{"id":11330,"date":"2013-09-10T18:10:30","date_gmt":"2013-09-10T12:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookbuzzr.com\/blog\/?p=11330"},"modified":"2015-02-17T12:21:34","modified_gmt":"2015-02-17T06:51:34","slug":"5-questions-with-best-selling-author-rachel-thompson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookbuzzr.com\/blog\/5-questions-with-best-selling-author-rachel-thompson\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Questions with Best Selling Author Rachel Thompson"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rachel Thompson<\/a> (aka RachelintheOC) is a bestselling author and social media\/author marketing consultant. Her three books, A Walk In The Snark<\/a>, The Mancode: Exposed<\/a> and Broken Pieces<\/a> are all #1 Kindle bestsellers! Midwest Book Review and two Amazon Top 10 Hall of Fame reviewers all gave Broken Pieces five stars.<\/p>\n

When not writing, she helps authors and other professionals with branding and social media for her company, BadRedhead Media<\/a>. Her articles appear regularly in the San Francisco Book Review (BadRedhead Says…), 12Most.com, bitrebels.com, and BookPromotion.com.<\/p>\n

1) Hi Rachel … thank you so much for doing this interview and for your willingness to share your experiences and knowledge of book marketing. Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
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Sure. I\u2019ved in California most of my life, though I was born in Florida. I did try out the east coast for about four or so years in the early nineties, but had enough of the crazy winters! I\u2019m a wife, a mom (two children, a boy and a girl), and when I\u2019m not working on books or articles, I\u2019m running my social media marketing business. Let\u2019s not discuss laundry.<\/p>\n

I did the corporate thing in the pharma industry for over 15 years and quit in 2004. I\u2019ve always been a writer, since the age of ten, and a lifelong avid reader. Books and words are my addiction.<\/p>\n

2) \u00a0You\u2019ve got a humongous following on Twitter. Can you share some tips which authors can begin implementing right away to improve their Twitter presence?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve been on Twitter since early 2009, so I\u2019ve had time to build a targeted following and have learned a few tricks.<\/p>\n

a. Be authentic. Many authors say they just don\u2019t know what to talk about on Twitter, and I tell them they should talk about what they always talk about in real life! If you\u2019re completely stumped, start with your genre, share books and authors you enjoy, quotes, first-lines, etc. I do suggest going beyond that as you become more comfortable since none of us is one-note.<\/p>\n

b. Don\u2019t spam. It\u2019s tempting to get on Twitter and do nothing but talk about our books and share links to our books, but that puts most people to sleep or worse, you annoy them and they unfollow or report you for spam. Connect with readers, discuss topics that interest them (how do you know? Ask them!), and provide information (resources, unique info, visuals) they may not see elsewhere. Avoid the \u2018hard sell.\u2019 Build relationships instead.<\/p>\n

c. Understand Twitter rules and guidelines. Not sure what hashtags are? Read about it in the Help section. Virtually any question someone has about Twitter can be found there, or ask me. I\u2019m at RachelintheOC<\/a> (my author account) or my business stream BadRedheadMedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

d. It\u2019s not quantity, it\u2019s quality. I\u2019ve been reseraching fake followers, spammers, and bots for an upcoming article. I\u2019ve tried a few \u2018buying\u2019 services to see what they offer, if the followers are real (no), and why so many people seem to look at quantity. I\u2019ve learned this: clear out any fakes, bots or spammers (I use ManageFlitter.com<\/a> daily to both follow and unfollow); follow readers \u2013 too many authors only follow only other authors; retweets and interaction count more in the eyes of Twitter and Klout when it comes to influence.<\/p>\n

3) How do you reach out to readers and engage with them on Facebook?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Facebook requires that an author have a Page<\/a> (as opposed to using our Personal Account) to sell. That said, I interact more with people on my personal account, sharing articles, pictures, and funny visuals. Same concept applies to Facebook as Twitter: ask questions, promote others, provide great content and sales will follow. And don\u2019t forget Google+! It\u2019s a Google product and not difficult to use. In fact, using it can increase your Google ranking.<\/p>\n

4) You\u2019ve got quite a few reviews for your book on Amazon… some of them from top Amazon reviewers. Do you have any advice to authors about reaching out to reviewers on Amazon?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I didn\u2019t do a special rain dance or anything to get my book in front of key people. I did, however, build relationships with them online \u2013 sharing posts, interacting, talking about life, whatever. Book bloggers and reviwers are our friends but treat them as such \u2013 too many authors throw books at these kind folks (most of whom do this review and blogging thing as a nights and weekend thing), so respect them and their time. Always, always be polite. Ask politely and don\u2019t be upset if they decline.<\/p>\n

For the reviews that come organically from readers, I\u2019m forever grateful because someone took the time (I hope) to read my book. That should be any author\u2019s goal, even if the rating is low.<\/p>\n