Can You Spot Opportunities?
By Jerry D. Simmons | November 4th, 2008 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Understanding the basics of the business of publishing, and how the marketplace operates and the pieces fit together, is important to the success of all authors. The more you understand, the better equipped you are to ask the right questions. If you aren’t self-publishing, then asking the right questions signals your editor or publisher that you are motivated to help them make your book a success. If you are self-publishing, this knowledge is critically important if you want to sell copies of your book(s).
Successfully marketing a book is not difficult. All that’s really required is for you to spend time reading industry publications, my book and newsletter, making blog posts and being a regular visitor to local chain and independent bookstores. However, like most things, research is important. Regular visits to the publishing laboratory, the retail bookstore, will reveal a lot about how experienced publishers merchandise and market books. After a while, you will begin to spot trends and pick up tips on how the biggest publishers attempt to grab the attention of the consumer. Taking time to talk with the manager of such stores, providing they aren’t busy, can also provide a wealth of useful information. All are ideas you can use on your own.
Make it a continuing goal to read about the business, visit bookstores on a regular basis, maintain a positive, never-give-up attitude, and be consistent in your marketing efforts. Remember, the important thing is not how many copies you sell. Your book will sell itself if you find the correct niche for it. Concentrate on developing a platform for yourself. Locate pools of readers who are interested in what you have to say or the stories you have to tell. Regardless of sensational media stories you may hear, success hardly ever comes overnight. Put the required in the time and effort, and you will be successful.
Your book might not wind up on the New York Times bestseller list (unless you have a multi-million dollar advertising budget), but you can look forward to knowing that people enjoy your writing, and appreciate you as an author. Can you think of anything better?
Tags: Book Marketing, Book Publishing, Book Sales, Hybrid Publishing Model, Self-Published Author, Self-Publishing
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Really informative blog.Thanks Again.