After spending most of last year working on my book, I proudly held the physical product in my hand. As I began planning the official book launch, a colleague told me about a cool tool that would help me achieve a broader reach as I announced the book.
I’d seen him and two other colleagues use it and knew it was something I had to add to my toolbox – especially since it’s a very cost-effective marketing tool, which is what my book is all about!
It’s called Thunderclap. They describe themselves as a crowdspeaking platform – one that helps you “create a thunder” as your announcement travels across social networks on a specific date and time. Thunderclap likens itself to an “online flash mob.” And like most flash mobs, this was a well thought out and well-programmed event.
How Does Thunderclap Work? Three Simple Steps
Step #1: You sign up and create your Thunderclap profile as well as the message you’ll want your friends to post on launch day. You can include an image (that’s mine above) and your supporters have the ability to insert a customized message or use the one you created.
Step #2: Similar to Kickstarter, you reach out to your friends, fans and colleagues and request their support. However, what I like about Thunderclap is that I wasn’t asking my colleagues to dip into their wallets. Instead, it was a request to dip into their hearts.
Step #3: When they reach the Thunderclap request page, your supporters agree to jump on board the launch by allowing Thunderclap to program that message as an update on their choice of Facebook, Twitter and/or Tumblr.
Voila! That’s it, they’re done.
Creating the Thunder
I humbly consider myself a little fish in a big pond. So when I saw Thunderclap suggested I obtain 100 supporters, I had my doubts. What went through my head was, “How could little ‘ol me get 100 people to clap along with me and create a thunderous launch?”
Boy, was I surprised. As the request campaign progressed, I found my supporter numbers growing and growing. In addition, I received support, not just on the book launch, but in announcing the actual Thunderclap campaign itself.
I had colleagues who posted my request for Thunderclap supporters in Facebook groups, hosted me on a webinar and podcast to talk about it, and a friend who shared it on her personal FB profile
I could not have done this on my own.
Not only am I blessed, but I hold a deep gratitude in my heart for those who clapped their hands along with me to support this book launch and created some thunder on my behalf.
For those who may still be social media marketing naysaers, are you seeing the power of social networking now? I hope so.
In closing, I’d like to remind you of this: You may be in business FOR yourself, but you’re not BY yourself. Or as Lieutenant Colonel Rob “Waldo” Waldman says, “Winners never fly solo.”
Have a cost-effective marketing tool in your toolbox that you’d like to share? Please post it in the comment section below because I’d love to hear from you. Here’s to your sweet success.
P.S. Interested in grabbing your own copy of Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget™? You can do so here.
