Marketing For Introverts

Blogging In The 21st Century

February 25th, 2008 · 19 Comments

I swear this is going to be my last TOC 2008-related post*. There is one more topic that has been rattling around BSHQ and, well, it’s time to get it out in the open. Blogging. It’s good, it’s bad, it’s ugly, and it’so misunderstood. We need have some frank discussion. There is no such thing […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts · Perennials

A Little Friendly Bragging

January 28th, 2008 · 11 Comments

One of the privileges of being me (as opposed to one of the privileges of living with me) is that I have brilliant, smart, creative friends. And I don’t brag about them (brag on them? I am told this is proper English, but my people don’t speak this way) often enough. And I should. So […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts

Commercial Thoughts

December 3rd, 2007 · 2 Comments

Thanks to the magic of TiVo, I rarely see commercials these days. In fact, I am at the point where a commercial is a wondrous thing: Oh look, I think, someone is trying to sell me something. Serendipity is a great thing. Every now and then I’ll mess up on the fast-forwarding and discover that […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts

HarperCollins Author Assistant: Publisher Marketing Done Right

November 28th, 2007 · 5 Comments

A few months back, HarperCollins launched its “Author Assistant” project (example here. In a nutshell (meaning, yes, I’m going to get into more detail in a few paragraphs), the service allows HC authors to easily build dynamic web presences with a smattering of Web 2.0 features that allow for community building. Authors must be active […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts · Square Pegs

Apple Saves The Publishing Industry

September 5th, 2007 · 9 Comments

So, yeah, you’re thinking that the Apple announcements yesterday were interesting. You’re thinking, wow, I didn’t want to spend a month’s worth of book money on a phone, but, hey, they lowered the price. Or maybe you’re thinking you didn’t need a new phone. But everyone can use an iPod. Especially since iPods are now […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts · Non-Traditional Publishing · The Future of Publishing

Book Tours: Finally, Someone Makes It Easy For Everyone

July 19th, 2007 · 1 Comment

Sometimes something comes along and you think, “Why hasn’t this been done already?” Or maybe you think, “I’m so glad that someone is finally doing this right” Or a combination of the two. And it’s always a joy when the good idea builds upon other good ideas by people you like. A multi-pronged approach increases […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts

Living in a Writer’s Dream World

July 10th, 2007 · 11 Comments

On most Wednesday nights, Diana Allandale reads to a small audience of dedicated fans at Passionate Books. The shop is one of four that Diana owns and operates. When she’s not reading at one of her stores, Diana travels to faraway places where she always finds a receptive new audience. Diana’s life may sound like […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts

Hansel and Gretel Were Right: Number 99 in Our Series on Search

June 19th, 2007 · 5 Comments

Day one of the O’Reilly Tools of Change conference has been both eye-opening and, well, comforting. The latter because, as we’re sure you can imagine, we do so like to be right, and we’re feeling very right at the moment. The former because we’re seeing a strong desire to make fundamental changes in how the […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts

How To Behave In The Blogosphere, The Easy Way

June 14th, 2007 · 2 Comments

We know that publishers are huddled in meetings, devising strategies for going forth and embracing the blogosphere. There may be task forces or committees or, shudder, ad hoc committees. Now that they have religion, publishers and more than a few authors are trying to figure out how to make the most of the opportunities provided […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts

The Tupperware Party As The New Marketing Metaphor

June 5th, 2007 · 4 Comments

Every now and then, we are contacted by very kind individuals who are part of publishing “blogging outreach” programs. Based on our very careful, very detailed research, we have determined that these good folks are tasked with contacting bloggers of various persuasions and asking them if they would like free books. Your corporate website is […]

File Under: Marketing For Introverts