How To Help
A lot of people have been asking me how they can help spread the word, so I thought I would give you a list of ideas of some things you could do. Of course, this is voluntary, but if you do any of the following, you will earn my undying gratitude. And isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?
- Buy It. This is a pretty obvious one, but it needs to be said. Encourage other people to buy the book like coworkers, family members, friends, enemies, strangers, etc. Don’t wait for the holidays to buy the book as a gift. By the way, it makes a great gift because there’s a great chance the person hasn’t read it yet! The quicker books go out the door, the more confidence and excitement I have. Also, media and other decision makers pick up on a book based on the momentum the book inspires. The more sales at the beginning of the book’s life, the more attention it will get from key decision makers, the media, and consumers.
- Recommend It. If you like the book, review it on Amazon.com, BN.com, GoodReads, and other reader social networks. Tweet a review. Share a note on Facebook. Any one of these ideas gives other people more information while they are making a decision to purchase. This doesn’t mean you have to write something wonderful. Just share what you like about it.
- Amazon It. Amazon is so large, especially with ebooks, that I’m going to deal with it separately. Helping Toxic get found on Amazon can give me a giant boost.
- Write a review. There’s evidence that ratings and reviews factor into the Amazon algorithms that decide which books are promoted on the site. If reviewing isn’t your thing, just pen a few sentences with a couple of specifics about why you liked the book.
- Tag it with genre-appropriate labels (Christian Young Adult Fantasy). All you need is an account at Amazon. A combination of the right tags and a good sales ranking can make a book come up when customers search for things on Amazon.
- Give it a thumbs up. This takes less than a second and probably doesn’t do much, but it’s fun to give a thumbs up, and it will generate activity on Toxic’s page.
- If you have a Kindle, highlight. Find some quotations from the book and share them. If enough people share their highlights, they’ll show up at the bottom of a book’s page.
- Recommend it. Link to it from your website, blog, Facebook page, etc. Tweet about it. Feel free to link to a blog post, or share it on Facebook. If you have your own blog, blog once or twice about the book. Make sure you tell me because I can repay the favor by mentioning your blog if you like.
- Advise It. I’ve already gotten some great ideas on marketing from some of you, but I can take all that you have. You may have some talent, connection, specialized knowledge, etc. that might be just the thing I need. Shoot me an email, call me, or message me on Facebook if you have a great…or good…idea!
- Champion It. When you visit bookstores, make sure they have my book in stock. If they do, then put the book face out on the bookshelf.
- Forget it. Accidently leave your copy somewhere like the doctor’s office. Leave it for a few weeks until you pick it up again. If at doctor’s office, make sure to carefully wipe off with hand sanitizer. Seriously, if you can afford to buy a few extra copies, start leaving them around. Donate a copy to the library. Each additional book out there helps get contact. You never know who will pick it up.
- Connect It. Share it with your book club, or suggest to someone you know who is in a book club. Hook up with your church’s youth group. The best way would be to approach the leaders about it and explain why you think it’s a good book for the teens to read. Some people have already bought an extra copy to give to their youth pastor in hopes that he will recommend it to his youth group.
- Request it. Go into your local bookstore and ask for it. If they say they don’t have it, look extremely disappointed. If they offer to have it shipped in, say sadly, “No, thanks. I’ll just get it off of Amazon.” Then leave. If enough people continue to do this over a period of time, the manager will probably get desperate and buy a few copies.
- Charge it. If you have a credit card, buy as many as your limit will allow. Forget Dave Ramsey in this gesture of kindness. (Just kidding. I’m a huge Dave Ramsey fan, and I hope he’ll forgive me for this joke.)
- Promote it. My book can be brought into any bookstore or library. If you are motivated enough, show to it your local librarian, the person in charge of your church’s library, or any bookstore.
- Pray It. Prayer always helps. Pray for me and his book. Pray that I’ll get this mountain of work done, pray that the book reaches someone who needs to be strengthened in his/her walk with God, pray that it brings someone to personal relationship with Christ.
