See the non-techy version below if some of the directions sound like gibberish.

The Quick Version

1. Boost the Columbine Intro Video

This is most powerful tool we've got. The video really engages people. But they need to find it. Embed or link with anchor text Columbine. Or just:

• Thumbs-Up and Favorite at Youtube.
• Click to share on facebook and twitter.
• Comment (at youtube). Engage other commentors.
• Mention/link on discussion boards and blog comment sections. Anchor text Columbine.
• Most effective is to Embed.

2. Post about the book

Talk about the book on Facebook, Twitter, discussion forums, blogs, and sites like GoodReads, Shelfari or Kindleboards. Wherever you hang out. Rate/"recommend" it if they have those features and add it to your bookshelf or favorites.

If you're ambitious, write a short review (a paragraph is fine).

Use anchor text Columbine, and link to http://www.davecullen.com/columbine.htm

3. Suggest it to a book club

Many fiction-only clubs have tried Columbine, because it reads like a novel. If your club is unsure, the intro video is a great persuader.

4. Suggest it to a student, teacher or librarian.

Let them know about the Instructor Guide / Teacher's Guide. It's also got term-paper topics for students.

5. Loan your copy to a friend

Books travel primarily by word of mouth. Sales are nice, but my priority is readers.

 

---

 

Thanks for your help. I know you're busy and my book is not your top priority. I'm grateful that you've taken the time to read through this page. I hope it's given you a few ideas. If you could do one or two of those things when you get a moment, it would make a big difference. Thank you.

What other books do you love? These tips will work for most of them. Books are struggling in this media-saturated world. People like you keep them alive. Thanks.

The Non-Techy Version

1. Boost the Columbine Intro Video

This is the most powerful tool we've got. The video really engages people. But the web is awash in videos, and books get lost. (Few people realize book trailers even exist.)

These actions all raise the youtube rank, which is crucial to turning up in searches suggestion bars, Click on the Columbine Intro Video. Then beneath it at the youtube page:

• Click Thumbs-Up. (Bottom, left, just under the video.)
• Make it a "Favorite." (Next set of buttons to the right. Look for the "+ Add to" button. Attached to the right of that is a down-arrow. Click the arrow and a pull-down list emerges. Click "Favorites.")
• Click to share on facebook and twitter. (Next set of buttons to the right.)
• Leave a comment there. (Just below all those buttons.) An active comments section actually raises the rank. If someone responds, engage them.
• Comment/link at other sites. As you comment on facebook, blogs, discussion boards, reader sites like Goodreads, etc., mention the video and paste in the link. Consider posting about it on your blog.

Sharing on other sites is most powerful of all. Embedding is even better. To embed: Click on Embed to right of the share buttons. A code box will pop up just below it. Copy and paste it onto most sites.

If you link, use "Columbine" as the anchor text.

2. Post about the book

Talk about the book on Facebook, Twitter, discussion forums, blogs, reader-oriented sites like GoodReads, Shelfari or Kindleboards. Wherever you hang out. Many of those also let you rate the book, "recommend" or add it to your bookshelf or favorites list.

If you're ambitious, write a short review (a paragraph or two is fine). Post it on any of those sites, and/or your blog. Cut/paste it onto as many as possible. Just get the conversation started.

When you link, it's crucial to use "Columbine" as the anchor text (the highlighted text). You can use this code, replaceing the ( ) symbols with < >

(a href="http://www.davecullen.com/columbine.htm")Columbine(/a)

3. Suggest it to a book club

Are you in a club, or know a member? We created great resources for book clubs. They include reader's questions (featured at Oprah.com) and videos designed for clubs. For large groups, I'll also call or skype in.

Many fiction-only clubs have tried Columbine, because it reads like a novel. If your club/leader is unsure, watching the the intro video is a great persuader.

4. Suggest it to a student, teacher or librarian.

Students and teachers have really embraced the book. Do you know any?

• Teachers: Some have assigned it, others put it on a reading list students pick from. (And most pick Columbine. They relate to it. To help teachers, we created an Instructor Guide and a classroom video series.
• Students: Columbine is perfect for a term paper or class project--all sorts of topics to explore, and a gold-mine of research available to students. The Instructor Guide is chock full of ideas and The Columbine Guide links like crazy to jump-start their research.
• Librarians I spent much of the spring on a schools tour and was bowled over by the impact librarians still exert. They choose books to stock and students come to them for recommendations all day. Call the librarian at your school. Make sure they have a copy and are aware of the book. (Tell them it was an American Library Association Alex Award Finalist for 2009. That's a very big deal for school librarians.) And show them a little love. They are doing an amazing job for kids.

5. Loan your copy to a friend

Books travel primarily by word of mouth. Mention the book to a friend, and consider loaning them your copy. Sales are nice, but my biggest priority is reaching more people.