Interview With a Book Blogger: Amber from Me, MyShelf, and I

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 You guys!   Some time ago, I interviewed my friend Amber Sweeney from the awesome book blog “Me, My Shelf and I.”   I was positive I put the interview up, but now I’m not so sure (and I can’t find it anywhere in the archive), so I’m posting it today.   It has so much good insight, I really want everyone to see it.  So, before you submit to a single book blog, be sure to read this entire interview.   Amber lays down the law, people!

Why did you become a book blogger?

 In all honestly, it wasn’t an intentional choice. I literally fell into it. When I started I had no idea that the community was so large, that authors were accessible and “real people”, and I certainly had no idea what an ARC was. Once I found everyone my focus was learning the ropes and having a solid blog that gave honest reviews and having  fun along the way. After several months, I knew there was no turning back for me. Book Blogger For-Evah!

 What do you love about being a book blogger?

I have made some perfectly amazing friends, both bloggers and authors alike. If you had told me, before I started all this, that I would have So-and-So’s phone number  (and actually use it for random chats and such) or I’d be sharing a meal with an extremely popular YA author, I would have said you were full of shit.

The bloggers I have met, man I can’t even tell you how much I love them all. It’s so great to not just have a few friends that have the same interests as me, but to have a whole army of them!

Also, I can’t lie–  the books are a major bonus. Not just the free ones, though they are a fun treat. The books I know about now because of blogging. The authors I have learned about and the things I have read that I would have otherwise not picked up make up more than half of my Read List. My reading horizon was broadened and that is NEVER a bad thing!

What do you hate about being a book blogger?

Well HATE is a strong word. I prefer, dislike, loathe or makes-me-angry-enough-to-claw-though-my-computer-and-shake-the-sense-into-people. That’s just me though. Every community, (dare I say job?) has good days and bad days, and the blogging community is no exception. Some of the things that I really loathe about blogging are:

1. Author on Blogger Hate (in this case, the use of a strong word like ‘hate’, works perfectly) Examples: Snapping at a reviewer who gave a bad review. Guess what? Not everyone is going to like your book, it happens. Move on and focus on the good ones. And P.S., your reaction makes you look like spoiled toddler and will actually lose you more readers than that review you got all pissy about! Kay, kay?

2. Blogger on Blogger Hate Examples: Helping to attack another reviewer who wrote a bad review on a book they happened to like. Hey, High School called they want their drama back. Or fighting over, or verbally attacking others online after things like BEA and ALA They got more books than me. Waaaaaah!!!! Really, you can’t read 257 books in a year…so chill out. And if you want them only for giveaways….uh…if you can’t afford giveaways…don’t do them. Seems like common sense. Right? You see, the publishers and authors out there are not there to keep your blog running. If you can’t run it without the books they sometimes give out, then your blog doesn’t have much of a future and chances are you’re in this for the wrong reasons. Truth hurts.

3. Blogger on Author Hate Example: I once watched a blogger have a full blown temper tantrum and attack an author ON TWITTER…publically lashing out at them. Wha Dafaq? The blogger apparently did something for the author, what I gathered was she had Author on her blog for an interview. This interview was asked for by the blogger, and at the time looking at her blog, it was new and small and thus the author was really doing the blogger a favor, as author was fairly popular. Well ARC time came around and blogger didn’t get one. She proceeded to spew cliché teenaged guilt ridden comments “Fine I guess I’m just not good enough” whilst tagging the author in them, thinking she was being clever about it.

Then when author responded, in a polite way this started the:“Why didn’t I get one?! I helped you!? You owe me!?”  lines. Sigh. One thing the blogger hadn’t processed was she wasn’t in the US and just FYI here kiddos – if you’re not in the US, opportunities for ARCs decrease significantly. It’s not discrimination; it’s expensive as hell shipping. And oh, when your blog has 14 followers, is a hot mess with crap all over and no structure or flow and you post once a month…guess what princess…you’re not going to be the top of an authors list to promote their book. Facts of life.

LASTLY – Authors get like 8 copies of their ARCs…..so think about this….She wants to keep one, maybe give one to her proud mommy…then have a few small giveaways for her benefit…NEVER ASK AN AUTHOR FOR AN ARC! That’s not what the copies they get are for. If you have not yet sorted out and secured contacts with publishers, chances are you’re not yet ready to be getting them any way.

4. Bloggers who are in this simply because they want free books and/or ARCs Read: having a blog does not mean that you are entitled to free books and/or ARCS. They are both GIFTS and are to be respected. Don’t hoard them. Don’t hog them. Don’t take them if you don’t think you can actually read them and for the LOVE OF GOD: DON’T EFFIN SELL THEM!

In all honesty if I have to see one more new blogger pop up asking how they can get free books, where to e-mail, and complain they don’t get them….I will scream so loud that God himself will have to cover his ears from the pain of the frequency.

5. What is the stupidest thing an author has ever done to try to get you to review a book?

A few months back a series of e-mails were going out to bloggers all around the world. (I learned this from chatting with other bloggers after it happened) The subject line was something like “Thanks for joining our tour!  Your post is enclosed”.

Panicked I missed something I scoured my calendar, my e-mails, I googled and goodreads-ed and still this book didn’t seem familiar to me. I e-mailed back, dreading having to say “Um I totally spaced out like an effin idiot and haven’t the slightest clue what you are talking about…” Don’t worry, I spiffed that up a bit before sending it off.

Turns out I HADN’T missed anything. It was a ploy by the author to generate responses. Her response back to my confused note filled with apologies was loaded with LOL’s and sentences in quotes like this: Thanks so much for “joining our tour”

My initial reaction, which I had to hold back, was to yell at her and demand to know why she thought that was a suitable way to get her book on my blog. I wasted an hour hunting down info on a make believe tour for crying out loud!! Instead I told her I couldn’t join and let it go. All was fine and great until 2 more like this arrived from other authors over the next few weeks and they DID hear my roar. I told them that this was a horrible way to go about things and that because I don’t like being lied to off the bat I will not be reviewing this or any of their novels in the future.

True or False:  A lot of the book proposals you receive about vampire books?

Sweet Jesus yes! TRUE. I would have to say that at least half of what we get asked to review is vampire related. I think that a lot of them are probably really good, but the market is over saturated with them and if I tool them all it would primarily be a vampire blog. I like vampires, I do but just not that many of them.

How to Get Reviews for Your Self-Published Book

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Getting reviews (hopefully good ones!) is a crucial part of any book’s success—particularly for self-published authors who often rely on word-of-mouth and online visibility. Reviews serve as social proof to potential buyers, help with Amazon’s recommendation algorithms, and even influence where your book ranks in search. But, where are you supposed to get them, especially if you’re a first-time author with no fan base and no email list?  Here are some tried-and-true methods for gathering honest reviews that can boost your self-published book’s credibility and readership.

Let’s talk about something that keeps many of us up at night: getting reviews for our books. We all know they’re important – they help readers discover our books, make Amazon’s algorithms happy, and give potential buyers confidence in their purchase. But how do you get them when you’re just starting out? It’s a challenge that every new author faces, and sometimes it can feel like you’re trying to solve a puzzle where half the pieces are missing. Don’t worry, though – I’ve been there, and I’m here to share what actually works.

First Things First: Get Your House in Order

Before you start chasing reviews, let’s make sure you’re set up for success. You know how they say you should clean your house before having guests over? Same principle applies here. Think of it as preparing for company – you want to make a good impression and make it easy for people to stick around. The last thing you want is to finally get someone interested in your book, only to have them disappear because there’s no way to stay connected.

You need a home base – a simple website where readers can learn more about you and your books. Nothing fancy required! Just make sure you have a way for readers to join your email list (trust me, this will be crucial later). Offer them something special as a reader magnet– maybe a free short story or a bonus chapter – in exchange for their email address. This is your chance to show potential reviewers that you’re serious about your writing career and that you value their time and interest. Remember, professionalism doesn’t mean being stuffy – it means being prepared.

And please, please set up a proper way to distribute review copies of your book. Use something like BookFunnel that protects your work from being copied. I’ve seen too many authors learn this lesson the hard way. Not only does a professional distribution system protect your work, but it also makes the whole process smoother for your reviewers. When people have a good experience getting your book, they’re more likely to follow through with reading and reviewing it.

Your Secret Weapon: Advance Review Copies (ARCs)

Here’s where having an email list becomes gold. Before your book launches, you can offer advance copies to your subscribers. These folks already like you enough to be on your list, so they’re perfect candidates for early reviews. They’re also more likely to be genuinely interested in your genre and writing style, which means their reviews will resonate with your target audience. Plus, early reviewers often become some of your biggest supporters for future books.

No email list yet? No problem! Put your reader magnet and email signup in place (no, I am never going to stop saying that!), then go over and do the “Follower Funnel” method. You can still find potential reviewers in author and reader communities. Just be genuine about it – nobody likes feeling like they’re being used for reviews. Take time to participate in these communities, share your knowledge, and build real connections. The relationships you build now could lead to not just reviews, but long-term support for your writing career.

Finding Reviewers in the Wild

Let’s talk about book bloggers and social media reviewers. There are tons of wonderful people out there who love reviewing books in your genre. But here’s the honest truth: if you’re just starting out, the big-name reviewers probably won’t have time for you. That’s okay! Focus on connecting with smaller, engaged communities instead. These reviewers often have more passionate, dedicated followers who actually buy and read the books they recommend. Plus, they’re usually more accessible and eager to discover new authors.

Look for reviewers who specifically mention your genre. If you’ve written a cozy mystery about a knitting detective, find bloggers who love cozy mysteries. Keep a spreadsheet of potential reviewers, noting what types of books they prefer and their submission guidelines. Send them a friendly, personal message (not a mass email!) introducing your book. And remember – they’re doing you a favor, so be patient and gracious. Many successful author-reviewer relationships start with genuine appreciation for each other’s work and grow into lasting partnerships. The follower funnel method is the way to do this organically (although, it does take a long time).

Make It Easy for Readers to Review

Ever finish a book and think “I loved this!” but then never got around to reviewing it? Your readers are the same way. Give them a gentle nudge by adding a friendly note at the end of your book. Something simple like: “If you enjoyed this story, I’d love to hear what you thought! Your review helps other readers find books they might enjoy too.” Consider including direct links to your book’s review pages on various platforms – the easier you make it, the more likely readers are to follow through.

Think about timing too. The best moment to ask for a review is right when someone finishes your book, while they’re still caught up in the emotions of the story. That’s why including your request in the back matter is so effective. You might even want to mention what kinds of things readers could include in their review, like their favorite character or most memorable scene. Just be careful not to be too prescriptive – authentic reviews are always the most valuable.

The Power of Your Network (Without Being That Person)

We all have that friend who’s constantly pushing their business on Facebook, right? Don’t be that person. But do let your network know about your book! The key is being genuine about it. Share your excitement about your book release, and if people offer to help spread the word, take them up on it! Your authentic enthusiasm can be contagious, and people are often happy to support someone who’s pursuing their dreams.

Consider creating shareable content that your network can easily pass along – maybe some interesting facts about your research process, or funny stories about writing the book. When people feel like they’re sharing something interesting rather than just promoting a product, they’re more likely to help spread the word. And don’t forget to support other authors in your network too – what goes around comes around in the writing community.

What About Review Sites?

Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room: paid review services. Some are legitimate, many are not. Here’s the golden rule: if they guarantee positive reviews, run away. Fast. Amazon doesn’t allow paid reviews, and getting caught using them can cause serious problems for your author account. This isn’t just about following rules – it’s about building genuine trust with your readers.

There are legitimate services that connect authors with honest reviewers, but they should never guarantee specific ratings or results. Do your research, ask other authors for recommendations, and always read the fine print. Remember that a few genuine reviews from real readers who love your book are worth far more than dozens of paid reviews that might get removed anyway. Focus on building authentic connections with readers who genuinely enjoy your work. Oh, and always always offer your manuscript in a watermarked ePub form (rather than a downloadable pdf).  Bookfunnel has this exact service!

Goodreads is the heavyweight champion here. Picture a massive virtual book club with 80 million members. Being Amazon-owned gives it some nice perks, especially if you’re publishing through KDP. The real magic happens when readers add your book to their shelves – it’s like digital word-of-mouth on steroids. Plus, their giveaway feature can really get things moving. Think of it as the social media platform for book lovers.

NetGalley is where you go when you want to play in the big leagues. They connect you with the pros – we’re talking reviewers, journalists, librarians, the whole nine yards. It’s pricier, sure, but it’s like having a VIP pass to the industry insider club. Your book gets three months in their spotlight, which can be gold for visibility.

Now, BookSirens is pretty clever with their approach. They’ve got this pool of serious reviewers – we’re talking people who’ve proven themselves with at least 20 Goodreads ratings. Their one-book-at-a-time policy is brilliant – reviewers can’t ghost you and move on to the next book. With a 75% review rate, those are pretty solid odds.

Booksprout takes a different angle. They’ve got more users (40,000+) and a slightly higher review rate at 79%. They’re all about deadlines and getting reviews by specific dates. Plus, they’ll spread your reviews across up to eight different platforms, which is pretty handy for maximum exposure.

Choosing between these services really depends on your game plan. If you’re gunning for widespread visibility, Goodreads is your best bet. Need professional industry exposure? NetGalley’s your friend. Want guaranteed reviews from serious readers? BookSirens has your back. Looking for deadline-driven reviews across multiple platforms? That’s Booksprout’s specialty.

You might even want to mix and match – many authors do. Think of it like diversifying your investment portfolio, but for book reviews. Just remember to consider your budget, timeline, and what kind of readers you’re trying to reach.

The key is understanding that each platform serves a different purpose in your book marketing journey. It’s not about finding the “best” one – it’s about finding the right fit for your specific needs and goals.

Want my opinion? Start with one that best matches your immediate needs, then expand to others as you get a feel for what works. And don’t forget – whichever platform you choose, make sure your book is as polished as possible. Even the best review platform can’t make up for a book that’s not ready for prime time.

The Long Game

Getting reviews isn’t a sprint – it’s definitely a marathon. Keep writing great books, keep connecting with readers, and keep making it easy for satisfied readers to share their thoughts. Over time, the reviews will come. Think of it as building a foundation for your entire writing career, not just promoting one book. Each positive review is a brick in that foundation, and strong foundations take time to build properly.

Some practical tips for the long haul:

• Run occasional promotions to get your book into more hands, but make sure to space them out so they remain special
• Stay active in reader communities (without being spammy) by contributing valuable insights and genuine engagement
• Thank reviewers when appropriate (but don’t stalk them!) and consider featuring thoughtful reviews in your newsletter
• Keep building your email list for future launches, treating each subscriber as a potential long-term supporter
• Consider each review an opportunity to learn about your audience and what resonates with them

The Most Important Thing

Remember this: while reviews are important, they’re not everything. Focus on writing the best books you can and connecting genuinely with readers. The reviews will follow naturally. Don’t let the pursuit of reviews distract you from your primary job – telling great stories that people want to read and talk about.

And whatever you do, don’t let the pursuit of reviews drive you crazy. Some amazing books start slow and build momentum over time. Keep writing, keep connecting with readers, and keep believing in your work. Success in publishing often looks like a steady climb rather than a sudden spike, and that’s okay. Every review, every reader connection, and every book you write adds to your momentum.

Your turn! What methods have you tried for getting reviews? What’s worked? What hasn’t? Share your experiences – we’re all in this together! Building a supportive community of fellow authors can make the journey so much more enjoyable and successful. After all, who better to understand the challenges and celebrations of this wild publishing journey than other writers who are living it too?

Remember, every successful author started exactly where you are now – with a book they believed in and a determination to find their readers. Stay patient, stay authentic, and keep moving forward. Your reviews will come, and they’ll be worth the wait.

Steps You Can Take to Protect Your WordPress Site

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It’s safe to say that I am a huge WordPress fan—I’ve built more than 70 sites using this platform. And suffice to say that there are a variety of other platforms that I can name that I am emphatically not a fan of. (But that’s fodder for another column.)

My clients also tend to love WordPress as well. Usually within an hour or two, I can train them to update most of the elements on their site with minimal stress. Even some of my most tech-adverse clients have told me that they feel comfortable adding and editing content on their sites—something that gives them a great deal of power when it comes to owning their brand. And it seems that it isn’t just my clients who feel this way. WordPress accounts for nearly one in five sites currently online.

So, what’s the problem? WordPress is a Web-based platform (rather than an application which is downloaded and stored locally). This means that with the correct username and password, anyone with a Web connection can access your site. Also, plug-ins can go a long way towards extending the functionality of a site. But if not maintained and secured, they can provide backdoor ways for hackers to infiltrate your site.

You needn’t abandon WordPress, you just need to be smart about how you use it. Here are some tips for how to keep your site secure.

Backup
You’re already backing up your hard drive, right? (Right?!) Well, the same principle applies to your WordPress site. Make sure that you have automatic backups made of your site at least once a week. I recommend the BackupBuddy plug-in. which not only makes it easy to back your site up, but easy to restore if the worst happens. Another great one is WordPress Backup to Dropbox, which allows you to send the files directly to Dropbox if you need them, eliminating the need of storing and managing a bunch of backup files.

Keep Your WordPress Site Software Up To Date
Staying on top of your current version of WordPress is not just a good practice—it is an essential step to prevent being hacked.  Periodically, WordPress offers software updates to both introduce new functionality and address bugs. I recommend updating your version of WordPress and all your plug-ins within two days of a new release—often software updates can be in response to a recently discovered vulnerability.

You know when it is time to update your site when you log in and see a message along the top alerting you to update your site. But if you don’t log in often, you may see this. You can stay on top of WordPress updates by following the WordPress.org blog or Twitter feed. If you’d rather have it automatically taken care of for you, you can contact me to update your site when new updates are released (this is one of the services I offer). Or you can host your site with WPEngine, which automatically updates your site as part of your costs.

Change Your Passwords
First of all, stop using Admin as the login name for your backend. Malicious forces assume that this is your login, and if they are right, they work from there to crack your password.

Use something like the Secure Password Generator to create strong passwords for your site. Document them, and change them often. Using strong passwords that incorporate a number of different characters can go a long way toward protecting your site.

Install a Plug-In to Periodically Scan Your Site
Having a service to regularly scan your site is key to making sure that everything is running as it should. Sucuri.net offers the best plug-in I’ve found to perform these searches, and it’s free. This plug-in does a lot of great things. First, it creates a firewall that automatically blocks blacklisted IP addresses. Second, it sends you notifications if it detects that any of your files have been modified. Third, it creates audit log files that allow you to see everything that is happening on your site. And lastly, it has a “1-Click Hardening” feature that allows you to do the following with one function: check software version, hide the version of WordPress you are running, create secret keys, hardening key files, and PHP verification.

If You Do Get Hacked…
It happens, but all is not lost. There are a lot of things you can do here to try to diagnose and fix the problem yourself. But I highly recommend using Sucuri.net to handle the problem. For $89.99 per year, Sucuri will perform the necessary functions to protect your site. But best of all, if you do get hacked, they will clean it up and restore your site as part as your subscription, with no limit on the pages it will restore. Better yet, it helps remove you from blacklists that may identify your site as compromised in search engines.

Lisa Hazen is a Chicago-based Web Designer specializing in author sites. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, or the WWW. mailto:lisa@lisahazen.com

Book Piracy – What It Is and What To Do About It

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Book piracy isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a real and often disheartening challenge for self-published authors. In an industry where many of us rely on direct online sales to make a living, piracy can feel like both a financial and emotional blow. But with the right knowledge and strategies, you can minimize its impact and protect your work while maintaining your focus on growth.

What Is Book Piracy?

Book piracy is the unauthorized copying, distribution, or sale of written works. In the digital age, this usually takes the form of illegal downloads, unauthorized PDFs posted online, or eBook files shared on torrent sites. For self-published authors, piracy not only represents lost income but also risks devaluing your brand and compromising your visibility on legitimate platforms.

I do want to stop and make the distinction here– PIRACY is when someone is representing your book as their work.  This is completely different from DROPSHIPPING, which is when other people are selling your book (like on your Amazon listing).  It is a very (VERY) common first-time author mistake to confuse the two and think someone is pirating your book when they are actually just a third-party selling it.  Dropshipping is an actual legitimate business model, and those people are actually buying the book from you (through a distributor), so eventually you are going to get those royalties.

Let me explain a little more about this so you know the difference.  Here is the listing for my book “Funny You Should Ask: How to Make a Website.”

As you can see, you can buy this book for $8.99 from Amazon and it will be shipped to you by the weekend.

By the way, I’m not trying to get you to buy the book (which is why it’s not linked), I’m just trying to show you what dropshippers are because people ask me this all the time, thinking that their books are being pirated.  In fact, if you scroll down a little bit, you’ll see this:

ok, you think– no big deal, who cares.  But, check out these other sellers who appear to be selling my book!

Right, so– this is dropshippers selling my book. I don’t get their pricing and I’m not sure who would buy one of my paperbacks for $21.80 if they could get the book for $8.99, but this is DROPSHIPPING, not PIRACY.  Eventually I am going to get the money for my book that “BigNameBooks” is selling for $21.80.

I’m not talking about this.  I’m talking about another author taking your book and publishing it as their own.  That’s not what this is.  I hope that makes sense. Dropshipping is legal, piracy is not.

ok, back to our regularly scheduled informative article about piracy and how to avoid it.

Why Should Self-Published Authors Be Concerned?

1. Loss of Revenue: Every pirated copy could represent a missed sale—or several if the file is widely shared. Although, if the pirates are lazy and don’t edit your content and you have your reader magnet and email list signup set up properly, you’ll probably still pick up some new subscribers. Just looking on the bright side!
2. Brand Devaluation: Poorly formatted pirated copies can tarnish your professional image among readers.
3. Security Concerns: Some pirate sites distribute malware alongside stolen content, potentially associating your name with harmful downloads.
4. Emotional Toll: Discovering your hard work stolen can be deeply discouraging, leaving many authors feeling violated. This has happened to me before and I can verify that it super, super sucks to spend a long time writing something only to have someone else pass it off as their own work.

How Does Book Piracy Happen?

Book piracy happens in several ways:

• File-Sharing and Torrent Sites: Once a legitimate eBook copy (in EPUB, MOBI, or PDF format) is obtained, it can be uploaded and shared illegally.
• Unauthorized Scans: Physical copies of books may be scanned and converted into digital formats for distribution.
• Private Sharing: Some readers share files via email or messaging apps.
• Hacked Platforms: In rare cases, hackers gain access to an author’s accounts or retailer platforms to redistribute their entire catalog.

Strategies to Reduce Piracy Risks

While there’s no foolproof method to stop piracy entirely, there are effective strategies to reduce its likelihood and impact:

1. Use Digital Rights Management (DRM)

DRM technology limits file sharing and copying, making it harder for casual users to pirate your work. Retailers like Amazon Kindle and Apple Books offer DRM options, but note that some readers dislike DRM due to device restrictions. I’m on the fence about this one. I generally think pirates are too lazy to steal a book from a reader. I think most piracy happens from un-watermarked pdfs floating around out there (although I could be totally wrong about this, and you should turn on DRM if you want to and if it makes you feel more secure!).

2. Publish on Reputable Platforms

Platforms such as Amazon KDP, Smashwords, and Kobo Writing Life offer tools to track piracy and legal teams to issue takedown notices. Publishing through these platforms can provide additional security. If you’re going to sell direct (like from your website), you’ll need to use BookFunnel for delivery so you aren’t just selling pdf files and hoping for the best.

Which brings me to my next point (ok, it’s a rant), which is:

3.  NEVER release pdfs of your work.  I’m talking never.  Not to a friend, not to an editor, never never never ever.  I will only release a finalized version of a manuscript on BookFunnel, with watermarking. This is especially true if you haven’t published the book yet, because if you haven’t published it yet, you don’t have a copyright and it’s going to be hard to prove it belongs to you and that you wrote it first. I have an author client who this actually happened to (through one of the ARC services that I am not supposed to mention), so I cannot caution you against this enough. DO NOT upload a pdf into any service, ever ever ever!

4. Use Unique Watermarks

Embed unique identifiers in each sold copy. Watermarks can help trace the source of a pirated file. BookFunnel can do this for you.

5. Control Review Copies

Only provide ARCs (Advance Review Copies) to trusted reviewers. Services like BookFunnel allow you to limit downloads and track file access.

6. Monitor Metadata

Ensure your book’s title, keywords, and author name are correctly and uniquely registered to reduce confusion and accidental infringement.

How to Respond to Piracy

1. DMCA Takedown Notices
   Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, you can issue a takedown notice to sites hosting your pirated content. Check the site’s copyright policy for instructions on filing.
2. Enlist Specialized Services
   Anti-piracy tools like Blasty and MUSO monitor the web for pirated copies and file takedown notices automatically. Evaluate whether their subscription cost fits your needs.
3. Alert Legitimate Retailers
   If pirated copies appear alongside your official listings, notify the retailer’s support team. They’ll often act quickly to remove unauthorized listings.
4. Make Public Statements (With Care)
   If piracy becomes widespread, a professional and calm social media post can raise awareness without alienating readers.

Balancing Piracy Concerns with Marketing

While protecting your work is important, it’s essential not to alienate your audience in the process. Heavy DRM or strict anti-piracy measures can frustrate legitimate readers, while fair pricing and accessibility can reduce piracy incentives. Focus on engaging fans and building loyalty—they’re more likely to report piracy and support you by purchasing legitimate copies.

Practical Tips & Best Practices

• Register Your Copyright: Strengthen your legal standing by registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office.
• Set Search Alerts: Tools like Google Alerts can notify you if your book is mentioned or shared online.
• Educate Readers: Inform your audience about piracy’s impact on indie authors and direct them to legitimate purchasing channels.
• Focus on Growth: While addressing piracy, don’t let it overshadow your main goals—keep writing, marketing, and connecting with your audience.

Final Thoughts

Book piracy is a frustrating reality of the digital marketplace, but it doesn’t have to derail your self-publishing journey. By taking proactive steps, monitoring your content, and focusing on building a loyal readership, you can minimize the impact of piracy and continue to thrive as an author. When in doubt, consult an intellectual property attorney to navigate complex legal situations.

Protect your work, stay vigilant, and most importantly—keep creating.

Ten Things To Do Before You Go Viral

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I have touched on this on many occasions, but then I got an interesting
email the other day from a literary agent (who shall remain nameless), asking
me to rank, in order of ROI (that’s “return on investment,” for you
non-business types) each of the the following:
websites,  Facebook Fan Page,
social media, GoodReads, Amazon Author Central.   Of course, the person in this example is a
writer,  so the examples are
writer-specific, but if you’re a musician, “GoodReads” might be equivalent to
“LastFM” or “MySpace” or whatever your favorite musical/ social profile thing
is at the moment.   I am assuming the
literary agent was asking me this because writers, for the most part, tend to
be lazy and entitled and want you to pick “one magic bullet” that’s going to
solve all of their marketing problems and sell a million books for them, and if
you know anything about the internet and internet marketing, you know there is
no such thing.

The bottom line?  I
don’t just think you need to be one place.  I think you need to be everywhere.  I think when someone Googles you, there
should be a way to get to you and your awesome stuff in all ten slots of Page
One.

Now, don’t get me wrong.
I actually don’t mean that you should be out there gladhanding the
entire world on Twitter and pushing out your links in an artificial way every
day.  I don’t think that works, and I
don’t recommend people spread out their energy and waste their time on things
they don’t like, because that is pretty much a guarantee that you’re not going
to get anywhere with it.

But (and this is a pretty big but)—it’s not an “all or
nothing” situation.   I do think creative
types need to responsible business people, and that means creating profiles (with
links) in every place that is relevant to you, so that your interested audience
may follow those links back to you and your awesome stuff.  Yes, this means you’re going to have to put a
little time into making a website, and a Twitter profile, and a Facebook Fan
Page, and even a profile on LinkedIn, just to establish your brand equity so if
something you do goes viral, this doesn’t happen, or this.     For
me, this kind of “set up and maintenance” is less about that outward, pushy
kind of marketing, and more just about being professional and setting up shop so
the world can find out about you.

You’d probably be really surprised if I told you how many
writers/ creative types get really upset when I tell them this, or sigh, or
cry, or yell about how they “DON’T HAVE TIME TO DO THEIR ART,” and I think this
is a big fat copout.   Not being
responsible with your digital life, not having a website, not having a proper
Facebook Fan Page—it’s all part of the same thing, the “Artist’s Mindset,”
which used to manifest itself in saying you were a “starving artist” or that
you “didn’t want to sell out,” but now seems to be an excuse for neglecting
your digital life.    This is
mostly the reason why I am not taking author clients for consulting
anymore, because I simply got tired of being wanting me to do their work for them,
then yelling at me when I told them what it would cost.

In the spirit of “I am giving you good information so you
can work on your own behalf,” here is a handy list of “Ten Things To Do Before
You Go Viral,” for your reference.    This list was created for creative types, but it also absolutely applies to you, even if you sell soap.  What if Brad Pitt suddenly loves your soap, and everyone is talking about your soap?    Are you organized and together, and can you handle the traffic and all the soap orders that are going to come in?  If not, refer to the list.

1. Get your website in order.
   By “your website,” I mean yourfirstnamelastname.com.  I do not mean a Blogger blog, or your Tumblr,
   or anything else that you don’t actually own.
   I mean your domain, on hosting you paid for, nothing less.

2.  Make sure said website has at least a “Contact Us” button,
preferably a Contact Us form (to filter spam), and make sure that you’ve
actually tried to send an email to yourself using that button or form.  You would be sad if I told you how many
people don’t do this.

3.  Put your stuff up.  Do you have books/ albums/ anything for sale?  Make sure they are on your site, readily
clickable for people to buy.   I don’t
think I can make that any more clear.

4.  Make sure you’re google-able.
When I Google you, does your website show up as # 1?  If not, you should get on that.

5.  Make sure all roads lead back to you.  Is there a link in your Twitter profile that
goes back to your website?   What about
your Facebook Fan Page?  Take a look at
the guy who does this awesome video series, Minute Physics.  Is he some kind of website genius?  No, but he is extremely organized.  If you want to find him, you can—imagine
that!

6.  Get prepared to handle traffic.
Is your website going to crash if a million people go to it in one
day?  Maybe call your hosting company and
find out.

7.   Secure points of access.
Right now, go through your website, FB fan page, twitter, and any other
“open loops” out there that represent you (like LinkedIn or Tumblr, or a random
Wordpress blog).  Look at the entire
network as if you were a stranger who happened upon your work.   Are there any “dead ends” that you don’t
check, or where people could get stuck?
If so, fix them now.

8.  Clean up garbage.  If you
know there is something awful out there about you (like you’ve done something
you’re not proud of), now is the time to face it.  You might not be able to get it “removed,”
per se, but you CAN be proactive about getting your website and social media in
order, write some articles for other blogs or publications, or start some more
profiles (like at squidoo, about.me, or the zillion other social media sites
out there to push the bad results down to Page Two or beyond.

9.  Include a photo, preferable the same one.   If/ when your stuff goes viral, people are
going to want to write stories about you, and they are going to ask for
photos.   Another reason for this is
simple:  people want to associate your
work with an actual person, and it’s better if you don’t make potential fans
tax their brains by having a picture of your dog as your Twitter profile
picture.  Get it together with some
consistent branding!

10. Stop
acting weird.  Hey, guess what?  The internet is  like a big recorder that remembers everything.  If you showed your boobs on
Facebook or talked some weird political crap on Twitter, maybe go back and clean that
up, because the minute you go viral, reporters are going to dig around for this kind of thing and write about it.  This is good advice for you even if
you’re not going to go viral with something, because potential employers are
Googling you to see if they want to hire you, and no one is hiring “Boobs on
the Internet” girl.  I promise you, this applies to you if you own a small business.  I recently did not buy something from someone because I happened upon her business’ Twitter, and realized that she was using it to espouse some very radical beliefs.    I don’t think that your personal beliefs have anyplace in your business, unless there is somehow something wrong with the money from people who don’t share your beliefs.  Think about it.

That’s it!