Sunday, April 24, 2016

Saddle up with the promotion Posse

I've been a proud member of Sunny Frazier's Posse for the past five years and I'm very grateful to her for teaching me about promotion and for guiding me along the way. I've asked her to tell us about how and why she formed the Posse.



   It was a simple idea, really. I began learning (and loving) promotion early on in the Internet age. As I watched others struggle, I wondered why should they beat their head against the wall trying to navigate all the information out there? I mean, I’d already done that and had it under my belt. I was linked to lots of sites that fed information to me without any work on my part.

   Perhaps it was hubris that had me announce “I can take 5 years off your writing path if you just blindly follow my instructions.” I didn’t know if that statistic was right, I made it up off the top of my head. The message was, even if you don’t understand everything you read right now, trust me—it will all fall into place.

   Understand, these weren’t my ideas, they were culled from all the sites coming into my computer. I eliminated blogs that didn’t really add anything to our collective knowledge or were a time-waste. I sought information that could boost a person’s career.

   There was a secondary requirement: members had to go over to sites where fellow Posse members were blogging and add their two cents. It was a subversive move. Suddenly, that site had dozens of comments. Posse members were a valuable commodity for site owners. We identified ourselves as Posse and people realized we were a force to be reckoned with. I was even getting requests to “send the Posse over.”

   About a month ago, I developed a FB page for the Posse. I invited the 87 members and then opened it up to everyone. There’s no charge, everyone contributes and we still support wherever one of us is posting. However, I started doing a Round-Up every Friday listing all the topics discussed that week. It gets posted all over the Internet. I also found fun Western photos to illustrate the posts.

   Why the “Posse?” It’s a tip of my cowboy hat to the fact that I worked for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department and yes, we have a Posse. They ride horses and go into the rugged foothills to locate lost hikers. While the San Joaquin Valley of California isn’t exactly the “Wild West,” we do have rodeos and cowboys. It’s an image that works as we “ride together” to promote.  
  
Sunny Frazier 




Sunny Frazier writes the Christy Bristol Astrology Mysteries, set in the Central Valley of California where Sunny lives. A military veteran (Navy, Vietnam Era), she worked for 17 years with the Fresno County Sheriff's Dept., 11 of those years as Girl Friday for an undercover narcotics team. Her books are based on real cases and real places from those days--as well as a bit of astrology, which she's been doing for 45 years. Her character, Christy, has her own Face Book page where she doles out astrological tidbits and Sunny is the head honcho of the Posse, an intra-promotional Face Book group for writers.  

Books 2 & 3 of the series can be purchased on Amazon or at Black Opal Books. Book 1, "Fools Rush In" will be reprinted later this year. 







 

30 comments:

  1. Thanks for being my guest today, Sunny! And, thanks for all you've done and continue to do for me and so many other writers.

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  2. Authors helping authors! "A very good thing," Sunny and Patricia!

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  3. I've also belonged to the Posse for a long time, and it's been very useful and helpful. Cudos, Sunny, you've done a wonderful thing for your fellow authors. (Love your books, too.)
    Marja McGraw

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  4. Often your vital information comes at just the right moment. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with many who struggle to 'make it happen'.'

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  5. Being a member of the Posse is a BIG advantage for any writer. Thanks, Sunny.

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  6. Many of you were my test subjects for this idea and, from what I can tell, it worked just as I predicted. It made us all more savvy in marketing and put us ahead of the game. Ride on!

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  7. Sunny has sure helped me over the years, passing on tidbits of promotional techniques and many other things that help us writers. I've been a part of the posse, but it was an e-mail group. I love that it's now on Facebook. I'm proud to be part of it (always have been). Thank you.

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  8. As a long-time member of the Posse, I've made valuable contacts and virtual friends. Thank you, Sunny, for your leadership!

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  9. As a long-time member of the Posse, I've made valuable contacts and virtual friends. Thank you, Sunny, for your leadership!

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  10. I'm headed out to your web site. Is the coffee on?

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  11. Great interview. The Posse rides on.......

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  12. Dac, the coffee is brewing over the fire. Come and have a cup.

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  13. Thanks for promoting the posse, Pat. I've been a member for many years and enjoy the partnership with all the other members.

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  14. I'm so glad the Posse is now on Facebook and look forward to more and more postings and advice from other Posse members.

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  15. You're a generous friend, Sunny. I'm one of the many grateful writers who have profited from your kindness and wisdom.

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    1. Many people don't know that you were the first to publish my work and launch my career. I'm glad I could do something in return.

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  16. Thank you, Sunny, for letting me a test subject.

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  17. Thank you, Sunny, for letting me a test subject.

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  18. Sunny, you are a treasure for all of us in the Posse. Setting up the FB page was a great move- it makes sharing information quick and easy. Thanks for all you do and for your generosity in sharing your wisdom and advice! Patricia, thanks for putting the spotlight on Sunny and getting her some of the recognition she deserves!

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    1. It's been a labor of love. And, I've learned much from all of you.

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  19. Sunny,

    I wasn't aware of the Posse but I think it's a great idea. We writers all need promotion and publicity. Who but another writer can truly understand what we face? It's great that you've found this way to be supportive.

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    1. Jacqueline, it seems many authors freak out when it comes time to promote. They don't know where to start. Hopefully, this eliminates some of the confusion and gives instant support.

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  20. Giddy-up there partners...we have learned so much about marketing and networking from Sunny's vision. Thank you Sunny for the years of helping us move forward. And, thanks Pat for hosting this Lady. She is special

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    1. Aw, Augie, you were one of the early members of the Posse. I think it prepped you for publication of your first novel.

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  21. Being in such a supportive community as the Posse makes life as an author so much easier. Plus we get to wear cool hats and ride horses. ;-)

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  22. This is a great community, very active and supporting. I've learned a lot and connected with some great people. Thanks, Sunny.

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  23. Did you keep a history of the Posse posts from the pre-Facebook days? Could be interesting.

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    1. I had it on my website for awhile, but I lost everything when I hooked up this new computer. However, it did make creating a FB page for the Posse much easier. Progress!

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    2. I once sent you a link for an article about promotion which you sent around. It was really good---apparently not good enough to remember what it was! But I'd know it if I saw it. Oh, well. It's not like I'm running out of such articles.

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