S

All About the BlogsA Guide to Using Blogger Influence

Meet Kellie

Kellie Celia: Marketing Communications Manager, PublishingWalden Media/Walden Pond Press

Walden Pond Press

Overview

Blogger Influence and Benefits

Finding and Reaching Bloggers

Pitching Bloggers

Blog Events

Q&A with Top Children’s Book Blogger: Danielle Smith

Working With Bloggers: Benefits

Low/No Cost

Provides a Platform

Multiple Posts from One Source

Many Different Choices: Thousands of Blogs

Wide Reach to Different Reading Audiences

Career-Building Contacts

Many Different Ways to Work with Blogs

Symbiotic Partnership

Defining “Influencer”:

“A person who has a greater than average reach or impact through word of mouth in a relevant marketplace.”

Source: Word of Mouth Marketing Association

Source: Technorati's 2013 Digital Influence Report

Source: Technorati's 2013 Digital Influence Report

More Statistics

86% of Online Influencers Blog Other Blogs are Most Influential when Choosing Their Own

Content

Online Services Shared From the Most: #1 Facebook – 57% #2 YouTube – 40% #3 Blogs – 26%

Source: Blogging.org

S

Finding and Reaching Bloggers

Step 1: Create a Target ListStep 2: Know Where to Look

Step 3: Initiate the Relationship

Create a Target List

Start Reading

Check out “About Me” and “Review Policy”

Look at Follower Counts

Look at Comments Per Post

Check Post Frequency

Check Out Other Social Media Profiles

Put Potential Blogs into a Reader Google Reader Feedly

Ana Grilo and Thea James, The Book Smugglers, are currently open to receiving solicited Advance Reading Copies and Review Copies of books. Our preferred genres are Speculative Fiction (Horror, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction), Young Adult (Speculative Fiction/Paranormal and Contemporary), with the occasional Romance novel (Paranormal, Historical, Contemporary).

This does not, however, mean that we will not consider books from other genres! We love graphic novels, manga, mysteries, historical fiction, and will consider any book with a great synopsis.

We cannot promise to agree to every review request, nor can we guarantee to review unsolicited review copies of books sent to us. We will consider all queries and review copies sent our way but we regret that we are not able to respond to all email enquiries. If you don’t hear from us in a timely fashion please assume we are not able to accept your request/offer. We regret to say that we are not accepting self-published inquiries at the moment. Our review copy preference is for ebooks, followed by print copies. As such, digital ARCs/review copies will be given precedence over print copies. Our preferred format is EPUB. In order to contact us with a review query, please see our Contact Page.

Review Policy - Example

Create a Target List

Start Reading

Check out “About Me” and “Review Policy”

Look at Follower Counts

Look at Comments Per Post

Check Post Frequency

Check Out Other Social Media Profiles

Put Potential Blogs into a Reader Google Reader Feedly

URL: http://www.google.com/reader

URL: http://www.feedly.com/

Know Where to Look

Kidlitosphere Central

Technorati

Blogrolls

Twitter Lists

Independent Book Blogger Awards

Nerdy Book Club

Check Out Other Options in the “Resources” Section

URL: http://www.kidlitosphere.org/bloggers/

URL: http://www.kidlitosphere.org/bloggers/

URL: http://technorati.com/blogs/directory/

URL: http://technorati.com/blogs/directory/entertainment/books/

URL: http://100scopenotes.com/

URL: https://twitter.com/WaldenPondPress/bloggers-reviewers

URL: http://www.goodreads.com/book_blogger_award?category=Young+Adult+%26+Children%27s

URL: http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/

Initiate the Relationship

Before you Pitch a Book – Initiate the Relationship Via Social Media Via Blog Comments

S

Pitching BloggersThe Subtle Sell

Craft the Pitch

Target Your Pitch to the Blog

Show Familiarity with the Blog

Reference Review Policy

Focus on the Subtle Sell

Have a Reason to Follow Up

Some Phrasing Examples

“I’ve been waiting for the right book to send your way and I think this could be it.”

“It seems like you focus a bit more on YA, but if you are interested in adding a middle grade title to your stack, this could be a great one…”

“We are running a blog tour in September. If you enjoy the book and would be interested in taking part, I’d be happy to circle back.”

“Even if you aren’t able to get to the book, I’d still be happy to offer a signed copy for a giveaway.”

“The author is open to doing interviews, guest posts, top ten lists, podcasts, etc., I’d be happy to circle back closer to release in case you’re interested.”

Craft the Pitch: A Non-Book Blogger

Example

It’s nice to meet you via email. I work for a children’s book imprint called Walden Pond Press, we are co-published by HarperCollins and Walden Media. If you are considering children’s fiction with bird-friendly themes (which it seems from your current featured article that you may), I thought I would get in touch. 

NEVERSINK author Barry Wolverton was inspired to appreciate the natural world by an uncle who used to take him birding as a child. Barry is a writer (he has written for National Geographic  and Discovery Networks, among others), but it is the early appreciation for birds and nature that eventually inspired him to write a children’s book about, what else, the noble puffin. While the story Barry crafted is a work of fiction, there are many learning opportunities about puffins and their fellow auks throughout the book.

A synopsis follows:…If you would consider reading NEVERSINK for review, I would be happy to send you an Advance Reader Copy. The book releases in March of next year, but I like to get ARCs out early since I know reviewers like you must have lots of books on your to-be-read list. Thanks for your time!

Crafting the Pitch: Timing and Follow-up

When to Pitch: From 2-4 months out from release

When to Follow-up Approx. a month from release

Track Blog Coverage From 6 months out

Google Alerts Google Blog Search Feature Twitter Mentions

Pitching Bloggers: What Not To Do

Send a Form Letter

Address Your Pitch: “To Whom It May Concern”

Send Your Book Without Receiving an Okay

Give a Timeframe for a Review

Respond to a Negative Review

Ask Why Your Book Hasn’t Been Reviewed

Pitching Bloggers: What Not To Do

Hello,

I found your name searching for influential book bloggers. Below is a link to a book I wrote. By briefly reading about you I think you would really enjoy this book and do a good job reviewing and writing about its concepts. Below you can find links to where you can find the book,

[4 Links]

I believe giving is the secret and I use it in business on motivating employees, getting through tough times and in life in forming harmonious relationships. I hope you enjoy the book and look forward to reading your review and post.

S

Blog EventsMore Than Reviews

Blog Events

Author Generated Posts Interviews Guest Posts Tens Lists Character Interviews Writing Playlists Podcasts Deleted Scenes Editor/Author Interview

Giveaways

Blog Tours

Blog Hops

Blog Carnivals

Exclusive Reveals

Blog Events

Author Generated Posts Interviews Guest Posts Tens Lists Character Interviews Writing Playlists Deleted Scenes Editor/Author Interview

Giveaways

Blog Tours

Blog Hops

Blog Carnivals

Exclusive Reveals

Blog Events

Author Generated Posts Interviews Guest Posts Tens Lists Character Interviews Playlists Deleted Scenes Editor/Author Interview

Giveaways

Blog Tours

Blog Hops

Blog Carnivals

Exclusive Reveals

Blog Events

Author Generated Posts Interviews Guest Posts Tens Lists Character Interviews Playlists Deleted Scenes Editor/Author Interview

Giveaways

Blog Tours

Blog Hops

Blog Carnivals

Exclusive Reveals

Meet Danielle Smith

Blogging for more than 5 years

Awards: Best Kidlit Book Review Blog & Best Author Interviews

Cybils Judge 3 Years Running

YA Judge for 2011 INSPYs

BEA Book Bloggers Conference: YA Book Blogging Pros Panel

Armchair BEA Founder

S

Find Kellie & WPP Online

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliecelia(If you enjoyed this presentation, please endorse me!)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/waldenpondpress1www.facebook.com/kellieocelia

Twitter: @WaldenPondPress@Kellie_Celia

Goodreads: Walden Pond Press

Blog: www.waldenpondpress.blogspot.com

Web: www.walden.com/books

Find Slides on Slideshare:

Blog Tools

Find Kidlit/Yalit Blogs: Kidlitosphere Central Technorati: Search for blogs by specific topic Goodreads Independent Book Blogger Awards Walden Pond Press Twitter Lists Nerdy Book Club Listing of MG/YA Review Blogs on The Reading Tub Romance Times Network: Good resource if you have YA book with

romance elements TeenReads.com: Great spot for YA reviews Free Book Friday Teens : Site hosts YA book giveaways every Friday Book Blogger Appreciation Week Book Blogger Directory

Blog Tools

If You Blog: Blog Hops at I Am a Reader Not a Writer: Hundreds of bloggers link up

every few weeks to do a book-related giveaway around a certain theme. Without much promotion, including your blog in a hop leads to dozens of blog hits and much visibility for your giveaway.

Rafflecopter: Giveaway tool – allows user to enter your blog giveaway by liking your Facebook page, tweeting about the giveaway on Twitter, etc.

Around the World ARC Tours: Submit your book through this free service and each blogger passes it on to another after she finishes it.

Google Reader (only until July); Feedly: Makes it easy to read all the blogs you follow.

Debut Author Groups: The Fourteenery Class of 2K14

Blog Tools

Blog Carnival List

Blog Tour Examples The Fellowship for Alien Detection Blog Tour Cinder Blog Tour Poison Blog Tour Ten Blog Tour

Online Publicity Tools

Blog Talk Radio: Scroll through these podcasts for book and topic related radio shows.

Local Associated Press Bureau

Pitchrate and Haro: Two different sites that send daily emails listing journalists who are looking for sources.

Radio Guest List: Smaller radio talk shows with targeted audiences looking for guests to interview

Examiner.com: There are local Examiners in every major metropolitan area who review books and cover a myriad of other topics.

Meetup.com: Find local groups meeting about books and/or topics that pertain to your book.

Best Book Publicists on Twitter: From GalleyCat

Online Publicity Tools (cont.)

50 Free Press Release Submission Websites

Great Kidlit Book Publicists: Deb Shapiro Media Masters Publicity Kidsbuzz Greg Pincus (has more of a social media focus)

Helpful Publicity Focused Blogs: Publicity Hound Novel Publicity Jane Friedman