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Friday, April 4, 2008

Effective Promotion With Online Chats

An effective way to promote your books is through the use of online message boards. These boards can also be used for chats with writers and readers. This is a great way to get acquainted with potential readers and other authors. If you want to discuss the release of a new book, reviews, an appearance or any other event or news, this is a great way to share information with others.

Promote Your Author Message Board

You can invite readers and authors to join your message board. This gives them a chance to ask you questions. Visitors can post questions which you should answer promptly. You can also schedule specific times to be online and chat with your visitors. These can be once a week or once a month and for an hour or more at a time. This will show your willingness to communicate with your visitors.

Learn To Educate Readers About Your Books

This is a great way to build your credibility and to educate your customers. There are many uses for the message board in between chats. The photo files can display pictures of your book covers, pictures of the setting and possibly pictures or sketches of how you envision your characters. The files section can hold details about your novels.

This can include:

  • Character Bios
  • Setting Details
  • Additional background that doesn’t appear in the story.
  • Reviews for your books.
  • Comments from readers.
There are many uses for the files and photo sections. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Book Promotion Requires Time

Keep in mind that it takes time to build up the membership on your message board. It also takes time to get people to join your chats. However, the beauty of the message board is that its available twenty four hours a day and seven days a week. People can visit at any time to read the messages and to learn from you. Your visitors will also be able to read old chat messages at any time.

You can set a signature block for each message that is posted. It would be effective to include your book titles, release dates, availability, website address and your contact information. This is subtle, but would be sent out with every message. A long drawn out message could turn people away from your site, so keep it concise.

Nikki Leigh
Author of Book Promo 101 Series
www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

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