This is intended for informational purposes only.
Selling books by mail is one of the "ideal" spare-time business ventures that can be operated from your home, and with minimal investment. However, there's a lot you must know about this kind of business; a lot to learn, a lot to understand, and a lot of common sense required.
The first thing you need to know is where to get books - the kind of books - that sell best via mail order. Selecting your source of supply, deciding which type of books you want to sell, and arranging a working relationship with these suppliers is your first step. Be sure that you know which supplier has which books, the quantity discount prices, and the drop-ship requirements. It's best to set up a file for each of your suppliers; keep a copy of each of their latest catalogs, and some sort of record of all dealings you have with them.
Once you're organized with a source of supply, getting started is pretty easy. One way might be to acquire a series of money making reports that run two or three pages in length such as this one - that sell for a couple of dollars each. Then, you run a classified ad in some of the national mail order publications reaching extra-income opportunity seekers. Such an ad might read: FREE REPORT! $50,000 profit each year! Sparetime home-operated business. Details SASE. (your name & address).
Your secret to success in selling books by mail will lie in what you put into all those self-addressed and stamped envelopes you receive in response to your ad.
Of course, the first thing you have to put in those envelopes is the "free report" you promised in your ad. We have a number of reports describing a plan that can make $50,000 a year for an energetic and determined extra-income opportunity seeker, and have used all of them quite successfully in accordance with the plan we're describing to you here. Now then, in addition to the "free report", as promised in your ad - and in order to sell books - you have to include what is known as your "follow-up" package...
Actually, it's quite simple and should be almost automatic. You'll need a full page circular advertising one of the books you're selling. To see, and understand this ingredient, collect the advertising sheets you receive from all the book clubs, relative to their "featured selection" circulars. Remember here that the more original and different from the "other" advertisers you can maker your circulars, the more books you'll end up selling. Still, you may not want to undertake the work or have the extra finances to hire to have "featured selection" advertising circulars made up for you. In that case simply take one of the full page circulars advertising a particular book, sent out to you by one of your suppliers.
Following the successful methods used by all the Book of the Month Clubs, in addition to your full page circular advertising a specific book - a featured selection - you should include a sheet of other titles - alternate selections - for your customers to consider ordering. These are very important things to consider and to think about every time you send out a mail order offer.
Generally, you do not need to include either a separate order form or a self-addressed envelope with your order-solicitation package. However, we would advise you to have your featured selection circular, and your alternate selection list printed on colored paper - say your featured selection circular printed on white paper with red or blue ink, and your alternate selection printed on yellow or canary colored paper with black ink. This tends to give your mailing piece a bit of class, and at the same time tends to stimulate the prospects into buying more than just ordinary white paper with black ink. Give it some thought, try it, check your results and then decide from there.
I've just explained the "nitty gritty" of how to get organized, set yourself up in the book-selling by mail business, and how to operate it profitably. But, unless you have everything pre-planned, your fledgling business may die before you've even scratched the surface of your potential profit picture.
It's necessary that you have a different "featured" selection circular and list of alternate selections to send out, each time you send something out to your prospects or customers. Thus, before you begin, it will pay you to elect about 18 different books to call featured selections or say, "Best Buy Of The Month". Make sure you have a full page circular for each of these books - have a supply of each of them printed and in stock - then either number them or arrange them in the order you want to use them. You should have the same kind of supply, and arrangement for your lists or alternate selections.
With books, it will be necessary to always be on the lookout for new books you can use as featured selections in your customer follow-up program. A supply of 18 will get you started, but as your business grows, you'll find some of your customers ordering every book you offer, and thus, in order to keep them buying from you, you'll have to keep offering new selections to them. With your lists of alternative selections, this is not so important. Actually, you could start out with about a hundred or so reports, and from this list, make up an alternative selection list of about 25 titles for each list. After you've gone through 100 of these reports - 4 different alternative selection lists - you could go back and mix the selections from each list - 6 from list one, 6 from list two and so on...
It's important that you get your customer's order on its way just as quickly after receiving it as possible. When you're having a supplier dropship for you, the best thing is to accumulate all your orders - filling in your dropship order from each day's mail - and then on Saturday of each week, writing your check to each supplier, enclosing the dropship order forms, sealing it and getting it in the mail. At the same time, you should send out your order acknowledgment notes, and follow-up packages on the same day you receive them. It may sound a little complicated, but it really isn't - and if you'll plan your business in detail before you place your first ad, have your follow-up materials printed in advance, and work this plan as I've explained it you should have no trouble at all.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer<BR>
Note to editors:<BR>To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.
This article may be redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.<BR>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$<BR>DeAnna is the publisher of the ezine, Prospecting and Presents.<BR>Subscribers get one free ad per week.<BR>Subscribe today by visiting <A target="_new" href="http://www.pnewsletter.com">http://www.pnewsletter.com</A><BR>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
วันเสาร์ที่ 31 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2552
You, Your Book and the Internet!
Authors, especially self published, small press and Print on Demand authors should understand the power of the Internet when promoting a book. There is POWER in cyberspace authors and it's only getting bigger and better. More users will be online buying books next year than this year. More people are buying books today online than they were yesterday.
Guess what the last item I bought at a brick and mortar store? It was a Vanilla Soy Late coffee w/ two sweetener packages while I just looked and browsed the bookshelves - The last 10 books I purchased was online. Internet 10 - Bookstores 0. Get the point?
So what is the definition of the Internet? One dictionary says, "The Internet, sometimes called simply 'the Net,' is a worldwide system of computer networks -- a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users at other computers)."
How Many Online? "The art of estimating how many are online throughout the world is an inexact one at best. Surveys abound, using all sorts of measurement parameters. However, from observing many of the published surveys over the last two years, here is an "educated guess" as to how many are online worldwide as of September 2002. And the number is 605.60 million." (Source: Various; Methodology Compiled by: Nua Internet Surveys)
World Total 605.60 million
Africa 6.31 million
Asia/Pacific 187.24 million
Europe 190.91 million
Middle East 5.12 million
Canada & USA 182.67 million
Latin America 33.35 million
To Overlook Google searches and Yahoo searches when promoting your book in today's marketplace is bad marketing. Internet!Internet!Internet!Internet!Internet!Internet! And the best way to sell yourself and your book is on the Internet and with Interviews and articles. Good Luck and get connected!
Jay Hubbard
http://www.theauthorconnection.com
Jay Hubbard is a book reviewer and writer for TheAuthorConnection.com
Jay Hubbard is a book reviewer and writer for <a target="_new" href="http://www.TheAuthorConnection.com">TheAuthorConnection.com</a>
8 Ways to Find Good Reviewers for Your New Book
Review Your Reviewer: You will be sorry if you do not take the time to get a pretty good picture of your reviewer. Use e-mail, snail mail or anything else you've got to pop a few questions to your reviewer. If the review is on radio or TV place a few phone calls in advance. Why? You must get a fix on your reviewer's position and general inclination. If your writing is in religion, check the doctrinal position of the reviewer. A Pentecostal book is bound to come up short in a conservative catholic review. If your book is written with a conservative political bent, it will not do well under the scrutiny of a liberal democrat. You must check out every aspect of the reviewer's mindset that you can by any means you can. If you disregard this advice you will suffer for it.
Review the Reviewers Reviews: Read carefully everything you can find that your reviewer has previously written. They can be aggressive without being hyper critical or belligerent. Some reviewers have a pompous attitude. Usually they are not writers themselves. If you find some that are writers they will be far easier to work with because they know all the problems and pitfalls in this profession. A reviewer has opportunity to rub elbows with some people that the rest of us will only know in name only. This does tend to give them an exploded sense of their own importance. How will you know if this is the case with your reviewer? Simple, read their stuff. An attitude is an easy thing to spot. Don't get the idea that your book is so good that no one could possibly find anything bad to say about it. Cranky people are usually very consistent, don't take a chance.
Avoid the Reviewer who is Too Personal: When reading a reviewers work see if they are comparing what they are critiquing with other writing that contrasts the book under review. Also do they find similarities to the book under discussion and other books perhaps in the same genre? If every reflection they make comes from their own position, emotion or mindset you should be very careful about submitting your work to them. Remember you spent weeks, months or years putting together your book; they may spend only a few hours at the most perusing your labors. Don't let someone who is having a bad hair day remove your first chance to get a little press for the great American novel.
Grammar and Spelling Snafus: It goes without saying that all grammar and spelling issues should be covered before the publication of your book. It also goes without saying that no matter how hard you try, they are not. If you self publish or use a (POD) print on demand publisher there is a greater chance of these errors breaking through un-noticed. The galley proofs offered by these publishers may be very hard to negotiate and it is usually the author doing every bit of the work. Most authors getting published for the first time are duly excited and such mistakes are prone to make it across the bar. Remember that the best authors in the world will have spelling and grammar problems at times. Even in the major publishing houses where a mile long group of proof readers have taken up to a year to finish a book, mistakes are made. Here is the bottom line when it comes to a reviewer noticing and dancing with your mistakes in a review. It stinks. First it is the sign of a very unskillful reviewer, especially when it comes to first time authors with POD books. It is almost understood that first tries will have a few more mistakes than the veterans do and for a reviewer to make a big deal of those problems is hitting below the belt by any standards. Don't even approach such reviewers if you see they make a practice of this. If they feel a need to say that a book is a self published work they are miserably out of touch. This is the day of the POD and thousands of books are coming through this conduit that can stand beside any of the big boys from the major houses.
Don't Forget Online Newspapers: Online newspapers usually follow the same editorial guidelines of the printed paper. They are far more forgiving than online reviewers. These are the people who make corrections daily of things misquoted, misspelled and missed completely. They deal with writing and John Q Public everyday and that daunting task makes them more understanding of fellow journalists. Follow all the same rules for approaching web review sites and above all get to know all you can about your critic before you bundle up a dozen review copies and slide them off the runway to the papers.
Look for the Honest but Skillful Reviewer: An honest reviewer won't hide the negatives and failings of your book but they will skillfully blend them into a larger picture without burning down the city. Such people are artist experienced in balancing of literary achievement and fledgling endeavor. How do you find such people? Once again review the reviewer's reviews!
Let The Public Be Your Reviewer: Amazon has a program that allows some of the pages of your book to be seen as a means of drawing the reader into your material. You will receive responses from this, that can be perused, archived and used on your website, your publicity efforts, and your letters and anywhere you choose. Google also has a wonderful program called, Google Print. They put up the cover of your book, a bit of an author bio and not more than twenty percent of the content of your book to be seen by anyone worldwide. Links can point directly back to your site or any other place where the book may be purchased. You will receive various responses that can be archived for press releases, short web reviews, blogs or whatever.
Beware Of Blogs: For a new author to submit the contents of their new release to a blog in whole or in part is like running the gauntlet. Blogs are all too much of a free for all. Every Tom, Dick and Harry has got an opinion. They are certainly entitled to their opinion but be sure of one thing, an opinion does not a review make. The chance of getting a fair review on a blog is in general about zero. What you will have is a lot of people passing around a lot of second hand information. You may have someone praising your stuff and in the next minute calling you something that is several notches hotter than PG-13. Till you have a better rep as an author, do not expose you're writing to the free for alls.
Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote "Hook Line and Sinker or what has Your Church Been Teaching You," publisher, PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book published by Xulon Press entitled "An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ." Rev Bresciani's website is <a target="_new" href="http://americanprophet.org">http://americanprophet.org</a>
8 Easy Online Ways to Market Your Book For Free
Marketing your book whether you went the POD, e-book, or traditional route can be a daunting process. Figuring out what works and what doesn't can take time, energy, and if you're not careful a lot of money. When I first self-published my science fiction novel GETTING OUT ALIVE, I had already done quite a bit of research into ways to market my novel that didn't eat into my pocket book.
Here are the top 8 ways I've marketed my book and seen results:
*Create a presence on the web. There are many ways to do this, but having your own website to promote your writing is the best way. There are lots of places that have free webpages, but Bravenet.com has everything you could ever want (webjournals, tell-a-friend service, guestbook, and mailing lists to name a few) and this includes free hosting.
*Sign other author's guestbooks. The author is not the only one who reads the entries, and make sure you add your website address even if they don't give you a spot to put it. Put it beneath your name when you sign your entry.
*Be a regular on message boards, answer newbie's questions, and don't forget to add your signature with your website address. The important thing to remember here is to pop in on a regular basis, otherwise it looks like the only reason you're there is advertise, and participants won't take you seriously.
*Join writers groups online and post, post, post! That's not to say you should inundate any group with advertising e-mails about your book, but rather to participate in the discussions. If you have a signature line at the end of your e-mails this will do your advertising for you.
*Speaking of signature lines, create one and add it to all of your e-mails. This is one of my favorite freebies. People do read signature lines and I have actually ordered books because I found them via the signature line.
*Give away free PDF electronic versions of your book (not too many now, just 2 or 3) in return for reviews. This has worked very well for me, and I've gotten some good reviews from doing this. Readers like free and are usually more than willing to write a review in return.
*Trade electronic versions of your book with other published authors and do a review for each other.
*Once you have reviews post them on your website and anywhere else you can. There are many places to post reviews for free, just search on google for book reviews. See if your reviewers will post their reviews for you at these websites.
Regina Paul is the author of the science fiction novel GETTING OUT ALIVE, and editor of the free bi-monthly writer's e-zine Regina's Universe. You can read the first chapter of her novel, sign up for her e-zine and find many other writer's freebies at: <a target="_new" href="http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com">http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com</a>
Top 5 Book Selling Tips
TIP # 1
Online reviews are paramount in importance when it comes to drawing attention to your book. And the best part is, you're in control of your own destiny!
If you haven't yet submitted your own review on sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, what are you waiting for? This should be one of the first steps for every published author.
Encourage other family members and friends to review the book, too. They're inclined to be more generous than perfect strangers, but don't underestimate the effect of any honest review. Published reviews on sites like Amazon, Barnes &Noble, and the many other sites Outskirts Press books appear demonstrates interest in your book. And that's a good thing! Post a review for your book today, and ask others to do likewise.
TIP #2
Enhance your online listing with Amazon.com by participating in their "Search Inside the Book Program."
Sign up to join this revolutionary new way to merchandise your book on Amazon.com. When customers search for books on Amazon.com, actual words from inside your book -- not just the author or title -- are engaged to return the best possible matches. With this powerful new search feature, customers can discover books that may never have surfaced in previous search results!
With "Search Inside the Book," customers can also browse sample pages and do additional searches inside a particular book to confirm that the title is just what they're looking for. All of this helps authors like you sell more books.
Once you sign Amazon's Publisher Participation Agreement and are accepted into the program, you will need to provide Amazon.com with a physical copy of each book you would like to include in the program.
TIP #3
Become an "expert" in your field and book sales will follow. It's true that promoting a book requires a great amount of resolve, but it is also true that working smarter, rather than harder, can help reap those rewards.
By projecting yourself as an "expert" in the genre in which you write, you can open new doors for networking, doors that often remain shut without that expertise status.
How does one go about making himself or herself an expert? Easy! You already are one. The name on your published book proves it. Now just use that book as a calling card to line-up speaking engagements, freelance writing gigs, and other opportunities at a variety of venues.
Two good places to begin are AOL and the ABOUT.COM information network. Both have category-specific forums in which you can participate, and by mentioning that you are the "Author of such-and-such" within the scope of your communication, you begin to label yourself as an expert to fellow participants.
Being recognized as an expert in a technical or "non-fiction" category is admittedly easier than the largely subjective category of "fiction expert" but even if you have written a work of fiction, becoming a recognized expert is conceivable.
Whether you've penned poetry, horror, or romance, there is a forum in which to voice your opinion. The Internet is full of chat rooms, use groups, genre-sites, and more -- all thirsty for content from published writers. You just have to know where to look. Start selling books tomorrow by being an expert today.
TIP #4
"Pay For Performance" internet advertising is making big waves lately. While most search engines feature such sponsored links, there are currently only a number of engines providing the back-end technology, and of those, only one serves the majority of search engines used by the public: Overture.
The way pay-for-performance (or p4p) works is simple. You bid on search terms (either words or phrases or a combination of both). Your webpage link then appears in search engine results relative to the price of the bid. If you're the highest bidder, your webpage appears at the absolute TOP of many search engines. Remember the frustration of typing in a search for your webpage and never finding your link? No longer!
But that's not even the best part. The best part is this -- you only pay if someone actually clicks on your link. And since you've defined the search term, the people clicking on your link are already predisposed toward your subject. In essence, they're already pre-sold.
Let's look at an example. Say you've published a mystery novel about the death of a land baron in Louisiana. Not exactly a new plot, and yet millions of "whodunit" readers would be anxious to read it. Your solution? Open an Overture account and bid on search terms like "Louisiana Mystery Novel" and "Mystery Book Plantation" and similar terms. Counter-intuitively, the more vague the term, the better, since very specific searches deliver very motivated buyers to your page, and since you're paying for each click, you want those people to buy!
That brings us to the down-side. You have to be very careful managing your bids, or it can be expensive. Do not bid on ridiculously vague and popular words like "book" because you will never recoup your money. Instead, focus your search terms as specifically as possible.
If you've been clamoring for more traffic to your free Outskirts Press webpage, Overture may be just your ticket. To sign-up, click below. They'll even give you a $10 credit to begin. Visit Overture at their website for more information.
Tip #5
Use ebooks to help promote and sell your paperback or hardback edition.
Think of e-books as a teaser. With a lower purchase price and more immediate gratification, many people are inclined to give an e-book a try when they might pass on a traditional paperback. Furthermore, if they like the e-book, 80% of people end up purchasing the "real" book, too!
There are three schools of thought concerning the way in which e-books should be sold.
1 - Some believe that e-books should have a very low purchase price, somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.00 for the entire book.
2 - Other believe that e-books should only contain excerpts, or sample chapters of the full book, and that they should be provided for free.
3 - Still others believe that e-books best serve their purpose when the entire e-book is given away. This encourages word of mouth about the author and the book, which in turn helps support additional book sales and really shows dividends when a subsequent book is published by the same author.
Whichever course you follow, there is little doubt that e-books are beneficial to your promotion efforts. If you don't yet have an e-book, what are you waiting for?
Brent Sampson is the President & CEO of Outskirts Press Publishing at <a target="_new" href="http://www.outskirtspress.com">OutskirtsPress.com</a> and author of Publishing Gems: Insider Information for the Self-Publishing Writer. Information at <a target="_new" href="http://outskirtspress.com/publishinggems">http://outskirtspress.com/publishinggems</a>
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 29 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2552
Book Club Sales -- Increasing the Odds
What is a book club sale? It is actually a rights sale or a licensing agreement: you are granting permission to a book club the right to "borrow" your work. You have written a book, and now you are allowing a book club to print and distribute your book to its members.
You allow the book club to reprint your book in a specific language, in a specific format, for a specific period of time, in a specific geographic territory, to a specific group of people. You ensure in your contract that you maintain ownership of the copyright and of all other intellectual property rights, such as electronic, movie, other languages and territories, and serial rights ? to name a few. Always seek good legal advice before signing a contract.
There are many book clubs, but most of the major clubs fall under the bookspan umbrella (<a href="http://www.bookspan.com" target="_new">www.bookspan.com</a>). To find other book clubs that are appropriate for your book, do an internet search: on your browser, type in +(your book genre, e.g., cooking)+book+club.
The chances of having your book selected by a book club are roughly one in ten, which is really quite good. Imagine if your chance at winning the lottery was that great!
Tip #1 for increasing the odds:
It is important to know that book clubs are always looking for new ideas to entice their members, so if your book is well written and edited, has plans for professional graphic design, AND demonstrates a unique slant on your topic, your chances of being selected rise considerably.
Tip #2 for increasing the odds:
In saying that, it is important for you to know that the earlier you submit your book, the better.
Tip #3 for increasing the odds:
Book clubs are much happier receiving a typed manuscript six to twelve months in advance of your publication date than receiving a bound galley or finished book close to the publication date. A book club likes to introduce your book to its members near your publication date in order to take advantage of the reviews and publicity that you will be generating when your book is launched. The bigger the media splash you make, the better everyone's sales will be.
Tip #4 for increasing the odds:
There are many categories of book clubs, so be sure to submit your title only to the appropriate clubs. Do not send your book to every book club that you can find. Each club's membership has specific interests so be sure to submit your book only to clubs that might buy-you will again increase your chance of being selected.
For instance, if you have a humor book, it's unlikely to be of any interest to a cooking club or to a mathematics club. If your book is regional, it will not likely appeal to a general interest book club, so submit that a regional title to suitable specialty clubs.
Tip #5 for increasing the odds:
There are rules to follow when submitting your book to the book clubs, so following them carefully should avoid unnecessary rejections.
Here they are:
<li>Send your manuscript to the Editorial department at the appropriate club(s).
<li>Include a cover letter that details the following information:
<ul>
<li>summary of the book contents
<li>description of the book (size, binding, hard/soft cover, black & white or color)
<li>expected selling price
<li>number of pages
<li>number and type of photographs and/or illustrations (indicate if black & white or color
<li>notation if the book will be part of a series
<li>which volume the book is in an existing series and a sales history of the series
<li>intended publication date
<li>plans for publicity and promotion, and your intended budget
</ul>
<li>Include a brief author biography written in the third person. Be sure to talk about any previous books published and their sales histories.
<li>Send photocopies of some of the illustrations and photographs. Please do not send original copies ? they will NOT be returned to you.
<li>Don't forget your contact information and website if you have one.
Unfortunately, you cannot contact book clubs to follow up on your submission. It's a case of "Don't call us. We'll call you". Book clubs receive too many submissions to allow follow up calls or letters. If they are interested, they will call you, usually within two to six months.
Do you think that a book club sale is worth pursuing? Absolutely! For very little effort you can achieve the sale of thousands of copies of your book. You will likely be paid a minimum sum per copy, but you will also not have any production costs, and a small sum multiplied by thousands can equate to a very nice check. Your only effort will be to sign a contract, provide your book on disk and collect that check ? and just think of the free publicity! Thousands of book club members will read about your book. You can't buy that kind of publicity!
About The Author
? Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd.
Ink Tree Ltd. helps authors publish, market and sell books. From "101 Things You Need to Know About Publishing" to our Ultimate Book Marketing Kit, we will help you make your book a success. <a href="http://www.inktreemarketing.com" target="_new">http://www.inktreemarketing.com</a>
<a href="mailto:info@inktreemarketing.com">info@inktreemarketing.com</a>
Top Ten Ways of Why and How to Write your Books Sales Letter - Part 1
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. But after the initial one-year honeymoon, sales slow down. To counter this make sure your print or ebook will keep on selling from the first day, the first year, even for life. Count on this being a two to three- year project to become well known.
Write a short sales letter for each book.
Whether you have a web site or not, you can write a first class, must-buy-now sales letter. Since you are making your book a business write a sales letter for each teleclass and service as well. I even write one for my bookcoaching services.
What Every Sales Letter Needs to Pull Orders and Profits
You can write each sales letter in less than four hours the first time. As you practice, you can an excellent one in two hours.
1. Start the Letter with a Benefit-Driven Headline.
Include similar headlines throughout your sales letter. Make them bold and in another font to stand out. Then, add the copy below that supports your claim. Here's one. What do your think? "Want a Quick and Easy way to Quadruple your Online Income in Four Months?"
If you answered, "yes" to yourself, the headline succeeds, because you will keep reading. If you said "No, I don't believe this, " but I'm curious where this is going," the headline still succeeds. You win when your headline seduces your potential customer to read on in your sales letter to discover your book's benefits and features, some fine testimonials, to finally click "buy now" that takes them to the order page.
2. Make a list of all the problems and challenges your reader has.
To know your audience's problems is half of the solution. Before you can write your book's benefits, you need to know the problems. Do they want to lose weight? Do they want a lasting relationship? Note where they are now with their particular challenge. Hook your reader to go on with engaging questions such as "Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?" "Are you ready to give up on attracting your ideal mate?"
After you list all the concerns and problems your audience wants solved, your answer for these will formulate your list of benefits. (See #4) Follow each specific problem posed as a question with your answer. Those are your benefits. Benefits sell.
3. Address your Potential Buyer's Resistances.
Remember to tell a background story of where they are NOW (see #3.) so they will emotionally connect with your book solutions. This is part of your introduction and is the hook to keep your readers going. Let's say they want to write an eBook or print book to make themselves the "expert," make life-long passive income, or share their unique message.
Many people don't write a book because they doubt it will sell well enough for all the effort, it may not be significant enough, it will take too long, cost too much money, and they really aren't writers. One, by one, your sales letter needs to address your audiences' concerns and show these potential buyers how they can become an excellent author and make their books more saleable, while building their profits.
Author's Tip: Make a list of these resistances before you write your sales letter.
4. List the Top Five-Ten Benefits of your Product or Service in Bullet Form.
From these lists, create and keep in a computer file called, "book benefits" a list of 5-10 benefits. Include the number one benefit at the top of the list. You need to know these before you can talk about your book to others.
If you are not rock sure of who your audience is, your sales copy dribbles away and doesn't meet its target. Keep redefining your audience and know as much about them as you can.
Remember that one benefit is the top undeniable benefit-usually more money easier, more clients faster, more profits from web sales, better relationships, and optimum health.
You will place the top five or so bulleted benefits after your sales letter Introduction. The rest you can sprinkle throughout your copy.
Without a book sales letter to guide your potential buyers on your web site, you leave them bored, uninspired, without enough information to make that decision to buy. Your web site and ezine must entertain, inform, and give enough benefits to convince your readers to order your book.
For all email promotion campaigns, without a sales letter for each product, your unique, useful and inspiring information will not get read, people won't know you as the expert, and you won't make the sales you want.
For part two of this article email article-165@bookcoaching.com.
Judy Cullins ?2005 All Rights Reserved.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," "The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Targeted Web Traffic," and "Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The Book Coach Says..." and "Business Tip of the Month" at <a target="_new" href="http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml">http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml</a> and over 165 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.
Dont Sell your Book, Share It
Most authors who aren't used to speaking before a group think, "I'd rather get a root canal than have to 'sell' my book." If you think about how great your book is, how you wrote it because you wanted to help or entertain your audience, you can change this fear to the idea of sharing your book.
Sharing your book works great in person before other people, one-on-one, or Online.
Five Steps to Sharing your Book
1. Know your preferred audience first.
For instance, the book, "Passion at Any Age" is the "Artist's Way" for seniors. Who will your book help the most? Get yourself in front of these people because they will already have open arms and hearts to your boo.
2. Write an audience profile--those who will want to buy your book because you solve their particular challenge.
Include their income, buying habits, values, online savvy, magazines they read, sex, and age among other traits. FACT: Online people buy most kinds of books. Books are still the number one seller on the Internet.
3. Write a "Dear Audience" letter.
Take time and handwrite a short one-half page on why you wrote your book and what your audience will get from it. This puts the human side of your effort forth and also restates benefits your readers will get.
Dear_______, I wrote or am writing this book because you have this particular challenge, or are in this particular place where you'd like some answers on the topic of ____. Its number one message (benefit-thesis) is __________. And, it will also help you do, be, or have ______, _____, and _____. (specific benefits).
4. Share the written message orally in your own words, next time someone asks you about your book, or when you are in front of an audience. Take the information from your "Dear Audience" letter and reduce it a bit to fit your one to two minute allowed time to share.
5. Share your message Online.
If you don't want to communicate to others in person, think Online. All kinds of audiences go Online to look for information. Free information. You can share other tips, excerpts, and stories from your book through submitting them to online spam-free ezines. Thousands of people subscribe to them. Start with visiting www.yahoo.groups.com. Subscribe to one of their groups such as: aageneral-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Watch the word of mouth grow to epic proportions when one subscriber shares your article with others. It's sometimes called viral marketing, but I prefer the idea of putting the "law of attraction" into motion. Best of all, you don't have to sell anything.
Judy Cullins ?2004 All Rights Reserved.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," "How to Market your Business on the Internet," and "Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The Book Coach Says..." and "Business Tip of the Month" at <a target="_new" href="http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml">http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml</a> and over 155 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.
วันพุธที่ 28 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2552
Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 2
Think of Your Promotion Time and Budget
Most one or two-book authors don't have a large marketing budget. Marketing their speaking leaves them little time to write and promote their books. Marketing experts say do five things a day, six days a week, which sounds pretty doable. When I followed this advice and not much happened, I turned to the net. Always ask yourself "Is this time, money and effort bringing me the sales I want?"
Aren't sales what we should count? Before the sales roll in however, you need to create a foundation--"a marketing plan"--of what you want to promote, what money you want to make from it monthly, how much time you are willing to give it, and how you will get the word out to your target audience. This takes a little time, but is worth it. Just remember the plan brings you no sales. It's the action you take that does.
If other marketing and promotion campaigns have brought few book sales, have left your wallet thinner, wasted your valuable time, or left you with a garage full of unsold masterpieces, you may now be ready to set up your book's virtual marketing machine--the Internet.
Online Marketing Method #1 Writing and Submitting Articles to Top Web Sites and Spam-Free Ezines
Online marketing can produce 7 times your book profits in just 5 months
Now that you see the limitations of traditional book marketing, you may be ready to increase your book sales 7 fold by submitting how-to articles to online ezines where thousands of subscribers who want your specific topic of information a day will see your message and visit your book-selling site.
Rather than a shot gun approach, I suggest this favorite and highly successful Online marketing technique. This approach increased my own second Web site sales more than 7 times in 5 months, from $75 in August to $2265 in December. In 2002, the sales soared to $3000 a month. Today my sales are over $4500 a month, are consistent and Google has made my site #1 for 4 years with "bookcoaching." That number also lists my URL on 21,000 other sites that increase by 1000 each week with a link to mine for services and eBooks.
Whether you have a Web site or not, you can apply your writing ability to produce short information-packed articles to submit to hundreds of Online ezines, whose readership of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, will read some of your articles you submit. These online small business people want to know more about your subject, whether it be how to raise parrots, or how to write a book, or how to write a Web site with marketing pizzazz.
Since you will include your signature box at the end of each article with your book title, your email address, free offer, and benefit statement, people can get in touch with you and possibly become buyers. After reading seven or so articles readers will know you as the savvy expert and will be more likely to buy.
From my own first week's experience after subscribing to several opt-in ezines such as:
aabusiness-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, aageneral-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, aainet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com
I got 10 or so responses from other publishers and Web site owners asking to post my ezines in their format. Talk about exciting. My ezine subscribers to "The Book Coach Says..." increased ten to fifteen after each article submission.
You can also submit your how-to articles and tips to top Web sites who want your material. In the first year I sent articles to 12 Web sites. Now we send to 70 each two weeks.
These articles help promote your business services too. If you are a coach, consultant, professional, or other small businessperson this method helps attract more clients than you ever dreamed of. From my own experience, my clients tripled to 21 in just 2 months.
When you have written a well-constructed article, giving real information and how-tos, you will attract these potential buyers and clients who will eventually end up on the Web sites where you sell your books.
Getting Started--Writing your Article
First, create 5 to 10 articles from 200-800 words, possibly excerpted from your book, or how-to's on your subject. Write several articles and submit one or so a week. I started submitting to only five ePublishers of the opt-in ezines. Even in the first week, several publishers used my article "Sell More Books with a Powerful Back Cover." At the end of the article, I put a link to a product "How to Get Testimonials from the Rich and Famous" in my signature box, bringing increased sales.
After writing 2 books on this topic, I included over 100 opt-in ezines and other publisher emails to directly send articles to.
Join the Online Revolution by subscribing to several opt-in ezines. As soon as you subscribe, you'll receive one or more articles a day. Take time to read some of these articles to educate yourself about all topics that will boost your business success. See what format and content they use.
This Online business marketing research is gold, because you will now be able to model your articles after successfully published ones. Now just start submitting so thousands can learn from you too.
Invest in Some Promotion Time
While we need promotion, how much time do we actually put into it? At first I had a learning curve that took me 12 hours a week. I learned from a techie assistant I hired from a local high school. Now my assistant does most of this work and I spend only 5-7 hours a week creating the articles she submits.
The usual promotion investment for big results is 90% of your time. With Online, it's only 9%, far less, and you'll even have time for a long-needed vacation to some Caribbean island.
For Online promotion you will want to check resources on how to write a publishable article and other tips to make publishers accept them. Check out a book coach, read writing ezines, and take a teleclass such as "Promote your Business and Books with Free Articles."
Online Promoting is Easy, Convenient, and Profitable
Better than press releases, book reviews or book signings, you can create and promote articles conveniently right from your office or home. Give this a method a chance. You'll only be sorry you didn't do it sooner!
Judy Cullins ?2004 All Rights Reserved.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," "How to Market your Business on the Internet," and "Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The Book Coach Says..." and "Business Tip of the Month" at <a target="_new" href="http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml">http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml</a> and over 155 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.
Is Traditional Book Marketing Getting you Down?
"Are you disappointed and tired of time and money down the drain using traditional book marketing? How would you like to sell more books than you ever dreamed of in less time and never have to leave your office?" Would you like to do it all for free?
"Discover How in Only Four Months You Can Quadruple your Monthly Book Income to Reach 10,000 to 100,000 Internet Users Who Want your Information-GUARANTEED- To Move You to Top Profits You've Been Dreaming About."
Suppose you could sit at your computer, promote your information product either in print or eBook format to thousands of prospective buyers Online weekly. And spend only six to nine hours a week by simply writing short articles or tips and submitting them to major opt-in ezines and top web sites in your field?
If you're like me, and love your business, you certainly want to be successful! Whatever product, you will be pleasantly surprised by how easy and fast this #1 way to market--the Internet! One big benefit is that is won't cost you a dime. (Yes, you can combine traditional marketing with this one)
Since marketing both my books and coaching service on the Web for three years, huge results made my business not only more financially successful, it was far easier and more fun. Those are top values in my book. Oh, did I mention? Online marketing is totally free.
If your business is down, your frustration level at an all time high, and you don't know what to do about it, think these results:
-Raising Web sales from $75 to $3000 in eight months<BR>-Increasing book and Internet coaching clients from 7 to 17 in two months.<BR>-Boosting search engine placement to # 1 in Google, Yahoo and 35 others in eight months. Still #1 in 2004.<BR>-Increasing ezine subscribers 15-25 a day from 75 to 3200 <BR>-Listings on 4500 Web sites with a hyperlink back to my Web site where I sell my services and products
As Bill Gates said, "There will be two kinds of business following 2000--On the Internet, or out of business."
Even with a slow economy, some of the best promotion opportunities ever-are available to people who know the secrets of how to grab them! And, beginners are welcome! You...
-don't need previous online or marketing experience<BR>-don't need to pay big dollars to get the how to's<BR>-don't need a web site or HTML<BR>-don't need your own huge mailing list<BR>-won't pay a penny to submit articles to get your word out<BR>-don't need to leave your home office<BR>-don't even need your own web site
Think about it. The "Big Three Marketing Machine" of your articles, eNewsletter, and your print or eBook are the most important "assistants" you can every possess. They relentlessly go out and deliver your message to your eager-to-buy Online audience. The one audience where there is no competition for your information because you only seek out a Free, targeted audience. After a few months, you can make this marketing even easier with automating messages and using a low-cost assistant to delegate this to.
Three Steps to Build on to Get The Highest Profits Ever
1. Write a short informational article from 150-800 words.
2. Subscribe to a few opt-in ezines you can later submit articles to. Try these: <A href="mailto:aahealth-subscribe@egroups.com">aahealth-subscribe@egroups.com</A>, <A href="mailto:aageneral-subscribe@egroups.com">aageneral-subscribe@egroups.com</A>, <A href="mailto:aahome-subscribe@egroups.com">aahome-subscribe@egroups.com</A>, or <A href="mailto:article_announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com">article_announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com</A>
3. Submit one to two articles each week, and watch for emails saying that this Web master or owner wants to publish your article on her site. After you submit over 20 or so, you will become a household name, and many people will come to your site to browse first, then later buy.
Even if you don't think of yourself as a writer, these short articles are easy write once you repeat your effort several times.
Instead of knocking yourself out trying to do it all alone, imagine what it would be like to have all the how-to's, opt-in ezine and top web site resources in many categories such as business, personal growth, even spirituality in ready to send links. You also don't have to go looking for new email addresses because the opt-in ezines provide your targeted readers.
When you submit your short article or tip related to your topic to 10 or more ezines with just one click, you will be published! (Just think how long and arduous the journey is to submit to print magazines) and out of 1000 subscribers to each ezine, ten to twenty readers will contact you saying they want your information for their web site. If you wanted to reach the same 15,000 in one day through traditional marketing, it would take $615 in stamps, 15,000 envelopes, and some $120 for printing the article, plus weeks to capture their email addresses.
Wouldn't it be great to never again have to work so hard with little results? Just think of the confidence and power you will gain when you expand yourself in this easy format. Think of many thousands reading your book next month rather that the few sales you make at the back of the room with a talk, or the press release you send that lands in the round file.
Did I mention it's just you and your computer?
-Less trouble <BR>-No telling in person <BR>-No selling in person <BR>-More Convenience <BR>-Spend less time <BR>-Spend much less money <BR>-Have vast, endless opportunities <BR>-Little or no competition <BR>-Eliminate the middlemen <BR>-You reach greater #'s of your targeted market
You get to have a great adventure--and keep all the profit for yourself AND leverage your time for multiple, fast sales.
Stop doing what doesn't work--Delegate some of your work to the Internet! And, if you don't want to take time for this method, teach it to a low-cost assistant who can do it all in less than six hours a week.
"Discover How in Only Four Months You Can Quadruple your Monthly Book Income to Reach 10,000 to 100,000 Internet Users Who Want your Information-GUARANTEED- To Move You to Top Profits You've Been Dreaming About."
Suppose you could sit at your computer, promote your information product either in print or eBook format to thousands of prospective buyers Online weekly. And spend only six to nine hours a week by simply writing short articles or tips and submitting them to major opt-in ezines and top web sites in your field?
If you're like me, and love your business, you certainly want to be successful! Whatever product, you will be pleasantly surprised by how easy and fast this #1 way to market--the Internet! One big benefit is that is won't cost you a dime. (Yes, you can combine traditional marketing with this one)
Since marketing both my books and coaching service on the Web for three years, huge results made my business not only more financially successful, it was far easier and more fun. Those are top values in my book. Oh, did I mention? Online marketing is totally free.
If your business is down, your frustration level at an all time high, and you don't know what to do about it, think these results:
-Raising Web sales from $75 to $3000 in eight months<BR>-Increasing book and Internet coaching clients from 7 to 17 in two months.<BR>-Boosting search engine placement to # 1 in Google, Yahoo and 35 others in eight months. Still #1 in 2004.<BR>-Increasing ezine subscribers 15-25 a day from 75 to 3200 <BR>-Listings on 4500 Web sites with a hyperlink back to my Web site where I sell my services and products
As Bill Gates said, "There will be two kinds of business following 2000--On the Internet, or out of business."
Even with a slow economy, some of the best promotion opportunities ever-are available to people who know the secrets of how to grab them! And, beginners are welcome! You...
-don't need previous online or marketing experience<BR>-don't need to pay big dollars to get the how to's<BR>-don't need a web site or HTML<BR>-don't need your own huge mailing list<BR>-won't pay a penny to submit articles to get your word out<BR>-don't need to leave your home office<BR>-don't even need your own web site
Think about it. The "Big Three Marketing Machine" of your articles, eNewsletter, and your print or eBook are the most important "assistants" you can every possess. They relentlessly go out and deliver your message to your eager-to-buy Online audience. The one audience where there is no competition for your information because you only seek out a Free, targeted audience. After a few months, you can make this marketing even easier with automating messages and using a low-cost assistant to delegate this to.
Three Steps to Build on to Get The Highest Profits Ever
1. Write a short informational article from 150-800 words.
2. Subscribe to a few opt-in ezines you can later submit articles to. Try these: <A href="mailto:aahealth-subscribe@egroups.com">aahealth-subscribe@egroups.com</A>, <A href="mailto:aageneral-subscribe@egroups.com">aageneral-subscribe@egroups.com</A>, <A href="mailto:aahome-subscribe@egroups.com">aahome-subscribe@egroups.com</A>, or <A href="mailto:article_announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com">article_announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com</A>
3. Submit one to two articles each week, and watch for emails saying that this Web master or owner wants to publish your article on her site. After you submit over 20 or so, you will become a household name, and many people will come to your site to browse first, then later buy.
Even if you don't think of yourself as a writer, these short articles are easy write once you repeat your effort several times.
Instead of knocking yourself out trying to do it all alone, imagine what it would be like to have all the how-to's, opt-in ezine and top web site resources in many categories such as business, personal growth, even spirituality in ready to send links. You also don't have to go looking for new email addresses because the opt-in ezines provide your targeted readers.
When you submit your short article or tip related to your topic to 10 or more ezines with just one click, you will be published! (Just think how long and arduous the journey is to submit to print magazines) and out of 1000 subscribers to each ezine, ten to twenty readers will contact you saying they want your information for their web site. If you wanted to reach the same 15,000 in one day through traditional marketing, it would take $615 in stamps, 15,000 envelopes, and some $120 for printing the article, plus weeks to capture their email addresses.
Wouldn't it be great to never again have to work so hard with little results? Just think of the confidence and power you will gain when you expand yourself in this easy format. Think of many thousands reading your book next month rather that the few sales you make at the back of the room with a talk, or the press release you send that lands in the round file.
Did I mention it's just you and your computer?
-Less trouble <BR>-No telling in person <BR>-No selling in person <BR>-More Convenience <BR>-Spend less time <BR>-Spend much less money <BR>-Have vast, endless opportunities <BR>-Little or no competition <BR>-Eliminate the middlemen <BR>-You reach greater #'s of your targeted market
You get to have a great adventure--and keep all the profit for yourself AND leverage your time for multiple, fast sales.
Stop doing what doesn't work--Delegate some of your work to the Internet! And, if you don't want to take time for this method, teach it to a low-cost assistant who can do it all in less than six hours a week.
Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says...and Business Tip of the Month at <A target="_new" href="http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml">http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml</a> and over 140 free articles. Email her at <a target="_new" href="mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com">mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com</a>
How to Get More Readers For Your Book
Marketing your own book can seem like a scary task. You poured your heart and soul into the writing of it, and now when you think about marketing your masterpiece, you think, "I'm a writer, not a salesperson!"
But there is a simple way you can get the word out about your book. It takes a little time, but the effort pays huge dividends.
More people will be interested in your book when they are interested in you. Readers become interested in you when they can read some of your writing...for free. You can build your credibility, find readers, and establish yourself as an expert in your field by writing and distributing articles.
(This method works even for fiction writers.)
You accomplish this by these means:
- by publishing articles on your website
- by creating an ecourse or ebook
- by publishing your own ezine or newsletter
- by publishing your articles in someone else's ezine
Think about that last idea for a minute. Publishing articles in other people's ezines (or on their websites) is the key, the secret, to creating a viral lead-generating machine.
The popularity of your book website is actually improved when other sites link you to. But Google only likes high-content links. Your articles provide this.
Not to mention that when you have your articles on more and more websites there is a greater possibility that someone will read your articles and do business with you.
The simple system that will market your book for you contains only three steps:
Step 1: Write and Publish Articles
This really is the best way for you to promote your book.
The key is to write a useful, high-content article, and send it to your newsletter and publish it on your website. If you write fiction, write simple short stories or poems, or provide excerpts from your novel.
(For a more information on marketing this way, please read another of my articles, "Online Book Marketing," at http://ezinearticles.com/?id=45696.)
Step 2: Distribute Your Articles
Send your articles or stories to article distribution lists and ezine directories. These directories exist for ezine owners and website owners to pick up free reprintable content to use in their ezine or on their website. You can find a list of these sites by searching for "articles sites."
This helps you, because if your article is picked up and distributed by 10 ezine owners who each have 1000 people in their list, your article will be sent to 10 000 people!
Step 3: Your Articles Continue to be Distributed Virally!
When you submit to an articles directory, your article is there to be reprinted. You can submit an article next week, and ten years later it will still be there. Your article can have a shelf life as long as you want, and every time someone reprints your article, you get free exposure!
Bonus tip: If you include at the end of your article that your article can be reprinted anywhere by anyone, anyone who reads your article can reprint in on their website or in their ezine.
To use the above example, if another 1000 people reprint your article in some form, your business will be marketed to 11 000 people-in a very short period of time!
Imagine this process occurring time and time again, with more than one article! How many interested readers will end up at your site?
This is how you successfully market your book online.
Jeremy M. Hoover helps you market your book. To learn about his <a target="_new" href="http://jhooverwebcopy.com/bookmarketing.htm">book marketing plan</a> vist his website, <a target="_new" href="http://www.jhooverwebcopy.com/bookmarketing.htm">http://www.jhooverwebcopy.com/bookmarketing.htm</a>, or email him at jeremyhoover AT gmail.com.
วันจันทร์ที่ 26 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2552
Poetry Chapbooks: Ten Tips for Promotion
There are several ways of publishing your chapbook. You can do it yourself with a printer and a heavy duty stapler; you can submit a manuscript to a literary entitiy that publishes chapbooks; or you can try a self publishing company. It is fairly easy to get your poetry bound in a chapbook, but the real challenge is trying to promote it.
Since a poetry chapbook is usually fairly small, (between ten to fifty-something pages), distrubution of these books is not going to be a national or world wide endeavor. Many poets use their chapbooks as an introduction to their writings, but even then, a poet needs to get the word out about his/her book. With that in mind, here are ten ways to promote your poetry chapbook.
1. Contact small book stores in your local area to see if they will carry a few of your chapbooks on consignment.
2. Hold poetry readings at book stores and other literary events and keep several of your chapbooks on hand for people to purchase.
3. Create a website about the kind of writing you do and sell your chapbook on the site.
4. Submit your chapbook to contests which will allow for previously published chapbooks.
5. If you belong to a writing group, be sure to tell your fellow group mates about your recent success. Tell them how they can purchase a copy of your chapbook.
6. Send out press releases to local newspapers.
7. You can also donate your chapbooks to libraries and other organizations.
8. Create a signature at the bottom of your e-mails that points people to the URL where they can purchase a copy of your chapbook.
9. Also create signatures that have the chapbook URL at the bottom of any message your post in any forum.
10. Consider your chapbook, no matter how simple it was to publish, a true success. When you type up your bio for other writing endeavors, or for websites, be sure to say, "Author of the chapbook "name of chapbook."
Devrie Paradowski is an aviation weather forecaster and part time freelance writer. Her works have appeared in local venues, Adagio Verse Quarterly, Meeting of the Mind's Journal, Poetry Renewal Magazine, Literaryescape.com, and throughout a dozen content sites. She is also the author of the chapbook "Something In the Dirt," which can be found at <a target="_new" href="http://www.lulu.com/content/108560">http://www.lulu.com/content/108560</a>
Ten Ways to Make Your Book Outsell Another
Wouldn't you rather write a book that sells well than be stuck with unsold inventory? When you plan ahead with the 10 tips below, you will sell thousands rather than hundreds of your unique and important information or inspirational products.
1. Write non-fiction first. These books are 90% of total book sales. After non-fiction success, you can use your profits to partially finance a fiction project.
2. Write short books to start. Short books in any format, like eBooks, booklets, guides or special reports are faster, easier, and cheaper to write than full-length books of 200-300 pages. They can be as short as five pages (special reports), to eBooks that can be 5-100 pages (even longer).
3. Market to a book-buying audience. Women buy far more books than men, about 75%. If your message benefits women, you'll do well in sales. If your book solves a problem it will sell more. It's best to see the need and fill it rather than have an idea-then look for an audience.
4. Choose your cover and title with care. Image is almost everything. You have four seconds to impress your potential buyer. Be clear, use metaphor and make sure your title elicits a picture or an emotion. Keep your title short, preferably 5-7 words. What solutions and results does your book promise? See more free articles including "Titles Sell Books" on <A href="http://www.bookcoaching.com">www.bookcoaching.com</A>.
5. Expand your book into a series. Think of the huge success of the Chicken Soup Series. They have one cover for all the titles. The latest count is 68 million. Think of spin-off products that relate to your book. Some people prefer to learn by listening to a cassette. You may also want to serialize your eBook, sending one part or chapter a week through an autoresponder.
These formats actually help you sell more books. Other spin-offs include coaching, consulting, speaking, seminars, columns, or videos.
6. Impress your potential buyer within eight seconds with your back cover copy. The biggest mistake authors make is putting their title on the back cover. Since it's already on the front cover, you need to instead, put your sparkling headline at the top. For example, "Imagine 1000's Buying Your Book Next Month!" It must hook your readers, stir up their emotions, and hit their desire.
In 75 words or less, include the benefits your book offers. How to get more money, heart-centered relationships, more fame, and more health. Less stress and time spend in a project. Include from 3-5 bullets of benefits, what specifics your book promises its readers.
Finally, testimonials are the number one way to turn your potential buyer into a "take-out-their-credit-card-buyer." For information on how to get testimonials ask a book coach.
7. Create your written marketing plan before you finish chapter one. This plan covers your first year's launch period and lifetime plan. You'll want to market at least two years. Inexperienced authors wait until publication and lose a great deal of sales.
Your plan could include how many books you want to sell, your 30 second tell and sell, book reviews, news releases, the Online articles to market your book, the book signings, talks, electronic newsletters, and a book Web site. Without a written plan, an author creates vague results.
8. Put as much time into marketing as you did the writing of your book. Your goal is to have people read and learn from your unique message. Why plant a garden if you don't harvest it? John Kremer, book marketing guru, and author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book, says to do five things each day. Five calls, five press releases, five online contacts or a combination of tasks. The book coach says spend 6-9 hours a week on online promotion.
9. Include online marketing to sell more books. While you can sell your books on other sites, such as Amazon.com, you will eventually want your own. You will make much less with Amazon and you have to pay for shipping too. An author without a Web site is like a person without a name. As an entrepreneur, your site needs to attract visitors and sell your products and service. Here you include testimonials, benefit driven headlines, and your sales letter to get your visitor to become a customer.
10. Start promoting your book several ways. If press releases, book signings, and back of the room sales dim, include online promotion such as writing and submitting how-to articles to top ezines and web sites. When you use his virtual marketing machine-the Internet- you will keep your book dream alive--getting it into the hands of thousands of readers rather than a few.
Start marketing your book right now, even if you don't have a Web site. Research by reading articles, contacting professional book and web coaches, or take a teleclass to find out how to learn non-techie ways to start your lifetime book promotion journey. Master book marketing like you would eat an elephant--one bite at a time! Watch your sales grow!
1. Write non-fiction first. These books are 90% of total book sales. After non-fiction success, you can use your profits to partially finance a fiction project.
2. Write short books to start. Short books in any format, like eBooks, booklets, guides or special reports are faster, easier, and cheaper to write than full-length books of 200-300 pages. They can be as short as five pages (special reports), to eBooks that can be 5-100 pages (even longer).
3. Market to a book-buying audience. Women buy far more books than men, about 75%. If your message benefits women, you'll do well in sales. If your book solves a problem it will sell more. It's best to see the need and fill it rather than have an idea-then look for an audience.
4. Choose your cover and title with care. Image is almost everything. You have four seconds to impress your potential buyer. Be clear, use metaphor and make sure your title elicits a picture or an emotion. Keep your title short, preferably 5-7 words. What solutions and results does your book promise? See more free articles including "Titles Sell Books" on <A href="http://www.bookcoaching.com">www.bookcoaching.com</A>.
5. Expand your book into a series. Think of the huge success of the Chicken Soup Series. They have one cover for all the titles. The latest count is 68 million. Think of spin-off products that relate to your book. Some people prefer to learn by listening to a cassette. You may also want to serialize your eBook, sending one part or chapter a week through an autoresponder.
These formats actually help you sell more books. Other spin-offs include coaching, consulting, speaking, seminars, columns, or videos.
6. Impress your potential buyer within eight seconds with your back cover copy. The biggest mistake authors make is putting their title on the back cover. Since it's already on the front cover, you need to instead, put your sparkling headline at the top. For example, "Imagine 1000's Buying Your Book Next Month!" It must hook your readers, stir up their emotions, and hit their desire.
In 75 words or less, include the benefits your book offers. How to get more money, heart-centered relationships, more fame, and more health. Less stress and time spend in a project. Include from 3-5 bullets of benefits, what specifics your book promises its readers.
Finally, testimonials are the number one way to turn your potential buyer into a "take-out-their-credit-card-buyer." For information on how to get testimonials ask a book coach.
7. Create your written marketing plan before you finish chapter one. This plan covers your first year's launch period and lifetime plan. You'll want to market at least two years. Inexperienced authors wait until publication and lose a great deal of sales.
Your plan could include how many books you want to sell, your 30 second tell and sell, book reviews, news releases, the Online articles to market your book, the book signings, talks, electronic newsletters, and a book Web site. Without a written plan, an author creates vague results.
8. Put as much time into marketing as you did the writing of your book. Your goal is to have people read and learn from your unique message. Why plant a garden if you don't harvest it? John Kremer, book marketing guru, and author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book, says to do five things each day. Five calls, five press releases, five online contacts or a combination of tasks. The book coach says spend 6-9 hours a week on online promotion.
9. Include online marketing to sell more books. While you can sell your books on other sites, such as Amazon.com, you will eventually want your own. You will make much less with Amazon and you have to pay for shipping too. An author without a Web site is like a person without a name. As an entrepreneur, your site needs to attract visitors and sell your products and service. Here you include testimonials, benefit driven headlines, and your sales letter to get your visitor to become a customer.
10. Start promoting your book several ways. If press releases, book signings, and back of the room sales dim, include online promotion such as writing and submitting how-to articles to top ezines and web sites. When you use his virtual marketing machine-the Internet- you will keep your book dream alive--getting it into the hands of thousands of readers rather than a few.
Start marketing your book right now, even if you don't have a Web site. Research by reading articles, contacting professional book and web coaches, or take a teleclass to find out how to learn non-techie ways to start your lifetime book promotion journey. Master book marketing like you would eat an elephant--one bite at a time! Watch your sales grow!
Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says...and Business Tip of the Month at <A target="_new" href="http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml">http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml</a> and over 140 free articles. Email her at <a target="_new" href="mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com">mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com</a>
Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 2
Think of Your Promotion Time and Budget
Most one or two-book authors don't have a large marketing budget. Marketing their speaking leaves them little time to write and promote their books. Marketing experts say do five things a day, six days a week, which sounds pretty doable. When I followed this advice and not much happened, I turned to the net. Always ask yourself "Is this time, money and effort bringing me the sales I want?"
Aren't sales what we should count? Before the sales roll in however, you need to create a foundation--"a marketing plan"--of what you want to promote, what money you want to make from it monthly, how much time you are willing to give it, and how you will get the word out to your target audience. This takes a little time, but is worth it. Just remember the plan brings you no sales. It's the action you take that does.
If other marketing and promotion campaigns have brought few book sales, have left your wallet thinner, wasted your valuable time, or left you with a garage full of unsold masterpieces, you may now be ready to set up your book's virtual marketing machine--the Internet.
Online Marketing Method #1 Writing and Submitting Articles to Top Web Sites and Spam-Free Ezines
Online marketing can produce 7 times your book profits in just 5 months
Now that you see the limitations of traditional book marketing, you may be ready to increase your book sales 7 fold by submitting how-to articles to online ezines where thousands of subscribers who want your specific topic of information a day will see your message and visit your book-selling site.
Rather than a shot gun approach, I suggest this favorite and highly successful Online marketing technique. This approach increased my own second Web site sales more than 7 times in 5 months, from $75 in August to $2265 in December. In 2002, the sales soared to $3000 a month. Today my sales are over $4500 a month, are consistent and Google has made my site #1 for 4 years with "bookcoaching." That number also lists my URL on 21,000 other sites that increase by 1000 each week with a link to mine for services and eBooks.
Whether you have a Web site or not, you can apply your writing ability to produce short information-packed articles to submit to hundreds of Online ezines, whose readership of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, will read some of your articles you submit. These online small business people want to know more about your subject, whether it be how to raise parrots, or how to write a book, or how to write a Web site with marketing pizzazz.
Since you will include your signature box at the end of each article with your book title, your email address, free offer, and benefit statement, people can get in touch with you and possibly become buyers. After reading seven or so articles readers will know you as the savvy expert and will be more likely to buy.
From my own first week's experience after subscribing to several opt-in ezines such as:
aabusiness-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, aageneral-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, aainet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com
I got 10 or so responses from other publishers and Web site owners asking to post my ezines in their format. Talk about exciting. My ezine subscribers to "The Book Coach Says..." increased ten to fifteen after each article submission.
You can also submit your how-to articles and tips to top Web sites who want your material. In the first year I sent articles to 12 Web sites. Now we send to 70 each two weeks.
These articles help promote your business services too. If you are a coach, consultant, professional, or other small businessperson this method helps attract more clients than you ever dreamed of. From my own experience, my clients tripled to 21 in just 2 months.
When you have written a well-constructed article, giving real information and how-tos, you will attract these potential buyers and clients who will eventually end up on the Web sites where you sell your books.
Getting Started--Writing your Article
First, create 5 to 10 articles from 200-800 words, possibly excerpted from your book, or how-to's on your subject. Write several articles and submit one or so a week. I started submitting to only five ePublishers of the opt-in ezines. Even in the first week, several publishers used my article "Sell More Books with a Powerful Back Cover." At the end of the article, I put a link to a product "How to Get Testimonials from the Rich and Famous" in my signature box, bringing increased sales.
After writing 2 books on this topic, I included over 100 opt-in ezines and other publisher emails to directly send articles to.
Join the Online Revolution by subscribing to several opt-in ezines. As soon as you subscribe, you'll receive one or more articles a day. Take time to read some of these articles to educate yourself about all topics that will boost your business success. See what format and content they use.
This Online business marketing research is gold, because you will now be able to model your articles after successfully published ones. Now just start submitting so thousands can learn from you too.
Invest in Some Promotion Time
While we need promotion, how much time do we actually put into it? At first I had a learning curve that took me 12 hours a week. I learned from a techie assistant I hired from a local high school. Now my assistant does most of this work and I spend only 5-7 hours a week creating the articles she submits.
The usual promotion investment for big results is 90% of your time. With Online, it's only 9%, far less, and you'll even have time for a long-needed vacation to some Caribbean island.
For Online promotion you will want to check resources on how to write a publishable article and other tips to make publishers accept them. Check out a book coach, read writing ezines, and take a teleclass such as "Promote your Business and Books with Free Articles."
Online Promoting is Easy, Convenient, and Profitable
Better than press releases, book reviews or book signings, you can create and promote articles conveniently right from your office or home. Give this a method a chance. You'll only be sorry you didn't do it sooner!
Judy Cullins ?2004 All Rights Reserved.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," "How to Market your Business on the Internet," and "Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The Book Coach Says..." and "Business Tip of the Month" at <a target="_new" href="http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml">http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml</a> and over 155 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 25 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2552
Sell Your Book with Pennies
<P class=MsoHeader style="tab-stops: .5in" align=left>Imagine you share a huge penny jar with each of your potential readers. Every interaction with a reader either adds or subtracts pennies from the jar. When readers need your info (non-fiction) or entertainment (fiction), they will trade the jar for your book, but only if the jar is full. Overflow the penny jar, and your reader will buy nearly everything you write.
วันเสาร์ที่ 24 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2552
Publicity for Buzz Marketing for Authors
Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published! Now, all you have to do is get people to buy it. Getting people to actually enter a bookstore with the purpose of buying your book is not easy because you're not a "brand name" yet. But you do have a potent weapon at your command-- the telephone. Use it.
Call the editor of the books section of your paper. Say you'd like to send a copy to him or her. Ask if he has a few minutes so you can briefly tell him about the book on the phone. After you send the book, give her a chance to read or at least glance at it, then call again.
If you can possibly tie the book to something in the news, that's great. Let's say you wrote Cooking with Chocolate and the health section of your paper has an article on the health benefits of chocolate. Call editors and reporters in the health, food and book sections.
If there's a human interest reporter or columnist, call and then send them a copy of the book. Human interest reporters can usually write on anything that interests them. Try to interest them in you. What did you do before you wrote the book and why did you write it? Do you have eight children and wrote it at your kitchen table every morning between 2:00 and 5:00 am? Did you gain 20 pounds writing the book? Or, did you lose 20--proving that chocolate really isn't fattening?
Call the assignment editors at television news programs. Frequently, if there's an interesting hook, they will interview you. Track down book shows on radio and television and call the producers.
Don't be afraid to make the phone calls and don't believe someone when he says he'll get back to you. He won't. The person who has the most to gain (you, in this case) has to make the call. Too often people are afraid to call. Ask yourself what's the worst that can happen. They'll say no, right? Editors are not going to gather menacingly on your doorstep or come after you with garlic and torches. They'll say no. Can you live with that? Of course, you can, so call.
Put on a comfortable pair of shoes, gather up copies of the book and hit the pavement. Stop in at every small bookstore and beg to leave copies. I assume you've already called the biggies. Offer to appear to talk bout and read from your book 9or doi a mini-seminar.
You've got to do things to create a buzz. The author of the aforementioned book on chocolate could give away chocolate bars with each copy. Or slices of cake she made (recipe in the book) during her appearance in the bookstore. It wouldn't be a bad idea to drop off a cake with the book in the newsrooms.
Don't forget retailers. They might agree to do a window around your book. I once got a prominent jeweler to do a window with diamonds falling out of toe shoes and copies of the book, written by a dancer, displayed.
Miriam Silverberg is president of Miriam Silverberg Associates, a publicity firem in New York City. Listed in Who's Who of American Women, she has publicized authors, restaurants, hotels, New York City Ballet and people in the fashion, beauty and medical fields. She is a guest on the publicity panel at Marymount Manhattan College's seminar for writers.
She may be reached at <a href="mailto:silverbergm@iopener.net">silverbergm@iopener.net</a>.
Marketing Your Book on Radio
Have you listened to radio lately? If you have, chances are you've heard an author talking about his or her latest book. According to the "Let's Talk Radio Marketing" Website, "Radio advertising has proven to be one of the most cost-effective means of reaching your target audience."
In other words, radio gives you the biggest bang for your buck. I wanted my new book to reach a wider audience, so I asked a marketing company to come up with a plan that focuses on radio, including ads in "Radio-TV Interview Report" and "A Great Radio Guest." Why radio?
Radio is everywhere: in the home, in the neighborhood, in the car, in the workplace, and in the marketplace. Satellites beam radio programs to listeners all over the world. Campers hear programs on solar-powered radios and travelers hear programs on computers.
Convenience is another radio plus. To be on radio you don't have to fly across the country or drive 50 miles, you just answer the phone. Better yet, you can be sitting in your pajamas, wearing mismatched socks, hair sticking up straight, and listeners won't know it. You can refer to your notes during the interview, something you may not be able to do on TV.
Radio's drawback is the lack of visuals - images, color, and movement - that grab viewers' attention. "Because radio offers no image, the main advantage is sound," notes admotor.com. So you must rely on your voice. Listeners can't see you or your book cover, but you may grab their attention with the words you choose and the images your words create.
I've been on top radio stations like CBS in New York and WCCO in Minneapolis-St. Paul, but one of the best shows I've been on is Jacqueline Marcella's show, "Coping With Caregiving." It's a monthly, Internet-only radio program broadcast worldwide. Listeners hear it on www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving. Once a program has aired it's archived for listeners who missed it or want to hear it again.
What makes the program special? Jacqueline Marcella is a good listener, a vital ingredient for any show hostess or host. Because of the challenges she has faced - a father with Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer - she really wants to hear what you have to say. Being on her show was pure joy.
Before I'm on the air I check the Internet for information about the program. While it isn't always possible, I try to listen to the program ahead of time. If I'm asked to provide interview questions I keep them short. I rehearse what I'm going to say, focusing on a casual delivery.
For me, radio is an investment in my work. It's too soon to tell if my invesement will pay off in royalties. Meanwhile, I'm having the time of my life. Marketing my book on radio has turned into a mini marketing course. I'm learning a lot, having fun, and meeting fascinating people. Stay tuned!
Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journlists. Her latest book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief" written with Lois Krahn, MD is available on <a target="_new" href="http://www.amacon.com">http://www.amacon.com</a>. To learn more about her work go to <a target="_new" href="http://www.harriethodgson.com">http://www.harriethodgson.com</a>.
The Booklet Journey Opening a New World
1991 was a pivotal year in my life. My professional organizing business was 8 years old.
The sales cycle was getting longer and longer for workshop and consulting work. I had formed these crazy habits called eating and paying the rent and was not eager to break either of them.
That's when I spotted an offer for a free copy of a booklet called "117 Ideas For Better Business Presentations." I do business presentations, and the price was right. I sent for it. My first reaction was, "gee, I could knock something like this out about organizing tips.'" Then I threw it in a drawer.
Six months later I was in my office, bored, baffled and beaten down by the slow economy. I had no money. I mean no money!
I remembered that little booklet. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but something hit me, and I knew I had to produce a booklet on organizing tips.
I started dumping all those ideas I ever had about getting organized onto a file on my computer. These were all pearls that came out of my mouth when with clients or doing a speaking engagement or a seminar. I could do a booklet on business organizing tips -- a 16-page tips booklet, fitting into a number 10 business envelope. The booklet was '110 Ideas for Organizing Your Business Life.'
My first run was 250 copies. That was the most expensive per-unit run I made, but I needed samples to distribute to start making money. It took a few months to pay the printer only $500.
The only way I could think of selling the booklets was by sending a copy to magazines, asking them to use excerpts and put an invitation at the bottom for readers to send $5 plus a self-addressed stamped envelope. I had no money to advertise. Then the orders started dribbling in, envelopes with $5 checks in them or five one-dollar bills. The day the first one arrived seemed like manna from heaven:$5! The fact it took 6 months from first writing the booklet until the first $5 arrived didn't matter at that moment.
I cast seeds all over the place, hoping some would sprout. I found directories of publications at the library and started building my list.
Finally, February of 1992 'the big one' hit. A 12-page biweekly newsletter with 1.6 million readers ran nine lines of copy ABOUT my booklet. They didn't even use excerpts!! That sold 5000 copies of my booklet. I distinctly remember the day I went to my P.O. box and found a little yellow slip in my box. It said, 'see clerk'.
There was a TUB of envelopes that had arrived that day, about 250 envelopes as I recall, each with $5 in them.
Round about June, I stopped to assess what had happened. Was I making any money? By then, I sold about 15,000 copies of the booklet one copy at a time for $5. My financial records showed I tediously generated not a ton of money.
Some lessons along the way were expensive ones. My bank charged $.12 for each item deposited. My first bank statement had a service charge of $191.
Some wonderful things happened selling those 15,000 copies.
* A public seminar company hired me to record an audio program based on the booklet. I can sell that tape to my clients as well and it led to a 20-minute interview on a major airline's in-flight audio programming during November and December one year.
* A manufacturer's rep decided to send my booklets to his customers that year instead of an imprinted calendar. 5,000 imprinted copies, including my contact information with theirs.
* A company hired me to write a booklet that was more specific to their product line.
* Paid speaking engagements came from people who bought the booklet.
Things were picking up. One day in June I was bored. I opened one of those advertising card decks that come in the mail. "Here's a company that ought to see my booklet. And another , and another. ' Each got a booklet.
Less than a week later, a woman called, asking the cost of 5000 customized copies for an upcoming trade show, and could I match a certain price.
I slightly underbid her price, she was thrilled and the sale was a done-deal. I thought, 'oh, this will be easy to sell large quantities now'. Wrong. It was another three-four months until the next large-quantity sale. But, the trade show they were attending was an organization I had contacted about getting my booklet into their catalog. They rejected it because I wasn't in their industry. So, my buyer had bought 5000 copies of my booklet, with my company information in it, to distribute at that trade show. I loved it!
One day, a guy I know from a major consumer mail- order catalog company said, 'Why don't you license us reprint rights to your booklet? We can buy print cheaper than you. Charge us a few cents a unit and we will do production. 18 months later, the sale happened: a non-exclusive agreement for them to print 250,000 copies. We exchanged a five-page contract for a five-digit check.
They provided the booklet free with any purchase in one issue of their catalog and made a 13% increase in sales in that issue. They were happy. I was happy.
In spring 1993, I designed a class on writing and marketing booklets and wrote an 80-page manual. The class was small and mostly people I knew. They paid me money, and I had a chance to test-run the class. I then had another new product: a manual, a blueprint of how I had then sold more than 50,000 copies of my booklet without spending a penny on advertising.
August 1994, I discovered Compuserve. My sole purpose for getting online was to market my business. The third day online, I saw a forum message from a guy from Italy who had a marketing company there. His client base was small businesses and companies who served small businesses. I sent him my booklet. He liked it and we struck a deal. He translated, produced and marketed it, and paid me royalties on all sales. That January he wired several thousand dollars to my checking account from Italy. It was the first sale of 105,000 copies to a magazine that bundled a copy of my booklet with one issue of their publication.
To that point, I sold more than 500,000 copies of my booklet, in three languages, without spending a penny on advertising. One slow week, I posted a message on some Compuserve forums about the story of the Italian booklet as an example of an online success story. Even though blatant selling is not allowed, creating mutually beneficial relationships is. I had received money from someone I had never spoken to and had only communicated with online, by fax, earth mail and EFT. The booklet has been licensed into the Dutch language, 13 years after the booklet was originally written.
I discovered licensing opportunities for my booklet content in other formats. Two different companies who produce laminated guides (one hinged, the other spiral bound) licensed my content.
Tips Products International was created as a business of its own, providing products and services to people wanting to write, produce, and market their own booklet, or have much of it done for them. We write tips booklets for clients based on their raw print materials. Three home study packages have been developed:
? How To Write and Market Booklets for Ca$h
? How to Promote Your Business With Booklets
? How to Make Huge Profits Licensing Your Booklet.
Resellers around the world distribute my courses and services I've been invited to speak nationally and internationally, in person and by Teleclass, about how to write and market booklets, how to promote a business with booklets, how to leverage a single booklet manuscript into an entire product line, and electronic publishing.
I never could have written a business plan for how this unfolded. Clients are surpassing my own sales results of personally selling almost a million copies, without spending a penny on advertising. We have all learned plenty since the original organizing booklet was written in 1991.
Paulette Ensign has never taken a business course. She taught string instruments in public elementary schools for eleven years, became a Professional Organizing Consultant, and went on to create a business based on the niche of booklets. Visit her web site at <a target="_new" href="http://www.tipsbooklets.com">http://www.tipsbooklets.com</a>
Book Marketing 101- Book Publicity for Authors -- Creating a Book Publicity Campaign
Publicity is that elusive thing that can make or break your book - in all sorts of ways! Learning to promote you and your book is something that can take a bit of "re-training" for most new authors (and many old-timers too). Publicity is really all about selling your idea (and you), but all too often the word "selling" brings up images of polyester clad used-car salesmen, telemarketers, and strong-arm sales strategies that do nothing but alienate your intended customer.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
True "salesmanship" is all about creating a deep connection with your intended reader or reviewer by providing unique, useful and rewarding information about your book. It's all about creating a relationship that you will both benefit from and to which you can return time and again. It's about creating the awareness that you are an EXPERT about the topic of your book.
Good publicity is also regular and consistent publicity - there really is no such thing as an overnight success. Remember that you never know who is reading or listening -- it just might have been someone who could lead you to bigger and better things.
Here's some ways to create a great relationship with the editors and reporters that can provide your book the long term exposure it needs to succeed:
1) It's ALL about your intended audience - and very little about you. You might be brilliant, but the editor only cares about their audience. As a matter of fact, more often than not if you come across as thinking you are too wonderful, you'll most likely turn out to be a turn off to the editor or reporter. This is where "blanket" press releases that go to thousands of outlets fail - they typically focus on you the author, and unless you are already a household name, guess what? No one cares.
You MUST tailor your release to the intended audience - and it must be unique. Focus on the benefits you will provide their audience. Think about the publication or program you are trying to approach - what do they provide to their audience and does your book contribute to their goals? Don't under any circumstances make your pitch sound like an ad for your book - if you have a good fit, and have good information inside your book, then it will generate interest in the book. The goal here is to make the editors, reporters, and audience understand that you are an expert on your topic, and that your book contains lots of good information - by PRESENTING some of the information... not by TELLING them you are an expert.
2) Target your pitch. Be confident knowing that reporters and editors have lots of need for information. But also understand the one of the quickest ways to get rejected is to pitch the wrong person - you'll waste both of your time (and probably annoy the editor or reporter) - do you homework and find out who is the correct contact for your book. Once you've found the right person - ask them what they want. Only pitch your idea if it's a fit. Be sure to respect his or her time - everyone in the media industry works on unbelievably tight deadlines. Ask if they are under a deadline and if so, could you call back at a better time.
Be short, sweet, and to the point - which means get to the point quickly. The audience will eventually want more detail than the reporter or editor - but for your reviewer, be able to sum up your book in 30 seconds or less. "Talk less, listen more" - let the editor or reporter drive the conversation after you have them interested. They will have specific needs and questions - so stop talking and answer them explicitly.
3) Approach ALL types and sizes of publications and media. Don't be afraid to contact the "big guys" and don't neglect the smaller ones. Any one in the media has to aggressively pursue getting new and fresh content for their shows, magazines, and newspapers. This is especially true of anyone who needs to fill space on a daily basis. They are almost always on the search for people who can present information on exciting and interesting topics and trends. The biggest outlets are always on the search for an unknown that they can highlight.
The smaller journals and outlets often have a very focused and influential audience - and you never know who might be reading them or listening to their show . The smaller publications can also be "gateways" into the larger ones . Almost every single size of publication has value in your publicity campaign. Your chances of getting into smaller publications is probably higher than the larger ones, so set your time and effort accordingly.
4) Treat your contacts with unfailing respect and politeness. Yes, you are very busy - you might even be far busier than the publicist or producer that you are trying to approach. But you need them to help you out - and being constantly aware that they are very busy themselves will keep you focused on getting your materials to them in a timely manner. Never ever be late in submitting materials for a review or interview.
5) Understand that publicity isn't a "one shot success" effort. It is all about sustained and consistent awareness of your product. Marketing research indicates that a consumer will need to see your name about 7 times before they will remember it. Try to keep your interviews and reviews spaced out a little bit - frequency and consistency are critical. Don't ever let up on your publicity campaigns - even the most successful product lines in the world (think Nike and McDonalds) continue to consistently spend millions on awareness campaigns for their products. Very rarely is anyone an "overnight success" - even the best-selling authors spent years building their reputations.
Follow these 5 steps while conducting your publicity campaigns, and your level of success will be far greater than those who have either ignored or never learned these basic steps.
If you like this information (and found it helpful) please feel free to post it on your site, put it in a blog, toss it in your newsletter, or in general spread it around. Please just give us credit here at <a target="_new" href="http://www.dogearpublishing.net">www.dogearpublishing.net</a>
May you have success in your creative efforts!
Ray Robinson is a partner in Dog Ear Publishing <a target="_new" href="http://www.dogearpublishing.net">http://www.dogearpublishing.net</a> a self publishing services company specializing in delivering "high touch" services to the author community. His company provides a full range of services to authors, from editorial to page layout to marketing and fulfillment.
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