Judith Marshall » Build Your Name

Set Up Google Alerts

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:22:08 +0000

Attention Writers! Once you have your website, blog, published book, article, etc., don’t forget to set up Google Alerts to receive email updates on your selected topics each day. Go to Google and search for Alerts. You can set up your name, book or article title, genre, or any other topic related to you and/or your writing. And don’t forget to put quotes around search topic.

My Writing Journey

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:16:53 +0000

Check out my interview on All Things Girl.

Cool Twitter Tool

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:36:07 +0000

If you’re wondering who’s Twittering about you, wonder no longer. TweetBeep is a service that will alert you anytime your name, book title, product, or company is mentioned or Tweeted about!

Check Out “She Writes”

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:14:13 +0000

One of my favorite websites for women writers is She Writes. With over 8,900 active members in the U.S. and in thirty countries, they offer services, support and advice. Here is a list of member highlights for last week.

Highlights from Member News

Sue William Silverman’s craft book, Fearless Confessions: A Writer’s Guide to Memoir (Univ. of Georgia Press), was awarded Honorable Mention in ForeWord Review’s “Book of the Year Award” in the category of Writing.

Jillian Medoff’s I Couldn’t Love You More, about a mother forced to make an unfathomable choice between her daughter and stepdaughter, sold to Caryn Karmatz-Rudy at Grand Central Publishing (5 Spot) by Jennifer Gates and Rachel Sussman at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency

Marianne Schnall’s book Daring to Be Ourselves: Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness, and Finding Your Own Voice will be out November 15, 2010.

Diane Lockward’s third book of poetry, Temptation by Water, has just been released by Wind Publications.

Judith Marshall’s award-winning novel, Husbands May Come and Go But Friends Are Forever, has been optioned for the big screen by Blue Moxie Entertainment.

Laraine Herring’s new novel, Ghost Swamp Blues, was released this week from White River Press.

Topical Tweeting

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:50:13 +0000

Want to stay on top of your market and find stuff to Tweet about? Then go to Alltop.com and search for your category. There are thousands of them up there. Here are a few to consider: socialmedia.alltop.com, twitter.alltop.com, books.alltop.com and publishing.alltop.com.

Upcoming Interview

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:33:25 +0000

Mark your calendar for anytime on Wednesday, June 23rd, to check out my interview on Eliza Fayle’s website, Silver and Grace, a site dedicated to women forty and older. The link will become active on the 23rd and the interview will be available for one day only.

Thanks for your support.

Another Resource for Book Promotion

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:41:41 +0000

If you’re into book promotion, I strongly suggest you sign up for HARO (“Help a Reporter Out”), especially if you write non-fiction. This is a free service that links journalists with sources, and a great way to uncover interview opportunities. But you must be very thoughtful in responding to queries and tailor your response so that your message stands out to increase your chances of being selected for an interview. For tips on the right way to respond, go to one of my favorite resources, Build Buzz.

Another Way to Promote Your Work and Your Name

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Newsgroups. Take part in newsgroups related to your book’s subject. Answer questions and become known as an expert on your subject, even if you write fiction. For a list of newsgroups, go to Yahoo Groups, excite.com and deja.com

What’s the Difference Between a Brand and a Personal Brand?

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:21:32 +0000

On the surface, a brand and a personal brand seem so similar that it’s not necessary to have two separate categories. In reality, they couldn’t be more different. A brand is an image designed to appeal to the widest possible audience. In most cases, companies spend a lot of time and money developing a brand. Committees form. Focus groups meet. Stress levels elevate until the perfect brand identity emerges.

Personal brands would fail miserably if developed under the same process. Personal brands are multifaceted snapshots of an individual. In short, it is your personality on display in a public forum. Personal brands thrive under the risk of being completely transparent. They are most effective when they appeal to a narrow, passionate audience.

While there are exceptions, most writers need a personal brand. You’re looking for passionate followers. They won’t be part of your word-of-mouth campaign until they connect with your personal brand – you.

Creating a personal brand is both easy and scary. It’s easy because you are just being you. In essence, you are an open book. However, not everyone is going to like what they see, and that is the scary part. It’s not fun being disliked, but it’s what happens when you build a passionate following. It always comes with passionate dissent. That’s when you know your message is working.

A word of caution – things said on the Internet tend to live forever. Be yourself, but be careful when building your personal brand.

How to Get Facebook Fans

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:27:03 +0000

Okay, so you’ve set up your fan page on Facebook (now called “Like”). The next step is to figure out how to attract fans. I found this interesting article with some creative ways to increase your fan base. If you try any of these tips, I’ll love to hear how they worked for you. Leave a comment here.