Social Media

On Tuesday, April 6, at 2 p.m. EST, Book Business will present the HP-sponored webinar, "Making Books Social."

Recognizing the importance of social networking in the lives of today’s teen readers, publishers are blending Web sites and social media with new book releases to start conversations and keep them going. They are looking for opportunities for readers to not only order and review new titles online, but also to share their enthusiasm for books with fellow members of social networking sites; communicate with authors; and use a variety of up-to-date digital tools to express interests and opinions.

Many publishers have launched or are launching social media efforts. But, as time will tell, an effective social media strategy requires more than simply setting up a Twitter account or a Facebook page and waiting for followers and fans to flock. When San Francisco-based Chronicle Books launched its social media strategy in March 2009, it did so with specific goals in mind. "The overriding strategy … was to build our community, build audience, raise our brand awareness of Chronicle Books online and start … driving traffic to our site," says Guinevere de la Mare, Chronicle's community manager, who works with the marketing team to spearhead and sustain social media efforts.

For better or worse, Twitter has become part of our culture. While some people still may not see the value in engaging on the online social networking tool, many do. According to ComScore Media Metrix’s October figures, Twitter had more than 20 million unique visitors in the United States in September. Many businesses find Twitter useful for connecting with customers, and publishers are no exception.

As an author of Internet-marketing books and the former Web editor for Chelsea Green Publishing, Jesse S. McDougall knows a bit about using the Internet—and specifically, social media marketing—to sell books.

Publishing startup Big Bang Press is out to prove that FanFic authors not only have original stories to tell, but also can have mainstream success.

When I found out I was going to become a father, I wrote The Monster Alphabet. I wanted a book to read to my son that was filled with nerdy delight, and came up with an alphabet based off the monsters of legend. Initially, I wasn't sure what to do with it. I asked my art partner, Obsidian, if he'd be interested in drawing it, but time was a serious issue for us.