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

How to Work With a Book Marketing Consultant

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Oct 6, 2020

Over the past 30 years I have been an author, publisher and book-marketing consultant. During that time, I have learned a valuable lesson: a mistake may be the costliest part of the publishing process. If you work well with a knowledgeable, competent book publishing/marketing consultant, you can minimize — or hopefully eliminate — costly errors. Here are some things to consider when choosing and working with an advisor.

• Seek people who are recognized leaders in their specialty. Ask members of your local publishing group or Facebook friends for their recommendations and/or experiences with the consultants you are evaluating. If you get a negative response, do not automatically eliminate the potential consultant. The client may not have properly implemented the consultant’s good advice with poor results.

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How Tos for Holiday Book Sales: Start Now!

by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Sep 29, 2020

Even during a pandemic, we can be sure of one thing: the holidays will be here before you know it! Now that kids are back in school (either virtually and/or in person), authors looking to boost book sales should clear their desks, pull out calendars and favorite planning tools, and get down to business.

In addition to Christmas, a few of the dates you may want to note include Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. All of these holidays can have a gift-giving component in some families — and books are always a perfect gift! All too often, authors seek out my company in November, hoping to use the holiday shopping season to promote a book. But November is too late. A successful holiday sales season takes weeks of planning and preparation. Any retailer will agree with me here.

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Marketing & Publicity

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How to Manage Your Web Presence as an Indie Author

by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Sep 15, 2020

When you think of top brands, you probably think of companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s, right? You see them everywhere, and you can plan on a similar experience at every building with golden arches or a green siren.

Stores like this have two things mastered: real estate and exposure. They go hand in hand. Their presence is something you can bank on. The more you see them, the more it reinforces your decision to shop there. And possibly, your loyalty.

And as an indie author, the same is true for your book marketing and your web presence. The more places you show up, the more likely your potential buyers are to find you. So, let’s take a look at your options and some top strategies for maximizing your presence.

Author Website

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How to Sell Children’s Books — Part Two

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Sep 1, 2020

This is the second article in a two-part series.

The market for children's books is potentially huge. Still, most authors approach this enormous opportunity by trying to sell their books through bookstores (bricks and clicks). Instead of competing with all the other books there, seek sales in non-bookstore segments. Listed below are more examples of these prospective buyers. This is by no means an exhaustive list but is meant to stimulate your thinking to find new places in which to sell.

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How to Sell Children’s Books — Part One

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Aug 25, 2020

This is the first article in a two-part series. In the next article, I’ll give you more examples of prospective buyers of children's books.

The market for children's books is potentially huge. Still, most authors approach this enormous opportunity by trying to sell their books through bookstores (bricks and clicks). Instead of competing with all the other books there, seek sales in non-bookstore segments. Listed below are examples of these prospective buyers. This is by no means an exhaustive list but is meant to stimulate your thinking to find new places in which to sell.

Pre-school children

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Build Book Marketing Strategies into Your Novel Before You Even Publish

by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Aug 18, 2020

It’s an exciting time to be an author. And if you’re in still in the writing or editing phase, you can add some elements right now to help market your book when you publish.

Think of it like product placement in a TV show or movie. An example might be a prominently placed (and labeled) box of Kleenex that someone reaches for, asking, “Would you like a Kleenex?” A subtle mention of the brand that fits the context of the movie.

Hallmark movies do this a lot — and if you look for it, you’ll start seeing it everywhere. It’s a smart marketing concept, one you can easily apply to your own book promotion.

Here are a few ideas that you may want to consider for your next novel.

Seasonal Angles

One of the easiest ways to build book marketing into your book is a seasonal story setting. The Christmas season is a good example. Hallmark has run with the idea of the Christmas movie, and many authors have taken their cue.

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How to Make Large-Quantity, Non-Returnable Sales? (Hint: You already know the answer)

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jul 28, 2020

Have you ever tried to get a loan? Ask for a raise? Sought to get agreement with family members about where to go on vacation? In each case you took part in a process designed to reach an accord that was agreeable to everyone involved. You can use those same skills to sell your books in large, non-returnable, profitable quantities to business buyers.

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How Knowing Your Reader Can Sell More Books

by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Jul 21, 2020

Everyone going into business should do market research. Authors are no different and reader profiles should be a goal of that research. Knowing your reader will help you decide what strategies are best for you to use as you market your book.

This step is critical to your success as an author. The reality is that your book is not for everyone. Nor is it for “all women with hopes and dreams.”

You have to be realistic. Inspiration and vision are important, but if you want to sell books, then you cannot afford to skip reader profiles. They will show you how to find the right people, and through which channels.

Here are some of the key benefits of creating reader profiles.

People are Complex

Your potential buyers have limited free time, just like you.

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Make the Grade in the Homeschool Market

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jun 16, 2020

The academic market is an opportune segment for publishers because it uses books as a foundation for its existence. It includes, but is not limited to schools, foundations, research organizations, professional associations, libraries, students, and individual educators. This marketplace impacts people of all ages, from preschoolers to professionals. Regardless of grade, age, major, and choice of home, public, or private education, people’s need for books is ubiquitous.

But, you say, “Public schools are closed, and no one is sure when they will reopen. How can this be an opportune time to sell to them?” The answer is to sell to the homeschool sub-segment of the academic market.

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Nowhere to Sell Books? Know Where to Sell Books.

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jun 2, 2020

Bookstores are currently closed due to the coronavirus. Authors and publishers are waiting it out, hoping to sell their books through those that eventually reopen. But if you look around there are many places through which you can sell books now – think supermarkets and pharmacies.

There are tens of thousands of supermarkets and pharmacies of all sizes around the country. Many of these stores sell books. In the past, most book sales through these outlets were mass market paperbacks, but today’s superstores carry a wide variety of books, cards, and magazines.

Book Selection Criteria

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Marketing & Publicity

How to Work With a Book Marketing Consultant

How Tos for Holiday Book Sales: Start Now!

How to Manage Your Web Presence as an Indie Author

How to Sell Children’s Books — Part Two

How to Sell Children’s Books — Part One

Build Book Marketing Strategies into Your Novel Before You Even Publish

How to Make Large-Quantity, Non-Returnable Sales? (Hint: You already know the answer)

How Knowing Your Reader Can Sell More Books

Make the Grade in the Homeschool Market

Nowhere to Sell Books? Know Where to Sell Books.

Pages

Getting Started

Create a Culture of Quality in Your Publishing Company

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

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

Do You Have the Write Stuff?

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