Title:
Book Promotion Woes?
Word Count:
782
Summary:
Too many new authors believe that once their book is written the sales will just come pouring in and they
will make a bundle. Sadly, this disillusionment is shattered when they receive a royalty check. The honest to
goodness truth of the matter is that the writer's work is only started when the book is released. Even the huge
author names of today began by peddling their books out of the back of their car...
Keywords:
Book marketing, encouragement, inspiration, Trash Talk
Article Body:
Too many new authors believe that once their book is written the sales will just come pouring in and they
will make a bundle. Sadly, this disillusionment is shattered when they receive a royalty check. The honest to
goodness truth of the matter is that the writer's work is only started when the book is released. Even the huge
author names of today began by peddling their books out of the back of their car. Many big-name authors
also began by self-publishing because no one recognized their talent. They did not start off their career with
a huge bang. They did not have the money to afford publicists and big marketing firms when they started out
and yet they are super successful now. Take heart from their examples.
Marketing, promoting and networking must be done every single day, for the life of the book, in balance
with your other activities and obligations.
Many new authors feel their only way to success is through book signings and bookstores stocking their
book. They are wrong. While in larger centers with good promotion a book signing event or book reading
event may result in as much as a couple hundred one-time sales... most smaller venues can only expect less
than 10 sales. Is this worth the 2 hours or more that you spend at the event? Not counting all the preperation,
marketing the event, promotion materials, time taken from work and any displays that you have designed
and possibly paid for ahead of time. These events do not pay authors to host an event so any sales they do
have may not even cover the traveling costs, hotel cost, meals, parking or supplies - let alone the time they
put into it. Nor do they usually result in long-term sales - sales are often only during the few days around the
event.
Bookstores can only realistically stock less than 1% of the 3 million books available on the market. Their
discount with the publisher/distributor is large. Authors are paid royalties only on what their publisher has
recieved. So is all the time and effort going into attaining spots on bookstore shelves worth it?
While the markets above are valuable and important to any author - what authors need to do is think outside
the box. Figure out where your efforts will bring the greatest results. Don't expect immediate and
overwhelming acceptance by the media or your audience. Marketing, networking and promoting are long-
term efforts that will reap greater rewards as efforts continue.
Many authors live in tiny towns and hold down jobs or have physical limitations that prevent out-of-town
promotions; much like ourselves. This can be overcome. Again, think outside the box, use the Internet and
your contacts - and be persistant. Newspapers, libraries, and bookstores are only the most obvious markets
and also are the most difficult to gain the attention of without a strong image because everyone is vying for
their attention. Work on your image and get strong promotion materials that help you stand out among the
hundred thousand or more new books released annually.
So develop a long-term marketing plan and stick with it for the full term of your contract with the publisher.
The market plan will grow and change as time goes on. And keep good records so you can determine how
you will go about marketing the next book.
I just wanted to mention here that some authors get overwhelmed by the immense amount of effort it takes
to market a book. If we take one day, one step at a time we will find it is not so overwhelming. I find it
works best to figure out what you will concentrate on this week and then set a goal for today. I do this nearly
every day. It helps me keep a steady pace going, without taking on too much or too little.
Remember too, that efforts you are making today may not reap immediate results. You may have to hit a
market several times before they pick up your proposal. For instance, some contacts from nearly a year ago
are now resulting in promotions in their publications. So be patient and professional in all that you do.
Again, keep records so that you can follow up.
Newsletters can be small but effective markets for your work. On average, they can range in size from 1000-
17,000 readers or more. E-zines typically reach an audience larger than 5000. Get a few of them in one
month and you are reaching a wide audience! You don't need to be rich or famous or have a publicist if you
are determined and able to committ effort every single day. (Do take some time for yourself, though!)
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