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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 Most Profitable Way to Sell Your Books

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Nov 28, 2023

 
Publishers limit their book sales when they see bookstores — bricks and/or clicks — as the only place through which to sell their books. If you want to sell 10,000 books through any retailer, you must get 10,200 people (with a 20% return rate) to go to Amazon.com or your website and buy one. But if you want to sell 10,000 books in non-retail markets, you can find one person to buy 10,000 of them – non-returnable and they pay the shipping charges. Which do you think is a more profitable way to sell your books?
 
How to do that? A logical first step is to find the names of people to whom you will sell. This is called prospecting — the process of searching for people who can buy your books.  A prospect is the person who can make the decision to buy from you. They could be in corporations, schools, associations and the military. 
 
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7 Creative Ways to Sell More Books: A Comprehensive Guide for Authors

Penny C. Sansevieri's picture
by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Nov 21, 2023

Are you an author looking to boost your book sales but working with a limited budget? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore seven creative strategies to help you sell more books and gain the attention your work deserves. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, these tips will provide you with practical and effective ways to market your book and increase your readership. So let's dive in!

1. Leverage the Power of Social Media
Social media platforms are a goldmine for authors looking to promote their books. Start by creating an author page or profile on popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Engage with your audience by sharing updates about your writing process, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and snippets from your book. Be consistent in your posting schedule and interact with your followers by responding to comments and messages.

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Update Your Marketing to the 21st Century

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Nov 14, 2023

You most likely use 21st century digitally enabled book-marketing actions. However, your sales are probably occurring at dial-up speed if you are implementing 20th century marketing actions.

You wouldn’t put up with a 1960s-era phone system, or forego the benefits of modern technology, but that is what you are doing when you fail to sell your books to non-bookstore buyers. These could be retailers (discount stores, supermarkets, airport stores) or non-retail buyers (corporations, associations schools, military) who could buy in large, non-returnable quantities. 

Selling to these special-sales buyers does not have to be a major leap. You already have the programs in place to do it. Selling to non-bookstore retailers uses many of the distribution partners with which you already work selling through bookstores. Begin there, and then expand your sales to build upon that base, giving you a solid foundation and focal point to grow your sales. 

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10 Pricing Strategies Every Author Should Know: How to Price Your Book for Success!

Penny C. Sansevieri's picture
by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Oct 31, 2023

Pricing is a critical aspect of marketing your book effectively, but I’ll admit it’s not always an easy decision! Pricing can influence how readers perceive the value of your work and impact your sales. Here are some smart book pricing strategies, along with insights into the psychology of pricing, to help you maximize their book's success:

1. Know Your Target Audience:   
I see this a lot. Authors who don’t really understand the pricing constraints of their target reader. But understanding your readers' preferences, demographics, and willingness to pay. Tailor your pricing strategy to align with their expectations and budgets.

2. Launch Discounts: 
Offering a promotional launch price can create a sense of urgency and excitement. Readers may be more inclined to buy if they believe they're getting a special deal. But launch discounts should be a short window only, 48 hours at most. 

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How to Get Buyers to Buy

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Oct 24, 2023

 
Numerous studies over the years have concluded that people who are certain of their beliefs are more likely to buy, buy sooner and spend more. These findings can help you sell more of your books to corporate buyers. 
 
Viscerally, it makes sense. You are probably more likely to make a purchase if you are confident that you are making the right choice. It is a gut feeling, a sense that you are doing the right thing that makes you comfortable plowing ahead. You can get your buyers to feel the same about you and your book, too. And you can do all that not by using advanced sales techniques, but by being objective, building consensus, reinforcing a positive message and building your credibility.
 
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The Declaration of Dependence

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Oct 17, 2023

 
A typical marketing plan has three major parts. The first is direction — your objectives for the planning period. The second is a statement of what you are going to do and the third describes how you will do it. Your task is to create the optimum combination of strategy and action that will achieve your objectives. Declare your dependence on strategic thinking and free your mind to create new ways to reach your goals. Here is how to do that. 
 
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Four Simple, Free Ways to Sell More Books

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Oct 3, 2023

 
Most authors with whom I speak are frustrated with their inability to get distribution to bookstores or generate any significant book sales. If you are one of them, there are four things you can do immediately to open your gateway to success. They are simple to do, cost nothing and will demonstrate to everyone in the publishing industry that you are Category Five marketing force. 
 
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To Sell More Books, Think Like Warren Buffett

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Sep 26, 2023

How can people invest their book-marketing time, money and skills most effectively? I wanted to find the most complete and accurate answer, so I decided to consult a higher power: Warren Buffett. After all, Mr. Buffett is the ultimate value investor. I know the Oracle of Omaha is not a book marketer, but some of his investment strategies are remarkably applicable to book marketing — even if he never intended the connection. The book, The Warren Buffett Book of Investing Wisdom, edited by Robert L. Bloch, lists many Buffettisms about investing. Here are some that seemed remarkably applicable to investing in book marketing. 

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Do You Have The Write Stuff?

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Sep 19, 2023

Becoming a success (as you have defined it) in book publishing is more an art than a science. You can learn all the right things to do, but the application of those actions is different for every situation, person, book and target buyer. One key to moving continuously in the right direction on your path is to have a strong belief in yourself. In other words, become DEAR to yourself.

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Four Steps to Greater Profits

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Sep 12, 2023

Publishers want to increase sales with new books and new ways to market them. Yet in practice they wait for authors to submit manuscripts and then sell the published books through bookstores and online. The quest for innovation is lost to habit and tradition. 
 
It doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t) be that way. There is a reliable, systematic process for developing new, different and more successful ways to publish profitably and simultaneously grow your business. The objective is to close the growth gap — the area between where you are now and where you want to be. There are four basic steps in this process. 
 
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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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