I made my first book trailer!

Amazing what you can accomplish with 1 minute of footage shot with a digital camera's video mode (Kodak Z7590) and my Mac's default iMovie software and some sound f/x and visual filters. Unfortunately compressing for YouTube makes it more washed out than I'd like, but I'm still very pleased with the end result.

Enjoy the trailer for Carriage Returns here or at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyBG7ZUDuaw

I'll write more later but...

In the meantime, I've got Google AdWords running in addition to LinkedIn so for $50/month I've got text ads to appear tied to (hopefully) decent keywords on Google searches. They'll randomly show it based on some algorithm (ok not random then I guess...) so that you have the right exposure on selected searches and hopefully quality traffic clicks through - you only are charged for clicks-when you hit your monthly level-then you're charged. So far in just the first few hours, one keyword had over 800 impressions/views (i.e. people saw it) and 1 person clicked. So at least you only pay for those people not viewers.

In addition, I have set up a Google Analytics account (free) tied to my blog here (owned by Google so quick/easy to set up) and can now monitor traffic in even more detail.

Trying targeted text ads on LinkedIn

Another idea I'm trying-I'll keep everyone posted. As a professional I have joined LinkedIn a sort of MySpace/Facebook for business folks. I never really used it but it's a great way to network with co-workers and others (including clients) and then you have connections beyond your close circle putting you potentially in touch with 1000s of people or more. I debated adding my book effort to my profile, but as it's used for business only thought that might be a gray area alerting clients and such. Well today I realized the answer-LinkedIn targeted keyword ads.

Main site:
http://www.linkedin.com/

Ads:
https://www.linkedin.com/directads/

You pick start date and 1-20 days to run and then how much you want to pay starting at $10 per 1000 impressions. LinkedIn boasts 12 million+ members so a big pool. You can segment/target by applying 2 different criteria (such as industry, gender, geographic location, etc). I picked gender (Female) and 8 industry types which I thought might be more interested than the average member and ended up with a pool of something like 200k people. Adding criteria increases the cost per 1000 by $3 each so I ended up at $16/1000 clicks. They have a sliding scale with $5 increments associated with a % of the big pool of matching records. I went with $40 for 2500 impressions over 20 days (whichever comes first, but they note that you will get the 2500 even if ends up being slightly more than the period you select.

They provide a dashboard to monitor results and data is updated at midnight each day (and day one starts at midnight EST).

Joining LinkedIn is free so I recommend everyone look at this site in addition to the Book Marketing Network. This should be a safe/inexpensive way to reach people with targeted relevance. My next step (assuming I see any decent results keeping expectations low) will be trying Google Ads.

Another day another sale!

Well hopefully things are starting to trickle down into a flood. Ok it's only 3 sales thus far but hey it's a start.

I believe Google Books Partner program is about done loading my book as a searchable PDF on their site. That will allow for ad revenue to stream off of book searchers stumbling onto my book and clicking on ad banners. So that's going to be just extra (and a link to my book so more importantly sales).

As of today I'm set up with Amazon's affiliate program so my book link now feeds to Amazon with me as a referral partner so I get a bonus from Amazon. Which is a tip I got from a CreateSpace member who noted this strategy to compensate for the lower commission from Amazon sales versus direct sales from CreateSpace.com.

I'll be updating this blog more frequently, tracking progress as a self-publisher of his first book, progress on my own marketing plans and future works still to come.

Copy of my press release

Well for $9.95 they tried and ok pretty much only Google and a handful of others decided the release was "newsworthy" but every little bit counts. It probably would make sense to add newsworthiness to future releases by adding a contest to buying the book (like order a copy to be entered to win an "X"). Live and learn.

View the press release.

As of today, CreateSpace.com is showing 2 Amazon sales. I know who one is for sure, but no way to know the other. It appeared with the first sale that there was about a 48 hour lag time between my friend's purchase and the sale appearing in my CreateSpace.com dashboard.

Marketing yourself

>Book compiled from 20 years of hand written notes, print outs, etc - Check
>Self-publish via CreateSpace.com - Check
>Let friends and family know - Check
>Order copies to hand out and spread the love - Check
>Post classified ads linked to Amazon page - Check (major US, European and Asian cities)
>Pay $10 to publish a press release about the book's release (via prnine.com) - Check

Wait for sales/feedback/comments............

Order on Amazon now:
Amazon

Order on Target.com now:

Target.com

Carriage Returns now available via Amazon or Target.com

Order on Amazon now:
Amazon

Order on Target.com now:

Target.com

Carriage Returns is now available

Carriage Returns
Poems 1988-2008
By Robert Ropars

A collection of poems from 20 years of writing. Love, friendship, loss, passion, and life's journeys and how they've all impacted me over time.

Publication Date: Sep 08 2008
ISBN/EAN13: 1440410828 / 9781440410826
Page Count: 50
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 5.25" x 8"
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Related Categories: Poetry / American / General

Order now:
https://www.createspace.com/3353596

Coming Soon - Carriage Returns (my first book)

Well it took me long enough, but "Carriage Returns" is coming soon via CreateSpace/Amazon.  I felt such a feeling of elation to have an ISBN # assigned and knowing I'm about to add "author" to my credentials (finally).

I pulled a collection of my favorite poetry spanning college to today.  They represent the whole of the work I've done with poetry and I'm anxious to have it available for the world to share and hope some of it touches people.

This is filling me with a sense of anticipation and drive to get more published so stay tuned.

Coming in September:  Carriage Returns (available for $8.99 from Amazon)....