B is for... Buzzfeed
Buzzfeed is that wonderful time-sucking community online that posts everything from hilarious cat Vines to a list of Ten Ways Sitcoms in the 80s Changed Your Life. Seriously, they have everything.
And one of the best aspects of Buzzfeed is that most of their content is user generated. That means anyone can create an account and post pretty much anything. The key to success here is to write a post that strikes a nerve and can build a lot of...well, buzz.
What you don't want to do is post a list of ten reasons why people should read your book. Yeah, that post is going nowhere. But you could make a list of the ten best books released this year in your genre. Or a video featuring the behind the scenes "glamor" of being an author. Or a list that touches on a main subject addressed in your book.
The actual post can be about anything really. Just make sure your bio is up-to-date with a link to your website and your book title. Then pass the link around and hope it gets promoted.
If not, you've lost the time it takes to write a decent blog post. If it does, you can get some decent exposure to a new, diverse audience.
I love Buzzfeed! I did a pretty successful Buzzfeed article for an indie press anthology, and now the publisher wants to keep doing them. :)
ReplyDeleteAlex Hurst, fantasy author in Japan. "B is for Books" is my current post.
That's great, Alex. What did you do to promote the post?
DeleteIf it's okay to post the link, I will, but until then, the anthology was for "eco-horror" stories, so I made a list of "21 Plants That Will Make You Wish You Didn't Live on This Planet Anymore". The people following us on FB ate it up. :)
DeleteSorry, I read your comment wrong (woke up ten minutes ago...) As far as promotion, I did so through FB and Twitter. The publishing house had no real marketing budget, and I tried to get it repped by the Buzzfeed staff, but never heard back from them either way. So, the article had a shelf-life of about 10 days, and then died off (about which time I should have made a new article, but at that point, I was more focused on getting reviews).
DeleteWow, 10 days on Buzzfeed is impressive! And your article sounds great. Feel free to post it here so everyone can see an example that worked. :)
DeleteOh, I don't think it's too impressive! But here's the link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexhurst/50-plants-that-will-make-you-wish-you-didnt-live-ik3u :)
DeleteI have to get into Buzzfeed.
ReplyDeleteJust be careful. Their articles can be addictive.
DeleteI never knew anyone could post to Buzzfeed. That's really awesome. Thanks, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteYep, no guarantee that it will be promoted, but anyone can post.
DeleteWhat a fantastic idea! I've just been addicted to their goofy quizzes. Time to dig deeper. Thank you, Sarah.
ReplyDeleteGah, those quizzes will suck you in faster than quicksand. But if you can resist the urge to learn your 90210 character, it can be an awesome opportunity to reach a new audience.
DeleteThis will definitely go into my file of marketing tips for the future.
ReplyDeleteMarlene at On Writing and Riding