Google Plus February Fest

google winterfestLots is going on with Google+ right now. So how about we take this opportunity to make some new friends on Google Plus?

This is how it works: If you are an author, publisher, publicist, literary agent, book reviewer, librarian (or especially a book-lover), etc., in the comments below, paste in the link for your Google Plus profile. Make sure you show some love to the links in the comments above yours (by adding them to your circles), and check back throughout the day to catch up.

If you’re not sure what link to post, just find your profile, then copy and paste the URL. It should look something like this: https://plus.google.com/u/0/115965541971717273872 

This should be fun and should generate a lot of exposure for everyone who plays. Let’s get things moving!

PLEASE be sure to reciprocate by following those who follow you. This is give and take. If everyone plays by the golden rule, we all benefit.

February Smashwords Fest

smashwords heartAh Smashwords. They are so kind to authors. We revealed in our last installment of Author Tips and Tricks that readers don’t even need an account there to download free books. How cool is that? Not sure how they can or will compete with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. So how about we show Smashwords some love with a Smashwords Book Page Like-fest!

This is how it works: If you are an author with a book listed on Smashwords.com, in the comments below, write a SHORT one sentence blurb about ONE of your books, then paste in the link to that book below it. (If you post more than one book, to be fair to everyone else, we will delete all except for the top link, so please behave and post only ONE book – NOT your author page – there is no way to like those!) Make sure you show some love to the links in the comments above yours, and check back throughout the day to catch up.  If you’re a publisher, editor, or reader, please check out these book pages – you may see something you like! (BTW, liking a book on Smashwords WILL show up in your FB feed. If you don’t want it there, you’ll need to go into Facebook and manually remove it from your wall.)

[Don’t forget, if you right-click the links, you can choose to have them open in a separate tab so you don’t have to worry about navigating back and forth to pages.]

This should be fun and should generate a lot of likes for everyone’s books. Let’s get things moving – and here’s a book to get you started:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/23869

PLEASE do not post erotica titles. IU is a safe-for-work site.

To those with concerns about the ethical implications of “liking” a book you have not read, we regard  likes as more analogous to a “high five” than a rating or review. We do not support the idea of rating or reviewing a book you have never read. If you’re concerned that people will think you are endorsing someone else’s book, you can always just write something like “hey, my friend’s book is on Smashwords.”

January Twitter Fest

hashtag tweeterHave you been feeling lonely on Twitter lately? Well, our Jim Devitt wrote a couple of posts which might help you get more eyes on your tweets. Check that out, then come back here and have some fun with our January Twitter Fest.

This is how it works: If you are an author, publisher, publicist, literary agent, book reviewer, (or especially a book-lover), etc., in the comments below, paste in the link for your Twitter Handle. Tweet the link to this post, inviting all your followers to do the same. Make sure you show some love to the handles in the comments above yours, and check back throughout the day to catch up. (Remember: If you right-click the link, you can open it in a new tab so you don’t have to constantly page back and forth.)

This should be fun and should generate a lot of follows for everyone who plays. We’ll kick things off with ours. Let’s get the party started! http://www.twitter.com/IndiesUnlimited.

PLEASE be sure to reciprocate by following those who follow you. This is give and take. If everyone plays by the golden rule, we all benefit.

LinkedIn Connection Fest

Don’t know how to find your URL? It’s easy. Click profile and see the screen shot above.

Just last week, our Lynne Cantwell wrote about how many of us aren’t really finding a use for LinkedIn anymore. Maybe if we made some new connections, we could show each other a thing or two. So come on down and join in the LinkedIn like-fest!

This is how it works: If you are an author, publisher, publicist, literary agent, book reviewer, librarian (or especially a book-lover), etc., in the comments below, paste in the link for your LinkedIn profile. Make sure you show some love to the profiles in the comments above yours, and check back throughout the day to catch up. to get your ID, merely go to your profile and copy the link next to the BIG pink arrow in the picture above (i.e. – http://www.linkedin.com/in/authorksbrooks).

Click on the person’s link in the comments section below, and you will go to their profile. (Remember, if you right click on the link and open it into a new tab, that will eliminate the need to click back over and over.) Then click CONNECT. (See photo below.)

Connect with people on LinkedInThis should be fun and should generate a lot of exposure for everyone who plays. Let’s get the party started!