Competing for shelf space on the Internet

[IndieWriter]

I've written a blog post that I think would be of interest to readers of this thread, so I thought I'd share:
5 tips to help authors compete for shelf space on the Internet (http://blog.mywritingnook.com/2009/10/5-tips-to-help-authors-compete-for.html)

I'm interested in collecting other tips for self-promotion on the 'net. What have you found that works?

[ResearchGuy]

I've written a blog post that I think would be of interest to readers of this thread, so I thought I'd share:
5 tips to help authors compete for shelf space on the Internet (http://blog.mywritingnook.com/2009/10/5-tips-to-help-authors-compete-for.html)

. . .
The Internet has shelves?

--Ken

[Nandi]

Thank you, IndieWriter. You make some good points.

[IndieWriter]

Yes, vast, nearly unending shelves. Which is why it is difficult to get noticed. :)

[still alive]

I don't even know what a URL is so I couldn't post a comment on your blog!

I also have an earlier thread on this forum asking the same thing--in essence: I'm trying to decide to self-publish and a large part of that decision is the fact of my granddaughter having a large footprint on the web, 64,500 on MySpace alone. I realize that it's her following not mine, but we think she can be a major help in promotion. Her followers are faithful and see her as a celebrity [I see her as my granddaughter! :)] and I think many would follow her lead.

What's your input on it, please.

[Phantom Writer]

Still- I was impressed when I got 2000 friends. She has 64,500, I'm AMAZED and wonder how much time she spends on there?!? Dang. I feel so... underaccomplished. Time to go log into myspace. ;)

[SandraBeckwith]

Still Alive, while your granddaughter has many fans (is she a popular musician?), her fans won't help your book if they aren't in your target audience. If they are, then whoohho!, that's good news!

Cheers,
Sandy

[still alive]

Sandra, no they're aren't I don't think, but she said she feels certain those that do read will buy it!

[IndieWriter]

I also have an earlier thread on this forum asking the same thing--in essence: I'm trying to decide to self-publish and a large part of that decision is the fact of my granddaughter having a large footprint on the web, 64,500 on MySpace alone. I realize that it's her following not mine, but we think she can be a major help in promotion. Her followers are faithful and see her as a celebrity [I see her as my granddaughter! :)] and I think many would follow her lead.

What's your input on it, please.

I think that being able to tap into an audience that large right from the start is something most authors would drool over. Talk to your granddaughter and try to get a sense of the demographics of her audience. Then figure out how best to appeal to them.

If your granddaughter is Internet savvy, then perhaps she can help you put together a promotional website? If she can't, she probably knows someone who can.

[still alive]

Thanks, IndieWriter. The problem would be not so much her demographics, it's that I have no idea of my own "implied" audience. I haven' shown but pieces of it to several people and already gotten positive [after several rewrites! :)] comments from two in their early 20's, same in their early 30s, and one in her 50s. Makes it seem I'll have a wide spread--but then most of those were lit majors [excepting my granddaughter and she IS my granddaughter so there's got to be some influence there!]. One a librarian, one a teacher, one an MFA, and one an equivalant of a summa cum laude!

So far no ordinary readers like I am. But then as I said only two have read the entire mss. So far, agents haven't been interested. I think I know why. PC. But I really am only guessing.

Sure a long post to say I don't know who my audience is! :) And yes, my granddaughter has already started talking about several promotional websites. But I've got to wait until I decide whether to keep slogging away at agents or go ahead and take the plunge into POD. And she's really busy right now. We talked about Thanksgiving to start--if I don't hear from an agent. And then I might try small presses first. I don't think her "footprint" is going to fade much in a few months.
SA

[Stacia Kane]

Still Alive, have you posted your query in Share Your Work? Perhaps if you're not getting a lot of requests, that's something we can help you with.