Archive for the ‘Book Publicity’ Category

Best Marketing Options for Authors

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

By Fauzia Burke

As authors, you know there are a lot of marketing options for promoting your book these days. There’s publicity, advertising and of course social media, but before you invest your money and time, it is important to know the benefits and challenges of the three types of marketing options (commonly known as Owned, Paid and Earned media by us marketing geeks).

  • Owned is media you as an author control. It includes your website/s, social networks, blogs, videos, etc.
  • Paid is media that is bought. It includes ads: print, broadcast and online (banner and search).
  • Earned is media that is gained through good publicity.

If your goal is CREDIBILITY, publicity wins as the best option. Reviews and interviews will do more for your reputation than any other form of media.

  • Owned: Your content usually has less credibility. We have a joke in our office about such content. We call it the “Aren’t we great? Don’t you agree” content. Although content marketing is growing in importance and has many benefits, credibility is perhaps not the biggest advantage here.
  • Paid: Advertising has similar issues with credibility. Although a well produced ad, placed in a well-suited media outlet will increase brand awareness, it is still not the same as credibility.
  • Earned: Publicity is the most credible form of media. As marketer Seth Godin says, “publicity is the act of getting ink.” Publicity is getting media sources to talk about you, your book and/or business. Publicity is often viewed as more credible because when readers see editorial coverage they know it was not bought (although some Amazon reviews can be bought now. Here’s a blog I wrote about that: Fake Reviews are Worse than Bad Ones). 

Book reviews online and off are more credible than ads and lead to more buying decisions. Most people cite recommendations as the number one reason they buy a book.

However, if you are looking to CONTROL the message, your best bet is paid advertising. It can, however, get expensive.

  • Owned: Your content gives you absolute control over messaging and timing but not over reach. You can’t control how many people will see your blog or video, but you can post it at the time of your choosing. It’s important to have a content strategy and know all the elements of your digital plan, because if you don’t invest in your career and brand, no one else will either.
  • Paid: Advertising is exposure you pay for. Whether it is coverage on TV, radio, newspaper, magazine or online, you control the messaging, reach and timing. You may even pay for a premium location, such as the inside front or back cover of a magazine. You do have tighter controls with advertising because you know precisely what you are paying for and when your ads will run.
  • Earned: Publicity is coverage you hope to receive from media outlets. You can improve your chances by understanding the timing and having a good media angle, but you can’t “make” something happen (publicists do a lot of praying). With publicity, the process is more fluid. A publicist with well-established media relationships can most likely guarantee you some coverage. You can not determine where it will run, when it will run, how long your coverage will be or exactly what that coverage will say.

You can control the TIMING of both owned and paid media. Publicity (earned) is tricky to line up perfectly, but good publicists know how to manage the timing of reviews and features.

  • Owned: Your content gives you the most control over timing. Depending on your marketing plan, you may release an effective piece of content timed with the release of  your new book.
  • Paid: Advertising gives you tremendous control over timing. You can take advantage of breaking news and can scale advertising quickly (as long as you can afford it). You can plan the launch of your book to gain exposure on a particular day and for multiple days.
  • Earned: Publicity is most challenging here as there is little control over timing. While you can pay for ads to run as long as you want, editorial coverage doesn’t run twice. You can, however, get editorial coverage from multiple media outlets and sources around pub date but it is not guaranteed.

The final decision often comes down to COST. Of course the most cost effective option is to create excellent “media” of your own. It is not free, however, as it takes a great deal of your time.

  • Owned: Sure uploading content to your blog, YouTube, Slideshare or social networks like Facebook and Twitter may all be free, creating that content is anything but free. Developing content on a daily basis takes time, creativity, energy and most of all a good plan.
  • Paid: Advertising is of course the most expensive option. The opportunity to control the message, timing and outlet comes with a hefty price tag, but if you are trying to reach a specific audience on a specific day with a specific message, no other form of media will give you that control.
  • Earned: Publicity is also referred to as free and it is absolutely not free. Understanding the needs of the media and having contacts with them requires very specific skill set and today the work is more labor intensive and time consuming than ever. The better your publicity team, the more their time and expertise will cost. Here’s another blog to read: 6 Steps for Finding the Best PR Firm for You & Your Book

The best marketing plans typically include a mixture of all three types of media. As long as you understand the difference between them, you can find the right mix for you and your book.

© 2013 Fauzia Burke. All Rights Reserved.

Author Bio
Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a digital publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For online publicity, book publishing and social media news, follow Fauzia on Twitter: @FauziaBurke. To talk with FSB and ask your book publicity questions, please join us on Facebook.

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How to Use Pinterest to Promote Your Book

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

By Fauzia Burke

You may think of Pinterest as a place where scrapbooking fans, home interior aficionados and fashionistas go to hang out online and share images, but Pinterest is a social networking site that can be used for so much more. A year ago, Pinterest increased its unique visitors by 155 percent in one month alone, according to HubSpot. Today Pinterest is evolving its features to include business — and not just personal — accounts. Pinterest is raising brand awareness and also driving purchasing decisions. So before you write off Pinterest as a crafty outlet you don’t have time for, consider that Pinterest can be used as a social media marketing tool to help promote you and your book.

If you aren’t yet familiar with Pinterest, it’s a social media platform where you can visually share photos, images, graphics and videos by pinning them to online bulletin boards that you create. Most people with Pinterest pages develop themed boards to comprehensively cover their areas of interest. What better way to identify and connect with your ideal audience than through your shared interests?

If you are just getting started with Pinterest, the first thing you need to do is to request an invite from Pinterest. If you don’t want to wait, ask a friend who is already connected to Pinterest to invite you. Once you have a Pinterest invite, you can add Pinterest to part of your overall social media strategy to market you book. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Maximize your Pinterest profile. Make sure you fully fill out your profile with a compelling image that represents you and your brand. Include a description about you that makes people want to know more. Include an image of your book. Connect your Pinterest page to your website so your visitors can easily click through and get to your website. In your settings, make sure you aren’t hiding your Pinterest page from search engines.

Start pinning. Pinterest is the place for visual creativity. Pin up photos of your book, well-designed quotes, video trailers of your book or invite other people to share photos reading your book. Create boards on your Pinterest page in themed categories for things you and your target audience like. Pinterest is great for novels. For example if your novel is based in a particular country or part of the country or a particular time period, you can collect links and images to represent that time and place. You can have a board about your book tour and pin the sites of indie bookstores who are hosting you. There can be a board where you pin all the great reviews about your book. The ideas are endless, and remember that it’s just a fun, graphic way to curate information.

Make sure your pins are connected. When you pin images that are your own, make sure they include links back to your website so when people click on or share your images, they go back to your website. Link back to specific landing pages on your site to showcase your book. If you pin other people’s images, be sure to cite the source, but you can include your website in the description of the image.

Follow people you want to follow you back. Use Pinterest to make connections. Begin to follow and share images from people you want to connect with. If you regularly interact with their Pinterest boards, they are likely to take notice of you and follow you back.

Encourage followers to share your images by adding the Pin It Button to your website. Make sure your pins are attracting your target audience. You want your pins to be shared by your followers so they can spread the word about you, your Pinterest page and your website.

Add the Pinterest Follow Me button to your website and your other social media platforms. You can encourage people who go to your website, Facebook, and Twitter pages to also join you on Pinterest.

When your readers know and like you as an author, they want to know what you like. Pinterest can help you grow a following by connecting to others through your similar interests. Tell your story through your Pinterest page in creative ways and soon you will be on your way to building your Pinterest community.

© 2013 Fauzia Burke. All Rights Reserved.

Author Bio
Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a digital publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For online publicity, book publishing and social media news, follow Fauzia on Twitter: @FauziaBurke. To talk with FSB and ask your book publicity questions, please join us on Facebook.

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Does Social Media Sell Books? Gillian Flynn’s Agent Gives Her Perspective

Monday, February 4th, 2013

By Fauzia Burke

Those of you who know me are probably shocked at the title of this blog. You know I am a true believer in digital marketing and publicity and always suggest to authors that they should spend time developing a relationship with their readers. So why am I asking this question? For a couple of reasons: One because I am seeing social media burn-out in authors and second because I realized that two of the top selling authors of 2012 did not invest much time in social media.

According to Publisher’s Weekly, the three biggest selling authors last year were E. L. James, Suzanne Collins & Gillian Flynn. Neither Suzanne Collins nor Gillian Flynn spend much time on social networking. So how important is it for sales? I decided to ask this question to someone who has had a front row seat to the success of Gillian Flynn as well as many other authors.

The following is an interview with Gillian Flynn’s literary agent Stephanie Rostan (Levine Greenberg)

Hi Stephanie, I appreciate you taking the time to answer some questions about the success of GONE GIRL:

Q. I noticed that Ms. Flynn’s website is great but not updated often. I could not find a blog, a mailing list, or a Twitter handle. I may have missed them, but it was not obvious. She has a Facebook page with 13,000 people which I assume is updated by someone other than her and only about her events. Clearly in this case, the books are hugely successful without the author’s investment in social media, so do you think an investment of social media/digital marketing is important for an author’s success?

A: Yes, but it is not always the author’s investment. There has certainly been a lot of social media chatter ABOUT Gillian’s books, although it’s true that for the most part she was not out there participating in or generating the conversation. I think a lot of this was ignited by media coverage of the book (online and off) and early on it was helped by a widespread galley distribution that the publisher executed for GONE GIRL. The book itself really encourages discussion, so as more people read it, more people felt compelled to talk about it.

If the main function of social media, for an author, is to get the word out that this book is worth reading — ideally to the people who will be most likely to read it — and this can be accomplished in other ways (media coverage, ads, bookstore placement, online retailer promotion), then the social media component becomes less important. I also think it’s critical that no matter how active an author is online, the conversation about them and/or their book must be picked up and carried on by others for it to truly have an impact on sales. It can’t be ONLY about the author talking (blogging/tweeting).

Also . . . there is a big difference for fiction vs. nonfiction authors. For nonfiction authors with a specific expertise, being out there in the community that has interest in that expertise will most likely be effective in selling their book. For fiction authors, trying to “sell” their personality may not be as useful for getting someone to read their book for the first time — this isn’t a popularity contest, it’s about the reading experience. I do think readers like to form relationships with authors whose books they love, but that comes AFTER they’ve read the book. So it can be more useful in building and maintaining an audience over time.

Q: So in your opinion, novelists are better off focusing all their attention on writing the best book they can?

A: I think they absolutely need to focus on writing the best book first. Without that, what is there to talk about? That said, once the book is written, every author should take some time to consider how they will work with social media. What are they comfortable with? What are they good at? What will the publisher do? What fits best with the book? These answers will be somewhat different for different authors. I always try to help authors find something that makes sense to them and feels organic — I don’t think it works well to fake or force a social media presence. And as I said above, there are other ways to develop visibility for your work — social media is appealing because it’s free (if you don’t count the massive time commitment!), it’s accessible, and it’s directly under your control. Many other avenues for promotion are not.

Q: Do you feel Gillian is an exception then?

A: Yes and no. The level of her success is exceptional (and her books are exceptional!). But I work with other authors who have upward-trending sales without a lot of personal online interaction. This doesn’t mean that OTHER people don’t talk about their books online, just that their own level of activity may be low (an updated Facebook page and fan mail/email, for example). Many of these authors have multiple books (so they have spent time over several years building an audience), and write in a specific niche that helps them find their readers. They also receive various kinds of support from their publishers.

Q: In your opinion, what was the tipping point in her success?

A: This was her third book. The first two books were widely and well-reviewed, had been nominated for and/or won awards, and had had solid sales. There was a foundation to build on with GONE GIRL. The moment when you could tell this was going to be a different publication was right around the pub date for the book, when we saw how many really outstanding reviews, from such a wide range of national media, were lined up. The publisher had executed a really flawless campaign — sales, marketing and publicity together. The book is also incredibly good and engaging — it was that combination of hard work/foundation, a fantastic book, and a gathering storm of media coverage that all broke at once.

Q: Do your other authors benefit from interacting with their readers on social media and being pro-active with their digital branding strategy?

A: Some of them do, and some of them don’t. But isn’t that how publishing is? Nothing works all the time, or for everyone. It’s important for authors to leave no stone unturned and consider how social media can work for them, but also important to consider the whole picture of getting the word out about their book and reaching readers. I’m sure there are examples of authors whose success is directly related to their social media strategy/efforts. But there are also authors whose success has come mostly without that. Without diving too deeply into it, I think there are different kinds of readers out there who use and don’t use social media in different ways — when there’s a match between the author’s efforts and the potential readers they are reaching, that can be magic. But when there isn’t, a lot of energy can go to waste. Not to mention that things are always changing in the social media world. As I said above — the best advice I can give is to write the best book you can, and reassess your social media involvement/strategy often.

That was truly great and honest advice. Thank you so much for taking the time. You can learn more about Stephanie on her companies’ website.

© 2013 Fauzia Burke. All Rights Reserved.

Author Bio
Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a digital publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For online publicity, book publishing and social media news, follow Fauzia on Twitter: @FauziaBurke. To talk with FSB and ask your book publicity questions, please join us on Facebook.

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In 2013, If You Don’t Invest in your Career and Brand, No One Else Will Either

Friday, January 11th, 2013

By Fauzia Burke,

I know it’s not fair, but today along with knowing how to write a book and get it published, authors have to understand the digital marketing landscape as well. If you want to write books, publish them and sell them, you need to make an investment in your career and brand, and today that investment means having a digital marketing strategy all year round.

If you are a little overwhelmed by the rapidly changing world of digital marketing, you are not alone. Remember all of us, experts and novice, are learning as we go. You don’t have to become a social media strategist to be effective. By using the most important digital marketing outlets in a targeted way, your book, brand and bottom line can benefit.

Website – It’s best to have a website in your name rather than your book title. Your website will be your home base and is critical to your credibility. 46.1% of people say a website’s design is the number one criterion for discerning the credibility of the company. (Source: Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab). For more information on having a more social and mobile friendly site, you can read: 6 Tips for Designing Author Websites

Blogging – Look at blogging as your most effective tool because it brings traffic to your site, builds a fan base and helps your readers to connect with you. Remember people buy from people they like. Visuals are so hot right now. You can use graphics, cartoons and quotes along with your own writing. You can use excerpts from your book, create top 10 lists, how to articles, or a behind the scenes look at your book writing process. Asking questions at the end of your blog will build engagement by encouraging people to comment.

Mailing List – If you don’t already have one, a mailing list is a must-have asset in your digital marketing plan. Think of the people on your mailing list as “super fans” and treat them accordingly. You don’t have to send out a newsletter often, but do stay in touch with this core group.

Facebook – A Facebook fan page is one of the most effective ways to build engagement and it’s fairly easy to maintain a page once you set it up. You can use it to promote your blog, post quotes or excerpts from your book, link to your book’s Website, or ask your followers questions that pertain to your content or message. Just remember not to make every post about you and your book. On Facebook, photos perform best for likes, comments, and shares as compared to text, video, and links. (Source: Dan Zarrella)

Twitter – Twitter is an effective way to get your message out in small sound bites. It’s also a great forum for conversation, to share your expertise and to find interesting people to follow. You can also use Twitter to listen to what other people are saying about your book and topic. I have found it to be a great learning tool. If you follow the right people, you’ll learn a lot from their curated information. For more information, you can check out a video: Promoting Your Book on Twitter.

LinkedIn – It’s always a good idea to have a LinkedIn profile since many people, including myself, use it as a contact database. It will help you connect with people and make good contacts. LinkedIn is the number one professional networking site so remember to keep your updates about professional matters. You can share resources and information which will help brand you as an expert in your profession. For a deeper understanding of the etiquette of using LinkedIn, you can read: 7 Ways to be Effective on LinkedIn.

Digital marketing today is an extension of the author’s work. It may take some time to learn and some more to generate the content, but it is worth the effort to build your readership. Remember to keep the majority of your content of value to others, and make sure only a small percentage of your content is promotional. Be authentic and respectful and you’ll do just fine.

© 2013 Fauzia Burke. All Rights Reserved.

Author Bio
Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a digital publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For online publicity, book publishing and social media news, follow Fauzia on Twitter: @FauziaBurke. To talk with FSB and ask your book publicity questions, please join us on Facebook.

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Things I Got Wrong, and Things I Got Right in 2012

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

By Fauzia Burke

As we wrap up 2012 and start to plan for the New Year I wanted to review the things I got right and the things I didn’t. In the past few years, there have been so many changes in the book industry, and in technology, that sometimes my only guide has been my intuition. Fortunately, our missteps can often teach us more than flawless execution. So here are the lessons I have learned in 2012:

Why Press Release Didn’t Work For Us. Working as the President of an online public relations firm, I relied on press releases to get the attention of editors. Over time, however, I noticed that they didn’t seem to be working as they once did. One reason is that the “one pitch fits all” approach was not working online. Bloggers are unique and so are their interests. For example I hear people talking about mommy bloggers or book bloggers, but in truth those communities are made up of people with very different interests.

I took a huge leap of faith and decided to stop doing press releases. Instead of taking the time to write them, proof them, wait for approval, print them and stuff them, we took that time to talk to the editors/bloggers and invest the time in social media. I thought I would get push-back from clients, but once I explained why I was making the change they agreed with the approach.

I am happy to report that this change we got right. It was the right decision and we’re moving into 2013 with no intention of doing the traditional press releases.

Delegating Social Media. I thought outsourcing social media was always wrong. Although it is best to keep your hands in your own social media, the only way for it to be effective is if it is consistent. A writer’s life is not consistent, which means they are sometimes more active on social media than other times. Trying to do it all themselves can be distracting. Of course, it is crucial to delegate this responsibility to someone trustworthy. I would also suggest having clear goals and to monitor activities very closely.

For 2013, we are exploring and open to creating a hybrid system for our clients.

People like to follow people, not books. I thought book websites and book Facebook pages were a good idea. Remember the days of microsites? Today, I believe that the only websites, Facebook pages and Twitter handles should be in the author’s name, no matter how diverse their list of books and activities. I would advise against a title or book site because people follow people not books. Authors are most effective when they work to build their brand, and can increasingly build a loyal following when readers feel connected to them.

In 2013, we will move away from book related digital assets and focus more on the author’s brand.


Keep Learning. Every single job in publishing should be a social job. I did not always think so. But the more people there are to amplify your message the better. Social media is not only a broadcasting tool, it is also one of the best learning and listening tools for you and your business. You have an open forum to observe and study the readers, their taste and comments. At a time when we need to be learning new skills all the time, social media can be a gateway to that learning.

This one I did get right. We shifted our entire staff to incorporate social media and social networking in everything they do: From searching for influencers, tracking numbers and word-of-mouth, to interacting with bloggers, and supporting our clients. In 2013, we will continue our focus on incorporating social media with our online publicity campaigns.

In the coming year, I only know one thing for sure. We’ll need to keep all options open and learn as we go. What have you learned in 2012? Please share your lessons.

© 2012 Fauzia Burke. All Rights Reserved.

Author Bio
Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a digital publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For online publicity, book publishing and social media news, follow Fauzia on Twitter: @FauziaBurke. To talk with FSB and ask your book publicity questions, please join us on Facebook.

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6 Steps for Finding the Best PR Firm for You & Your Book

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

By Fauzia Burke

Most authors know that a public relations effort for their book is essential for their success. In order to have a campaign to promote their book comprehensively, many look to augment their publisher’s efforts by hiring a PR agency. But how do you choose the right PR firm for your book? Here are six steps to help make that choice easier:

Step 1: Needs and Goals

Before you begin your search, think about your PR goals. What is it that you want? Do you want to be on TV? Do you want reviews in newspapers? Or, do you want to build exposure online? Whom do you want to reach? Do you know your target demographic? How long do you want to work with a PR agency? Do you want to work with a PR agency for a one-time book or project or for multiple projects longer term? Once you identify your goals, you’ll be able to find an agency that can help you achieve them.

Step 2: Referrals

Your search should always start by asking your agent, publisher or fellow authors for referrals of people they have worked with so you can have some names to begin the process. You can compare and contrast the agencies you have, and find the right fit for you. You can also work the process backward and find a successful book that’s in the same realm as your book, and find out what PR firm that author used.

Step 3: Web Research

Look up the agency online. Check out their website and social networks as well as their current and past projects and testimonials. Find out how long they have been in business and what types of people they work with. In our connected age, it’s easy to do your homework ahead of time to be able to narrow down your list based on your research. It’s 2012 so make sure the agency you select is connected in the social media world — Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. If they are connected digitally, they will be able to help promote and advice you in the social media space.

Step 4: First Contact

Begin contacting several firms to pick the one that is right for you. Collect information on prices, timeline and availability. Find out more about their area of specialty and expertise. Make sure your book is the type of book the PR agency tends to work with and promote. Now you can narrow your list further.

Step 5: Interview

Once you’ve narrowed down your list based on your budget, goals and timing, you should set up an interview with each PR firm by phone or in-person. A good firm will want to talk with you as well to make sure the fit is perfect. They should also encourage you to talk with other PR firms. Before you schedule the interview, give the firm the opportunity to learn about your book so you can hear their ideas and decide if you like what you are hearing. Ask questions just as if you are interviewing someone for a job. Find out the publications and media outlets where they have built relationships. Remember a good PR agency should have an established network of media contacts. Make sure the agency you are talking to understands your brand. You can even request a preliminary proposal of how they would go about publicizing your book. Good PR agencies have strong track records.

Step 6: The Final Decision

The most important part of your decision process should really be your instincts. It’s all about knowing and liking the PR agency you are going to work with, because if you don’t like the person initially, you will most likely be dissatisfied in the long run. Did you establish rapport upon initial contact? During the interview phase, which firm stood out? What agency do you like, respect and trust the most? In the end, go with your gut, and you will make the best decision for you and your book.

Along with results, a good PR agency should give you valuable information for building your brand and to amplify the exposure you are getting. In the end, it is all about the collaboration so pick your team carefully.

© 2012 Fauzia Burke. All Rights Reserved.

Author Bio
Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a digital publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For online publicity, book publishing and social media news, follow Fauzia on Twitter: @FauziaBurke. To talk with FSB and ask your book publicity questions, please join us on Facebook.

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Fake Reviews are Worse than Bad Ones

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Recently I read an article published in the New York Times called, The Best Book Reviews Money Can Buy, by David Streitfeld, about authors who are paying for reviews in order to help promote and sell their books and increase their visibility. Instead of real reviews from real people, these paid for, all favorable reviews, are written by people who are just churning out reviews, and sometimes don’t even read the book they are reviewing.

Then another story broke about British crime writer RJ Ellory who wrote fake reviews of his own books. These stories made me wonder why authors would pay for reviews or plant fake reviews.

In my opinion, fake reviews and paying for compliments is not the route anyone should take. Yes, the book publishing market is competitive and positive reviews can drive sales, but taking the fast, easy and fake route is not going to build a long term brand.

I too was taken in by what I now believe were fake reviews. I usually buy books not based on the reviews on Amazon but by the recommendations of my colleagues, friends or social media community. But one night, I was looking for a book on a new topic and decided to look on Amazon. I downloaded a book with many great reviews, and began to read it right away. Within a few pages, I realized the book was just not good. It was not worth reading any more of it and I just felt cheated. I will never buy another book by this author, or follow him on Twitter or read his blogs. Nor will I trust the reviews on Amazon.

Cheating people and lying to them is just not the way to build a career. The Internet has a long memory and links to negative stories may never go away. Living and breathing public relations every day, where we promote books, authors and brands, I am sometimes asked to write reviews for authors we work with because those authors know I already believe in their book. I wouldn’t take on a client if I didn’t believe in the quality and content of their book, so it may seem like a no brainer for me to write a review. It’s just verbalizing what I already believe, right? Not exactly. It’s a complete conflict of interest for me to cross that boundary and write a review for an author whose book we are hired to promote. I never do it. It would damage our credibility as a company. At FSB Associates, we help build our client’s reputation for the long run.

The pathway to success in book publishing is not found in the snake oil of fake reviews. Just because something can be done online, doesn’t mean it should be done. My advice to authors is to focus on your expertise and engage with readers authentically — it may seem like a slow build and it is but it is well worth the effort.

When you try to short cut your way to success with fabricated glowing reviews, it’s a breach of ethics with your readers and your brand. Your readers may find out and never will your personal brand be associated with authenticity or truth again. Don’t buy fake rave reviews, or Twitter followers, in the long run they do you a disservice by making you lose faith with fans, readers and potential readers.

The only thing fake reviews will do for your personal brand and book is ultimately erode it.

© 2012 Fauzia Burke. All Rights Reserved.

Author Bio
Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a digital publicity and marketing firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For digital publicity and social media news, follow Fauzia on Twitter: @FauziaBurke.

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