Wednesday, May 15, 2013

WRITERLY WISDOM: Amanda Luedeke



It's time once again for WRITERLY WISDOM where every Wednesday we sneak a peek into the world of writing and publication.  When I found out the lovely Amanda Luedeke of MacGregor Literary Inc was interested in providing a post for this series, you could have heard my squeals of excitement all the way to Bora Bora!  I know a lot of newbie writers and debut authors struggle with exactly what is "author platform" and how to effectively market their manuscripts.  Amanda has just come out with a wonderful ebook guide to address that very issue.  I asked for my readers to send me questions for her to answer,  and here is the lowdown on what we should and shouldn't be doing when promoting our published work.  Take it away Amanda...


The Art of Author Marketing
By Amanda Luedeke, Literary Agent



Marketing has become one of the biggest obstacles that any author will face. Great marketing ensures book sales and a solid marketing plan or platform can impress any publisher.

But let’s face it. Most authors aren’t the marketing, sales-y types.

I come from a marketing background. Before working as an agent, I worked at an agency outside of Chicago and launched blogs, YouTube Channels, Facebook groups, and strategized apps for some pretty major clients. So when I transitioned to publishing, I immediately realized that I was holding a very coveted gem…the gem of understanding and “getting” marketing.

For well over a year now, I’ve blogged about marketing on the agency blog (www.chipmacgregor.com). Every Thursday, I debunk Facebook or Twitter or Tumblr or SEO or blogging…and I’ve found it to be well received.

But I realized people wanted more than my posts. So, I wrote THE EXTROVERTED WRITER: An Author’s Guide to Marketing and Building a Platform.

It’s the perfect little e-book for:


·      The published author
·      The unpublished author
·      The author looking for marketing ideas
·      The author looking for marketing advice
·      The author looking for marketing reassurance

But most importantly, it’s the perfect little book to help you go from being an introverted, “I-don’t-know-how-to-market-myself,” to an extroverted, “I’m-confident-I-can-market-myself” writer.

Check it out on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords (for all other ereader devices).

Now, I’m here to answer your marketing questions! In preparation for this post, we pulled some thoughts and queries from you readers. SO, get ready, here are my thoughts on your most pressing author marketing questions:

When is the best time to begin marketing a new book? 

You want to have your marketing plan in place about 6 months before release. To schedule blog appearances, speaking engagements, radio interviews, etc., it takes time. So, it’s best to chip away at it over those six months. But the idea is to have things hit the month your book releases (preferably after release).

How are some ways a new author can market their debut book? 

Since it’s your first book, you’re going to have friends and family ready and willing to do whatever it takes to help the book succeed (You won’t get this with any other book you do!). All debut authors should take advantage of this excitement and form a street team to help create a buzz about the book. Use your street team to share on Facebook, Twitter and more. Guest post on their blogs, and get them to place bookmarks or promotional materials at their local coffee shops, doctor’s offices, libraries, etc. Remember, a street team of even 20 can be 20 places at once.

If you could only pick one social media site to promote your book, which one would you choose and why? 

Personally, I’d choose Facebook, but I know of many authors who swear by Twitter. At the end of the day, you need to zero in on the social media channel that best connects with YOUR audience. Blogs, Tumblr, Pinterest, YouTube, Goodreads…Figure out where you have the most fans (or the most potential fans) and set up camp.

What one piece of advice can you give an author who knows nothing about marketing?

Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. What would make YOU shell out $15 for a book? Then, do what you need to do to meet that need for your potential readers.

What’s one thing you see missing from websites or blogs that would greatly impact attracting new followers? 

Most websites and blogs are dead zones. The authors do nothing to cultivate relationships with their readers. There’s no personal interaction, there’s no way for readers to feel part of things. If you can foster a community among your readers, that’s a powerful thing.

Do blog tours really help sales of a debut book? 

Typically, no. Typically, blog tours target the same old blogs that have the same old readers of those blogs. The successful tours are the ones that are put together from scratch. So, instead of approaching the same blogs that always appear in tours, an author would approach blogs that typically don’t participate in such things. This is how you get your book in front of new readers who are likely to be pleasantly surprised that you’ve stopped by their blog for a chat.

What’s the worst marketing thing an author can do? 

The worst thing is for an author to either be too passive or too aggressive. The passive authors typically wait for their publisher or agent to tell them what to do. Consequently, nothing gets done. The aggressive authors end up being blocked by readers online because they’re ALWAYS doing the hard sell. Both will kill your career.

Hope this was helpful! And be sure to check out my book for more tips and tricks!




Amanda Luedeke is a literary agent with MacGregor Literary, Inc. A 2006 graduate of Taylor University's Professional Writing program, Amanda spent some years working in marketing as a social media expert and copywriter for major national brands, including Vera Bradley, Peg Perego, and Benjamin Moore. While in marketing, she launched blogs, YouTube channels, Facebook pages, and more on behalf of clients.

She has been an agent since 2010, and has quickly put to use her knack for understanding and not shying away from marketing and promotions. She works with her authors to perfect their brands and marketing efforts, while offering weekly marketing advice on the agency blog.
Amanda lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with her husband and Great Dane.




25 comments:

  1. Awesome advice I will follow for sure. My books are coming out in August and September. I better get to work!

    Thanks for the info, Amanda, great blog.

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    1. Also, Donna, wanted you to know that I would miss Flash Fiction Friday if you took it away! Why not intersperse with your art idea?

      I understand why it doesn't get as much activity as you'd like, folks are in a hurry, need time to consider, don't get back to comment -- lots of excuses. But the pictures and stories that go along are always something to look forward to. I just happen to like flash fiction, but some days I can't formulate a few words let alone a full sentence. Anyway, my two cents. Just know I love your blog -- all of it!

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    2. Hi Yolanda! Congrats on your upcoming book releases...maybe you will want to participate in my FREE AUTHOR PROMOTION next year? :~)

      Thanks for your comments about my Flash Fiction Friday...I've been toying with the idea of a little Hodge Podge writing on Friday...a little Flash Fiction...some good old storytelling from my childhood and the crazy life I led down in the bayou...lol...who knows what I will think of next...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. I definitely must pick this one up! I really enjoyed the post and hearing from Amanda. Thanks so much for hosting her.

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    1. Hi Sheri! This was such a great post for me and I'm sure for many others...:~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. Great advice, Amanda. Thanks so much!

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    1. Hi Tina! Glad you enjoyed it...

      Thanks for stopping by and coem back any time!

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  4. Very helpful, Amanda -- thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us!

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    1. Hi Beth! I just knew this would be a great post this week...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. Great post - bookmarked to read again, and again!

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    1. Hi Julie! I agree...this one is a keeper!

      Thanks fro stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. Very helpful post! I definitely need to grab a copy of this :)

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    1. Hi Meradeth and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you found this informative...I think Amanda did a fabulous job!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. Thanks for the great advice. I will switch computers now so I can go print off the ebook you mentioned.

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    1. Hi Marlene and welcome to my blog! I think I will follow your lead and print off a copy as well to put above my desk in my study...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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    1. Hi Kirsti! I'm glad you enjoyed Amanda's post. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to add her fantastic ebook to my library!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. Nice Ms. Luedeke! I like this post! Very helpful!

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    1. HI Erik! I have the feeling you are going to have tons of useful information by the end of this year...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  10. Great advice! I appreciate the tips! I have a question..you said that one thing missing from websites or blogs that would impact attracting new followers was to, "Cultivate relationships." What would help me to do that...to, "Foster community among my readers?"
    Thanks!

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    1. Hi Phyllis and welcome to my blog! I'm sure Amanda would have tons of suggestions for you but here are just a few of what has worked for me in the past where I grew from zero followers to over 300 in my first year...my blog is read now in more than 20 countries, and I'm about to hit my 200,000th page view...;~)

      1. visit other blogs and actively comment
      2. make sure your posts engage your readers' emotions so they will be encouraged to comment.
      3. reply to every comment on your posts...even if it's just to say thanks for stopping by.
      4. maybe have a contest where you give away something like a $10 Amazon card to one lucky winner. It doesn't have to be big but for their name to be added to the drawing, all they have to do is become a follower of your blog and do a shout-out for others to join the fun!
      5. Become a follower of other blogs that interest you and leave a comment for that author letting them know you like their blog and started following them. Most people will then follow YOU back once they check your blog out and like what they see.

      Those are just some of the things you can do. I speak to a lot of people all around the world as a part of my author platform and networking. I take a very active interest in really connecting with the people who visit my blog. They know I care and appreciate the fact they take time out of their busy day to visit me! Hope this helps...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  11. Thanks, Amanda, for sharing these helpful tips, and thanks, Donna, for hosting. Donna, I also found your response to Phyllis' question about cultivating relationships helpful. Congratulations to you on building such a strong platform.

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    1. Hi Evelyn and welcome to my blog! I appreciate your kind words and I'm glad my hints were of some help to you! The bottom line is that most people simply want to connect...they want to receive validation for their thoughts and feelings and we can do that when we create posts that help them to reach that connection. It's why writers write...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  12. Great advice. I agree on having FB as a focal point. I read somewhere that over 80% of Americans are on FB. I also agree on the connecting with your readers - really connecting. Not just post after post of "my book," "my journey," "my page," etc. Many authors that I started to follow...I realized that's all they did! They never interacted, never replied to comments, never had the time to comment on my wall, etc. Who wants to be pals with a writer like that?

    I have found that promoting others and giving them an opportunity to guest on my blog has been a great thing for those writers - and for me! I've connected with so many new friends that way. And it just feels good to help and promote others.

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  13. Hi Karen! I couldn't agree with you more! I'm pretty sure when we first met, you did your research and checked out my blog to make sure I wasn't just pushing a book platform...;~)

    I care about my readers, I care about giving back and it gives me a good feeling to be able to say I was in some small way a part of someone else's success!

    Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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