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FAQ's for Melissa

I receive daily emails, Twitter, and Facebook messages daily about marketing, publishing, and social media. In an effort to save time and consolidate answering the same questions a multitude of times, I'm opening this forum for questions. I'll answer them as I am able, and I'll try to get to each in a timely fashion. 

Please be succinct in your questions and ask only one question per comment. I'll respond to each directly and will leave the answers below for others to refer to. 

*I do not claim to be an expert on any subject, but I am happy to share what I have learned about marketing, publishing, and social media. When leaving a comment on this forum, you understand that the answers you receive may not be what will work for you, and you agree to hold Melissa Foster and WoMen's Literary Cafe, LLC harmless and free of responsibility for the outcome of your actions.

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Books I am ready to review.

May 15, 2012 by L. J. Chandler, 3 days 13 hours ago
Comment id: 14815

I picked books to review, but have to jump through hoops to post the review or go to an old email that will actually send me to the buttons to enter my review.  Why can't there be a simple link above under bloggers & reviewers that says... Enter review here.  I have finished a few books, but after 20 minutes of navigation, I have other, easier things to finish as well.  Should not be so hard to enter a review to help someone.  I wonder how many others just gave up.  This site needs to be more user friendly.  It is an awesome idea, but takes too long to navigate when you have other commitments. 

Http://MoonShineArtSpot.blogspot.com

moonShineArtSpot@ gmail.com

Achilles Tendon - post surgery

May 14, 2012 by huaan, 4 days 6 hours ago
Comment id: 14698

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Plug-Ins

May 5, 2012 by DonnaCrupi, 1 week 6 days ago
Comment id: 13911

Hi Melissa,

Can you recommend a good plug-in for my website to gather email lists? I've tried several and there were conflicts with wordpress.

Thank you,

Donna Crupi

Newsletters

May 5, 2012 by WriterGirl, 1 week 6 days ago
Comment id: 13914

Hi Donna,

Constant Contact works with Wordpress, and you might try MailChimp or Vertical Response. 

Hope this helps!

thank you for the recommendations!

May 5, 2012 by DonnaCrupi, 1 week 6 days ago
Comment id: 13930

Hi Melissa,

I'll try Constant Contact and Vertical Response. I did try MailChimp - I watched all of the videos so I REALLY knew what I was doing (laugh) and then after  installing it, my website  crashed. My site creater told me he's seen this a lot. Just a warning that people should be aware of a possible conflict with mailchimp and wordpress.

Donna

Cover Artists

May 3, 2012 by Susan Paulson Clark, 2 weeks 20 hours ago
Comment id: 13759

I am writing an article on book cover art. I'd like to link to the page of artists on your site ... however I could only find the toolbox sign-up page. Can you email me the link? sclark75214@gmail.com.

Cover Artists

May 3, 2012 by WriterGirl, 2 weeks 20 hours ago
Comment id: 13761

Hi Susan, thank you. It's probably best if you link to the Author Toolbox, that's a downloadable PDF that authors can use as a constant reference, and the cover artists are in the guide. 

http://www.worldliterarycafe.com/content/author-resource-toolbox

Thank you!

Tweets to my mail box

May 1, 2012 by Authormary, 2 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 13560

Dear Melisa, I recieve tweets to my mail box, at first I took the time to tweet them all, but no one is tweeting me back.  Is there something else I should do, or are you sending me and everyone the tweets we leave for you to retweet?  If so, why is no one tweeting mine.  I have stopped spending time on this for now until I can understand as I am sure it is something I have mis understood.

Also, how do I load my books?

much love and thanks to you all, Authormary  - Mary Wood

Tweets

May 1, 2012 by WriterGirl, 2 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 13563

Hi Mary, I'd love to help, but I'm not sure what you are referring to. Where are you receiving tweets to your mailbox from? Are you signed up on our Tweet Team and subscribed to the page? If so, that is why you are receiving the tweets. However, if you subscribe you will receive all tweets, and tweet teams consist of just five people and you must post your tweet on your team page in order for people to see your tweets and tweet you back. It sounds to me like somewhere along the lines you have subscribed to a tweet page and perhaps not returned daily to input your tweets onto a team page. 

You can reach me directly by using our Contact form, found under the HOME menu item. If you could forward an email that you have received, I can track down the issue and help you to figure out what is going on. 

Hope this helps,

Melissa

I think I understand now

May 2, 2012 by Authormary, 2 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 13658

Hi, when i first came on the site I did take a look at the tweet teams, so I must have subscribed.  So, I am getting the tweets of the team and not leaving my own,,,  bit of an idiot, aren't I!!!  Right, I get it now.  Thank you, not only for answering but for all the help you give.  I will at sometime in the future take up a paid promotion,  xxx

Mary

May 2, 2012 by WriterGirl, 2 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 13659

Hi Mary, I'm glad you figured it out. You can unsubscribe to those posts by clicking on Subscriptions in your Account, or by clicking SUBCRIBE in the first post on the Tweet Teams and then unchecking the subscription link. 

For information on how the Tweet Teams work, click on the TWEET TEAM BIRDS in the right column :-) Full descriptions are there and a video. 

Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Melissa

Hi Melissa, I wanted to let

April 29, 2012 by Jenna Storm, 2 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 13346

Hi Melissa, I wanted to let you know so you could contact the author...I was tagging on Amazon and entry 715, Bliss Chase, the tags are not showing up w/boxes so you can't click anything. 

Thanks, Jenna

Thanks, Jenna

May 1, 2012 by WriterGirl, 2 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 13562

You might try on another day - it was probably an Amazon glitch

Other Genres

April 21, 2012 by C.K. Garner, 3 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 12668

Hi Melissa, I heard about this site from my editors over at Musa Publishing and I was wondering if it is okay to include books here from other genres. My genre is speculative fiction/science fiction, but I didn't see it in the genre listings.

Thanks for your time and for the great author resource!

C.K. Garner

Author Stealing Time (Musa Publishing, August 2012)

All genres

April 21, 2012 by WriterGirl, 3 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 12671

Hi C.K., we cater to all genres and self or traditionally published authors. You are certainly welcome to jump in. We do have a Science Fiction forum - Speculative Fiction is not a forum we have designated, but you can post in the General Fiction forum. Your genre is welcome in any of our promotions.

Online Serial Novel

April 20, 2012 by kate, 4 weeks 12 hours ago
Comment id: 12513

Hi Melissa,

I am working with a company helping an author publish their serial novel online. It is available for everyone to read from the website but it is not on Kindle and is not a blog. Do you have any promotion methods or reviews that we could submit the novel to?

http://www.themanmademessiah.com

Warm regards,

Kate

 

 

Promotions for authors

April 20, 2012 by WriterGirl, 4 weeks 6 hours ago
Comment id: 12530

Hi Kate, yes we sure do! Look under AUTHORS - there are a number of promotional opportunities, including a Read and Review program that will bring the book to readers. Take a breeze through our programs and email me with the Contact Us form if you have any questions.

Hope that helps!

 

smashword

April 17, 2012 by helga zeiner, 4 weeks 3 days ago
Comment id: 12251

Hi Melissa,

I am new in WLC and am trying to figure out how to promote my novel. Trying to enter the "Review" page, I am asked to submit a "smashword". What is this and how do I get one?

Tks

Helga

Read and Review Program

April 17, 2012 by WriterGirl, 4 weeks 3 days ago
Comment id: 12252

Hi Helga, welcome to WLC! The Read and Review program requires files to distribute to our reviewers, so we do require either a Smashwords coupon code, a mobi or an epub file. The reason we prefer Smashwords coupons is that Smashwords allows for any format to be downloaded. 

You can use any of the formats suggested, and if you do want to check out Smashwords, simply go to Smashwords.com and look at their platform. It's quite easy to upload a file. 

How to Translate

April 11, 2012 by BlessedBklynite, 5 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 11746

Hi Melissa,

I just published a paperback and I have a friend who only reads in Napoli, not english.  I would love to get a copy translated for her, but I am not sure how to do this.  I published my book through CreateSpace, but they don't do translations.  I am in the process of reformatting it for Kindle.  Does Kindle translate to Napoli?  But the thing is, she doesn't have a Kindle reader.  Even if I could just get a pdf of my book in her language, that would be great, but I would much rather it be a paperback.  Please let me know what you think I should do.

BlessedBklynite

Venus

Napoli

April 11, 2012 by WriterGirl, 5 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 11748

I wish I were more help on this. You can check our Author Toolbox (look under the Author menu item), but you might need to Google Napoli translators. Sorry, wish I were more help.

Translators

April 13, 2012 by BlessedBklynite, 5 weeks 6 hours ago
Comment id: 11874

Thanks Melissa! I found a translator company and am waiting on a quote.  If they are any good, I will let you know the company and the quote they give me!  

Venus

Read and Review

April 7, 2012 by MarilynH, 5 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 11403

Hi Melissa,
I would like to enroll my book Pegasus in your read and review program. However, I have none of the files you request. May I just send a kindle edition?
Marilyn

Read and Review

April 11, 2012 by WriterGirl, 5 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 11747

Hi Marilyn, the Kindle copy is a .mobi file, if you can submit one of the three files (.mobi is included) with the registration form, you are good to go!

Social Media Book Buzz

April 4, 2012 by Deborah Garner, 6 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 11136

Hi Melissa,

How far in advance do Social Media Book Buzz campaigns need to be scheduled? Am I correct to assume it's a good plan to arrange it, aside from a book's launch date? I have a book, Above the Bridge, releasing this Friday, but am working through a slow launch program, so am open to upcoming publicity opportunites. Or, of course, anything now!

Thanks for any advice you may have,

Debbie

Deborah Garner, author of Above the Bridge

Social Media Book Buzz

April 4, 2012 by WriterGirl, 6 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 11137

Hi Deborah, Social Media Book Buzz books very quickly. You'll need to complete the registration form and speak to our SMBB coordinator to tell you if your requested dates are available. We now are able to feature two SMBB features per day. We also offer Today's Hot Titles, a new promotional opportunity, and there are more openings in that feature for more books per day. 

The key to successful marketing is a consistent presence, therefore, we strongly recommend that you do at least one promotion per month, and if you are able, then I would do two - Social Media Book Buzz and either Today's Hot Titles, or for new releases, the New Release promotion offers a full week of exposure, as does our Read and Review program. We also offer Nook promotions, as well as free book exposure.

You might also check out our Free promotions.

I hope this helps! Congrats on your book!

Melissa

Free Tweet Scheduler

April 3, 2012 by Laurence St John, 6 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 11074

Hello Melissa!

What is the name/URL for the Tweet Scheduler that is mentioned in the video tutorial?

Thanks,

Laurence

Hi Laurence

April 3, 2012 by WriterGirl, 6 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 11075

The dashboard is called Tweet Deck. There are many different schedulers. Hootsuite, Twuffer, Social Oomph, Tweet Adder, etc. With Tweet Deck you can only schedule one tweet at a time, but many people love it. 

Hope that helps!

Carolyn's Missing Tweets

March 31, 2012 by WriterRowan, 6 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 10756

Hi Melissa

I did 2 tweets yesterday (Friday) for Carolyn, who was on my team - but I have just done another 2. I also did my WLC tweets, and will of course repeat these when I tweet today. 

I love the new 10 person team idea, and I feel it's working very well, although reciprocation is of course v important. 

Enjoy your weekend & thanks for inventing such a great site!  Phil

 

 

Thank you Phil

March 31, 2012 by WriterGirl, 6 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 10780

Thank you so much, Phil. I just zipped off an email to you. We will continue to audit the Tweet Teams to insure participation. We are so glad you are with us!

WLC FREE TODAY

March 30, 2012 by WriterRowan, 7 weeks 46 min ago
Comment id: 10713

Hi Melissa 

My WLC FREE TODAY tweets were removed earlier - possibly because I had omitted to add WLC before FREE TODAY. I have now corrected this, so hopefully they're OK!!

 

Phil

March 30, 2012 by WriterGirl, 7 weeks 32 min ago
Comment id: 10717

Phil, you had posted in the wrong area. You posted in the WLC tweet area, you need to post in the Tweet Team area. HERE

We sent you an email about it (Gerria did, probably via private message here on the site). I think you were just confused as to where the actual teams were located. No worries!

You might want to read this: TWEET TEAM INFO.

​Hope that helps, and so glad you are here!

A great new system

March 30, 2012 by WriterRowan, 7 weeks 3 hours ago
Comment id: 10692

Hi Melissa

I think this new system is great - and much easier to use. Many thanks - Phil Rowan   @WriterRowan

 

Thank you, Phil!

March 30, 2012 by WriterGirl, 7 weeks 3 hours ago
Comment id: 10693

I'm so glad you are happy with the Tweet Teams! Yay! Thanks for the note - you  made my day.smiley

KDP Select

March 29, 2012 by DonnaCrupi, 7 weeks 21 hours ago
Comment id: 10615

Hi Melissa,

I have resisted signing up for KDP Select and I feel like I'm missing out on an opportunity. What is your advice?

Also, I published on Smashwords. If I choose to sign up for KDP, how do I choose not to be published from them for the three month period?

Thanks for the support. It means the world!

Donna

KDP Select

March 29, 2012 by WriterGirl, 7 weeks 16 hours ago
Comment id: 10622

Hi Donna, there are pros and cons about KDP Select. Right now, it appears that going with KDP and doing one free day per 5-6 weeks, followed by a layered promotional system, and with the increased exposure of promoting your free days across social networks, can increase your sales significantly the days following your freebie. What you need to be aware of is that if you are on KDP Select, you cannot get picked up on any of the big bestseller lists because you need to be on two reporting venues. 

If you are selling less than 200 books/mo on other venues, then you might make up those sales in the lending library at KDP Select (you get paid for borrow). 

It's only a 90 day exclusive period, so you can always try it and back out after the 90 days. 

With regard to Smashwords, go to your dashboard and click "unpublish" - voila, you are done. Note that it can take 2-4 weeks for B&N and Kobo to remove your book. Also,  I highly recommend publishing through PubIt to B&N next time. It's easier than SW and your changes are reflected within 24 hours (usually). 

I hope this helps.

Doubled up on Twitter follows

March 29, 2012 by Lexis De Rothschild, 7 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 10594

Hi Melissa,

I got confused when I signed up for the Linky. Please delete the Lexis De Rothschild link and please keep @thecatletters.

Newbiely Yours.

L.

 

 

 

 

Will do!

March 29, 2012 by WriterGirl, 7 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 10595

Thank you for letting us know

Says I'm not logged in, but I am.

March 24, 2012 by L. J. Chandler, 7 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 10384

I keep getting tweets to come here to get free books.  When I get here, it says oops have to be registered user.  I AM & I am logged in... what's problem?

Lisa

Hi Lisa

March 24, 2012 by WriterGirl, 7 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 10395

Hi Lisa, our Free Ebook Friday program runs from roughly 8am-10pm EST on Fridays. Based on the time of this post, the promotion was over. I did notice that a few people had tweeted that today, in error, and unfortunately, we can't control RTs that happen after the promotion is over. 

Thanks, Melissa.

March 13, 2012 by LizMcKeown1955, 9 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 9278

I appreciate your help.

Smiles - Liz

Anytime!

March 13, 2012 by WriterGirl, 9 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 9280

Happy to help, Lizsmiley

I completely updated my blog. Where do I find it on this site.

March 13, 2012 by LizMcKeown1955, 9 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 9273

I listed my blog on your site about two months ago, but can't find it to update it to reflect the "makeover" I did on it today. Here is the link: http://www.blogger.com/profile/01040877134826642014

I appreciate it.

Blog

March 13, 2012 by WriterGirl, 9 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 9276

Hi Liz, 

You posted your blog in our Blog forum--you can edit your post or add your link here: 

http://worldliterarycafe.com/content/blogs

Hope that helps!

Late entries to free promotion list possible? - freebie on 15th

March 12, 2012 by kawyle, 9 weeks 3 days ago
Comment id: 9077

I hope you won't be offended if I ask whether there's any chance of having a free promotion on March 15th included in the list, even though I didn't see the info and submit by March 7th.... Just in case, the book is my science fiction novel Twin-Bred

Karen A. Wyle

Sorry Karen

March 12, 2012 by WriterGirl, 9 weeks 3 days ago
Comment id: 9079

Sorry Karen, but we need time to prepare for the event, which is why we have cut off dates for the submissions.

Posting review on Amazon

March 1, 2012 by b00kr3views, 11 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 7813

I have just been accpted on WC Review team & I know that the rule states that we need to post review on goodreads & Amamzon both.

I have an account on amazon, but I have been unable to post a review on it because they ask  to  purchase the item in order to be able to post a review. Is there another way to post a review or do I have to buy the item?

Amazon reviews

March 4, 2012 by WriterGirl, 10 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 8096

With Amazon, you are not required to purchase the item in order to leave a review. Amazon only requires that you have purchased at least one item in the past. I might suggest, if you want to review multiple books, that you purchase one 99c item so you're allowed to post reviews. Please contact me directly via our Contact form so we can discuss an appropriate way to move forward. 

New Release Registration Fees

February 29, 2012 by Aniko Carmean, 11 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 7714

Hello!

I want to participate in a new release promotion, but I was curious how much it costs. The top of the page says that it is $45 to participate, but in the form there is a question asking if I've made the payment of $30. Beneath the $30 payment option, there is another line that says not to submit the form until the $45 feature book fee has been paid. Is the total to participate in the New Release promotion $45 or $75? 

Thanks!

-aniko

Registration - New Release

February 29, 2012 by WriterGirl, 11 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 7716

Hi Aniko. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The fee is $45 and the $30 reference was an error. Our apologies for the confusion. 

Congratulations on your new release!

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