Using facebook to promote your new book

[geoffnelder]

Most of my personal friends are not on facebook but many family members are to swap photos, and writers to exchange event dates and gee up each other with funnies and support.

For a while you can 'Create' a new facebook page for each new book you bring out as a self or otherwise publication. It is very easy indeed to do but ensure you have photos and links at the ready so you don't spend hours looking for those once you started otherwise the create page is left open and you might accidentally lose it. If you want an example and please please like it for me - hugs if you do then pop along to
http://www.facebook.com/AriaTrilogy
I will like back your book page!
To get started on your fb page visit
https://www.facebook.com/pages/create/

Geoff

[nigelw]

Not being 'up' on Facebook (although I do have a page) I wonder if this is frowned upon? I've written six books now, and although I've let the titles slip on the site from time to time I still feel guilty about it and wonder what others think about doing this sort of marketing. I know it works for some but I've not had much success - perhaps because I'm a bit negative about it.
Nigel

[geoffnelder]

Frowned upon? By whom? Perhaps by those who think books should only be promoted on large hoardings in railway stations. I suppose I could just afford one large poster on one rural railway station.
Perhaps an objection might be that those facebook and on other social network sites only go there to share family photos and learn of music gigs and so news of book releases and events might be intrusive to them? It doesn't seem like that to me - quite the opposite. Folk cheer when a family member has a book published and so do other writers. My fb friends are made up of about half friends and family plus former pupils I've taught, and the other half by writers, agents and publishers. Generally, they all mix and share funny photos and celebrate success. It isn't the panacea to sell a lot of books. I have about 700 friends and when I announce a new book, a dozen or so will buy it fairly quick and another dozen over the following months. In return I've bought books, or sponsored charity runs. Give and take. It's a friendly place to me and if someone gets carried away with their spam we can just block off their posts from your facebook page. You are your own censor
If you're new to it and have stories to sell, then its just another means of promo for you and fun to boot.

If you give it a go make friends with me http://www.facebook.com/geoffnelder and my fb author page at
http://www.facebook.com/AriaTrilogy  and I'll see you right