What Are You Doing to Grow Your Online Home Base?

November 12, 2012 — 40 Comments

It’s a day late, but if you’re in America, I hope you’re enjoying Veteran’s Day (it’s weird, I think, to say “Happy Veteran’s Day”).

I hope you’ll take a brief moment to honor those who have served in our military at home and abroad, and that we recognize the ultimate sacrifice many have paid to keep this nation great and free.

I ran a giveaway here not too long ago that’s recently ended, and three lucky winners have been selected to receive Anne Dorko’s awesome Anatomy Theme for WordPress (a $75 value). It was a great time, with over 350 entries, and I hope you’ll stick around for another awesome giveaway in the near future!

Like, for example, at the end of this post.

That’s right — we’re doing another awesome giveaway, and this time it’s packed with Kindle-loading goodness.

First, though, I want to ask a question:

What are you currently doing to grow your online presence?

What books are you reading? What action steps are you taking? Are you having success with it? Failure?

These questions aren’t just rhetorical, either. I really do want to know, because I really do believe that it’s easier than it has ever been to grow a Home Base from scratch — if you take action, and if you ask the right questions.

So leave a comment below, and let us know. Let us know what struggles you’re having, what problems you’re running into, and by all means what’s actually working for you. Don’t hold back — this is the time to start truly thinking about what you’re doing (and what you’re not doing) well regarding your Home Base online.

There’s another good reason to leave a comment…

You’ll get free stuff.

Starting today, I’m hosting a giveaway for FIVE people to receive a copy of each of my books. That’s right — you’ll get a package set of the following:

You can click each of the links (affiliate links to Amazon) to read more about each one.

I’m doing this giveaway for two reasons:

I want to generate exposure for the books (obviously)
I want to give you the tools you need to launch a great online Home Base

I really believe in this stuff — it works. If you’ve been a reader of this blog for any length of time, you’ll know that these books aren’t just fluff and filler — they’re literally the prescribed method I’ve used to grow the blog from nothing to a-little-more-than-something in about six months. I still use each and every “method” I outline in the books, and I can guarantee the results if you actually implement them.

So what are you waiting for?

There’s nothing to lose! Just sign up below using the Rafflecopter widget, and know that you can enter multiple times, and sometimes each day.

One of the entries requires leaving a comment, so be sure to answer the question below for consideration:

What are you currently doing to grow your online presence?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Blogging, Business, Writing

Nick Thacker

Posts Website Twitter Facebook Google+

I love to write. Thrillers, nonfiction, whatever--read my "About" page for more information.

http://musingsonfantasia.blogspot.com/ Liesel Hill

I use Twitter to grow my presence–networking with other people and broadcasting my blog posts. I think the things that work best for me are 1) great content for writers on my blog and 2) doing guest posts and giveaway on other people’s sites. That way I’m exposed to their audience and grow my own.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Twitter is a great way to grow your presence, as long as you’re always adding value!
shawn smith

I just started a wordpress blog as a step towards having a homebase.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Awesome — self-hosted, or through WordPress.com?
  - shawn smith
    
    Through WordPress.
http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.l.oliver.3 Jennifer Lewis Oliver

I find interacting on Twitter and Facebook to be quite helpful in growing my presence. But I use those venues to help build relationships and network, not just tell people about my book.
I do have a website as well, which is about to be revamped. But my challenge is blogging. I fall into the same rut as many others do – my stories are interesting, not me. So I tend to have problems coming up with content and that causes me not to post regularly. I have made it a priority to figure out how to post good content on a regular schedule.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Sounds great, Jennifer! Thanks for commenting!
http://www.facebook.com/lisa.y.stiers Lisa Young Stiers

I’m brand new to this, so I’m just starting to think about building a home base. I’m working on launching my blog and connecting it with Facebook and Twitter. These books would be incredibly helpful — as have all your posts I’ve read so far.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  That’s a good start — good luck, and thanks for the comment!
http://twitter.com/Winston_Roberts Winston Roberts

I’m starting to get into Twitter on a more regular basis. At the same time I’m starting to build content for my website so that I have something for people to look at when they backtrack my name.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  That’s a great way to do it, and it builds long-term credibility with search engines!
P. McCarthy

Hi Nick,
A few months ago, I knew only a handful of people on Twitter. After reading many articles on Publisher’s wanting Writers who are able to promote themselves, I’ve been actively working to build a following to get my name out in the public and talk about my writing, and now have made over 1500 connections, and it grows daily! Not only that, but the Writer’s community is one of the most empowering communities I’ve ever been a part of, and I enjoy making new friendships. The support has been incredible! I’ve recently created an Authors page on FB, P Knight Authoress, though I’m finding it more difficult to promote. I’ve only just opened it last week, and so maybe I need to spend more time with it, but so far, it’s slow going!
I want to say, “Thank you” to you as well for all your great articles! I find them extremely helpful and informative.
All My Best,
Pattyann
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  That’s a pretty powerful testimony for Twitter — hopefully it continues to bear fruit for you! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=598060780 Susie Finney

I am mostly focusing on networking right now, trying to get the name of my blog out there, and working on posting on a more consistent basis. Hoping to do more guest posting in the future
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  What do you mean by networking?
Michele Rybak

Hey Nick,

First, I started and learned how to use twitter. Secondly, I have a website with a blog on it about writing my book, third, I have a second blog, fourth, I bought your book “Welcome Home” after listening to you drill it in my head every week and I think that’s it so far! Next up is a Facebook Page and then get a you tube channel. I was at a writing conference and spent a day on just this topic. I can see how it could be worth it, but it’s much harder than it’s made out to be.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Hopefully you got something out of Welcome Home, but either way — that’s a great place to start! How’d the writing conference go?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=584053427 Michelle Sanders Brinson

I’m reading, watching and learning. Experience is a really good teacher.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  That’s the triumvirate — reading, watching, learning!
http://twitter.com/EMitchellwriter Elizabeth A Mitchell

I have a website, with a blog, a twitter account, and a Facebook page. The hardest thing is keeping up with it all while writing, and, oh, a full-time day job to keep the kids fed.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Yup — I know the feeling (minus the kids)!
http://twitter.com/LaurenClark_Bks Lauren Clark

Website (with a blog), Facebook posts, and twitter. I also make time to comment on others’ blog posts, Facebook posts, and retweet author-friends’ tweets.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Those are all great methods, especially used together!
http://about.me/emilybreder Emily Breder

I’ve got multiple blogs going on different social platforms, like the WordPress platform and deviantArt and others, testing content and improving my skills as a writer, co-promoting others’ work and building a following. When I’m ready to publish, I will have a ready-to-buy audience.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Wow–sounds like you’re busy!
http://twitter.com/BonnieZink Bonnie Zink

I am currently using social media to connect, collaborate, and create in order to further my business online. Social media helps me to build knowledge, collect new ideas, and begin new relationships.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Great ideas, and great implementation! Thanks for commenting!
http://twitter.com/MichelleDEvans Michelle DennisEvans

I read blogs and chat on fb and twitter. Though I don’t have a whole lot of time.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Yeah, the balance between writing and social media is always a tricky one!
Angie

I’m researching.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Always a great idea!
http://twitter.com/jessicaburde Jessica Burde

I’m focusing on Twitter interactions and WordPress. KISS and minimum effort are my guidelines – I post blogs, I read and comment on other blogs, and I get into conversations on Twitter.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Good stuff — I like the idea of “KISS” as well!
http://twitter.com/sharonspad1 Sharon

It’s finding the time to write, family and commitments always seem to get in the way
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Yup, I know the feeling!
Carol

I’m into social media, making new acquaintances and learning all I can on how to promote my book.
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Good stuff, Carol — thanks!
Darick Reed

Thanks, Nick. I am in research mode, so I have been finding blogs in my industry and learning as much as I can. Next step is a domain name and hosting. Do you have a recommendation for a good WordPress host?
- http://www.livehacked.com/ Nick Thacker
  
  Awesome, Darick! Best of luck to you, and let us know if you need any help!
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What Are You Doing to Grow Your Online Home Base?

Nick Thacker

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