Tips on How to Use QR Codes to Market and Sell Your Book

A QR Code (abbreviated for Quick Response Code) is a machine-readable code consisting of an array of black and white squares (color generators are available), which is typically used for storing URLs or other information. A bar code scanner app reads the code and directs the user to the site.

The QR code is handy tool to market and sell your book:



How to Use QR Codes:   



Define the objective of the material you are printing

○ Running a free giveaway or time bound promotion?  
§ Generate a QR code to the link to "make the sale"
○ Drive traffic to your website or blog?  
§ Generate a QR code to open your web page
○ Increase subscribers to your mailing list?  
§ Generate a QR code to sign up for the list
○ Increase your FACEBOOK likes?  
§ Generate to your FACEBOOK page

Create the marketing material with your custom QR Code. Common places to print your QR Code

○ Flyers and/or posters
○ Business Cards
○ Banners
○ Back Cover of your book



You can find free QR Code generators by searching Google or other search engines.  I use:  QR Stuff . com  With a subscription, you can also take advantage of analytics.  

I just found:  http://www.visualead.com/  - which looks like another great tool - it allows you to use custom photos in your URL.

Be sure to download a Bar Scanning App on your smart phone or table to test your QR codes.  

I Love To Write Day

November 15, 2012 is the official “I Love to Write Day” to celebrate and encourage writing in all forms, by people of all ages.  Over 11,000 libraries and institutions are involved in I Love to Write Day all over the country.  Nine Governors have even proclaimed it to be an “official day”.  The founder, John Riddle, has opened the doors for many writers to get their works into libraries and schools all over the world. 

There are two options: 

·         List your book for free

·         List your book with cover and 5 lines of text

This year, Peak City Publishing will be participating in “I Love to Write Day”.  I have reserved space for each book cover and am allowed 5 lines to promote.  This is where you come in and the challenge:

·        Provide 5 NEW lines of text to promote your book to librarians, schools and other institutions.  Easy enough, right?   Your cover and new text will be sent to over 11,000 librarians.

·         Second challenge – Help me promote “I Love to Write Day” by providing writing activities to post on our website.  Here are some examples  to encourage writing for the “World’s Biggest Party for Writers”.   I will then promote these ideas at the Savannah Children’s Book Festival on November 15^th.

Looking forward to hearing from you, very soon!

Amazon Optimization

There are some things I can do for you, some things you need to do for your self, and some things you need to do for others.  When we all work together to promote and optimize each others books, we also create the opportunity for all of our books to gain maximum exposure. 

Benefits include:

• More visibility in shopper's browsers
• Cross Marketing Support between Authors
• More Top of Page exposure
• Satisfaction in knowing you and your peers are helping each other succeed!

Lets start with the Amazon Optimization

1.  https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/help - Set up your author profile and send me the link. 

2.  Tag your book, ask your friends on your social networks to tag your book and then go out and tag your fellow author's books.  Watch this video:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRJ1tLuWV8U

3. Get reviews!  Follow and contact blogs, authors, friends and family to read your book and get reviews.  Get involved with BLOGS, Facebook groups and networking groups that support your genre, your lifestyle, etc.  Ask them to review your book.

 If you get a bad review, consider it - does something need to be changed?  If not, forget about it.  Sometimes a change may be needed that we can influence and do something about.  Othertimes, the reviewer needs the change and you can't do anything about that!

• Search for Top Reviewers in Amazon.  Find several for your genre and ask them to review your book!  All they can do is say no.

4.  Create a List Mania list.  I have our Kindle Books listed on a ListMania list:  http://www.amazon.com/lm/R17XWRAB14ENKS/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_view?ie=UTF8&lm_bb=
and have a link on our web-site and the signature of my email.

Peak's Best Seller of 2011

Congratulations to Tamara Ward, author of Storm Surge, A Jonie Waters Mystery for Best Seller status with Peak City Publishing!  The book, released March 29th, 2011 is a consistent seller in both paperback and e-book. 

Tamara has been hard at work on her second in the Jonie Waters series, it is a fast and engrossing suspense novel.  Not only was it hard for me to put down, but when I did, I kept thinking about it...who did it? why? when can I pick it up again?