Welcome to another issue of the Book Marketing Expert Newsletter!

Dear Author,

Are you all-a-twitter? If you're not on the powerhouse micro-blog site Twitter you might want to consider getting a profile and starting to micro-blog. We've run articles on how to set up a Twitter account and this week we're looking at some great Twitter Tips. I hope you'll enjoy them and I hope you'll consider following me and our very own Paula Krapf. We're always Twittering on something related to publishing and marketing.

This week's issue is packed full of tips and insider scoop. We love your feedback and we're so glad you enjoy our newsletter. Many of you write in, and we love to hear from you, so let us know what you think of the Book Marketing Expert newsletter.

Wishing you continued publishing success,

Penny, Paula, Susan, Lauren, Alex, Nancy and everyone at Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Bookgal.

P.S. Have you been wanting to dip your toe in Internet marketing but aren't sure where to get started? We have just launched a series of effective, innovative, and super-affordable marketing programs. Send an email to: bookmarketingonabudget@... to find out more!

P.P.S. Check out our blog!

We offer great tips and insights, such as: 'The Death of Traditional Publishing:'
http://amarketingexpert.com/ameblog/?p=418

Event date: Feb. 21 at 10 am PST

If the idea of pitching is daunting to you, let Producer and Media Strategist Laura Holka help you craft your pitch. During this one hour session she'll brainstorm your book pitch with you so you get a pitch no producer can refuse. She'll also teach you the ins and outs of pitching the media. This session is limited to 10 authors. One lucky attendee will get invited to be on The Chatroom in Phoenix, Arizona and the first three authors who register will get a free electronic copy of From Book to Bestseller and Red Hot Internet Publicity. Session cost: $199. FMI or to register send an email to: info@....

· Teach stuff - teach a little mini-lesson on Twitter. Delve into your area of expertise or just talk about book publishing and how to get published.
· Share sites or blogs that your followers would be interested in. Be their "filter" to new and exciting information.
· Use Tweetlater.com to post tweets to your account for later posting so you don't have to be sitting on top of Twitter every minute of the day.
· Use Twitter as a news source: you can easily announce news both from your world (as long as it relates to your topic) and from the world of your expertise. So for example I've done tweets on book industry stuff, breaking news, etc.
· Widen your network - follow other Twitter folk, this will not only give you some ideas for your own "tweets" but it's a great way to network with other writers or professionals.
· Offer advice: use Tweetdeck.com or Twitter Search ( search.twitter.com) to see who's asking for info on your area of expertise and then offer them some help/insight. This is a great way to build relationships.
· It's ok to market yourself but be careful about pimping your stuff too much.
· Be Original, useful and helpful.
· If you're on tour with your book or doing an event, tweet on that and invite your local followers to attend.
· Tweet any good reviews your book gets, it's always fun to share the good stuff!
· Every Tweet counts (don't tell people you're washing your cat) don't just tweet on useless stuff or you'll lose followers.
· It's not all about you (again, back to the cat) people want to know useful stuff, I know, it's getting repetitive but there's a reason: it's important.
· Promote your Twitter account in your email signature line and on your blog.
· Network: don't expect your followers to grow if you're not following other people. Network, search for others in your area and follow them.
· Personal is ok. Even though I said not to post useless information it's still not a bad idea to (from time to time) post a personal Tweet or two. Provide value and twitter-followers will beat a path to your door.
· Follow everyone who follows you. You can use sites like Socialtoo.com and Tweetlater.com to autofollow everyone who follows you. These services can also send a nice welcome message to your new followers.
· There is a lot of noise on Twitter, the sooner you get comfortable with that the better. It's like being at one massive cocktail party, you have to find ways to filter out the noise. Sites like Tweetlater can help you do that.
· Embed a link or some other sign up in your welcome message, this is another great way to capture emails for your newsletter (assuming you have one).
· Use sites like Tweetlater or Twitter Search to see who's talking about you and then follow them too or comment on their tweet.
· It's ok to repeat your tweets. With the volume of messages people get your followers will often miss some of your posts.
· Feed your blog through Twitter using Twitterfeed.com.
· Join Help a Reporter out @skydiver for tweets on media leads (it's a great service!).
· Don't feel like you have to respond to every tweet, but I generally try to respond to all tweets that are replies to mine (you can find these under @replies on your Twitter home page).

· Want to stay on top of your market and find stuff to Tweet about? Then go to Alltop.com and search for your category. There are thousands of them up there. Here are a few to consider: socialmedia.alltop.com, twitter.alltop.com and publishing.alltop.com.
· Review a product or book on Twitter.
· Follow big names in your market on Twitter: this will often bring in their followers too and you want to see what the "big guys" are up to.
· Get a good picture: don't leave your avatar blank. Personalize your page if you can but a good Twitter picture is a must.
· Tweetbeep.com is a lot like Google alerts. You can plug in your keywords and you're pinged each time they are used.
· Are you ready to add pictures to your Tweets? Then head on over to Twitpic.com, this site will let you upload pictures and tweet to them.
· Videos can also be shared on Twitter and 12seconds.tv is a great way to record a video (12 seconds long, hence the name) and share it with your followers.
· Music on Twitter is also possible thanks to TwittyTunes: http://www.foxytunes.com/twittytunes/. This site is great for sharing music and it has a simple Firefox add-in that lets you Twitter on music you're currently listening to!
· Keep Twittering, followers will come if you keep updating your Twitter account.

Not sure what to Twitter About? Check out these creative Twitter sites!

http://twitter.com/celebritygossip
http://twitter.com/cookbook
http://twitter.com/books

More on Twitter
Twitter, the little micro-blogging site that could, has seen an enormous growth lately. Traffic to the site has nearly doubled in the last two months, seeing 1.2 million unique visitors per month. Twittering or micro-blogging (as it's commonly referred to) is getting bigger each day as applications for this form of promotion continue to grow. Don't believe me? http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/05/16/traffic-to-twitter-nearly-doubles-in-two-months.

Fun Twitter Stuff
If you're still confused about what Twitter is, check out this easy-to-understand YouTube video:
Twitter in Plain English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o


Ready for more fun Twitter applications?
TwitterMail: http://twittermail.com/ - supplies you with a personal email address. If you send an email to that address it will be posted to Twitter.

Is Twitter a popularity contest? Yes, without a doubt. Find out how you rank in the grand scheme of Twitter fame: Twitter Quotient: http://web.forret.com/tools/twitter-tq.asp. Find out if you're a Twitter hero or BIG zero

Addicted to Twitter? You're not the only one. Check out the most popular micro-blogs on Twitter: http://www.twitterholic.com/.

Ready to update Twitter from your phone? Check out Twitter Fone: http://www.twitterfone.com/.

Ready to follow some other Twitterers but not sure who you should be following? Head on over to Who Should I Follow, http://www.whoshouldifollow.com/, plug in your Twitter user name and it'll pop up results appropriate to your Tweets.

And if that's not enough, try following @mrtweet, when you do this service will send you back a list of people who are top in your category that you should follow. Tres cool!

Ready to make some quick cash? Twitter me this, http://www.twittermethis.com/, is a site that will ask a random question, if you're the first one to answer you win $5. Just enough for a latte. Not bad. I haven't won anything yet but I'm still hopeful.

If the Twitter-language has you confused check this out, it's every possible Twitter-term you'd ever want to know (and maybe a few you don't): http://www.sitemasher.com/smblog2/2008/10/my-twittonary-every-twitter-term-and.html.

Focusing on the alternative, Ode has profiled clown-doctor Patch Adams, guru Deepak Chopra and Dr. Andrew Weil long before they appeared in any mainstream publications. The current Ode is a mix of print and online journalism with user-generated content and social networking.

Current issue:
Cover story: In praise of Intelligent Optimists
Sections: Business, Energy, Life, Health, Spirit

How to pitch: Ode has detailed guidelines on its website, http://www.odemagazine.com/_pdf/Ode-Story-Pitch-Guidelines.pdf. Contributors are encouraged to begin by sharing their stories in the Exchange section of the website first since the editors often look to that section for story ideas. Also realize the magazine is looking for solutions and has a global focus.

Ode Magazine
35 Miller Ave., Suite 330
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: 888-633-6242
Fax: 888-633-6242
Office email: ode@...
Website: http://www.odemagazine.com/

Preparing for the Interview-Part 2 of 3 with Laura Holka
When: Tuesday, February 10, 4pm - 5pm

Description: Research - The show, station, talent, demo, website, topic, etc.
* How to create memorable soundbites
* Questions & bullet points
* What to eat, wear, etc.
* Things you MUST know in advance from the producer
* What does the producer really want

Media Training Magic!
When: Thursday, February 12, 4pm - 5pm

Description: Are you ready for your close up? If you're not sure then this class is for you. Before you spend valuable marketing dollars to get yourself on radio and TV, you'll want to make sure you know what you're doing when it comes to media exposure. This class will teach you what you need to know about media training.
BONUS: We'll also share with you the media mistakes you'll NEVER want to make!

How to join in:
To sign up or learn more about these classes send an email to author@....

The AME website has a complete class listing for handy reference: http://www.amarketingexpert.com/iclasses.html.

Missed a class? Here's an easy way to catch up on past classes, go to: http://bookmkr.audioacrobat.com/download/49713933- a2ef-a9f6-4f98-376f0809e90b.mp3.

In order for a web page to rank well in the major search engines, it needs links pointing to it. These links - called backlinks, or inbound links - define your page. They should come from two places: other pages on your own website (called internal linking), and pages on other websites.

Obviously if you want every internal page of your website to rank well for its own specific keyword phrase, then you'll need to get inbound links to those individual web pages. This is called "deep linking."

It's not just about search engines either - your website visitors will thank you! Think about it: when you are searching for something specific do you want to be dropped off at the main page and told "go find it yourself" - or do you want to be pointed to the exact information you are looking for? Exactly.

Tip offered by Susan Gilbert, AME's Search Engine Marketing Expert and Web 2.0 company owner, http://www.JoomlaJump.com, which provides Social Networking websites and services.

It's Not the End, Really: It's true the Washington Post folded its Book World section into the newspaper, and print book reviewers around the country have lost their jobs as those sections get smaller and smaller. Books aren't going anywhere soon, as one blogger notes, but the method of getting the word out has changed and continues to evolve.

Read the Comments: The New York Times sounds needlessly alarmist in contemplating the continued growth of self-publishing in a recent article. There are some interesting anecdotes in the piece, and the comments that follow - up to 146 as of this writing - are a revelation unto themselves. Amid the rants and commentary are some good tips and insights.

Peeps to Tweet: Since we're all about Twitter in this issue, it seems only fitting that we make note of publishing people on Twitter. @jennifertribe posted this great list, which is growing by leaps and bounds (see the additions in the comment section). You'll have plenty of people to follow and tweets to read once you get through this list!

Not doing your homework before the interview. Your segment will be better if you know the type of show you are on, the name of your host and a bit about their background and interviewing style, what does the set look like in terms of color background, will you be sitting, standing, on a couch, chair, stool, etc., is the program live? If you can watch some segments whether live or on the website that is a huge help.

Not being prepared. Be ready to answer any question a host throws your way. Remember you're the expert. Practice!

Not asking pertinent questions of the producer ahead of time. Two minutes before you go on the air is not the time to ask if you can show some pictures, or read an excerpt from your book or add special graphics. Nothing upsets a producer more than last minute stuff that shouldn't be - last minute stuff.

Not setting your DVR or TIVO to tape your interview. One of the most important things you can do as a novice is to watch all of your interviews. You can't change bad habits if you don't see them or continue the good ones if you have no idea what you've said or done. Don't assume stations will make you a dub because most won't.

DON'T BE LATE - EVER! If you are really in a pickle be sure you call the station so they can try to rearrange your segment for a later time in the program. They may not be able to do that so be sure to leave enough time to get to the studio ON TIME.

For more information or to schedule a coaching session just email me at lholka@... or call (602) 509-6468.

~Tip offered by Media Veteran Laura Holka, who is the producer of the Pat McMahon Show & a Media Consultant. She can be reached at http://www.arizonasown.com or email lholka@....

Tip offered by Jeniffer Thompson, author of Web Site WOW, Turn Your Web Site Into Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool, http://www.monkeycmedia.com/web_site_WOW.php. Thompson is also the President of Monkey C Media, a full-service design house offering author web sites, book cover design, book teaser videos and much more, www.monkeycmedia.com.

Tip submitted by: Phyllis K. Twombly, who is the creator of the Martian Symbiont series. Her novels include Been Blued, Martian Blues, and the soon to be published Martian Divides. Her website is http://www.scifialiens.com/.

To see a price list or schedule a free consultation, send your e-mail to penny@... with the subject line "Author Services Info." You can also visit our Web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.

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