Comments on: Contests – Some Ins and Outs http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/ Where Happily Ever After is Always on the Menu! Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Kimber An http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/comment-page-1/#comment-24044 Kimber An Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:48:22 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/#comment-24044 Well, I'm going to follow Lisa Shearin's example. I don't know how it meshes with yours, but here's what she did. First, she cultivated a readership, including a Yahoo group, and relationships with several genre-specific book review blogs. She did this by interacting with us on a regular, if not frequent, basis. Second, she was so nice to us that when her new release came out - ARMED & MAGICAL - we were thrilled to gush about it. We did reviews, interviews, and I threw her a Cyber-Launch Book Party. I shared the contest job for this event. Third, she has a fun and informative blog through which she's held contests and I've seen them work quite well. She seems to get a significant amount of enthusiastic traffic, probably because she treats them like real human beings rather than minivans. I don't study professional marketing strategies, but I have read that word-of-mouth is the greatest influence on a book buyer. You can't accomplish that well without the personal touch and Lisa does it well. Well, I’m going to follow Lisa Shearin’s example. I don’t know how it meshes with yours, but here’s what she did.

First, she cultivated a readership, including a Yahoo group, and relationships with several genre-specific book review blogs. She did this by interacting with us on a regular, if not frequent, basis.

Second, she was so nice to us that when her new release came out – ARMED & MAGICAL – we were thrilled to gush about it. We did reviews, interviews, and I threw her a Cyber-Launch Book Party. I shared the contest job for this event.

Third, she has a fun and informative blog through which she’s held contests and I’ve seen them work quite well. She seems to get a significant amount of enthusiastic traffic, probably because she treats them like real human beings rather than minivans.

I don’t study professional marketing strategies, but I have read that word-of-mouth is the greatest influence on a book buyer. You can’t accomplish that well without the personal touch and Lisa does it well.

]]> By: Gail Barrett http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/comment-page-1/#comment-24043 Gail Barrett Sun, 01 Jun 2008 10:16:30 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/#comment-24043 Yes, I agree. There is nothing more frustrating than having your website get posted on one of those internet contest loops. This happens to me sometimes, and I get hits from people who are only interested in the prize, not my books. Yes, I agree. There is nothing more frustrating than having your website get posted on one of those internet contest loops. This happens to me sometimes, and I get hits from people who are only interested in the prize, not my books.

]]> By: Tricia Jones http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/comment-page-1/#comment-24042 Tricia Jones Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:38:30 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/#comment-24042 Great info there, Monica, especially the points to consider when offering prizes. It's easy to get so bogged down you forget what you're actually trying to achieve. Great info there, Monica, especially the points to consider when offering prizes. It’s easy to get so bogged down you forget what you’re actually trying to achieve.

]]> By: Lyn Cote http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/comment-page-1/#comment-24041 Lyn Cote Sat, 31 May 2008 22:51:23 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/#comment-24041 Thanks for the reminder. I'd forgotten the good old 7! Lyn Thanks for the reminder. I’d forgotten the good old 7!
Lyn

]]> By: Monica Burns http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/comment-page-1/#comment-24040 Monica Burns Sat, 31 May 2008 22:11:00 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/31/contests-some-ins-and-outs/#comment-24040 Great minds think alike, Kate! :) Great minds think alike, Kate! :)

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