Today’s Book Marketing Etiquette Tip for Rookies: The “Tell Your Friends” Line
Somebody writes a book about writing. Their so-called PR firm buys an email list of authors and sends them all an email with the subject line “Please tell all your writer friends” and the body of the email is the book promo blurb. (This could be a book about anything and a request to tell your readers too.)
This is a crappy thing to do for 3 reasons:
1) You’re spamming authors to request an endorsement. If I promote somebody’s work, I’m endorsing them. Don’t tell me to spam my associates when I’ve never seen the product and have no knowledge of the author.
Or as my father would say: “Don’t piss on my shoes and tell me it’s raining.”
2) This makes the marketer and the author look bad.
3) You’re treating the author like a chump because you’re making them pay for your so-called marketing expertise which is really just half-assed spam.
Don’t be that marketer.
Don’t be that author.
Email me at LMPietsch@gmail.com if you’re confused.
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Great advice. I get people all the time who join my facebook to promote sthemselves. that is first as long as they ask first. However, writing a post to my wall status that just has their blurb and no other information feels a little slimy. I do not mind the authors who use a pic of their book for a facebook profile ohote. Then if someone thinks it looks interesting they have th e choice of going agter more information. thanks for touchibng on tyhis touchy subject!
Kathi Robb Harris
I totally agree with you. Marketing is about building a relationship with potential readers, just as writing a book is about a relationship with your actual reader. I delete people who promote on my Facebook wall without my permission. It’s harsh, but jeez….:-))
Casey Dawes
I liked your post. I’m always told, ‘Promote! Promote! Promote!’ but nobody ever says how except do Facebook & Twitter. I’ll post my reviews & stuff on my page but never on others because, well, it feels weird. I wouldn’t want that from someone else so why would I do that to them. But I suck at selling & promoting. I prefer writing and wish I could hire someone else to do the promoting for me. Any suggestions on what would be a good route to travel? Or recommend a good promoter? Thx.
As a matter of fact, I specialize in social media marketing strategies for authors. I can either teach you how to promote your work or do it for you. Feel free to email me at LMPietsch@gmail.com and we can take a look at what you’ve got going on.