Maximizing Marketing When Speaking

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Aloha from Karen Whiting. CAN treasurer I Love speaking to Moms, Women, Writers, and well, anyone who shares similar passions. I also find that there are many ways books get promoted when I speak, beyond the actual time I stand and talk. It starts the moment I get a speaking engagement with the meeting planner letting people know I’ll be coming and my posting the event to my website upcoming appearances. There are several ways to maximize the promotional possibilities.  

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Persistence

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Aloha from Karen, At my first writer’s conference I won the persistence award. I wondered if I just asked the most questions and if that was a polite way to say I was a pest. But over time I realize writers need persistence to succeed and someone saw that in me. I looked at this year’s calendar and already see deadlines looming and contracts that look great-more than I ever expected. I look back and realize I persisted and years of hard work matter. Even more, I see other writers I knew from my early beginnings also finding more success…

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Reasons to be Thankful for Books

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Aloha from Karen It’s already Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful today for family (especially my husband who continues to battle breast cancer) and many friends. My family keeps growing-five children and now eight grandchildren. But I also want to express thanks babout books, including thanks for past rejections and current contracts and for books in general. I’m an avid reader and books opened my mind to many possibilities.

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Storm preparation for writers

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Aloha from Karen, Having survived Hurricane Andrew with half my house damaged and many items blown into the everglades, I know a little about what to expect from a hurricane. Irene is headed my way. It’s important back up files and take other steps.

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ICRS, Where the Industry Meets

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Aloha from Karen,  A few weeks ago I attended the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). I’ve been going for more than a decade. One convention hall fills with authors, publishers, sales reps, agents, and store owners, and all the newest Christian books and products. It’s an exciting place for anyone who loves books. Many authors sign free copies of their books. I didn’t sign this year but  Faithwords gave away a huge stack of my books as I stood and watched them disappear in a few minutes. A lot happens at this show.  

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Endings are Beginnings

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Aloha from CAN Treasurer Karen Whiting With one week before my book deadline I’m working on endings-the indexes, appendixes, and final review. But it’s also time to look at beginnings. From the time I thought of the idea for the book I also thought of the marketing and the audiences. As I hand in the book it’s the end of the writing and the real beginning of promoting the book. The book, co-authored with CAN member Jocelyn Green, is Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front of American Wars.  

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Twitter-pated

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Aloha from Karen, CAN treasurer Twittering gave the world a fast way to communicate and also a new tool for marketing. Marketing with only a few words takes planning and focus.   I stopped logging onto twitter often because I often read dribble, such as someone telling me they are going to eat (unless it’s connected to a focus-such as how to make healthy choices or making a meal a girlfriend or family time) or hard sells that continue to talk about a specific product. Today logged on and found that since I reduced the people to follow I enjoy…

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We CAN Market and it Begins with the Book Idea

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Aloha from the CAN treasurer, Karen Whiting CAN began several years ago when a few author friends shared a great idea of forming a group that would help one another market and learn how to market. We are still growing into the best ways to do that. This blog has been a great teaching tool to share how to market and I’m rthankful to be part of such a network. I want to share some tips of what I’m doing to prepare to market a few future books    

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Writer Friends

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Aloha from Karen Whiting, trasurer of CAN, I recently taught at a writer’s conference. I love the friendships I’ve developed over the years at conferences and other places. Other writers inspire me, understand the passion and lifestyle, and share similar goals. It’s important to develop friendships with other writers and industry professionals. I cherish a mug one writer friend gave me. It says, “Choose an Author as you would a friend” for I have many author friends.  

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Connecting at Conferences

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Aloha from Karen , treasurer of CAN, There’s synergy when people come together and connect, especially when they share ideas or brainstorm. CAN is all about sharing ideas and connecting authors to authors and readers. I love networking and making lots of connections as well as building on connections I’ve already made. For me, writing conferences are the perfect place for connecting with writers. And things happen at conferences–that’s where many of my books originated.

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