The Domain Name Giveaway
K.M. Weiland is an accomplished author who shares principles of the writing craft on the Helping Writers Become Authors blog. Last week, she posted a giveaway that is insanely practical, but often overlooked by writers aspiring to become published authors. The prize: three free domain names.
Domain names help readers find you, and you in turn expand your reach by exposing your work to more readers. Here are a couple of sites that can help with domain names:
- Namecheap.com (sponsor of the giveaway)
- Godaddy.com
- networksolutions.com
And, just for fun, here a couple of writers' websites that I stalk/envy/love:
www.laurenoliverbooks.com (YA Fiction)
www.sophiekinsella.co.uk (Commercial Fiction)
www.jamesmcbride.com (Literary Fiction)The world of publishing has evolved, and digital platforms are key to publishing success. Digital is no longer a niche, but rather a necessity. So, if authors are offering their stories in digital formats, it stands to reason that readers should be able to find them and their books through their digital platforms--websites and social media--and that they should be visually appealing, user friendly, and refreshed accordingly.
By the way, there's still time to enter for your chance at winning the three free domain names. The winner will be drawn Friday, January 24. Good luck!
Tumblr Book Promotion
Also in our arsenal are a range of social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and a few others I'm sure I've missed. Featured recently in Publishers Weekly, Random House unveiled how they used Tumblr to build buzz about a book without revealing too much about the plot. In preparation for the May 13 launch of We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (Delacorte), the publisher acted outside of the box and used a fresh approach to tease the characters, the setting, and the mood. The final product is visually enticing, memorable, and a promotional blueprint for novelists.
Facebook Book Launch Party

A Facebook Book Launch Party can be a component of a virtual book tour. It's easy enough to handle on your own, but could probably gain more traction if managed by a company that specializes in virtual book tours.
I discovered the Cloaked in Danger Facebook Launch Party being promoted through the A Bookish Affair blog. I registered because the plot of the story is enticing, but also to witness how a Facebook Book Launch Party is executed on the platform.
As an aspiring author, I would likely choose to let the professionals handle this for me. They have the contacts in place, and the staff dedicated to the work, and the experience. If you're like me, here are a few companies that specialize in virtual book tours:
Websites and social media platforms are a writer's digital arsenal. Finding the perfect blend to showcase our stories will forever be the challenge. Greet this challenge in earnest, and remember the perspective of Margaret Laurence: “When I say work I only mean writing. Everything else is just odd jobs.”
Always,
Athena