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.
Tags: Book Marketing, Booksellers
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