Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 1
While traditional marketing can work for the book author or publisher, the return is dim for the huge effort it takes. You must promote 90% of the time to even get a milligram of attention. While you may have a success or two, most of your efforts will bring poor book sales.
With online marketing, the author's message will reach hundreds of thousands in just a day because people love the free information you can give them with an enticement to come to your site to buy. And, you'll spend 9% instead of 90% time on it. Ask yourself right now, what promotion is working for me? What is not?
Traditional Book Marketing Method One: The Press Release
Sure, press releases can bring you attention.
But it takes a lot of time to gather specific media or radio/TV producers' names. Writing "The San Diego Media Resource Directory" took 50 hours to research, and a lot more time to update each year.
But you waste your efforts if your release doesn't go the right person. Many authors make the mistake of sending the release to the book editor. He gets hundreds each month, and will pay no attention if you are self-published. Like agents and traditional publishers, only 1-2% are chosen.
But if you only send a few releases, they may get ignored. It's usual for any business to send out 150 news releases a year. That does take some time and effort.
Don't relax after you send one or two releases. Think in terms of at least five a month.
But, 95% of releases are ignored and tossed into the round file. Why? For many reasons, but check to see if you include a compelling heading, a human-interest story, a short tip list or article of how-tos, or a present news analogy.
But you send a lengthy news release that takes 2 pages. Usually, editors want one under one page, double-spaced.
But you go on and on about your book's features rather than its benefits. What's in it for the media's audience? They want solutions just like your book should offer. It turns out editors accept how to tips and articles with your byline that refers to your book than the features within your book. Most new authors omit this most important information.
But most people don't realize the purpose of the press release is to grab the editor by the collar, so they will want to do a feature story on you. Make your headlines sizzle. "Seven Ways to Sell More Books Than You Ever Dreamed Of" got a feature story, which attracted 90 people to a seminar by the same name. The coach sold $550 worth of books, gained four new book- coaching clients worth $2000, enrolled 15 in her weekly seminars, yielding 24 clients published within a 2-year period.
Your book coach's first published press release responded to an article on the editorial page about the "Three R's." The headline was "Schools Need to Teach the Fourth "R" "Rapid Reading. After discussing the background problems of first grade reading circles, she included the benefits of rapid reading, and gave nine how-to solutions. The publisher not only loved the article, but also came personally to take a picture.
Most people don't realize the purpose of the press release is to grab the editor by the collar, so he or she will want to do a feature story on you. Make your headlines sizzle. "Seven Ways to Sell More Books Than You Ever Dreamed Of" got a feature story which attracted 90 people to a seminar by the same name. The coach sold $550 worth of books, gained four new book-coaching clients worth $2000, enrolled 15 in her weekly seminars, yielding 24 clients published within a two-year period.
Traditional Book Marketing Method Two: Giving Talks, Seminars and Presenting at Expos
Creating a talk takes a lot of time. You must practice it at least two times before you deliver it. You must discover resources to find organizations to present to. Many of them don't pay their speakers. You may say that's OK because I will sell books. Yes, you'll sell a dozen or maybe more, but think of the huge effort it takes to get there. Consider travel time, traffic, clothing upkeep, and schlepping all those heavy books around.
Like myself, you may present a talk or seminar to a corporation with big hopes of selling your products. When they pay you, though, they may set boundaries on book sales. One positive is that because you have a book, you can negotiate and leverage with meeting planners and top executives for higher paid presentations.
The biggest disadvantage? You must wait for decision makers to accept and schedule you--that could be six months or more. Think of the time invested in marketing materials such as the One-Page, videos, and meetings. Your book coach left this venue because she knew there was a better way! But was it expos?
Speaking at Expos or maintaining a booth takes many hours of work. Consider preparing and submitting press releases, creating brochures, hand outs, decorating the booth, presenting a drawing, and bringing in products to sell.
Speaking can bring you a few book sales, but people passing by your booth are usually just looking. Giving out hundreds of flyers with free seminar offers brings few results too.
Yes, I did get on a talk-radio show and eleven people showed up at my Supermemory seminar. No, they didn't buy books or book a coaching session. Yes, I collected names and email addresses from a free drawing. I was able to use them for my free ezine, The Book Coach Says...," but clients did not bang down my door to use my talents.
With figuring my prep and floor time at 44 hours for just one expo and sales under $350, I'd say that was slave labor.
Judy Cullins ©2004 All Rights Reserved.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," "How to Market your Business on the Internet," and "Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The Book Coach Says..." and "Business Tip of the Month" at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 155 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.
 Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:50:53 GMT This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz - Ars Technica
Ars Technica - By Jacqui Cheng | Published: October 11, 2008 - 09:30AM CT This week's most-read Apple news was all over the map, but in a good way. Don't Buy A Mac Laptop* Apple may launch new laptop Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:43:05 GMT Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Now that the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled same-sex couples have the right to wed, opponents of gay marriage are pinning their hopes on an infrequent ballot question in a longshot bid to block the unions. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage Conn. Ban On Gay Marriage Reversed Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:41:18 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Ex-President Of Finland Is Awarded Peace Prize Nobel Finn Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT Obama Aims for Electoral Edge, Block by Block - New York Times
New York Times - Lukas McGowan is focused on getting voters out on Election Day. “Once we register them,” he says, “that’s only half the job. Obama thanks McCain for remarks, presses attack FOX News poll: Obama leads McCain Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:21:34 GMT Palin hammers Obama on the abortion issue in Johnstown - CNN
CNN - (CNN) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took her message to voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, lashing out at Sen. Barack Obama for his views on abortion. Palin drubs Obama on abortion during Pa. rally Palin Gets Personal On Abortion Issue Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:06:21 GMT Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Del Quentin Wilber Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell told jurors in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday that the powerful Alaska Republican had a "sterling" reputation among the nation's military and political leaders. Reporter's Notebook: Powell Takes the Stand for Stevens Powell says Sen. Stevens' integrity "sterling" Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:13:53 GMT GM Is Said to Be in Preliminary Talks With Chrysler (Update2) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Jeff Green Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp. is in preliminary talks with Cerberus Capital Management LP's Chrysler LLC about a possible merger or other partnership, people with direct knowledge of the talks said. Source: Chrysler, GM discuss merger, acquisition GM mulled Chrysler acquisition: Huh? Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:39:15 GMT More Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Why write an introduction? Nobody reads it anyway. Up until... Read More This is intended for informational purposes only. Selling books by... Read More So you've written a book, had it published by a... Read More Marketing your own book can seem like a scary task.... Read More Marketing your book whether you went the POD, e-book, or... Read More Editors will buy a book for one or more of... Read More Most authors sigh a sigh of relief when they finish... Read More "Are you disappointed and tired of time and money down... Read More Imagine you share a huge penny... Read More You've been thinking about writing a tips booklet. After all,... Read More While traditional marketing can work for the book author or... Read More Writing has traditionally been considered a solitary craft. You wrote... Read More Most authors who aren't used to speaking before a group... Read More Think of your book on the bookstore shelf trying to... Read More Have you always wanted to write?Are there ideas churning in... Read More A client wrote me recently and asked what I thought... Read More Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. But after... Read More Writing a book is becoming more and more of a... Read More After months of scouring the internet, I could not put... Read More 1991 was a pivotal year in my life. My professional... Read More Great! The Chamber of Commerce, or a similar group, has... Read More Is your mind muddy on book marketing? Do you wake... Read More How would you like to have countless people clamoring for... Read More With the large increase of books being published by self-publishers,... Read More First, the disclaimers: Since the algorithm Amazon uses to generate... Read More
Adsense
websites
Sell More Books With Your Sparkling Introduction
Secrets to Selling Books by Mail
Book Signings Are Pure Gold
How to Get More Readers For Your Book
8 Easy Online Ways to Market Your Book For Free
28 Reasons Why Publishers Will Buy Your Book
Quiz: Will Online Book Marketing Help Sales?
Is Traditional Book Marketing Getting you Down?
Sell Your Book with Pennies
How Many Ways Can You License Your Tips Booklet?
Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 1
Are You Ready For The Publishing Revolution?
Dont Sell your Book, Share It
Book Signing for Experts
Is There a Book Hiding Inside You?
Authors Should Be Optimistic
Top Ten Ways of Why and How to Write your Books Sales Letter - Part 1
Best Sellers Aren?t Written ? They?re Made - It?s All About Promotion
What?s Wrong with the Internet? It Must be Broken!
The Booklet Journey Opening a New World
Book Talks: What to Say and How to Say It
Successful Book Marketing The Natural Way - Part 2
Why Would I Buy Your Book? Six Steps to Your Tell and Sell - Part 1
Whats Killing Your Publishing Career?
Navigating the Amazon Sales Ranking
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
How to Get More Readers For Your Book
Marketing your own book can seem like a scary task.... Read More
How to Get Your Book Reviewed
Imagine your book at the top of the Best Sellers... Read More
Marketing Your Book on Radio
Have you listened to radio lately? If you have, chances... Read More
Top Ten Non-Techie Steps to Market your Book Online
Are you an author who is looking for new ways... Read More
Titles (and Subtitles) Sell Books!
Does a title really sell a book? The short answer... Read More
Do You Long To See Your Books Published And Selling From The Major Chains?
To have your work accepted for hard copy publication is... Read More
Sell Your Book At Book Fairs, Festivals & Trade Shows
Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding... Read More
Book Titles that Make Big Bucks
Do you know how readers decide to buy a book?... Read More
What Service Do You Need to Make your Book Sell?
Whether you are just starting or almost finished with your... Read More
Marketing Virus ? Every Writer Needs to Catch It
For you writers aspiring to greatness, you might need a... Read More
Top Ten Ways of Why and How to Write your Books Sales Letter - Part 2
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. But after... Read More
Ten Ways to Make Your Book Outsell Another
Wouldn't you rather write a book that sells well than... Read More
Dont Clone your Book or Business Marketing
Remember that the miracle of cloning sheep has its drawbacks.... Read More
The Perfect Book and Where to Find It!
If I was asked to describe the perfect book, one... Read More
How to Make Money With Your Short Stories, Poems, Essays, and Novels
Recently, someone rated my "Online Book Marketing" article a 2... Read More
Know These Five Audiences to Write a Top Selling Book
To create a saleable book you need to know your... Read More
How to Grab the No.2 Spot on Amazon for Advance Book Sales
When my first book was published way back ten years... Read More
The High Cost of a Six-Figure Book Advance
The six-figure book advance, like the New York Times bestseller,... Read More
Book Marketing 101 - Setting up Author Events and Book Signings -- Get the Most from Book Publicity
We all have at one time or another had the... Read More
Interview with Book and Marketing Coach-Judy Cullins - Part 2
To know what to do at the right time in... Read More
Poetry Chapbooks: Ten Tips for Promotion
There are several ways of publishing your chapbook. You can... Read More
Book Publishing Without Pain
When I meet an author with a great book concept,... Read More
Make your Book Stand Out From the Crowd: Know your Audience
Most authors say, "Everyone will want my book, and when... Read More
Promote Your Books on Talk Shows and Make More Money
Successful authors are convinced that radio interviews are the very... Read More
Increase Book Sales: When a Sale Is No Longer Just a Sale
Do you have books sitting in your garage that you... Read More
Book Marketing |