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Marketing & Publicity

Good marketing is an art. Knowing your audience is critical. Get the word out about your book in a compelling and interesting way.

Steps in Marketing & Publicity

  • How to craft your message
  • Social media
  • Search engine optimization
  • Go local
 

The Fiction of Prediction (A Fun Way to Write a Business Plan)

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Nov 12, 2019

 
As we approach the end of the year it is a good time to begin creating your 2020 vision. Most authors understand the importance of doing so, but without an existing plan upon which to build they do not know how to go about writing a plan. But authors know how to create a good story, so why not use that expertise to write your plan?
 
Writing your business plan as a fiction manuscript can be a fun way to do the necessary work of planning. It can also help you identify and deal with the people (characters) that impact your business. Your subplots help you recognize the value of previously unsought opportunities, perhaps in non-bookstore markets. And your narrative can point of the interdependencies of market segments rather than dealing with them as isolated groups. Here are a few novel ideas to help you write your first plan - or sequel.  
 
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Reasons Why a Distributor May Turn Down Your Book

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Oct 1, 2019

There are many opportunities for book sales through non-bookstore retailers. These could be airport stores, supermarkets, discount stores, gift shops and many more. The good news is that you sell to them in ways in which you are already familiar: you get a distribution partner and they contact buyers for you. The bad news is that the distributors are inundated with books that they cannot take on and therefore must reject them. Even a good book may be declined if not submitted properly or has missing information.

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Why Pre-Publication Book Marketing is Essential to Success

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by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Sep 17, 2019

Publishing is not a field of dreams. They will not come just because you build it. It's surprising that so many authors today still make that assumption. Unfortunately, that’s just not how things work, at least for most of us. If you expect sales you need to set up your book marketing plan well ahead of actual publication.

When to Begin Marketing Your Book

Writing (and publishing) a book that will sell actually starts before the book is published.

Yes, post-publication book marketing is a huge part of selling more books, but authors need to place more value on what they do before the book is up for sale.

A Big Dose of Reality from a Literary Agent

Jane Friedman recently interviewed a literary agent about the changing landscape of fiction. While it focused heavily on how authors can get a publisher, these tips are equally relevant to indie authors.

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The Key to Planning and Running Successful eBook Promotions

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by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Sep 3, 2019

Authors either love or hate discount eBook promotions. Regardless of how you feel about them, the reality is that they can be insanely lucrative — especially if you know what works for your genre and market.  In fact, once you find your comfort level, discount eBook promotions will become a key part of your book marketing plan.

If you’re still struggling to find your sweet spot, here are some things to consider as you plan how to price your book.

The Power of Free

You can still get fantastic exposure without making your eBook free, which is welcome news for authors who have a hard time stomaching ‘free.’

With that said, there are some valid reasons that featuring some free promotions throughout the year can really help you out.

You Want Books in as Many Hands as Possible

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How to Get an Appointment with a Prospective Buyer

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Aug 27, 2019

 
There is an enormous opportunity to sell your books to people in local businesses and large corporations. Your prospect may be the owner of the business or a corporate marketing, sales or Human Resources manager. Regardless of your prospective buyer’s title, you must get an appointment with him or her in order to make your pitch. 
 
There are a several ways to make initial contact, but one of the best is to call first. By so doing you can confirm that the person you are trying to contact is still in that position. Do not assume you will get through to people quickly. Most people use voice-mail messages to filter out those with whom they do not want to speak. 
 
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Selling to Non-Bookstore Retailers

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Aug 6, 2019

 
There are many non-bookstore, brick-and-mortar retailers through which you can sell your books. These include airport stores, supermarkets, gift shops, discount stores and others.  Your current distributor may already be selling to them, so check with them before pursuing retailers on your own. 
 
Otherwise, creating a retail-distribution channel is a good way to start your special-sales efforts because it is much like selling through bookstores. You work through distribution partners, the discount structure is similar, and books are displayed on shelves. Fiction usually outsells non-fiction in the retail setting. On the other hand, unsold books are returned, and you are paid in 90 - 120 days. Here are some things you can do to profit from selling through retailers.  
 
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Marketing Planning for First-Time Authors

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jul 16, 2019

Although this is the time to plan your marketing activities for the second half of 2019, some authors and publishers avoid planning in general because they do not know how to do it. Those who do know typically use a conventional, platform-based marketing plan that builds upon previous experience, with goals described as an increase over last year’s achievements. Planners know what did and did not work in the past, so their lists of strategies and actions are based on that familiarity. 

First-time authors have no history of marketing their books, and there is a high ratio of assumption to knowledge. In their haste to do something, they often “wing it.” Their actions typically turn out to be wrong because the neophyte author does not sufficiently understand the publishing business. 

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Create Multiple Sources of Revenue

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jun 18, 2019

It is difficult to make a living as an independent publisher if you view yourself as a purveyor of books through bookstores. When asked, “What do you do for a living?” you may respond, “I’m an author.” This is usually followed with, “But what do you do to earn money?” However, if you reply, “I’m a publishing professional,” you are usually received with nodding understanding. The difference is as enormous as it is subtle. A publishing professional runs a business, relying on multiple streams of revenue for maximum income. 

Relying exclusively on book sales can limit your income. This wall could be reached because of seasonal demand for your content, or your reliance on sales only through bookstores – bricks and clicks. You may have a small target market, inadequate planning or insufficient funds for promotion. The list goes on, but the fact remains that a variety of circumstances can conspire to limit the sale of your books, and subsequently your income. 

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Ways to Get Book Reviews: The Power of Recommendation

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by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Jun 11, 2019

Personal recommendations account for 95% of all book sales. That’s a powerful statement, and it really speaks to the fact that people like what other people like. So, when authors ask me if book reviews are still a great way to sell a book, I always say 'yes' because great book reviews really tap into the power of the personal recommendation. Which brings us to the inevitable — how to get book reviews?

The challenge that authors seeking to get book reviews face is two-fold. First, with more than 4,500 books published on a daily basis, getting those reviews is increasingly competitive. And second, pursuing book reviews can be time-consuming. With this in mind, I'm going to break down the strategy behind choosing the kinds of reviews you should go after, and those you should maybe not put much effort into.

Should Authors Pay to Get Book Reviews?

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Creative Social Media Ideas for Effective Book Marketing

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by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Jun 4, 2019

Spending lots of time on social media may not result in a huge amount of book marketing success. It’s easy to go down the rabbit hole. By this, I mean that you can spend a lot of time on social networks without reaping any results that are particularly worthwhile. To help turn this around, I'm going to share some of my favorite creative social media ideas, that will optimize your efforts.

You can work smarter and more effectively on social media by following strategies that almost guarantee engagement, which in turn will help you build both your brand and your network.

It’s simply good book promotion, and it’s the kind of advice you should expect from a good book marketing company.

With that in mind, here are my top social media ideas for successfully marketing your book that will help you engage smarter.

Run Social Media Ads

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Getting Started

Create a Culture of Quality in Your Publishing Company

Thu, November 13

How to Write a Business Plan as Narrative (Part 2 of 2)

Wed, September 10

A Novel Planning Technique for Book Publishers (Part 1 of 2)

Fri, September 05

Do You Have the Write Stuff?

Wed, September 03

Today's Great American Novel (Part 2 of 2)

Wed, August 20

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