Good Author Signatures for Yahoo Groups

Sign Here, Please.

Which of the following is the point of a signature?

1. To identify you
2. To reinforce your brand
3. To create interest in your work
4. Drive traffic to your site
5. Sell your books
6. All of the above

If you answered 6 - you're right, but identification - item #1 - is the key to accomplishing the rest. Your name is vital. Your author name. If you write as Mary Jo Smithe, sign as Mary Jo Smithe. You are your author name when you are on Yahoo groups. If you don't use a pen name, then it doesn't matter. Or does it? If you use a non-writing-oriented email to post messages, it might be costing you readers. For example, if you sign your posts with only "Mary" but your email address says "BobbysMom2012" - how is anyone supposed to find that wonderful book you just told them about? If they hop over to Amazon and search for Mary BobbysMom2012 -- are you going to show up? Sign with your author name - Mary Jo Smithe.

Do you need a signature for every email? That depends. Are you posting as an author? Do you hope this post will accomplish the items listed above? Then you must post as a professional. Sign your emails. It is not hubris to identify yourself. You are there to accomplish a purpose.

What belongs in your signature?

At a minimum, your name and website. If you have a brand or tag for your writing, don't be afraid to use it. I sign everything with my name, my tag (unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, unforgettable passion), and a link to whatever website(s) pertain to the message.

What does "pertain to the message" mean? If I'm replying to a question about blogging, I use my blog url. If it's about Twitter, I use that one. In most cases, I include my website's home page, my Twitter account, and my company's site, The Author's Secret. I have a signature page on hand with all the pertient links available, which makes it easy to click/drag the info into my message as needed.

What shouldn't you include? 

It depends on where you're posting. On some Yahoo groups, be aware images might not translate well. A group that disallows embedded images might turn your embedded cover into 3-4 inches of white space.

Multiple colors in your signature can be hard to read. Some people are color blind and cannot differentiate various shades. To them, your list of books might go from looking like this:

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 

to words run together like this:

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4

Likewise, using embedded links and substituting the site name can give you more room, but if you write your signature as:

Twitter Facebook 

readers who receive their messages as text see: 

Twitter Facebook

How long is long enough? 

If you are posting to a Yahoo group, you are limited to what the group allows. Read the rules. If you post regularly to a group that permits only three lines, create one you use for that group. In general - you are safe with three lines that are short enough not to wrap around and start accidentally making a fourth line. I use the one below for most situations.

Kayelle Allen
Unstoppable heroes, Uncompromising love, Unforgettable passion
http://kayelleallen.com  ~  http://twitter.com/kayelleallen  ~  http://theauthorssecret.com

If I'm promoting a new book, and I'm on a group that allows longer signatures, I've found one like this is effective:

Kayelle Allen
Unstoppable heroes, Uncompromising love, Unforgettable passion
Surrender Love  |  Not rebound, payback, loneliness, or great sex, and far beyond love. This is surrender.
Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/Surrender-Love.aspx  |  Kindle: http://is.gd/surrenderlove_amz

It's better to err on the side of caution. If you are banned or placed on moderation for violating rules, you can't accomplish your goal.

How long is too long?

How many times have you seen signatures that seem to go on forever? They include lists of every book the author has written, where it's been reviewed, the various places you can buy it, mini-images of the book, a banner... 

Simple is better. Follow the rules of the group where you're posting.

Signature, please...

Okay, so what's the best signature?

Your author name
Your brand, book name, or book tag
Your website, Your blog, Your Twitter/Facebook

Less is more. You want to identify yourself, reinforce your brand, create interest in your work, drive traffic to your site, and sell your books. To do this, be professional. Using a signature that underscores this message will help you accomplish that.

What other questions do you have regarding signatures for a Yahoo group?

Kayelle Allen is the founder of Marketing for Romance Writers, a Yahoo group focused on learning marketing and publicity. 

Group site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/
Newsletter http://www.issuu.com/MFRW

Writer's Blah by Shashauna P. Thomas

Shashauna P Thomas. 

You've finished all the other crap you had to do and finally it's that time of day you've set aside for writing. Your mind has been a buzz all day with story ideas, plot lines that make your heart race just thinking about them, and memorable characters practically screaming at you to write their tale. There is so much to do you can't wait to get started. You sit down at your computer, open word, put your fingers on the keyboard, and…and nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. You write one sentence and immediately delete it. Then you re-write that sentence only to once again delete it. You repeat this cycle over and over again. You find that you're easily distracted; much more than usual. It takes an hour to finally write something that normally would only take you a few minutes and you aren't even sure if what you managed to write is any good. Despite knowing what you want to write and exactly where you as the author want your work in process to go there is still something preventing you from writing? Yourself. And I'm sorry to tell you this, but I believe you're suffering from a case of Writer's Blah.

As a new writer I thought there was something wrong with me whenever this happened. I'd sit down to work on my writing and all of a sudden feel zapped of energy. Like I needed to take a break or a nap despite the fact I'd just sat down to work. I couldn't concentrate the way I usually do. I found myself needing to check my e-mail numerous times. Or I'd begin singing along to the music I play as background noise as if it were my favorite song of all time. Right in the middle of working on my manuscript. And worst of all the words that usually come so naturally to my brain, almost as if the characters were standing right beside me and telling me what to write, didn't seem to flow. I tried forcing myself to write and just work through it, but that didn't work. I either was completely unproductive or whatever I did manage to write needed a lot of work or if I were being completely honest with myself needed to be trashed completely.

I feared I might be on the verge of burning myself out so I'd take a day or two off from writing, but that too didn't work. When I wasn't writing it seemed as if my mind was on creative overload. I'd be in the middle of something else and all of a sudden a new idea would pop into my head. Like watching a TV commercial would inspire me to write a brand new story. I'd see it as clear as day then, but get me back in front of the computer and I'm once again having trouble transferring my ideas to paper. Almost as if adding insult to injury I'd feel completely guilty every time I took time off from writing. With so many story ideas yet to be written I felt as if I couldn't afford the time wasted not writing. I was in a funk and I didn't know why or how I got there or most importantly how to get out of it.

When I tried explaining the problem to friends they automatically thought I was suffering from Writer's Block or I was somehow overworking myself and was beginning to burn out. I didn't know what it was, but I knew it wasn't either of those. It wasn't 'til recently when a fellow author in one of my writer's group, Rose B. Thorny, brought up the topic of Writer's Blah for discussion did I finally realize what was going on with me. Listening to her description of Writer's Blah, a wonderful term she coined, and the responses of other writers in the group I quickly realized two very important things. One, she was describing what I'd been going through to a tee. And two, that it wasn't just me. There were other authors out there going through the same thing. That knowledge alone helped relieve some of the anxiety and stress I was having. And one of the main points I learned from the group's discussion was that for many of us stress was the main trigger for Writer's Blah.

Deck the Halls

All types of stress can affect your writing. Stress at home; stress at work; stress with family, friends, or loved ones; financial stress; writing stress; and of course my personal favorite future stress. When you worry and stress out about something that hasn't even happened yet. I learned a long time ago that stress kills creativity, but everyone has stress. They just learn to block it out or work around it. And that is what I thought I did, but apparently I wasn't as successful as I thought. I asked myself, 'if the stress that I have are the same ones people deal with every day then what was my problem?' and that's when it clicked. They dealt with their stress. They didn't block it out or work around it; they worked through it. And once they began working through it they realized something very important, that a lot of it is out of their control.

Once they realize what isn't in their control they can begin to focus on what is. We can't control how our family and friends act, but we can control how we react to them. If the company we work for is downsizing we can't control who they decided to keep and who they decided to let go, but we can continue to work hard and make sure the company sees us as invaluable. We can't control if our manuscripts are accepted or rejected, but we can make sure what we submit is great. And we can remind ourselves that we can resubmit our rejected manuscripts somewhere else. Often times we don't have control on how quickly money comes in each month, but we can make sure we do what we can with the money that does come in; especially in this fickle economy. No one knows what the future may hold, but we do what we can to make sure we're prepared for whatever may come.

Making sure to keep a clear perspective on my stress helped me to deal with Writer's Blah when I had it. Realizing I'm not the only author who has had Writer's Blah and talking about it with other authors helps me to know how to deal with it in the future and it helps me to become a better author. And As Rose B. Thorny did to our writer's group I pose this question to you all. Have you ever experienced Writer's Blah? And if so how did you snap yourself out of it? What triggered it for you? Are you suffering from Writer's Blah now? If you are, don't worry you're not alone.

Christmas Do Over

Info about the Author:

            Shashauna P. Thomas graduated from Cornell University and SUNY Stony Brook with two BAs' before returning to the Bronx where she was born and raised. It wasn't until after college that she first began writing erotic romances for open call submissions. That is when she discovered that writing was her true passion and she's been crafting the vivid tales she sees in her head ever since. With the love and support of family, friends, and her sorority sisters the D.I.V.A.S. of Lambda Fe Usöñ Sorority Inc. she has had a number of her erotic stories published. One of her greatest hopes is that her stories inspire her readers to be open-minded and to not be afraid to try new things. And most importantly to follow their hearts no matter where it leads them.

Her website: http://sptpassions.weebly.com.

Her facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/sptpassions.

Her Blog on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/shashaunapthomas

E-mail: shashaunapthomas@yahoo.com

Buy Links:

Deck the Halls:

http://pinkpetalbooks.com/Deck-The-Halls-by-Shashauna-P.-Thomas.html

Christmas Do-Over:

https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/christmas-do-over-ebook-p-695

Bondage by the Bay – Tales of BDSM in San Francisco:

http://shop.renebooks.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CHRISTIAN-08

First Annual Marketing Summer Camp July 14-15, 2012

Marketing Summer Camp 2012. 

Marketing for Romance Writers Yahoo Group was founded in 2006 by Kayelle Allen, with the express purpose of sharing promotional how-to ideas and learning marketing skills with other authors. It started with about a dozen people, and now numbers well over a thousand. In the same spirit of sharing, the group has decided to hold a free online conference to make more information available. If you are an author, you are invited to take part, published, unpublished, in print, or ebook.

This year's theme is our group motto: Seek. Teach. Share. Learn. Succeed.
 
We chose July 14-15 so as not to conflict with other conferences during the summer. The specific times for panels and workshops has not yet been determined, but will be announced here when established. A website for the group has been purchased and will go live soon. Links will be provided.

Goodie bags will be provided for all guests, and will include handouts, promo idea sheets, coupons, discounts, and other items. We have received commitment from Romance Junkies and The Romance Studio for giveaways. More will be announced. If your company would like to donate downloadable or online-obtainable prizes please contact us by clicking here.

Topics for which we need speakers:
Handling Multiple Submissions
Promo Ideas
Promo Giveaways
Using Facebook Effectively
Twitter Tips and Tricks
Managing Social Media with Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, and Other Apps
How to Manage a Triberr Tribe

If you would like to volunteer as a speaker click here.

SPEAKERS (more to be added)

Marcia James: Niche Marketing
Dawne Prochilo: Where to Find Readers
Rolyn Anderson: QR Codes
Mary Caelsto (Jupiter Gardens): BookWorm Bags (Promos for conferences)
Rolyn Anderson: QR Codes
Dawne Prochilo: Where to Find Readers
Alison Knight: Blogging 101
Kayelle Allen: Preparing for Interviews

PANELS

Finding Your Audience: Dawne Prochilo
Marketing to Specific Genres: Marcia James, Mary Caelsto (Jupiter Gardens)
Blogging: Allison Knight, Susan Palmquist
Helping Your Publisher Promo Your Books:* Mary Caelsto (Jupiter Gardens)
*Please contact your publisher and ask if they would like to take part in this panel discussion.

PROMO VOLUNTEERS

Group Promotions Director Karen Cote' will coordinate volunteers and promotions.
The Twitter hashtag for the conference is #mfrwSummerCamp.

The following people have already volunteered. We need twenty (20) people or more. A sign up sheet will be available shortly. You will have prepared messages to choose from, as well as your own creativity and desire to share what you're learning.

Delaney Diamond
Dawne Prochilo
Cassandra Carr
Chris Redding
Juliette Springs

To help with promotion click here.

To join Marketing for Romance Writers and be part of a Yahoo Group that makes a difference in the publishing industry, click here.

MFRW Announces New Promotions Director Karen Cote'

Karen Cote's Avatar 

Our marketing group has grown steadily over the past few years. 2012 is our sixth year. We began with twelve people and currently have over a thousand members. We have had a full-fledged professional newsletter for several years, and the group holds workshops and offers advice. We are adding our first conference this year, staffed by members. It's time to move to the next level and find more ways to help the publishing community of which we are a part. To that end, I have asked Karen Cote' to serve as our Promotions Director.

In some ways, Karen has already been doing this. She obtained promotion for us in magazines (The Book Breeze), an ezine (PRP Advertising Group), and with Lynn Crain, is organizing a contest idea she had to benefit our blogs (and its authors). She is an example of "caring in action."

Karen will be our ambassador, inviting new members, sharing information about MFRW with sites that can offer promotion, and hopefully opening doors to new opportunities to share our work as a group. She and I have discussed possibilities for the future, and ways in which MFRW can become a stronger resource, achieve value, and continue to be a "go to place" for authors needing helpful information.

Karen will also coordinate the promotional efforts for the upcoming Marketing Summer Camp. You'll hear more about that in the coming days and weeks.

Please join me in congratulating Karen on this new position. 

Ways to follow Karen Cote'
http://karencote.tv
https://twitter.com/KarensRomance
https://www.facebook.com/KarensRomance

The staff of Marketing for Romance Writers also includes:
Group Owners: Marty Rayne, Jeanne Barrack
Newsletter Editor: Rochelle Weber
Proofers: Lavada Dee, Laurie Ryan
Blog Staff: Donna Basinow, Lynn Crain, W. Lynn Chantale, Chris Redding, Jean Drew

- - -

Posted by Kayelle Allen

Author Tip: Fonts and Curly Quotes

Author Tip 

A tip on fonts and special characters etc. When posting online, some sites strip curly quotes - the kind that in front curl one way and in the back curl the other and replace it with the code for that command. Sometimes it puts 3-4 other things in its place.

Which means this: "He loves her; it's obvious."
Becomes this: “He loves her. It’s obvious. ”

A font that readers don't possess can cause the same thing. For example, something frilly and fancy like a handwritten-looking font changes to courier with the codes above.

When posting, use Calibri, Arial, Times, or Times New Roman, and turn off the curly quotes feature on your word processor. Your readers will thank you.
- - -

About the Author
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find...well, the unfindable. And sometimes (shh!) make them disappear again. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion. You can find her on the web in these places:
Homeworld http://kayelleallen.com
Facebook http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author
Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Blog http://kayelleallen.blogspot.com

MFRW is on Facebook

MFRW on Facebook is a sister group to Marketing for Romance Writers on Yahoo. It enables us to post promotional info, get and give help on questions, and support one another. This group is open to authors (published and non), agents, editors, author promo services, publishers, cover designers, artists, and virtual assistants.

Join us on Facebook, and you can use the Facebook page as a target for Networked Blogs, post promotional info, and share updates about your writing.  We look forward to seeing you!

Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/

Also join our other blog: MFRW Authors - Marketing for Romance Writers
http://mfrw-authors.blogspot.com

Class: 10 Ways to Promote Your eBook

Do you have a limited budget, or don’t think you have enough time to promote your book? Everyone deserves their 15 minutes of fame and in this two-hour workshop, Susan Palmquist will show you ten easy and inexpensive ways to get your name out to the masses.

When: Saturday, Feb 4, 2012

Time: 7:00 pm Eastern

Where: Class will be held on the Marketing for Romance Writers Yahoo Group. Click the name to visit the home page. 

Cost: Membership is free, and so are all classes.

Teacher: Susan Palmquist is a freelance writer, writing teacher, author and blogger. Prior to her writing career she worked in PR for non-profits. She was also a publicist for three years mostly working with authors, actors and musicians. One of her specialties is promotion on a budget.

Free Signature Workshop sponsored by MFRW

What: Learn how to create a signature for your promos and emails that brings you readers, and helps generate sales. You will be able to submit a signature for critique by the teacher, as well as the group.
Four authors' signatures have been chosen as examples for the workshop. Was yours one of them? Come find out.
When: Monday Nov 14, 2011
Start time: (two-hour class)
8:00p  Atlantic

7:00p  Eastern
6:00p  Central
5:00p  Mountain
4:00p  Pacific

Where: class will be held on the group, in email/forum style.  http://tinyurl.com/mfrwgroup
Cost: FREE. No fees. No sign up. To attend, simply show up and be ready to learn.
Who: The public may read the messages, but only members have access to notes afterward, and only members can reply to comments or post questions. There is NO COST to join.
You may invite friends to join by sending them to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/ OR use the shorter, non-breaking URL http://tinyurl.com/mfrwgroup


Teacher: Mary, Jupiter Gardens, LLC
Nurturing your inner worlds and exploring new ones!
Jupiter Gardens Press (metaphysical fiction/nonfiction and sf/f)
http://jupitergardens.com
Jupiter Storm, YA imprint
http://jupiterstorm.com
Pink Petal Books, romance imprint 
http://pinkpetalbooks.com
Nature's Child Ezine for pagan families, children, teens, and anyone who feels like a child of nature. 
http://natureschildezine.com

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Premade tweets:
Copy and paste one of these into Twitter to share info about the class.

#Free #Workshop http://tinyurl.com/mfrwgroup 11/14 7p EST Create an author signature that brings you readers. Teacher: @jupitergdnpress


Create a great signature #Free #Workshop http://tinyurl.com/mfrwgroup 11/14 7p EST #MFRW #promotips #marketing #authors

#Free Upcoming Workshop on MFRW "Create a signature" Details:is.gd/gnW24W #authors #promotips

Image is Everything

Breaking Delia's Rules
W. Lynn Chantale

My latest attempt at a book launch fizzled. I had no idea what I was doing and my publisher at the time knew even less. So I stopped and regrouped. When I decided to become serious about writing I figured e-books were the way to go. After all I wouldn’t have to do traditional book signings or TV interviews--I’ll be honest I’m not a big fan of crowds, the telephone, or even leaving the house for long periods of time. But I still needed to get my name out there. Thank goodness for the Internet.

After much searching I found several articles on Branding and attended a meeting at my local chapter of RWA on the same topic. So what is Branding? What does this term mean? It’s a good or service that consumers connect with a name, slogan, or logo.

Examples

Have it Your Way - Burger King

The Golden Arches - McDonald’s

It’s in there - Prego Spaghetti sauce

Or how about these: Worlds of Adventure...Souls of Desire...

Unstoppable Heroes, Uncompromising Love, Unforgettable Passion

Where words mean so much more...

She’ll keep you up all night

Recognize any of those? They are all tag lines from various romance authors’ blogs or websites. The first is Emma Lai, second is Kayelle Allen, third is Em Petrova and last is Jackie Collins. I know what’s she doing in the midst of all these steamy writers? Just to show that even a NYTimes bestselling author has branded herself.

But then there are some authors or products which need no slogans, like Stephen King, Nora Roberts or Kleenex or Kodak. Automatically one thinks of horror, romance, tissue, and cameras. None of that recognition would have been achieved if branding hadn’t been accomplished.

So, how does one accomplish branding? I thought this would be something difficult, but turns out, it’s fairly easy. First get your name out there! Make it easy for readers to find you. If you’re on Facebook, Twitter or Myspace readers should be able to find you by name. Not a nickname or something cutesy, but by your name or slogan. And those aren’t the only places you can brand yourself. Use your email signature line, GoodReads, Blogs, Online Communities, (Eharlequin, ARe Cafe, Savvy Authors, The Romance Review, etc.) articles, blogs you visit, email address, websites. Note: a word on websites--even if you don’t have one now, buy the domain name. You don’t want to put in all this hard work building your image, cultivating your brand just to have someone else take all the credit. People need to know who you are and what you’re about.

I will confess when I first set up my Twitter account I used a nickname, as soon as I heard that tidbit from an avid reader and blogger I came home and changed my name. After all, everything else says W. Lynn Chantale, why not Twitter?

Keeping this in mind what image do you want to convey to readers? Do you write dark, sensual love stories? Then your site needs to reflect that. Sci-fi/fantasy or historical romance? Something relevant should be in the header, like a group of sexy men (great site Kayelle). Or if you’re a closet romantic and want to convey that image; well a pink background, red roses, and maybe a picture of a bubble bath is the way to go. *grins* However you decide to build your name, your image, your brand—this is how readers will find and remember you. So make it count, get your name out there, and have some fun while doing it.

Until next time, indulge your inner romantic.

Seducing His Wife
W. Lynn Chantale

About the Author

W. Lynn Chantale resides in southeastern Michigan. Married to her high school sweetheart, they’ve been together for the last twenty years. They have three children. She writes African-American and Interracial sensual erotic and erotic romance. She has a mad affinity for milk chocolate, preferably Dove chocolate truffles or the caramel-filled squares (Godiva and Ghiradelli are acceptable), and plays the bass guitar when the Muse begs for a bit of distraction.

Contact Info

Blog: http://wlynnchantale-decadentdecisions.blogspot.com/

Email: wlynnchantale@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wlynnchantale

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/W.LynnChantaleAuthor

Visit Our Other Blog

MFRW Authors Blog

As a group, MFRW decided to create a separate blog where members can share spicy excerpts with our readers. 


The blog director is Lynn Crain. Admins are W. Lynn Chantale, Chris Redding, Karen Cote', and me. You can visit this brand new blog by clicking its name beneath the image to the left. Please take a moment to comment, and don't forget to follow via Google Connect, or Networked Blogs.

Meg Mims: I See Dead Characters

I started writing traditional romance. Really. Just ask my long-time critique partner, who slogged through a family saga before I started another project. Over the first few years, I snagged plenty of editors (slush-pile submissions, no less) who loved my writing style. So? Why didn’t I get published long ago in romance?

They told me I had plot-heavy manuscripts, not enough romance—and what was with all the dead bodies? Plenty of historical romances have dead bodies lying around, though, from wars or vengeful alpha heroes. I didn’t see the problem. Yeah, my historical style focuses on the plot. For years I tried to beat that down and failed. If one of my characters turned around, someone ended up dead. Blame them, not me! And besides, my characters didn’t have time for romance. They might think about it, or get distracted by their mutual attraction, but then they force themselves to refocus and solve the puzzle.

Trust me, I’m a slow learner. I never considered switching genres to mystery. Go figure.

Problem number two—I hadn’t learned how to keep a reader’s interest from start to finish. My beginnings sucked them in and then fell flat. So who am I to complain (too much) about not selling right away. No first book wonder here. Or second book. Or third, fourth or fifth. Even my sixth, a traditional mystery, written during the Master’s program at Seton Hill University—which won an RWA chapter contest last year, for heaven’s sake, is still languishing on an editor’s desk. (Revisions ahead, I’m sure, whether or not I’m rejected.)

I did sell the fourth book, however, after a major overhaul. But I don’t regret the hours I spent learning how to market from the Savvy Authors group, from Kayelle Allen and Marcia James, and from expert Margie Lawson who teaches infusing emotions and body language. I chose to accept the offer from a small publishing house, Astraea Press—whose focus is on clean fiction. They loved the mix of suspense and romance (and the happy ending is guaranteed, since justice is always served in the end of mystery!) Astraea Press is now rocketing upward in the wake of readers wanting stories with sweet romance.

Does Double Crossing have *any* romance? A hint, with more to come in the sequel (I promise, unless my characters get distracted again). Lily Granville tracks her father’s killer across country to California, but soon realizes she is no longer the hunter—but the prey.

Double Crossing is what I call a twist of “True Grit” on the new transcontinental railroad, set in late summer of 1869. It has more than one dead body. But I’m very pleased that readers have given it high marks for “suspense, humor and an assortment of colorful characters… And history buffs will enjoy every accurate and fascinating period detail…” Check out more reviews on my website (http://www.double-crossing.com) and on Goodreads and Amazon.

To romance, to mystery and suspense! May dead bodies continue to haunt my characters.

Meg Mims

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Author Meg Mims is a member of Marketing for Romance Writers. You can follow her here:

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/megmims

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/megmims

Website:  http://www.megmims.com

Twitter Tips for Newbies

After our recent Tweet Like a Pro class, we had requests for other versions, including some basic classes on how to do simple things with the program.

This video is a good place to start: Twitter in Plain English. It was created by the folks at http://twitter.com/#!/CommonCraft You can follow them on Twitter to learn more.

Try these links for some additional tips.

http://technmarketing.com/2009/03/top-5-reasons-to-tweet/ Top 5 Reasons to Tweet

http://technmarketing.com/2009/03/first-5-steps-after-joining-twitter/ First 5 Steps After Joining Twitter

http://technmarketing.com/2009/04/ten-things-you-must-know-before-using-twitter/ Ten Things You Must Know Before Using Twitter

http://technmarketing.com/2009/05/top-6-ways-to-benefit-from-twitter/ Top 6 Ways to Benefit from Twitter

http://technmarketing.com/2009/07/9-advanced-twitter-tips/ Nine Advanced Twitter Tips

We'll also post more info from the class. Take time to read these articles. They're chock full of simple, good-to-know information. Post any questions you have, and we'll work on the answers.

Win a Platinum Twitter Intensive Course

The intensive Twitter 101 Course (Platinum Edition) is one 90 minute Twitter Strategy Session with Twitter 4 Business Specialist Keith Keller.* You'll learn how to:

• Get more followers
• Extend your reach using hashtags (#)
• Track the progress of your tweets using customised URLs
• Automate your tweets to save you time
• Drive traffic back to your website to increase your database and your sales
• and much more

You can enter to win this $197 platinum package by attending the Tweet Like a Pro class on Sept. 27, 2011 from 6:30pm-7:30pm (Eastern US). One name will be drawn at random by Keith Keller.


*Note: I copied the incorrect platinum package when posting the original prize. Keith says the Twitter 101 package actually offers more one-on-one time for coaching, whereas the other was a webinar format. In order not to break the URL, I have not changed the title of this post. [Updated 9/23/11 10:46pm]

OFFICIAL RULES

You must:

• have an active Twitter account
• be a member of Marketing for Romance Writers (go here, then click "Join This Group" and mention this post)
• be present to win (post on the group & Twitter during the workshop)
• use the hashtag #tweetlikeapro (on Twitter)
• follow the sponsors' Twitter accounts...

Keith Keller

http://twitter.com/KarensRomance  Karen Cote'

http://twitter.com/KeithKeller  Keith Keller

If you follow mine, I'll be more than happy to follow back.

http://twitter.com/kayelleallen

SPONSORS

Karen Cote is the sponsor for the Tweet Like a Pro class. Keith Keller is the sponsor for the Twitter 101 (Platinum Edition) giveaway. Marketing for Romance Writers is the official host for the workshop.




TWEET THIS

Want to tweet this but need help? Copy and paste one of these:

#Twitter #Success 4 #Writers "TWEET LIKE A PRO" su.pr/3sVyrx@KayelleAllen @KarensRomance September 27th 6:30pm (Eastern)


#Twitter #Marketing 4 #Writers "Marketing 4 Romance Writers" twy.la/qOjcJA @KayelleAllen @KarensRomance Sept 27th 6:30pm (Eastern)

#Twitter #Success 4 #Writers "TWEET LIKE A PRO" su.pr/3sVyrx @KayelleAllen @KarensRomanceSeptember 27th 6:30pm (Eastern)

#Twitter 4 #Writers su.pr/9fzDhg @KayelleAllen @KarensRomance Sept 27th @ 6:30pm (Eastern) "Marketing 4 Romance Writers"


#tweetlikeapro Sept 27th 6:30pm (Eastern) "Marketing 4 Romance Writers"


Tweet Like a Pro class Marketing for Romance Writers Tues Sept 27, 2011 6:30 pm Eastern. #tweetlikeapro #mfrw

Tweet Like a Pro with Keith Keller

Learn how to tweet like a pro with Keith Keller, founder of Global Social Media Coaching from Australia. Keith is a Social Media Strategist and Twitter 4 Business Specialist. You will learn how to make Twitter work for you by using the principles in Twitter 101. Twitter is an integral social media tool, and an enigma. Come learn the #1 key to unlocking the mystery.

The Tweet Like a Pro class begins on Marketing for Romance Writers on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 6:30 pm Eastern. In the US that translates to...

Time Zone (start times)
7:30p Atlantic
6:30p Eastern
5:30p Central
4:30p Mountain
3:30p Pacific
We then move to Twitter for hands-on training. This is a single one-hour class. Don't miss it!

Want to know more about our coach? Meet Keith here: http://www.globalsocialmediacoaching.com/
and here: http://www.karencote.tv/keith-keller-global-social-media-coach

Join Keith on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KeithKellerSocialMediaStrategist
Like his company here:
http://www.facebook.com/GlobalSocial
and of course, follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KeithKeller
Keith says, "You are already awesome. My job is to make you WORLD FAMOUS."


Use the hashtag #MFRW on Twitter now to share this free Marketing for Romance Writers workshop opportunity with others: Follow me and use this hashtag and I'll add you to the MFRW Twitter list I've added to Listorious http://bit.ly/q96Tg7 #marketing #authors #publishers #designers #editors

Use the hashtag #tweetlikeapro and become part of MFRW's brand new TweetLikeAPro Inner Circle Follow me and use this hashtag and I'll add you to the Tweetlikeapro Twitter list I've added to Listorious http://bit.ly/pWEDlb #marketing #authors #publishers

#mfrw and #tweetlikeapro hashtags registered at http://twubs.com

Sincere thanks to author Karen Cote', who graciously provided the fee for this one-time workshop, enabling MFRW members to attend for free. To thank her, please follow Karen on Twitter@KarensRomance

Thank you to Keith Keller, who will be offering a $197 value Twitter Intensive workshop to one attendee. Details on how to enter coming soon.

SAMPLE TWEETs you can send: (choose a new one each day)

#Twitter #Success 4 #Writers "TWEET LIKE A PRO" su.pr/3sVyrx@KayelleAllen @KarensRomance September 27th 6:30pm (Eastern)

#Twitter #Marketing 4 #Writers "Marketing 4 Romance Writers" twy.la/qOjcJA @KayelleAllen @KarensRomance Sept 27th 6:30pm (Eastern)

#Twitter #Success 4 #Writers "TWEET LIKE A PRO"su.pr/3sVyrx @KayelleAllen @KarensRomanceSeptember 27th 6:30pm (Eastern)

#Twitter 4 #Writers su.pr/9fzDhg @KayelleAllen @KarensRomance Sept 27th @ 6:30pm (Eastern) "Marketing 4 Romance Writers"

#TweetLikeaPro http://t.co/S8H9DBW 9/27/11 6:30pm (Eastern) "Marketing 4 Romance Writers"