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!

I Want To Be Like Christine Fonseca

Okay, so major big stuff today. First off, I want to spotlight Christine Fonseca as part of my #IWantToBeLike week.

See, she's a great person. More than great. Phenomenal. She writes young adult fiction and I've read almost all of it. She is a master of emotions. Fantastic at setting. An artist of character development. She's one to watch, my friends. She will be hitting the fiction debut shelf sooner rather than later.

In the non-fiction world, she's already a giant. Her first book, EMOTIONAL INTENSITY IN GIFTED STUDENTS hit the shelves last October. It's brilliant and powerful and everything you need if you've ever even seen a child.

And her next one? Due out May 1. Or so she thought. It's actually being shipped and released NOW!

101 SUCCESS SECRETS FOR GIFTED KIDS will rock your world. Order your copy today--and I'm willing to bet you'll get it BEFORE it's released!

So yeah. I want to be like Christine Fonseca.

OTHER NEWS:

• The chance to win a piece of Possession-inspired jewelry is rapidly closing. Only one more week! Just go to the Facebook fanpage and write on the discussions wall about your greatest POSSESSION.
• Hastings is hosting a Dystopian Prize Package! You can find the details on my brand spankin' new Contests & Giveaway page, and you can win one of ten prize packages. Each package has 12 amazing dystopian novels--including POSSESSION! (Look on the far right side for the cover! *squee!*)
• Jon Arntson and Theresa Milstein are participating in a pre-launch POSSESSION tour happening in the month of May. There will be ten tour stops, and I'm working with each one to offer 100% completely unique content. That's where you come in. Both Jon and Theresa are letting you ask me a question!
  
  Three questions. Two blogs. One Elana.
  Go to Jon's blog to enter your question. He'll be choosing two.
  Go to Theresa's blog to enter your question. She'll be choosing one.
  
  Answers will be filmed in NEW YORK CITY, where I will be going in just 22 days!

Whew. I think I made it through everything. Wait. Just kidding!

Do you know about the Cornucopia of Dystopia event going on over at A Tapestry of Words and The Bookish Type? No?

Well. Dude, you need to know! From March 21 (that's Monday) to April 18, there will be a plethora (yes, I just used the word plethora) of dystopian deliciousness for some 2011 dystopian releases--including XVI by Leaguer Julia Karr, Memento Nora by Leaguer Angie Smibert, and Possession by Leaguer Elana Johnson! (Yeah, okay, that's me.)

So click on this button, and be sure to check out the complete line up of events!

Go check out my whole post at The League of Extraordinary Writers for more information.

Did I overload you? That was like four posts worth of information. Sorry!