Bri Clark's Blog, page 2

Recently I saw in an author Facebook group there was a question about how many books were being sold at conferences. They wanted to know how others did at the conferences. And the measure for success was how many products were sold. Sadly, this is what we expect at a conference as authors.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t be more wrong.

Before you roll over into a fetal position and suck your thumb because you have spent loads of cash buying booths and marketing material or you start shaking your finger and cursing at me let me finish.

What I have learned through experience (ran some romance/tech conference booths myself) and through training ( I was the vendor coordinator for a women’s show.) is that sales should not be your goal at a conference. You can forget what I said and disagree but every successful vendor I’ve seen didn’t make sales their first priority.

Here are the steps that I counsel you to adopt as an author when doing a booth. (This could also work with a book signing.)

Have One Goal: Now this goal could be selling books or it could be growing your Instagram followers, or building your email list, or it could simply be talking personally with each person and getting to know them. Either way you need one goal for your booth for the whole conference.
Building a List: I highly recommend growing an email list when at conferences. The reason why is because they are like gold. When you have a new release wouldn’t be amazing to have a group of people to email (that’s your target market) and tell about your new release.
Hustle: Whatever your goal you will have to hustle to get it achieved. Whether that is Facebook friends, Twitter followers, or your email list. You will have to ask for what you want. Then they get to make the decision.
No Car salesmen Allowed: When I say hustle I don’t mean assume the persona of an overbearing jackass. I mean when you are speaking to people casually and socializing ask them if they want connect with you on Twitter (pull out your phone at this point) friend you on Facebook, or sign up for your email list.
Make it Easy: If you want people to sign up for something you need to make it fast, efficient and easy. For example, have multiple signup sheets on clip boards with attached pens for people to fill out. Or use multiple iPads with a sign up form, or where they can sign in and follow you on social media. Whatever, makes it easier for them is your goal.

Now at the end of the day if you have specified that one goal see if you achieved it. For me a good measure is to take the conferences attendee numbers and shoot for 5-10 percent of that number. This is if I were doing an email build. But really it’s not the number. It’s more about the value of what you are achieving. Don’t you think?

Bri Clark   Social Media Strategist/Publisher





Phone: 208-761-0319
Website: www.houseofbellepress.com
Company: House of Belle Press





         Let’s Connect On Social Media

There are so many cliché’s I could borrow from right now, the grass is always greener is the one I keep thinking about the most. Recently I have seen some consistencies in Facebook and those that are successful. Mostly the common denominator is among authors and women unfortunately. But it is not limited to them.

Here’s the deal people we are a jealous race. When we see someone else achieve our greatest goal we connect with them to see if we can learn from them. What did they do that we can immolate and then gain that success too. That’s what we tell ourselves. We like their posts on Facebook, we comment on their questions they create to engage people. We like how authentic they are. It makes us believe that they are people. That if someone as normal as they are can achieve success then we can too.

Then they have a bad day!

They complain about something that clearly defines that they are not exactly like us. For example, they are unhappy about a trip you can’t imagine being able to ever afford. Or they are concerned that their sales aren’t as high as they were the quarter before.

That’s when the space between you becomes painfully clear and you lash out. You don’t feel that it is their right to complain. If you were ever there you’d never do that. Right?

But in reality you don’t know that…do you?

In reality they are still being authentic. They are expressing their true desires, fears, and challenges.

Didn’t you like that about them to begin with?

The truth of the matter is they are just being honest. We don’t know all the background information that is prompting these posts. The author/publisher making less may have taken out a loan to pay for audio books and expected that money to pay it back the next quarter. Because that’s what we do in business we take a leap of faith at times to expand. When it doesn’t look like what we thought would happen is going to we get scared. When you are afraid, you seek comfort.

Because we are all people.

Do we know why the vacation she took is so bad? Could it be she has an almost overwhelming social anxiety disorder? Could she have received a message from her kids of problems and then couldn’t get in contact with them for hours because she was out of service? I know as a mother that would probably send me over the edge.

The point is people please find some grace. I wrote this post because I have to tell you I’ve been there. I’ve been so guilty of this myself. And I know after writing this that if I am ever guilty again then my Facebook friends will be quick to remind me. Sometimes that’s what we need a reminder of grace.

Bri Clark   Social Media Strategist/Publisher





Phone: 208-761-0319
Website: www.belleconsult.com/www.houseofbellepress.com
Company: Belle Consulting/House of Belle Press





       

If someone says the same thing over and over do you still listen? Think about it when you were a kid and your mom said, “Pick up your socks!” and only got louder and louder did you eventually just tune her out?

Well the same rule applies to Facebook. The squeaky wheel doesn’t get the most attention.  All too often, author’s run the same post over and over and don’t change up the wording, or they have the same image go out over the same Facebook groups, pages, and profiles at the same day and time every week. This isn’t conducive to a positive long term marketing plan.

Now don’t get me wrong I’m 100% prosocial media. But I believe there should be a finesse instituted.

When scheduling out your updates about your books.

Make sure the content goes out at different times a day.
Make sure that it goes out across different platforms at those different times. I.e. Facebook profile, groups, pages. (If you are, doing straight text this rule is a little more lenient.)
Makes sure to participate. People want to conversate not just hear you all the time.
Make sure what you are saying is engaging. Such as, “I’m having trouble with naming my characters. Which name do you like better….
And above all else do not ever say, “Buy my book please. Pretty Please.” Or any variation of this. It will always have a negative effect.

Remember social media marketing is a privilege and those friends you have are a privilege. Don’t abuse it, appreciate it and appreciate them.

Bri Clark   Social Media Strategist/Publisher





Phone: 208-761-0319
Website: www.belleconsult.com/www.houseofbellepress.com
Company: Belle Consulting/House of Belle Press






       

Dear Writer,

You are on Facebook and you want to use it for promoting your books or your work in progress. That’s great! However, there is a finesse to social media marketing. The key part being the word SOCIAL. In today’s post I’m going to give you some guidelines on what you can do to leverage Facebook, specifically Facebook groups, in your marketing plans

Step Number 1

How many groups are you in?

Often times people will add you to Facebook Groups and you just kind of forget. You need to clean this up. Take the time to go through and leave all the groups that you don’t want to be a member. If you haven’t been in the group in the last six months LEAVE.

How do I leave a group?

To leave a group, go to the group and click Joined on the group cover photo. Then select Leave Group from the dropdown menu.

When you leave a group:

Members won’t be notified
You’re removed from the member list and the group will be removed from your list of groups
You’ll no longer get group notifications
People will no longer know when you’ve seen a group post, even if you saw it before you left the group

Step Number 2

Pick 1-3 groups that are around being an author and be a member of them. Set yourself up to being an active member. If you do 3 maybe you could do one around craft or writing sprints, one around your genre, and one around marketing. These are just suggestions. You can do what you want. But whatever you do be dedicated and consistent.

Step Number 3

Make it a point to be active in just these 3 groups. Spend a few minutes everyday reading other’s posts and posting yourself. Make sure to read the rules and abide by them. This is a great way to create relationships with people with common goals. Together you can share what you learn and support each other through the writing, marketing, and publishing process.

OK so in the comments below I want you to post your groups. Which ones do you love so others can join them too.

Bri Clark   Social Media Strategist/Publisher





Phone: 208-761-0319
Website: www.belleconsult.com/www.houseofbellepress.com
Company: Belle Consulting/House of Belle Press






       

 

3 Lessons I Learned from 3 Bestselling Series #MondayBlogs

Before I was ever an author I was a reader. My motivation was the joy found getting lost in a new world (especially paranormal), getting to know great characters, and following a great love story. Once I launched my publishing house, I started reading with a different enthusiasm. There are several series that I really have enjoyed and read the books over and over. During my most recent rereads I found 3 common denominators I myself have found I want to apply to my own writing.

Real world descriptions: While reading Laurel K. Hamilton’s, Jeanine Frost, and Charlaine Harris novels I found that their ability to really describe the cities, restaurants, and communities made me feel I was there. At times, they even made me want to visit. Laurel K. Hamilton’s novels were so wildly successful that in her book, Circus of the Damned, she explained that since people sought out locations she described in earlier books and actually found them she had to be more vague and creative in the circus’s location. With that said in my new book, I’m setting it in the town I live in. But even after living here for 5 years I find myself with a lack of information. So I’m excited to get to know my community better all in the name of good writing.
Characters that Continue: In the Night Huntress Series by Jeanine Frost, she wrote seven books around the main characters, wrote a few spin off stand alones for the intriguing secondary characters, and finally she created a new series called, The Night Prince Series, that continues after the end of her main novels dedicated to a memorable secondary character. This is the kind of world building I’m going for in my own series.
Challenges: All the characters for all these authors are flawed, joyously and wonderfully flawed. They get beat up, challenged, and hurt physically and emotionally. Then they clean it up. There is always a great balance of intrigue and happily ever after for now. This is something I really need to learn. I’m often the one to make each book a little bit too neat. But what I’ve found is there needs to be an over reaching challenge for a series to be successful. This one I seem to have my hardest time with. Plots and subplots are where this panster type writer really struggles.

These are just some of my observations. You may have some of your own. I’d love to hear them. We all need each other. Readers need great books to read, and authors need to be read. Share your thought sin the comments below.

Bri Clark

Social Media Strategist Belle Consulting
t: 208-761-0319

e: [email protected] 

w: belleconsult.com

Defining Paranormal Romance

Genres are important. However, in this new world of ebooks and epublishing all kinds of rules are being redefined. Genre happens to be one of them.

Since as a publisher we specialize in paranormal romance. We wanted to share with you what that means to us exactly.

Any books with the following characters or elements would fit with what we are looking to publish.

Vampires
Witches
Demons
Shifters
Werewolves
Angels
Fae
Mythology
Ghosts
Anything other worldly or out of the ordinary

If you feel like something should be added please add it in the comments below. In addition if you have a manuscript that is paranormal please take a look at our submissions page here.

Bri Clark
Social Media Strategist Belle Consulting
t: 208-761-0319

e: [email protected] 

w: belleconsult.com

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The Business of being an Author

As a prepublished author (Kristen Lamb created that term) we often times have the goal of just getting our book accepted. But I challenge you to think in the long term. Don’t you want to make your writing a career? Don’t you want to ONLY be an author?

This is a dream that isn’t unattainable. However, it  does present a challenge.

Successful authors like J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyers are what we all aspire to be. And when we look at their back stories we find that it seems like all they did was write, write, write, pray, pray, pray.  Now these are important steps, don’t get me wrong. Especially, the write, write, write part. Backlist is one of the most guaranteed techniques to creating revenue and longevity in an author’s career.

But I challenge you to think a step further, or really many steps further.

Why not approach your writing as a business. Because really when you start making money as an author you become an entrepreneur. Take it from me I know about being and entrepreneur. I even write about it on LinkedIn. (www.linkedin.com/in/briclark/)

Here are 4 steps to keep in mind to apply to your writing business.

Quantity is important. The more product (backlist) the more opportunities you have to create revenue. (money)
Project Goals. It’s important to have goals and plans. For example, you could have a goal to write 2 books every quarter or to publish 3 books a year.
Project timeline. Based on your goals create a time line of how long each goal will take.
Accounting. Make sure to keep some kind of way to keep a record of your time, revenue, and expenses. It could be software or a simple spreadsheet.

It’s not impossible to become a full time writer. It’s completely attainable. But like everything worth achieving it takes time, talent, intelligence, and dedication. I challenge you to try thinking like an entrepreneur in terms of your writing career.

Do you think you can do it?

Bri Clark
Social Media Strategist Belle Consulting
t: 208-761-0319

e: [email protected] 

w: belleconsult.com

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3 Reasons Books Sell and 3 Reasons Why I Know

I’m not a New York Times Best seller. It’s been years since I was an Amazon bestseller. Who am I and what qualifies me to have this knowledge?

First, you need to know I’m a woman of business. While I love love love reading, characters, and stories. And I understand that if there isn’t money to be made those stories can go away.

Second, I am a publisher. And while I am new to the publisher game I worked for more than one publisher in the past. In the last few years I’ve spearheaded projects for authors who wanted to self-publish, in a addition to working with authors and speakers on their marketing and online platforms.

Third, and finally, I asked. I count myself freaking lucky to be surrounded by authors who are on so many best seller lists. And I’m humble enough that when I started this venture I reached out to at least 4 other small presses I know and asked. “What makes a book successful?”

It’s these three reasons that qualify me to create this list. I invite you to decide for yourself.

Cover art: Nothing short of professional will do. This is what they see first. This is what gets them to venture further into the book and read the blurb. This moves them further to the buy button. (Side note: Professional doesn’t have to break the bank. Professional can be defined many ways.)
Blurb: If they this then this is what my pawpaw, the fisherman, would call a “nibbler”. Nibblers are WHAT WE WANT! The way we close the deal is to have an out of this world blurb that peeks their interest and gets them to hit the buy button. If you can’t write a good blurb then pay or work with someone to do it for/with you.
Editing: Nothing short of professional will do. Your cover teased them. Your blurb tantalized them enough to buy. Now as they are reading YOU DO NOT WANT TO LET THEM DOWN! If you do, the best thing that can happen is they get a refund and they keep their mouth shut. The worst thing is they keep the books and obliterate your book’s editing. This makes you, your editor, and your publisher (if you have one) look BAD! We don’t want that. We want them to love this book so much they are on Amazon looking for more books by you. Or they are clicking on the link to sign up for more books BY YOU when they release.

Take these words to heart. Keep them in the back of your mind. Iron them on a shirt you made your cat. Whatever, you need to remind yourself of the value of these three pieces please DO IT!

We are only as successful as we all continue to be. We need each other. We need readers. And readers need us.

Bri Clark
Social Media Strategist Belle Consulting
t: 208-761-0319

e: [email protected] 

w: belleconsult.com

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What type of books are we looking for?

Paranormal Romance (Adult/New Adult/YA)
SciFi Romance (Adult/New Adult/YA)
Fantasy Romance (Adult/New Adult/YA)
Romantic Suspense
Contemporary Romance
Highland Romance(All heat levels considered at this time.)

 

What submissions should look like…

 

Do not include headers, footers, page numbers, or graphics on your manuscript file.

 

All manuscripts must be submitted in Georgia 12 point font.

 

Please include the following information on the first page of all submission package files: title of the manuscript, author name, email address, phone number, and word count of completed manuscript.

 

Please include a three paragraph synopsis of the story, target audience, social media links, blog links, and any author information you deem necessary for the publisher to know,

 

Allow four to six weeks for a response.

 

If your work isn’t what we are looking but is promising we have several strategic partners and will refer you to them. If we see something promising we may suggest changes and a re-submission.

 

Before your work is accepted, we want to have an author profile interview. This can be accomplished through a Google hangout or through Skype.

 

If your work is accepted and the interview is found promising on both ends we will send you a contract via email to be signed

 

We are an ebook and print publisher. Currently our print outlet is print on demand through Createspace.

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER…Make sure you have done an edit of your work. We have editors and they are top notch. However, the cleaner it is upon submission the better.

 

We will market your books. Our founder, Bri Clark, owns her own marketing company specializing in online marketing. Not only will we market your book we provide TRAINING TO OUR AUTHORS to marketing their books too.

 

Agent submissions welcome as well as un-agented submissions.

 

Please send ALLsubmissions [email protected] to  with your name as the subject and the title of your work, and genre i.e. BRI CLARK/GLAZIER/PARANORMAL ROMANCE. The email should include your intro, three paragraph synopsis in the body of the email and the attached manuscript in Georgia font.

 

A website has several key elements that work together for its success, namely design, structure, content, maintenance, and SEO optimization. As we seek out information the social standard in today’s society is to Google it, or type in a word or phrase around what you are seeking. This is the importance of SEO optimization. You can have the best website in the world but if it is never found, it is worthless. Design and structure piggyback off each other providing a visually rich but branded experience when readers visit the site. With the use of any technology, the backend coding needs ongoing maintenance. Just like the internet, a website is constantly evolving and requires updates to continue to be up to its highest value.
One of the most effective ways to maintain a high SEO ranking is through regular blogging, or content creations. By using SEO keywords and phrases strategically placed throughout posts and when tagging posts is how to continually optimize a site. Many businesses find blogging to be intimidating in curating content. Dan Zarrella shared these tips on content creation for blogging: pick a niche and continue to share relevant news and tips about it, post consistently, mix up length of your posts, and include media.