Lacking sales is one thing, but lacking inspiration to make those sales is another. I am struggling over here! I strongly believe my attempts are completely half-ass. I am not motivated to sell. If I were truly focused and invested in making sales, maybe something would happen. But for now, it is like the Sahara Desert up in here. No action.
One of my recent half-ass attempts was contacting the New Orleans Bride Magazine who hosts (what they would call) a mega bridal convention here in New Orleans. Upon calling their sales division, I was promptly contacted about their pricing and perks. For approximately $1000, I would get a booth, a small add in their magazine, a mailing list of all attendees, a mailing list of all vendors, free ad webdesign, a puppy...Obviously joking about the puppy, but it was a significant amount of perks. It all sounded wonderful until I realized: I haven't sold a book in 4 months, how would investing $1000 for ladies who are attending a bridal show to taste free cake and receive free hand-outs help me in the long run. Clearly, this would be a poor investment.
Once I decided the tradeshow was not fiscally responsible for me, I had a lightbulb go off. What if I built myself a cigarette-lady carrying device, loaded it up with my books, and just walk out front of the show...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSVNZLAsivg
I could have on a sandwich board, "Ask me about MARRIAGE LAWS." What a Debbie-Downer I would be. Then the real nightmare began, "What if I saw someone I know? How would I ask for a random day off of work?" All of those insecurities crept in.
So, here I am at the office. Typing away on the thing I could have done; perhaps should have done. I will never know. I think I may check into the upcoming "book fair" that happens here in NOLA. Maybe those booths will be cheaper...
Upward and onward...
CC
http://amzn.com/147813884X
http://www.amazon.com/From-Proposal-Ever-After-Louisiana/dp/147813884X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371652110&sr=8-1&keywords=from+the+proposal+to+ever+after
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Ok, I don't think Facebook is a good marketing tool. Here is my experience...
I can honestly say I have been an addict of Facebook since I first started it in 2005. But that has been because it revolves around my personal life. My friends, my connections, my likes. In regards to a professional use, I am not sure it is working for me. Here is why.
The Facebook page was my original focus. I figured it would be the brain of my marketing. Type in the search engine: boom, you have all the Louisiana bridal shops in the area. Need contact information: boom, check the About section. Want to create an ad: boom, click here, input Visa card number and: boom, you have an ad. Yeah, not quite.
Now, before I rip it, let me give it some props. I did discover a Louisiana Bride blogger who reviewed my book. We both communicated with great ease over their messaging service. It was nice to reach out and touch someone who is just as obsessed with their Facebook accounts as I am. That worked out awesomely and I am indebted to her for her completely unbiased review.
But...I wasn't looking for a Louisiana Bride blog, I was seeking Louisiana Bridal shops, magazines, retail locations. The search engine on Facebook pulled up little. Facebook search is no Google search. Facebook only pulls what we put into it. If you don't know it is New Orleans Louisiana Bride, then it doesn't pull it up.
When you do know the retail store's name you are looking for, it can be great. There is the store, there are their hours. But what about reaching out and touching them? If I send them a message, will they read it? Well, as obsessed Facebook fans know, you can tell when someone has viewed a message. Not one of the messages I sent over Facebook to a retail location was read. That tells me something too: are these companies really using their Facebook accounts or is their Facebook page like their abandoned 2007 website. Who knows?
My other issue with Facebook was developing an online ad. I really thought it would be an ideal ad location because you can narrow your field to exactly who you are looking for: women, Louisiana, over 18, family, etc. - Whatever terms you seek, you can get it pretty close because of the algorithms they developed. But then, you get to the actual order time and it gets really complicated. Do I want to pay per click? Or do I want to pay indefinitely? WTF?! Indefinitely? No. Per click - how many clicks? What am I signing up for? The ambiguity of it all was frightening. I never did it. Plus, I heard this:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/05/15/gm-says-facebook-ads-dont-work-pulls-10-million-account/
If GM isn't seeing it as a successful avenue, why should I?
And what about my Twitter account? Oh, please. That is my own personal abandoned site. That is the most collasol waste of internet space. Granted, I think it occasionally grabs a follower, which is great, but I am pretty sure the follower is following me because they want me to follow their page. I probably should check it more and be more interactive on it, but Twitter bores me. I do not get it.
So, for today, I have visited the retail locations actual websites and emailed them a communication. I am curious if I will receive any replies. All of these shots in the dark will be helpful though when I decide to finally invest in actually SNAIL MAILING these individuals. It may be the only way I can get through though. We shall see...
CC
http://www.amazon.com/Proposal-Ever-After-Louisiana-ebook/dp/B008A0UVPG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370471596&sr=8-1&keywords=from+the+proposal+to+ever+after
The Facebook page was my original focus. I figured it would be the brain of my marketing. Type in the search engine: boom, you have all the Louisiana bridal shops in the area. Need contact information: boom, check the About section. Want to create an ad: boom, click here, input Visa card number and: boom, you have an ad. Yeah, not quite.
Now, before I rip it, let me give it some props. I did discover a Louisiana Bride blogger who reviewed my book. We both communicated with great ease over their messaging service. It was nice to reach out and touch someone who is just as obsessed with their Facebook accounts as I am. That worked out awesomely and I am indebted to her for her completely unbiased review.
But...I wasn't looking for a Louisiana Bride blog, I was seeking Louisiana Bridal shops, magazines, retail locations. The search engine on Facebook pulled up little. Facebook search is no Google search. Facebook only pulls what we put into it. If you don't know it is New Orleans Louisiana Bride, then it doesn't pull it up.
When you do know the retail store's name you are looking for, it can be great. There is the store, there are their hours. But what about reaching out and touching them? If I send them a message, will they read it? Well, as obsessed Facebook fans know, you can tell when someone has viewed a message. Not one of the messages I sent over Facebook to a retail location was read. That tells me something too: are these companies really using their Facebook accounts or is their Facebook page like their abandoned 2007 website. Who knows?
My other issue with Facebook was developing an online ad. I really thought it would be an ideal ad location because you can narrow your field to exactly who you are looking for: women, Louisiana, over 18, family, etc. - Whatever terms you seek, you can get it pretty close because of the algorithms they developed. But then, you get to the actual order time and it gets really complicated. Do I want to pay per click? Or do I want to pay indefinitely? WTF?! Indefinitely? No. Per click - how many clicks? What am I signing up for? The ambiguity of it all was frightening. I never did it. Plus, I heard this:
"GM Says Facebook Ads Don't Work, Pulls $10 Million Account"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/05/15/gm-says-facebook-ads-dont-work-pulls-10-million-account/
If GM isn't seeing it as a successful avenue, why should I?
And what about my Twitter account? Oh, please. That is my own personal abandoned site. That is the most collasol waste of internet space. Granted, I think it occasionally grabs a follower, which is great, but I am pretty sure the follower is following me because they want me to follow their page. I probably should check it more and be more interactive on it, but Twitter bores me. I do not get it.
So, for today, I have visited the retail locations actual websites and emailed them a communication. I am curious if I will receive any replies. All of these shots in the dark will be helpful though when I decide to finally invest in actually SNAIL MAILING these individuals. It may be the only way I can get through though. We shall see...
CC
http://www.amazon.com/Proposal-Ever-After-Louisiana-ebook/dp/B008A0UVPG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370471596&sr=8-1&keywords=from+the+proposal+to+ever+after
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