Building the Buzz: Pre-Launch

It's here! It's here! I'm finally ready to kick off our May Marketing Challenge!

First things first, you'll notice we have a fancy new name. Kudos to Eliza Tilton. She came up with "Creating the Buzz" which inspired "Building the Buzz". Feel free to grab the button in the side bar for your own blog. Well done, Eliza. You've earned an automatic extra entry into the challenge drawing. 

Would you like to get an extra entry? Good news! If you invite a friend to join you in the challenge, you can earn a bonus entry just like Eliza. Here's how it works, you and a friend (or friends) join the challenge and complete each task. When we're all done, tell me who you brought to the party. If they also completed the challenge, your name gets thrown into the pot again.

Speaking of the drawing, I'm ready to share more details, like prizes. How does this sound? Everyone who finishes the challenge, completing each daily task, is entered. One winner will be drawn at random to receive:

CREATE YOUR WRITER PLATFORM by Chuck Sambuchino

And...

SELL YOU BOOK LIKE WILDFIRE by Rob Eagar

And...

A thirty minute video chat with me to discuss all things marketing and platform related

These are my two favorite marketing/platform books. They lay a great foundation and provide actionable hands-on steps for writers to get their name out there and sell more books. The drawing is open internationally, but non-US residents will receive e-book copies instead of paperback. I hope you guys are as excited as I am. 

One last minute instruction before tomorrow. Most of the challenge tasks will be things that anyone can do, however... If you have a traditional publisher, you may want to check with them before completing some of the items. You should be fine for the first part of the challenge, but as we get into the second half, there may be things that your publisher wants to handle or has already done. You don't want to look unprofessional by sending a second press release to a magazine your publisher already contacted. If this comes up, you can still get credit for completing that day. Just comment that you spoke with your publisher and they are handling that item. 

Okay, I think that's it. Be sure to come back here bright and early tomorrow morning to get started. If you have any questions, shoot them at me in the comments. Let's get started Building the Buzz!