Rebecca LuElla Miller writes Christian sci-fi and fantasy novels, and she also wrote an amazing 8-part blog essay about my book, word of mouth marketing, and how it applies to fiction writers.
Read it here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8
This is an important word of mouth lesson: You never know who will talk about you.
I never exactly targeted niche fiction authors as major talkers about my book. But they discovered it and a whole new conversation is happening with substantial readership. No marketing plan could have predicted this. (It started with Brandilyn Collins, and spread to Rebecca, and so on …)
Lesson: Don’t over-plan your word of mouth strategy, don’t obsess about finding the perfect influencers.
- Get out there and start talking
- See who joins the conversation
- Follow them, encourage them, and thank them.
Thanks, Rebecca!
Andy, thanks for linking to those posts on my blog. I’m continuing to learn from your terrific book, and as it turns out, have found myself talking to others about it as well as blogging about it.
I’m involved in several book blog tours. One seems more like mass market mailing. But another, the one I share some responsibility for, is aiming to create book buzz by using the internet the way neighbors used to use their backyards. Your book holds principles that can easily be adapted to what we’re trying to accomplish.
So, yes, I’m a satisfied “consumer,” and am happy to tell others about your work. (Once again proving the very principles about which you write).
Becky