Issue #981 Dec. 29, 2015
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- 7 Tips for a Killer Book Page
- How to Pull Traffic to Your Blog
- How to Pitch to 11 Mega-Sites
- Hound Video of the Week
This Week in the Hound House:
I’m already missing the best part of Christmas in Ohio: watching my month-old great-nieces make funny faces after each feeding, as they drifted into a milk coma. Alena and Lilly were decked out in their red and green Christmas dresses, complete with headbands that made them look like Las Vegas showgirls. I promise not to pester you (a lot) with baby pics but I just had to share this.
1. 7 Tips for a Killer Book Page
So many author websites look like the covers of most indie books: self-published.
That’s why you’ll love the step-by-step instructions on how to make a book page that really pops, and do it yourself, courtesy of branding and marketing expert Elaine Fogel.
Her tips emphasize exactly what to include to encourage readers to buy your book and other services: a book trailer or speaker video, a list of stores where the book is for sale, testimonials and a chapter list. Also notice the opt-in box where you can get onto her email list, a valuable marketing tool that far too many authors ignore.
First, visit her website and study her stunning book page. Then read about how she did it. Her guest post is at my blog.
2. How to Pull Traffic to Your Blog
If your blog isn’t pulling traffic, try some of the 32 ideas that blogger Adam Connell has listed on the valuable infographic he created.
The four big takeaways:
- You want targeted traffic, not just any traffic.
- You can see results using just a few of his ideas. Be patient.
- Your email list is your most valuable asset because it can send subscribers to your latest posts.
- Remove the clutter like annoying ads and slow page load times.
See A Step-by-Step Guide to Increasing Your Blog’s Traffic. You’ll find more valuable tips, including one from me, in the comments.
3. How to Pitch to 11 Mega-Sites
A gig as a guest contributor or blogger for the Harvard Business Review, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Fast Company, Forbes and other mega-sites can boost your credibility in front of millions of readers.
A few weeks ago, I told you how to get onto the New York Times Opinion Page. A Hubspot article published yesterday adds to the list 10 more influential websites that want guest bloggers.
My tip: Follow the instructions on how to pitch each site to the letter. Don’t deviate. Find all the links here.
This tip was excerpted from “The Best of The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week of 2015,” my holiday gift to you. Have you claimed your copy yet? You can find it at my blog.
Give it to a client who needs publicity, a PR student, a worthy nonprofit that can’t afford a publicist, or your assistant.
4. Hound Video of the Week
Watch these dogs ride sleds and destroy snowmen.
[Tweet “#PublicityTips from @PublicityHound– 7 Tips for a Killer Book Page #Bookmarketing”]
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