Friday, December 30, 2011

Two important articles: Marketing Mistakes and Twitter Tips

Authors:

One of my favorite book marketing newsletters that I receive is from Book Marketing Expert. Their newsletter from December 22 titled “The Best of Book Marketing Expert 2011, Part 1” had two article links that I thought were important to share:

1. Top 5 Marketing Mistakes Authors Make, by Shennandoah Diaz

Short and to the point, this article might be a wake up call to new authors. To other authors in the publicity trenches, it should make perfect sense. Yes, we require you to market your book. Authors who understand this, and “help us help them” are the ones who stay on our radar and the ones whose books sell the best.

and

2. Strategic tweeting for authors, by Alan Rinzler

If you have been ignoring Twitter, now’s the time for a 2012 change. Big and small publishers expect their authors to be using social networking for book promotion, Twitter included. There is a helpful list of Twitter tips here. See also my Part 1 and Part 2 posts on the subject.

A Happy New Year to You All.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Playing with the Enemy - 99 cent eBook!

For the next two weeks only (December 24 - January 5) Playing with the Enemy: A Baseball Prodigy, a World at War, and a Field of Broken Dreams by Gary W. Moore will be available for download on your Kindle for ONLY 99 CENTS! View the official ad here.

Act now before the promotion ends. Don't forget to forward this offer to your friends and family, or treat them to this great read!

Playing with the Enemy: A Baseball Prodigy, a World at War, and a Field of Broken Dreams
by Gary W. Moore

Inspired by true events, Playing with the Enemy is the riveting story of a depression-era youth and his brush with destiny. Author Gary Moore, Gene's son, did not learn of his father's remarkable odyssey through World War II and the hardships of minor league baseball until the day before Gene's death. Read more.

Click here to get your copy today.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

New Book ‘National Guard 101’ Debuts for National Guard’s Birthday

PRESS RELEASE: New Book ‘National Guard 101’ Debuts for National Guard’s Birthday


National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses
By Mary Corbett (Savas Beatie, 2011)


On December 13, the National Guard will celebrate 375 years of protecting our country. What better way to celebrate than with the release of a book detailing this unique group?

When author Mary Corbett’s husband, a National Guard member, deployed in 2002, she spent a lot of time searching the internet looking for information to help her understand the role of a Guard spouse.

Finding that much of the information available was targeted toward active-duty spouses who lived on military bases with a completely different lifestyle, Corbett saw a need for a book, and went about writing it.

“Although I had family members who had served in the military, I had zero experience with military protocol or culture. The only thing I knew about the National Guard, at that time, was ‘one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer,’” recalls Corbett. “That perception changed for me—and most Guard spouses—immediately after 9/11. For the first time, I realized I was a ‘real’ military wife.”

National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses is a book written specifically for the National Guard audience. Corbett’s book covers a broad range of topics, from practical knowledge about the history of the National Guard and understanding rank to softer subjects like social life in the Guard and family programs.

National Guard Association of the United States President MG Gus L. Hargett Jr. (Ret.) said, "National Guard 101 is more than just a handbook for spouses. It's a go-to guide for anyone new to the Guard's portion of the profession of arms, even those in uniform."

Corbett is ready to get the book into the hands of the 162,000 National Guard spouses living in 2,700 civilian communities across the United States and its territories.

“While the Army takes care of Soldiers during deployments and provides resources such as Family Readiness Groups and Family Assistance Centers to connect families with military resources, it is really up to individual families to secure the day-to-day, practical, local support they need,” Corbett says. “I hope my book will do just that.”



About Author Mary Corbett

Mary Corbett is a professional writer and National Guard wife. She has appeared on The Today Show, Fox News Channel, local television affiliates, and nationally syndicated radio. Her first book, The List: 7 Ways to Tell if He’s Going to Marry You in 30 Days or Less was published in 2005. Corbett lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, with her husband Major Jon Roscoe, ARNG, their children Holly and William, and their dog Rumsfeld.

Did You Know?

- The National Guard is the oldest component of the U.S. military. It began in Massachusetts when it was established that able-bodied men between the ages of 16-60 were required to join the militia.

- The Army Guard and Army Reserves make up more than half of the total Army.

- Since 9/11, virtually every unit of the National Guard—a force the size of the entire active Army—has served on active duty for one or more of the deployments at home or abroad. The last time that the entire National Guard had been mobilized was for World War II.

- There are 3,000 National Guard armories in the U.S.

- Currently, there are nearly 50,000 Guardsman serving on active duty in support of the Global War on Terrorism.


National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses
By Mary Corbett
List $18.95
ISBN: 978-1-611210-68-2
Published November 2011 by Savas Beatie LLC
Available at bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit www.marycorbett.com

Media review copies, ebook, high resolution photographs and interviews available upon request. Contact: Sarah Keeney, 916-941-6896, sarahs@savasbeatie.com.


For more information, visit Savas Beatie or the National Guard 101 page.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Robert J. Wynstra Wins the 2011 Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award for The Rashness of That Hour

PRESS RELEASE: The Rashness of That Hour by author Robert J. Wynstra was selected as the 2011 winner of the Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award for the most original outstanding work on the Gettysburg Campaign.

The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General
Alfred Iverson
By Robert J. Wynstra (Savas Beatie, 2010)


The Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award is presented annually by the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table of Central New Jersey to the most original outstanding work on the Gettysburg Campaign.

"Robert Wynstra's seminal The Rashness of That Hour is well deserving of this prestigious award, and we are pleased that his efforts are being recognized by the historical community," explained Managing Director Theodore P. Savas, "We are looking forward to publishing Robert's future books."

The Rashness of That Hour is a deeply-researched brigade and battle history about the defeat of Iverson's brigade at Gettysburg on Day 1, one of the most popular topics Gettysburg students and readers discuss.

Drawing on a wealth of newly discovered and previously unpublished sources, the book explores the story behind one of the Civil War’s most notorious blunders. An in-depth analysis of the events at Gettysburg is balanced with an insider’s examination of a brigade that was in turmoil long before its final rendezvous with its July 1, 1863 destiny.

"I am pleased and gratified to receive such a prestigious award. I would like to thank the award committee and the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table for selecting my book. Best of all is the confirmation that others find the story behind the demise of Alfred Iverson just as fascinating and informative as I do,” said Robert J. Wynstra.

Organized in 1990, the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table is dedicated to the study, preservation, and discussion of the events and people that were part of this period in our nation's history. As the largest Round Table in New Jersey, the 200 members are presented with interesting and informative presentations and tours of the sites at which the war's events took place.

The Rashness of That Hour also recently won the 2010 Dr. James I. Robertson Literary Prize for Confederate History.


About Author Robert J. Wynstra

Robert J. Wynstra recently retired as a senior writer for the News and Public Affairs Office in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and a master’s degree in journalism, all from the University of Illinois.

Rob has been researching Alfred Iverson’s role in the Civil War for more than ten years. He is finishing work on a study of Robert Rodes’ Division in the Gettysburg Campaign.


The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson

By Robert J. Wynstra

List $32.95
ISBN: 978-1-932714-88-3
Published September 2010 by Savas Beatie LLC

Available at bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit Savas Beatie or the The Rashness of That Hour page.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

An Inside Look at the Savas Beatie Author Newsletter


View the Fall Author News!

Every couple of months, the Savas Beatie marketing department puts together a newsletter that is sent to our authors. It contains tips on how authors can help market and sell books, publishing industry updates, and news on fellow authors. I thought you might be interested in taking a look at this newsletter. And who knows, if you’re an author maybe you will find the tips helpful as well!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Are you tech savvy?

Book publisher Savas Beatie has been talking about QR codes a lot recently, those funny looking black and white square symbols. Not exactly sure what one is yet? Well, once you know what they are, you'll start seeing them pop up all over. Keep an eye out for Savas Beatie's traditional book ad in the November issue of the Civil War News, where they will be featuring a QR code with a special free book offer. You won't want to miss this contest, so keep your eyes peeled and have your phone ready! If you are not a subscriber to the Civil War News, click here to view the ad.

Friday, October 28, 2011

New Project: "The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Final Official Reports Filed by Union Civil War Generals"

I wanted to share some news about an exciting project we are working on, a digital collection of official reports filed by Union Civil War generals after the war. This project has been in the works for many years (I remember hearing about it years ago when Savas Beatie was just a baby!), and the digital platform is a perfect way to present the compilation. All of the details can be found on Ted Savas’ recent blog post. We will keep you posted as the work progresses.

Also be sure to cast your vote in the poll on the left hand side of the page linked above.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Robert J. Wynstra Wins the 2010 Dr. James I. Robertson Literary Prize for Confederate History Award for The Rashness of That Hour

PRESS RELEASE: The Rashness of That Hour by author Robert J. Wynstra was selected as the winner 2010 Dr. James I. Robertson Literary Prize for Confederate History award.

The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General
Alfred Iverson
By Robert J. Wynstra (Savas Beatie, 2010)

Chairman Lawrence Korczyk says, “Our prize committee selected Mr. Wynstra's volume due to the superb level of research, rich detail, and lively writing. We, at the Robert E. Lee Civil War Library & Research Center, congratulate Savas Beatie for publishing this excellent study. We would also like to extend our personal congratulations to Mr. Wynstra.”

The Rashness of That Hour is a deeply-researched brigade and battle history about the defeat of Iverson's brigade at Gettysburg on Day 1, one of the most popular topics Gettysburg students and readers discuss.

Drawing on a wealth of newly discovered and previously unpublished sources, the book explores the story behind one of the Civil War’s most notorious blunders. An in-depth analysis of the events at Gettysburg is balanced with an insider’s examination of a brigade that was in turmoil long before its final rendezvous with its July 1, 1863 destiny.

"I am pleased and gratified to receive such a prestigious award. I would like to thank the award committee and the Robert E. Lee Civil War Library and Research Center for selecting my book. Best of all is the confirmation that others find the story behind the demise of Alfred Iverson just as fascinating and informative as I do,” says Robert J. Wynstra.

The Dr. James I. Robertson Literary Prize for Confederate History award is named for Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr., Alumni Distinguished Professor in History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Founded in November 1997 and funded by corporate, foundation, and individual donations, the library is staffed entirely by volunteers and is open to the public. It features one of the largest single collections of Civil War material in existence.

About Author Robert J. Wynstra

Robert J. Wynstra recently retired as a senior writer for the News and Public Affairs Office in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and a master’s degree in journalism, all from the University of Illinois.

Rob has been researching Alfred Iverson’s role in the Civil War for more than ten years. He is finishing work on a study of Robert Rodes’ Division in the Gettysburg Campaign.


The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson

By Robert J. Wynstra

List $32.95
ISBN: 978-1-932714-88-3
Published September 2010 by Savas Beatie LLC

Available at bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit Savas Beatie or the The Rashness of That Hour website.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Why surveys are important, and how to best use them

Everyone knows what a survey is and most have taken at least one survey in their life. But what actually makes a survey valuable? A survey is a means for a business to collect data about their products and their customers likes and dislikes. Surveys allow a business to quickly collect data from consumers and put a plan in action to improve products.

Of course the goal is not just to administer the survey as quickly as possible. It takes some time to weed out questions that aren't important. When creating a survey, always ask yourself if the questions will benefit you. In other words, don't ask questions that won't give you valuable feedback. Ask questions where customers give more than a simple "yes" or "no" answer. In some cases, a one word answer is fine, but you should always offer a place for comments. One good comment out of a hundred could make the difference in selling a particular product or not.

Savas Beatie recently released a customer survey. The goal of the survey is to improve upon our books in general and the Savas Beatie website in particular, in order to meet customer's needs. All feedback from SB patrons, whether positive or negative, is valuable. We always want to know what we are doing right and what we can do better. The goal of our survey was to encompass a wide range of topics that customers can think about, but the questions mostly pertain to the Savas Beatie website.

Take a look at the survey here, or simply scroll down to the last post. Stay tuned for a results update!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Take our website survey for 50% off any one title!



Greetings from Savas Beatie. We appreciate your taking a few minutes to complete this survey. Your thoughts and suggestions are very important to us. Please feel free to use the "Other" field after each question for your comments, additional information, and explanations.

As a way of saying thank you, within 48 hours of completing the survey, you will be emailed a coupon code for 50% off any one title that we have in stock and receive free media mail shipping as well as an author signed bookplate! Thank you very much! Take our survey here.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Mark Wilensky Awarded 2011 Gilder Lehrman Colorado History Teacher of the Year Award



Watch the Common Sense book trailer!

PRESS RELEASE: Mark Wilensky Awarded 2011 Gilder Lehrman Colorado History Teacher of the Year Award and is in Top 5 Finalists for National Award by Sarah Keeney, Marketing Director, Savas Beatie LLC
Monday, September 19, 2011

El Dorado Hills, CA, September 19, 2011 -- The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine author Mark Wilensky was awarded the 2011 Gilder Lehrman, History Channel, and Preserve America’s Colorado History Teacher of the Year Award.

The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages by Mark Wilensky (Savas Beatie, 2008)

"I am so thankful to work for a school district that allows teachers the freedom to teach meaningful history curriculum in creative and individual ways," said Wilensky, a teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History awards the National History Teacher of the Year title each year in its effort to promote the study and love of American history. State winners received a $1,000 prize and an archive of classroom resources and all state winners are finalists for the $10,000 National History Teacher of the Year Award. The national winner will be announced in fall 2011.

Mark Wilensky teaches 5th Grade at Wheat Ridge 5-8. The award ceremony will take place October 6th at 6 pm at the Jefferson County Board of Education Meeting.

“Mark Wilensky provides a rich classroom learning environment that includes authentic learning activities and differentiation. He is successful in having his students meet and exceed our district curriculum standards as demonstrated by academic growth. Students are highly engaged in learning and students feel welcomed and supported. Students and parents know that Mr. Wilensky will be their educational advocate and that he is there to help them succeed,” said Warren Blair, principal at Wheat Ridge 5-8.

Wilensky's interactive Common Sense offers an array of colonial history sprinkled with audio, video, and text graphics linked to a dynamic online website. This adaptation includes the original Common Sense, a new adapted version in plain language, an extensive chronology of pre-revolutionary events leading up to the publication of Paine's pamphlet, and adapted versions of the Olive Branch Petition, A Proclamation For Suppressing Rebellion And Sedition, and the Boston Port Act. Wilensky also includes a wide variety of insights on colonial coins and mercantilism, and many humorous illustrations designed to convey the important concepts of independence and liberty.

About the Author: Mr. Wilensky is a fifth-grade teacher in Jefferson County, Colorado, where he has been accused of teaching his Colonial America and Revolutionary War classes with enthusiastic zeal. Mark holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. He has taught expelled and court-ordered students in coordination with the District Attorney's Office, and worked with the Colorado Department of Education on a national study to find ways to eliminate gaps in education for homeless and highly-mobile children.

The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages

By Mark Wilensky
List: $18.95
ISBN: 978-1-932714-36-4
Published September 2008 by Savas Beatie LLC

Available at bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit Savas Beatie or the Common Sense website.

Friday, September 23, 2011

The Mason-Dixon Report

The Mason-Dixon Report, March 30, 1861 from William Rabkin on Vimeo.



We recently received some contact from the group behind the Mason-Dixon Report. Check out the website, the introductory video above, and some of their other clips online. I hope this is being used in classrooms throughout the country over the next few years for some fun and creative lesson planning!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Twitter Tips: Part 2 of 2



If you have trouble setting up an account, visit Twitter’s help center at https://support.twitter.com/. Here are some tips for your first foray into the Twittersphere:

1. Pick a good name. If you already have a presence or a fan-base online, use a name that your fans will recognize, such as JKRowling, DanBrown, or the name of your blog (TheCivilWarExpert). Use proper capitalization, but without spaces. If you use something like war_nerd223 or number1mommy, you may not be taken seriously.

2. Fill out your profile. The first thing your peers will do when you follow them is look at your profile. If your purpose for being on Twitter is not clear and compelling, they may discount you. List your blog URL, the title of your book, and any expertise or titles that will convince users that you are worth following. Keep it concise.

3. Include contact information. Supplying your ‘public’ email address is a good way to court connections from fans and useful contacts. Do not include your phone number or any physical address.

4. Use a relevant picture. Obviously the author’s photo from your dust jacket/website is an ideal choice, but the cover of your book or any icon you might use on your blog is also acceptable. Something with bright colors, non-blurry, and with readable text is helpful. Users with blank photos are quickly ignored. Do a web search or visit Twitter’s help center if you aren’t sure how to upload a profile photo.

5. Follow everyone. Begin by using the Twitter ‘search’ feature to look for users who are discussing topics that are relevant to your book. Perform multiple searches with different search terms and look for anyone who seems to be posting intelligent, original information. Good candidates are: popular independent bookstores, history magazines, celebrated authors in your field, bloggers, news media, literary event coordinators, book marketing or PR firms, and niche publishers. Look for users who seem to get a lot of @ Replies directed at them, or who are included in many different conversations. The more users you follow, the more opportunities you will find to join in relevant conversations.

6. Read your Timeline. This is where the most time is spent. The more users you follow, the more unread tweets you will get in your timeline. After following a few hundred users, you will find it impossible to keep up. That’s ok, as you can begin “unfollowing” unimportant users, or simply skimming your timeline occasionally to look for important news.

7. Join in conversations. Whenever you see a user asking a question that you know the answer to, or a conversation that you can contribute positively to, tweet! Remember to use any # hashtags that are being used in the conversation, and to include @ Mentions to key users (or if you are replying to someone’s tweet). Remember that the goal is to promote yourself and your expertise to entice followers, not to advertise your book. That comes later.

8. Tweet original content. Once you have a stable base of followers, you can market your book to them by tweeting interesting quotes or excerpts, discount coupons or special deals on your book, times and places of events that you will be attending, and URL links to your blog posts. If you can, tweet daily, or at least two or three times a week. Remember that you can tweet from most cellphones - search online for instructions on using Twitter with your specific cellphone.

9. Stay connected. Keep an eye on your Direct Messages and @Mentions, and promptly answer any questions directed your way. By staying connected and involved with your fans, you will remain in the forefront of their minds when they are giving book recommendations to their friends and family!

10. Keep it up. Twitter is not a tool that can be honed overnight. You must develop a bevy of followers in order to get your message out. Once you are established, there are many marketing strategies available to making the most of your Twitter network. For example, offer discounts to followers who Retweet your important announcements. Add your voice to current events conversations to attract new fans. Use the “trending topics” list on the right side of Twitter to see what people are talking about, and keep an eye out for topics that are relevant to your book.

Like Facebook, Twitter is all about cultivating a network of contacts, both fans and peers. Like any social network, you can only get out of it as much as you put in. By tweeting original content, news, and incentives like coupon codes or limited-time deals, and by participating in discussions, you will be able to connect with readers and peers alike. Happy tweeting!

Friday, September 16, 2011

SB and QR (Read on if puzzled)

A QR code, also known as a “Quick Response” code, is the newest innovation in product marketing. These codes are popping up all over the media, including magazines, restaurants, and of course the book industry. These codes are squares with a unique pattern made up of black components on a white background. This code can then be scanned by smart phones. It works similarly to a regular barcode found on any and all merchandise, but is exclusively for smart phones that have a camera with the ability to identify the code.

Generating these codes is relatively easy as we found out here at Savas Beatie. You simply need access to a QR code generator such as Qurify or Delivr. All you have to do is plug in the URL you want to advertise. So in our case, if we want to advertise a specific book and want to direct people to the book page on our website, we just need to input the URL that is specific to that book and hit submit. It really is that simple! Then a pixilated square is generated for you to download and use however you wish.

These codes are also great because they have the ability to be tracked. We found out that Delivr allows you to generate your QR codes and then save them in a database to be tracked. Then, when the QR code begins to circulate and people start scanning the code, we can go in to see how effective the code is in producing awareness about our titles. As an example, here is a code that leads to our website homepage:




*Special thanks to Lindy Gervin for her early work with QR codes in the SB office!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Introducing Twitter: Part 1 of 2

Twitter is sometimes an enigma to the web-savvy and the web-illiterate alike. It’s part chat-room, part message board, part news feed, and part incomprehensible social network, all fueled by text message-style 140 character “tweets,” complete with odd punctuation and a “secret language” of abbreviated words and acronyms.

Twitter, like Facebook, can be a powerful tool in your Internet marketing toolbelt, but like other Internet marketing techniques, it requires some dedication and time to develop a network that’s actually useful. The first thing you should know about Twitter is that simply creating an account and posting tweets about your book will get you nowhere. Like any good cult, you must first cultivate a network of followers. This is done by participating in topical discussions on Twitter, by following other users in your field (and hoping they follow you back), and by adding a “follow me” link to your blog, Facebook, email and forum signatures, and in any other online communication that you participate in. Furthermore, you must keep the interest of your followers by posting regular updates that relate to your field of expertise. Users are more likely to follow someone who has a history of informative and regular tweets.

Communication on Twitter is entirely done through public text messages called “tweets.” A tweet is an individual 140-character (maximum) message which is visible publicly and which is distributed instantly to anyone who follows you. Once sent, a tweet cannot be edited, so compose and proofread your tweets carefully. A tweet can be as simple as a notification of an upcoming event, a web link to a recent blog post, a response to another user’s tweet, or a repetition of another user’s tweet that you believe your followers would like to see (a “retweet”). Tweets can also incorporate special words that have special meaning. These include hashtags (like #JapanEarthquake or #Obamacare) which describe the content of your tweet, mentions (like @JKRowling) that indicate to whom you are addressing, and retweets (a message preceded by the letters ‘RT’) which are tweets that you repeat for the benefit of your followers.

For more information on the types of tweets, see Twitter’s excellent help pages. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook Book Trailer

To follow up on my recent book trailer post, here is our latest creation! If you are familiar with Savas Beatie book trailers, we hope you enjoy the new features that we added to this one.



Curious why we make book trailers and what we do with them? Check out this book trailer Q and A with Ted Savas.

Thanks to designer David Van Dusen for another great job.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Case Study: Tracking sales leads to positive ad info results



Watch the book trailer!

We track internal and trade sales numbers closely, always keeping an eye out for upward trends, surprising returns, and low inventory.

Here’s an interesting example from our book Military Education Benefits for College:

Sales figures per month from January to June were steady. In July, the number of copies of the book that we sold through the trade increased dramatically. I thought maybe it was due to a summer month and people gearing up for another school year. Or perhaps an article about the book was recently published (although I hadn’t remembered seeing one come through on my Google Alerts recently). I emailed the authors to see if they had participated in an event recently that I was unaware of, or if they knew where this increase in sales might have stemmed from. Here is part of their response:

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We spent latter July and early August conducting experimental advertising on Facebook. It was working significantly well on the Facebook front, because it enabled us to increase our "likes" by about 70 in a week. I am confident this may have led to some of the spike in sales you noticed, coupled with appearances we made locally.

We decided to re-apply the same method for the end of August as well, and chose to use Saturday as our most aggressively budgeted day since that's when we saw the biggest spike in our user activity. This proved successful this weekend as we increased activity to the Facebook site again and added another 30 "likes" to our stable. We now hope to be over 500 by the middle of September at the latest. Our goal is to double that by November.

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We’ll track sales closely to see if this continues to pay off, and then urge other authors to replicate this on their Facebook pages. Do you have a similar success story, or an example of stagnant results using Facebook ads?

Friday, August 26, 2011

‘Once a Marine' Added to the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Reading List


Watch the Once a Marine book trailer!


PRESS RELEASE: Once a Marine by award-winning author Nick Popaditch was selected as a “must read” for Marines for capturing “the history, culture and evolution of the Marine Corps.”

The development of the “Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Library” shows the value the service’s top enlisted leader places on reading, Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett said in an Aug. 11 interview in his office. He said he reads frequently and gives Marines copies of books he has enjoyed while traveling.

“Yeah, I’ve got my coin, and there’s a time and place for giving coins,” he said. “But, do you know what I’d rather give a Marine? Something they can actually use. I’m one of those guys who likes practical gifts.”

Once a Marine publisher Savas Beatie is pleased with the selection. “Nick Popaditch, also know as ‘Gunny Pop,’ is a stand up guy. We are so happy his book continues to be so well received by readers and reviewers,” says Theodore Savas, Savas Beatie managing director.

In Once a Marine, Nick fights to remain in the Corps, to help his brothers in arms. Facing the inevitable following a medical retirement, he battles for recognition and compensation for his permanent disabilities.

Once a Marine is a behind-the-scenes tale of the day-to-day life of a career Marine noncommissioned staff officer. Nick's portrayal is: a husband and father, as well as a warrior and a molder of young warriors. He reveals himself completely including an introduction to his wife April, together with dozens of others.

Once a Marine was selected for the Commandant of the Marine Corps' recommended professional reading list for all ranks. It is also the Military-Writers Book of the Year for 2009 and was a national book club selection.

About Author Nick Popaditch: From East Chicago, Indiana, Nick Popaditch enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1986. While commanding a tank, he was wounded in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. Nick was medically retired from the Marines in 2005 at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Residing in San Diego, he and his wife, April, have two children, Richard and Nicholas.

Mike Steere is an author and freelance journalist based in Los Angeles. His most recent book-length collaboration is Brothers of Iron (Sports Publishing LLC) and he has written for Outside, The New York Times, Men’s Journal, Wired, and many national publications. He also writes for television.

Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery

By Nick Popaditch
List $25.00
ISBN: 978-1-932714-47-0
Published September 2008 by Savas Beatie LLC

Available at bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit http://www.onceamarine.com/

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

You Have a Book Trailer. Now What?

We produce book trailers for many of our titles, and are producing more per season each year. (Visit the Savas Beatie homepage to see ours.) Creating a book trailer is good, but the question is, how can you make it work as a marketing tool for your book? Here is a list of steps that we take when we have a book trailer completed:

1. We post the trailer on Facebook, Twitter, and in the next issue of our monthly newsletter. Whenever possible, embed the video so a thumbnail screen appears instead of just a link. People are more likely to click on a visual as opposed to a text link for viewing.

2. Pass the file on to the author. Ask them to distribute it to all their contacts via social networking sites, email, etc.

3. Send the trailer to those in your database of contacts who would be the most interested in it. For example, when we have a Civil War book trailer, we email it to our database of Civil War bloggers, authors, and publications. Have this list ready to go so you don’t need to reinvent the wheel for each release.

4. In addition to sending the file out to your regular contacts, seek out genre and topic-specific blogs and other media who would be interested in this trailer in particular. For example, we are working on a book trailer for our new Indian War release Dakota Dawn by Greg Michno now. We don’t publish as many Indian Wars titles as we do Civil War books, so we are expanding our database in this genre now. For a cavalry book trailer, find cavalry blogs, for a Lincoln book trailer, find Lincoln blogs.

5. We also email each trailer to our distributor Casemate for posting on their website and YouTube channel.

6. If the book is a selection of a book club, such as the Military or History Book Club, send them the trailer for posting on their site. We even take it a step further and create a version of the trailer with a different final slide, complete with their ordering info.

7. Enter the trailer into book trailer contests. Here are two: You Gotta Read Reviews Book Video Contest and The New Covey Trailer Awards. We’ve even had a couple books win book trailer awards!

8. Post the video on sites such as YouTube,Vimeo, and Daily Motion. More hits, more clicks, more views, more orders!

9. Have the author post the video on his or her Amazon Author Central page. If you are an author and you don’t have an Author Central page, create one!

I hope these steps are helpful. Stay tuned for a peek at our latest trailer, for The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook, coming soon.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Author Interviews Lead to Great Book Coverage

We have had a slew of author interviews posted on various websites and blogs recently. Here are just a couple examples:

The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook author J. David Petruzzi on Greg Caggiano’s From New York to San Francisco

A Little Short of Boats author James Morgan on Harry Smeltzer’s Bull Runnings

As you can see, these were both exclusive back-and-forth Q & As between the blogger and the author. Savas Beatie also interviews authors and posts these on our website (such as Mary Corbett’s discussion of her upcoming National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses). We share these with reporters and bloggers before they interview an author and we also offer these pre-done interview transcripts for media to use verbatim. It’s a great way to provide content in an easy-to-read and, more importantly, easy-to-use format for the reporter.