Tag: marketing

Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Signings, Networking, Self-Publishing

The Do’s of Pitching Your Self-Published Book to Producers

Here are 5 things to do when composing a letter to a radio producer to promote your self-published book:

1 – Do keep your letter short. No more than one page.
2 – Do include your hook. This is a 5-10 word sentence or phrase that should attract everyone’s attention about you or your book.
3 – Do format your letter so it’s easy to skim. Use bullet points.
4 – Do write your letter with the producer’s point of view. Re-read it as if you were the producer. Is it clear what you want and what value you offer to the radio listeners?
5 – Do be available to respond to interest immediately. These people are often on deadline and if you are the easiest solution to their problem, you’ll get the call.

Karl Schroeder


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Have fun and keep writing…

Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Choosing a Publisher, Networking, Self-Publishing, Viral Marketing

Self-publishing Book Marketing Advice – Readers that Count

Placing your book in front of readers that matter is one of the most important elements in successful book marketing of your self-published title. This  should be high on your long range radar even as you write.

What does this mean? The smaller, most identified reader base the better off you’ll sit. Does your non-fiction piece focus on Green Building and Design? Your fiction take place in the US Civil War? Or your title introducing relevant ways to manage a company during a recession?

Each of these examples presents you, the author, with a strong, identifiable reader base. Should you care if someone who blogs incessantly about the Harry Potter series doesn’t know or care about your book? Without question, no.

Should you take note if Robert Morris mentions your B2B management or effective leadership piece? Absolutely. He is an individual influential on a specific topic that will bring others to your book.

The bottom line challenge is finding which circles, critics, and resource that matter to your book and convincing them of its value. Its in trying to please everyone that we become invisible – something like the law of diminish returns.

Doesn’t writing sometimes seem to be the easiest part?

– Karl Schroeder

Book Promotion, Choosing a Publisher, Networking, Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing: Give me six hours…

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. – Abraham Lincoln

Let’s look at breaking down your self-publishing book project into the short, mid, and long range in terms of the process in goals. The actual time involved for each phase varies with each author and each project. Nevertheless, you’ve worked hard on writing, revising, and preparing your book for publication. Congratulations. The first step or phase is done or nearing complete, and it’s time to publish.

Many authors confuse this second step – actual publishing – with step 3. Let’s slow down and take a closer look. Phase 1 is the writing, or artistic phase. Step 2, the publishing or business step. Time to begin sharpening the axe. Upfront prices are important, but take the time to avoid the ever present instant gratification of free and quick publishing and research beyond. What kind of pricing control will you have? Professional production options? Will your book be situated to retail competitively on the market? What kind of marketing services and options are available after publication? These are critical questions to ask as you research full-service self-publishing options, customize your mid-range work, and begin to look at getting your published book into reader’s hands. Now your prepared to chop the tree.

Karl Schroeder
https://selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Viral Marketing

Viral Marketing for Self-Published Authors – Tip #2

Tip #2 – Exist

Last week I gave the first in a series of viral marketing tips: #1 – Give Something Away. I gave an example of a current successful viral marketing campaign taking place on Twitter. This brings me to tip #2. You may know what you want to give away (a copy of your book, a service, etc.), but you may not know how to go about that. If so, the first thing you need to do is develop your online presence. As a self-published author, you need to EXIST online.

There are many social networking sites where you can set up a profile and start networking with other authors and potential readers. Here are a few to get you started:

Facebook
Twitter
MySpace

If you’re already on Twitter or once you set up your profile, you can follow us:
Self Publishing Advice on Twitter

If you’re already on Facebook or once you set up your profile, you can find our page and become a fan:
Self Publishing Advice on Facebook

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com



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Book Promotion

Viral Marketing for Self-Published Authors – Tip #1

Tip #1 – Give something away

Everyone wants something for free.  Strategically advertising a free giveaway (a copy of your book, a service, free information) is one way to attract attention.  This attention may not turn into profit immediately, but in general more interest in your self-published book means greater potential for sales.

Look at Squarespace for example.  This website software company is currently running a contest on Twitter.  They are giving away an iPhone to one contestant each day for 30 days.  In order to enter, the contestant must send out a “tweet” with the #squarespace hashtag.  This “free” advertising tactic quickly brought Squarespace onto the top ten “Trending Topics” list on Twitter, which means everyone on Twitter user (approximately 1.3 million daily) will see that Squarespace is popular topic and many will click on the links to find out why. 

The good news is you don’t have to give away an iPhone a day to attract attention for your book, but consider your audience and think about what you can give away that may spark their interest.  It could be a copy of your self-published book or it could be a service you provide.  Whatever it is, be sure to include your book and/or web site in your promotional materials.

I’ll have more viral marketing tips for you over the next few weeks.

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

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