10 Tips for authors featuring Harrine Freeman

Hello!
I asked author Harrine Freeman to give 10 Best tips for Authors for 2009. In this economy we can use all the tips we can get. I will be featuring more articles and tips from other business professionals and ideas that I have come up with too.

10 Tips for Authors in 2009

1.Network. Since we are in a recession and many small businesses and authors lack a marketing budget, attend as many free networking functions as you can. Check your local newspaper or local civic organizations for networking events in your area.
2.Promote. Always carry your business cards and at least 10 copies of your book with you. Every encounter with someone mention you are an author or hand the person your business card. You can also post your events for free on sites like www.booktour.com. You can also use social networks to promote your book such as www.facebook.com, www.twitter.com, www.linkedin.com, and www.craigslist.com.
3.Create a website. If you don't already have a website, create one. If you can't afford to pay for a website, create a free one on www.myspace.com or www.authorsden.com.
4.Sell. Think of creative ways to sell your books. Sell them at barber shops, hair salons, networking events, conferences, grocery stores, libraries, and community events. You can also sell your book on www.ebay.com or www.amazon.com.
5.Create a shopping cart. Create a shopping cart on your website or use Google or PayPal. Make it easy for customers to purchase your book and any other products you wish to sell.
6.Learn. Learn everything you can about marketing your book, selling your book, and how to run a business. As an author you are a business and you must promote yourself as a business. Some great books to use as a reference are 1001 Ways to Market Your Book by John Kremer and The Publishing Game by Fern Reiss. Do research on web marketing by visiting websites such as www.wilsonweb.com and www.writersmarket.com, and www.writersdigest.com.
7.Revise. Review your book at least once a year and revise the content and publish the new version with a new ISBN or write a new book to keep yourself in the market.
8.Barter. Barter services with other authors or small businesses if you cannot afford to pay for them. This will save you money and help out someone else.
9.Create a newsletter. Create a newsletter and provide a sign-up sheet at each event you attend. Use websites like Icontact or Constant Contact to create your newsletter. You can also find free newsletter templates on Microsoft's website. A newsletter is a great way to promote your book without spending a lot of money.
10.Develop a plan. Develop a marketing plan for your book, plan at least 6-12 months in advance of what you hope to accomplish with your book. Set target dates for each goal and document steps taken to accomplish each goal.

Thank You for sharing Harrine

Harrine Freeman
CEO/Owner, H.E. Freeman Enterprises
http://www.hefreemanenterprises.com
http://hefreemanenterprises.blogspot.com
consulting@hefreemanenterprises.com
Speaker, Columnist, Author of
How to Get Out of Debt: Get an "A" Credit Rating for Free
301-280-5923 M-F 9-5pm EST


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odebdeb@aol.com
Debra Owsley
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If you want to include any ideas that has worked for you, please share

Inauguration Party

Inauguration Party
I am absolutely giddy about Tuesday’s swearing in of President Barack Obama. I am very proud and overjoyed at the promise of CHANGE. And of course because he’s the first African American to be elected President.

Now… I am not ridiculous. I know for sure this process will take years to accomplish, not too many I hope, BUT …I do see people who are like me who are excited and hopeful.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day and it said
“We can be the CHANGE we want to see”…
How profound. You guys that have been following my blog know how strongly I believe in THE SECRET. I see people focusing on the future, on better days A coming and that is what could help President Barack Obama make this change really happen. I feel that if we put all of our positive thoughts and energy towards the Change We What To See, it will help and happen. I also truly believe that’s what helped him win the election.

Let’s all focus on how we can Be The Change. How can you and I help?

I feel such a sense of responsibility to this presidency because I took part in the process. It occurred to me during the election that I need to help Barack, After the WIN..

HOW??? Heck I don’t know.
I do know for sure that I am looking at things and people with a different mind set. And I am responsible in making this Change also. Just my positive attitude is a huge start. Little things turn into big things.

CHANGE your attitude and change your mind

What are YOU doing for your Day of Service????

JUST MY 2 CENT

Happy Barack Obama Day !!!

Curtis Mayfield




We're a winner
Curtis Mayfield

We're a winner
And never let anybody say
Boy, you can't make it
'Cause a feeble mind is in your way
No more tears do we cry
And we have finally dried our eyes
And we're movin' on up (movin' on up)
Lawd have mercy
We're movin' on up (movin' on up)

We're living proof in alls alert
That we're two from the good black earth
And we're a winner
And everybody knows it too
We'll just keep on pushin'
Like your leaders tell you to
At last that blessed day has come
And I don't care where you come from
We're all movin' on up (movin' on up)
Lawd have mercy
We're movin' on up (movin' on up)

Hey, Hey
We're movin' on up (movin' on up)
Lawd have mercy
We're movin' on up (movin' on up)

I don't mind leavin' here
To show the world we have no fear
'Cause we're a winner
And everybody knows it too
We'll just keep on pushin'
Like your leaders tell you to
At last that blessed day has come
And I don't care where you come from
We're just go move on up (movin' on up)
Lawd have mercy
We're movin' on up (movin' on up)
We'll just keep on pushin'
We're a winner
Lawd, baby
Everybody
Hey, you know we're movin' on up
We're a winner







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Debra Owsley

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Rearrange a bookstore day

I’ve been known to go next door to my job, to the Wal-Mart, and rearrange books. Sure I have better things to do but I do it regularly. At first the store manager would, ask me what I’m doing and I simply told him “I’m straightening up your book shelf”. But then I guess they realized they were not just straightened up but also rearranged. LOL
They are not going to raise hell when I have a $100.00 worth of merchandise in my shopping cart now are they?

Why do I do this? Well first off , I don’t think we should be segregated. I will stick some Donna Hill’s and some Marcia King Gamble’s and most recently Cheryl Robinson’s, (just to name a few off a very long list), books into the Main Stream romance section

They ARE romance authors that just so happen to be black.

Yesterday I was at the Books A Million, here in Florida and I caught an attitude big time. the romance section was 43 feet long yes I counted. Each shelf was either 5 rows or 7 rows. The 5 rows were hard backs and mass paper backs and the 7 rows were trade paperbacks.

As I looked to see if any of us were sprinkled in, my attitude worsened.

I then went to the African American Literature section and really got pissed. The African American section was 9 feet long and each rack was 5 rows per, and very sparse. Not only was it romance it was also fiction, non fiction, and bio’s scattered in or shall I say peppered in. I started looking for some authors I know recently released new books. Hmmmm I am not happy, one Seduction and Lies, Donna Hill’s newest release, one Gotta Keep On Tryin’ De Berry and Grant one Tempting The Mogul, Marcia’s new book, 6 Something On The Side, Carl Weber’s book released last January 2008, and I could keep going be you get the point.

Yes maybe they were sold, it was the weekend, but re-stock damn it. It was not kept and not in order at all. I went to my friendly African American salesperson and asked her what’s up with this??? And why are we segregated?, Ain’t Obama in office now? We both laughed but she understood where I was coming from. She said the same argument that I’ve heard repeatedly, half the people want an African American section and half don’t.
That was still no excuse for the way the section looked.

I remember years ago when I wanted one too. The names of authors I wanted to read I did not know unless they came out in Essence magazine each month. I would run to the store and look for them and sometimes be disappointed because they weren’t there, or very annoyed when the salesperson said ”WHO”? GRRRR. E. LYNN HARRIS was the book I was requesting and it was not his first one either.

So I spent the afternoon doing my chosen task, putting the books in order, “peppering the salt” and I did a top shelf of new releases.
Hey, it’s all about love lol
While I was doing this I was thinking about Carlene Brice’s blog about give a black book to a non black reader.

Hmmmmm

Light Bulb Moment
What if I could get all my friends, bloggers, readers, and authors, to do this too???
THIS COULD BE BIG!!!!

If you spend as much time in bookstores as I do
Let’s pick a day and we all do it.
Rearrange, pepper in and spread us around
put us on the top shelf on an end cap at the check out counter. If they have several copies. If not face the book forward in the African American section.

The only thing I wish was I had way of tracking the results.

Are you willing to rearrange a bookstore?
I have even left notes to say “LOOK IN African American ROMANCE SECTION”….. by the way, it works both ways.
Put your favorite authors and new releases on top
“Pepper” them in “Main Stream” sections
Order some books they will add it into inventory or you can, when they hand them to you
Demand that books are in store and on shelf on release date
Talk to browsers about your favorite book or author
Place new books or your favorites face out
Don’t put them in a weird place; we do want folks to find them
Leave a book review
Leave a post it note
Leave a bookmark in the book from an author
Leave information about your book club
Start a African American club in store

Readers, do you want to add to the list?
Are you willing to adopt a African American book section?
I would love feedback on this

Just My 2 Cents, Simply-said.net

Joyce Schwarz and Lisa Nichols

I am so full. I am so sated I could dance for joy.
I had the extreme pleasure of listening to Joyce Schwartz of The Vision Board and Lisa Nichols of The Secret, on Blog Talk Radio, with host Ella Curry . I cannot tell you how wonderful these women are. I feel as if this was a late Christmas Gift.

These phenomenal women have inspired me to push and keep it moving. There are so many things in life that drain you, your heart, your mind and you very soul. So when I can hear a gift, such as this, I must share it.
You may be feeling the same.

The Debra, Ella and Lisa speak of, is my story, so Lisa really hearing me was huge. I told her that I repeatedly said I know Like I know Like I know all the way to the hospital, It really carried and held me.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, Happy New Year
THIS IS A GIFT Listen to the interview
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network
sorry the player would not load




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The Vision Board Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow on BlogTalk Radio BAN with Ella Curry
Lisa Nichols Co-author of The Secret and 2 Chicken Soup For The African American Souls and
Joyce Schwartz author of The Vision Board will be discussing
The Secret
8PM to 10PM EST