Archive for Marketing
Bookstores vs. Amazon for Sales: Part II
The recent New York Times article on James Patterson (James Patterson, Inc.), was instructive regarding how publishers, and thus bookstores, cater to the big-time authors. »»
Absolutely Out-Write Your Competition
Imitate the Masters of Your Preferred Style
You don’t have to study great musicians very long to discover that they start by imitating the techniques of their heroes. I recall an early interview with Eddie Van Halen where he challenged the interviewer: “Name me any song by Cream and I’ll play it for you.” Who was the guitarist for Cream? Eric Clapton. Well, Eddie certainly developed his own unique style, but he began by imitating the masters.
Find Raving Fans and Enticing Blurbs
The Power of Blurbs
The word “blurbs” is marketing speak for quotes from people about your book. Most “How to Get Published” books that I’ve read mention getting great blurbs as a sort of “Duh” and quickly move on to the next point. But I think that top-notch blurbs are critical and there’s an art to acquiring them. They’re particularly critical for those of us who don’t have great platforms, since they allow us to leverage the platforms of others.
Follow all the rules for your publishing success
Most don’t. The temptation is this. You’ve spent all this time and energy on your manuscript. So you type up this query letter in a day and fling it out there.
An acquisitions editor told me recently, “Most submissions are worthless.” So, to separate yourself from the herd:
1. Know what the publisher is looking for. (See the current edition of Writers Market.)
2. Find how to write a query (refer to one from agent’s site).
3. Polish it and get input and polish it again.
Convince Me You Can Market and Sell Your Book
Actor Johnny Depp once said in an interview that beyond learning his part, he tries to add “that little something extra.” You can see that in his films. Captain Jack Sparrow was outrageous!
Let me suggest that, in order to get your manuscript noticed, you need to “add that little something extra.”
14 Tips to Writing Articles to Promote Your Book
just listened to a telephone seminar on this topic. Lots of useful information from successful writers and big-time magazine editors. Here are my takeaways:
1) Writing articles and getting mentioned in articles is powerful, free advertising.
People believe articles more than ads.
You’re reaching readers, who are more likely than listeners to purchase a book.
The articles have lasting power. They can remain in doctor’s offices or archives on websites.
You can use the article for blurbs “As mentioned in Womans Day Magazine.”
You can attract other media people who may read the articles.
2) Know the magazine you’re targeting and show them you know it. Most don’t.
7 Tips on Book Cover Design
Do you have input into your cover design? If so, perhaps some of these hints from my recent personal experience will help. I’ve been working with a designer for the past month, resulting in the front cover you see to the right.
Enhance Your Amazon Sales
Whether you self-publish, go with a traditional publisher, or something in between, you’ll want to do everything possible to enhance your sales through Amazon.
I’m currently reading Sell Your Book on Amazon, by Brent Sampson. Buy it. It’s easy to understand and walks you step by step through the Amazon tools that can make the difference between a book that never gets noticed and one that becomes a best-seller. And the best news is (for a cheapy like myself), most of the tools are absolutely free. And since “marketing techniques are only as valuable as the profits they generate,” he ranks the Amazon tools from five star (only idiots wouldn’t use this tool) to one star (only use this tool under special circumstances).
Selling on Amazon Means Selling More Books
The power of Amazon to sell books demands that authors consider it carefully in their publishing and marketing decisions.
According to Morris Rosenthal ( http://www.fonerbooks.com/booksale.htm ), here’s where some of the main book sales (includes media like CD’s and DVD’s) occurred in 2007 in North America:
