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Named to "Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites," this #SharingwithWriters blog is a way to connect with my readers and fellow writers, a way to give the teaching genes that populate my DNA free rein. Please join the conversation using the very tiny "comment" link. For those interested in editing and grammar, go to http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com.

Saturday, March 02, 2013

Helping Your Readers Benefit From Your Free (Or Not Free!) Promotions

Mystery writer Aaron Paul Lazar has kindly offered to contribute to SharingwithWriters while I am taking a little break. I liked his idea of using a how-to as part of a promotion he did for a free audio book promotion he did. We authors often assume our readers know as much about maneuvering around the Web as we do. So I thought you could use his idea as a template to add to your Audio promotion release or invitation or to adapt to other promotions you might do. Simply add your tailored how-to instructions to the offer you are making. In other words, make it easy for your readers to find and read (or listen!) to your book! Readers who follow this blog may also welcome these clear instructions!
 
How to Download Free/Gifted Books (using coupons) from Audible.com
by Aaron Paul Lazar

Recently ACX gave me thirty-five free "coupons" as a promotional tool to distribute among audio book reviewers for my books on Audible.com and Amazon.com (who owns Audible). ACX is the author/narrator website owned by Audible that helps authors get their books made into audio books.

I was thrilled, to say the least, because audio books aren't cheap, and it costs authors an arm and a leg to "gift" an audio book to a reviewer. Typical prices for these 10-20 hour gems ranges from $16-25 and up.

I realized up front that many folks, including my potential reviewers, haven't yet graduated to thinking about audio books as they do eBooks or music files. Or maybe they haven't even progressed past listening to audio books on tapes or CDs! I was afraid that this new technology might scare them off and they wouldn’t use the codes I’d given them. But in truth, it’s really easy, and you can handle them just like any old mp3 file, except they are much larger and take a few minutes to download on the fasted Wi-Fi system.

Once you are set up, it’s a breeze. Just like downloading Kindle eBooks. And once you start listening to audio books, they can be quite addictive. I’m an audio book junkie now, and I listen every day while I exercise in the morning and during my commute to work.

So, to help people get started on Audible so they could use my coupons, I jotted down the steps needed if you didn’t already have an account or if you were already an Amazon.com account holder. Carolyn and I thought this might be useful to you, too.

Here's how you use your coupon code or gift code.

First of all, if you aren't a member of Audible already, you will have to create an account. All that takes is an email address and password, it's no biggie. You don't have to "join" Audible.com (although if you fall in love with audio books I would suggest it for the future to save money) If you're already an Amazon.com member, you can use that info to log in and your two accounts will be linked.

Let's assume you don't have either Amazon or Audible accounts yet.

1) Go to Audible.com (home page).

2) On the home page, in the upper right hand corner, there's a small link that says, "Already an Audible.com member? Sign in Here."

I know it's confusing because you aren't a member, but click on it anyway!

3) On the next page, there are two options to sign in. Use option 1 that says you are already an Amazon.com member. (even if you aren't!) (If you are an Amazon customer, just use your existing password, etc. and follow directions)

4) Enter your email address, and hit the radio button that says, "I am a new customer."

5) A new page will come up where you can enter your name and choose a password. Follow the directions to enter your email address again and choose a password that is at least 6 characters long.

6) Now you will be redirected to the home page. Go to the tab labeled "gift center" or type in the address "audible.com/redeem"

7) Put the code into the box on the right hand side where it says "need to redeem?"

It knows which book is linked with which code, so a copy of the book you have been “gifted” will be deposited in your library. (called MY LIBRARY)

8) You can now download to the computer to listen like you would to any music file.

9) OR, you can go to any device – smart phone, iPad, iPod, Kindle, etc. (I listen all the time with earbuds on my iPhone or in the car via blue tooth wireless. My 89-year-old mother-in-law listens all day on her iPad. My wife listens on her Kindle Fire.)

10) Download the free "Audible App" from your app store to your device. On most devices it’s in the “App Center” or “App Store” or just “Apps.”

11) When the App is downloaded, go to "MY LIBRARY."

12) Click on the book cover and it will usually tell you there are two parts to the download (audio books are big files). Click on each one to download it separately. This takes a few minutes each. If you have WiFi it goes faster, but it will download with 3G networks, etc.

13) Now just click on the cover for part 1 and push “play” and it will start. (Note, if you are on your phone that has blue tooth linked to your car, it will play through your car speakers which is very cool.)

14) You can also burn the book to CDs (one time only), but it takes a handful of disks to get the long books . It's easier to handle as an mp3 file on your phone, etc. if you can.

15) If you have any questions, the Audible.com help desk is amazing. You can call 24 hours a day to talk to a real person. ;o) They are great!

16) When you're done listening (and I hope you love the book), go back and search for the title on Audible.com and choose your ranking for “overall, story, and performance.” Then write a blurb below or answer the questions they ask you about favorite scenes, characters, etc. It's easy!

If you want to request a code from me (limited time offer), please email me at aaron dot lazar at yahoo dot com. All I ask in return is a review on Audible.com or Amazon.com.

Now, if by the time you read this all my coupons for Lazar books are gone, you might even want to check out the best sellers on Audible for your own fun. You can browse by author, title, genre, etc. I highly recommend the Dick Francis books narrated by Simon Prebble, all of the suspenseful books by Michael Prescott, and the Travis McGee (John D. MacDonald) books by Robert Petkoff. Super series, super narrators.

You can check out my audiobooks (plus print and eBooks) at www.lazarbooks.com

Thanks, and happy listening!

Aaron Paul LazarTwilight Times Books by multi-award winning, Kindle bestselling author, Aaron Lazar:


DOUBLE FORTÉ (print, eBook, audio book)

UPSTAGED (coming 2013 author’s preferred edition, print, eBook, and audio book)


MAZURKA (print, eBook, audio book)

FIRESONG (print, eBook, audio book)




HEALEY'S CAVE (print, eBook, audio book)


FOR KEEPS (print, eBook, audio book)



FOR THE BIRDS (print, eBook)

ESSENTIALLY YOURS (print, eBook)



WRITING ADVICE:

WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1, 2, 3 (2012)


Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming Twilight Times Books releases, DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU (2013), author’s preferred edition of UPSTAGED (2013), and SANCTUARY (2013).

FINALIST 2013 EPIC Book Awards * WINNER 2011 EPIC Book Awards, BEST Paranormal * FINALIST 2011 FOREWORD BOOK AWARDS * WINNER 2011 Eric Hoffer BEST Book, COMMERCIAL FICTION * 2X FINALIST Global eBook Awards 2011 * Preditors & Editors Readers Choice Award – 2nd place 2011* Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s Top 10 Books of 2012 * Winner of Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s 9th Annual Noble (Not Nobel!) Prize for Literature 2011 * Finalist Allbooks Editor’s Choice Awards 2011 * Preditors&Editors Top 10 Finalist * Yolanda Renée's Top Ten Books 2008 * MYSHELF Top Ten Reads 2008 * Writer’s Digest Top 101 Website Award 2009-2012


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SharingwithWriters is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor

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