Marketing Q&A With Author Ann Swann

Looking to improve your marketing and publicity efforts? Check out our Book Publicity Tips series where we ask real authors to share their experiences, thoughts, and advice to assist both new and established authors. 

How important is social media to your marketing efforts?

Social media is very important for my marketing effort. I try to utilize Facebook every day. I have an author page, a personal page, and a page for one of my self-published books specifically. I do try to keep them separate, but sometimes they overlap. I also have a Twitter account that is connected to Goodreads, but I don’t interact on Twitter as much as I once did. It just became very time consuming. Of course I also blog once or twice a month, and I love to run giveaways and contests as long as they are related to writing.

Do you have a favourite social media channel?

Facebook has become my favorite social media outlet simply because it is easy to interact using both posts and pictures and because I can set it to give alerts when someone I follow posts something new. I also love to do book launches on Facebook. I’ve had a bit of success with those.

However, having said all of that . . . I have noticed this past week that I am getting only a fraction of the usual responses to prompts on my page. I don’t know what I will do if this continues!

Do you use Goodreads?

Yes, I use Goodreads to a limited extent. I think it is an excellent marketing tool if used correctly. I’ve done giveaways to promote new books, and those go very well. But I don’t utilize the groups and lists the way I should. Once again, I got in too deep when I first joined and found myself running short on time. I keep thinking I will become more organized one day so that I will be able to take advantage of all these wonderful tools.

In your opinion, what is the best way to react to a negative review?

I have had some negative reviews. I suppose everyone has. I don’t respond to them at all. Some of them are so ludicrous you know the person didn’t even read the book. I’m thinking of one I got that said my book had too much profanity and that’s why she was giving it only two stars. I’m not sure how much is too much, but in that particular book, the serial killer said a profane word, once. So I just had to laugh and share it with a few close friends and then let it go. I would never respond to a negative review because I’m a firm believer in the old adage that you can’t please everyone so it’s better to please yourself. Hmmm, I may have just made that up or stolen it from a song lyric. Anyhow, it explains my view of reviews in a nutshell.

As a self-published author, what is the most difficult aspect of marketing?

For me, the most difficult aspect of marketing my work is time. It seems to be a black hole some days. I’ll start out thinking I’ll simply post this or answer that and before I know it, half the day is gone and I haven’t written a word. I know it’s necessary, but it isn’t my favorite part. The only time I really enjoy marketing is when I’m talking with readers who like my books. Then, it isn’t marketing, it’s just visiting. I think that’s why I like doing the FB book launches and author takeovers. Instead of networking, it’s more like going to a cocktail party in my pajamas.

Author Bio

Ann Swann lives in Texas with her handsome hubby and several rescue pets. She is the author of the well-reviewed “Stutter Creek” series with the third book in the series, Copper Lake, coming in early 2016. Ann’s very first book with 5 Prince Publishing was All For Love, a heartbreaking story of ill-fated romance. She is also the author of “The Phantom Series.” Book One is Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot, Book Two is Stevie-girl and the Phantom Student, and Book Three is Stevie-girl and the Phantom of Crybaby Bridge.

Share With Us

Do you use Goodreads?