It's All a Matter of Exposure

Brrr. It is 24 degrees here this morning, and my tootsers are freezing! What better thing to do than to add a blog entry?

Marketing is about exposure. The more people who know your name, the more that will know about your book. That's why I originally created the blog. It certainly wasn't because I wanted to master more software!

This past weekend I had a brilliant idea - how about ramping up my blog exposure by interviewing other children's authors. Once a week. Wednesday. Seemed like a good idea.

Then, I began to wonder how I was going to compile a list of questions. I certainly didn't want to ask each interviewee the same question. Fortunately, however, I had been making a list of blogs that interviewed authors, and have been clandestinely kidnapping their questions! So far, I have about 100 different questions. I feel fat!

Buoyed by the idea of thousands flocking to my blog, I sent out a request on three different sites, asking for people who wanted to be interviewed. I was not prepared for the deluge of responses. It was like the Hoover dam had broken or something. Responses flooded in, taking over my email and swamping my printer. Being unprepared for so much enthusiasm, I began to formulate an organizational process to handle all these eager beavers.

First, I realized I hadn't specified children's writers, so I was sad to inform some responders that I was only looking for children's authors at this time. I felt bad, but it had to be done. Then, I pulled out a bunch of file folders, and began to label them: On for potential interviewees, complete with all my correspondence to them paper clipped together. Then I had a file for interview questions. And, finally, a file for the interview calendar.

All this sounds really simple, but to be honest, I'm tired of all these really simple things I've had to learn. As with most computer things, the way is simple...if you know what it is. Interviews is just another "simple" thing to do.

From the whole marketing perspective to date, the thing I've learned most is two-pronged. First, you never stop learning, 'cause there's always something new to learn. Second, organization is key. Lists, folders, whatever, pay attention to organization because it can make or break you.

Happy holidays!