Any Great Idea for Authors Helping Authors?

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I was just thinking, if authors can acquire at least one book of another author as an exchange. In other words you adopt one of the books of your choice. You promote it like your own book. The other author adopts one of your books of choice and do the same.  Of course, the promotion should be honest and genuine; And this should not be a problem, because you are picking the book of choice that you like.

What's different about this than promoting your own book. Self-promotion is almost impossible.

What do other authors think. Will it work or not?

NOTE: As the saying goes, put your money where your mouth is.. If you like any of my book titles, send me personal message and I will consider.

[JRTomlin]

I try to do my bit by promoting other writers' blogs. I visit at least a couple a day, post comments as often as I can, and very often tweet about the ones I visit. I have also started doing reviews of indie novels on my site (and need to write one today), but beyond that--speaking only for myself--I'm not sure that promotion of other people's novels is something I can do. For example, a large part of my own promotion is giveaways of my novels. This really isn't something I can do for someone else.

However, I try and will continue to try to support and promote other authors. One of those attempts is to refrain from attacking other indie authors even when one makes me angry or irritates me. It may require tying my hands behind my back, but support and not attack is what we should be doing.

Anyway, I'm not saying this might not be right for some and I support anyone who does it. I could change my mind about taking part if I eventually see it as a practical choice. For now, I'll go visit a couple of blogs and write a review.

I do think this shows your heart and mind are "in the right place" so to speak.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I do think this shows your heart and mind are "in the right place" so to speak.

Thanks for your response. But I am little surprised about no response. So either this is not a good idea or other authors are already doing. Promoting each others books on their blog, social network etc.

[Alex Sinclair]

I sort of do that anyway. I created the book of the month competition on my blog a few months ago. We have hundreds of votes a month and have over 20,000 hits a month. It basically gives authors a platform to promote their work to a wider audience and everyone has a guest blog apperance. The winner, the cover of the month and the runners are all promoted. Last month witnessed a increase in sales for the top books. I wanted to help other authors and this seems to work. I am doing a few new things next month to increase promotional opportunites for authors.

[Kathleen Valentine]

I've been running an entire series on my blog called For Indie Authors/From Indie Authors. So far 35 authors have been featured and I have a lot more to go!

I also publish reviews of books by indie authors that are in genres I read -- basically that is mystery and literary fiction.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

Your heart is in the right place too, JR. I have recently created a blog. Right now I hardly know what to do with it. I don't know, if any of my titles will interest you, but if you or anyone else like to join, here it is:
http://drdhillon.blogspot.com/

I try to do my bit by promoting other writers' blogs. I visit at least a couple a day, post comments as often as I can, and very often tweet about the ones I visit. I have also started doing reviews of indie novels on my site (and need to write one today), but beyond that--speaking only for myself--I'm not sure that promotion of other people's novels is something I can do. For example, a large part of my own promotion is giveaways of my novels. This really isn't something I can do for someone else.
I do think this shows your heart and mind are "in the right place" so to speak.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I've been running an entire series on my blog called For Indie Authors/From Indie Authors. So far 35 authors have been featured and I have a lot more to go!
I also publish reviews of books by indie authors that are in genres I read -- basically that is mystery and literary fiction.

Thanks Kathleen. I recently created a blog and as I said earlier, I hardly know what to do with it.  All I am getting are emails from other authors promoting their blogs.

How is this almost spamming is effective in marketing books is beyond my understanding.  If you or anyone think I am missing big time, and perhaps I am, then advice me how is this authors helping authors. And I would love to join.

My idea was totally different from such chaos where we are bombarding each other with our own agenda with no consideration of others. Mine was mutual respect and dealing on one to one bases as totally equal. But it looks like I was not able to express my ideas effectively or everyone is busy promoting their books on discussion boards and blogs. I still believe this is sellers selling to sellers not buyers. Of course, it will produce some sale, as any promotion is better than no promotion. It's getting long and better stop now.

Thanks for sharing your blog ideas to newby like me.

[Dawn Judd]

A lot of us already do.  A few of us run review boards and book clubs on blogger and facebook and do our best to promote other authors.  I know I owe a lot of my sales to the promotion other authors have done for me.  I try to promote them as much as possible.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

A lot of us already do.  A few of us run review boards and book clubs on blogger and facebook and do our best to promote other authors.  I know I owe a lot of my sales to the promotion other authors have done for me.  I try to promote them as much as possible.

Thanks for confirming what I already believe is happening. How are these blogs different than face book. As I understand or misunderstand, these blogs are to attract more visitors, in this case mostly authors who want reviews of their books or just discussion to discuss each others books.  We can do something similar to your book club in "Book Bazar" but with more audience.

What I am suggesting is on one to one basis promotion of books by other authors you really like. Whether review or recommended readings and so on.

What you're suggesting or doing is authors attracting authors to their blogs with the hope to sell as I explained earlier...

I do appreciate your info that gives me better feelings of indie marketing. Thanks.

[balaspa]

I have been trying to do something like this already.  If you check out my postings, I have been ranting and raving about Blake Crouch's book "Run."  However, I have been doing it without the expectation that someone else will start promoting my books.  I would love it if someone did, or even just left a few positive comments on Amazon (provided they liked the story, I don't want to encourage lying). 

[Kathleen Valentine]

How are these blogs different than face book.

The big differences between having a blog and using Facebook are 1.) you do not have to be on Facebook to read a blog therefore you are not limited by those people who have friended or liked you and their friends, and 2.) the really, really good thing with blogs is that if you post quality content your blog stands a chance of being picked up and featured on commercial web sites. For example, a few weeks a go I noticed my blog stats SKY ROCKET! I mean just off the charts within hours and I had no idea why. I did some investigation and discovered that a blog post I wrote about the Pittsburgh Steelers (I'm working on a novel right now that involves a former NFL player) had been posted to the Green Bay Packers' web site and I got literally thousands of visitors in a few days. It died off within a few days but, during the spike, I did notice an increase in my book sales. That would not have happened with Facebook.

Also, I think Facebook is taking on a certain Spam-level of repetitive posting by certain people who push their product (not just authors either - artists, musicians, shop owners, etc.) constantly. I've finally started doing a Do Not Show in my Feed to people who Spam with Wall posts.

Finally, yes, I agree with you about some people wanting to take advantage of promotional opportunities with no reciprocation. When I offered my For/From Indie Authors series I was bombarded with submissions and very, very few of those have made an attempt to cross-promote. I did not ask them to (all I asked was that they Follow my blog which most of them have) and I will continue to run the series regardless. What I have noticed is this: When I post someone as "Indie Author of the Day" with their links, book covers, bio, etc. I send that person an email. A few of them then promote my blog (with their post0 to Twitter, Facebook, etc. I know this because I can see visitors from the referring site. But a lot more either do nothing or, for some reason, no one clicks on their links.

I've lately noticed a similar thing when we do #SampleSunday here. If you include your Twitter name in your Tweet and people Tweet you, it shows up in your @Mentions. Last Sunday (for instance) I re-Tweeted over 25 Tweets by authors here. Of those, only 8 Tweeted mine (unless they removed my name when they did it.)

As I am learning more about how authors can help one another I am being far more particular about who I am willing to support based on their willingness to reciprocate. I think many of us are discovering this.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

The big differences between having a blog and using Facebook are 1.)....
Finally, yes, I agree with you about some people wanting to take advantage of promotional opportunities with no reciprocation. When I offered my For/From Indie Authors series I was bombarded with submissions and very, very few of those have made an attempt to cross-promote. I did not ask them to (all I asked was that they Follow my blog which most of them have) and I will continue to run the series regardless. What I have noticed is this: When I post someone as "Indie Author of the Day" with their links, book covers, bio, etc. I send that person an email. A few of them then promote my blog (with their post0 to Twitter, Facebook, etc. I know this because I can see visitors from the referring site. But a lot more either do nothing or, for some reason, no one clicks on their links.
As I am learning more about how authors can help one another I am being far more particular about who I am willing to support based on their willingness to reciprocate. I think many of us are discovering this.

Thanks for explaining differences between blog and facebook which I agree are there. But my question was in reference to the other message--that how do these differ in "authors helping authors."
Kathleen, below is my blog link and I will follow you and do whatever you suggest me to help you. Because I am not sure about how it helps the way I suggested. But I do agree it gets more visitors and help indirectly just like discussion forums. But that's not what I suggest to help one to one basis.
http://drdhillon.blogspot.com/

Thanks.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

A lot of us already do.  A few of us run review boards and book clubs on blogger and facebook and do our best to promote other authors.  I know I owe a lot of my sales to the promotion other authors have done for me.  I try to promote them as much as possible.

Since my suggestion is not getting anywhere. Please count me in to help whatever way you suggest. Here is my blog:
http://drdhillon.blogspot.com/

Thanks.

[vrabinec]

Here's the problem I have with this. I have a circle of friends, authors, who I regularly communicate with. We exchange encouragement, and most of them do promote other authors on their sites. I don't want to do it because there's a handful of those whose writing isn't ready for publication IMO, but who I'd feel obligated to promote. After all, how would it look if I agreed to promote fifteen authors, but not five others? I like those five others and I cherish their friendship, but if I promote an author I want to tell the truth. Of course, I haven't even finished my first novel yet, and have very little traffic on my site, so it's a mute point for me at this point. But if I become successful on some level in the future, I want people to trust what I tell them. If I tell them to check out the new book by someone who's not ready to publish, I lose that trust.

[Coral Moore]

I don't know. It strikes me as slightly slimy to make an agreement like this. I've promoted some books from people on here because I like their work, but not under any sort of arrangement. I guess it seems to me you're talking about making a deal in order to skirt around the rules and I just can't say I think that's a good idea. I'll continue to do reviews and suggest books to people on my blog as I have been, but this crosses a very clear line for me.

[Kathleen Valentine]

I don't want to do it because there's a handful of those whose writing isn't ready for publication IMO .....  I want people to trust what I tell them. If I tell them to check out the new book by someone who's not ready to publish, I lose that trust.

That's been experience with a lot of books as well.

[Kathleen Valentine]

Kathleen, below is my blog link and I will follow you and do whatever you suggest me to help you. Because I am not sure about how it helps the way I suggested. But I do agree it gets more visitors and help indirectly just like discussion forums. But that's not what I suggest to help one to one basis.

Okay, I followed you. I am assuming (correct me if I am wrong) that English is not your first language. I say this because I find your writing somewhat difficult to follow at times. You do very well but if I am not giving the answers you want perhaps it is because I am not understanding you correctly.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I don't know. It strikes me as slightly slimy to make an agreement like this. I've promoted some books from people on here because I like their work...

I totally understand what you're saying but I am not suggesting that.  In fact, by promoting a bad book you're shooting in your foot as an author and killing your conscious.

One have to read the book, understand it and then review and promote... That's why I suggested that you pick up a book you like before wasting time to even read it.. Thanks for your input.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

Okay, I followed you....

Thanks. I will like to follow you too when I understand how to do it. Hope, I can get to your blog by clicking your icon.  Blogs and social network is new to me and quite time-consuming; but I try to do my best. I will visit and learn from your blog. Thanks.

[MeiLinMiranda]

I'm happy--eager, in fact--to promote indie nonfiction writers with appropriate subject matter on my nonfiction site. Currently I'm featuring Kathleen, in fact! http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/ PM me if interested.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

Okay, I followed you. ..

BTW, I followed you on twitter.. Good luck with your marketing posts that I saw there.
drdln