tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post5822170162831286804..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: Mistress of MarketingLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-51589665828997447182008-05-25T23:43:00.000-04:002008-05-25T23:43:00.000-04:00Wow. you gave some great advice and answered some ...Wow. you gave some great advice and answered some questions I had. I am still playing around with short stories and, I hope to hammer out a novel next year. My best friend is close to finishing her novel I will pass your blog info over to her. <BR/><BR/>Thanks againBorn Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09067583821754695284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-43473908683920767652008-05-25T21:39:00.000-04:002008-05-25T21:39:00.000-04:00wow. kimber's not only the go-to girl for blogging...wow. kimber's not only the go-to girl for blogging, she's the go-to girl for marketing as well. is there no end to her talents?<BR/><BR/>i'll have to bookmark this page for future referenceM.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07498466631016466048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-81543631790431217662008-05-25T11:03:00.000-04:002008-05-25T11:03:00.000-04:00Oh, man, I LOVE Tim Tams.Kate, there sure are a lo...Oh, man, I LOVE Tim Tams.<BR/><BR/>Kate, there sure are a lot of promo possibilities out there.<BR/><BR/>That's good and bad.<BR/><BR/>Good because you really don't have to do any promo you don't want to do. I prefer to focus on the internet (where I like to hang out) and I can because I haven't even scratched the promo surface there. I also prefer not to have my photo anywhere (my next novel is on identity theft) and I don't. <BR/><BR/>Bad because you can promo 24/7. A plan and a time limit comes in handy there. I usually like to build a base first (it is kind of like war, why my fellow businessbabes read books like The Art Of War) and then expanding out from there.Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-62282687820239479882008-05-24T23:25:00.000-04:002008-05-24T23:25:00.000-04:00PamI am glad you are enjoying the Tim Tams they re...Pam<BR/>I am glad you are enjoying the Tim Tams they really are special aren't they I might just open a packet myself make a cup of coffee and sit and read. The best way to relax I say.<BR/>BTW watch the GR with them he loves them as well.<BR/>Have Fun<BR/>HelenHelenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03984438742736003285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-50000487317641335142008-05-24T22:30:00.000-04:002008-05-24T22:30:00.000-04:00Thanks, Kimber for all of the great advice. I am d...Thanks, Kimber for all of the great advice. I am definitely printing this out for future reference!<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Kate! Looking forward to them.<BR/><BR/>Christine, I got your lovely parcel today! The cover is gorgeous and I put your magnet next to Anna's on the fridge. <BR/><BR/>But, ladies, I have just had a religious experience. I have just had my FIRST TIM TAM courtesy of the SWEET CHRISTINE WELLS! OMG! How did I live before now without them?? I am going to have to force myself to ration them! Thank you, Christine!dogladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392561174583932552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-49143155652977760982008-05-24T21:52:00.000-04:002008-05-24T21:52:00.000-04:00Stopping by, late as usual, but very thankful for ...Stopping by, late as usual, but very thankful for all the great info and advice, Kimber! I think you've answered many of the questions I would've had, except...how do you keep from feeling completely overwhelmed by all the promotional possibilities? My head is beginning to spin at all the choices out there!<BR/><BR/>Big thanks to KJ for bringing Kimber to the Lair! <BR/><BR/>And congrats to Doglady for snagging the Golden One! P.S., your books are in the mail. :-)Kate Carlislehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16863555050062113192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-18084151627884149102008-05-24T20:52:00.000-04:002008-05-24T20:52:00.000-04:00Great Question Kim.I think the biggest mistake I s...Great Question Kim.<BR/><BR/>I think the biggest mistake I see writers making (period) around promotion is not valuing our own time. <BR/><BR/>I know, I know, shocking coming from a cold hearted businessgal and I'm as guilty about this as anyone else. Time is our most valuable resource and writing the next book usually the best use of it. <BR/><BR/>I know writers who did a brilliant job of marketing their first book. The problem is... they have no second book and now those readers have forgotten about them. <BR/><BR/>The biggest money waster is taking what someone else is doing and applying it without thought to your own marketing program.<BR/><BR/>Michele Ann Young does a brilliant job blogging about Regency England. She's building up a huge fan base doing so (with research she does anyway). Should I do the same? Nope. My businessgals aren't reading my novels for historical facts. LOL<BR/><BR/>BTW...if I only had $50 a month to spend on online advertising, I would spend it on Google Adwords. That you can tweak for your own specific situation (by using your unique keywords)Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-41124765703617395242008-05-24T20:11:00.000-04:002008-05-24T20:11:00.000-04:00Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and contribut...Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and contributions. I travel a fair amount and love the idea of using that time to search for character names. <BR/><BR/>Kimber, fabulous advice. A question for you: What is the biggest mistake you see writers making with regards to spending money on promotion with no real return?<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for being here today!KJ Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13588414958560844668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-1141521500888458682008-05-24T16:31:00.000-04:002008-05-24T16:31:00.000-04:00In an even more bizarre moment, when I wrote Hurri...In an even more bizarre moment, when I wrote Hurricane Breeze for Wild Rose Press, my character was a reclusive novelist who wrote under a pen name. So, I needed TWO names for this guy. I decided that since he wrote action-adventure James-Bondish stuff, Grant Gardner might be a suitable nom de plume.<BR/><BR/>About a week after I turned in the story, my husband and I were returning home from somewhere, and walking toward baggage claim, there are all those drivers who hold up signs. Damned if one didn't read "Grant Gardner". I was SO tempted to hang around to see who showed up.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-359888029126453062008-05-24T16:21:00.000-04:002008-05-24T16:21:00.000-04:00Terry, That IS a great nameand doesn't it seem lik...Terry, <BR/>That IS a great name<BR/>and doesn't it seem like fate<BR/>that it was left there for you?Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-48281615425753815362008-05-24T16:20:00.000-04:002008-05-24T16:20:00.000-04:00Pat,Ohhh.... we LOVE readers.We do all this for yo...Pat,<BR/><BR/>Ohhh.... we LOVE readers.<BR/>We do all this for you, you know. <BR/>If we didn't think you'd like our books,<BR/>they'd still be stuck under our beds<BR/>(creating a fire hazard).Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-83762721283609445892008-05-24T16:19:00.000-04:002008-05-24T16:19:00.000-04:00Names? On a recent airline flight, I checked the ...Names? On a recent airline flight, I checked the seat pocket and found the boarding pass of the person who'd sat there before. <BR/><BR/>"Rhys Ainsworthy"<BR/><BR/>That name is SO going to be used in a book.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-53832216900126852302008-05-24T16:16:00.000-04:002008-05-24T16:16:00.000-04:00Thanks Keira.Wowsers, that's a pretty name. I thi...Thanks Keira.<BR/>Wowsers, that's a pretty name. I think I'm going to have to steal that for a future heroine!<BR/><BR/>Am I the only one who collects names? LOLKimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-85139279058744878712008-05-24T16:13:00.000-04:002008-05-24T16:13:00.000-04:00Thanks Maureen!It is hard to promote yourself. I ...Thanks Maureen!<BR/><BR/>It is hard to promote yourself. I think most of us have a hang up around the word selling. <BR/><BR/>It isn't really selling. You can't force people to buy something they aren't interested in. <BR/><BR/>You're sharing. You're sharing why you feel your book is worth reading and letting the people (prospects) you're talking to make up their own minds.Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-53887174826864940322008-05-24T15:43:00.000-04:002008-05-24T15:43:00.000-04:00Michele,Congrats but no big surprise on your blog ...Michele,<BR/><BR/>Congrats but no big surprise on your blog pick up. I always use your blog as an example of a brilliant author blog. It shows such a great understanding of what your readers are looking for!Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-29779024578031431682008-05-24T14:41:00.000-04:002008-05-24T14:41:00.000-04:00Congratulations to doglady on nabbing the "fine fe...Congratulations to doglady on nabbing the "fine feathered" one! Watch<BR/>your chocolate supply!<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Kimber, for all the great information! I'm a reader, not a writer, but it is most educational<BR/>to know what all the writer goes<BR/>through to bring that book to us!<BR/><BR/>Pat CochranPat Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11997396930842831460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-44756998464807998352008-05-24T13:32:00.000-04:002008-05-24T13:32:00.000-04:00Nancy and KJ, many, man congratulations!!Kimber--w...Nancy and KJ, many, man congratulations!!<BR/><BR/>Kimber--wow! Lots of stuff. I have this post bookmarked! Thank you, thank you.<BR/><BR/>Banditas, I'll be back Thursday. Have a great weekend.Keira Soleorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14440213826734580889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-88931455535033272742008-05-24T13:07:00.000-04:002008-05-24T13:07:00.000-04:00Great post, Kimber! Thanks for having her blog, KJ...Great post, Kimber! Thanks for having her blog, KJ!<BR/>I think so many authors are shy about self-promotion or think it's slightly "unseemly". But it's a reality of the business.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-27565995468333885362008-05-24T12:58:00.000-04:002008-05-24T12:58:00.000-04:00Lots of great advice here, and I'm writing it all ...Lots of great advice here, and I'm writing it all down. Thanks Kim. I agree on the blogging side. I write Regencies and that is what I blog about, the history and the research. This month my blog was picked up by the Jane Austin Center and used for an article in their magazine. I was thrilled.<BR/><BR/>I also have a sign up for my newsletter on my blog, and offer a free story in that newsletter each month, which seems to appeal.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing, and KJ thanks for thinking of it.<BR/>Best<BR/>Michele Ann YoungMichele Ann Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04014331460819358895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-76950357842323808662008-05-24T12:29:00.000-04:002008-05-24T12:29:00.000-04:00Kimber Chin says you're welcome to Donnell Bell (a...Kimber Chin says you're welcome to Donnell Bell (a musical name Kim Chin can appreciate) as we all happily hold hands on our way to the insane asylum.Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-50855687010621839272008-05-24T11:12:00.000-04:002008-05-24T11:12:00.000-04:00Donnell Bell says thank you to Kimber Chin for her...Donnell Bell says thank you to Kimber Chin for her excellent advice. By jove, I think I've got it! Thanks, Kimber :)Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-90533638612569567472008-05-24T11:09:00.000-04:002008-05-24T11:09:00.000-04:00donnell,Another "trick" many artists use is that t...donnell,<BR/><BR/>Another "trick" many artists use is that they think of themselves in the third person. I'm not promoting myself, I'm promoting "Kimber Chin" (because really, how many people know the 'true' me?). It creates space between you and your 'product.' Helps with rejection too. They're not rejecting me, they're rejecting Kimber Chin.<BR/><BR/>I think that's where we get a lot of those third person reference jokes (like Jimmy on Seinfeld). So you might not want to do this out loud. (Grinning)Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-7916210327414000262008-05-24T11:02:00.000-04:002008-05-24T11:02:00.000-04:00Awww... thanks Terrio!I'm really enjoying these qu...Awww... thanks Terrio!<BR/><BR/>I'm really enjoying these questions and comments. It was quite painful to cut the post off where I did but now... it is like I don't have to!<BR/><BR/>I could talk about promo forever!Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-41947241197340087012008-05-24T10:57:00.000-04:002008-05-24T10:57:00.000-04:00Joan,You'll likely kill me for this answer but it ...Joan,<BR/><BR/>You'll likely kill me for this answer but it really depends on what your goals are and who your ideal reader is.<BR/><BR/>My target reader is my fellow businessbabe. She wouldn't be caught dead on Myspace. She doesn't enter contests either (I'll have 4,500 readers a day on one blog and won't get a single entry).<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, I once was involved with a frugality (expense cutting) blog. The target was stay at home moms. They LOVED Myspace and they really loved contests.<BR/><BR/>Think about how your reader spends her day and then be a part of it. <BR/><BR/>And make sure it matches your writing. If you write comedy, give her easy access to the joke of a day or funny stories about your day. Everything you do, should make her smile so she associates laughter with you.Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-91987266188444079712008-05-24T10:45:00.000-04:002008-05-24T10:45:00.000-04:00Kimber, well done, and excellent, simple-to-apply ...Kimber, well done, and excellent, simple-to-apply advice. I know one of the hardest things I have yet to do is how to promote myself, and yet, ask me to promote any of you and I'm there! Thanks KJ for asking Kimber to blog and I wish you well on your book(s) :)Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.com