian Fiction, as I do an overhaul of both blogs and the site. So today I hope to add a new Monday feature called M & M: Mondays & Marketing.

Todays M & M tips is regarding press releases and fiction writers. Here are three dos and don'ts for your next PR(press release.)

Dont's:

1. do not send a boilerplate press release to media contacts and bookgroup gatekeepers. I can't tell you how many Facebook, Twitter and email messages I receive about promoting their book on my sites or on Media Candy, and how many of those messages I never read. Take the time to research the media (including blogging) outlets that fit your book's audience. Learn the correct contact's name, when to contact them and the type of content they prefer to receive from you. Then provide that. Generally, here at the blog I work with about five publishing houses, four writer's event planners, and a handful or literary publicists for content requests for the blog. Everyone one of them came to me personally about their clients or themselves. As a blogger, how effective are boilerplate releases for you?




2. don't submit a boring, non buzz worthy event. Newsflash to you and unfortunately to some of my present and former clients submitting a news release about your upcoming bookclub event isn't good enough anymore. To ensure that your media contacts take you seriously, listen to what they want from you, submit them press releases that are relevant and helpful. Otherwise use the online events calendar to submit your book club meetings and signings.




3. don't include your book's synopsis in your press release. A press release should be formatted correctly and contain info that suggests to media that my book has a public takeaway value. Use your press release to do that. Here is an example:

• Dwan Abram's Wear Red & Read Dessert Fundraiser




• Sherri Lewis finals for ACFW Writer of the Year

We will talk about the DO's tomorrow. In the meantime send me your current press release and let me fix it here on the blog. Email me at deegospel pr at gmail dot com.

And if you haven't registered yet for my summer book marketing mastermind session you still have a chance. For $75 you receive six weeks of book marketing coaching. session begins tomorrow. our first lesson is on basic marketing and this funny thing called a press release, where to distribute it, how to make it, and how to track results free. email me or direct message me on Twitter to register.

15 Days until...Marketing Mastermind Session

My article Crowdsourcing Christian Readers will be in the next issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine. As a gift to those readers and to you, I have provided a coupon for my Summer Marketing Mastermind Session. Stay tuned as I share more about this session and how you can register for it, and how you can win a free registration in honor of Christian Fiction's 5th Birthday.

Use Social Media Platforms for Specific Marketing Services

Today come check out Ty Moody's interview of me her Next Level Marketing blog. One thing you will discover about me is that I use each social media service for specific reasons.

Ty also asked me:

At Tywebbin Creations, we work with authors to help them establish and nurture their online brand. Can you provide an online marketing tip?

Read the post to get my answer, a list of the services I provide and where to get free pr content from me. Enjoy.

Join me for May 30: Book Marketing MasterMind Session

(African American Authors in Atlanta)

Up to 30 Author presentations and readings

All genres from Spirituality to Erotica

May 30^th, 2009

9:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Wyndham Garden Hotel

175 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta 30303, 404-659-2727, X 352 or 353

Special Wyndham Discount for Attendees: $89 per night/King or Double Queen

Readers Full Day Admission: $40/$50 with shuttle transportation

Registration: 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. (Registration includes membership to Jean Holloway’s “Aceoholics” Book Club)

Buffet Breakfast: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (includes Book Marketing Mastermind Session with me, Dee Stewart)

12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Authors reading excerpts from such novels as:

at the Peachtree Library, 1315 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, 30309

Shuttle transportation provided between hotel, library and Uptown ($5.00 each R/T)

OR join us from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. at The Uptown Restaurant and Lounge

201 Courtland St. Atlanta, 30306

Admission to Uptown ONLY $25.00 and includes FREE autographed copy from attending author of your choice.

Authors & Readers meet & mingle. Enjoy smooth jazz, hors'dourves and Cash bar.

Professional Massages will be available for $1 per minute.

All attendees can enjoy Dinner & a Live Band from 7-10p. with no additional cover charge.

For tickets, register at: http://quada.eventbrite.com

Questions: email jeanholloway@deckofcardz.com with “Quad A” as the subject.

All events and participating authors may change without notice.

Could You Be The #1 Reason Why Christian News Coverage is Dwindling in Local Media?

Garbage- My lovers box photo by cordero_pastillero

Last week the Dallas Morning News moved its religion reporters to covering suburban news. However, today their Religion Blog is still up and running. When Christianity Today asked the Bob Mong, the editor why the section was cut in '07. He stated:

In a time of flat revenues, we simply could not generate the advertising to break even on the section," said Bob Mong, editor of The Dallas Morning News. "I don't think any paper in the country tried harder than we did over the years."

So why dropping the two writers who remained? I think a combo of interest and poor ad campaigns on the part of Christian businesses is at hand.

Here in Atlanta Faith and Values is now infused in the Living Section of the AJC. As a Christian and a publicist who specializes in promoting Christians I wonder if local media's decision to cut these sections are reflection on our current society, a paradigm shift in what it means to be a Christian or stinking thinking on the part of the Christian business community?

Even when I look at some of the artists I represent and writers I applaud the ones that get the most media attention and the most buzz from the peanut gallery are artists who are shifting from proclaiming their Christianity. They believe that their base would be broader if they move from calling themselves Christian artists to urban inspirational. It leads me to wonder if Christian singers, playwrights, authors, actors are being on the DL about their faith, then why should the media be responsible for singing their praises. Afterall, don't they automatically and voluntarily opt out of being covered by Christian news now?

Moreover I wonder for those artists seeking PR (pr = print media placement, not public relations/marketing support as they should be seeking) realize that their silence bears the fruit of dwindling PR opportunities.

On the other hand, when I share advertising opportunities to Christian biz friends, clients and colleagues they continue to have a "marketing my ministry should be free/if He builds it they will come" mentality. If God called them to write, act, sing, build a church, pastor a congregation then why should they pay to advertise? Why should they pay for praises to be sung? Why should they shout God's message to as many who have ears to hear?

A few months ago Christian authors registered and attended The Christian Book Expo. Although I had my own misgivings about the project that was unrelated to the outcome of this event. (Let's face it: The AA Author's Pavilion wasn't its downfall.) What concerned me was reading many posts by my author friends, who were disappointed in the turn out--who lived near the area and/or had a significant readership around the area--but did poor if any marketing to alert their readers that they were coming. How can you be upset that noone came to your table when you told no one you would be here?

I am always shocked by events we create at DGP, then to find many of my author buddies do not advertise the events they will participate in or at least contact their readers via blogging or email marketing. I am never shocked, but always floored.

Granted. It is a fine line between being humble and being a shameless promoter. With prayer and hiring marketing pros who share your faith (and I'm not plugging me or Christian Fiction Blog at all: Jean Wynne, Pam Perry, Kathleen Y' Barbo, Robin Ware, Marina Woods, Rebeca Sietz, Don Otiz, Amy Curry, this list goes on) they can help you stay on the right path toward glorifying God in your business. But if we don't market effectively and that includes working alongside your publicity department, publicist, marketing team, street team, and ad execs to ensure that you receive the best coverage. I don't think it's fair to knock Dallas News when the only ads I've seen consistently for months is Fireproof.

I fear if we don't wake up, then another religion that has no problem spending marketing dollars toward promoting their philosophy will shift religion news that is covered.

Your thoughts...