Marketing -- Power In Numbers?

Okay, so I think we all know that marketing is a strange and scary beast. It's hard to keep yelling from your rooftop about your own book. It's hard to know how to reach out past your own circle of blog followers or twitter people.

That's why being a member of a group can be beneficial for your marketing strategies. I have long been active in the blogging community, and that right there can be the foundation where you find the people that you might want to bring in a little tighter. Maybe join forces, you know?

I have belonged to several groups, and they've each performed different roles. No matter what the group, there is definite power in numbers. There are pros and cons to groups, of course, but I'm just going to focus on the pros here.

1. Extended reach. In a group, take the League of Extraordinary Writers for example, there's going to be people that have more reach than you, or a different reach than you. When you're associated with the group, you can access that reach.

2. Help in spreading the word. The more people who tweet for you about any number of things can help get the word out to their followers, and theirs, and theirs... Hmm, this sounds like #1.

3. Moral support. This is extremely valuable. In an industry that is highly solitary, having a group of people with which you can express your true feelings is important. Also, these people can help brainstorm additional marketing ideas, and teaming up with another person can be an advantageous marketing strategy.

4. Exposure. Oh, wait. This sounds like #1 and #2. Ha! I do think group activities (like the YA Scavenger Hunt) can allow authors great exposure to audiences they might not have otherwise "met".

However, group activities can be hard. Remember those science projects and stuff in junior high and high school? Not everyone pulling their weight? The overly anxious person? Yeah, that can happen in groups, even online.

Things to Keep in Mind:
1. You get out of a group what you put in. (This is code for: Don't always take from your group. Give too.)

2. Not all personalities work well in groups. (This is code for: Choose wisely.)

3. Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate. (This is code for: Don't stay in a group if it's making you A) crazy, B) mad, C) crazy-mad. Constantly evaluate your position in the group and how much time it's taking away from writing.)

The bottom line: I think groups are an effective way to advance your marketing. You can draw from a wider audience, have an opportunity to reach a wider audience, and have the added bonus of an attentive ear from people who get what you're going through.

Do you belong to any group blogs? Unofficial groups? Have you thought about them from a marketing standpoint?

Or are you overwhelmed by group blogs? Group projects? Group promotions? I'd love to hear both sides!

Two Thousand Eleven

Oh my heck, you guys. I feel like I've been waiting for 2011 my whole life. It just feels that way, or something.

So since I’m an Elevensie, I thought I’d take a day once a month to alert you to some new voices in YA and MG: fellow Elevensies.

I’m going to ask each of them a Elana-style random question so you can get to know them better. You can feast on the eye candy of covers, and you can order the books by clicking the release date.

So without further adieu, I give you some amazing releases coming in January!! For a full list, check out the Elevensies blog, and look at all those gorgeous books coming in Two Thousand Eleven!

Maurisa Guibord’s WARPED, out January 11:

Fess up...what's the first thing you go for before writing? Soda? Chocolate? Music? Something else? This might be weird but before I start writing I have to be really cozy and warm. I live in Maine though- so it's not the easiest thing to accomplish these days. Layers are involved, including warm socks, a comforter, and sometimes even those gloves- the ones with the fingers cut off? Why yes, I do look like Bob Cratchit when I write. Then, when I'm all warm and Cratchitty... I'm almost ready to write.

The only thing I need is a hot drink! I like coffee but I usually find myself drinking tea. My latest addiction is this fabulous tea from Trader Joe's called Jasmine Pearls. It smells like heaven and I do believe it makes my brain work better. At least, I'm hoping it does!

Julia Karr’s XVI, out January 6:

When planning the "perfect party" what's your go-to menu item? When planning the "perfect party" I simply must make "cheddar cheese olive balls."

TerryLynn Johnson’s DOGSLED DREAMS, available NOW!:

When faced with the vast array of apples at the store, which variety do you buy? Each time I purchase apples I buy a different kind. I like variety.

Danette Vigilante’s THE TROUBLE WITH HALF A MOON, out January 6:

So...you and the moon. What's your favorite moon phase? My favorite moon phase would be ... drum roll ... the crescent moon aka (in my world at least): Toenail moon!

Jeff Sampson’s VESPER, out January 25:

Besides "author," what's your dream profession? The ideal job for me is anything creative, really! Though I love being an author, my second love would be graphic design. I do a lot of image editing and design work just for fun!

You can also check out a lot of amazingness coming in 2011 on the Goodreads 2011 Debut Author Challenge list. Yeah, okay, Possession is on there, and no one would mind if you, you know, voted for it or anything. *wink*

What book are you excited about in this, the year of Two Thousand Eleven??