29 May 2009
Amy Guth
Writer Amy Guth was looking for creative ways to get her first novel in front of people she didn't already have in her Rolodex.
After the release of her first novel, Three Fallen Women, by So New Media where she is now managing editor, Amy Guth needed to learn to do the bulk of her own marketing on a small budget and began working with an early incarnation of Natiiv.
In the initial consultation, Amy learned the basics of using social media including using RSS to read blogs and news as well as setting up Google alerts for her own name, the name of her publisher and the title of her book to monitor onine activity. Amy left the meeting able to comment constructively on blogs which mentioned her book and best join online conversations about small press.
Over the course of the next two years, Amy continued to work with Natiiv for training which included strategically utilizing Flickr while traveling for book readings and speaking gigs, using her existing MySpace account and later switching to Facebook in order to allow fans more access through interviews and eventually embracing Twitter to best engage readers, potential readers and build relationships spanning several of her projects.
Together they brainstormed programs that Amy executed easily. These included:
- A blog tour of feminist and women authored blogs in the fall of 2006 including Sarah and The Goon Squad, QueerCents, and Kitschen Table.
- A Chanukah Blog Tour that flipped the tables; Amy interviewed thirty-six bloggers over the course of the eight-day holiday
- Starting the “Ask me, uh ho ho, ask me” meme that continues to find new bloggers posting answers posed by the blogger before them
- Scaventour turned a regular book tour into a scavenger hunt. The activities she did were suggested on Twitter, her blog and via email
- Amy guest vlogged on Online Shoes and brainstormed show ideas with Natiiv to get the show going
- After realizing she wanted to expand her blogging, Amy again came to Natiiv to help brainstorm names and subjects for her second blog Bonkless
Two years of hard work online opened the doors for Amy to start blogging on the Chicago Tribune's new site ChicagoNow. The new literary blog is called Chicago Subtext. Amy Guth and Leah Jones of Natiiv later teamed up in early 2008 to create Pilcrow Lit Fest in Chicago, an annual small press and independent media festival. Under Natiiv's direction for online strategy, the pair raised over $1,000 in operating funds using micro-financing on Twitter; which later enabled them to raise $4000 for the New Orleans Public Libraries.
Working with Amy, we learned the power of having a creative foil to brainstorm and train artists and the fun of watching an artists execute online for themselves. So.. future clients, you have Amy to thank (or blame) for making you do the heavy lifting, while we do the cheerleading and coaching.