Cheap and Easy Book Marketing?
By Jerry D. Simmons | November 18th, 2009 | 3 Comments » (Click to add yours!)
The headline from an email soliciting the service from an unknown company is being spammed to anyone and everyone remotely involved with books and publishing. The first question that comes to mind is: does such a thing exist? There is very little in the form of true book marketing that is cheap and easy. Publishing and marketing does not have to be expensive however you are not going to get much help from a company that generates business from email spam.
Book marketing boils down to a decision on whether to spend a lot of personal time or hard earned money and in the end it often results in a combination of both. Most of us do not have a full forty hours to spend marketing our books and we cannot afford thousands of dollars for help, so we compromise. Many authors are involved with social networking while others speak to groups closely associated with their subject and many do a little bit of everything in an attempt at reaching an audience.
Marketing for books is not simple, authors often say that writing the damn thing was easier than marketing and I would tend to agree. So where can you get the most bang for the buck? There is no single answer for each and every title, however here are some ideas. Book reviews, paid or not, is a great way to gain some attention to your book. Assuming the review is positive. Quotes in the form of endorsements from professionals or recognizable individuals are another terrific way of proclaiming the quality of your writing. The key to reviews is finding someone that is objective and notable.
If you opt for publicity then targeted media in the form of a professional press release is a great way of generating interest. However, if you do not have a web site or profile on one of the many networking sites this method cannot be supported. What I mean is that when someone reads a blurb about you and your book they often want more information that can be found at a web site or personal profile on a social network page.
Marketing any book takes time and money. It helps to enlist the assistance of a professional marketer. Word of mouth is the best way to sell books but you have to start the momentum somewhere.
Identifying Value from Products and Services
By Jerry D. Simmons | November 6th, 2009 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Everyday I receive emails from a variety of sources asking me to purchase anything from publicity packages to corporate sales programs. To the unsuspecting writer these offers seem legitimate and worthy of your hard earned cash. The problem is that in the world of book publishing they offer no real value to the author. The biggest obstacle for writers and authors in this confusing industry is whom to trust? Since leaving New York and working exclusively in the market of Independent publishing I can tell you that the distinction is often hard to make. I’ve come up with three points that anyone considering a purchase should consider before making a final decision.
(1) Visit the website of the company offering the product or service and search for information about those behind the scenes. If you cannot find a section where the background and experience of those offering the product or service is prominently displayed then don’t buy! If you do locate a brief paragraph or two about those making the offer, make certain they have the experience necessary to be offering their product or service. General corporate experience outside of publishing does not make someone an expert at book publicity or promotion.
(2) When considering a product or service that claims to be duplicating the New York publishers then don’t buy! You don’t want to copy or follow the marketing efforts of the big publishers, you want to exploit their weaknesses and follow a different path. Many companies claim to market books identical to the major publishers and in fact that cannot be true. Small companies can never match the dollars spent or have similar contacts as a major publisher. Be aware of any such claims.
(3) If you have any doubts about the value of what you are buying or whether it will provide a boost to your title, send the information to me. I’ll gladly examine the offer and give you my honest opinion. If you are confused and have questions and the web site won’t respond quickly with real answers then that speaks volumes to the credibility of that company. If your instinct tells you the offer is too good to be true or you have the slightest bit of hesitation, don’t buy!
This business if hard enough without spending your money buying a product or service that doesn’t work.
