Wednesday’s Book Promotion Tip for Authors

Authors can learn alot from studying Dan Schwabel’s Personal Branding Blog, and the way he encourages his readers to help him build his brand and sell his popular book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success.

In a few short months–Dan’s book appeared in April of this year–Dan’s Personal Branding Blog has helped him build a first-class following, with columns in publications like Business Week, over 34,000 Twitter followers, and  over 8,500 subscribers to his blog’s e-mail feed, while driving his book to category-leading success.

The power of story and endorsement

One of the most interesting ideas I’ve seen on Dan’s blog is the continuing series of blog posts by guest blogger and Me 2.0 reader Marcus Salazar.

Each week, Marcus share another installment in his Personal Branding Journey, describing how he is using Me 2.0’s concept and 4-step program to build his brand.

What a marvelous–and simple–idea! The idea adds story interest to his blog as well as 3-party credibility. Since Dan wrote Me 2.0, when he talks about his book, it comes from a biased perspective. But, when someone else writes about his book, it’s twice as credible!

Plus, Marcus is a fine writer; he’s the respected author of The Turbulent Twenties Survival Guide: Figuring Out Who You Are, What You Want, and Where You’re Going After College–a great book that complements Dan’s Me 2.0.

Marcus’s posts on Dan’s blog are a great example of fusion marketing, how social media marketing can offer new opportunities for friendship and mutual promotion.

What’s your “Marcus Salazar”?

If you’re an author using a blog to build your brand and sell your book, who’s your equivalent of Marcus Salazar? Have you been contacted by a reader who has really profited from your book, whose story might make a great addition to your blog?