Janet Boyer

Tarot Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Group

Were you a member of the Tarot Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Group...a thriving group for Tarot professionals of all stripes (artists, deck creators, authors, teachers, writers, podcasters, etc.)?

You may have visited there recently, perhaps wanting to read or contribute to the fascinating Psychic vs. Intuition thread (that had over 50 replies)--or one of the other helpful discussions there.

But...you found the group deleted. All of it. The members, the months of discussions--all of it.

Shocked? Yeah, me too! 

Group owner, Theresa Reed aka The Tarot Lady, decided to delete everything without warning. The only hint as to what happened to the group? A curt LinkedIn note on her profile that merely said "Have shut down the Tarot Entrepreneurs Group. Will reorganize." (or something to that effect).

Huh? Talk about unprofessional...

The good news? I took it upon myself to start a brand new group so there would be no time lost for those wanting to get on with the business of sharing our work, insights and tips with one another. Behold, the new Tarot Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Group--under new management, and open for business--the business of creating, maintaining and growing as Tarot Entrepreneurs.

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Divinators Facebook Group

How would you like a friendly, vibrant, laid-back Facebook Group that not only talks about divination topics, but also rock bands, cats, chocolate, coffee, etc.?

Think such a group doesn't exist? Yeah, I know...I'd be skeptical, too. That's why I started...

Yep, I did.

Tired of the small-minded pettiness and politics of other online Tarot groups, I realized that if I wanted to experience a fun, open, lively and friendly one...well, I'd have to create it myself. But, I also wanted to expand it to other divinatory explorations--runes, tea leaves, scrying, dreams, astrology and more. In fact, Tarot author and deck created Terry Donaldson recently started a thread about reading entrails. But, after some discussion, Terry realized he "didn't have the stomach for it". Ha! *insert groan here*

Speaking of Terry, there are other kick-ass, accomplished Tarot authors and deck creators in our midst--Dusty White, Stacey Graham, Elizabeth Hazel, Mary Griffin, and others, not to mention a gaggle of awesome Tarot bloggers!

But don't be intimidated; the playing field is level at the Divinators Facebook Group. And note the word "play"! We're not stuffy, and we're often not on-topic. But when we are...oh, the cool things we share (like pics of huge balls of rainbow obsidian used for scrying).

What, you're still here? Get thee hence to https://www.facebook.com/groups/Divinators and request to be a member! We'd love to have you if it sounds like we're on the same page as you are.

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

How Writers Can Use Pinterest

If you haven’t taken advantage of Pinterest.com, you’re passing up an incredible opportunity to add an attractive plank to your writer platform.

Now the third largest social site on the web (yes, you read right), Pinterest encourages you to “pin” your “interests” in the form of images or videos to unlimited themed “boards”. But make no mistake: for the savvy writer, Pinterest goes way beyond being a mere virtual scrapbook or yet another way to waste time online.

Pinterest can be used for inspiration, brainstorming, information collation, storytelling, reminders, homage, collections, wish lists, gift registries and more. In fact, you can even create a group board that allows specific friends to “pin”—or even the public.

So how can Pinterest help writers? I’m glad you asked!

First, we need to remember that sounding like an obnoxious carnival barker on any social media site will irritate at best and anger at worst. In fact, you’re better off staying away from all social media if you’re a mere promo whore constantly cawing, “Buy my book! Read my blog post! It’s cheap! It’s free!”

A solid auhor platform begins with good writing—content will always be king—but it builds and expands with likability.

I know, I know: I didn’t get the memo that a writing career involved personality contests, either.

The good news—especially for you introverted authors—is that your wit, originality, creativity and artistic eye can “speak” for you on Pinterest. Your personal flair can make you interesting, intriguing or entertaining…and that makes you memorable. People want to find out more about you, which includes checking out your profile…and that means discovering your books and writing.

But get this: you can leverage Pinterest by unobtrusively threading your expertise, genre specialty or book topic throughout your boards! What a cool, non-spammy way to strut your stuff, huh?

While illustrators, designers, crafters or photographers have a slight advantage because of the visual nature of their work, writers can create compelling montages highlighting their knowledge, innovation and enchantment, as well.

“I’m a fiction writer”, you may be thinking. “How in the world can I use Pinterest to help my author platform?” Or, maybe you’re a poet, essayist or non-fiction writer wondering the same.

The best way to show you Pinterest done well by writers is to give you examples. Let’s start with non-fiction.

Author of The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew--Three Women Search for Understanding (a book about spiritual searching and religious respect), Priscilla Warner recently penned Learning to Breathe: My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life, which details her life-long battle with anxiety.

When you visit her Pinterest profile here, guess what?

You’ll see breathtaking skyscapes, lovely labyrinths, spiraling mandalas, vivid flowers, Buddha statues, serene pools of water, gorgeous trees, inspirational quotes and peace signs.

Here we have Priscilla’s journey from panic to peace—laid out for us visually.

She is showing us that she has found calm (or knows what promotes calm), poising her as an expert on alleviating anxiety…the topic of her latest book. And,  Priscilla is also “telling” us that she’s well versed in meditation, spiritual contemplation and Buddhist philosophy (which also ties in to her first book).

While you may not have heard of Priscilla until now, you’ve probably heard of Mary Ann Radmacher. At least, it’s very likely you’ve seen her art and words on posters, cards and plaques.

When we visit her Pinterest page, not only do we see Mary Anne’s favorite art products and books (in addition to her own books and paintings) but also how others have transformed her words into visual masterpieces (including tattoos!).

Lastly for non-fiction, let’s visit my Pinterest profile. I am a Tarot expert (among other things), and my first two traditionally published book are about—wait for it—Tarot! So you’ll find a board dedicated to all the Tarot books I own (over 250!), as well as specific Tarot cards (for example, Fool images from over 50 decks).

Yes, my books are among the Tarot books listed…and yes, I have a board dedicated to all my books/eBooks…but those are a mere mention in light of having 30 different boards at this writing.

Thus, my boards are eye candy for Tarot enthusiasts—but I’m also indirectly saying “I know Tarot!” People will check out my books and blogs, and maybe even order a Tarot reading from my site. Passive income, anyone?

And lest you think you can only point to already-published works, check out my Snowland board. My husband and I are contracted for the Snowland Tarot deck. We co-create the images and he paints them. I’ll be writing the companion book. So what have I done to generate interest on Pinterest? Why, post the cards as they’re finished…complete with the URL in the comment sections, directing people to SnowlandTarot.com. Sneaky, huh? But not obnoxious!

If you’re a biographer or historian, pin images of your subject and related events. A cookbook author? Recipes! Kitchen gadgets! What you cooked last night! Science writer? Give us all the nebulas, rainforests, rock formations, infographics, microscope slides, cute critters and unusual insects we can handle! (And don’t forget to share the love by posting your favorite books on the topic, too!)

OK, you fiction writers…it’s your turn.

Yes, non-fiction expertise may seem easier for “pinning”—and you’re probably correct. All this means, though, is that you’ll have to think outside the box a bit. Isn’t that what you guys do anyway? *wink*

Let’s start with my absolute favorite Pinterester, Gypsy Thornton. Gypsy specializes in fairytales, so her amazing boards are dedicated to the characters, environment and stories found in folklore.

Her boards are not only dedicated to specific tales like Red Riding Hood, Billy Goats Gruff and Arabian Nights, but also mythical beings, maps, picture books and ballets. One of the most intriguing elements of her Pinterest page? Individual boards dedicated to a specific color—red, green, brown, white, and so on.

Lest you think, “That’s all well and good, but how will that help me sell books or gain a following?”…guess how I discovered Gypsy? She happened to re-pin the image of Jack Frost from our Snowland Tarot board to her Ice Maiden’s Touch board!

You’re starting to see the viral possibilities, aren’t you?

Let’s keep going, fiction writers, by stepping our toes into genre waters!

Writing a romance? Already published one (or more)? Create boards splayed with “hotties”, celeb crushes, romantic gift ideas, quotes about romance, Hollywood relationships or your favorite romance novels. Although I’m not a romance writer or reader, I have a board dedicated to hearts…just because I like them.

Are you a cozy mystery writer? Your boards could be collections of your series’ theme or location—coffee, cookies, embroidery, cupcakes, bookstores, orchards, BBQ, tea, floral shops, libraries, knitting, cooking schools, psychic cats, decoupage, Tarot readers, churches, donuts, home repair, antiques…you get the “picture”.

If you write traditional mysteries, dedicate your Pinterest boards to symbols of the genre—magnifying glasses, fingerprints, footprints, forensic tools. Or what about boards featuring your favorite authors (Mary Higgins Clark! Agatha Christie! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! Tess Gerritsen!) or beloved sleuths (Sherlock! Poirot! Miss Marple! Jessica Fletcher! Columbo!)? Heck, you can create a board with quotes featuring the word “mystery”…or even songs that have the word “mystery” or “mysterious” in the title or lyrics! In fact, you can pin YouTube videos to your boards! (Click here to find out how).

Do you pen historical tomes? Dedicate boards to the city and occasions you write about, as well as décor, garb, architecture, music, politics, significant players, parallel events and so on.

At the very least, you’re a writer…right? So why not create boards with encouraging quotes, writing advice, books on the craft, esteemed authors, favorite writing teachers, admired publishers or creativity tools?

Writing your first book? How about a board (or boards) dedicated to your work-in-progress! Visually brainstorm characters (preferences, favorite foods, playlists, decorating style, clothing), settings or even plot points.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this post, but I hope it’s demystified Pinterest for writers and given you a bazillion ideas for the writing life.

Here are 10 Pinterest Tips for you:

1. Don’t be spammy. Imbed your book cover or blog among helpful, interesting and visually stimulating boards. Don’t make it all about you.

2. Put the red P symbol on your site or blog linking to you Pinterest page. Alternatively, use the Follow Me on Pinterest image with a link back.

3. Comment on, or “like”, the pins of others. It’s easier and faster than commenting on blog posts! If one of their images fits the theme of one of your boards, by all means re-pin away.

4. Follow the boards of other writers or creatives you find inspiring. If you only like one or a handful of boards from  Pinterest profile, you can select only those.

5. Create a group board to magnify the fun factor and cross-pollinate ideas (and fan base). It’s less demanding than a group blog.

6. If you’ve authored multiple books and eBooks, by all means make a board for it (among many other boards, of course)! Mine’s titled My Books—I Made It Myself!

7. Spread the love by creating a board featuring the books you own or love that are related to your specialty (or not!).

8. Give a shout-out to fellow pinners on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, your blog, etc. when you discover exceptional boards, providing a direct link to them.

9. Name your boards with a descriptive or catchy title. Don’t forget to choose a category, too. If your board doesn’t fall under any of the preset categories, simply choose “Other”.

19. Select visually interesting images (on Pinterest, bigger is better) to express your uniqueness and expertise. You can find images via Google Images (make sure to pin from the source), other Pinterest boards, websites, blogs, DeviantArt, photo sites or your own hard drive. If you know who created the image, give credit.

To learn more about Pinterest, visit their About page. If you’re not already signed up, you’ll have to request an invite. They’ll let you in pretty quickly…within a week.

Above all, have fun! Pinterest shouldn’t be a burden, but a creative outlet to show the world what you love...all via striking, quirky or pretty pictures.

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin). Visit Janet online at JanetBoyer.com

You Are What You Tweet?

Check out this cool infographic of my Twitter behavior from the folks at Visual.ly I'm no gamer, but I'm assuming the program thinks so because I often Tweet between midnight-5 AM. 

You can get yours at this link. Cool, huh?

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

 

Are You a Member of a Marketing Ploy?

Did you know that many Facebook groups and most NING Groups were created solely to sell you something?

It's a popular marketing ploy.

Create a group, pretend you're interested in community and then sell your wares to a grateful, captive audience.

How do you know if you are part of a marketing ploy as opposed to a true community?

1. The group creator is always trying to sell you a membership subscription, his new book, her new deck, his new workshop, her new Tarot reading special, his new conference or an upcoming work (that will cost money). Sure, cross promotion may be sprinkled in (because you gotta pretend that you're interested in community rather than the one-person show you've intended), but underneath it all is the scaffolding for making money now...or in the future.

2.  The group creator/s bar entrance from certain people who are likely to call the Emperor on his "new clothes".

Don't drink the Kool-Aid, folks.

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot,Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Build or Boost Your Author Platform by Reviewing

Do you want to build or boost your author platform, while at the same time gain experience, forge industry connections, hone your writing skills and score free books? And maybe, just maybe, land writing assignments and a first book deal like I did?

What started out as a hobby for me (with no intent to publish my own words at the time) can become a conscious decision for you—right now—towards building and boosting a solid online reputation as a reviewer who is informed, articulate and productive…preferably in the genre/s you enjoy writing.

In 2002, I started writing reviews on Amazon.com. I had a passion for telling others about good books—and warning readers about the not-so-good ones.

Nine years later, I’ve penned over 1,200 reviews on Amazon.com with over 26,000 votes from readers. My Amazon ranking went as high as the Top 10 , I'm a hand-selected Vine Reviewer, and I’ve earned a reputation as an articulate, honest and informed book lover and reviewer.

Along the way, I’ve made friends with many authors and publicists, which has not only enriched my life, but expanded my knowledge of publishing. In fact, reviewing on Amazon.com and my personal website wedged my foot in the publishing door and led to several paid writing gigs, both in print and online, as well as my first book contract.

In 2006, I had a spark of an idea—a method, really—that would help anyone learn Tarot cards using their memories, pop cultures scenarios, overheard conversations, news items and so on. I fleshed out the idea, got some great input from a fellow Tarot author and decided that I wanted some colleagues to not only “test out” my BIT Tarot Method…but also contribute actual BIT Tarot Snapshots for my book.

One of the first people I wanted to pen a BIT Snapshot using my method was Judika Illes, a popular Mind/Body/Spirit author that I had befriended precisely because of my reviewing (after reviewing a few of her books, she contacted me and we became fast friends).

She was in the middle of writing one of her encyclopedias (her fourth was recently published by Harper Collins), so she didn’t have the time to contribute to my book. However, she liked the concept so much she asked if she could show what I had written to “someone in publishing” (at that time, I was just starting the book, and only had an introduction and three BIT Tarot Snapshots completed!)

I agreed, and within a month, I had a book contract from Hampton Roads Publishing (publisher of the bestselling Conversations with God series) for my book Back in Time Tarot.

You see, that “someone in publishing” happened was the Sales and Marketing Director for Hampton Roads, who happened to be a friend and business partner to Judika, and he, too, loved my BIT Tarot Method idea.

The point to this longish introduction is this: reviewing inadvertently established a solid platform for my career and connected me to publishing insiders. I didn’t intend to build a platform, of course—I was just writing for the love of it.

Well guess what? You, too, can build or expand your platform by writing reviews—on not only Amazon.com, but also Library Thing, Lunch.com, Good Reads and other review outlets.

You’ve heard that platform matters, and I’m here to confirm that this absolutely true. I have a colleague represented by one of the biggest agents in New York City. She’s had a handful of books published, one that’s still a bestseller in the genre years after its publication, and yet…the last time her agent offered a one of her proposals to a publisher she’s worked with before, they asked if she had a platform! As a woman in her 60s or 70s, she did not.

Long gone are the days where an author’s backlist can speak for itself (unless, of course, you’re one of the lightning-strikees like J.K. Rowling).

Apart from content, which is still king, the almighty platform is the biggest advantage you have for publication and sales. After all, even if you write great books—especially in niche fields—the only way people may find about it (especially if you’re signed with a small press with limited marketing efforts) is through your platform.

Platform can include social media efforts like blogging, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. But an overlooked “backdoor” to establishing a solid platform—especially as an articulate, knowledgeable and prolific writer—is through reviewing.

Here are 15 reasons and ways to build your platform as a reviewer:

1. You become familiar with the books and products in your area of your expertise. When it comes time to write your non-fiction book proposal and you get to the part about “how is your book different than what’s on the market?”, you’ll know exactly what to say because you’re not only know the competition, but also can articulate how, and why, yours is different. (And if you can’t, then this will be a good test to see if you’re books is marketable.)

2. You can get free ARC (Advance Reading Copies) and finished books. Most writers are book lovers and avid readers (and should be!), so free items for review ensure that you’re not spending an inordinate amount of money buying books for review just to build your platform.

3. You build visibility among your built-in market. You start reviewing books in your chosen genre or field, your name will become connected with those types of books—especially if you write quality, honest reviews.

4. You make valuable contacts. Making friends with writers and editors can only help your writing career, especially if you support their work and foster good will. If it wasn’t for my friend Judika, I’m not sure I would have gained momentum with my book idea or even sought eventual publication.

5. Building visibility as a go-to person or expert in a certain field can lead to paying gigs. I’ve made money by ghostwriting reviews in both online and print magazines, as well as having my own by-line and columns—all because of my reputation as one of the best Amazon.com reviewers.

6. You can earn passive income by become an affiliate. If you become an Amazon Associate (https://affiliate-program.amazon.com), you can imbed links to the books and products you’re reviewing. When someone clicks on the link and buys something, you get a percentage of the sale. For years, I’ve made anywhere from $45-$120 of passive income just by imbedding Amazon Associate links in my reviews on my main site and blogs. Other sites have affiliate linking, as well.

7. Writing reviews, especially discerning what you like or dislike in a book, hones your writing skills and informs you of what works—and doesn’t work—in a good book. Don’t underestimate the power of critical thinking and careful word choice to polishing your prose.

8. You’ll spot the gaps. By becoming familiar with what’s been published, you can figure out what hasn’t been done before. Recognizing gaps in a field or genre—and strategically thinking how you might fill those cracks with your unique voice, style and information—will give you an advantage when it comes time to write your book, query an agent or submit a book proposal.

9. Branch out by reviewing books or items outside your area of expertise. If you’re curious about a topic or genre, but don’t have much experience with it, consider expanding your reading and trying your hand at reviewing books outside your genre. You may discover additional passions and marketable ideas—or at the very least, increase your knowledge.

10. You gain credibility as a writer. Most of the paying gigs I’ve landed have been from someone who read my reviews on Amazon, visited my personal site to read other things I’ve written, and then contacted me about a job. Before my first book, I didn’t pursue paying writing gigs simply because I had a young child on the Autism spectrum and chose to homeschool him. Now that he’s doing magnificently and doesn’t need my constant supervision with his schoolwork, I devote more time to monetizing my writing or gaining publishing contracts.

11. You gain access to authors for interviews and stories. When you’re seen as a respected, influential reviewer, it becomes rather easy to land an interview with an author for your site, blog or podcast—even best-selling authors. You could even pitch your article or interview to a print magazine, which not only increases credibility and name recognition, but earns you some money for your efforts.

12. Building industry relationships will eventually pay off during publication. When it comes time to seek endorsements (blurbs), someone to write your Foreword, or contributors to your book/anthology, you’ll have made great friends and acquaintances that are more than happy to help out your writing career. For example, bestselling Self-Help author Monte Farber wrote the Foreword to my first book. Guess how I met him? You guessed it: over the years, I had reviewed many of his products and we eventually became friends. And the Foreword to my upcoming traditionally published book, Tarot in Reverse? Penned by Lisa Finander, author of Disneystrology, whom I befriended when I was editor of a Tarot magazine and she a contributor.

13. You can start with books you already own. You don’t need to go out and buy books to start reviewing! Just take what’s on your nightstand and write a review after you’re done reading it. Or, check out books at the library.

14. Amazon.com, Lunch.com, LibraryThing.com and other sites provide areas for feedback on reviews. Sure, you’ll get some idiots that may just want to harass you because you’ve dissed one of their favorite books or authors—but most people who provide feedback on review sites offer great comments about how your review helped them, specifically…or where it fell short. For example, I once wrote a review of a toy, but failed to mention the age of my son (which would make a difference to the information I provided). A reader pointed out my oversight, and I was grateful to her for showing me why information like that matters to consumers.

15.  You can generate a fan base eager to read your upcoming reviews, articles and books. An eager readership will not only sign up for your newsletter and subscribes to your blog, but will also be first in line to buy your book when it comes out! They will be among your most ardent supporters because, after all, your reviews helped informed them in their purchasing decision…possibly saving them hundreds, or thousands, of dollars over time. (Or, if you’re like me, you’ll be responsible for causing readers to spend some coin on books you’ve raved about…but they’ll be grateful for that, too!)

Like any approach to platform building, writing reviews and gaining a following will take time. But if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to expand your reach, hone your skills, increase your knowledge, forge industry contacts and form treasured friendships, reviewing may be the perfect way for you to get name recognition, secure writing gigs or land a book deal.

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Top/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin

11 Twitter Personality Profiles – Which One Are You?

I love Twitter.

Love, love, LOVE it. If I had to choose only one social media outlet, it would probably be Twitter (with Facebook close behind).

Because I'm on Twitter quite a bit, I've noticed a few personality patterns emerging. No, this isn't like the Enneagram or MBTI or ANSIR or Hippocrates' Four Humors...just my observations. And I think there will be more. For now, enjoy this list, and do let me know if you recognize yourself in one of these Twitter Personality Profiles. Or just think it's funny.

Curator – Just the facts, ma’am. These eagle-eye scouts (i.e. Google alert users) trawl search engine results and news feeds to serve up heaping, helpful bowlfuls of on-topic grub. They aren’t there to socialize, and will readily admit it. Thus, they keep the number of those they follow under 400 (so they can better cull relevant links). If you try to engage them in conversation, you’ll probably be served yet another link…or a reply with all the warmth of a witch’s tit on Halloween.

Snarkspert – Wry, cynical commentary on a topic or industry. Talks at, not with. They are the first to know, and to pass along, juicy tidbits about industry takeovers, promotions or controversies, as well as bad news like bookstore shootings, key-person firings or deaths. They, too, have the warmth of a witch’s tit on Halloween…and their dour profile picture proves it.

Relator – Shares everything from dating woes to dinner menu, children’s behavior to workplace antics, financial problems to neighborhood gossip. These ones are all over the place, seemingly desperate for order, but secretly thriving on chaos…and the attention it garners from their longsuffering followers.

Brand Builder – These ones are similar to the Curator, except they have flashier Twitter backgrounds, perkier profile pics and bubblier Tweets. They are often self-deprecating, generous and kind (when they talk to you), so they’re definitely warmer than a witch’s tit…but between the ears, they’re more like a dusty mummy’s headspace.

Info Whore – Lascivious sharing of fascinating facts, accompanied by whoa!gasmic commentary and banter. These smart, entertainingly folks may very well evolve into Intellectual Badasses if they keep up the great work.

Intellectual Badasses – These great minds are amazing to behold. They push mouths agape, fling zingers and provide stinging insight into an industry, person or facet of the human condition with rapier wit and, often, colorful language. Prime examples of this treasured Tweeter is Chuck Wendig. Joe Hill and Neil Gaiman are of this stripe, too, as is George Takei (although the latter is more for yucks).

Players – Illiterate potty-mouths who substitute “s” with “$” (e.g. a$$). Favorite words are bitch, fuck, wat up wit at. Bling and hip-hop and sexing it up.

Debators – Usually found talking about religion or politics (natch), these ones must defend their every Tweet and take down any opposition. At times, they may appear open-minded, but rest assured they have only one goal: To take. You. Down.

Promo Hog (Young vs.Old)

• Young promo-hogs have one (usually more) of the following words in their Twitter bio: Free, marketing, webinar, promo, teleclass, “for you!”, guru, expert or sell. Almost always they send you a DM immediately after your follow…which also contain one or more of those words.

• Old promo-hogs often straddle the Noob category. They love to name-drop, mentioning what famous has-been they took to dinner or saw at a fundraiser or reside in the same town with. Often crows about “units sold” or other accomplishments. May whine that the younger set doesn’t “get” them. Clueless that old Hollywood glitz tactics doesn’t mean squat in this zeitgeist.

Noob – Hesitant. Stop and start. Awkward, often nonsensical, Tweets. Sometimes Tweets in third person. Background one of the ugly ones that Twitter provides, usually the light blue one or the 70s carpet green one.

Troll – Egg for a profile picture. No bio, only a t.co link. Any Tweets are merely a long list of the same link to random people. Avoid at all cost.

OK, folks, this was all done in fun...so no hate mail, ya hear? But do let me know if you found this post amusing. And 'fess up to which Twitter personality you are (or aspire to). Or, add your own in the comments section, complete with your profiling skillz!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Top/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)   

Zarrella's Hierarchy of Contagiousness Free on Kindle

Another ambitious project from Seth Godin's Domino Project(Guinness Book of World Records anyone?), Zarrella's Hierarchy of Contagiousness: The Science, Design, and Engineering of Contagious Ideas is free on Kindle the week of August 22, 2011 until August 26, 2011.

For those of you unfamiliar with Dan Zarrella, he's the  award-winning social media scientist at HubSpot.

To get your free copy of Zarrella's Hierarchy of Contagiousness free on Kindle, click here.

Enjoy!

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Top/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin) 

Brand Congruity and Brand Confusion

“No one brand can be all things to all people…By trying to be everything, the brand will end up being nothing at all.” – From The Experience Effect: Engage Your Customers with a Consistent and Memorable Brand Experience by Jim Joseph

con•gru•ous [kóng groo əss] adj

1.  Appropriate: appropriate to or suitable for a purpose or situation (formal) 
2.  Corresponding or consistent: corresponding to or consistent with each other or something else 

While writing is an art, publishing is a business. With the publishing world changing by the second, pundits are now telling authors that entrepreneurship is now a necessary component for long-term success. (Click here to watch a fascinating interview between Dan Blank and Colleen Lindsay on We Grow Media to see what I mean). No longer can authors write in silence and solitude, delivering their manuscript to publishers and expecting the marketing department to “take it from there”.

Especially with the glut of self-published work flooding the web, traditional authors are finding it even harder to stand out, engage readers and earn loyal followers.

Recently on Twitter, I Tweeted “Dear New Age Author: if your Tweets are incongruous with your books or ‘brand’, you might want to rethink being on the wire”.

Some agreed. One strongly disagreed.

What is the greatest way an author can become a “stand out” entrepreneur? I’ll tell you: By creating and defining her brand, and then acting consistent with that brand.

So what is branding, anyway? It is the “vibe” of your personality or product. It the unique flair that sets you apart from others. It’s what you or your books stand for.

Why does this matter at all? Well, apart from “brand recognition”, there’s the most important component of the brand experience to consider—the consumer.

You cannot create or define your brand if you don’t know your own audience.

That is, you must know whom it is you want to reach with your message. Who do you want to entertain with your words?  Who do you see benefiting the most from your products? Knowing the answer to those questions will help you define your brand.

So what does it mean to be congruent with your brand? Let me start by explaining what it does NOT mean. Brand congruency does NOT mean:

1. Being afraid to let your freak flag fly
2. Refraining from stirring the pot
3. Shying away from provocative topics
4. Hiding your light under a bushel

Congruency doesn’t mean bland; on the contrary, it means consistency with your unique voice, personality and promises of your book, products or services.

So what is brand confusion, anyway?

Imagine that you come to associate your local bank with longevity, austerity and trustworthiness. Everything the bank has done for the last 50 years—the name, the colors of its logo, its slogan, its advertising, employee dress code, and managerial behavior—all reinforces that brand.

One day, the marketing department decides to change the bank carpeting to a bright orange, the slogan colors to fuchsia, the bank name to Funny Munny and the logo to a circus tent.

Um, yikes.

While this is an extreme, and crazy, example, this is exactly what brand confusion causes: a head-on crash between expectation and reality. This is especially disconcerting for your audience and readers when your name or books have been around for a decade or more, and, as an example, you try to swim the Twitterstream like a toddler entering white water rapids—spouting off stuff inconsistent with your brand.

Why does this matter? Now more than ever, consumers have huge BS detectors. And if THEY don’t, it’s very likely their Facebook friends, Google+ Circles and those they follow on Twitter DO have a big ol’ honkin’ BS detector.

What is BS, in this case?

Lack of congruency.

Individuals will equate lack of congruency with lack of authenticity, which will breed mistrust for many. Not only might this result in brand dilution, but also arguably lost sales and loyal readers.

Let me give you a fictitious example, especially since I happened to zero in on the New Age niche with my earlier Tweet: Imagine if you will a metaphysical author and healer calling himself The Butterfly King. His branding colors of choice are butter yellow and grape jelly purple, with butterflies adorning his website, logo and books. Consistent with his brand, his books and messages tout a lighthearted approach to spirituality, where All is One, love is god, tenderness triumphs and farts are flecked with fairy dust, smelling like fresh baked blueberry pie.

This noob gets on Twitter, and instead of his ethereal, uplifting advice that his audience comes to associate with his brand, he comes off as a George Carlin/Roseanne Barr/Archie Bunker mashup.

Yowzers.

Talk about cognitive dissonance!

So what is The Butterfly King to do to create brand congruity rather than brand confusion?

He has three solutions as I see it:

1. Censor himself and get in alignment with fairy dust fartin’
2. Create distinct social media IDs for his various interests/components
3. Redefine his brand to include those incongruous elements, or state the incongruities outright

Number 1 is self-explanatory. Number 2 would be the equivalent of an author donning a penname for brand distinction. For example, James Scott Bell, writing teacher extraordinaire and fiction writer in his own right, has recently created the pseudonym K. Bennett for his zombie lawyer series and explained his decision at the The Kill Zone blog. (Yes, you read right! Am I the only one excited to read the first book Pay Me in Flesh?)

In the future, I plan to write psychological thrillers and horror fiction. I already have my penname picked out. Why? Because I don’t want someone who knows my “brand” of straight-up Self Help reviews, mystical spirituality and practical Tarot application to encounter a major brain freeze when I start to write about sickos!

And yes, in this age of transparency, it wouldn’t be too hard to figure out a person’s nom de plume; but pennames aren’t for anonymity anymore as much as they are for brand distinction.

So what about number 3? Well, what if you happen to be a deeply spiritual person with profound insights…but you also have a potty mouth, trickster archetypal pattern and penchant for yelling when the Emperor has no clothes?

Why, that would be me! And that’s why, wherever possible, I describe myself with four Is: Innovator, Iconoclast, Initiator and Instigator. I also usually identify myself as a quadruple Scorpio. For me, this is what “warns” people that I’m not an ooey gooey type of New Age author (although it’s rumored that I have a marshmallow center…don’t believe it, though. It will ruin my brand.)

Doing number 3 will not guarantee that you won’t be misunderstood; in fact, odds are pretty good that you’ll still end up offending someone. But this won’t be because of brand confusion, as much as it will be the stragglers that may be unfamiliar with the totality of your brand (for example, only knowing one of your books, but never visiting your website, reading your blog or subscribing to your newsletter to get the “whole” of you).

Your brand can be as narrow or as expansive as you like. It can be fun, flirty or serious. Whatever you do, though, make sure your brand is defined and distinct, defended by your adherence to brand congruence. To remind you of why this is important, I’ll leave you with another quote from The Experience Effect by Jim Joseph:

“Essentially, positioning is how we want the consumer to think about our brand. It should differentiate…The brand experience actually becomes the positioning in consumers’ minds, and the experience effect is what puts it there. That’s why it’s so important to understand it, to get it right, and to keep it consistent. It ultimately determines how consumers feel about the brand and how they attach meaning and value to the brand. It’s also what will differentiate the brand from other brands in the same category.”

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Top/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin) 

Did You Know? Twitter Hashtags

If you're new to Twitter, you may be wondering what a hashtag is.

Well, it looks like #. But it's more than just the "pound sign" (as we say in America). The hashtag is a way to follow specific topics and conversations on Twitter.

In fact, some hashtags, like #litchat and #blogchat, connect to scheduled conversations about a particular topic (in the first case, books and writing--in the second, blogging). You can even enter a special "chat room" that streams Tweets only for that hashtag.

Other hashtags are more topical in nature--an invitation to follow and contribute ideas surrounding a particular theme. This kind of hashtag could center around a book (for example, #HeLa, for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks), a movie, a band, an icon, a hobby, a profession, an experience, a TV show and so on. An example of this would be #amwriting, which is a "writer roll call" connecting other scribes. You can even share what you're writing or your progress via #WIP, which means "work in progress".

Anyone can create a hashtag, and anyone can participate using one. I've created two Tarot-related hashtags, myself: #BITtarot (which invites Tarotists to connect a Tarot card with a particular memory, object, character, book, action, etc., based on my BIT Tarot Method) and #tarotREV (where we contribute our take on specific meanings for reversed Tarot cards). Even the generic #Tarot is often used by Tarotists (but it's often more spammy).

What's the point?, you may be wondering. Well, if you look at Tweets that use hashtags, you'll notice that they are highlighted for clicking. This means that you can click any hashtag and instantly be taken to a page which shows real-time Tweets of others using that particular hashtag.

This means you can follow, and contribute, to a particular topic whenever you happen to be online. Of course, if there's a scheduled chat, you may miss the live Tweets...but they'll be forever recorded in the corresponding hashtag transcript.

Here's another example: It's 4 AM my time, and I've posted the Tweet: 6 of WANDS, reversed: Losing a race, falling from pedestal, indifference towards praise. Your take? #tarotREV #Tarot

Now, chances are my American pals aren't online at this time...but the very cool thing is that my UK, Aussie and other pals around the world ARE! So they can contribute their insights when they're up and about. My American Twitter Tarot friends can contribute THEIR take when they awake and log on...and read what others have posted about a card by clicking on #tarotREV.

See how cool that is? (And despite how the hashtags look, they are not case-sensitive. This means #TAROTREV, #TAROTrev and #tarotREV will all refer to the same stream when used or clicked.)

Thus, hashtags can be a teaching tool, news disseminator, water cooler, slumber party, book sneeze, agony aunt, sympathy circle, prayer chain--you get the idea.

But hashtags have one more use: snark. Or, "aren't I clever" asides. Piers Morgan does this magnificently, as does author Joe Hill and actor George Takei. For example, I may Tweet: "If I had a dollar for every self-pubbed author who swore her MS was 'professionally edited'..." #lookoutbillgates

You can click on those types of hashtags, but chances are, you'll only find one entry (or a handful, if other's happen to think the same thing).

When many use the same hashtag, that can lead to "trending", which means interested parties will likely check out WHY a particular hashtag is popular. This is often how individuals find out when a celebrity has gotten arrested, divorced or murdered: you see a certain name, wonder why it's trending (especially if it's not a name that's ALWAYS in the limelight), click on the hashtag--and get the scoop.

So now you know what those tic-tac-toe symbols mean...and how they can connect you with information, books and like-minded folks.

 -- Janet Boyer, Amazon Top/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse(Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot(Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Book Gems #9 Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki

Over the weekend, I started reading Guy Kawasaki's Enchantment and, like sampling a great snack food, I just couldn't stop! I'm on page 36, and find Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions to be inspirational, encouraging and motivational...much like the author. (And I dare you to read Erik Dawson's story and not get choked up...)

Book Gem #9 is from the section Bake a Bigger Pie:

There are two kinds of people and organizations in the world: eaters and bakers. Eaters want a bigger slice of an existing pie; bakers want to make a bigger pie. Eaters think that if they win, you lose, and if you win, they lose. Bakers think that everyone can win with a bigger pie.

Twitter made a bigger pie because anyone could provide news and updates. Southwest Airlines moved people from cars and buses to airplanes. Google wrested advertising out of the hands of agencies and gave it to small businesses. All these companies baked a bigger pie instead of eating more of the same pie.

Baking a bigger pie increases your trustworthiness and yields these benefits:

• People work together. Even your competitors will work with you, because everyone can benefit, and the more people working on an idea, the better the results for everyone.

• The “state of the art” progresses and changes. If the pie stays the same, then progress comes to a halt. If the pie gets bigger, then new technology and ideas reach fruition.

• Customers increase in number and diversity. When a pie gets bigger, there are more users of products and services. With the democratization of computes and the Internet, more people used them, and many more people benefited.

As the saying goes, “A rising tide floats all boats”, and bakers are much more enchanting than eaters.

To get your copy of Enchantment from Amazon, click here. To get the Kindle edition, click here. You can visit the author online at GuyKawasaki.com.

-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Did You Know? Twitter DMing

For those who use Twitter, you're no doubt familiar with DMing, or Direct Messaging--another term for private messaging. What you may not know is that DMing is not an automatic two-way street!

Don't feel bad if you didn't know this; even season Twitter users often don't realize this.

Here's an example: let's say you follow Big Publisher because you love their titles and they give away free books via Twitter. You happen to RT one of their messages in order to have your name entered into a random drawing to win.

Hooray! Big Publisher announces that you're a winner, and asks you to please DM them your snail mail address so they can deliver your books. They even send YOU a DM, to remind you.

Much to your dismay, you can't. You click the drop down menu to find Direct message Big Publisher...but it's not there!

The reason for this is because Big Publisher isn't following YOU! The only way you can DM someone is if they are following you. This means that Big Publisher, or any other Tweep, can send YOU a private message when you're following THEM...but if they aren't reciprocating, you can NOT DM them back!

Some get confused, thinking that if they can send YOU a DM, why, then you can send THEM a DM. In fact, I've had SEVERAL pals who've DMed me and said they were following me, but when I realized I couldn't DM THEM, I realized they were NOT. Confused, they would exclaim "But you got my DM, right?"

Well, yeah, of course I got your DM. That's because I'm following YOU. But unless you are actually following me back, I can't DM you back.

So if you're able to DM someone, don't assume that you're following them back; you may have forgotten to, and assumed that your ability to DM THEM meant you were also FOLLOWING them (which may not be the case).

I'm on Twitter as @JanetBoyer. Come follow me!

-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013)

Tales of the Revolution Edited by Seth Godin

When I submitted my Initiator story to the Domino Project headed by Seth Godin, I had no idea just how inspired I would be by my fellow entrants! Now, some of our stories (including mine!) are offered in the new eBook Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People who are Poking the Box and Making a Difference. You can get your FREE (yes, free!) copy for Kindle at this link.

I've gotten to talk to one of my fellow Initators on the phone; this super-cool, whip-smart guy, Phil Simon, not only published his third business book on his own terms (after having two previous titles published by traditional houses)...but he loves RUSH like me! (laughs) Go get his book The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses Is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies!

I was very inspired by the ex-pipefitter that went for his dreams (WOW, you HAVE to read his story!) and became a fan of the Brave Girls Club on Facebook (because I'm one, too!). These folks, too, are in this Tales of the Revolution eBook. And to think I wouldn't have had the pleasure of meeting them if it wasn't for the Domino Project...let alone be inspired by their amazing efforts to "poke the box", excel and encourage others.

You see, all of our stories were on the Domino Project blog where readers could glean major inspiration from tales submitted by Initiators--and vote on their favorites. My story is titled One Woman + 1,186 Reviews + 2 Book Deals (unfortunately, the good folks at the Domino Project forgot to put my name and website with my story; my bad on not including them with my initial submission--I didn't know it was going straight to public consumption as-is!).

Actually, since my story was submitted to the Domino Project, I've gotten ANOTHER book deal (this one, a collaboration with my husband--the Snowland Tarot) and have self-published SIX eBooks to Kindle (which are doing very well!).

In short, I continue to be inspired by Tales of the Revolution to this day; the Initiators in this book are making a difference in the world in ways you would not BELIEVE. So go get it now! It would be worth $20 or more but at the price of free...can you really pass it up?

Keep on poking the box (I know I will be)!

-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013).

One Woman + 1,186 Reviews + 2 Book Deals

I need your help, friends! I submitted my reviewer/author story to Seth Godin's Initiator Domino Project and it's a finalist! If I'm one of the winners, I'll end up in Godin's next eBook project (powered by Amazon.com).

Please vote 10 Stars for me! (No registration required...just click the 10th Gold Star!) You only have until 5 PM EST tomorrow (March 23).

One Woman + 1,186 Reviews + 2 Book Deals http://vote.thedominoproject.com/nomination/one-woman-1186-reviews-2-book-deals THANK YOU SO MUCH! The shortened link, if you'd like to pass it around for me, is http://bit.ly/VoteJanet

I am so excited, everyone! You can read my story on there, too, before you vote. You only have to click the 10th star...no registration or anything. Please pass this along on YOUR blog, Facebook page, Newsletter list or Discussion Board if you've enjoyed my book, deck and other reviews!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support over the years--and especially your 10-star vote today!

If you'd like to have some background on what the Intiator Contest is, just click here to read the announcment at Seth's blog.

Freaking out,

-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot 

 

5 Things Web-Based Pro Tarot Readers Need

After performing online Tarot and intuitive readings for almost a decade, I’ve come to realize that there are five things you need to have in order to have a visible, thriving business.

As the iconoclastic business book Rework affirms, "A business without a path to profit isn't a business, it's a hobby." Here are five concrete steps towards paving a path to professional Tarot reading business that stands out and attracts clients.

1. Web presence – You need to have a homebase where you can point potential clients. Web-based Tarot readers no longer need pay exorbitant fees for a classy or inviting website. In fact, knowledge of html isn’t even required to get your business up and running within 24-hours.

One company, http://homestead.com/, uses “drag and drop” WYSIWYG technology, meaning you don’t need to know html to use it (although knowledge of basic coding can enhance your web presence by imbedding widgets, videos, social media tools and more). For less than $30 a month you get a downloadable SiteBuilder that allows you to edit your website online or off. And the good news is that if your computer crashes, no published material is ever lost. Even better, Homestead will create custom PayPal buttons for all your services.

However, it’s just as viable to use a blog as your web presence, often for free. Blog sites like http://typepad.com/, http://blogger.com/ and http://wordpress.com/ all provide custom templates, and have affordable paid subscriptions should you want to trick out your blog beyond a simple, free site.

Beware of hitching your Tarot pro wagon to another organization’s “guild”, “town”, “house” or “portal”, though: if an organization is catering to Tarot pros, then you’re preaching to the choir (and won’t get much business).

If that’s all you have, for now, at least check out their visitor stats via http://alexa.com/ Are they growing? Do they even have eyeballs visiting their site? (Being a windbag touting “growth” doesn’t mean squat; anyone can say anything on the web; doesn’t mean it’s true…especially if they can profit from you and your business via subscriptions). What is their reputation?

Make sure you have an engaging bio on your website, preferably with a professionally photographed headshot. It’s true that you can use some pretty, mystical picture to represent yourself, but I’ve found that client’s are much more comfortable ordering a reading from someone with actual eyes to look into, a smile to respond to and a physical “vibe” to evaluate. In short, it’s personal and transparent.

You can use social media tools (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) to promote your business and engage with potential clients, but only do so when you have the basics covered AND you know how to use social media without sounding like an obnoxious carnival barker.

2. Testimonials page – How will a potential client know if you’re any good? Whether you have actual experience? A Testimonials page will help your skill speak for itself. Ask anyone you’ve ever read for—free or for a fee—to give you feedback on your reading. Every time I send out an email Tarot reading, I say “Please let me know if you have any questions or need any clarification, as well as how accurate you found this reading to be.” Your client’s answer can be a testimonial you can add to your page.

If you do this consistently, over time, you’ll have a testimonials page with dozens of recommendations. No only is this the best advertisement for your abilities, but it also gives potential client’s a feel for your style. (For example, do friends, family or clients always commend you for your empathy? Accuracy? Diplomacy? Incisiveness? Pull-no-punches delivery? Practicality? Foresight? Friendliness?) Click here to see how I’ve created my Testimonials page.

3. PayPal buttons – You need to use PayPal or some other system for clients to pay you easily, securely and quickly. If a potential client is debating between two Tarot readers that seem equal, ease of pay may very well be what separates a contemplated order from a completed one. Sign up for a premium account at http://paypal.com/ and, after approval, add buttons to your site. Even if you’re intimidated by trying to copy and paste coding, you can at least list your PayPal email address on your site so clients can send your fee through email.

When setting your fees, make sure your prices are commensurate with your experience. If you’re just starting out professionally, don’t price your readings past $50 (via email) or $.99 a minute (if you read via phone). Get some experience under your belt before you price yourself parallel to the big girls (or boys).

4. Ethics page – You need to state, up front, what you will—and will not—do during and after a Tarot reading. To get an idea of what an Ethics page looks like, click here to read mine. If you’re up front with the kind of readings you enjoy doing—and the ones you will absolutely NOT do because you’re not qualified or comfortable doing so—you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches by having an Ethics page on your site.

5. Types of Readings Your Offer – Decide up front if you’re going to charge per issue, per question or per spread. Keep your offered readings simple, clear and brief. I can’t stress this enough. If you need convinced, consider this passage, based on experimental data, from one of my favorite social psychology books The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less:

“A large array of options may discourage consumers because it forces an increase in the effort that goes into making a decision. So consumers decide not to decide, and don’t buy the product. Or if they do, the effort that the decision requires detracts from the enjoyment derives from the results. Also, a large array of options may diminish the attractiveness of what people ACTUALLY choose, the reason being that thinking about the attractions of some of the unchosen options detracts from the pleasure derived from the chosen one.”

In other words, however you decide to create and price your readings, make your options are simple and few—or you may contribute to a “no sale” or eventual “buyer’s remorse”. Click here to see how I’ve structured my readings to give you an idea.

In this economic climate, consumers—your potential clients—want to get a lot of bang for their buck. Make it easy on them to order a Tarot reading—then make sure you overdeliver, exceeding their expectations.

-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot 

10 Ways Authors and Publishers Fail on Twitter

Below are 10 ways authors and publishers fail on Twitter. Don't do these. Please.

1. Don't have a Twitter account. (Seriously)

2. Don't list a web address. (You do have a website...right?)

3. No profile picture. (How's that egg working for you? It's not.)

4. Only Tweet once a week or, worse, once a month. (Who are you, again?)

5. Use Twitter as a megaphone. (We're not at a carnival, so don't be a barker that merely shouts about your new book/product and sales and specials.)

6. Talking at your followers, rather than with them. (See #5)

7. Ignoring Tweets @you. (It's called "Social" Media for a reason).

8. Not Tweeting about topics that would interest your audience. (Hint: What genres do you specialize in? What is your book about?)

9. Not passing along fascinating quotes or excerpts from your titles. (Give me a reason to read.)

10. Not engaging your own authors, fellow writers, colleagues and/or authors from other houses. (Spread the love. Think "colleague", not "competition". Win/win for everyone in the end, especially if someone new finds your press or your book/s.)

-- Janet Boyer, Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer 2012) and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). Featured in Tales of the Revolution: True Stories of People Who Are Poking the Box and Making a Difference (A Domino Project eBook edited by Seth Godin)

Non-Fiction Book Proposals - 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you even think of pitching a non-fiction book proposal, ask yourself:

1. Has it been done before?

If yes, how does your book differ? What does your book offer that others on the topic do not? You must provide unique, useful and desired material for an agent or publisher to consider at a book that's similar to others in the market.

2. What's the market?

Is your book really "for everyone"? Or is likely for a targeted market? If the latter, which niche market? Don't say "it's a little bit about everything". Those types of books are almost impossible to sell. If need be, narrow your focus.

3. Can I encapsulate it in an elevator pitch?

In other words, summarize your book in one sentence (preferably including how it reaches your target audience)…in the time it would take for an elevator ride.

4. What's your platform?

At the very least, you must have a website in today's market, even if it’s just an engaging blog. Even better if you have a frequently used Twitter presence and Facebook page. Don't have those yet? Start now. It's never too early to begin laying a foundation for your platform. In fact, the more solid the platform, the more confident you (and your potential agent/publisher) will be when it comes time to dive on launch day. Consider registering your name as your primary website URL (for example, JanetBoyer.com), or your book title. The former will give you more flexibility should you publish additional material, however. And, should a publisher sign your book, they may change your proposed title anyway.

5. Who are you pitching to?

If you're pitching to an agent, what other non-fiction books has she sold? What non-fiction authors does he represent? If you don't know, find out. You don't want to send off half-ass queries, pitching your non-fiction proposal to, say, an agent that's only interested in representing literary and YA fiction. If you're pitching directly to a publisher, Google them if you haven't already. Read past catalogues. Discover what, and whom, they publish. Read the Submission Guidelines on their website. Does your book fit in with the publisher's front list? Does your topic match past published genres? If you're still at a loss, then go get the most recent edition of Writer's Market which comes out every summer. And for crying out loud, get the name of the agent or acquisition editor right…and use it! (In other words, don’t even think of writing “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madame”).

If you've decided to self-publish:

Ask yourself the first four questions. If you want to be competitive, then you'll need to know the answers to those questions to effectively market your book. If you don't know the answers to those four questions, how do you expect to convince readers to plunk down money on your book? For the perceptive reader, self-published books are a risk because of their reputation for sub-par quality.

Speaking of quality, here are some additional questions to consider before self-publishing:

1. Are you willing to hire an editor?

You will likely need a content editor or a copyeditor or both. Even the best writers find it difficult to organize or edit their own work, especially for cohesion and for grammatical or spelling errors (that MS Word doesn’t catch).

2. Are you a graphics wiz?

If you can’t create an attractive book cover, hire someone who can. "You can't judge a book by a cover" simply isn't true, especially when it comes to self-published works. Almost every time, I can spot a self-published book by its (ugly) cover.

3. Are you social media-challenged?

If you are overwhelmed by the idea of blogging or Tweeting, then hire someone who can translate your concepts into relevant, fresh web material. Read blogs you admire, follow Tweeters you find fascinating, fan writers who shine on Facebook—and then politely ask them whom they use (or if they can recommend someone who does similar social media marketing).

While hiring an editor, graphics designer and social media maven won’t guarantee book sales, these investments will at least elevate you to roughly the same playing field as traditionally published authors.

If you’ve decided to try the traditional publishing route, answering the first five questions concisely, accurately and sensibly will help you stand out in the minds of agents, publishers and readers.

Janet Boyer is the author of Back in Time Tarot (Hampton Roads) and Tarot in Reverse (Schiffer Books, 2012). A prolific blogger and reviewer, as well as a social media maven for publishers and authors, Janet’s main website is JanetBoyer.com.

Test Post

Test post

Download Court Card Class