Vicki Lesage, Author: Hot Dogs vs. Caviar

I originally wrote this piece for BookDaily.com but I like my posts to get the maximum workout (says the author as she plops down on the couch with her laptop) so I'm sharing with all you lovelies.

Whether an author is new or established, well-known or still trying to get the word out, every sale counts. Just because an author has a great book doesn't mean it's selling well. Just because they have a nice website/book cover/marketing campaign doesn't mean they're succeeding—it could just mean they invested a lot of money upfront or that they know how to do those things themselves. You never know if an author is eating hot dogs or caviar for dinner, so if you like an author, don't be shy in supporting them!

If purchasing a billboard ad on an author's behalf is out of your price range, there are some easy ways you can help support them instead (note: if a billboard ad IS in your price range, give me a call):

Read

This one's obvious but... read our books! And if our books don't interest you, give them as a gift or recommend them to someone who might be interested. Each sale counts—not just for profits but for Amazon sales rankings and for that warm fuzzy feeling that people are actually reading our work.
Read our blog and published articles. Leave a comment so we know you stopped by!

Write

Write a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble (you can leave the same review in all places). These really make a difference to our sales. Don't feel obligated to leave a 5-star, 100% positive review. And it doesn't need to be lengthy, either. Just a few honest sentences sharing what you thought about the book. However, if you hated the book, it might help the author more if you don't leave a review as opposed to leaving a one or two star review.
Give us a little shout-out on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog—even a quick sentence like "My friend's new book, Hot Dogs vs. Caviar, is great for people who eat dinner. Which is everyone, so pick one up today!"

Tell your friends about it. You don't need to be a used car salesman, but you'd be surprised how easy it is to work into conversation. "Oh, your friend is going to Paris? She HAS to read Confessions of a Paris Party Girl first!"
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. and like/comment/share/retweet anything that suits your fancy.
Connect your friend with the right people. Did your friend just write a cookbook and you know a semi-famous chef? Introduce them and maybe they can collaborate on promotions.

If you like an author, support them! As for me, if I make it big I'll still eat hot dogs, but maybe I'll top them with caviar...