|
|
| Information |
|
|
Best Sellers Aren't Written - They're Made - It's All About Promotion
Writing a book is becoming more and more of a trend these days. In fact, an estimated 5,000 mystery books were published last year in the United States alone, and that number is expected to grow. With so much competition, making the best-seller list is no easy task. So how is it that out of the thousands of mysteries published each year, some become best-sellers while others never get past the publisher's front door? The answer is simple - promotion. Strategy is Key Many authors are so confident that their book will sell itself, but unfortunately, that simply isn't the case. To hit the best-seller lists, you need to devote a lot of time to marketing. Promotion is important, because even if you think your book is destined to be a best-seller, no one will buy the book if you don't market it and set up the appropriate distribution outlets. At this point many authors proclaim: "But my publisher is supposed to market my book, not me." That's not entirely true. While the publisher does want your book to sell (that is, after all, how they make money), with all the books a publisher represents, their PR department can't possibly give your book the attention it deserves. They're often promoting multiple books at once and must spread out their time and resources fairly between everyone. That's where the author comes in. By taking charge of your book's promotion, you can make it to the best-seller list. The first step in devising a promotion strategy is to create a powerful media kit. You can be the most brilliant book promoter in the world, yet fail at making your book a bestseller if you do not have a strong and persuasive media kit. Why? Well, you may be able to talk a good game and get people excited about your book, but when they ask for your press kit and see a measly, uninformative packet with a few clippings and nothing more, all your build-up will fall flat. What's in a Media Kit? Think of a media kit as your book's resume. If it doesn't look good, it certainly won't attract the interest of media, distributors, or bookstores. The kit should contain: 1. A cover letter - A one-page letter that entices the reader to open your kit. 2. A press release - Usually one page long, the press release describes your book and its timeliness. 3. A mock book review - A one to two-page overview of your book that gives the highlights. 4. An author biography - A one-page document that introduces your credentials for writing the book. 5. A book sell sheet - A one page flyer for your book that gives ordering information and sell copy. 6. A book catalog sheet - A one page information piece that gives the technical details, such as how many books come in a case, the book's sales handles, the author's publicity campaign, etc. 7. A novelty item such as a postcard of the book's cover, a bookmark, a counter card, etc. - Including a novelty item makes you memorable. It also showcases some of your marketing efforts. You Can Do It! With a powerful media kit, you can keep the momentum strong and get people begging for more. This, in turn, will lead them to buy the book, which could ultimately lead you all the way to the top of the best-seller list. Dawn Josephson is president and founder of Cameo Publications, an editorial and publishing services firm based in Hilton Head Island, SC. She is also the author of Putting It On Paper: The Ground Rules for Creating Promotional Pieces that Sell Books and the co-author (with Lauren Hidden) of the new book Write It Right: The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros. . For more information, please call 843-785-3770, e-mail Dawn@CameoPublications.com, or visit http://www.CameoPublications.com
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news NBC News announces layoffs; Correspondents let go (AP via Yahoo! News) Several correspondents and other staff were laid off at NBC News this week as part of $500 million in planned cuts at General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal, according to a person familiar with the situation. Scripps puts Rocky Mountain News up for sale (AP via Yahoo! News) The Rocky Mountain News, Colorado's oldest newspaper, was put up for sale Thursday after its owner, E.W. Scripps Co., said it lost about $11 million on the business in the first nine months of the year. Scripps putting Rocky Mountain News up for sale (AP via Yahoo! News) E.W. Scripps Co. says it's putting the Rocky Mountain News up for sale after losing $11 million on the Denver operation in the first nine months of the year. Oil hits near 4-year low on weak economic news (AP via Yahoo! News) Oil prices sank Thursday to lows last seen nearly four years ago as more bleak news from the world's largest economy boosted views that crude could tumble below $40 by the end of the year. E.W. Scripps Seeks Buyer for Rocky Mountain News (Update2) (Bloomberg) Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- E.W. Scripps Co. is seeking a buyer for the Rocky Mountain News as the U.S. recession further drives down newspaper advertising. Online Money: Fidelity expands online news focus (AP via Yahoo! News) Fidelity Investments is joining the rush to satisfy investors' growing appetite for news about financial market turmoil. Pound slumps after grim British economic news (AP via Yahoo! News) The pound slumped Thursday to a historic low against the euro and to its lowest level against the dollar in over six and a half years after further grim economic news fueled expectations that the Bank of England will slash interest rates later. Weekly world news quiz (BBC News) At the end of another week, test your knowledge with our world news quiz. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI) Mark Ruffalo's brother shot in the head ... Coldplay, Adele earn top Grammy nods ... Oprah taking show to D.C. for inauguration ... Anne Heche expecting 2nd child ... News from United Press International. Get the latest news in racing (Daily Racing Form) In order to read Daily Racing Form's free daily news stories it is required that you have a DRF.com free membership. If you do not have a DRF.com free membership, please register here . You will NOT need to be logged in to read each day's free news stories. Site: news - Google News CNET News Daily Podcast: Facebook, Google open competing services - CNET News
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for book marketing Borders launches first social marketing strategy (Mad.co.uk) Borders is boosting its online strategy by using social media marketing for the first time, in a bid to build brand loyalty. The book retailer aims to extend its brand by engaging users to increase traffic and sales, as well as enhance advocacy and word-of-mouth. Infusionsoft Introduces New E-Book, "Master of the Moment: The Art of Follow-Up Marketing" (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance) A new e-book from Infusionsoft, the leader in marketing automation software for small businesses, delves into the secret of mastering the moment by being there for your customers and prospects when they need you most. The First Book About Marketing Resource Management (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) Marketing Resource Management", subtitled "The noble art of getting things done in marketing. Efficiently", is now available. Authors Romek Jansen and Frans Riemersma explain in clear wording and through many illustrations how marketing departments can operate more efficiently and how to get the most out of talent, time and money. Leading Online Marketing Firm A Couple of Chicks e-Marketing Wins Hotelier?s Pinnacle Award (Hospitality Net) Only three years young, Canada?s leading online marketing company for the hospitality industry A Couple of Chicks e-Marketing has been awarded the coveted Supplier of the Year Pinnacle Award from Hotelier magazine to be awarded at a gala lunch celebration on Friday, December 5, 2008 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. BOOK REVIEW: 'Pulling Weeds to Picking Stocks' an easy, educational read (Suburban Journals) It's lighthearted, written by young adults and an easy read. "Pulling Weeds to Picking Stocks" is a book written by the Beatty brothers, ages 16, 14 and 8. It's about personal finance and responsibility, something most of us hear about from our parents but not something we typically learn in school. The book isn't just about handling money, though. It also stresses building lifelong character ... Beige Book shows gloominess in New England (BizJournals) The Federal Reserve?s latest beige book report ? an analysis of economic conditions ? said the region that includes Boston is facing a squeeze on consumer financing and a big manufacturing slowdown in 2009. Charles R. Stinson's Architecture Chronicled in Book (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance) MINNEAPOLIS----Charles R. Stinson?s architecture is chronicled in a new book within the Master Architect Monograph Series entitled Charles R. Stinson: Compositions in Nature. The modern architecture book, with text by Camille LeFevre and photography by Peter Bastianelli-Kerze, features Stinson-designed homes and buildings that have achieved international recognition along with his distinctive ... Q&A | Daughter's book recalls Bob Evans with fondness (The Columbus Dispatch) For restaurant icon Bob Evans, "down on the farm" was more than a marketing slogan. The Book People Select Percussion to Help Increase Speed to Market (PRWeb via Yahoo! News) The Book People -- the UK's largest supplier of specialty, top quality books -- selected the Percussion Content Management System to manage five online properties. Recession Forces New Marketing Paradigm for Resorts | By Steven Herron (Hospitality Net) Holy demolition, Batman, what now?? You are ranked well in relevant keyword searches. You have allocated dollars to PPC and you manage your exposure and visibility. You have well placed banner advertising on highly targeted portals that historically have delivered excellent ROI. You are feeling pretty good about your strategic plan with tactics designed to deliver specific business and increases ... Site: book marketing - Google News Beige Book report isn't pretty for western Pennsylvania region - Bizjournals.com
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Does Your Book Cover Pass the "Ignore" Test? Your book cover is the first impression a potential client has with your book. The book cover design and message will determine if your book will be ignored or bought. Get Rich Writing Fiction Some of us write simply because we can't not write. Ideas grabus, move us, and demand to be written. Sell More Books With Your Sparkling Introduction Why write an introduction? Nobody reads it anyway. Up until now, this opinion has had clout. The Booklet Journey Opening a New World 1991 was a pivotal year in my life. My professional organizing business was 8 years old. Why Writers Dont Do a Book Signing Whenever someone suggests you do a book signing and you do not want to, here are five reasons you can give them:1) It's not worth the time; there's not enough money in it.2) Speaking is where the money is. Plays Well With Others to Become an Instant Author You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Publicity for Buzz Marketing for Authors Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published! Now, all you have to do is get people to buy it.Getting people to actually enter a bookstore with the purposeof buying your book is not easy because you're not a "brandname" yet. Top 10 Tips for Book Titles that Sell Well A clever title is great if it is clear, but a clear title is always preferable. The best? A clear and clever title. Increase Book Sales: At Book Fairs, Festivals and Trade Shows Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding your audiences at local or nonlocal book fairs, festivals or trade shows. Can't afford a booth or table, rent a space on someone else's table and volunteer to be back for their book. How Many Ways Can You License Your Tips Booklet? You've been thinking about writing a tips booklet. After all, it's shorter, faster, and easier than writing an entire book. Book Signings Are Pure Gold So you've written a book, had it published by a publishing company and you are now facing the dreaded book signing or book launch. Your palms sweat at the thought of facing droves of people and actually having to talk to them. Discover 3 Easy Ways to Promote Your Articles Are you using these methods to promote your articles?If not, you are missing out on some easy ways to get more traffic. Ways that require no additional work on your part once they are set up. How to Send Press Releases to Newspapers About Your New Book There are over ten thousand daily, weekly and monthly newspapers in the United States and Canada. For the first time author they are a valuable source of free publicity. The Book Signing Tomorrow night is my first Local Writers Fair. I've been looking forward to this one for a long time. How a Book is Born: One Authors Story Not all books come out whole, all at once. In fact, most books ease out little by little. Marketing for Writers When Writing Just Isnt Enough Many writers write for the experience. Others dream of having a number one best seller. Book Events - Make Yours Successful A book event (a book signing) is a popular way for authorsto create awareness for their work. Most large publishinghouses require authors to participate in a 10-city booktour, at the minimum. A First Time Authors Publicity Kit Materials If you're a new author that has been requested to send publicist materials, you may feel left in the dark on what to send. Here's a list of the usual items. Promotion - Credibility Extras For many of us, marketing our titles is one of the most tedious tasks of being an author. Even authors who published with large New York houses are expected to take part in marketing and promotion. How To Market A Suspense Novel In An Online Multimedia Format If you haven't heard of the author C.F.
|
| Home | Site Map | Resource Links |
