Let's Be Friends Award and Recognition

It is difficult at times to press onward and find the energy to work so hard to become inspiration, hope and encouragement for the world...when at times you feel as though you can find none within yourself or the labors of your art. I think this is what determines true (worthy) character in a person. I also know it is something that comes in time. Being a Christian I can't help but consider the scripture that says, "The trying of our faith works patience..." For me, I have labored over the past few years to learn this indie publishing business...and within it...become encouragement and support for others. I am thankful today that my friend, Joy Collins of JOYFUL THOUGHTS blog has recognized my blog for an award of sheer giving...

Thank you so much Joy! It is such a blessing to help and serve others...even at times when we feel (or as I may feel) as though nothing is served in return. We don't help others to get famous...or receive awards such as this...we do it because it is in us to serve and help the soul of the world. BUT, it sure is nice to receive recognition for your labors...because after all...with all the time spent working, studying, researching and learning--in an effort to give back to others--it can seem exhausting and sometimes...disregarded or unworthy of your efforts.

I am thankful for this day. I am thankful for my gifts. And I am thankful for the people I have come to call friend and in whom I serve...

Thank you so much!!!

To read Joy's blog, follow this URL.


...supporting the independent arts...

~Bobby Ozuna

"Marketing 101"--February 9th, 2009

*How to add Amazon widget for your book to your Blogger blog*

On my last post for "Marketing 101" I mentioned a few optimization tips for customizing your Blogger blog. If you are an author (or artist who has an item to sale) whose book is on the Amazon.com storefront, you will want to include the Amazon widget for your book on your blogger blog sidebar. This tool (look at the widget for Proud Souls and Iggy The Iguana on my sidebar) is easy to setup and it allows your fans an easy way to locate your book on the Amazon storefront so they can place their order. I am going to show you how to get that done today, as well as show you how to place books of your choice/liking within your blog so that others can benefit from your favorite reading recommendations (see bottom of my blog).


You will first need to create (or logon to) your Amazon Associates account. You can do that here. If you don't have an account, create one--immediately--or at least put it on your To-Do list to get it done as quickly as possible.

If you already have an Amazon Associates account, login to their secure page and you will be able directed to your dashboard. While there you will see a tab (there are several running horizontally on that page) for Widgets. Click that tab and you will see the various types of Widgets you can create within your Associates account.

I used the "My Favorites" widget template.From there, the setup is easy. Simply type in the name of the book (or CD) you want to locate within the Amazon storefront, then you can customize the color, size, etc... When you are done, you will have an option to upload that widget to your Blogger blog or various other social networking sites.

It's that easy....

I did this same step in creating the "Bobby's Reading Recommendation" list at the bottom of my blog. The best part about creating these widgets is Amazon will pay you a percentage of every sale that comes from your link on your website/blog.

Try it... you have nothing to lose but lots to gain by applying this simple technique and allowing your fans and followers an easy way to purchase your book.

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to this blog to stay current with more marketing tips, writing techniques and information related to my guests for my show, The Soul of Humanity.

Sincerely,

~Bobby Ozuna

"Marketing 101"-- September 24th, 2008

Make it easy for readers to locate your book on Amazon.com with the "Buy from Amazon.com" widget in your Blogger blog.

If you have a book for sale, then you are surely doing all you can to make your book not only available to the public but visible to everyone who stumbles upon your blog. It is imperative that although you work to promote your work and the work of others who helped you get where you are, that you make buying your book as easy as possible for the casual passer-by. And one handy tool available to all authors who have a book to sale, is the "Buy from Amazon.com" widget available via your Amazon Associates program. (See image example below)

*Everyone who has something for sale on Amazon can easily join the Associates program and thereby advertise for Amazon and with Amazon.com.*

BUILD AMAZON WIDGET AND COPY HTML CODE:

To add this widget you simply navigate to Amazon.com and login to your account or simply click the [Join Associates] link at the bottom of the Amazon.com homepage. There you will find a quick and easy one page synopsis and summary of the program and also the link to complete your [online application]. Here you will be promoted to logon using your Amazon.com credentials and once through their secure server logon process you will begin setting up your payment options. These options are intended to help Amazon.com determine where and whom to make checks payable to. See with the Associates program, when you allow Amazon.com to post their widgets (although you can physically post them wherever you choose on your homepage or blog site), Amazon.com will reward you with a % of earnings based on sales generated by links from your websites.

Once you have completed the application process (takes less than the amount of time it takes for you to enter your name, address, & telephone) you will be on your way.  Once in your Associates account generalization page you can then select from a wide range of available Amazon widgets to post on your site (such as the one above which is a direct reference to my book) by selecting the "Build Links/Widgets" link on the left hand sidebar.

The whole process can take less than one hour (depending on how much time you want to spend perfecting the color, size, etc.) and then it's on to the next step: Posting the widget within your Blogger blog. The final step before posting the widget to your blog will be collecting the HTML source code. Amazon.com is so gracious, the developers even put a nice easy [copy] button on the last step. Take that HTML code and paste it into a Wordpad or Notepad document for the next step.

ADD AMAZON.COM WIDGET TO YOUR BLOGGER BLOG TEMPLATE:

Login to your Blogger account and @ the dashboard, select the [layout] option. Once in the layout editing screen, select (where on your blog layout you want the widget) and select (either) ADD PAGE ELEMENT or ADD A GADGET.

*You may need to be upgraded to the latest version of Blogger for these instructions to fit exactly. But keep in mind, you essentially are trying nothing more than to add some HTML/JAVA code as a page element or gadget.*

Navigate to the option that allows for a new HTML/Java SCRIPT option. The window that pops up (blank) is now ready to paste your code from previously--that you should have saved in either Wordpad or Notepad. Paste the code within that window and select Save and you are done.


~Bobby Ozuna
Drawing Stories...With Words

**********************************************************************************
To subscribe to this blog, click the URL below (little dude reading the paper) and either choose your favorite feed reader or simply subscribe via email.

Subscribe to "Drawing Stories...With Words"