We get asked all of the time, how do you get people to see and buy your ebooks or books online?Â
With considerable detail, the tutorials within InfoMarketer’sZone walk top book sellers and marketers through several techniques for getting traffic and buyers for their ebooks and books, one of those is the adoption of social networking platforms – like Twitter.Â
Think of Twitter as one giant seminar or publicity event for your book or ebook…happening constantly, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week – you can reach thousands and they, in turn can reach thousands and so on…
Even better – you are not directly selling TO them, you are getting involved with them, talking to them, sharing with them, helping them and having fun with them…isn’t that the way MORE books are really sold?
GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT TWITTER
Step 1. Unfortunately, many people think signing up for Twitter is the key…yes it is a starting point, but signing up and waiting for something to happen is like organizing a networking event and then not inviting or talking to anyone…won’t work will it?
Step 2. Be Engaged. This part demands that you use Twitter Search (or better yet, download the freely available Tweetdeck utility that has a better search capability) and create ongoing searches around keywords of interest to people who you would target for your book or ebook.  Say you have an ebook about “stress relief” – then create searches for “reduce stress” “stress”, “stop stress”, “best book about stress”, etc…    The idea is that you see discussions around these topics and begin to usefullly insert yourself in the various “watercooler” conversations going on that will get people to see you and begin to follow you. Using the approach, you can soon have your first few hundred followers and be off on your way.
Step 3. Post useful information. Each day try and post at least 3-4 times with useful links ,links back to your articles, blog posts, tips, reviews of other articles, etc… You must do this faithfully for several weeks (even months) and it WILL pay off. Sometimes you swear you are posting into a black hole, but people will notice, you will gain more followers and you will build new relationships each time.Â
Step 4. Promote – There’s noting wrong with mixing in a promotional post or two each day IF you are also helping, involved in the mix, posting other useful content…and these promotional posts will get responses over time. Just stay away from getting any higher than 40% or so of promotional content…that is a huge turnoff for serious Twitter followers.Â
Step 5. Ask Questions, Engage and Mix In Video. Mix it up a little. I have found some of my most commented posts have been those that asked a question or asked people to review a video I just posted on YouTube, etc… Keep it interesting and fresh
Why take the trouble of building all of this up on Twitter?Â
Two major reasons:
1. Marketing is moving this way anyway — word of mouth, social avenues are becoming THE internet and will continue to do so over the next several years. So either move now or fall way behind
2. It works…after nearly a year on Twitter, we have seen growth in traffic and sales go from nearly nothing to nearly 20% of what we do…that’s a BIG deal. I tink of it as email marketing in the early decade, then blogging about 3-years ago (which now is massively important to book marketing – see InfoMarketer’sZone to see why and how) – now we stand at the apex with social networking…better get to it.
Just don’t be fooled by thinking that you can casually use Twitter, it must be done seriously, with committment, conviction and in the right way…only then will you see results that may surprise you, I know it has me!
