Reel in more readers with just four quick steps:

STEP 1: Log onto “My Lulu”

STEP 2: Click the star icon next to your published book

STEP 3: Choose the buy now button you like

STEP 4: Copy and paste the code to your website or blog

When your buyers click on these buttons, they will be taken to a Lulu shopping cart, which will include your book. It really is just that simple – so try it out today!

Take me to My Lulu.

This class will teach you what you need to know about media training. We’ll also share with you the media mistakes you never want to make.

Media Training Magic takes place August 9, 2010 at 7pm EST at a computer near you!

We’ll talk about all of the other places you can sell your book and we’ll also look at creative ways to do non-bookstore signings and events. Plus, we’ll discuss how to promote yourself by hosting your very own virtual tour.

10 Super Savvy Ways to Promote Your Book without Setting Foot in a Bookstore takes place July 12, 2010 at 7pm EST at a computer near you.

You will be emailed with instructions on attending this free Lulu University webinar from lulu@amarketingexpert.com a few days prior to the webinar you’ve selected. Webinars are held at 7pm EST/4pm PST and require computer access. Following each class, all webinars will be available for viewing via the link mentioned below.

Be sure to sign up a few days before the event by clicking on the link provided for each webinar. See you in class!

March 8, 2010 – Red Hot Internet Publicity 2.0
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be accessed here.

If you think you have your Internet marketing covered with just a web site, you might be missing out on a bucket of Internet gold. This class is packed with information with everything from understanding social media to monetizing sites like Facebook, Squidoo, and Twitter. We’ll also talk about what you should never do on your web site and why a blog is a must-have part of any Internet campaign. We’ll also look at some of the hottest online trends too!

· The secret to getting thousands of hits on your web site and then converting them into sales!
· Top internet promotion techniques that won’t cost you a dime!
· The Virtual Author Tour™, how you can “tour” yourself on the net
· How to use site like Facebook and Squidoo to build your customer base
· What is Twitter? We’ll talk about Twitter and how to use it to drive more sales to your web site
· How to create a web site that sells your book
· Simple steps to blogging effectively!

BONUS: We’ll even include some time-saving hints to maximize your online efforts without spending HOURS online!

March 22, 2010 – Red Hot Internet Basics
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be accessed here.

If the idea of blogging, social networking, and Twittering has your head spinning, you’ll love this class! We’ll look at easy ways to start a blog or podcast and tricks for keeping them going. Did you know that most bloggers or podcasters only keep the momentum for a month? This class will show you simple things you can do so you never have to worry about running out of ideas or ways to market yourself!

All your Internet questions answered:
· What the heck is RSS and why you should use it
· Blog, blog, blog – the best and fastest way to get a blog
· What’s “social media”? Understanding what this, and how to navigate it
· What and how to use social bookmarking

Come with ALL of your Internet questions, this class will get them answered!

April 5, 2010 – Red Hot Internet Basics: Touring Yourself Online
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be accessed here.

If you’re ready to market your book online but don’t know where to start you’ll love this class. We’ll look at creating and launching your very own Virtual Author Tour. During this class we’ll look at:

· How to find sites to pitch yourself to
· How to set up a social networking page
· How to find bloggers and contact them
· Crafting your pitch
· Networking online, how to do it and why you *must* network with bloggers
· What is social book marketing and how to use it

Come with ALL of your Internet questions, this class will get them answered!

April 19, 2010 – Red Hot Web 2.0 Tricks to Sell More Books!
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be accessed here.

You’ve heard the term “Web 2.0” but can it really help you sell more books? You bet it can and this class will show you how. Packed with tons of information and super simple things anyone can to do get themselves into the Web 2.0 marketing world, you’ll walk away with fun ideas, simple tricks, and tons of helpful advice.

Here’s what we’ll cover:
· Creating “feeder” sites that feed traffic into your web site!
· Using book videos to sell more books
· Using Wikipedia to market yourself
· Why linking to other web sites is a bad idea
· How to get more web site traffic right away!
· Got blog? The one thing you should NEVER do with your blog!

May 3, 2010 – Build a Great Web Site!
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be accessed here.

So what’s the key to a great web site? This class will teach you simple tricks and effective strategies to help you understand what a terrific site needs to look like. We’ll teach you about keywords, and how to find the right ones for you. We’ll discuss site layout and the secrets to selling books on your site! We’ll also look at how some simple steps to creating a web site or hiring someone to do it for you!

May 5, 2010 – How to Crack the New York Times Bestseller List
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be found here.

Get the scoop on how to get your book bestseller ready and get noticed!

June 14, 2010 – Book Signing Gold!
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be accessed here.

Got a book signing coming up? Want to know how to strike book signing gold, drive crowds of people to your event, sell more books AND get invited back? Then this class is for you! We’ll teach you how to plan an exceptional book signing from start to finish!

July 12, 2010 – Think Outside the Bookstore Box
*This class has passed. A recording of this class, along with slides, can be accessed here

10 Super Savvy Ways to Promote Your Book without setting foot in a bookstore!

Bookstores got you down? Take heart! There are lots of things you can do to promote your book even if your book isn’t in the bookstores! This class will cover the top 10 super savvy ways you can promote yourself without setting foot in a bookstore. Did you know that only 35% of Americans get their books in bookstores? We’ll talk about all of the other places you can sell your book AND we’ll also look at creative ways to do non-bookstore signings and events! PLUS we’ll also discuss how to promote yourself by hosting your very own virtual tour!

Don’t miss this exciting class!

August 9, 2010 – Media Training Magic!

Are you ready for your close up? If you’re not sure then this class is for you. Before you spend valuable marketing dollars to get yourself on radio and TV, you’ll want to make sure you know what you’re doing when it comes to media exposure. This class will teach you what you need to know about media training. BONUS: We’ll also share with you the media mistakes you’ll NEVER want to make!

September 13, 2010 – Getting on Radio and TV Today!

Are you ready for the big time? Then this class is for you! During our session we’ll unveil the secrets of getting on radio and TV…today! We’ll teach you how to create a “book hook” how to position yourself onto an ongoing story and how you can get your pitch noticed for immediate results!

September 27, 2010 – Marketing Bonanza

Got a burning marketing question you want to get answered? Then this class is for you! We’ll address all of your marketing questions and help you solve your difficult marketing problems or, just make sense of what you’ve learned on previous marketing calls.

BONUS: ready to share your success stories? We’d love to hear about your successes and how you did it.

October 18, 2010 – The Building Blocks of Book Marketing!

When it comes to book marketing there’s a lot you can do but what’s really the most effective way to promote? The Building Blocks of Book Marketing will show you “can’t fail” strategies along with shortcuts and insider secrets to getting your book noticed! We’ll also look at the things you must do to market your book. BONUS: We’ll share tips to getting free publicity!

November 1 – Creating a Stunning Press Kit (so the media will notice you!)

If creating a press kit has baffled you then don’t miss this class! We’ll talk about everything from crafting the perfect press release, to creating your bio, questions and tip sheets. We’ll also talk about the things no good press kit should be without and what you should never include in a kit! If you’re struggled with your own kit or just aren’t sure what they should look like, then this class is for you!

Bonus: we’ll also learn about electronic press kits, online press rooms.

“Fallen Heroes“ is now on the shelves of several branches of Waterstones, including their flagship branch (where it was labeled a ‘cult hit’), which is regarded as the largest bookshop in Europe. I have, since then, done several book signings both in-store and at various conventions.

Thanks to the success of “Fallen Heroes” I now have an agent and an award winning TV and film production company has optioned the book itself. I am also working with a BBC journalist who will be adapting the story for a graphic novel to be published by Insomnia Publications.

None of this would have been possible without the easy to use and excellent print on demand infrastructure set up by Lulu. One example is the ease by which I was able to release a new edition of the book with a back cover Waterstones review and a front cover quote/recommendation from fantasy author, James Barclay.

Through self-publishing I have pushed myself to do things, in terms of self-promotion and marketing, I would never have done otherwise (signings are not my strong point!). I have learnt a lot about what it takes to not only get your work out there but what to do once it is. It’s been a journey of hard work, disappointment, lesson learning and huge moments of sheer joy.

As with anything, gaining Twitter followers does not happen overnight. I initially wrote about how to use Twitter last year to find an audience, but with more and more people using the service, having your voice heard can be difficult. These simple tips should help you gain followers and stay followed by those who can turn into readers of your Lulu.com content.

Censor Yourself: Before you post anything, think if you’d actually like to read the Tweet if it came from someone you were following.

ReTweet: I often ReTweet links or posts that I find useful, interesting or humorous. I find that people whose Tweets I have Retweeted often Retweet my Tweets (say that 3x fast). This allows my message to reach an even larger audience.

Don’t Spam: An alarming trend is happening, many people are simply sending out the same message to every celebrity using Twitter over and over. These messages are not read by the celebrity and often cause the sender to be unfollowed or blocked.

These simple tips can help you build an audience and establish relationships using Twitter and ultimately help you sell more of your Lulu.com content.

Follow Lulu here.
Follow me here.
Sign-up for Twitter here.

Read more about using Social Networking here.

Even within Lulu.com there are tons of interesting people. I sat next to Anthony S. Policastro during his time at here and in between him getting hit in the head with a Nerf dart or answering his phone via his watch, we’d discuss different ways self-publishing authors can promote their books as well as the future of ebooks. Anthony has written two books that he has released through Lulu.com as well as guest posted on the Lulu Blog about writing and marketing. I didn’t want to ask him the usual questions I ask authors, but ones that are focused around the future of publishing, book marketing and the perceived perception that paper books are going away.

-You’ve made your latest book available as a free download. Do you feel that will help you sell more copies of the paperback version?

Yes. When a reader is excited enough about my book to download it and read it on a computer, they must really want to read it. After all, it’s not convenient to read a book on a computer – you can’t read it in bed or in your favorite easy chair and it is a strain on you eyes. A laptop will solve the portability constraint, but you still have the eyestrain, the battery going dead in an hour or so, and the laptop burning your legs.

So, as they read my book and if they like it, they will tell their friends, but maybe some of their friends may not want to read a downloaded version and they will opt to buy a printed version. My other thought is that those who downloaded the book may get tired of the inconvenience and opt to buy a printed version.

-Since you’ve been an analyst in the open publishing industry has your mindset as an author changed?

Absolutely. Having your book listed on Amazon and other book sites does not guarantee that you will have robust sales. Many authors believe that obtaining an ISBN number and being on Amazon will allow them to quit their day jobs. With millions of titles on Amazon, your book is like a grain of sand on the California coastline.

It still takes a lot of self-promotion and hard work to get your book noticed and to generate sales. Almost every new author believes they have written the next best seller, but the reality is that of the 300,000 plus books published every year only a handful are bestsellers.

Even authors with traditional publishers have to work just as hard as self-published authors to generate sales, especially now that the publishing industry is suffering extraordinary losses and publishers do not have the resources to put into new, unknown authors.

-Who designs the covers for your books?

I do. I have always strived to be unique and that is applied to my book covers. I want my covers to look as professional as traditional published books and to appeal to readers. Never judge a book by its cover – well people do that all the time when searching for a book to buy. It’s the same as falling in love – you first have to be attracted to the person by their looks before you will go any further.

I taught myself Photoshop and other graphic programs, but I’m not an expert and there are new things to learn all the time. It’s very time consuming and sometimes I have to ask my graphic arts friends how to create a particular element. I highly suggest hiring a graphic artist to create your book cover unless you know computer graphics very well.

-Why do you write?

Funny you asked that. I wrote a blog post on that same question awhile back quoting Rambo author David Morrell who addressed the same question,

“F. Scott Fitzgerald said there were no second acts in American lives. Applying this to writing, we could say that if a writer creates in relation to a trauma, he or she stops being creative when the trauma is resolved. This has been the case in a number of American writers. But for most of us, the traumas continue. For example, until 1987, I wrote in response to my father’s death in WWII and the orphanage I was put in. But after 1987, I wrote in response to my son’s death from bone cancer. I never do it deliberately, however. The stories insist.”

I don’t think I write in relation to a trauma, but one never knows. It could be my fear of loss that could be driving my urge to write. I always feel a little sad when something is lost, particularly by others, by society, by our culture.

I have always had this urge to write, to communicate my thoughts to others. I believe I have a unique perspective on the world and I want to share that with others. I also believe we all have a unique perspective, but some have this itch to share it while others don’t give it a second thought. I’m always itching.

-Do you feel that the Kindle will have a bigger impact than the iPhone for authors?

No. I think they will compliment each other. I don’t think die-hard readers will rush out and buy an iPhone to read their favorite book, but they will buy a Kindle for this purpose. The iPhone will serve as the portable Kindle when people are on the go and have idle time to read like waiting in a doctor’s office or waiting for a taxi or a flight.

I think both devices will be a boon for authors because users will be able to read content practically anywhere and they promote reading books – something many people don’t do anymore.

I would like to see both devices communicating with each other so that a user can read a book on the Kindle, stop and read the same book on the iPhone and the devices will remember where the reader left off.

Visit Anthony’s Blog here and his Lulu Storefront to purchase or download his books.

Be sure to follow Anthony via Twitter here and, as always, stay informed about the latest happenings at Lulu.com by following our Twitter account here.

Scatter customized buttons and banner ads on pertinent websites and link them directly to your product on Lulu. People who are browsing see them, click on them and, in many cases, become buyers.

All you have to do to make it happen is to go to the “My Lulu” page and click on the “Promote” icon (a star) next to one of the available products. Customized code is created and can then be placed on other websites to generate a button or banner ad.

Visit this page to learn more about how to add these great buttons to your blog or website. For best results, add them below a picture of your cover or description of your content.

For more great ideas on how Lulu can help you sell, visit our Writer Marketing Services page.

Bob McDonald, author of Flagrant Foul and Dilemma, was kind enough to conduct an interview with me via Twitter today about how he has used the latest social networking tools to promote his books.

Bob, thanks for doing this.  What methods have you used to promote your book?

I’ve pretty much run the Web 2.0 gamut – Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook, etc.  Plus I have my Web site that I’ve tried to keep search engine optimized.  BTW, congratulations.  You’ve become the unwitting first stop on my Twitter Book Tour!

Of the latest 2.0 web tools, what do you think has given you the best results?

I think Twitter has really be the best for me, considering I have this penchant for random streams of thought.

How do you look for people to follow? Do you look for authors or for people interested in sports?

It depends.  As a sports fan, I tend seek those followers.  But I also try to find followers in authors and bookstores, too.  Plus, because I’m from Cleveland, I tend to search followers from my neck of the woods.

What kind of “offline” promotion have you done?

Due to my limited budget, my offline promotion has pretty much been word of mouth.

What promotional tools would you like to see Lulu.com provide you?

I don’t know.  You guys have been pretty thorough on the promotional tools front.  I think a section about blogging and microblogging would be helpful to people.

Thanks for taking the time to Tweet with me!

Thanks for the offer!

Bob’s Blog
Follow Bob on Twitter
Bob’s books on Lulu.com
Bob’s Website

For more tips on how to use Social Networking tools to promote your Lulu.com content check out these past Lulublog.com posts:

Blogging to Help You Sell
Twitter Promotion

Follow Lulu on Twitter

The Jenkins Group , an independent publishing services company, says four out of five people they surveyed said they believe they have a book to write. Even fewer actually sit down and write a book and even fewer get published. Many established literary agencies in New York and elsewhere get upwards of 500 email and snail mail book queries a week and less than one percent of them are considered for representation.

So how do you get published with those odds?

It is easier than ever to get into print with the magic of print on demand and do-it-yourself publishing web sites like Lulu.com. Lulu is one of the few sites where it is free to upload your manuscript, design your cover or pick a pre-designed one and publish your book complete with an ISBN number and distribution on Amazon.com. There is no minimum number of copies to purchase, no hidden, we gotcha fees, and no secrets about how much you will make on each sale, what Lulu makes and what print and distribution costs amount to for your book. You keep all your rights and you set the price and the royalty.

So what are you waiting for? Change your odds of getting in print today. Go to Lulu.com, register, and start publishing! What? You’ve done that already? Okay, now comes the hard part made easier by Lulu – the marketing and promotion of your work.

If you wanted to sell homemade jewelry on the web, you would put up a web site complete with a storefront and check out cart and sit back and hope one hundred or more orders a day came your way. Now, would they? Most likely not. You have to promote your site, its market advantages like price, quality, brand, and ensure you are reaching people who are interested in buying homemade jewelry.

It’s the same when publishing a book. If you write a romance novel or a technical manual on how to tune the engine of a 737 you have to reach the right market with your message. One of the great advantages to using Lulu is that you can choose between doing everything yourself or buying the marketing services of publishing professionals from Lulu.

Here a few cool tricks I use to market my Lulu books . And they are free. Go to Google Blog Search and search for blogs pertaining to the subject area of your book. When you find some, read a few posts and leave a comment with a link to your book on Lulu or to your web site. This takes time and you must leave a comment with some substance for it to work. But if you hit the right blog with the right audience, it’s like winning on a slot machine in Atlantic City. One post increased traffic to my site by six times in one day! You can also do a search on Google, but you will get mostly web sites and often you cannot leave a comment.

Offer a free download of your book for a limited time. After all, if someone is willing to read your entire book on a computer screen they must be pretty interested in your work. What usually happens is if they like your book enough, they will purchase the print copy out of convenience since it is easier to read a book in print than on a computer display. This is also helpful when you send out press releases – you can direct the media to download your book for review. This is the preferred method of distributing your electronic version to the press and reviewers. If you attach a copy to an email, press people most likely will not open it for fear it may contain a computer virus or Trojan horse.

By the same token, send emails with links to your book to people involved in your book’s subject matter and ask them to review your work and write a short review. Mention that you can include their comments in your book if they want.

If you have never written a press release, Lulu offers an excellent template that walks you through the process so you can produce a professional release that the press will read and hopefully follow up with you. I used to be a journalist and it was nearly impossible to read every piece of mail that came into the office. But a professionally written press release always managed to get read.

And if you want to write your next book rather than market your current one, you can easily purchase Lulu’s many marketing and distribution services created and offered by professionals in the publishing business.

Just keep in mind you are the best sales person for your work – you are closest to the content and you are passionate about what you wrote or you would not have made the effort to create a book.